In prior research, signal detection theory (SDT) has been widely utilized to assess metacognitive ability. However, the SDT metacognitive model requires the use of a two-alternative forced-choice ...task, while confidence must also be measured discretely. In our model, participants' cognitive ability and their confidence in the cognitive task were used to estimate their metacognitive abilities. Therefore, in this study, a metacognitive model that can be applied to various cognitive tasks was developed. This model implements the item response theory (IRT) and
-learning models to estimate cognitive ability; participants' metacognitive ability is defined as the discrepancy between their confidence in their cognitive ability and their actual cognitive ability. The entire procedure was divided into two experiments. In experiment 1, two different cognitive tasks were used to estimate metacognitive ability and to examine overall discriminative and convergent validity. Notably, the parameters representing metacognitive ability did not correlate with cognitive ability but were positively correlated between the two tasks. In experiment 2, we performed a similar analysis using a different task to test the replicability of experiment 1. The results for experiment 2 were replicated for discriminative and convergent validity, albeit with weak results. Our metacognitive model exhibited high interpretability and versatility.
Patients with mental disorders often suffer from comorbidity. Transdiagnostic understandings of mental disorders are expected to provide more accurate and detailed descriptions of psychopathology and ...be helpful in developing efficient treatments. Although conventional clustering techniques, such as latent profile analysis, are useful for the taxonomy of psychopathology, they provide little implications for targeting specific symptoms in each cluster. To overcome these limitations, we introduced Gaussian graphical mixture model (GGMM)-based clustering, a method developed in mathematical statistics to integrate clustering and network statistical approaches. To illustrate the technical details and clinical utility of the analysis, we applied GGMM-based clustering to a Japanese sample of 1,521 patients (M.sub.age = 42.42 years), who had diagnostic labels of major depressive disorder (MDD; n = 406), panic disorder (PD; n = 198), social anxiety disorder (SAD; n = 116), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD; n = 66), comorbid MDD and any anxiety disorder (n = 636), or comorbid anxiety disorders (n = 99). As a result, we identified the following four transdiagnostic clusters characterized by i) strong OCD and PD symptoms, and moderate MDD and SAD symptoms; ii) moderate MDD, PD, and SAD symptoms, and weak OCD symptoms; iii) weak symptoms of all four disorders; and iv) strong symptoms of all four disorders. Simultaneously, a covariance symptom network within each cluster was visualized. The discussion highlighted that the GGMM-based clusters help us generate clinical hypotheses for transdiagnostic clusters by enabling further investigations of each symptom network, such as the calculation of centrality indexes.
In recent years, several attentional bias modification (ABM) studies have been conducted. Previous studies have suggested that explicit instruction (i.e., informing participants of the contingency of ...stimuli) enhances the effect of ABM. However, the specific working mechanism has not been identified. This is partly because reaction time (RT) data are typically reduced to an attention bias score, which is a mere difference of RT between experimental and control conditions. This data reduction causes a loss of information, as RT reflects various cognitive processes at play while making a response or decision. To overcome this issue, the present study applied linear ballistic accumulator (LBA) modeling to the outcomes (RT measures) of explicitly guided (compared to standard) ABM. This computational modeling approach allowed us to dissociate RTs into distinct components that can be relevant for attentional bias, such as efficiency of information processing or prior knowledge of the task; this provides an understanding of the mechanism of action underlying explicitly guided ABM. The analyzed data were RT-observed in the dot-probe task, which was administered before and after 3-days of ABM training. Our main focus was on the changes in LBA components that would be induced by the training. Additionally, we analyzed in-session performances over the 3 days of training. The LBA analysis revealed a significant reduction in processing efficiency (i.e., drift rate) in the congruent condition, where the target probe is presented in the same location as a negative stimulus. This explains the reduction in the overall attentional bias score, suggesting that explicit ABM suppresses processing of negative stimuli. Moreover, the results suggest that explicitly guided ABM may influence prior knowledge of the target location in the training task and make participants prepared to respond to the task. These findings highlight the usefulness of LBA-based analysis to explore the underlying cognitive mechanisms in ABM, and indeed our analyses revealed the differences between the explicit and the standard ABM that could not be identified by traditional RT analysis or attentional bias scores.
