Gender differences in the pathway of childhood trauma, impulsivity and adult eating behaviour: a cross-sectional study

Objective: The current cross-sectional study aimed to examine the association between childhood trauma, impulsivity, binge eating symptoms, and body mass index (BMI) in a sample of males and females. We also aimed to investigate the indirect association of childhood trauma with binge eating through impulsivity while controlling for BMI.Method: Participants were 410 young adults (mean age = 20.9 years, range 18-24; female = 73.9%) who completed online measures of childhood trauma, impulsivity, binge eating symptoms, and self-reported height and weight. Mediation models were tested using multi-group structural equation modelling.Results: Childhood trauma and impulsivity were associated with an increased risk of binge eating symptoms in females but not males, corroborating previous studies. There was a significant difference in the binge eating symptoms index between sexes, but not regarding the index of childhood trauma and impulsivity. Additionally, adverse childhood experiences were associated with impulsivity and the association of childhood trauma with binge eating was mediated by impulsivity in the female sample.Conclusions: Our results suggest sex-dependent patterns and risk factors that may impact binge eating symptoms. The implications of our results suggest that impulsivity might be a vulnerability factor for binge eating, especially for females.

How are overweight and obesity associated with reinforcement learning deficits? A systematic review

Reinforcement learning (RL) refers to the ability to learn stimulus-response or response-outcome associations relevant to the acquisition of behavioral repertoire and adaptation to the environment. Research data from correlational and case-control studies have shown that obesity is associated with impairments in RL. The aim of the present study was to systematically review how obesity and overweight are associated with RL performance. More specifically, the relationship between high body mass index (BMI) and task performance was explored through the analysis of specific RL processes associated with different physiological, computational, and behavioral manifestations. Our systematic analyses indicate that obesity might be associated with impairments in the use of aversive outcomes to change ongoing behavior, as revealed by results involving instrumental negative reinforcement and extinction/reversal learning, but further research needs to be conducted to confirm this association. Hypotheses regarding how obesity might be associated with altered RL were discussed.

Switching to online: Testing the validity of supervised remote testing for online reinforcement learning experiments

Online experiments are an alternative for researchers interested in conducting behavioral research outside the laboratory. However, an online assessment might become a challenge when long and complex experiments need to be conducted in a specific order or with supervision from a researcher. The aim of this study was to test the computational validity and the feasibility of a remote and synchronous reinforcement learning (RL) experiment conducted during the social-distancing measures imposed by the pandemic. An additional feature of this study was to describe how a behavioral experiment originally created to be conducted in-person was transformed into an online supervised remote experiment. Open-source software was used to collect data, conduct statistical analysis, and do computational modeling. Python codes were created to replicate computational models that simulate the effect of working memory (WM) load over RL performance. Our behavioral results indicated that we were able to replicate remotely and with a modified behavioral task the effects of working memory (WM) load over RL performance observed in previous studies with in-person assessments. Our computational analyses using Python code also captured the effects of WM load over RL as expected, which suggests that the algorithms and optimization methods were reliable in their ability to reproduce behavior. The behavioral and computational validation shown in this study and the detailed description of the supervised remote testing may be useful for researchers interested in conducting long and complex experiments online.

Conscious and pre-conscious attentional bias to food images in patients subjected to Roux-en-Y gastric bypass

Attentional bias (AB) to food after bariatric surgery might be a cognitive marker for weight regain. The visual probe task (VPT) is commonly used to capture AB at automatic, pre-conscious, and conscious orientation of attention. The aim of this study was to investigate how the preoperative BMI of patients submitted to Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) impacts AB to food. We assessed patients who had preoperative BMI>50 (n = 28) or preoperative BMI<50 (n = 31) months after the RYGB procedure. Participants underwent clinical, psychological, and VPT evaluations. In VPT, pairs of food and matching non-food images were shown for 100 ms, 500 ms or 2000 ms and AB for food was assessed for each exposure time. A significant AB to food was observed at 2000 ms for all patients in this study, suggesting that the overall sample were consciously orienting their attention toward food cues after surgery, a finding that might be relevant for understanding weight control. When groups with preoperative BMI higher and lower than 50 kg/m2 were compared, a significant difference on AB to food stimuli at 500 ms was observed, controlling for excess weight lost since surgery and postoperative time. Subjects with preoperative BMI>50 had a positive and reliable AB to food while subjects with preoperative BMI<50 had a negative AB. This suggests that food stimuli have a higher incentive salience even after surgery for those with BMI>50, which might explain why subjects with higher preoperative weight have higher risks for weight regain. These results may indicate that RYGB can impact incentive salience for food cues in a differential manner, increasing conscious AB in all patients and decreasing pre-conscious AB only in those with BMI<50 kg/m2.

