cometadata/datacite-titles-descriptions-related-identifiers huggingface dataset:
DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.24323097
title: Differentiating between intrapsychic symptoms and behavioral expressions of borderline personality disorder in relation to childhood emotional maltreatment and emotion dysregulation: an exploratory investigation

description: Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a severe mental disorder, characterized by pronounced instability in emotions, self-image, and interpersonal relationships. Experiences of childhood maltreatment are among the risk factors for BPD. While self-damaging and aggressive acts often occur, not every person with the disorder shows markedly dysregulated behaviour. Internalized symptoms, such as shame, loneliness, and self-disgust tend to be more pervasive and persist after clinical remission. Here we investigated associations between BPD symptom severity, childhood maltreatment, and emotion regulation difficulties. We further explored if the Borderline Symptom List (BSL) could potentially be used to differentiate between internalized symptoms (intrapsychic strain) and externalized symptoms (dysregulated behaviours) in future research. 187 women with at least mild BPD symptoms (65% having a diagnosis of BPD) completed the BSL 23 including its 11-item supplement (BSL-S), the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), and Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS). Participants further underwent a semi-structured clinical interview to assess BPD criteria (International Personality Disorder Examination, IPDE). Multivariate models and regression-based bootstrapping analyses were performed to test direct and indirect effects. Childhood trauma severity, especially emotional abuse, positively predicted BPD symptom severity. A significant indirect effect through emotion regulation difficulties was found (<i>k</i><sup>2</sup>=.56). When exploring associations with BPD criteria (IPDE), the BSL-23 mean significantly correlated with separation anxiety, identity and mood problems, chronic emptiness, suicidal ideation, and dissociation, while the BSL-S correlated with self-harming impulsive behaviour and anger outbursts. Findings complement previous research, highlighting the role of childhood maltreatment and emotion regulation difficulties in BPD. While our findings need to be seen as preliminary and interpreted with caution, they suggest that the BSL may be used to differentiate between internalized symptoms and behavioural expressions of BPD in future research. Such a distinction might help to deepen the understanding of this complex heterogenous disorder. Severity of borderline personality disorder was related to experiences of childhood maltreatment, mediated by emotion regulation difficulties.The Borderline Symptom List might be useful to differentiate between internalizing symptoms and externalizing symptoms associated with borderline personality disorder. Severity of borderline personality disorder was related to experiences of childhood maltreatment, mediated by emotion regulation difficulties. The Borderline Symptom List might be useful to differentiate between internalizing symptoms and externalizing symptoms associated with borderline personality disorder.
DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.24323097.v1
title: Differentiating between intrapsychic symptoms and behavioral expressions of borderline personality disorder in relation to childhood emotional maltreatment and emotion dysregulation: an exploratory investigation

description: Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a severe mental disorder, characterized by pronounced instability in emotions, self-image, and interpersonal relationships. Experiences of childhood maltreatment are among the risk factors for BPD. While self-damaging and aggressive acts often occur, not every person with the disorder shows markedly dysregulated behaviour. Internalized symptoms, such as shame, loneliness, and self-disgust tend to be more pervasive and persist after clinical remission. Here we investigated associations between BPD symptom severity, childhood maltreatment, and emotion regulation difficulties. We further explored if the Borderline Symptom List (BSL) could potentially be used to differentiate between internalized symptoms (intrapsychic strain) and externalized symptoms (dysregulated behaviours) in future research. 187 women with at least mild BPD symptoms (65% having a diagnosis of BPD) completed the BSL 23 including its 11-item supplement (BSL-S), the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), and Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS). Participants further underwent a semi-structured clinical interview to assess BPD criteria (International Personality Disorder Examination, IPDE). Multivariate models and regression-based bootstrapping analyses were performed to test direct and indirect effects. Childhood trauma severity, especially emotional abuse, positively predicted BPD symptom severity. A significant indirect effect through emotion regulation difficulties was found (<i>k</i><sup>2</sup>=.56). When exploring associations with BPD criteria (IPDE), the BSL-23 mean significantly correlated with separation anxiety, identity and mood problems, chronic emptiness, suicidal ideation, and dissociation, while the BSL-S correlated with self-harming impulsive behaviour and anger outbursts. Findings complement previous research, highlighting the role of childhood maltreatment and emotion regulation difficulties in BPD. While our findings need to be seen as preliminary and interpreted with caution, they suggest that the BSL may be used to differentiate between internalized symptoms and behavioural expressions of BPD in future research. Such a distinction might help to deepen the understanding of this complex heterogenous disorder. Severity of borderline personality disorder was related to experiences of childhood maltreatment, mediated by emotion regulation difficulties.The Borderline Symptom List might be useful to differentiate between internalizing symptoms and externalizing symptoms associated with borderline personality disorder. Severity of borderline personality disorder was related to experiences of childhood maltreatment, mediated by emotion regulation difficulties. The Borderline Symptom List might be useful to differentiate between internalizing symptoms and externalizing symptoms associated with borderline personality disorder.
DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.24251276
title: Changes in comorbid depression following intensive trauma-focused treatment for PTSD and complex PTSD

