BACKGROUND: While clinical diagnosis of mental health issues focuses on factual details represented by literal language (e.g., the onset and process of the triggering event and duration of symptom), the relationship between metaphorical language and psychopathological experiences remains an intriguing question. Focusing on psychological trauma triggered by the 2019-2020 Hong Kong social unrest, this study explored the correlations between trauma victims\' quantitative metaphor usage patterns and their experience of specific Acute Stress Disorder (ASD) symptoms.
METHODS: Forty-six individuals with trauma exposure within 28 days were recruited through convenience sampling. Each completed a 20- to 30-minute semi-structured interview and filled out the Chinese version of the Stanford Acute Stress Reaction Questionnaire (SASRQ; 1). Metaphors in the interviews were identified using the discourse dynamic approach (2), and clinically interesting categories related to trauma and emotion expression, as revealed by previous literature, were sorted out. Standardized frequencies of the categories were correlated with participants\' SASRQ scores of five major ASD symptoms, and the correlational patterns were interpreted from a discourse analytic perspective.
RESULTS: The study reveals how metaphor usage patterns can reflect the speakers\' differentiated experiences of psychopathological symptoms. Compared with individuals who experienced less trauma, those more disturbed by the re-experiencing symptom were more inclined to use emotion-related metaphors and to metaphorize about the self and the self-society relationship. Individuals who experienced more severe anxiety and hyperarousal showed a heightened awareness of self-related issues and diminished attention to others. Those who suffered from more severe impairment in functioning produced more metaphors in the negative valence. Dissociation and avoidance, which were less experientially salient and intense than the others, were not significantly correlated with metaphor usage patterns.
CONCLUSIONS: This study establishes symptom-level metaphor usage patterns as a previously overlooked but interesting avenue in trauma evaluation, treatment, and research. While the study is confined to a single context, it nevertheless reveals the potential for metaphor research findings to be incorporated as useful materials in psychology education and therapist training.

UNASSIGNED: To assess the interplay among psychopathological symptoms and real-life functioning, and to further detect their influence with violent behavior in patient with schizophrenia.
UNASSIGNED: A sample of 1,664 patients with post-violence assessments and their propensity score-matched controls without violence from a disease registration report system of community mental health service in Guangdong, China, were studied by network analysis. Ising-Model was used to estimate networks of psychopathological symptoms and real-life functioning. Then, we tested whether network properties indicated the patterns of interaction were different between cases and controls, and calculated centrality indices of each node to identify the central nodes. Sensitivity analysis was conducted to examine the difference of interaction patterns between pre-violence and post-violence assessments in violence cases.
UNASSIGNED: Some nodes in the same domain were highly positive interrelations, while psychopathological symptoms were negatively related to real-life functioning in all networks. Many symptom-symptom connections and symptom-functioning connections were disconnected after the violence. The network density decreased from 23.53% to 12.42% without statistical significance (p = 0.338). The network structure, the global network strength, and the global clustering coefficient decreased significantly after the violence (p < 0.001, p = 0.019, and p = 0.045, respectively). Real-life functioning had a higher node strength. The strength of sleeping, lack of spontaneity and flow of conversation, and preoccupation were decreased in post-violence network of patients.
UNASSIGNED: The decreasing connectivity may indicate an increased risk of violence and early warning for detecting violence. Interventions and improving health state based on nodes with high strength might prevent violence in schizophrenia patients.

Cyberbullying (perpetration and victimization) is a prevalent public health problem associated with a wide variety of psychopathological symptoms (e.g., depression, anxiety, delinquent behaviors, and substance use). However, the generality and specificity of relations between cyberbullying involvement and psychopathological symptoms have not been investigated. Thus, the current study used a latent dimensional approach to examine how cyberbullying (perpetration and victimization) is associated with underlying dimensions of psychopathology as well as with specific symptoms. General and specific associations were estimated by a series of structural equation models with data from 654 Chinese adolescents (52.4% girls, Mage = 12.96 years, SD = 0.67) in a three-wave study. Results indicated that cyberbullying (perpetration and victimization) was significantly and positively associated with latent internalizing and externalizing dimensions. Cyberbullying involvement was non-significantly associated with most specific symptom domains after accounting for the impact of the latent internalizing and externalizing factors. In a few cases, cyberbullying involvement was directly and uniquely associated with specific symptoms. Findings of significant general and symptom-specific associations have important implications for efforts to develop more efficient and targeted strategies for preventing and treating mental health problems associated with cyberbullying.