► We examined the relationships between the amplitude of spontaneous low-frequency oscillations and Big Five traits. ► Neuroticism correlated negatively with activity of middle frontal gyrus and ...precuneus. ► Extraversion correlated positively with activity of the striatum, precuneus, middle frontal gyrus, and superior frontal gyrus. ► Openness correlated positively with activity of thalamus and amygdala, and negatively with activity of superior frontal gyrus. ► Conscientiousness correlated positively with regional activity of the middle frontal gyrus.
Recently, neural substrates of the Big Five personality model were investigated using neuroimaging. We examined the relationships between the amplitude of spontaneous low-frequency oscillations (LFO) and the Big Five traits using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (R-fMRI). Twenty-four healthy right-handed undergraduates (23.13
±
1.87 years, 9 males and 15 females) participated in 5-min R-fMRI and completed the NEO Five-Factor Inventory. We observed that Neuroticism correlated negatively with regional activity of the middle frontal gyrus and precuneus; Extraversion correlated positively with regional activity of the striatum, precuneus, and superior frontal gyrus; Openness correlated positively with the thalamus and amygdala, and negatively with the superior frontal gyrus; Conscientiousness correlated positively with regional activity of the middle frontal gyrus and correlated negatively with the cerebellum. Our results revealed the neural substrates of Extraversion, Neuroticism, Openness, and Conscientiousness in the amplitude of spontaneous LFO.
Previous research on the relationship between rumination and behavioral impulsivity has been limited because impulsivity was assessed by using individual tasks. This study examined the concurrent ...associations of a latent variable named impulsive action with rumination and depression to alleviate the task-impurity problem and the low reliability of laboratory tasks assessing impulsivity. This study also examined whether stressors mediated the association between impulsive action and rumination. University students in Japan (N = 176) conducted three laboratory tasks assessing impulsive action: the Go/No-Go Task, the Stop Signal Task, and the Conners Continuous Performance Test 3rd Edition. They also completed self-report measures of rumination, stressors, and depression. Results indicated that the latent variable named impulsive action constructed from the performance in these three tasks was positively associated with rumination. Moreover, stressors mediated this association. Also, impulsive action was positively associated with depression via the increase in stressors and rumination. These findings and those of previous studies examining associations between rumination and self-reported impulsivity suggest that impulsivity might be a determinant of rumination.
The affinity for hikikomori represents the desire to be withdrawn, as well as to entertain an empathetic attitude towards withdrawn individuals. It is composed of two subdimensions, the maladaptive ...desire for hikikomori, and empathy for others with hikikomori. This longitudinal study examined whether autistic traits predicted the affinity for hikikomori. At the baseline assessment, undergraduate and graduate students in Japan (
N
= 272) completed the Autism-Spectrum Quotient (AQ), the Affinity for Hikikomori Scale in University Students, and measures assessing academic failures and interpersonal conflicts. They also completed all measures excluding the AQ eight weeks later. Structural equation modeling indicated that difficulties in social interaction aspects of autistic traits were positively associated with academic failures at Time 2 even after controlling for academic failures at Time 1. In addition, difficulties in social interaction were positively related to the desire for hikikomori at Time 2 indirectly via academic failures at Time 2 after controlling for the desire for hikikomori at Time 1. Difficulties in social interaction were also directly associated with the increased desire for hikikomori at Time 2. These findings suggest that autistic traits, and especially difficulties in social interaction, are predictors of the maladaptive aspect of the affinity for hikikomori.