description: The extent to which intensive trauma-focused treatment for individuals with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is also effective in treating comorbid major depressive disorder (MDD) remains unclear. The purpose of the present study was to test the hypothesis that brief intensive trauma-focused therapy for PTSD is associated with significant reductions in depressive symptoms and loss of diagnostic status of MDD. A total of 334 adult patients with PTSD (189 patients who were also diagnosed with MDD) underwent a brief intensive trauma-focused treatment programme consisting of EMDR therapy, prolonged exposure, physical activity, and psychoeducation. At pre-treatment, post-treatment and 6-month follow-up, severity and diagnostic status of PTSD and MDD were assessed. A linear mixed model was used to analyze changes in the severity of PTSD and depressive symptoms, whereas a generalized linear mixed model was used to determine changes in the MDD diagnostic status. Treatment resulted in a significant and strong decrease of PTSD and MDD symptoms at post-treatment (<i>d</i> = 2.34 and 1.22, respectively), and at 6-month follow-up (<i>d</i> = 1.67 and 0.73, respectively). The proportion of patients fulfilling the diagnostic status of MDD changed from 57% at pre-treatment to 33% at the 6-month follow-up. Although the initial response to treatment did not differ between patients with and without comorbid MDD, for both groups a significant relapse in depressive symptoms was found after six months, which could be explained almost entirely by the presence of CPTSD at baseline. The results support the notion that brief, intensive trauma-focused treatment is highly effective for individuals with PTSD and comorbid MDD. Because patients with CPTSD are vulnerable to relapse in depressive symptoms, this target group may require additional treatment. Intensive trauma-focused treatment (ITFT) of PTSD proved to be associated with a significant decrease in comorbid MDD.Comorbid MDD did not moderate the effect of ITFT for PTSD.Presence of Complex PTSD was predictive of relapse of MDD symptoms 6 months later. Intensive trauma-focused treatment (ITFT) of PTSD proved to be associated with a significant decrease in comorbid MDD. Comorbid MDD did not moderate the effect of ITFT for PTSD. Presence of Complex PTSD was predictive of relapse of MDD symptoms 6 months later.
DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.24050174
title: Biological embedding of early trauma: the role of higher prefrontal synaptic strength

description: <b>Background:</b> Early trauma predicts poor psychological and physical health. Glutamatergic synaptic processes offer one avenue for understanding this relationship, given glutamate’s abundance and involvement in reward and stress sensitivity, emotion, and learning. Trauma-induced glutamatergic excitotoxicity may alter neuroplasticity and approach/avoidance tendencies, increasing risk for psychiatric disorders. Studies examine upstream or downstream effects instead of glutamatergic synaptic processes <i>in vivo</i>, limiting understanding of how trauma affects the brain. <b>Objective:</b> In a pilot study using a previously published data set, we examine associations between early trauma and a proposed measure of synaptic strength <i>in vivo</i> in one of the largest human samples to undergo Carbon-13 (<sup>13</sup>C MRS) magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Participants were 18 healthy controls and 16 patients with PTSD (male and female). <b>Method:</b> Energy per cycle (EPC), which represents the ratio of neuronal oxidative energy production to glutamate neurotransmitter cycling, was generated as a putative measure of glutamatergic synaptic strength. <b>Results:</b> Results revealed that early trauma was positively correlated with EPC in individuals with PTSD, but not in healthy controls. Increased synaptic strength was associated with reduced behavioural inhibition, and EPC showed stronger associations between reward responsivity and early trauma for those with higher EPC. <b>Conclusion:</b> In the largest known human sample to undergo <sup>13</sup>C MRS, we show that early trauma is positively correlated with EPC, a direct measure of synaptic strength. Our study findings have implications for pharmacological treatments thought to impact synaptic plasticity, such as ketamine and psilocybin. Abnormalities in the strength of synaptic connections have been implicated in trauma and trauma-related disorders but not directly examined.We used magnetic resonance spectroscopy to investigate the association between early trauma and an <i>in vivo</i> measure of synaptic strength.For people with posttraumatic stress disorder, as early trauma severity increased, synaptic strength increased, highlighting the potential for treatments thought to change synaptic connections in trauma-related disorders. Abnormalities in the strength of synaptic connections have been implicated in trauma and trauma-related disorders but not directly examined. We used magnetic resonance spectroscopy to investigate the association between early trauma and an <i>in vivo</i> measure of synaptic strength. For people with posttraumatic stress disorder, as early trauma severity increased, synaptic strength increased, highlighting the potential for treatments thought to change synaptic connections in trauma-related disorders.
DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.24050174.v1
title: Biological embedding of early trauma: the role of higher prefrontal synaptic strength

