There have been multiple accounts created with the sole purpose of posting advertisement posts or replies containing unsolicited advertising.

Accounts which solely post advertisements, or persistently post them may be terminated.

@psychbot@mastodon.clinicians-exchange.org avatar

psychbot Bot

@[email protected]

I am a robot who usually moves psychology-related RSS news feeds to Toot posts. I am not officially affiliated with them. When driven by a human I may occasionally post other information related to #mental health. (I am owned by https://mastodon.clinicians-exchange.org/@admin )

This profile is from a federated server and may be incomplete. Browse more on the original instance.

psychbot , to psychology
@psychbot@mastodon.clinicians-exchange.org avatar

DATE: July 15, 2024 at 04:00PM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG

TITLE: Females with ADHD diagnosed 4 years later than males, study reveals

URL: https://www.psypost.org/females-with-adhd-diagnosed-4-years-later-than-males-study-reveals/

A recent study published in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry reveals that females with ADHD are diagnosed approximately four years later than males, potentially leading to a higher burden of concurrent psychiatric conditions and increased utilization of healthcare services.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a lifelong condition characterized by symptoms of impulsivity, hyperactivity, and inattention. The disorder is associated with increased behaviors and consequences such as sexual risk-taking, substance use disorders, criminality, and academic underachievement.

Previous research has shown that ADHD is often underdiagnosed in females, with estimates of roughly 3 to 16 males being diagnosed for every female.

Concerned with the potential of significant challenges during the formative years and beyond, the research team embarked on this study to explore the diagnostic delay in females with ADHD and to assess the impact of this delay on their health outcomes.

Led by Charlotte Skoglund from Uppsala University in Sweden, the group conducted a population-based, cross-sectional cohort study involving 85,330 individuals with ADHD living in Stockholm County, using data from the Regional Healthcare Data Warehouse of Region Stockholm.

These individuals were required to possess at least one record of ADHD diagnosis and/or stimulant or non-stimulant medication for ADHD, and were matched to 426,626 healthy controls from the population.

The main measurement outcome was age at ADHD-index (i.e. ADHD diagnosis). Psychiatric comorbidity, pharmacological treatment, and health care utilization, prior to and after ADHD-index, were also measured.

Following statistical analysis, the researchers found that females with ADHD were diagnosed at an average age of 23.5 years, compared to 19.6 years for males.

Moreover, the results demonstrated that psychiatric comorbidity was more common: “females with ADHD were approximately twice as likely compared to males with ADHD to be diagnosed with both anxiety disorders (50.4% vs. 25.9%) and mood disorders (37.5% vs. 19.5%).”

Skoglund and colleagues also reported higher pharmacological treatment, “five years prior to ADHD-index females showed a higher use of anticonvulsants, neuroleptics, sedatives, and hypnotics, as well as psychoanaleptics, compared to males… Two years after index, females with ADHD still showed a significantly higher use of anticonvulsants, neuroleptics, sedatives, hypnotics, and psychoanaleptics, compared to males with ADHD.”

Finally, an increased healthcare utilization was evident, “females with ADHD were more likely than males with ADHD to have both an in- and outpatient psychiatric health care event across the entire study period.”

The researchers emphasized that “early detection, diagnosis, and treatment are important to reduce the risk of serious distress, morbidity, mortality, and impairments in life.”

However, it is important to note that the study only included data captured from publicly-funded registry, which may not capture individuals who are not in contact with health care services. The researchers also noted that the severity of different disorders were not measured.

The study, “Time after time: failure to identify and support females with ADHD – a Swedish population register study”, was authored by Charlotte Skoglund, Inger Sundstrom Poromaa, Daniel Leksell, Katarina Ekholm Selling, Thomas Cars, Maibritt Giacobini, Susan Young, and Helena Kopp Kallner.

URL: https://www.psypost.org/females-with-adhd-diagnosed-4-years-later-than-males-study-reveals/

Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org

Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot

NYU Information for Practice puts out 400-500 good quality health-related research posts per week but its too much for many people, so that bot is limited to just subscribers. You can read it or subscribe at @PsychResearchBot

Since 1991 The National Psychologist has focused on keeping practicing psychologists current with news, information and items of interest. Check them out for more free articles, resources, and subscription information: https://www.nationalpsychologist.com

EMAIL DAILY DIGEST OF RSS FEEDS -- SUBSCRIBE: http://subscribe-article-digests.clinicians-exchange.org

READ ONLINE: http://read-the-rss-mega-archive.clinicians-exchange.org

It's primitive... but it works... mostly...

@psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry

psychbot , to psychology
@psychbot@mastodon.clinicians-exchange.org avatar

DATE: July 15, 2024 at 10:35AM
SOURCE: SCIENCE DAILY PSYCHOLOGY FEED

TITLE: Origins of creativity in the brain

URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/07/240715103538.htm

New results could ultimately help lead to interventions that spark creative thought or aid people who have mental illnesses that disrupt these regions of the brain.

URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/07/240715103538.htm

Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org

Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot

NYU Information for Practice puts out 400-500 good quality health-related research posts per week but its too much for many people, so that bot is limited to just subscribers. You can read it or subscribe at @PsychResearchBot

Since 1991 The National Psychologist has focused on keeping practicing psychologists current with news, information and items of interest. Check them out for more free articles, resources, and subscription information: https://www.nationalpsychologist.com

EMAIL DAILY DIGEST OF RSS FEEDS -- SUBSCRIBE: http://subscribe-article-digests.clinicians-exchange.org

READ ONLINE: http://read-the-rss-mega-archive.clinicians-exchange.org

It's primitive... but it works... mostly...

@psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry

psychbot , to psychology
@psychbot@mastodon.clinicians-exchange.org avatar

DATE: July 15, 2024 at 10:35AM
SOURCE: SCIENCE DAILY MIND-BRAIN FEED

TITLE: Origins of creativity in the brain

URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/07/240715103538.htm

New results could ultimately help lead to interventions that spark creative thought or aid people who have mental illnesses that disrupt these regions of the brain.

URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/07/240715103538.htm

Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org

Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot

NYU Information for Practice puts out 400-500 good quality health-related research posts per week but its too much for many people, so that bot is limited to just subscribers. You can read it or subscribe at @PsychResearchBot

Since 1991 The National Psychologist has focused on keeping practicing psychologists current with news, information and items of interest. Check them out for more free articles, resources, and subscription information: https://www.nationalpsychologist.com

EMAIL DAILY DIGEST OF RSS FEEDS -- SUBSCRIBE: http://subscribe-article-digests.clinicians-exchange.org

READ ONLINE: http://read-the-rss-mega-archive.clinicians-exchange.org

It's primitive... but it works... mostly...

@psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry

psychbot , to psychology
@psychbot@mastodon.clinicians-exchange.org avatar

DATE: July 15, 2024 at 02:28PM
SOURCE: Psychiatric Times
.
Actual article link at end of text block below.
.
Medicare has proposed offering reimbursement to doctors for digital mental health therapies. https://t.co/an7f3shmw9
.
Articles can be found at https://www.psychiatrictimes.com/news

.  
Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: <https://www.clinicians-exchange.org>  
.  
NYU Information for Practice puts out 400-500 good quality health-related research posts per week but its too much for many people, so that bot is limited to just subscribers. You can read it or subscribe at @[email protected]   
.  
 #psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @[email protected] @[email protected] @[email protected] @[email protected] @[email protected] @[email protected] #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #psychotherapist
psychbot , to psychology
@psychbot@mastodon.clinicians-exchange.org avatar

DATE: July 15, 2024 at 02:06PM
SOURCE: Psychiatric Times
.
Actual article link at end of text block below.
.
How can you tackle macro and micro stresses in the health care profession? Learn more in this new column by @shailiJainMd! https://t.co/2KtDre5ttU
.
Articles can be found at https://www.psychiatrictimes.com/news

.  
Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: <https://www.clinicians-exchange.org>  
.  
NYU Information for Practice puts out 400-500 good quality health-related research posts per week but its too much for many people, so that bot is limited to just subscribers. You can read it or subscribe at @[email protected]   
.  
 #psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @[email protected] @[email protected] @[email protected] @[email protected] @[email protected] @[email protected] #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #psychotherapist
psychbot , to psychology
@psychbot@mastodon.clinicians-exchange.org avatar

DATE: July 15, 2024 at 02:00PM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG

TITLE: New study sheds light on brain mechanisms underlying paranoia

URL: https://www.psypost.org/new-study-sheds-light-on-brain-mechanisms-underlying-paranoia/

Scientists have found that damage to a specific brain region, the magnocellular mediodorsal thalamus, in monkeys caused behaviors similar to those seen in humans with paranoia, such as heightened sensitivity to changes and difficulty learning from outcomes. These findings, published in Cell Reports, suggest that this brain region plays a critical role in the development of paranoia, providing a potential target for future treatments.

Previous research has established that the ability to form and adjust beliefs about actions and their consequences is essential for advanced cognition. Disruptions in this ability are linked to maladaptive cognitive and behavioral states, such as paranoia.

Paranoia is a mental state characterized by intense and irrational suspicion or mistrust of others, often involving beliefs that others intend to harm or deceive. It can manifest as exaggerated feelings of persecution or conspiracies against oneself.

Prior studies have implicated various brain regions, including the prefrontal cortex and the thalamus, in the processes of belief updating and paranoia. However, the exact mechanisms and specific brain regions responsible for these disruptions remain unclear.

One approach to studying these mechanisms has been the use of probabilistic reversal learning tasks, which require individuals to adapt their choices based on changing reward contingencies. This method has been effective in identifying behavioral patterns associated with flexibility and persistence in decision-making. While these studies have provided valuable insights, they often focus solely on human subjects or a single species, limiting the ability to generalize findings across different species and neural architectures.

The authors behind the new research sought to address these limitations by adopting a cross-species approach that aligns data from monkeys with human data

The study involved a total of twenty male rhesus macaque monkeys and 1,225 online human participants, categorized based on their levels of paranoia. The monkeys were divided into groups with excitotoxic lesions in either the magnocellular mediodorsal thalamus (MDmc) or the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC), and a control group with no lesions. The lesions were created surgically, and the monkeys’ subsequent behavior was compared to that of the control group.

Both monkeys and human participants completed a probabilistic reversal learning task, which required them to choose between three options with changing reward probabilities. For the monkeys, this task was performed on a touch-sensitive monitor, with food pellets as rewards. In the human version of the task, participants received points instead of food. The task involved an initial phase where one option had the highest probability of reward, followed by a reversal phase where the reward probabilities changed, requiring participants to adjust their choices accordingly.

“Participants have to figure out what’s the best target, and when there’s a perceived change in the environment, the participant then has to find the new best target,” said Steve Chang, associate professor of psychology and of neuroscience in Yale’s Faculty of Arts and Sciences and co-senior author of the study.

Behavioral data were collected on win-switching (changing choices after a reward) and lose-staying (repeating choices after no reward) behaviors, indicative of flexibility and persistence in decision-making. Computational modeling using the hierarchical Gaussian filter (HGF) was employed to estimate belief parameters related to volatility (the tendency to expect changes) and value learning (the rate of learning about the values of each option). These parameters helped quantify how participants updated their beliefs in response to changes in reward contingencies.

“Not only did we use data in which monkeys and humans performed the same task, we also applied the same computational analysis to both datasets,” said Philip Corlett, an associate professor of psychiatry at Yale School of Medicine and co-senior author of the study. “The computational model is essentially a series of equations that we can use to try to explain the behavior, and here it serves as the common language between the human and monkey data and allows us to compare the two and see how the monkey data relates to the human data.”

The study found significant differences in behavior and belief updating between the lesion groups and the control group of monkeys. Monkeys with lesions in the MDmc exhibited increased win-switching and reduced lose-staying behaviors, indicating heightened sensitivity to changes in reward contingencies.

These monkeys also showed elevated volatility beliefs and decreased value learning rates, particularly after the reversal in reward probabilities. This pattern suggests that MDmc lesions lead to an exaggerated response to perceived changes in the environment, similar to behaviors observed in paranoid individuals.

In contrast, monkeys with OFC lesions displayed the opposite pattern: decreased win-switching, increased lose-staying, and elevated value learning rates, with no significant change in volatility beliefs. This behavior indicates a failure to adapt to changes in reward contingencies, leading to more persistent and less flexible decision-making. The computational models supported these observations, showing distinct effects of the lesions on belief updating parameters.

When comparing these findings to human participants, those with high levels of paranoia exhibited similar patterns to the MDmc-lesioned monkeys. High-paranoia individuals showed higher win-switching rates and elevated volatility beliefs, along with lower value learning rates. These parallels suggest that the MDmc plays a critical role in the processes underlying paranoia, and that disruptions in this region can lead to behaviors associated with excessive sensitivity to environmental changes and difficulties in learning from outcomes.

By demonstrating how specific brain lesions affect decision-making and belief updating in monkeys and drawing parallels to human paranoia, the research offers new insights into the neural mechanisms of paranoia.

“It allows us to ask how we can translate what we learn in simpler species — like rats, mice, maybe even invertebrates — to understand human cognition,” said Corlett, who, along with Chang, is a member of Yale’s Wu Tsai Institute, which aims to accelerate understanding of human cognition.

“It could also enable researchers to evaluate the precise mechanisms by which pharmaceutical treatments influence brain activity related to states like paranoia. “And maybe down the road we can use it to find new ways to reduce paranoia in humans,” added Chang.

The study, “Lesions to the mediodorsal thalamus, but not orbitofrontal cortex, enhance volatility beliefs linked to paranoia,” was authored by Praveen Suthaharan, Summer L. Thompson, Rosa A. Rossi-Goldthorpe, Peter H. Rudebeck, Mark E. Walton, Subhojit Chakraborty, Maryann P. Noonan, Vincent D. Costa, Elisabeth A. Murray, Christoph D. Mathys, Stephanie M. Groman, Anna S. Mitchell, Jane R. Taylor, Philip R. Corlett, and Steve W.C. Chang.

URL: https://www.psypost.org/new-study-sheds-light-on-brain-mechanisms-underlying-paranoia/

Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org

Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot

NYU Information for Practice puts out 400-500 good quality health-related research posts per week but its too much for many people, so that bot is limited to just subscribers. You can read it or subscribe at @PsychResearchBot

Since 1991 The National Psychologist has focused on keeping practicing psychologists current with news, information and items of interest. Check them out for more free articles, resources, and subscription information: https://www.nationalpsychologist.com

EMAIL DAILY DIGEST OF RSS FEEDS -- SUBSCRIBE: http://subscribe-article-digests.clinicians-exchange.org

READ ONLINE: http://read-the-rss-mega-archive.clinicians-exchange.org

It's primitive... but it works... mostly...

@psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry

psychbot , to psychology
@psychbot@mastodon.clinicians-exchange.org avatar

DATE: July 11, 2024 at 11:14AM
SOURCE: SCIENCE DAILY PSYCHOLOGY FEED

TITLE: Researchers identify potential therapeutic target for management of thirst disorders

URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/07/240711111407.htm

In a recent mouse-model study researchers have now found that the cerebellum also controls thirst, a major function necessary for survival. Specifically, the research team found that a hormone, asprosin, crosses from the periphery into the brain to activate Purkinje neurons in the cerebellum. This leads to an enhanced drive to seek and drink water.

URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/07/240711111407.htm

Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org

Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot

NYU Information for Practice puts out 400-500 good quality health-related research posts per week but its too much for many people, so that bot is limited to just subscribers. You can read it or subscribe at @PsychResearchBot

Since 1991 The National Psychologist has focused on keeping practicing psychologists current with news, information and items of interest. Check them out for more free articles, resources, and subscription information: https://www.nationalpsychologist.com

EMAIL DAILY DIGEST OF RSS FEEDS -- SUBSCRIBE: http://subscribe-article-digests.clinicians-exchange.org

READ ONLINE: http://read-the-rss-mega-archive.clinicians-exchange.org

It's primitive... but it works... mostly...

@psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry

psychbot , to psychology
@psychbot@mastodon.clinicians-exchange.org avatar

DATE: July 11, 2024 at 11:14AM
SOURCE: SCIENCE DAILY MIND-BRAIN FEED

TITLE: Researchers identify potential therapeutic target for management of thirst disorders

URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/07/240711111407.htm

In a recent mouse-model study researchers have now found that the cerebellum also controls thirst, a major function necessary for survival. Specifically, the research team found that a hormone, asprosin, crosses from the periphery into the brain to activate Purkinje neurons in the cerebellum. This leads to an enhanced drive to seek and drink water.

URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/07/240711111407.htm

Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org

Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot

NYU Information for Practice puts out 400-500 good quality health-related research posts per week but its too much for many people, so that bot is limited to just subscribers. You can read it or subscribe at @PsychResearchBot

Since 1991 The National Psychologist has focused on keeping practicing psychologists current with news, information and items of interest. Check them out for more free articles, resources, and subscription information: https://www.nationalpsychologist.com

EMAIL DAILY DIGEST OF RSS FEEDS -- SUBSCRIBE: http://subscribe-article-digests.clinicians-exchange.org

READ ONLINE: http://read-the-rss-mega-archive.clinicians-exchange.org

It's primitive... but it works... mostly...

@psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry

psychbot , to psychology
@psychbot@mastodon.clinicians-exchange.org avatar

DATE: July 15, 2024 at 12:00PM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG

TITLE: Chocolate lovers’ brains: How familiarity influences reward processing

URL: https://www.psypost.org/chocolate-lovers-brains-how-familiarity-influences-reward-processing/

A neuroimaging study on how humans respond to chocolate revealed that the human brain reacts faster to images of familiar chocolates compared to those of unfamiliar chocolates. However, choosing unfamiliar chocolates over familiar ones elicited stronger brain responses in the bilateral inferior frontal gyrus and right caudate head regions. The research was published in the Journal of Neuroimaging.

When a person eats something delicious or achieves success, they typically experience feelings of pleasure. These feelings are produced by the brain’s reward system, a network of structures responsible for regulating feelings of pleasure and motivation. Key components of this system are located in the nucleus accumbens, the ventral tegmental area, and the prefrontal cortex.

When a person experiences something rewarding, this system releases dopamine, a neurotransmitter that signals pleasure. This dopamine release activates specific neural structures, making the person more likely to repeat the behavior that led to the dopamine release, thereby experiencing pleasure again.

The prefrontal cortex helps regulate and control these reward-driven behaviors by making decisions and weighing the consequences. Dysfunction in the brain reward system can lead to addiction, where the system becomes hijacked by substances or behaviors that trigger excessive dopamine release, leading to compulsive actions. For this reason, understanding how the brain reward system functions attracts a lot of research interest. These findings might be crucial for developing treatments for various forms of addictions and other disorders related to motivation and reward.

Study author Senal Peiris and his colleagues examined how familiar and unfamiliar chocolate brands influence reward processing for people who love chocolate. They focused on wanting the chocolate, which is associated with craving, and on liking it, which is associated with pleasurable experiences.

