Multiple cognition associated multimodal brain networks in major depressive disorder.

Major depressive disorder frequently leads to cognitive impairments, significantly affecting patients' quality of life. However, the neurobiological mechanisms underlying cognitive deficits remain unclear. This study aimed to explore multimodal imaging biomarkers associated with cognitive function in major depressive disorder. Five cognitive scores (sustained attention, visual recognition memory, pattern recognition memory, executive function, and working memory) were used as references to guide the fusion of gray matter volume and amplitude of the low frequency fluctuation. Social function was assessed after 2 yr. Linear regression analysis was performed to identify brain features that were associated with social function of patients with major depressive disorder. Finally, we included 131 major depressive disorder and 145 healthy controls. A multimodal frontal-insula-occipital network associated with sustained attention was found to be associated with social functioning in major depressive disorders. Analysis across different cognitive domains revealed that gray matter volume exhibited greater sensitivity to differences, while amplitude of the low frequency fluctuation consistently decreased in the right temporal-occipital-hippocampus circuit. The consistent functional changes across the 5 cognitive domains were related to symptom severity. Overall, these findings provide insights into biomarkers associated with multiple cognitive domains in major depressive disorder. These results may contribute to the development of effective treatment targeting cognitive deficits and social function.

A friend in need is a friend indeed: Acute tandem rope skipping enhances inter-brain synchrony of socially avoidant individuals.

Team-based physical activity (PA) can improve social cognition; however, few studies have investigated the neurobiological mechanism underlying this benefit. Accordingly, a hyper-scanning protocol aimed to determine whether the interbrain synchrony (IBS) is influenced by an acute bout of team-based PA (i.e., tandem rope skipping). Specifically, we had socially avoidant participants (SOA, N=15 dyads) and their age-matched controls (CO, N=16 dyads) performed a computer-based cooperative task while EEG was recorded before and after two different experimental conditions (i.e., 30-min of team-based PA versus sitting). Phase locking value (PLV) was used to measure IBS. Results showed improved frontal gamma band IBS after the team-based PA compared to sitting when participants received successful feedback in the task (Mskipping = 0.016, Msittting = -0.009, p = 0.082, ηp2 = 0.387). The CO group showed a larger change in frontal and central gamma band IBS when provided failure feedback in the task (Mskipping = 0.017, Msittting = -0.009, p = 0.075, ηp2 = 0.313). Thus, results suggest that socially avoidant individuals may benefit from team-based PA via improved interbrain synchrony. Moreover, our findings deepen our understanding of the neurobiological mechanism by which team-based PA may improve social cognition among individuals with or without social avoidance.

Dampened motivation in schizophrenia: evidence from a novel effort-based decision-making task in social scenarios.

Apathy represents a significant manifestation of negative symptoms within individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia (SCZ) and exerts a profound impact on their social relationships. However, the specific implications of this motivational deficit in social scenarios have yet to be fully elucidated. The present study aimed to examine effort-based decision-making in social scenarios and its relation to apathy symptoms in SCZ patients. We initially recruited a group of 50 healthy participants (16 males) to assess the validity of the paradigm. Subsequently, we recruited 45 individuals diagnosed with SCZ (24 males) and 49 demographically-matched healthy controls (HC, 25 males) for the main study. The Mock Job Interview Task was developed to measure effort-based decision-making in social scenarios. The proportion of hard-task choice and a range of subjective ratings were obtained to examine potential between-group differences. SCZ patients were less likely than HC to choose the hard task with strict interviewers, and this group difference was significant when the hard-task reward value was medium and high. More severe apathy symptoms were significantly correlated with an overall reduced likelihood of making a hard-task choice. When dividing the jobs into two categories based on the levels of social engagement needed, SCZ patients were less willing to expend effort to pursue a potential offer for jobs requiring higher social engagement. Our findings indicated impaired effort-based decision-making in SCZ can be generalized from the monetary/nonsocial to a more ecologically social dimension. Our findings affirm the critical role of aberrant effort allocation on negative symptoms, and may facilitate the development of targeted clinical interventions.

