Ana Xavier

Differences between Depression and Paranoia: The Role of Emotional Memories, Shame and Subordination

UNLABELLED The present study explores how emotional memories, shame and submissive behaviour in adulthood are differently related to depression and paranoia, in a sample of 255 subjects from the general community population. Results show that emotional memories (especially, shame traumatic memory) are significantly correlated with external and internal shame. Emotional memories are significantly associated with submissive behaviour. Both types of shame are correlated with submissive behaviour, particularly internal shame. Emotional memories, external and internal shame are linked to depressive symptoms. Emotional memories, external and internal shame, and submissive behaviour are significantly related to paranoia. Path analysis results suggested that (1) shame traumatic memory and recall of threat and submissiveness in childhood predicted depressive symptoms through external and internal shame; (2) early emotional memories of shame, threat and submissiveness predicted paranoid ideation both directly and indirectly, through external shame; and (3) emotional memories impact on paranoid ideation both through their effect upon external shame and also through their indirect effect upon submission, which in turn fully mediates the effect of internal shame upon paranoid ideation. These findings highlight the differences between depression and paranoia. In depression, it is the internalization of early experiences of shame, threat and submissiveness that heighten the vulnerability to depressive states. In paranoia, not only shame traumas and recollections of threat and submissiveness directly influence paranoid beliefs but also these memories promote external and internal shame thoughts and feelings and submissive defenses, which in turn increase paranoid ideation. KEY PRACTITIONER MESSAGE Individuals with shame traumas, threat and submissiveness experiences in childhood and high levels of external and internal shame report more depressive symptoms. High levels of paranoid beliefs are associated with high negative emotional memories, external and internal shame thoughts and feelings, and submissive behaviour defenses. Therapy for depression needs to incorporate strategies that help individuals develop skills to deal with shame experiences and its outputs. Treatment for paranoid ideation must address external and internal shame, as well as emotional memories of shame, threat and submissiveness in childhood and development of assertive skills.

Caffeine Controls Glutamatergic Synaptic Transmission and Pyramidal Neuron Excitability in Human Neocortex

Caffeine is the most widely used psychoactive drug, bolstering attention and normalizing mood and cognition, all functions involving cerebral cortical circuits. Whereas studies in rodents showed that caffeine acts through the antagonism of inhibitory A1 adenosine receptors (A1R), neither the role of A1R nor the impact of caffeine on human cortical neurons is known. We here provide the first characterization of the impact of realistic concentrations of caffeine experienced by moderate coffee drinkers (50 μM) on excitability of pyramidal neurons and excitatory synaptic transmission in the human temporal cortex. Moderate concentrations of caffeine disinhibited several of the inhibitory A1R-mediated effects of adenosine, similar to previous observations in the rodent brain. Thus, caffeine restored the adenosine-induced decrease of both intrinsic membrane excitability and excitatory synaptic transmission in the human pyramidal neurons through antagonism of post-synaptic A1R. Indeed, the A1R-mediated effects of endogenous adenosine were more efficient to inhibit synaptic transmission than neuronal excitability. This was associated with a distinct affinity of caffeine for synaptic versus extra-synaptic human cortical A1R, probably resulting from a different molecular organization of A1R in human cortical synapses. These findings constitute the first neurophysiological description of the impact of caffeine on pyramidal neuron excitability and excitatory synaptic transmission in the human temporal cortex, providing adequate ground for the effects of caffeine on cognition in humans.

Age-Related Changes in the Synaptic Density of Amyloid-β Protein Precursor and Secretases in the Human Cerebral Cortex

Amyloid-β protein precursor (AβPP) is involved in synaptic formation and function. In the human cingulate cortex, AβPP was preferentially located in the presynaptic active zone as in rodents, indicating a preserved subsynaptic AβPP distribution across species and brain regions. Synaptic AβPP immunoreactivity was decreased with aging in cortical samples collected from autopsies of males (20-80 years), whereas the synaptic levels of α-secretase (ADAM10) and β-secretase (BACE1) did not significantly change. Decreased AβPP levels may be related to lower allostasis of synapses in the aged brain and their greater susceptibility to dysfunction characteristic of the onset of neurodegenerative disorders.

