Bored and online: Reasons for using social media,problematic social networking site use,and behavioral outcomes across the transition from adolescence to emerging adulthood

IntroductionThe current study examined motivations for social networking site use across three years during the transition from late adolescence to emerging adulthood. While research has been conducted examining reasons for social networking site usage and behavior, the clear majority have focused on samples of undergraduate college students and are cross-sectional.MethodsChanges in motivations for using social networking sites were examined in relation to problematic social networking site use and several behavioral and mental health outcomes in a sample of adolescents over three years.ResultsUsing social networking sites to connect with others was relatively stable over a three-year period. However, using social networking sites to seek information increased from late adolescence to emerging adulthood and was not related to any negative outcomes across three years. Using social networking sites to alleviate boredom also increased over time. Initial levels of social media use to alleviate boredom were associated with problematic social networking site use, financial stress, anxiety, and empathy at year three. Increases in using social networking sites to socially connect over time was related to problematic social networking site use, anxiety, delinquency, and empathy at year three. Using social networking sites for any reason was not related to depressive symptoms over three years.ConclusionsThe current study supports the growing body of literature suggesting that using social networking sites to alleviate boredom and socially connect, may place individuals at increased risk for developing pathological tendencies and patterns of behavior towards social networking sites.     

河南省某地区初中生情绪和行为相关障碍的诊断变化——1年随访

目的研究青少年情绪和行为相关障碍在1年内出现的诊断变化情况。方法于2015年4月采用整群随机抽样方法,从河南省唐河县城郊乡和舞阳县文烽乡的两所中学的初一、初二年级抽取34个班共1 500名学生,采用长处和困难筛查问卷(学生版)(SDQ)进行筛查,对334例筛查阳性者依据《精神障碍诊断与统计手册(第5版)》(DSM-5)进行诊断,符合入组标准共75例,共64例完成随访,并于半年后和1年后进行两次随访,再次依据DSM-5进行诊断。结果 9例注意缺陷/多动障碍患者中的3例、12例抑郁障碍患者中的5例、34例焦虑障碍患者中的4例、3例创伤及应激相关障碍中的2例出现诊断变化;其中抑郁障碍比焦虑障碍诊断变化更明显(P=0. 039),多转变为强迫障碍、环性心境障碍、破坏性心境失调等。结论青少年抑郁障碍诊断易出现变化,注意缺陷/多动障碍、抑郁障碍的诊断分别预示其以后更易患上焦虑障碍、双相情感障碍。     

Natural compulsive‐like behaviour in the deer mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus bairdii) is associated with altered gut microbiota composition

Obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) is a psychiatric illness that significantly impacts affected patients and available treatments yield suboptimal therapeutic response. Recently, the role of the gut–brain axis (GBA) in psychiatric illness has emerged as a potential target for therapeutic exploration. However, studies concerning the role of the GBA in OCD are limited. To investigate whether a naturally occurring obsessive–compulsive‐like phenotype in a rodent model, that is large nest building in deer mice, is associated with perturbations in the gut microbiome, we investigated and characterised the gut microbiota in specific‐pathogen‐free bred and housed large (LNB) and normal (NNB) nest‐building deer mice of both sexes (n = 11 per group, including three males and eight females). Following baseline characterisation of nest‐building behaviour, a single faecal sample was collected from each animal and the gut microbiota analysed. Our results reveal the overall microbial composition of LNB animals to be distinctly different compared to controls (PERMANOVA p < .05). While no genera were found to be significantly differentially abundant after correcting for multiple comparisons, the normal phenotype showed a higher loading of Prevotella and Anaeroplasma, while the OC phenotype demonstrated a higher loading of Desulfovermiculus, Aestuariispira, Peptococcus and Holdemanella (cut‐off threshold for loading at 0.2 in either the first or second component of the PCA). These findings not only provide proof‐of‐concept for continued investigation of the GBA in OCD, but also highlight a potential underlying aetiological association between alterations in the gut microbiota and the natural development of obsessive–compulsive‐like behaviours.     

