Articles publicats en revistes (Psicologia Social i Psicologia Quantitativa)
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ArticleBaix benestar emocional de l’alumnat de la Universitat de Barcelona i factors associats(ICE Universitat de Barcelona, 2025-12-29) Bono Cabré, Roser; Marí-Klose, Marga; Escapa, Sandra; Fernández Núñez, Lissette; Gallo de Puelles, PedroL’etapa universitària sovint inclou episodis vitals que coincideixen amb processos de transició a la vida adulta que poden desencadenar malestars emocionals. Aquest estudi analitza el nivell de benestar de l’alumnat de la Universitat de Barcelona (UB) i la seva relació amb factors sociodemogràfics i acadèmics.- ArticleEducación estética: enseñar a mirar y a sentir(Universidade do Estado do Pará (UEPA), 2025-05-13) Pereira, Eliane Regina; Pellicer Cardona, Isabel; Castrechini Trotta, Ángela; Valera, SergiEn este artículo se discute la importancia de una forma particular de aprendizaje experiencial, la educación estética, como proceso de sensibilización, un proceso que nos enseña a percibir, reflexionar y actuar de forma más atenta y crítica en el mundo. En él se describen escenas de clases-caminata, en las que los alumnos pueden experimentar y cuestionar de forma práctica y sensorial cómo se materializan en los espacios urbanos las dinámicas y prácticas sociales. El objetivo es mostrar cómo este tipo de enfoque educativo enfatiza el aprendizaje a través de la experiencia directa y genera conocimiento sensible de las cosas, permitiendo que el alumnado no sólo aprenda, sino que también conecte con el mundo que les rodea, construyendo nuevas formas de ver, sentir y actuar. A través de la educación estética, el aprendizaje experiencial, se convierte en acción política y transformadora.
- ArticleResilience through a multisystemic perspective: analyzing individual, family, and community systems(Springer Nature, 2025-04) Pi Ferrer, Laia; Selvam, Rejina Mary; Cavallotti, RitaIn this article, we approach resilience from a multisystemic point of view in which individual, family, and community characteristics play a part. The main goal of the study is to analyze how the different systems of resilience (individual, family, and community) work in times of uncertainty and great societal challenges, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Our study uses a mixed methods approach with a sample of 1,436 Spaniards during the COVID-19 crisis. After grouping the descriptions of their living experiences into positive and negative, the study builds and operationalizes the different systems of resilience. Furthermore, the study uses structural equation modeling to analyze the role of each system on how individuals face the future in a situation of uncertainty. The study indicates that family resilience, followed by individual and community resilience, helps individuals to face the future with high optimism. In contrast, individual resilience helps to face the future with less pessimism. In addition, all systems of resilience—individual, family, and community—significantly impact an optimistic view of the future through the mediation of positivity. Our article contributes to the ongoing debates regarding the role of resilience in building a stronger society that is capable of facing challenges and recovering from adversity.
- ArticleCouple-to-work spillover: assessing work performance of individuals in a cross-sectional study(Taylor & Francis, 2025-07-23) Pi Ferrer, Laia; Selvam, Rejina Mary; Cavallotti, RitaThis paper explores whether and how the relationship of coupled individuals interacts with work performance through the employment of the Vulnerability-Stress-Adaptation (VSA) model. Using a random probabilistic sample survey of 864 working Spaniards living as a couple, we tested whether and how individual vulnerabilities, external stressors and individual perception of dyadic adaptiveness affect individual assessment of relationship quality and how this affects work performance. The structural equation model shows that individual vulnerabilities influence individual assessment of relationship quality through the mediation of individual perception of dyadic adaptiveness. Furthermore, individual perception of dyadic adaptiveness significantly influences individual assessment of relationship quality, which in turn significantly affects work performance. These findings shed light on functioning of coupled individuals’ relationships under uncertainty shocks and their spillover effects to the working domain.