Parsing the link between reinforcement sensitivity theory and eating behavior: A systematic review

The Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory (RST) is a widely studied psychobiological model of personality. RST factors seem to influence eating behavior, but how these personality traits are associated with distinct features of eating behavior is still unclear. In the present systematic review, we analyzed the relationship between RST personality factors and eating behavior using a parsing approach in which BMI-related results, self-reported results, and behavioral results were distinguished. Our analysis revealed that reward and punishment sensitivity seem to correlate and influence distinct features of eating behavior. The association between BMI and RST factors was uncertain, but nonlinear associations between reward sensitivity and weight need further testing. Reward sensitivity was linked to most eating behavior phenotypes (e.g., emotional eating and restrained eating), but only punishment sensitivity was primarily correlated with eating pathology. Reward sensitivity was the main factor linked with reactivity to food stimuli on many behavioral measures. The neurobiological personality factors of RST offer parsimonious concepts to understand eating behavior outcomes and the differential relationships observed are useful to translational research.

Comparative Analysis of Psychology Responding to COVID-19 Pandemic in Brics Nations

The BRICS Forum, an independent international organization encouraging commercial, political, and cultural cooperation between Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, was formed in 2011, and these countries have a significant influence on their regional affairs. These nations were hit by COVID-19 at different times, and all adopted home quarantine to reduce the spread of the virus. We present a comparative analysis of actions of psychology and potential outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic in BRICS nations regarding five aspects: psychology in health policies, social roles of psychology, socioeconomic context, actions for the general population, and health professionals during stage 1 of the pandemic, and possible actions in stage 2. Various types of actions were taken by psychologists in BRICS, with different levels of coordinated cooperation with respective governmental and non-governmental organizations, multiple and parallel efforts from different scientific societies, and professional regulatory agencies. Scientific societies have had an important role in coordinating some of these efforts, especially because they congregate the psychologists from different parts of these countries, improving communication and access to key information. The aim of these actions varies from improving situational skills and competences to increase the accessibility of psychological services and provide psychoeducation and telepsychology. We will consider the social importance of these actions within these countries as a global opportunity for psychology to stage in a complex context involving human health. The way psychology in BRICS will face this challenging situation is likely to produce important regional influence, stimulate scientific contribution, and increase the accessibility of psychology.

How Personality and Unpredictability of Resources Impact Binge Eating Symptoms in Normal Weight Subjects: A Path Analysis

STUDIES ASSESSING SENSITIVITY TO ENVIRONMENTAL STIMULI INDICATE THAT SUBJECTS WITH BINGE EATING DISORDER (BED) ARE MORE PRONE TO REACT TO STRESSFUL SITUATIONS, AND MORE WILLING TO PURSUE IMMEDIATE REWARDS IN COMPARISON TO SUBJECTS WITHOUT BED. UNPREDICTABILITY OF FAMILY RESOURCES RELEVANT TO CHILD DEVELOPMENT INCREASES THE CHANCES OF EXTERNALIZING BEHAVIORS IN CHILDHOOD AND, COUPLED WITH PERSONALITY PROFILES LINKED TO BED, MAY INCREASE THE ODDS OF MANIFESTING BINGE EATING (BE) IN ADULTHOOD. THIS STUDY AIMED TO INVESTIGATE WHETHER PERSONALITY AND UNPREDICTABILITY OF RESOURCES INTERACT TO PREDICT BE SYMPTOMS IN YOUNG ADULTS, EVEN BEFORE THE ONSET OF OBESITY. THE SAMPLE CONSISTED OF 257 ADULTS (AGES 20.73 ± 1.78 YEARS, MEAN ± SD), MOSTLY WHITE (N = 233), UNDERGRADUATES (N = 236), AND WITH A BMI OF 21.84 ± 1.68 KG/M². PERSONALITY WAS STUDIED USING THE BIS AND BAS SCALES THAT ASSESS, RESPECTIVELY, AVOIDANCE OF AVERSIVE STIMULI AND CONFLICT SITUATIONS, AND APPROACH TO AND DESIRE OF REWARD STIMULI. UNPREDICTABILITY OF NURTURE AND CARE, FINANCIAL RESOURCES, AND MEAL AVAILABILITY WERE ASSESSED USING THE FAMILY UNPREDICTABILITY SCALE (FU). BE SYMPTOMS WERE ASSESSED USING THE BINGE EATING SCALE (BES). A PATH ANALYSIS MODEL WAS USED TO ANALYZE THE DATA. PERSONALITY FACTORS WERE TREATED AS PRINCIPAL PREDICTORS, FU AS MEDIATORS, AND BE SYMPTOMS AS THE DEPENDENT/OUTCOME VARIABLE. GENDER, BMI, AND SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS WERE INCLUDED IN THE MODEL AS COVARIATES. AN EXCELLENT MODEL FIT WAS OBTAINED, [χ² (31) = 26.588, P = 0.692; RMSEA < 0.01; CFI = 1.000; TFI = 1.041], AND THE FINAL MODEL EXPLAINED 20.1% OF BE VARIANCE. THE POSITIVE EFFECTS OVER BE VARIANCE SUGGEST THAT FEMALE PARTICIPANTS (β = 0.180) WITH A HIGHER TENDENCY TO SEEK FOR IMMEDIATE REWARDS (BAS SUBSCALE, β = 0.205) AND AVOID CONFLICT SITUATIONS (BIS SCALE, β = 0.304), AND WITH A BMI CLOSER TO 25 KG/M² (β = 0.130) SCORED HIGHER IN BES. ONLY ONE FU FACTOR WAS RELATED TO BE, WITH MARGINAL SIGNIFICANT RESULTS (NURTURE AND CARE, β = 0.145, P = 0.056). HIGHER POSITIVE REACTIONS TO BRIEF REWARDS - ANOTHER BAS SUBSCALE - WERE NEGATIVELY (β = − 0.123) RELATED TO BE SYMPTOMS, REPRESENTING A PROTECTIVE FACTOR. THE OBSERVED EFFECTS OF PERSONALITY AND GENDER ARE CONSONANT WITH THE AFFECT REGULATION THEORY OF EATING DISORDERS, AS BE MIGHT BE AN IMPULSIVE STRATEGY TO REGULATE EMOTION IN FEMALE PATIENTS WITH GENETICALLY INFLUENCED PERSONALITY TRAITS LINKED TO STRESS VULNERABILITY AND REWARD SENSITIVITY. RESPONSIVENESS TO BRIEF REWARDS IS A PROTECTIVE FACTOR FOR DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOMS LINKED ALSO TO HEALTHY BEHAVIORS, AND IT MAY HELP PATIENTS TO PLAN AND ENGAGE IN STRATEGIES TO PREVENT BE. LONGITUDINAL MONITORING OF THESE PARTICIPANTS MAY ANSWER WHETHER PERSONALITY PROFILES IMPACT WEIGHT GAIN AND ADHERENCE TO WEIGHT REDUCTION INTERVENTIONS IN THE FUTURE.

