Oculomotor behaviors in youth with an eating disorder: findings from a video-based eye tracking task.

BACKGROUND: The oculomotor circuit spans many cortical and subcortical areas that have been implicated in psychiatric disease. This, combined with previous findings, suggests that eye tracking may be a useful method to investigate eating disorders. Therefore, this study aimed to assess oculomotor behaviors in youth with and without an eating disorder. METHODS: Female youth with and without an eating disorder completed a structured task involving randomly interleaved pro-saccade (toward at a stimulus) and anti-saccade (away from stimulus) trials with video-based eye tracking. Differences in saccades (rapid eye movements between two points), eye blinks and pupil were examined. RESULTS: Youth with an eating disorder (n = 65, Mage = 17.16 ± 3.5 years) were compared to healthy controls (HC; n = 65, Mage = 17.88 ± 4.3 years). The eating disorder group was composed of individuals with anorexia nervosa (n = 49), bulimia nervosa (n = 7) and other specified feeding or eating disorder (n = 9). The eating disorder group was further divided into two subgroups: individuals with a restrictive spectrum eating disorder (ED-R; n = 43) or a bulimic spectrum eating disorder (ED-BP; n = 22). In pro-saccade trials, the eating disorder group made significantly more fixation breaks than HCs (F(1,128) = 5.33, p = 0.023). The ED-BP group made the most anticipatory pro-saccades, followed by ED-R, then HCs (F(2,127) = 3.38, p = 0.037). Groups did not differ on rate of correct express or regular latency pro-saccades. In anti-saccade trials, groups only significantly differed on percentage of direction errors corrected (F(2, 127) = 4.554, p = 0.012). The eating disorder group had a significantly smaller baseline pupil size (F(2,127) = 3.60, p = 0.030) and slower pro-saccade dilation velocity (F(2,127) = 3.30, p = 0.040) compared to HCs. The ED-R group had the lowest blink probability during the intertrial interval (ITI), followed by ED-BP, with HCs having the highest ITI blink probability (F(2,125) = 3.63, p = 0.029). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that youth with an eating disorder may have different oculomotor behaviors during a structured eye tracking task. The oculomotor behavioral differences observed in this study presents an important step towards identifying neurobiological and cognitive contributions towards eating disorders.

Video based eye tracking is a promising method for studying differences between individuals with and without a psychiatric disease of interest. While some studies have explored oculomotor behaviors in individuals with an eating disorder, much remains unknown. The present study investigated saccades (fast eye movements between two points), eye blinks and pupil responses between female youth (aged 10­25 years) with and without an eating disorder during a pro-saccade (looking at a point) and anti-saccade (looking away from a point) eye tracking task. Individuals with an eating disorder made more pro-saccade guesses, had a smaller pupil size and blinked less before a trial started. In individuals with a restrictive type eating disorder (e.g., anorexia nervosa restrictive type), pupil responses may have a relationship with emotional dysregulation (poorly regulated emotional responses). Overall, this study represents an important step towards identifying oculomotor behavior differences in individuals with an eating disorder compared to controls.

Associations between antenatal depressive symptoms in different trimesters and perinatal outcomes: A prospective multicenter cohort study in China.

BACKGROUND: Evidence exists that maternal antenatal depression may have adverse impacts on perinatal outcomes. However, the results of those studies are inconsistent and mainly focus on maternal depressive symptoms in the second or third trimester. METHODS: This prospective cohort study used a sub-sample of participants from the Sino-Canadian Healthy Life Trajectories Initiative trial. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) was used to screen for depressive symptoms in the first, second, and third trimesters, respectively. Infant growth indicator measurements were conducted in the first year of life. Logistic regression, Spearman correlation analyses and Generalized estimation equation (GEE) models were used to test the hypotheses. RESULTS: 2053 participants were recruited in this study, 326 of whom had at least one EPDS score ≥ 10 during pregnancy. A higher EPDS score in the first (aOR=1.053, 95 % CI: 1.004-1.103) or in the second trimester (aOR=1.060, 95 % CI: 1.007-1.115) was associated with greater risk of macrosomia. A higher EPDS score in the third trimester was associated with higher risks of preterm birth (aOR=1.079, 95 % CI: 1.006-1.157) and the infant being small for gestational age (aOR=1.097, 95 % CI: 1.015-1.185). GEE models showed that a greater EPDS score in the third trimester was associated with higher infant subscapular skinfold thickness (adjusted ß=0.026, 95 % CI: 0.003-0.050). CONCLUSION: Maternal depressive symptoms in different trimesters were differentially associated with infant weight and growth parameters at birth and postnatally. The present study further highlights the importance of depression screening in all trimesters of pregnancy, including the first trimester.

Cortical thickness and childhood eating behaviors: differences according to sex and age, and relevance for eating disorders.

