Echoes of shame: a comparison of the characteristics and psychological sequelae of recalled shame experiences across the voice hearing continuum.

BACKGROUND: Voice hearing occurs across a number of psychiatric diagnoses and appears to be present on a continuum within the general population. Previous research has highlighted the potential role of past experiences of shame in proneness to voice hearing in the general population. AIMS: This study aimed to extend this past research and compare people with distressing voices, people with voices but no distress, and a non-voice hearing control group, on various dimensions of shame and shame memory characteristics. METHOD: In a cross-sectional, online study 39 distressed voice hearers, 31 non-distressed voice hearers and 50 non-voice hearers undertook a shame memory priming task in which they were prompted to recall a memory of a shaming experience from their past. They then completed questionnaires assessing the characteristics of the recalled shame event and the psychological sequalae of this event (i.e. intrusions, hyperarousal, avoidance, the centrality of shame memories, external shame, and self-criticism). RESULTS: The majority of recalled shame memories involved experiences such as interpersonal criticism or experiences of being devalued. Univariate analyses found no significant differences between the three groups with regard to the shame events that were recalled, but the distressed voice hearer group reported significantly more hyperarousal, intrusions, self-criticism, and external shame in relation to their experience. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that voice hearers recall similar types of shame experiences to non-voice hearers, but that problematic psychological sequelae of these shame experiences (in the form of intrusive memories, hyperarousal, external shame, and self-criticism) may specifically contribute to distressing voice hearing.

Fifty Shades of Darkness: A Socio-Cognitive Information-Processing Framework Applied to Narcissism and Psychopathy.

Existing trait-based and cognitive models of psychopathy and narcissism fail to provide a comprehensive framework that explains the continuum between sub-clinical and clinical presentations of those personalities and to predict associated maladaptive behavior in different social and cultural contexts. In this article, a socio-cognitive information-processing framework for narcissism and psychopathy (SCIPNP) is proposed to explain how psychopathic and narcissistic schemata influence the activation of psychological processes that interact with social and cultural contexts to display those personalities at a sub-clinical level. The proposed framework enables us to predict maladaptive behavior and to explain how sub-clinical narcissists and psychopaths develop personality disorders. The SCIPNP emphasizes the role of culture in shaping motives, appraisals, behavior and affect. Recommendations for future research are provided.

Paranoia, hallucinations and compulsive buying during the early phase of the COVID-19 outbreak in the United Kingdom: A preliminary experimental study.

This study examines the impact of COVID-19 (in the early phase of the outbreak) on symptoms of psychosis, namely paranoia and hallucinations. Three hundred and sixty-one people in the United Kingdom participated in a 2 (self-isolation vs. no self-isolation) x 2 (perceived COVID-19 symptomatology vs. no perceived COVID-19 symptomatology) x 2 (exposure to COVID-19 news vs. control) experiment online. Participants completed measures of political trust, social network, fear of COVID-19, current paranoid thoughts, hallucinatory experiences and compulsive buying. Kruskal-Wallis results showed that employed people and students are more prone to paranoia and hallucinatory experiences in response to COVID-19 news. A multigroup model showed a moderation effect of the news conditions - in the COVID-19 news condition, fear of COVID-19 and political trust significantly predict the variance of paranoia, hallucinatory experiences and compulsive buying and these co-vary with each other but not in the control condition. In line with cognitive and social theories of paranoia, results suggest that negative affect and low political trust are linked to the presence of paranoid thoughts and hallucinatory experiences and compulsive buying amid COVID-19. Digitized and Tailored Cognitive and Behavioral Therapy are proposed to address the psychiatric impact of COVID-19.

[Network analyses: Are we moving toward a new conceptualization and treatment of mental disorder?] / Les analyses par réseau : vers une nouvelle conceptualisation et prise en charge des troubles mentaux ?

In a break with categorical and dimensional approaches and thus the classical medical model, the network approach applied to psychopathology constitutes a holistic approach to mental disorders. In this approach, mental disorders are conceived as an interconnected system of symptoms in which symptoms are the cause of each other. It is suggested that the interaction between the different symptoms would result in a feedback loop that leads to the installation and maintenance of these symptoms/disorders. In addition, this approach proposes that co-morbidities are the result of symptom-symptom interactions that cross the diagnostic boundary and interact with symptoms from other psychiatric disorders. A growing number of studies have applied the network approach to elucidate causal interactions within the symptoms of depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, schizophrenia, or anxiety disorders. The overall objective of this review is to raise awareness among researchers and clinicians in psychiatry and clinical psychology of the network approach applied to psychopathology. To do this, we present the main concepts and principles of the network approach and its application in post-traumatic stress disorder. We also discuss recent criticisms of this approach and its clinical applications.

