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February 02 2017

Friday Factoids Catch-Up: Differentiating Subgroups of ADHD

Penn State University (2016) researchers recently found that young adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) demonstrate subtle physiological signs that may help provide a more accurate diagnosis and possible identification of types of ADHD. Their findings indicated that while engaged in a continuous motor task, individuals with ADHD had greater difficulty inhibiting motor responses and produced more force during the task compared to controls. This research allowed for a more precise measure of motor responses compared to previous assessments based on key-press response. Additionally, the amount of force was related to the self-report of ADHD symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity.

The goal of this research was reportedly to help differentiate subgroups of those diagnosed with ADHD, which aims to inform treatment and offer diagnostic specificity. The use of continuous performance tests (CPT) in ADHD assessments has yielded variable reviews, although the use of CPT in research has provided valuable information specific to ADHD (Bjorn, Uebel-von Sandersleben, Wiedmann, & Rothenberger, 2015). Regardless, research indicates that CPT provides information specific to sustained attention and impulsivity, and can be utilized as a tool to aid diagnosis and per Penn State researchers, possibly identify more subtle signs that could directly inform treatment and interventions.

References

Albrecht, B., Uebel-von Sanderslebem, H., Wiedmann, K., & Rothenberger, A. (2015). ADHD history of the concept: the case of the continuous performance test. Current Developmental Disorders Reports, 2(1), p. 10-22.

Penn State. (2016). Inhibitory motor control problems may be unique identifier in adults with ADHD. Retrieved from https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/11/161116103443.htm

Dannie Harris, MA
WKPIC Doctoral Intern

February 02 2017

Friday Factoids Catch-Up: Impact of Trauma on Later Mental Illness

Palmier-Claus, Berry, Bucci, Mansell, and Varese (2016) found childhood adversity, described as neglect, bullying, and emotional, physical, or sexual abuse, was 2.63 times more likely to have occurred with individuals with bipolar disorder.

They note the effect of emotional abuse was particularly robust, with emotional abuse being 4 times more likely to have occurred with individuals with bipolar disorder. Given the severity, course, and deleterious impact of this disorder on the individual and their family, highlights a need to identify risk factors that can inform treatment. Similar findings have shown a link between childhood adversity and other mental disorders. Specifically, Matheson, Shepherd, Pinchbeck, Laurens, and Carr (2013) found medium to large effect size of childhood adversity with individuals with schizophrenia.

Thus, for both bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, research suggests childhood adversity as a possible risk factor for development of these disorders.

References

Matheson, S. L., Shepherd, A. M., Pinchbeck, R. M., Laurens, K. R., & Carr, V. J. (2013). Childhood adversity in schizophrenia: a systematic meta-analysis. Psychological Medicine, 43(2), 225-238.

Palmier-Claus, J. E., Berry, K., Bucci, S., Mansell, W., & Varese, F. (2016). Relationship between childhood adversity and bipolar affective disorder: systematic review and meta-analysis. The British Journal of Psychiatry, 209(6), 454-459.

Dannie Harris, MA
WKPIC Doctoral Intern

February 02 2017

Friday Factoids Catch-Up: Teens and Legalization of Marijuana

Gruber and Sagar (2017) highlight concerns of legalization of marijuana and its potential impact on adolescents. They suggest that with legalization, adolescents may develop beliefs that marijuana use is acceptable or harmless. Gruber and Sagar (2017) indicate that there is increased vulnerability for individuals under 25 using marijuana. More specifically, research has shown the brain is still developing during this time period, with critical executive functioning skills developing into the mid-20s.

Research has demonstrated marijuana use that began in adolescence has been linked to problems with memory and increased marijuana use in the future. Furthermore, those with more frequent and chronic use have been shown to have increased problems with cognition and memory. Other studies have shown marijuana use has been linked to psychosis (Di Forti et al., 2014; Di Forti et al., 2015), as well as damage to the corpus collosum with use of high potency marijuana (Rigucci et al., 2015). Gruber and Sagar (2017) suggest concerns with potency, in that some products may have higher levels of tetrahydrocannabibol (THC) compared to others, as well as when compared to marijuana used decades ago. There is concern that policy has “outpaced science” (Gruber & Sagar, 2017, p. 2), indicating that proper research has not yet been accomplished relative to the legalization and established polices.

As a result, consideration regarding age restrictions, restriction of advertising to youth, and determining guidelines for use is recommended.

References

Di Forti, M., Sallis, H., Allegri, F., Trotta, A., Ferraro, L., Stilo, S. A.,…Murray, R. M.(2014). Daily use, especially of high-potency cannabis, drives the earlier onset of psychosis in cannabis users. Schizophrenia Bulletin, 40(6), 1509-1517.