Emotion in Organizations: Theory and Research.

The workplace elicits a wide range of emotions and, likewise, emotions change our experience of the workplace. This article reviews the scientific field of emotion in organizations, drawing from classic theories and cutting-edge advances to integrate a disparate body of research. The review is organized around the definition of emotion as an unfolding sequence of processes: We interpret the world around us for its subjective meaning, which results in emotional experience. Emotional experience, in turn, has consequences for behaviors, attitudes, and cognition. Emotional experience also elicits expressive cues that can be recognized by others. Each process in the emotion sequence can be regulated. Processes can also iterate until emotion is shared throughout workgroups and even entire organizations. A distinct body of organizationally relevant research exists for each process, and emotional intelligence refers to effectiveness across all. Differences across culture and gender, future research directions, and practical implications are discussed.

Relationship between cognitive function and functional outcomes in remitted major depression.

BACKGROUND: Few studies have focused on functional impairment in depressed patients during symptomatic remission. The exact relationship between cognitive performance and functional outcomes of patients with Major depressive disorder (MDD) remains unclear. METHODS: Participants diagnosed with MDD were included and interviewed at both baseline and follow-up. Cognitive function was assessed during acute episodes using the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB), which targeted attention (Rapid Visual Processing - RVP), visual memory (Pattern Recognition Memory - PRM), and executive function (Intra-Extra Dimensional Set Shift - IED). The 17-item Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD) was used for symptom assessment. Participants were divided into two groups based on their SDSS (Social Disability Screening Schedule) scores, and the differences between their demographic information, HAMD scores, and baseline CANTAB test results were compared. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify cognitive predictors of social function during symptomatic remission. RESULTS: According to the SDSS score at follow-up, 103 patients were divided into the normal social function group (n = 81,78.6%) and the poor social function group (n = 22, 21.4%) during clinical remission. Participants with poorer social function performed worse in the visual memory (PRM) and executive function tests (IED) at the baseline. Logistic regression analysis suggested that performance on the PRM (95%CI = 0.31-0.93, p = 0.030) and IED (95%CI = 1.01-1.13, p = 0.014) tests, instead of less severe symptoms, significantly contributed to functional outcomes. CONCLUSION: Better performance in visual memory and executive function during acute episodes may predict better social functional outcomes in individuals with MDD. A potential early intervention to improve social function in individuals with MDD could include the treatments for executive function and visual memory.

Walking capacity and its association with quality of life among children with down syndrome in Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND: Walking ability, which has been connected to better health and independence, is one of the daily activities that is negatively impacted by Down syndrome. Thus, the objective of this study was to examine the walking capacity and its association with the quality of life of children who have Down syndrome compared to those who do not have Down syndrome in Saudi Arabia. METHODS: For this cross-sectional study, we recruited 68 Arabic-speaking children aged 6 to 12 using a convenience sampling method from August to November 2021. Children were divided into two groups: those who do not have Down syndrome (n = 38) and those who have Down syndrome (n = 30). Children in the Riyadh region of Saudi Arabia who do not have Down syndrome were chosen randomly from two schools. Children who have Down syndrome were selected from multiple associations and centers in the same region. A 6-minute walk test was used to measure the child's walking capacity. The Arabic version of the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory scale was used to assess the child's or parent's perceptions of the child's quality of life and its physical, emotional, social, and school functioning domains. RESULTS: The difference in the mean 6-minute walk test scores between children who have and who do not have Down syndrome was statistically significant, with a mean difference = 105.6, 95% confidence limit = 57.2-154.0, p < .0001. The linear regression analysis after adjusting for age, height, weight, and body mass index revealed that walking capacity was found to be significantly associated with the worst score on the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory scale (ß = -2.71, SE = 0.49, p < .0001) and its domains of physical, social, and school functioning (ß = -2.29, SE = 0.54, p < .0001; ß = -2.40, SE = 0.58; p = .001; ß = -3.71, SE = 0.56, p = .002, respectively) in children who have Down syndrome, but they had better emotional functioning than children who do not have Down syndrome. CONCLUSIONS: Children who have Down syndrome were less able to walk and were highly associated with the worst possible quality of life, which included the lowest levels of physical, social, and school functioning. Early interventions with techniques must be developed to improve the quality of life for these children.