Exposure to childhood trauma (CT) is associated with various deleterious mental health outcomes, increasing the risk of suicidal behaviors. The objective of this study is to investigate the different effects of three forms of CT, including emotional abuse (EA), physical abuse (PA), and sexual abuse (SA), on potential psychopathological symptoms among college students.
A total of 117,769 students from 63 Chinese colleges participated in this study. There were 1,191 participants in the EA group (1.24%; 95% CI: 1.17-1.31%), 1,272 participants in the PA group (1.32%; 95% CI: 1.25-1.40%), and 3,479 participants in the SA group (3.62%; 95% CI: 3.50-3.73%). CT was measured by the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire-Short Form. Psychopathological symptoms (i.e., depression, anxiety, and PTSD) were measured by the PHQ-9, GAD-7, and Trauma Screening Questionnaire, respectively. Network analysis was applied to analyze psychopathological symptoms between three CT subgroups (EA, PA, and SA). The associations and centralities of the networks were calculated, and the network characteristics of the three subgroups were contrasted.
The main symptoms across all three groups are uncontrollable worry, sad mood, irritability, and fatigue, which indicates these core symptoms play essential roles in maintaining the whole psychological symptoms network. Furthermore, there are significant differences in symptom associations between the three groups. The comparison of network structures of the three groups shows that the SA group reports more PTSD symptoms, the EA group reports more suicide-related symptoms, and the PA group reports more anxiety symptoms.
Specific symptoms were disclosed across each group by the distinctive core psychopathological symptoms found in the CT subgroup networks. The present study\'s findings show different associations between CT and psychopathology and may help classify potential diagnostic processes. Therefore, local governments and academic institutions are recommended for early intervention to promote the psychological well-being of CT survivors.

UNASSIGNED: There is growing evidence that reduced cortical thickness has been considered to be a central abnormality in schizophrenia. Brain imaging studies have demonstrated that the cerebral cortex becomes thinner in patients with first-episode schizophrenia. This study aimed to examine whether cortical thickness is altered in drug-naïve schizophrenia in a Chinese Han population and the relationship between cortical thickness and clinical symptoms.
UNASSIGNED: We compared cortical thickness in 41 schizophrenia patients and 30 healthy controls. Psychopathology of patients with schizophrenia was assessed using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS).
UNASSIGNED: The cortical thickness of left banks of superior temporal sulcus, left lateral occipital gyrus, left rostral middle frontal gyrus, right inferior parietal lobule and right lateral occipital gyrus in schizophrenia patients was generally thinner compared with healthy controls. Correlation analysis revealed a negative correlation between cortical thickness of the left banks of superior temporal sulcus and general psychopathology of PANSS.
UNASSIGNED: Our results suggest that cortical thickness abnormalities are already present early in the onset of schizophrenia and are associated with psychopathological symptoms, suggesting that it plays an important role in the pathogenesis and symptomatology of schizophrenia.Key points(1) The first-episode drug-naïve schizophrenia had reduced cortical thickness than the controls.(2) Cortical thickness was associated with psychopathological symptoms in patients with schizophrenia.

Objectives: Leptin is a crucial regulator of energy balance and is associated with obesity. In recent years, it has also been recognized as involved in the psychopathological mechanism. Our study aimed to elucidate the relationships between serum leptin levels, body mass index (BMI), and psychopathology symptoms in patients with schizophrenia. Methods: A cross-sectional assessment of 324 inpatients with schizophrenia was conducted. Schizophrenia symptoms were measured using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS). Serum leptin levels were assessed by the Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). Results: Significant differences in sex, BMI, and negative symptom subscale (PANSS-N) scores were found between the groups with high and low leptin levels in the study. Leptin levels were positively correlated with BMI (B = 2.322, t = 9.557, P < 0.001) and negatively correlated with PANSS-N scores (B = -0.303, t = -2.784, P = 0.006). Conclusions: Our results suggest that the increase in leptin levels is responsible for antipsychotic-induced weight gain and improved psychopathological symptoms.

