Parental bonding in pathological gambling disorder

The purpose of this study was to examine the role of perceived parenting behavior in the childhood of patients with pathological gambling disorder (PGD). Thirty-three outpatient subjects with DSM-IV pathological gambling disorder, and no other current Axis I disorders, completed the Parental Bonding Instrument (PBI), which measures subjects' recollections of parenting on dimensions of care and protection. PBI scores of pathological gamblers were compared to normal controls. Subjects with PGD had significantly lower maternal and paternal care scores than the control subjects (22.6 ± 8.9 vs. 26.9 ± 7.3 on maternal care [p = 0.010], and 17.4 ± 9.6 vs. 23.8 ± 7.6 on paternal care [p = 0.001]). In terms of parental bonding patterns based on a combination of care and protection, the pathological gamblers reported low rates of optimal parenting and high rates of neglectful parenting. These preliminary findings suggest that neglectful parenting appears to be associated with pathological gambling disorder.     

Dysfunctional parental styles perceived during childhood in outpatients with substance use disorders

People who suffer from substance use disorders (SUDs) frequently report to have undergone childhood adversity that is often associated with father or mother dysfunction, or both. Yet that issue has been barely addressed in opiate dependent patients. Therefore we sought to evaluate parent-specific dysfunctional styles perceived during childhood in a clinical sample from an outpatient addiction treatment program using the Measure Of Parental Styles (MOPS) questionnaire. DSM-IV diagnoses of substance use disorders and history of suicide attempts, family structure and changes of caregiver during childhood were obtained from 159 consecutive outpatients, along with their perception of parental bonding with the MOPS, in which mother and father scores are separate. Mother neglect dimension was significantly correlated with an earlier age at onset of several substances' use, the number of prior hospitalizations and of lifetime suicide attempts. Most of these associations remained significant in multivariate models. This was the first assessment of a representative sample of outpatients with SUDs by the MOPS questionnaire. Given its excellent acceptance and its association with several key correlates of SUDs, it should be used to design specific interventions targeted at attachment and familial management as well as in research models on gene×environment interactions.     

Childhood neglect and abuse as predictors of antidepressant response in adult depression

Background: Childhood neglect and abuse are recognized as risk factors for depression, but are not often studied as predictors of treatment response in depression. Methods: Clinically depressed outpatients (n=195) were asked about childhood experiences before beginning a randomized antidepressant trial with either fluoxetine or nortriptyline. Three treatment outcomes were measured: Adequate trial, six‐week response and two months sustained recovery. Results: Patients reporting low paternal care (paternal neglect), as measured by the Parental Bonding Instrument (PBI), were less likely to complete an adequate six‐week trial of medication. Patients who reported high maternal protection (maternal overprotection) on the PBI had poorer treatment response in the short‐term at six weeks, and longer term, for two months of sustained recovery. However, abuse, whether sexual, physical, or psychological in nature, did not predict treatment response. Conclusions: The experience of having a neglectful father or an overprotective mother was more predictive of response to treatment for depression than abuse, suggesting that the quality of ongoing intra‐familial relationships has a greater impact on treatment outcomes for depression than experiences of discrete abuse in childhood. Depression and Anxiety, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Recognition of facial emotion and perceived parental bonding styles in healthy volunteers and personality disorder patients

Aims: Early parental bonding experiences play a role in emotion recognition and expression in later adulthood, and patients with personality disorder frequently experience inappropriate parental bonding styles, therefore the aim of the present study was to explore whether parental bonding style is correlated with recognition of facial emotion in personality disorder patients. Methods: The Parental Bonding Instrument (PBI) and the Matsumoto and Ekman Japanese and Caucasian Facial Expressions of Emotion (JACFEE) photo set tests were carried out in 289 participants. Results: Patients scored lower on parental Care but higher on parental Freedom Control and Autonomy Denial subscales, and they displayed less accuracy when recognizing contempt, disgust and happiness than the healthy volunteers. In healthy volunteers, maternal Autonomy Denial significantly predicted accuracy when recognizing fear, and maternal Care predicted the accuracy of recognizing sadness. In patients, paternal Care negatively predicted the accuracy of recognizing anger, paternal Freedom Control predicted the perceived intensity of contempt, maternal Care predicted the accuracy of recognizing sadness, and the intensity of disgust. Conclusions: Parenting bonding styles have an impact on the decoding process and sensitivity when recognizing facial emotions, especially in personality disorder patients.     