- ArticleFunctional brain hubs are related to age: A primer study with rs-fMRI(Elsevier España, 2024-10-30) Figueroa Jiménez, María Dolores; Cañete-Massé, Cristina; Gudayol Ferré, Esteve; Gallardo-Moreno, Geisa B.; Peró, Maribel; Guàrdia-Olmos, Joan, 1958-Background/Objective: Research on the ontogenetic development of brain networks using resting state has shown to be useful for understanding age-associated changes in brain connectivity. This work aimed to analyze the relationship between brain connectivity, age and intelligence. Methods: A sample of 26 children and adolescents between 6 and 18 years of both sexes underwent a resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging study. We estimated the values of fractional Amplitude low-frequency fluctuations (fALFF) and the values of Regional homogeneity (ReHo) in a voxelwise analysis to later correlate them with age and intelligence quotient (IQ). Results: No significant correlations were found with IQ, but it was found that the fALFF values of the left precentral cortex (premotor cortex and supplementary motor area), as well as the ReHo values of the medial frontal gyrus, and the precentral cortex of the left hemisphere, correlate with age. Conclusions: Hubs related to various “task positive” networks closely related to cognitive functioning would present a development more related to age and relatively independent of individual differences in intelligence. These findings suggest that the premotor cortex and supplementary motor cortex could be a cortical hub that develops earlier than previously reported and that it would be more related to age than to intelligence level.
- ArticleHealthy business processes: How a coherent work environment enhances employee well-being(Springer Nature, 2025-08-01) Richter, Selina S.; Reif, Julia A. M.; Spieß, Erika; Berger, Rita, 1959-In this contribution to the journal “Group. Interaction. Organization.” (GIO) we take a health-oriented, salutogenic view on business process management. To close the gap regarding the relevance of business process management for well-being in organizations, we examine through which psychological mechanism healthy business processes can enhance employee well-being. Based on the theory of salutogenesis, we expect that healthy business processes are associated with an increased work-related sense of coherence in employees and thereby also with better employee well-being. We tested our hypotheses in a cross-sectional online study with N = 81 employees who worked with business processes. Results showed that work-related sense of coherence mediated the positive relationship between healthy business processes and employee well-being. Although further research is still necessary to substantiate the causal order of effects, our study indicates that healthy business processes can create a coherent and health-promoting work environment and thus well-being in organizations. Organizations can use this knowledge in designing and implementing healthy business processes and in integrating a health-oriented business process management in the occupational health management.
- ArticleResilience and psychopathology among victimized youth in residential care(Elsevier Ltd., 2017-10-01) Segura, Anna; Pereda Beltran, Noemí; Guilera Ferré, Georgina; Hamby, SherryThis study examines the role of several resilience resources in the relationship between lifetime victimization and mental health problems among adolescents in care. The sample comprised 127 adolescents (53.% females, aged 12-17 years) from residential care facilities in Catalonia, Spain. The Juvenile Victimization Questionnaire, the Youth Self-Report, and the Adolescent Resilience Questionnaire were used to assess victimization, psychological symptoms, and resilience respectively. Results indicated that poly-victimization was associated with fewer resources, and with an increased risk of mental health problems. Self-resources mediated the relationship between victimization and internalizing and externalizing symptoms; community support mediated the relationship between victimization and internalizing symptoms. Self, school and peer support moderated the relationship between victimization and externalizing symptoms. Adolescents with fewer self-resources and less school support reported more externalizing symptoms, as did those with more peer support. However, poly-victimized youths reported symptoms within the clinical range, regardless of their level of resources. The findings stress the importance of preventing poly-victimization and of empowering poly-victimized adolescents, who appear to present low levels of resources. Researchers and clinicians should continue to study the poly-victimization/ psychopathology relationship, and also design interventions and prevention programs which incorporate the most relevant resilience resources.
