Search Results (149)

Sensitive Skin Syndrome (SSS) is a worldwide condition characterized by sensory symptoms such as stinging, burning, and itching, often without visible signs. This pilot study investigated individuals with self-reported SSS, focusing on the specific skin conditions, motivations and barriers for seeking medical attention. SSS individuals were divided into two groups: those who consulted a doctor (n = 16) and those who did not (n = 10). While SSS symptom severity was similar in both groups, those with greater severity were five times more likely to seek medical help. Key symptoms prompting consultations included morphological symptoms (papules, macules), sensory symptoms (itch, discomfort), and inflammatory symptoms (redness, rash). Notably, altered sensation and macules/papules showed the strongest trends towards influencing care-seeking behavior. Differences in anatomical sites affected were significant, with the head and face having the highest odds of doctor visits. Barriers to care included high specialist costs, travel distances, and a lack of remote consultation options, particularly for rural residents. Although treatments recommended by healthcare providers often fell short of expectations, partially effective options were more acceptable when endorsed by doctors. Subjects reported improvements within weeks of starting new treatments, though many remained only partially satisfied. This study highlights important aspects of SSS and its entanglement with other skin conditions, as well as how individuals navigate their symptoms and make treatment decisions amidst their sufferings. Full article

Background: The construct of psychopathy encompasses the manifestation of psychopathic traits in subclinical populations related to sensation seeking. This study aims to examine the relationship between these two constructs and to determine whether differences exist as a function of age and gender. Method: A total of 345 participants aged between 18 and 40 years (M = 24.72, SD = 5.60) were recruited and completed the Levenson Self-Report Psychopathy Scale (LSRP) and the Brief Sensation Seeking Scale (BSS). Results: Positive and significant correlations were found between the three psychopathy factors and the disinhibition subscale. Specifically, the interpersonal and behavioural factors were positively associated with disinhibition, whereas the affective factor showed a negative association. Gender differences were observed, with men scoring higher on the behavioural factor of psychopathy, disinhibition and sensation seeking. Conclusions: The findings confirm the relationship between psychopathy and sensation seeking in a subclinical population and contribute to a better understanding of their potential implications. Full article

Background: Sensory processing and motor proficiency contribute to movement regulation in adolescent athletes. While motor competence has been widely studied in youth football, the role of trait-level sensory processing remains underexplored. This study examined associations between sensory processing patterns and motor proficiency in adolescent football players. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 116 male youth football players (mean age: 14.16 ± 1.55 years) from a professional academy completed the Adolescent/Adult Sensory Profile and the Bruininks–Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency, Second Edition, Brief Form (BOT-2 BF). Spearman correlations were computed across 36 sensory–motor comparisons, with false discovery rate (FDR) correction applied. Partial correlations controlled for age and years of training. Results: After FDR correction, sensation seeking showed a moderate positive association with fine motor precision (ρ = 0.49, p < 0.001). Low registration demonstrated a large negative association with fine motor integration (ρ = −0.61, p < 0.001) and small-to-moderate negative associations with bilateral coordination and balance (|ρ| = 0.27–0.32). These associations remained significant after adjustment. Conclusions: Sensory processing patterns were differentially associated with coordination- and balance-related motor domains. Findings should be considered exploratory and warrant longitudinal and sport-specific investigation. Full article

Craving for mobile phone use is increasingly discussed as a relevant feature of problematic engagement with digital technologies. This population-based study of 1601 Spanish adults examined psychological factors (impulsivity traits and affective symptoms) and behavioral correlates linked to mobile phone craving. Primary outcome: Mobile phone craving scale (MPACS). Secondary analyses: Associations between craving and impulsivity, anxiety, depression, Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD), gambling severity, and alcohol use. Craving measured with the MPACS was most common among younger participants (16–35 years old) and strongly related to greater daily phone use, heightened impulsivity, especially urgency and sensation seeking, and higher levels of anxiety and depressive symptoms. Among individuals who use their phones for gaming or gambling (n = 463), craving was strongly associated with IGD and gambling severity, suggesting that mobile phones may amplify involvement in these behaviors. Exploratory factor analyses consistently revealed four underlying dimensions—Reactive Impulsivity, Cognitive Impulsivity, Negative Emotions, and Addictive Behaviors—each contributing differently depending on craving intensity. Logistic regression analyses showed that anxiety, impulsivity, phone-use duration, and IGD scores independently predicted high craving levels. Overall, the findings highlight mobile phone craving as a clinically meaningful, multidimensional construct tied to emotional dysregulation and behavioral addiction. Assessing craving may help identify individuals at heightened risk for problematic technology use and related psychological difficulties. Full article

