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<td><span style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:20px;font-weight:bold;">PsyPost – Psychology News Daily Digest (Unofficial)</span></td>
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<td><a href="https://www.psypost.org/alcohol-use-disorder-may-exacerbate-alzheimers-disease-through-shared-genetic-pathways/" style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; letter-spacing:-1px;margin:0;padding:0 0 2px;font-weight: bold;font-size: 19px;line-height: 20px;color:#222;">Alcohol use disorder may exacerbate Alzheimer’s disease through shared genetic pathways</a>
<div style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align:left;color:#999;font-size:11px;font-weight:bold;line-height:15px;">Jan 4th 2025, 08:00</div>
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<p><p>New research has uncovered a connection between Alzheimer’s disease and alcohol use disorder, suggesting that alcohol consumption might accelerate the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. The study, conducted by scientists at Scripps Research and published in <em><a href="https://www.eneuro.org/content/11/10/ENEURO.0118-24.2024" target="_blank" rel="noopener">eNeuro</a></em>, found that both conditions share altered gene expression patterns in the brain, with similar disruptions in inflammatory and cell-death pathways. These findings offer a deeper understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying Alzheimer’s disease and highlight alcohol use as a possible risk factor for its progression.</p>
<p>Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia, affecting nearly 7 million people in the United States, with numbers expected to double by 2060. Aging and genetic predisposition are well-established risk factors, but lifestyle choices such as alcohol use are also believed to influence the disease’s onset and severity. While heavy alcohol consumption is linked to cognitive decline and earlier onset of dementia, the specific molecular interactions between alcohol use disorder and Alzheimer’s disease remain poorly understood.</p>
<p>“While there are works that have studied early and late changes associated with Alzheimer’s disease, a systematic study of differential changes in the three clinically identified stages of the disease was lacking. Additionally, we were interested in evaluating excessive alcohol consumption as a risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease,” said study author Arpita Joshi, a staff scientist at The Scripps Research Institute.</p>
<p>The researchers conducted their study using a technique called single-cell transcriptomics, which analyzes gene expression in individual cells to uncover molecular changes with exceptional precision. They focused on the neocortex, a region of the brain critical for functions such as memory and reasoning, to investigate the transcriptional changes associated with Alzheimer’s disease and compare them to those seen in alcohol use disorder.</p>
<p>The study examined RNA sequencing data from brain samples of 75 individuals who were at different stages of Alzheimer’s disease progression—early, intermediate, and advanced—as well as 10 individuals without the disease. The data were obtained from a publicly available resource called the Seattle Alzheimer’s Disease Cell Atlas. These samples provided a comprehensive look at how gene expression varied across different cell types, including neurons, microglia (immune cells in the brain), and vascular cells, as Alzheimer’s disease progressed.</p>
<p>To draw parallels with alcohol use disorder, the researchers analyzed a separate dataset that included RNA sequencing data from individuals with and without alcohol dependence. By comparing these two datasets, the researchers aimed to identify overlapping genetic pathways and molecular changes that might suggest common mechanisms underlying both conditions.</p>
<p>The team focused on specific biological processes, such as inflammation, cell signaling, and cell death pathways, which are known to be critical in neurodegenerative diseases. They also examined how gene expression changes were distributed among different brain cell types, allowing them to identify cell-specific patterns and insights.</p>
<p>The study revealed several key findings about the shared molecular features of Alzheimer’s disease and alcohol use disorder. One of the most significant discoveries was the overlap in transcriptional changes related to inflammation. Both conditions showed increased expression of inflammatory genes and pathways, particularly in microglia and vascular cells. These changes were associated with processes such as cytokine production, a hallmark of immune system activation, and disruption of the blood-brain barrier, which protects the brain from harmful substances.</p>
<p>Neuronal loss was another shared feature. Both conditions exhibited downregulation of genes involved in synaptic signaling, which is crucial for communication between neurons. This was particularly evident in advanced Alzheimer’s disease and in individuals with alcohol use disorder. Specific types of neurons, such as inhibitory neurons that regulate brain activity, showed significant gene expression changes, including disruptions in calcium signaling and intracellular processes.</p>
<p>The researchers also found evidence of vascular dysfunction in both conditions. Genes related to angiogenesis (the growth of new blood vessels) and extracellular matrix signaling, which are essential for maintaining blood vessel integrity, were negatively affected. These disruptions may play a role in the vascular damage observed in both Alzheimer’s disease and alcohol use disorder.</p>
<p>Interestingly, the study identified distinct patterns of gene expression across different stages of Alzheimer’s disease. Early stages were characterized by changes in genes involved in autophagy, a process by which cells clear out damaged components. In contrast, later stages showed heightened expression of neuroinflammatory markers and stress-related neuropeptides, as well as disruptions in synaptic signaling and pathways related to cell death.</p>
