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The COVID-19 pandemic spurred public health measures to reduce viral spread. Concurrently, increases in alcohol consumption and conflict in romantic partnerships were observed. Pre-pandemic research demonstrated a bidirectional association between couples’ conflict and drinking. Recent research shows one’s drinking motives (proximal predictors of drinking behavior) can influence another person’s drinking in close relationships. It is possible that individuals are drinking to cope with distress following romantic conflict. The current study examined 348 cohabitating couples during the first lockdown in the spring of 2020. Our analyses examined coping motives as a mediator between dyadic conflict and drinking behavior using actor–partner interdependence models. Results showed that conflict was associated with greater reports of own drinking in gendered (distinguishable) and nongendered (indistinguishable) analyses through coping motives. Further, in mixed-gender couples, men partners’ coping motives predicted less drinking in women, while women partners’ coping motives predicted marginally more drinking in men. Partner effects may have been observed due to the increased romantic partner influence during the COVID-19 lockdown. While these results suggest that men’s coping motives may be protective against women’s drinking, more concerning possibilities are discussed. The importance of considering dyadic influences on drinking is highlighted; clinical and policy implications are identified.

While the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the way parents partition tasks between one another, it is not clear how these division of labour arrangements affect well-being. Pre-pandemic research offers two hypotheses: economic theory argues optimal outcomes result from partners specialising in different tasks, whereas psychological theory argues for a more equitable division of labour. The question of which approach optimizes well-being is more pressing in recent times, with COVID-19 school closures leaving many couples with the burden of homeschooling. It is unknown whether specialisation or equity confer more benefits for mandated homeschoolers, relative to non-homeschoolers or voluntary homeschoolers. Couples (n = 962) with children in grades 1–5 completed measures of workload division and parental well-being. A linear mixed modelling in the total sample revealed that specialisation, but not equity, promoted increased parental emotional and relationship well-being. These relations were moderated by schooling status: voluntary homeschoolers’ well-being benefitted from specialisation, whereas mandated homeschoolers’ well-being did not benefit from either strategy; non-homeschoolers well-being benefitted from both strategies. Across the mixed-gender couples, mothers’ and fathers’ well-being both benefitted from specialisation; equity was only beneficial for mothers’ well-being. Overall, couples might be advised to adopt highly equitable and specialised arrangements to promote both parents’ well-being.

Granulocyte colony–stimulating factor (G-CSF) has raised much interest because of its role in cocaine addiction in preclinical models. We explored the plasma concentrations of G-CSF in patients diagnosed with substance use disorder (SUD) and highly comorbid psychiatric disorders. In particular, we investigated the association between G-CSF concentrations and comorbid major depressive disorder (MDD) in patients with cocaine and alcohol use disorders (CUD and AUD, respectively). Additionally, patients with MDD but not SUD were included in the study. Three hundred and eleven participants were enrolled in this exploratory study: 136 control subjects, 125 patients with SUD (SUD group) from outpatient treatment programs for cocaine (N = 60, cocaine subgroup) and alcohol (N = 65, alcohol subgroup), and 50 patients with MDD but not SUD (MDD group) from primary-care settings. Participants were assessed based on DSM-IV-TR criteria, and a blood sample was collected to examine the plasma concentrations of G-CSF. G-CSF concentrations were negatively correlated with age in the entire sample (r = − 0.233, p p p p

