Friday, October 11, 2024

Unwanted travellers: mosquitoes carrying Plasmodium parasite and imported through air travel, parcels and luggage are causing Odyssean malaria in Europe

European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC)

Malaria cases resulting from bites of mosquitoes transported by aircraft from areas where is common have increased, according to both a retrospective analysis in France and a systematic review of studies in Europe, which have been published in Eurosurveillance.

After malaria was eradicated in western Europe in the 1970s, most cases in the EU/EEA have been reported among travellers returning from countries where malaria is established. Of the 6,131 cases reported in the EU/EEA in 2022, 99% were travel related.

Locally-acquired infections are reported sporadically every year in western Europe. These include introduced infections, which are transmitted by a local mosquito after it has bitten an infected returning traveller carrying plasmodia in their blood; induced cases, which are related to other means of transmission such as a healthcare-associated infection or mother-to-child transmission; and Odyssean malaria, which refers to cases resulting from the bite of an infected mosquito transported by aircraft, luggage or parcel from an endemic area.

Findings of systematic review of studies in Europe

The systematic review analysed studies in Europe indexed from 1969 to January 2024 in the MEDLINE, Embase and OpenGrey databases. Numbers were supplemented by a data call to EU/EEA and UK public health authorities launched in 2022. [1]

Of the 145 cases described from nine countries, 105 were classified as airport malaria, 32 as luggage malaria, and eight as either type of malaria. Most cases were reported in France, Belgium, and Germany, and half resided or worked near or at an international airport. Case reports of airport and luggage malaria were found to be rising, with one third of cases reported over the last five years, even as air traffic declined during the COVID-19 pandemic.

People infected with malaria had a mean age of 37.9 years and were more likely to be male than female, at a ratio of 1.5:1. For the cases with a known outcome, 124 recovered and nine died. Patients that died were older on average, with a mean age of 57.2 years. Forty eight of 145 cases were epidemiologically linked to at least one other case.

Locally-acquired malaria over nearly three decades in France

Similar trends were observed in a retrospective analysis of surveillance and case investigation data in France on locally acquired malaria from 1995 to 2022. Cases were classified by the most likely mode of transmission, using a classification derived from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). A descriptive analysis was also conducted to identify spatial and temporal patterns of cases. [2]

Researchers found a total of 117 locally acquired malaria cases reported in European France. They also found that locally acquired infections remained constant overall, with more Odyssean cases being reported since 2011. Fifty one of the 117 cases identified were categorised as Odyssean, 36 as induced, 27 as cryptic (where the investigation was inconclusive), and three as introduced.

Most cases were among males with a median age of 34.5 years. Half of patients were born in an country in Africa where malaria is common, and the other half were born in France. More than half of cases were reported in the region Île-de-France. 102 were admitted to hospital, and seven patients died. Among patients with locally-acquired malaria, severe cases and death was more frequent than in imported cases.

Public health implications

To tackle the risk of Odyssean malaria, researchers of the retrospective analysis in France advised the strict enforcement of disinsectisation of aircrafts. To improve treatment, they also recommended that physicians consider the possibility of locally-acquired malaria for patients with an unexplained fever early, even if there is no travel history.

Authors of the systematic review highlighted the need for more structured surveillance of malaria cases in Europe, including a standardised case definition. They also recommended the implementation of prevention measures and to assess the effectiveness and compliance for measures currently in place.

[1] Hallmaier-Wacker Luisa K, van Eick Merel D, Briët Olivier, Delamare Hugues, Falkenhorst Gerhard, Houzé Sandrine, Noël Harold, Rebolledo Javiera, Van Bortel Wim, Gossner Céline M. Airport and luggage (Odyssean) malaria in Europe: a systematic review. Euro Surveill. 2024;29(41):pii=2400237. https://doi.org/10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2024.29.41.2400237

[2] Delamare Hugues, Tarantola Arnaud, Thellier Marc, Calba Clémentine, Gaget Olivier, Consigny Paul-Henri, Simard Frederic, Manguin Sylvie, Brottet Elise, Paty Marie-Claire, Houze Sandrine, De Valk Henriette, Noël Harold. Locally acquired malaria: a retrospective analysis of long-term surveillance data, European France, 1995 to 2022. Euro Surveill. 2024;29(41):pii=2400133. https://doi.org/10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2024.29.41.2400133

Journal

Eurosurveillance

Method of Research

Systematic review

Subject of Research

People

Article Publication Date

10-Oct-2024

Students who feel more university connection may be more likely to binge drink

Penn State

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Students who feel a sense of belonging at their university are more likely to binge drink than those who do not feel the same connection, according to a new study by researchers at Penn State, the University of California, Santa Cruz and University of Oregon.