Social and occupational recovery in early psychosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis of psychosocial interventions.

BACKGROUND: Psychosis, even in its early stages, ranks highly among the causes of disability worldwide, resulting in an increased focus on improved recovery of social and occupational functioning. This study aimed to provide an estimate of the effectiveness of psychosocial interventions for improving functioning in early psychosis. We also sought evidence of superiority between intervention approaches. METHODS: An electronic search was conducted using PubMed and PsycINFO to identify original articles reporting on trials of psychosocial interventions in early-stage psychosis, published up to December 2020 and is reported following PRISMA guidelines. Data were extracted on validated measures of functioning from included studies and pooled standardised mean difference (SMD) was estimated. RESULTS: In total, 31 studies involving 2811 participants were included, focusing on: cognitive behavioural therapy for psychosis (CBTp), family-based therapy, supported employment, cognitive remediation training (CRT) and multi-component psychosocial interventions. Across interventions, improved function was observed (SMD = 0.239; 95% confidence interval 0.115-0.364, p < 0.001). Effect sizes varied by intervention type, stage of illness, length and duration of treatment and outcome measure used. In particular, interventions based on CRT significantly outperformed symptom-focused CBT interventions, while multi-component interventions were associated with largest gains. CONCLUSIONS: Psychosocial interventions, particularly when provided as part of a multi-component intervention model and delivered in community-based settings are associated with significant improvements in social and occupational function. This review underscores the value of sensitively tracking and targeting psychosocial function as part of the standard provided by early intervention services.

Association of P50 with social function, but not with cognition in patients with first-episode schizophrenia.

Functional deficits including cognitive impairment and social dysfunction are the core symptoms of schizophrenia (SCZ), and sensory gating (SG) deficits may be involved in the pathological mechanism of functional deficits in SCZ. This study was to investigate the relationship between defective P50 inhibition and functional deficits in first-episode drug naïve (FEDN) SCZ patients. A total of 95 FEDN SCZ patients and 53 healthy controls (HC) were recruited. The Chinese version of UCSD Performance-Based Skills (UPSA), MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery (MCCB), and EEG system were used to assess the social function, cognitive performance, and P50 inhibition, respectively. The MCCB total score and eight domain scores were significantly lower in patients with FEDN SCZ than those in HC (all p < 0.05). The UPSA total score and financial skills scores were also significantly lower in SCZ patients than that in the HC (all p < 0.05). Compared with HC, patients with FEDF SCZ had a higher P50 ratio (all p < 0.05). There was no correlation between P50 components and MCCB scores in patients with FEDF SCZ. However, there was only a correlation between the P50 ratio and UPSA financial skills, communication skills, or total score in patients (all p < 0.05). Defective P50 inhibition in FEDN SCZ patients may be associated with social dysfunction but not cognitive impairment, suggesting that the social dysfunction and cognitive impairment of patients with FEDN SCZ may have different pathogenic mechanisms.

Lower socioeconomic status and the acceleration of aging: An outcome-wide analysis.

Aging involves decline in a range of functional abilities and phenotypes, many of which are also associated with socioeconomic status (SES). Here we assessed whether lower SES is a determinant of the rate of decline over 8 y in six domains-physical capability, sensory function, physiological function, cognitive performance, emotional well-being, and social function-in a sample of 5,018 men and women aged 64.44 (SD 8.49) y on average at baseline. Wealth was used as the marker of SES, and all analyses controlled for age, gender, ethnicity, educational attainment, and long-term health conditions. Lower SES was associated with greater adverse changes in physical capability (grip strength, gait speed, and physical activity), sensory function (sight impairment), physiological function (plasma fibrinogen concentration and lung function), cognitive performance (memory, executive function, and processing speed), emotional well-being (enjoyment of life and depressive symptoms), and social function (organizational membership, number of close friends, volunteering, and cultural engagement). Effects were maintained when controlling statistically for other factors such as smoking, marital/partnership status, and self-rated health and were also present when analyses were limited to participants aged ≤75 y. We conclude that lower SES is related to accelerated aging across a broad range of functional abilities and phenotypes independently of the presence of health conditions and that social circumstances impinge on multiple aspects of aging.

