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An A-B-C model of habit disorders: hair-pulling, skin-picking, and other stereotypic conditions.

Severe hair-pulling is characteristic of trichotillomania, an impulse control disorder not otherwise classified. Other pathological habits, including severe nail-biting and skin-picking, are also prevalent and are potentially diagnosable as stereotypic movement disorder. There is increasing awareness of the morbidity associated with these kind of habit disorders but, to date, relatively few randomized controlled trials of pharmacotherapy or psychotherapy have been undertaken. Advances in the understanding of the underlying cognitive-affective mechanisms driving stereotypies in animals and humans may ultimately lead to new approaches. An affect regulation, behavioral addiction, and cognitive control (A-B-C) approach is outlined to conceptualizing and managing these conditions.

Adult↗

EMG reactivity and oral habits among young adult headache sufferers and painfree controls in a scheduled-waiting task.

Previous research has shown that patients with facial pain exhibit a pattern of physiological and behavioral reactivity to scheduled-waiting tasks that may help account for the development of facial pain. The present study extended this line of research by examining the psychophysiological reactivity of headache sufferers in a similar task. A total of 34 frequent headache sufferers screened by International Headache Society (IHS) criteria and 13 painfree controls completed a psychophysiological assessment consisting of 4 phases (adaptation, free-play, scheduled-play, and recovery) that included a scheduled-waiting condition (scheduled-play) designed to produce adjunctive behavior. Masseter and frontalis EMG were measured continuously during each phase and self-reported oral habits and pain ratings were collected following each phase. A significant interaction and group effect was found on frontalis EMG, with the headache group exhibiting elevated EMG levels across the phases, whereas the control group exhibited increasing EMG levels that peaked during the scheduled-play phase. Only a significant phase effect was found on masseter EMG, with the highest EMG levels recorded during the scheduled-play phase for both groups. In addition, a significant phase effect was found on self-reported oral habits data. Overall, these results provide general support for the adjunctive behavior effect, but the predicted difference in magnitude between the groups was not found.

Adult↗

Separating habit and recollection in young and older adults: effects of elaborative processing and distinctiveness.

An extension of L. L. Jacoby's (1991) process-dissociation procedure was used to examine the effects of aging on recollection and automatic influences of memory (habit). Experiment 1 showed that older adults were impaired in their ability to engage in recollection but did not differ from young adults in their reliance on habit. Elderly adults were also less able to exploit distinctive contextual information to enhance recollection. Experiments 2 and 3 showed that with more supportive conditions, older adults were able to benefit from distinctive contextual information. Quantitative and qualitative deficits in recollective abilities are interpreted within a dual-process model of memory. The problem of distinguishing between a deficit in recollection and a deficit in inhibitory processes in older adults (e.g., L. Hasher & R. T. Zacks, 1988) and the importance of this distinction for purposes of repairing memory performance are discussed.

Adult↗

Habit learning and the genetics of the dopamine D3 receptor: evidence from patients with schizophrenia and healthy controls.

In this study, the authors investigated the relationship between the Ser9Gly (SG) polymorphism of the dopamine D3 receptor (DRD3) and striatal habit learning in healthy controls and patients with schizophrenia. Participants were given the weather prediction task, during which probabilistic cue-response associations were learned for tarot cards and weather outcomes (rain or sunshine). In both healthy controls and patients with schizophrenia, participants with Ser9Ser (SS) genotype did not learn during the early phase of the task (1-50 trials), whereas participants with SG genotype did so. During the late phase of the task (51-100 trials), both participants with SS and SG genotype exhibited significant learning. Learning rate was normal in patients with schizophrenia. These results suggest that the DRD3 variant containing glycine is associated with more efficient striatal habit learning in healthy controls and patients with schizophrenia.

Adult↗

Robust habit learning in the absence of awareness and independent of the medial temporal lobe.

Habit memory is thought to involve slowly acquired associations between stimuli and responses and to depend on the basal ganglia. Habit memory has been well studied in experimental animals but is poorly understood in humans because of their strong tendency to acquire information as conscious (declarative) knowledge. Here we show that humans have a robust capacity for gradual trial-and-error learning that operates outside awareness for what is learned and independently of the medial temporal lobe. We tested two patients with large medial temporal lobe lesions and no capacity for declarative memory. Both patients gradually acquired a standard eight-pair object discrimination task over many weeks but at the start of each session could not describe the task, the instructions or the objects. The acquired knowledge was rigidly organized, and performance collapsed when the task format was altered.

