Emotions under control? Better cognitive control is associated with reduced negative emotionality but increased negative emotional reactivity within individuals

Associations between impaired cognitive control and maladaptive emotion regulation have been extensively studied between individuals. However, it remains unclear if this relationship holds within individuals. In this study, we tested the assumption that momentary within-person fluctuation in cognitive control (working memory updating and response inhibition) is associated with emotional reactivity in everyday life. We conducted an experience sampling study (eight two-hourly prompts daily) where participants repeatedly performed short 2-back and Go/no-go tasks in daily life. We assessed negative and positive affective states, and unpleasantness of a recent event to capture emotional reactivity. We analyzed two overlapping samples: a Go/no-go and a 2-back dataset (N = 161/158). Our results showed that better momentary working memory updating was associated with decreased negative affect if the recent event was on average unpleasant for the given individual. However, better-than-average working memory updating in interaction with higher event-unpleasantness predicted higher negative affect levels (i.e., higher negative emotional reactivity). These findings may challenge the account of better cognitive control being universally related to adaptive emotion regulation. Although it is unlikely that emotional reactivity boosts working memory, future studies should establish the direction of causality.

The network structure of schizotypy in the general population

Schizotypal personality traits show similarity with schizophrenia at various levels of analysis. It is generally agreed that schizotypal personality is multidimensional; however, it is still debated whether impulsive nonconformity should be incorporated into theories and measurement of schizotypy. In addition, relatively little is known about the network structure of the four-dimensional model of schizotypal personality. To estimate the network structure of schizotypy, we used data from participants recruited from the community (N = 11,807) who completed the short version of the Oxford-Liverpool Inventory of Feelings and Experiences, a widespread self-report instrument that assesses the positive, negative, disorganised and impulsive domains of schizotypy. We performed community detection, then examined differences between communities in terms of centralities and compared the strength of edges within and between communities. We found communities that almost perfectly corresponded to the a priori-defined subscales (93% overlap, normalised mutual information = 0.74). Items in the disorganisation community had higher closeness centrality relative to items in the other communities (Cliff's Δs ranged from 0.55 to 0.83) and weights of edges within the disorganisation community were stronger as compared to the negative schizotypy and impulsive nonconformity communities (Cliff's Δs = 0.33). Our findings imply that the inclusion of impulsive nonconformity items does not dilute the classical three-factor structure of positive, negative and disorganised schizotypy. The high closeness centrality of disorganisation concurs with theories positing that cognitive slippage and associative loosening are core features of the schizophrenic phenotype.

[Psychopathological network analysis: methodological impasse, promising tool or an innovative trend that overwrites everything we know about mental disorders?]

The aim of this paper is to present the theoretical foundations of the network approach to psychopathology and to give an overview of what it promises to deliver, and also to summarize some of the key critiques it has received. According to this approach, mental disorders cannot be mapped with traditional modeling approaches, as they are multifactorial phenomena that are maintained by the complex interplay of various biological, psychological, and social factors. It is expected that new avenues of research may open up through network modeling, however, some have pointed out that a strong distinction between network and common cause models is not well supported. Critics of the network approach claim that network models of mental disorders do not replicate well, while others have found encouraging results in this regard. Although at the moment, the network approach to psychopathology faces signifi - cant challenges, it may facilitate the study of mechanisms involved in the formation and maintenance of mental dis - orders by grasping and intuitively visualizing their complex and dynamic nature, and ultimately may even contribute to the development of personalized treatment planning.

[Acute renal failure in neuroleptic malignant syndrome]

The neuroleptic malignant syndrome is characterized by hyperpyrexia, muscle rigidity, extrapyramidal motion disorder, vegetative symptoms and mental disorientation. This group of symptoms develops abruptly and may lead to serious complications. One of these complications is the acute renal failure. Permanent muscle rigidity causes the damage of muscle cells which result in myoglobinaemia, myoglobinuria and elevations in muscle related creatine phosphokinase. The authors report the case of a young man who underwent neuroleptic medication because of hebephrenia. During the medication the following symptoms were developed: extrapyramidal symptoms, restlessness, muscle rigidity, high fever. These symptoms eventually lead to acute renal failure caused by rhabdomyolysis (characteristic urine finding, significant elevations in serum creatine phosphokinase). With regards to the neuroleptic malignant syndrome dantrolenum and bromocriptin treatment were applied with the discontinuation of neuroleptic medication. As a part of the complex therapy a massive volumen-supplementing and alkalizing treatment was used but haemodialysis had also become necessary. During the above mentioned treatment symptoms referring to the neuroleptic malignant syndrome resolved and the acute renal failure was cured. The case report calls attention to a specific group of symptoms and the possibilities for prevention and treatment. The above case report is the first observation in Hungary.