The possibility of psychopathological symptoms and related risk factors among normal persons and patients infected during the outbreak of COVID-19 has been widely investigated. The mental health outcomes of the second wave of the pandemic remain unclear, especially those of patients with an infection. Thus, this study aims to explore the prevalence of and related risk factors associated with psychopathological symptoms among patients infected with COVID-19 during the second wave.
A cross-sectional survey was conducted in five isolated wards of a designated hospital in Beijing, China, from July 1 to July 15, 2020. The Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) was conducted to assess psychiatric disorders, and a series of scales were used to measure self-reported psychopathological symptoms and psychosomatic factors. Multivariate regression analysis was used to analyze the risk factors associated with psychopathological symptoms.
Among 119 participants with infections, the prevalence of generalized anxiety symptoms (51.3%), depressive symptoms (41.2%), and posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS)/posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms (33.6%) was observed. Loneliness, hope, coping strategies, and history of mental disorders were the shared risk or protective factors across several psychopathological symptoms. The perceived impact of COVID-19 is the specific risk factor associated with state anxiety symptoms.
The prevalence of symptoms of depression, anxiety, and PTSS/PTSD is high among patients with infections during the second wave of the pandemic in Beijing. Clinical doctors must realize that these patients will probably experience depressive disorder, anxiety disorders, and PTSS/PTSD, as well as some neuropsychiatric syndromes. Specific mental health care is urgently required to help patients manage the virus during the second wave of the pandemic.

Objective: We previously found that chronic ketamine usages were associated with various psychotic and cognitive symptoms mimicking schizophrenia. The blockade of the NMDA receptor and subsequent nitric oxide synthase 1 (NOS1) dysfunction were found to be closely correlated with schizophrenia including NOS1 gene polymorphisms. We examined the allelic variants of the gene coding neuronal nitric oxide synthase 1 (NOS1) in chronic ketamine users in the Chinese population and analyzed the association between NOS1 gene polymorphism and psychopathological symptoms in chronic ketamine users. The association between the NOS1 polymorphism and ketamine use characteristics was also examined. Methods: One hundred ninety seven male chronic ketamine users and 82 controls were recruited. Four common SNPs of the NOS1 gene, rs6490121, rs41279104, rs3782206, and rs3782219, were examined by real-time PCR with the TaqMan® assay system. Psychopathological symptoms were assessed using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI). Results: The genotype distribution of rs6490121 and rs41279104 in chronic ketamine users was significantly different from that in the control (p = 0.0001 and p = 0.002). The G allele frequency of rs6490121 in ketamine users was higher than that in the control (p = 2.23 * 10-6, OR = 3.07, 95% CI = 1.93-4.90). The T allele frequency of rs41279104 in chronic ketamine users was higher than that in the control (p = 0.01, OR = 1.76, 95% CI = 1.14-2.72). The BAI score was significantly different among the three genotypic groups of rs6490121 (F = 6.21, p = 0.002) in ketamine users; subjects of genotype AG and GG had a lower score than subjects of genotype AA. The score of the negative symptom subscale of PANSS was significantly different among the three genotypic groups of rs41279104 (F = 5.39, p = 0.005); in ketamine users, subjects of genotype CT and TT had a higher score than subjects of genotype CC. There was no difference in drug use characteristics in different genotypes of the four NOS1 gene polymorphisms tested in ketamine users (p > 0.05).