Teoria da Sensibilidade ao Reforçamento: Pressupostos, Procedimentos e Medidas

Resumo A Teoria da Sensibilidade ao Reforçamento (RST) é um modelo psicobiológico de personalidade derivado de estudos experimentais com humanos e não humanos. Na RST, duas dimensões de personalidade influenciam a reatividade ao ambiente: sensibilidade à recompensa (SR) e sensibilidade à punição (SP). O pressuposto central da teoria é de que há uma relação entre personalidade (SR e SP) e aprendizagem por condicionamento. O objetivo deste artigo é apresentar aos pesquisadores brasileiros a história, as hipóteses centrais e os procedimentos experimentais da RST e discutir as medidas utilizadas para testar os pressupostos da teoria. A RST é um modelo promissor para o estudo da personalidade dentro da psicologia experimental, psiquiatria e neurociências.

O eixo intestino-cérebro e sintomas depressivos: uma revisão sistemática dos ensaios clínicos randomizados com probióticos

RESUMO Objetivo: Reconhece-se atualmente a relevância do eixo intestino-cérebro para a compreensão de comportamentos e doenças mentais ou psiquiátricas. O presente estudo teve por objetivo analisar os efeitos do consumo de probióticos sobre sintomas depressivos e depressão maior. Métodos: O presente estudo constitui uma revisão de ensaios clínicos randomizados duplos-cegos ou triplos-cegos, placebo-controlados, publicados entre 2010 e 2020. Foi realizada busca por artigos nas bases de dados PubMed, ScienceDirect e Google Scholar. Resultados: Oito artigos compuseram a amostra do presente estudo. Os resultados entre estudos são controversos e indicam que a relação de causalidade entre o consumo de probióticos e o alívio de sintomas depressivos ainda não foi estabelecida. Conclusões: Mais ensaios clínicos randomizados duplos-cegos ou triplos-cegos, placebo-controlados, que controlem potenciais fatores de confusão (p. ex.: dieta, uso de antibióticos), são necessários para verificar consistentemente a relação causal entre o consumo de probióticos e o alívio de sintomas depressivos.

Genetically predicted gene expression of prefrontal DRD4 gene and the differential susceptibility to childhood emotional eating in response to positive environment

Genetic differential susceptibility states that individuals may vary both by exhibiting poor responses when exposed to adverse environments, and disproportionally benefiting from positive settings. The dopamine D4 receptor gene (DRD4) may be particularly implicated in these effects, including disturbed eating behaviors that might lead to obesity. Here, we explore differential susceptibility to positive environments according to the predicted genetically regulated gene expression of prefrontal cortex DRD4 gene. Using MAVAN as the discovery cohort (Maternal Adversity, Vulnerability and Neurodevelopment) and GUSTO as the replication cohort (Growing Up in Singapore Towards Healthy Outcomes), we analyzed the interaction between a) a Positive postnatal environmental score, that accounts for positive outcomes in the postnatal period and b) the genetically regulated gene expression of prefrontal DRD4, computed using a machine learning prediction method (PrediXcan). The outcome measures were the pro-intake domains (Emotional over-eating, Food Responsiveness, Food Enjoyment and Desire to Drink) from the Child Eating Behavior Questionnaire at 48 months of age (MAVAN) and 60 months of age (GUSTO). The interaction between the positive environment and the predicted prefrontal DRD4 gene expression was significant for emotional over-eating in MAVAN (β = -0.403, p < 0.02), in which the high gene expression group had more or less emotional eating according to the exposure to lower or higher positive environment respectively, showing evidence of differential susceptibility criteria. In the replication cohort, a similar result was found with the pro-intake domain Desire to drink (β = -0.583, p < 0.05). These results provide further evidence for the genetic differential susceptibility, accounting for the benefit of positive environments.