Rumination in Adolescence: the Distinctive Impact of Brooding and Reflection on Psychopathology.

Rumination has a crucial role in the onset, severity and maintenance of depression in adolescent and adult populations. The Ruminative Responses Scale (RRS) is the most widely self-report instrument used to assess individual differences in the tendency to engage in ruminative responses style. This paper aims to test the factor structure of the 10-item RRS and the gender-based measurement invariance, in a community sample of adolescents, using a Confirmatory Factor Analysis. Participants were 542 adolescents (53% females) with a mean age of 14 years old (SD = 1.75) from middle and secondary schools (years of educations mean = 9.46, SD = 1.60) in Portugal. Results confirm the two-factor structure of the RRS composed by brooding and reflection dimensions (GFI = .93, CFI = .90, TLI = .87, SRMR = .05, RMSEA = .11, 90% C.I. [0.092 to 0.121]) and the invariance across gender (GFI = .91, CFI = .89, TLI = .85, RMSEA = .08, 90% C.I. [0.069 to 0.090], p < .001). RRS and their dimensions presented a good internal reliability (Brooding: α = .80; Reflection: α = .75; RRS total: α = .85). Brooding and reflection dimensions revealed moderate correlations with depression, anxiety and stress symptoms (p < .001). Multiple Regression Analysis through Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) showed that brooding is significantly and strongly associated with internalizing symptoms (p < .001). Female adolescents reported more levels of rumination than male adolescents. Overall, these findings support the usefulness of the Portuguese version of RRS and suggest that this short version is an economical, valid and reliable measure to assess ruminative response styles in adolescence.

Self-Criticism and Depressive Symptoms Mediate the Relationship Between Emotional Experiences With Family and Peers and Self-Injury in Adolescence

ABSTRACT Although the relationship between negative childhood experiences, peer victimization, depressive symptoms, and Non-Suicidal Self-Injury (NSSI) is widely recognized, the mechanisms involved are not fully understood, especially among adolescents. This study aims to test the mediating role of both self-criticism and depressive symptoms in the relationship between memories of negative or positive experiences, current peer victimization, and NSSI. The sample consists 854 Portuguese adolescents, 451 female and 403 male, with ages between 12 and 18 years (M = 14.89; SD = 1.79), from middle and secondary schools. Participants answered self-report measures. Results from path analysis showed that memories of negative experiences, the absence of positive memories with family in childhood and peer victimization indirectly impact on NSSI through self-criticism and depressive symptoms. In addition, these stressful experiences led to depressive symptoms through self-criticism. Lastly, the most severe form of self-criticism indirectly impacts on NSSI through depressive symptoms, even though it also has a strong direct effect. It suggests that negative experiences with parents and peer victimization, as well as the absence of positive memories with family, have a negative impact on NSSI when these experiences are linked with a sense of self-hatred and depressive symptoms.

Validation of the Risk-Taking and Self-Harm Inventory for Adolescents in a Portuguese Community Sample

ABSTRACT This article aims to adapt and validate the Risk-Taking and Self-Harm Inventory for Adolescents (RTSHIA) in Portuguese. Results confirm the 2-factor structure originally proposed (risk-taking and self-harm). Both dimensions presented an adequate internal reliability and temporal stability. Convergent validity and sociodemographic differences are analyzed. Preventive and clinical implications are discussed.

Validation of the Youth Quality of Life Instrument for Portuguese Adolescents

Introduction Quality of Life (QoL) plays a remarkable role in practice and public health policy. However, research on QoL among children and adolescents is still scarce and it seems crucial to develop and validate assessment tools for measuring health-related QoL. Objectives The current study aims to analyse the psychometric properties and validate the Portuguese version of the Youth Quality of Life Instrument (YQOL-R; Patrick et al., 2002). In addition, the convergent and divergent validities are examined with related constructs. Methods Participants were 507 adolescents, with ages between 12 and 19 years old, attending middle and high schools. Together with YQOL-R, participants also filled out the Kidscreen-27 (Gaspar & Matos, 2008) and the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scales (Pais-Ribeiro, Honrado & Leal, 2004). Results The Portuguese version of YQOL-R showed a four-factor structure (dimensions: Self, Relationships, Environment, General Quality of Life), similar to the original version. This instrument also revealed a good internal reliability and adequate temporal stability. YQOL-R showed positive correlations with health-related quality of life and negative associations with depression, anxiety and stress symptoms. There were significant gender differences regarding quality of life, with boys reporting higher levels of perceived quality of life than girls. Conclusions Future studies should be conducted to ensure these findings among clinical samples or physical conditions. Nevertheless, this study contributes to the set of available instruments for the assessment of QoL among children and adolescents, suggesting that the YQOL-R may be a useful tool for research and health practices in community samples.