PURPOSE: This study investigated the association between childhood eating behaviors and cortical morphology, in relation to sex and age, in a community sample. METHODS: Neuroimaging data of 71 children (mean age = 9.9 ± 1.4 years; 39 boys/32 girls) were obtained from the Nathan Kline Institute-Rockland Sample. Emotional overeating, food fussiness, and emotional undereating were assessed using the Children's Eating Behavior Questionnaire. Cortical thickness was obtained at 81,924 vertices covering the entire cortex. Generalized Linear Mixed Models were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: There was a significant effect of sex in the association between cortical thickness and emotional overeating (localized at the right postcentral and bilateral superior parietal gyri). Boys with more emotional overeating presented cortical thickening, whereas the opposite was observed in girls (p < 0.05). Different patterns of association were identified between food fussiness and cortical thickness (p < 0.05). The left rostral middle frontal gyrus displayed a positive correlation with food fussiness from 6 to 8 years, but a negative correlation from 12 to 14 years. Emotional undereating was associated with cortical thickening at the left precuneus, left middle temporal gyrus, and left insula (p < 0.05) with no effect of sex or age. CONCLUSIONS: Leveraging on a community sample, findings support distinct patterns of associations between eating behaviors and cortical thickness, depending on sex and age.

Impairment of Visual Fixation and Preparatory Saccade Control in Borderline Personality Disorder with and without co-morbid Attention-Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder.

BACKGROUND: Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is associated with heightened impulsivity, evidenced by increased substance abuse, self-harm and suicide attempts. Addressing impulsivity in individuals with BPD is a therapeutic objective; but its underlying neural basis in this clinical population remains unclear, partly due to its frequent co-morbidity with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). METHODS: We employed a response inhibition paradigm - the interleaved pro-/anti-saccade task (IPAST) - among adolescents diagnosed with BPD with and without comorbid ADHD (N=25 and N=24, respectively) during concomitant video-based eye-tracking. We quantified various eye movement response parameters reflective of impulsive action during the task, including delay to fixation acquisition, fixation breaks, anticipatory saccades, and direction errors with express saccade (Saccade Reaction Time [SRT]: 90-140 ms) and regular saccade latencies (SRT > 140 ms). RESULTS: Individuals with BPD exhibited deficient response preparation, exampled by reduced visual fixation on task cues and greater variability of saccade responses (i.e., SRT and peak velocity). The ADHD/BPD group shared these traits, as well as produced an increased frequency of anticipatory responses and direction errors with express saccade latencies and reduced error correction. CONCLUSIONS: Saccadic deficits in BPD and ADHD/BPD stem not from an inability to execute anti-saccades, but rather from an inadequate preparation for the upcoming task set. These distinctions may arise due to abnormal signaling in cortical areas like the frontal eye fields, posterior parietal cortex, and anterior cingulate cortex. Understanding these mechanisms could provide insights into targeted interventions focusing on task set preparation to manage response inhibition deficits in BPD and ADHD/BPD.

Outcomes of a Virtual Day Treatment Program for Adults With Eating Disorders-Comparison With In-Person Day Treatment.

OBJECTIVE: Previous studies have indicated that virtual treatments for eating disorders (EDs) are roughly as effective as are in-person treatments; the present nonrandomized study aimed to expand on the current body of evidence by comparing outcomes from a virtual day treatment program with those of an in-person program in an adult ED sample. METHOD: Participants were 109 patients who completed at least 60% of day treatment sessions (n = 55 in-person and n = 54 virtual). Outcome measures included ED and comorbid symptoms, and motivation. RESULTS: Linear mixed models showed that global EDE-Q scores decreased during treatment (AIC = 376.396, F = 10.94, p = 0.002), irrespective of treatment modality (p = 0.186). BMI significantly increased over time (AIC = 389.029, F = 27.97, p < 0.001), with no effect of treatment modality (p = 0.779). DISCUSSION: Our findings suggest that the virtual delivery of day treatments produces comparable outcomes to those obtained using in-person formats, and that virtual formats may represent a pragmatic treatment option, especially in situations in which access to in-person care is limited.

Estimating additional health and social costs in eating disorder care for young people during the COVID-19 pandemic: implications for surveillance and system transformation.

