What's control got to do with it? A systematic review of control beliefs in obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Current conceptualizations of control-related beliefs in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) have largely been limited to beliefs about the need to control thoughts. Although growing evidence supports the notion of considering broader control-related constructs in this disorder, there has been limited research aimed at integrating findings across studies, making it difficult to determine how different control-related beliefs may influence OCD symptoms. The current review sought to systematically analyze findings from all studies investigating the relationship between control beliefs and OCD. The systematic search identified 157 eligible articles that assessed the relationship between control beliefs and OCD symptoms. Results suggested that certain control beliefs (e.g., importance of/need to control of thoughts, sense of control, beliefs about losing control) may be more closely associated with OCD than others (e.g., locus of control, and desire for control). In general, control beliefs were positively associated with OCD, with effect sizes ranging from small to large depending on the symptom domain. Based on limited studies, the only control belief which demonstrated specificity to OCD was ICT. Findings support the importance of integrating additional control beliefs in conceptualizations of OCD and provide evidence to support the benefits of targeting these beliefs in cognitive behavioural therapy.

Beliefs about losing control and other OCD-related cognitions: An experimental investigation.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Cognitive theories of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) suggest that dysfunctional beliefs influence symptoms. However, well-established belief domains do not fully explain OCD symptomatology, suggesting other cognitive mechanisms may be involved. An additional belief domain which may play a role in OCD is beliefs about losing control. Indeed, these beliefs have been found to be associated with OCD symptoms. However, the relationships between beliefs about losing control and other OCD phenomena, including other relevant dysfunctional beliefs, is unclear. The aim of this study was to examine the relationships between beliefs about losing control and appraisals hypothesized to be relevant to OCD. METHODS: A total of 163 participants completed the experimental protocol, wherein they received false (positive or negative) feedback regarding the likelihood they may lose control and completed a vignette task asking them to read hypothetical scenarios relevant to OCD concerns (checking, and aggressive thoughts). Vignettes were followed by questions and prompts used to measure OCD-relevant appraisals. RESULTS: Based on MANOVAs, beliefs about losing control had a significant impact on appraisals in the checking, F (151) = 5.55, p = .001, and aggressive thoughts, F (151) = 2.898, p = .037, vignettes. However, planned comparison indicated that in the aggressive thoughts vignettes, this effect was in the opposite direction than was hypothesized. LIMITATIONS: The losing control induction may have inadvertently influenced participants' beliefs about the utility of thought control. CONCLUSIONS: Findings provide preliminary evidence for an association between beliefs about losing control and OCD-relevant appraisals.

Parental Overprotection and Sleep Problems in Young Children.

Poor sleep in children predicts mental and physical disorders later in life. Identifying and changing modifiable factors associated with sleep problems in young children may improve their health trajectory. Our aim was to establish whether overprotective parenting was associated with problems sleeping in children. Parents of children aged 2-6 years completed questionnaires about their own anxiety, parenting style, and about their children's sleep. We obtained 307 reports on 197 children from 240 parents. Using mixed-effects linear regression, we found that maternal (beta = 0.26, 95% CI 0.11 to 0.41, p = 0.001) and paternal (beta = 0.35, 95% CI 0.17 to 0.53, p < 0.001) overprotection were associated with impaired sleep in children. This relationship remained unchanged when controlling for parental anxiety. Decreasing parents' overprotection may improve children's sleep, and reduce the risk of physical and mental disorders later in their life.