<p>The comparison with alcohol use disorder revealed that many of these changes were mirrored in individuals with alcohol dependence. This overlap suggests that alcohol use disorder may exacerbate or accelerate the progression of Alzheimer’s disease by affecting similar molecular mechanisms. The findings also provide a foundation for exploring alcohol use as a modifiable risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease, with potential implications for prevention and treatment strategies.</p>
<p>“Alcohol use disorder and Alzheimer’s disease have significant commonalities in terms of dysregulations that they cause, suggesting a potential exacerbating effect of alcohol use disorder on Alzheimer’s disease progression,” Joshi told PsyPost. “This research lays the foundation to better understand the molecular mechanisms behind Alzheimer’s progression and how alcohol can influence it.”</p>
<p>The research sheds light on shared molecular pathways between Alzheimer’s disease and alcohol use disorder. But as with all research, there are limitations. The dataset for alcohol use disorder was relatively small, which may affect the generalizability of the findings. Larger datasets with more diverse samples are needed to confirm these results and uncover additional molecular interactions.</p>
<p>“We found statistical significance for common perturbations only in the broad neuronal category of GABAergic/inhibitory neurons in intermediate and advanced Alzheimer’s disease,” Joshi noted. “Transcription factor analysis underlined many genes in both the diseases that are known to contribute to genetic disorders related to intellectual disabilities. The caveat is that the alcohol use disorder dataset is very small with only 3 AUD samples and 4 control samples. We need a larger dataset to do a more comprehensive study of alcohol use disorder in humans and then we can expect to derive insights at a finer granularity of cell-types and find further substantiation.”</p>
<p>Future research could also explore whether the shared genetic pathways translate to functional changes in brain activity and behavior. Understanding how alcohol use influences Alzheimer’s disease progression could lead to targeted interventions, such as drugs that modulate specific genetic pathways or lifestyle recommendations to mitigate risk.</p>
<p>“We are working on a new and larger alcohol use disorder dataset that will allow us to conduct a more detailed study and perform an even more comprehensive comparison with Alzheimer’s disease,” Joshi said. “We intend to delineate stages of alcohol use disorder and find out the types of Alzheimer’s-like orthogonal pathologies that it might contribute to. Our findings will stimulate further research in this area and may have implications for the development of novel or repurposing existing therapeutic approaches to tackle alcoholism.”</p>
<p>The study, “<a href="https://doi.org/10.1523/ENEURO.0118-24.2024" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Transcriptional Patterns in Stages of Alzheimer’s Disease Are Cell-Type–Specific and Partially Converge with the Effects of Alcohol Use Disorder in Humans</a>,” was authored by Arpita Joshi, Federico Manuel Giorgi, and Pietro Paolo Sanna.</p></p>
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<td><a href="https://www.psypost.org/womens-implicit-preferences-reveal-surprisingly-high-levels-of-gynephilia/" style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; letter-spacing:-1px;margin:0;padding:0 0 2px;font-weight: bold;font-size: 19px;line-height: 20px;color:#222;">Women’s implicit preferences reveal surprisingly high levels of gynephilia</a>
<div style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align:left;color:#999;font-size:11px;font-weight:bold;line-height:15px;">Jan 4th 2025, 06:00</div>
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<p><p>A new study published in <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39575836/"><em>The Journal of Sexual Medicine</em></a> provides new insights into female sexual attraction, revealing a striking discrepancy between implicit and explicit measures of gynephilia—the sexual preference for women. Scientists discovered that while only a small percentage of participants explicitly identified as non-heterosexual, implicit measures found that a majority of women exhibited gynephilic attraction. These findings suggest that many women experience attraction to other women without necessarily engaging in or desiring sexual encounters.</p>
<p>“I have been deeply interested in the Darwinian paradox of homosexuality for over 25 years,” said study author <a href="https://scholar.google.it/citations?user=YFHq0FwAAAAJ&hl=it">Andrea S. Camperio Ciani</a>, a full professor of evolutionary psychology, behavioral genetics and neuroscience at the University of Padova.</p>
<p>The Darwinian paradox of homosexuality stems from a central question in evolutionary biology: if reproductive success drives natural selection, how can traits that seemingly reduce reproductive output—such as exclusive same-sex attraction—persist across generations? Individuals who do not engage in heterosexual relationships, or have fewer offspring due to their orientation, would theoretically pass on fewer genes, leading to the eventual decline of such traits in the population.</p>
<p>Yet, homosexuality remains a stable and enduring aspect of human variation, observed consistently across cultures and even in other species. This apparent contradiction suggests that there must be factors at play that allow these traits to persist within an evolutionary framework.</p>
<p>“Through my research, I uncovered evidence of a partial genetic influence on homosexuality, maintained through a mechanism of sexually antagonistic selection, solving the long-lasting Darwinian paradox of the genetic transmission of homosexuality,” Camperio-Ciani said. “This mechanism promotes male homosexuality in some male individuals, while significantly enhancing fecundity in their maternal female relatives.”</p>
<p>This phenomenon, known as sexually antagonistic selection, suggests that genes associated with same-sex attraction in one sex may confer reproductive benefits to the opposite sex. In practical terms, genetic predispositions linked to homosexuality can enhance the fertility of relatives, thereby increasing the overall reproductive success of the family. This type of kin selection allows these genes to persist despite their apparent disadvantage for individual reproductive output.</p>
