Publications by authors named "N J A van der Wee"
Article Synopsis
- Longitudinal rs-fMRI studies on adolescent internalizing psychopathology are limited; this study investigates functional connectivity (FC) in amygdala subregions and whole-brain networks in treatment-naïve adolescents with clinical depression and anxiety.
- The study involved 23 adolescents starting treatment and 24 healthy controls, assessing FC changes over three months focusing on the laterobasal amygdala (LBA) and centromedial amygdala (CMA).
- Results indicated significant differences in FC development between the groups, with specific changes linked to symptom improvement, underscoring the need to consider amygdala subregions in neuroimaging research for better understanding of mental health in adolescents.
Self-compassion as a protective factor against post-traumatic stress symptoms induced by adverse childhood experiences: A cross-sectional study among Japan air self-defense force new recruits.
Masato Kitano Florentine H S van der Does Taku Saito Erik J Giltay Toshinori Chiba Nic J van der Wee
J Psychiatr Res
December 2024
Article Synopsis
- Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are linked to long-term mental health issues like PTSD, and are notably more common in military personnel who must preserve mental health for their duties.
- A study with 752 recruits from the Japan Air Self-Defense Force found that self-compassion, which involves treating oneself kindly, significantly reduces PTSD symptoms and is negatively impacted by ACEs.
- The research indicated that self-compassion only partially mediates the relationship between ACEs and PTSD symptoms, suggesting the need for further studies to develop educational programs aimed at increasing self-compassion in individuals with ACEs to help lessen PTSD symptoms.
Article Synopsis
- Subcortical brain structures play a crucial role in various developmental and psychiatric disorders, and a study analyzed brain volumes in 74,898 individuals, identifying 254 genetic loci linked to these volumes, which accounted for up to 35% of variation.
- The research included exploring gene expression in specific neural cell types, focusing on genes involved in intracellular signaling and processes related to brain aging.
- The findings suggest that certain genetic variants not only influence brain volume but also have potential causal links to conditions like Parkinson’s disease and ADHD, highlighting the genetic basis for risks associated with neuropsychiatric disorders.