- ArticleAssessing Nonoverlap in Single-Case Data: Strengths Challenges and Recommendations(Springer, 2024-06-19) Manolov, Rumen; Tanious, RenéOverlap is one of the data aspects that are expected to be assessed when visually inspecting single-case experimental designs (SCED) data. A frequently used quanti- fication of overlap is the Nonoverlap of All Pairs (NAP). The current article reviews the main strengths and challenges when using this index, as compared to other nono- verlap indices such as Tau and the Percentage of data points exceeding the median. Four challenges are reviewed: the difficulty in representing NAP graphically, the presence of a ceiling effect, the disregard of trend, and the limitations in using p-values associated with NAP. Given the importance of complementing quantitative analysis and visual inspection of graphed data, straightforward quantifications and new graphical elements for the time-series plot are proposed as options for address- ing the first three challenges. The suggestions for graphical representations (repre- senting within-phase monotonic trend and across-phases overlaps) and additional numerical summaries (quantifying the degree of separation in case of complete non- overlap or the proportion of data points in the overlap zone) are illustrated with two multiple-baseline data sets. To make it easier to obtain the plots and quantifications, the recommendations are implemented in a freely available user-friendly website. Educational researchers can use this article to inform their use and application of NAP to meaningfully interpret this quantification in the context of SCEDs
- ArticleEarly Bloomers in Intergenerational Family Solidarity: an Exploratory Study on the Phenomenon of Young Carers in Spain(Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 2025-04-03) Cavallotti, Rita; Pi Ferrer, Laia; Selvam, Rejina MaryInherently, parents take care of their children until they become independent adults; similarly,children care for their progenitors in their old age. However, this socially normalorder may be reversed when progenitors experience a chronic disease while their childrenare still young. This paper analyses the lived experiences of young caregivers (YCs) and how a family member’s illness affects them. The present study employs the intergenerational family solidarity (IFS) theory and draws on qualitative data gathered from in-depth,semi-structured interviews with YCs living in Spain (N = 8). The article reveals that theillness of a family member strengthens IFS and family unity, involves a learning process,causes psychological distress, and creates a need for emotional support. Additionally, thestudy identifies some minor differences based on the gender of YCs. The paper’s main contributionsare twofold. Firstly, it contributes to the international literature on YCs using thetheoretical perspective elaborated by Bengtson and Roberts in 1991, which is commonlyapplied to the relationship between adult children and elderly parents or grandparentsand grandchildren. Secondly, the article provides new empirical considerations for theinvestigation and social recognition of YCs, particularly in Spain, where the family servesas a strong cornerstone of social protection, literature on this phenomenon is scarce, andsocial awareness is limited.
- ArticleExploring the dynamic relationships between nocturnal heart rate, sleep disruptions, anxiety levels, and depression severity over time in recurrent major depressive disorder(Elsevier B.V., 2025-02-07) Condominas, Elena; Sánchez Niubò, Albert; Domènech Abella, Joan; Haro Abad, Josep Maria; Bailon, Raquel; Giné Vázquez, Iago; Riquelme, Gemma; Matcham, Faith; Lamers, Femke; Kontaxis, Spyridon; Laporta, Estela; García Pagès, Esther; Peñarrubia Maria, Maria Teresa; White, Katie M.; Oetzmann, Carolin; Annas, Peter; Hotopf, Matthew; Penninx, Brenda W. J. H.; Narayan, Vaibhav A.; Folarin, Amos A.; Leightley, Daniel; Cummins, Nicholas; Ranjan, Yatharth; de Girolamo, Giovanni; Preti, Antonio; Simblett, Sara; Wykes, Til; Myin Germeys, Inez; Dobson, Richard J. B.; Siddi, Sara; RADAR-CNS consortiumBackground: Elevated night resting heart rate (HR) has been associated with increased depression severity, yet the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. This study aimed to investigate the mediating role of sleep disturbance and the influence of anxiety on the relationship between night resting HR and depression severity. Methods: This is a secondary data analysis of data collected in the Remote Assessment of Disease and Relapse (RADAR) Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) longitudinal mobile health study, encompassing 461 participants (1774 observations) across three national centers (Netherlands, Spain, and the UK). Depression severity, anxiety, and sleep disturbance were assessed every three months. Night resting HR parameters in the 2 weeks preceding assessments were measured using a wrist-worn Fitbit device. Linear mixed models and causal mediation analysis were employed to examine the impact of sleep disturbance and anxiety on night resting HR on depression severity. Covariates included age, sex, BMI, smoking, alcohol consumption, antidepressant use, and comorbidities with other medical conditions. Results: Higher night resting HR was linked to subsequent depressive severity, through the mediation of sleep disturbance. Anxiety contributed to an exacerbated level of sleep disturbance, subsequently intensifying depression severity. Anxiety exhibited no direct effect on night resting HR. Conclusions: Our findings underscore the mediating role of sleep disturbance in the effect of night resting HR on depression severity, and anxiety on depression severity. This insight has potential implications for early identification of indicators signalling worsening depression symptoms, enabling clinicians to initiate timely and responsive treatment measures.