IntroductionCognitive–behavioural therapy (CBT) consists of multiple treatment techniques for each treatment model and is tailored to the patient’s characteristics. Randomised controlled trials ...(RCTs) have reported that CBT is effective for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD); however, which CBT components are effective is unknown. In order to provide the best treatment technique, it is important to know which therapeutic component or combination thereof is more effective and what the specific effect size is.Methods and analysisWe will perform component network meta-analysis (cNMA). The search will include studies published from database inception up to 31 March 2022, in English. The electronic databases of MEDLINE (via PubMed), EMBASE, PsycINFO, ClinicalTrials.gov and Cochrane Library will be searched. We will systematically identify all RCTs in the treatment of ADHD between the ages of 10 and 60 years, comparing interventions composed of various CBT components with controlled interventions. We will perform pairwise and network meta-analysis with random effects to estimate summary ORs and standardised mean differences. We will assess the risk of bias in selected studies using the Cochrane risk of bias tool.Ethics and disseminationSince we will review published papers, ethical approval is not required. The results from this cNMA will provide a panorama of the CBT-based ADHD studies. The results of this study will be published in a peer-reviewed journal.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42022323898.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), an effective treatment for depression, targets self-referential processing of emotional stimuli. We examined the effects of CBT on brain functioning during ...self-referential processing in depressive patients using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Depressive patients (n = 23) and healthy participants (n = 15) underwent fMRI scans during a self-referential task using emotional trait words. The depressive patients had fMRI scans before and after completing a total of 12 weekly sessions of group CBT for depression, whereas the healthy participants underwent fMRI scans 12 weeks apart with no intervention. Before undergoing CBT, the depressive patients showed hyperactivity in the medial prefrontal cortex (MPFC) during self-referential processing of negative words. Following CBT, MPFC and ventral anterior cingulate cortex (vACC) activity during self-referential processing among depressive patients was increased for positive stimuli, whereas it was decreased for negative stimuli. Improvements in depressive symptoms were negatively correlated with vACC activity during self-referential processing of negative stimuli. These results suggest that CBT-related improvements in depressive symptoms are associated with changes in MPFC and vACC activation during self-referential processing of emotional stimuli.
Background
In the past, different stress generation studies have used self-report measures comprising different items to assess each category of negative events. Moreover, the validity of these ...scales has not been adequately investigated. Therefore, we developed a self-report measure dedicated to assessing experiences of negative interpersonal dependent events, negative non-interpersonal dependent events, and negative independent events in university students, which was named the Negative Independent/Dependent Events Scale.
Methods
Japanese undergraduate students (N = 247; mean age = 19.18 years,
SD
= 3.08) responded to the Negative Independent/Dependent Events Scale, which had items selected for adequate content validity. They also responded to self-report measures of depressive symptoms, reassurance-seeking behaviors, inattention, and lack of perseverance.
Results
All the negative events subscales had moderate positive correlations with depressive symptoms. In addition, the negative interpersonal dependent events subscale showed a moderate positive correlation with reassurance-seeking behaviors, and the negative non-interpersonal dependent events subscale showed a strong positive correlation with inattention. Furthermore, the negative non-interpersonal dependent events subscale was more strongly correlated with inattention than the other two negative events subscales. In contrast, the negative interpersonal dependent events subscale was more strongly correlated with reassurance-seeking behaviors than with the negative independent events subscale but not more strongly than with the negative non-interpersonal dependent events subscale.
Conclusions
These findings indicated the acceptable construct validity of the Negative Independent/Dependent Events Scale. However, further research is necessary to establish the discriminant validity of the negative interpersonal dependent events subscale and the negative non-interpersonal dependent events subscale.
Existing literature has confirmed the effectiveness of mindfulness in treating various mental and physical problems. However, research has highlighted methodological issues in these studies. We ...discussed the following topics to advance mindfulness research: (1) empirical approaches for establishing the efficacy of mindfulness, (2) formal theoretical approaches to examine the mechanisms underlying mindfulness, and (3) digital mindfulness. For this reason, examining mindfulness-related research is necessary by using (1) a more rigorous and reproducible research design to outline its benefits and harm and (2) a stage model to determine the use of mindfulness in public. Moreover, formulating a formal theoretical framework that highlights the mechanisms underlying mindfulness is essential to generate simulations and empirical predictions. Employing computational psychiatric approaches, based on the free energy principle, and psychological network approaches is accordingly useful to build this theory. Finally, investigating the effectiveness and safety of digital mindfulness is imperative.
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