Depression, anxiety, and stress in young adult gamers and their relationship with addictive behaviors: A latent profile analysis.

BACKGROUND: There is limited research examining latent profiles of gamers based on emotional variables, which has implications for prevention efforts. The study sought to identify young adult gamer profiles based on depression, anxiety, and stress, and to examine differences between the latent profiles in other addictive behaviors (i.e., tobacco, alcohol, cannabis, illegal substance use, gaming, and gambling). METHODS: A total of 1209 young adults (Mage = 19.37, SD = 1.62; 55.3%males) reported past-year gaming. A latent profile analysis (LPA) was performed to identify distinct profiles, and a set of ANOVA and chi-square analyses characterized the profiles in terms of sociodemographic, addictive behaviors, and emotional variables. RESULTS: LPA suggested a three-profile solution: profile 1 (n = 660, 'low emotional distress'), profile 2 (n = 377, 'moderate emotional distress'), and profile 3 (n = 172, 'high emotional distress'). Participants with 'moderate' and 'high emotional distress' were mostly women, showed greater gaming severity, higher prevalence of past-month substance use (i.e., tobacco and illegal drugs), and greater consequences of alcohol use. LIMITATIONS: The cross-sectional nature of the study and sample being university students. CONCLUSION: Findings revealed three distinct profiles of gamers, which differed in emotional, gaming, and substance use severity. Transdiagnostic prevention programs have the potential to provide significant benefits to college students by addressing the core processes (e.g., emotion regulation) that underlie substance use and gaming.

Reliability generalization Meta-Analysis and psychometric review of the Gaming Disorder test (GDT): Evaluating internal consistency.

Gaming disorder (GD) is a growing public health issue requiring reliable screening and diagnostic tools. A commonly used tool for assessing GD is the Gaming Disorder Test (GDT). The GDT assesses GD based on International Classification of Diseases 11th Revision (ICD-11) criteria; however, its psychometric testing has been conducted across studies but yet snythesized. This meta-analysis aimed to synthesize psychometric data regarding the GDT globally. Adhering to pre-registration, a comprehensive search across databases identified 17 eligible studies (n=22,000) in 14 languages reporting on the psychometric properties of the GDT, especially its Cronbach's alpha. The pooled Cronbach's alpha was 0.86 (95% CI: 0.83-0.89), indicating excellent internal consistency. Although significant heterogeneity was observed (I2= 98.54%), prediction intervals suggested true outcomes likely shared a positive direction. No moderating effects were found regarding sample characteristics, study quality, or geographical location. The meta-analysis provides robust and quantitative evidence supporting the internal consistency of the GDT across diverse populations. Moreover, qualitative synthesis indicates that the GDT has strong psychometric properties without risk of bias across the analyzed studies, indicating the GDT's ability to assess GD globally. However, the heterogeneity suggests cautious interpretation of the reliability estimates.

Emotional dysregulation in relation to substance use and behavioral addictions: Findings from five separate meta-analyses.

Background/objective: Emotional dysregulation (ED) is a transdiagnostic variable underlying various psychiatric disorders, including addictive behaviors (ABs). This meta-analysis examines the relationship between ED and ABs (alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, gambling, and gaming), and indicators of AB engagement (frequency, quantity/time of use, severity, and problems). Method: Searches were conducted in PubMed, Scopus, WoS, and PsycINFO. Five separate meta-analysis were run using random-effects models. Moderators (age, sex, continental region, and sample type; community vs. clinical), and publication bias were evaluated. Results: A total of 189 studies (N = 78,733; 51.29 % women) were identified. ED was significantly related to all ABs. Problems and severity indicators exhibited the largest effects (r's .118-.372, all p <.023). There were larger effect sizes for cannabis problems (r = .372), cannabis severity (r = .280), gaming severity (r = .280), gambling severity (r = .245), gambling problems (r = .131), alcohol problems (r = .237), alcohol severity (r = .204), and severity of nicotine dependence (r = .118). Lack of impulse control exhibited some of the largest effects in relation to ABs. Clinical samples of cannabis users vs. community-based exhibited larger magnitude of associations. Conclusions: Interventions targeting ABs should address lack of strategies and impulsive behaviors as an emotion regulation strategy specifically, as it is a common risk factor for ABs.