Self-reported confidence and anxiety over endodontic procedures in undergraduate students-Quantitative and qualitative study

PURPOSE

The current literature shows a growing interest to assess the feelings and perceptions of students associated with the performance of elective endodontic procedures. This study aimed to evaluate the students' anxiety and self-perceptions related to performing such treatments.

METHODS

Forty-five students participated in the research (G1 = 22 beginners students; G2 = 23 senior students). Demographic data, STAI-State and Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) for pre-operative anxiety were completed before the appointment with patient. The STAI-Trait; NRS for post-operative anxiety; previous experiences in endodontics; and level of confidence in each stage of endodontic treatments were collected after appointment. Focal groups for qualitative data collection were performed on separate occasion.

RESULTS

Both groups showed higher scores in STAI-State than for STAI-Trait scale. G1 showed higher levels of anxiety in the pre-operative, compared with post-operative moment in the NRS scale. G2 reported feeling more confidence to insert intracanal medication and to restore teeth between appointments than G1. In both focus groups, participants reported insecurity in performing endodontic procedures due to difficulty in visualisation and to anatomic complexities. G1 reported that all the confidence they had was based in pre-clinical experience, and G2 mentioned concern about the end of graduation.

CONCLUSION

The participants' anxiety diminishes as they gain more experience in performing endodontic procedures. However, as they approach the end of the course anxiety levels increase. Greater availability of elective courses in endodontics could be a valuable alternative to provide students with more exposure to and experience with these procedures.

Persistence of repeated self-reported illusion of control as a product of action and outcome association in productive and preventive scenarios

Individuals interpret themselves as causal agents when executing an action to achieve an outcome, even when action and outcome are independent. How can illusion of control be managed? Once established, does it decay? This study aimed to analyze the effects of valence, probability of the outcome [p(O)] and probability of the actions performed by the participant [p(A)], on the magnitude of judgments of control and corresponding associative measures (including Rescorla-Wagner's, Probabilistic Contrast, and Cheng's Power Probabilistic Contrast models). A traffic light was presented on a computer screen to 81 participants who tried to control the green or red lights by pressing the spacebar, after instructions describing a productive or a preventive scenario. There were 4 blocks of 50 trials under all of 4 different p(O)s in random order (0.10, 0.30, 0.70, and 0.90). Judgments were assessed in a bidimensional scale. The 2 × 4 × 4 mixed experimental design was analyzed through General Linear Models, including factor group (between-subject valence), and block and p(O) (within subjects). There was a small effect of group and a large and direct effect of p(O) on judgments. Illusion was reported by 66% of the sample and was positive in the productive group. The oscillation of p(O) produced stronger illusions; decreasing p(O)s produced nil or negative illusions. Only Rescorla-Wagner's could model causality properly. The reasons why p(A) and the other models could not generate significant results are discussed. The results help to comprehend the importance of keeping moderate illusions in productive and preventive scenarios.

Experiences during the execution of emergency endodontic treatment and levels of anxiety in dental students

PURPOSE

This study aims to evaluate the experience of dental students and assess their anxiety levels when performing emergency endodontic treatments.

METHODS

Undergraduate students completed the STAI-Trait/State and a questionnaire to assess their confidence level to perform each step of an emergency endodontic procedure. They also answered a numerical scale (NRS) for anxiety before and after emergency care. Ten randomly selected students from the same sample further participated in a focus group aimed at obtaining qualitative data on their perception of endodontic treatments' conduction and the learning process necessary to perform them.

RESULTS

A total of 23 students joined the study. The majority of the participants reported feeling "confident" when performing local anaesthesia (57.6%), rubber dam placement (57.6%) and coronal sealing (72.7%). However, a small number reported feeling "little confident" to perform access cavity (15.2%) or pulpotomy/pulpectomy (24.2%). Students who scored above the 3rd quartile of STAI-Trait/State were classified as "highly anxious," and comprised 26.1% of the sample. The values of NRS scale were higher in the preoperative when compared with the post-operative assessment. All students classified as "highly anxious" reported low confidence in performing "access cavity" and "pulpotomy/pulpectomy."

CONCLUSION

Both quantitative and qualitative analysis showed different anxiety levels in dental students. It can possibly contribute to a reduction in confidence prior to emergency endodontic procedures. The current findings suggest it might be important to rearrange activities in order to allow for more practical classes in Endodontics.

Genetic and environmental risk factors for developmental dyslexia in children: systematic review of the last decade

Despite advances in the characterization of developmental dyslexia (DD), several questions regarding the interplay between DD-susceptibility genes and environmental risk factors remain open. This systematic review aimed at answering the following questions: What has been the impact of new resources on the knowledge about DD? Which questions remain open? What is the investigative agenda for the short term? Forty-six studies were analyzed. Despite the growing literature on DD candidate genes, most studies have not been replicated. We found large effects on causative genes and smaller environmental contributions, involving maternal smoking during pregnancy, SES and the DYX1C1-1259C/G marker. Implications are discussed.

Attentional bias modification based on visual probe task: methodological issues, results and clinical relevance

INTRODUCTION

Attentional bias, the tendency that a person has to drive or maintain attention to a specific class of stimuli, may play an important role in the etiology and persistence of mental disorders. Attentional bias modification has been studied as a form of additional treatment related to automatic processing.