BACKGROUND: The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on young people with eating disorders (EDs) and their families was profound, with surging rates of hospitalizations and referrals reported internationally. This paper provides an account of the additional health and social costs of ED care for young people living in Canada incurred during the COVID-19 pandemic, drawing attention to the available data to inform these estimates while noting gaps in data capacities to account for a full view of the ED system of care. METHODS: Three methodologies were used to capture costs: (1) provincial administrative data holdings available at the Canadian Institute of Health Information (CIHI) were used by Deloitte Access Economics to conduct analyses on costs related to hospitalizations, emergency room visits, outpatient visits with physicians and loss of well-being from being on a waitlist. These were examined across three fiscal years (April 1 to March 31, 2019-2022) to compare costs from one year before to two years after the onset of the pandemic, (2) data collected on support-based community ED organizations and, (3) costs identified by young people, caregivers and health care professionals. RESULTS: Estimates of additional health care costs and social costs arising from ED care waitlists were estimated to have increased by 21% across the two years after the onset of the pandemic and is likely to represent an underestimate of costs. Costs related to some standard ED care services (e.g. day treatment programs) and support-based community ED organizations that saw a 118% increase in services during this time, are some examples of costs not captured in the current cost estimate. CONCLUSIONS: This paper provides a first account of the additional health and social ED care costs associated with the pandemic, which indicate at minimum, a 21% increase. The results invite discussion for more investments in ED services for young people in Canada, as it is unclear if needs are expected to remain elevated. We suggest a call for a national surveillance strategy to improve data holdings to aid in managing services and informing policy. A robust strategy could open the door for much-needed, data-informed, system transformation efforts that can improve ED care for youth, families and clinicians.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on young people with eating disorders and their families was profound, incurring substantial costs to youth, families, health professionals, eating disorder systems of care, and society. This study looks to draw on available data in Canada to estimate the additional health and social costs experienced during the pandemic. Using available national data holdings on eating disorder health system use, survey and discussion groups with individuals who provided or received eating disorder care during the pandemic, and data from support-based community eating disorder organizations, we attempted to capture the fulsomeness of these costs and demonstrate gaps that are likely leading to an incomplete picture. Available data across Canada on hospitalizations, emergency room visits, outpatient visits and loss of wellbeing while on a waitlist were looked at across three fiscal years (April 2019 to March 2022). Overall, an average increase of 21% of additional health care and social costs was seen across the two years after the onset of the pandemic, although this is considered an underestimation. Additional costs such as those for other standard eating disorder treatment options (e.g. day treatment programs) were not captured in these estimates. Additionally, costs related to services received through support-based community eating disorder organizations that saw a 118% increase in services during the pandemic, and private services (e.g. psychologist, dietitian) are some further examples of costs not captured in the current cost estimate. The results of this study highlight that needs and costs related to ED care rose during the pandemic and provides the first account of by how much. Given data limitations, there is a need to revisit national surveillance strategies for eating disorders to help increase accuracy of these estimates and aid in managing services and informing policies related to eating disorder care.

The financial and social impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on youth with eating disorders, their families, clinicians and the mental health system: a mixed methods cost analysis.

BACKGROUND: The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic has had an adverse impact on children, youth, and families with eating disorders (EDs). The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated pre-existing personal and financial costs to youth, caregivers, and health professionals accessing or delivering ED services. The objectives of this mixed methods study were to (1) understand the indirect, direct medical and non-medical costs reported by youth, caregivers, and clinicians; (2) understand how the COVID-19 pandemic may have impacted these costs, and (3) explore implications of these costs with regards to barriers and resources to inform future decisions for the ED system of care. METHODS: Youth (aged 16-25 years) with lived/living experience, primary caregivers, clinicians, and decision-makers were recruited with support from various partners across Canada to complete group specific surveys. A total of 117 participants responded to the survey. From those respondents, 21 individuals volunteered to further participate in either a discussion group or individual interview to provide additional insights on costs. RESULTS: Youth and primary caregivers reported costs relating to private services, transportation and impacts of not attending school or work. Additionally, primary caregivers reported the top direct medical cost being special food or nutritional supplements (82.8%). In discussion groups, youth and caregivers elaborated further on the challenges with long waitlists and cancelled services, impact on siblings and effect on family dynamics. Clinicians and decision-makers reported increased work expectations (64.3%) and fear/isolation due to COVID-19 in the workplace (58.9%). Through discussion groups, clinicians expanded further on the toll these expectations took on their personal life. Approximately 1 in 3 health professionals reported contemplating leaving their position in 1-2 years, with greater than 60% of this group stating this is directly related to working during the pandemic. CONCLUSIONS: Findings demonstrate the need for increased support for youth and caregivers when accessing ED services both during crisis and non-crisis times. Additionally, attention must be given to acknowledging the experience of health professionals to support better retention and resource management as they continue to navigate challenges in the health care system.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had significant impacts for children, youth and families with eating disorders (EDs) and those who care for them. The objective of this study was to understand the impacts on financial and personal costs to youth, caregivers and clinicians when either accessing or delivering ED services during the pandemic. This study consisted of an online survey and discussion groups with youth (16-25 years old) with lived experience of an ED, primary caregivers, clinicians and decision-makers delivering ED services to understand the costs they experienced. Although many reported costs were financial, including direct medical costs (i.e. private therapy) and direct non-medical costs (i.e. transportation, accommodation costs), there were also significant personal costs to individuals and their families. Healthcare professionals also reported extensive challenges with resources and increased work expectations due to the pandemic context. Acknowledging the costs experienced by young people, families and healthcare professionals during the pandemic allows for the discussion of how we can better support those accessing or delivering ED services in times of crisis and non-crisis.

The Human Affectome.

