Posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms, emotion dysregulation, and aggressive behavior among incarcerated methamphetamine users

Exploring the impact of traditional Chinese martial arts and other martial arts on adolescent aggression: a comparative analysis of underlying mechanisms

BACKGROUND

This study investigates differences in aggression among adolescents practicing traditional Chinese martial arts (MA) and other forms of MA. Additionally, it explores the underlying mechanisms, with a particular focus on the roles of self-control and depression in mediating the relationship between MA participation and aggression.

METHODS

A total of 847 adolescent martial arts practitioners (MAP) participated in this study, including 410 traditional Chinese MA practitioners and 437 practitioners of other MA (e.g., Taekwondo, kickboxing). The sample comprised 427 males, with a mean age of 13.45 years (SD = 1.07). Participants completed the Physical Activity Rating Scale, Self-Control Scale, Depression Scale, and Aggression Scale. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics 21.0 and Process 4.0, with significance levels set at p < 0.05.

RESULTS

(1) No significant differences in aggression were observed between adolescents practicing traditional Chinese MA and those practicing other MA. (2) MA exercise level negatively predicted aggression (β = -0.126, p < 0.001). (3) A chain mediation analysis indicated two pathways through which MA exercise level was associated with aggression: (a) MA exercise level → self-control → aggression, accounting for 68.25% of the total effect, and (b) MA exercise level → self-control → depression → aggression, accounting for 20.63%.

CONCLUSIONS

Regular participation in MA is a potential strategy for reducing aggression and psychological distress while enhancing self-control. Educators and MA organizations should emphasize both technical training and ethical instruction to foster self-regulation and emotional well-being in adolescents. Moreover, increasing MA training intensity may further amplify these benefits.

Long-Term High-Intensity Interval Training Intervention Improves Emotional Conflict Control in Association With Right Ventrolateral Prefrontal Activation in Males With Methamphetamine Use Disorder: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Acute high-intensity interval training (HIIT) has cognitive benefits in individuals with methamphetamine use disorder (MUD), yet it remains largely unknown the benefits of long-term HIIT on emotional conflict control and its neural mechanism in individuals with MUD. The current study conducted a 36-week low-volume HIIT intervention to investigate the effects of HIIT on emotional conflict control in males with MUD and their prefrontal cortex (PFC) activation. This study was a sub-study of the Study for Rehabilitation Training Model Construction and Training Effect of High Intensity Compound Exercise Prescription. Forty males with MUD (31.50 ± 4.33 years) were randomly assigned to the HIIT group and control group. The HIIT group received a 36-week low-volume HIIT intervention, while the control group maintained daily physical exercise. The emotional conflict task (emotional face-word Stroop task) with functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) recording and subjective craving test were performed before and after the intervention. The results showed that the HIIT intervention reduced the emotional conflict and increased cortical activations of right dorsolateral PFC (dlPFC) and right ventrolateral PFC (vlPFC). More importantly, the HIIT-induced decreased emotional conflict was associated significantly with increased right vlPFC activation. In addition, subjective craving was also reduced after HIIT intervention. While the control group showed significant changes in neither brain activation nor the craving. These findings suggest that long-term low-volume HIIT can improve PFC activation, promote emotional conflict control, and reduce subjective craving in males with MUD. HIIT seems to be an effective method of withdrawal rehabilitation for males with MUD.

Psychostimulants and social behaviors

Mounting evidence from animal models and human studies indicates that psychostimulants can significantly affect social behaviors. This is not surprising considering that the neural circuits underlying the regulation and expression of social behaviors are highly overlapped with those targeted by psychostimulants, which in most cases have strong rewarding and, consequently, addictive properties. In the present work, we provide an overview regarding the effects of illicit and prescription psychostimulants, such as cocaine, amphetamine-type stimulants, methylphenidate or modafinil, upon social behaviors such as social play, maternal behavior, aggression, pair bonding and social cognition and how psychostimulants in both animals and humans alter them. Finally, we discuss why these effects can vary depending on numerous variables such as the type of drug considered, acute versus long-term use, clinical versus recreational consumption, or the presence or absence of concomitant risk factors.

The prevalence of mental health disorders among young adults who use amphetamine-type stimulants, compared to young adults who do not

INTRODUCTION AND AIMS

There is a lack of evidence regarding mental health disorder prevalence in people who use amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS). This study compares prevalence in Australian young adults who used ATS and young adults who had never used, and examines potential predictors.

