Psychiatry Journals

Psychological Medicine, Volume 40 Issue 04


Now in its fourth decade of publication, Psychological Medicine is a leading international journal in the fields of psychiatry, related aspects of psychology and basic sciences. There are twelve issues a year, each featuring original articles reporting key research being undertaken worldwide, together with shorter editorials by distinguished scholars and an important book review section. The journal's success is clearly demonstrated by a consistently high impact factor.

Review Articles
M. Gill, G. Donohoe, A. Corvin,
Psychological Medicine, Volume 40 Issue 04 , pp 529-540

Abstract
Background Despite the substantial heritability of the psychoses and their genuine public health burden, the applicability of the genomic approach in psychiatry has been strongly questioned or prematurely dismissed.

Research Articles
C. K. Loo, K. Sainsbury, P. Mitchell, D. Hadzi-Pavlovic, P. S. Sachdev,
Psychological Medicine, Volume 40 Issue 04 , pp 541-546

Abstract
Background Several studies have reported reduction of auditory hallucinations (AH) after repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) to the left temporal cortex. This study explored the effects of rTMS to the left and right temporal cortex.

Research Articles
A. Urfer-Parnas, E. Lykke Mortensen, D. Sæbye, J. Parnas,
Psychological Medicine, Volume 40 Issue 04 , pp 547-556

Abstract
Background Longitudinal studies indicate that future schizophrenia patients exhibit lower IQ than healthy controls. Recent studies suggest that future patients with other mental illnesses obtain lower pre-morbid IQ. The aims of this study were to compare pre-morbid IQ among five diagnostic categories and normal controls, to examine the distribution of pre-morbid IQ, and to investigate the relationship between pre-morbid IQ and risk of mental illness.

Research Articles
K. Ranft, H. Dobrowolny, D. Krell, H. Bielau, B. Bogerts, H.-G. Bernstein,
Psychological Medicine, Volume 40 Issue 04 , pp 557-567

Abstract
Background The habenular complex is composed of important relay nuclei linking the limbic forebrain to the midbrain and brain stem nuclei. Based on clinical observations, experiments with animals and theoretical considerations, it has been speculated that this brain area might be involved in psychiatric diseases (i.e. schizophrenia and depression). However, evidence in favour of this hypothesis is still lacking because the human habenular complex has rarely been studied with regard to mental illness.

Research Articles
S. M. Couture, D. L. Penn, M. Losh, R. Adolphs, R. Hurley, J. Piven,
Psychological Medicine, Volume 40 Issue 04 , pp 569-579

Abstract
Background Individuals with schizophrenia and individuals with high-functioning autism (HFA) seem to share some social, behavioral and biological features. Although marked impairments in social cognition have been documented in both groups, little empirical work has compared the social cognitive functioning of these two clinical groups.

Research Articles
J. Zhang, W. Wieczorek, Y. Conwell, X.-M. Tu, B. Y.-W. Wu, S. Xiao, C. Jia,
Psychological Medicine, Volume 40 Issue 04 , pp 581-589

Abstract
Background Patterns of suicide rates in China differ in many ways from those in the West. This study aimed to identify the risk factors characteristic for young rural Chinese suicides.

Research Articles
S. Köhler, A. J. Thomas, N. A. Barnett, J. T. O'Brien,
Psychological Medicine, Volume 40 Issue 04 , pp 591-602

Abstract
Background Cognitive deficits persist despite clinical recovery in subjects with late-life depression, but more needs to be known about their longer-term outcome and factors affecting their course. To investigate this, we followed the pattern of cognitive impairments over time and examined the effects of current mood, remission status, age of depression onset and antidepressant (AD) treatment on these deficits.

Research Articles
A. Teodorczuk, M. J. Firbank, L. Pantoni, A. Poggesi, T. Erkinjuntti, A. Wallin, L.-O. Wahlund, P. Scheltens, G. Waldemar, G. Schrotter, J. M. Ferro, H. Chabriat, H. Bazner, M. Visser, D. Inzitari, J. T. O'Brien,
Psychological Medicine, Volume 40 Issue 04 , pp 603-610

Abstract
Background Growing evidence suggests that cerebral white-matter changes and depressive symptoms are linked directly along the causal pathway. We investigated whether baseline severity of cerebral white-matter changes predict longer-term future depressive outcomes in a community sample of non-disabled older adults.

