We summarize some of the past year's most important findings within climate change-related research. New research has improved our understanding about the remaining options to achieve the Paris Agreement goals, through overcoming political barriers to carbon pricing, taking into account non-CO2 factors, a well-designed implementation of demand-side and nature-based solutions, resilience building of ecosystems and the recognition that climate change mitigation costs can be justified by benefits to the health of humans and nature alone. We consider new insights about what to expect if we fail to include a new dimension of fire extremes and the prospect of cascading climate tipping elements.

A synthesis is made of 10 topics within climate research, where there have been significant advances since January 2020. The insights are based on input from an international open call with broad disciplinary scope. Findings include: (1) the options to still keep global warming below 1.5 °C; (2) the impact of non-CO2 factors in global warming; (3) a new dimension of fire extremes forced by climate change; (4) the increasing pressure on interconnected climate tipping elements; (5) the dimensions of climate justice; (6) political challenges impeding the effectiveness of carbon pricing; (7) demand-side solutions as vehicles of climate mitigation; (8) the potentials and caveats of nature-based solutions; (9) how building resilience of marine ecosystems is possible; and (10) that the costs of climate change mitigation policies can be more than justified by the benefits to the health of humans and nature.

How do we limit global warming to 1.5 °C and why is it crucial? See highlights of latest climate science.

The high cognitive abilities named executive functions (EF) are responsible for emotional regulation and for goal-oriented behavior. EF are frequently disrupted in anxiety disorders and negatively affect daily function and quality of life (QoL). Nevertheless, EF evaluation is usually performed in the laboratory using neuro-psychological assessments that refer to specific components (such as working memory, inhibition), but lacks a comprehensive profile of EF and the expressions in real life context.

To elaborate the knowledge about EF in daily life of children/youth with psychiatric disorders, by comparing their EF to those of healthy controls, using an ecological measure that imitates daily life scenarios; To examine the relationship between EF and QoL in the study group.

Participants were 49 children and youth aged 8-18 years: 25 subjects with psychiatric (mainly anxiety) disorders and 24 healthy controls. The children’s parents completed a socio-demographic questionnaire, the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) to profile emotional difficulties; The Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Functions (BRIEF) which examines EF components related to meta-cognition and behavioral regulation; and the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (Peds-QoL).

The study group had more EF difficulties [reduced behavioral regulation (F=31.81; p<.001) and metacognition (F=26.25; p<.001)], and lower QoL. In the study group, EF difficulties correlated with reduced physical, emotional, social, and school-related QoL.

EF should be evaluated in children/youth with psychiatric disorders, by ecological evaluation that reflect the difficulties in daily life. This may focus intervention on child’s specific needs and improve the outcomes in terms of better function, development and QoL.

While negative affect reliably predicts binge eating, it is unknown how this association may decrease or ‘de-couple’ during treatment for binge eating disorder (BED), whether such change is greater in treatments targeting emotion regulation, or how such change predicts outcome. This study utilized multi-wave ecological momentary assessment (EMA) to assess changes in the momentary association between negative affect and subsequent binge-eating symptoms during Integrative Cognitive Affective Therapy (ICAT-BED) and Cognitive Behavior Therapy Guided Self-Help (CBTgsh). It was predicted that there would be stronger de-coupling effects in ICAT-BED compared to CBTgsh given the focus on emotion regulation skills in ICAT-BED and that greater de-coupling would predict outcomes.

Adults with BED were randomized to ICAT-BED or CBTgsh and completed 1-week EMA protocols and the Eating Disorder Examination (EDE) at pre-treatment, end-of-treatment, and 6-month follow-up (final N = 78). De-coupling was operationalized as a change in momentary associations between negative affect and binge-eating symptoms from pre-treatment to end-of-treatment.

There was a significant de-coupling effect at follow-up but not end-of-treatment, and de-coupling did not differ between ICAT-BED and CBTgsh. Less de-coupling was associated with higher end-of-treatment EDE global scores at end-of-treatment and higher binge frequency at follow-up.

Both ICAT-BED and CBTgsh were associated with de-coupling of momentary negative affect and binge-eating symptoms, which in turn relate to cognitive and behavioral treatment outcomes. Future research is warranted to identify differential mechanisms of change across ICAT-BED and CBTgsh. Results also highlight the importance of developing momentary interventions to more effectively de-couple negative affect and binge eating.

There is evidence that, besides limbic brain structures, prefrontal and insular cortical activations and deactivations are involved in the pathophysiology of panic disorder.

Using fMRI, this study investigated BOLD response patterns to stimulation with individually selected panic-specific pictures in patients with panic disorder with agoraphobia (PDA) and healthy controls. Structures of interest were the prefrontal, cingulate, and insular cortex, and the amygdalo-hippocampal complex.

21 PDA subjects (12 female, 9 male) and 21 matched controls were investigated using a Siemens 3 T scanner. Before, PDA subjects gave ratings on 120 pictures showing characteristic panic/agoraphobia situations (PA). 20 pictures with the individually highest ratings were selected. 20 matching pictures showing aversive but not panic-specific stimuli (A) and 80 neutral pictures (N) from the International Affective Picture-System (IAPS) were chosen for each subject. Anxiety and depression ratings were recorded.

Group comparisons revealed a significantly greater BOLD response in PDA subjects than in controls in the insular cortices, left inferior frontal gyrus, dmPFC, the left hippocampal formation, and left caudatum (p < .005), when PA and N responses were compared. Group comparisons for stimulation with A compared to PA showed activation of similar brain regions in both groups but with different peak coordinates.

