Delay discounting is associated with addiction and mental health measures while controlling for health behaviors and health barriers in a large US sample.

Background: Excessive discounting of future rewards [delay discounting (DD)] may be a transdiagnostic process and treatment target underlying behavioral health outcomes, including trauma, depression, anxiety, and problematic substance use. However, multiple health behaviors and barriers are also related to these outcomes, including social media usage, adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), sleep quality, healthcare access, housing status, and exercise. To extend research examining DD as transdiagnostic process, we recruited a large, heterogenous sample to examine the association between DD, problematic substance use, and mental health outcomes while controlling for certain health behaviors and health barriers. Method: In a cross-sectional online survey of 3992 US residents, we administered validated measures of PTSD, depression, anxiety, and problematic alcohol, stimulant, and opioid use. Using linear or ordinal logistic models, scores for each outcome were regressed onto DD while controlling for demographics, health behaviors, and health barriers. Results: Including only DD and demographics, DD was associated with each outcome at low effect sizes (ƒ2 = .013, OR range = 1.08-1.16). Except for opioid ASSIST scores, these relationships held when controlling for social media usage, sleep, housing status, healthcare access, ACEs, physical exercise, and demographic variables (ƒ2 = .002, OR range = 1.03-1.12), increasing confidence that DD concurrently and directly relates to four of these five clinical outcomes. Discussion: These findings support the conceptualization of DD as a transdiagnostic process underlying certain psychopathologies and suggest targeting DD in co-occurring substance use disorder and/or mental health treatments may result in clinically significant outcomes.

Prepulse inhibition deficit as a transdiagnostic process in neuropsychiatric disorders: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Psychopathological research is moving from a specific approach towards transdiagnosis through the analysis of processes that appear transversally to multiple pathologies. A phenomenon disrupted in several disorders is prepulse inhibition (PPI) of the startle response, in which startle to an intense sensory stimulus, or pulse, is reduced if a weak stimulus, or prepulse, is previously presented. OBJECTIVE AND METHODS: The present systematic review analyzed the role of PPI deficit as a possible transdiagnostic process for four main groups of neuropsychiatric disorders: (1) trauma-, stress-, and anxiety-related disorders (2) mood-related disorders, (3) neurocognitive disorders, and (4) other disorders such as obsessive-compulsive, tic-related, and substance use disorders. We used Web of Science, PubMed and PsycInfo databases to search for experimental case-control articles that were analyzed both qualitatively and based on their potential risk of bias. A total of 64 studies were included in this systematic review. Protocol was submitted prospectively to PROSPERO 04/30/2022 (CRD42022322031). RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The results showed a general PPI deficit in the diagnostic groups mentioned, with associated deficits in the dopaminergic neurotransmission system, several areas implied such as the medial prefrontal cortex or the amygdala, and related variables such as cognitive deficits and anxiety symptoms. It can be concluded that the PPI deficit appears across most of the neuropsychiatric disorders examined, and it could be considered as a relevant measure in translational research for the early detection of such disorders.

Toward a better understanding of the influence of repetitive negative thinking in alcohol use disorder: An examination of moderation effect of metacognitive beliefs and gender.

Repetitive negative thinking (RNT), the most studied forms of which are depressive ruminations and anxious worry, is a unique transdiagnostic process responsible for the development and maintenance of many mental disorders. Over the past decade, studies have shown that RNT could be involved in the development and maintenance of alcohol use disorder (AUD). However, to date, little is known about the factors that can influence this relationship, even though some theoretical and empirical arguments suggest that variables such as gender or metacognitive beliefs may determine the role of RNT in the onset of symptoms. The aim of the present study was to test the moderation effect of metacognitive beliefs and gender in the relationship between RNT and AUD. Eighty-one AUD patients were administered measures of AUD severity, RNT, metacognitive beliefs about thinking and alcohol use, anxiety, and depression. Results indicated that the 'capture mental resources' factor of RNT is a significant predictor of AUD severity, independent from anxiety and depression, and that this effect is moderated by metacognitive beliefs and gender. RNT is a significant predictor of AUD severity only for people with high negative beliefs about thoughts regarding uncontrollability and danger. Furthermore, RNT was found to predict AUD severity only for men with high beliefs about the need to control thoughts and for men with high positive beliefs about emotional self-regulation. Treatments that reduce attentional impairments caused by RNT and modify dysfunctional metacognitive beliefs could be promising for some patients with AUD.