The Effect of Internet-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy on Major Depressive Disorder: Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Many people living with major depressive disorder (MDD) in China do not receive treatment owing to a lack of mental health services, along with significant stigma toward mental illness. Internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy (ICBT) has been proposed to increase access to mental health care for people with MDD. OBJECTIVE: The aims of this study were to (1) evaluate the efficacy of ICBT for depressive symptoms in patients with MDD; (2) evaluate the effect of ICBT on anxiety symptoms, nonspecific psychological distress, general self-efficacy, depression stigma, social function, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL); and (3) explore the acceptability of and satisfaction with the ICBT program among participants. METHODS: Patients with MDD were enrolled and randomized to the ICBT group or the waiting-list control (WLC) group. The ICBT group received ICBT delivered through a WeChat mini-program with general support by nonspecialists. Participants in the 2 groups were self-evaluated online at baseline and posttreatment for changes in the primary outcome (ie, depressive symptoms) and secondary outcomes (ie, anxiety symptoms, nonspecific psychological distress, general self-efficacy, depression stigma, social functional impairment, and HRQoL). Changes in outcomes were measured by changes in overall scores on respective scales, and response and remission rates were calculated based on depressive symptoms. The acceptability of and satisfaction with the ICBT program were measured by treatment adherence and participants' feelings (ie, modules seriously completed, perceived benefit, and satisfaction). RESULTS: We included 40 patients who were randomly assigned to the ICBT group and 44 who were assigned to the WLC group. Compared with the WLC group, the ICBT group had fewer depressive symptoms, fewer anxiety symptoms, less nonspecific psychological distress, and greater general self-efficacy. Moreover, the ICBT group had higher response (18/31, 58%) and remission rates (17/31, 55%). The adherence rate in the ICBT group was 78% (31/40), and the majority of participants who completed all ICBT modules were satisfied with the ICBT program. CONCLUSIONS: ICBT demonstrated greater improvements in depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, nonspecific psychological distress, and general self-efficacy among selected patients with MDD in comparison with the findings in waiting-list controls. The ICBT program in this study had good acceptability and satisfaction among participants. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR2100046425); https://tinyurl.com/bdcrj4zv.

National norms of mental health for Denmark.

INTRODUCTION: To facilitate interpretation and clinical utility of patient-reported outcomes, normative data provide a reference for a person's score on a particular outcome in relation to the general population. This study reports Danish general population norms for four mental health indicators, assessing social functioning (Sheehan Disability Scale, SDS) personal recovery (Brief INSPIRE-O), symptom burden (Symptom Check List-10, SCL-10) and subjective well-being (WHO-5). METHODS: The study was a cross-sectional survey study organized by the State's statistical authority among the general population of adult Danish residents in Denmark, ranging in age between 18 to 79 years. RESULTS: A total of 8003 citizens were contacted including reminders from 2 March 2019 to 11 April 2019 by electronic letters, resulting in 2819 (35%) citizens providing complete responses. Female gender, higher age, Danish origin and living with a partner were associated with increased participation, and decreased participation was observed in male immigrants. We found a mean score of subjective well-being slightly lower than the population norm typically found in Danish general population studies. Elderly persons, Danes, and persons living with a partner reported better subjective mental health. Subjective well-being and personal recovery were positively correlated with social contacts and self-reported general health rating, and negatively correlated with social functioning and symptoms of depression and anxiety. CONCLUSION: This normative data provides a reference for interpreting mental health status. Our findings indicate slightly poorer subjective mental health than previously found. There is a need for special attention to engaging male immigrants in studies on mental health in the general population.