<p>“In the case of female homosexuality, this selection appears to increase fecundity across the entire familial pedigree,” Camperio-Ciani explained. “Based on these findings, I hypothesized that androphilia—the sexual preference and arousal to male images rather than female images—could serve as a necessary, but not sufficient, genetic prerequisite for male homosexuality. A <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsxm.2020.09.011" target="_blank" rel="noopener">recent study by our team</a> strikingly confirmed this hypothesis. Building on these results, we turned our focus to gynephilia in females to explore whether a similar mechanism might act as a genetic prerequisite for non-heterosexuality in women.”</p>
<p>By distinguishing between implicit (unconscious) and explicit (self-reported) measures of attraction, the researchers aimed to shed light on whether same-sex attraction in women reflects biological predispositions, social constructs, or an interplay of both.</p>
<p>Participants were recruited globally through an online platform, ensuring a diverse sample of 555 women aged 18 to 65 years. To mitigate biases and confirm data accuracy, data from individuals whose responses were inconsistent or unreliable were excluded, leaving a final sample of 491 participants.</p>
<p>The methodology included three primary tasks. First, participants completed a short biographical questionnaire to gather demographic data such as age, education, and geographic location. Second, they performed two Implicit Association Tests (IATs): the Autobiographical IAT (A-IAT) and the Sexual Preference IAT (SP-IAT). The A-IAT was used to verify participants’ gender by measuring the speed and accuracy of their responses to gender-related statements. The SP-IAT assessed implicit sexual preferences by examining participants’ automatic associations between male and female traits and concepts of sexual attractiveness or repulsiveness.</p>
<p>Finally, participants explicitly reported their sexual orientation using the Kinsey Scale, which measures self-identified sexual preferences on a continuum from exclusively heterosexual to exclusively homosexual.</p>
<p>The researchers found a significant discrepancy between implicit and explicit measures of sexual orientation. On the explicit Kinsey Scale, the majority of participants (80.4%) identified as heterosexual, while 14.9% identified as bisexual and 4.7% as homosexual.</p>
<p>However, the SP-IAT indicated that 67.8% of participants exhibited implicit gynephilic preferences, with only 5.9% showing implicit androphilic preferences (attraction to men over women). Notably, implicit gynephilia was observed even among participants who explicitly identified as heterosexual, suggesting that implicit measures may capture aspects of sexual preference that are not reflected in self-reported data.</p>
<p>“Our findings were surprising, as they revealed a much higher prevalence of implicit gynephilia than explicitly reported non-heterosexuality, suggesting complex dynamics that differ significantly from those observed in males,” Camperio-Ciani told PsyPost. “This suggests that many women may harbor same-sex preferences that are not consciously acknowledged or socially expressed.”</p>
<p>Follow-up analyses explored whether implicit gynephilia might reflect an appreciation of female aesthetic beauty rather than sexual attraction. When asked to rate images of men and women on aesthetic attractiveness and potential as sexual partners, participants rated women higher for aesthetic appeal but men higher as potential sexual partners. This pattern suggests that implicit measures of gynephilia may capture broader dimensions of attraction beyond sexual interest.</p>
<p>“We were very surprised to discover that the rate of gynephilia in females was remarkably high worldwide,” Camperio-Ciani explained. “Upon further analysis, we hypothesized that this might be due to the overlap between aesthetic beauty and erotic beauty in females, leading to a greater prevalence of gynephilic responses.”</p>
<p>“In contrast, for males, gynephilia is predominantly associated with heterosexual attraction, while androphilia is relatively rare—observed in only about 18% of males, compared to almost 75% gynephilia in females. This suggests that, in humans, gynephilia may be the norm, but unlike androphilia in males, it does not reliably predict homosexuality in females. Instead, it reflects a broader appreciation for female beauty that may not necessarily translate into sexual orientation or behavior.”</p>
<p>Despite its strengths, the study has limitations. While the sample was geographically diverse, it skewed toward young, highly educated participants, limiting generalizability. The study’s reliance on implicit association tests, which have faced criticism, also warrants caution.</p>
<p>“One major caveat of our study is the reliance on implicit measures like the Implicit Association Test, which, while innovative and insightful, has faced scrutiny regarding its validity in recent years,” Camperio-Ciani said.</p>
<p>The researchers suggest several avenues for future exploration. For instance, they propose examining the biological and cultural factors that influence the disconnect between implicit preferences and explicit orientations. Further studies could investigate how implicit measures evolve over time or vary across different life stages. Additionally, exploring how implicit gynephilia relates to actual sexual behaviors could deepen understanding of the complex interplay between attraction, identity, and social context.</p>
<p>“My long-term goals for this line of research are to deepen our understanding of the biological, genetic, and social mechanisms underlying sexual orientation and preferences,” Camperio-Ciani explained. “I aim to explore how implicit sexual preferences interact with cultural and environmental factors to shape explicit orientations and behaviors. Additionally, I hope to refine the tools we use to study these phenomena, addressing limitations such as the validity of implicit measures and broadening cross-cultural representation. Ultimately, my objective is to contribute to a more nuanced view of human sexuality, challenging stereotypes and fostering greater acceptance through scientific insight.”</p>
<p>Camperio-Ciani noted that research on homosexuality can have profound real-world implications, fostering greater understanding, acceptance, and inclusion of sexual diversity. For example, evidence of genetic and biological influences on homosexuality has been cited in legal decisions, such as the decriminalization of homosexuality in India, demonstrating how scientific findings can directly support social justice and legislative change.</p>
