Article
Cell Biology
Rongzhen Yan, Tianyu Wang, Xiaoyan Ma, Xinyang Zhang, Rui Zheng, Qiang Zhou
Summary: The probabilistic association between cause and effect plays a crucial role in memory formation, especially in psychiatric diseases. Research shows that 50% association between conditioned and unconditioned stimuli can reduce fear responses and neural spiking activity in the dorsomedial prefrontal cortex. The formation of probabilistic memory involves enhanced inhibition from PV-neurons, increased synaptic inputs, and activation of the ventral hippocampus to detect mismatch during conditioning. Stress can impair the formation of probabilistic memory by affecting PV-neuronal plasticity, while prior stress to memory retrieval can revert enhanced PV-neuron activity.
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Shari A. Steinman, Joseph E. Dunsmoor, Zhamilya Gazman, Yael Stovezky, Olivia Pascucci, Justin Pomerenke, Elizabeth A. Phelps, Abby Fyer, H. Blair Simpson
Summary: Studies show that replacing the expected threat with a novel outcome is more effective in reducing the return of conditioned fear in individuals with pathological anxiety compared to threat omission alone. However, this preliminary test did not find that novelty facilitated extinction.
FRONTIERS IN BEHAVIORAL NEUROSCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Chiara Lucifora, Giorgio M. Grasso, Michael A. Nitsche, Giovanni D'Italia, Mauro Sortino, Mohammad A. Salehinejad, Alessandra Falzone, Alessio Avenanti, Carmelo M. Vicario
Summary: This study examined the association between circadian rhythms and fear responses, and found that individuals with an evening chronotype showed enhanced fear acquisition compared to controls. This may explain the higher vulnerability of individuals with an evening chronotype to anxiety and related disorders.
JOURNAL OF AFFECTIVE DISORDERS
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Eleni P. Papagianni, William G. Warren, Helen J. Cassaday, Carl W. Stevenson
Summary: Recent studies have shown that cannabidiol, a non-psychotropic component of cannabis, has potential as a treatment for anxiety-related disorders. It can prevent spontaneous fear recovery after extinction and improve extinction resistance caused by immediate extinction.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Psychology, Biological
Lucas De Zorzi, Stephane Ranfaing, Jacques Honore, Henrique Sequeira
Summary: Anxiety and depression both lead to dysregulated autonomic reactivity to emotion, with anxiety characterized by hyperreactivity to emotion and hypervigilance to peripheral vision, and depression associated with attenuation of positive emotion and global blunted autonomic reactivity. Anxiety mainly affects early processes of autonomic reactivity, while depression mainly affects later processes, suggesting the need for new stimulation strategies to alleviate symptoms of anxiety and depression.
Article
Psychology, Clinical
Shannon Wake, Jayne Morriss, Tom Johnstone, Carien M. van Reekum, Helen Dodd
Summary: The research indicates that compromised threat extinction is more likely related to high levels of Intolerance of Uncertainty (IU) rather than social anxiety. High IU may be associated with impaired extinction learning and retention processes.
BEHAVIOUR RESEARCH AND THERAPY
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Khadijah Shanazz, Rachael Dixon-Melvin, Rebecca Nalloor, Riya Thumar, Almira I. Vazdarjanova
Summary: According to animal experiments, there are differences in the expression of fear memories between female and male rats. Female rats tend to express fear memories through active motor responses, which is referred to as "Anxioescapic" behavior strategy. There is no significant difference in fear learning between female and male rats.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Melisa Stevanovic, Samuel Tuhkanen, Milla Jarvensivu, Emmi Koskinen, Eniko Savander, Kaisa Valkia
Summary: The research used a novel conversation-analytically informed paradigm to examine how joint decision-making interaction is reflected in participants' physiological responses, focusing on proposal sequences. The study found that participants had higher and more synchronized skin conductance (SC) responses during proposal sequences, particularly when the participant was in the role of a proposal speaker, and when the proposal was accepted by the recipient. This suggests that accepting responses signal a commitment to future action, for which the proposal speaker may feel a heightened sense of responsibility.
Article
Neurosciences
Paul Siegel, Barry Cohen, Richard Warren
Summary: Unconscious exposure therapy reduces fear by generating new implicit learning of nonaversive, stimulus-response associations that facilitate fear extinction in phobic persons.
BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY
(2022)
Article
Psychology, Biological
Alexandra K. Gold, M. Alexandra Kredlow, Scott P. Orr, Catherine A. Hartley, Michael W. Otto
Summary: This study compared skin conductance response outcomes between Asian and White individuals in a fear conditioning paradigm. The results showed that Asian individuals had significantly smaller mean differential SCR compared to White individuals, but no other between-group differences were observed. This is the first study to evaluate differences in skin conductance outcomes between Asian and White individuals, and it found subtle but non-significant differences in SCR.