Polymathy relates to the exceptional learning abilities, in which individuals cultivate and coordinate Breadth, Depth, and integrative capability across multiple domains. It builds on mechanisms typically associated with intelligence, including abstraction, problem solving, and the transfer and integration of information. Because polymathic disposition has partial biological underpinnings, it may intersect with other biologically based individual differences, such as temperament. Biographical accounts also indicate that many polymaths did not achieve exceptional school grades, raising questions about whether the multiplicity of interests in polymaths is associated with distractibility and impulsivity, or whether there is a deeper institutional mismatch between polymaths and educational systems. Our study examined these issues using estimated high school grades across three subject areas, documented university grades, a neurochemistry-validated temperament assessment (Structure of Temperament Questionnaire; STQ-77), the Trait Polymathy Scale (TPS), the Barratt Impulsivity Scales (BIS-11), and information about aptitudes and interests from 296 participants (M/F = 152/144). Contrary to speculation that polymathy reflects distractibility, the TPS correlated negatively with the BIS-11 Lack of Attention scale and positively with the STQ-77 scales of Intellectual Endurance and Probabilistic Processing, confirming high sustained attention in polymaths. TPSs also had selective negative correlations with the STQ-77 Neuroticism scale and positive correlations with the STQ-77 Plasticity, Social Endurance, Sensation Seeking, dispositional Satisfaction scales, as well as several specific and general aptitudes and interests. These findings refine the dispositional profile linked to polymathy, highlighting the differential nature of the three components of polymathy. Full article

Background: Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is defined as the intentional damage to one’s body tissue without suicidal intent and for reasons that are not socially sanctioned. While NSSI has been widely studied in the general population, its clinical correlates and management in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) remain less clearly characterized, and it is often conflated with self-injurious behavior (SIB) described within restricted and repetitive behaviors (RRBs). In individuals with ASD, NSSI may be associated with emotional, behavioral, cognitive, social, medical, and demographic factors, and it differs from SIB typically observed among individuals with severe intellectual disabilities. Methods: A systematic review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. Studies published between 2000 and 2025 that assessed NSSI in individuals with a formal ASD diagnosis were included. Etiological/clinical correlates, explanatory mechanisms, and management challenges were examined. Sixteen studies were selected from PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. Findings were synthesized using narrative and thematic approaches. Results: The prevalence of NSSI among individuals with ASD ranged from 24% to 50%. Associated factors included emotion dysregulation (including alexithymia and affective distress), behavioral dysregulation (e.g., impulsivity/hyperactivity and aggression), sensory processing difficulties, communication and social impairments, and medical comorbidities (i.e., gastrointestinal and sleep problems), with preliminary evidence also implicating perinatal factors. NSSI was linked to emotion regulation, sensation seeking, and social communication processes. Early intervention and parental involvement were identified as protective factors. Conclusions: NSSI in ASD is a complex, multifactorial phenomenon frequently linked to emotion-regulation needs. Affective imbalance represents a central—though not exclusive—pathway. The review supports standardized terminology, function-based assessment, and clearer differentiation from SIB/RRBs, with implications for individualized interventions and sustained monitoring in persistent or severe cases. Routine screening for medical and sensory contributors may further improve case management and reduce preventable clinical burden. Full article

