This study explored the experiences of members of an OCD support group, utilising a qualitative design, social constructionist approach, and a systemic framework. Participants were obtained through purposive sampling; data was collected via faceto- face semi-structured interviews with four participants. It emerged that these participants attended two OCD support groups (initial support group and sub-support group). The participants’ experiences were analysed using thematic analysis. Major findings: the participants’ motivation to attend both support groups was to reduce their OCD symptoms and improve functioning. The initial support group was a professional-led psychoeducational support group while the sub-support group was a self-help psychotherapeutic group. The groups also complemented each other with information from the initial support group being implemented in the sub-support group. The participants reported to have benefitted from participation in both support groups as their OCD symptoms reduced and their daily functioning improved. Recommendations for future research were discussed. / Psychology / M.A. (Clinical Psychology)

INTRODUÇÃO: O abuso sexual infantil pode influenciar na vulnerabilidade para os transtornos mentais na vida adulta, incluindo alterações do humor e exacerbação do comportamento sexual. Nos últimos anos têm surgido evidências de conexões entre os estados negativos do humor e a compulsividade sexual. Porém, faltava investigar se os estados de ansiedade e depressão poderiam ser mediadores da gravidade da compulsão sexual, em homens que referiram abuso sexual na infância/adolescência (ASI/ASA). OBJETIVOS: Investigar a prevalência de ASI/ASA em homens com comportamento sexual compulsivo (CSC); a associação entre o ASI/ASA e depressão/ansiedade; e o efeito mediador da ansiedade e depressão em relação a gravidade dos sintomas de compulsividade sexual e hipersexualidade daqueles que referiram ASI/ASA. MÉTODO: Estudo observacional, transversal e analítico, realizado com 222 homens que buscaram tratamento para o CSC no Ambulatório de Impulso Sexual Excessivo e de Prevenção aos Desfechos Negativos Associados ao Comportamento Sexual do Instituto de Psiquiatria do Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, de outubro de 2010 a dezembro de 2017. Os participantes, com idades acima de 18 anos, preencheram o critério para apetite sexual excessivo (CID-10: F52.7) e dependência de sexo, e não preencherem diagnóstico para transtorno de preferência (CID-10 F65), identidade sexual (CID-10 F64), esquizofrenia (CID-10 F20), quadros psicóticos devido a lesão ou doença física (CID-10 F0.6). Eles participaram de entrevistas diagnóstica e investigativa dos aspectos sociodemográficos e preencheram os instrumentos: \"Escala de Compulsividade Sexual\", \"Inventário de Triagem do Transtorno Hipersexual\", \"Inventário de Ansiedade de Beck\", \"Inventário de Depressão de Beck\", \"Questionário Sobre Traumas na Infância\", \"Instrumento para Caracterização de Experiências Sexuais Vivenciadas na Infância e Adolescência\". Foram considerados como tendo ASI/ASA aqueles que atingiram o ponto de corte (= 6) para abuso sexual no Questionário Sobre Traumas na Infância. Foi utilizada a análise estatística de mediação. RESULTADOS: A prevalência de ASI/ASA foi de 57% (n = 127), sendo que os participantes que referiram ASI/ASA apresentaram menor número médio de anos de educação (p = 0,008) e menor mediana de renda familiar mensal (p = 0,009), comparados aos que não referiram. Os participantes que referiram ASI/ASA apresentaram maior gravidade de compulsividade sexual (p = 0,004), hipersexualidade (p = 0,007), depressão (p = 0,005) e ansiedade (p = 0,004), comparados com os que não referiram. Os sintomas de ansiedade e depressão confirmaram todos os pressupostos como fatores mediadores para a variável dependente hipersexualidade e os sintomas de ansiedade para a variável dependente compulsividade sexual. Em relação as características do ASI/ASA, a maioria foi abusada por múltiplos abusadores, que geralmente eram pessoas conhecidas de seu convívio social e familiar. CONCLUSÕES: O estudo confirmou a alta prevalência de ASI/ASA em homens com CSC, os quais demonstraram maior gravidade dos sintomas depressivos, ansiosos, compulsivos sexuais e hipersexuais, comparados aos que não referiram ASI/ASA. Os sintomas de ansiedade e depressão apresentaram efeito mediador para a maior gravidade da hipersexualidade, bem como os sintomas de ansiedade apresentaram efeito mediador para a maior gravidade da compulsividade sexual nos que referiram ASI/ASA / INTRODUCTION: Childhood sexual abuse may influence the vulnerability to mental disorders in adult life, including mood alterations, and exacerbation of sexual behavior. In recent years has emerged evidence of connections between negative mood states and sexual compulsivity. But still lacking to investigate