- ArticleAtlas of Gray Matter Volume Differences Across Psychiatric Conditions: A Systematic Review With a Novel Meta-Analysis That Considers Co-Occurring Disorders(Elsevier B.V., 2025-07-01) Fortea, Lydia; Ortuño, María; De Prisco, Michele ; Oliva, Vincenzo; Albajes Eizagirre, Anton; Fortea, Adriana; Madero Gómez, Santiago; Solanes, Aleix; Vilajosana, Enric; Yao, Yuanwei; Fabro, Lorenzo del; Solé, Eduard; Verdolini, Norma; Farré Colomés, Álvar; Serra Blasco, María; Picó Pérez, Maria; Lukito, Steve; Wise, Toby; Carlisi, Christina; Arnone, Danilo; Kempton, Matthew J.; Hauson, Alexander O.; Wollman, Scott C.; Soriano Mas, Carles; Rubia, Katya; Norman, Luke; Fusar-Poli, Paolo; Mataix-Cols, David; Valentí Ribas, Marc; Via Virgili, Esther; Cardoner, N. (Narcís); Solmi, Marco; Zhang, Jintao; Pan, PingLei; Shin, Jae I.; Fullana Rivas, Miguel Àngel; Vieta i Pascual, Eduard, 1963-; Radua, JoaquimBackground Regional gray matter volume (GMV) differences between individuals with mental disorders and comparison participants may be confounded by co-occurring disorders. To disentangle disorder-specific GMV correlates, we conducted a large-scale multidisorder meta-analysis using a novel approach that explicitly models co-occurring disorders. Methods We systematically reviewed voxel-based morphometry studies indexed in PubMed and Scopus up to January 2023 that compared adults with major mental disorders (anorexia nervosa, schizophrenia spectrum, anxiety, bipolar, major depressive, obsessive-compulsive, and posttraumatic stress disorders plus attention-deficit/hyperactivity, autism spectrum, and borderline personality disorders) with comparison participants. Two authors independently extracted data and assessed quality using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. We derived GMV correlates for each disorder using: 1) a multidisorder meta-analysis that accounted for all co-occurring mental disorders simultaneously and 2) separate standard meta-analyses for each disorder in which co-occurring disorders were ignored. We assessed the alterations’ extent, intensity (effect size), and specificity (interdisorder correlations and transdiagnostic alterations) for both approaches. Results We included 433 studies (499 datasets) involving 19,718 patients and 16,441 comparison participants (51% female, ages 20–67 years). We provide GMV correlate maps for each disorder using both approaches. The novel approach, which accounted for co-occurring disorders, produced GMV correlates that were more focal and disorder specific (less correlated across disorders and fewer transdiagnostic abnormalities).
- Article1-H-MR spectroscopy is sensitive to subtle effects of perinatal asphyxia(Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins. Wolters Kluwer Health, 2001-09-25) Mañeru Zunazarren, Cristina; Junqué i Plaja, Carme, 1955-; Bargalló Alabart, Núria; Olondo, M.; Botet Mussons, Francisco; Tallada, Mercé; Guàrdia-Olmos, Joan, 1958-; Mercader Sobrequés, José Ma.The authors performed neuropsychological and 1H-MRS studies in 18 subclinical patients with antecedents of perinatal asphyxia (PA) and in 18 matched control subjects. Patients with PA showed reduced values of N-acetylaspartate (NAA) in both the basal ganglia and the midtemporal region (MTR) and reduced NAA/choline values in the MTR. Neuropsychological testing showed group differences in tasks related to attention and memory. These results indicate persistent dysfunctions in cerebral structures vulnerable to hypoxia and demonstrate the utility of MRS for the long-term evaluation of cerebral sequelae of neonatal asphyxia.
