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BackgroundDespite increasing demand for treatment among cannabis users in many countries, most users are not in treatment. Internet-based self-help offers an alternative for those hesitant to seek face-to-face therapy, though low effectiveness and adherence issues often arise. ObjectiveThrough adherence-focused guidance enhancement, we aimed to increase adherence to and the effectiveness of internet-based self-help among cannabis users. MethodsFrom July 2016 to May 2019, cannabis users (n=775; male: 406/575, 70.6%, female: 169/575, 29.4%; age: mean 28.3 years) not in treatment were recruited from the general population and were randomly assigned to (1) an adherence-focused guidance enhancement internet-based self-help intervention with social presence, (2) a similar intervention with an impersonal service team, and (3) access to internet as usual. Controls who were placed on a waiting list for the full intervention after 3 months underwent an assessment and had access to internet as usual. The primary outcome measurement was cannabis-use days over the preceding 30 days. Secondary outcomes included cannabis-dependence severity, changes in common mental disorder symptoms, and intervention adherence. Differences between the study arms in primary and secondary continuous outcome variables at baseline, posttreatment, and follow-up were tested using pooled linear models. ResultsAll groups exhibited reduced cannabis-use days after 3 months (social presence: –8.2 days; service team: –9.8 days; internet as usual: –4.2 days). The participants in the service team group (P=.01, d=.60) reported significantly fewer cannabis-use days than those in the internet as usual group; the reduction of cannabis use in the social presence group was not significant (P=.07, d=.40). There was no significant difference between the 2 intervention groups regarding cannabis-use reduction. The service team group also exhibited superior improvements in cannabis-use disorder, cannabis-dependence severity, and general anxiety symptoms after 3 months to those in the internet as usual group. ConclusionsThe adherence-focused guidance enhancement internet-based self-help intervention with an impersonal service team significantly reduced cannabis use, cannabis-use disorder, dependence severity, and general anxiety symptoms. Trial RegistrationISRCTN Registry ISRCTN11086185; http://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN11086185

Significant orbital mixing is rare in lanthanide complexes because of the limited radial extent of the 4f orbitals, which results in a generally small stabilization due to 4f orbital interactions. Nevertheless, even a small amount of additional stabilization could enhance lanthanide separations. One lanthanide complex in which orbital mixing has been extensively studied both experimentally and computationally is cerocene, COT2Ce, where COT is cyclooctatetraene. This compound has a singlet ground state with a low-lying, triplet excited state. Previous fluorescence studies on trimethylsilyl-substituted cerocenes indicate the triplet state is 0.4 eV higher in energy than the singlet state. In addition, computational studies predict that the triplet is 0.3 to 1 eV higher in energy than the singlet. The synthesis of highly pure COT2Ce by Walter and Andersen allowed its physical properties to be accurately measured. Using these measurements, we evaluate the stabilization of the 4f orbitals using two, independent approaches. A Hubbard model is used to evaluate the stabilization of the ground state due to orbital mixing. This stabilization, which is also the singlet-triplet gap, is -0.29 eV using this model. This gap was also from the temperature independent paramagnetism of COT2Ce, which yielded a value of -0.32 eV.

Significant orbital mixing is rare in lanthanide complexes because of the limited radial extent of the 4f orbitals, which results in a generally small stabilization due to 4f orbital interactions. Nevertheless, even a small amount of additional stabilization could enhance lanthanide separations. One lanthanide complex in which orbital mixing has been extensively studied both experimentally and computationally is cerocene, COT2Ce, where COT is cyclooctatetraene. This compound has a singlet ground state with a low-lying, triplet excited state. Previous fluorescence studies on trimethylsilyl-substituted cerocenes indicate the triplet state is 0.4 eV higher in energy than the singlet state. In addition, computational studies predict that the triplet is 0.3 to 1 eV higher in energy than the singlet. The synthesis of highly pure COT2Ce by Walter and Andersen allowed its physical properties to be accurately measured. Using these measurements, we evaluate the stabilization of the 4f orbitals using two, independent approaches. A Hubbard model is used to evaluate the stabilization of the ground state due to orbital mixing. This stabilization, which is also the singlet-triplet gap, is -0.29 eV using this model. This gap was also from the temperature independent paramagnetism of COT2Ce, which yielded a value of -0.32 eV.