whether anxiety and depression could mediate the severity of sexual compulsion, in men who have suffered child/adolescence sexual abuse (CSA/ASA). OBJECTIVE: We investigate the prevalence of CSA/ASA in men with compulsive sexual behavior (CSB); the association between CSA/ASA and depression/anxiety; the mediating effect of anxiety and depression with respect to the severity of symptoms of sexual compulsivity and hypersexuality of those who reported CSA/ASA. METHOD: Observational, cross-sectional and analytical study conducted with 222 men who sought treatment for CSB, in the Ambulatório de Impulso Sexual Excessivo e de Prevenção aos Desfechos Negativos Associados ao Comportamento Sexual do Instituto de Psiquiatria do Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, from October 2010 to December 2017. Participants with ages over 18 years, who met criteria for excessive sexual drive (ICD-10: F52.7) and sex addiction, and did not meet diagnostic criteria for preference (ICD-10 F65), sexual identity disorder (CID-10 F64), schizophrenia (ICD-10 F20), psychotic disorders due to injury or physical disease (ICD-10 F0.6) were included. They underwent to diagnostic and sociodemographic investigative interviews and fulfilled: \"Sexual Compulsivity Scale\"; \"Hypersexual Disorder Screening Inventory\"; \"Beck Anxiety Inventory\"; \"Beck Depression Inventory\"; \"Childhood Trauma Questionnaire\"; \"Instrument for Characterization of Experiences Experienced in Childhood and Adolescence\". Those who reached the cutoff point (= 6) of the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire were considered as having CSA/ASA. The statistical analysis of mediation was used. RESULTS: The prevalence of CSA/ASA was 57% (n = 127), and the group of participants who reported CSA/ASA had a lower average number of years of education (p = 0.008), and lower Median of monthly family income (p = 0.009), compared to the group that did not report. Participants who reported CSA / ASA presented greater severity of sexual compulsivity (p = 0.004), hypersexuality (p = 0.007), depression (p = 0.005) and anxiety (p = 0.004), compared with those who did not. The symptoms of anxiety and depression confirmed all the assumptions as mediating factors for the dependent variable hypersexuality, and the symptoms of anxiety for the dependent variable sexual compulsivity. Regarding CSA/ASA characteristics, the majority were abused by multiple abusers, who were generally known people from their social and family life. CONCLUSIONS: The study confirmed the high prevalence of CSA/ASA in men with CSB, which showed a greater severity of depressive, anxious, sexually compulsive, hypersexual symptoms, compared to those who did not reported CSA/ASA. Symptoms of anxiety and depression showed mediating effect for the severity of the hypersexuality, as well as the symptoms of anxiety showed mediating effect for the severity of sexual compulsivity of those who reported CSA/ASA

O comportamento \"barebacking\" é definido como o intercurso sexual anal entre homens que fazem sexo com homens (HSH) que decidem intencionalmente não usar preservativos, no contexto de risco do HIV. O comportamento sexual compulsivo (CSC) pode agir na motivação do comportamento \"barebacking\", aumentando o risco de transmissão do HIV, sendo que no Brasil a prevalência do HIV entre HSH é de 10,5%. Objetivos: estimar a frequência do comportamento \"barebacking\" nos HSH compulsivos sexuais, e investigar a associação do comportamento \"barebacking\" com: infecção pelo HIV; comportamento sexual de risco; severidade do CSC; transtorno associado ao uso de álcool e drogas; grau de otimismo em relação ao tratamento do HIV; capacidade de vinculação afetiva tipo segura; consolidação da identidade; e as seguintes dimensões de personalidade: busca de novidades, esquiva ao dano, dependência de gratificação e autodirecionamento. Métodos: estudo transversal realizado em amostra de HSH que buscaram tratamento para o CSC. Participaram 55 homens compulsivos sexuais, sendo que 21 apresentavam o comportamento \"barebacking\" e 34 não. Foram avaliados em entrevista psiquiátrica para verificação dos critérios de elegibilidade (critérios de dependência de sexo e de Impulso Sexual Excessivo, diagnósticos de exclusão, nível cognitivo). Todos responderam os seguintes instrumentos: Inventário de Consolidação de Identidade, Escala de Vinculação de Adulto, Escala de Compulsividade Sexual, Escala de Otimismo/Ceticismo no contexto dos tratamentos do HIV, Inventário de Temperamento e Caráter, Instrumento de Avaliação de Risco no Comportamento Sexual, além de questões complementares quanto ao comportamento \"barebacking\" e HIV. Ainda participaram de entrevista com a pesquisadora, que teve a finalidade de investigar a intencionalidade do não uso do preservativo. Resultados: 38% da amostra apresentaram comportamento \"barebacking\", sendo que 