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BackgroundInternational research has emphasized that youths are at higher risk for the onset of internet addiction (IA), but studies investigating biological, psychological, and social factors associated with this condition are limited. ObjectiveThis study aims to investigate the possible association between IA and genetic polymorphisms in monoamine oxidase A (MAO-A), serotonin-transporter (5-HTTPR), dopamine receptor (DRD4), and dopamine transporter (DAT1) genes by considering the role played by the perception of young adults in their family functioning and their depression, anxiety, and avoidant personality problems. MethodsIn a sample of 104 male and female young adults aged between 19 and 23 years (mean age 21.87, SD 2.29 years) recruited from universities in the central southern part of Italy, we addressed the presence of IA using the Young criteria of the IA test. Moreover, the perception of young adults of their family functioning and their psychopathological symptoms were assessed through the Family Assessment Device (FAD) and the Adult Self-Report, respectively. ResultsWe found no significant association between IA and any genetic polymorphisms, neither among males or females. Young adults with IA reported significantly higher scores in the subscale of FAD affective responsiveness (AR; P=.01) and in depressive problems (P=.02), anxiety problems (P=.009), and avoidant personality problems (P=.003) than those in the control group. Results of mediation analyses showed a mediation role played by depressive symptoms (B=0.99; 95% CI 0.22 to 1.97) and avoidant personality problems (B=1.09; 95% CI 0.32 to 2.05) of young adults on the relationship between the FAD, AR, and IA. Finally, this relationship was moderated by the genotype of the 5-HTTLPR (P

Background: International literature has underlined the complex interplay between genetic and environmental variables in shaping children's emotional-behavioral functioning. Objective: This study aimed to explore the dynamic relationship between children's Dopamine Transporter (DAT1) genotype and methylation, and maternal and paternal affective environment, on children's Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) problems and dysregulation problems. Method: In a community sample of 76 families with school-aged children, we assessed children's DAT1 genotype and methylation, their own ADHD problems and dysregulation profile (CBCL 6-18 DP), and maternal and paternal psychopathological risk, parenting stress, and marital adjustment. Hierarchical regressions were carried out to verify the possible moderation of children's genotype on the relationship between children's methylation and psychopathological risk, parental environment and children's methylation, and parental environment and children's psychopathological risk. Results: The levels of methylation at M1 CpG significantly predicted ADHD problems among children with 10/10 genotype, whereas high levels of methylation at M6 CpG predicted low ADHD problems for children with 9/x genotype. High levels of methylation at M3 CpG were associated with high scores of CBCL DP. DAT1 genotype moderated the relationship between maternal and paternal variables with children's methylation and psychopathological risk. The scores of maternal and paternal Dyadic Adjustment Scale showed indirect effects on children's methylation and psychopathological risk in relation to those exerted by risk factors. Conclusion: Our study has supported the emerging evidence on the complex nature of children's emotional-behavioral functioning and the associated risk and protective factors, with important implications for the planning of preventive programs.

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the life of individuals in several realms such as work, education, and interpersonal interactions. No research has so far investigated the possible influence of the emergency on the quality of mother-child exchanges during feeding. The present study aimed to do so in a sample of mothers and children (N = 359) recruited in the general population. The SVIA was used to evaluate the quality of the dyadic feeding interactions; the SCL-90/R and the BSFC were employed to assess mothers' psychopathological risk and caregiving distress. The CBCL 1,5-5 was used to tap mothers' perception of offspring's emotional/behavioral functioning. All measures were administered at 18 (T1) and 36 months (T2) of the children (respectively pre-pandemic and during the pandemic periods). Results showed that the quality of the feeding interactions worsened from T1 to T2. Mothers' psychopathological risk, depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsion scores and caregiving distress significantly increased. Children's emotional/behavioral functioning worsened during the pandemic, with significantly higher Internalizing and Externalizing scores. This is the first study to focus on the quality of mother-child feeding interactions during the pandemic. This exploratory study can expand the knowledge on the possible negative outcomes of COVID-19 on family life and caregiving.

The use of digital devices among very young children is quickly spreading, although the effects of screen time on emotional and cognitive functioning are still debated. In a sample of N = 422 children and their mothers, this 4-year longitudinal study aimed to evaluate the hypothesis that the use of digital devices as smartphones and tablets at 4 years of age is related to later dysregulation symptoms and to lower academic achievements both at 6 and 8 years of age. Children's mothers were asked whether or not their offspring had access to digital devices and what was their average screen time on a typical day. Mothers were also requested to specify whether they used to participate in their children's activities during screen time and to report their offspring emotional/behavioral functioning. Children's teachers were administered the Teachers Report Form including the competence part to evaluate academic achievements and possible dysregulation symptoms of their students. The Structural Equation Modeling showed that screen time at 4 years of age, the child was directly, positively and significantly associated with dysregulation and negatively associated with mathematics and literacy grades at 8 years of age of the child. These results could help orientate the guidelines for the use of digital devices by very young children.