Aged↗

Sleep habits of students attending elementary schools, and junior and senior high schools in Akita prefecture.

It is widely accepted that students in Japan sleep fewer hours than what they actually need. However, epidemiological data on sleep habits among students are scarce. The sleep habits and related problems among 1650 students in Akita prefecture were studied. The results revealed that schoolchildren attending elementary schools seemed to sleep for a sufficient number of hours, whereas students attending junior or senior high schools were not sleeping enough. In particular, approximately half of the students attending senior high schools answered that they slept 6 h or less on weekdays and nodded off during classes more than twice a week.

Adolescent↗

Visual habit formation in monkeys with neurotoxic lesions of the ventrocaudal neostriatum.

Visual habit formation in monkeys, assessed by concurrent visual discrimination learning with 24-h intertrial intervals (ITI), was found earlier to be impaired by removal of the inferior temporal visual area (TE) but not by removal of either the medial temporal lobe or inferior prefrontal convexity, two of TE's major projection targets. To assess the role in this form of learning of another pair of structures to which TE projects, namely the rostral portion of the tail of the caudate nucleus and the overlying ventrocaudal putamen, we injected a neurotoxin into this neostriatal region of several monkeys and tested them on the 24-h ITI task as well as on a test of visual recognition memory. Compared with unoperated monkeys, the experimental animals were unaffected on the recognition test but showed an impairment on the 24-h ITI task that was highly correlated with the extent of their neostriatal damage. The findings suggest that TE and its projection areas in the ventrocaudal neostriatum form part of a circuit that selectively mediates visual habit formation.

Animals↗

Self-injurious behavior as a habit and its treatment.

The definition of self-injurious behavior applies to persons who hurt or harm themselves without the motive of suicide or of sexual deviation. The different aspects of self-injurious behavior and the theories explaining them are reviewed. For 5 years a young, intelligent woman had inflicted injuries upon herself with sharp instruments while ostensibly caring for her face and legs. The short-term hypnobehavioral treatment included keeping daily reports of her self-inflicted injuries and of her thoughts while executing them, finding alternative activities to replace her habit, and practicing self-hypnosis once a day. Increasing the level of understanding of her inner conflict and accenting ways of breaking the habit by means of positive autosuggestion proved very effective. The treatment was successful after 13 sessions.

Adult↗

Personality correlates of semantic habits in the deaf.

The relationships between personality characteristics and semantic habits were explored with use of The Sixteen Personality Factory Questionnaire, Form E, and a measure of semantic habits. Ss were 102 deaf male and female college students. The results, analyzed separately by sex, showed a few significant relationships. Deaf males who were emotionally less stable and affected by feelings tended to prefer positive and negative evaluations. Relaxed, tranquil, and unfrustrated deaf males tended to neglect positive and negative evaluations and to prefer categorical responses to detail ones. Serious and sober deaf females tended to neglect negative evaluations.

Adolescent↗

A comparison of attitudes and exercise habits of alumni from colleges with varying degrees of physical education activity programs.

A survey of alumni attitudes about their college physical education activity (PEA) program and current exercise habits was sent to a representative sample (N = 3169) of alumni who had graduated between 1970 and 1984 from four private colleges. The percent returned was 48, 31, 43, and 41 from Colleges A-D, respectively. Three of the four colleges had required PEA programs. College A had an eight-credit-hour requirement, College B required four credit-hours, College C required two credits, and College D did not have a PEA requirement. Results indicated a significant difference among the four colleges in the alumni's perceived value of their college PEA program in terms of its contribution to their knowledge about fitness, attitude towards fitness, and current exercise habits. Additionally, alumni differed in their perception of the health value of exercise and in their frequency of weekly exercise. When alumni exercise behaviors were quantified by aerobic points and classified according to type of activity, no statistically significant differences were found. The conclusion of the study was that the attitudes and exercise behaviors of alumni are related to the type of college PEA requirement; however, aerobic points earned are not affected. Students graduating from colleges with higher PEA requirements demonstrate more positive exercise attitudes and behaviors.

Adult↗

Acceptability of computerized self-report of alcohol habits: a patient perspective.

