Impulsive and compulsive reading comprehension in the prison population.

BACKGROUND: Developmental dyslexia is characterized by reading and writing deficits that persist into adulthood. Dyslexia is strongly associated with academic underachievement, as well as impulsive, compulsive, and criminal behaviors. The aims of this study were to investigate impulsive or compulsive reading comprehension, analyzing the differences in reading errors between two distinct groups -one with Antisocial Personality Disorder (ASPD) and another with Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCPD) and examine their correlation with criminal behavior within a prison population. METHODS: We gathered data from 194 participants: 81 with ASPD and 113 with OCPD from a prison center. Participants took part in interviews to gather data on demographic, criminal, and behavioral data. Additionally, the participants underwent various assessments, including the International Examination for Personality Disorders; Symptom Inventory, and Battery for the Assessment of Reading Processes in Secondary and High School - Revised. RESULTS: Our analysis revealed differences in reading skills between the ASPD and OCPD groups. Specifically, the OCPD group showed poorer performance on lexical selection, semantic categorization, grammar structures, grammatical judgements, and expository comprehension when compared with the ASPD group. Conversely, the OCPD group obtained higher scores on narrative comprehension relative to the ASPD group. CONCLUSIONS: The OCPD group showed slow lexical-phonological coding and phonological activation.

Use of the Therapy App Prescinde for Increasing Adherence to Smoking Cessation Treatment.

Tobacco use poses major health risks and is a major contributor to causes of death worldwide. Mobile phone-based cessation apps for this substance are gaining popularity, often used as a component of traditional interventions. This study aimed to analyze adherence to an intervention using a mobile phone application (App-therapy Prescinde (v1)) as a function of sociodemographic variables (age, gender, educational level, and profession) as well as the primary activities supported by the app (reducing tobacco or cannabis use and increasing physical exercise). The participants were recruited through the web pages of the Occupational Risk Prevention Service and the Psychology Clinic of the University of Granada during the COVID-19 confinement period. The application's contents include three components (self-report, motivational phrases, and goal setting). Our findings indicate that being male, being aged between 26 and 62, having a high school education, and being unemployed increase the likelihood of adherence to the Prescinde therapy app three months after usage. Our findings highlight the importance of developing new therapeutic approaches and conducting in-depth studies on the factors associated with adherence to tobacco cessation and cannabis cessation treatments via mobile phone applications.

Cardiac sensitivity to rewards in cognitively inflexible nonclinical participants.

Background: In psychopathologies characterized by compulsive decision-making, core impairments include cognitive inflexibility and excessive sensitivity to rewards. It has been posited that traits shared by nonclinical individuals and psychiatric patients could help explain the pathogenesis of compulsive decision-making. Methods: To investigate whether cognitive inflexibility predisposes nonclinical individuals to poor choices and hyper-reactivity to reward, we recruited people with high and low scores for cognitive persistence and used the Iowa Gambling Task to assess decision-making and cardiac reactivity to monetary gains/losses. Results: As is frequently observed in psychophysiological research, the data indicated discrepancies among self-reports, behavior, and physiology. Cognitive inflexibility was not related to worse performance; however, monetary gains, in line with the literature, prompted marked cardiac accelerations. Consistent with our research goal, only inflexible participants showed large cardiac accelerations during the largest monetary wins. Discussion: Taken together, the data confirm an association between cognitive persistence and physiological reward sensitivity in a nonclinical population. The findings are in line with recent theories on the development of compulsive behaviors that consider cognitive inflexibility as a transdiagnostic impairment and predisposing factor for excessive reactivity to rewards, and might act both as a preexisting individual trait and drug-induced deficit.

Impact of neuropsychological disorders on clinical aspects of smoking. / Impacto de las alteraciones neuropsicológicas sobre aspectos clínicos en tabaquismo.