description: <b>Background:</b> Early trauma predicts poor psychological and physical health. Glutamatergic synaptic processes offer one avenue for understanding this relationship, given glutamate’s abundance and involvement in reward and stress sensitivity, emotion, and learning. Trauma-induced glutamatergic excitotoxicity may alter neuroplasticity and approach/avoidance tendencies, increasing risk for psychiatric disorders. Studies examine upstream or downstream effects instead of glutamatergic synaptic processes <i>in vivo</i>, limiting understanding of how trauma affects the brain. <b>Objective:</b> In a pilot study using a previously published data set, we examine associations between early trauma and a proposed measure of synaptic strength <i>in vivo</i> in one of the largest human samples to undergo Carbon-13 (<sup>13</sup>C MRS) magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Participants were 18 healthy controls and 16 patients with PTSD (male and female). <b>Method:</b> Energy per cycle (EPC), which represents the ratio of neuronal oxidative energy production to glutamate neurotransmitter cycling, was generated as a putative measure of glutamatergic synaptic strength. <b>Results:</b> Results revealed that early trauma was positively correlated with EPC in individuals with PTSD, but not in healthy controls. Increased synaptic strength was associated with reduced behavioural inhibition, and EPC showed stronger associations between reward responsivity and early trauma for those with higher EPC. <b>Conclusion:</b> In the largest known human sample to undergo <sup>13</sup>C MRS, we show that early trauma is positively correlated with EPC, a direct measure of synaptic strength. Our study findings have implications for pharmacological treatments thought to impact synaptic plasticity, such as ketamine and psilocybin. Abnormalities in the strength of synaptic connections have been implicated in trauma and trauma-related disorders but not directly examined.We used magnetic resonance spectroscopy to investigate the association between early trauma and an <i>in vivo</i> measure of synaptic strength.For people with posttraumatic stress disorder, as early trauma severity increased, synaptic strength increased, highlighting the potential for treatments thought to change synaptic connections in trauma-related disorders. Abnormalities in the strength of synaptic connections have been implicated in trauma and trauma-related disorders but not directly examined. We used magnetic resonance spectroscopy to investigate the association between early trauma and an <i>in vivo</i> measure of synaptic strength. For people with posttraumatic stress disorder, as early trauma severity increased, synaptic strength increased, highlighting the potential for treatments thought to change synaptic connections in trauma-related disorders.
DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.23522465
title: ICD-11 complex post-traumatic stress disorder and psychiatric comorbidity among UK Armed Forces veterans in Northern Ireland: a latent class analysis

description: <b>Background:</b> There is evidence to suggest that the experience of complex post-traumatic stress disorder (C-PTSD) may be commonly associated with elevated risk for several mental ill-health comorbidities. <b>Objective:</b> The current study seeks to contribute to the growing literature on C-PTSD comorbidity by examining the relationship between C-PTSD and other mental health disorders in a UK Armed Forces veteran sample. <b>Method:</b> This study used data from the Northern Ireland Veterans’ Health and Wellbeing Study (NIVHWS). The effective sample consisted of 638 veterans (90.0% male). Tetrachoric correlations examined the relationship between C-PTSD caseness and other mental health outcomes. Latent class analysis was then conducted, determining the optimal number and nature of classes in the sample in relation to C-PTSD, depression, anxiety, and suicidality. <b>Results:</b> C-PTSD caseness (i.e. probable diagnosis) was found to be significantly associated with positive caseness of depression, anxiety, and suicidality. Overall, four latent classes emerged, with each of these classes characterized by varying degrees of comorbidity: a ‘Resilient/Low Comorbidity’ class, a ‘Lifetime Suicidal’ class, a ‘PTSD Polymorbid’ class, and a ‘C-PTSD Polymorbid’ class. <b>Conclusions</b> These findings support and extend previous results indicating the highly comorbid nature of C-PTSD. C-PTSD may be considered a highly polymorbid condition, increasing the risk for multiple mental health pathologies concurrently. The results showed that probable complex PTSD was associated with depression, anxiety, and suicidality in this military veteran sample.Latent class analysis revealed that probable complex PTSD was associated with multiple conditions concurrently, suggesting that complex PTSD is not only highly comorbid but polymorbid.The findings highlight the importance of screening for multiple pathologies, particularly in cases of probable complex PTSD. The results showed that probable complex PTSD was associated with depression, anxiety, and suicidality in this military veteran sample. Latent class analysis revealed that probable complex PTSD was associated with multiple conditions concurrently, suggesting that complex PTSD is not only highly comorbid but polymorbid. The findings highlight the importance of screening for multiple pathologies, particularly in cases of probable complex PTSD.
DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.23522465.v1
title: ICD-11 complex post-traumatic stress disorder and psychiatric comorbidity among UK Armed Forces veterans in Northern Ireland: a latent class analysis