Results indicate specific activation patterns to panic-specific picture stimulation in PDA patients. Distinct peak coordinates between PA and A differ between groups. This might implicate that the brain circuits underlying processing of aversive stimuli might differ in their function in PDA patients compared to healthy subjects.

Major affective disorders ranging from subthreshold affective temperaments to severe affective diseases and anxiety, are frequently associated with sleep–wake dysregulation. Interestingly, recent studies suggested an active role of Sensory Processing Disorders (SPD) in the emergence of sleep disturbances.

The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between SPD and sleep quality in subjects with major affective disorders and specific affective temperaments.

This study aimed to examine the sensory profile (expressed in hypersensitivity or hyposensitivity) of patients with major affective disorders and its relative contribution to the prediction of sleep quality while also considering affective temperaments and depression, known as factors that may impact sleep quality.

We recruited 176 participants (mean age = 47.3) of which 56.8% have unipolar depression and 43.2% bipolar disorder. Reduced sleep quality was evaluated using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) whereas affective temperaments were assessed using the Temperament Evaluation of Memphis, Pisa, Paris and San Diego (TEMPS).

Sensory hypersensitivity, assessed using Adolescent/Adult Sensory Profile (AASP), significantly distinguished between poor and good sleepers. Sleep quality was mainly predicted by the Beck Depression Inventory-II total score and anxious temperament. Yet, sensory hypersensitivity contributed to this prediction mainly in regard to sleep efficiency and related daytime dysfunctions.

The careful assessment of the unique sensory profile and its behavioral/functional influence on patients’ quality of life may help clinicians and health providers in developing targeted treatment interventions.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Several studies suggested the involvement of sensory perception in emotional processes and major affective disorders. Similarly, cognitive capacities and coping strategies are reported to influence quality of life of patients with unipolar and bipolar disorders.

The main objective of this study was to investigate the nature of the association between sensory processing patterns, coping strategies, and quality of life among patients with major affective disorders.

The study aimed to compare unipolar/bipolar patients concerning sensory processing, coping strategies and quality of life (QOL); examine correlations between sensory processing and QOL; investigate the relative contribution of socio-demographic characteristics, sensory processing, and coping strategies to the prediction of QOL.

Two hundred and sixty-seven participants, aged 16–85 years (mean = 53.6 ± 15.7), 157 diagnosed with unipolar major depressive disorder and 110 with bipolar disorder type I and type II completed the Adolescent/Adult Sensory Profile, Coping Orientations to Problems Experienced, and Short Form 12 Health Survey 2.

The unipolar and bipolar groups did not differ concerning sensory processing, coping strategies, and QOL. Sensory processing patterns correlated with QOL independently of the mediation by coping strategies. Correlations between low registration, sensory sensitivity, sensation avoidance, and reduced QOL were found more frequently in unipolar patients than bipolar patients. Elevated physical QOL was mainly predicted by lower age and lower sensory sensitivity whereas elevated mental QOL was mainly predicted by coping strategies.

Future studies should further investigate the impact of sensory processing and coping strategies on patients’ QOL to enhance adaptive and functional behaviors related to affective disturbances.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Longer duration of untreated illness, longer duration of current episode, and severity of medication side effects may negatively influence the psychosocial functioning in major affective and anxiety disorders. Studies also suggested the involvement of sensory perception in emotional and psychopathological processes.

The objective of this study is to investigate the nature of the association between duration of untreated illness, duration of current episode, and severity of medication side effects.

The study is aimed to examine the relationship between sensory processing disorders (SPD), duration of untreated illness, duration of current illness episode, and the severity of side effects related to psychoactive medications.

The sample included 178 participants with an age ranging from 17 to 85 years (mean = 53.84 ± 15.55); psychiatric diagnoses were as follow: unipolar major depressive disorder (MDD) (50%), bipolar disorder (BD) (33.7%), and anxiety disorders (16.3%). subjects completed a socio-demographic questionnaire, the Udvalg for Kliniske Undersøgelser (UKU), and Adolescent/Adult Sensory Profile (AASP) questionnaire.

Longer duration of current episode correlated with greater registration of sensory input and lower avoidance from sensory input among unipolar patients, lower registration of sensory input, and higher tendency for sensory sensitivity/sensation avoidance among bipolar participants. In addition? longer duration of current episode correlated with lower sensory sensitivity/avoidance among anxiety participants, respectively. Mean UKU total scores were associated with lower sensory sensitivity among bipolar individuals as well.

SPD expressed in either hypo-/hypersensitivity may be used to clinically characterize subjects with major affective and anxiety disorders.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

The Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD) and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) are the most frequently used observer-rated and self-report scales of depression, respectively. It is important to know what a given total score or a change score from baseline on one scale means in relation to the other scale.

We obtained individual participant data from the randomised controlled trials of psychological and pharmacological treatments for major depressive disorders. We then identified corresponding scores of the HAMD and the BDI (369 patients from seven trials) or the BDI-II (683 patients from another seven trials) using the equipercentile linking method.

The HAMD total scores of 10, 20 and 30 corresponded approximately with the BDI scores of 10, 27 and 42 or with the BDI-II scores of 13, 32 and 50. The HAMD change scores of −20 and −10 with the BDI of −29 and −15 and with the BDI-II of −35 and −16.

The results can help clinicians interpret the HAMD or BDI scores of their patients in a more versatile manner and also help clinicians and researchers evaluate such scores reported in the literature or the database, when scores on only one of these scales are provided. We present a conversion table for future research.