Delineating Characteristics of Maladaptive Repetitive Thought: Development and Preliminary Validation of the Perseverative Cognitions Questionnaire.

Worry, rumination, and obsessive thinking are theorized to differ on temporal orientation, positive perceived function, degree of intrusiveness, and discordance with one's self-concept. However, prior findings with respect to such differences may be due to method variance of the measures used and/or inclusion of items confounded by diagnostic symptoms. Accurately capturing differences between types of perseverative thought linked to psychopathology and understanding whether such aspects are common across disorders or specific to some may be important to designing effective treatments for them. Two studies are presented detailing the development and validation of the Perseverative Cognitions Questionnaire (PCQ). The PCQ is a 45-item self-report measure that assesses six dimensional characteristics of worry, rumination, and obsessive thinking previously found to discriminate these thought styles: Lack of Controllability, Preparing for the Future, Expecting the Worst, Searching for Causes/Meaning, Dwelling on the Past, and Thinking Discordant with Ideal Self. Factor structure of the PCQ was established using principal components, exploratory factor, and confirmatory factor analyses. PCQ scales exhibited differential convergence with measures of perseverative thought and psychopathology. The PCQ also demonstrated acceptable retest correlations across 1- and 2-week periods, and incremental validity when predicting symptoms of anxiety, depression, and obsessive compulsive disorder.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy for generalized anxiety.

As a form of therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is more than a mere "toolbox." CBT allows us to better understand how the human mind is functioning because it is based on neuroscience and experimental and scientific psychology. At the beginning, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) was "nontheoretical," but nowadays (the most recent version being DSM-5), it is increasingly based on CBT paradigms (with the insertion of important notions such as cognitions and behaviors). This Brief Report presents what we currently know about generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and how we can treat this condition by nonpharmaceutical means. In the last few years, GAD theories have evolved, becoming more precise about the cognitive functioning of GAD sufferers. Here, we look at current theoretical models and the main techniques of therapeutic care, as well as the advances in research about the "transdiagnostic" process and GAD in childhood. CBT is an effective treatment for GAD, typically leading to reductions in worry, and a study has shown that such therapy is equal to pharmaceutical treatment and more effective 6 months after study completion.

La terapia cognitiva-conductual (TCC), como una forma de terapia, es más que una mera "caja de herramientas". La TCC permite una mejor comprension de como funciona la mente humana ya que se basa en las neurociencias y en la psicología experimental y científica. El Manual Diagnóstico y Estadístico de los Trastornos Mentales (DSM) inicialmente fue "ateórico", pero actualmente (la versión más reciente, el DSM 5) se basa cada vez más en paradigmas de TCC (con la inserción de importantes nociones tales como cognitiones y conductas). Este reporte breve presenta el conocimiento actual sobre el trastorno de ansiedad generalizada (TAG) y cómo puede ser tratada esta condición a través de medios no farmacológicos. En los últimos años, las teorías del TAG han evolucionado, Ilegando a ser más precisas acerca del funcionamiento cognitivo de quienes lo padecen. En este artículo se revisan los modelos teóricos actuales y las principales técnicas de manejo terapéutico, como también los avances en la investigación sobre el proceso "transdiagnóstico" y el TAG en la niñez. La TCC es un tratamiento efectivo para el TAG y lo característico es que reduzca las preocupaciones. Un estudio ha mostrado que dicha terapia es equivalente al tratamiento farmacológico y más efectiva a los seis meses de haber completado el estudio.