64% apresentaram orientação homossexual e 36% bissexual, e o comportamento \"barebacking\" associou-se à homossexualidade (p < 0,05). Comparando-se indivíduos com e sem o comportamento \"barebacking\", não se encontrou diferença em relação: a transtornos relacionados ao uso de álcool e/ou drogas, ao otimismo quanto ao tratamento do HIV, à vinculação afetiva, às dimensões de personalidade esquiva ao dano e dependência de gratificação. Houve uma tendência à associação à severidade do CSC, à consolidação da identidade e à busca de novidades. Houve associação negativa com a dimensão de personalidade autodirecionamento (p < 0,001). A prevalência do HIV foi de 20% na amostra total e de 43% dentre os participantes com comportamento \"barebacking\" (p < 0,05). Conclusões: a orientação homossexual e o baixo autodirecionamento foram preditores de comportamento \"barebacking\" neste estudo, sugerindo menor autonomia, reduzida força de vontade, desorganização, baixa capacidade de controle interno, baixa autoaceitação e baixa autoestima, como característica de personalidade dos que apresentam comportamento \"barebacking\" / The barebacking behavior is defined as anal intercourse among men who have sex with men (MSM) who intentionally decide do not to use condoms in the context of HIV risk. Compulsive sexual behavior (CSB) can act in motivating the barebacking behavior increasing the risk of HIV transmission, whereas in Brazil the prevalence of HIV among MSM is 10.5%. Goals: To estimate the frequency of barebacking behavior in sexually compulsive MSM, and to investigate the association of barebacking behavior with: HIV infection, sexual risk behavior, severity of CSB; substance disorders; degree of optimism regarding the treatment of HIV; ability to develop secure emotional attachment type, identity consolidation, and the following personality dimensions: novelty seeking, harm avoidance, reward dependence and self-directedness. Methods: Cross-sectional study in a sample of MSM who sought treatment for CSB. 55 sexually compulsive men participated, of whom 21 presented the barebacking behavior and 34 do not. All of them were underwent to psychiatric interview for verification of eligibility criteria (criteria for sex addiction and Excessive Sexual Drive, exclusion psychiatric diagnosis, and cognitive level). All answered the following instruments: Identity Consolidation Inventory, the Adult Attachment Scale, Scale of Sexual Compulsivity, Scale Optimism/Scepticism in the context of HIV treatments, Temperament and Character Inventory, Instrument Risk Assessment in Sexual Behavior, plus additional questions regarding the barebacking behavior and HIV. They were also interviewed by the researcher, whose purpose was to investigate the intentionality of not using condoms. Results: 38% of the sample presented barebacking behavior, whereas 64% were gay and 36% bisexual, and barebacking behavior was associated with being gay (p < 0.05). Comparing subjects with and without the barebacking behavior no difference was found in relation to: substance disorders, optimism regarding the treatment of HIV, adult attachment, personality dimensions harm avoidance and reward dependence. There was a trend toward association with severity of CSB, and the consolidation of identity and novelty seeking. There was a negative association with the personality dimension self-directedness (p < 0.001). HIV prevalence was 20% in the total sample and 43% among participants with barebacking behavior (p < 0.05). Conclusions: gay and low self-directedness predicted barebacking behavior in this study, suggesting low autonomy, reduced willpower, disorganization, low ability for internal control, low self-acceptance and low self-esteem, as personality characteristics from those presenting barebacking behavior

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / Prior research indicated a high prevalence of problematic drinking among college students, suggesting a need for more effective screening approaches and treatments. The tendency to act rashly in face of strong emotions (e.g. positive and negative urgency), alcohol cravings, and cue reactivity all have been associated with problematic alcohol use. However, no studies have examined the interactive effects of alcohol cravings, urgency, and cue reactivity. I hypothesized that alcohol cravings will be associated with greater problematic drinking among individuals with higher levels of (1) urgency, (2) cue reactivity, and (3) cue reactivity and urgency. Data were collected from a sample (final n = 240) of college students through a survey, which consisted of measures of urgency, problematic drinking, and alcohol cravings. On the survey, participants were also exposed to alcohol and non-alcohol pictures, after which they assessed their level of cue reactivity. Results were examined using multiple regression and simple slope analyses. Results provided partial support for our hypotheses. Alcohol cravings were associated with greater problematic drinking at lower levels of negative urgency (b = 7.36, p< 0.001). Furthermore, alcohol cravings were most strongly associated with problematic drinking at high levels of cue reactivity and low levels of negative urgency (b = 8.69, p<0.001), and at low levels of cue reactivity and high levels of positive urgency (b = 6.56, p<0.001). These findings emphasize the importance of considering urgency and cue reactivity in understanding how alcohol cravings create risk for problematic drinking.