In the study, published in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, scientists — including researchers in the Penn State College of Health and Human Development — found that college students with “good” mental health who felt connected to their university were more likely to binge drink than those who did not feel as connected to their university.

Stephane Lanza, professor of biobehavioral health and Edna P. Bennett Faculty Fellow in Prevention Research, studied the topic with Danny Rahal and Kristin Perry when both were postdoctoral trainees in the Penn State Prevention and Methodology Training Program. The researchers examined the ways that both positive and negative aspects of mental health can contribute to the risk of binge drinking, cannabis use and nicotine use.

“In 2021, students at many universities were returning to campus after the COVID-19 shutdown — and some students were attending in-person college classes for the first time,” said Rahal, lead author of this research and assistant professor of psychology at University of California Santa Cruz. “Data from that time indicated that many students felt disconnected from their school. Universities wanted to foster a sense of connectedness among their students for many good reasons, but we wanted to know if there was something positive — specifically a sense of belonging — that is related to substance use. Our study showed that feeling connected to one’s university is associated with higher rates of substance use.”

The researchers examined data from 4,018 university students collected during the 2022-23 school year. Participants answered questions about substance use, their sense of belonging at their school and their mental health — specifically about anxiety, depressive symptoms, perceived stress, flourishing in life and confidence in their academic success.

A statistical modeling technique called latent profile analysis allowed the researchers to simultaneously account for all these measures by combining them to identify five profiles of student mental health. In this study, a student was considered to have good mental health if they had lower levels of stress, depressive symptoms and anxiety, as well as higher flourishing and academic confidence than their peers.

The researchers found that students with average or good mental health were more likely to have engaged in binge drinking in the past month if they felt connected to their university than if they did not feel that connection.

The researchers said this does not mean that connectedness is bad for students to experience; rather, the results are nuanced.

“We want to cultivate connectedness among students,” said Perry, assistant professor of family and human services at University of Oregon. “Connectedness gets them involved. It can be a really powerful protective factor against negative mental health outcomes and can help keep students in school. But connectedness at school can go hand in hand with binge drinking if there is a culture of drinking at the school.”

Though the researchers said they expected these results about drinking, they were surprised to learn that students with poor mental health who felt connected to their university were more likely to use non-vaped tobacco products than students with poor mental health who did not feel connected to their university. The results around cannabis were less conclusive, but the researchers said the trend was clear.

“Generally, students who felt connected to their university were more likely to use substances than disconnected students with the same level of mental health,” Rahal said.

While a sense of belonging was related to substance use, it could also be part of the solution, according to the researchers.

“Cultivating belonging for all students is an important way that universities can embrace diversity and help all students thrive,” Lanza said.

Though drinking is common on university campuses, many students believe that it is far more common than it is, the researchers explained. In this dataset, slightly fewer than one-third of students reported binge drinking in the last month. Despite the fact that two-thirds of students had not engaged in binge drinking, the researchers also found that students believed a typical student consumed three to five drinks multiple times each week. The researchers said this disconnect between perception and reality points to an opportunity to change the culture — by creating ample opportunities for all students to socially engage and participate in alcohol-free environments — so that alcohol feels less central to student life.

Minoritized college students, in particular, often face messages that make them feel unwelcome based on their race, gender, socioeconomic status or other factors, according to the researchers.

“We cannot expect students to stay enrolled unless they are engaged with the campus community,” Lanza continued. “If universities lose students from a specific group, the campus becomes less diverse, and the entire university community becomes less rich. Additionally, when members of those groups leave school, they miss educational opportunities and the earning potential that comes with a college degree. By providing all students with diverse opportunities to build a real sense of belonging at their universities, we can improve campus life while putting people on the path to a healthier life.”

