Associations of the A118G OPRM1 polymorphism with sociotropy and interpersonal sensitivity.

Background: The μ-opioid receptor (MOR) plays an important role in social bonding behaviors, while it is implicated in the pathophysiology of depression. It is shown that the A118G polymorphism (rs1799971) of the MOR gene (OPRM1) causes amino-acid exchange from Asn to Asp, and that this polymorphism is associated with altered mu-opioid receptor function. Meanwhile, sociotropy/autonomy and interpersonal sensitivity are personality vulnerabilities to depression characterized by distinctive interpersonal styles.

Oxytocin receptor polymorphism influences characterization of harm avoidance by moderating susceptibility to affectionless control parenting.

Introduction: Oxytocin receptor (OXTR) gene polymorphism reportedly moderates effects of negative environments during childhood on mental function and behavior such as depressive symptoms and externalizing problems. This study examined OXTR gene polymorphism effects on personality traits in healthy participants, considering interaction effects of polymorphism with affectionless control (AC) parenting which is one of the dysfunctional and pathogenic parenting styles.

Methods: For 496 Japanese volunteers, personality was evaluated using the Temperament and Character Inventory.

Efficacy and Safety of Favipiravir in Moderate COVID-19 Pneumonia Patients without Oxygen Therapy: A Randomized, Phase III Clinical Trial.

Introduction: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the cause of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), is an enveloped, single-stranded RNA virus. Favipiravir is an orally administrable antiviral drug whose mechanism of action is to selectively inhibit RNA-dependent RNA polymerase. A preliminary trial in COVID-19 patients reported significant improvements across a multitude of clinical parameters, but these findings have not been confirmed in an adequate well-controlled trial.

Mu-Opioid Receptor Polymorphism Moderates Sensitivity to Parental Behaviors During Characterization of Personality Traits.

Purpose: Attachment research shows that attachment experiences with parents in childhood influence the characterization of personality traits. Meanwhile, it is known that mu-opioid receptor function is involved in human attachment. Furthermore, a few studies suggest that the A118G polymorphism of the mu-opioid receptor gene () is associated with altered mu-opioid receptor function.

Interrelation Between Increased BDNF Gene Methylation and High Sociotropy, a Personality Vulnerability Factor in Cognitive Model of Depression.

Purpose: It is suggested that increased methylation of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene is involved in the pathogenesis of depression, while sociotropy and autonomy are proposed as personality vulnerability factors in cognitive model of depression. We examined the interrelation between BDNF gene methylation and sociotropy or autonomy, with taking into account the previously reported deleterious effect of parental overprotection on sociotropy.

Materials And Methods: The participants consisted of 90 healthy Japanese volunteers.

Implication of core beliefs about negative-self in neuroticism.

Core beliefs about negative-self are beliefs about self-deficiencies in basic aspects of human adaptation. Meanwhile, neuroticism is a personality trait characterised by negative emotionality, i.e.

Link of negative core beliefs about the self with perceived dysfunctional parenting.

Cognitive theory posits the central role of negative core beliefs about the self in cognitive vulnerabilities to depression, and this position is supported by empirical studies. It is also hypothesized that these core beliefs develop as a result of negative interactions with significant others in early life. To test the hypothesis that negative core beliefs about the self are formed by dysfunctional parenting, we examined their relations with perceived parental rearing.

Relation of high neuroticism with increased methylation of the BDNF gene.

Background: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a neurotrophin that has an important function in neuroplasticity and neuronal development. It is suggested that increased methylation of the BDNF gene resulting in decreased BDNF activity is associated with depression. Meanwhile, neuroticism is a well-known risk factor for developing depression.

Interrelations among negative core beliefs, attachment anxiety and low self-directedness, putative central constructs of depression vulnerabilities in cognitive, attachment and psychobiological personality theories.

The present study examined the interrelations among negative core beliefs, attachment anxiety and low self-directedness, to test if the central constructs of depression vulnerabilities in cognitive, attachment and psychobiological personality theories are integrated into negative self-image. The subjects were 410 healthy Japanese medical students and staff. Negative core beliefs, attachment anxiety and self-directedness were evaluated by the Brief Core Schema Scales, Experiences in Close Relationships and Temperament and Character Inventory, respectively.

Implication of the DGKH genotype in openness to experience, a premorbid personality trait of bipolar disorder.

Aims: The diacylglycerol kinase η gene (DGKH) is one of the few replicated risk genes for bipolar disorder. Meanwhile, specific personality traits, especially openness to experience, have been suggested as premorbid personality traits of the disorder. The aim of the present study was to examine the relation of the DGKH genotype with broad dimensions of personality, to obtain further evidence for its implication in the etiology of bipolar disorder.

Marked differences in core beliefs about self and others, between sociotropy and autonomy: personality vulnerabilities in the cognitive model of depression.