Gambling and Substance Use Disorders in U.S. Military Veterans: Prevalence, Clinical Characteristics, and Suicide Risk.

Gambling and substance use disorders (SUDs) are prevalent among U.S. military veterans and often co-occur. However, little is known about the clinical and behavioral correlates and suicidal risk of SUDs and gambling among veterans that can help inform targeted interventions for their co-occurrence. In the current study, we analyzed data from a nationally representative sample of 4069 veterans who participated in the National Health and Resilience in Veterans Study. Self-reported measures of lifetime SUDs and past-year gambling (Brief Problem Gambling Screen) were administered. A multinomial logistic regression analysis was conducted to examine differences between four groups: non-SUD/non-gambling, 40.3%; SUD-only 27.3%; Gambling-only 16.3%; and SUD + Gambling, 16.1%. The Gambling-only, SUD-only, and SUD + Gambling groups reported more adverse childhood experiences relative to the non-SUD/non-gambling group. The SUD-only and SUD + Gambling groups had higher odds for all lifetime and current clinical and trauma variables relative to the non-SUD/non-gambling group. The SUD + Gambling group had higher odds of suicidality, non-suicidal self-injury, nicotine dependence and mental health treatment relative to the SUD-only group and all assessed clinical measures relative to the Gambling-only group. Results suggest that SUDs and gambling are associated with substantial trauma and mental health burden among U.S. veterans, with co-occurring SUDs and gambling linked particularly to suicidality/self-harm and mental health treatment. The findings underscore the importance of multicomponent assessments and interventions targeting SUDs, gambling, and related concerns, such as trauma-related mental health difficulties, in this population.

Comparison between problematic use of social media and YouTube to insomnia among Iranian adolescents: A mediating role of psychological distress.

Objective: Problematic use of the internet has been linked to emotional and sleep concerns, although relationships with specific types of internet use are less well understood. YouTube, as an online platform with video-watching features, may attract individuals to spend considerable time, for those experiencing problematic use be termed problematic use of social media (PUSM) or problematic use of YouTube (PUY). Therefore, the present study investigated relationships between PUSM/PUY, psychological distress, and insomnia among the Iranian adolescents. Methods: An online survey comprising Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale, YouTube Addiction Scale, Depression, Anxiety, Stress-21 Scale, and Insomnia Severity Index recruited 1352 participants. Results: Results of Hayes' Process Macro showed significant correlations between the two types of problematic use and insomnia, with psychological distress as a mediator (unstandardized coefficient = 0.096 and 0.100). Conclusion: The findings implied the effect of psychological distress in mediating the relationships of PUSM and PUY to insomnia.

Association Between Juvenile Psychotic Experiences and Problematic Gaming.

Background and Hypothesis: Problematic gaming (PG) is an emerging mental health condition associated with significant adverse outcomes. Even though PG has been linked to other psychiatric disorders, its association with psychotic experiences (PEs) remains poorly explored to date. The aim of our study was to examine the association between both conditions in a large Brazilian community sample. We hypothesized that adolescents with PG were more likely to report PE compared with those without the disorder. Study Design: Our investigation was based on a cross-sectional subsample of a large Brazilian cohort (n = 1616; 13- to 21-year age range). Using the 7-item version of the Game Addiction Scale, participants were classified according to their gaming status: no PG, PG, or gaming addiction (GA). The association between PG, GA, and PE was assessed through linear regression analyses, which were adjusted for the presence of significant covariates, including other psychiatric conditions. Study Results: 9.5% (n = 154) presented PG and 2.7% (n = 43) had GA. 28.0% received any Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV) diagnosis and the mean PE score was 9.39 (SD = 4.35). Participants presenting PG had greater levels of PE, compared with participants with no PG, even controlled by sociodemographic variables and the presence of any DSM-IV diagnosis (b = 0.96, 95% CI = 0.17-1.75, P = .017). Conclusions: According to our results, PG was significantly associated with PE, even in the presence of other covariates. Although preliminary, these results suggest that PG and PE may have shared neurobiological and/or behavioral pathways.