Over the last decades, theoretical perspectives in the interdisciplinary field of the affective sciences have proliferated rather than converged due to differing assumptions about what human affective phenomena are and how they work. These metaphysical and mechanistic assumptions, shaped by academic context and values, have dictated affective constructs and operationalizations. However, an assumption about the purpose of affective phenomena can guide us to a common set of metaphysical and mechanistic assumptions. In this capstone paper, we home in on a nested teleological principle for human affective phenomena in order to synthesize metaphysical and mechanistic assumptions. Under this framework, human affective phenomena can collectively be considered algorithms that either adjust based on the human comfort zone (affective concerns) or monitor those adaptive processes (affective features). This teleologically-grounded framework offers a principled agenda and launchpad for both organizing existing perspectives and generating new ones. Ultimately, we hope the Human Affectome brings us a step closer to not only an integrated understanding of human affective phenomena, but an integrated field for affective research.

Non-suicidal self-injury among individuals with an eating disorder: A systematic review and prevalence meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to quantify the prevalence of non-suicidal self-injury across eating disorders (EDs) and within diagnostic categories through systematic review and proportional, or so-called prevalence, meta-analysis. METHOD: Included studies had to contain individuals with a verified diagnosis of an ED. The last literature search was conducted on September 11, 2023, for studies published on or before September 2023 without a restriction on earliest publication year. Results were synthesized and analyzed using the "metaprop" package in R and presented using forest plots. Bias was assessed by a Peters' regression test and funnel plot. RESULTS: 79 studies published between 1985 and 2023 were included encompassing 32,334 individuals with an ED. Importantly, 42 studies were not included in any other meta-analyses on self-injury in EDs to date. Overall prevalence of non-suicidal self-injury was 34.59% (95%CI = 30.49-38.81). Prevalence in anorexia nervosa restrictive type, binge/purge type, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder and other specified feeding/eating disorder were 23.19% (95%CI = 16.96-30.03%), 41.98% (95%CI = 32.35-51.91%), 36.97% (95%CI = 30.69-43.46%), 21.21% (95%CI = 14.93-28.12%) and 37.65% (95%CI = 28.59-47.09%), respectively. Prevalence estimations could not be estimated for other ED categories due to lack of a sufficient number of studies. DISCUSSION: Non-suicidal self-injury is prevalent across both binge/purge and restrictive EDs. Considering the transdiagnostic nature of self-injurious behaviors in ED, the results highlight the importance of assessment and monitoring of self-injury in people with ED, irrespective of specific diagnoses. The method of determining self-injury varied across studies and may limit this study. PUBLIC SIGNIFICANCE: This study highlights the prevalence of self-injury across eating disorders irrespective of diagnosis and within specific EDs. While diagnoses known to exhibit self-injurious behaviors (e.g., bulimia nervosa, anorexia nervosa binge/purge subtype) demonstrated the highest prevalence of self-injury, all diagnoses were found to have a prevalence greater than 20%. These findings suggest the importance of assessing and monitoring all individuals with an eating disorder for the presence of self-injury.

OBJETIVO: Este estudio tuvo como objetivo cuantificar la prevalencia de la autolesión no suicida en los trastornos de la conducta alimentaria (TCA) y dentro de las categorías diagnósticas mediante una revisión sistemática y un metaanálisis proporcional, también llamado metaanálisis de prevalencia. MÉTODO: Los estudios incluidos debían contener individuos con un diagnóstico verificado de un TCA. La última búsqueda bibliográfica se realizó el 11 de septiembre de 2023, para estudios publicados en o antes de septiembre de 2023 sin restricción en el año de publicación más temprano. Los resultados fueron sintetizados y analizados utilizando el paquete "metaprop" en R y presentados mediante gráficos de bosque. El sesgo se evaluó mediante una prueba de regresión de Peters y un gráfico de embudo. RESULTADOS: Se incluyeron 79 estudios publicados entre 1985 y 2023 que abarcaron a 32,334 individuos que padecían un TCA. Es importante destacar que 42 estudios no se incluyeron en ningún otro metaanálisis sobre autolesión en TCA hasta la fecha. La prevalencia general de la autolesión no suicida fue del 34.59% (IC del 95% = 30.49-38.81). La prevalencia en la anorexia nerviosa subtipo restrictivo, subtipo atracones/purga, bulimia nerviosa, trastorno de atracones y otros trastornos especificados de la conducta alimentaria y de la alimentación fue del 23.19% (IC del 95% = 16.96-30.03%), 41.98% (IC del 95% = 32.35-51.91%), 36.97% (IC del 95% = 30.69-43.46%), 21.21% (IC del 95% = 14.93-28.12%) y 37.65% (IC del 95% = 28.59-47.09%), respectivamente. No se pudieron estimar las estimaciones de prevalencia para otras categorías de TCA debido a la falta de un número suficiente de estudios. DISCUSIÓN: La autolesión no suicida es prevalente tanto en los TCA subtipo de atracón/purgación como en los restrictivos. Dada la naturaleza transdiagnóstica de los comportamientos autolesivos en los TCA, los resultados resaltan la importancia de la evaluación y el monitoreo de la autolesión en personas que padecen TCA, independientemente de los diagnósticos específicos. El método para determinar la autolesión varió entre los estudios y puede limitar este estudio.