Research Articles
F. Beacher, E. Daly, A. Simmons, V. Prasher, R. Morris, C. Robinson, S. Lovestone, K. Murphy, D. G. M. Murphy,
Psychological Medicine, Volume 40 Issue 04 , pp 611-619

Abstract
Background People with Down's syndrome (DS) are at high risk for developing dementia in middle age. The biological basis for this is unknown. It has been proposed that non-demented adults with DS may undergo accelerated brain ageing.

Research Articles
R. M. Pearson, R. M. Cooper, I. S. Penton-Voak, S. L. Lightman, J. Evans,
Psychological Medicine, Volume 40 Issue 04 , pp 621-631

Abstract
Background Growing evidence suggests that perinatal depression is associated with disrupted mother infant interactions and poor infant outcomes. Antenatal depression may play a key role in this cycle by disrupting the development of a maternal response to infant stimuli. The current study therefore investigated the impact of depressive symptoms on the basic cognitive processing of infant stimuli at the beginning of pregnancy.

Research Articles
J. Henrichs, J. J. Schenk, S. J. Roza, M. P. van den Berg, H. G. Schmidt, E. A. P. Steegers, A. Hofman, V. W. V. Jaddoe, F. C. Verhulst, H. Tiemeier,
Psychological Medicine, Volume 40 Issue 04 , pp 633-643

Abstract
Background Previous research suggests, though not consistently, that maternal psychological distress during pregnancy leads to adverse birth outcomes. We investigated whether maternal psychological distress affects fetal growth during the period of mid-pregnancy until birth.

Research Articles
A. Pringle, C. J. Harmer, M. J. Cooper,
Psychological Medicine, Volume 40 Issue 04 , pp 645-655

Abstract
Background Biases in emotional processing and cognitions about the self are thought to play a role in the maintenance of eating disorders (EDs). However, little is known about whether these difficulties exist pre-morbidly and how they might contribute to risk.

Research Articles
A. Favaro, E. Tenconi, P. Santonastaso,
Psychological Medicine, Volume 40 Issue 04 , pp 657-665

Abstract
Background Perinatal factors seem to be implicated in the pathogenesis of anorexia nervosa (AN) and may be involved in the programming of stress response systems in humans. Our aim was to explore one of the possible pathways to explain the association between perinatal complications and a psychiatric disorder. In particular, we tested the hypothesis that neonatal immaturity may confer an enhanced vulnerability to AN after exposure to a severe stressful event, such as childhood abuse.

Research Articles
S. Eldar, Y. Bar-Haim,
Psychological Medicine, Volume 40 Issue 04 , pp 667-677

Abstract
Background Behavioral studies show that attention training can alter threat bias, influence vulnerability to stress and reduce clinical anxiety symptoms. The aim of this study was to examine which cognitive functions of attention processing are modulated by attention training, and how a priori anxiety interacts with the attention training procedure. Specifically, we expected modulation in the P1/N1 event-related potential (ERP) complex if early spatial attention was to be affected by training and modulation in later ERP components (P2, N2, P3) had training affected top-down attentional processes.

Research Articles
M. D. Friesen, L. J. Woodward, L. J. Horwood, D. M. Fergusson,
Psychological Medicine, Volume 40 Issue 04 , pp 679-688

Abstract
Background In this study, 30-year longitudinal data from the Christchurch Health and Development Study (CHDS) were used to examine the associations between childhood exposure to sexual abuse and intimate relationship outcomes at age 30. In addition, a broad range of early childhood and family confounding factors were tested, and the role of intervening factors from adolescence was explored.

Research Articles
M. Sharpe, J. Stone, C. Hibberd, C. Warlow, R. Duncan, R. Coleman, R. Roberts, R. Cull, A. Pelosi, J. Cavanagh, K. Matthews, R. Goldbeck, R. Smyth, A. Walker, J. Walker, A. MacMahon, G. Murray, A. Carson,
Psychological Medicine, Volume 40 Issue 04 , pp 689-698

Abstract
Background Patients whose symptoms are often have a poor symptomatic outcome after specialist consultation, but we know little about which patient factors predict this. We therefore aimed to determine predictors of poor subjective outcome for new neurology out-patients with symptoms unexplained by disease 1 year after the initial consultation.

Book Reviews
M. R. TRIMBLE,
Psychological Medicine, Volume 40 Issue 04 , pp 699-699

Abstract

Book Reviews
KAREN D. ERSCHE,
Psychological Medicine, Volume 40 Issue 04 , pp 699-700

Abstract

Book Reviews
J. M. HETTEMA,
Psychological Medicine, Volume 40 Issue 04 , pp 700-701

Abstract