Studies examining associations between cognitive measures and clinical aspects of smoking are scarce and generally limited to predicting risk profiles or relapses. However, it is essential to understand the influence of several measures of executive function in nicotine addiction in order to investigate factors associated with smoking maintenance. This study examined the ability of working memory and delay discount to predict years of smoking. The sample consisted of 180 smokers who were assessed at baseline with measures of cognitive impulsivity (Delay Discounting Task) and working memory [Visual Search and Attention Test (VSAT) and Letter-Number Sequencing (WAIS III)] while the outcome measure was years of smoking. Consistent with predictions, working memory evaluated with Visual Search and Attention Test was a statistically significant factor in predicting years of nicotine addiction. These findings suggest that working memory is clinically relevant in nicotine dependence and proposes a pattern of executive functioning associated with smoking.

Los estudios que examinan las asociaciones entre las medidas cognitivas y los aspectos clínicos del tabaquismo son limitados y, en general, se limitan a predecir perfiles de riesgo o recaídas. Sin embargo, es esencial comprender la influencia de varias medidas de la función ejecutiva en la adicción a la nicotina a fin indagar factores asociados al mantenimiento del tabaquismo. En el presente estudio se examinó la capacidad de la memoria de trabajo y el descuento por retraso para predecir los años de tabaquismo. La muestra consistió en 180 fumadores que fueron evaluados en la línea de base con medidas de impulsividad cognitiva (Tarea de Descuento de Retraso) y memoria de trabajo [Prueba de Búsqueda y Atención Visual (VSAT) y Secuenciación de Números de Letras (WAIS III)] mientras que la medida de resultado fue los años de adicción. De acuerdo con las predicciones, la memoria de trabajo evaluada con la Prueba de Búsqueda y Atención Visual fue un factor estadísticamente significativo para predecir los años de adicción a la nicotina. Estos hallazgos sugieren que la memoria de trabajo es clínicamente relevante en la dependencia de la nicotina y plantea un patrón de funcionamiento ejecutivo asociado al tabaquismo.

Impacto de las alteraciones neuropsicológicas sobre aspectos clínicos en tabaquismo / Impact of neuropsychological disorders on clinical aspects of smoking

Los estudios que examinan las asociaciones entre las medidas cognitivas y los aspectos clínicos del tabaquismo son limitados y, en general,se limitan a predecir perfiles de riesgo o recaídas. Sin embargo, esesencial comprender la influencia de varias medidas de la funciónejecutiva en la adicción a la nicotina a fin indagar factores asociadosal mantenimiento del tabaquismo. En el presente estudio se examinóla capacidad de la memoria de trabajo y el descuento por retraso parapredecir los años de tabaquismo. La muestra consistió en 180 fumadores que fueron evaluados en la línea de base con medidas de impulsividad cognitiva (Tarea de Descuento de Retraso) y memoria de trabajo[Prueba de Búsqueda y Atención Visual (VSAT) y Secuenciación deNúmeros de Letras (WAIS III)] mientras que la medida de resultadofue los años de adicción. De acuerdo con las predicciones, la memoriade trabajo evaluada con la Prueba de Búsqueda y Atención Visual fueun factor estadísticamente significativo para predecir los años de adicción a la nicotina. Estos hallazgos sugieren que la memoria de trabajoes clínicamente relevante en la dependencia de la nicotina y planteaun patrón de funcionamiento ejecutivo asociado al tabaquismo. (AU)

Studies examining associations between cognitive measures and clinical aspects of smoking are scarce and generally limited to predictingrisk profiles or relapses. However, it is essential to understand the influence of several measures of executive function in nicotine addiction in order to investigate factors associated with smoking maintenance. This study examined the ability of working memory and delaydiscount to predict years of smoking. The sample consisted of 180smokers who were assessed at baseline with measures of cognitiveimpulsivity (Delay Discounting Task) and working memory [VisualSearch and Attention Test (VSAT) and Letter-Number Sequencing(WAIS III)] while the outcome measure was years of smoking. Consistent with predictions, working memory evaluated with Visual Searchand Attention Test was a statistically significant factor in predictingyears of nicotine addiction. These findings suggest that working memory is clinically relevant in nicotine dependence and proposes a pattern of executive functioning associated with smoking. (AU)

