Wellbeing and clinical videoconferencing satisfaction among patients in psychotrauma treatment during the coronavirus pandemic: cross-sectional study.

Background: The coronavirus pandemic appears to put psychiatric patients with pre-existing symptomatology at risk of symptom increase, but evidence is scarce. While the pandemic and stringent governmental measures have accelerated the use of clinical videoconferencing (VCT), patient satisfaction with VCT is unclear. Objective: Aim of the study was to assess the wellbeing of patients in psychotrauma treatment during the coronavirus pandemic and to evaluate their use of and satisfaction with VCT. Method: This study used data from a routine outcome monitoring assessment completed by patients in treatment at a specialized psychotrauma institute and administered before the easing of governmental measures in June 2020. Wellbeing (Brief Symptom Inventory, Cantril Ladder, perceived stress level, and symptom change), VCT use and VCT satisfaction, and their association with demographic variables (gender, age, education level, and refugee status) were analysed. Results: Of the 318 respondents (response rate 64.5%), 139 (43.7%) reported a symptom increase, which was associated with a higher coronavirus-related stress level and general psychopathology as well as lower life satisfaction. There were significant effects of age and education level on wellbeing. VCT was reported to have been used by 228 (71.7%) patients. VCT satisfaction ratings were higher among women and those with lower levels of stress (r = -.20, p < .01) and general psychopathology (r = .21, p < .01). No difference in treatment satisfaction was found between patients who used VCT versus those who did not (mean difference = -.09 95% CI: -.79 to .62, p = .81). Conclusions: The coronavirus pandemic has aggravated mental health complaints according to a substantial percentage of patients in psychotrauma treatment. Although VCT was found to be acceptable, face-to-face treatment may remain necessary for specific target groups with limited access to VCT (such as refugees) and patients with high levels of general psychopathology.

Antecedentes: La pandemia por el coronavirus parece incrementar el riesgo de un aumento de síntomas a los pacientes psiquiátricos con sintomatología preexistente, pero la evidencia es escasa. Si bien la pandemia y las estrictas medidas gubernamentales han acelerado el uso de la videoconferencia clínica (VCT, por sus siglas en inglés), la satisfacción del paciente con la VCT no está clara.Objetivo: El objetivo del estudio fue el de evaluar el bienestar de los pacientes en tratamiento por psicotrauma durante la pandemia por el coronavirus; además, evaluar su uso y su satisfacción con la VCT.Método: Este estudio empleó los datos de las evaluaciones rutinarias de control clínico de un instituto especializado en psicotraumatología completadas por pacientes y realizadas antes de la flexibilización de las medidas gubernamentales en Junio del 2020. Se analizaron el bienestar (Inventario Breve de Síntomas, Escalera de Cantril, nivel de estrés percibido y cambio de síntomas), el uso de la VCT, la satisfacción con la VCT y su asociación con variables demográficas (género, edad, nivel educacional y condición de refugiado).Resultados: De los 318 encuestados (tasa de respuesta del 64,5%), 139 (43,7%) reportaron un aumento de síntomas, lo cual se asoció con niveles de estrés asociado al coronavirus más altos y con psicopatología general, así como con una menor satisfacción con la vida. Hubo efectos significativos entre la edad y el nivel educativo sobre el bienestar. 228 (71,7%) pacientes reportaron haber usado la VCT. Los índices de satisfacción con la VCT fueron más altos entre las mujeres y entre aquellos con menores niveles de estrés (r = −.20, p < .01) y de psicopatología general (r = .21, p < .01). No se encontraron diferencias entre la satisfacción con el tratamiento en pacientes que usaron la VCT en comparación con aquellos que no lo usaron (diferencia media = −.09 IC del 95%: −.79 a .62, p = .81).Conclusiones: La pandemia por el coronavirus ha agravado las quejas de salud mental en un porcentaje importante de pacientes en tratamiento por psicotrauma. A pesar que se halló que la VCT era aceptable, el tratamiento presencial puede seguir siendo necesario para grupos específicos con acceso limitado a la VCT (como los refugiados) y para los pacientes con altos niveles de psicopatología general.

Dual-Component Structural Plasticity Mediated by αCaMKII Autophosphorylation on Basal Dendrites of Cortical Layer 2/3 Neurones.