Effects of parental vigilant care and feedback on novice driver risk

Vigilant care aims at reducing adolescent risk behaviors while matching parental involvement to the level of alarm signs. This study examined the effect of parent training in vigilant care and technological feedback on driving risk of novice male drivers. A sample of 217 Israeli families was divided into four conditions: a) no-feedback, b) individual feedback, c) family feedback, and d) family feedback plus parent training in vigilant care. Feedback and risk assessment were conducted through in-vehicle data recorders. A significant difference was found in favor of the vigilant care group compared to the no feedback group. When only the drivers in the high risk percentiles were considered, the vigilant care group was found superior to the family feedback group. The findings suggest that parental training in vigilant care may help reduce driving risk.     

Anger and hostility in adolescents: relationships with self-reported attachment style and perceived parental rearing styles

OBJECTIVE: To examine relationships between self-reported attachment style and parental rearing behaviors, on the one hand, and anger/hostility, on the other hand, in a sample of nonclinical adolescents (N=441). METHOD: Participants completed (a) a single-item measure of attachment style; (b) a questionnaire measuring perceptions of parental rearing behaviors; and (c) two scales assessing anger and hostility. RESULTS: Self-reported attachment style was related to anger/hostility. That is, adolescents who defined themselves as avoidantly or ambivalently attached displayed higher levels of anger/hostility than adolescents who classified themselves as securely attached. Furthermore, perceived parental rearing was also related to anger/hostility. More specifically, low levels of emotional warmth and high levels of rejection, control, and inconsistency were accompanied by high levels of anger/hostility. Finally, regression analyses showed that both attachment status and parental rearing behaviors accounted for a unique and significant proportion of the variance in anger/hostility. CONCLUSION: These findings are in keeping with the notion that family environment factors such as attachment style and parental rearing are involved in the development of anger/hostility in youths.     

Schizophrenia: age at onset, gender and familial risk

In a family history study of 366 schizophrenic probands and their 1851 first-degree relatives, we found a relationship between age at onset of psychosis in the male probands and the risk for schizophrenia in their relatives. The relatives of male schizophrenic probands whose onset of psychosis occurred when they were younger than 17 years of age had an increased risk of schizophrenia when compared with the relatives of male probands with an age at onset greater than 17. We did not find an association between age at onset of psychosis in the female probands and familial risk. Cox proportional hazards models permitted us to examine the relationship between age at onset of psychosis in the probands and familial risk while controlling for possible confounding effects.     

Factorial Structure of the Parental Bonding Instrument (PBI) in Japan: A Study of Cultural, Developmental, and Gender Influences

This study explored the factorial structure of the Parental Bonding Instrument (PBI) in the Japanese population. Several differences between the structure model in the current study and Parker et al.’s original model were identified. We also examined the adaptability of the inventory to children currently being raised by parents. We also developed a structural equation model that takes into account the impacts of the respondents’ generation and gender and the caregivers’ gender. The cultural, developmental, generational, and gender influences on the factorial structure of the PBI as well as the implications for clinical settings were discussed.     

Season of birth and parental age in right, mixed and left handers

Bulgarian secondary school students (264 right handers, 246 mixed handers and 360 left handers) were investigated concerning subject's month of birth and concerning his mother's and father's age at his birth. Neither the month of birth nor any group of months turned out to be significantly associated with handedness. Similarly, no association between parents' age and handedness was found.     