Potenciales indicadores pronósticos de recaída en fumadores que buscan tratamiento de deshabituación tabáquica / Potential prognostic indicators of relapse in smokers seeking smoking cessation treatment

Los problemas del comportamiento impulsivo representan poderosos predictores de los resultados del tratamiento en adicciones. Sin embargo, no se dispone una evaluación exhaustiva de estas características en los resultados del tratamiento de deshabituación tabáquica. Este estudio pretende evaluar la capacidad de las dimensiones de la conducta impulsiva para predecir el riesgo y el número de recaídas. La muestra comprendió 141 fumadores (Medad= 47,3; DT= 8,31; 59% mujeres) en tratamiento psicofarmacológico de deshabituación tabáquica. Los participantes proporcionaron muestras de monóxido de carbono para determinar la abstinencia. Las diferentes dimensiones de impulsividad se evaluaron con una tarea Go/NoGo, la tarea de búsqueda y atención visual y una tarea de descuento por demora, mientras que la impulsividad autoinformada se evaluó con la Escala de impulsividad de Barratt. La impulsividad no planeada, los fallos de atención y el rendimiento en la tarea Go/NoGo se postulan entre los factores relacionados con el número de recaídas. Nuestros resultados contribuyen a la comprensión de componentes de reanudación del consumo y posibilitan la inferencia de la asiduidad al cuantificar las recaídas. (AU)

Impulsive behavior problems are powerful predictors of addiction treatment outcomes. However, a comprehensive assessment of these features has not been examined in relation to smoking cessation outcomes. This study aims to evaluate the capacity of impulsive behavior to predict the risk of relapse and the number of relapses for smokers. The sample comprised 141 participants (Mage= 47.3, SD= 8.31; 59% females) in psychopharmacology treatment for dependence to nicotine. Participants provided breath carbon monoxide samples for determining smoking throughout the study. The different impulsiveness dimensions were evaluated with a Go/NoGo task, the visual search and attention test and a delayed discount task, while self-informed impulsivity was assessed with Barratt’s Impulsiveness Scale. Unplanned impulsivity, attention failures and performance in the Go/NoGo task are postulated among the individual factors related to the number of relapses. Our results contribute to the understanding of relapse components and enable the inference of assiduity by quantifying relapse. (AU)

Impulsivity and Compulsivity and Their Relationship with Non-Adherence to Treatment in the Prison Population.

The main challenge of interventions in penitentiary institutions is the re-education and reintegration of inmates, i.e., that inmates have the intention and ability to live law-abiding lives. Therefore, an increase in self-control or, on the contrary, the decrease or elimination of impulsive versus compulsive behaviors becomes necessary. This study aimed to evaluate the role of impulsivity versus compulsivity in treatment adherence in the prison population. The study included 134 men from the Penitentiary Center of Granada who were divided into two groups. Group 1 was considered treatment adherent, and Group 2 was considered non-adherent to treatment. The following instruments were used: Symptom Inventory (SCL-90-R), Addiction Severity Index (EuropASI), Impulsivity Scale (UPPS-P), and Compulsive Belief Questionnaire (OBQ-44). Statistically significant differences were found in impulsivity in the dimensions of negative urgency, sensation seeking, and positive urgency, with higher scores in all cases for the non-adherent group than for the adherent group. We also found statistically significant differences in responsibility/inhibition, perfectionism/uncertainty, and importance/control, with higher scores for the non-adherent group compared to the adherent group. Treatment adherence is inversely related to impulsive and compulsive behaviors.

Writing Abilities in Compulsive Prisoners.

Research has found links between academic failure and criminal offending and suggest that many incarcerated young people have experienced significant behavioral and learning problems in school, which could result in criminal outcomes and poor academic performance. The objective of this study was to analyse writing disorders in impulsive and compulsive prisoners. The sample was composed of 194 male prisoners, of which 81 had been diagnosed with Antisocial Personality Disorder and 113 with Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder. Male participants were recruited at the Granada Prison Center. They completed the Demographic, Crime, and Institutional Behavior Interview; the International Personality Disorder Examination (IPDE); The Symptom Checklist (SCL-90-R) and Assessment Battery of Writing Processes (PROESC in its Spanish acronym). We found that prisoners with writing disorders generally have difficulties in the skills necessary to write properly due to impulsive and compulsive behavior.