They hypothesized that chocolate lovers would have increased neural activity in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex when selecting familiar chocolate brands, but show reduced neural activity in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex when selecting unfamiliar chocolate brands because this decision-making is based on reasoning.

In reward processing, these two brain areas have somewhat different functions. The ventromedial prefrontal cortex is believed to be primarily involved in evaluating the value of rewards and making decisions based on those values, while the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex is believed to be involved in reasoning-based decisions about rewards by integrating information and applying cognitive control to make thoughtful, goal-oriented choices.

The study participants were 24 healthy adults aged between 19 and 45 years, with an average age of 25. They volunteered for the study by responding to an advertisement recruiting “Chocolate lovers” and received $50 gift cards for their participation. For selection purposes, the researchers had candidates complete an assessment that characterizes preferences for chocolates (the Chocolate Questionnaire), ensuring all participants were indeed chocolate lovers. Selected participants completed two experiments while undergoing functional magnetic resonance imaging.

Before the start of these experiments, participants were asked to list their three favorite chocolate brands, followed by all brands of chocolate they could remember. Twenty-three of the 24 participants listed Hershey’s among their top three favorites, followed by Dove (listed by 17 participants among the top 3). Because of this, the researchers used Hershey’s and Dove to create a category of familiar chocolates for the experiments.

Neither Perugina nor Landmark Confections appeared on either list for any of the participants, and participants confirmed that these two brands (popular in Europe but not in the United States) were unfamiliar brands of chocolate and that they had never tasted them before. The researchers based the unfamiliar chocolate category on these two brands.

In the first experiment, participants viewed pictures of familiar and unfamiliar chocolates while undergoing functional magnetic resonance imaging and rated how much they craved and liked each brand. Each image was presented 14 times, for a total of 56 trials. In the second experiment, participants viewed the same images but paired so that one familiar and one unfamiliar chocolate type were shown side by side. Participants had to indicate their preference. There were 24 trials in this experiment.

Results showed that participants craved and liked familiar chocolates more. In the preference experiment, they chose familiar chocolates in 62% of the trials. When the researchers compared how much participants craved and liked chocolates and whether they chose them in the preference experiment, results showed that participants who reported craving unfamiliar chocolates more were also more likely to select them over familiar chocolates. On the other hand, participants who liked familiar chocolates more were more likely to choose them over unfamiliar chocolates.

Neuroimaging data showed that when just viewing pictures of chocolates, the right posterior middle temporal gyrus and left superior occipital gyrus regions were more strongly activated by unfamiliar chocolates. The left and right inferior frontal gyrus and right caudate head were more strongly activated in individuals who chose unfamiliar chocolates. The researchers believe that these regions are part of the neural network recruited when a person chooses unfamiliar chocolates over familiar ones. Neural responses were faster to images of familiar chocolates.

“The choices for branded chocolate products are driven by higher subjective reward ratings and lower neural processing demands,” the researchers concluded.

The study sheds light on how brain responses depend on the familiarity of chocolate brands. However, it also has limitations that need to be considered. Notably, the study was based on a very small number of participants, and conclusions might be limited to chocolate lovers. Results might not be the same in individuals whose preferences for chocolates are less pronounced.

The paper, “Neural correlates of chocolate brand preference: A functional MRI study,” was authored by Senal Peiris, Michael J. Tobia, Andrew Smith, Emily Grun, Rommy Elyan, Paul J. Eslinger, Qing X. Yang, and Prasanna Karunanayaka.

URL: https://www.psypost.org/chocolate-lovers-brains-how-familiarity-influences-reward-processing/

Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org

Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot

NYU Information for Practice puts out 400-500 good quality health-related research posts per week but its too much for many people, so that bot is limited to just subscribers. You can read it or subscribe at @PsychResearchBot

Since 1991 The National Psychologist has focused on keeping practicing psychologists current with news, information and items of interest. Check them out for more free articles, resources, and subscription information: https://www.nationalpsychologist.com

EMAIL DAILY DIGEST OF RSS FEEDS -- SUBSCRIBE: http://subscribe-article-digests.clinicians-exchange.org

READ ONLINE: http://read-the-rss-mega-archive.clinicians-exchange.org

It's primitive... but it works... mostly...

@psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry

psychbot , to psychology
@psychbot@mastodon.clinicians-exchange.org avatar

DATE: July 11, 2024 at 11:14AM
SOURCE: SCIENCE DAILY PSYCHOLOGY FEED

TITLE: Toddlers' brains show significant growth in cognitive skills by 16 months

URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/07/240711111448.htm

Toddlers engage more regions of their brains around 16-months to help them develop important cognitive skills enabling them to follow simple instructions and control impulses. Findings from the study suggests 16 months is a critical period for brain development.

URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/07/240711111448.htm

Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org

Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot

NYU Information for Practice puts out 400-500 good quality health-related research posts per week but its too much for many people, so that bot is limited to just subscribers. You can read it or subscribe at @PsychResearchBot

Since 1991 The National Psychologist has focused on keeping practicing psychologists current with news, information and items of interest. Check them out for more free articles, resources, and subscription information: https://www.nationalpsychologist.com

EMAIL DAILY DIGEST OF RSS FEEDS -- SUBSCRIBE: http://subscribe-article-digests.clinicians-exchange.org

READ ONLINE: http://read-the-rss-mega-archive.clinicians-exchange.org

It's primitive... but it works... mostly...

@psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry

psychbot , to psychology
@psychbot@mastodon.clinicians-exchange.org avatar

DATE: July 11, 2024 at 11:14AM
SOURCE: SCIENCE DAILY MIND-BRAIN FEED

TITLE: Researchers explore the role of children in community participatory planning process

URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/07/240711111437.htm

Child-friendly cities prioritize safe environments, healthcare, education, green spaces, and children's participation in decision-making processes. However, children are consulted only for ideas and often excluded from public spaces. A study tackled pedestrian safety around school zones using child-inclusive participatory planning. Their approach included field work, community mapping, and collaborative solution development. Children effectively identified safety risks, shaping a robust safety plan with potential to significantly enhance community safety.

URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/07/240711111437.htm

Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org

Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot

NYU Information for Practice puts out 400-500 good quality health-related research posts per week but its too much for many people, so that bot is limited to just subscribers. You can read it or subscribe at @PsychResearchBot

Since 1991 The National Psychologist has focused on keeping practicing psychologists current with news, information and items of interest. Check them out for more free articles, resources, and subscription information: https://www.nationalpsychologist.com

EMAIL DAILY DIGEST OF RSS FEEDS -- SUBSCRIBE: http://subscribe-article-digests.clinicians-exchange.org

READ ONLINE: http://read-the-rss-mega-archive.clinicians-exchange.org

It's primitive... but it works... mostly...

@psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry

psychbot , to psychology
@psychbot@mastodon.clinicians-exchange.org avatar

DATE: July 11, 2024 at 11:14AM
SOURCE: SCIENCE DAILY MIND-BRAIN FEED

TITLE: Toddlers' brains show significant growth in cognitive skills by 16 months

URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/07/240711111448.htm

Toddlers engage more regions of their brains around 16-months to help them develop important cognitive skills enabling them to follow simple instructions and control impulses. Findings from the study suggests 16 months is a critical period for brain development.

URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/07/240711111448.htm

Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org

Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot

NYU Information for Practice puts out 400-500 good quality health-related research posts per week but its too much for many people, so that bot is limited to just subscribers. You can read it or subscribe at @PsychResearchBot

Since 1991 The National Psychologist has focused on keeping practicing psychologists current with news, information and items of interest. Check them out for more free articles, resources, and subscription information: https://www.nationalpsychologist.com

EMAIL DAILY DIGEST OF RSS FEEDS -- SUBSCRIBE: http://subscribe-article-digests.clinicians-exchange.org

READ ONLINE: http://read-the-rss-mega-archive.clinicians-exchange.org

It's primitive... but it works... mostly...

@psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry

psychbot , to psychology
@psychbot@mastodon.clinicians-exchange.org avatar

DATE: July 11, 2024 at 11:14AM
SOURCE: SCIENCE DAILY MIND-BRAIN FEED

TITLE: Narcissism decreases with age

URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/07/240711111418.htm

People tend to become less narcissistic as they age from childhood through older adulthood. However, differences among individuals remain stable over time -- people who are more narcissistic than their peers as children tend to remain that way as adults, the study found.

URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/07/240711111418.htm

Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org

Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot

NYU Information for Practice puts out 400-500 good quality health-related research posts per week but its too much for many people, so that bot is limited to just subscribers. You can read it or subscribe at @PsychResearchBot

Since 1991 The National Psychologist has focused on keeping practicing psychologists current with news, information and items of interest. Check them out for more free articles, resources, and subscription information: https://www.nationalpsychologist.com

EMAIL DAILY DIGEST OF RSS FEEDS -- SUBSCRIBE: http://subscribe-article-digests.clinicians-exchange.org

READ ONLINE: http://read-the-rss-mega-archive.clinicians-exchange.org

It's primitive... but it works... mostly...

@psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry

psychbot , to psychology
@psychbot@mastodon.clinicians-exchange.org avatar

DATE: July 11, 2024 at 11:13AM
SOURCE: SCIENCE DAILY MIND-BRAIN FEED

TITLE: Metformin and other antidiabetic drugs can help reduce the risk of dementia in patients with type 2 diabetes

URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/07/240711111352.htm

Investigators analyzing the potential cognitive effects of antidiabetic medications in records of more than 1.5 million patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) found risks of dementia and Alzheimer's disease (AD) were significantly lower in patients treated with metformin and sodium glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT-2i) compared to other antidiabetic drugs.

URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/07/240711111352.htm

Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org

Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot

NYU Information for Practice puts out 400-500 good quality health-related research posts per week but its too much for many people, so that bot is limited to just subscribers. You can read it or subscribe at @PsychResearchBot

Since 1991 The National Psychologist has focused on keeping practicing psychologists current with news, information and items of interest. Check them out for more free articles, resources, and subscription information: https://www.nationalpsychologist.com

EMAIL DAILY DIGEST OF RSS FEEDS -- SUBSCRIBE: http://subscribe-article-digests.clinicians-exchange.org

READ ONLINE: http://read-the-rss-mega-archive.clinicians-exchange.org

It's primitive... but it works... mostly...

@psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry

psychbot , to psychology
@psychbot@mastodon.clinicians-exchange.org avatar

DATE: July 15, 2024 at 10:00AM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG

TITLE: Cannabis terpenes offer new hope for neuropathic pain relief

URL: https://www.psypost.org/cannabis-terpenes-offer-new-hope-for-neuropathic-pain-relief/

Chronic pain, particularly neuropathic pain resulting from nerve damage, significantly impacts quality of life for many individuals. Conventional treatments, such as opioids, often come with severe side effects like addiction, tolerance, and constipation, making them less ideal for long-term management.

Recent research published in the journal PAIN explores an alternative: terpenes from Cannabis sativa. The study found that certain terpenes are as effective as morphine in reducing chronic neuropathic pain. Furthermore, combining terpenes with morphine enhanced pain relief without increasing side effects.

Previous studies have shown that the primary cannabinoids in Cannabis, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD), can manage chronic pain, but their effectiveness is moderate, and THC often causes psychoactive side effects. This led researchers to investigate terpenes, the aromatic compounds in plants, which may offer pain relief without these drawbacks. The study aimed to determine if terpenes could manage chronic pain effectively and safely.

Researchers led by John Streicher of the University of Arizona focused on five terpenes commonly found in Cannabis: alpha-humulene, beta-caryophyllene, beta-pinene, geraniol, and linalool. They used a mouse model of chemotherapy-induced neuropathic pain, which mimics chronic pain conditions in humans.

Mice were treated with paclitaxel, a chemotherapy drug, to induce neuropathic pain. Their pain responses were measured using mechanical sensitivity tests. The mice then received either one of the terpenes, morphine, or a combination of both. Researchers evaluated the pain relief provided by each treatment by observing changes in pain sensitivity over time.

Each of the five terpenes tested provided significant pain relief comparable to morphine. This was a remarkable discovery, suggesting that terpenes alone could be potent pain relievers.

“A question that we’ve been very interested in is could terpenes be used to manage chronic pain?” said Streicher. “What we found is that terpenes are really good at relieving a specific type of chronic pain with side effects that are low and manageable.”

When combined with morphine, terpenes enhanced the pain relief effects without increasing the negative side effects associated with opioids. This combination therapy could allow for lower doses of morphine, reducing the risk of addiction and other side effects.

Terpenes did not show any rewarding or addictive properties in the mice, suggesting a lower risk of addiction. Additionally, terpenes did not produce significant tolerance over time, meaning their effectiveness did not diminish with repeated use, unlike morphine.

“That was really striking to us, but just because something relieves pain doesn’t necessarily mean it’s going to be a good therapy,” Streicher said. “This brings up the idea that you could have a combination therapy, an opioid with a high level of terpene, that could actually make the pain relief better while blocking the addiction potential of opioids. That’s what we are looking at now.”

The researchers identified that the terpenes likely relieve pain by activating the adenosine A2A receptor, particularly in the spinal cord. This receptor plays a role in reducing pain and inflammation, providing a new target for pain management strategies.

While the study presents promising results, there are several limitations and considerations for future research. The study was conducted in mice, and while animal models provide valuable insights, human physiology can respond differently. Clinical trials in humans are necessary to confirm the efficacy and safety of terpenes for pain relief.

The researchers also found that terpenes had limited effectiveness when administered orally or via inhalation, which are more practical for human use. Future research should focus on improving the bioavailability of terpenes through advanced formulation techniques, such as nanoparticle delivery systems.

“A lot of people vape or smoke terpenes as part of cannabis extracts that are available commercially in states where cannabis use is legal,” Streicher said. “We were surprised to find that the inhalation route didn’t have an impact in this study, because there are a lot of at least anecdotal reports saying that you can get the effects of terpenes whether taken orally or inhaled. Part of the confounding factor is that terpenes smell quite nice and it’s hard to disguise that aroma, so people could be kind of having the psychosomatic placebo-style effect.”

The study, “Terpenes from Cannabis sativa induce antinociception in a mouse model of chronic neuropathic pain via activation of adenosine A2A receptors,” was authored by Abigail M. Schwarz, Attila Keresztes, Thai Bui, Ryan J. Hecksel, Adrian Peña, Brianna Lent, Zhan-Guo Gao, Martín Gamez-Rivera, Caleb A. Seekins, Kerry Chou, Taylor L. Appel, Kenneth A. Jacobson, Fahad A. Al-Obeidi, and John M. Streicher.

URL: https://www.psypost.org/cannabis-terpenes-offer-new-hope-for-neuropathic-pain-relief/

Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org

Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot

NYU Information for Practice puts out 400-500 good quality health-related research posts per week but its too much for many people, so that bot is limited to just subscribers. You can read it or subscribe at @PsychResearchBot

Since 1991 The National Psychologist has focused on keeping practicing psychologists current with news, information and items of interest. Check them out for more free articles, resources, and subscription information: https://www.nationalpsychologist.com

EMAIL DAILY DIGEST OF RSS FEEDS -- SUBSCRIBE: http://subscribe-article-digests.clinicians-exchange.org

READ ONLINE: http://read-the-rss-mega-archive.clinicians-exchange.org

It's primitive... but it works... mostly...

@psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry

psychbot , to psychology
@psychbot@mastodon.clinicians-exchange.org avatar

DATE: July 15, 2024 at 08:00AM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG

TITLE: New study explores the psychological dynamics of helping strangers

URL: https://www.psypost.org/new-study-explores-the-psychological-dynamics-of-helping-strangers/

A new study published in Evolutionary Psychology reported that competence and prosociality independently increase compassion and willingness to help others.

Why do we help others at a personal cost? Altruistic behavior seemingly challenges traditional evolutionary theories that focus on self-interest. Reciprocal altruism suggests such behaviors can evolve if the help is anticipated to be reciprocated in the future. Cues of this reciprocity include the recipient’s competence and willingness to make sacrifices; thus, if one lacks these traits, helping them might not reap any future benefits.

Researchers Ryo Oda and colleagues recruited 209 Japanese speaking participants. They were presented with four scenarios, each featuring a character who had lost their job. These characters varied in their prosocial tendencies (e.g., diligent, caring vs. unreliable, lazy) and the controllability of their job loss (i.e., due to employer bankruptcy vs. oversleeping).

After each scenario, they responded to comprehension check items ensuring their understanding of the scenario. Participants then rated their feelings of responsibility, trust, compassion, and sympathy toward the characters on a scale of 1 (I do not feel this at all) to 9 (I feel this strongly). They also rated their willingness to help the characters by engaging in four hypothetical helping behaviors with different costs (i.e.,, words of encouragement, helping with job search, loaning money, giving money).

The results revealed that both the prosociality of the characters and the controllability of their distress independently influenced participants’ feelings of compassion, trust, and willingness to help. That is, participants felt more compassion and trust toward prosocial others, and toward those whose distress was uncontrollable.

Willingness to help was higher for prosocial individuals and those facing uncontrollable distress, and decreased as the cost of helping increased. While both factors had significant influence, their effects were independent of each other, suggesting that both prosociality and uncontrollable distress are critical but separate considerations in the decision to help others.

Study 2 built on Study 1 by measuring actual willingness to help by imposing a small but real cost. Four scenarios involving characters whose businesses went bankrupt due to controllable (failure to expand business) or uncontrollable (COVID-19 Pandemic) causes. As in Study 1, the characters varied in their prosocial tendencies. A total of 160 Japanese participants read these scenarios and reported their feelings on a 9-point Likert scale.

Willingness to help was measured using the checkbox method, which required participants to indicate their willingness by sequentially checking boxes on a webpage, with each box representing an incremental level of willingness to help, for a total of 100 boxes. For example, checking 50 boxes would indicate a willingness to help rated as 50 out of 100. The rationale behind this method is that participants incur a small but real cost in terms of time and effort in expressing their willingness to help.

The researchers found that participants felt more compassion and were more willing to help prosocial individuals and those whose distress was due to uncontrollable causes. Indeed, participants checked more boxes for prosocial individuals and those with uncontrollable distress. There was no significant interaction between prosociality and controllability, suggesting that these factors independently influence the decision to help, even when actual costs are involved.

One limitation is that while the checkbox method allowed for measurement of willingness to help with a real cost in terms of time and effort, the vignettes may not have fully captured the nuances of these traits.

The research, “Deciding Who Is Worthy of Help: Effect of the Probability of Reciprocity on Individuals’ Willingness to Help Others”, was authored by Ryo Oda and Natsuki Hayashi.

URL: https://www.psypost.org/new-study-explores-the-psychological-dynamics-of-helping-strangers/

Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org

Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot

NYU Information for Practice puts out 400-500 good quality health-related research posts per week but its too much for many people, so that bot is limited to just subscribers. You can read it or subscribe at @PsychResearchBot

Since 1991 The National Psychologist has focused on keeping practicing psychologists current with news, information and items of interest. Check them out for more free articles, resources, and subscription information: https://www.nationalpsychologist.com

EMAIL DAILY DIGEST OF RSS FEEDS -- SUBSCRIBE: http://subscribe-article-digests.clinicians-exchange.org

READ ONLINE: http://read-the-rss-mega-archive.clinicians-exchange.org

It's primitive... but it works... mostly...

@psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry

psychbot , to psychology
@psychbot@mastodon.clinicians-exchange.org avatar

DATE: July 15, 2024 at 06:00AM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG

TITLE: AI predicts Alzheimer’s disease risk with remarkable accuracy through subtle speech patterns

URL: https://www.psypost.org/ai-predicts-alzheimers-disease-risk-with-remarkable-accuracy-through-subtle-speech-patterns/

Researchers at Boston University have created a groundbreaking artificial intelligence (AI) model capable of predicting whether a person with mild cognitive impairment will develop Alzheimer’s disease within six years, based solely on their speech. This model has shown an impressive accuracy rate of 78.5%, offering a non-invasive, accessible method for early diagnosis. The findings have been published in the journal Alzheimer’s & Dementia.

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia and typically progresses through a long phase where only subtle cognitive changes are apparent. People with mild cognitive impairment are at a higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s, with annual conversion rates ranging from 3% to 15%.

Early and accurate prediction of who will transition from mild cognitive impairment to Alzheimer’s is vital for timely treatment and inclusion in clinical trials for new drugs. Traditional methods for diagnosing Alzheimer’s, such as brain imaging and cerebrospinal fluid tests, are invasive, expensive, and not easily accessible in all regions. In contrast, analyzing speech during neuropsychological tests is a less invasive and potentially more scalable approach.

The Boston University researchers conducted their study using data from the Framingham Heart Study, which has been recording neuropsychological test interviews since 2005. The cohort for this study consisted of 166 individuals with cognitive complaints, including 59 men and 107 women, with a median age of 81 years. These participants underwent neuropsychological tests designed to assess various cognitive domains such as memory, language, visuospatial skills, abstract reasoning, and attention. Each test session, lasting about an hour, was audio-recorded and stored in the .wav format.

The researchers transcribed the audio recordings into text using automated speech recognition software. Each utterance was then diarized, meaning it was attributed to either the participant or the examiner, and categorized into specific subtests like the Boston Naming Test or the Wechsler Memory Scale. The text data was processed using the Universal Sentence Encoder, a deep learning model that transforms text into numerical vectors representing semantic content.

To predict whether individuals with mild cognitive impairment would progress to Alzheimer’s disease within six years, the researchers employed logistic regression models. They generated embedding vectors from the transcribed text and trained the models on these vectors, along with demographic information such as age, sex, and education level. The model’s performance was evaluated using stratified group k-fold cross-validation, ensuring that the data was split into multiple folds for training and testing to validate the results comprehensively.

The AI model developed by the researchers achieved an accuracy rate of 78.5% and a sensitivity of 81.1% in predicting the progression from mild cognitive impairment to Alzheimer’s disease within six years. Sensitivity refers to the model’s ability to correctly identify individuals who will progress to Alzheimer’s, while specificity, at 75%, measures its accuracy in identifying those who will not progress. These results indicate a strong predictive power, particularly in identifying future Alzheimer’s patients.

The analysis revealed that speech features extracted from the neuropsychological test recordings were robust predictors of disease progression. The inclusion of text features alone outperformed traditional neuropsychological test scores and demographic factors. This suggests that subtle changes in speech patterns and language use can provide valuable insights into cognitive decline, even before more obvious symptoms appear.

“We wanted to predict what would happen in the next six years—and we found we can reasonably make that prediction with relatively good confidence and accuracy,” said Ioannis (Yannis) Paschalidis, the director of the Boston University Rafik B. Hariri Institute for Computing and Computational Science & Engineering. “It shows the power of AI.”

Interestingly, the study also found that older women, individuals with lower education levels, and those carrying specific genetic markers, such as the apolipoprotein E gene allele, were more likely to progress to Alzheimer’s. These findings align with existing research on the risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease, reinforcing the validity of the AI model’s predictions.

While the AI model shows promise, there are limitations to consider. The study’s cohort was predominantly White, limiting the generalizability of the findings to more diverse populations. The specificity of the model, although reasonable, still leaves room for improvement to reduce the cost of clinical trials by better identifying candidates for new treatments.

Furthermore, the model’s reliance on speech data means that variations in dialect, language proficiency, and cultural differences could impact its accuracy. Future research should aim to validate these findings across more diverse and larger populations and explore the inclusion of other types of data, such as patient drawings and daily life patterns, to enhance predictive accuracy.

As the study’s co-author, Rhoda Au, notes, AI has the potential to create “equal opportunity science and healthcare,” overcoming biases and resource limitations. This technology can democratize access to early diagnosis and treatment, making it available to a broader population.

“Technology can overcome the bias of work that can only be done by those with resources, or care that has relied on specialized expertise that is not available to everyone,” said Au, a professor of anatomy and neurobiology. One of the most exciting findings was “that a method for cognitive assessment that has the potential to be maximally inclusive—possibly independent of age, sex/gender, education, language, culture, income, geography—could serve as a potential screening tool for detecting and monitoring symptoms related to Alzheimer’s disease.”

The researchers plan to expand their study to include data from more natural conversations, rather than just structured neuropsychological tests, potentially through a smartphone app. This approach could make the AI model even more accessible and practical for widespread use. Additionally, they aim to incorporate other types of data to further improve the model’s accuracy.

“Digital is the new blood,” says Au. “You can collect it, analyze it for what is known today, store it, and reanalyze it for whatever new emerges tomorrow.”

“We hope, as everyone does, that there will be more and more Alzheimer’s treatments made available,” Paschalidis added. “If you can predict what will happen, you have more of an opportunity and time window to intervene with drugs, and at least try to maintain the stability of the condition and prevent the transition to more severe forms of dementia.”

The study, “Prediction of Alzheimer’s disease progression within 6 years using speech: A novel approach leveraging language models,” was authored by Samad Amini, Boran Hao, Jingmei Yang, Cody Karjadi, Vijaya B. Kolachalama, Rhoda Au, and Ioannis C. Paschalidis.

URL: https://www.psypost.org/ai-predicts-alzheimers-disease-risk-with-remarkable-accuracy-through-subtle-speech-patterns/

Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org

Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot

NYU Information for Practice puts out 400-500 good quality health-related research posts per week but its too much for many people, so that bot is limited to just subscribers. You can read it or subscribe at @PsychResearchBot

Since 1991 The National Psychologist has focused on keeping practicing psychologists current with news, information and items of interest. Check them out for more free articles, resources, and subscription information: https://www.nationalpsychologist.com

EMAIL DAILY DIGEST OF RSS FEEDS -- SUBSCRIBE: http://subscribe-article-digests.clinicians-exchange.org

READ ONLINE: http://read-the-rss-mega-archive.clinicians-exchange.org

It's primitive... but it works... mostly...

@psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry

psychbot , to psychology
@psychbot@mastodon.clinicians-exchange.org avatar

DATE: July 15, 2024 at 03:00AM
SOURCE:
NEW YORK TIMES PSYCHOLOGY AND PSYCHOLOGISTS FEED

TITLE: Dr. Ruth, Longtime Manhattanite, Is Remembered as a Neighborhood ‘Anchor’

URL: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/15/nyregion/ruth-westheimer-new-york.html

Ruth Westheimer, the sex therapist, lived in the same Washington Heights apartment for more than half a century. Her neighbors said she was gregarious, funny and unabashedly herself.

URL: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/15/nyregion/ruth-westheimer-new-york.html

Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org

Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot

NYU Information for Practice puts out 400-500 good quality health-related research posts per week but its too much for many people, so that bot is limited to just subscribers. You can read it or subscribe at @PsychResearchBot

Since 1991 The National Psychologist has focused on keeping practicing psychologists current with news, information and items of interest. Check them out for more free articles, resources, and subscription information: https://www.nationalpsychologist.com

EMAIL DAILY DIGEST OF RSS FEEDS -- SUBSCRIBE: http://subscribe-article-digests.clinicians-exchange.org

READ ONLINE: http://read-the-rss-mega-archive.clinicians-exchange.org

It's primitive... but it works... mostly...

@psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry

psychbot , to psychology
@psychbot@mastodon.clinicians-exchange.org avatar

DATE: July 14, 2024 at 12:26PM
SOURCE: SOCIALPSYCHOLOGY.ORG

TITLE: Rescued Hostage Describes Mental Abuse During Hamas Captivity

URL: http://www.socialpsychology.org/client/redirect.php?from=rss_feed&id=181224&url=https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiYWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmNubi5jb20vMjAyNC8wNy8xMS9taWRkbGVlYXN0L2lzcmFlbC1ob3N0YWdlLWFuZHJleS1rb3psb3YtZ2F6YS1oYW1hcy1pbnRsL2luZGV4Lmh0bWzSAQA?oc=5

Source: Google News - Health

After being kidnapped by Hamas at a music festival on October 7, Andrey Kozlov, a 27-year-old Russian-Israeli citizen, said he was tied up for &quot;three days with rope, then until the middle of December with chains.&quot; During eight months of captivity, he was also subjected to psychological abuse&mdash;being told that his death would be filmed, that his family had forgotten him, and that Israel wanted to kill him. Then, on June 8, Israel rescued him.

URL: http://www.socialpsychology.org/client/redirect.php?from=rss_feed&id=181224&url=https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiYWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmNubi5jb20vMjAyNC8wNy8xMS9taWRkbGVlYXN0L2lzcmFlbC1ob3N0YWdlLWFuZHJleS1rb3psb3YtZ2F6YS1oYW1hcy1pbnRsL2luZGV4Lmh0bWzSAQA?oc=5

Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org

Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot

NYU Information for Practice puts out 400-500 good quality health-related research posts per week but its too much for many people, so that bot is limited to just subscribers. You can read it or subscribe at @PsychResearchBot

Since 1991 The National Psychologist has focused on keeping practicing psychologists current with news, information and items of interest. Check them out for more free articles, resources, and subscription information: https://www.nationalpsychologist.com

EMAIL DAILY DIGEST OF RSS FEEDS -- SUBSCRIBE: http://subscribe-article-digests.clinicians-exchange.org

READ ONLINE: http://read-the-rss-mega-archive.clinicians-exchange.org

It's primitive... but it works... mostly...

@psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry

psychbot , to psychology
@psychbot@mastodon.clinicians-exchange.org avatar

DATE: July 14, 2024 at 12:26PM
SOURCE: SOCIALPSYCHOLOGY.ORG

TITLE: AI Outperforms Clinical Tests at Predicting Alzheimer's Disease

URL: http://www.socialpsychology.org/client/redirect.php?from=rss_feed&id=181254&url=https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/07/240713121220.htm

Source: Science Daily - Top Health

Scientists have developed an artificially-intelligent tool capable of predicting in four cases out of five whether people with early signs of dementia will remain stable or develop Alzheimer's disease. The team say this new approach could reduce the need for invasive and costly diagnostic tests while improving treatment outcomes early when interventions such as lifestyle changes or new medicines may have a chance to work best.

URL: http://www.socialpsychology.org/client/redirect.php?from=rss_feed&id=181254&url=https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/07/240713121220.htm

Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org

Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot

NYU Information for Practice puts out 400-500 good quality health-related research posts per week but its too much for many people, so that bot is limited to just subscribers. You can read it or subscribe at @PsychResearchBot

Since 1991 The National Psychologist has focused on keeping practicing psychologists current with news, information and items of interest. Check them out for more free articles, resources, and subscription information: https://www.nationalpsychologist.com

EMAIL DAILY DIGEST OF RSS FEEDS -- SUBSCRIBE: http://subscribe-article-digests.clinicians-exchange.org

READ ONLINE: http://read-the-rss-mega-archive.clinicians-exchange.org

It's primitive... but it works... mostly...

@psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry

psychbot , to psychology
@psychbot@mastodon.clinicians-exchange.org avatar

DATE: July 14, 2024 at 12:26PM
SOURCE: SOCIALPSYCHOLOGY.ORG

TITLE: "Familicide" Rarely Happens Without Warning Signs, Say Researchers

URL: http://www.socialpsychology.org/client/redirect.php?from=rss_feed&id=181237&url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/windsor/familicide-domestic-violence-murder-suicide-walsh-harrow-1.7259570?cmp=rss

Source: Canadian Broadcasting Company - Top Stories News

The Walsh family in Ontario, Canada, appeared to be the picture of domestic bliss, making the murder-suicide event that destroyed them all the more shocking. But while the devastating tragedy was unthinkable to the community, it's unlikely that it occurred arbitrarily, according to researchers. &quot;These cases don't happen out of the blue. Someone doesn't wake up one day and decide to kill their family members,&quot; said Peter Jaffe, a domestic...

URL: http://www.socialpsychology.org/client/redirect.php?from=rss_feed&id=181237&url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/windsor/familicide-domestic-violence-murder-suicide-walsh-harrow-1.7259570?cmp=rss

Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org

Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot

NYU Information for Practice puts out 400-500 good quality health-related research posts per week but its too much for many people, so that bot is limited to just subscribers. You can read it or subscribe at @PsychResearchBot

Since 1991 The National Psychologist has focused on keeping practicing psychologists current with news, information and items of interest. Check them out for more free articles, resources, and subscription information: https://www.nationalpsychologist.com

EMAIL DAILY DIGEST OF RSS FEEDS -- SUBSCRIBE: http://subscribe-article-digests.clinicians-exchange.org

READ ONLINE: http://read-the-rss-mega-archive.clinicians-exchange.org

It's primitive... but it works... mostly...

@psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry

psychbot , to psychology
@psychbot@mastodon.clinicians-exchange.org avatar

DATE: July 13, 2024 at 12:12PM
SOURCE: SCIENCE DAILY MIND-BRAIN FEED

TITLE: Artificial intelligence outperforms clinical tests at predicting progress of Alzheimer's disease

URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/07/240713121220.htm

Scientists have developed an artificially-intelligent tool capable of predicting in four cases out of five whether people with early signs of dementia will remain stable or develop Alzheimer's disease. The team say this new approach could reduce the need for invasive and costly diagnostic tests while improving treatment outcomes early when interventions such as lifestyle changes or new medicines may have a chance to work best.

URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/07/240713121220.htm

Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org

Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot

NYU Information for Practice puts out 400-500 good quality health-related research posts per week but its too much for many people, so that bot is limited to just subscribers. You can read it or subscribe at @PsychResearchBot

Since 1991 The National Psychologist has focused on keeping practicing psychologists current with news, information and items of interest. Check them out for more free articles, resources, and subscription information: https://www.nationalpsychologist.com

EMAIL DAILY DIGEST OF RSS FEEDS -- SUBSCRIBE: http://subscribe-article-digests.clinicians-exchange.org

READ ONLINE: http://read-the-rss-mega-archive.clinicians-exchange.org

It's primitive... but it works... mostly...

@psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry

psychbot , to psychology
@psychbot@mastodon.clinicians-exchange.org avatar

DATE: July 14, 2024 at 05:00PM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG

TITLE: How personality traits predict life satisfaction: Insights from new psychology research

URL: https://www.psypost.org/how-personality-traits-predict-life-satisfaction-insights-from-new-study/

How do personality traits predict life satisfaction? A recent study published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology explored this question while addressing methodological limitations in prior research.

Life satisfaction is a crucial psychological outcome, traditionally studied through the lens of religion and philosophy. Recent inquiries have focused on its links to relatively stable psychological traits, rooted in the idea that beyond situational factors and life circumstances, there may be underlying stable factors, like Big 5 personality, that shape satisfaction with one’s life.

Extensive research has tackled this question, albeit relying on single-method assessments, such as self-reports, which may inflate associations. The multifaceted nature of life satisfaction and possible overlap with personality facets necessitates a more sophisticated methodological approach.

“Life satisfaction is one of the key psychology concepts, and almost every member of the public also cares about their and their important others’ satisfaction with life,” said study author René Mõttus, a professor of personality psychology at the University of Edinburgh and University of Tartu.

“Naturally, then, personality psychologists are interested in how strongly life satisfaction tracks personality traits. But the typical studies only using self-report research designs cannot fully address this problem because of assessment biases – we had the opportunity to solve the problem by combining people’s self-reports with their close others’ ratings of their personality traits and life satisfaction.”

Mõttus and colleagues employed a multitrait, multirated design across multiple samples to fill these gaps and provide robust estimates of the true correlations between personality and life satisfaction.

Data was collected from three distinct samples to ensure robustness and generalizability of the findings, including 20,886 Estonian-speaking participants, 768 Russian-speaking participants in Estonia and 600-English-speaking participants who were part of dyads (i.e., paired with informants) from various European countries.

Participants completed the 100 Nuances of Personality survey, a 198-item pool designed to comprehensively assess personality traits and life satisfaction, rated on a 6-point scale. Both participants and informants who knew them well completed this measure. Life satisfaction targeted specific domains including job, career choice, financial situation, residence and country.

Longitudinal data was available for 514 Estonian participants who had completed personality and life satisfaction assessments approximately 10 years prior, allowing the researchers to examine the stability of life satisfaction and correlations with personality over time as well.

Mõttus and colleagues observed significant correlations between personality traits and life satisfaction, highlighting the particularly strong predictive power of traits like emotional stability, extraversion, and conscientiousness. These traits were consistently found to be the most influential in determining life satisfaction, while other traits like openness and agreeableness showed minimal impact.

The analysis also revealed specific personality nuances that were strongly associated with lower life satisfaction, such as feelings of being misunderstood, lack of excitement, indecisiveness, and envy. Conversely, traits like confidence in one’s abilities and the belief that effort is rewarded were linked to higher life satisfaction.

“For most people and most of the time, life satisfaction tends to be consistent with personality traits such as emotional stability, extraversion and conscientiousness,” Mõttus told PsyPost. “So, the role of experiences that just happen to people without their personality traits somehow contributing to these experiences is smaller than often thought. So, getting lucky may not make most people happier with their lives – but fortunately, being unlucky may not make them unhappier either.”

The study utilized informant data alongside self-reports to estimate true correlations between personality traits and life satisfaction, controlling for biases like shared method variance and occasion-specific effects. This approach revealed that informant-reports generally supported the self-report findings, revealing similar trends.

Further, the aggregated domain satisfactions closely mirrored general life satisfaction, suggesting that an individual’s overall life satisfaction is largely a reflection of their satisfaction with various life domains combined.

Longitudinal data indicated that both life satisfaction and its relationships with personality traits remained stable over time, suggesting that the influences of personality traits on life satisfaction are consistent and persistent over long periods.

The researchers also evaluated the predictability of life satisfaction from personality traits and found that life satisfaction can be predicted with substantial accuracy based on these traits. This highlights the significant role of stable psychological characteristics in shaping how satisfied people are with their lives.

“I was surprised how accurately life satisfaction could be predicted from personality traits,” Mõttus told PsyPost. “Before running the study, I asked around among personality researchers, and they thought the accuracy would be lower – and so did I.”

Overall, the results underscore the importance of considering both broad personality domains and specific nuances to fully understand the psychological underpinnings of life satisfaction.