The acceptability of computerized assessment of alcohol habits was explored in 57 consecutive out-patients over a 6-month period. Altogether, 46 men and 11 women agreed to complete a paper and pencil questionnaire exploring their opinion about computerized assessment. The study focused on the patients' acceptance of computerized testing and also on whether some sub-groups had reservations. The participants indicated that they had no general anxiety towards computers and did not mind being assessed by their use. Nearly half of the men were not convinced of the usefulness of computers as a means of asking about alcohol habits. The same level of confidence was recorded with regard to whether doctors would make better assessments using computers. Around one-quarter of both men and women were worried that computers might cause doctors to spend less time with the patients and that staff might lose the personal contact with patients. Because of the small sample size, we conclude tentatively that a computerized lifestyle test appears to be an acceptable method both to men and women with different educational backgrounds. However, two important issues need to be further addressed, namely concerns about confidentiality and loss of personal contact.

Adult↗

Family environment, hobbies and habits as psychosocial predictors of survival for surgically treated patients with breast cancer.

Many psychosocial factors have been reported to influence the duration of survival of breast cancer patients. We have studied how family members, hobbies and habits of the patients may alter their psychosocial status. Female patients with surgically treated breast cancer diagnosed between 1986 and 1995 at the Tochigi Cancer Center Hospital, who provided information on the above-mentioned factors, were used. Their subsequent physical status was followed up in the outpatients clinic. The Cox regression model was used to evaluate the relationship between the results of the factors examined and the duration of the patients' survival, adjusting for the patients' age, stage of disease at diagnosis and curability, as judged by the physician in charge after the treatment. The following factors were revealed to be significant with regard to the survival of surgically treated breast cancer patients: being a widow (hazard ratio 3.29; 95% confidence interval 1.32-8.20), having a hobby (hazard ratio 0.43; 95% confidence interval 0.23-0.82), number of hobbies (hazard ratio 0.64; 95% confidence interval 0.41-1.00), number of female children (hazard ratio 0.64; 95% confidence interval 0.42-0.98), smoker (hazard ratio 2.08; 95% confidence interval 1.02-4.26) and alcohol consumption (hazard ratio 0.10; 95% confidence interval 0.01-0.72). These results suggest that psychosocial factors, including the family environment, where patients receive emotional support from their spouse and children, hobbies and the patients' habits, may influence the duration of survival in surgically treated breast cancer patients.

Adult↗

Dissociation between attentional set shifting and habit learning: a longitudinal case study.

We report a patient (ST) with predominant damage to the right neostriatum, caused by a rare cerebral angiitis. The testing procedure was focused on attentional set shifting (Wisconsin Card Sorting Test; WCST) and habit learning (probabilistic classification learning; PCL). ST showed impairments in the WCST, digit span backward, alphabet span, and PCL procedures, whereas he exhibited spared IQ, short-term verbal memory, object recognition, episodic and semantic memory. After 1 month of steroid therapy, there was a significant improvement in the WCST, digit span backward and alphabet span tests, whereas PCL remained severely impaired. The three control patients with damage to the parietal lobe displayed normal learning rates in PCL. These results suggest that separate frontostriatal mechanisms exist for attentional set shifting and habit learning.

Adult↗

Sleep habits of Long Island Rail Road commuters.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: We addressed the issue of how commuting affects sleep habits, and its association with general health and potential sleep disorders in individuals on a large, U.S. commuter rail system. DESIGN: Postage-paid mail back questionnaires were distributed to commuters over 6 consecutive weekdays. The questionnaire incorporated previously validated questions regarding sleep habits. SETTING: Questionnaires were dispensed at 15 different rail stations. PARTICIPANTS: 21,000 commuters accepted the questionnaire. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: Data was analyzed by total group and length of commute. A total of 4715 (22%) questionnaires were returned. Over 50% of the sample reported difficulty with sleep and wakefulness while only 3% sought professional help. Sleep apnea was suspected in 4.2% of male and 1% of female respondents and was associated with increased reports of excessive daytime sleepiness, and history of hypertension, diabetes and obesity. Total nocturnal sleep time was significantly less in those subjects with long commutes. Seventy percent of respondents reported napping during the commute. Length of commute was associated with hypertension. CONCLUSION: Commuting long distances negatively impacts one's ability to capture adequate sleep. Data suggests that there may be significant numbers of respondents with unrecognized sleep disorders which further impact on general health.