EPA-1701 – Social values assessment in adolescence: exploratory study of the psychometric properties of the social values survey and its relationship with affective states and hope

Introduction Social relationships (e.g. family, friendships and romantic relationships) are fundamental to human development and well-being. Objectives The current study aimed to explore the psychometric properties of the Social Values Questionnaire (SVS; Blackledge & Ciarrochi, 2006) in a sample of Portuguese adolescents. Furthermore we sought to understand motives for and commitment to social values and how these elements are associated with well-being across age and gender. Methods The sample included 268 adolescents (150 girls and 118 boys) with ages ranging from 14 to 18 years old, attending high school. Participants completed a set of self-report measures: the SVS, the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS-C; Sadin, 1997), the Students’ Life Satisfaction Scale (SLSS;Huebner 1991) and the Childrens Hope Scale (CHS; Snyder, Hoza, Pelham, Rapoff, Ware, Danovsky, Highberger, Rubinstein & Stahl, 1997). Results The Portuguese version of the SVS showed high internal consistency: Intrinsic motivation (α=0,91), extrinsic motivation (α=0,90), commitment (α=0,79). It also showed adequate test retest reliability. Gender revealed a relevant role with girls presenting more intrinsic motivation, less extrinsic motivation and a higher degree of commitment when compared with boys. Age was positively correlated with intrinsic motivation and commitment. Significant and expected relationships were also found between SVS subscales and positive and negative affect, life satisfaction, and hope. Conclusions The SVS seems to be a valid and reliable instrument for the assessment of social values in adolescents. This construct is an important one in the context of mindfulness and acceptance based therapies and thus its assessment is pertinent.

Study of psychometric characteristics of the Portuguese version of the Emotional Expressivity Scale

The Emotional Expressivity Scale (EES; Kring, Smith, & Neale, 1994) intended to assess the degree to which people outwardly display their emotions, regardless of emotional valence or channel of expression. This study presents the psychometric characteristics and the factorial structure of the Portuguese version. In a sample of 1008 subjects, students and general population, the results show that the scale as an accurate internal consistency and temporal stability. The factorial composition proved to be similar to the one found by original authors, showing clearly the existence of one-factor model. The convergent and discriminant validities as been studied through the analysis of the co-relationship with the anxiety, depression, and stress, emotional regulation, emotional intelligence, rumination, as well as the positive and negative affect. The results suggest that the Emotional Expressivity Scale is a useful and valid scale to assess emotional expressivity in the Portuguese population.

Estudo de validação da versão portuguesa do Questionário de Expressividade Familiar - QEF

O Questionario de Expressividade Familiar (Family Expressiveness Questionnaire – FEQ; Halberstadt, 1986) destina-se a avaliar o ambiente expressivo geral da familia e inclui itens que estao relacionados com a expressividade nao-verbal e o conteudo da expressao emocional. O presente estudo examina as propriedades psicometricas da versao portuguesa numa ampla amostra da populacao geral. A validade de constructo foi examinada com recurso a procedimentos da Analise em Componentes Principais, cujos resultados suportaram uma estrutura de dois factores. Os resultados mostram que a escala possui uma boa consistencia interna e estabilidade temporal. A validade de constructo foi estudada atraves da analise das correlacoes com medidas de psicopatologia (particularmente ansiedade, depressao e stress, e o afecto negativo e o afecto positivo), bem como medidas de contexto familiar (especificamente, ligacao parental e experiencias de cuidado e negligencia parental). O QEF e um instrumento fiavel e valido para medir a expressividade familiar na populacao portuguesa.