Psychological Medicine

Psychological Medicine, Volume 40 Issue 10 Now in its fourth decade of publication, Psychological Medicine is a leading international journal in the fields of psychiatry, related aspects of psychology and basic sciences. There are twelve issues a year, each featuring original articles reporting key research being undertaken worldwide, together with shorter editorials by distinguished scholars and an important book review section. The journal's success is clearly demonstrated by a consistently high impact factor.

Miscellaneous

Psychological Medicine, Volume 40 Issue 10 , pp f1-f2

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Miscellaneous

Psychological Medicine, Volume 40 Issue 10 , pp b1-b4

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Review Articles
K. K. Anderson, R. Fuhrer, A. K. Malla,
Psychological Medicine, Volume 40 Issue 10 , pp 1585-1597

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Background Although there is agreement on the association between delay in treatment of psychosis and outcome, less is known regarding the pathways to care of patients suffering from a first psychotic episode. Pathways are complex, involve a diverse range of contacts, and are likely to influence delay in treatment. We conducted a systematic review on the nature and determinants of the pathway to care of patients experiencing a first psychotic episode.

Research Articles
H. E. Becker, D. H. Nieman, S. Wiltink, P. M. Dingemans, J. R. van de Fliert, E. Velthorst, L. de Haan, T. A. van Amelsvoort, D. H. Linszen,
Psychological Medicine, Volume 40 Issue 10 , pp 1599-1606

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Background Cognitive impairment is considered to be a core characteristic of schizophrenia. The relationship between psychosis and cognitive deterioration, however, remains unclear. This longitudinal study investigated the neuropsychological functioning of patients before and after their first psychotic episode. Cognitive functioning of participants who later developed a psychosis was compared to that of people at ultra-high risk (UHR) for psychosis who did not develop psychosis at follow-up and healthy controls.

Research Articles
D. Mier, C. Sauer, S. Lis, C. Esslinger, J. Wilhelm, B. Gallhofer, P. Kirsch,
Psychological Medicine, Volume 40 Issue 10 , pp 1607-1617

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Background Schizophrenia out-patients have deficits in affective theory of mind (ToM) but also on more basal levels of social cognition, such as the processing of neutral and emotional expressions. These deficits are associated with changes in brain activation in the amygdala and the superior temporal sulcus (STS). However, until now there have been no studies that examined these different levels of social cognition and their neurobiological underpinnings in patients within one design.

Research Articles
M. Nordentoft, J. Øhlenschlæger, A. Thorup, L. Petersen, Pia Jeppesen, M. Bertelsen,
Psychological Medicine, Volume 40 Issue 10 , pp 1619-1626

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Background The effects of hospital-based rehabilitation including weekly supportive psychodynamic therapy compared with specialized assertive intervention and standard treatment has not previously been investigated in first-episode psychosis. The aim of the study was to examine long-term effect on use of institutional care of different intensive interventions for patients with first-episode schizophrenia spectrum disorder on use of psychiatric bed days and days in supported housing.

Research Articles
M. Harley, I. Kelleher, M. Clarke, F. Lynch, L. Arseneault, D. Connor, C. Fitzpatrick, M. Cannon,
Psychological Medicine, Volume 40 Issue 10 , pp 1627-1634

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Background Adolescent cannabis use has been shown in many studies to increase the risk of later psychosis. Childhood trauma is associated with both substance misuse and risk for psychosis. In this study our aim was to investigate whether there is a significant interaction between cannabis use and childhood trauma in increasing the risk for experiencing psychotic symptoms during adolescence.

Research Articles
K. E. Scholes, M. T. Martin-Iverson,
Psychological Medicine, Volume 40 Issue 10 , pp 1635-1646

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Background The effects of cannabis use on neuropsychological indices that show characteristic disturbances in schizophrenia are unclear. The effect of cannabis use on these cognitive functions is of particular interest given the hypothesized association between cannabis use and schizophrenia. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the effects of cannabis use on attentional control, working memory and executive functioning, in both healthy individuals and patients with schizophrenia.

Research Articles
K. A. McLaughlin, K. J. Conron, K. C. Koenen, S. E. Gilman,
Psychological Medicine, Volume 40 Issue 10 , pp 1647-1658

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Background Childhood adversity (CA) is associated with adult mental disorders, but the mechanisms underlying this association remain inadequately understood. Stress sensitization, whereby CA increases vulnerability to mental disorders following adult stressful life events, has been proposed as a potential mechanism. We provide a test of the stress sensitization hypothesis in a national sample.