<p>“I am particularly proud of the real-world impact of my earlier work on the genetic influences of homosexuality, which was <a href="https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/paradox-solver-welcomes-verdict/cid/1666740">cited in the landmark 2018 decision</a> by the Supreme Court of India to decriminalize homosexuality due to its partial genetic bases that could not be discriminated,” he said. “This ruling overturned a law that previously sentenced individuals to up to 10 years of hard reclusion in Indian prisons, granting new freedom, inclusion, and civil rights to an estimated 60 to 100 million homosexual individuals in the Indian subcontinent.”</p>
<p>“These are the kinds of outcomes that I find deeply meaningful, as they demonstrate how scientific research can contribute to tangible social progress and equality. I hope that my ongoing work continues to inspire similar changes, fostering greater understanding and acceptance of diversity in human sexuality.”</p>
<p>The study, “<a href="https://doi.org/10.1093/jsxmed/qdae162">Worldwide study reveals fluid sexual preferences in females and no association between gynephilia and non-heterosexuality</a>,” was authored by Andrea S. Camperio Ciani and Daiana Colledani.</p></p>
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<td><a href="https://www.psypost.org/psychedelic-therapy-ignited-a-harrowing-mental-health-crisis-for-one-patient-but-she-would-do-it-again/" style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; letter-spacing:-1px;margin:0;padding:0 0 2px;font-weight: bold;font-size: 19px;line-height: 20px;color:#222;">Psychedelic therapy ignited a harrowing mental health crisis for one patient — but she would do it again</a>
<div style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align:left;color:#999;font-size:11px;font-weight:bold;line-height:15px;">Jan 3rd 2025, 16:00</div>
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<p><p>A recent case study published in <a href="https://doi.org/10.1192/bjo.2024.768"><em>BJPsych Open</em></a> sheds light on the complex and sometimes contradictory outcomes of psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy for treatment-resistant depression. The case describes a participant in a clinical trial who experienced increased suicidal thoughts and severe eating difficulties after receiving a psilocybin dose. Despite these challenges, the participant ultimately found the experience beneficial, leading to significant life changes that were not reflected in traditional depression rating scales.</p>
<p>Psilocybin, a psychoactive compound found in certain “magic” mushrooms, has garnered attention for its potential to treat conditions like depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder. In clinical settings, psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy involves administering a controlled dose of the compound in a supportive environment, often accompanied by preparation and integration sessions. These sessions help participants process their experiences, making them an integral part of the therapy. The treatment aims to facilitate profound psychological insights or emotional breakthroughs that could alleviate symptoms of mental illness.</p>
<p>Psilocybin’s effects on the brain, including its ability to reduce rigidity in thought patterns and foster emotional openness, have been linked to therapeutic benefits. However, the altered states of consciousness it induces can also lead to challenging experiences. This dual nature of psilocybin underscores the importance of careful clinical oversight and support throughout the therapy process.</p>
<p>The participant, who was given the pseudonym Zakara in the case report, had struggled with depression for over a decade, with her current episode lasting two and a half years. Previous treatments, including standard antidepressants, had been ineffective. She entered the trial with significant depressive symptoms, moderate social anxiety, and a history of suicidal thoughts, though she had no immediate plans to act on them.</p>
<p>On the day of her psilocybin dose, Zakara was administered 25 milligrams of the compound in a controlled environment. The psilocybin session initially appeared promising. Zakara recalled themes and imagery from her childhood, which evoked a “feeling of goodness I haven’t felt since I was seven.” But the relief was short-lived. She described the experience as one of stark confrontation with suppressed emotions: “The psilocybin ripped the lid off and shoved it under my nose and said, ‘smell that.’ So, while it was extremely unpleasant, it was ultimately needed and important that I finally acknowledged I couldn’t live like that anymore.”</p>
<p>For Zakara, this unmasking of emotional pain revealed the extent of her struggles, which she had hidden even from herself. “The mask I wore from day to day in order to hide from everyone how unwell I was inside was blown to smithereens. I realised that it had not been an armour to protect a vulnerable core… It was a brutal cage that I had been slowly wasting away inside of.”</p>
<p>The immediate aftermath was marked by emotional and physical challenges. Zakara reported feeling “hungover” and described her mood as plummeting. Suicidal thoughts became more constant, and nausea prevented her from eating. “I was more or less unable to eat anything without being or feeling sick for the next few days and then was so anxious I had very low appetite thereafter. I did little more than lie on the sofa and cry,” she recounted.</p>
<p>Her inability to eat extended for months, eventually leading to significant weight loss, hair thinning, and fainting. During this time, she also experienced a resurgence of intrusive thoughts and anxiety, describing the struggle as “scrambling for comfort and unable to find it anywhere.”</p>
<p>Amidst these challenges, Zakara began to notice subtle, meaningful changes. Over time, she started making small adjustments to her daily life, such as joining a gym and quitting her part-time retail job for one that felt more fulfilling. She also reconnected with activities that brought her joy and began exploring old hobbies. One small but symbolic shift stood out to her: “Before participating I brushed my teeth if I remembered (which was rare), felt like it (rarer still) or had a social or public-facing event. Since, I’ve brushed my teeth every day.”</p>