Clinical characteristics associated with problematic pornography use among individuals seeking treatment for opioid use disorder.

Background and Aims: Many jurisdictions are experiencing opioid epidemics. Opioid use disorder (OUD) often co-occurs with other psychiatric disorders including behavioral addictions like gambling disorder. However, little is known regarding the frequency and correlates of problematic pornography use (PPU) among people seeking treatment for OUD. Here we aimed to investigate PPU and its correlates in people seeking OUD treatment. Method: From October 2018 to March 2020, 1,272 individuals seeking OUD treatment were screened for PPU by completing the Brief Pornography Screen (BPS), a 5-item instrument validated for assessing PPU. Self-reported data were used. Results: Among the sample there were 707 (60%) males and 565 (40%) females. The mean age of participants was 37.9 ± 10.5 years (range 18-73), there were 707 (60%) males and 565 (40%) females, 14.4% (n = 183) exhibited low positive BPS scores (1 ≤ score ≤4), and 4.5% of the sample (n = 57) screened positive for PPU (BPS score ≥4). Individuals screening positive for PPU versus negative were mostly male (77%), scored higher on measures of impulsivity in the domains of positive urgency, negative urgency, and sensation-seeking and demonstrated more psychopathology on measures of substance use, psychotic symptoms, emotional lability, depression/functioning and self-harm. Discussion and Conclusion: A minority of individuals seeking treatment for OUD screened positive for PPU. Among individuals with OUD, those screening positive (versus negative) for PPU were more impulsive and experienced more psychiatric symptoms, suggesting the need for additional investigation and screening for and addressing PPU in people with OUD.

Statistical predictors of the co-occurrence between gambling disorder and problematic pornography use.

Co-occurrence between gambling disorder (GD) and other mental disorders is common, but its association with problematic pornography use (PPU) remains unexplored. This study aimed to investigate relationships between sociodemographic variables, personality measures, psychopathology, emotional regulation, and impulsivity and the co-occurrence of GD and PPU using structural equation modeling (SEM). The sample consisted of 359 adults seeking treatment for GD. The short version of the Problematic Pornography Consumption Scale (PPCS-6) identified patients with GD + PPU. Psychopathology, impulsivity, emotional regulation, and personality were also assessed. Higher impulsivity levels statistically predicted co-occurrence between GD and PPU. Impulsivity mediated the relationship between younger age, maladaptive personality features, and emotional dysregulation and co-occurrence. Psychopathological distress did not directly associate with GD + PPU co-occurrence. Impulsivity relates importantly to the co-occurrence of GD and PPU. Younger age, maladaptive personality, and emotional dysregulation contribute to increased impulsivity levels and co-occurrence. The findings highlight the importance of addressing impulsivity in understanding and treating co-occurring GD and PPU.

Altered Heart Rate Variability During Mobile Game Playing and Watching Self-Mobile Gaming in Individuals with Problematic Mobile Game Use: Implications for Cardiac Health.