Hub-connected functional connectivity within social brain network weakens the association with real-life social network in schizophrenia patients.

Hubs in the brain network are the regions with high centrality and are crucial in the network communication and information integration. Patients with schizophrenia (SCZ) exhibit wide range of abnormality in the hub regions and their connected functional connectivity (FC) at the whole-brain network level. Study of the hubs in the brain networks supporting complex social behavior (social brain network, SBN) would contribute to understand the social dysfunction in patients with SCZ. Forty-nine patients with SCZ and 27 healthy controls (HC) were recruited to undertake the resting-state magnetic resonance imaging scanning and completed a social network (SN) questionnaire. The resting-state SBN was constructed based on the automatic analysis results from the NeuroSynth. Our results showed that the left temporal lobe was the only hub of SBN, and its connected FCs strength was higher than the remaining FCs in both two groups. SCZ patients showed the lower association between the hub-connected FCs (compared to the FCs not connected to the hub regions) with the real-life SN characteristics. These results were replicated in another independent sample (30 SCZ and 28 HC). These preliminary findings suggested that the hub-connected FCs of SBN in SCZ patients exhibit the abnormality in predicting real-life SN characteristics.

Reconciling a phenomenological with a functional approach to memory: narrative coherence and its social function.

To date, the phenomenological and functional aspects of autobiographical memory have by and large been studied separately. This is quite remarkable, given that both can inform each other, and that investigating their interaction can add to the understanding of the (in)adaptivity of certain memory characteristics for our well-being. In other words, examining how particular features of autobiographical memory are adept or inept at serving specific functions, could help us to better comprehend and explain relations between memory and psychological well-being. We discuss previous attempts to integrate phenomenology with functionality and formulate three main directions for future research based on the current state of the art. The directions concern (1) focusing on functionality (adaptivity) and not merely on the use of memories in phenomenological work, (2) attention for the bidirectionality of the relation between phenomenology and functionality, and (3) the addition of narrative constructs like coherence to the traditional range of phenomenological features. We will illustrate our directions for the reintegration of phenomenology with functionality through the social function of coherent autobiographical memories. This framework could help to stimulate future empirical studies and pave the road for new clinical interventions to improve psychological well-being.

How emotions, relationships, and culture constitute each other: advances in social functionalist theory.

Social Functionalist Theory (SFT) emerged 20 years ago to orient emotion science to the social nature of emotion. Here we expand upon SFT and make the case for how emotions, relationships, and culture constitute one another. First, we posit that emotions enable the individual to meet six "relational needs" within social interactions: security, commitment, status, trust, fairness, and belongingness. Building upon this new theorising, we detail four principles concerning emotional experience, cognition, expression, and the cultural archiving of emotion. We conclude by considering the bidirectional influences between culture, relationships, and emotion, outlining areas of future inquiry.

Association between white matter hyperintensity volume and social functioning limitations among stroke survivors.

OBJECTIVE: Existing literature on white matter hyperintensity volume (WMHV) in stroke patients has rarely focused on post-stroke outcomes related to social functioning limitations, such as transportation, social interaction, food preparation, grocery shopping, and housekeeping. Using prospective data from the VITamin D and OmegA-3 TriaL (VITAL) study, we evaluated the association between WMHV and social functioning limitations among 151 ischemic stroke patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: WMHV was ascertained from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) collected at the time of the stroke event using a validated semiautomated method, and social functioning limitations were assessed using a stroke outcomes questionnaire administered a median of 1.25 years after the date of the MRI scan. Logistic regression was used to explore the association between WMHV and social functioning limitations. RESULTS: After adjusting for age and sex, a statistically significant association was found between WMHV and limitations in social interaction (OR=2.82; 95% CI: 1.21-7.55). Increased risks were seen for limitations related to food preparation (OR=2.06; 95% CI: 0.99-4.54), transportation (OR=1.39; 95% CI: 0.85-2.27), and housekeeping (OR=1.37; 95% CI: 0.91-2.11); however, the associations did not reach statistical significance. We observed no association between WMHV and limitations in grocery shopping (OR=1.08; 95% CI: 0.61-1.89). CONCLUSIONS: Future studies are needed to further explore the biological mechanisms underlying the relationship with limitations in social interaction and to replicate our findings using a larger and more diverse study sample.