The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in families self-isolating under incredible stress. Viral containment strategies included school closures with parents left to homeschool their children with few supports from the educational system. Recent data show that those with children at home were more likely to drink heavily during the pandemic (Rodriguez et al., in press). Gaps remain, however, in understanding whether these effects are due to the stresses of homeschooling and whether they extend to cannabis use. Seven-hundred-and-sixty Canadian romantic couples (total N=1520 participants; mean age = 57 years; 50% women) who were self-isolating together during the month of April 2020 were recruited through Qualtrics Panel Surveys. Measures were completed retrospectively in early July 2020; participants were asked to report on their feelings and behavior in April 2020 during lockdown. They completed the GAD-7 (Spitzer et al., 2006) and the PHQ-9 (Kronke et al., 2001) to assess anxiety and depression, brief versions of four subscales of the COVID-19 Stress Scales (Taylor et al., 2020) to assess stress around the pandemic, and the Life Orientation Test – Revised (Chiesi et al., 2013) to assess optimism. They completed a measure of role strain (Statistics Canada, 2015) and a measure of conflict with their partner (Murray et al., 2003). They also completed a validated measure of cannabis use frequency and quantity (Cuttler et al., 2017), as well as two validated items from the Brief Cannabis Motives Measures (Bartel et al., 2020) to assess cannabis use to cope with depression and anxiety, respectively. All measures were completed for a 30-day timeframe during the month of April. Participants also reported on whether they were homeschooling one or more children in Grade 1-12 during the month of April. Data was analyzed with a one-way (homeschooling group) Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) controlling for group differences in age; a Bonferroni-correction was applied to account for multiple tests. Compared to those who did not homeschool (n=1116), those who did homeschool (n=404) experienced significantly more depression (p=.001), more COVID-19-related stress around socioeconomic consequences (p

Intolerance of Uncertainty (IU) is an individual´s "tendency to be bothered or upset by the (as yet) unknown elements of a situation, whether the possible outcome is negative or not." This construct, originally proposed in the context of Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD), is now considered a transdiagnostic construct. The Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale (IUS; Freeston, Rhéaume, Letarte, Dugas, & Ladouceur, 1994) has been the gold standard measure for IU, both the original 27-item and the 12-item (IUS-12; Carleton, Norton, & Asmundson, 2007) versions. The present study, conducted in the context of a broader research project about IU and the COVID-pandemic by the UNiCORN team, aims to develop an even shorter version of the IUS, both psychometrically sound and quicker to administer, which would increase its utility in research studies with an elevated number of measures. Initial analyses conducted in currently available data from four countries (UK, Italy, Spain and Greece) suggest that it is possible to reduce the IUS-12 to 5 items, including two items measuring desire for predictability, one item assessing uncertainty paralysis, and two items describing aversiveness of uncertainty. The five-item version of the questionnaire (IUS-5) showed adequate internal consistency across languages (English, Italian, Spanish, Greek) and across situations (e.g., before and during COVID-19), and its total score is highly correlated with the total score of the IUS-12. Overall, preliminary results suggest that the IUS-5 may represent a valid and reliable measure of IU to be used across samples, languages, and countries.

IntroductionCyberchondria involves excessive and uncontrollable online searching of information about a perceived illness. This behavior can cause or maintain distress.ObjectivesLittle is known about cyberchondria during the COVID-19 pandemic or how cyberchondria in one individual may cause distress in their significant other if they are self-isolating together; our study sought to fill these gaps.MethodsWe conducted a Qualtrics Panel survey with 760 cohabitating Canadian couples; in June 2020, participants retrospectively reported on their cyberchondria behavior, general anxiety, and COVID-19 fears during the month of April 2020, while adhering to stay-at-home advisories. Two separate actor-partner interdependence models (APIMs) used cyberchondria excessiveness and compulsion to predict generalized anxiety and COVID-19 danger/contamination fears in the actor and partner.ResultsBoth cyberchondria excessiveness and compulsion were associated with higher general anxiety and higher COVID-19 danger/contamination fears in the individual (actor effects). Partner cyberchondria compulsion was associated with higher general anxiety in the individual whereas partner cyberchondria excessiveness was associated with higher COVID-19 danger/contamination fears in the individual (partner effects).ConclusionsFindings suggest that excessive and uncontrollable searching of information about COVID-19 on the internet during lockdown may contribute to distress in both the individual engaging in the cyberchondria behavior, and in their romantic partner. Moreover, different aspects of cyberchondria in the partner (compulsion vs. excessiveness) appears to contribute to general vs. COVID-19-specific anxiety/fears in the partner, respectively. Future research should examine mechanisms underlying the observed partner effects (e.g., co-rumination, social contagion) and reasons for the differential partner effects of cyberchondria components.