PHYSIOLOGY & BEHAVIOR
(2022)
Article
Psychology, Clinical
Thomas McGregor, Kirstin L. Purves, Elena Constantinou, Johanna M. P. Baas, Tom J. Barry, Ewan Carr, Michelle G. Craske, Kathryn J. Lester, Elisavet Palaiologou, Gerome Breen, Katherine S. Young, Thalia C. Eley
Summary: This study examines differences in fear conditioning between anxious and nonanxious participants using a remote fear conditioning task. Results show that the anxious group displayed greater expectancy towards both reinforced and unreinforced conditional stimulus compared to the nonanxious group. Effect size estimates from these comparisons were similar to those found in previous meta-analyses.
DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY
(2021)
Article
Psychology, Biological
Katherine M. Ryan, David L. Neumann, Allison M. Waters
Summary: The type and number of dependent measures assessed vary between fear conditioning and extinction experiments, and it is unclear whether methodological differences influence results. Different combinations of within-phase subjective ratings may affect the experimental results.
BIOLOGICAL PSYCHOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Physiology
Susanne Fischer, Florence Haas, Jana Strahler
Summary: The study aimed to investigate alterations in thermosensory/thermoregulatory system in individuals with anxiety disorders. Results showed no changes in thermosensation in specific phobia, while individuals with social anxiety and panic disorder may exhibit altered vasodilation and sweating. Longitudinal research is needed to explore whether these changes represent vulnerability to anxiety/panic.
FRONTIERS IN PHYSIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Psychiatry
Rebecca E. Lubin, Hayley E. Fitzgerald, David Rosenfield, Joseph K. Carpenter, Santiago Papini, Christina D. Dutcher, Sheila M. Dowd, Stefan G. Hofmann, Mark H. Pollack, Jasper A. J. Smits, Michael W. Otto
Summary: Inconsistent findings regarding the efficacy of DCS augmentation in exposure-based CBT for anxiety disorders have motivated the search for moderators. This study found that threat conditioning outcomes, specifically extinction and extinction retention, can predict treatment response to DCS augmentation in social anxiety disorder.
JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRIC RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Psychology, Biological
Samuel E. E. Cooper, Joseph E. E. Dunsmoor, Kathleen A. A. Koval, Emma R. R. Pino, Shari A. A. Steinman
Summary: This study investigates the test-retest reliability of threat conditioning and generalization tasks, and finds that they have good reliability over a relatively short time interval, making them useful for evaluating behavioral interventions. However, further research is needed.
Article
Education & Educational Research
Kate Greenhalgh, Nicole Mahler, Melanie J. Zimmer-Gembeck, Dianne C. Shanley
Summary: This qualitative study explores the nature of parental uncertainty in navigating the journey of children with hearing loss, highlighting six major themes including the impact, causes, developmental impacts, family life, decision-making, and education and support services. The study found that the salience of these themes varied depending on the stage of identification.
DEAFNESS & EDUCATION INTERNATIONAL
(2023)
Article
Psychiatry
Silvana Melissa Romero Saletti, Stephan Van Den Broucke, Joel Billieux, Laurent Karila, Daria J. Kuss, Jose Manuel Rivera Espejo, Pavica Sheldon, Cathryne P. Lang, Melanie J. Zimmer-Gembeck, Palmyra Zollo, Clara Courboin, Dominica Diez, T. Phillip Madison, Jano Ramos-Diaz, Cesar Augusto Eguia Elias, Fiorella Otiniano
Summary: This study developed and validated the Instagram Motives Questionnaire (IMQ) and the Instagram Uses and Patterns Questionnaire (IUPQ) for studying Instagram use behaviors. The questionnaires showed good psychometric properties and demonstrated consistency across different languages and gender groups. These instruments provide reliable tools for further investigations on Instagram use behaviors.
JOURNAL OF BEHAVIORAL ADDICTIONS
(2023)
Article
Psychology, Multidisciplinary
Melanie J. Zimmer-Gembeck, Tanya Hawes, Riley A. Scott, Tia Campbell, Haley J. Webb
Summary: Online behaviors, especially those concerning appearance preoccupation, have been found to be associated with poorer mental health. However, the early risk factors for online appearance preoccupation in early adolescence are not well understood. This study examined the correlates of later online appearance preoccupation (ages 15-18 years) using data collected from Australian adolescents.
COMPUTERS IN HUMAN BEHAVIOR
(2023)
Article
Psychology, Developmental
Sanne Kellij, Gerine M. A. Lodder, Matteo Giletta, Melanie J. Zimmer-Gembeck, Berna Gueroglu, Rene Veenstra
Summary: This study aimed to examine the relationship between peer victimization and rejection sensitivity over time. The findings suggest that there is an association between victimization and rejection sensitivity, but it may not lead to negative cycles during early-middle adolescence.
