Gene-Environment Interactions in Irrational Beliefs: The Roles of Childhood Adversity and Multiple Candidate Genes.

Cognitive behavioral therapy is based on the view that maladaptive thinking is the causal mechanism of mental disorders. While this view is supported by extensive evidence, very limited work has addressed the factors that contribute to the development of maladaptive thinking. The present study aimed to uncover interactions between childhood maltreatment and multiple genetic differences in irrational beliefs. Childhood maltreatment and irrational beliefs were assessed using multiple self-report instruments in a sample of healthy volunteers (N = 452). Eighteen single-nucleotide polymorphisms were genotyped in six candidate genes related to neurotransmitter function (COMT; SLC6A4; OXTR), neurotrophic factors (BDNF), and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (NR3C1; CRHR1). Gene-environment interactions (G×E) were first explored in models that employed one measure of childhood maltreatment and one measure of irrational beliefs. These effects were then followed up in models in which either the childhood maltreatment measure, the irrational belief measure, or both were substituted by parallel measures. Consistent results across models indicated that childhood maltreatment was positively associated with irrational beliefs, and these relations were significantly influenced by COMT rs165774 and OXTR rs53576. These results remain preliminary until independent replication, but they represent the best available evidence to date on G×E in a fundamental mechanism of psychopathology.

Childhood Adversity, Resilience, and Paranoia During the COVID-19 Outbreak. The Mediating Role of Irrational Beliefs and Affective Disturbance.

Childhood adversity (CA) and resilience may impact on paranoia, but mechanisms underlying these associations are largely unknown. In this study, we investigated two potential candidates: irrational beliefs and affective disturbance. Moreover, we investigated the potential moderating role of COVID-19 perceived stress in these associations. A community sample (N = 419, m age = 27.32 years, SD = 8.98; 88.10% females) completed self-report measures. Results indicated that paranoia was significantly associated with CA and resilience (p < .05), and both irrational beliefs and affective disturbance (i.e., depressive and anxiety symptoms) mediated the associations between CA and paranoia. Moreover, depressive and anxiety symptoms partially explained the mediating role of irrational beliefs. These predictive models explained up to 23.52% of variance in paranoia (F(3,415) = 42.536, p < .001). Findings on resilience and paranoia replicated these results, and COVID-19 perceived stress moderated the association between resilience and ideas of persecution. Overall, these findings underscore the importance of irrational beliefs, depressive and anxiety symptoms in high CA or low resilience individuals experiencing paranoia. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10942-023-00511-4.

Childhood adversity and impaired reward processing: A meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Childhood adversity (CA) is associated with increased risk of psychopathology, and reward processing (RP) may be one of the underlying mechanisms. However, evidence on impaired RP in childhood adversity is theoretically and methodologically heterogeneous. OBJECTIVE: To provide a quantitative overview of studies on the relation between childhood adversity and RP assessed at the behavioral and subjective levels, and identify differences between studies that influence the effect size. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING: Twenty-seven studies (overall N = 6801) were included. METHODS: Peer-reviewed publications describing empirical studies on the relation between CA and behavioral and self-report measures of RP in humans were identified through systematic searches in six bibliographic databases. Effect sizes (r) were pooled using random-effects models. The potential moderator role of RP dimension, type of RP assessment, type of childhood adversity assessment, and age were examined. RESULTS: Results indicated a small, but consistent association between CA and impaired RP (r = 0.12; 95% CI: 0.07, 0.16), with medium heterogeneity (I2 = 62.43). The effect size was significantly larger (i.e., medium-sized) in studies that focused on reward learning rather than reward valuation and reward responsiveness; used cognitive tasks rather than self-report assessments of RP; and relied on official records rather than subjective reports of CA. There was evidence of publication bias, but overall effect size remained significant after imputation. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that multidimensional RP impairments (e.g., deficits in reward learning, biased reward valuation) are a consistent marker of CA, and may represent mechanisms underlying the increased risk of psychopathology.

Childhood adversity, reward processing, and health during the COVID-19 outbreak: The mediating role of reward learning.

OBJECTIVE: Childhood adversity (CA) is associated with various health problems, and recent data suggest reward processing may be an important mechanism linking the 2. However, different reward processing dimensions may have distinct roles in these associations that may be sensible to the psychological impact of more recent stressful events. We examined these associations in the COVID-19 pandemic context. METHOD: A community sample of 419 respondents (M age = 27.32 years, SD = 8.98, 88.1% females) completed an online survey. Participants filled in self-report measures of CA, reward processing dimensions, depressive and anxiety symptoms, physical status, and psychological impact of COVID-19. RESULTS: CA was significantly associated (p < .05) with depressive (r = .20) and anxiety symptoms (r = .19), physical health (r= -.16), reward learning (r = -.11) and responsiveness (r = -.16), but not reward valuation. Reward learning mediated the association between CA and all health status indicators (i.e., higher CA predicted decreased reward learning which in turn predicted increased depressive and anxiety symptoms and poorer physical health). Psychological impact of COVID-19 did not moderate the mediating role of reward processing in the associations between CA and health outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Reward learning appears to be the only reward processing dimension which cuts across depressive and anxiety symptoms, and physical health problems, providing information about their onset and maintenance. Given that these findings suggest that it is a potential transdiagnostic mechanism for these various health problems, reward learning should be targeted through specific interventions. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).