- ArticleNeural correlates of human fear conditioning and sources of variability in 2199 individuals(Nature Publishing Group, 2025-08-23) Radua, Joaquim; Savage, Hannah S.; Vilajosana, Enric; Jamieson, Alec; Abler, Birgit; Åhs, Fredrik; Beckers, Tom; Cardoner, N. (Narcís); Cisler, Josh M.; Diniz, Juliana B.; Bach, Dominik R.; Elsenbruch, Sigrid; Greening, Steven G.; Holt, Daphne J.; Kaczkurkin, Antonia N.; Keil, Andreas; Kindt, Merel; Koch, Kathrin; LaBar, Kevin S.; Lam, Charlene L.; Larson, Christine L.; Lonsdorf, Tina B.; Merz, Christian J.; McLaughlin, Katie A.; Neria, Yuval; Pine, Daniel S.; Reekum, Carien M. van; Shackman, Alexander J.; Soriano Mas, Carles; Spoormaker, Victor I.; Stout, Daniel M.; Straube, Benjamin; Straube, Thomas; Tuominen, Lauri; Visser, Renée M.; Ahumada, Laura; Arolt, Volker; Batistuzzo, Marcelo C.; Bazán, Paulo R.; Biggs, Emma E.; Cano Català, Marta; Chavarría-Elizondo, Pamela; Cooper, Samuel E.; Dannlowski, Udo; Peña Arteaga, Víctor de la; DeCross, Stephanie N.; Domschke, Katharina; Ehlers, Mana R.; Graner, John L.; Hamm, Alfons O.; Herrmann, Martin J.; Huggins, Ashley A.; Icenhour, Adriane; Juaneda Seguí, Asier; Junghoefer, Markus; Kircher, Tilo; Koelkebeck, Katja; Kuhn, Manuel; Labrenz, Franziska; Lissek, Shmuel M.; Lotze, Martin; Lueken, Ulrike; Margraf, Jürgen; Martínez Zalacaín, Ignacio; Moeck, Robert; Morriss, Jayne; Ortuño, María; Pittig, Andre; Porta Casteràs, Daniel; Richter, Jan; Ridderbusch, Isabelle C.; Rief, Winfried; Roesmann, Kati; Rosén, Jörgen; Rußmann, Alena N.; Sjouwerman, Rachel; Spohrs, Jennifer; Ströhle, Andreas; Suárez Jimenez, Benjamin; Ulrich, Martin; Wittchen, Hans-Ulrich; Zhu, Xi; Waller, Lea; Walter, Henrik; Thompson, Paul M.; Bas Hoogendam, Janna Marie; Groenewold, Nynke A.; Stein, Dan J., 1962-; Van der Wee, N.J.; Dunsmoor, Joseph E.; Marquand, Andre; Harrison, Ben J.; Fullana Rivas, Miguel ÀngelPavlovian fear conditioning is a fundamental process in both health and disease. We investigate its neural correlates and sources of variability using harmonized functional magnetic resonance imaging data from 2199 individuals across nine countries, including 1888 healthy individuals and 311 with anxiety-related or depressive disorders. Using mega-analysis and normative modeling, we show that fear conditioning consistently engages brain regions within the “central autonomic–interoceptive” or “salience” network. Several task variables strongly modulate activity in these regions, contributing to variability in neural responses. Additionally, brain activation patterns differ between healthy individuals and those with anxiety-related or depressive disorders, with distinct profiles characterizing specific disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder. While the neural correlates of fear conditioning are highly generalizable at the population level, variability arises from differences in task design and clinical status, highlighting the importance of methodological diversity in capturing fear learning mechanisms
- ArticleMapping cross-modal functional connectivity of major neurotransmitter systems in the human brain(Springer Verlag, 2025-09-01) Saiz-Masvidal, Cristina; Peña Arteaga, Víctor de la; Bertolín Triquell, Sara; Diez, Ibai; Juaneda Seguí, Asier; Martínez Zalacaín, Ignacio; Chavarría-Elizondo, Pamela; Subirà Coromina, Marta; Menchón Magriñá, José Manuel; Sepulcre, Jorge, 1976-; Fullana Rivas, Miguel Àngel; Soriano Mas, CarlesMonoaminergic systems, including serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine, are essential for regulating brain activity and facilitating behavioral flexibility. These systems originate from brainstem nuclei and project widely to modulate functions such as mood, attention, memory, and adaptability. Using resting-state functional MRI (rs-fMRI), this study aimed to investigate the connectivity networks of key monoaminergic nuclei in 193 healthy adults and explore their correspondence with molecular imaging maps of neurotransmitter-specific biochemical markers. Functional connectivity (FC) was assessed using seed-based rs-fMRI analyses with seeds placed in the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN), nucleus centralis superior (NCS), ventral tegmental area (VTA), substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc), and locus coeruleus (LC). Cross-modal analyses using molecular imaging data were performed to correlate these rs-FC maps with the distribution of neurotransmitter-related receptors, transporters, and synthesis enzymes, providing insights into the molecular architecture underlying the FC of monoaminergic systems. Whole-brain FC maps revealed distinct patterns for each nucleus. DRN projections were extensive, connecting to subcortical regions such as the hippocampus and amygdala and cortical areas including the precuneus, cingulate, and medial frontal cortex. NCS projections overlapped partially but uniquely targeted the orbitofrontal and insular cortices. Dopaminergic pathways exhibited connectivity with the striatum, thalamus, and prefrontal cortex, while noradrenergic LC projections displayed lateralized connectivity to occipital, temporal, and frontal regions. Cross-modal correlations with molecular imaging demonstrated significant spatial associations between rs-FC maps and neurotransmitter-specific markers, including 5HTT, DAT, and FDOPA. This study enhances our understanding of neurotransmitter networks, highlighting their relevance in brain function and potential as biomarkers for neuropsychiatric conditions.
