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InPsych 2019 | Vol 41

April | Issue 2

InPsych 2019 | Vol 41

Education and research : Research snapshot

Analyse this

Analyse this

A link between cannabis and depression?

Adolescent cannabis use is associated with an increased risk of depression and anxiety.

British and Canadian researchers conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of 11 studies to examine whether use of cannabis in adolescence (younger than 18 years) is associated with depression, anxiety and suicidality in young adulthood (18–32 years). Cannabis use in adolescence was associated with a significantly increased risk of depression (odds ratio 1.37) and suicidality (odds ratio 1.18) in adulthood, but not anxiety. The high prevalence of adolescence using cannabis means that there is a large number of young people who could develop depression and suicidality. This research emphasises the value of initiatives educating adolescents on the risks associated with cannabis use and teaching them skills to resist peer pressure.

doi.org/10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2018.4500.

Calm and coherent

One’s confidence in their ability to control events and contribute to anxiety affects anxiety levels.

In a Japanese national online survey (n=2100) the relationship between anxiety and sense of coherence (SOC) was examined. SOC is an individual’s confidence in being able to control events and cope with challenges. Approximately one in five Japanese adults were found to suffer from anxiety, as measured by the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 scale. The prevalence of anxiety was found to be higher among participants with low SOC, suggesting that SOC is a significant risk factor for anxiety. SOC is hence a promising target for intervention, though further research with a clinically anxious sample is needed. It also needs to be determined which components of SOC have the most impact on anxiety.

doi.org/10.1016/j.comppsych.2018.08.006

Exercise versus Alzheimer’s

A hormone called irisin may improve memory and protect against Alzheimer’s.

Researchers from the USA, Canada and Brazil examined a possible connection between levels of the hormone irisin and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) by examining irisin levels in tissue samples of patients with AD and in mouse models of AD. Irisin levels were found to be reduced in human AD patients and in the animal models. Animal experiments further showed irisin in mice protects the brain’s synapses and the animal’s memory. The effect of exercise was also examined in mice. Exercise was found to protect mice against memory impairment. However, when irisin levels were blocked in mice this effect of exercise was eliminated. The research highlights the potential of physical exercise to improve memory and brain function.

doi.org/10.1038/s41591-018-0275-4

Is suicidal ideation associated with suicide?

Suicide ideation is not a sensitive enough screening test for suicide to be used on its own.

Suicidal ideation is seen as an important warning sign for suicide. The association between suicidal ideation and suicide was examined in a meta-analysis of 71 English language studies. There was a moderately strong association found, but this finding is limited by the wide variation between studies restricting their comparability. Suicide ideation was not found to be sensitive enough to be helpful as a standalone screening test for suicide. The researchers acknowledged that when patients express suicidal ideation they are communicating an important message about their level of distress. However, they cautioned against relying on the absence of ideation to predict that suicide is unlikely.

doi.org/10.1192/bjo.2018.88

Teen willingness to help victims of bullying

Taiwanese adolescents are more willing to help peers who are being bullied if they know them, feel empathy towards them and have a desire to feel connected to others.

Adolescent bystanders’ willingness to help others being bullied by peers was investigated in a study with 730 Taiwanese seventh graders. Each participant was randomly assigned to a vignette, which they read and answered questions about. Adolescent girls were more likely to say they would offer to help a bullying victim when the victim was identified as a friend rather than another classmate or someone they didn’t know. Boys were more likely to say they would help a classmate rather than a friend. Those adolescents who were more empathic with the victim, more focused on feeling connected with others and were less victimised were more likely to report that they would use a specific helping response (e.g., telling the teacher).

doi.org/10.1002/ijop.12565

Written all over your face

We preference our own faces, even when instructed not to do so, and when we do not consciously realise we are seeing an image of our face.

The preferential processing of self-related information was examined in Poland by having 18 participants view a cross symbol with a picture of a face (self or other) appearing in each side of the cross. Participants were told to focus only on the cross and ignore anything else that appeared. Half of the time the faces were clearly visible, while for the remaining time faces were masked in order to present them outside of conscious awareness. Brain activity was monitored. Participants automatically attended to their own faces, even when they were not consciously aware they were seeing them, and despite being instructed to ignore them. Thus, consciousness may not be necessary for recognition of faces. This phenomenon has been observed with simpler stimuli but this research indicates it also occurs with more complex stimuli.

doi.org/10.1177/0956797618822971

References

Disclaimer: Published in InPsych on April 2019. The APS aims to ensure that information published in InPsych is current and accurate at the time of publication. Changes after publication may affect the accuracy of this information. Readers are responsible for ascertaining the currency and completeness of information they rely on, which is particularly important for government initiatives, legislation or best-practice principles which are open to amendment. The information provided in InPsych does not replace obtaining appropriate professional and/or legal advice.

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