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Forgiveness, a construct common to religiousness/spirituality and positive psychology, and resentment are thought to be critical factors in addiction and recovery therefrom. Although empirical evidence is accumulating to support forgiveness as an important factor in addiction recovery, very little work has empirically examined the role of resentment in addiction recovery, including the role of the forgiveness – resentment interface. The association of forgiveness with addiction recovery-related outcomes, as mediated by resentment, in the context of substance (mis)use was examined in two cross-sectional studies among undergraduate college students from three institutions, in this IRB-approved study. Self-forgiveness was consistently associated – both directly and indirectly through resentment – with less psychological distress and less vulnerability to use substances in the context of both alcohol (mis)use and drug (mis)use. Other-forgiveness was similarly associated, but less frequently. Empirical evidence is beginning to emerge to support the long-held anecdotal assumptions regarding the importance of forgiveness and resentment to addiction recovery, with implications for interventions and approaches to treatment for those struggling with substance (mis)use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2022, a national study titled The DUHEI (Drug Use in Higher Educationin Ireland) was conducted to determine the prevalence and problem of drug use among students in institutes of higher education. The findings of the DUHEI revealed that drug use is prevalent among college students in Ireland, with over half reporting they use or hadused drugs in the past.The study also uncovered a subpopulation of students who have recovered from a previous problem with drug or alcohol use in thepast, known as students in recovery. These students were identifiedas a unique and vulnerable population in need of specific support on college campuses. The authors of the report recommend the establishment of collegiate recovery programs in institutes of higher education in Ireland to support these students in active recovery from addiction. Collegiate recovery programs are well established in the U.S and are emerging in the UK and Canada. This perspective article echoes, and extends upon the DUHEI recommendationto implement CRPs in Ireland, by highlighting the evidence base which demonstrates the efficacy of collegiate recovery programs. Itis important that Irish colleges and Universities follow international best practice by establishing collegiate recovery program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Individuals with autism experience substantially higher rates of mood problems compared to the general population, which contribute to reduced quality of life and increased mortality through suicide. Here, we reviewed evidence for the clinical presentation, aetiology and therapeutic approaches for mood problems in autism. We identified a lack of validated tools for accurately identifying mood problems in individuals with autism, who may present with 'atypical' features (e.g. severe irritability). Risk factors for mood problems in autism appear to be largely overlapping with those identified in the general population, including shared genetic, environmental, cognitive, physiological/neurobiological mechanisms. However, these mechanisms are exacerbated directly/indirectly by lived experiences of autism, including increased vulnerability for chronic stress - often related to social-communication difficulties(/bullying) and sensory sensitivities. Lastly, current therapeutic approaches are based on recommendations for primary mood disorders, with little reference to the neurobiological/cognitive differences associated with autism. Thus, we recommend: 1) the development and validation of (objective) tools to identify mood problems in autism and measure therapeutic efficacy; 2) an interactive approach to investigating aetiologies in large-scale longitudinal studies, integrating different levels of analysis (e.g. cognitive, neurobiological) and lived experience; 3) testing potential treatments through high-quality (e.g. sufficiently powered, blinded) clinical trials, specifically for individuals with autism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives. Maternal prenatal stress is associated with elevated risk of adverse behavioural outcomes in offspring. This association may involve developmental disruption to limbic-prefrontal white matter circuitry, of which the uncinate fasciculus is the major tract. One potential candidate for modulating brain development is maternal prenatal stress. We provide the first prospective study of prenatal stress and white matter microstructure in children. Methods. A total of 22 healthy children (mean age 7 years) of mothers recruited in pregnancy underwent diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging. We examined correlations between prenatal stressful life events and white matter microstructural organisation indices (fractional anisotropy (FA) and perpendicular diffusivity (Dperp)) of the uncinate fasciculus and a 'control' tract. Results. Maternal prenatal stressful life events were correlated positively with right uncinate fasciculus FA, and negatively with right uncinate fasciculus Dperp in their child, with a similar trend with left uncinate fasciculus Dperp. Prenatal stress was not associated with control tract properties; sociodemographic/obstetric variables were not associated with FA/Dperp of either tract. Conclusions. Variation in maternal prenatal stress may be associated with differences in the development of white matter within brain networks underlying child social behaviour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A nascent theory of near division is presented, from which an efficient quantization algorithm for rhythm intervals is derived. Based on a number theoretic analysis of the uniqueness and convergence of this first algorithm, a generalized algorithm is presented. An empirical study of the algorithm's performance reveals a readily computable criterion within which the perceived ratio may reliably be produced on real performance data. Distribution properties are shown to be reasonable for computation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focuses on the effects of hormone replacement therapy on cerebral blood flow, glucose metabolism, and neurotransmitter systems as suggested by recent imaging studies. Designs used to investigate the effects of hormones on brain function in postmenopausal women; Results of cross-sectional or interventional studies; Limitations of the approaches; Effects of aging on the brain; Description of cross-sectional and intervention studies; Features of longitudinal studies; Suggestions for further studies.