Prevalence of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in people with mood disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in mood disorders is associated with unfavorable outcomes, including more frequent mood episodes, and increased risk of suicide. The reported prevalence of ADHD in individuals with mood disorders varies widely. METHODS: We searched PsycInfo and PubMed for articles published before September 21st , 2020, using search terms for ADHD and mood disorders. We included original data on the prevalence of ADHD in individuals with bipolar disorder (BD) or major depressive disorder (MDD). We estimated the prevalence of ADHD, by developmental period and disorder using random-effects meta-analyses. We also compared the rate of ADHD in people with MDD and BD, and with and without mood disorders. RESULTS: Based on 92 studies including 17089 individuals, prevalence of ADHD in BD is 73% (95% CI 66-79) in childhood, 43% (95% CI 35-50) in adolescence, and 17% (95% CI 14-20) in adulthood. Data from 52 studies with 16897 individuals indicated that prevalence of ADHD in MDD is 28% (95% CI 19-39) in childhood, 17% (95% CI 12-24) in adolescence, and 7% (95% CI 4-11) in adulthood. ADHD was three times more common in people with mood disorders compared to those without and 1.7 times more common in BD compared to MDD. CONCLUSION: People with mood disorders are at a significant risk for ADHD. ADHD should be assessed and treated in individuals with BD and MDD. Comprehensive assessment strategies are needed to address challenges of diagnosing ADHD alongside mood disorders.

Active behaviors and screen time in offspring of parents with major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.

Activities may be modifiable factors that moderate the risk and resilience in the development of mental health and illness. Youth who spend more time using screens are more likely to have poor mental health. Conversely, time spent engaged in active behaviors (i.e., physical activity, socializing and reading) is associated with better mental health. The choice of activities may be important in offspring of parents with mental illness, who are at increased risk for developing mental disorders. Among 357 youth of the FORBOW (Families Overcoming Risks and Building Opportunities for Well-being) cohort aged 6-21, we examined whether parental diagnosis of mental illness (i.e., major depressive disorder, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder) and current levels of depression influenced the amount of time their offspring spent using screens and engaging in active behaviors. Parental history of mental illness and higher levels of current depression in mothers were associated with less time spent engaged in active behaviors and more time spent using screens. Creating opportunities and incentives for active behaviors may redress the balance between youth with and without a familial history of mental illness.

Prospective Association between Childhood Behavioral Inhibition and Anxiety: a Meta-Analysis.

Behavioral inhibition (BI) is a risk factor for anxiety. However, the estimates of the strength of this association vary widely. In addition, while BI is a strong predictor of social anxiety disorder (SAD), its association with other anxiety disorders is unclear. The current study sought to establish the relationship between BI and anxiety and to quantify this association for a range of anxiety disorders. We searched PsycInfo, PubMed and Embase for articles published before May 18th, 2019 using search terms for BI, anxiety and prospective study design. We selected articles which assessed the prospective relationship between BI in childhood and anxiety. Using random-effects meta-analysis with robust variance estimation, which allowed for the inclusion of multiple follow-ups of the same sample, we established the association between BI and any anxiety. We also explored the association between BI and individual anxiety disorders. Data from 27 studies consisting of 35 follow-ups of 20 unique samples indicated that BI prospectively increases the odds of anxiety (OR = 2.80, 95% CI 2.03 to 3.86, p < 0.001). There was also a positive association between BI and all individual anxiety disorders, with effect sizes ranging from small in the case of specific phobia (OR = 1.49, 95% CI 1.03 to 2.14, p = 0.03) to large in the case of SAD (OR = 5.84, 95% CI 3.38 to 10.09, p < 0.001). BI in early childhood is a strong risk factor for anxiety. Targeting BI may help reduce the number of children who will develop anxiety disorders.

Offspring of parents with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and depression: a review of familial high-risk and molecular genetics studies.

Offspring of parents with severe mental illness, including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depressive disorder, have a one-in-three risk of developing severe mental illness themselves. Over the last 60 years, three waves of familial high-risk studies examined the development of severe mental illness in offspring of affected parents. The first two waves established familial nature of schizophrenia, and demonstrated early impairment in offspring of affected parents. The most recent wave has added a focus on mood disorders and examined the transdiagnostic nature of familial risk. A synthesis of current knowledge on individuals at familial risk points to psychopathology, neurocognitive, neuroanatomical, and environmental factors involved in the familial transmission of severe mental illness. Although family history remains the single strongest predictor of illness, molecular genetic tools are becoming increasingly informative. The next decade may see family history and molecular genetics complementing each other to facilitate a transdiagnostic approach to early risk identification and prevention.