Toshinori Shirata

Effects of perceived affectionless control parenting on working models of the self and other.

Attachment theory contends that insecure working models of the self and other built through negative attachment experiences are predisposing factors for depression and anxiety disorders. Meanwhile, patients with these psychiatric disorders tend to perceive that they received the affectionless control parenting, which is a combination of lack of care and overprotection. To test the hypothesis that the affectionless control parenting impairs the formation of positive working models, we examined the effects of perceived parenting styles on qualities of working models. The subjects were 691 healthy Japanese volunteers. Working models of the self and other were assessed by the Relationship Scales Questionnaire. Perceived parental rearing was evaluated by the Parental Bonding Instrument, which has the care and protection subscales. Parental rearing was classified into one of the four types defined by combinations of levels of care and protection. In all combinations of recipient sexes and parental sexes, the subjects with the affectionless control parenting (low care/high protection) had lower scores of the self-model and other-model than those with the optimal parenting (high care/low protection). The present study suggests that the affectionless control parenting impairs the formation of positive working models of the self and other.

Relationship of negative and positive core beliefs about the self with dysfunctional attitudes in three aspects of life

Objective Cognitive theory assumes a pivotal role of negative core beliefs about the self in dysfunctional attitudes predisposing to depression. Meanwhile, the role of positive core beliefs about the self in cognitive vulnerability to depression is unknown. Therefore, we examined the relationship of negative and positive core beliefs about the self with dysfunctional attitudes in three aspects of life. Methods The subjects were 311 Japanese volunteers. Core beliefs of negative-self and positive-self were evaluated by the corresponding subscales of the Brief Core Schema Scales. Dysfunctional attitudes in the areas of achievement, dependency and self-control were measured by the corresponding subscales of the 24-item Dysfunctional Attitude Scale. Results The negative-self subscale was correlated with the achievement, dependency and self-control subscales. The positive-self subscale was correlated with the achievement and self-control subscales. Conclusion The present study suggests that negative core beliefs about the self underlie all types of dysfunctional attitudes, while positive core beliefs about the self have some connections with dysfunctional attitudes related to achievement and self-control.

Marked differences in core beliefs about self and others, between sociotropy and autonomy: personality vulnerabilities in the cognitive model of depression

Objective The cognitive model of depression posits two distinctive personality vulnerabilities termed sociotropy and autonomy, each of which is composed of a cluster of maladaptive self-schemas. It is postulated that negative core beliefs about self underlie maladaptive self-schemas as a whole, whereas those about others may be implicated in the autonomous self-schemas. Therefore, the present study examined the relations of sociotropy and autonomy with core beliefs about self and others. Methods The sample of this study consisted of 321 healthy Japanese volunteers. Sociotropy and autonomy were evaluated by the corresponding subscales of the Sociotropy–Autonomy Scale. Core beliefs about self and others were assessed by the negative-self, positive-self, negative-other and positive-other subscales of the Brief Core Schema Scales. Results In the forced multiple regression analysis, sociotropy scores were correlated with negative-self scores (β = 0.389, P < 0.001). Meanwhile, autonomy scores were correlated with positive-self scores (β = 0.199, P < 0.01) and negative-other scores (β = 0.191, P < 0.01). Conclusion The present study suggests marked differences in core beliefs about self and others between sociotropy and autonomy, further contrasting the two personality vulnerabilities to depression.

Interrelations among negative core beliefs, attachment anxiety and low self-directedness, putative central constructs of depression vulnerabilities in cognitive, attachment and psychobiological personality theories

The present study examined the interrelations among negative core beliefs, attachment anxiety and low self-directedness, to test if the central constructs of depression vulnerabilities in cognitive, attachment and psychobiological personality theories are integrated into negative self-image. The subjects were 410 healthy Japanese medical students and staff. Negative core beliefs, attachment anxiety and self-directedness were evaluated by the Brief Core Schema Scales, Experiences in Close Relationships and Temperament and Character Inventory, respectively. There were strong interrelations among the three factors. The present study suggests that the central constructs of depression vulnerabilities in the three theories are integrated into negative self-image.

Close relation of interpersonal sensitivity with negative core beliefs about the self, the central construct of cognitive vulnerability to depression

Interpersonal sensitivity is a personality trait linked with anxious attachment conceptualized in attachment theory. This personality trait is comprised of four components, i.e., interpersonal awareness, separation anxiety, timidity and fragile inner-self, which are measured by the corresponding subscales of the Interpersonal Sensitivity Measure (IPSM). Meanwhile, one study showed that six items of the IPSM tentatively used as negative self-schemas predicted the onset of depression. To clarify if interpersonal sensitivity reflects cognitive vulnerability, we examined the relation of this personality trait with negative core beliefs about the self. The study population consisted of 335 Japanese volunteers. Interpersonal sensitivity was measured by the IPSM, and negative core beliefs about the self were assessed by the negative-self subscale of the Brief Core Schema Scales (BCSS). Multiple regression analysis showed that scores of the four subscales of the IPSM were strongly correlated with those of the negative-self subscale of the BCSS (P < 0.001). Similarly, sequential equation modeling demonstrated that the four components of interpersonal sensitivity were strongly predicted by core beliefs of negative-self (P < 0.001). The present study shows that interpersonal sensitivity is closely related to negative core beliefs about the self, suggesting that this personality trait can be regarded as a cognitive vulnerability to depression.