- ArticleInteractions between gut microbiota, plasma metabolome and brain function in the setting of a HIV cure trial(Frontiers Media, 2025-08-20) Borgognone, Alessandra; Prats, Anna; Sharma, Ashish Arunkumar; Martínez Zalacaín, Ignacio; Soriano Mas, Carles; Brander, Christian; Clotet, Bonaventura, 1953-; Moltó, José; Mothe, Beatriz; Sekaly, Rafick-Pierre; Paredes, Roger; Muñoz Moreno, José A.Background: The intestinal microbiota composition has been linked to neurocognitive impairment in people with HIV (PWH). However, the potential interplay of microbial species and related metabolites, particularly in the context of an HIV cure strategy remains underexplored. The BCN02 trial evaluated the impact of romidepsin (RMD), used as a HIV-1 latency reversing agent and with reported beneficial neurological effects, combined with the MVA.HIVconsv vaccine on virus control during 32-weeks of monitored antiretroviral treatment interruption (MAP) in early-treated HIV-infected individuals. Here, we analyzed longitudinal gut microbiome, plasma metabolome and brain functioning data to identify potential associations and novel putative biomarkers of HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND). Methods: Data from fecal shotgun metagenomics, plasma metabolome, cognitive (standardized neuropsychological test score covering 6 cognitive domains, NPZ-6), functional (neuropsychiatric symptoms) and neuroimaging assessments were obtained and evaluated in 18 participants before and after RMD administration, and at the study end (post-MAP follow-up) in the BCN02 trial. Results: Participants with neurocognitive impairment (Lower vs. Higher NPZ-6 score group) were enriched in bacterial species, including Desulfovibrio desulfuricans, Sutterella wadsworthensis and Streptococcus thermophilus, and showed higher 1,2-propanediol degradation microbial pathway levels, before RMD administration. A multi-omics profiling showed significant and positive correlations between these microbial features and lipid-related metabolic pathways, previously linked to neurological disorders (i.e., sphingolipid, ether lipid, and glycerophospholipid metabolism), in participants with neurocognitive impairment, before RMD administration. Three indices (microbial-, metabolite-based and combined) obtained from the discriminant features were assessed longitudinally, showing progressive similarities between NPZ-6 score groups over time. Furthermore, the three indices and related discriminant features correlated negatively with functional outcomes, such as quality of life and daily functioning, and positively with depression, stress and CNS-related symptoms before RMD administration, while these associations became less discernible at the subsequent timepoints. Conclusions: While the direct effect of the intervention on the observed shifts cannot be conclusively determined in this study settings, these findings strengthen the link between gut bacteria, related metabolites, and neurocognitive function in PWH, and provide an analytical framework for future validation studies aimed at discovering predictive biomarkers for neurocognitive impairment in PWH.
- ArticleMental Health Among Spanish Doctoral Students: Relationship Between Anxiety, Depression, Life Satisfaction, and Mentoring(MDPI, 2025-08-17) Krieger, Virginia; Cañete-Massé, Cristina; Amador, Juan Antonio; Peró, Maribel; Feliu, Maria, 1980-; Pérez González, Alba; Jarne Esparcia, Adolfo; Triadó i Ivern, Xavier Ma.; Guàrdia-Olmos, Joan, 1958-Background: Mental health issues among PhD students are rising, a trend believed to bedriven by academic and social challenges. Method: A total of 1265 doctorate students froma large university in Barcelona, Spain (739 women; 414 men; 112 marked other options),with a mean age of 32.36 years (SD = 8.20, range: 23–67), were evaluated by means ofstandardized instruments. Results: Totals of 40.6% and 46.5% of the sample exceeded thecut-off point for anxiety and depression symptoms, and 57.7% for life satisfaction. Theproportion of females exceeding the cut-off point was significantly higher than that ofmales for both anxiety (women: 43.8%, men: 34.5%) and depression (women: 49.3%, men:39.8%), but not for life satisfaction (women: 57.6%, men: 58.4%). Arts and HumanitiesPhD students’ disciplines reported higher anxiety and depression scores than those inSocial Sciences, Experimental Sciences and Mathematics, and Health Sciences, respectively,while Social Sciences students showed higher life satisfaction and mentoring supportthan the other groups. Depression scores were significant predictors of life satisfactionacross all doctoral programs. Conclusions: These findings highlight the importance ofmentoring in supporting doctoral students’ mental health and life satisfaction and canalso inform policies in educational institutions, given that PhD students experiencingpsychopathological disorders are at a higher risk of academic failure and dropout.