Objective: The cognitive model of depression posits two distinctive personality vulnerabilities termed sociotropy and autonomy, each of which is composed of a cluster of maladaptive self-schemas. It is postulated that negative core beliefs about self underlie maladaptive self-schemas as a whole, whereas those about others may be implicated in the autonomous self-schemas. Therefore, the present study examined the relations of sociotropy and autonomy with core beliefs about self and others.

Close relation of interpersonal sensitivity with negative core beliefs about the self, the central construct of cognitive vulnerability to depression.

Interpersonal sensitivity is a personality trait linked with anxious attachment conceptualized in attachment theory. This personality trait is comprised of four components, i.e.

Relationship of negative and positive core beliefs about the self with dysfunctional attitudes in three aspects of life.

Objective: Cognitive theory assumes a pivotal role of negative core beliefs about the self in dysfunctional attitudes predisposing to depression. Meanwhile, the role of positive core beliefs about the self in cognitive vulnerability to depression is unknown. Therefore, we examined the relationship of negative and positive core beliefs about the self with dysfunctional attitudes in three aspects of life.

Relationship between interpersonal sensitivity and leukocyte telomere length.

Background: Telomeres are repetitive DNA sequences located at the ends of chromosomes, and telomere length represents a biological marker for cellular aging. Interpersonal sensitivity, excessive sensitivity to the behavior and feelings of others, is one of the vulnerable factors to depression. In the present study, we examined the effect of interpersonal sensitivity on telomere length in healthy subjects.

Perceived parental affectionless control is associated with high neuroticism.

Objective: Depressed patients are prone to perceive that they were exposed to affectionless control by parents. Meanwhile, high neuroticism is a well-established risk factor for developing depression. Therefore, this study examined whether perceived parental affectionless control is associated with high neuroticism.

Effects of perceived affectionless control parenting on working models of the self and other.

Attachment theory contends that insecure working models of the self and other built through negative attachment experiences are predisposing factors for depression and anxiety disorders. Meanwhile, patients with these psychiatric disorders tend to perceive that they received the affectionless control parenting, which is a combination of lack of care and overprotection. To test the hypothesis that the affectionless control parenting impairs the formation of positive working models, we examined the effects of perceived parenting styles on qualities of working models.

Link of dysfunctional attitudes with the negative self-model.

Background: Beck's cognitive theory postulates that dysfunctional attitudes predisposing to depression are formed by early negative experiences. Meanwhile, Bowlby's attachment theory contends that distorted working models built through insecure attachment relationships lead to various psychopathologies such as depression. The present study examined the correlations of dysfunctional attitudes about achievement, dependency, and self-control with working models of the self and other, and tried to promote understanding of those dysfunctional attitudes from an attachment perspective.

Associations of working models of the self and other with Cloninger's personality dimensions.

The present study examined the associations of working models of the self and other, one of the key concepts of Bowlby's attachment theory, with the seven dimensions of Cloninger's personality model. The subjects were 542 healthy Japanese volunteers. Working models of the self and other were assessed by the Relationship Scales Questionnaire, and the seven dimensions of personality were evaluated by the Temperament and Character Inventory.

Parental care influences leukocyte telomere length with gender specificity in parents and offsprings.

Background: There have been several reports suggesting that adverse childhood experiences such as physical maltreatment and long institutionalization influence telomere length. However, there has been no study examining the relationship of telomere length with variations in parental rearing. In the present study, we examined the relationship of leukocyte telomere length with parental rearing in healthy subjects.

Serotonin transporter gene: a new polymorphism may affect response to antidepressant treatments in major depressive disorder.

Background And Objectives: Several gene variants have been related to major depressive disorder (MDD) treatment outcomes; however, few studies have investigated a possible different effect on pharmacotherapy and brief psychotherapy response.

Methods: A total of 137 MDD patients were randomized to either interpersonal counseling (IPC; n = 40) or antidepressant pharmacological treatment (n = 97). Outcomes were remission, response, and symptom improvement at week 8.

Distinctive correlations of sociotropy and autonomy with working models of the self and other.

Background: Beck's cognitive theory of depression postulates personality vulnerability factors termed sociotropy and autonomy, which are accompanied by characteristic interpersonal styles. Meanwhile, Bartholomew contends that negative working models of the self and other built through insecure attachment relationships are externalized as distinctive interpersonal styles. The present study examined the relationships of sociotropy and autonomy with the self- and other-models, and attempted to promote understanding of the two personality traits from an attachment perspective.

Relationship of the FKBP5 C/T polymorphism with dysfunctional attitudes predisposing to depression.

FK506-binding protein 51 (FKBP5) is a co-chaperone of the glucocorticoid receptor, and plays an important role in the negative feedback regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. The C/T single nucleotide polymorphism in the intron 2 of the FKBP5 gene affects cortisol secretion, and has been implicated in the pathophysiology of depression. In this study, the relationship of the FKBP5 C/T polymorphism with dysfunctional attitudes predisposing to depression was examined.