<p>These functional improvements were not without setbacks. Zakara experienced a second serious adverse event months after dosing, during a period of personal upheaval. Feeling isolated and overwhelmed, she counted pills for a potential overdose and started writing a suicide note but stopped herself. She described this phase as an ongoing battle between despair and a new awareness of her emotional landscape. “I felt as though I had discovered a sick truth of life: That no matter how hard you try to climb to better things, you will never succeed… But to accept it was a pain that could only be cured by suicide,” she explained.</p>
<p>Despite these struggles, Zakara’s connection to her emotions continued to grow. “Things felt real for the first time in so long I can’t even remember—not just a haze that often felt like a simulation,” she reflected. This newfound emotional clarity allowed her to make lasting changes, even as her depressive symptoms remained high on clinical rating scales.</p>
<p>Reflecting on the experience, she remarked, “It’s probably a puzzle I will be putting together until I die, but whereas before I was struggling with countless pieces that had no context, the trial experience gave me a glimpse of the picture on the front of the box.”</p>
<p>By the end of the one-year follow-up, Zakara described herself as being in a better place overall, with a more stable mood and her appetite back to normal. Although her journey was fraught with challenges, she expressed a nuanced perspective on the trial’s impact. “I don’t want my experience to be used as a warning against the use of psilocybin therapeutically. But I also don’t want it to be brushed aside as a fluke, or as a non-responder (Oh boy, did I respond).”</p>
<p>“I sometimes wonder if I’m a masochist or suffering some kind of psilocybin-Stockholm syndrome, because I’ve never regretted participating in the trial and if I could go back in time I would do it again.”</p>
<p>Case studies have inherent limitations. They focus on a single individual or a small group, making it difficult to generalize findings. The subjective nature of personal accounts can introduce bias, and outcomes may be influenced by factors unique to the individual, such as their life circumstances or prior experiences. In Zakara’s case, her ability to guess she had received an active dose could have influenced her responses.</p>
<p>Despite these limitations, case studies are valuable in highlighting areas for further research. Zakara’s experience points to the need for more qualitative exploration of psilocybin therapy, particularly regarding its potential to worsen symptoms before leading to improvement. It also highlights the importance of long-term follow-up to better understand the lasting effects of the treatment.</p>
<p>As the authors of the report concluded: “this case illustrates that psilocybin administration could be followed by a worsening in suicidal ideation and prolonged adverse events that long outlast its acute effects. Paradoxically, it may lead to an improvement in functional outcome that is not clear on depression rating scales. As this is a single case report, no conclusions can be drawn, and further assessment is required to understand this phenomenon.”</p>
<p>Interestingly, broader research aligns with this duality, suggesting that adverse experiences with psychedelics can sometimes yield positive mental health outcomes. For instance, a study published in the <em>Journal of Psychopharmacology</em> found that 84% of participants <a href="https://www.psypost.org/study-bad-trips-from-magic-mushrooms-often-result-in-an-improved-sense-of-personal-well-being/">who experienced a “bad trip” with psilocybin</a> later reported benefits, such as personal growth and improved well-being, despite the psychological difficulty. However, prolonged or particularly intense bad trips were linked to risks like self-harm and enduring psychological issues. Similarly, research from the <em>International Journal of Drug Policy</em> found that many psychedelic users <a href="https://www.psypost.org/study-suggests-psychedelic-users-reframe-bad-trips-into-positive-experiences-through-detailed-narratives/">employ storytelling to reframe distressing experiences</a>, attributing personal insights and emotional breakthroughs to their challenging trips.</p>
<p>The case report, “<a href="https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/bjpsych-open/article/worsening-suicidal-ideation-and-prolonged-adverse-event-following-psilocybin-administration-in-a-clinical-setting-case-report-and-thematic-analysis-of-one-participants-experience/01A95EB812984A7B5F5A7341D959FAF7" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Worsening suicidal ideation and prolonged adverse event following psilocybin administration in a clinical setting: case report and thematic analysis of one participant’s experience</a>,” was authored by Mourad Wahba, Caroline Hayes, Maartje Kletter, and R. Hamish McAllister-Williams.</p></p>
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<td><a href="https://www.psypost.org/compulsive-shopping-is-characterized-by-impairment-in-self-reported-executive-function/" style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; letter-spacing:-1px;margin:0;padding:0 0 2px;font-weight: bold;font-size: 19px;line-height: 20px;color:#222;">Compulsive shopping is characterized by impairment in self-reported executive function</a>
<div style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align:left;color:#999;font-size:11px;font-weight:bold;line-height:15px;">Jan 3rd 2025, 14:00</div>
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<p><p>A recent study of young adults found that individuals with a high propensity for compulsive shopping exhibit greater difficulties in executive functioning. Further analysis indicated that these individuals struggle with inhibitory control, which fully explains the observed link. The research was published in <a href="https://doi.org/10.1080/23279095.2021.2013846"><em>Applied Neuropsychology: Adult</em></a><em>.</em></p>
<p>For humans living in modern society, shopping is a necessity. It is the primary—and, for most, the only—way to acquire essential goods. Beyond necessity, many people find shopping pleasurable and may even experience joy when buying items that are not strictly needed. However, shopping can become compulsive, leading to personal challenges and financial difficulties.</p>