description: <b>Background:</b> There is evidence to suggest that the experience of complex post-traumatic stress disorder (C-PTSD) may be commonly associated with elevated risk for several mental ill-health comorbidities. <b>Objective:</b> The current study seeks to contribute to the growing literature on C-PTSD comorbidity by examining the relationship between C-PTSD and other mental health disorders in a UK Armed Forces veteran sample. <b>Method:</b> This study used data from the Northern Ireland Veterans’ Health and Wellbeing Study (NIVHWS). The effective sample consisted of 638 veterans (90.0% male). Tetrachoric correlations examined the relationship between C-PTSD caseness and other mental health outcomes. Latent class analysis was then conducted, determining the optimal number and nature of classes in the sample in relation to C-PTSD, depression, anxiety, and suicidality. <b>Results:</b> C-PTSD caseness (i.e. probable diagnosis) was found to be significantly associated with positive caseness of depression, anxiety, and suicidality. Overall, four latent classes emerged, with each of these classes characterized by varying degrees of comorbidity: a ‘Resilient/Low Comorbidity’ class, a ‘Lifetime Suicidal’ class, a ‘PTSD Polymorbid’ class, and a ‘C-PTSD Polymorbid’ class. <b>Conclusions</b> These findings support and extend previous results indicating the highly comorbid nature of C-PTSD. C-PTSD may be considered a highly polymorbid condition, increasing the risk for multiple mental health pathologies concurrently. The results showed that probable complex PTSD was associated with depression, anxiety, and suicidality in this military veteran sample.Latent class analysis revealed that probable complex PTSD was associated with multiple conditions concurrently, suggesting that complex PTSD is not only highly comorbid but polymorbid.The findings highlight the importance of screening for multiple pathologies, particularly in cases of probable complex PTSD. The results showed that probable complex PTSD was associated with depression, anxiety, and suicidality in this military veteran sample. Latent class analysis revealed that probable complex PTSD was associated with multiple conditions concurrently, suggesting that complex PTSD is not only highly comorbid but polymorbid. The findings highlight the importance of screening for multiple pathologies, particularly in cases of probable complex PTSD.
DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.10042138
title: Data for testing the assumption of fractal scaling in canopy surfaces across a diverse range of forest types

description: This is a collection of scripts and research data for a study on whether canopy surfaces follow fractal scaling laws across a diverse range of forest types. The article citation is: Fischer, F. J., & Jucker, T. (2024). No evidence for fractal scaling in canopy surfaces across a diverse range of forest types. Journal of Ecology, 112, 470–486. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2745.14244.

As data, we use canopy height models (CHMs) from 9 Australian research sites belonging to the Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network (TERN). Their extent is 5 km x 5 km throughout. The underlying data can be found here: https://portal.tern.org.au/metadata/TERN/4ff0b4c9-cfa0-4d09-9520-b5402adc583f. Climatic data are extracted from the CHELSA climatology 1981-2010 (Brun et al. 2022: Global climate-related predictors at kilometer resolution for the past and future. Earth System Science Data, 14(12), 5573–5603. https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-14-5573-2022; Karger et al. 2017: Climatologies at high resolution for the earth's land surface areas. Scientific Data, 4(1), 170122. https://doi.org/10.1038/sdata.2017.122).

Each uploaded zip-file corresponds to a folder within a common repository. To reproduce our analysis, unpack into the same folder, upholding naming conventions and overall structure. Please note that some parts of the analysis require external software, e.g., GRASS GIS for the generation of simulated fractal surfaces. Paths need to be reset accordingly. 

rscripts.zip: 



the overall R script ("areforestsfractals_v3.R") used to generate fractal surfaces, calculate fractal statistics from CHMs and simulated surfaces, and to carry out the analysis

various summary statistics saved both as RData and csv files


TERN.zip:



data within this folder are ordered by site name

for each site, we include several CHMs, their corresponding DSMs (digital surface models) and DTMs (digital terrain models), as well as ancillary layers (pulse densities of laser scans)

for each site and each CHM/DSM, we also save the fractal scaling properties in separate csv files


TERNtrees.zip:



data within this folder are ordered by site name

for each site, we include manual delineations of the largest trees per 1 km x 1 km square (25 in total)

for each site, we include subplots of the CHM (200 m x 200 m) centred around the largest tree


climate.zip:



climate layers from CHELSA for precipitation and site water balance


terrain_fractal.zip:



simulated fractal surfaces, based on different generating algorithms

fractal scaling properties of simulated fractal surfaces in separate csv files


sites_coordinates.csv



lon/lat coordinates of each site