Association patterns of cannabis abuse and dependence with risk of problematic non-substance-related dysregulated and addictive behaviors.

Co-occurrence of drug misuse with other dysregulated behaviors is common. This study was aimed at exploring the associations between the risk of presenting a clinically relevant condition involving non-substance-related addictive or dysregulated behaviors (as measured by the MultiCAGE CAD-4 screening), and cannabis abuse/dependence (CAST/SDS) scores, and the role of gender therein. Participants were recruited using stratified probabilistic sampling at the University of Granada. Mann-Whitney's U tests were used to compare male and female students in SDS and CAST scores. Associations between gender and MultiCAGE scores were estimated using the γ ordinal correlation index, and tested with χ2. For each MultiCAGE dimension, a Poisson-family mixed-effects model was built with either SDS or CAST as the main input variable, while controlling for nicotine and alcohol dependence, and relevant sociodemographic variables. Incidence rate ratios (IRR) were computed for SDS/CAST effects, and the significance threshold was family-wise Bonferroni-corrected. Gender differences were significant for cannabis dependence/abuse and all MultiCAGE scores for non-substance-related conditions, with males showing higher risk scores for excessive gambling, excessive internet use, excessive video gaming, and hypersexuality, and females presenting higher scores in dysregulated eating and compulsive buying. Cannabis dependence and abuse were significantly associated with a higher risk of problematic video gaming. These associations were mostly driven by males. Importantly, although risk of problematic video gaming was specifically associated with cannabis abuse/dependence, there was only a weak non-significant association between problematic video gaming and alcohol use scores. Risk of alcohol use problems, in turn, was strongly associated with all other non-substance-related problems (problematic gambling, excessive Internet use, dysregulated eating, compulsive buying, and hypersexuality). These differential associations can cast light on the etiological similarities and dissimilarities between problematic substance use and putative addictive behaviors not involving drugs.

Executive Functions in Tobacco Use Disorder: New Challenges and Opportunities.

There is increasing evidence that executive functions have significative effects on nicotine abuse. An unresolved challenge for smoking cessation interventions is the detection of factors associated with nicotine use. In order to understand how cognition is affected by nicotine abuse, this study was designed to determine the relationship between years of smoking addiction and several variables of executive functions. The sample was composed of 174 smokers, whose age ranged between 27 and 69 years old (M = 47.44; SD = 8.48). Smokers were assessed at baseline with measures of cognitive inhibition [Go/No Go Task and Five Digit Test (FDT)], updating [Visual Search and Attention Test (VSAT) and Letter-Number Sequencing (WAIS IV)] and shifting [Delay Discounting Task (DDT) and Iowa Gambling Task (IGT)] while the outcome measure was years of smoking. The linear regression and correlation analysis highlighting that the variable which has the strongest association with years of smoking is updating. Multivariate analysis of variance (MANCOVA) followed by Tukey post-hoc tests revealed significant differences such that heavy smoking indicated worse performance than light smoking on updating tasks. These findings report the ability of working memory to predict years of smoking and suggest that cigarette packaging warning may experience a loss of effectiveness in heavy smokers.

Indirect questioning methods for sensitive survey questions: Modelling criminal behaviours among a prison population.

Information such as the prevalence and frequency of criminal behaviour is difficult to estimate using standard survey techniques because of the tendency of respondents to withhold or misrepresent information. Social desirability bias is a significant threat to the validity of self-reported data, especially when supplied by persons such as sexual offenders or those convicted of theft or substance abuse. The randomized response approach is an alternative to the standard interview method and offers great potential for researchers in the field of criminal justice. By means of a survey of 792 prison inmates, incorporating both indirect and direct response techniques, we investigate if the prison population also has problems recognizing their participation in criminal acts such as theft, illicit drug use, violence against property, reckless driving and arson. Our research findings suggest that self-reported criminal behaviour among a prison population is affected by social desirability bias and that the behaviour considered is significantly associated with the severity of obsessive-compulsive symptoms. The results also demonstrate the inadequacy of traditional, yet widely used, direct questioning methods, and the great potential for indirect questioning techniques to advance policy formation and evaluation in the field of criminal behaviour.

