<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> Motor abnormalities have been shown to be a distinct component of schizophrenia symptomatology. However, objective and scalable methods for assessment of motor functioning in schizophrenia are lacking. Advancements in machine learning-based digital tools have allowed for automated and remote “digital phenotyping” of disease symptomatology. Here, we assess the performance of a computer vision-based assessment of motor functioning as a characteristic of schizophrenia using video data collected remotely through smartphones. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> Eighteen patients with schizophrenia and 9 healthy controls were asked to remotely participate in smartphone-based assessments daily for 14 days. Video recorded from the smartphone front-facing camera during these assessments was used to quantify the Euclidean distance of head movement between frames through a pretrained computer vision model. The ability of head movement measurements to distinguish between patients and healthy controls as well as their relationship to schizophrenia symptom severity as measured through traditional clinical scores was assessed. <b><i>Results:</i></b> The rate of head movement in participants with schizophrenia (1.48 mm/frame) and those without differed significantly (2.50 mm/frame; <i>p</i> = 0.01), and a logistic regression demonstrated that head movement was a significant predictor of schizophrenia diagnosis (<i>p</i> = 0.02). Linear regression between head movement and clinical scores of schizophrenia showed that head movement has a negative relationship with schizophrenia symptom severity (<i>p</i> = 0.04), primarily with negative symptoms of schizophrenia. <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> Remote, smartphone-based assessments were able to capture meaningful visual behavior for computer vision-based objective measurement of head movement. The measurements of head movement acquired were able to accurately classify schizophrenia diagnosis and quantify symptom severity in patients with schizophrenia.

Females in empirically based peer-reviewed studies of internet gaming disorder are underrepresented, despite evidence that there are only minor gender disparities present in online gaming. Moreover, few studies have specifically evaluated adult gender effects, within a formal diagnosis of internet gaming disorder, and behavioral motivation, as defined by the reinforcing behavioral function. A mediation analysis evaluated the relationship between gender, behavioral motivation, and the diagnostic features in online gaming among adults to understand the impact of motivation on videogame playing. The present study interviewed 304 adults (aged over 18 years) in which 178 identified as female. Participants completed the Video Game Functional Assessment-Revised (VGFA-R) and the 20-item Internet Gaming Disorder Test (IGDT-20) via an online survey. Results showed that number of hours played per week, and sub-factors of the VGFA-R differed between gender, indicating that the function and the maintaining of videogame play is essential in evaluating videogame addiction. These findings support and extend the literature's limited findings concerning gender and online gaming.

No abstract

Purpose This paper aims to explore how enforced forms of social isolation arising from the first COVID-19 lockdown influenced experiences of problem substance use, relapse and coping strategies for recovery in individuals engaging with harm reduction recovery services. Design/methodology/approach A qualitative semi-structured interview design was adopted for this research. Seven participants were recruited from a harm reduction recovery organisation. During their initial interview, participants volunteered information regarding their experience of the first lockdown due to emerging concerns of the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants completed a second semi-structured interview at the end of the first lockdown regarding their experience of enforced isolation during this time. Findings Three themes identified from the analysis were isolation resulting in hindered human capabilities; adjusting to a new normal: an individual experience; and unexpected benefits to recovery resulting from isolation. While some participants reported boredom, loneliness and relapse events, others reported that the national response to the virus did not adversely affect them as they had already adjusted to living in a state of anxiety, isolation and uncertainty. These findings illuminate negative, neutral and positive aspects of substance use recovery throughout the COVID-19 lockdown as well as highlighting the complex and individualised role that social connectedness plays in relapse occurrence. Originality/value Participants reported differences in how they were affected by the pandemic, leading to theoretical implications for the effect of social isolation on recovery. For this reason, individuals with a history of dependency should be considered potentially vulnerable to the effects of enforced isolation and should be supported accordingly.

No abstract