- ArticleTowards collaborative data science in mental health research: The ECNP neuroimaging network accessible data repository(Elsevier B.V., 2025-01-01) Khuntia, Adyasha; Buciuman, Madalina-Octavia; Fanning, John; Stolicyn, Aleks; Vetter, Clara; Armio, Reetta-Liina; From, Tiina; Goffi, Federica; Hahn, Lisa; Kaufmann, Tobias; Laurikainen, Heikki; Maggioni, Eleonora; Martínez Zalacaín, Ignacio; Ruef, Anne; Dong, Mark Sen; Schwarz, Emanuel; Squarcina, Letizia; Andreassen, Ole; Bellani, Marcella; Brambilla, Paolo; Haren, Neeltje van; Hietala, Jarmo; Lawrie, Stephen M.; Soriano Mas, Carles; Whalley, Heather; Taquet, Maxime; Meisenzahl, Eva; Falkai, Peter; Wiegand, Ariane; Koutsouleris, NikolaosThe current biologically uninformed psychiatric taxonomy complicates optimal diagnosis and treatment. Neuroimaging-based machine learning methods hold promise for tackling these issues, but large-scale, representative cohorts are required for building robust and generalizable models. The European College of Neuropsychopharmacology Neuroimaging Network Accessible Data Repository (ECNP-NNADR) addresses this need by collating multi-site, multi-modal, multi-diagnosis datasets that enable collaborative research. The newly established ECNP-NNADR includes 4829 participants across 21 cohorts and 11 distinct psychiatric diagnoses, available via the Virtual Pooling and Analysis of Research data (ViPAR) software. The repository includes demographic and clinical information, including diagnosis and questionnaires evaluating psychiatric symptomatology, as well as multi-atlas grey matter volume regions of interest (ROI). To illustrate the opportunities offered by the repository, two proof-of-concept analyses were performed: (1) multivariate classification of 498 patients with schizophrenia (SZ) and 498 matched healthy control (HC) individuals, and (2) normative age prediction using 1170 HC individuals with subsequent application of this model to study abnormal brain maturational processes in patients with SZ. In the SZ classification task, we observed varying balanced accuracies, reaching a maximum of 71.13% across sites and atlases. The normative-age model demonstrated a mean absolute error (MAE) of 6.95 years [coefficient of determination (R2) = 0.77, P < .001] across sites and atlases. The model demonstrated robust generalization on a separate HC left-out sample achieving a MAE of 7.16 years [R2 = 0.74,P < .001]. When applied to the SZ group, the model exhibited a MAE of 7.79 years [R2 = 0.79, P < .001], with patients displaying accelerated brain-aging with a brain age gap (BrainAGE) of 4.49 (8.90) years. Conclusively, this novel multi-site, multi-modal, transdiagnostic data repository offers unique opportunities for systematically tackling existing challenges around the generalizability and validity of imaging-based machine learning applications for psychiatry.
