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Stress, especially the extreme stress of traumatic events, can alter both neurobiology and behavior. Such extreme environmental situations provide a useful model for understanding environmental influences on human biology and behavior. This paper will review some of the evidence of brain alterations that occur with exposure to environmental stress. This will include recent studies using neuroimaging and will address the need for histological confirmation of imaging study results. We will review the current scientific approaches to understanding brain environment interactions, and then make the case for the collection and study of postmortem brain tissue for the advancement of our understanding of the effects of environment on the brain. Creating a brain tissue collection specifically for the investigation of the effects of extreme environmental stressors fills a gap in the current research; it will provide another of the important pieces to the puzzle that constitutes the scientific investigation of negative effects of environmental exposures. Such a resource will facilitate new discoveries related to the psychiatric illnesses of acute stress disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder, and can enable scientists to correlate structural and functional imaging findings with tissue abnormalities, which is essential to validate the results of recent imaging studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Active patients at The First Episode Mood and Anxiety Program (FEMAP) were asked to participate in a study monitoring their symptoms during early COVID-19 closures. Participants were asked to predict both possible positive and feared outcomes of the pandemic. Responses were analyzed with a descriptive qualitative approach using thematic analysis. Primary feared outcomes included death, prolonged pandemic impacts, and concerns about employment, mental health, and education. Prevalent positive predictions included a new perspective, improved relationships, personal growth, and environmental improvement. These findings suggest the complex relationship between fear and hope for young people in the early stages of the pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study is to assess the use of text message communication with an adolescent (16–25) psychiatric outpatient program. Ninety percent of patients (633) provided a mobile number and agreed to communicate with the program via text. Text messages exchanged with patients from May 2013 to May 2015 (12344) were extracted and analyzed. Results of this study indicate that text messaging was used to communicate frequently and primarily for the scheduling of appointments (58.9%) and was very rarely (0.3%) used inappropriately. The ability of mental health service providers to use text messaging with adolescent outpatients could improve cost-effectiveness and efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This study examined presenting concerns and characteristics of emerging adults (EAs) seeking treatment at an early intervention program for mood and anxiety disorders to better understand presenting concerns when treatment is needed. During an intake assessment conducted by a social worker or clinical psychologist, participants (N = 548; 62% female, 38% male) reported their top three current life concerns, which were analyzed qualitatively using thematic analysis. Participants completed a battery of questionnaires assessing demographic information, symptomatology, and daily functioning. Females presented with significantly higher levels of anxiety, and both females and younger individuals (age 16–18) presented with significantly higher levels of depression compared to males and older individuals (age 19–26), respectively. The two most commonly reported presenting concerns were problems in interpersonal relationships and academics, and females were more likely to report academic concerns than males. The majority of participants reported seeking help for a wide range of problems commonly faced by EAs (83.7%), and participants rarely expressed concerns about particular symptoms of mood and/or anxiety disorders (16.3%). EAs and those supporting EAs may benefit from learning when psychosocial concerns are indicative of mental health challenges warranting professional attention. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Stress, especially the extreme stress of traumatic events, can alter both neurobiology and behavior. Such extreme environmental situations provide a useful model for understanding environmental influences on human biology and behavior. This paper will review some of the evidence of brain alterations that occur with exposure to environmental stress. This will include recent studies using neuroimaging and will address the need for histological confirmation of imaging study results. We will review the current scientific approaches to understanding brain environment interactions, and then make the case for the collection and study of postmortem brain tissue for the advancement of our understanding of the effects of environment on the brain. Creating a brain tissue collection specifically for the investigation of the effects of extreme environmental stressors fills a gap in the current research; it will provide another of the important pieces to the puzzle that constitutes the scientific investigation of negative effects of environmental exposures. Such a resource will facilitate new discoveries related to the psychiatric illnesses of acute stress disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder, and can enable scientists to correlate structural and functional imaging findings with tissue abnormalities, which is essential to validate the results of recent imaging studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents the findings of a Self-Injury Motivation Scale to assess motivation for self-injury. Occurrence of nonsuicidal self-injurious behavior in culturally appropriate and inappropriate forms; Diagnostic criteria for borderline personality disorder; Occurrence in several psychiatric and neurological populations.