Objective: To explore the correlation of health literacy and mobile phone use dependence with psychopathological symptoms in middle school students. Methods: 22 628 middle school students in Shenyang, Bengbu, Xinxiang, Ulanqab, Chongqing and Yangjiang were enrolled by multistage cluster sampling method from November 2015 to January 2016. Chinese Adolescent Interactive Health Literacy Questionnaire (CAIHLQ), Self-rating Questionnaire for Adolescent Problematic Mobile Phone Use (SQAPMPU) and Multidimensional Sub-health Questionnaire of Adolescents (MSQA) were applied to acquire basic characteristics, health literacy, mobile phone use dependence and psychopathological symptoms of subjects. Subjects were classified into three groups, low level (P(75)), according to the percentile of the questionnaire score. Multivariate logistic regression model was used to analyze the correlation of health literacy, mobile phone with psychopathological symptoms. Results: The students were (15.4±1.8) years old with 10 990 boys (48.6%). The score of health literacy of students were (104.1±18.7) points. The rate of mobile phone use dependence was 25.4% (5 752/22 628) and the rate of psychopathological symptoms was 29.1% (6 581/22 628). Compared with high health literacy level, medium and low health literacy levels were related to psychopathological symptoms, with OR (95%CI) about 2.30 (2.10-2.52) and 5.40 (4.89-5.97), respectively. Compared with mobile phone use independence, mobile phone use dependence was related to psychopathological symptoms, with OR (95%CI) about 3.60(3.37-3.85). The highest rate of psychopathological symptoms occurred in students with mobile phone use dependence and low health literacy level [68.0% (1 345/1 977)], with OR (95%CI) about 19.59 (17.07-22.48). Conclusion: Health literacy and mobile phone use dependence are related factors of psychopathological symptoms in middle school students.
目的： 探讨中学生健康素养和手机使用依赖与发生心理病理症状的关联。 方法： 2015年11月至2016年1月采用多阶段整群抽样方法，在沈阳、蚌埠、新乡、乌兰察布、重庆和阳江等6个城市抽取中学生22 628名，分别采用《中国青少年互动性健康素养问卷》、《青少年手机使用依赖自评问卷》和《青少年亚健康多维评定问卷》获取调查对象的基本特征、健康素养状况、手机使用状况和心理病理症状。根据问卷得分百分位数将研究对象分为低水平（P(75)）3组，采用多因素logistic回归模型分析手机使用依赖和健康素养与发生心理病理症状的关联。 结果： 调查对象的年龄为（15.4±1.8）岁，其中男生10 990名（48.6%）。调查对象健康素养得分为（104.1±18.7）分，手机使用依赖和心理病理症状检出率分别为25.4%（5 752/22 628）和29.1%（6 581/22 628）。与高健康素养水平相比，中等和低健康素养水平与心理病理症状有关联，OR（95%CI）值分别为2.30（2.10~2.52）和5.40（4.89~5.97）。与无手机使用依赖相比，手机使用依赖与发生心理病理症状有关联，OR（95%CI）为3.60（3.37~3.85）。有手机使用依赖且低健康素养水平的中学生心理病理症状检出率最高，为68.0%（1 345/1 977），OR（95%CI）值为19.59（17.07~22.48）。 结论： 中学生健康素养和手机使用依赖与发生心理病理症状有关联。.

Emotion regulation (ER) is a critical component of children\'s development. Many previous studies have utilised a single-assessment method to reflect child ER, which might result in losing important information regarding the unique contribution of each informant. With a person-centred approach and multi-informant reports (mother, teacher and child), the current study examined 196 children\'s (age M = 9.21, SD = 1.10, range = 7-11 years; 51% girls) ER patterns and their associations with psychopathological symptoms in a Chinese sample. A model-based clustering procedure resulted in 3 ER groups: the poor family ER group (n = 36), poor school ER group (n = 120), and overall good ER group (n = 40). Significant differences were found among ER clusters on teacher-reported child psychopathological symptoms compared on the levels of withdrawn depression, somatic complain, thought problems and attention problems. No significant differences were found on the mother-reported psychopathological symptoms. Compared with children in the poor school or poor family ER clusters, children in the overall good ER group demonstrated fewer psychopathological symptoms at school. Our results confirmed the advantage of adopting multi-informant assessments to fully capture children\'s emotional profiles and linked these profiles with children\'s emotional and behavioural functioning at school.