A Narrative Commentary on the Use of a Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy-Informed Group to Address Irrational Beliefs, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, and Comorbidities.

Irrational beliefs of Demandingness, Catastrophizing, Low Frustration Tolerance, and Depreciation have demonstrated prevalence in disparate areas of life, including psychopathology, the military, politics, religion, and education. Individuals with mental health concerns, such as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), endorse elevations in such thoughts compared to the general population. This commentary describes the rationale for focusing on irrational beliefs in efforts to address PTSD and presents the Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT)-Informed Group for PTSD as a potential novel application of a well-established intervention. In support of these suggestions, we present a narrative review of the published work on irrational beliefs and REBT tenets as relevant for PTSD. We then introduce and describe the REBT-Informed Group intervention, summarize the prior preliminary research conducted by our group, and present some novel data from a re-analysis of this prior work. We end with commentary related to future directions of REBT approaches for PTSD to address limitations and expand the impact of the treatment to military and other Veteran or civilian populations.

An interaction between OTULIN and SCRIB uncovers roles for linear ubiquitination in planar cell polarity.

Planar cell polarity (PCP) plays critical roles in developmental and homeostatic processes. Membrane presentation of PCP complexes containing Van Gogh-like (VANGL) transmembrane proteins is central to PCP and can be directed by the scaffold protein scribble (SCRIB). The role atypical linear ubiquitin (Met1-Ub) chains might play in PCP is unknown. Here, HEK293 cell-based interactomic analyses of the Met1-Ub deubiquitinase OTULIN revealed that OTULIN can interact with SCRIB. Moreover, Met1-Ub chains associated with VANGL2 and PRICKLE1, but not SCRIB, can direct VANGL2 surface presentation. Mouse embryos lacking Otulin showed variable neural tube malformations, including rare open neural tubes, a deficit associated with PCP disruption in mice. In Madin-Darby canine kidney cells, in which the enrichment of VANGL2-GFP proteins at cell-cell contacts represents activated PCP complexes, endogenous OTULIN was recruited to these sites. In the human MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell model, OTULIN loss caused deficits in Wnt5a-induced filopodia extension and trafficking of transfected HA-VANGL2. Taken together, these findings support a role for linear (de)ubiquitination in PCP signaling. The association of Met1-Ub chains with PCP complex components offers new opportunities for integrating PCP signaling with OTULIN-dependent immune and inflammatory pathways.

The effect of a reduction in irrational beliefs on Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), depression, and anxiety symptoms in a group treatment for post-9/11 Veterans.

Previous research has indicated that a Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT)-Informed Group focused on changing irrational beliefs to address comorbid depression and anxiety (as well as anger and guilt) in a combat Veteran population diagnosed with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) demonstrated significant reductions in depression and PTSD symptoms at posttreatment. However, mechanisms of change associated with improvement have not been evaluated. REBT theory suggests that a decline in irrational beliefs predicts a decrease in PTSD, depression, and anxiety symptoms. This study aimed to test this tenet of REBT theory in a naturalistic treatment setting. Participants (N = 86) were post-9/11 combat Veterans, engaged in the REBT-Informed Group between October 2016 and February 2020. Results of hierarchical multiple regression analyses indicated that a reduction in irrational beliefs predicted notable decreases in PTSD, depression, and anxiety symptoms controlling for several covariates. This study extends previous research demonstrating the success of the REBT-Informed Group with combat Veterans and gives support to REBT theory regarding the effect of a decline in irrational beliefs. Future directions include replication of findings with Veterans who experienced military sexual trauma (MST), pre-9/11 Veterans, those at other military or Veterans Affairs (VA) medical centers, and civilians to determine generalizability.

Rape and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): Examining the Mediating Role of Explicit Sex-Power Beliefs for Men Versus Women.

Many rape survivors exhibit symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and recent literature suggests survivors' beliefs about sex and control may affect PTSD symptoms. The present study examined beliefs about sex and power as potential mediators of the relationship between rape and PTSD symptoms for men versus women. Participants ( N = 782) reported lifetime history of rape, current PTSD symptoms, and beliefs about sex and power. Women reported higher levels of lifetime history of rape than men (19.7% for women; 9.7% for men). While rape history predicted PTSD symptoms for both genders, beliefs about sex and power were shown to be a significant partial mediator of this relationship for men, but not for women. Results extend the literature on rape and PTSD by suggesting that survivors' beliefs about sex and power are connected and can affect their PTSD symptoms. Additionally, results illustrate how sexual violence against men may reaffirm male gender roles that entail power and aggression, and ultimately affect trauma recovery.

Wnt Drug Discovery: Weaving Through the Screens, Patents and Clinical Trials.