Introduction: The surge in mobile gaming, fueled by smartphone and internet accessibility, lacks a comprehensive understanding of physiological changes during gameplay. Methods: This study, involving 93 participants (average age 21.75 years), categorized them into Problematic Mobile Gaming (PMG) and non-problematic Mobile Gaming (nPMG) groups based on Problematic Mobile Gaming Questionnaire (PMGQ) scores. The PMGQ is a 12-item scale developed in Taiwan to assess symptoms of problematic mobile gaming. The research delved into heart rate variability (HRV) alterations during real-time mobile gaming and self-gaming video viewing. Results: Results showed that the PMG group significantly presents a lower root mean square of successive differences (RMSSD), and High Frequency (lnHF) than does the nPMG group (F=4.73, p=0.03; F=10.65, p=0.002, respectively) at the baseline. In addition, the PMG group significantly displayed elevated HF and low-frequency to high-frequency (LF/HF) in the mobile-gaming (F=7.59, p=0.007; F=9.31, p=0.003) condition as well as in the watching self-gaming videos (F=9.75, p=0.002; F=9.02, p=0.003) than did the nPMG. Conclusion: The study suggests targeted interventions to mitigate autonomic arousal, offering a potential avenue to address adverse effects associated with problematic mobile gaming behavior. The PMG group displayed increased craving scores after real-time mobile gaming and watching self-gaming video excerpts, unlike the nPMG group. Elevated LF/HF ratios in frequent gaming cases heightened autonomic arousal, presenting challenges in relaxation after mobile gaming. These findings contribute to a nuanced understanding of the complex interplay between mobile gaming activities, physiological responses, and potential intervention strategies.

Structural brain changes associated with cocaine use and digital cognitive behavioral therapy in cocaine use disorder treatment.

Background: Few studies have investigated changes in brain structure and function associated with recovery from cocaine use disorder (CUD), and fewer still have identified brain changes associated with specific CUD treatments, which could inform treatment development and optimization. Methods: In this longitudinal study, T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging scans were acquired from 41 methadone-maintained individuals with CUD (15 women) at the beginning of and after 12 weeks of outpatient treatment. As part of a larger randomized controlled trial, these participants were randomly assigned to receive (or not) computer-based training for cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT4CBT), and galantamine (or placebo). Results: Irrespective of treatment condition, whole-brain voxel-based morphometry analyses revealed a significant decrease in right caudate body, bilateral cerebellum, and right middle temporal gyrus gray matter volume (GMV) at post-treatment relative to the start of treatment. Subsequent region of interest analyses found that greater reductions in right caudate and bilateral cerebellar GMV were associated with higher relative and absolute levels of cocaine use during treatment, respectively. Participants who completed more CBT4CBT modules had a greater reduction in right middle temporal gyrus GMV. Conclusions: These results extend previous findings regarding changes in caudate and cerebellar GMV as a function of cocaine use and provide the first evidence of a change in brain structure as a function of engagement in digital CBT for addiction. These data suggest a novel potential mechanism underlying how CBT4CBT and CBT more broadly may exert therapeutic effects on substance-use-related behaviors through brain regions implicated in semantic knowledge.

A comprehensive measure assessing different types of problematic use of the internet among Chinese adolescents: The Assessment of Criteria for Specific Internet-use Disorders (ACSID-11).

BACKGROUND: Problematic use of the internet (PUI) is prevalent, particularly among adolescents and young adults. Given the limited measures to assess specific types of PUI, which encompasses a broad spectrum of activities such as online gaming, social media use, pornography use, shopping, gambling, and web-streaming, Muller et al. (2022) developed the Assessment of Criteria for Specific Internet-use Disorders (ACSID-11) to comprehensively assess different types of PUI (i.e., gaming, shopping, social media use, gambling, and pornography use). The present study aimed to validate the Chinese ACSID-11 among adolescents incorporating cross-cultural adaptations. METHODS: Using forward-backward translation method, a culturally adapted version of the ACSID-11 was prepared. Then, a cross-sectional online survey was administered between September 8 and September 26, 2023. Adolescents, using a convenience sample (N = 11,492; mean age = 16.42 years [SD ± 0.91]; 59.1% male), were recruited from six schools to complete the translated ACSID-11, Internet Gaming Disorder Scale-Short Form (IGDS9-SF), Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale (BSMAS), and Smartphone Application Based Addiction Scale (SABAS) via an online platform. Pearson correlation coefficients assessed convergent/discriminant validity. Factor structure and measurement invariance were examined through confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and multi-group CFA. Cronbach's alpha and McDonald's omega tested internal consistency. RESULTS: Associations between the ACSID-11 components and other scales supported convergent validity (i.e., ACSID-11 gaming scale with IGDS9-SF [0.37 ≤ r ≤ 0.41]; social networks use scale with BSMAS [0.24 ≤ r ≤ 0.31]) and discriminant validity (i.e., online gambling scale with BSMAS [0.16 ≤ r ≤ 0.19] and with SABAS [0.11 ≤ r ≤ 0.13]). A four-factor solution indicated good fit with comparative fit index (CFI) ranging from 0.982 to 0.958. The ACSID-11 was measurement invariant across sexes (∆CFI = -0.001 to 0.000) and different levels of related addictive behaviors (∆CFI = -0.001 to 0.000). Both Cronbach's alpha and McDonald's omega (0.63 to 0.97) were acceptable for both frequency and intensity of responses. CONCLUSIONS: The ACSID-11 is an appropriate scale to assess different kinds of PUI among Chinese adolescents and students. Psychometric assessment of the measure in other cultures and among clinical samples is recommended.