Cohort profile update: The Canadian Maternal-Infant Research on Environmental Chemicals Child Development study (MIREC-CD PLUS).

BACKGROUND: The pan-Canadian Maternal-Infant Research on Environmental Chemicals (MIREC) study was established to determine whether maternal environmental chemical exposures were associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes in 2001 pregnant women. OBJECTIVES: The MIREC-Child Development (CD PLUS) study followed this cohort with the goal of assessing the potential effects of prenatal exposures on anthropometry and neurodevelopment in early childhood. POPULATION: MIREC families with children between the ages of 15 months and 5 years who had agreed to be contacted for future research (n = 1459) were invited to participate in MIREC-CD PLUS which combines data collected from an online Maternal Self-Administered Questionnaire with biomonitoring and neurodevelopment data collected from two in-person visits. PRELIMINARY RESULTS: Between April 2013 and March 2015, 803 children participated in the Biomonitoring visit where we collected anthropometric measures, blood, and urine from the children. The Behavioural Assessment System for Children-2, Behaviour Rating Inventory of Executive Function, MacArthur-Bates Communicative Development Inventories and the Communication subscale of the Adaptive Behaviour Scale from the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development-III are available on close to 900 children. There were 610 singleton children who completed in-person visits for neurodevelopment assessments including the Social Responsiveness Scale, Wechsler Preschool Primary Scale of Intelligence-III and NEuroPSYchological assessments (NEPSY). Currently, we are following the cohort into early adolescence to measure the impact of early life exposures on endocrine and metabolic function (MIREC-ENDO). CONCLUSIONS: Data collection for the MIREC-CD PLUS study is complete and analysis of the data continues. We are now extending the follow-up of the cohort into adolescence to measure the impact of early life exposures on endocrine and metabolic function (MIREC-ENDO). MIREC-CD PLUS is limited by loss to follow-up and the fact that mothers are predominately of higher socioeconomic status and 'White' ethnicity, which limits our generalizability. However, the depth of biomonitoring and clinical measures in MIREC provides a platform to examine associations of prenatal, infancy and childhood exposures with child growth and development.

Childhood exposure to pyrethroids and neurodevelopment in Canadian preschoolers.

BACKGROUND: Pyrethroid insecticides are used both residentially and agriculturally and their toxicity targets the nervous system of insects. They might also interfere with development and function of the human brain. A few epidemiological studies suggest that exposure to pyrethroids may be associated with neurobehavioral problems in children but there is little data on potential associations with cognitive outcomes. Furthermore, many studies showed that the neurotoxic effects of several pesticides are modified by sex, hence, considerations of potential sex-differences are important to investigate. OBJECTIVE: To study the cross-sectional association between urinary levels of pyrethroid metabolites and neurodevelopment, including neurobehavioral and cognitive outcomes, in preschool-age children, and to examine whether sex might modify these associations. METHODS: We used data from a follow-up examination of the Maternal-Infant Research on Environmental Chemicals (MIREC), the MIREC Child Development study (MIREC-CD Plus) on children at age 3-4 years living in 6 Canadian cities. For each participant, we collected a urine sample for measurements of pyrethroids metabolites (cis-DBCA, cis-DCCA, trans-DCCA, 3-PBA, 4-F-3-PBA). We assessed neurodevelopment with the Wechsler Primary and Preschool Scale of Intelligence-III (WPPSI-III) and two scales of the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function-Preschool (BRIEF-P). Parents reported children's behavior using the Behavior Assessment System for Children-2 (BASC-2) and the Social Responsiveness Scale-2 (SRS-2). We examined associations between children's urinary pyrethroid metabolite concentrations and neurodevelopmental scores with multiple linear regression models, adjusting for confounders, in boys and girls separately. RESULTS: The study included 179 children (mean age: 3.2 y, range 2.8-4.0). The detection frequencies were high for most pyrethroid metabolites (83-100%), but lower for 4-F-3-PBA (36%). Higher concentrations of cis-DBCA were significantly associated with lower verbal, performance and full-scale IQ scores in boys (e.g., for a 2-fold increase in cis-DBCA, ß = -2.0; 95% CI: -3.4, -0.6 for full-scale IQ). In girls, the only metabolite associated with cognitive scores was 3-PBA, which was associated with lower verbal IQ scores (ß = -1.3, 95% CI: -2.6, -0.1). For neurobehavioral outcomes in boys, there were associations between poorer BASC-2 Adaptive Skills scores with higher concentrations of cis-DCCA (ß = -1.6, 95% CI: -2.3, -0.9), trans-DCCA (ß = -1.5, 95% CI: -2.2, -0.8), 3-PBA (ß = -1.7, 95% CI: -2.5, -0.9), and sum of pyrethroid metabolites (ß = -1.8, 95% CI: -2.6, -0.9). In girls, we observed a significant association between higher concentration of cis-DCCA and better BASC-2 Adaptive Skills score (ß = 1.0; 95% CI, 0.2, 1.8), but not with other urinary pyrethroids metabolites. Scores on the SRS-2 and BRIEF-P were not associated with pyrethroid metabolites. CONCLUSION: There were associations between some pyrethroid pesticide metabolites and indicators of neurodevelopmental disorder, especially among boys. These associations are in agreement with previous studies and could suggest that exposure to pyrethroid pesticides represents a risk of potential toxicity for the cognitive development of children, and a risk for behavioral development. However, the cross-sectional nature of this study limits causal inferences.