DESIGN AND METHODS

Population-based sampling was used to recruit young adults who used ATS (n = 224) and young adults who had never used ATS (n = 125). Thirty-day prevalence of major depressive disorder (MDD), generalised anxiety disorder (GAD), panic disorder (PD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and mania/hypomania were assessed using the Composite International Diagnostic Interview Short Scale. Adjusted prevalence ratios (APR) of mental disorders in people who used ATS and the comparison group were examined, and a prediction model was developed for people who used ATS.

RESULTS

We found higher prevalence of PD (APR 4.67, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.14-19.07, P = 0.032) and PTSD (APR 1.68, 95% CI 1.10-2.55, P = 0.016) in people who used ATS, compared to the comparison group, adjusting for sociodemographic variables. Baseline methamphetamine use was positively associated with MDD (ARR 6.45, 95% CI 1.51-27.59, P = 0.012) and GAD (ARR 2.76, 95% CI 1.52-5.02, P = 0.001). Baseline ecstasy use was negatively associated with GAD (ARR 0.52, 95% CI 0.30-0.92, P = 0.025) and PD (ARR 0.15, 95% CI 0.05-0.48, P = 0.001).

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

PTSD and PD appear to be more common in young adults who use ATS. However, the relationship between ATS use and mental disorders is complex, with divergent patterns of association for ecstasy and methamphetamine use. Mental health screening in people using ATS may improve treatment outcomes.

Alexithymia, aggressive behavior and depression among Lebanese adolescents: A cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

For a long time, Lebanon has been considered an unstable country. This can have a negative impact on Lebanese adolescents that consequently face secondary emotional stress, leading to more mental health problems such as anxiety, depression, and alexithymia. The objective of this study was to assess the association between alexithymia, depression and aggressive behavior in a sample of Lebanese adolescents.

METHODS

This is a cross-sectional study, conducted between September 2018 and February 2019, which enrolled 568 young adolescents aged between 15 and 18 years using a proportionate sample from two Lebanese governorates. Out of 750 questionnaires distributed, 568 (75.73%) were completed and collected back.

RESULTS

The mean age was 15.87 ± 0.82 years, with 302 (53.2%) females; 180 (31.7%) were alexithymic, 193 (34.0%) and 181 (31.9%) had moderate (scores between (89 and 111) and high (scores ≥ 112) aggression respectively, whereas 176 (31.0%) and 149 (26.2%) had moderate (scores between 3 and 4) and high (scores ≥ 5) depression respectively. Higher levels of alexithymia were significantly associated with higher depression (Beta = 0.44), higher total aggression (Beta = 0.78), higher physical aggression (Beta = 0.24), higher verbal aggression (Beta = 0.14), higher anger (Beta = 0.22), and higher hostility (Beta = 0.19).

CONCLUSION

The prevalence of alexithymic behaviors, as well as aggression and depression in Lebanese students appears to be very high in comparison with students worldwide. Alexithymia was significantly associated with higher depression, physical and verbal aggression, anger and hostility among adolescents. Factors underlying the high level of alexithymia remain not fully elucidated.

PTSD in prison settings: A systematic review and meta-analysis of comorbid mental disorders and problematic behaviours

Purpose

Prevalence rates of PTSD are higher in the prison population than in the community. We sought to systematically review the extent to which this disorder is associated with other mental health disorders and problematic suicidal or aggressive behaviours in the prison population.

Methods

Studies reporting a relationship between PTSD and comorbid mental disorders and/or problematic behaviours in imprisoned adolescent and adult populations were identified from four bibliographic indexes. Primary studies involving clinical interviews, validated instruments leading to DSM or ICD diagnoses, or validated self-report questionnaires such as the PTSD checklist were included. Random-effects meta-analysis was conducted where possible. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were followed.

Results

This review identified 36 studies, with a combined sample of 9594 participants, (6478 male and 2847 female prisoners) from 11 countries. Thirty-four of the identified studies employed a cross-sectional design. We identified significant associations between PTSD and comorbid mental disorders including depression (OR = 3.4, 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.3–4.9), anxiety (OR = 2.9, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.8–4.7) and substance use (OR = 1.9, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.5–2.4). We also identified significant associations between PTSD and suicidality (OR = 3, 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.4–3.8) and aggressive behaviours (this latter finding was not subject to meta-analysis). Significant methodological heterogeneity was identified between studies.

Conclusions

High rates of psychiatric comorbidity among prisoners with PTSD, and links to suicidal behaviour, self-harm and aggressive behaviour, provide further support for the need for trauma-informed treatment approaches in prisons. However, significant gaps in the current evidence were apparent. In particular, a lack of large, longitudinal studies meant that the temporal relationships between PTSD and relevant outcomes cannot currently be determined.