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / The empathizing-systemizing (E-S) theory states that individuals with autism spectrum conditions (ASC) can be identified by a deficit in empathy (social skills, communication skills, and theory of mind) and a propensity for systemizing (islets of ability, obsessions with systems, and repetitive behavior). This theory has been tested in various contexts, but never with adolescents between the ages of 12 and 16. The EQ-A (Empathizing Quotient for Adolescents) and the SQ-A (Systemizing Quotient for Adolescents) were administered to 47 adolescents between the ages of 12 and 16 who had been diagnosed with ASC and 97 adolescents with no reported physical or mental disorders to discover differences in empathizing and systemizing. To test the specific elements and predictions of the E-S theory, the EQ-A was divided into a set of three subscales derived by conceptually mapping items to factors corresponding to the concepts theoretically underlying the scale. The SQ-A was divided into subscales using factor analysis. It was found that all four subscales resulting from the factor analysis on the SQ-A were associated with obsessions with systems. A weak positive correlation was found between the SQ-A and the EQ-A. Although the EQ-A was able to differentiate significantly between individuals with an ASC and those without, the SQ-A was not. In addition, although the EQ-A and EQ-A subscales scores correlated with similar subscales scores of the GARS-2 (a well-validated existing autism screening test), the SQ-A and its subscales did not. Implications for the E-S Theory are discussed.

Addiction is one of the most significant problems facing contemporary society. Consequently many scholars, institutions and clinicians have sought to understand this complex phenomenon, as is evident in the abundance of etiological models of addiction in existence today. A literature review pointed that there is little consensus regarding the nature and etiopathogenesis of addiction, and integrative models have not yet been able to provide the sought-after integration. In addressing this problem, this study offers a theoretical analysis of the paradigmatic and meta-paradigmatic suitability of Integral Theory in the design of an integrated metatheory of addiction. The data consisted of the most prominent etiological theories and models of addiction. The study focused on several essential features constituting the architectonic of any metatheory that attempts to provide conceptual scaffolding for the construction of a comprehensive metatheory of addiction. The criteria for the construction of a metatheory were conceptual integration, ontological span, ontological depth, empirical validity and internal consistency. Integral Theory was critically assessed in terms of each of the abovementioned criteria. The study suggests that Integral Theory is eminently suitable as a philosophical foundation for the development of an integrated metatheory of addiction. / Psychology / M.A. (Psychology)

by Wong Yun Ping. / Questionnaries in English and Chinese. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1997. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 69-82). / ABSTRACT --- p.i / ACKNOWLEDGEMENT --- p.ii / TABLE OF CONTENTS --- p.iii / LIST OF TABLES --- p.iv / LIST OF APPENDICES --- p.v / Chapter CHAPTER I - --- INTRODUCTION --- p.1 / Chapter CHAPTER II - --- METHOD --- p.22 / Chapter CHAPTER III - --- RESULTS --- p.26 / Chapter CHAPTER IV - --- DISCUSSION --- p.52 / REFERENCE --- p.69 / APPENDICE --- p.83

Addiction is one of the most significant problems facing contemporary society. Consequently many scholars, institutions and clinicians have sought to understand this complex phenomenon, as is evident in the abundance of etiological models of addiction in existence today. A literature review pointed that there is little consensus regarding the nature and etiopathogenesis of addiction, and integrative models have not yet been able to provide the sought-after integration. In addressing this problem, this study offers a theoretical analysis of the paradigmatic and meta-paradigmatic suitability of Integral Theory in the design of an integrated metatheory of addiction. The data consisted of the most prominent etiological theories and models of addiction. The study focused on several essential features constituting the architectonic of any metatheory that attempts to provide conceptual scaffolding for the construction of a comprehensive metatheory of addiction. The criteria for the construction of a metatheory were conceptual integration, ontological span, ontological depth, empirical validity and internal consistency. Integral Theory was critically assessed in terms of each of the abovementioned criteria. The study suggests that Integral Theory is eminently suitable as a philosophical foundation for the development of an integrated metatheory of addiction. / Psychology / M. A. (Psychology)