A limitation to this research is the reliance on data from predominantly European samples, which may limit the generalizability of the findings to other cultural contexts.

Looking forward, Mõttus said that “one of the goals is to isolate the specific personality traits within broader traits like neuroticism and extraversion that are particularly relevant for well-being, and offer people a range of tools to work with some of these traits, should they wish.”

The study, “Most people’s life satisfaction matches their personality traits: True correlations in multitrait, multirater, multisample data”, was authored by René Mõttus, Anu Realo, Jüri Allik, Liisi Ausmees, Samuel Henry, Robert R. McCrae, and Uku Vainik.

URL: https://www.psypost.org/how-personality-traits-predict-life-satisfaction-insights-from-new-study/

Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org

Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot

NYU Information for Practice puts out 400-500 good quality health-related research posts per week but its too much for many people, so that bot is limited to just subscribers. You can read it or subscribe at @PsychResearchBot

Since 1991 The National Psychologist has focused on keeping practicing psychologists current with news, information and items of interest. Check them out for more free articles, resources, and subscription information: https://www.nationalpsychologist.com

EMAIL DAILY DIGEST OF RSS FEEDS -- SUBSCRIBE: http://subscribe-article-digests.clinicians-exchange.org

READ ONLINE: http://read-the-rss-mega-archive.clinicians-exchange.org

It's primitive... but it works... mostly...

@psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry

psychbot , to psychology
@psychbot@mastodon.clinicians-exchange.org avatar

DATE: July 14, 2024 at 04:00PM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG

TITLE: Anxiety may signal early Parkinson’s disease in older adults, study suggests

URL: https://www.psypost.org/anxiety-may-signal-early-parkinsons-disease-in-older-adults-study-suggests/

A recent study reveals that people aged over 50 who develop anxiety are more than twice as likely to be diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease compared to those without anxiety. This finding, published in the British Journal of General Practice, highlights the potential role of anxiety as an early indicator of Parkinson’s, prompting further investigation into its implications for early diagnosis and treatment.

Parkinson’s disease is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder globally, projected to affect over 14 million people by 2040 due to increasing life expectancy. Early detection is crucial for managing the disease, but recognizing the early, non-motor symptoms of Parkinson’s remains a challenge. Anxiety, a common condition among older adults, has been observed to precede Parkinson’s, but the exact relationship has been unclear.

Previous studies indicated an increased risk of Parkinson’s in people with anxiety but did not fully account for factors like lifestyle and socioeconomic status. This study aimed to fill these gaps by investigating the link between new-onset anxiety and the later diagnosis of Parkinson’s, considering various confounding variables.

The researchers utilized data from the IQVIA Medical Research Database, which includes de-identified electronic health records from the Health Improvement Network (THIN). This database contains information from over 700 general practices in the United Kingdom, representing a diverse patient population.

The study focused on individuals aged 50 to 99 who were registered with participating practices between January 2008 and December 2018. The participants were divided into two groups: those with a new diagnosis of anxiety and those without anxiety. Each person with anxiety was matched with four controls based on age and sex, creating a dynamic cohort where individuals could switch from the control to the anxiety group if they later developed anxiety.

To analyze the data, the researchers used survival regression models to estimate the risk of developing Parkinson’s over time, adjusting for factors such as age, sex, socioeconomic status, lifestyle choices (smoking, alcohol consumption, body mass index), and relevant health conditions (severe mental illness, head trauma, dementia). The models were built stepwise to explore associations while accounting for these variables.

The study included 38,510 men and 70,925 women with a first episode of anxiety and 324,670 men and 553,586 women without anxiety. Over the follow-up period, 331 individuals in the anxiety group were diagnosed with Parkinson’s, with a median time to diagnosis of 4.9 years.

The incidence of Parkinson’s in the anxiety group was 1.02 per 1,000 person-years, compared to 0.49 per 1,000 person-years in the non-anxiety group. After adjusting for confounding factors, the risk of Parkinson’s was found to be more than twice as high in people with anxiety (hazard ratio of 2.1). The study also identified several prodromal symptoms associated with Parkinson’s in individuals with anxiety, including sleep problems, depression, fatigue, constipation, cognitive impairment, and specific motor symptoms like tremor and rigidity.

Co-lead author Juan Bazo Avarez of University College London said: “Anxiety is known to be a feature of the early stages of Parkinson’s disease, but prior to our study, the prospective risk of Parkinson’s in those over the age of 50 with new-onset anxiety was unknown. By understanding that anxiety and the mentioned features are linked to a higher risk of developing Parkinson’s disease over the age of 50, we hope that we may be able to detect the condition earlier and help patients get the treatment they need.”

While the study provides valuable insights, it has some limitations. The data relied on electronic health records, which are primarily collected for clinical purposes and may underreport mental health conditions due to stigma or incomplete documentation. This underreporting could mean the actual association between anxiety and Parkinson’s is even stronger than observed.

Additionally, the study population was limited to those aged 50 and older, excluding younger individuals who might have different risk profiles. The findings may not be generalizable to other populations, particularly those outside the United Kingdom or with different healthcare systems.

Future research should aim to explore the severity of anxiety and its impact on the risk of Parkinson’s. Understanding the specific mechanisms linking anxiety to Parkinson’s could lead to better early detection and management strategies. Moreover, investigating anxiety in conjunction with other prodromal symptoms might provide a more comprehensive understanding of the disease’s early stages.

“Anxiety is not as well researched as other early indicators of Parkinson’s disease,” said co-author Anette Schrag. “Further research should explore how the early occurrence of anxiety relates to other early symptoms and to the underlying progression of Parkinson’s in its early stages. This may lead to better treatment of the condition in its earliest stages.”

The study, “Risk of Parkinson’s disease in people aged ≥50 years with new-onset anxiety: a retrospective cohort study in UK primary care,” was authored by Juan Carlos Bazo-Alvarez, Danielle Nimmons, Kate Walters, Irene Petersen and Anette Schrag

URL: https://www.psypost.org/anxiety-may-signal-early-parkinsons-disease-in-older-adults-study-suggests/

Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org

Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot

NYU Information for Practice puts out 400-500 good quality health-related research posts per week but its too much for many people, so that bot is limited to just subscribers. You can read it or subscribe at @PsychResearchBot

Since 1991 The National Psychologist has focused on keeping practicing psychologists current with news, information and items of interest. Check them out for more free articles, resources, and subscription information: https://www.nationalpsychologist.com

EMAIL DAILY DIGEST OF RSS FEEDS -- SUBSCRIBE: http://subscribe-article-digests.clinicians-exchange.org

READ ONLINE: http://read-the-rss-mega-archive.clinicians-exchange.org

It's primitive... but it works... mostly...

@psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry

psychbot , to psychology
@psychbot@mastodon.clinicians-exchange.org avatar

DATE: July 14, 2024 at 02:00PM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG

TITLE: Increasing school segregation linked to worsening health outcomes for Black Americans

URL: https://www.psypost.org/increasing-school-segregation-linked-to-worsening-health-outcomes-for-black-americans/

A recent study published in the Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities reveals a significant link between increasing school segregation and persistent racial health disparities in the United States. Researchers found that, while residential segregation has remained largely unchanged from 1991 to 2020, school segregation has increased. This rise in school segregation correlates with higher levels of racial health disparities.

“While a number of papers have examined health effects of residential segregation and some have examined health effects of residential segregation, very few have simultaneously examined the effects of both types of segregation,” said study author Michael Siegel, a professor of public health and community medicine at Tufts University School of Medicine.

“In addition, while there are many cross-sectional studies that have examined the relationship between racial segregation and health outcomes, very few have looked at changes in segregation and whether they affect subsequent health outcomes. These were the two main novel research questions that we asked in this study.”

The researchers analyzed data from 1,051 U.S. counties over nearly three decades, from 1991 to 2020. They used data on racial composition from the U.S. Census to gather information on segregation. They measured segregation using the index of dissimilarity and the entropy index for residential segregation, and the normalized exposure index for school segregation. These indices capture the extent to which Black and White populations are separated within residential areas and schools.

Health outcomes were assessed using several indicators: life expectancy, early mortality (deaths before age 65), infant mortality, firearm homicide rates, total homicide rates, and teen birth rates. The data for these health outcomes were extracted from reputable sources like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s WONDER database and the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation.

The researchers found that residential segregation remained relatively stable from 1991 to 2020, showing little overall change. In contrast, school segregation increased significantly during the same period, particularly from 1991 to 2000, and then remained high through 2020.

“We were surprised that racial school segregation is increasing in recent years, not decreasing,” Siegel told PsyPost.

Counties with higher levels of school segregation experienced greater racial disparities in several health outcomes. These counties had higher disparities in life expectancy, early mortality, infant mortality, firearm homicide, total homicide, and teen birth rates compared to counties with lower levels of school segregation.

“We found that during the period 1991-2020, racial residential segregation was essentially unchanged among the 1,051 counties in our sample,” Siegel said. “However, racial school segregation increased during this period. Moreover, increases in school segregation from 1991 to 2000 were associated with higher levels of racial disparities in health outcomes during the period 2000-2020 and with less progress in reducing these disparities.”

The researchers also found that counties with the highest levels of both residential and school segregation, and those that experienced the greatest increases in school segregation, had the worst health outcomes. These counties were predominantly urban, with high population densities, and were often located in the Northeast and Midwest.

One of the key findings was that school segregation emerged as an independent predictor of racial health disparities. This means that even in counties with high residential segregation, reducing school segregation could have a significant positive impact on reducing health disparities.

“This paper provides new evidence that school segregation is associated with higher levels of racial health disparities, even after accounting for the degree of racial residential segregation,” Siegel explained. “This means that reducing school segregation could be effective in reducing racial health disparities.”

But the study, like all research, includes some caveats. For instance, the analysis was restricted to counties with sufficient data, which may limit the generalizability of the results.

“Because of limited data availability, analyses for some of the health outcomes excluded a large number of counties,” Siegel noted. “This means that readers should be cautious in generalizing our findings to all counties. Our next plan is to look at historical redlining and its relationship with current health outcomes.”

The study, “Association Between Changes in Racial Residential and School Segregation and Trends in Racial Health Disparities, 2000–2020: A Life Course Perspective,” was authored by Michael Siegel and Vanessa Nicholson-Robinson.

URL: https://www.psypost.org/increasing-school-segregation-linked-to-worsening-health-outcomes-for-black-americans/

Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org

Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot

NYU Information for Practice puts out 400-500 good quality health-related research posts per week but its too much for many people, so that bot is limited to just subscribers. You can read it or subscribe at @PsychResearchBot

Since 1991 The National Psychologist has focused on keeping practicing psychologists current with news, information and items of interest. Check them out for more free articles, resources, and subscription information: https://www.nationalpsychologist.com

EMAIL DAILY DIGEST OF RSS FEEDS -- SUBSCRIBE: http://subscribe-article-digests.clinicians-exchange.org

READ ONLINE: http://read-the-rss-mega-archive.clinicians-exchange.org

It's primitive... but it works... mostly...

@psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry

psychbot , to psychology
@psychbot@mastodon.clinicians-exchange.org avatar

DATE: July 14, 2024 at 12:00PM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG

TITLE: Anxious, depressed, and lonely adolescents are more likely to be overdependent on their smartphones

URL: https://www.psypost.org/anxious-depressed-and-lonely-adolescents-are-more-likely-to-be-overdependent-on-their-smartphones/

A survey of South Korean middle- and high-school students revealed that those with increased anxiety, depression, loneliness, and experience of violent treatment are more likely to become overdependent on their smartphones. Girls were more likely to develop this overdependence than boys. The paper was published in Scientific Reports.

For adolescents in many world countries, smartphones have become a cultural tool they employ to organize social relationships and interact with others. In this way, they have transcended their role of just a media technology that is used when necessary or a means of communication. A national survey in South Korea found that almost 1 in 4 individuals between ages 3 and 69 can be classified as being overdependent on their smartphones. This represents a rapid increase from previous years.

Smartphone overdependence is a condition where individuals excessively rely on their smartphones for daily activities and social interactions. This negatively impacts their well-being. The overuse of smartphones can result in reduced face-to-face communication, decreased productivity, and impaired mental health, including anxiety and depression. Physical issues like eye strain, sleep disturbances, and poor posture are also common among those who are overly dependent on their smartphones. Adolescents seem to be particularly likely to develop smartphone overdependence.

Study authors Dabok Noh and Mi‑So Shim conducted a study that aimed to identify factors influencing smartphone overdependence among adolescents. They also wished to identify groups of adolescents that are at particularly high risk of developing this condition.

These researchers analyzed data from the 16th Korea Youth Risk Behavior Survey, a national web survey containing data of 54,948 students from 793 schools across South Korea. These survey data are made public each year via the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency website. The participating students were between 12 and 18 years of age. Study authors excluded participants who did not use smartphones at all, so the final analysis was done on data of 53,457 participants.

The analyses focused on data about smartphone overdependence (the Smartphone Overdependence Scale for adolescents), anxiety (the Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale), loneliness (“How often have you felt lonely in the past 12 months), depressive symptoms (“Were you feeling so sad or hopeless that you stopped doing certain usual activities for at least two weeks or more during the last 12 months?”), exposure to violence (“In the past 12 months, have you been treated in a hospital because of violence (physical assault, intimidation, bullying, etc.) perpetrated by a friend, colleague, or adult?”), and demographic data.

Results showed that older adolescents were more likely to be overdependent on their smartphones compared to younger ones. 30% of girls showed signs of overdependence compared to 21% of boys. Adolescents from families of low socioeconomic status were more likely to be smartphone overdependent.

The risk of smartphone overdependence was around 2.5 times higher among participants with high anxiety (51%) than among those with minimal anxiety (19%). The risk was higher among depressive participants, those who felt lonely, and individuals who underwent hospital treatment due to violence they suffered. Further analysis showed that girls with severe anxiety were the group at the highest risk of smartphone overdependence with 53% of adolescents in this group fulfilling criteria for this condition.

“We found that anxiety, loneliness, depressive symptoms, and treatment experiences owing to violence were predictors of the risk of smartphone overdependence among South Korean students aged 12–18 years. Interventions for smartphone overdependence ought to highlight the assessment, prevention, and treatment of anxiety because of the strong association between anxiety and smartphone overdependence.”, study authors concluded.

The study sheds light on the factors associated with smartphone overdependence among adolescents. However, it should be noted that the study only included South Korean adolescents. Results might not be identical on older individuals, or people from other cultures.

The study, “Factors influencing smartphone overdependence among adolescents”, was authored by Dabok Noh and Mi‑So Shim.

URL: https://www.psypost.org/anxious-depressed-and-lonely-adolescents-are-more-likely-to-be-overdependent-on-their-smartphones/

Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org

Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot

NYU Information for Practice puts out 400-500 good quality health-related research posts per week but its too much for many people, so that bot is limited to just subscribers. You can read it or subscribe at @PsychResearchBot

Since 1991 The National Psychologist has focused on keeping practicing psychologists current with news, information and items of interest. Check them out for more free articles, resources, and subscription information: https://www.nationalpsychologist.com

EMAIL DAILY DIGEST OF RSS FEEDS -- SUBSCRIBE: http://subscribe-article-digests.clinicians-exchange.org

READ ONLINE: http://read-the-rss-mega-archive.clinicians-exchange.org

It's primitive... but it works... mostly...

@psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry

psychbot , to psychology
@psychbot@mastodon.clinicians-exchange.org avatar

DATE: July 14, 2024 at 08:00AM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG

TITLE: New paper explores the blurred lines between AI and human communication

URL: https://www.psypost.org/new-paper-explores-the-blurred-lines-between-ai-and-human-communication/

Artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming increasingly sophisticated. In a thought-provoking paper published in Phenomenology and the Cognitive Sciences, Thomas Fuchs argues that true understanding and empathy require the subjectivity that is inherent to living beings, cautioning against the blurring lines between real and simulated interactions.

A robot may be able to engage in conversation that mirrors one’s emotions and respond with uncanny human-like behavior, but it’s just that–it’s almost natural.

The heart of human understanding hinges on the assumption of each other’s subjectivity, meaning that we see the other as a sentient being with feelings, intentions and consciousness. The concept of conviviality refers to a shared form of life that encompasses our mutual experience and existential realities; only through this shared framework can we achieve true emphatic connections, something AI fundamentally lacks.

Fuchs draws on the theory of embodied and enactive cognition to further support his stance. This theory suggests our thoughts and emotions are not just products of brain activity but are influenced by our bodily experiences. AI systems and robots, no matter how advanced, do not possess such biological embodiment. They can simulate interactions, but these simulations lack the intrinsic aliveness and subjective experience that define living beings.

One of the most profound concerns raised by Fuchs is the increasing difficulty in distinguishing between real and simulated interactions. As AI systems improve in mimicking human behavior, we run into the risk of confusing these interactions with genuine ones. This is particularly critical in sensitive areas like virtual psychotherapy. Indeed, AI-driven chatbots can provide comforting responses, but without the depth of understanding and empathy that human therapists offer. This raises ethical issues, such as users being misled into believing they are understood by a conscious being.

Fuchs makes a distinction between empathic and semantic understanding. Empathic understanding involves grasping another’s emotional expressions through intercorporeal empathy, which is grounded in shared, embodied experiences. AI can mimic emotional expressions, but this is merely an illusion. On the other hand, semantic understanding refers to comprehending verbal utterances as expressions of intentions and feelings.

While AI might pass the Turing Test by imitating human conversation, it lacks genuine comprehension. Fuchs illustrates this point by referring to John Searle’s “Chinese Room” argument, to demonstrate AI can produce appropriate responses without truly understanding the context or content.

Fuchs argues that consciousness and subjectivity are inherently tied to vital embodiment. True understanding and intentionality arise from the biological processes of living beings, such as homeostasis, metabolism, and emotional experiences. AI systems, which lack these processes, cannot possess genuine subjectivity. The notion of “strong AI,” capable of replicating human intelligence and understanding, is, therefore, a misinterpretation of what consciousness entails.

Fuchs further stresses the importance of precise language when discussing AI capabilities. Terms like understanding, empathy, and intentionality should be used carefully to prevent misconceptions about AI’s abilities. This clarity is essential to maintain ethical boundaries and prevent misleading interactions with AI.

As AI becomes more lifelike, Fuchs warns of the ethical and psychological dangers of “digital animism,” where people attribute human-like characteristics to machines. This can lead to deceptive interactions, particularly for vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly, and those seeking mental health support. Fuchs advocates for transparency in AI interactions, ensuring users are aware they are dealing with artificial agents and not real human beings.

Overall, the author presents a powerful argument against attributing genuine understanding and subjectivity to AI systems. Indeed, while AI can simulate human interactions, it cannot replicate the embodied experiences and consciousness that underpin true empathy and understanding.

The paper, “Understanding Sophia? On human interaction with artificial agents” was authored by Thomas Fuchs.

