Difficulties with emotion regulation have been associated with multiple psychiatric conditions. In this study, we aimed to investigate emotional regulation difficulties in young adults who gamble at least occasionally (ie, an enriched sample), and diagnosed with a range of psychiatric disorders using the validated Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS).

A total of 543 non-treatment-seeking individuals who had engaged in gambling activities on at least 5 occasions within the previous year, aged 18–29 were recruited from general community settings. Diagnostic assessments included the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Inventory, Minnesota Impulsive Disorders Interview, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder World Health Organization Screening Tool Part A, and the Structured Clinical Interview for Gambling Disorder. Emotional dysregulation was evaluated using DERS. The profile of emotional dysregulation across disorders was characterized using Z-scores (those with the index disorder vs. those without the index disorder).

Individuals with probable ADHD displayed the highest level of difficulties in emotional regulation, followed by intermittent explosive disorder, social phobia, and generalized anxiety disorder. In contrast, participants diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder showed relatively lower levels of difficulties with emotional regulation.

This study highlights the importance of recognizing emotional dysregulation as a trans-diagnostic phenomenon across psychiatric disorders. The results also reveal differing levels of emotional dysregulation across diagnoses, with potential implications for tailored treatment approaches. Despite limitations such as small sample sizes for certain disorders and limited age range, this study contributes to a broader understanding of emotional regulation’s role in psychiatric conditions.

The prevalence of non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) among adolescents underscores the importance of understanding the complex factors that drive this behaviour. Framed within broader constructs of emotional regulation theories, alexithymia and peer victimisation are thought to interact to influence NSSI behaviours.

This research addresses whether alexithymia and peer victimisation serve as risk factors for NSSI and, if so, how these factors interact with each other.

This quantitative study analysed data from 605 adolescents, using a range of validated self-report measures including the Toronto Alexithymia Scale. Statistical analyses including one-way analysis of variance, multiple regression and structural equation modelling were employed to scrutinise the relationships among the variables.

Alexithymia and peer victimisation significantly predicted NSSI behaviours. Specifically, the ‘difficulty in identifying feelings’ subscale of alexithymia emerged as a noteworthy predictor of NSSI (P < 0.001). Peer victimisation mediated the relationship between alexithymia and NSSI, explaining approximately 24.50% of alexithymia's total effect on NSSI. In addition, age was a significant predictor of NSSI, but gender and education years were not (P > 0.05). These relationships were found to be invariant across genders.

This study enriches our understanding of the interplay between alexithymia, peer victimisation and NSSI, particularly within the Chinese context. Its findings have significant implications for a rethinking of alexithymia's theoretical construct and interventions targeting emotional literacy and peer dynamics among adolescents. Future research could benefit from a longitudinal design to establish causality.

Evidence has suggested that emotional dysregulation is a transdiagnostic feature in schizophrenia and major affective disorders. However, the relationship between emotional dysregulation and appetite hormone disturbance remains unknown in nonobese adolescents with first-episode schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depressive disorder.

In total, 22 adolescents with schizophrenia; 31 with bipolar disorder; 33 with major depressive disorder; and 41 healthy age-, sex-, and body mass index (BMI)/BMI percentile-matched controls were enrolled for assessing levels of appetite hormones, namely leptin, ghrelin, insulin, and adiponectin. Emotional regulation symptoms were measured using the parent-reported Child Behavior Checklist―Dysregulation Profile.

Adolescents with first-episode schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depressive disorder exhibited greater emotional dysregulation symptoms than the control group (P = .037). Adolescents with bipolar disorder demonstrated higher log-transformed levels of insulin (P = .029) and lower log-transformed levels of leptin (P = .018) compared with the control group. BMI (P < .05) and log-transformed ghrelin levels (P = .028) were positively correlated with emotional dysregulation symptoms.

Emotional dysregulation and appetite hormone disturbance may occur in the early stage of severe mental disorders. Further studies are required to clarify the unidirectional or bidirectional association of emotional dysregulation with BMI/BMI percentile and appetite hormones among patients with severe mental disorder.

Childhood maltreatment can result in lifelong psychological and physical sequelae, including coronary artery disease (CAD). Mechanisms leading to increased risk of illness may involve emotional dysregulation and shortened leukocyte telomere length (LTL).

To evaluate whether (1) childhood maltreatment is associated with shorter LTL among older adults with CAD or other chronic illnesses; (2) sex and/or CAD status influence these results; and (3) symptoms of anxiety, depression, and stress moderate or mediate the association between childhood maltreatment and LTL, men and women (N = 1247; aged 65 ± 7.2 years) with and without CAD completed validated questionnaires on childhood maltreatment, symptoms of depression, anxiety, and perceived stress. LTL was measured using quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Analyses included bivariate correlations, hierarchical regressions, and moderation/mediation analyses, controlling for sociodemographic and lifestyle variables.