Permissive beliefs in the context of gaming, online shopping and alcohol drinking - Systematic development of a self-report measure.

BACKGROUND: The activation of permissive beliefs is a cognitive mechanism through which individuals permit themselves to engage in pleasurable, yet potentially unregulated activities. Existing measures are heterogenous, focusing either on specific behaviors or on particular licensing mechanisms. The new Permissive Beliefs Questionnaire (PBQ) seeks to integrate self-licensing mechanisms from various research domains and to be applicable to different behaviors. METHODS: Study 1 aimed at exploring the factor structure and reduce the number of items. In study 2, we used confirmatory factor analysis and tested convergent and discriminant validity in three subsamples of individuals playing videogames (n = 489), shopping online (n = 506), and drinking alcohol (n = 511). We tested the hypothesis whether individuals who experience a self-regulatory conflict show a greater expression of permissive beliefs. RESULTS: The final version of the PBQ consists of 12 items which represent two factors: Deserving Reward and Defensive Optimism. The PBQ exhibited robust model fit indices and internal consistencies in the three samples. Permissive beliefs were heightened among individuals intending to downregulate their gaming, shopping, or drinking behaviors as compared to individuals without this intention. CONCLUSION: The PBQ is a valid measure of permissive beliefs for gaming, online shopping, and drinking alcohol. It serves an ecologic and psychometrically valid tool to address empirical research questions regarding the functioning of permissive beliefs. Additionally, it may be used in clinical settings to measure and raise an understanding for permissive beliefs in clients.

Tackling addictive behaviors through memory suppression: A scoping review and perspective.

Forgetting is often viewed as a human frailty. However, over the years, it has been considered an adaptive process that allows people to avoid retrieval of undesirable memories, preventing them from suffering and discomfort. Evidence shows that the ability to suppress memories is affected by several psychopathological conditions characterized by persistent unwanted thoughts, including anxiety and posttraumatic stress disorders. Nevertheless, memory suppression (MS) mechanisms in addiction-a clinical condition characterized by recurrent drug-related thoughts that contribute to repeated drug use-have received little attention so far. Addiction theories reveal that drugs change behavior by working on memory systems, particularly on declarative memory, which is related to the retrieval and encoding of drug-related memories. In this review, the main behavioral and neurofunctional findings concerning the Think/No-Think task-an adaptation of the classical Go/No-Go tasks typically used to evaluate the suppression of motor response-are presented. We then show how the memory system can be involved in the craving or anticipation/preoccupation stage of the addiction cycle. Subsequently, the study of MS in the context of addictive behaviors is highlighted as a promising approach for gaining knowledge about the mechanisms contributing to the continuation of addiction. Finally, we discuss how interventions aiming to strengthen this ability could impact the anticipation/preoccupation stage by (i) reducing the accessibility of drug-related memories, (ii) decreasing craving and attention toward drug-related stimuli, and (iii) improving overall inhibition abilities. In conclusion, this review aims to illustrate how the study of MS may be a valuable approach to enhance our understanding of substance use disorders by unveiling the underlying cognitive and neural mechanisms involved, which could have important implications for addiction treatment.