The Effects of an Infant Formula Enriched with Milk Fat Globule Membrane, Long-Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids and Synbiotics on Child Behavior up to 2.5 Years Old: The COGNIS Study.

Although early life nutrition influences brain development and mental health, the long-term effects of supplemented infant formula on children´s behavior remain unclear. We analyzed the effects of a bioactive nutrients-enriched-infant formula on children's behavior up to 2.5 years, compared to a standard infant formula or breastfeeding. Current analysis involved 70 children who were fed a standard infant formula (SF, n = 29) or a bioactive compounds enriched-infant formula (EF, n = 41), during their first 18 months of life, and 33 breastfed (BF) children (reference group) participating in the COGNIS study. Behavioral problems were evaluated using the Child Behavior Checklist at 18 months and 2.5 years. Different statistical analyses were performed using SPSS. EF children aged 2.5 years presented fewer pathological affective problems than SF children. Besides, SF children were classified more frequently as bordering on internalizing problems than BF children. Rates of externalizing problems were increased in SF infants compared to EF and BF infants. Higher maternal IQ was found to have beneficial effects on internalizing and total problem rate in their offspring at 18 months of life; finally, higher maternal educational level was related with fewer ADHD problems in children at 18 months, as well as internalizing, externalizing, total and anxiety problems in children aged 2.5 years. Our analysis suggests that enriched infant formula fed infants seem to show fewer behavioral problems up to 2.5 years compared to a standard infant formula-fed infants. In addition to type of early feeding, maternal IQ and educational level seem to play a key role on children behavioral development.

Measuring Inappropriate Sexual Behavior Among University Students: Using the Randomized Response Technique to Enhance Self-Reporting.

This article analyzes the efficacy of the randomized response technique (RRT) in achieving honest self-reporting about sexual behavior, compared with traditional survey techniques. A complex survey was conducted of 1,246 university students in Spain, who were asked sensitive quantitative questions about their sexual behavior, either via the RRT (n = 754) or by direct questioning (DQ) (n = 492). The RRT estimates of the number of times that the students were unable to restrain their inappropriate sexual behavior were significantly higher than the DQ estimates, among both male and female students. The results obtained suggest that the RRT method elicits higher values of self-stigmatizing reports of sexual experiences by increasing privacy in the data collection process. The RRT is shown to be a useful method for investigating sexual behavior.

Temperament and characteristics related to nomophobia.

Nomophobia is defined as the fear of being out of mobile phone contact and is considered to be a phobia of the modern age. The current study set out to establish the relationship between temperament and personality and the development of nomophobia. The sample was composed of 968 participants selected from the Andalusian population, of which there were 182 males and 785 females aged from 23.19 years. The instruments used were the Questionnaire to Assess Nomophobia (QANIP; Olivencia-Carrión et al., 2018) and the Temperament and Character Inventory Revised (TCI-R; Cloninger et al., 1993). We found that cooperation is a characteristic that significantly reduces nomophobic levels, particularly for the two factors of Mobile Phone Addiction and Negative Consequences. Furthermore, Reward Dependence appears to be positively related to two of the factors involved in nomophobia, namely Mobile Phone Addiction and Loss of Control, suggesting a relationship between Nomophobia and personality. These findings are discussed in terms of their usefulness for identifying the personality predictors of nomophobia in order to develop preventive and intervention strategies.

Validation of a Spanish Questionnaire on Mobile Phone Abuse.