Sensory cortex exhibits receptive field plasticity throughout life in response to changes in sensory experience and offers the experimental possibility of aligning functional changes in receptive field properties with underpinning structural changes in synapses. We looked at the effects on structural plasticity of two different patterns of whisker deprivation in male and female mice: chessboard deprivation, which causes functional plasticity; and all deprived, which does not. Using 2-photon microscopy and chronic imaging through a cranial window over the barrel cortex, we found that layer 2/3 neurones exhibit robust structural plasticity, but only in response to whisker deprivation patterns that cause functional plasticity. Chessboard pattern deprivation caused dual-component plasticity in layer 2/3 by (1) increasing production of new spines that subsequently persisted for weeks and (2) enlarging spine head sizes in the preexisting stable spine population. Structural plasticity occurred on basal dendrites, but not apical dendrites. Both components of plasticity were absent in αCaMKII-T286A mutants that lack LTP and experience-dependent potentiation in barrel cortex, implying that αCaMKII autophosphorylation is not only important for stabilization and enlargement of spines, but also for new spine production. These studies therefore reveal the relationship between spared whisker potentiation in layer 2/3 neurones and the form and mechanisms of structural plasticity processes that underlie them.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT This study provides a missing link in a chain of reasoning that connects LTP to experience-dependent functional plasticity in vivo We found that increases in dendritic spine formation and spine enlargement (both of which are characteristic of LTP) only occurred in barrel cortex during sensory deprivation that produced potentiation of sensory responses. Furthermore, the dendritic spine plasticity did not occur during sensory deprivation in mice lacking LTP and experience-dependent potentiation (αCaMKII autophosphorylation mutants). We also found that the dual-component dendritic spine plasticity only occurred on basal dendrites and not on apical dendrites, thereby resolving a paradox in the literature suggesting that layer 2/3 neurones lack structural plasticity in response to sensory deprivation.

NEURODEVELOPMENT. Adult cortical plasticity depends on an early postnatal critical period.

Development of the cerebral cortex is influenced by sensory experience during distinct phases of postnatal development known as critical periods. Disruption of experience during a critical period produces neurons that lack specificity for particular stimulus features, such as location in the somatosensory system. Synaptic plasticity is the agent by which sensory experience affects cortical development. Here, we describe, in mice, a developmental critical period that affects plasticity itself. Transient neonatal disruption of signaling via the C-terminal domain of "disrupted in schizophrenia 1" (DISC1)­a molecule implicated in psychiatric disorders­resulted in a lack of long-term potentiation (LTP) (persistent strengthening of synapses) and experience-dependent potentiation in adulthood. Long-term depression (LTD) (selective weakening of specific sets of synapses) and reversal of LTD were present, although impaired, in adolescence and absent in adulthood. These changes may form the basis for the cognitive deficits associated with mutations in DISC1 and the delayed onset of a range of psychiatric symptoms in late adolescence.

Food for creativity: tyrosine promotes deep thinking.

Anecdotal evidence suggests that creative people sometimes use food to overcome mental blocks and lack of inspiration, but empirical support for this possibility is still lacking. In this study, we investigated whether creativity in convergent- and divergent-thinking tasks is promoted by the food supplement L-Tyrosine (TYR)-a biochemical precursor of dopamine, which is assumed to drive cognitive control and creativity. We found no evidence for an impact of TYR on divergent thinking ("brainstorming") but it did promote convergent ("deep") thinking. As convergent thinking arguably requires more cognitive top-down control, this finding suggests that TYR can facilitate control-hungry creative operations. Hence, the food we eat may affect the way we think.

Two is better than one: bilingual education promotes the flexible mind.

The interest in the influence of bilingualism on our daily life is constantly growing. Speaking two languages (or more) requires people to develop a flexible mindset to rapidly switch back and forth between languages. This study investigated whether and to what extent attending bilingual education benefits cognitive control. We tested two groups of Dutch high-school students who either followed regular classes in Dutch or were taught in both English and Dutch. They performed on a global-local switching paradigm that provides well-established measures of cognitive flexibility and attentional processing style. As predicted, the bilingually educated group showed smaller switching costs (i.e., greater cognitive flexibility) and a decreased global precedence effect than the regular group. Our findings support the idea that bilingual education promotes cognitive flexibility and a bias towards a more focused "scope" of attention.