Intrusive thoughts are typical symptoms of anxiety-related, mood and psychotic disorders. Freeston, Ladouceur, Thibodeau, and Gagnon (1991) developed the Cognitive Intrusions Questionnaire to address the features and processing of intrusive thoughts regardless of the theoretically related disorder. This study aims to assess the psychometric properties of a revised 79-item transdiagnostic version of the Cognitive Intrusions Questionnaire (CIQ-TV). A sample of 350 Spanish undergraduate students (mean age 21.68; 78.5% female) was used to assess its factor structure, internal consistency, test-retest reliability and criterion validity. Given the range of characteristics assesses questionnaire, the psychometric properties was studied on groups of ideas based on the components of a general appraisal model (intrusiveness, appraisals, emotions and strategies).The CIQ-TV has a clear factor structure, internal consistency and test-retest reliability, except in the case of generalized anxiety disorder appraisals and thought-focused strategies. Criterion validity was good for obsessive compulsive disorder and depression appraisals and appropriate for generalized anxiety disorder and social anxiety appraisals.In summary, the results of this study showed that the CIQ-TV is a good measure for assessing intrusive thoughts and their associated processes. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

How the presence of inflammation has repercussions for brain function is a topic of active research into depression. Signals released from immune system-related cells, including chemokines, might be indicative of active depression and can, hypothetically, serve as biomarkers of response to interventions, both pharmacological and psychological. The objective of this study is to analyze the peripheral plasma concentrations of CXCL12, CCL11, CX3CL1 and CCL2 in a cohort of depressed primary-care patients, as well as their evolution after an internet-based cognitive-behavioral intervention. The concentrations of those chemokines were measured in 66 primary-care patients with mild and moderate depression, before and after the intervention, as well as 60 controls, using multiplex immunoassays. Concentrations of CXCL12 and CCL2 were significantly higher in the clinical sample in comparison with controls. A stable multivariate discriminative model between both groups was found. Concentrations of all chemokines decreased after the internet-based psychological intervention. These findings support the implication of chemokines in depression, even in a sample of patients with mild and moderate severity. Furthermore, they demonstrate the need for further multidisciplinary research that confirms how biomarkers such as plasma chemokines can serve as a marker for depression and are sensitive to non-pharmacological interventions.

Oleoylethanolamide (OEA) is a non-cannabinoid acylethanolamide with multiple physiological roles that has been proposed to have antidepressant-like activity in preclinical models. OEA shares biosynthetic pathways with anandamide (AEA) a transmitter involved in affective disorders and anxiety in humans. However, although the participation of OEA in depression has been proposed, both, the contribution of OEA to the depressive phenotype and the effect of antidepressant therapy on circulating levels of this and related non-cannabinoid acylethanolamides in humans are basically unknown. The main objective of this study is to compare the plasma concentrations of OEA and related acylethanolamides in a sample of primary care patients with depression (n = 69) with those of healthy non-depressed patients (n = 47). At the time of admission to the study, 22 patients were under selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressant treatment and 47 patients were not receiving any type of intervention. In addition, plasma concentrations of the endocannabinoid 2-AG and two related monoacylglycerols were monitored. Plasma OEA concentrations were found to be elevated in depressed patients and to correlate with somatic symptoms of depression. Plasma concentrations of both, AEA and 2-AG, were found to be elevated also in depressed patients. Further analysis demonstrated that the elevation observed in the plasma concentrations of both, OEA and 2-AG, was associated to SSRI antidepressant therapy at the time of recruitment. Further clinical research is needed to understand whether SSRI-induced elevations in OEA levels contribute to the response to SSRI in depressed patients as described in preclinical models.