<p>Compulsive shopping, also known as shopping addiction, is a behavioral disorder characterized by an uncontrollable urge to shop and spend money excessively, often on unnecessary items. This behavior appears to be driven by negative emotions such as stress, anxiety, or boredom. While shopping may provide temporary relief from these emotions, it is often followed by feelings of guilt, regret, or financial distress.</p>
<p>Unlike occasional shopping sprees, compulsive shopping is repetitive, impulsive, and not motivated by practical considerations. Over time, it can lead to significant financial problems, strained relationships, and emotional turmoil. Compulsive shopping is often associated with other mental health conditions, such as depression, anxiety disorders, or substance abuse. Its underlying causes may include low self-esteem, difficulty regulating emotions, or societal pressures promoting consumerism.</p>
<p>Study author Tom Heffernan and his colleagues sought to explore the relationship between compulsive shopping and executive functioning. Executive functioning refers to a set of cognitive processes regulated by the brain’s prefrontal cortex that enable goal-directed behavior, including planning, decision-making, problem-solving, and self-control. These processes help regulate attention, manage emotions, and adapt to changing situations.</p>
<p>The researchers conducted an online survey using the Qualtrics platform. The study included 205 participants aged 18 to 48, with an average age of 26. Among them, 42 were highly prone to compulsive shopping, 39 of whom were women. Of the remaining 163 participants, 135 were women.</p>
<p>Participants completed assessments of compulsive shopping (using the Bergen Shopping Addiction Scale), working memory and cognitive inhibition (using the Adult Executive Functioning Inventory), general executive functioning (using the Dysexecutive Questionnaire Revised), and anxiety and depression (using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale).</p>
<p>The results showed that participants prone to compulsive shopping performed worse on all measures of executive functioning. Further analysis showed that the link between compulsive shopping and executive functioning was fully mediated by poorer inhibitory control. This means that individuals with a high tendency toward compulsive shopping struggle to control their impulses. Their ability to suppress impulsive behaviors, thoughts, or automatic responses to act in a goal-oriented and appropriate manner was impaired.</p>
<p>“The findings from the current study suggest that compulsive shopping is characterized by impairment in self-reported executive function. A subsequent mediation analysis suggested inhibitory control was a key element of the generic and working memory executive impairments found in Compulsive Shopping. This may explain why compulsive shoppers continue with their dysfunctional shopping behavior despite its negative consequences (legal and financial problems, distress) due to their inability to cognitively regulate their emotional response to shopping/buying and control their urges to purchase unnecessary items,” the study authors concluded.</p>
<p>The study sheds light on the links between executive functioning and compulsive shopping. However, it should be noted that the study’s design does not allow for causal inferences to be drawn from the results.</p>
<p>The paper “<a href="https://doi.org/10.1080/23279095.2021.2013846">Compulsive shopping behaviour and executive dysfunction in young adults</a>” was authored by Tom Heffernan, Colin Hamilton, and Nick Neave.</p></p>
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<td><a href="https://www.psypost.org/new-research-shows-how-environmental-conditions-shape-product-desire/" style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; letter-spacing:-1px;margin:0;padding:0 0 2px;font-weight: bold;font-size: 19px;line-height: 20px;color:#222;">New research shows how environmental conditions shape product desire</a>
<div style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align:left;color:#999;font-size:11px;font-weight:bold;line-height:15px;">Jan 3rd 2025, 12:00</div>
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<p><p>A recent study published in <a href="https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14090789"><em>Behavioral Sciences</em></a> has shed light on how consumer desires for products are influenced by environmental conditions. The findings show that perceived environmental harshness generally reduces product desire, though the extent of this effect depends on the type of product and the specific environmental factors involved.</p>
<p>“It is commonly believed that there is a direct cause-and-effect relationship between marketing and advertising initiatives and consumer behavior (in this case, product desire). However, many consumer behaviors, such as the desire for status-signaling products and the desire for energy-dense foods, existed prior to the invention of advertising,” explained study author <a href="https://www.jimswaffield.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jim Swaffield</a>, an assistant professor at <a href="https://www.athabascau.ca/business/our-people/jim-swaffield.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Athabasca University</a>.</p>
<p>“My line of research examines how variations in environmental conditions (safe vs. harsh) can increase, decrease, and mediate product desire. More specifically, my research aims to understand the ‘ultimate’ drivers of consumer behavior rather than ‘proximate’ drivers of behavior. These ‘ultimate’ drivers of consumer behavior are usually adaptive—meaning that the behavior confers a survival advantage (either currently or in the past). In addition, these behaviors are rooted in our evolutionary development.”</p>
<p>The researchers conducted two experiments designed to examine product preferences among adult men and women in response to varying environmental conditions.</p>
<p>In the first study, the researchers investigated how environmental conditions affected women’s desire for two categories of products: beautifying items and wealth-signaling goods. A total of 197 women, aged 30 to 50, participated in the study. The researchers selected this demographic because the products were presumed to appeal to this age group. Participants were recruited through an online survey platform and were paid a nominal fee for their participation.</p>