Efficacy of theory-based interventions to promote physical activity. A meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.

Implementing theory-based interventions is an effective way to influence physical activity (PA) behaviour in the population. This meta-analysis aimed to (1) determine the global effect of theory-based randomised controlled trials dedicated to the promotion of PA among adults, (2) measure the actual efficacy of interventions against their theoretical objectives and (3) compare the efficacy of single- versus combined-theory interventions. A systematic search through databases and review articles was carried out. Our results show that theory-based interventions (k = 82) significantly impact the PA behaviour of participants (d = 0.31, 95% CI [0.24, 0.37]). While moderation analyses revealed no efficacy difference between theories, interventions based on a single theory (d = 0.35; 95% CI [0.26, 0.43]) reported a higher impact on PA behaviour than those based on a combination of theories (d = 0.21; 95% CI [0.11, 0.32]). In spite of the global positive effect of theory-based interventions on PA behaviour, further research is required to better identify the specificities, overlaps or complementarities of the components of interventions based on relevant theories.

HLA typing in chronic type B, D and C hepatitis.

AIMS: We aimed to test the hypothesis that susceptibility to chronic HBV, HDV and HCV infections or their pathology is influenced by host genetic factors. METHODS: The Human Leukocyte Antigens (HLA) (A, B, DR and DQ) were determined by microlymphocytotoxicity assay in patients with chronic C (n = 117), B (n = 97) or D (n = 27) hepatitis and their frequencies were compared with those of 489 healthy controls. RESULTS: No statistically significant association was found between any HLA antigen and chronic B or D hepatitis. A significantly higher frequency of HLA-B14 was observed in patients with chronic persistent or active C hepatitis (16.7% of 90 versus 5.9% of 489, chi(2) = 10.9, pc < 0.05, Relative Risk = 3.17, Etiological Fraction = 0.11). The frequency of HLA-DR5 was lower in HCV positive patients (24.8%) than in controls (45%, chi(2) = 15.1, pc < 0.005, RR = 0.4, EF = -0.37). CONCLUSIONS: No correlation could be observed between clearance of HBV or HDV and HLA phenotype. Immunogenetic factors may have a role in determining susceptibility to chronic HCV hepatitis, and in Italian patients HLA-DR5 is a protective factor.

Isolated congenital complete heart block: longterm outcome of mothers, maternal antibody specificity and immunogenetic background.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the longterm outcome of mothers of children with isolated congenital complete heart block (CCHB), and the maternal specific immunoblot pattern and HLA antigens. METHODS: Fifteen mothers of 16 children with isolated CCHB were investigated; their followup extended up to 15.8 years on average after the index delivery. Anti-Ro and La antibodies were detected by counterimmunoelectrophoresis and ELISA; anti-Ro antibodies were studied by immunoblot. HLA typing was done using a microcytotoxicity test. RESULTS: One mother has systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) before the index delivery. The other mothers developed only minor symptoms (arthralgia, dry eyes and photosensitivity) resembling primary Sjögren's syndrome more than classic lupus. All 15 mothers were anti-Ro and 9 were also anti-La positive, a mean of 12.5 years after the index delivery. Eight mothers reacted with the 52 kDa SSA(Ro) component, and 2 also with the 60 kDa SSA(Ro) component. The prevalence of the DR3 antigen and of the B44/DR5, DR3/DQ2 and A1/Cw7/B8/DR3/DQ2 haplotypes was significantly increased. CONCLUSION: The longterm outcome for the mothers of children with CCHB is more reassuring than generally assumed. All the mothers were anti-Ro positive by sensitive ELISA: Reactivity to the denaturated 52 kDa SSA(Ro) component seems characteristic of these mothers, who presented a particular immunogenetic background.

Isolated congenital complete heart block: longterm outcome of children and immunogenetic study.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the longterm cardiologic and immunologic outcome of children with isolated congenital complete heart block (CCHB) and their HLA antigens. METHODS: Sixteen children with isolated CCHB were investigated. HLA typing was done using a microcytotoxicity test. RESULTS: Three patients died (18.7%), one in utero (35 weeks), one 2 days after birth, and one at 6 years of age. The mean age of the 13 living children is now 18.3 years (range 2-34). Eight (50%) have been permanently paced for symptoms. No patient developed clinical symptoms or serological abnormalities suggesting immune disease. The A31 antigen was more prevalent, but one pair of HLA identical twins was observed, and only one had CCHB. CONCLUSION: Patients with isolated CCHB have significant cardiac mortality, and after a long followup many of them are paced to control symptoms, but in our small sample those who survive the perinatal period mostly lead a normal life. The longterm immunological outcome of these children seems good. CCHB is not related to a specific HLA pattern in affected children.