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / Drug addiction is a behavioral disorder characterized by impulsive behavior and continued intake of drug in the face of adverse consequences. Millions of people suffer the financial and social consequences of addiction, and yet many of the current therapies for addiction treatment have limited efficacy. Therefore, there is a critical need to characterize the neurobiological substrates of addiction in order to formulate better treatment options. In the first chapter, the striatal dopamine system is interrogated with [11C]raclopride PET to assess differences between chronic cannabis users and healthy controls. The results of this chapter indicate that chronic cannabis use is not associated with a reduction in striatal D2/D3 receptor availability, unlike many other drugs of abuse. Additionally, recent cannabis consumption in chronic users was negatively correlated with D2/D3 receptor availability. Chapter 2 describes a retrospective analysis in which striatal D2/D3 receptor availability is compared between three groups of alcohol-drinking and tobacco-smoking subjects: nontreatment-seeking alcoholic smokers, social-drinking smokers, and social-drinking non-smokers. Results showed that smokers had reduced D2/D3 receptor availability throughout the striatum, independent of drinking status. The results of the first two chapters suggest that some combustion product of marijuana and tobacco smoke may have an effect on striatal dopamine concentration. Furthermore, they serve to highlight the effectiveness of using baseline PET imaging to characterize dopamine dysfunction in addictions. The final chapter explores the use of [18F]fallypride PET in a proof-of-concept study to determine whether changes in cortical dopamine can be detected during a response inhibition task. We were able to detect several cortical regions of significant dopamine changes in response to the task, and the amount of change in three regions was significantly associated with task performance. Overall, the results of Chapter 3 validate the use of [18F]fallypride PET to detect cortical dopamine changes during a impulse control task. In summary, the results reported in the current document demonstrate the effectiveness of PET imaging as a tool for probing resting and activated dopamine systems in addiction. Future studies will expand on these results, and incorporate additional methods to further elucidate the neurobiology of addiction.

This study explores the possible efficacy of a low carbohydrate and high fat nutritional intervention (LCHF) as a treatment possibility aiming to improve the ability of self-control and regulation in the context of carbohydrate-addiction. The study first outlines why increased simple carbohydrate consumption has been implicated as a risk-factor in numerous chronic conditions, and then explores the possibility that a reduction of such consumption could lower general medical expenditure in the healthcare sector of already overburdened institutions, especially in developing countries like South Africa. Since the neurobiological evidence for food addiction is compelling, this study investigates the impact of a low carbohydrate and high fat eating (LCHF) regimen by measuring the change in the severity of addictive behaviour in relation to a reduced carbohydrate consumption. Results indicate that a LCHF nutritional intervention lessened addictive behaviour after just 30 days, resulting in a statistically significant decrease in addiction symptoms from day 1 to day 30. The weight and BMI values of the participants recorded at the end of the study showed a reduction from those obtained during the pre- treatment stage, and the self-perceived ‘feeling in control’ also improved in all participants after the intervention. The introduction of a LCHF nutritional intervention presents a relatively cost-effective treatment and preventative measure to combat carbohydrate over-consumption and its numerous health complications, and it is therefore hoped that the positive findings of this study will foster further research, using larger samples, into this type of nutritional intervention against addictive eating behaviour. / Psychology / M.A. (Psychology)