URL: https://www.psypost.org/new-paper-explores-the-blurred-lines-between-ai-and-human-communication/

Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org

Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot

NYU Information for Practice puts out 400-500 good quality health-related research posts per week but its too much for many people, so that bot is limited to just subscribers. You can read it or subscribe at @PsychResearchBot

Since 1991 The National Psychologist has focused on keeping practicing psychologists current with news, information and items of interest. Check them out for more free articles, resources, and subscription information: https://www.nationalpsychologist.com

EMAIL DAILY DIGEST OF RSS FEEDS -- SUBSCRIBE: http://subscribe-article-digests.clinicians-exchange.org

READ ONLINE: http://read-the-rss-mega-archive.clinicians-exchange.org

It's primitive... but it works... mostly...

@psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry

psychbot , to psychology
@psychbot@mastodon.clinicians-exchange.org avatar

DATE: July 14, 2024 at 06:00AM
SOURCE: NEW YORK TIME PSYCHOLOGY AND PSYCHOLOGISTS FEED

TITLE: The Reason People Aren’t Telling Joe Biden the Truth

URL: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/14/opinion/biden-leadership-truth.html

Many leaders have faced a similar situation. There are simple solutions.

URL: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/14/opinion/biden-leadership-truth.html

Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org

Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot

NYU Information for Practice puts out 400-500 good quality health-related research posts per week but its too much for many people, so that bot is limited to just subscribers. You can read it or subscribe at @PsychResearchBot

Since 1991 The National Psychologist has focused on keeping practicing psychologists current with news, information and items of interest. Check them out for more free articles, resources, and subscription information: https://www.nationalpsychologist.com

EMAIL DAILY DIGEST OF RSS FEEDS -- SUBSCRIBE: http://subscribe-article-digests.clinicians-exchange.org

READ ONLINE: http://read-the-rss-mega-archive.clinicians-exchange.org

It's primitive... but it works... mostly...

@psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry

psychbot OP Bot ,
@psychbot@mastodon.clinicians-exchange.org avatar

@PTUnofficialBot @PsychResearchBot @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry

HUMAN OPERATOR

I am less than pleased that the NYT snuck this political piece into their psychology feed. I thought they were keeping this stuff to their frontpage and editorial section.

psychbot , to psychology
@psychbot@mastodon.clinicians-exchange.org avatar

DATE: July 14, 2024 at 06:00AM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG

TITLE: Meta-analysis of 108 studies confirms women experience impostor syndrome more frequently and intensely

URL: https://www.psypost.org/meta-analysis-of-108-studies-confirms-women-experience-impostor-syndrome-more-frequently-and-intensely/

Impostor syndrome, the phenomenon where high-achieving individuals feel undeserving of their success, has long been a topic of interest in psychology. A recent meta-analysis published in Current Research in Behavioral Sciences sheds light on gender differences in impostor syndrome. By combining data from over 100 studies, the researchers found a clear trend: women consistently score higher on measures of impostor syndrome.

The concept of impostor syndrome, initially termed “impostor phenomenon” by psychologists Clance and Imes in 1978, describes the feelings of fraudulence experienced by highly successful people. These individuals often attribute their achievements to luck or external factors rather than their abilities.

Clance and Imes originally suggested that women are more likely to experience this phenomenon due to societal stereotypes about gender and intelligence. However, subsequent research has produced mixed results, with some studies finding significant gender differences and others finding none.

“The topic of impostor phenomenon (also called impostor syndrome) was suggested by my co-author Brandi Holcomb. Brandi was an undergraduate psychology student in my lab at Fresno State. As a returning college student, she had been feeling like a bit of an impostor herself and thought it would be helpful to learn more about it,” said study author Paul C. Price, a professor of psychology at California State University, Fresno.

“We noticed right away that although there have been a lot of studies on the impostor phenomenon, there has been very little meta-analytic work done to integrate the results of all those studies. And looking at gender differences seemed logical because it has been speculated since the late 70s that women experience this more than men do. On top of that, when you read the studies that are out there, some claim to have found gender differences but many claim to have found no gender differences.”

A meta-analysis is a statistical technique that combines the results of multiple scientific studies to identify patterns, discrepancies, or overall effects within a body of research. By aggregating data from various studies, a meta-analysis increases the sample size and statistical power, providing more robust and reliable conclusions than individual studies.

The researchers conducted a comprehensive literature search, identifying 304 articles that mentioned impostor syndrome in their titles. From these, they selected 83 articles that met their criteria, focusing on studies that included both women and men and provided sufficient data for calculating effect sizes. An additional 25 articles from an earlier search were also included, resulting in a total of 108 studies.

These studies spanned various fields, including academics, business, and healthcare, and involved participants from different regions, primarily North America, Europe, and Asia. The most commonly used measure of impostor syndrome was the Clance Impostor Phenomenon Scale (CIPS), a 20-item questionnaire assessing feelings of self-doubt, inability to internalize success, and attribution of success to external factors.

The meta-analysis included data from more than 42,000 participants. The weighted mean effect size was 0.27, indicating a small to moderate gender difference with women scoring higher than men. This difference was statistically significant and consistent across most studies.

“When we combined the results of over 100 studies that compared levels of impostor phenomenon between women and men, there is clearly a difference with women tending to score higher on average,” Price told PsyPost. “The difference is what psychologists might refer to as small to medium, but it is very consistent and similar in magnitude to gender differences in related variables like self-esteem and narcissism.”

“There may seem to be a contradiction above in that many past researchers claimed that there were no gender differences, yet almost all existing studies show a gender difference. This is because many of these studies used relatively small samples, so even when they produced a small to medium difference, that difference was not ‘statistically significant,’ and this is what led to claims of no gender difference or “mixed results.” When all of these smaller studies are combined in a meta-analysis, however, the differences become quite obvious.”

Interestingly, the gender difference did not decrease over time, despite changes in societal attitudes towards gender and increased female representation in higher education and prestigious careers. The researchers also found that gender differences in impostor syndrome varied by field and region. For example, gender differences were smaller in the business field compared to academic or miscellaneous fields. This might be due to differing gender dynamics or societal expectations in these areas.

Geographic region also played a role in the observed gender differences. Studies conducted in Asia reported smaller gender differences in impostor syndrome than those conducted in Europe and North America. This finding suggests that cultural factors might influence the experience of impostor syndrome, although the exact nature of these cultural influences remains unclear and warrants further investigation.

“Three things were surprising to me,” Price said. “One is the consistency of the difference. It is very rare to find studies in which there is close to no gender difference, and studies in which men score higher than women are almost unheard of. Another is that the size of the gender difference has held constant over the past four decades. You might think it would have decreased in size as gender equality has increased, but that clearly isn’t the case.

“Finally, the gender difference tends to be smaller (and only about half as large) for studies conducted in Asia than for studies conducted in Europe or North America. We don’t know why this is but it parallels findings on gender differences in self-esteem.”

Despite the consistent gender difference, it is also unclear how this impacts women’s success and wellbeing compared to men’s.

“It is common to assume that men’s lower levels of the impostor phenomenon are somehow more appropriate and that something should be done to bring women’s levels in line with men’s. But given that a certain amount of self-doubt is probably beneficial in many contexts, having a bit more of it may not be a bad thing. And as of right now, there are no studies showing that gender differences in the impostor phenomenon have consequences in terms of women’s success and wellbeing compared to men’s.”

“My student Makayla Payne and I are currently reviewing research on the impostor phenomenon among physicians and medical students. Some of my other students and I have been looking at whether first-generation college students experience more of the impostor phenomenon than continuing-generation college students. Interestingly, we haven’t found a difference here.”

The study, “Gender differences in impostor phenomenon: A meta-analytic review,” was authored by Paul C. Price, Brandi Holcomb, and Makayla B. Payne.

URL: https://www.psypost.org/meta-analysis-of-108-studies-confirms-women-experience-impostor-syndrome-more-frequently-and-intensely/

Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org

Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot

NYU Information for Practice puts out 400-500 good quality health-related research posts per week but its too much for many people, so that bot is limited to just subscribers. You can read it or subscribe at @PsychResearchBot

Since 1991 The National Psychologist has focused on keeping practicing psychologists current with news, information and items of interest. Check them out for more free articles, resources, and subscription information: https://www.nationalpsychologist.com

EMAIL DAILY DIGEST OF RSS FEEDS -- SUBSCRIBE: http://subscribe-article-digests.clinicians-exchange.org

READ ONLINE: http://read-the-rss-mega-archive.clinicians-exchange.org

It's primitive... but it works... mostly...

@psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry

psychbot , to psychology
@psychbot@mastodon.clinicians-exchange.org avatar

DATE: July 14, 2024 at 05:00AM
SOURCE: NEW YORK TIME PSYCHOLOGY AND PSYCHOLOGISTS FEED

TITLE: No Contact America

URL: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/14/health/therapy-family-estrangement.html

Encouraged on social media, many Americans are estranging themselves from their families as a therapeutic step.

URL: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/14/health/therapy-family-estrangement.html

Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org

Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot

NYU Information for Practice puts out 400-500 good quality health-related research posts per week but its too much for many people, so that bot is limited to just subscribers. You can read it or subscribe at @PsychResearchBot

Since 1991 The National Psychologist has focused on keeping practicing psychologists current with news, information and items of interest. Check them out for more free articles, resources, and subscription information: https://www.nationalpsychologist.com

EMAIL DAILY DIGEST OF RSS FEEDS -- SUBSCRIBE: http://subscribe-article-digests.clinicians-exchange.org

READ ONLINE: http://read-the-rss-mega-archive.clinicians-exchange.org

It's primitive... but it works... mostly...

@psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry

psychbot , to psychology
@psychbot@mastodon.clinicians-exchange.org avatar

DATE: July 13, 2024 at 02:00PM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG

TITLE: The psychological effects of social media: A double-edged sword

URL: https://www.psypost.org/the-psychological-effects-of-social-media-a-double-edged-sword/

A new study published in the journal Heliyon sheds light on the complex relationship between social media use, perceived social support, self-esteem, and subjective well-being. Interestingly, the frequency and intensity of social media use appear to be unrelated to psychological well-being. Instead, the findings indicate that while social media can enhance well-being by providing social support, it can also negatively impact mental health through its effects on self-esteem.

The rapid rise of social media over the past decade has significantly transformed how people interact, communicate, and perceive themselves and others. Platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and WeChat have integrated into the daily lives of billions of users worldwide, raising important questions about their impact on mental health.

Previous studies had produced mixed results, with some indicating beneficial effects such as increased social support, while others pointed to detrimental impacts like reduced self-esteem and heightened social comparison. This inconsistency called for a comprehensive analysis to clarify the overall effects of social media use on subjective well-being.

“Currently, social media has permeated every aspect of people’s daily lives. In various settings such as workplaces, schools, trains, and airplanes, we can observe people using social media,” said study author Qiuhong Yang of Nantong University.

“However, the impact of social media usage on people’s mental health remains unclear. Social media enhances communication, enables people to receive social support, and can improve their happiness. Nevertheless, social media use also consumes a significant amount of our time, contributing to increased social comparison and anxiety. I try to verify whether the happiness brought about by social media outweighs its negative effects.”

To investigate the relationship between social media use, perceived social support, self-esteem, and subjective well-being, the researchers conducted a meta-analysis, a statistical technique that systematically combines results from multiple studies to derive a more comprehensive understanding of a particular field. By aggregating data from various sources, a meta-analysis increases the statistical power and reliability of the findings, helping to resolve inconsistencies in the literature.

The researchers conducted an extensive literature search in August 2022, reviewing studies that explored the correlation between social media use and subjective well-being, as well as perceived social support and self-esteem. The articles had to report on subjective well-being or its positive indicators, social media use indicators, and provide sufficient statistical data such as sample size and correlation coefficients.

The search yielded a significant number of studies, which were then screened for relevance and quality. Ultimately, 73 studies comprising 74 independent samples with 108 effect sizes were included in the meta-analysis. Sample sizes ranged from 78 to over 10,000 participants, with ages spanning from 10 to 69 years.

The researchers found that time spent on social media, frequency of use, and use intensity, did not have a consistent association with users’ subjective well-being.

For both time spent on social media and frequency of use, the analysis found no significant relationship with subjective well-being. This implies that merely the amount of time or how often individuals engage with social media platforms does not reliably predict their overall well-being.

The intensity of social media use, which reflects the emotional involvement and personal investment users have in these platforms, showed a small but significant positive effect on subjective well-being. However, the effect size did not reach a level that is generally considered meaningful in social science research.

“It was generally believed that the duration of social networking site use may affect subjective well being,” Yang said. “However, research results have found that the impacts of social media usage duration, frequency or intensity on subjective well being are negligible. Therefore, it should be other factors related to social media usage that affect mental health. In our research, we found that psychological consequences of social networking site use have a more significant impact on mental health.”

The researchers found a significant association between perceived social support and enhanced subjective well-being. Users who reported feeling supported by their social networks tended to have higher life satisfaction and more positive emotions, suggesting that social media can serve as a valuable tool for maintaining and enhancing social ties.

On the other hand, the study found that social media use is negatively associated with subjective well-being through its impact on self-esteem. Constant exposure to curated and often idealized representations of others’ lives can lead to unfavorable social comparisons. When individuals compare themselves to these seemingly perfect images and narratives, it can result in feelings of inadequacy and lower self-esteem. This negative impact on self-esteem is linked to decreased overall well-being, leading to increased negative emotions and decreased life satisfaction.

“Social media usage may positively affect their subjective well-being through the mediation of perceived social support, while negatively affect their subjective well-being through the mediation of self-esteem,” Yang told PsyPost. “So using social media to obtain social support has a positive impact on mental health, while using social media for social comparison may damage mental health.”

Cultural context was also identified as a significant moderator in the relationship between social media use and well-being. The study found that the positive associations of emotionally intense social media use with well-being were stronger in Eastern cultures compared to Western cultures. This difference may be attributed to the stronger emphasis on social relationships and community in Eastern cultures, where social media might be more effectively utilized to maintain close social networks and receive emotional support.

The study, while comprehensive, has some limitations. Firstly, it relied heavily on self-reported data for social media use, which can introduce recall bias and affect the accuracy of the findings. Secondly, the sample predominantly consisted of young adults, limiting the generalizability of the results to older populations. Additionally, the cross-sectional nature of the included studies precludes any causal inferences.

Future research could address these limitations by incorporating more diverse age groups, objective measures of social media use, and longitudinal designs to better understand causal relationships. Yang plans to perform a segmentation study on the demographics and behaviors of social media users to better understand how their backgrounds and habits affect their experiences.

The study, “Relationships between social networking sites use and subjective well-being a meta-analysis and meta-analytic structural equation model,” was authored by Qiuhong Yang and Ying Feng.

URL: https://www.psypost.org/the-psychological-effects-of-social-media-a-double-edged-sword/

Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org

Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot

NYU Information for Practice puts out 400-500 good quality health-related research posts per week but its too much for many people, so that bot is limited to just subscribers. You can read it or subscribe at @PsychResearchBot

Since 1991 The National Psychologist has focused on keeping practicing psychologists current with news, information and items of interest. Check them out for more free articles, resources, and subscription information: https://www.nationalpsychologist.com

EMAIL DAILY DIGEST OF RSS FEEDS -- SUBSCRIBE: http://subscribe-article-digests.clinicians-exchange.org

READ ONLINE: http://read-the-rss-mega-archive.clinicians-exchange.org

It's primitive... but it works... mostly...

@psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry

psychbot , to psychology
@psychbot@mastodon.clinicians-exchange.org avatar

DATE: July 13, 2024 at 12:00PM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG

TITLE: Music composers have more efficient neural pathways in specific brain regions, study finds

URL: https://www.psypost.org/music-composers-have-more-efficient-neural-pathways-in-specific-brain-regions-study-finds/

A recent neuroimaging study comparing music composers and non-composers found that composers have more efficient neural communication pathways in certain brain regions, such as the corpus callosum, anterior radiating corona, and the anterior and posterior branches of the internal capsule. Additionally, composers demonstrated stronger functional connectivity between the orbitofrontal cortex and regions involved in higher cognitive processes. This study was published in Brain-Apparatus Communication: A Journal of Bacomics.

Brain plasticity, or neuroplasticity, is the brain’s remarkable ability to reorganize itself by forming new neural connections throughout life. Engaging in activities that challenge the brain, such as learning new skills or engaging in physical or mental exercises, promotes neuroplasticity. Numerous studies indicate that music training also fosters neuroplasticity.

Music training involves systematic practice in playing an instrument or singing, leading to structural and functional changes in the brain. For instance, a study of jazz musicians revealed that extended musical training influenced the grey matter volume in both the right inferior temporal gyrus and the bilateral hippocampus regions.

Improvising musicians, who spontaneously create and perform music without pre-composed material, have been found to exhibit distinctive brain network connections compared to regular musicians. To produce original music in real time, these musicians rely heavily on creativity, intuition, and musical knowledge. This necessity is likely reflected in the functional specificities of their brains. Research suggests that the orbitofrontal cortex might play a particularly important role in this process.

Music composers also create original pieces of music in their work. With this in mind, study author Rui Ma and his colleagues set out to explore the specificities of neural functioning of music composers. They conducted a neuroimaging study in which they focused on the orbitofrontal cortex region of the brain.

The study involved 18 music composers and 20 non-musicians. The composers, recruited through an advertisement in the composition department of the Sichuan Conservatory of Music in China, had at least three years of composition training. To further confirm their skills, all composers passed a composition test organized by the conservatory. Non-musicians were recruited from the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China.

The average age of composers was 19 years, while it was 22 for non-composers. In terms of gender distribution, 56% of composers were female, compared to 30% of non-composers. Both groups underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).

The results showed that composers had more efficient neural communication pathways in the corpus callosum, anterior radiating corona, and the anterior and posterior branches of the internal capsule compared to non-composers. This efficiency was indicated by higher anisotropy scores and mean diffusion rates detected by fMRI in these areas.

Functional connectivity analysis revealed that composers have a more robust relationship between the orbitofrontal cortex and various regions involved in cognitive processing, such as attentional networks. Functional connectivity indicates how different regions of the brain communicate and work together during specific tasks or at rest.

“This experiment suggests that the structural and functional connectivity between the orbitofrontal cortex and other higher cognitive areas of composers is stronger than nonmusicians, which improves the understanding of the effect of composition training on structural and functional neuroplasticity,” the study authors concluded.

The study sheds light on the structural and functional specificities of composers’ brains compared to non-musicians. However, the design of the study does not allow any cause-and-effect conclusions to be drawn from the data. While it is possible that training in music composition created the observed neural differences, it is also possible that individuals with certain brain characteristics are more likely to become composers. Additionally, other unaccounted factors may have contributed to the observed differences.

The study, “Effects of music composition on structural and functional connectivity in the orbitofrontal cortex,” was authored by Rui Ma, Liangfeng Feng, Xiaolong Guo, Sijia Guo, Siyu Long, Hua Yang and Jing Lu.