Research Articles
M. Timmermans, P. A. C. van Lier, H. M. Koot,
Psychological Medicine, Volume 40 Issue 10 , pp 1659-1668

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Background There is growing evidence on the importance of experiences of stressful events in the development of psychopathology. This study aimed to investigate the role of stressful events in the continuity of internalizing and externalizing problems, as well as the cross-influence of these problems from early childhood to late adolescence.

Research Articles
I. Schindel-Allon, I. M. Aderka, G. Shahar, M. Stein, E. Gilboa-Schechtman,
Psychological Medicine, Volume 40 Issue 10 , pp 1669-1678

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Background Symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression are highly co-morbid following a traumatic event. Nevertheless, decisive evidence regarding the direction of the relationship between these clinical entities is missing.

Research Articles
V. Lux, K. S. Kendler,
Psychological Medicine, Volume 40 Issue 10 , pp 1679-1690

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Background The DSM-IV symptomatic criteria for major depression (MD) derive primarily from clinical experience with modest empirical support.

Research Articles
V. Lux, S. H. Aggen, K. S. Kendler,
Psychological Medicine, Volume 40 Issue 10 , pp 1691-1701

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Background Severity is an important characteristic of major depression (MD) and an in DSM-IV classifying depressive episodes as , or . These severity subtypes rely on three different measures of severity: number of criteria symptoms, severity of the symptoms and degree of functional disability. No prior empirical study has evaluated the coherence and validity of the DSM-IV definition of severity of MD.

Research Articles
A.-K. Fladung, U. Baron, I. Gunst, M. Kiefer,
Psychological Medicine, Volume 40 Issue 10 , pp 1703-1710

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Background Depressed patients show impaired performance following negative feedback; the probability of committing an error is increased immediately after an error. This deficit is assumed to be highly specific and to represent a trait marker of major depressive disorder (MDD). Inconsistencies in currently available data could reflect inter-individually different strategies to regulate negative affect. The present study examined modulation of performance following negative feedback by cognitive reappraisal to regulate aversive affect in depressed patients.

Research Articles
S. Suttajit, S. Punpuing, T. Jirapramukpitak, K. Tangchonlatip, N. Darawuttimaprakorn, R. Stewart, M. E. Dewey, M. Prince, M. A. Abas,
Psychological Medicine, Volume 40 Issue 10 , pp 1711-1721

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Background It is not known whether social support modifies the association between depression and impairment or disability in older people from developing countries in Asia.

Research Articles
M. Reis, B. Källén,
Psychological Medicine, Volume 40 Issue 10 , pp 1723-1733

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Background Concerns have been expressed about possible adverse effects of the use of antidepressant medication during pregnancy, including risk for neonatal pathology and the presence of congenital malformations.

Research Articles
K. T. Eddy, S. A. Swanson, R. D. Crosby, D. L. Franko, S. Engel, D. B. Herzog,
Psychological Medicine, Volume 40 Issue 10 , pp 1735-1744

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Objective Anorexia nervosa (AN) and bulimia nervosa (BN) are marked by longitudinal symptom fluctuations. DSM-IV-TR does not address how to classify eating disorder (ED) presentations in individuals who no longer meet full criteria for these disorders. To consider this issue, we examined subthreshold presentations in women with initial diagnoses of AN and BN.

Research Articles
K. L. Klump, P. K. Keel, C. Sisk, S. A. Burt,
Psychological Medicine, Volume 40 Issue 10 , pp 1745-1753

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Background Puberty moderates genetic influences on disordered eating attitudes and behaviors, with little genetic influence before puberty but large ( 50%) genetic effects during and after puberty. To date, however, nothing is known about the mechanisms that underlie these effects. Estradiol is a particularly promising candidate, as estrogens become elevated at puberty and regulate gene transcription within neurotransmitter systems important for eating-related phenotypes. The aim of this pilot study was to examine whether estradiol levels moderate genetic influences on disordered eating during puberty.

Book Reviews
SANDRA HARRILD,
Psychological Medicine, Volume 40 Issue 10 , pp 1755-1755

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