No evidence for a reciprocal relationship between daily self-control failures and addictive behavior in a longitudinal study.

Introduction: We all experience occasional self-control failures (SCFs) in our daily lives, where we enact behaviors that stand in conflict with our superordinate or long-term goals. Based on the assumption that SCFs share common underlying mechanisms with addictive disorders, we tested the hypothesis that a generally higher susceptibility to daily SCFs predicts more addictive behavior, or vice versa. Methods: At baseline, 338 individuals (19-27 years, 59% female) from a community sample participated in multi-component assessments. These included among others (1) a clinical interview on addictive behaviors (quantity of use, frequency of use, DSM-5 criteria; n = 338) and (2) ecological momentary assessment of SCFs (n = 329, 97%). At the 3-year and 6 year follow-up, participation rates for both assessment parts were 71% (n = 240) and 50% (n = 170), respectively. Results: Controlling for age, gender, IQ, and baseline addiction level, random-intercept cross-lagged panel models revealed that participants who reported more SCFs also showed pronounced addictive behavior at the between-person level, but we found no evidence of a predictive relationship at the within-person level over time. Discussion: A higher rate of SCFs is associated with more addictive behavior, while there is no evidence of an intraindividual predictive relationship. Novel hypotheses suggested by additional exploratory results are that (1) only addiction-related SCFs in daily life are early markers of an escalation of use and thus for addictive disorders and that (2) an explicit monitoring of SCFs increases self-reflection and thereby promotes the mobilization of cognitive control in response to goal-desire conflicts.

The imbalance of self-reported wanting and liking is associated with the degree of attentional bias toward smoking-related stimuli in low nicotine dependence smokers.

Background and aims: The Incentive Sensitization Theory (IST) offers a comprehensive framework that explains how attentional mechanisms contribute to the maintenance and relapse of addictive behavior. However, the extent to which the underlying neuropsychological mechanisms are consciously accessible for report remains unknown. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the association between self-reported wanting and liking among smokers and its relationship with detecting changes in smoking-related stimuli. Design: An online experiment was designed deploying a flicker paradigm with neutral and smoking-related changes, completed by 422 individuals (mean age = 29.1 years, 214 non-smokers, 123 current smokers, and 85 former smokers). Additionally, the Fagerström Test for Cigarette Dependence and the Imaginative Wanting and Liking Questionnaire were administered. Findings: Consistent with prior research findings, smokers exhibited faster detection of smoking-related changes compared to non-smokers, while former smokers displayed an intermediate level of attentional bias, falling between the levels observed in smokers and non-smokers. Further, higher levels of nicotine dependence were associated with a greater discrepancy between self-reported wanting and liking, which was associated with better change detection performance for high salience smoking-related stimuli in smokers. Conclusion: These findings support the predictions of IST and support the notion that attentional bias might develops early in the course of nicotine addiction. Furthermore, the results indicate that the underlying cognitive mechanisms might be partially within conscious awareness, which opens up potential avenues for research design, treatment, and interventions.

Cognitive-behavioral therapies in the management of adolescents with cannabis use disorder (CUD): A systematic review.