URL: https://www.psypost.org/music-composers-have-more-efficient-neural-pathways-in-specific-brain-regions-study-finds/

Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org

Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot

NYU Information for Practice puts out 400-500 good quality health-related research posts per week but its too much for many people, so that bot is limited to just subscribers. You can read it or subscribe at @PsychResearchBot

Since 1991 The National Psychologist has focused on keeping practicing psychologists current with news, information and items of interest. Check them out for more free articles, resources, and subscription information: https://www.nationalpsychologist.com

EMAIL DAILY DIGEST OF RSS FEEDS -- SUBSCRIBE: http://subscribe-article-digests.clinicians-exchange.org

READ ONLINE: http://read-the-rss-mega-archive.clinicians-exchange.org

It's primitive... but it works... mostly...

@psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry

psychbot , to psychology
@psychbot@mastodon.clinicians-exchange.org avatar

DATE: July 13, 2024 at 10:00AM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG

TITLE: New “body count” study reveals how sexual history shapes social perceptions

URL: https://www.psypost.org/new-body-count-study-reveals-how-sexual-history-shapes-social-perceptions/

A recent study published in the journal Sexuality & Culture sheds light on how one’s sexual history affects how they are evaluated by others. The study found that individuals with a higher number of sexual partners, or those who had engaged in casual or non-exclusive relationships, were evaluated less favorably. Interestingly, men were judged more negatively than women for the same sexual behavior.

The study aimed to explore how societal standards and perceptions regarding sexual behavior have evolved, particularly in relation to the sexual double standard (SDS). The SDS refers to the tendency for society to reward men and disadvantage women for the same sexual behaviors.

Despite changing societal norms regarding premarital sex and casual relationships, past research indicates that sex outside of committed relationships is still more acceptable for men than for women. This study aimed to better understand how the number and types of past sexual relationships impact perceptions of individuals and the desire to engage with them socially or romantically.

“The topic of how people perceived others for their number of sexual partners or ‘body count’ has always been of interest to me, and I wondered if perhaps people’s opinions of others changed if sexual partners came from different relationships,” explained study author Tara M. Busch, a human behavior instructor at the College of Southern Nevada

“Specifically, if they would potentially be less judgmental if someone had a ‘high’ body count but no one night stands, or vice versa, or if someone had only participated in sexual intercourse with monogamous partners, would they be seen as more ‘moral,’ etc., previous SDS research seems to suggest this, along with cultural and societal values about engaging in monogamous relationships.”

The researchers conducted an online survey through Amazon’s Mechanical Turk, a crowdsourcing platform that compensates participants for completing tasks. The study involved 853 participants from the United States, ranging in age from 18 to 69.

Participants were randomly assigned to read one of eight vignettes about a fictional target individual. These vignettes varied by three factors: the target’s gender (male or female), the number of sexual partners the target had (one or twelve), and the type of relationships those partners came from (long-term/committed or short-term/casual). These variables were chosen to examine how these aspects of sexual history influenced participants’ perceptions and intentions.

After reading the vignettes, participants completed a series of questionnaires. They answered questions about their willingness to engage with the target in various social settings, including friendship, dating, and sexual relationships. Additionally, they evaluated the target’s likability, success, intelligence, and values.

The researchers found a significant effect of relationship type. Participants evaluated targets who had been in long-term/committed relationships more favorably than those who had engaged in short-term/casual relationships. This trend was consistent across various measures, including overall evaluations and behavioral intentions. Participants expressed greater willingness to associate with individuals who had engaged in committed relationships, suggesting that relationship type plays a crucial role in how sexual history is perceived.

There was also a significant main effect of the number of sexual partners. Targets with only one previous sexual partner were evaluated more positively than those with twelve. Participants reported higher willingness to engage with targets who had fewer sexual partners, indicating a preference for individuals with a less extensive sexual history. This preference was evident in both general evaluations and specific intentions to interact socially or romantically.

The researchers uncovered surprising gender differences in evaluations. Female targets were generally evaluated more positively than male targets, regardless of the number of sexual partners or the type of relationships they had engaged in.

This finding suggests the presence of a reverse sexual double standard, where men are judged more harshly than women for the same sexual behaviors. Participants showed higher behavioral intentions toward female targets, indicating a bias in favor of women when it comes to evaluating sexual history.

“I was expecting women to be judged harsher for higher numbers of sexual partners, but that wasn’t what we found, men were judged harsher,” Busch said.

Interestingly, the researchers did not find significant interactions between gender, number of sexual partners, and relationship type in terms of general evaluations and behavioral intentions. This suggests that these factors independently influence perceptions rather than combining to produce compounded effects.

However, significant three-way interactions emerged for interest in dating and having sex with the target individuals. Participants expressed more interest in dating and having sex with women, particularly those with fewer sexual partners from committed relationships.

“The key takeaways are that relationship type and number of sexual partners did not interact with each other, meaning that people judged others for engaging in short-term/casual relationships more than long-term/exclusive relationships, and for having higher numbers of sexual partners,” Busch told PsyPost. “People also were less interested in having sex with, or dating those individuals. It did not necessarily have to be both high numbers of partners and casual/short-term relationships though, one or the other was enough to bring judgement and less interest.”

But the study, like all research, has some caveats to consider. The sample was broad in terms of age and relationship status. Future studies might benefit from focusing on specific age groups or relationship statuses to see if these factors influence perceptions differently. Additionally, the study did not account for participants’ own levels of sexual activity, which could influence their evaluations of others.

Importantly, the use of hypothetical vignettes may not fully capture real-world perceptions. “Other recent research suggests that when evaluating people in the real world, or real people rather than hypothetical people, women are evaluated more negatively than men when their numbers of sexual partners increase,” Busch noted. “This leads me to believe that if we conducted this study in a similar fashion, with real targets rather than hypothetical targets, we might see different results.”

“It would be interesting to conduct a study I described above where instead of vignettes of hypothetical targets, people evaluate others whom they know in their own lives.”

Despite these caveats, the study offers important contributions to our understanding of societal perceptions of sexual behavior. It highlights the enduring stigmas associated with casual sexual activity and multiple partners.

The study, “The Impact of Sexual History and Relationship Type on Social Perceptions,” was authored by Tara M. Busch and Patricia Saldala-Torres.

URL: https://www.psypost.org/new-body-count-study-reveals-how-sexual-history-shapes-social-perceptions/

Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org

Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot

NYU Information for Practice puts out 400-500 good quality health-related research posts per week but its too much for many people, so that bot is limited to just subscribers. You can read it or subscribe at @PsychResearchBot

Since 1991 The National Psychologist has focused on keeping practicing psychologists current with news, information and items of interest. Check them out for more free articles, resources, and subscription information: https://www.nationalpsychologist.com

EMAIL DAILY DIGEST OF RSS FEEDS -- SUBSCRIBE: http://subscribe-article-digests.clinicians-exchange.org

READ ONLINE: http://read-the-rss-mega-archive.clinicians-exchange.org

It's primitive... but it works... mostly...

@psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry

psychbot , to psychology
@psychbot@mastodon.clinicians-exchange.org avatar

DATE: July 13, 2024 at 08:00AM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG

TITLE: Children’s sense of meaning in life predicts mental health and positive behavior

URL: https://www.psypost.org/childrens-sense-of-meaning-in-life-predicts-mental-health-and-positive-behavior/

New research published in The Humanistic Psychologist reveals that higher sense of meaning in daily life predicts better mental health outcomes in children.

The link between sense of meaning in life and mental health is well-documented in adults, but relatively underexplored in children. Meaning, defined as the extent to which individuals find significance and purpose in their lives, is a key component of mental well-being. For adults, meaning is associated with better coping mechanisms during crises and overall mental health, suggesting its potential benefits for children as well.

The concept of “meaning mindset” which encompasses agency, hope, self-esteem, and openness to experience, is particularly relevant for children. In this work, Elizabeth St. John and colleagues examined the relationship between meaning mindset and mental health in children aged 6-12.

A total of 62 children were recruited from Canadian schools and places of worship. Data was collected through two online, anonymous, video-based questionnaires. The Child Identity and Purpose Questionnaire (Ch.I.P.) was used to measure sense of meaning. This 17-item scale assesses agency, self-esteem, hope for the future, and openness to experience. Each item uses a 10-point sliding scale where children select the character they relate to for each statement (e.g., “Chip is happy to be Chip” vs. “Ceira is not happy to be Ceira.”).

Mental health was evaluated with the Interactive Symptom Assessment-long version (ISA), a 24-item scale measuring well-being and symptoms like anxiety and depression. This scale also uses a 10-point sliding scale, where children rate their agreement with statements like “Isa was cheerful this week” and “Eibe was grouchy this week.” Participants also reported how frequently they attended religious services.

The researchers found a positive association between meaning mindset and mental health. Children with higher sense of meaning in their daily lives reported better mental health and showed fewer internalizing and externalizing symptoms, with meaning mindset accounting for 50% of the variance in mental health scores.

While religious attendance alone did not directly influence mental health, results suggest it may foster a meaning mindset, which in turn enhances mental well-being. Components of meaning mindset each contributed to the overall mental health of the children. Children who reported higher levels of agency felt more control over their actions and decisions, which correlated with better mental health. Similarly, higher self-esteem, hope, and openness to new experiences were associated with fewer symptoms of anxiety, depression, and externalizing behaviors.

A limitation to this work is that cultural differences were not accounted for, which may influence the sources and significance of meaning in children’s lives. Including culturally diverse participants in future studies could provide a more comprehensive understanding of how meaning contributes to mental health across different cultural backgrounds.

The study, “Meaning as an early determinant of mental health in children”, was authored by Elizabeth St. John, Laura Lynne Armstrong, and Emmalyne Watt.

URL: https://www.psypost.org/childrens-sense-of-meaning-in-life-predicts-mental-health-and-positive-behavior/

Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org

Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot

NYU Information for Practice puts out 400-500 good quality health-related research posts per week but its too much for many people, so that bot is limited to just subscribers. You can read it or subscribe at @PsychResearchBot

Since 1991 The National Psychologist has focused on keeping practicing psychologists current with news, information and items of interest. Check them out for more free articles, resources, and subscription information: https://www.nationalpsychologist.com

EMAIL DAILY DIGEST OF RSS FEEDS -- SUBSCRIBE: http://subscribe-article-digests.clinicians-exchange.org

READ ONLINE: http://read-the-rss-mega-archive.clinicians-exchange.org

It's primitive... but it works... mostly...

@psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry

psychbot , to psychology
@psychbot@mastodon.clinicians-exchange.org avatar

DATE: July 12, 2024 at 09:00PM
SOURCE: Psychiatric Times
.
Actual article link at end of text block below.
.
Unveiling the unseen struggles of patients with and their caregivers in our latest expert series. Watch here: https://t.co/ZoP3xPFqlU https://t.co/E6rEBugJ0t
.
Articles can be found at https://www.psychiatrictimes.com/news

.  
Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: <https://www.clinicians-exchange.org>  
.  
NYU Information for Practice puts out 400-500 good quality health-related research posts per week but its too much for many people, so that bot is limited to just subscribers. You can read it or subscribe at @[email protected]   
.  
 #psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @[email protected] @[email protected] @[email protected] @[email protected] @[email protected] @[email protected] #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #psychotherapist
psychbot , to psychology
@psychbot@mastodon.clinicians-exchange.org avatar

DATE: July 12, 2024 at 04:00PM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG

TITLE: Research uncovers link between fear of death and expensive funerals

URL: https://www.psypost.org/research-uncovers-link-between-fear-of-death-and-expensive-funerals/

A recent study published in Psychological Reports reveals that the fear of death significantly influences people’s tendency to engage in lavish funeral spending, known as death-related status consumption. This study also found that avoiding thoughts of death partly mediates this relationship, and materialism intensifies the connection between fear of death and status-driven funeral expenses.

The motivation behind this study stems from the observed growth in the funeral industry, which was valued at $18 billion in the United States in 2022. Despite the industry’s expansion and the significant costs associated with funerals, little is understood about what drives people to spend heavily on funeral products and services.

Previous research has largely overlooked the reasons behind individuals’ preferences for death-related products, focusing more on life-related consumption. This study aimed to fill this gap by examining how people’s attitudes towards death influence their consumption of high-status funeral products and services.

To explore these relationships, researchers conducted a survey involving 346 participants over the age of 18. The participants were recruited through Amazon Mechanical Turk, ensuring a diverse sample. The majority of the participants were between 35 and 54 years old, with a nearly equal split between males and females. Participants’ educational backgrounds varied, with the largest group having completed undergraduate education.

The survey measured four main constructs: fear of death, death avoidance, materialism, and death-related status consumption. Fear of death was assessed with statements like “I have an intense fear of death,” while death avoidance was measured with items such as “I avoid thinking about death.” Materialism was gauged through statements reflecting admiration for expensive possessions. Death-related status consumption included items like “The atmosphere of funerals should be magnificent.”

The researchers found a strong positive relationship between fear of death and death-related status consumption. Individuals who reported higher levels of fear of death were more likely to spend on high-status funeral products and services. This suggests that fear of death drives people to invest in luxurious funerals as a way to cope with their anxiety.

Death avoidance was found to partially mediate the relationship between fear of death and status consumption. This means that people who avoid thinking about death are likely to spend more on status-driven funeral products, but this avoidance only partly explains the overall spending behavior. The direct influence of fear of death on status consumption remained significant even after accounting for death avoidance.

Materialism was shown to strengthen the relationship between fear of death and status consumption. People with high materialistic values were more likely to engage in status-driven funeral spending when they feared death. However, materialism did not significantly affect the relationship between death avoidance and status consumption.

“The research results generally indicate that individuals see death-related status consumption as an escape from thoughts of death,” the researchers concluded. “However, how this form of consumption contributes to the subjective wellbeing of bereaved families has not yet been examined.”

“Given this gap in the research, future studies should focus on whether death-related consumption is a positive, therapeutic coping mechanism for dealing with fear and anxiety about death or a factor that only leads bereaved families towards maladaptive consumer behavior. Because concepts such as subjective well-being and happiness are familiar to both consumer researchers and death researchers, these research findings are expected to contribute to the link between the two disciplines.”

The study, “Status Consumption as Coping With Fear of Death: The Mediating Role of Death Avoidance and the Moderating Role of Materialism,” was authored by Hakan Cengiz and Joanne Cacciatore.

URL: https://www.psypost.org/research-uncovers-link-between-fear-of-death-and-expensive-funerals/

Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org

Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot

NYU Information for Practice puts out 400-500 good quality health-related research posts per week but its too much for many people, so that bot is limited to just subscribers. You can read it or subscribe at @PsychResearchBot

Since 1991 The National Psychologist has focused on keeping practicing psychologists current with news, information and items of interest. Check them out for more free articles, resources, and subscription information: https://www.nationalpsychologist.com

EMAIL DAILY DIGEST OF RSS FEEDS -- SUBSCRIBE: http://subscribe-article-digests.clinicians-exchange.org

READ ONLINE: http://read-the-rss-mega-archive.clinicians-exchange.org

It's primitive... but it works... mostly...

@psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry

psychbot , to psychology
@psychbot@mastodon.clinicians-exchange.org avatar

DATE: July 12, 2024 at 02:49PM
SOURCE: Psychiatric Times
.
Actual article link at end of text block below.
.
RT @shrinkrapdinah: My Ketamine Journeys https://t.co/EoYgCLTUGQ via @@psychtimes --yes, I tried ketamine as part of the learning process,…
.
Articles can be found at https://www.psychiatrictimes.com/news

.  
Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: <https://www.clinicians-exchange.org>  
.  
NYU Information for Practice puts out 400-500 good quality health-related research posts per week but its too much for many people, so that bot is limited to just subscribers. You can read it or subscribe at @[email protected]   
.  
 #psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @[email protected] @[email protected] @[email protected] @[email protected] @[email protected] @[email protected] #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #psychotherapist
psychbot , to psychology
@psychbot@mastodon.clinicians-exchange.org avatar

DATE: July 12, 2024 at 02:00PM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG

TITLE: AI system achieves 96% accuracy in determining sex from dental X-rays

URL: https://www.psypost.org/ai-system-achieves-96-accuracy-in-determining-sex-from-dental-x-rays/

Researchers in Brazil created a machine-learning system that can determine an individual’s sex based on panoramic radiographs – wide-view dental X-ray images that capture the entire mouth. The system was 96% accurate when the resolution of the picture was good and the individual was older than 16. The accuracy was lower for younger individuals. The their findings were published in the Journal of Forensic Sciences.

When forensic experts need to identify an individual based on human remains, determining the sex of the deceased is one of the first goals. Throughout history, various methods have been used for this, many based on the analysis of bones, their structures, and relationships. Forensic methods that extract the needed information from bones are particularly important because bones are often the best-preserved part of a body.

Sometimes forensic experts have only the jaw and teeth to work with. This is particularly the case in mass accidents or other situations where analyzing human bodies is in different stages of decomposition, e.g., bodies that are charred, macerated, or skeletonized. These are situations where techniques of forensic dentistry are of utmost importance.

Like many other areas of human activity, artificial intelligence (AI) is making inroads in this area as well. AI-powered methods can assist dentists in interpreting images more effectively, reducing human errors, and allowing for faster determination. It is also possible that AI-based techniques could be used to obtain information that might not be easily detectable to the naked eye or using classical methods.

Study author Ana Claudia Martins Ciconelle and her colleagues wanted to explore whether an AI-powered tool could be developed that can accurately estimate the sex of an individual based on a panoramic radiograph. Panoramic radiographs are wide-view dental X-ray images that capture the entire mouth, including the teeth, jaws, and surrounding structures, in a single, comprehensive picture.

These researchers collected 207,946 panoramic radiographs and their corresponding reports from 15 clinical centers in São Paulo, Brazil. These panoramic radiographs were acquired using four different devices. Fifty-eight percent of them came from female patients. All patients were alive at the time the radiograph was made. Forty-three percent of them had up to four missing teeth. Five percent had more than sixteen missing teeth.

The study authors organized data from each patient into a database and trained two machine-learning algorithms to estimate the sex based on a panoramic radiograph. One algorithm was a convolutional neural network, while the other was a residual network. A convolutional neural network is a type of deep learning model that learns hierarchies of features in a set of input images. A residual network is a type of deep learning model that uses shortcuts to help pass information through layers more effectively.

Results showed that, after optimization, both types of algorithms had similar accuracy in estimating gender. The main factor affecting the accuracy was the resolution of the pictures—when it was better, accuracy was higher. The second important factor was age. For patients between 20 and 50 years of age, the accuracy of the system was over 97%. It was a bit below 95% for patients above 70 years of age.

For patients between 6 and 16 years of age, the system was 87% accurate in estimating their sex, while accuracy was only 74% for children below six. For individuals over 16 years of age, the overall accuracy was 96%.

“This study demonstrates the effectiveness of an AI-driven tool for sex determination using PR [panoramic radiographs] and emphasizes the role of image resolution, age, and sex in determining the algorithm’s performance,” the study authors concluded.

The study presents a new software tool for determining the sex of an individual based on panoramic radiographs. However, it should be noted that all the images used in the study came from people who were alive. The effectiveness might be different if images came from human remains where decomposition processes have already advanced.