This narrative historical review assesses the relationship between personality traits and the preference for spicy foods. While genetic, cultural, and personality factors have all been shown to influence taste preferences, the evidence that has been published to date suggests that personality plays a greater role in the liking and consumption of spicy food than for those basic tastes linked to the essential elements of a healthy diet. Archaeological and historical data illustrate the global dissemination and cultural integration of Capsicum into the human diet. Meanwhile, physiological and psychophysical research highlight that the pungent quality of capsaicin, together with the gustatory and olfactory cues associated with the flavour of chilli, affects hedonic evaluation, with repeated exposure often increasing acceptance through a process of desensitisation. Developmental factors, such as prenatal taste/flavour transmission and benign risk learning during childhood, underpin adult preferences. Cross-cultural studies reveal that the tolerance for pungency varies by country/culture and is also markedly shaped by personality traits. Recent social media trends have also increased some people’s exposure to very spicy foods, linked to their sensation-seeking tendencies. As such, those theories that focus solely on biological sensitivity and cultural exposure likely fail to capture personality-driven factors like sensation seeking and reward sensitivity that drive the liking for spicy foods. Full article

Implant-based breast reconstruction (IBBR) remains the most common form of post-mastectomy reconstruction worldwide, offering patients a reliable and accessible option to restore breast contour. Advances in surgical technique, biomaterials, and implant technology have driven rapid evolution in the field, with the dual goals of improving aesthetic outcomes and minimizing patient morbidity. The prepectoral plane has been popularized due to the eliminated risk of animation deformity and reduced postoperative pain. Some concerns remain regarding mastectomy flap thickness and long-term oncologic and aesthetic outcomes. Concurrently, nipple-sparing mastectomy has improved aesthetic results and enabled surgeons to move beyond just restoring breast form and improve functional recovery as well, as demonstrated by surgical efforts aimed at restoring nipple–areolar complex (NAC) sensation. Adjunctive use of biologic matrices and synthetic meshes has broadened reconstructive options, while next-generation implants seek to further enhance outcomes. Balanced against these innovations are important oncologic and systemic safety concerns, including breast implant-related cancers and the ongoing debate over breast implant illness (BII). This review highlights eight current “hot topics” in implant-based breast reconstruction: (1) prepectoral reconstruction, (2) nipple-sparing mastectomy, (3) oncoplastic techniques, (4) nipple–areolar complex (NAC) neurotization, (5) biologic matrices and synthetic meshes, (6) next-generation implants, (7) optimizing aesthetic outcomes, and (8) implant-associated cancer and systemic concerns. Together, these areas define the current landscape of innovation, controversy, and future directions in implant-based reconstruction. Full article

Background: The purpose of this study is to examine the mediating roles of cognitive flexibility and sensation seeking in the relationship between basic psychological needs and problematic social media use. Furthermore, the moderating effect of gender on indirect effects has been examined. Method: The sample of the study consisted of 838 Turkish adolescents aged between 14 and 18 (46.2% female; Mean = 15.6, SD = 1.71). Participants completed the Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale, the Basic Psychological Needs Scale, the Cognitive Flexibility Scale, and the Brief Sensation Seeking Scale. Data were analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM) with the AMOS 26.0 program. Results: A significant relationship was found between basic psychological needs and problematic social media use (r = 0.43, p < 0.001). Both cognitive flexibility and sensation seeking partially mediated this relationship in girls (β = −0.23, p < 0.001), while fully mediating it in boys (β = 0.03, p = 0.675). Conclusions: The findings suggest that problematic social media use in adolescents may be associated with cognitive flexibility and increased sensation-seeking tendencies stemming from unmet psychological needs, and that gender plays an important role in this relationship. Full article

Background: Problematic digital gaming among adolescents is a common behavioral issue that has negative consequences on school functioning and mental health. Theoretically, it is predicted that low self-esteem paves the way for problematic gaming by increasing social anxiety and self-concealment; this indirect pathway may be stronger in sensation seeking adolescents. Aims: The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between self-esteem and problematic digital gaming among adolescents, first through the PROCESS Model 6 in terms of social anxiety and self-concealment as mediators, and subsequently through Model 89 in terms of moderated mediation by sensation seeking. Method: The sample consisted of 448 Turkish adolescents (243 (54.2%) males, 205 (45.8%) females) aged between 13 and 18 years (M = 15.9). Participants completed the Game Addiction Scale for Adolescents—Short Form, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, Self-Concealment Scale, Brief Sensation Seeking Scale and the Social Anxiety Scale-8. Results: A significant negative relationship was found between self-esteem and problematic digital gaming. Social anxiety and self-concealment fully mediated this relationship (indirect effects were significant). Sensation seeking conditioned the mediation by strengthening pathways to problematic digital gaming (moderated mediation was significant). The indirect effect was greater in those with high sensation seeking. Conclusions: The findings indicate that the negative effect, ranging from self-esteem to problematic digital gaming, progresses through social anxiety and self-concealment, and that this mediation is strengthened in adolescents with high sensation seeking. These results emphasize the need to integrate social anxiety reduction and self-expression skills into interventions in a target-sensitive manner, taking into account differences in sensation seeking. Full article