Early adolescent temperament,parental monitoring,and substance use in Mexican-origin adolescents

Previous studies suggest that temperamental dispositions are associated with substance use. However, most research supporting this association has relied on European American samples (Stautz & Cooper, 2013). We addressed this gap by evaluating the prospective relations between 5th grade temperament and 9th grade substance use in a longitudinal sample of Mexican-origin youth (N = 674). Effortful control and trait aggressiveness predicted 9th grade substance use, intentions, and expectations, even after controlling for 5th grade substance use. Additionally, we found an interaction between temperament and parental monitoring such that monitoring is a protective factor for early substance use primarily for youth with temperamental tendencies associated with risk for substance use (e.g., low effortful control and aggression). Results add to the growing literature demonstrating that early manifestations of self-control are related to consequential life outcomes.     

年龄、性别和父母教养方式对小学生自我概念发展的影响

目的探讨年龄、性别和父母教养方式对小学生自我概念发展的影响。方法使用Piers—Harris儿童自我概念量表、父母养育方式问卷（EMBU）以及结合小学生不同年龄、性别的特征对其自我概念的发展的影响进行了探讨。结果表明小学生自我概念部分分量表得分及总分与性别和年龄差异均显著;父母的情感温暖和理解与小学生自我概念的发展呈显著的正相关,而母亲的拒绝否认与小学生自我概念的发展呈显著的负相关。结论女生比男生有更好的学校表现和躯体外貌的评价、更为合群、行为问题更少和更为自信;在不同的年龄组间自我概念呈现不同的发展水平;父母教养方式是影响小学生自我概念发展的一个重要因素之一。     

The impact of familial loading on gender differences in age at onset of schizophrenia

To evaluate the impact of familial loading and gender on age at onset, 197 schizophrenic patients were investigated. Patients with familial loading had an earlier age at onset without gender differences. In contrast, an earlier age at onset for men was found in sporadic cases. These data support that both gender and familial loading contribute to the heterogeneity of schizophrenia.     

Parental efficacy,parental monitoring efficacy,and monitoring among Asian-Indian parents of adolescents living in Chennai,India

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between parental efficacy and a new concept entitled parental monitoring efficacy, and to examine the association between parental monitoring efficacy and monitoring. We conducted two studies on two samples of Asian-Indian parents and adolescents living in Chennai, India. In the first study of 241 parents of adolescents in grades, 9–12, we constructed a new measure of parental efficacy that included two factors. The first factor, responding competently to negative adolescent behavior was more strongly predictive of parental monitoring efficacy than the second factor, instilling positive behavior. In the second study of 215 parents and adolescents in grades 10 and 12, parental monitoring efficacy predicted monitoring, especially adolescent disclosure and parental control. The importance of parental control as a monitoring technique among traditional Indian parents was discussed.     

The Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory-Revised (OCI-R): Psychometric properties of the Korean version and the order, gender, and cultural effects

In this study, the psychometric properties of the Korean version of the OCI-R and the effects of order, gender, and culture on the inventory were examined in a nonclinical and in a clinical sample comprised of 702 college students and 91 patients with OCD. As a result, the original six-factor model is supported by the confirmatory factor analysis. The internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and the convergent and divergent validity of the OCI-R total and its subscales were good. Additionally, the receiver operating characteristic analyses showed that the OCI-R is an effective screening tool for OCD. For the negative results, the internal consistency of the neutralizing subscale was poor, and the hoarding and ordering subscale failed to distinguish patients with OCD from college students. Further, the divergent validity of the obsessing subscale appeared to be poor. A minor order effect on the OCI-R total score was observed-the decrease of the score when administered after another OCD symptom measure. No gender effects were found, whereas the cultural differences were found in some of the subscales.     