OBJECTIVES

This systematic literature review compared and discussed methods, evidence of success and potential clinical applications of studies about attentional bias modification (ABM) using a visual probe task.

METHODS

The Web of Knowledge, PubMed and PsycInfo were searched using the keywords attentional bias modification, attentional bias manipulation and attentional bias training. We selected empirical studies about ABM training using a visual probe task written in English and published between 2002 and 2014.

RESULTS

Fifty-seven studies met inclusion criteria. Most (78%) succeeded in training attention in the predicted direction, and in 71% results were generalized to other measures correlated with the symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS

ABM has potential clinical utility, but to standardize methods and maximize applicability, future studies should include clinical samples and be based on findings of studies about its effectiveness.

Profile and pattern of crack consumption among inpatients in a Brazilian psychiatric hospital

INTRODUCTION

Crack cocaine use is associated with polydrug abuse, and inpatients dependent on crack exhibit profiles of serious consumption patterns. Use of alcohol and tobacco and other drugs is a risk factor for experimentation of additional drugs, including crack cocaine.

OBJECTIVES

The present study describes the characteristics and crack consumption patterns among inpatients in treatment during 2011 and 2012 at the Hospital Psiquiátrico São Pedro (Porto Alegre, Brazil). An additional objective was to identify the sequence of alcohol and tobacco consumption prior to crack use.

METHODS

The participants were 53 male inpatients addicted to crack with a mean age of 27.5±7.3 years. A sociodemographic questionnaire; the Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test and the Mini Mental State Examination were all administered to participants. Inclusion criteria were crack cocaine dependency (based on the 10th edition of the International Classification of Diseases [ICD-10]) and being abstinent for 7 days. Patients with cognitive difficulties who were unable to understand and/or respond to the questionnaires were excluded from the sample.

RESULTS

The participants were young male adults with low educational level and low incomes and were polydrug users. The majority had made more than one attempt to quit. Use of legal drugs in early adolescence, prior to crack use, was identified.

CONCLUSIONS

The profiles of the inpatients addicted to crack treated at this hospital indicate a serious usage pattern among those who seek specialized support. Crack use is frequent and is associated with use of other drugs and with difficulty sustaining abstinence. The pattern of progression from alcohol and tobacco use to crack cocaine dependency demands the attention of those responsible for prevention policies.

Brief Meditation and the Interaction between Emotional Interference and Anxiety

ABSTRACT This pilot study assessed the effects of a five day focused meditation training on the interplay between emotional interference and anxiety in a non clinical sample randomized into two groups (experimental=13; control=18). Emotional interference was indexed comparing the reaction times in an attention span task with negative or neutral distracting images. Anxiety experienced during the task was also assessed through self-report. Only in the control group higher anxiety levels interacted with greater emotional interference and a worse evaluation of valence and arousal of emotional images. These preliminary findings suggest that meditation may help modulating anxiety effects on bias to negative stimuli, and that even a short training may facilitate self-regulatory processes.

Drug use and antisocial behavior among adolescents attending public schools in Brazil

INTRODUCTION

Drug use is a social and a public health problem that has been related with antisocial behavior. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between drug use and antisocial behavior among adolescents attending public schools in Brazil.

METHOD

A total of 7,176 adolescents from low-income neighborhoods and public schools aged 14 to 19 years were assessed in five geographical regions in Brazil. Data on biosociodemographic characteristics and on drug use and antisocial behavior were assessed from complete answers to a national survey on risk and protective factors among adolescents.

RESULTS

Over 80% of the adolescents who used alcohol and cigarettes were between 14 and 17 years old. The percentage of participants with antisocial behaviors was significantly higher among users of marijuana, cocaine, or crack than among adolescents who were not drug users.

CONCLUSIONS

Prevention programs aimed at reducing substance use might help to decrease antisocial behaviors.

Long-term effects of gestational nicotine exposure and food-restriction on gene expression in the striatum of adolescent rats

Gestational exposure to environmental toxins such as nicotine may result in detectable gene expression changes in later life. To investigate the direct toxic effects of prenatal nicotine exposure on later brain development, we have used transcriptomic analysis of striatal samples to identify gene expression differences between adolescent Lister Hooded rats exposed to nicotine in utero and controls. Using an additional group of animals matched for the reduced food intake experienced in the nicotine group, we were also able to assess the impact of imposed food-restriction on gene expression profiles. We found little evidence for a role of gestational nicotine exposure on altered gene expression in the striatum of adolescent offspring at a significance level of p<0.01 and |log2 fold change >0.5|, although we cannot exclude the possibility of nicotine-induced changes in other brain regions, or at other time points. We did, however, find marked gene expression differences in response to imposed food-restriction. Food-restriction resulted in significant group differences for a number of immediate early genes (IEGs) including Fos, Fosb, Fosl2, Arc, Junb, Nr4a1 and Nr4a3. These genes are associated with stress response pathways and therefore may reflect long-term effects of nutritional deprivation on the development of the stress system.

