ÌÇÐÄvlog

In a population-based epidemiological survey of first-episode psychosis during a 2-year study period, Coid and coauthors investigate which delusional beliefs and characteristics are associated with violent behavior during a first episode of psychosis and whether these associations are mediated by affect due to delusions.

In a cross-sectional neuroimaging study, Voineskos and coauthors determine whether patients with deficit schizophrenia differ from patients with nondeficit schizophrenia and healthy controls in neuroimaging-based measures of white matter tracts and gray matter morphology.

In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial, Roffman et al determine whether folic acid plus vitamin B12 supplementation reduces negative symptoms of schizophrenia and whether functional variants in folate-related genes influence treatment response.

Wisner et al screened for depression in postpartum women with onset predating, during, or after pregnancy. They evaluated the rate of self-harm ideation and define primary and secondary DSM-IV Axis I disorders associated with depression.

Pechtel and Pizzagalli examined whether a history of childhood sexual abuse, particularly in conjunction with a past episode of major depressive disorder, is associated with behavioral and neural dysfunction in reinforcement learning, and whether such dysfunction is linked to maladaptive behavior.

Roberts et al assessed whether maternal exposure to childhood abuse and adverse perinatal circumstances among abused women are associated with autism risk in offspring. Using data from the Nurses’ Health Study II, the prevalence of autism spectrum disorder was assessed. Controls were children of women who did not report autism in offspring.

Frans and coauthors examine the relation between paternal age and autism by studying the effect of grandfathers’ age on childhood autism

To assess the efficacy of varenicline and bupropion SR plus counseling on smoking cessation and emotional functioning, Cinciripini et al performed a placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial at a university medical center with 294 volunteers. Participants received 12 weeks of varenicline, bupropion SR, or placebo and 10 counseling sessions.

Belsky and coauthors test how genomic loci identified in genome-wide association studies influence the developmental progression of smoking behavior.