INTRODUCTION: Cannabis currently stands as the most prevalent illicit substance used by adolescents in France. Its use is associated with an elevated risk of developing psychiatric disorder, affecting neuro-cognitive development, or leading to psycho-social challenges in the long run. Cognitive-behavioral therapies (CBT) have emerged as a preferred approach for treating cannabis use disorders (CUD) in adults. METHODS: This review is grounded in a systematic search of the PubMed scientific database for randomized controlled trials focusing on CBT treatment for adolescents (12-18 years old) with CUD. RESULTS: Nine studies met the inclusion criteria. Currently, several variants of CBT-based treatments are available for adolescents, differing in duration based on the intended objectives (ranging from 3 to 24 weeks). These CBT therapies are often complemented by motivational interviewing or family therapy. Only two studies draw comparisons between CBT and alternative therapeutic approaches. DISCUSSION: The current scientific literature in this field is limited, and the study designs display heterogeneity. However, abbreviated treatment courses appear to have value, especially within the adolescent population. These courses offer treatment advantages and may enhance treatment adherence among these young patients, who may face challenges in maintaining consistent follow-up. Additionally, involving parents in psychotherapeutic care seems to have a positive impact. CONCLUSION: CBT in adolescents with CUD appears to be a promising approach to assist with maintaining abstinence and managing emotions. However, given the diverse study designs found in the literature, conducting research with standardized treatments on larger patient cohorts would be valuable.

Compulsivity-related behavioral features of problematic usage of the internet: A scoping review of paradigms, progress, and perspectives.

Background and aims: Compulsivity contributes to the development and maintenance of multiple addictive disorders. However, the relationship between compulsivity-related cognitive features and problematic usage of the internet (PUI), an umbrella term for various internet use disorders/interfering behaviors, remains largely unclear, partly due to the multidimensional nature of compulsivity. This scoping review utilized a four-domain framework of compulsivity to consider this topic and aimed to summarize available evidence on compulsivity-related neuropsychological characteristics in PUI based on this framework. Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted by applying the combination of search term to the search engines of PubMed, PsycINFO and Web of Science. A four-domain framework of compulsivity, involving cognitive flexibility, set-shifting, attentional bias, and habit learning, was used to consider its complex structure and frequently used tasks. Main findings in related PUI studies were summarized based on this framework. Our secondary aim was to compare compulsivity-related features between different PUI subtypes. Results: Thirty-four empirical studies were retained, comprising 41 task-results and 35 independent data sets. Overall, individuals with PUI showed more consistent deficits in attentional biases and were relatively intact in set-shifting. Few studies have examined cognitive flexibility and habit learning, and more evidence is thus needed to establish reliable conclusions. Moreover, most studies focused on internet gaming disorder, whereas other PUI sub-types were not sufficiently examined. Conclusion: This systematic review highlights the use of the four-domain framework for advancing understanding of mechanisms underlying compulsivity in PUI. Related therapeutic implications and future directions are discussed.

Screen time, sleep, brain structural neurobiology, and sequential associations with child and adolescent psychopathology: Insights from the ABCD study.

Background and Aims: The precise roles of screen media activity (SMA) and sleep problems in relation to child/adolescent psychopathology remain ambiguous. We investigated temporal relationships among sleep problems, SMA, and psychopathology and potential involvement of thalamus-prefrontal-cortex (PFC)-brainstem structural covariation. Methods: This study utilized data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development study (n = 4,641 ages 9-12) at baseline, Year1, and Year2 follow-up. Cross-Lagged Panel Models (CLPMs) investigated reciprocal predictive relationships between sleep duration/problems, SMA, and psychopathology symptoms. A potential mediating role of baseline Thalamus-PFC-brainstem covariation on SMA-externalizing relationships was examined. Results: Participants were divided into discovery (n = 2,359, 1,054 girls) and replication (n = 2,282, 997 girls) sets. CLPMs showed 1) bidirectional associations between sleep duration and SMA in late childhood, with higher frequency SMA predicting shorter sleep duration (ß = -0.10 [95%CI: -0.16, -0.03], p = 0.004) and vice versa (ß = -0.11 [95%CI: -0.18, -0.05], p < 0.001); 2) externalizing symptoms at age 10-11 predicting sleep problems (ß = 0.11 [95%CI: 0.04, 0.19], p = 0.002), SMA (ß = 0.07 [95%CI: 0.01, 0.13], p = 0.014), and internalizing symptoms (ß = 0.09 [95%CI: 0.05, 0.13], p < 0.001) at age 11-12; and 3) externalizing behavior at age 10-11 partially mediating the relationship between baseline thalamus-PFC-brainstem covariation and SMA at age 11-12 (indirect effect = 0.032 [95%CI: 0.003, 0.067], p-value = 0.030). Findings were replicable. Conclusion: We found bi-directional SMA-sleep-duration associations in late childhood. Externalizing symptoms preceded future SMA and sleep disturbances and partially mediated relationships between structural brain covariation and SMA. The findings emphasize the need for understanding individual differences and developing and implementing integrated strategies addressing both sleep concerns and screen time to mitigate potential impacts on psychopathology.