The National Institute on Drug Abuse and Penn State funded this research.

Journal

Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs

DOI

10.15288/jsad.23-00382

Method of Research

Survey

Subject of Research

People

Article Title

Mental Health Modulates Associations between Institutional Belonging and Substance Use Risk

U of M Medical School receives $2.5M grant to study the effect of pain on how people drink

University of Minnesota Medical School

MINNEAPOLIS/ST. PAUL (10/10/2024) — The University of Minnesota Medical School recently received a five-year, $2.5 million grant from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism to study how pain influences drinking behavior.

This research aims to better understand how pain affects drinking in individuals, both with and without chronic temporomandibular disorder (TMD) pain. TMD is characterized by ongoing pain or discomfort in the jaw and the muscles that control jaw movement, making it difficult to chew and speak. Those with TMD often experience headaches and pain that can extend to the face, neck or ears.

Individuals with TMD pain are at elevated risk for alcohol-related health problems, including alcohol use disorder, and growing evidence suggests pain is a significant motivator for alcohol use in many individuals.

“It's common for people with chronic pain, including facial pain, to use alcohol to help manage their symptoms. Unfortunately, using alcohol for pain relief can actually make pain worse in the long run,” said Dr. Jeff Boissoneault, an associate professor at the U of M Medical School and director of the Minnesota Alcohol and Pain Lab. “By studying how pain affects the way that people drink both in the laboratory and in daily life, we hope to find new treatment targets to help people with pain avoid alcohol-related problems.”

Dr. Boissoneault and his team are currently preparing for participant enrollment, which is anticipated to begin in January 2025.

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About the University of Minnesota Medical School
The University of Minnesota Medical School is at the forefront of learning and discovery, transforming medical care and educating the next generation of physicians. Our graduates and faculty produce high-impact biomedical research and advance the practice of medicine. We acknowledge that the U of M Medical School is located on traditional, ancestral and contemporary lands of the Dakota and the Ojibwe, and scores of other Indigenous people, and we affirm our commitment to tribal communities and their sovereignty as we seek to improve and strengthen our relations with tribal nations. For more information about the U of M Medical School, please visit med.umn.edu.

Bilingualism makes the brain more efficient, especially when learned at a young age

MRI data from large sample shows increased whole-brain connectivity in people with a second language

McGill University

Neuroplasticity is the brain’s ability to build connections within itself, adapting to the surrounding environment. The brain is most plastic in childhood, forming new pathways in reaction to stimuli such as language.

Past research has shown that learning a second language may positively affect attention, healthy aging and even recovery after brain injury. A new study from The Neuro (Montreal Neurological Institute-Hospital) of McGill university, the University of Ottawa and the University of Zaragoza in Spain elaborates on bilingualism’s role in cognition, showing increased efficiency of communication between brain regions.

Scientists recruited 151 participants who either spoke French, English, or both languages, and recorded the age at which they learned their second language. The participants were scanned using resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to record whole-brain connectivity, rather than focusing on specific regions as was done in previous bilingualism studies.

fMRI scans revealed that bilingual participants had increased connectivity between brain regions than monolingual participants, and this connectivity was stronger in those who learned their second language at a younger age. This effect was particularly strong between the cerebellum and the left frontal cortex.

The results mirror previous studies which have shown that brain regions do not work in isolation, but interact with others to understand and produce language. Research has also shown that whole-brain efficiency aids cognitive performance.

This latest study reveals more about how bilingualism influences the brain connections we use to think, communicate and experience the world around us.

“Our work suggests learning a second language during childhood helps build a more efficient brain organization in terms of functional connectivity,” says Zeus Gracia Tabuenca, the paper’s first author. “The results indicate that the earlier the second language experience, the broader extent of brain areas involved in neuroplasticity. That's why we are observing higher connectivity of the cerebellum with the cortex in earlier exposures to a second language.”

The research was published in the journal Communications Biology on [???]. It was funded with the support of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, the Blema and Arnold Steinberg Family Foundation, The Centre for Research on Brain, Language and Music via the Fonds de recherche du Québec, Brain Canada, the Canada Research Chair program, the European Union's NextGeneration programme and the Spanish Ministry of Universities’ Margarita Salas Program.