Objectives: Grounded in Zimbardo’s Time Perspective theory and Regulatory Mode theory, together with developmental accounts of adolescent prospection and value-based choice, this study tests a unified model in which Locomotion (primary) and Future time perspective (secondary) jointly predict Anticipatory Pleasure in adolescence, while considering Assessment, gender, age, and sensation seeking. The goal is to understand how adolescents’ temporal orientation and self-regulation contribute to their motivational and hedonic functioning. Methods: A total of 1540 adolescents (aged 14–19 years) completed validated self-report measures assessing time perspective, regulatory mode (assessment and locomotion), anticipatory and consummatory pleasure, and sensation seeking. Gender differences were examined with independent-samples t-tests, while associations among variables were tested using Pearson correlations and hierarchical regression analyses. Results: Female adolescents reported significantly higher levels of future orientation and anticipatory pleasure, while males showed greater sensation seeking. Future time perspective and locomotion were positively correlated with anticipatory pleasure. In the regression analysis, locomotion emerged as the strongest predictor of anticipatory pleasure, followed by future orientation. Sensation seeking was not a significant predictor. Conclusions: The findings underscore the importance of future-oriented thinking and action-driven self-regulation in sustaining adolescents’ capacity to anticipate and derive motivation from future experiences. Gender-based motivational pathways are also highlighted, suggesting the need for differentiated developmental interventions. The study provides new insights into the interplay between time-based cognition and motivational dynamics during adolescence. Full article

Background/Objectives: Fibromyalgia (FM) is a nociplastic pain disorder marked by altered central nervous system processing and abnormal sensory modulation. Diagnosis remains largely symptom-based and lacks objective biomarkers. Sensory modulation disorder (SMD)—impaired regulation of responses to non-noxious input—may represent a clinically relevant diagnostic dimension. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence/diagnostic value of SMD in FM, examine links with symptom severity and stress, and assess its potential for patient stratification. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 182 adults were enrolled (104 FM; 78 controls). Standardized instruments included the Adolescent/Adult Sensory Profile (AASP), Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ), and Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). Group comparisons, regression, and discriminant analyses evaluated SMD profiles. Results: Compared with controls, FM adults showed higher sensory sensitivity and avoidance (both p < 0.001), lower sensation seeking (p = 0.002), and modestly higher low registration (p = 0.027). Elevated SMD correlated with greater symptom severity and perceived stress. Stress significantly predicted FM’s impact (β = 0.57, p < 0.001). A discriminant model achieved 84% apparent in-sample accuracy for classifying FM severity from sensory/stress profiles. Conclusions: Sensory modulation abnormalities are highly prevalent in FM and show meaningful associations with symptom severity and stress, suggesting that SMD could represent a potential diagnostic dimension and stratification aid. These findings should be interpreted within an exploratory, cross-sectional design. Incorporating sensory modulation assessment into FM evaluation may improve diagnostic precision, reduce delays, and guide individualized management. Confirmation in larger longitudinal studies is warranted. Full article