The Self and Interpersonal Functioning Scale (SIFS) is a 24-item self-report questionnaire assessing personality functioning according to the alternative DSM-5 model for personality disorders. We evaluated the German SIFS version in a total sample of 886 participants from Germany and Switzerland. Its factor structure was investigated with confirmatory factor analysis comparing bifactor models with two specific factors (self- and interpersonal functioning) and four specific factors (identity, self-direction, empathy, and intimacy). The SIFS sum and domain scores were tested for reliability and convergent validity with self-report questionnaires and interviews for personality functioning, -organization, -traits, -disorder categories, and well-being. None of the bifactor models yielded good model fit, even after excluding two items with low factor loadings and including a method factor for reverse-keyed items. Based on a shortened 22-item SIFS version, models suggested that the g-factor explained 52.9–59.6% of the common variance and that the SIFS sum score measured the g-factor with a reliability of.68–.81. Even though the SIFS sum score showed large test-retest reliability and correlated strongly with well-established self-report questionnaires and interviews, the lack of structural validity appears to be a serious disadvantage of the SIFS compared to existing self-reports questionnaires of personality functioning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To date, there are no official diagnostic criteria for the frequently reported phenomenon of exercise addiction. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate how mental disorders, specifically depression and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), are related to exercise addiction (EA). Methods: A total of 173 participants aged between 18 and 70 years, who reported exercising more than 10 h a week and continued to exercise despite injury or illness, answered questionnaires including the Exercise Dependence Scale, the Beck Depression Inventory, and the Homburger ADHD scale for adults. Multiple linear regression analyses were performed adjusting for relevant confounders (age, gender) and stepwise regression was used to identify which of the two mental disorders is the more influential predictor of EA. Results: Pearson correlation analysis showed that depressive symptoms [r (171) = 0.422, p < 0.00] and ADHD symptoms [r (171) = 0.308, p < 0.001] were positively correlated with EA symptoms. The relation between depressive symptoms and EA remained after adjusting for confounders in the regression model (B = 20.531; t(170) = 5.950; 95% CI [13.719, 27.343]; p < 0.001). Similarly, the positive link between ADHD symptoms and EA persisted after controlling for confounders (B = 15.507; t(170) = 3.771; 95% CI [7.389, 23.625]; p < 0.001). Additionally, a stepwise regression model identified that depressive symptoms are a stronger predictor for EA than ADHD symptoms. Conclusion: Depressive symptoms seem to be a stronger predictor for EA compared to ADHD symptoms in frequent exercisers. Although individuals with ADHD May exercise extensively, they might be less at risk for EA than individuals with depression. These results contribute to the complex characterization of the psychiatric profile of individuals with exercise addiction, and underline the need for further research elucidating the interplay between mental disorders and EA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A general synthetic procedure to neutral homo- and heterobimetallic cage compounds exhibiting various structural motifs of the polypnictogen ligands starting from [Cp*Fe(η5-E5)] (E = P (1), As (2); Cp* = C5Me5) is reported. The impact of the implemented transition metal precursors {Cp′′′M} (M = Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni; Cp′′′ = 1,2,4-tBu3C5H2) emphasises the variability of the isolated complexes exhibiting a broad variety of structural motifs of the pnictogen ligands. Spectroscopic, crystallographic, and theoretical investigations provide insight into the structure of the partially unprecedented polypnictogen ligands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Patients suffering from psychological disorders report decreased quality of life and low mood. The relationship of these symptoms to daily upsetting events or environments, and in the context of active coping mechanisms is poorly understood. The present study thus investigates the association between mood, psychological flexibility, upsetting events, and environment in the daily life of outpatients. We investigated 80 outpatients at the beginning of treatment, using event sampling methodology (ESM). Patients' mood, occurrence of upsetting events, current environment, and psychological flexibility were sampled six times per day during a one-week intensive longitudinal examination. Data were analyzed using linear mixed models (LMMs). Participants reported worse mood the more upsetting events they experienced. Further, participants reported better mood when in private environments (e.g., with friends), and worse mood when at the hospital, compared to being at home. Higher levels of psychological flexibility, however, were associated with better mood, irrespective of the occurrence of upsetting events or current environment. Results suggest that mood is positively associated with psychological flexibility, not despite, but especially during the dynamic and context-specific challenges of daily life. Psychological flexibility may thus potentially act as a buffer against distress-provoking situations as patients go about their daily lives. ISRCTN.org identifier: ISRCTN11209732. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Characterization of paramagnetic compounds, in particular regarding the detailed conformation and electronic structure, remains a challenge, and -- still today it often relies solely on the use of X-ray crystallography, thus limiting the access to electronic structure information. This is particularly true for lanthanide elements that are often associated with peculiar structural and electronic features in relation to their partially filled f-shell. Here, we develop a methodology based on the combined use of state-of-theart magnetic resonance spectroscopies (EPR and solid-state NMR) and computational approaches as well as magnetic susceptibility measurements to determine the electronic structure and geometry of a paramagnetic Yb(III) alkyl complex, Yb(III)[CH(SiMe3)2]3, a prototypical example, which contains notable structural features according to X-ray crystallography. Each of these techniques revealed specific information about the geometry and electronic structure of the complex. Taken together, both EPR and NMR, augmented by quantum chemical calculations, provide a detailed and complementary understanding of such paramagnetic compounds. In particular, the EPR and NMR signatures point to the presence of three-centre--two-electron Yb-γ-Me-β-Si secondary metal--ligand interactions in this otherwise tri-coordinate metal complex, similarly to its diamagnetic Lu analogues. The electronic structure of Yb(III) can be described as a single 4f13 configuration, while an unusually large crystal-field splitting results in a thermally isolated ground Kramers doublet. Furthermore, the computational data indicate that the Yb--carbon bond contains some p-character, reminiscent of the so-called a-H agostic interaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]