Childhood maltreatment was associated with significantly shorter LTL (r = −0.059, p = 0.038, b = −0.016, p = 0.005). This relation was not moderated by depression, anxiety, nor perceived stress, though there was mitigated evidence for absence of a maltreatment-LTL relation in men with CAD. Stress perception (but not anxiety or depression) partially mediated the relation between childhood maltreatment and LTL [Indirect effect, b = −0.0041, s.e. = 0.002, 95% CI (−0.0085 to −0.0002)].

Childhood maltreatment was associated with accelerated biological aging independently of patient characteristics. Emotional dysregulation resulting in chronic stress may contribute to this process. Whether stress management or other interventions may help prevent or slow premature aging in those who have suffered maltreatment requires study.

Bipolar disorder (BD) is a prevalent, often severe, and disabling illness that affects about 1-5% of the general population and has the highest risk of suicide among psychiatric disorders. Impulsivity and, emotion dysregulation have been emphasized due to their role in facilitating suicide acts among those with suicide ideation.

This study aimed to examine the relationship between emotional dysregulation, impulsivity, and suicidality in patients with bipolar disorder by comparing bipolar patients with healthy individuals

The study included 85 patients (59 women, 26 men) with bipolar disorder and education and age-matched 65 (44 women, 21 men) healthy volunteers. The patient group was divided into 3 subgroups according to have suicide attempt history, have suicide ideation without attempt, and have neither suicide attempt nor ideation. Sociodemographic Form, The Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS), Barratt Impulsivity Scale (BIS-11), Scale for Suicide Ideation, Suicide Behaviors Questionnaire scales were applied to the participants.

Patients with bipolar disorder had significantly higher scores for emotion dysregulation and impulsivity than the healthy control group. A statistically significant correlation was found between emotion dysregulation, impulsivity, suicide ideation, and suicide behavior scores. DERS Total and Barratt Total scores were found higher for bipolar patients with suicide attempts than bipolar patients with suicide ideation and bipolar patients with neither attempt nor ideation. The hierarchical regression analysis has indicated that strategies, clarity, and non-planing impulsiveness were the predictors of suicide ideation in bipolar patients.

The results suggested a strong association between emotional dysregulation, impulsivity with suicide ideation, and behavior in patients with bipolar disorder.

No significant relationships.

No significant relationships.

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is characterized by impairing symptoms of inattention and/or hyperactivity/impulsivity. Although Emotional Dysregulation (ED) is not current criteria for ADHD, several clinical, imaging and genetic studies have been suggesting its inclusion. ED seems to impair social and occupational capacities, leading to poor quality life. In this regard, managing this situation is fundamental.

ED in ADHD review and its management, including pharmacological and nonpharmacological approaches.

Non-systematic review through literature using databases as Pubmed and UpToDate. Keywords used: Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Emotional Dysregulation, management, pharmacotherapy.

Literature refers to ADHD drugs, such as psychostimulants and atomoxetine, as the first line managing ED. However, some studies demonstrated that ADHD drugs have lower efficacy while treating emotional symptoms, when compared to attention or hyperactivity/impulsivity symptom control. Other medications, such as antidepressants or mood stabilizers, are not considered due to low efficacy and side effects (such as irritability or suicidality behaviour worsening). Regarding non pharmacological approaches, there have been results with cognitive behavioral treatment, and management techniques for anger, frustration and communication skills.

Although the majority of studies demonstrate psychostimulants and atomoxetine role, there is an important lack of information regarding management of ADHD emotional dysregulation. It is a multifactorial condition, and, as such, non pharmacological and pharmacological management are needed to address this issue. More research is necessary, in order to improve patients’ quality of life.

No significant relationships.

Emotional dysregulation (ED) is a common characteristic of both attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and major depressive disorder (MDD), especially in adolescents. However, whether ADHD and MDD may share the specific ED-related neural networks remains unknown.

In total, 43 adolescents with clinical ED (22 adolescents with ADHD and 21 with MDD) were recruited; in addition, 29 sex- and age-matched healthy controls (HCs) were included. Resting-state functional connectivity (RSFC) analysis, voxel-based morphometry, and diffusion tensor imaging analysis were performed for each patient. In addition, we determined the significant regions of interest in patients with ED due to ADHD and MDD as compared with HCs and tested their correlations with clinical rating scale scores.

Compared with HCs, patients with ED had greater RSFC in the cerebellum and supramarginal gyrus (SMG), especially between vermis VI and the SMG in the attention networks, and lower RSFC between the right supplementary motor area and right lateral parietal area. Lower gray matter (GM) volume in the SMG was also found. RSFC was significantly correlated with clinical rating scale scores for all patients with ED due to ADHD or MDD. GM change was correlated with ED and MDD rating scale scores.

The cerebellum and attention networks might play major roles in ED pathophysiology in adolescents with ADHD and MDD. Increased connectivity of the vermis to the SMG serves as a possible underlying neural network.

The emergence of eating problems during childhood increases the risk for eating disorders (EDs) during young adulthood. Previous studies highlight a relationship between poor self-regulation and onset of eating pathology. In this study, we investigated whether this association is mediated by decision-making difficulties.

