High-dose chemotherapy and autologous haematopoietic stem-cell transplantation in older, fit patients with primary diffuse large B-cell CNS lymphoma (MARTA): a single-arm, phase 2 trial.

Background: Available treatments for older patients with primary diffuse large B-cell CNS lymphoma (PCNSL) offer progression-free survival of up to 16 months. We aimed to investigate an intensified treatment of high-dose chemotherapy and autologous haematopoietic stem-cell transplantation (HSCT) in older patients with PCNSL.

Methods: MARTA was a prospective, single-arm, phase 2 study done at 15 research hospitals in Germany.

Age-adjusted high-dose chemotherapy followed by autologous stem cell transplantation or conventional chemotherapy with R-MP as first-line treatment in elderly primary CNS lymphoma patients - the randomized phase III PRIMA-CNS trial.

Background: Older primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) patients have an inferior prognosis compared to younger patients because available evidence on best treatment is scarce and treatment delivery is challenging due to comorbidities and reduced performance status. High-dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplantation (HCT-ASCT) after high-dose methotrexate (MTX)-based immuno-chemotherapy has become an increasingly used treatment approach in eligible elderly PCNSL patients with promising feasibility and efficacy, but has not been compared with conventional chemotherapy approaches. In addition, eligibility for HCT-ASCT in elderly PCNSL is not well defined.

Impact of Baseline Characteristics on the Effectiveness of Disorder-Specific Cognitive Behavioral Analysis System of Psychotherapy (CBASP) and Supportive Psychotherapy in Outpatient Treatment for Persistent Depressive Disorder.

In the treatment of persistent depressive disorder (PDD), disorder-specific Cognitive Behavioral Analysis System of Psychotherapy (CBASP) has been shown to be superior to Supportive Psychotherapy (SP) in outpatients. It remains to clear which subgroups of patients benefit equally and differentially from both psychotherapies. To identify those patient-level baseline characteristics that predict a comparable treatment effectiveness of CBASP and SP and those that moderate the differential effectiveness of CBASP compared to SP.

Combining baseline characteristics to disentangle response differences to disorder-specific versus supportive psychotherapy in patients with persistent depressive disorder.

Does the pre-treatment profile of individuals with persistent depressive disorder (PDD) moderate their benefit from disorder-specific Cognitive Behavioral System of Psychotherapy (CBASP) versus supportive psychotherapy (SP)? We investigated this question by analyzing data from a multi-center randomized clinical trial comparing the effectiveness of 48 weeks of CBASP to SP in n  =  237 patients with early-onset PDD who were not taking antidepressant medication. We statistically developed an optimal composite moderator as a weighted combination of 13 preselected baseline variables and used it for identifying and characterizing subgroups for which CABSP may be preferable to SP or vice versa. We identified two distinct subgroups: 58.

An Internet-Based Self-Help Intervention for Skin Picking (SaveMySkin): Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: In spite of the psychosocial burden and medical risks associated with skin picking disorder, the health care system does not provide sufficient treatment for affected individuals to date. Therefore, an internet-based self-help program for skin picking was developed to offer easily accessible support for this population.

Objective: This pilot study evaluated the internet-based self-help program SaveMySkin.

Two-Year Follow-Up after Treatment with the Cognitive Behavioral Analysis System of Psychotherapy versus Supportive Psychotherapy for Early-Onset Chronic Depression.

Background: Evidence on the long-term efficacy of psychotherapeutic approaches for chronic depression is scarce.

Objective: To evaluate the effects of the Cognitive Behavioral Analysis System of Psychotherapy (CBASP) compared to Supportive Psychotherapy (SP) 1 year and 2 years after treatment termination.

Methods: In this study, we present 1- and 2-year follow-up assessments of a prospective, multicenter, evaluator-blinded, randomized clinical trial of outpatients with early-onset chronic major depression (n = 268).

SaveMySkin: An Internet-based self-help intervention for skin picking. Study protocol for a randomized pilot study.

Background: Skin picking disorder is an under-recognized and understudied mental disorder associated with severe psychological and medical consequences. Affected individuals barely receive adequate treatment, given the scarcity of expertise in healthcare professionals and the lack of evidence-based interventions.The present study seeks to evaluate an Internet-based self-help intervention for skin picking ("SaveMySkin") within a pilot study.

Disease management apps and technical assistance systems for bipolar disorder: Investigating the patients´ point of view.

Background: Smartphone-based disease management has become increasingly interesting for research in the field of bipolar disorders. This article investigates the attitudes of persons affected by this disorder towards the appropriation of mobile apps or assistance systems for the management of their disease.

Methods: We conducted two separate studies.

Effect of Disorder-Specific vs Nonspecific Psychotherapy for Chronic Depression: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Chronic depression is a highly prevalent and disabling disorder. There is a recognized need to assess the value of long-term disorder-specific psychotherapy.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of the Cognitive Behavioral Analysis System of Psychotherapy (CBASP) compared with that of nonspecific supportive psychotherapy (SP).

The assessment of skin picking in adolescence: psychometric properties of the Skin Picking Scale-Revised (German version).

Background: Skin picking disorder has received growing attention since the release of DSM-5, yet there are no evidence-based assessment instruments for adolescent samples.

Aim: The present study examines the psychometric properties of the Skin Picking Scale-Revised (SPS-R, German version) in adolescents.