The interplay of parental monitoring and socioeconomic status in predicting minor delinquency between and within adolescents

This six-wave multi-informant longitudinal study on Dutch adolescents (N = 824; age 12–18) examined the interplay of socioeconomic status with parental monitoring in predicting minor delinquency. Fixed-effects negative binomial regression analyses revealed that this interplay is different within adolescents across time than between adolescents. Between individuals, parental solicitation and control were not significantly associated with delinquency after controlling for SES: Adolescents whose parents exercised more monitoring did not offend less than others. Within individuals, higher levels of parental control were unexpectedly associated with more delinquency, but this relation was dependent on SES: Low-SES adolescents, but not high-SES adolescents, offended more during periods in which their parents exercised more control than during other periods with less control. In contrast to earlier work, this finding suggests that monitoring could be least effective when needed most. Low-SES parents might not use monitoring effectively and become overcontrolling when their child goes astray.     

Effects of age, education and gender on verbal fluency

The objective was to study the effects of age, education and gender on verbal fluency in cognitively unimpaired, older individuals. The methods used were as follows: cognitively unimpaired elderly (55-84 years) subjects (n=153), were administered category (animal) (CF) and letter (/pa/) (LF) fluency tasks, in their native language of Malayalam. Results and conclusions were (1) Level of education, but not age or gender, significantly influence LF. (2) Level of education (directly) and in the elderly subjects, age (inversely) affect CF. (3) Age, but not education, has a differential effect on the tasks of verbal fluency, influencing CF more than LF.     

Psychiatric hospital care of children and adolescents in Sweden

In Sweden in-patient psychiatric care of children and adolescents is in decline. At the same time the out-patient care is increasing. These findings stem from a study of the annual patient statistics provided by the National Board of Health and Welfare. There are considerable differences among the counties in Sweden. In certain counties more than four times as many children and adolescents receive hospital care as in other counties. The distribution between child and adolescent psychiatry and adult psychiatry also varies considerably. However, it is usual that from the age of 18 years care is given in adult psychiatric clinics. Among patients with a diagnosis of psychosis and when compulsory care is necessary, adult psychiatric clinics are also responsible for patients 16 and 17 years old. Care of children at mental hospitals, still common in the 1960's, is nowadays no longer existent. The study is a starting-point for a discussion about how to attain better co-operation between child and adolescent psychiatry and adult psychiatry.     

The psychological effects of sex,age at burn,stage of adolescence,intelligence, position and degree of burn in thermally injured adolescents: Part 2

A total of 44 thermally injured children (22 boys and 22 girls), currently aged 11–16 years old, who had been injured 3–14 years previously, stratified by age, sex, degree of burn (1–9%, 10–19%, 20%+) and position of burn (those whose burns included the face and those not burned facially) were selected from a sample pool of 394 previously hospitalized cases. Extent of psychological disturbance experienced by thermally injured adolescents and their mothers indicated that significant effects were evident regarding the sex of the child, age at the time of burn, stage of adolescence, intelligence and by the position and degree of burn.     

Influence of age and gender on the occurrence and presentation of reflex syncope

BACKGROUND: The clinical history is the cornerstone of diagnosing patients with transient loss of consciousness (TLOC). Reflex syncope is the most common cause of TLOC in patients across all ages. Knowledge of the variation in incidence and clinical features of reflex syncope by age and gender provides important background information to acquire an accurate diagnosis. METHODS: In a cohort of 503 patients presenting with TLOC we established a final diagnosis after systematic evaluation and two years of follow-up. The occurrence of prodromal signs, symptoms, and triggers in patients with reflex syncope was analyzed by both age (< 40 yrs, 40-59 yrs and > or = 60 years) and gender. RESULTS: Reflex syncope was the most frequently obtained diagnosis (60.2%) in patients of all ages presenting with TLOC. Its occurrence was higher in patients under 40 years (73.4%), than above 60 years of age (45.3%). Pallor (79.9%), dizziness (73.4%), and diaphoresis (63.0%) were the most frequently reported prodromal signs and symptoms. Most triggers and prodromal signs and symptoms were more common in patients under 40 years of age and in women. CONCLUSIONS: Reflex syncope is nearly twice as common in patients under 40 years of age than in patients aged 60 years or above. Typical signs and symptoms of reflex syncope are more common in younger patients and in women. Therefore, age and gender provide important diagnostic information and can help to decide whether additional testing is necessary.