The Wnt signaling pathway is intricately involved in many aspects of development and is the root cause of an increasing number of diseases. For example, colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of death in the industrialized world and aberration of Wnt signaling within the colonic stem cell is the cause of more than 90% of these cancers. Despite our advances in successfully targeting other pathways, such as Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2 (HER2), there are no clinically relevant therapies available for Wnt-related diseases. Here, we investigated where research activities are focused with respect to Wnt signaling modulators by searching the United States Patent and Trade Office (USPTO) for patents and patent applications related to Wnt modulators and compared this to clinical trials focusing on Wnt modulation. We found that while the transition of intellectual property surrounding the Wnt ligand-receptor interface to clinical trials is robust, this is not true for specific inhibitors of ß-catenin, which is constitutively active in many cancers. Considering the ubiquitous use of the synthetic T-cell Factor/Lymphoid Enhancer Factor (TCF/Lef) reporter system and its success in identifying novel modulators in vitro, we speculate that this model of drug discovery does not capture the complexity of in vivo Wnt signaling that may be required if we are to successfully target the Wnt pathway in the clinic. Notwithstanding, increasingly more complex models are being developed, which may not be high throughput, but more pragmatic in our pursuit to control Wnt signaling.

Health anxiety and the non-medical use of prescription drugs in young adults: A cross-sectional study.

INTRODUCTION: Studies have demonstrated a relation between health anxiety (hypochondriasis) and substance use, but this minimal body of literature has focused on alcohol or illicit drugs. The use of medications without a physician's prescription (i.e., non-medical use of prescription drugs, NMUPD) is increasingly prevalent among young adults. Health anxiety, a tendency to worry excessively about health, is a factor that could contribute to NMUPD, but this has not been examined. The purpose of the current study was to examine the relations among health anxiety, NMUPD, and other psychological variables related to substance use. METHODS: In the present study, young adult college students (N = 758), ages 18-25, completed an anonymous online survey assessing demographics, health anxiety, NMUPD, and other psychological characteristics, including depression and general anxiety. RESULTS: Participants who reported NMUPD had higher scores in health anxiety, as well as more frequent healthcare appointments, and were more likely to report having a chronic health condition. Given that multiple factors influence a decision to engage in NMUPD, a multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed. Results suggested that hopelessness, sensation-seeking, and health anxiety were risk factors for NMUPD, and that health anxiety predicted NMUPD over and above these other variables. CONCLUSIONS: Medical professionals and mental health service providers should be aware of the increased risk of NMUPD for patients with health anxiety. Future research on NMUPD should more closely examine the role of health anxiety.

Alcohol mixed with energy drinks are robustly associated with patterns of problematic alcohol consumption among young adult college students.

BACKGROUND: Young adults are a population at great risk for problematic health behaviors. Alcohol mixed with energy drink (AmED) consumption is a relatively popular health risk behavior among young adults. AmED consumption continues to illustrate negative outcomes in the research literature, having been linked with other substance use, high-risk sexual behavior, and sexual victimization. Limited research to date has examined associations between AmED consumption and patterns of alcohol dependence. METHODS: Undergraduate college students (n=757) filled out an online survey which assessed their drinking habits in the past week and month, including their consumption of AmED beverages, personality characteristics, substance use, and problematic alcohol consumption via the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT). RESULTS: A minority of participants reported AmED consumption in both the past month (11.6%) and past week (9.7%). Compared to their alcohol-only drinking counterparts, AmED consumers scored significantly higher on measures of impulsivity, and lower on anxiety sensitivity when compared to their alcohol-only drinking counterparts. In multivariate analyses, AmED consumption was robustly associated with patterns of alcohol dependence (AUDIT score≥8) among young adult college students, while controlling for energy drink use, alcohol use, personality factors, substance use, and demographic variables. CONCLUSIONS: AmED consumption in the past month is robustly associated with problematic alcohol consumption. The present study describes harmful outcomes associated with AmED consumption, and extends the literature on the combined effects of alcohol and energy drinks on young adult risk behaviors. Further research needs to address causal mechanisms for the AmED and problematic alcohol consumption relation.

The Non-Medical Use of Prescription Drugs and Lifetime Experiences of Sexual Victimization Among College Men.

The non-medical use of prescription drugs (NMUPD) has been linked with many negative outcomes in previous studies. Recent literature has begun to examine the role of NMUPD among sexual victimization survivors. The present study examined the associations between NMUPD, recreational drug use, and experiences of sexual victimization among college men. Undergraduate men (n = 253) elected to take an online survey examining drug use and lifetime sexual victimization experiences. A total of 17% of the sample reported instances of being sexually victimized in their lifetime across four domains (being coerced, threatened, physically forced, or taken advantage of while incapacitated). Results indicate that, across all domains of sexual victimization, non-medical sedative use was robustly associated with sexual victimization in a multivariate model controlling for recreational drug use and demographics. No other non-medically used drug class (anxiolytics, pain medications, and stimulants) was associated with experiences of sexual victimization in the multivariate model. Results expand past literature by illustrating specific drug classes used by survivors of sexual victimization. Implications for interventions for male sexual victimization survivors are discussed.

The use of alcohol mixed with energy drinks and experiences of sexual victimization among male and female college students.

Much research has documented negative associations with the consumption of alcohol mixed with energy drinks (AmED). To date, few research studies have examined the relation between AmED and sexual victimization. Furthermore, research on sexual victimization among men is less studied. The present study employed a sample of 253 men and 545 women to examine the differential associations between AmED consumption and sexual victimization as a function of gender. Results from this study suggest that AmED consumption is robustly associated with being sexually victimized among men, but not women. These results were robust while controlling for demographic factors and other substance use. Results add to the literature on sexual victimization by potentially identifying a new high-risk drinking behavior among males who have been sexually victimized.