An exploratory study of the prevalence and adverse associations of in-school traditional bullying and cyberbullying among adolescents in Connecticut.

Bullying, traditional or cyber, among adolescents, is a public health concern. In this study, we explored frequencies and correlates of different forms of bullying among Connecticut high-school students. Youth Risk Behavior Survey data from 2019 from Connecticut adolescents (N = 1814) were used. χ2 tests and survey-weighted logistic regressions examined relationships between bullying subgroups (in-school traditional bullying (ISTB) only, cyberbullying only, and both) and mental concerns, risk behaviors, academic performance, physical health, and receipt of social support, with the logistic regressions adjusted for demographics. The past-12-month frequency of having experienced only cyberbullying was 5.6%, only ISTB was 9.1%, and both forms was 8.7%. Between-group differences were observed by bullying status in terms of sex and race/ethnicity. In adjusted models, bullying status was associated with suicide attempts, suicidal ideation, self-harm, depression/dysphoria, mental health, use of alcohol, marijuana, injection drugs, tobacco, and e-vapor, gambling, driving under influence of alcohol, high-risk sexual behavior, physical fights, weapon-carrying, injuries/threats at school, feeling unsafe at school, dating violence, obesity, poor general health, insecure housing, less perceived family support, and poor academic performance. People experiencing both types of bullying were typically more likely to report adverse measures. High-school students commonly report bullying. The findings that both forms (traditional and cyber) were more robustly linked to negative experiences highlight the need for examining further relationships between types and patterns of bullying and mental health and functioning. Better understanding may help improve preventive anti-bullying interventions.

A four-year longitudinal analysis examining the effects of e-cigarette advertisements and disparities among youth with internalizing problems.

BACKGROUND: Prior research indicates a direct, short-term effect of e-cigarette advertising on e-cigarette use among youth. This study seeks to investigate the long-term effects of e-cigarette advertisements and disparities in exposure among adolescents with different levels of internalizing problems. METHODS: Panel data of the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) Study Waves 3-5 (2015-2019) were analyzed. Youth aged 12-17 who were non-e-cigarette users at the time of Wave 3 were included (n = 4,678). A moderated mediation model was employed to examine the mediating role of perceived harm of e-cigarettes and the moderating effect of internalizing problems. RESULTS: Exposure to e-cigarette advertisements in Wave 3 predicted lower harm perception of e-cigarette in Wave 4 (bp = -0.055, p <.01), leading to more e-cigarette use in Wave 5 (bp = -0.042, p <.001). While e-cigarette advertisements exhibited a lasting indirect effect (bp = 0.002, p <.05), there was no long-term direct effect (bp = 0.017, p >.05) on youth e-cigarette use. Furthermore, a moderating effect of internalizing problems was observed (bp = 0.107, p <.05). CONCLUSIONS: E-cigarette advertisements can exert a lasting influence indirectly by diminishing harm perception, particularly among those with lower internalizing problems. Adolescents with higher internalizing problems exhibit lower susceptibility to advertisement influence, yet their perceived harm of e-cigarettes is notably lower than their peers with fewer internalizing problems. These disparities underscore the need for tailored prevention strategies: implementing anti-e-cigarette education programs for adolescents with low internalizing problems and providing mental health care for those facing internalizing challenges. Regulatory measures targeting e-cigarette advertising are also crucial.