Link of negative core beliefs about the self with perceived dysfunctional parenting

Cognitive theory posits the central role of negative core beliefs about the self in cognitive vulnerabilities to depression, and this position is supported by empirical studies. It is also hypothesized that these core beliefs develop as a result of negative interactions with significant others in early life. To test the hypothesis that negative core beliefs about the self are formed by dysfunctional parenting, we examined their relations with perceived parental rearing. The subjects were 355 Japanese healthy volunteers. Core beliefs of negative-self were assessed by the corresponding subscale of the Brief Core Schema Scales. Perceived parental care and protection were evaluated by the corresponding subscales of the Parental Bonding Instrument. In both multiple regression analysis and structural equation modeling, core beliefs of negative-self were predicted by perceptions of high maternal protection and low paternal care. The present study shows that negative core beliefs about the self are linked with perceived dysfunctional parenting, suggesting that the formation mechanism of these core beliefs is at least partly ascribable to dysfunctional parenting.

Relation of high neuroticism with increased methylation of the BDNF gene

Background Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a neurotrophin that has an important function in neuroplasticity and neuronal development. It is suggested that increased methylation of the BDNF gene resulting in decreased BDNF activity is associated with depression. Meanwhile, neuroticism is a well-known risk factor for developing depression. In the present study, the relationship between methylation of the BDNF gene and personality traits including neuroticism was examined. Subjects and methods The subjects were 98 healthy Japanese. Methylation levels of the BDNF gene were determined by the bisulfite-pyrosequencing method. Personality traits including neuroticism were assessed by the NEO Personality Inventory-Revised. Results There was a positive correlation between neuroticism scores and methylation levels of the BDNF gene. The subjects with higher neuroticism scores had higher levels of BDNF gene methylation compared with those with lower neuroticism scores. Meanwhile, other personality traits were not associated with BDNF gene methylation. Conclusion The present study suggests that high neuroticism is related to increased methylation of the BDNF gene.

Implication of the DGKH genotype in openness to experience, a premorbid personality trait of bipolar disorder

AIMS The diacylglycerol kinase η gene (DGKH) is one of the few replicated risk genes for bipolar disorder. Meanwhile, specific personality traits, especially openness to experience, have been suggested as premorbid personality traits of the disorder. The aim of the present study was to examine the relation of the DGKH genotype with broad dimensions of personality, to obtain further evidence for its implication in the etiology of bipolar disorder. METHODS The subjects were 319 Japanese healthy volunteers. Personality was assessed by the NEO Personality Inventory-Revised, which has the neuroticism, extraversion, openness to experience, agreeableness and conscientiousness dimensions. The A/G polymorphism of DGKH (rs9525580) was detected by a PCR-RFLP method. The subjects were divided into two groups with respect to the presence or absence of the A allele, which is a putative risk allele for bipolar disorder. RESULTS The group with the A allele had significantly (p < 0.05) higher scores of openness to experience compared to that without this allele. Scores of other dimensions were not different between the two groups. LIMITATIONS The subjects had a homogeneous but rather specific background, and we did not employ a longitudinal design. CONCLUSIONS The present study shows that a bipolar-risk allele of DGKH is associated with higher openness to experience, providing further evidence for the implication of this gene in the etiology of bipolar disorder.

Perceived parental affectionless control is associated with high neuroticism

Objective Depressed patients are prone to perceive that they were exposed to affectionless control by parents. Meanwhile, high neuroticism is a well-established risk factor for developing depression. Therefore, this study examined whether perceived parental affectionless control is associated with high neuroticism. Methods The subjects were 664 healthy Japanese volunteers. Perceived parental care and protection were assessed by the Parental Bonding Instrument. Parental rearing was categorized into either optimal parenting (high care/low protection) or three dysfunctional parenting styles including affectionless control (low care/high protection). Neuroticism was evaluated by the NEO Personality Inventory-Revised. Results The subjects with paternal affectionless control had higher neuroticism scores than those with paternal optimal parenting. Similar tendency was observed in maternal rearing. Neuroticism scores increased in a stepwise manner with respect to the increase in the number of parents with affectionless control. Conclusion The present study shows that perceived parental affectionless control is associated with high neuroticism, suggesting that this parental style increases neuroticism in recipients.