While accumulating literature is demonstrating the role of the dopamine transporter (DAT) in predicting emotional-behavioural difficulties in adults of at risk populations, only few studies have focused on the possible association between the methylation status of the DAT promoter and the psychopathological risk of mothers, fathers and children in normative samples. The pattern of methylation of M1-M7 loci present in the 5'-untranslated promoter region (5'-UTR) of DAT1, and parental and offspring psychopathological risk were assessed in a sample of 152 families with 5-year-old-children, employing principal components (PCAs) and cluster analyses. Parents' psychopathological symptoms were assessed through SCL-90/R; children's emotional-behavioural functioning was evaluated through C-TRF. Cluster analysis allowed to form three clusters; cluster 1 is primarily composed by children with low-/middle-risk profiles; most of children with high-risk are in this cluster, and had parents with mild/high psychopathological risk; children in cluster 2 showed low-risk profiles and their parents had low/mild psychopathological risk; children in cluster 3 were predominantly at middle risk and had parents with low psychopathological risk. Analysis of results shows that DNA methylation occurs in different loci of DAT1 according to patterns of psychopathology and that psychopathological risk is specifically associated with hyper-methylation or hypo-methylation of these loci.

Introduction: Before the COVID-19 pandemic, proximity between mothers and their newborn infants was at the core of sanitary guidelines. With the aim of stopping the virus transmission from mothers to infants and possible physical dangers due to the infection, some hospitals discouraged or even prohibited skin-to-skin contact and breastfeeding. Method: This study recruited 180 dyads in private and public hospitals in Italy with the aim of verifying whether mother-infant separation after delivery is associated with higher maternal psychopathological distress (assessed through the SCL-90-R) and poorer quality of dyadic interactions during breastfeeding (evaluated through the SVIA). Results: Our results showed that mothers separated from their infants displayed more anxiety, depression, and obsessive-compulsive symptoms and a lower quality of feeding interactions on all the subscales of the SVIA (mother's affective state; interactive conflict; food refusal behavior; dyad's affective state). Conclusion: In light of these results, our study suggests that separating mothers from their newborns is associated with increased psychopathological symptoms in mothers and poorer feeding interactions. These issues have been posited as key predictors of maladaptive outcomes in infants' later lives; therefore, health services must fully consider the short- and long-term consequences of separating mothers and infants in their policies in the event of future pandemics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed at assessing the prevalence of eating disorders and symptoms of dieting, food preoccupation, and oral control and internalizing/externalizing problems in a group of adolescents before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. A sample of N = 813 adolescents (age range = 14-15 years) was recruited in the general population and administered the SCOFF, EAT-26 and YSR questionnaires at two assessment points: before the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak and during it. In males and females, the YSR scores at T1 were significantly lower than T2, especially for the subscales of Withdrawn, Somatic complaints, Anxious/depressed, Social problems. As for the EAT-26 scores, adolescents scored significantly lower at T1 for all four subscales of dieting, food preoccupation and oral control. The prevalence of eating disorders among males and females increased respectively from 13.2% to 18.4% and from 17.5 to 25.3 from T1 to T2. This study confirms previous research showing an increase in eating disorders prevalence and higher psychopathological symptoms both in males and females adolescents during the pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

According to the WHO (World Health Organization), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is an elective therapy to treat people with post-traumatic stress disorders (PTSD). In line with the personalization of therapeutic strategies, through this pilot study, we assessed in people suffering from the effects of trauma the feasibility, safety, acceptance, and efficacy of EMDR enriched with sound stimulation (by administering neutral sounds synchronized with the guided bilateral alternating stimulation of the gaze) and musical reward (musical listening based on the patients' predisposition and personal tastes). Feasibility, quantified by the number of patients who completed the treatment, was excellent as this was the case in 12 out of the 12 enrolled people with psychological trauma. Safety and acceptance, assessed by self-compiled questionnaires, were excellent, with an absence of side effects and high satisfaction. Efficacy, quantified by the number of EMDR treatment sessions required to reach the optimal scores on the Subjective Units of Disturbance (SUD) and Validity of Cognition (VOC) scales typical of EMDR protocols, revealed an average duration of 8.5 (SD 1.2) sessions, which is well below the 12 sessions considered a standard EMDR treatment duration. EMDR+ appears to be a relevant personalization of EMDR, particularly in music-sensitive people, consolidating the therapeutic alliance through a multisensory communicative bond for trauma treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]