Today, I use material from a single article on an important topic. Dupéré et al. (2024) published “Diseases of Despair in Early Adulthood: The complex role of social relationships” in Developmental Psychology. Here’s the highly edited article:

“Diseases of despair,” most prominently depressive and substance-related problems, diminish the prospects of many young adults, especially those with lower levels of education.

Here, we look at two studies relating to gene-environment interactions. First, Nikstat, Beam & Riemann (2023) published “Gene–Environment Interplay in Internalizing Problem Behavior” in Developmental Psychology. Here are the edited abstract and impact statements:

Behavior genetic methods are useful for examining mechanisms underlying the interaction between genetic and family environmental factors of internalizing problem behavior (INT).

Today, I present an article and two comments on it. All three speak to the efficacy of exposure therapy. Rubenstein, Duek, Doran & Harpaz-Rotem (2024) published “To Expose or Not to Expose: A comprehensive perspective on treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder” in American Psychologist. Here are the edited abstract and impact statements:

For over 30 years, exposure-based therapies have been considered to be the gold standard in treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), leading to widespread public investment in the dissemination of these therapies.

Today, I present a relatively long piece but one I think is important. Weir (2024) published “Emotional dysregulation is part of ADHD” in Monitor in Psychology. Here’s a highly edited excerpt from the article:

More and more teenagers and adults are turning to social media to share their experiences living with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Amid that flurry of digital content, one regular theme is the idea that people with ADHD feel emotions more intensely than others. Those big feelings, it turns out, are not just a TikTok phenomenon.

Sometimes, I read research that seems contradictory. This may be one of those cases. Osborne et al. (2023) published “Clinical High Risk for Psychosis Syndrome is Associated with Reduced Neural Responding to Unpleasant Images” in Journal of Psychopathology and Clinical Science. Here are the edited abstract and impact statements:

Deficits in emotion processing are core features of psychotic disorders.

I’ve written before about NSSI as it relates to depression, PTSD, and dissociation. Today, I present two more studies. Hepp, Carpenter, Freeman, Vebares & Trull (2020) published “The Environmental, Interpersonal, and Affective Context of Nonsuicidal Self-Injury Urges in Daily Life” in Personality Disorders: Theory, Research, and Treatment.  Here’s the edited abstract:

Urges for nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) are important precursors to NSSI acts and may serve as a point of intervention. A close understanding of the phenomenology of NSSI urges and the contexts in which they occur is therefore warranted.

Today, I combine two articles that may be helpful in different ways, but I see a connection between them First, Murray & Koopmann-Holm (2024) published “Facing Discomfort: Avoided negative affect shapes the acknowledgment of systemic racism” in Emotion.  Here’s the edited abstract:

Why can some Americans acknowledge the deeply rooted racism in the United States while others cannot? Past research suggests that the more people want to avoid feeling negative (“avoided negative affect; ANA”), the less likely they focus on and even perceive someone’s suffering.

Today, I look at another study of ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experiences). Lawlor, Puma, Powers, Martinez, Varda & Leiferman (2024) published “Understanding Rural Social Networks Addressing Adverse Childhood Experiences: A case study of the San Luis Valley” in Families, Systems, & Health. Here are the edited abstract and impact statements:

The purpose of this study is to assess a cross-sector, interorganizational network addressing adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) in a rural Colorado community.

I like studies that ask an interesting question. In this case, the question involves the impacts of crying in therapy. Katz, Hilsenroth, Johnson, Budge & Owen (2024) published “’Window of Opportunity’: Clients’ experiences of crying in psychotherapy and their relationship with change, the alliance, and attachment” in Professional Psychology: Research and Practice.  Here are the edited abstract and impact statements:

In psychotherapy, emotional tears occur frequently but have received limited attention. We set out to replicate and extend findings of previous studies conducted in Italy (Genova et al., 2021) and Israel (Katz et al., 2022) with U.S.

Today, I address a single study. Murphy, Mackenzie, Dryden & Hamm (2024) published “Perceived Control Moderates the Internalized Stigma Model of Seeking Mental Health Services in Distressed Older Adults” in Journal of Counseling Psychology.  Here are the edited abstract and impact statements:

Older adults are especially unlikely to seek mental health services, and internalized stigma is a key reason why. However, little research has investigated which older adults are particularly likely to have stigma influence help-seeking. To address this, we tested whether perceived control (PC) moderates an internalized stigma model in which public stigma is internalized as self-stigma, which negatively predicts help-seeking attitudes and help-seeking intentions.