Mobile phone addiction has attracted much attention recently and is showing similarity to other substance use disorders. Because no studies on mobile phone addiction had yet been conducted in Spain, we developed and validated a questionnaire (Cuestionario de Abuso del Teléfono Móvil, ATeMo) to measure mobile phone abuse among young adults in Spanish. The ATeMo questionnaire was designed based on relevant DSM-5 diagnostic criteria and included craving as a diagnostic symptom. Using stratified sampling, the ATeMo questionnaire was administered to 856 students (mean age 21, 62% women). The MULTICAGE questionnaire was administered to assess history of drug abuse and addiction. Using confirmatory factor analysis, we found evidence for the construct validity of the following factors: Craving, Loss of Control, Negative Life Consequences, and Withdrawal Syndrome, and their association with a second order factor related to mobile phone abuse. The four ATeMO factors were also associated with alcoholism, internet use, and compulsive buying. Important gender differences were found that should be considered when studying mobile phone addictions. The ATeMo is a valid and reliable instrument that can be used in further research on mobile phone abuse.

Decisional balance and processes of change in community-recruited with moderate-high versus mild severity of cannabis dependence.

Decisional Balance and Processes of Change are generally addressed in motivational interventions for the treatment of cannabis use disorders. However, specific aspects of these multifaceted constructs, with greater relevance for severe cannabis users, need to be ascertained to enable better interventions. This study aimed to compare the different facets of decisional balance and processes of change between mild and severe cannabis users in a community-based sample of young undergraduates. Thirty-one severe cannabis users and 31 mild cannabis users, indicated with the Severity of Dependence Scale, were assessed using the Decisional Balance Questionnaire (DBQ) and the Processes of Change Questionnaire (PCQ). We found that severe cannabis users had higher scores in the DBQ dimensions of Utilitarian Gains for the Self, Utilitarian Gains for Significant Others, and Self-approval, as well as in the total subscale of Gains but not Losses. The group of severe cannabis users also had higher scores in the PCQ dimensions of Self-revaluations and Counter-conditioning. Our results pinpoint specific dimensions of Decisional Balance and Processes of Change that are endorsed by severe cannabis users. This knowledge could be applied to inform motivational interventions targeting severe cannabis users.

Application of randomized response techniques for investigating cannabis use by Spanish university students.

Cannabis is the most widely used illicit drug in developed countries, and has a significant impact on mental and physical health in the general population. Although the evaluation of levels of substance use is difficult, a method such as the randomized response technique (RRT), which includes both a personal component and an assurance of confidentiality, provides a combination which can achieve a considerable degree of accuracy. Various RRT surveys have been conducted to measure the prevalence of drug use, but to date no studies have been made of the effectiveness of this approach in surveys with respect to quantitative variables related to drug use. This paper describes a probabilistic, stratified sample of 1146 university students asking sensitive quantitative questions about cannabis use in Spanish universities, conducted using the RRT. On comparing the results of the direct question (DQ) survey and those of the randomized response (RR) survey, we find that the number of cannabis cigarettes consumed during the past year (DQ = 3, RR = 17 approximately), and the number of days when consumption took place (DQ = 1, RR = 7) are much higher with RRT. The advantages of RRT, reported previously and corroborated in our study, make it a useful method for investigating cannabis use. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Autoeficacia de personas drogodependientes en tratamiento / Self-efficacy among outpatient drug abusers in treatment

Este estudio tuvo como objetivo evaluar la autoeficacia de consumidores de heroína y alcohol que están en tratamiento para su adicción, a partir de los modelos teóricos propuestos por Bandura y Annis. Participaron 162 pacientes ambulatorios, asignados a uno de los tres grupos de tratamiento: con metadona, libre de drogas y para el consumo de alcohol. Los sujetos fueron evaluados con la "Escala de autoeficacia" (Sherer et al., 1982), el "Cuestionario de confianza situacional" (IDTS; Annis y Martin, 1985) y la "Entrevista de investigación acerca del comportamiento adictivo" (EICA; López-Torrecillas, 1996). Los grupos con metadona y libre de drogas obtuvieron puntuaciones más altas en autoeficacia (general y total) que el grupo de alcohol y el grupo con metadona obtuvo puntuaciones más bajas en confianza situacional que el grupo libre de drogas y el grupo de alcohol, obteniendo este último las puntuaciones más altas. Los resultados parecen indicar que los modelos hacen referencia a aspectos diferentes de la autoeficacia. Serán necesarias más investigaciones para analizar la naturaleza de esta diferencia

