A Systematic Review of the Etiology and Neurobiology of Intermittent Explosive Disorder.

Intermittent Explosive Disorder (IED) is characterized by repeated inability to control aggressive impulses. Although the etiology and neurobiology of impulsive anger and impulse control disorders have been reviewed, no systematic review on these aspects has been published for IED specifically. We conducted a systematic search in seven electronic databases for publications about IED, screened by two authors, and retained twenty-four studies for the review.

Effectiveness of acceptance and commitment therapy for inpatients with psychosis: Implementation feasibility and acceptability from a pilot randomized controlled trial.

Objective: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Inpatients (ACT-IN) with psychosis has been found to be efficacious in previous trials, but its effectiveness has not been studied when implemented by frontline clinicians in routine settings.

Method: In this pilot randomized controlled effectiveness trial, inpatients with schizophrenia-spectrum disorders were randomized to ACT-IN plus treatment as usual (TAU) (n = 23) or a time/attention matched (TAM) supportive condition plus TAU (n = 23) delivered by routine hospital staff. Both conditions received individual and group therapy during inpatient care and completed follow-up phone sessions during the first month post-discharge.

Feasibility and Preliminary Effects of Implementing Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Inpatients With Psychotic-Spectrum Disorders in a Clinical Psychiatric Intensive Care Setting.

The aim of this study was to adapt Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Inpatients (ACT-IN) for implementation in a typical hospital setting to prepare for a larger clinical trial. The sample consisted of 26 inpatients diagnosed with psychotic-spectrum disorders. Using an open trial design, patients received individual and group ACT-IN sessions during their stay.

HYPNOSIS, HYPNOTIC PHENOMENA, AND HYPNOTIC RESPONSIVENESS: Clinical and Research Foundations-A 40-Year Perspective.

The authors summarize research findings, their clinical implications, and directions for future research derived from 40 years of study of hypnosis, hypnotic phenomena, and hypnotic responsiveness at Steven Jay Lynn's Laboratory of Consciousness, Cognition, and Psychopathology and Joseph P. Green's Laboratory of Hypnosis. We discuss (a) the accumulating body of evidence that hypnosis can be used to advantage in psychotherapy; (b) the fact that hypnosis can facilitate a broad array of subjective experiences and suggestions; (c) the failure to find a reliable marker of a trance or radically altered state of consciousness and reservations about conceptualizing hypnosis in such terms; (d) determinants of hypnotic responsiveness, including attitudes and beliefs, personality traits, expectancies, motivation, and rapport; (e) efforts to modify hypnotic suggestibility; and (f) the need to further examine attentional abilities and the role of adopting a readiness response set that the authors argue is key in maximizing hypnotic responsiveness.

Time-lagged predictors of daily medication nonadherence beliefs during the month post-hospital discharge in patients with psychotic-spectrum disorders.

We used ecological momentary assessment (EMA) to examine the period following hospitalization when risk for medication nonadherence is highest among patients with psychotic-spectrum disorders. EMA data were collected daily via smartphones from 23 patients with psychotic-spectrum disorders (totaling 1149 surveys) in the month immediately following discharge. Nonadherence beliefs significantly correlated with percentage of medication doses.

A Randomized Survey of the Public's Expectancies and Willingness to Participate in Clinical Trials of Antidepressants Versus Psychotherapy for Depression.

Background: Expectancies and treatment preferences are known to affect the outcomes of patients enrolled in clinical trials for depression, but there is little research on their influence when the public is considering participation in these trials.

Method: We conducted an online survey (May 2013) in which participants (N = 615) were randomly assigned to read hypothetical descriptions of clinical trials for depression based on 1 of the following study designs: medication versus placebo, medication versus medication, psychotherapy versus placebo, or psychotherapy versus psychotherapy. Afterward, individuals rated willingness to participate in the trial, logic and credibility of the treatments, and expected success and improvement in symptoms.

The Promises and Challenges of Ecological Momentary Assessment in Schizophrenia: Development of an Initial Experimental Protocol.

Severe mental illnesses, including schizophrenia and other psychotic-spectrum disorders, are a major cause of disability worldwide. Although efficacious pharmacological and psychosocial interventions have been developed for treating patients with schizophrenia, relapse rates are high and long-term recovery remains elusive for many individuals. Furthermore, little is still known about the underlying mechanisms of these illnesses.

Reasons for playing casual video games and perceived benefits among adults 18 to 80 years old.

Casual video games (CVGs) are becoming increasingly popular among middle-aged and older adults, yet there are few studies documenting why adults of different ages play these games, what benefits they perceive, and how regularly they play. The present study compared the online survey responses of 10,308 adults ranging from 18 to 80 years of age to questions regarding PopCap's popular free online game, Bejeweled Blitz (BJB). All respondents cited playing against friends as their main reason for playing.