To test this hypothesis, we used data from the Millennium Cohort Study. Decision-making performance was assessed with the Cambridge Gambling Task at age 11. Principal components analysis was used to derive an index of ED symptoms at age 14. The trajectories of scores of two subscales of the Child Social Behaviour Questionnaire, Independence and Self-Regulation (ISR) and Emotional Dysregulation (EmotDy), were modelled from ages 3 to 7 years in a latent growth curve analysis. The individual predicted values of the intercept (set at baseline, 3 years) and the slope (rate of annual change) were then used in the mediation analysis.

In our sample of 11 303 individuals, there was evidence for mediation by three measures of decision-making at age 11 (poor quality of decision-making, delay aversion and low risk-adjustment) in the association between EmotDy across ages 3–7 and ED symptoms at age 14 even after the adjustment for relevant covariates. We found no evidence of association between ISR and ED symptoms.

Our findings suggest that emotion regulation processes during childhood may be relevant for the future onset of ED symptoms via their association with decision-making skills. These findings, obtained from a large, representative, sample, shed light on the relationship between self-regulation, decision-making and symptoms of EDs.

Couple therapy continues to gain in stature as a vital component of mental health services. The linkage of relationship distress to disruption of individual emotional and physical well-being emphasizes the importance of improving and extending empirically based strategies for treating couple distress

To evaluate the efficacy of dialectical behavior therapy “DBT” in outpatients couples with emotional dysregulation

Twenty couples presented with marital distress and at least one of them suffers from emotional dysregulation assigned at their convenience or according to immediate availability of treatment slot to a couple DBT group. Arabic version of DERS was used for assessment of emotional dysregulation before and after intervention. Dyadic Adjustment Scale was used for assessment of marital adjustment

Both male and female partners showed significant improvement in marital adjustment and emotional regulation. Female partner showed significant higher change amplitude in both scales. Female partners showed significant improvement in all DERS subscales except for (GOALS) subscale (significant decrease), while male partners showed significant improvement in (IMPULSE), (AWARNESS), (STRATEGIES) and (CLARITY) subscales

Dialectical behavioral therapy for couples is an effective approach to couples with emotional dysregulation in one or both partners

No significant relationships.

Psychological inflexibility and emotional dysregulation are a hallmark of psychopathology, being intrinsically embedded in emotional and personality disorders. However, the transdiagnostic mechanisms of psychological inflexibility and emotional dysregulation domains are still a matter of discussion.

The present study aims to explore the relationships between cognitive fusion (as a measure of psychological inflexibility), emotion regulation strategies, such as cognitive reappraisal and emotional suppression and emotional dysregulation domains in two different samples.

In a cross-sectional design, 297 individuals were assessed with self-report measures and divided into non-clinical (n = 231) and clinical samples (n = 66), according to diagnosis.

Results showed that the degree of cognitive fusion was higher in the clinical sample. However, significant correlations between cognitive fusion, emotional regulation strategies and emotional dysregulation domains were found in the two samples. Cognitive reappraisal and emotional dysregulation domains predicted cognitive fusion and mediated the relationship between cognitive fusion and symptomatology in the two samples.

Relationships between cognitive fusion and emotional dysregulation domains were found independent of diagnosis. The implementation of emotion regulation strategies may be related to individual differences. However, cognitive fusion, reappraisal and lack of strategies may be core transdiagnostic features in psychological inflexibility and emotion dysregulation.

Pseudobulbar affect/emotional incontinence is a potentially disabling condition characterized by expressions of affect or emotions out of context from the normal emotional basis for those expressions. This condition can result in diagnostic confusion and unrelieved suffering when clinicians interpret the emotional expressions at face value. In addition, the nomenclature, etiology, and treatment for this condition remain unclear in the medical literature.

We report the case of a 60-year-old woman with multiple sclerosis who was referred to an inpatient psychiatry unit with complaints of worsening depression along with hopelessness, characterized by unrelenting crying. Our investigation showed that her symptoms were caused by pseudobulbar affect/emotional incontinence stemming from multiple sclerosis.

The patient's history of multiple sclerosis and the fact that she identified herself as depressed only because of her incessant crying suggested that her symptoms might be due to the multiple sclerosis rather than to a depressive disorder. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated a new plaque consistent with multiple sclerosis lateral to her corpus callosum. Her symptoms resolved completely within three days on valproic acid but returned after she was cross-tapered to dextromethorphan plus quinidine, which is the FDA-approved treatment for this condition.

This case provides important additional information to the current literature on pseudobulbar affect/emotional incontinence. The existing literature suggests a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) and dextromethorphan/quinidine (Nuedexta) as first-line treatments; however, our patient was taking an SSRI at the time of presentation without appreciable benefit, and her symptoms responded to valproic acid but not to the dextromethorphan/quinidine. In addition, the case and the literature review suggest that the current nomenclature for this constellation of symptoms can be misleading.