Effectiveness of a Metacognitive Intervention for Schizophrenia (MCI-S) Program for Symptom Relief and Improvement in Social Cognitive Functioning in Patients with Schizophrenia.

This study investigated the effectiveness of a metacognitive intervention program for symptom relief and improvement in social cognitive functioning among adults with schizophrenia. The program focused on enhancing metacognition to encourage self-awareness and step-by-step perspective expansion. There were 24 participants in the experimental group and 19 participants in the control group. Delusions decreased, and social cognition and social functioning improved in the experimental group compared to the control group. The program demonstrated utility as a treatment modality, which can be part of an overall program of a mental health promotion institution to improve functioning in patients with schizophrenia.

Everyday flexibility and functional milestones in anorexia nervosa: survey results from a mixed community sample.

PURPOSE: This study examined the relationship between self-reported cognitive-behavioral flexibility scores on the Eating Disorder Flexibility Index (EDFLIX) and objective social and occupational functional milestones in participants with a lifetime diagnosis of anorexia nervosa (AN). The Work and Social Adjustment Scale (WSAS) was included to compare objective and subjective measures. METHODS: 114 female adult participants with a current (53.5%) or past (46.5%) full or partial AN syndrome diagnosis completed an online survey which included functional milestone questions, the EDFLIX, WSAS, EDE-Q, and DASS-21. RESULTS: Everyday flexibility scores were significantly associated with WSAS scores, but not functional milestones for the same domain. Lower flexibility was related to higher WSAS work impairment but was not associated with poor occupational outcomes. Lower flexibility was related to higher WSAS social impairment but was not associated with less frequent social contact with friends. Milestones across work, social and relationship areas were not significantly correlated, suggesting individuals have areas of strength and weakness across functional domains. In contrast, WSAS ratings indicated broad functional impairment. CONCLUSION: Results from the milestones suggest self-reported cognitive-behavioral flexibility is not a strong determinant of everyday function. Results from the subjective WSAS function measure and the more objective functional milestones were not consistent. To obtain a more balanced assessment of everyday functioning in AN, both subjective and objective measures should be considered. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III Case-control analytic study.

[Changes and Prediction of Social Functional Disability and Quality of Life in Patients with Major Depressive Disorder over the Course of 1-Year Medication].