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted adolescent development, increasing behavioral problems and emotional distress. This study aimed to examine the impact of sensation seeking, empathy, and COVID-19-related stressors on deviant behavior in adolescents. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 638 Italian adolescents and young adults (M = 18.8 years, SD = 3.51) recruited from schools, universities, and the general population in Tuscany and Emilia-Romagna. Participants completed validated measures assessing sensation seeking, empathy, COVID-19-related stress, and deviant behaviors. Multiple regression analyses examined predictors of deviant behavior, while mediation analyses tested whether empathy mediated the relationship between sensation seeking and deviant behavior. Results: Correlation analyses show a positive association between sensation seeking and deviant behavior and a weaker positive association with COVID-19 isolation. Conversely, affective empathy demonstrated negative correlations with both deviant behavior and sensation seeking. COVID-19 stress demonstrated differentiated effects: social isolation increased deviance, whereas fear of contagion was protective. Mediation analysis revealed that affective empathy partially mediated the relationship between sensation seeking and deviance. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that sensation seeking is a primary risk factor for deviant behavior in adolescents and young adults, while affective empathy acts as a protective mechanism that partially mediates this relationship. Furthermore, COVID-19-related stressors have shown complex effects, with social isolation amplifying the risk of deviance, while fear of contagion promotes more inhibited behavior. These findings underscore the importance of considering both stable personality traits and situational stressors when seeking to understand the pathways leading to adolescent behavioral problems during periods of social crisis. Full article

Background: Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) often emerges during adolescence and young adulthood, a period marked by heightened vulnerability to impulsivity and affective dysregulation. While impulsivity is a core feature of BPD, its multidimensional expression in this age group remains insufficiently documented. This study examined impulsivity traits in young adults with BPD, their associations with depressive and anxiety symptoms, and their links to risk behaviors. Methods: A total of 160 participants aged 16–25 were recruited in Belgium between 2021 and 2023: 44 with BPD from inpatient and outpatient psychiatric services and 116 healthy controls from schools and universities. Assessments included the short UPPS-P, Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-T), and the Diagnostic Interview for Borderlines–Revised (DIB-R). Logistic regressions with robust errors and Kendall’s tau-b correlations were used. Results: Compared with controls, individuals with BPD scored higher on all UPPS-p subscales except Sensation Seeking (e.g., Negative Urgency: 14 vs. 10, p < 0.001). Logistic regression identified Negative Urgency (OR = 5.31, 95% CI: 2.07–13.62, p = 0.001) and Positive Urgency (OR = 3.26, 95% CI: 1.37–7.75, p = 0.007) as independent predictors of BPD. Within the BPD group, depressive and anxiety symptoms correlated with several UPPS-P dimensions, notably Negative Urgency and Lack of Perseverance. Suicide attempts were associated with the DIB-R total score, BDI-II, and STAI-T, while substance use was linked to the DIB-R impulsivity subscale and STAI-T. Conclusions: Emotional impulsivity—particularly Negative Urgency—emerges as a central feature of BPD in emerging adulthood. Its interplay with depressive and anxiety symptoms, and its associations with suicidal and addictive behaviors, support a dual-level conceptualization of impulsivity as both a dispositional trait and a state-dependent clinical risk factor. Full article

Sensation seeking represents a significant risk factor for various mental health disorders and maladaptive behaviors, highlighting the need for objective assessment methods that circumvent the limitations of traditional self-report measures. This study introduces an innovative digital phenotyping approach that combines computational gait analysis with machine learning (ML) to quantify sensation-seeking traits and examines its validity. Natural gait sequences (using a Sony camera at 25 FPS) and self-report measures (Brief Sensation-Seeking Scale for Chinese, BSSS-C) were collected from 233 healthy adults. Computer vision processing through OpenPose extracted 25 skeletal keypoints, which were subsequently transformed into a hip-centered coordinate system and denoised using Gaussian filtering. From these kinematic data, 300 temporospatial gait features capturing various aspects of movement dynamics were derived. Using a supervised ML approach with feature selection, three ML models (SMO Regression, Multilayer Perceptron, and Bagging) were developed and compared through 10-fold cross-validation. The SMO Regression model demonstrated superior performance (r = 0.60, MAE = 3.50, RMSE = 4.59, R² = 0.26), outperforming the other approaches. These results establish proof-of-concept for gait-based digital phenotyping of sensation seeking, offering a scalable, objective assessment paradigm with potential applications in clinical screening and behavioral research. The methodological framework presented here advances the field of behavioral biometrics by demonstrating how computer vision and ML can transform basic movement patterns into meaningful psychological indicators. Full article