Processamento implícito e dependência química: teoria, avaliação e perspectivas

Pesquisas recentes têm investigado mecanismos cognitivos implícitos que influenciam a decisão e o comportamento de uso da droga, como viés atencional e reatividade a pistas. Tais respostas são eliciadas automaticamente, potencializando a vulnerabilidade à dependência e recaída ao uso da droga. Este estudo teve como objetivo apresentar a perspectiva teórica dos modelos de duplo-processamento dos comportamentos aditivos assim como discutir a influência dos processos automáticos no uso de drogas, suas formas de avaliação e técnicas que objetivam modificar diretamente tais processos. Os resultados sugerem que medidas implícitas possam avaliar os mecanismos automáticos mais acuradamente do que medidas explícitas. Diante disso, sugere-se que intervenções voltadas para a transformação das cognições implícitas sejam alternativas eficazes para o tratamento da dependência química.

Aplicação de um programa de cessação do tabagismo com rodoviários urbanos

O presente relato tem como objetivo descrever a aplicação de um programa de cessação do tabagismo realizado em uma empresa de transporte coletivo urbano que implantou a política do ambiente livre do fumo. Pretende-se contribuir apresentando um modelo de intervenção de abordagem cognitivocomportamental possível de ser implantado no contexto organizacional. Método: o programa foi realizado em três etapas: levantamento no número de fumantes (n=90; 13% do universo total de funcionários), avaliação do nível de dependência de nicotina (n=30; 33% dos fumantes) e realização dos grupos de cessação do tabagismo, dos quais participaram 16 fumantes (18%). Os grupos aconteceram em quatro encontros semanais, com duração de duas horas cada, sendo que, após trinta dias, foi realizado um encontro de manutenção. Resultados: o programa demonstrou boa eficácia, pois, dos 16 fumantes que participaram, 7 atingiram a abstinência e 9 reduziram o consumo. Conclusão: os psicólogos podem ser agentes comprometidos em manter um ambiente livre de fumo e prevenir os efeitos do tabagismo nas organizações utilizando intervenções cognitivo-comportamentais como a descrita.

Desvalorização de ganhos e perdas monetárias em fumantes, fumantes em tratamento e não fumantes

Fumantes tendem a escolher recompensas imediatas de menor valor e desvalorizar as atrasadas de maior valor em modelos de desvalorização pelo atraso (DA). Entretanto, pouco se sabe sobre a escolha temporal de consequências apetitivas e aversivas de fumantes que decidem parar de fumar. Por isso, investigou-se a DA em uma tarefa com perdas e ganhos de valores monetários hipotéticos em fumantes (n = 20), fumantes em tratamento (n = 20) e não fumantes (n = 20), que também responderam o questionário de tolerância de Fagerström e o ASSIST. A DA foi maior para fumantes do que para não fumantes para ganhos (mas não perdas). Fumantes em tratamento não diferiram dos outros grupos, apresentando uma DA intermediária. Estes podem ser um subgrupo de fumantes menos impulsivos ou a decisão de parar de fumar reduziu a DA. A DA pode ser uma preditora do sucesso da cessação do tabagismo.

Meditação na universidade: a motivação de alunos da UFRGS para aprender meditação

O treinamento em meditação sentada e silenciosa tem sido cada vez mais usado em contextos educacionais. Este estudo objetivou conhecer o interesse e a motivação de universitários para participar de um treino de meditação sentada e silenciosa. Foi realizado um levantamento online que utilizou um questionário sociodemográfico com uma pergunta aberta sobre a motivação para participar do treino e o Self-Report Questionnaire para identificar transtornos psiquiátricos menores. Participaram 524 universitários de 42 cursos (M = 25 anos, DP = 5,16, 64,3% mulheres). A maioria era solteiro (88%), com renda entre 1 e 5 salários mínimos (51,8%), de diferentes religiões (n = 20) e sem sintomas psiquiátricos (73%). Os principais motivos para treinar meditação foram os benefícios emocionais (25,59%), gosto e interesse pelo assunto (24,67%), benefícios cognitivos (16,02%) e curiosidade e interesse na pesquisa (15,11%). O interesse pela meditação não está restrito a universitários com características sociodemográficas específicas, com determinada crença ou problemas psiquiátricos.

Six weeks of meditation training influences response bias in a discrimination task with emotional distractors

Introduction: Focused attention meditation is the voluntary focusing of attention on a chosen object in a sustained fashion, whose objective is to develop attentional and emotional regulatory skills./objective: We investigated the effect of a six-week focused attention meditation training on a discrimination task with emotional distractors by comparing participants’ discriminability and bias before and after training. Method: College students were randomly assigned to either focused meditation (N=35), progressive relaxation (N=37), or control groups (N=28). 120 neutral and 120 emotional - negative and arousing – pictures (9º x 12º), flanked by two peripheral bars (0.3º x 0.3º), equidistant from the centre of the picture (9º), were equally and randomly distributed and displayed among three blocks, one with low attentional (LA) and two with high attentional demand (HA). Participants indicated if bars were parallel or not by pressing one of two buttons. In LA and HA conditions, respectively, bars differed with 90º and 6º in half of the trials. Trials started with a fixation cross (1500ms) followed by the pictures and bars (200ms). Next, a chessboard remained on the screen until a response was given or for 2000ms. Results: Mixed-design ANOVAs showed no discriminability difference across groups (meditation=26; relaxation=24; control=24) pre-post training; only task difficulty affected discriminability [F(1,68) = 739.8, p < .001; LA > HA]. Response bias was affected by difficulty [F(1,68) = 81.2, p < .001; LA < HA], and testing session [F(1,68) = 23.1,  p < .001; pre > post]. Additionally, there was a significant difficulty × session × group interaction [F(2,68) = 4.02,  p = .02]: meditation (M = .58, SE =.36) and relaxation (M = .65, SE =.36) presented a reduction in response bias relative to control (M = .69, SE =.37), but only after training in the HA condition (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The reduction in response bias suggests that meditation and relaxation can affect decision making in a difficult perceptual discrimination task. Meditation showed the highest bias reduction, consistent with previous results linking meditation to attention and monitoring processes.