About The Neuro

The Neuro – The Montreal Neurological Institute-Hospital – is a bilingual, world-leading destination for brain research and advanced patient care. Since its founding in 1934 by renowned neurosurgeon Dr. Wilder Penfield, it has grown to be the largest specialized neuroscience research and clinical center in Canada, and one of the largest in the world. The seamless integration of research, patient care, and training of the world’s top minds make The Neuro uniquely positioned to have a significant impact on the understanding and treatment of nervous system disorders. It was the first academic institute in the world to fully adopt Open Science, to help accelerate the generation of knowledge and discovery of novel effective treatments for brain disorders. The Neuro is a McGill University research and teaching institute and part of the Neuroscience Mission of the McGill University Health Centre. For more information, please visit www.theneuro.ca

Journal

Communications Biology

DOI

10.1038/s42003-024-06965-1

Method of Research

Experimental study

Subject of Research

People

Article Title

Enhanced efficiency in the bilingual brain through the inter-hemispheric cortico- cerebellar pathway in early second language acquisition

Article Publication Date

10-Oct-2024

UTA professor earns NSF grants to study human-computer interaction

Grants aim to enhance the lives of the visually impaired and those with ADHD

University of Texas at Arlington

Fillia Makedon, a Distinguished Professor in the Computer Science and Engineering Department at The University of Texas at Arlington, has been awarded two new National Science Foundation (NSF) grants involving human-computer interaction. In one, she will study extended reality to assess attention levels in people with attention deficit hyperactivity disorders (ADHD); in the other, she will look at how human-robot interaction could help visually impaired persons perform job duties remotely from home using telerobotic technologies.

The NSF awarded Dr. Makedon $440,758 through its Early-Concept Grants for Exploratory Research program, which supports work in its early stages on untested, but potentially transformative research ideas or approaches.

In the first project, Makedon will apply extended reality (XR) technology to assess attention deficit and other cognitive functions, with a goal of creating standardized, yet adaptable, virtual scenarios to provide more accurate and comprehensive cognitive profiles to support traditional assessments. This could be especially helpful for underserved populations and people in remote areas without easy access to professional services.

XR is a combination of real and virtual environments—in this case, virtual reality and mixed reality—which creates an immersive environment that can present a variety of tasks, guided by an avatar, that adapt based on real-time performance data. Results with XR are more accurate than current traditional observation methods, leading to better and reproducible assessments of cognition.

“Extended reality will allow us to record not just how a person responds to questions or tasks verbally, but how they respond physically,” Makedon said. “When their actions are slow or they don’t respond, that’s a good indication that they’ve lost focus. Virtual reality is easy to use, more reproducible and adaptive to situations. Beyond just diagnosing attention deficit disorders, this method could also be used for training to enhance attention.”

For the second project, Makedon is teaming up with Nick Gans, a principal research scientist and head of the Autonomation and Intelligent Systems Division at the UTA Research Institute, and Austin Lighthouse, a warehouse that employs and trains visually impaired and blind people. Together, they will explore the potential for people who are visually impaired to use telerobots to carry out physical tasks remotely. (With the telerobots, the human operator can receive sensor feedback and is in control of navigation and control.)

This would solve one of the barriers to employment for people who are visually impaired or blind: commuting to their workplace. Another work barrier is resistance by employers to hire visually impaired or blind people due to fears of liability if the employee is injured on the job.

Telerobotics could remove these barriers by allowing blind or visually impaired employees to work from home. Makedon and Gans will work with Austin Lighthouse staff to identify specific problems associated with telerobotic training and design an interface that can be used to safely and accurately train employees to use the technology. Their research will also provide an understanding of how visually impaired people perform physical tasks. Outcomes of this study may also impact persons with other types of disabilities who need to work from home.

“It is often difficult for people who are blind or visually impaired to commute to work, so it is important for us to find out if they can be productive from home and keep their jobs through telerobotics,” Makedon said. “Austin Lighthouse is very interested in exploring the use of robots to help their employees be successful. This could also be beneficial for the subjects, because the ability to obtain and keep a job could help ease feelings of isolation and frustration.”