The aim of this study was to examine the self-efficacy of outpatient drug heroin and alcohol abusers in treatment for their addiction, using the theoretical models proposed by Bandura and Annis. The sample consisted of 162 participants, who were assigned to one of three treatment groups: methadone, drug-free and alcohol. The Self-Efficacy Scale (Sherer et al., 1982), the Inventory of Drug-Taking Situation (IDTS; Annis & Martin, 1985) and the Interview for Research on Addictive Behavior (EICA; López-Torrecillas, 1996) were used to assess them. Methadone and the drug-free groups had higher scores of selfefficacy (general and total score) than the alcohol group. Methadone group showed lower scores in situational confidence that free drug and the alcohol groups, the latter showing highest scores. The results suggest that the models refer to different aspects of self-efficacy. More research is necessary to analyze the nature of this difference

Social stress increases cortisol and hampers attention in adolescents with excess weight.

OBJECTIVE: To experimentally examine if adolescents with excess weight are more sensitive to social stress and hence more sensitive to harmful effects of stress in cognition. DESIGN AND METHODS: We conducted an experimental study in 84 adolescents aged 12 to 18 years old classified in two groups based on age adjusted Body Mass Index percentile: Normal weight (n=42) and Excess weight (n=42). Both groups were exposed to social stress as induced by the virtual reality version of the Trier Social Stress Task--participants were requested to give a public speech about positive and negative aspects of their personalities in front of a virtual audience. The outcome measures were salivary cortisol levels and performance in cognitive tests before and after the social stressor. Cognitive tests included the CANTAB Rapid Visual Processing Test (measuring attention response latency and discriminability) and the Iowa Gambling Task (measuring decision-making). RESULTS: Adolescents with excess weight compared to healthy weight controls displayed increased cortisol response and less improvement of attentional performance after the social stressor. Decision-making performance decreased after the social stressor in both groups. CONCLUSION: Adolescents who are overweight or obese have increased sensitivity to social stress, which detrimentally impacts attentional skills.

Temperament and impulsivity predictors of smoking cessation outcomes.

AIMS: Temperament and impulsivity are powerful predictors of addiction treatment outcomes. However, a comprehensive assessment of these features has not been examined in relation to smoking cessation outcomes. METHODS: Naturalistic prospective study. Treatment-seeking smokers (n = 140) were recruited as they engaged in an occupational health clinic providing smoking cessation treatment between 2009 and 2013. Participants were assessed at baseline with measures of temperament (Temperament and Character Inventory), trait impulsivity (Barratt Impulsivity Scale), and cognitive impulsivity (Go/No Go, Delay Discounting and Iowa Gambling Task). The outcome measure was treatment status, coded as "dropout" versus "relapse" versus "abstinence" at 3, 6, and 12 months endpoints. Participants were telephonically contacted and reminded of follow-up face to face assessments at each endpoint. The participants that failed to answer the phone calls or self-reported discontinuation of treatment and failed to attend the upcoming follow-up session were coded as dropouts. The participants that self-reported continuing treatment, and successfully attended the upcoming follow-up session were coded as either "relapse" or "abstinence", based on the results of smoking behavior self-reports cross-validated with co-oximetry hemoglobin levels. Multinomial regression models were conducted to test whether temperament and impulsivity measures predicted dropout and relapse relative to abstinence outcomes. RESULTS: Higher scores on temperament dimensions of novelty seeking and reward dependence predicted poorer retention across endpoints, whereas only higher scores on persistence predicted greater relapse. Higher scores on the trait dimension of non-planning impulsivity but not performance on cognitive impulsivity predicted poorer retention. Higher non-planning impulsivity and poorer performance in the Iowa Gambling Task predicted greater relapse at 3 and 6 months and 6 months respectively. CONCLUSION: Temperament measures, and specifically novelty seeking and reward dependence, predict smoking cessation treatment retention, whereas persistence, non-planning impulsivity and poor decision-making predict smoking relapse.