<p>Each participant was shown ten product images, five of which represented beautifying items (e.g., nail polish, high-heeled shoes, and red nylons) and five that signaled wealth (e.g., luxury handbags, sunglasses, and branded shoes). Participants rated how much they wanted each product on a seven-point scale, ranging from “extremely undesirable” to “extremely desirable.”</p>
<p>Following this initial rating, participants were randomly assigned to one of six environmental conditions. These conditions were described in narrative form and portrayed scenarios varying in safety and harshness across three dimensions: social support, financial stability, and physical safety. After reading these scenarios and imagining themselves in the described situations, participants rated the same products again.</p>
<p>The researchers found that harsh financial conditions reduced women’s desire for both product categories. For example, in the harsh financial scenario, women’s interest in beautifying products dropped significantly, with statistical tests confirming this reduction. Similarly, women exposed to scenarios of physical danger exhibited a marked decline in interest for both beautifying and wealth-signaling products.</p>
<p>However, social support conditions, whether safe or harsh, had little to no impact on product desirability. These findings suggest that perceived financial and physical insecurity can suppress consumer interest in products that enhance appearance or signal status, likely because these items become less relevant under survival-oriented stress.</p>
<p>In the second study, the researchers shifted their focus to men, exploring how environmental conditions influenced their desire for products that signal toughness or wealth. A total of 147 male participants, also aged 30 to 50, were recruited using the same online platform and procedure. The product categories included items such as tattoos, motorcycles, and climbing equipment for toughness signaling, and luxury watches, suits, and leather jackets for wealth signaling. Participants rated their desire for these items using the same seven-point scale.</p>
<p>After the initial product ratings, male participants were similarly assigned to one of six environmental scenarios, representing varying levels of safety and harshness across the same three dimensions: social, financial, and physical conditions. Participants read the scenarios, reflected on their implications, and then re-rated the same products.</p>
<p>The findings for men were consistent in some ways with those for women but also showed key differences. Harsh financial conditions led to a significant reduction in the desire for both toughness-signaling and wealth-signaling products. For instance, men’s interest in luxury watches and suits declined markedly under financial stress.</p>
<p>“Financial stress seems to have a stronger effect on product desire than social stress or stress due to physical safety concerns,” Swaffield told PsyPost. “I would have thought that concerns for physical safety would be paramount. This effect was consistent for both men and women.”</p>
<p>When it came to physical safety, harsh conditions decreased the appeal of wealth-signaling products, but not toughness-signaling ones. Men’s interest in products signaling toughness, such as motorcycles or tattoos, remained stable even in scenarios involving physical danger. This suggests that men may view toughness-signaling products as potentially protective or advantageous in threatening situations, while wealth-signaling products could increase vulnerability in such contexts.</p>
<p>The findings highlight that “different types of stress have different effects on product desire,” Swaffield said.</p>
<p>Swaffield highlighted four key takeaways from the study: “First, this particular study provides evidence that consumer behavior and product desire can be influenced by factors other than marketing initiatives—specifically, environmental conditions. Second, if a particular consumer behavior becomes problematic (e.g., compulsive buying disorders, excessive food consumption, and gambling), it is more meaningful to ask, ‘What environmental conditions may have triggered these behaviors?’ rather than thinking they are a product of marketing initiatives.”</p>
<p>“Third, the direction of desire for particular products (increases vs. decreases in desire) can vary depending on the intensity of the environmental stressor. For example, mild stress tends to increase desire, whereas high-intensity stress tends to decrease desire. Fourth, due to the fact that males and females experience stressful events differently, we see sex differences in product desire.”</p>
<p>“Another thing that I found interesting—which was more of a realization—is that we often think of both positive and negative desire as absolutes (e.g., I want or don’t want a product). However, ‘desire’ is on a continuum ranging from strong positive desire to strong negative desire. Thus, philosophically speaking, a change in a Likert scale score from a score of -5 to -3 (even though both are negative scores) represents an increase in desire. This leads to a philosophical shift in how I think about increases and decreases in desire.”</p>
<p>The study demonstrates the importance of viewing consumer behavior through the lens of biology-environment interactions. But there are some limitations to consider. One challenge was the reliance on self-reported measures of product desire, which may not always align with actual purchasing behavior.</p>
<p>Additionally, “we may see different results if the environmental stressors were less intense,” Swaffield noted. “We see this effect with appetite. Specifically, low chronic stress increases appetite, whereas high-intensity stress decreases appetite.”</p>
<p>Future research could address these gaps by including a wider range of stressors and incorporating behavioral measures, such as tracking real-world purchasing decisions. The study also opens the door to further exploration of how specific environmental stressors interact with biological predispositions.</p>
<p>“In 2025, I will be conducting research that examines the relationship between environmental stressors, intra- and intersexual competition, and product desire,” Swaffield said.</p>