Homeschooling due to COVID-19 school closures is likely to increase conflict between work and family demands, potentially leading to adverse substance-use effects. We conducted a survey with 758 couples focusing on homeschooling, work–family conflict, and alcohol use (April 2020). The 211 homeschooling couples reported more work–family conflict than the 547 non-homeschooling couples, there also were stronger effects on family interference with work in women. Among the homeschooling couples, homeschooling hours were associated with greater partner drinking. In distinguishable dyad analyses by gender, women’s hours homeschooling were associated with greater drinking frequency by both parents. Men’s hours homeschooling were associated with lower drinking frequency in their partners. Increased work–family conflict in homeschooling couples is particularly worrisome given its link to increased stress and poor mental health. Moreover, women’s increased drinking may impede their ability to support their families during the pandemic. Men’s increased drinking could put homeschooling mothers at risk for escalating conflict/domestic violence, given links of male drinking to intimate partner violence. Finally, the protective-partner effects of men’s homeschooling hours on women’s drinking frequency suggests that more egalitarian division of homeschooling labor may have protective cross-over effects.

Alcohol consumption and associated harms are an issue among emerging adults, and protective behavioral strategies (PBS) are actions with potential to minimize these harms. We conducted two studies aimed at determining whether the associations of at-risk personality traits (sensation-seeking [SS], impulsivity [IMP], hopelessness [HOP], and anxiety-sensitivity [AS]) with increased problematic alcohol use could be explained through these variables’ associations with decreased PBS use. We tested two mediation models in which the relationship between at-risk personality traits and increased problematic alcohol use outcomes (Study 1: Alcohol volume, Study 2: Heavy episodic drinking and alcohol-related harms) was partially mediated through decreased PBS use. Two samples of college students participated (N1 = 922, Mage1 = 20.11, 70.3% female, N2 = 1625, Mage2 = 18.78, 70.3% female). Results partially supported our hypotheses, providing new data on a mechanism that helps to explain the relationships between certain at-risk personality traits and problematic alcohol use, as these personalities are less likely to use PBS. In contrast, results showed that AS was positively related to alcohol-related harms and positively related to PBS, with the mediational path through PBS use being protective against problematic alcohol use. This pattern suggests that there are other factors/mediators working against the protective PBS pathway such that, overall, AS still presents risks for alcohol-related harms.

Broad and narrow specificity are current issues within cognitive models of psychopathology. The aim of this study was to describe the nature of the relationship between inflated responsibility (measured with the Responsibility Attitudes Scale [RAS]) and obsessive-compulsive symptoms (measured with the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale self-report [Y-BOCS]) and between intolerance of uncertainty (measured with the Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale [IUS]) and generalized anxiety symptoms (measured with the Worry and Anxiety Questionnaire [WAQ]). A sample consisting of undergraduates was used in both cases. Hierarchical regression analysis and a methodological approach proposed by Garber and Hollon (1991) were used. The results showed that responsibility was relevant to, and specific to, obsessive-compulsive symptoms even when other associated variables were controlled for. Intolerance of uncertainty was relevant to, but not specific to, generalized anxiety symptoms. These results clarify the roles of bot...

Differences and similarities between intrusive thoughts typical of obsessive–compulsive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and hypochondriasis are relevant for their differential diagnosis, formulation, and psychological treatment. Previous research in non-clinical samples pointed out the relevance of some process variables, such as responsibility, guilt, or neutralization strategies. This research is aimed to investigate the differences and similarities between clinical obsessions, worries, and illness intrusions in some of these process variables. A second aim is to identify models based on these variables that could reliably differentiate between them. Three groups of patients with obsessive–compulsive disorder (n = 35; 60% women, mean age 38.57), generalized anxiety disorder (n = 36; 61.1% women, mean age 41.50), and hypochondriasis (n = 34; 70.6% women, mean age 31.59) were evaluated using the Cognitive Intrusions Questionnaire—Transdiagnostic Version (Romero-Sanchiz, Nogueira-Arjona, Godoy-Avila, Gavino-Lazaro, & Freeston, 2017). The results showed that some appraisals (e.g., responsibility or egodystonicity), emotions (e.g., guilt or insecurity), neutralization strategies, and other variables (e.g., verbal content or trigger from body sensation) are relevant for the discrimination between obsessions, worries, and illness intrusions. The results also showed 3 stable models based on these variables for the discrimination between these thoughts. The implication of these results in the diagnosis, formulation, and psychological treatment of obsessive–compulsive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and hypochondriasis is discussed. Key Pratictioner Message The current study provides evidence about the discrimination between clinical obsessions, worries, and illness intrusions from a transdiagnostic perspective. The differentiation between them is crucial for the diagnosis, formulation, and psychological treatment of obsessive–compulsive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and hypochondriasis. Appraisals such as responsibility or egodystonicity, emotions such as guilt or insecurity, and other variables such as frequency, neutralization strategies or verbal form were found relevant for the discrimination between these types of thoughts. Three stable binary logistic models including these variables were developed for the discrimination between these thoughts.