The paper, “Deep learning for sex determination: Analyzing over 200,000 panoramic radiographs,” was authored by Ana Claudia Martins Ciconelle, Renan Lucio Berbel da Silva, Jun Ho Kim, Bruno Aragão Rocha, Dênis Gonçalves dos Santos, Luis Gustavo Rocha Vianna, Luma Gallacio Gomes Ferreira, Vinícius Henrique Pereira dos Santos, Jeferson Orofino Costa, and Renato Vicente.

URL: https://www.psypost.org/ai-system-achieves-96-accuracy-in-determining-sex-from-dental-x-rays/

Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org

Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot

NYU Information for Practice puts out 400-500 good quality health-related research posts per week but its too much for many people, so that bot is limited to just subscribers. You can read it or subscribe at @PsychResearchBot

Since 1991 The National Psychologist has focused on keeping practicing psychologists current with news, information and items of interest. Check them out for more free articles, resources, and subscription information: https://www.nationalpsychologist.com

EMAIL DAILY DIGEST OF RSS FEEDS -- SUBSCRIBE: http://subscribe-article-digests.clinicians-exchange.org

READ ONLINE: http://read-the-rss-mega-archive.clinicians-exchange.org

It's primitive... but it works... mostly...

@psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry

psychbot , to psychology
@psychbot@mastodon.clinicians-exchange.org avatar

DATE: July 12, 2024 at 12:05PM
SOURCE: Psychiatric Times
.
Actual article link at end of text block below.
.
The FDA did not vote to deny approval of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy on June 4, 2024, contrary to all the buzz in the media saying they did. Our Editor in Chief elaborates. https://t.co/HIka1qC0uk
.
Articles can be found at https://www.psychiatrictimes.com/news

.  
Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: <https://www.clinicians-exchange.org>  
.  
NYU Information for Practice puts out 400-500 good quality health-related research posts per week but its too much for many people, so that bot is limited to just subscribers. You can read it or subscribe at @[email protected]   
.  
 #psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @[email protected] @[email protected] @[email protected] @[email protected] @[email protected] @[email protected] #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #psychotherapist
psychbot , to psychology
@psychbot@mastodon.clinicians-exchange.org avatar

DATE: July 12, 2024 at 12:00PM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG

TITLE: New study links problematic media use in toddlers to long-term emotional issues

URL: https://www.psypost.org/new-study-links-problematic-media-use-in-toddlers-to-long-term-emotional-issues/

A new longitudinal study published in Computers in Human Behavior has revealed concerning findings about problematic media use in young children. The research highlights that children as young as two years old can exhibit excessive and pathological media use, which is linked to long-term social and emotional problems.

Problematic media use is defined as excessive and pathological engagement with media that significantly interferes with daily social and emotional functioning. This phenomenon manifests in behaviors such as difficulty transitioning away from media, preoccupation with screen media, sneaking media use, or even lying to parents about media consumption. Unlike general screen time, which measures the amount of time spent on screens, problematic media use captures the negative impact of media on a child’s ability to interact socially, manage emotions, and participate in everyday activities.

Most existing studies on problematic media use have concentrated on adolescents and adults, with limited research on young children. Given the increasing presence of digital media in children’s lives from a very early age, researchers sought to provide a better understanding of how problematic media use begins and evolves in early childhood.

“I have studied problematic media use in adolescence for a number of years and wanted to see if the roots began in early childhood. It would be wonderful if we could intervene when kids are young to prevent serious problems with media later on in life,” said study author Sarah M. Coyne, a professor human development at Brigham Young University.

The study was part of Project M.E.D.I.A., a longitudinal research project aimed at understanding child development in a media-saturated environment. The researchers recruited 500 primary caregivers with infants under the age of one year from various sources. For the current analysis, data from 269 primary caregiver-infant dyads who participated in four annual waves of data collection were used. The children in the study ranged in age from 2.5 to 5.5 years old during these waves.

Parents reported on their children’s problematic media use using the nine-item Problematic Media Use Measure Short Form. This measure assesses behaviors such as preoccupation with media, withdrawal, and deception about media use. Additionally, parents reported how frequently their child viewed television content on any device.

Child emotional and social problems were measured using the Child Behavior Checklist at both the beginning and end of the study period. This tool evaluated emotional reactivity, anxiety/depression, withdrawal, and aggression. Parental behaviors, including restrictive media monitoring and parental warmth, were assessed using a modified version of the Perceived Parental Media Mediation Scale and the Early Growth and Development Indicator-Indicator of Parent-Child Interaction.

The researchers found that problematic media use begins as early as 2.5 years old and tends to increase steadily throughout early childhood. Emotional reactivity, aggression, and higher television viewing time at 2.5 years old were significant predictors of initial levels of problematic media use. In other words, children with higher emotional reactivity and aggression, and those who watched more television, showed higher initial levels of problematic media use.

Higher initial levels of problematic media use were associated with increased social and emotional problems four years later. Children who exhibited higher levels of problematic media use at 2.5 years old had more anxiety, depression, withdrawal, social problems, and aggressive behavior by age 5.5. Additionally, children who showed a more rapid increase in problematic media use over the study period were more likely to display higher levels of aggression at age 5.5, even when initial aggression levels were accounted for.

“Problematic media use begins as early as age two years old and is associated with long-term social and emotional problems,” Coyne told PsyPost. “Be aware of the symptoms of problematic media use and focus on teaching self-regulation skills in early childhood.”

Interestingly, the study did not find significant associations between early parental restrictive media monitoring or warmth/acceptance and the development of problematic media use. This suggests that children’s own regulatory dispositions — such as their emotional reactivity and aggression — are more influential in shaping their media use patterns than the specific parenting behaviors examined in this study.

“There were not as many predictors of problematic media use growth as I expected, particularly in the parenting realm,” Coyne said. “I would love to follow these kids over time to see how early parenting will influence children’s problematic use across development.”

The findings demonstrate the importance of addressing problematic media use early in childhood. However, the study focused on child media use but did not extensively examine the broader family media ecology. Factors such as parental media use, technoference (technology interference in parent-child interactions), and siblings’ media habits could also play significant roles in shaping children’s media use patterns and should be explored in future studies.

“Really young children are not great at self-regulation, so some dysregulation around media is expected,” Coyne noted. “It will be important to see how this grows over time, especially as kids develop their regulatory skills. I would love to follow this sample into adolescence to see how problematic use looks like over the course of development.”

The study, “The growth of problematic media use over early childhood: Associations with long-term social and emotional outcomes,” was authored by Sarah M. Coyne, Jane Shawcroft, Hailey Holmgren, Chenae Christensen-Duerden, Sarah Ashby, Adam Rogers, Peter J. Reschke, Rachel Barr, Sarah Domoff, Megan Van Alfen, Madeleine Meldrum, and Chris L. Porter.

URL: https://www.psypost.org/new-study-links-problematic-media-use-in-toddlers-to-long-term-emotional-issues/

Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org

Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot

NYU Information for Practice puts out 400-500 good quality health-related research posts per week but its too much for many people, so that bot is limited to just subscribers. You can read it or subscribe at @PsychResearchBot

Since 1991 The National Psychologist has focused on keeping practicing psychologists current with news, information and items of interest. Check them out for more free articles, resources, and subscription information: https://www.nationalpsychologist.com

EMAIL DAILY DIGEST OF RSS FEEDS -- SUBSCRIBE: http://subscribe-article-digests.clinicians-exchange.org

READ ONLINE: http://read-the-rss-mega-archive.clinicians-exchange.org

It's primitive... but it works... mostly...

@psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry

psychbot , to psychology
@psychbot@mastodon.clinicians-exchange.org avatar

DATE: July 12, 2024 at 10:01AM
SOURCE: Psychiatric Times
.
Actual article link at end of text block below.
.
Iowa is considering several ways to pay for the 988 service, including a surcharge, billing commercial insurance, or by asking the federal Medicaid program for money. https://t.co/BpuuK41tma
.
Articles can be found at https://www.psychiatrictimes.com/news

.  
Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: <https://www.clinicians-exchange.org>  
.  
NYU Information for Practice puts out 400-500 good quality health-related research posts per week but its too much for many people, so that bot is limited to just subscribers. You can read it or subscribe at @[email protected]   
.  
 #psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @[email protected] @[email protected] @[email protected] @[email protected] @[email protected] @[email protected] #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #psychotherapist
psychbot , to psychology
@psychbot@mastodon.clinicians-exchange.org avatar

DATE: July 12, 2024 at 10:00AM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG

TITLE: Brain imaging study sheds light on how magic mushrooms paint vivid images behind your eyelids

URL: https://www.psypost.org/brain-imaging-study-sheds-light-on-how-magic-mushrooms-paint-vivid-images-behind-your-eyelids/

Imagine closing your eyes and seeing vivid images as if your eyes were still open. This fascinating phenomenon is common during the ingestion of psychedelics like psilocybin, a substance found in certain “magic” mushrooms. In a new study published in the journal Molecular Psychiatry, scientists have used sophisticated imaging techniques to explore the neural underpinnings of these eyes-closed visual experiences, offering new insights into visual perception and imagery.

In recent years, psilocybin has gained attention for its potential therapeutic benefits in treating mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder. The compound works primarily by activating serotonin receptors in the brain, leading to altered perceptions, enhanced mood, and profound changes in consciousness.

Despite its long history and growing interest in its therapeutic potential, the precise mechanisms by which psilocybin induces its effects, particularly its visual hallucinations, remain poorly understood. Traditional methods of studying hallucinations are limited because they occur unpredictably in clinical disorders. However, psychedelics like psilocybin reliably produce vivid visual experiences, making them valuable tools for exploring the neural basis of visual perception and imagery.

Previous research has indicated that psychedelics affect various brain regions involved in perception, but the detailed pathways and specific neural interactions have remained elusive. By using advanced imaging techniques and a well-controlled experimental design, the authors of the new study sought to elucidate the changes in brain connectivity that underlie the unique visual experiences induced by psilocybin.

“Visual effects are one of the main subjective phenomena induced by serotonergic psychedelics. Their underlying mechanisms remain a curiosity in psychedelic science and other research domains such as psychosis and dream states,” said study author Devon Stoliker, a postdoctoral researcher at the Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health at Monash University.

“These visual phenomena also complement more profound experiences related to the dissolution of self and self-related boundaries, potentially having therapeutic relevance. For instance, visual experiences can be perceived as personally meaningful, and dissolved boundaries may facilitate insights or visions, potentially linked to visual brain areas. Although only a subsection of these ideas are explored in the article, they provide a compelling area for further research.”

The researchers conducted a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, cross-over study, which is considered the gold standard for minimizing bias and ensuring robust results. This design means that neither the participants nor the researchers knew who received psilocybin or a placebo during each session, and each participant experienced both conditions at different times.

The study included 24 healthy adults aged 20 to 40, ensuring they had no history of psychiatric disorders. These participants underwent two sessions spaced at least two weeks apart. In one session, they received a dose of psilocybin (0.2 mg/kg of body weight), and in the other, a placebo. During each session, resting-state functional MRI (fMRI) scans were taken 70 minutes after administration, a time point corresponding to the peak effects of psilocybin. Participants were asked to keep their eyes closed during the scans to focus on the internal visual experiences.

Under the influence of psilocybin, brain regions involved in visual processing showed increased self-inhibition. This means these regions became less responsive to incoming sensory signals, reducing their sensitivity to external stimuli. Essentially, the brain’s internal activity took precedence over external sensory input.

The researchers also found strengthened connections from higher-order brain regions (like the inferior frontal gyrus) to lower-order visual areas (such as the early visual areas). This suggests that internal thoughts, memories, and associative processes had a greater influence on visual perception under psilocybin, leading to vivid and complex visual imagery.

There was a noticeable decrease in the brain’s response to external visual stimuli, aligning with previous preclinical findings. This reduction in sensory input allowed internally generated imagery to become more prominent, supporting the hypothesis that psychedelics enhance the brain’s reliance on top-down processes for visual perception.

The vividness and complexity of the visual imagery reported by participants were strongly correlated with specific patterns of brain connectivity. For example, connections from the inferior frontal gyrus to the fusiform gyrus and from the fusiform gyrus to the early visual areas were linked to the experiences of elementary and complex imagery, respectively.

“Psychedelics appear to inhibit the primacy of activity in visual areas, making these regions more susceptible to top-down influences from the brain,” Stoliker told PsyPost. “This aligns with the concept of psychedelics as ‘mind-manifesting’ substances, enhancing top-down processes. This notion also resonates with past research on alpha wave inhibition, suggesting that psychedelics may inhibit mechanisms that normally prevent us from seeing visual effects when our eyes are closed.”

Despite its robust design, the study has some caveats to consider. The small sample size of 20 participants (after exclusions) limits the generalizability of the findings. The study also used a moderate dose of psilocybin, so the effects of higher doses remain unexplored. Additionally, the study focused on a few specific brain regions and resting-state conditions; a broader exploration of brain areas and task-based research could provide a more comprehensive understanding.

“Psychedelic science is still developing, and methodological pipelines influence results,” Stoliker said. “Therefore, it’s wise to consider these findings as preliminary. Confidence builds when the majority of studies yield similar results.”

Nevertheless, the study’s results suggest that psychedelics could be used as tools to explore the brain’s intrinsic connectivity and its role in generating conscious experiences. Understanding how psilocybin affects brain connectivity could inform the development of new therapeutic approaches for conditions involving altered perceptions, such as schizophrenia or certain types of hallucinations.

“I aim to understand changes across the brain that inform our understanding of associative and sensory processes, and how they influence respective top-down and bottom-up mechanisms,” Stoliker explained. “Understanding these alterations can reveal how specific subjective effects are produced. While this research informs us about psychedelics, it also has the potential to reveal the mechanisms perception and nature of conscious experience.”

“I have an expansive exploration of the neural mechanisms and psychology of psychedelic ego dissolution published in Pharmacological Reviews, which may be of interest to readers: https://pharmrev.aspetjournals.org/content/74/4/876.”

The study, “Neural mechanisms of psychedelic visual imagery,” was authored by Devon Stoliker, Katrin H. Preller, Leonardo Novelli, Alan Anticevic, Gary F. Egan, Franz X. Vollenweider, and Adeel Razi.

URL: https://www.psypost.org/brain-imaging-study-sheds-light-on-how-magic-mushrooms-paint-vivid-images-behind-your-eyelids/

Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org

Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot

NYU Information for Practice puts out 400-500 good quality health-related research posts per week but its too much for many people, so that bot is limited to just subscribers. You can read it or subscribe at @PsychResearchBot

Since 1991 The National Psychologist has focused on keeping practicing psychologists current with news, information and items of interest. Check them out for more free articles, resources, and subscription information: https://www.nationalpsychologist.com

EMAIL DAILY DIGEST OF RSS FEEDS -- SUBSCRIBE: http://subscribe-article-digests.clinicians-exchange.org

READ ONLINE: http://read-the-rss-mega-archive.clinicians-exchange.org

It's primitive... but it works... mostly...

@psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry

psychbot , to psychology
@psychbot@mastodon.clinicians-exchange.org avatar

DATE: July 12, 2024 at 08:00AM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG

TITLE: Surprising influence of pupil size on attractiveness unveiled in new research

URL: https://www.psypost.org/surprising-influence-of-pupil-size-on-attractiveness-unveiled-in-new-research/

Can the size of your pupils affect how attractive you are? According to a new study published in Cognition, it just might.

Physical attractiveness has profound effects on social experiences and outcomes, often leading to positive perceptions and advantages, a phenomenon known as the “halo effect.” Attractive individuals tend to have more friends, higher earnings, and greater success in elections. Research on this topic has focused on facial features like prominent cheekbones, small noses, and especially the eyes. Large eyes are linked to youthfulness (a phenomenon known as neoteny) and attractiveness, enhancing the perceived “cuteness” of children and the appeal of adults.

Prior research has yielded inconsistent results about the effects of pupil size, with some studies suggesting that larger pupils enhance attractiveness, while others argue that smaller pupils, which reveal more of the iris and increase eye color and brightness, are more appealing. In this work, researchers Martina Cossu and colleagues strived to provide more conclusive results.

Experiment 1 included 252 participants recruited from Prolific. The researchers selected photos of four individuals (two males and two females), each in two different poses, and digitally manipulated them to have either constricted (20% of iris diameter) or dilated pupils (50% of iris diameter), resulting in sixteen photos. Participants were presented with pairs of these photos in a 2-alternative forced-choice task and asked to choose which version they found more attractive. The results revealed a preference for photos with constricted pupils.

Experiment 2 involved 257 participants who were shown 40 pairs of eyeshots, which included images of 20 males and 20 females with either blue or brown irises. Each eyeshot was digitally manipulated to have either constricted (20-25% of iris diameter) or dilated pupils (50-55% of iris diameter). Participants were asked to rate the attractiveness of these eyeshots on a slider scale ranging from 0 (very unattractive) to 100 (very attractive).

The results consistently showed that faces with constricted pupils were rated as more attractive than those with dilated pupils, regardless of the iris color or the gender of the person in the photo.

Experiment 3 included 1199 participants from Prolific, divided into two independent samples. Participants were randomly assigned to one of three pupil size conditions: constricted (25% of iris diameter), neutral (40%), and dilated (55%), and asked to rate the attractiveness of a female eyeshot using the 100-point slider scale.

The results revealed that constricted pupils were rated as the most attractive, followed by neutral, and then dilated pupils. This linear effect of pupil size on attractiveness was consistent across both independent samples, reinforcing the finding that smaller, constricted pupils are perceived as more attractive.

Experiment 4 involved 799 participants from Prolific, who were asked to rate the attractiveness of headshots with manipulated pupil sizes (constricted or dilated) presented in both color and black-and-white versions. Each participant rated one version of the headshot using the same slider scale.

The results showed that constricted pupils were rated as more attractive than dilated pupils in both color and black-and-white images, suggesting that the increased attractiveness of constricted pupils was due to the brightness of the eyes rather than the color, as the effect persisted even when color was removed.

Experiment 5 was conducted in-lab with 307 participants who rated the attractiveness and brightness of 20 opposite-sex eyeshots. Each eyeshot was manipulated to have either constricted or dilated pupils. Attractiveness was rated on a 101-point sliding scale, while brightness was rated on a 7-point scale.

The results showed that eyes with constricted pupils were rated as more attractive and appeared brighter than those with dilated pupils. A mediation analysis confirmed that the increased perceived brightness of constricted pupils contributed to their higher attractiveness ratings.

Experiment 6 involved 300 participants recruited from Prolific, who were shown eyeshots with manipulated pupil sizes (constricted or dilated) while controlling for the colorfulness of the eyes. Participants rated the attractiveness and brightness of each eyeshot on a 100-point slider scale and 7-point scale, respectively. They likewise indicated how colorful the eyes appeared to be on a 7-point scale.

The findings revealed that even when the colorfulness of the eyes was controlled, constricted pupils were still rated as more attractive than dilated pupils, reinforcing the idea that the increased brightness associated with constricted pupils enhances perceived attractiveness, independent of eye color.

These studies confirm that regardless of eye color, pupil size significantly influences perceived attractiveness, with the brightness of constricted pupils playing a crucial role in enhancing their appeal.