DEVELOPMENT AND PSYCHOPATHOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Psychology, Social
Victoria K. Hambour, Amanda L. Duffy, Melanie J. Zimmer-Gembeck
Summary: Sexual minorities experience poorer well-being compared to their heterosexual peers, and discrimination plays a role in this disparity. This study aimed to investigate the associations between discrimination, social identification, and well-being among sexual minorities. The findings suggest that family discrimination directly affects well-being, while peer sexuality support indirectly reduces psychological distress and loneliness through a component of minority identification.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Psychology, Developmental
Melanie J. Zimmer-Gembeck, Kathryn Modecki, Amanda L. Duffy, Tanya Hawes, Lara J. Farrell, Allison M. Waters, Alex A. Gardner, David Shum, Ellen A. Skinner
Summary: Through surveying Australian adolescents, the study found that they have different ways of coping and adjusting in relation to their concerns and hopes. The results suggest that some adolescents cope more actively but may have some costs in personal adjustment, while others show lower levels of coping but moderate adjustment. These findings are important for understanding the mental health and adaptation issues among adolescents.
JOURNAL OF ADOLESCENCE
(2023)
Article
Psychology, Clinical
Caroline L. Donovan, Amy Shiels, Melissa Legg, Lisa J. Meltzer, Lara J. Farrell, Allison M. Waters, Michael Gradisar
Summary: This study examined the effectiveness of a parent-focused behavioral intervention targeting sleep problems in preschool children. The intervention showed significant improvements in sleep quality, anxiety, behavior problems, and internalizing and externalizing symptoms compared to the usual care group.
BEHAVIOUR RESEARCH AND THERAPY
(2023)
Article
Psychology, Clinical
Allison M. Waters, Katherine M. Ryan, Camilla C. Luck, Michelle G. Craske, Ottmar V. Lipp
Summary: Recent studies have found that including similar stimuli in extinction training can improve the retention of extinction and generalization to novel stimuli. This study aimed to investigate if replacing the conditional stimulus (CS+) with a similar or different stimulus during extinction could effectively reduce fear. The findings suggest that using replacement stimuli that are as similar as possible to the CS+ can help reduce physiological arousal to the original CS+.
BEHAVIOUR RESEARCH AND THERAPY
(2023)
Article
Psychology, Clinical
Ronald M. Rapee, Cathy Creswell, Philip C. Kendall, Daniel S. Pine, Allison M. Waters
Summary: Considerable work has advanced understanding of anxiety disorders in children and adolescents, recognizing their similarity to adult experiences and the lifelong impact they can have. This review summarizes current knowledge, identifies limitations, and suggests future research directions.
BEHAVIOUR RESEARCH AND THERAPY
(2023)
Article
Psychology, Developmental
Kristen E. Raine, Melanie J. Zimmer-Gembeck, Ellen A. Skinner
Summary: This study aimed to explore the role of coping in the development of resilience by proposing a set of strategies and applying them in the academic domain, specifically examining the engagement of students with poor teacher relationships. The analysis showed that academic coping primarily mediated the effects of risk and support, and acted as a promotive factor for students with multiple combinations of risk and support. Implications are discussed, along with future research directions in exploring the role of coping in resilience processes.
DEVELOPMENT AND PSYCHOPATHOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Psychology, Developmental
Riley A. Scott, Melanie J. Zimmer-Gembeck, Alex A. Gardner, Tanya Hawes, Kathryn L. Modecki, Amanda L. Duffy, Lara J. Farrell, Allison M. Waters
Summary: This study investigated the associations between digital emotion regulation (digital ER), emotions, and loneliness among adolescents, and tested whether prior emotional problems moderated these associations. The results showed that although digital ER can help adolescents recover from negative emotions, this recovery effect dissipates by the next day, and digital ER is also associated with increased negative emotions and loneliness, regardless of prior symptom status.
JOURNAL OF ADOLESCENCE
(2023)
Article
Psychology, Clinical
Lara J. Farrell, Allison M. Waters, Eric A. Storch, Gabrielle Simcock, Iain E. Perkes, Jessica R. Grisham, Katelyn M. Dyason, Thomas H. Ollendick
Summary: Childhood OCD is a common and severe mental health condition in children and adolescents. Despite the available treatments, there is a significant gap in accessing mental health services and receiving evidence-based treatment for youth with OCD. We propose a novel staged-care model of cognitive-behavioural therapy with exposure and response prevention (CBT-ERP) to improve access and treatment outcomes for youth with OCD.
CLINICAL CHILD AND FAMILY PSYCHOLOGY REVIEW
(2023)
Article
Psychology, Developmental
Jules Finch, Allison M. Waters, Lara J. Farrell
Summary: Studies have shown that the COVID-19 pandemic has led to increased mental health symptoms among adolescents worldwide, but its impact on subjective wellbeing in this population remains understudied. Psychological capital (PsyCap), which includes hope, efficacy, resilience, and optimism, has been found to have positive effects on mental health and subjective wellbeing in adults. However, its influence on young people is unclear. This exploratory study examined changes in anxiety, depressive symptoms, and subjective wellbeing in Australian Year 10 students during the pandemic and found that baseline PsyCap predicted flourishing at follow-up assessments, but not anxiety or depressive symptoms.
CHILD PSYCHIATRY & HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
(2023)