These projects are the latest in a string of research by Makedon focused on improving lives through human-computer and human-robot interactions. She is the director of the Human-Centered Computing Lab and of the Motion Capture Lab at UTA, both of which focus on the use of assistive technologies to enhance human performance and improve quality of life.

These two new grants relate to another ongoing NSF grant from the Disability and Rehabilitation Engineering (DARE) program that focuses on educating people with mobility and spinal issues on how to interact with intelligent robots to achieve daily tasks, such as cooking or preparing to leave the house. For this study, Makedon is working with members of the Movin’ Mavs, UTA’s wheelchair basketball team.

About The University of Texas at Arlington (UTA)

Located in the heart of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, The University of Texas at Arlington is a comprehensive teaching, research, and public service institution dedicated to the advancement of knowledge through scholarship and creative work. With an enrollment of approximately 41,000 students, UT Arlington is the second-largest institution in the UT System. UTA’s combination of outstanding academics and innovative research contributes to its designation as a Carnegie R-1 “Very High Research Activity” institution, a significant milestone of excellence. The University is designated as a Hispanic Serving-Institution and an Asian American Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution by the U.S. Department of Education and has earned the Seal of Excelencia for its commitment to accelerating Latino student success. The University ranks as the No. 1 national public university in the U.S. for veterans (Military Times, 2024), No. 4 in Texas for advancing social mobility (U.S. News & World Report, 2025), and No. 6 in the United States for its undergraduate ethnic diversity (U.S. News & World Report, 2025). UT Arlington’s approximately 270,000 alumni occupy leadership positions at many of the 21 Fortune 500 companies headquartered in North Texas and contribute to the University’s $28.8 billion annual economic impact on Texas.

Largest study of its kind in Africa finds African men have high risk of prostate cancer, earlier

Researchers including those from Wits have identified the genetic risk factors that contribute to prostate cancer in a diverse group of African men. Although research and treatment are scant, this first large-scale African genomics study could signal new

University of the Witwatersrand

Researchers including those from Wits have identified the genetic risk factors that contribute to prostate cancer in a diverse group of African men.

Although research and treatment are scant, this first large-scale African genomics study could signal new treatment possibilities.

“From the literature, men of African descent have a much higher risk of developing prostate cancer during their lifetime. It tends to develop at an earlier age and is more aggressive. But we have only really studied prostate cancer in European populations. By studying genetic risk factors in African men – at a large scale - we can one day refine screening and treatment,” says Dr Carl Chen, a researcher at the Sydney Brenner Institute for Molecular Biosciences (SBIMB) at Wits University and the second author of the paper.

About the study

The study, titled Heterogenous genetic architecture of prostate cancer susceptibility in sub-Saharan Africa, published in the high impact Nature Genetics journal, enrolled almost 8000 African men (half had prostate cancer, and the other comprised a control group) from five African countries across West, East and Southern Africa.

This is the largest study of this kind to date.

Chen says, “We identified three loci, or genetic regions, strongly associated with increased prostate incidence. The top ‘signals’ within these three loci are unique to African populations and would not have been found if we didn’t study African populations."

Notably, regional differences exist in the strength of the ‘signals’ between East, West and Southern Africa.

This means that there are different types of risks across Africa.

Professor Michèle Ramsay, Director of the SBIMB, says, “The findings from this study will lay the foundation to develop models for risk prediction using genetic data to improve the treatment of prostate cancer. Prostate cancer screening is virtually non-existent in Africa, allowing for the study of the natural history and genetic associations of prostate cancer in the absence of early detection."

Ramsay says that the paper also aligns with SBIMB’s strategic vision for Precision Medicine by working to better understand the molecular risk factors of common African cancers.

“We aim to uncover region-specific genetic mutations and variations, leading to more accurate, culturally relevant treatments that address the unique genetic diversity of African populations, ultimately improving cancer care and outcomes across the continent," says Ramsay.

To address the need for unique genetic diversity in African populations for the African prostate cancer study, the SBIMB Biobank played a significant role by processing approximately 2,000 biosamples - nearly a quarter of the total study sample.