Childhood hyperactivity, eating behaviours, and executive functions: Their association with the development of eating-disorder symptoms in adolescence.

BACKGROUND: Cross-sectional studies have shown that hyperactivity and impaired executive functioning are associated with symptoms of eating disorders in adolescence and adulthood. Whether hyperactivity and executive functions in early life can prospectively predict the emergence of eating disorder symptoms in adolescence remains unknown. The present study relies on a longitudinal design to investigate how hyperactivity at age 3, eating behaviours at age 3.5 and cognition at ages 3-6 were associated with the development of eating-disorder symptoms from 12 to 20 years old. METHODS: Using archival data collected since 1997 from the Quebec Longitudinal Study of Child Development cohort (N = 2, 223), we used Latent Curve Models to analyse predictors of youth's trajectories of eating-disorder symptoms at four timepoints. RESULTS: A quadratic (curvilinear) trajectory of eating-disorder symptoms was found to be most representative of the data. Higher hyperactivity at age 3 was associated with higher levels of eating-disorder symptoms at age 12, and this association was partially mediated by higher levels of overeating and cognitive inflexibility in childhood. Cognitive inflexibility in childhood also mediated the association between hyperactivity at age 3 and increases in eating-disorder symptoms during adolescence. Furthermore, working memory was indirectly related to eating-disorder symptoms via the mediational role of cognitive flexibility. CONCLUSIONS: Hyperactivity, overeating, cognitive inflexibility, and working memory early in life might precede the onset of eating-disorder symptoms in adolescence. Early behavioural and cognitive screening may help to identify children who are most at risk for eating disorders. This, in turn, could guide preventive interventions.

Eating-disorder symptoms, such as body image issues, maladaptive behaviors, and preoccupation with weight, tend to develop in adolescence. However, it is unclear whether early childhood characteristics or behaviours could be indicators of a risk of developing eating-disorder symptoms later. The current study examined the possible link between certain early behaviours (e.g., hyperactivity, childhood eating), early cognitive processes, and eating-disorder symptoms development in a community cohort followed from birth. Results showed that being hyperactive in early childhood predicts higher levels of eating-disorder symptoms at the beginning of adolescence (age 15), and that this is partially explained by a link between being hyperactive, being more rigid in our ways of thinking, and engaging in overeating behaviours. Additionally, more early rigid ways of thinking predicted the increase in symptoms over time. Our results demonstrate possible behaviours and characteristics that could be used to identify children at risk of eating disorders, which in future research could potentially help improve our preventive interventions.

Development of a transdiagnostic digital interactive application for eating disorders: psychometric properties, satisfaction, and perceptions on implementation in clinical practice.

BACKGROUND: Given limited availability of informed treatments for people affected by eating disorders (EDs), there has been increasing interest in developing self-administered, technology-based ED interventions. However, many available interventions are limited to a specific ED diagnosis or assume that participants are ready to change. We developed a digital self-help application (called ASTrA) that was explicitly designed to be transdiagnostic and to help increase motivation for change. The aim of the present study was to describe the development and examine the psychometric properties, user satisfaction and rated potentials for practical use of our application. METHODS: The content of our application was based on concepts derived from self-determination theory, the transtheoretical model of change, and cognitive theory. The application was developed by a multidisciplinary team of clinicians, researchers, staff members and individuals with lived ED experience, each being involved in all steps of the application's development. We tested validity, reliability, satisfaction and perceived feasibility for clinical implementation in an independent sample of 15 patients with an ED and 13 clinicians specialized in ED treatment. Psychometric properties were evaluated using descriptive statistics, correlations, content validity indices and intraclass coefficients. Differences in satisfaction ratings and perceived potential for clinical implementation of the application between clinicians and patients were examined using Mann-Whitney U tests. RESULTS: The digital application showed excellent validity (mean i-CVI: .93, range: .86-.96) and internal reliability (all Cronbach alpha's > .88). Patients and clinicians both considered the application acceptable, appropriate, and feasible for use in clinical practice. CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest that our transdiagnostic interactive application has excellent psychometric properties. Furthermore, patients and clinicians alike were positive about the possible use of the application in clinical practice. The next step will be to investigate the application's effectiveness as an intervention to promote autonomous motivation and to facilitate remission in people on the waitlist for specialized ED treatment.

