Development and validation of the newly developed Preschool Theory of Mind Assessment (ToMA-P).

Introduction: Theory of mind (ToM) refers to the ability to understand and attribute mental states to oneself and others. A ToM measure is warranted for preschool children to assess their ToM development from a multidimensional perspective (i.e., cognitive and affective dimensions). This study aimed to develop the Preschool Theory of Mind Assessment (ToMA-P) and to evaluate its construct validity and applicability. Methods: The ToMA-P was developed based on comprehensive literature review and revised with expert panel feedback. Its psychometric properties were evaluated in 205 typically developing preschoolers with Rasch analysis for its dimensionality, item difficulties, and convergent validity. Results: The results indicated that all ToMA-P items, except for one, fit the hypothesized two-dimensional construct. The item difficulties in the cognitive and affective dimensions followed developmental sequences. The ToMA-P scores exhibited good convergent validity, as evidenced by its significant correlations with age, verbal comprehension, adaptive functions, and daily ToM performance (p < 0.05). Children's responses and behaviors also showed that the ToMA-P has good applicability. Discussion: This study provides empirical evidence that the ToMA-P measures cognitive and affective ToM following developmental sequences, and that it has potential as a clinical tool for assessing ToM in preschool children.

The Neurobiology of Formal Thought Disorder.

The concept of Formal Thought Disorder (FTD) is an ambiguous and disputed one, even though it has endured as a core psychopathological construct in clinical Psychiatry. FTD can be summarized as a multidimensional construct, reflecting difficulties or idiosyncrasies in thinking, language, and communication in general and is usually subdivided into positive versus negative. In this article, we aim to explore the putative neurobiology of FTD, ranging from changes in neurotransmitter systems to alterations in the functional anatomy of the brain. We also discuss recent critiques of the operationalist view of FTD and how they might fit in its biological underpinnings. We conclude that FTD might be the observable phenotype of many distinct underlying alterations in different proportions.

Influence of childhood trauma and post-traumatic stress symptoms on impulsivity: focusing on differences according to the dimensions of impulsivity.

BACKGROUND: Impulsivity, a trait and multidimensional construct, is associated with a wide range of impulsive behaviours. Although it is well documented that childhood trauma (CT) affects impulsivity, few studies examine whether its effects depend on particular dimensions of impulsivity and the role post-traumatic stress symptoms play in the relationship between childhood trauma and different dimensions of impulsivity. OBJECTIVE: This research aims to explore the relationships between CT, PTSD, and impulsivity in a heterogeneous clinical sample. We also sought to examine whether the influence of CT on impulsivity differs across the dimensions of impulsivity. METHOD: We investigated the relationships between CT, symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and five dimensions of impulsivity using a sample of 162 non-psychotic psychiatric patients without neurocognitive diagnoses. Participants completed the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), Impact of Event Scale - Revised (IES), and the UPPS-P Impulsive Behaviour Scale (UPPS-P). RESULTS: The results of structural equation modelling showed that CT is associated with PTSD symptoms, in addition to four of the five dimensions of impulsivity in the UPPS-P:positive urgency, negative urgency, lack of premeditation, and lack of perseverance. The indirect effect of CT through PTSD symptoms was significant only for the two types of urgency. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest that interventions that aim to alleviate impulsive behaviour derived from high urgency should pay particular attention to the presence of CT and PTSD symptoms.

Antecedentes: La impulsividad, como un rasgo, se asocia con una amplia gama de comportamientos impulsivos y es un constructo multidimensional. Aunque está bien documentado que el trauma infantil (TI) influye en la impulsividad, hay pocos estudios que han examinado si sus efectos dependen de una dimensión particular de la impulsividad y qué papel juegan los síntomas de estrés postraumático en la relación entre el trauma infantil y cada dimensión de la impulsividad.Método: Investigamos las relaciones entre el TI, los síntomas del trastorno de estrés postraumático (TEPT) y las cinco dimensiones de la impulsividad utilizando una muestra de 162 pacientes psiquiátricos no psicóticos y sin diagnóstico neurocognitivo. Los participantes completaron el Cuestionario de trauma infantil (CTQ), la Escala de impacto del evento revisada (IES) y la Escala de comportamiento impulsivo UPPS-P (UPPS-P).Resultados: Los resultados del modelo de ecuaciones estructurales mostraron que el TI conduce a síntomas de TEPT, además de las cuatro dimensiones de impulsividad de urgencia positiva y negativa, falta de premeditación y perseverancia. El efecto indirecto del TI a través de los síntomas del TEPT fue significativo solo para los dos tipos de urgencia.Conclusiones: Los resultados de este estudio sugieren que las intervenciones que tienen como objetivo aliviar los comportamientos impulsivos derivados de una alta urgencia deben prestar especial atención a la presencia de TI y síntomas de TEPT.