Di Forti, M., Macroni, A., Carra, E., Fraietta, S., Trotta, A., Bonomo, M.,…Murray, R. M. (2015). Proportion of patients in south London with first-episode psychosis is attributable to use of high potency cannabis: a case-control study. Retrieved from http://cannabisclinicians.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Psychosis-Skunk-2-15.pdf

Gruber, S. A., & Sagar, K. A. (2017). Marijuana on the mind? The impact of marijuana on cognition, brain structure, and brain function, and related public policy implications. Retrieved from www. Sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/02/170208094219.htm
Rigucci, S., Margues, T. R., Di Forti, M. Taylor, H., Dell’Acqua, F., Mondelli, V.,…Dazzan, P. (2015). High potency cannabis affects corpus collosum (CC) microstructural organization. European Psychiatry, 30, 291.

Dannie Harris, MA
WKPIC Doctoral Intern

February 02 2017

Friday Factoid Catch-Up: Teen Coping Strategies

A recent article in the New York Times by Lisa Damour (2017) discussed coping strategies of teenagers. Along with feedback from practicing psychologists, Damour provided some interesting descriptors of coping mechanisms that may be criticized or possibly overlooked by adults. The author notes that it is common for teenagers to reread childhood books or re-watch television shows or movies that they used to love when younger to cope with stress. These simple tasks have been shown to lift spirits and improve a depressed mood. Here the revisiting of youthful activities or completing simple or repetitive tasks may help teenagers distract themselves from expectations or personal demands.

The article suggests that teens who use approach coping mechanisms, such as problem solving, are more satisfied with their lives compared to teens that use avoidance coping strategies (e.g., ignoring or worrying). Parents can help monitor if distractions or coping strategies are adaptive or interfering with one’s responsibilities. Identifying the source of stress as either something that can be changed or something that is out of one’s control is also necessary and may influence the type of coping skills that could be useful. Also the author highlights that some situations may be beyond a child’s capacity to handle or manage without support (e.g., death, trauma); therefore professional support may be beneficial. In short, parents may find it helpful to recognize that coping mechanisms are personal, and though these activities may appear rudimentary, their effects have shown to have a positive effect on how teens manage stress.

References
Damour, L. (2017). When a teenager’s coping mechanisms is SpongeBob. Retrieved from https://nyti.ms/2kNpzqJ

Dannie Harris, MA
WKPIC Doctoral Intern

February 02 2017

Friday Factoids: Robots could help solve social care crisis, and evolutionarily destroy the function of our mirror neurons at the same time! (How wonderful?)

International teams of engineers are developing humanoid robots to deal with our ‘social care crisis’.

Tasked with the responsibility to interact with the elderly in care homes, these ‘personal social’ robots will be able to be specifically programed to match the personality type of the people they will be working with. According to a British Broadcasting Communication (BBC) article, “It is hoped the new robots will help improve the well-being of their charges by providing entertainment and enabling them to connect better, through smart appliances, with family and the outside world.”

My question to you is, what would you do if you could build yourself a robot? Posing this very question to an exceptionally scholarly and brilliant 13-year-old girl (and highly favored niece), I attempted to address this issue. According to her, if she had a clone robot, she would have the robot do all her chores and homework, so she could have the free time to, you guessed it, socialize (the sweet irony of an upcoming Generation Z’er). I suppose this is the sentiment shared by most, which is to have technology do our dirty work, like making our food, cleaning up after us, and now doing our Therapy, so we could then have the free time to do what we really want, perhaps connecting with other people.

That is the purpose of technology in theory. In practice however, I am noticing the opposite. As we progress into the information age, where the world is flat; I recognize that people are becoming less connected. Yes, we are coming into contact with more and more people, but we are ‘connecting’ with fewer. Weekly, we are adding to the already hundreds of ‘friends’ we have on Facebook, while grandpa plays chess with a robot. In the information age, our communication is becoming limited to 140 characters tweets or less and Facebook postings of the Panera sandwich and Kale smoothie we had for lunch (because our friends really want to know). Still, we wonder why we feel depressed and lonely.

I have an idea. Maybe we should give grants to engineers to program robots to do our Tweeting, so we could have more time to spend with our grandparents.

Reference
Robots could help solve social care crisis, say academics<http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-38770516>[http://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/16×9/p04r8ghc.jpg

Dianne Rapsey-Vanburen, M.A.
WKPIC Doctoral Intern

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Friday Factoids Catch-Up: Differentiating Subgroups of ADHD

Friday Factoids Catch-Up: Impact of Trauma on Later Mental Illness

Friday Factoids Catch-Up: Teens and Legalization of Marijuana

Friday Factoid Catch-Up: Teen Coping Strategies

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