Overlooked Outcomes in Pediatric Obesity Management-Unintended Consequences.

This Viewpoint describes unintended consequences of pediatric obesity treatment plans and the need for evidence balancing potential benefits vs harms of these plans.

Motor synchronization and impulsivity in pediatric borderline personality disorder with and without attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder: an eye-tracking study of saccade, blink and pupil behavior.

Shifting motor actions from reflexively reacting to an environmental stimulus to predicting it allows for smooth synchronization of behavior with the outside world. This shift relies on the identification of patterns within the stimulus - knowing when a stimulus is predictable and when it is not - and launching motor actions accordingly. Failure to identify predictable stimuli results in movement delays whereas failure to recognize unpredictable stimuli results in early movements with incomplete information that can result in errors. Here we used a metronome task, combined with video-based eye-tracking, to quantify temporal predictive learning and performance to regularly paced visual targets at 5 different interstimulus intervals (ISIs). We compared these results to the random task where the timing of the target was randomized at each target step. We completed these tasks in female pediatric psychiatry patients (age range: 11-18 years) with borderline personality disorder (BPD) symptoms, with (n = 22) and without (n = 23) a comorbid attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) diagnosis, against controls (n = 35). Compared to controls, BPD and ADHD/BPD cohorts showed no differences in their predictive saccade performance to metronome targets, however, when targets were random ADHD/BPD participants made significantly more anticipatory saccades (i.e., guesses of target arrival). The ADHD/BPD group also significantly increased their blink rate and pupil size when initiating movements to predictable versus unpredictable targets, likely a reflection of increased neural effort for motor synchronization. BPD and ADHD/BPD groups showed increased sympathetic tone evidenced by larger pupil sizes than controls. Together, these results support normal temporal motor prediction in BPD with and without ADHD, reduced response inhibition in BPD with comorbid ADHD, and increased pupil sizes in BPD patients. Further these results emphasize the importance of controlling for comorbid ADHD when querying BPD pathology.

Computerized Cognitive Test Batteries for Children and Adolescents-A Scoping Review of Tools For Lab- and Web-Based Settings From 2000 to 2021.

OBJECTIVE: Cognitive functioning is essential to well-being. Since cognitive difficulties are common in many disorders, their early identification is critical, notably during childhood and adolescence. This scoping review aims to provide a comprehensive literature overview of computerized cognitive test batteries (CCTB) that have been developed and used in children and adolescents over the past 22 years and to evaluate their psychometric properties. METHOD: Among 3192 records identified from three databases (PubMed, PsycNET, and Web of Science) between 2000 and 2021, 564 peer-reviewed articles conducted in children and adolescents aged 3 to 18 years met inclusion criteria. Twenty main CCTBs were identified and further reviewed following PRISMA guidelines. Relevant study details (sample information, topic, location, setting, norms, and psychometrics) were extracted, as well as administration and instrument characteristics for the main CCTBs. RESULTS: Findings suggest that CCTB use varies according to age, location, and topic, with eight tools accounting for 85% of studies, and the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB) being most frequently used. Few instruments were applied in web-based settings or include social cognition tasks. Only 13% of studies reported psychometric properties. CONCLUSIONS: Over the past two decades, a high number of computerized cognitive batteries have been developed. Among these, more validation studies are needed, particularly across diverse cultural contexts. This review offers a comprehensive synthesis of CCTBs to aid both researchers and clinicians to conduct cognitive assessments in children in either a lab- or web-based setting.

Prenatal and concurrent blood mercury concentrations and associations with IQ in canadian preschool children.

BACKGROUND: Prenatal and childhood mercury (Hg) exposures have been associated with negative impacts on child neurodevelopment. It is unclear if associations persist at the low Hg exposures typical in Western countries. OBJECTIVE: To examine associations between prenatal/childhood blood Hg concentrations and child IQ in Canadian male and female children while considering the potential modifying role of prenatal fish consumption. METHODS: We analyzed data from the Maternal-Infant Research on Environmental Chemicals study. Hg was measured in first trimester (n = 527), cord (n = 430), and child (at 3-4 years of age, n = 355) blood and examined sex-stratified associations between blood Hg and children's Full Scale IQ (FSIQ), Verbal IQ (VIQ), Performance IQ (PIQ), and General Language Composite (GLC) scores (assessed with WPPSI-III). Prenatal Hg analyses were further stratified by prenatal fish consumption (low: 0-2, moderate: 3-7, or high: ≥8 times/month). RESULTS: Higher cord blood Hg concentrations were associated with lower PIQ (ß = -3.27; 95%CI: 6.44, -0.09) in male children with the lowest prenatal fish consumption. Progressively stronger positive associations were observed with PIQ in male children for moderate (ß = 1.08; 95%CI: 0.10, 2.26) and high (ß = 3.07; 95%CI: 1.95, 4.19) prenatal fish consumption. Cord blood Hg concentrations were positively associated with female children's FSIQ (ß = 1.29; 95% CI: 0.77, 1.81) and PIQ (ß = 2.01; 95% CI: 1.19, 2.83); however, when stratified only in the highest fish consumption subgroup. Among female children, higher child blood Hg concentrations were associated with an approximately 1-point increase in FSIQ, VIQ, and GLC. CONCLUSIONS: Prenatal exposure to low levels of Hg was associated with lower PIQ scores in male children with low prenatal fish intake. Positive associations between cord and child blood Hg concentrations and IQ were primarily observed in female children and may be due to beneficial effects of prenatal fish intake.