A limitation noted by the authors is the reliance on manipulated images, which might not fully capture natural variations in pupil size.

The research, “Beauty is in the iris: Constricted pupils (enlarged irises) enhance attractiveness”, was authored by Martina Cossu, Maria Giulia Trupia, and Zachary Estes​.

URL: https://www.psypost.org/surprising-influence-of-pupil-size-on-attractiveness-unveiled-in-new-research/

Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org

Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot

NYU Information for Practice puts out 400-500 good quality health-related research posts per week but its too much for many people, so that bot is limited to just subscribers. You can read it or subscribe at @PsychResearchBot

Since 1991 The National Psychologist has focused on keeping practicing psychologists current with news, information and items of interest. Check them out for more free articles, resources, and subscription information: https://www.nationalpsychologist.com

EMAIL DAILY DIGEST OF RSS FEEDS -- SUBSCRIBE: http://subscribe-article-digests.clinicians-exchange.org

READ ONLINE: http://read-the-rss-mega-archive.clinicians-exchange.org

It's primitive... but it works... mostly...

@psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry

psychbot , to psychology
@psychbot@mastodon.clinicians-exchange.org avatar

DATE: July 11, 2024 at 08:00PM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG

TITLE: New study sheds light on Taylor Swift’s impact on fans’ body image and disordered eating

URL: https://www.psypost.org/psychology-study-sheds-light-on-taylor-swifts-impact-on-fans-body-image-and-disordered-eating/

In a new study conducted by researchers at the University of Vermont, Taylor Swift’s openness about her struggles with body image and disordered eating has been found to positively influence her fans’ attitudes and behaviors towards these issues. Published in the journal Social Science & Medicine, the research analyzed social media content to determine how Swift’s disclosures about her eating disorder have impacted her fans.

Taylor Swift, a globally renowned singer-songwriter, has long been recognized for her cultural impact, not only through her music but also through her public persona and advocacy. Throughout her career, Swift has candidly shared personal experiences and struggles, including her battles with body image and disordered eating.

In her 2020 Netflix documentary, “Miss Americana,” Swift revealed how these issues affected her, particularly during the promotion of her 2014 album, “1989.” She spoke openly about the pressure to conform to societal beauty standards and the resultant harmful behaviors she adopted.

Prior research has shown that celebrities can significantly impact their fans’ attitudes and behaviors, often negatively influencing body image and promoting unrealistic beauty standards. However, Swift’s openness about her personal challenges presented a unique opportunity to explore whether such disclosures could foster positive changes. The researchers wanted to examine whether Swift’s candid discussions about her eating disorder and body image issues could encourage healthier attitudes and behaviors among her fans.

The researchers selected two prominent social media platforms, TikTok and Reddit, known for their active Taylor Swift fan communities. These platforms provided a diverse range of fan interactions, with TikTok being video-based and Reddit being text-based.

To gather relevant data, the researchers searched for posts related to Taylor Swift, body image, and eating disorders. They used search terms like “Taylor Swift body image” on TikTok and “body image” and “eating disorders” on Reddit. The top 100 TikTok posts and the top 101 Reddit posts, along with their associated comments, were included in the analysis. This amounted to over 8,300 comments being reviewed. The posts were collected between October and November 2023.

The researchers employed a qualitative thematic analysis approach to code and analyze the posts and comments. They developed a codebook based on existing literature on body image, eating disorders, diet culture, parasocial relationships, and celebrity influence. The thematic analysis allowed the researchers to identify key themes and patterns in the fan reactions.

The analysis revealed several key themes regarding fans’ reactions to Taylor Swift’s openness about her struggles with body image and disordered eating. One of the most prominent themes was the admiration and relatability fans felt towards Swift.

Many fans expressed deep admiration for Swift’s bravery in sharing her personal struggles and often related her experiences to their own. This connection was particularly strong among fans who had battled similar issues, with numerous comments highlighting how Swift’s transparency helped them feel validated and inspired to seek recovery.

Another significant finding was the positive influence Swift’s disclosures had on her fans’ attitudes and behaviors. Fans frequently reported that Swift’s openness about her body image and eating disorder struggles encouraged them to adopt healthier attitudes towards their bodies and food. Many shared personal stories of how Swift’s messages had motivated them to seek help and work towards recovery. This finding suggests that Swift’s influence extended beyond mere admiration to tangible changes in fans’ lives.

“Our findings suggest that fans who felt highly connected to Swift were influenced to positively change their behaviors or attitudes around eating or their body image because of Swift’s disclosures and messages in her music,” explained study author Lizzy Pope, an associate professor of nutrition and food sciences.

“Fans seemed to take inspiration from the fact that Swift had recovered from disordered eating and subsequently appeared to be thriving,” added co-author Kelsey Rose, a clinical assistant professor.

However, the study also uncovered a recurring theme of objectification. Despite the positive influence, many fans continued to objectify Swift’s body, often under the guise of admiration or defense against criticism. This highlighted an ongoing challenge where even well-intentioned comments perpetuated body-focused narratives and objectification, underscoring the complexity of addressing body image issues in a celebrity-driven culture.

“Although in Miss Americana Swift says I’m so sick of being objectified, and it’s driven me to disordered eating, the fans were still commenting on her body. Even if it was meant to be positive, fans would still comment, which means that they didn’t completely internalize her message of, ‘please do not comment on people’s bodies anymore,'” said Pope.

The study also noted the impact of specific songs in Swift’s discography that addressed body image and disordered eating themes. Songs like “You’re On Your Own Kid” and “Tied Together With a Smile” resonated deeply with fans who had similar experiences, providing them with comfort and a sense of connection. Fans often referenced these songs to illustrate their own struggles and the support they felt through Swift’s music.

Lastly, the controversy surrounding the “Anti-Hero” music video, where Swift steps on a scale that reads “fat,” was a significant point of discussion among fans. While some defended Swift’s artistic expression, others felt the scene perpetuated anti-fat bias. This debate highlighted the complexities and potential pitfalls of addressing sensitive issues like body image in media, even when the intent is to share personal experiences.

The study had several limitations. The researchers could not ascertain the demographics of the social media users, which could affect the generalizability of the findings. Additionally, the analysis was limited to English-language posts, potentially missing perspectives from non-English-speaking fans. The focus on Taylor Swift fans, who are predominantly white millennial women, may also limit the applicability of the results to a broader audience.

Despite these limitations, the findings provide significant insights into the influence of Taylor Swift’s openness about her struggles with body image and disordered eating on her fans. Overall, the study highlights the powerful role that celebrity disclosures can play in shaping attitudes and behaviors.

“Taylor Swift can do more to change attitudes with a few sentences than we can do in our entire careers,” said Pope. “So, it’s important to study people that have that kind of impact. There is little doubt that if she chooses to be, Swift can be a powerful voice for health, wellness and more weight-inclusive practices that may move society closer to the idea of body liberation.”

The study, “‘It’s All Just F*cking Impossible:’ The Influence of Taylor Swift on Fans’ Body Image, Disordered Eating, and Rejection of Diet Culture,” was published July 6, 2024.

URL: https://www.psypost.org/psychology-study-sheds-light-on-taylor-swifts-impact-on-fans-body-image-and-disordered-eating/

Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org

Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot

NYU Information for Practice puts out 400-500 good quality health-related research posts per week but its too much for many people, so that bot is limited to just subscribers. You can read it or subscribe at @PsychResearchBot

Since 1991 The National Psychologist has focused on keeping practicing psychologists current with news, information and items of interest. Check them out for more free articles, resources, and subscription information: https://www.nationalpsychologist.com

EMAIL DAILY DIGEST OF RSS FEEDS -- SUBSCRIBE: http://subscribe-article-digests.clinicians-exchange.org

READ ONLINE: http://read-the-rss-mega-archive.clinicians-exchange.org

It's primitive... but it works... mostly...

@psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry

psychbot , to psychology
@psychbot@mastodon.clinicians-exchange.org avatar

DATE: July 11, 2024 at 06:00PM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG

TITLE: Dark Triad traits associated with support for violence against civilians, study finds

URL: https://www.psypost.org/dark-triad-traits-associated-with-support-for-violence-against-civilians-study-finds/

A recent study published in the European Journal of Social Psychology sheds light on the unsettling correlation between certain personality traits and support for violence against civilians. The research, focused on Russian residents, reveals that individuals with traits associated with the Dark Triad — Machiavellianism, narcissism, and psychopathy — are more likely to endorse violence against civilians, with psychopathy having the most significant impact.

While prior research has examined how traits like agreeableness and openness are associated with support for peace, it has largely neglected the role of darker personality traits in shaping military attitudes. The Dark Triad traits describe a personality profile characterized by manipulation, self-centeredness, and a lack of empathy. Previous studies have linked these traits to various antisocial behaviors, including aggression and unethical conduct, but their relationship to military attitudes, particularly towards violence against civilians, remains underexplored.

Machiavellianism is characterized by manipulation, strategic thinking, and a cynical view of human nature; individuals high in this trait are adept at exploiting others for personal gain. Narcissism involves grandiosity, a strong need for admiration, and a sense of superiority, while psychopathy is marked by emotional coldness, lack of empathy, impulsivity, and antisocial behavior.

The study was conducted in three phases, each using a sample of Russian residents who were surveyed at different points in 2022, amidst the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Participants were recruited through Yandex Toloka, a Russian-language platform similar to Amazon Mechanical Turk. Inclusion criteria ensured that participants were Russian citizens, residing in Russia, and verified by their phone numbers. The samples were stratified to ensure equal representation of males and females across three age groups: 18-29, 30-44, and 45-60 years old.

Study 1 was conducted in May 2022, shortly after the invasion began, and involved 736 participants. Study 2 was conducted in October 2022, post-mobilization announcement, and included 795 participants. Study 3 was conducted in November 2022, after the official completion of mobilization, and included 752 participants.

The researchers found that support for military operations and mobilization was more strongly related to sociopsychological factors than to individual personality traits. Significant predictors included secure national identification, where individuals feel a stable and positive attachment to their country; national narcissism, which involves a defensive belief in national superiority; system justification, reflecting a belief in the fairness and desirability of the current social and political systems; and political trust, indicating confidence in political leaders and institutions.

These factors collectively foster a supportive attitude towards military actions, as individuals with these beliefs are more likely to view such operations as necessary and justified to protect and promote their nation’s interests.

Interestingly, personality traits from the Big Five, particularly conscientiousness and extraversion, also predicted support for mobilization, suggesting that socially adaptive traits can influence adherence to group norms and support for state policies.

In contrast, attitudes toward violence against civilians were primarily predicted by the Dark Triad traits, especially psychopathy. Individuals who scored high in Dark Triad traits were more likely to approve of extreme measures against civilians, such as appropriating residents’ property as trophies, restricting the freedom of non-combatant residents, physically eliminating non-combatants, destroying civil infrastructure, targeting essential services like heating stations and water pipes, and even the use of nuclear weapons.

These effects were largely mediated by general moral disengagement, a psychological mechanism that allows individuals to rationalize and justify harmful behaviors in a way that makes them seem acceptable or even necessary. Moral disengagement involves cognitive strategies such as minimizing the harm caused, displacing responsibility onto others, or dehumanizing the victims. For instance, someone high in psychopathy might justify violent actions by viewing the victims as less than human or deserving of such treatment.

“Our study confirms the distinction between the attitudes to military operations carried by one’s country and to violence against civilians, showing that support for military action in general does not imply approval of violence against civilians,” the researchers concluded. “However, the extent to which this difference is shaped by the social discourse is still unclear. Individual psychological factors seem to play a more important role in relation to those aspects of attitudes where the official discourse does not seem to have a definite position (i.e. violence against civilians).”

“At the same time, sociopsychological factors appear to have a greater influence on those aspects of military attitudes where the official sources express a definite position, imposing a group norm (e.g. a country’s participation in a military operation on the territory of another state and mobilisation). Future studies could include explicit measures of perceived norms or perceived authority position to understand their effect on individual attitudes.”

The study, “Dark Triad and the attitude toward military violence against civilians: The role of moral disengagement,” was authored by Olga Gulevich, Evgeny Osin, and Daniil Chernov.

URL: https://www.psypost.org/dark-triad-traits-associated-with-support-for-violence-against-civilians-study-finds/

Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org

Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot

NYU Information for Practice puts out 400-500 good quality health-related research posts per week but its too much for many people, so that bot is limited to just subscribers. You can read it or subscribe at @PsychResearchBot

Since 1991 The National Psychologist has focused on keeping practicing psychologists current with news, information and items of interest. Check them out for more free articles, resources, and subscription information: https://www.nationalpsychologist.com

EMAIL DAILY DIGEST OF RSS FEEDS -- SUBSCRIBE: http://subscribe-article-digests.clinicians-exchange.org

READ ONLINE: http://read-the-rss-mega-archive.clinicians-exchange.org

It's primitive... but it works... mostly...

@psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry

psychbot , to psychology
@psychbot@mastodon.clinicians-exchange.org avatar

DATE: July 11, 2024 at 04:00PM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG

TITLE: Ozempic and similar drugs may lower dementia risk for diabetes patients

URL: https://www.psypost.org/ozempic-and-similar-drugs-may-lower-dementia-risk-for-diabetes-patients/

A recent study conducted by the Karolinska Institutet has found that people with type 2 diabetes who are treated with glucagon-like peptide-1 agonists, such as Ozempic, have a reduced risk of developing dementia. The findings, published in the journal eClinicalMedicine, suggest that this class of medication could have a protective effect on cognitive health for diabetic patients.

Type 2 diabetes is a chronic condition characterized by high blood sugar levels due to insulin resistance or inadequate insulin production. Individuals with this condition are at a significantly higher risk of developing dementia, a debilitating cognitive disorder.

With the increasing prevalence of type 2 diabetes globally, understanding how to mitigate its complications, including dementia, is growing in importance. Researchers aimed to explore whether newer diabetes medications like glucagon-like peptide-1 agonists and dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors could reduce the risk of dementia compared to older drugs such as sulfonylureas.

Glucagon-like peptide-1 agonists work by mimicking a hormone that increases insulin secretion, reduces glucagon secretion, and slows gastric emptying, thereby helping to regulate blood sugar levels. Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors prevent the breakdown of incretin hormones, which also help to increase insulin production and decrease glucose levels.

The researchers utilized a comprehensive dataset from Swedish national registers, including the National Patient Register, the National Prescribed Drug Register, and several others. These registers provided detailed information on patient diagnoses, prescribed medications, and other relevant health data. The study included over three million Swedish residents aged 65 or older, spanning from January 1, 2004, to December 31, 2020. Participants had type 2 diabetes but no history of dementia or significant contraindications for the medications being studied.

The study design emulated a clinical trial by dividing participants into three groups based on the type of diabetes medication they initiated: glucagon-like peptide-1 agonists, dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors, or sulfonylureas. The primary outcome measured was the onset of dementia, identified through diagnosis codes or prescriptions for anti-dementia drugs. Participants were followed from the time they met the study’s eligibility criteria until they developed dementia, died, or reached the study’s end date.

Out of the 88,381 participants, those who started treatment with glucagon-like peptide-1 agonists had a notably lower incidence of dementia compared to those who used dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors or sulfonylureas. Specifically, the incidence rate of dementia was 6.7 per 1000 person-years for glucagon-like peptide-1 agonists, 11.8 for dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors, and 13.7 for sulfonylureas.

The weighted analysis, which adjusted for various baseline characteristics, showed that glucagon-like peptide-1 agonists were associated with a 31% lower risk of dementia compared to dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors and a 59% lower risk compared to sulfonylureas. Even when considering adherence to the medication (per-protocol analysis), the protective effect of glucagon-like peptide-1 agonists remained significant.

While the study’s findings are promising, there are several caveats to consider. First, despite extensive efforts to balance participant characteristics, residual confounding due to unmeasured factors may still be present. For instance, the severity of diabetes and cardiovascular risk could influence the outcomes. Although the study adjusted for many health conditions and socioeconomic factors, the precise duration and severity of diabetes were not fully accounted for.

Second, the diagnosis of dementia relied on national registers, which, while comprehensive, may not capture all cases accurately. Misclassification of dementia subtypes and underdiagnosis could impact the results.

Third, the study’s findings are based on observational data, which can suggest associations but cannot definitively establish causation. Randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm the protective effect of glucagon-like peptide-1 agonists against dementia.

Additionally, the study compared the relative effectiveness of three drug classes but did not measure their absolute effects against a placebo. Further research comparing these medications to placebos would provide a clearer picture of their true impact on dementia risk.

“This is important because it can help doctors make better decisions about which medicines to use for older patients with type 2 diabetes,” said Bowen Tang, a Ph.D. student in Sara Hägg’s research group at the Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics at Karolinska Institutet. “However, proper randomized trials are needed to establish with certainty that GLP-1 agonists reduce the risk of dementia.”

The study, “Comparative effectiveness of glucagon-like peptide-1 agonists, dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors, and sulfonylureas on the risk of dementia in older individuals with type 2 diabetes in Sweden: an emulated trial study,” was authored by Bowen Tang, Arvid Sjölander, Jonas W. Wastesson, Géric Maura, Pierre-Olivier Blotiere, Máté Szilcz, Jonathan K.L. Mak, Chenxi Qin, Michael Alvarsson, Dorota Religa, Kristina Johnell, and Sara Hägg.

URL: https://www.psypost.org/ozempic-and-similar-drugs-may-lower-dementia-risk-for-diabetes-patients/

Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org

Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot

NYU Information for Practice puts out 400-500 good quality health-related research posts per week but its too much for many people, so that bot is limited to just subscribers. You can read it or subscribe at @PsychResearchBot

Since 1991 The National Psychologist has focused on keeping practicing psychologists current with news, information and items of interest. Check them out for more free articles, resources, and subscription information: https://www.nationalpsychologist.com

EMAIL DAILY DIGEST OF RSS FEEDS -- SUBSCRIBE: http://subscribe-article-digests.clinicians-exchange.org

READ ONLINE: http://read-the-rss-mega-archive.clinicians-exchange.org

It's primitive... but it works... mostly...

@psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry

psychbot , to psychology
@psychbot@mastodon.clinicians-exchange.org avatar

DATE: July 11, 2024 at 02:01PM
SOURCE: Psychiatric Times
.
Actual article link at end of text block below.
.
How are eating disorders different in LGBTQ+ patients compared with cisgender heterosexual patients? Learn more here. https://t.co/JNKa7ql3cy
.
Articles can be found at https://www.psychiatrictimes.com/news

.  
Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: <https://www.clinicians-exchange.org>  
.  
NYU Information for Practice puts out 400-500 good quality health-related research posts per week but its too much for many people, so that bot is limited to just subscribers. You can read it or subscribe at @[email protected]   
.  
 #psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @[email protected] @[email protected] @[email protected] @[email protected] @[email protected] @[email protected] #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #psychotherapist
  • All
  • Subscribed
  • Moderated
  • Favorites
  • •
  • random
  • lifeLocal
  • goranko
  • All magazines
    •