Mode de traitement, la thérapie cognitivo-comportementale (TCC) est plus qu'une simple «boîte à outils¼. Basée sur les neurosciences et sur la psychologie scientifique et expérimental, la TCC nous permet de mieux comprendre le fonctionnement cognitif chez l'homme. A ses débuts, le DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) était «non théorique¼, mais aujourd'hui (la version la plus récente étant le DSM-5), Il se base de plus en plus sur des modèles de TCC (avec l'insertion de notions importantes comme la cognition et le comportement). Nous présentons ici brièvement nos connaissances actuelles sur l'anxiété généralisée (AG) et ses moyens de traitement non médicamenteux. Ces dernières années, les théories sur l'AG ont évolué en se précisant sur le fonctionnement cognitif des personnes qui en souffrent. Nous examinons ici les modèles théoriques actuels et les principales techniques de soin thérapeutique, ainsi que les avancées de la recherche sur le processus «transdiagnostique¼ et l'AG dans l'enfance. La TCC est un traitement efficace de l'AG, diminuant typiquement l'inquiétude excessive et une étude a montré qu'un tel traitement est équivalent à un traitement médicamenteux et plus efficace 6 mois après la fin de l'etude.

Perseverative Thinking Questionnaire (PTQ): French Validation of a Transdiagnostic Measure of Repetitive Negative Thinking.

Repetitive negative thinking (RNT) is a transdiagnostic process involved in the onset and maintenance of many psychological disorders. The Perseverative Thinking Questionnaire (Ehring et al., 2011) is a content-independent scale composed of 15 items that assesses RNT from a transdiagnostic perspective in both clinical and general populations. The aim of the current research was to translate and validate the French version of the PTQ through two studies (total N = 1016) following the steps for the trans-cultural validation of psychometric instruments (Hambleton et al., 2006). An exploratory factor analysis conducted on a first community sample revealed a latent structure composed of 10 items distributed on one common factor, labeled RNT, and three subfactors that evaluated the repetitive characteristic of RNT, the intrusiveness of RNT and the effect of RNT on mental resources. This factorial structure was confirmed in two confirmatory factor analyses in community and clinical samples. Scale score reliability indices were good and confirmed the validity of the instrument. The French version of the PTQ is a good content-independent instrument to assess RNT in general and clinical populations of French speakers.

Assessing Repetitive Negative Thinking Using Categorical and Transdiagnostic Approaches: A Comparison and Validation of Three Polish Language Adaptations of Self-Report Questionnaires.

Repetitive negative thinking (RNT) is a transdiagnostic process involved in the risk, maintenance, and relapse of serious conditions including mood disorders, anxiety, eating disorders, and addictions. Processing mode theory provides a theoretical model to assess, research, and treat RNT using a transdiagnostic approach. Clinical researchers also often employ categorical approaches to RNT, including a focus on depressive rumination or worry, for similar purposes. Three widely used self-report questionnaires have been developed to assess these related constructs: the Ruminative Response Scale (RRS), the Perseverative Thinking Questionnaire (PTQ), and the Mini-Cambridge Exeter Repetitive Thought Scale (Mini-CERTS). Yet these scales have not previously been used in conjunction, despite useful theoretical distinctions only available in Mini-CERTS. The present validation of the methods in a Polish speaking population provides psychometric parameters estimates that contribute to current efforts to increase reliable replication of theoretical outcomes. Moreover, the following study aims to present particular characteristics and a comparison of the three methods. Although there has been some exploration of a categorical approach, the comparison of transdiagnostic methods is still lacking. These methods are particularly relevant for developing and evaluating theoretically based interventions like concreteness training, an emerging field of increasing interest, which can be used to address the maladaptive processing mode in RNT that can lead to depression and other disorders. Furthermore, the translation of these measures enables the examination of possible cross-cultural structural differences that may lead to important theoretical progress in the measurement and classification of RNT. The results support the theoretical hypothesis. As expected, the dimensions of brooding, general repetitive negative thinking, as well as abstract analytical thinking, can all be classified as unconstructive repetitive thinking. The particular characteristics of each scale and potential practical applications in clinical and research are discussed.