Currently, the Biobank holds about 30,000 DNA samples from participants of African heritage, gathered from numerous research projects.

Ms Natalie Smyth, SBIMB Biobank and Laboratory Manager, says, “The research infrastructure is crucial for supporting large-scale genetic research in Africa."

The importance of researching African genomics for prostate cancer

Unique genetic variations help explain why current prostate cancer screening methods are less effective for African men.

Certain prostate cancer variations are not found in European populations, which contributes to higher disease rates in unscreened African groups because European data has thus far guided interventions in Africa.

This study highlights the importance of genetic research in diverse populations. Future research should use ancestry-specific data to address differences in genomic medicine.

Prostate cancer in Men of African Descent

The study is a product of the Men of African Descent and Carcinoma of the Prostate (MADCaP) network, which includes African and US investigators who have explored prostate cancer causes, risks, screening and clinical management over the past 20 years.

“MADCaP is guided by the development of world-class research that affects African populations. Bio-sampling, genotyping and data management are performed in Africa to build local capacity for cancer research," says Dr Timothy Rebbeck from the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard, a leader in the study.

"The MADCaP network ensures that data from different centres, including both risk factors and clinical data, are consistent. They hold meetings to encourage communication between clinicians and bioinformaticians. The MADCaP network has also developed a new genotyping array specifically designed to identify genetic links to cancer in African populations, in addition to enhancing research capabilities.”

Chen says that the findings of the study reveal that prostate cancer is a complex disease and that studying this in diverse populations with high disease burden is critical because they may possess genetic risk variants absent in other populations.

Journal

Nature Genetics

DOI

10.1038/s41588-024-01931-3

Method of Research

Randomized controlled/clinical trial

Subject of Research

People

Article Title

Heterogeneous genetic architectures of prostate cancer susceptibility in sub-Saharan Africa

New research identifies key mental health risk factors for children after trauma

University of East Anglia

Peer-reviewed – Observational Study - People

A new study has shed light on why some children and adolescents develop mental health disorders like PTSD, anxiety, or depression after experiencing a traumatic event.

While most children recover well after a traumatic event, some go on to develop mental health disorders that may stay with them for months, years, or even into adulthood.

The University of East Anglia research found that cognitive psychological factors—such as how children remember the event and how they perceive themselves afterward—are the strongest predictors of poor mental health outcomes following a trauma.

Co-author Katie Lofthouse, of UEA’s Norwich Medical School, said: “Some children and adolescents who have experienced traumatic events like road traffic collisions or violence may develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), as well as other conditions such as anxiety and depression.

“However, we do not understand why children might develop one set of difficulties and not another.

“We found that cognitive psychological factors – like features of their memories for the trauma and how they see themselves after the trauma – were the most powerful predictors of all forms of poor mental health.

“Aspects of how severe the trauma was, or a child’s age or sex were much less important.”

The research team worked with 260 children aged between eight and 17 who had attended a hospital emergency department following a one-off traumatic incident. These included events such as car crashes, assaults, dog attacks and other medical emergencies.

These young people were assessed at two and nine weeks post-trauma using self-report questionnaires completed by the child, telephone interviews with parents, and hospital data, which was then used to develop four predictive models of risk factors for PTSD, Complex PTSD (CPTSD), depression, and Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD).

At nine weeks post-trauma, 64pc showed no signs of any disorder, 23.5pc met the criteria for PTSD, and 5.2pc for CPTSD. A total of 23.9pc and 10.7pc had developed clinically significant symptoms of depression and GAD, respectively.

When it came to predicting who would develop these mental health issues, a model based on how people think (a cognitive model) was the most accurate.

A model that looked at social and psychological factors was weaker in predicting later mental health symptoms.

Interestingly, a child's personal perceptions of how severe the event was had a stronger impact on their mental health than objective, measurable facts about the severity of the event.

Miss Lofthouse added: “These findings highlight risk factors for the development of mental health disorders following trauma exposure in youth.

“Negative thoughts about the traumatic event were a major predictor of all types of mental health problems studied.

“This supports the use of treatments like trauma-focused cognitive behavioural therapy, which aims to address these negative thoughts.

