Charlotte L. Beard

Social skills training (SST) for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has traditionally focused on face-to-face (F2F-SST) interventions. Recently, Behavioral Intervention Technologies (BITs-SST) have been utilized to target social skills deficits using computer-based programs, avatars, and therapeutic robots. The present meta-analysis reviews recent evidence and compares the efficacy of 14 F2F-SST and four identified BITs-SST intervention trials for youth with ASD. These preliminary analyses did not indicate significant differences between F2F-SST and BITs-SST, with effect sizes consistently in the medium to high range (g = 0.81 and g = 0.93, respectively). These findings provide initial support for the continued investigation of BITs for providing SST to youth with ASD.

Tract‐based spatial statistics (TBSS) of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) studies have consistently shown diminished white matter (WM) integrity for individuals with cocaine use disorder (CUD). The present study used seed‐based d mapping (SDM) to determine the extent to which a systematic difference in the WM integrity of cocaine users may exist (as compared with that of healthy controls). Articles from 2006 (when TBSS was first developed) to present were reviewed, with eight selected for inclusion. Meta‐analysis found lower fractional anisotropy (FA) in the genu of the corpus callosum for cocaine users, with a small‐to‐moderate peak effect size (Hedge's g = −0.331). Sensitivity analyses mostly supported the robustness of the obtained difference. Differences detected at exploratory thresholds for significance suggested insult to WM integrity extending beyond the corpus callosum. The present results compliment a previous region‐of‐interest (ROI)‐based meta‐analysis of DTI studies in individuals with CUD. These findings have significant implications for the potential role of neuroprotective agents in the treatment of CUD and merit additional iteration as more studies accrue in the literature.

The link between early initiation and problematic use has been observed for substance use disorders; however, this link has not been as clearly established for Internet gaming disorder (IGD). Available studies indicate that individuals who initiate Internet use at younger ages exhibit an increased risk for general Internet addiction. Prior research also suggests unique cognitive processes in online gaming, such that an individual's overall sense of self-worth can become contingent upon self-esteem derived from the gaming environment. The current research examines the mediational role of self-esteem variables in the relationship between age of initiation and IGD symptomatology. Data were analyzed from 1,044 adult participants (mean age = 30.90; standard deviation: 9.28; 35.0% female) recruited from Amazon Mechanical Turk who reported playing massively multiplayer online role-playing games. Age of gaming initiation is directly linked to IGD, as earlier age predicted overall IGD symptom severity (b = −0.10, 95% confidence interval [CI: −0.17, −0.03]), controlling for self-esteem factors. In addition, self-esteem factors emerged as mediators of the effect, where global self-esteem served as a protective factor (b = −0.05, 95% CI: [−0.07, −0.02]) and high gaming-contingent self-worth (GCSW; b = −0.10, 95% CI: [−0.15, −0.04]) was associated with more negative outcomes. Earlier age of gaming initiation is associated with IGD symptomatology. Although risks of screen time are often referred to in terms of physical consequences, the present study provides support regarding the inclusion of self-esteem factors in the link between early use and IGD.

Background: Alcohol mixed with energy drinks (AmED) is linked to deleterious drinking, particularly within college students. However, measurement and methodological concerns complicate a more thorough understanding of how AmED contributes to problematic alcohol consumption. This study examined AmED proportion (i.e., percentage of overall drinking events involving AmED consumption) as a metric for differentiating problematic alcohol use and tested the utility for explaining additional risk of alcohol-related problems beyond overall alcohol involvement. Methods: Self-report data were collected from a diverse sample of AmED consumers from two west-coast U.S. universities (N = 458; 60.1% female; 31.4% White). Participants were divided into three AmED proportion groups: low (25% or less of all drinking events), moderate (about 50%), or high (75% or more), and assessed for overall alcohol use and related consequences. Results: The groups did not differ on demographics or recent alcohol use. However, high proportion users reported significantly more alcohol-related problems than the low and moderate groups, even after controlling for overall alcohol involvement. However, proportion did not differentiate at-risk drinking as measured by cut-scores of the AUDIT. Conclusions: Findings provide support for proportion as metric for differentiating alcohol-related problems within AmED consumers. Implications for future research and interventions were discussed.