Eye-tracking in adult depression: protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: In recent years, eye-tracking has been proposed as a promising tool to identify potential biomarkers for mental disorders, including major depression. We will conduct an updated systematic review and meta-analysis on eye-tracking research in adults with major depressive disorder or other clinically diagnosed depressive disorders. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This protocol follows all reporting items in the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Protocol extension. We will conduct a systematic search of PubMed, PsycINFO, Google Scholar and EMBASE for sources published up until March 2023. Abstract and full-text review will be completed independently by two reviewers. Non-randomised studies using eye movement tasks in individuals with a depressive disorder versus controls will be included. Eye movement tasks of interest include, but are not limited to, saccade, smooth pursuit, fixation, free-viewing, attentional disengagement, visual search and attentional blink tasks. Results will be categorised by eye movement task. Risk of bias will be assessed using the National Institutes of Health Quality Assessment Tool for Observational Cohort and Cross-Sectional Studies and confidence in cumulative evidence will be assessed using Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation criteria. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Ethics approval is not required due to the nature of the proposed analysis. Results will be disseminated through a journal article, conference presentations and/or dissertations.

Childhood Overeating and Disordered Eating From Early Adolescence to Young Adulthood: A Longitudinal Study on the Mediating Role of BMI, Victimization and Desire for Thinness.

Eating disorders have early origins, and there could be a continuum between childhood eating behaviors, such as overeating, and long-term disordered eating, but this remains to be shown. BMI, desire for thinness and peer victimization could influence this continuum, but their interactions are unknown. To fill this gap, the study used data from the Quebec Longitudinal Study of Child Development (N = 1511; 52% girls), in which 30.9% of youth presented a trajectory associated with high disordered eating from 12 to 20 years. The results support an indirect association between overeating at age 5 and disordered eating trajectories, with different mediation processes observed between boys and girls. The findings underscore the importance of promoting healthy body images and eating behaviors among youths.

Prenatal exposure to legacy PFAS and neurodevelopment in preschool-aged Canadian children: The MIREC cohort.

BACKGROUND: Exposure to perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) has been shown to be neurotoxic in experimental studies, but epidemiological evidence linking prenatal PFAS exposure to child neurodevelopment is equivocal and scarce. OBJECTIVE: To quantify associations between prenatal exposure to legacy PFAS and children's intelligence (IQ) and executive functioning (EF) in a Canadian pregnancy and birth cohort and to determine if these associations differ by child sex. METHODS: We measured first-trimester plasma concentrations of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), and perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS) in the Maternal-Infant Research on Environmental Chemicals (MIREC) study and assessed children's full-scale (n = 522), performance (n = 517), and verbal (n = 519) IQ using the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence (WPPSI-III). Children's working memory (n = 513) and ability to plan and organize (n = 514) were assessed using a parent-reported questionnaire, the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function - Preschool Version (BRIEF-P). We quantified associations between individual log2-transformed PFAS exposure and children's IQ and EF using multiple linear regression analyses and evaluated effect modification by child sex. We also used Repeated Holdout Weighted Quantile Sum (WQS) regression models with effect modification by child sex to quantify the effect of combined exposure to all three PFAS chemicals on IQ and EF. All models were adjusted for key sociodemographic characteristics. RESULTS: Geometric mean plasma concentrations (IQR) for PFOA, PFOS and PFHxS were 1.68 (1.10-2.50), 4.97 (3.20-6.20) and 1.09 (0.67-1.60) µg/L respectively. We found evidence of effect modification by child sex in all models examining performance IQ (p < .01). Specifically, every doubling of PFOA, PFOS, and or PFHxS was inversely associated with performance IQ, but only in males (PFOA: B = -2.80, 95% CI: -4.92, -0.68; PFOS: B = -2.64, 95% CI: -4.77, -0.52; PFHxS: B = -2.92, 95% CI: -4.72, -1.12). Similarly, every quartile increase in the WQS index was associated with poorer performance IQ in males (B = -3.16, 95% CI: -4.90, -1.43), with PFHxS contributing the largest weight to the index. In contrast, no significant association was found for females (B = 0.63, 95% CI: -0.99, 2.26). No significant associations were found for EF in either males or females. CONCLUSIONS: Higher prenatal PFAS exposure was associated with lower performance IQ in males, suggesting that this association may be sex- and domain-specific.