Psychological medicine
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Psychological medicine · May 2018
Changes in resting-state brain networks after cognitive-behavioral therapy for chronic pain.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is thought to be useful for chronic pain, with the pathology of the latter being closely associated with cognitive-emotional components. However, there are few resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (R-fMRI) studies. We used the independent component analysis method to examine neural changes after CBT and to assess whether brain regions predict treatment response. ⋯ We conclude that the OFC is crucial for CBT-related improvement of pain intensity, and that the dorsal PCC activation at pretreatment also plays an important role in improvement of clinical symptoms via CBT.
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Psychological medicine · Mar 2018
Meta AnalysisThe prevalence of suicidal thoughts and behaviours among college students: a meta-analysis.
Adolescence and young adulthood carry risk for suicidal thoughts and behaviours (STB). An increasing subpopulation of young people consists of college students. STB prevalence estimates among college students vary widely, precluding a validated point of reference. In addition, little is known on predictors for between-study heterogeneity in STB prevalence. ⋯ Based on the currently available evidence, STB seem to be common among college students. Future studies should: (1) incorporate refusal conversion strategies to obtain adequate response rates, and (2) use more fine-grained measures to assess suicidal ideation.
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Psychological medicine · Mar 2018
White matter microstructure predicts longitudinal social cognitive outcomes after paediatric traumatic brain injury: a diffusion tensor imaging study.
Deficits in social cognition may be among the most profound and disabling sequelae of paediatric traumatic brain injury (TBI); however, the neuroanatomical correlates of longitudinal outcomes in this domain remain unexplored. This study aimed to characterize social cognitive outcomes longitudinally after paediatric TBI, and to evaluate the use of sub-acute diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) to predict these outcomes. ⋯ Abnormal microstructure within frontal-temporal, limbic and cerebro-cerebellar white matter may be a risk factor for long-term social difficulties observed in children with TBI. DTI may have potential to unlock early prognostic markers of long-term social outcomes.
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Psychological medicine · Jan 2018
Observational StudyRoutine hospital management of self-harm and risk of further self-harm: propensity score analysis using record-based cohort data.
The care received by people presenting to hospital following self-harm varies and it is unclear how different types of treatment affect risk of further self-harm. ⋯ This study shows the potential value of using novel statistical techniques in large mental health datasets to estimate treatment effects. We found that specialist psychosocial assessment may reduce the risk of repeat self-harm. This type of routine care should be provided for all individuals who present to hospital after self-harm, regardless of perceived risk.
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Psychological medicine · Nov 2017
State-dependent microstructural white matter changes in drug-naïve patients with first-episode psychosis.
Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) studies have consistently shown white matter (WM) microstructural abnormalities in schizophrenia. Whether or not such alterations could vary depending on clinical status (i.e. acute psychosis v. remission) remains to be investigated. ⋯ WM changes affecting brain tracts critical to the integration of perceptual information, cognition and emotions are detectable soon after the onset of FEP and may partially reverse in direct relation to the remission of acute psychotic symptoms. Our findings reinforce the view that WM abnormalities in brain tracts are a key neurobiological feature of acute psychotic disorders, and recovery from such WM pathology can lead to amelioration of symptoms.