Methods: A total of 76 adolescents (96% female) completed the SPS-R, the Clinical Psychological Diagnostic System (KPD-38), and a questionnaire assessing demographics and clinical characteristics online.

[A Self-Report Instrument for the Assessment of Dermatillomania: Reliability and Validity of the German Skin Picking Scale-Revised].

At least since the introduction of the official diagnosis Excoriation (Skin-Picking) Disorder in the DSM-5 [1], dermatillomania is an important and growing field of research. Despite the high importance currently a huge lack of German assessment instruments exists. Aim of the present study was the examination of the psychometric properties of the German translation of the Skin Picking Scale-Revised [2].

Internet-Delivered Disease Management for Recurrent Depression: A Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Strategies to improve the life of patients suffering from recurrent major depression have a high relevance. This study examined the efficacy of 2 Internet-delivered augmentation strategies that aim to prolong symptom-free intervals.

Methods: Efficacy was tested in a 3-arm, multicenter, open-label, evaluator-blind, randomized controlled trial.

Me, myself, and I: self-referent word use as an indicator of self-focused attention in relation to depression and anxiety.

Self-focused attention (SFA) is considered a cognitive bias that is closely related to depression. However, it is not yet well understood whether it represents a disorder-specific or a trans-diagnostic phenomenon and which role the valence of a given context is playing in this regard. Computerized quantitative text-analysis offers an integrative psycho-linguistic approach that may help to provide new insights into these complex relationships.

Mood-incongruent processing during the recall of a sad life event predicts the course and severity of depression.

Background: Previous studies suggest that mood-incongruent processing constitutes an adaptive mood regulation strategy, and that difficulties in this process may contribute to the maintenance of depression. However, no study has yet examined whether mood-incongruent processing predicts the course and severity of clinical depression.

Methods: To address this question, the present study used a prospective, longitudinal design to examine the effects of mood-incongruent processing in a sample of 59 clinically depressed patients.

The temporal dynamics of cognitive reactivity and their association with the depression risk: an exploratory study.

Background: Cognitive reactivity is the change in depressive thinking in response to negative mood. Previous research indicates that cognitive reactivity is an important variable in the etiology and course of depression. The present study tested which time interval after a negative mood induction is critical for the prediction of the depression risk.

Differentiating early-onset chronic depression from episodic depression in terms of cognitive-behavioral and emotional avoidance.

Background: Although chronic depression is associated with lower global functioning and poorer treatment response than episodic depression, little is known about the differences between these two forms of depression in terms of psychological factors. Thus, the present study aimed at differentiating chronic and episodic depression regarding cognitive-behavioral and emotional avoidance that have been proposed as important risk factors for depression and promising targets for the treatment of depression.

Methods: Thirty patients with early onset chronic depression were compared with 30 patients with episodic depression and 30 healthy, never-depressed controls in terms of self-reported cognitive-behavioral (social and non-social) and emotional avoidance.

Neuropsychological differences between obsessive-compulsive washers and checkers: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Inconsistent results in neuropsychological research of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) may be the result of the heterogeneous nature of OCD symptoms. The most frequently investigated symptoms are contamination/cleaning and doubt/checking. The aim of this review was to determine whether OCD washers and checkers differ in their neuropsychological performance.

Prediction of symptoms of emotional distress by mood regulation expectancies and affective traits.

Three studies examined negative mood regulation expectancies (NMRE) and affective traits as independent predictors of self-reported symptoms of emotional distress. NMRE represent individuals' beliefs that they can alleviate unpleasant emotional states. Stronger NMRE are associated with more adaptive coping, more positive cognition during negative moods, more effective responses under stress and less emotional distress.

Coping with delusions in schizophrenia and affective disorder with psychotic symptoms: the relationship between coping strategies and dimensions of delusion.

Background: Self-generated coping strategies and the enhancement of coping strategies are effective in the treatment of psychotic symptoms. Evaluating these strategies can be of clinical interest to develop better coping enhancement therapies. Cognitive models consider delusions as multidimensional phenomena.

Preliminary Evidence for a Nexus between Rumination, Behavioural Avoidance, Motive Satisfaction and Depression.

Unlabelled: The present study tested a theoretically derived link between rumination and depressive symptoms through behavioural avoidance and reduced motive satisfaction as a key aspect of positive reinforcement. Rumination, behavioural avoidance, motive satisfaction and levels of depression were assessed via self-report measures in a clinical sample of 160 patients with major depressive disorder. Path analysis-based mediation analysis was used to estimate the direct and indirect effects as proposed by the theoretical model.

Supportive monitoring and disease management through the internet: an internet-delivered intervention strategy for recurrent depression.

Major depression is a highly prevalent, disabling disorder associated with loss of quality of life and large economic burden for the society. Depressive disorders often follow a chronic or recurrent course. The risk of relapses increases with each additional episode.

Preliminary reliability and validity of the Spanish Generalized Expectancies for Negative Mood Regulation Scale.

Objective: This article introduces a Spanish version of the Generalized Expectancies for Negative Mood Regulation Scale (NMR-S) and tests the reliability and the validity of the new questionnaire.

Methods: A sample of 360 students from Chile completed the NMR-S along with instruments measuring depressive symptoms, social desirability, coping, and emotion regulation.

Results: A factor analysis indicated that the NMR-S has a one-dimensional structure.