La thérapie par exposition en réalité virtuelle pour les états de stress post-traumatiques,les troubles obsessionnels compulsifs et les troubles anxieux : indications,plus-value et limites

The exposure in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a well-known intervention, widely investigated in scientific research. Several studies have shown the benefits of this intervention in the treatment of anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorders (OCD) and post-traumatic stress disorders (PTSD). The different exposure techniques are mainly based on the emotional processing of fear theory and use an emotional stimulation of fear, following by its habituation. However, new approaches have emerged and are based on the inhibitory learning theory. The virtual reality technology allows emotional involvement from patients and represents a complementary approach to the classical modalities of exposure therapy (e.g., mental or in vivo expositions). This modern approach presents specific features that need to be taken into account by the therapist. Firstly, the presence feeling, which is defined as the “be there” feeling. This feeling is dependent on immersive technical features and personality factors. Secondly, virtual reality sickness, similar to motion sickness, represents a limitation that might prejudice a virtual therapy. The main scientific investigations of Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy (VRET) for treating social phobia, specific phobia, PTSD, and panic disorders are encouraging and demonstrate a similar effectiveness between both in vivo and in virtuo exposures. The scarce investigations on generalized anxiety disorders and OCD also suggeste a similar effectiveness between these exposures. However, further scientific investigations are needed to support these preliminary findings. The attrition rates and deteriorating states are similar to classical CBT approaches. Nevertheless, scientific literature presents several limits: 1) much of the research on this topic has interest conflicts (e.g., developers are also authors of a large number of studies); 2) there is a high heterogeneity of materials and virtual environments used; 3) important measures are not always taken into account in scientific research (e.g., the presence feeling); and 4) a massive use of waiting lists as a control measure. Despite these limitations, the VRET have strong silver linings: 1) the easy access to exposure (less limited than standard exposure techniques) and a cost reduction; 2) highly guaranteed security; 3) the anonymization of exposures (i.e., the patients do not risk meeting someone they know during the exposure therapy); 4) the therapist has a greater control of exposures; 5) a standardization of the exposures; 6) a greater involvement in therapy for technophile patients. Virtual exposure also seems to be generally more accepted by patients.     

Potential role of the gut microbiota in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder: Implication for intervention

The gut microbiota plays an important role in the occurrence and development of neuroimmunological diseases. Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) is an autoimmune disease of the central nervous system that is characterized by the peripheral production of the disease-specific serum autoantibody aquaporin-4 (AQP4)-IgG. Recently, accumulating evidence has provided insights into the associations of gut microbiota dysbiosis and intestinal mucosal barrier destruction with NMOSD, but the underlying pathogenesis remains unclear. Thus, a microbiota intervention might be a potential therapeutic strategy for NMOSD by regulating the gut microbiota, repairing the intestinal mucosal barrier, and modulating intestinal immunity and peripheral immunity.     

Preferences for the research use of electronic health records among young adults with fragile X syndrome or autism spectrum disorder

BackgroundHealth researchers are increasingly using electronic health records (EHRs) to study the health care needs of people with neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs). However, little is known about the preferences of people with NDDs for sharing EHRs for research.ObjectiveTo explore preferences for sharing EHRs for research among young adults ages 18–40 who make their own legal decisions and who have autism spectrum disorder (ASD), fragile X syndrome (FXS), or no NDDs.MethodsWe conducted a qualitative study with seven focus groups: 2 ASD groups, 3 FXS groups, and 2 no-NDD groups. We asked participants about factors that could affect their willingness to share their EHRs for research: type of organization, type of information, study purpose, duration, contact frequency, return of results, benefits, and risks. We analyzed the qualitative data using directed content analysis.ResultsParticipants with NDDs valued personally relevant and directly beneficial EHR research. Participants with NDDs expressed willingness to share sensitive data if the study was personally relevant. Most participants wanted to receive results, but only participants with FXS indicated it would affect their willingness to participate. Participants were concerned about privacy risks, discrimination, researcher misconduct, and financial conflicts of interest.ConclusionThis study provides initial evidence suggesting that young adults with NDDs prefer EHR research that is personally relevant, benefits themselves and their communities, and is conducted in the context of trusting, reciprocal participant-researcher relationships. The findings point to the need for researchers to improve the informed consent process and to better engage individuals with NDDs in research.