Adult↗

Bed sharing, sleep habits, and sleep problems among Chinese school-aged children.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: This study examined the association between bed sharing, sleep habits, and sleep problems among Chinese school-aged children. DESIGN AND SETTING: A questionnaire survey of school-aged children was undertaken in Jinan city, People's Republic of China, in 2001. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 517 elementary-school children (mean age, 10.5 years; 47.4% boys) participated in the survey. MEASUREMENTS: The parents completed the Chinese version of the Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire and a number of questions that asked about bed sharing and characteristics of the family and child. RESULTS: The prevalence of regular bed sharing in Chinese school-aged children was as high as 18.2%. The rate of bed sharing did not differ between boys and girls but significantly decreased with age from 55.8% in 7-year-olds to 7.2% in 11- to 13-year-olds. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that younger age, poor physical health of the child, and crowded housing were associated with an increased likelihood for the child's bed sharing with parents. Bedtime and total sleep duration did not significantly differ between children who shared beds and those who slept alone. Children who shared beds with their parents were reported to have more sleep anxiety and daytime sleepiness than children who slept alone. Bed sharing was not associated with parasomnias and breathing problems during sleep. CONCLUSIONS: Regular bed sharing in Chinese school-aged children was very common and significantly decreased with age. Crowded housing and poor physical health of the child increased the likelihood for children and parents to share beds. Bed sharing may exert influences on sleep quality rather than sleep quantity.

Beds↗

Sleep habits and accident risk among truck drivers: a cross-sectional study in Argentina.

Road accidents are a major cause of death, and sleep deprivation affects driving skills. We conducted a cross-sectional study to evaluate sleep habits and accident risk in long-haul truck drivers in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Questionnaires regarding sleep habits, snoring, and daytime sleepiness were administered, and a limited physical examination was performed. We obtained 738 complete answers (response rate 85%). Mean sleep hours during working days was 3.76 (SD 2.40). Mean driving hours was 15.9 (SD 5.60) per day. Frequent sleepiness while driving was reported by 43.7% of responders. Sleepiness while driving was associated with Epworth Sleepiness Scale values >10 (odds ratio 1.85, 95% confidence interval = 1.20-2.85). Snoring was reportea by 71% of drivers and was frequent in 43.8%. Snoring more than 3 times a week (odds ratio 1.73, 95% confidence interval = 1.23-2.44), sleepiness while driving (OR 1.92, 95% confidence interval = 1.08-1.96), and Epworth Sleepiness Scale score > 10 (odds ratio 2.53, 95% confidence interval = 1.61-3.97) were independently associated with reporting of accidents or near accidents. Sleep deprivation and long driving shifts were prevalent in our study. Accident risk was associated with frequent snoring, daytime sleepiness, and reporting of sleepiness at the wheel. This study highlights the need of improving working conditions in this highly exposed population.

Adult↗

Physicians' practices in counseling patients about health habits.

The authors developed and tested a model of two dimensions of physicians' behavior in counseling patients about four health habits (smoking, weight control, alcohol consumption, and regular exercise). The two dimensions are the indications for routine counseling and the aggressiveness of counseling style. To test these dimensions, a questionnaire was administered to a random sample of members of a Western County Medical Society in 1978. The response rate was 76%. Indications and Aggressiveness subscales were developed for each habit. Reliability and discriminant validity for all subscales was excellent. Descriptive results were consistent with expectations, e.g., physicians counseled more about smoking and weight control than about alcohol and exercise. The results support the dimensions and suggest that the questionnaire will be useful for future research on counseling behavior.

Alcohol Drinking↗

Driving habits and health-related quality of life in patients with age-related maculopathy.

PURPOSE: To characterize the driving habits of persons with age-related maculopathy who present to a low-vision rehabilitation clinic and to examine how driving status relates to vision-specific health-related quality of life. METHODS: The Driving Habits Questionnaire, the National Eye Institute Vision Function Questionnaire-25, and the Life Space Questionnaire were administered via telephone interview to 126 patients with age-related maculopathy who presented to a low-vision clinic during the previous year and were either past or current drivers. RESULTS: Twenty-four percent of the sample reported being a current driver. Compared with those who stopped driving, current drivers were more likely to be male, younger, have better visual acuity and higher National Eye Institute Vision Function Questionnaire-25 scores. Drivers reported driving an average of 4 days and 10 miles per week. Over 50% of drivers reported that because of their vision, they had difficulty with or did not drive at all in rain, at night, on freeways or interstate highways, in heavy traffic areas, or during rush hour. Drivers and nondrivers did not differ in their life space, the spatial extent of their excursions into their environment. CONCLUSION: Some individuals who present to a low-vision clinic with age-related maculopathy do drive, although their driving exposure is low and they report avoiding challenging on-road situations. Driving status in age-related maculopathy appears to be related to better eye visual acuity and vision-specific health-related quality of life.

Activities of Daily Living↗