Today, I present summaries of three studies related to suicide. First, Pollak, Cheek, Rudolph, Hastings, Nock, & Prinstein (2023) published “Social Problem-Solving and Suicidal Behavior in Adolescent Girls: A prospective examination of proximal and distal social stress-related risk factors” in Journal of Psychopathology and Clinical Science. Here are the edited abstract and impact statements:

Adverse social experiences are often linked to suicidal behavior in adolescence, perhaps particularly for girls. Social problem-solving abilities may indicate more or less adaptive responses to adverse social experiences that contribute to adolescent girls’ risk for suicidal behavior.

I remember when Bowling Alone was a major book to read in 2000. This first study, completed almost a quarter century later, is a scary follow-up. Infurna, Dey, Gonzalez Avilés, Grimm, Lachman & Gerstorf (2024) published “Loneliness in Midlife: Historical increases and elevated levels in the United States compared with Europe” in American Psychologist. Here are the edited abstract and impact statements:

Loneliness is gaining attention globally as a public health issue because elevated loneliness increases one’s risk for depression, compromised immunity, chronic illness, and mortality.

I’ve written about the Alternative Model of Personality Disorders (AMPD) before. Here, I address two more studies. First, Maffly-Kipp & Morey (2024) published “Comparing the DSM-5 Categorical Model of Personality Disorders and the Alternative Model of Personality Disorders Regarding Clinician Judgments of Risk and Outcome” in Personality Disorders: Theory, Research, and Treatment. Here’s the edited abstract:

The goal of this study was to compare the predictive validity of the alternative model for personality disorders (AMPD) versus the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) Section II categorical model regarding clinician judgments about mental health outcomes.

Here, we look at two studies of autonomy support in adolescence. First, Ratelle, Plamondon, Litalien & Duchesne  (2024) published “Developmental Trajectories of Mother–Adolescent Agreement on Maternal Autonomy Support and Their Contributions to Adolescents’ Adjustment” in Journal of Family Psychology.  Here’s the edited abstract:

Based on a multi-informant, longitudinal perspective on parent–adolescent relationships, this study examined patterns of convergence and divergence on maternal autonomy support.

Today, I examine two studies of childhood trauma. First, Garofalo, Delvecchio, Bogaerts, Sellbom & Mazzeschi  (2024) published “Childhood Trauma and Psychopathy: The moderating role of resilience” in Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy. Here are the edited abstract and impact statements:

Today, I look at three studies of treatment approaches to Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) so it’s a longer than usual post. First, Crotty, et al. (2023) published “Psychotherapies for the Treatment of Borderline Personality Disorder: A systematic review” in Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology. This is available as open source full text for those who want to read the entire article, but here are the edited details I found most pertinent:

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is the most common personality disorder, affecting 1.8% of the general population, 10% of psychiatric outpatients, and 15%–25% of psychiatric inpatients.

Today, I address two articles looking at this tripartite model. I am presenting the earlier one first.

Gelso, C. J., & Samstag, L. W. (2008). A tripartite model of the therapeutic relationship. In S. D. Brown & R. W. Lent (Eds.), Handbook of counseling psychology (4th ed., pp. 267–283). John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Here’s the edited abstract:

It is an understatement to say that there are many ways of framing the relationship that exists between a client and therapist in counseling and psychotherapy.

Today, I address two studies related to effects of sexual abuse. First, So, LaVoy, Harmouch & Alfano (2023) published “Objective and Subjective Sleep Patterns and Biomarkers of Stress among Women with a History of Sexual Abuse in Childhood” in Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy. Here are the edited abstract and impact statements:

Childhood sexual abuse (CSA) is associated with posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSSs) and sleep disturbance into adulthood.

Today, I present a single article but one that I think is important. Eriksen & Cormier (2024) published “Considering Ethical Obligations to Overcome Stagnant Psychological Report-Writing Practices” in Professional Psychology: Research and Practice.  Here are the abstract and impact statements with slight editing and some information in bold:

Psychologists have a duty of care to provide accurate evaluation results for the clients they serve. This expectation also includes communicating the results and related treatment recommendations in an understandable manner for the referred client, as well as those involved in their care.

The number of people diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders has been steadily increasing. Today, I present two studies related to children’s functioning in school. First, Pereira, Hamsho, Susilo, Famolare, Blacher & Eisenhower (2023) published “Longitudinal Associations Between Internalizing Behaviors and Social Skills for Autistic Students During the Early School Years” in School Psychology. Here are the edited abstract and impact statements:

Autistic students experience greater social difficulties and heightened internalizing behaviors (e.g., anxiety, depression, withdrawal)