Depression is one of the most common mental disorders and will become one of the leading causes of disability in the world. Internet-based CBT programs for depression have been classified as well established following the American Psychological Association criteria for empirically supported treatments. The aim of this study is to analyze the cost effectiveness at 12-month follow-up of the Internet-based CBT program Smiling is fun with (LITG) and without psychotherapist support (TSG) compared to usual care. The perspective used in our analysis is societal. A sample of 296 depressed patients (mean age of 43.04 years; 76% female; BDI-II mean score = 22.37) from primary care services in four Spanish regions were randomized in the RCT. The complete case and intention-to-treat (ITT) perspectives were used for the analyses. The results demonstrated that both Internet-based CBT interventions exhibited cost utility and cost effectiveness compared with a control group. The complete case analyses revealed an incremental cost- effectiveness ratio (ICER) of (sic)-169.50 and an incremental cost-utility ratio (ICUR) of (sic)-11389.66 for the TSG group and an ICER of (sic)-104.63 and an ICUR of (sic)-6380.86 for the LITG group. The ITT analyses found an ICER of (sic)-98.37 and an ICUR of (sic)- 5160.40 for the TSG group and an ICER of (sic)-9.91 and an ICUR of (sic)496.72 for the LITG group. In summary, the results of this study indicate that the two Internet-based CBT interventions are appropriate from both economic and clinical perspectives for depressed patients in the Spanish primary care system. These interventions not only help patients to improve clinically but also generate societal savings., This study was financed by the Institute de Salud Carlos III of the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness with the PI10/01083 grant (Eficacia y coste-efectividad de un programa de psicoterapia asistida por ordenador para el tratamiento de la depresion mayor en atencion primaria: estudio controlado, randomizado y cualitativo). The project also received funding from the Network for Prevention and Health Promotion in primary Care (RD12/0005) and GIBER Physiopathology Obesity and Nutrition (CB06/03) grants from the Institute de Salud Carlos III of the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (Spain). Both grants are co funded by European Regional Development Fund/European Social Fund) Investing in your future). The first author (PRS) has a Rio Hortega contract awarded by the Institute de Salud Carlos III (CM13/00115). The fourth author (JVL) has a Miguel Servet contract awarded by the Institute de Salud Carlos III (CP14/00087). http://www.isciii.esi. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.

