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Background: Social capital is thought to represent an environmental factor associated with the risk of psychotic disorder (PD). This study aims to investigate the association between neighbourhood-level social capital and clinical transitions within the spectrum of psychosis. Methods: In total, 2175 participants, representative of a community-based population, were assessed twice (6 years apart) to determine their position within an extended psychosis spectrum: no symptoms, subclinical psychotic experiences (PE), clinical PE, PD. A variable representing change between baseline (T1) and follow-up (T2) assessment was constructed. Four dimensions of social capital (informal social control, social disorganisation, social cohesion and trust, cognitive social capital) were assessed at baseline in an independent sample, and the measures were aggregated to the neighbourhood level. Associations between the variable representing psychosis spectrum change from T1 to T2 and the social capital variables were investigated. Results: Lower levels of neighbourhood-level social disorganisation, meaning higher levels of social capital, reduced the risk of clinical PE onset (OR 0.300; z = −2.75; p = 0.006), persistence of clinical PE (OR 0.314; z = −2.36; p = 0.018) and also the transition to PD (OR 0.136; z = −2.12; p = 0.034). The other social capital variables were not associated with changes from T1 to T2. Conclusions: Neighbourhood-level social disorganisation may be associated with the risk of psychosis expression. Whilst replication of this finding is required, it may point to level of social disorganisation as a public health target moderating population psychosis risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To examine whether mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) increases momentary positive emotions and the ability to make use of natural rewards in daily life. Method: Adults with a life-time history of depression and current residual depressive symptoms (mean age = 43.9 years, SD = 9.6; 75% female; all Caucasian) were randomized to MBCT (n = 64) or waitlist control (CONTROL; n = 66) in a parallel, open-label, randomized controlled trial. The Experience Sampling Method was used to measure momentary positive emotions as well as appraisal of pleasant activities in daily life during 6 days before and after the intervention. Residual depressive symptoms were measured using the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (Hamilton, 1960). Results: MBCT compared to CONTROL was associated with significant increases in appraisals of positive emotion (b* = 0.39) and activity pleasantness (b* = 0.22) as well as enhanced ability to boost momentary positive emotions by engaging in pleasant activities (b* = 0.08; all ps less than 0.005). Associations remained significant when corrected for reductions in depressive symptoms or for reductions in negative emotion, rumination, and worry. In the MBCT condition, increases in positive emotion variables were associated with reduction of residual depressive symptoms (all ps less than 0.05). Conclusions: MBCT is associated with increased experience of momentary positive emotions as well as greater appreciation of, and enhanced responsiveness to, pleasant daily-life activities. These changes were unlikely to be pure epiphenomena of decreased depression and, given the role of positive emotions in resilience against depression, may contribute to the protective effects of MBCT against depressive relapse. (Contains 1 footnote, 2 tables, and 3 figures.)

Previous work has shown that school achievement is lower in children living in poor neighborhoods. In this study, the authors hypothesized a role of neighborhood social capital. Data on 11-year-olds were obtained from the baseline measurements of a family cohort study (n = 328). The data had a cross-level structure: neighborhood level, school level, and individual level. After including individual-level confounders, neighborhood socioeconomic disadvantage and social cohesion were not associated with school achievement in boys or girls. However, lower levels of neighborhood informal social control were associated with lower school achievement scores in boys only. In boys, a wider social environment that contributes to obedience to norms and values may be conducive to superior educational achievement. (Contains 4 tables.)

Background. Women with triple X syndrome (TXS) have an extra X chromosome. TXS appeared to be associated with psychiatric disorders in biased or underpowered studies. Aim. This study aims to describe the prevalence of psychiatric disorders in adults with TXS in a relatively large and less biased group of participants. Method. In this cross-sectional study, data were collected from 34 women with TXS (mean age = 32.9; s.d. = 13.1) and 31 controls (mean age = 34.9; s.d. = 13.7). Psychiatric disorders were assessed using the MINI International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) and the adult behavior checklist (ABCL). Trait and state anxiety were assessed using the State–Trait Anxiety Inventory. Results. In the TXS group, MINI results showed a higher prevalence of major depressive episodes (43.3%), psychotic disorders (29.4%), and suicidality (23.5%). Only 50% of the TXS group earned a normal score for the total syndrome score using the ABCL. In addition, levels of trait anxiety were higher in the TXS group. Only three women in each group received psychotropic medication. Impaired social functioning appeared to represent a major risk factor in TXS as regards psychotic, affective disorders, trait anxiety, and low self-esteem. Conclusions. Women with TXS are vulnerable to developing psychiatric disorders, and women with both TXS and impaired social functioning are even more vulnerable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We conducted a cross-national study to examine the association between neighbourhood socioeconomic deprivation, social capital and child health in two countries and multiple ethnic groups. For our analysis we used data from (1) the Project on Human Development in Chicago Neighborhoods (PHDCN), USA and (2) the Maastricht Quality of Life study (MQoL), the Netherlands. Both the PHDCN and the MQoL collected data on objective neighbourhood socioeconomic deprivation, subjective neighbourhood social capital (i.e. informal social control, ISC, social cohesion and trust, SC&T), and children's perceived health. For the present analyses, 11- and 12-year olds were selected. Multilevel analyses were conducted using both neighbourhood level and individual-level data. Lower socioeconomic deprivation scores and higher levels of ISC as well as SC&T were associated with higher levels of children's perceived health, in both Maastricht and the Chicago Hispanic subsample, but not in the Chicago non-Hispanic samples. The results suggest that associations between the wider social environment and health outcomes vary across different populations and cross-national contexts. Keywords: Social capital; Socioeconomic deprivation; Children's health; Ethnicity; USA; Netherlands

Neighbourhood objective socio-economic indicators and community-reported subjective measures of social capital were examined in relation to children's health-related quality of life in the Netherlands. Three different data-sources were used: (1) objective neighbourhood socio-economic indicators, (2) subjective neighbourhood data on social capital, and (3) individual data of a family cohort study, including questions on children's health-related quality of life, and family socio-economic status. Multilevel analyses were conducted using both neighbourhood level and individual level data. Neighbourhood socio-economic status and social capital were associated. Measures of socio-economic deprivation and social capital were both non-specifically associated with children's general health and satisfaction, independent of possible individual-level confounders. However, children's mental health and behaviour were specifically associated with one aspect of social capital, the degree of informal social control in the neighbourhood. Keywords: Social capital; Socio-economic deprivation; Residential instability; Children; Quality of life; Perceived health; Mental health; Netherlands