[Personality factors as predictors of alcohol consumption by university students]

This study aimed to verify differences in personality factors between abstainers and drinkers and between individuals with higher versus lower levels of alcohol consumption in the previous three months, and to test the predictive power of factors for any lifetime alcohol consumption and for at least monthly alcohol consumption. A total of 169 university students participated, of whom 66.7% were women, with a mean age of 21.2 years. Lifetime alcohol consumption was 90.1%; 42.3% had consumed at least twice in the previous three months; and 57.7% consumed alcohol at least monthly. Participants with less frequent consumption in the previous three months showed higher mean scores for personality factors involving socialization and achievement, while those that consumed more frequently scored higher on extroversion. A predictive model showed that increments in extroversion contributed to increased odds of drinking alcohol, while increments in achievement decreased the odds of drinking. Personality characteristics were able to distinguish between different groups of drinkers and predict the frequency of alcohol consumption.

Meditação, bem-estar e a ciência psicológica: revisão de estudos empíricos

 A meditação sentada e silenciosa pode ser descrita como um treinamento mental, o qual tem sido tradicionalmente associado ao bem-estar. O crescente interesse científico pela prática tem ajudado a demonstrar esta relação através de diferentes metodologias. Este trabalho objetiva discutir a interface entre alguns pressupostos da meditação e da ciência psicológica no que tange ao bem-estar, assim como resultados empíricos que parecem apoiar o efeito da prática sobre experiências emocionais positivas. O artigo também propõe que esta relação ocorre mediada por três processos psicológicos principais e interdependentes: relaxamento, metacognição/mindfulness e autorregulação. Discute-se que a investigação destes, assim como dos efeitos da meditação em geral, pode auxiliar na sua aplicação no campo da psicologia, assim como no desenvolvimento da ciência psicológica.Palavras-chave: meditação; bem-estar; relaxamento; mindfulness; autorregulação.

Reatividade cruzada a pistas no consumo de álcool e cigarro: revisão crítica da literatura

Consumidores de álcool são mais propensos a experimentar e desenvolver dependência do cigarro. Esta revisão crítica sobre reatividade cruzada a pistas (RCP) no consumo de álcool e cigarro explorou a influência da RCP no uso concomitante destas substâncias. Realizou-se busca nos bancos de dados Medline, Psycinfo e Lilacs; os descritores utilizados foram alcohol (álcool), smoking (fumar) e cues (pistas). Critérios para inclusão foram: estudo empírico, envolver exposição a pistas associadas e co-ocorrência do consumo de álcool e cigarro. Como resultado foram encontrados 144 artigos, destes foram selecionados oito. Sugere-se que pistas associadas a uma droga podem gerar craving por outra. Conclui-se que a RCP pode ser relevante para a prevenção e tratamento ao abuso e dependência de cigarro e álcool. Palavras-chave: álcool; tabagismo; pistas.

Prenatal exposure to nicotine impairs performance of the 5-choice serial reaction time task in adult rats

Cigarette smoking is associated with a wide variety of adverse reproductive outcomes, including increased infant mortality and decreased birth weight. Prenatal exposure to tobacco smoke, of which nicotine is a major teratogenic component, has also been linked to the acceleration of the risk for different psychiatric disorders, including conduct disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Whether this increased risk is influenced by the direct effects of gestational nicotine exposure on the developing fetus remains uncertain. In this study we provide experimental evidence for the effects of prenatal nicotine exposure on measures of attention and impulsivity in adult male rats. Offspring of females exposed during pregnancy to 0.06 mg/ml nicotine solution as the only source of water (daily consumption: 69.6±1.4 ml/kg; nicotine blood level: 96.0±31.9 ng/ml) had lower birth weight and delayed sensorimotor development measured by negative geotaxis, righting reflex, and grip strength. In the 5-choice serial reaction time test, adult rats showed increased numbers of anticipatory responses and omissions errors, more variable response times, and lower accuracy with evidence of delayed learning of the task demands when the 1 s stimulus duration was introduced. In contrast, prenatal nicotine exposure had no effect on exploratory locomotion or delay-discounting test. Prenatal nicotine exposure increased expression of the D5 dopamine receptor gene in the striatum, but did not change expression of other dopamine-related genes (DRD4, DAT1, NR4A2, and TH) in either the striatum or the prefrontal cortex. These data suggest a direct effect of prenatal nicotine exposure on important aspects of attention, inhibitory control, or learning later in life.