Objective: To investigate the changes in social function impairment and quality of life and their predictive factors in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) over the course of 1-year drug treatment. Methods: A total of 54 MDD patients were enrolled for the study. The 17-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAMD-17, hereafter referred to simply as HAMD), Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS), and Quality of Life Enjoyment and Satisfaction Questionnaire-Short Form (Q-LES-Q-SF) were used to evaluate depressive symptoms, social functioning, and quality of life, respectively, at baseline (0), as well as 1 month (1 m), 2 months (2 m), 3 months (3 m), 6 months (6 m), 9 months (9 m), and 12 months (12 m) after medication started. The symptoms and the recovery of social function at different time points was analyzed, and correlation analysis and regression analysis were done to explore the influencing factors of functional recovery. Results: Among the 54 MDD patients, 27 completed the 12-month follow-up, and 2 patients relapsed at 12 m. The total baseline score of SDS (SDS 0) in MDD patients was higher than that in healthy controls ( t=12.161, P<0.001), and the baseline score of Q-LES-Q-SF (Q-LES-Q-SF 0) was lower than that in the controls ( t=12.260, P<0.001). Comparison of the HAMD score, SDS total score and the factor scores, and Q-LES-Q-SF total scores of the MDD patients at different time points showed significant differences, presenting an F value of 65.987, 28.944, 23.589, 27.070 and 28.668, respectively (all P<0.001). HAMD 0 was negatively correlated with age. The HAMD score was positively correlated with SDS score of the same time point and negatively correlated with Q-LES-Q-SF score of the same time point. At 3 m, the change in HAMD score (HAMD 3 m-0) was positively correlated with the change in SDS score (SDS 3 m-0) and negatively correlated with the change in Q-LES-Q-SF score (Q-LES-Q 3 m-0). At 12 m, the change in HAMD score (HAMD 12 m-0) was positively correlated with the change in SDS score (SDS 12 m-0) and negatively correlated with the change in Q-LES-Q-SF score (Q-LES-Q 12 m-0). Regression analysis revealed that SDS 0 and Q-LES-Q 0 could be used to predict SDS 3 m-0, R 2=0.391, while SDS 0 and full-time employment status could be used to predict SDS 12 m-0, R 2=0.640. Q-LES-Q 0 could be used to predict Q-LES-Q 3 m-0, R 2=0.294, while Q-LES-Q 0 and full-time employment status could be used to predict Q-LES-Q 12 m-0, R 2=0.591. Conclusion: Long-term regular medication can improve social dysfunction in patients with MDD and symptom relief is the basis for improvement of social function level and quality of life, while increasing employment saturability to some extent may help improve the long-term social function and quality of life.

The Effect of Parent Training Programmes on Screen Time and Social Function in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Background: Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are susceptible to excessive electronic screen media (ESM) use. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a parent training programme in improving the screen time and social functioning of children with ASD. Methods: This pre-/post-test quasi-experimental study involved parents by providing them with structured education based on the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)' screen time recommendations. In total, 259 children with ASD aged 3 years old-12 years old were eligible. Of those children, 26 were excluded due to comorbidities or taking medications. Additionally, 28 parents participated. Children's screen time were recorded, and social behaviour was scored using the Social Responsiveness Scale pre- and post-intervention. Results: There were significant reductions in the average daily screen time of children with ASD after their parents attended the training programme (-51.25 min; 95% CI: -78.40, -24.10). In subgroups with reduced screen time, the treatment effect of the intervention was significant in improving the social responsiveness total score (-3.09; 95% CI: -5.96, -0.22), the social communication scale (-3.64; 95% CI: -5.91, -1.36) and the restricted interest and repetitive behaviour (RRB) scale (-5.27; 95% CI: -10.29, -0.25). Conclusion: Parental training is effective in reducing screen time and improving social functioning in children with ASD.

Psychometric evaluation of the PROMIS social function short forms in Chinese patients with breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: The diagnosis of breast cancer and the subsequent treatment undermine patients' participation in social activities. This study aimed to carry out a cross-cultural adaption and analysis of the construct validity and reliability of the Chinese version of the PROMIS social function short forms in patients with breast cancer. METHODS: This study utilized a cross-sectional research design, and was registered in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR2000035439). After a standardized cross-cultural adaption process, a psychometric evaluation was performed of the Chinese version of the PROMIS social function short forms. Using convenience sampling, eligible patients with breast cancer from tertiary hospitals in China were enrolled from January 2019 to July 2020. Participants completed the sociodemographic information questionnaire, the PROMIS social function short forms, the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Breast, the PROMIS emotional support short form and the PROMIS anxiety short form. RESULTS: Data were collected from a sample of 633 patients whose mean age was 48.1 years. The measures showed an absence of floor and ceiling effects. Regarding construct validity, the results of confirmatory factor analysis supported the original two-factor structure of the PROMIS social function short forms. In addition, the measures were found to have acceptable known-group validity, measurement invariance, and convergent and discriminate validity. Regarding reliability, the Cronbach's α was high for all items (> 0.70). CONCLUSION: The Chinese version of the PROMIS social function short forms was demonstrated to be a valid and reliable measure for the assessment of social function in Chinese patients with breast cancer. Additional psychometric evaluation is needed to draw firm conclusions.