Posttraumatic stress, panic disorder, violence, and recidivism among local jail detainees

PURPOSE

Most research on posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and offending has been conducted with special populations (e.g. veterans and female inmates) and generally overlooks the additive effect of panic disorder (PD) in offending patterns. The purpose of this paper is to assess the prevalence of PTSD and PD among jail inmates, while simultaneously examining the relationships between these disorders, offending types and frequency.

DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH

A random sample of adults recently booked into a local county jail participated in the Comprehensive Addictions and Psychological Evaluation-5 (CAAPE-5), a structured psychological assessment. The study sample was comprised of 200 male and 83 female inmates.

FINDINGS

Indications of PTSD were observed among 44.0 percent of male inmates and 57.8 percent of female inmates. Most male inmates (78.4 percent) with positive PTSD indications also met criteria for PD, with a similar proportion (78.1 percent) of female inmates also meeting criteria for both. The combination of PTSD and PD was not associated with offending frequency, but inmates presenting indications of both PTSD and PD were more likely to be charged with a violent offense relative to those with only PTSD.

PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS

Inmates with PTSD who also have panic attacks may have a more severe condition with possible implications for other risks. Observations of these conditions among adults recently booked into local jails should coincide with each other.

ORIGINALITY/VALUE

Few studies have examined mental health conditions among local jail detainees, despite the ever-present need to address them. The current study considers this important population and investigates the prevalence of co-occurring conditions.

The Role of Emotion-Driven Impulse Control Difficulties in the Relation Between Social Anxiety and Aggression

OBJECTIVES

To enhance our understanding of the factors that may account for increased aggression in socially anxious individuals, this study examined associations among emotion-driven impulse control difficulties, social anxiety, and dimensions of aggression (i.e., hostility, anger, physical aggression, verbal aggression).

METHOD

Individuals (N = 107; 73.8% male; M_age = 40.8 years) receiving residential substance abuse treatment participated in this cross-sectional study.

RESULTS

Social anxiety symptoms were significantly positively correlated with emotion-driven impulse control difficulties, anger, and hostility, but not verbal or physical aggression. Separate models for each aggression facet were examined to test the direct and indirect paths. Bootstrapped mediation analyses indicated a significant indirect path from social anxiety symptoms to each facet of aggression through emotion-driven impulse control difficulties (ps < .05).

CONCLUSION

Results highlight the potential utility of targeting emotion-driven impulse control difficulties to decrease aggression among socially anxious individuals.

Alexithymia, emotion dysregulation, impulsivity and aggression: A multiple mediation model

There is a need to better understand the antecedent of aggressive behaviors in order to tailor treatments and reduce the associated damage to the others and the self. Possible mechanisms underlying aggression are poor emotional awareness and emotion dysregulation, as well as impulsivity. Here, we examined the relationships among alexithymia, emotion dysregulation, impulsivity and aggression, comparing a mixed psychiatric sample (N=257) and a community sample (N=617). The clinical sample reported greater levels of alexithymia, emotion dysregulation, trait impulsivity and aggression, than the community sample. Furthermore, in the community sample, emotion dysregulation and impulsivity mediated the relationship (i.e., accounted for the shared variance) between alexithymia and aggression. In the clinical sample, only emotion dysregulation explained the alexithymia-aggression link. In particular, specific dimensions of the emotion dysregulation (i.e., Negative Urgency) and impulsivity constructs (i.e., cognitive and motor impulsivity) played a unique role in explaining these associations. Finally, controlling for depressive symptoms reduced some of the findings involving impulsivity to nonsignificant results. Overall, our findings add to the extant literature attesting to the relevance of alexithymia and emotion dysregulation for understanding aggression, and providing concrete recommendation for the treatment and prevention of aggressive tendencies.

A Qualitative Exploration of U.K. Prisoners’ Experiences of Substance Misuse and Mental Health Difficulties, and the Breaking Free Health and Justice Interventions

This qualitative study explored prisoners’ lived experiences of substance use and mental health difficulties and aimed to examine perceived links between these two areas and how they might be associated with recovery during engagement with the Breaking Free Health and Justice (BFHJ) treatment programs. Interviews were conducted with 32 prisoners receiving treatment for substance use in North-West England. Emerging from prisoners’ interviews were themes relating to difficult life experiences from childhood into adulthood, how these experiences played a role in the emergence of their multiple and complex difficulties, their treatment experiences, and how their current involvement with the criminal justice system acted as a catalyst for positive change, including engagement with the BFHJ programs. This study identified the roles of substance use and mental health difficulties in the lives of participants, identified how their multiple and complex difficulties might be addressed, and provided insights into prisoners’ interpretations of their life experiences.