- ArticleHippocampal and amygdala subfield volumes in obsessive–compulsive disorder by medication status(Canadian Medical Association, 2025-06-20) Ntwatwa, Ziphozihle; Lochner, Christine; Roos, Annerine; Sevenoaks, Tatum; van Honk, Jack; Batistuzzo, Marcelo C.; Choi, Sunah; Hoexter, Marcelo Q.; Kim, Minah; Kwon, Jun Soo; Mataix-Cols, David; Menchón Magriñá, José Manuel; Miguel, Euripedes C.; Nakamae, Takashi; Soriano Mas, Carles; Veltman, Dick J.; Groenewold, Nynke A.; Van den Heuvel, Odile A.; Stein, Dan J., 1962-; Ipser, JonathanBackground: Although it has been suggested that the hippocampus and amygdala (HA) are involved in the neurobiology of obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD), volumetric findings have been inconsistent, and little work has been undertaken on the volumetry of the heterogeneous anatomic units of HA, with their specific functions and cytoarchitecture, in OCD. We sought to explore potential sources of heterogeneity in brain volumes by performing a separate analysis for people with and without psychotropic medication use, as well as the association of subfield volumes with OCD symptom severity. Methods: We segmented T1-weighted images from people with OCD and healthy controls in the OCD Brain Imaging Consortium to produce 12 hippocampal subfields and 9 amygdala subfields using Free-Surfer 6.0. We assessed between-group differences in subfield volume using a mixed-effects model adjusted for age and quadratic effects of age, sex, site, and whole HA volume. We also performed subgroup analyses to examine subfield volume in relation to comorbid anxiety and depression, medication status, and symptom severity. We corrected all analyses for multiple comparisons using the false discovery rate (FDR). Results: We included images from 381 people with OCD and 338 healthy controls. These groups did not significantly differ in HA subfield volumes. However, medicated people with OCD had significantly smaller volumes in the hippocampal dentate gyrus (pFDR = 0.04, d = −0.26) and molecular layer (pFDR = 0.04, d = −0.29), and larger volumes in the lateral (pFDR = 0.049, d = 0.23) and basal (pFDR = 0.049, d = 0.25) amygdala subfields, than healthy controls. Unmedicated people with OCD had significantly smaller volumes in the hippocampal cornu ammonis sector 1 (pFDR = 0.02, d = −0.28) than controls. We did not detect associations between any subfield volume and OCD severity. Limitations: We used cross-sectional data, which limits the interpretation of our analysis. Conclusion: Differences in HA subfields between people with OCD and healthy controls are dependent on medication status, in line with previous work on other brain volumetric alterations in OCD. This emphasizes the importance of considering psychotropic medication in neuroimaging studies of OCD.
- ArticleCaregiver victimization in community adolescents: Protective factors related to resilience(American Psychological Association, 2018-03) Pérez González, Alba; Pereda Beltran, Noemí; Guilera Ferré, Georgina; Abad i Gil, Judit; Finkelhor, DavidObjective: To determine the specific protective factors that seem to be related to psychological adjustment in child and youth victims of direct and indirect forms of caregiver victimization. Method: A total of 1,105 children and youth (590 male and 515 female) from northeastern Spain and aged between 12 and 17 years were assessed regarding their experiences of caregiver victimization, symptoms of psychopathology, and protective factors. Results: Caregiver victimization during lifetime was reported by 26.8% of the overall sample. The results showed that any form of caregiver victimization was related to higher levels of emotional and behavioral problems. Some aspects of the Self domain (e.g., Social Skills or low Negative Cognition) were found to protect against internalizing problems. In the case of externalizing problems, several factors from different domains (i.e., Self, Family, and School) were found to be protective, and a significant interaction between caregiver victimization and Connectedness to School was observed. Conclusions: The results show that protective factors play a role in the explanation of emotional and behavioral problems. The findings reveal some of the protective factors that should be regarded as key intervention targets in children and youth with a history of caregiver victimization.
- ArticlePsychopathological Correlates of Polyvictimization in Young Offenders(SAGE Publications, 2016-12-01) Álvarez-Lister, María Soledad; Pereda Beltran, Noemí; Guilera Ferré, GeorginaPrevious research has demonstrated a significant relationship between victimization and involvement in delinquency, but few studies have focused on exploring the effects of victimization on young offenders. This study analyzed the relationship between accumulated experiences of victimization, or polyvictimization, and the presence of psychopathology in 100 Spanish offenders (81% males) aged 14 to 17 years (M = 16.08, SD = 0.99). By means of cluster analysis, three groups of polyvictimized and two groups of less victimized offenders were identified. After controlling for demographic and criminal characteristics, polyvictims were more likely to reach a clinical level (T 65) of externalizing behavior (odds ratio [OR] = 3.136) and general impairment (OR = 2.878) than the remaining adolescents. These results showed that assessing multiple and less common forms of victimization is an important task when evaluating adolescent offenders, as polyvictimization is highly prevalent and places young people at a high risk of psychological impairment.