Relation between Multiple Markers of Work-Related Fatigue.

BACKGROUND: Work-related fatigue has a strong impact on performance and safety but so far, no agreed upon method exists to detect and quantify it. It has been suggested that work-related fatigue cannot be quantified with just one test alone, possibly because fatigue is not a uniform construct. The purpose of this study is therefore to measure work-related fatigue with multiple tests and then to determine the underlying factorial structure. METHODS: Twenty-eight employees (mean: 36.11; standard deviation 13.17) participated in five common fatigue tests, namely, posturography, heart rate variability, distributed attention, simple reaction time, and subjective fatigue before and after work. To evaluate changes from morning to afternoon, t tests were conducted. For further data analysis, the differences between afternoon and morning scores for each outcome measure and participant (Δ scores) were submitted to factor analysis with varimax rotation and each factor with the highest-loading outcome measure was selected. The Δ scores from tests with single and multiple outcome measures were submitted for a further factor analysis with varimax rotation. RESULTS: The statistical analysis of the multiple tests determine a factorial structure with three factors: The first factor is best represented by center of pressure (COP) path length, COP confidence area, and simple reaction time. The second factor is associated with root mean square of successive difference and useful field of view (UFOV). The third factor is represented by the single Δ score of subjective fatigue. CONCLUSION: Work-related fatigue is a multidimensional phenomenon that should be assessed by multiple tests. Based on data structure and practicability, we recommend carrying out further studies to assess work-related fatigue with manual reaction time and UFOV Subtest 2.

Relation between Multiple Markers of Work-Related Fatigue

BACKGROUND: Work-related fatigue has a strong impact on performance and safety but so far, no agreed upon method exists to detect and quantify it. It has been suggested that work-related fatigue cannot be quantified with just one test alone, possibly because fatigue is not a uniform construct. The purpose of this study is therefore to measure work-related fatigue with multiple tests and then to determine the underlying factorial structure. METHODS: Twenty-eight employees (mean: 36.11; standard deviation 13.17) participated in five common fatigue tests, namely, posturography, heart rate variability, distributed attention, simple reaction time, and subjective fatigue before and after work. To evaluate changes from morning to afternoon, t tests were conducted. For further data analysis, the differences between afternoon and morning scores for each outcome measure and participant (Δ scores) were submitted to factor analysis with varimax rotation and each factor with the highest-loading outcome measure was selected. The Δ scores from tests with single and multiple outcome measures were submitted for a further factor analysis with varimax rotation. RESULTS: The statistical analysis of the multiple tests determine a factorial structure with three factors: The first factor is best represented by center of pressure (COP) path length, COP confidence area, and simple reaction time. The second factor is associated with root mean square of successive difference and useful field of view (UFOV). The third factor is represented by the single Δ score of subjective fatigue. CONCLUSION: Work-related fatigue is a multidimensional phenomenon that should be assessed by multiple tests. Based on data structure and practicability, we recommend carrying out further studies to assess work-related fatigue with manual reaction time and UFOV Subtest 2.

On the relationship between subjective and objective measures of fatigue.

OBJECTIVE: Objective and subjective methods have been used in the past to assess workplace fatigue, but little is known about correlations between them. We examine correlations between subjective and objective measures, including measures collected in a workplace scenario. METHODS: 15 young and 17 older participants were assessed before and after work with four types of fatigue measure: objective physical (posturography), objective mental (psychomotor vigilance task), subjective physical and mental (self-assessment), objective and subjective realistic (oculomotor behaviour, observer-rated facial expression, typing performance). RESULTS: Pre- and post-test scores were analysed with an ANOVA, significant differences were submitted to a factor analysis. It yielded three factors: one representing posturography, the second self-rated mental and physical fatigue and the third observer-rated facial expression. CONCLUSIONS: Results advocate the existence of three independent fatigue components: Objective physical fatigue, introspective and extrospective fatigue. Practitioner Summary: This study analyses correlations between different subjective and objective fatigue markers to better understand the complex nature of workplace fatigue. Measurements were conducted directly at the workplace. Results reveal that fatigue comprises three independent fatigue components: Objective physical fatigue, introspective and extrospective fatigue.