Background: Depression is the most prevalent cause of illness-induced disability worldwide. Face-to-face psychotherapeutic interventions for depression can be challenging, so there is a need for other alternatives that allow these interventions to be offered. One feasible alternative is Internet-based psychological interventions. This is the first randomized controlled trial (RCT) on the effectiveness of an Internet-based intervention on depression in primary health care in Spain. Objective: Our aim was to compare the effectiveness of a low-intensity therapist-guided (LITG) Internet-based program and a completely self-guided (CSG) Internet-based program with improved treatment as usual (iTAU) care for depression. Methods: Multicenter, three-arm, parallel, RCT design, carried out between November 2012 and January 2014, with a follow-up of 15 months. In total, 296 adults from primary care settings in four Spanish regions, with mild or moderate major depression, were randomized to LITG (n=96), CSG (n=98), or iTAU (n=102). Research completers at follow-up were 63.5%. The intervention was Smiling is Fun, an Internet program based on cognitive behavioral therapy. All patients received iTAU by their general practitioners. Moreover, LITG received Smiling is Fun and the possibility of psychotherapeutic support on request by email, whereas CSG received only Smiling is Fun. The main outcome was the Beck Depression Inventory-II at 3 months from baseline. Mixed-effects multilevel analysis for repeated measures were undertaken. Results: There was no benefit for either CSG [(B coefficient=-1.15; P=.444)] or LITG [(B=-0.71; P=.634)] compared to iTAU, at 3 months. There were differences at 6 months [ iTAU vs CSG (B=-4.22; P=.007); iTAU vs LITG (B=-4.34; P=.005)] and 15 months [iTAU vs CSG (B=-5.10; P=.001); iTAU vs LITG (B=-4.62; P=.002)]. There were no differences between CSG and LITG at any time. Adjusted and intention-to-treat models confirmed these findings. Conclusions: An Internet-based intervention for depression combined with iTAU conferred a benefit over iTAU alone in the Spanish primary health care system., This study was financed by the Instituto de Salud Carlos III of the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness with the PI10/01083 grant (Eficacia y coste-efectividad de un programa de psicoterapia asistida por ordenador para el tratamiento de la depresion mayor en atencion primaria: estudio controlado, randomizado y cualitativo). The project also received funding from the Network for Prevention and Health Promotion in primary Care (RD12/0005) grant from the Instituto de Salud Carlos III of the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (Spain), co-financed with European Union ERDF funds.

IntroductionEndocannabinoid system has been highlighted as one of the most relevant research topics by neurobiologists, pharmacists, basic scientists and clinicians. The association between endocannabinoids and its congeners and mood disorders is relatively recent. However, evidence from both clinical and preclinical studies is increasing and many researchers point out endocannabinoid system and particularly endocannabinoids and congeners as promising pharmacological targets.Aims and objectivesThe main objective of this study is to compare the plasma concentrations of endocannabinoids and congeners between a sample of patients with depression and a sample of control subjects, and the influence of variables such as age, body mass index, gender, severity of symptoms, and antidepressant medication.MethodPlasma concentrations of endocannabinoids and congeners will be analyzed in 69 patients with depression from primary care and 47 controls using mass spectrometry analysis.ResultsStatistically significant differences in 2-arachidonoylglycerol and monoacylglycerols were found between both samples. Somatic symptoms of depression seems to be more related to these compounds that to cognitive-affective symptoms. In addition, differences between mildly and moderately depressed patients were found in concentrations of AEA, LEA, DGLEA and POEA. Patients with antidepressant medication showed higher levels of 2-AG, DGLEA and OEA.ConclusionsThe results of this study provide evidence supporting the hypothesis that in depression there is a dysregulation of the inflammatory signaling and, consequently the immune system. The results of this study could also support the realization of translational research to better understand the mechanisms of this widely distributed system.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

In this study, the factorial structure and psychometric properties of the Vancouver Obsessional Compulsive Inventory (VOCI) were examined in two non-clinical Spanish samples. An exploratory factor analysis replicated the original six-factor structure. Moreover, results showed that the Spanish VOCI is a reliable measure. Also, this version had good convergent validity with other obsessive-compulsive symptom measures and with an instrument that assess beliefs that are relevant to the obsessive-compulsive disorder. Lastly, this version showed good divergent validity with measures of depression, anxiety and worries.

The aim of this study was the adaptation to Spanish of the Obsessive Belief Questionnaire-Children's Version (OBQ-CV) in a non-clinical sample. Confirmatory factor analyses revealed the best fit for a model of three factors (Perfectionism/Certainty, Importance/Control of Thoughts, and Responsibility/Threat Estimation) and one higher-order factor. Moreover, results showed that the Spanish OBQ-CV is a reliable measure. This version also showed good criterion validity with obsessive-compulsive symptom measures and with scores of beliefs relevant to obsessive-compulsive disorder. Lastly, this version showed good divergent validity with depression and anxiety measures.