“Our research also showed that poor memory of the trauma specifically predicted PTSD, suggesting that certain symptoms may help predict different mental health outcomes.”

Previous research from UEA found that children are more likely to suffer Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) if they think their reaction to traumatic events is not ‘normal’.

This latest research goes into further depth, looking at not just PTSD, but also other mental health outcomes such as complex PTSD, depression, and anxiety.

Complex PTSD includes all the symptoms of PTSD but also has some additional, more severe emotional and psychological impacts. This can include problems managing extreme emotions, feelings of deep shame, guilt, or worthlessness and difficulty trusting others, feeling detached or isolated, or experiencing ongoing conflicts in relationships.

There have been few studies that compare how well different models can predict mental health outcomes in people who have experienced trauma, and none of these studies have focused on young people.

With the recent introduction of Complex PTSD (CPTSD) as a diagnosis, the research team wanted to see if it was possible to predict mental health issues in youth who have been through trauma.

The research team also considered factors including other life stressors and whether the child was experiencing on-going pain.

The researchers say the results back up the idea that how a person thinks about their trauma plays a big role in PTSD, but they also show that this model is not disorder-specific and applies to Complex PTSD, depression, and anxiety.

Further research could look more closely at thoughts tied to specific disorders or focus on general distress after trauma.

The work was supported by the Medical Research Council and led by the University of East Anglia in collaboration with the University of Cambridge, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Macquarie University, Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and King's College London.

‘Predictive models of post-traumatic stress disorder, complex post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and anxiety in children and adolescents following a single-event Trauma' is published in Psychological Medicine.

Journal

Psychological Medicine

DOI

10.1017/S0033291724001648

Method of Research

Observational study

Subject of Research

People

Article Title

Predictive models of post-traumatic stress disorder, complex post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and anxiety in children and adolescents following a single-event Trauma

Article Publication Date

7-Oct-2024

Rage clicks: Study shows how political outrage fuels social media engagement

Researchers found a “confrontation effect,” where people are more likely to interact with content that challenges their views than those that align with them.

Tulane University

A new Tulane University study explains why politically charged content gets more engagement from those who disagree. Researchers found a “confrontation effect,” where people are more likely to interact with content that challenges their views than those that align with them.

The study analyzed data from Twitter, Facebook, and online experiments over time, including during the 2020 U.S. presidential election, and found that users frequently react to opposing viewpoints with heightened engagement, often driven by outrage.

“The research helps explain the large amount of toxic discourse we observe online. Our results reveal that individuals are strongly driven to voice their outrage toward those with whom they disagree,” said study lead author Daniel Mochon, the Edward H. Austin Jr. Professor of Business Administration and an associate professor of marketing at Tulane University’s A. B. Freeman School of Business. “While previous studies show that people avoid content inconsistent with their beliefs, we found that counter-ideological content actually drives higher engagement.”

The study was published in the journal Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes.

Researchers exposed more than 500,000 Americans to political posts on Facebook, including those for and against then-President Donald Trump, to observe how users responded based on their political affiliations. The results showed that users were far more likely to comment on or react to posts that contradicted their beliefs, especially when they felt their core values were challenged.

Mochon noted that some social media platforms and users exploit anger to drive engagement. “Platforms benefit from keeping users active, regardless of whether the interaction is positive or negative,” he said.

The study found that engagement isn't always an accurate indicator of user preferences. While engagement in areas like sports or fashion reflects interest, political engagement often stems from anger, creating a vicious cycle.

For example, many comments on Vice President Kamala Harris’ X account appear to be from people with opposing political views, despite their likely preference not to follow her account.

The research provides insights that could inform strategies for political campaigns, media organizations and social media platforms aiming to manage divisive content. For policymakers, understanding this dynamic can help in regulating online discourse and mitigating the rise of toxic discussions.

“We hope our findings provide a more balanced perspective on the interplay between ideology and online engagement,” Mochon said.

The paper was co-authored by Janet Schwartz from Duke University.

Journal

Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes

DOI

10.1016/j.obhdp.2024.104366

Method of Research

Experimental study

Subject of Research

People

Article Title

The confrontation effect: When users engage more with ideology-inconsistent content online