Pharmacogenetics of smoking cessation therapy

Nicotine dependence is a major health problem, with a large amount of smoking-related premature deaths and disabilities. The dependence mechanism of nicotine is especially complex and is under strong genetic influence. Smoking cessation is associated with substantial health benefits. Evidence from animal and human studies suggests that genetic polymorphisms influencing pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of nicotine may have great potential for aiding smoking treatment. There are more than 30 association studies and one genome-wide association study (GWAS) between genetic polymorphisms and smoking cessation following nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) and/or bupropion therapy. However, only a few candidate genes or regions were analyzed more than twice and even these genes require additional investigations in different therapeutic schemes. There are a growing number of new pharmacologic options that have not been pharmacogenetically assessed according to published literature. In addition, molecular genetics studies are needed to assess the functional mechanisms of some putative association results. Taken together, the preliminary findings are promising but raise the need for new studies with adequate sample sizes and adjustment for several potential confounding factors frequently neglected, such as comorbidity and sociodemographic factors. The current state of the art in the field encourages an optimist view that personalized treatment approaches may become possible. However, the current scientific evidence still does not support the use of pharmacogenetic tests in routine smoking cessation therapy.

Viés atencional no abuso de drogas: teoria e método

O viés atencional pode eliciar fissura, diminuir a concentração em tarefas não relacionadas à droga e aumentar a vulnerabilidade à recaída em dependentes de drogas. O objetivo deste estudo é discutir visões teóricas recentes e principais métodos de investigação do papel do viés atencional nos comportamentos aditivos. Realizou-se busca nas bases de dados Medline, Pubmed e Lilacs. Essa busca revelou que a dot-probe task e o teste emocional de Stroop estão entre os principais métodos de investigação do viés atencional. Também foram apontadas limitações metodológicas nas investigações sobre viés atencional, sugerindo que esse fenômeno deve ser estudado sob condições melhor controladas, que considerem níveis de dependência, privação e fissura. Estudar o viés atencional pode contribuir para identificar mecanismos cognitivos subjacentes aos comportamentos aditivos.

Crenças irracionais, ajustamento psicológico e satisfação de vida em estudantes universitários

Crenças irracionais (CIs) são interpretações ilógicas da realidade que colaboram para o desenvolvimento de perturbações emocionais. A premissa deste estudo é que as CIs podem estar relacionadas ao ajustamento emocional e à satisfação de vida. Estudantes universitários (n=157), responderam ao Questionário de Crenças Irracionais, à Escala de Crenças Irracionais, à Escala Fatorial de Neuroticismo e à Escala de Satisfação de Vida. As CIs apresentaram correlações positivas com dois fatores da Escala Fatorial de Neuroticismo (Vulnerabilidade e Ansiedade) e negativa com idade e com satisfação de vida. Os resultados levam a reflexões importantes sobre a efetividade da Terapia Cognitiva, em especial da Terapia Racional Emotivo-Comportamental, para o ajustamento emocional e para a satisfação de vida dos clientes, que poderiam ser medidas indiretas de sucesso terapêutico.

Avaliação da formação e trajetória profissional na perspectiva de egressos de um curso de psicologia

Este estudo buscou conhecer a formação e as trajetórias de trabalho dos novos profissionais de Psicologia formados pela UFRGS. Um questionário semi-estruturado com 18 questões sobre a atuação profissional, avaliação da formação recebida e sugestões para mudanças curriculares foi enviado via internet ou correio a 143 egressos formados entre 1997 e 2004. Destes, 79 responderam (78,4% mulheres). Os resultados indicaram que 88% dos egressos atuam como psicólogos, a maioria (41,7%) teve a atividade clínica como primeira inserção e 88,6% buscaram formação complementar. Em relação ao curso, apontam a Psicologia clínica como a área mais privilegiada durante a graduação (29,4%). A criação de disciplinas inexistentes e maior diversidade teórica foram as principais sugestões de mudança. Esses resultados apontam um perfil profissional ainda tradicional, um panorama favorável de inserção profissional e sugestões de mudança que vão ao encontro das novas diretrizes curriculares para os cursos de Psicologia.

Expectativas e beber problemático entre universitários

O beber problemático é recorrente entre universitários e está associado a inúmeras conseqüências negativas. Portanto, é importante compreender os fatores de risco para este fenômeno. Examinou-se a relação entre expectativas sobre os efeitos do álcool e o padrão de beber de risco em universitários. Os participantes foram 165 universitários, com média de 22 anos (dp=2,5) que responderam aos inventários AUDIT e IECPA. Constatou-se que 44% dos participantes eram consumidores de risco e que 48% possuíam expectativas positivas altas. Entre elas, facilitação das intersações sociais, diminuição e/ou fuga de emoções negativas, ativação e prazer sexual, efeitos positivos na atividade e humor e na avaliação de si mesmo. Houve correlação entre beber problemático e expectativas positivas. Investigar a relação entre padrão de uso e expectativas sobre os efeitos do álcool favorece o planejamento de intervenções terapêuticas e estratégias preventivas mais precisas que visem a reduzir os riscos do beber problemático entre universitários.