<p>“To develop a deep understanding of consumer psychology, we need to ask, ‘Are the behaviors that we are trying to understand cultural and historical universals?’ Meaning, did these behaviors exist before the invention of marketing, throughout history, and in all cultures? If the answer is ‘yes,’ then it is likely safe to assume that there is an evolutionary foundation to these behaviors.”</p>
<p>“If there is an evolutionary foundation to the behavior, it is likely hardwired into the human mind through an evolutionary process,” Swaffield continued. “Thus, the behavior is not caused by marketing and is not likely influenced by removing marketing initiatives. What’s more, to understand problematic consumer behaviors such as excessive consumption, we would be wise to ask, ‘What non-marketing environmental conditions could be the cause of these behaviors?'”</p>
<p>The study, “<a href="https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14090789">Unconscious Drivers of Consumer Behavior: An Examination of the Effect of Nature–Nurture Interactions on Product Desire</a>,” was authored by Jim B. Swaffield and Jesus Sierra Jimenez.</p></p>
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<td><a href="https://www.psypost.org/why-humor-could-be-a-game-changer-for-parents/" style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; letter-spacing:-1px;margin:0;padding:0 0 2px;font-weight: bold;font-size: 19px;line-height: 20px;color:#222;">Why humor could be a game-changer for parents</a>
<div style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align:left;color:#999;font-size:11px;font-weight:bold;line-height:15px;">Jan 3rd 2025, 10:00</div>
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<p><p>A new study published in <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0306311"><em>PLOS One</em></a> suggests that humor can strengthen parent-child relationships and enhance the effectiveness of parenting strategies. This research is among the first to delve deeply into how humor could serve as a parenting tool, with most participants agreeing that the benefits outweigh the risks.</p>
<p>For centuries, experts have advised parents on structure, consistency, and discipline when raising their children. What if a corny dad joke or a playful impersonation could defuse tensions when they arise?</p>
<p>Previous research has demonstrated that humor promotes cognitive flexibility, which is the ability to adapt to changing situations and find creative solutions. Led by Lucy Emery, researchers from Penn State College of Medicine hypothesized that this skill could be critical in parenting, where surprises and challenges are constant.</p>
<p>“Humor can teach people cognitive flexibility, relieve stress, and promote creative problem solving and resilience,” said Benjamin Levi, professor of pediatrics and humanities at Penn State College of Medicine and senior author of the study. “My father used humor and it was very effective. I use humor in my clinical practice and with my own children. The question became, how does one constructively use humor?”</p>
<p>To investigate this, the team surveyed 312 adults from the United States aged 18 to 45, many of whom were parents or planning to become parents, using Amazon’s online platform Mechanical Turk (MTurk). Participants completed a 10-item questionnaire about their upbringing and their views on humor as a parenting strategy.</p>
<p>An analysis of the results revealed that over half of the respondents (55%) reported that their parents used humor during their childhood. Additionally, 72% believed humor to be an effective tool for parenting, with 63% indicating that it has more potential benefits than risks. Furthermore, 62% reported that they either use or plan to use humor in parenting their own children.</p>
<p>Interestingly, those who reported having good relationships with their parents were significantly more likely to say their parents used humor. They were also more likely to view humor as an effective parenting tool, suggesting a connection between humor and stronger bonds.</p>
<p>What makes humor such a potent tool? The researchers highlight several benefits: it can diffuse tense situations that are headed for conflict, model problem-solving skills, and create a shared sense of joy between parents and children. For instance, a playful “tantrum” from a parent might distract and surprise a toddler on the verge of throwing their own tantrum, turning tears into laughter.</p>
<p>“There’s an interesting parallel between business and parenting, which are both hierarchical. In business, humor has been shown to help reduce hierarchies, create better environments for collaboration and creativity and diffuse tension,” said Emery, who was a medical student at Penn State College of Medicine at the time of the research and currently a pediatrics resident at Boston Children’s Hospital. “While parent-child relationships are more loving than business relationships, stressful situations happen a lot when parenting. Humor can help diffuse that tension and hierarchy and help both parties feel better about a stressful situation.”</p>
<p>While the findings are promising, the study has its caveats. The sample was not fully representative, with a majority of participants identifying as white (77%) and male (64%). Moreover, there is no single definition of ‘humor’ and individuals may have interpreted the questions differently.</p>
<p>Despite these limitations, the study opens the door to exciting possibilities. Nearly 70% of participants expressed interest in a parenting course that teaches how to use humor effectively. As the researchers suggest, such courses could help parents avoid harsh discipline and foster more positive interactions with their children.</p>
<p>“My hope is that people can learn to use humor as an effective parenting tool, not only to diffuse tension but develop resilience and cognitive and emotional flexibility in themselves and model it for their children,” Levi said.</p>
<p>The study, “<a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0306311">Humor in Parenting: Does it Have a Role?</a>“, was authored by Lucy Emery, Anne Libera, Erik Lehman, and Benjamin H. Levi.</p></p>
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<p><strong>Forwarded by:<br />
Michael Reeder LCPC<br />
Baltimore, MD</strong></p>
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