We conducted a preregistered multilaboratory project ( k = 36; N = 3,531) to assess the size and robustness of ego-depletion effects using a novel replication method, termed the paradigmatic replication approach. Each laboratory implemented one of two procedures that was intended to manipulate self-control and tested performance on a subsequent measure of self-control. Confirmatory tests found a nonsignificant result ( d = 0.06). Confirmatory Bayesian meta-analyses using an informed-prior hypothesis (δ = 0.30, SD = 0.15) found that the data were 4 times more likely under the null than the alternative hypothesis. Hence, preregistered analyses did not find evidence for a depletion effect. Exploratory analyses on the full sample (i.e., ignoring exclusion criteria) found a statistically significant effect ( d = 0.08); Bayesian analyses showed that the data were about equally likely under the null and informed-prior hypotheses. Exploratory moderator tests suggested that the depletion effect was larger for participants who reported more fatigue but was not moderated by trait self-control, willpower beliefs, or action orientation.
BackgroundSince its first publication, the Clinical Global Impression Scale (CGI) has become one of the most widely used assessment instruments in psychiatry. Although some conflicting data has been presented, studies investigating the CGI's validity have only rarely been conducted so far. It is unclear whether the improvement index CGI-I or a difference score of the severity index CGI-S dif is more valid in depicting clinical change. The current study examined the validity of these two measures and investigated whether therapists' CGI ratings correspond to the view the patients themselves have on their condition.MethodsThirty-one inpatients of a German psychotherapeutic hospital suffering from a major depressive disorder (age M = 45.3, SD = 17.2; 58.1% women) participated. Patients filled in the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). CGI-S and CGI-I were rated from three perspectives: the treating therapist (THER), the team of therapists involved in the patient's treatment (TEAM), and the patient (PAT). BDI and CGI-S were filled in at admission and discharge, CGI-I at discharge only. Data was analysed using effect sizes, Spearman's ρ and intra-class correlations (ICC).ResultsEffect sizes between CGI-I and CGI-S dif ratings were large for all three perspectives with substantially higher change scores on CGI-I than on CGI-S dif. BDI dif correlated moderately with PAT ratings, but did not correlate significantly with TEAM or THER ratings. Congruence between CGI-ratings from the three perspectives was low for CGI-S dif (ICC = .37; Confidence Interval [CI] .15 to .59; F30,60 = 2.77, p < .001; mean ρ = 0.36) and moderate for CGI-I (ICC = .65 (CI .47 to .80; F30,60 = 6.61, p < .001; mean ρ = 0.59).ConclusionsResults do not suggest a definite recommendation for whether CGI-I or CGI-S dif should be used since no strong evidence for the validity of neither of them could be found. As congruence between CGI ratings from patients' and staff's perspective was not convincing it cannot be assumed that CGI THER or TEAM ratings fully represent the view of the patient on the severity of his impairment. Thus, we advocate for the incorporation of multiple self- and clinician-reported scales into the design of clinical trials in addition to CGI in order to gain further insight into CGI's relation to the patients' perspective.
The differential relations between the emotion regulation strategies "cognitive reappraisal" and "expressive suppression" and suicidality in a mixed inpatient sample (N = 232, 69.4% female) of a German psychotherapeutic hospital were examined. Patients filled in the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire and items on suicidal ideation and desire. A structural equation model fitted the data (RMSEA = .044; CFI = .96) and revealed that "expressive suppression" significantly predicted increased suicidal ideation. Moderation analysis showed that results were independent from a current depressive episode. Potential implications for psychotherapeutic treatment of suicidality are discussed.
BackgroundMindfulness and decentering are closely related processes both assumed to promote well-being. While some researchers claim that mindfulness and decentering can be clearly differentiated others suggest to use these concepts interchangeably. The precise relation between mindfulness and decentering remains unclear and therefore the present study aims to determine the relation between mindfulness and decentering.MethodsIn a structural equation modeling framework, a mediation model was tested among a sample group of 495 university students (average age 20.8 years, 30.3% female).ResultsThe identified model shows an acceptable fit to the data and illustrates the role of decentering as a mediator of the relationship between mindfulness and depressive symptoms by complementary mediation and indirect-only mediation.ConclusionThe present results cannot sustain previous research, which converted mindfulness and decentering into one single variable. Rather the data suggests to treat mindfulness and decentering as two separable concepts and to regard decentering as an important working mechanism of mindfulness.
Decentering is described as referring to one's current mental experiences from an objective perspective. This study presents a psychometric evaluation of a German version of the Experiences Questionnaire (EQ-D), a self-report instrument designed to measure decentering. Confirmatory factor analysis on a sample of 506 university students indicates acceptable-to-good model fit (χ(2)=58.3; TLI=.92; CFI=.95; RMSEA=.067) for a second-order factor Overall Decentering comprising the two first-order factors Accepting Self-Perception and Distanced Perspective. Preliminary evidence for the validity of the EQ-D was demonstrated via negative correlations with measures of depression and depressive rumination. The present results stress the multidimensional nature of decentering and provide important suggestions for future research on how to investigate and operationalize the decentering construct.
BackgroundNatural killer group 2D (NKG2D) is an activating receptor of natural killer (NK) cells and other lymphocytes that mediates lysis of malignant cells through recognition of stress-induced ligands such as MICA and MICB. Such ligands are broadly expressed by cancer cells of various origins and serve as targets for adoptive immunotherapy with effector cells endogenously expressing NKG2D or carrying an NKG2D-based chimeric antigen receptor (CAR). However, shedding or downregulation of NKG2D ligands (NKG2DL) can prevent NKG2D activation, resulting in escape of cancer cells from NKG2D-dependent immune surveillance.MethodsTo enable tumor-specific targeting of NKG2D-expressing effector cells independent of membrane-anchored NKG2DLs, we generated a homodimeric recombinant antibody which harbors an N-terminal single-chain fragment variable (scFv) antibody domain for binding to NKG2D, linked via a human IgG4 Fc region to a second C-terminal scFv antibody domain for recognition of the tumor-associated antigen ErbB2 (HER2). The ability of this molecule, termed NKAB-ErbB2, to redirect NKG2D-expressing effector cells to ErbB2-positive tumor cells of different origins was investigated using peripheral blood mononuclear cells, ex vivo expanded NK cells, and NK and T cells engineered with an NKG2D-based chimeric receptor.ResultsOn its own, bispecific NKAB-ErbB2 increased lysis of ErbB2-positive breast carcinoma cells by peripheral blood-derived NK cells endogenously expressing NKG2D more effectively than an ErbB2-specific IgG1 mini-antibody able to induce antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity via activation of CD16. Furthermore, NKAB-ErbB2 synergized with NK-92 cells or primary T cells engineered to express an NKG2D-CD3ζ chimeric antigen receptor (NKAR), leading to targeted cell killing and greatly enhanced antitumor activity, which remained unaffected by soluble MICA known as an inhibitor of NKG2D-mediated natural cytotoxicity. In an immunocompetent mouse glioblastoma model mimicking low or absent NKG2DL expression, the combination of NKAR-NK-92 cells and NKAB-ErbB2 effectively suppressed outgrowth of ErbB2-positive tumors, resulting in treatment-induced endogenous antitumor immunity and cures in the majority of animals.ConclusionsOur results demonstrate that combining an NKAB antibody with effector cells expressing an activating NKAR receptor represents a powerful and versatile approach to simultaneously enhance tumor antigen-specific as well as NKG2D-CAR and natural NKG2D-mediated cytotoxicity, which may be particularly useful to target tumors with heterogeneous target antigen expression.
IntroductionEmotion regulation plays an important role in the development and treatment of depression. The present study investigated whether the emotion regulation strategies, expressive suppression (ES) and cognitive reappraisal (CR) change in the course of cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) of depressive inpatients. Furthermore, it also examined whether changes in CR and ES correlated with positive treatment outcomes.MethodsForty-four inpatients from a psychotherapeutic hospital who suffered from a depressive disorder (mean age =36.4 years, standard deviation =13.4 years; 63.6% female) filled in the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire and the Beck Depression Inventory at admission and discharge. To detect changes in emotion regulation, and depression across treatment, data were analyzed using multivariate analyses of variance (MANOVA) for repeated measures, effect sizes, and Spearman correlations. A P-value of ≤0.05 was considered statistically significant.ResultsDepression severity (F[1]=10.42, P=0.003; η2=0.22) and CR (F[1]=4.71, P=0.04; η2=0.11) changed significantly across CBT treatment. ES remained virtually stable. Post-treatment scores of CR were also positively correlated with reduction in depressive symptoms across treatment (ρ=0.30, P=0.05).ConclusionThe results suggest that CBT affects emotion regulation in depressive inpatients only for CR and that higher post-treatment scores in CR were related to greater reduction in depressive symptoms across treatment.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.