Anna Klimkiewicz

Bio: Anna Klimkiewicz is an academic researcher from Medical University of Warsaw. The author has contributed to research in topics: Alcohol dependence & Impulsivity. The author has an hindex of 15, co-authored 54 publications receiving 653 citations. Previous affiliations of Anna Klimkiewicz include University of Warsaw & University of Michigan.

Inverse association of the obesity predisposing FTO rs9939609 genotype with alcohol consumption and risk for alcohol dependence

Abstract: Aims To investigate whether the FTO rs9939609 A allele (a risk factor for obesity) is associated with measures of alcohol consumption. Design Population‐based cross‐sectional study and two case–control studies. Setting Poland and the Warsaw area. Participants A total of 6584 subjects from the WOBASZ survey and two cohorts of alcohol‐dependent patients (n = 145 and n = 148). Measurements Questionnaire data analysis, rs9939609 typing. Findings Among individuals drinking alcohol, the obesity‐associated AA genotype was also associated with lower total ethanol consumption [sex‐, age‐ and body mass index (BMI)‐adjusted difference: 0.21 g/day, P = 0.012] and distinct drinking habits with relatively low frequency of drinks but larger volume consumed at a time as evidenced by (i) association between AA and frequency/amount of typical drinks (P = 0.023, multiple logistic regression analysis); (ii) inverse correlation between AA and drink frequency adjusted for drink size (P = 0.007 for distilled spirits, P = 0.018 for beer); (iii) decreased frequency of AA [odds ratio (OR) = 0.46, P = 0.0004] among those who drank small amounts of distilled spirits (≤100 ml at a time) but frequently (≥1–2 times/week). A decrease of AA was also found in both cohorts of alcohol‐dependent patients versus geographically matched subjects from WOBASZ yielding a pooled estimate of OR = 0.59, confidence interval (CI): 0.40–0.88, P = 0.008. Exploratory analysis showed that those with rs9939609 AA reported lower (by 1.22) mean number of cigarettes/day during a year of most intense smoking (P = 0.003) and were older at start of smoking by 0.44 years (P = 0.016). Conclusions The FTO AA genotype, independently from its effect on BMI, is associated with measures of ethanol consumption and possibly tobacco smoking.

Comorbidity of alcohol dependence with other psychiatric disorders. Part I. Epidemiology of dual diagnosis

Abstract: The paper is a review of the literature on the comorbidity of alcohol dependence with other psychiatric disorders. A condition when alcohol dependence is accompanied by another mental disorder is much more common than it is commonly believed. It is estimated that more than one third of people diagnosed with mental disorders, abuses or is dependent on psychoactive substances, especially alcohol; among alcohol-dependent patients 37% suffer from other mental disorders. Alcohol dependence is associated with increased risk of mood disorders - more than three times higher, depression - almost four times higher, bipolar disorder - more than six times higher, anxiety disorders in general - more than twice, generalized anxiety disorder - more than four times higher, panic disorders - almost double, posttraumatic stress disorder - more than twice. Underestimating of comorbidity is an important problem during treatment of such population of patients. Social skills training can improve a stress management and decrease alcohol and drug use among dual diagnosed patients.

The Columbia–Suicide Severity Rating Scale: Initial Validity and Internal Consistency Findings From Three Multisite Studies With Adolescents and Adults

Abstract: The Columbia–Suicide Severity Rating Scale was initially designed to assess suicidal ideation and behavior in clinical trials. Psychometric analysis of data on adolescents indicated that a lifetime history of worst-point suicidal ideation including either suicidal intent or intent with a plan predicts a future risk of an actual attempt that is four times as great as the risk associated with a history of current suicidal ideation—including a desire to be dead—or increased general ratings of depression.

The Self-medication Hypothesis of Substance Use Disorders: A Reconsideration and Recent Applications

Abstract: The self-medication hypothesis of addictive disorders derives primarily from clinical observations of patients with substance use disorders. Individuals discover that the specific actions or effects of each class of drugs relieve or change a range of painful affect states. Self-medication factors occur in a context of self-regulation vulnerabilities--primarily difficulties in regulating affects, self-esteem, relationships, and self-care. Persons with substance use disorders suffer in the extreme with their feelings, either being overwhelmed with painful affects or seeming not to feel their emotions at all. Substances of abuse help such individuals to relieve painful affects or to experience or control emotions when they are absent or confusing. Diagnostic studies provide evidence that variously supports and fails to support a self-medication hypothesis of addictive disorders. The cause-consequence controversy involving psychopathology and substance use/abuse is reviewed and critiqued. In contrast, clinical observations and empirical studies that focus on painful affects and subjective states of distress more consistently suggest that such states of suffering are important psychological determinants in using, becoming dependent upon, and relapsing to addictive substances. Subjective states of distress and suffering involved in motives to self-medicate with substances of abuse are considered with respect to nicotine dependence and to schizophrenia and posttraumatic stress disorder comorbid with a substance use disorder.

Post-transcriptional gene regulation by mRNA modifications

Abstract: The recent discovery of reversible mRNA methylation has opened a new realm of post-transcriptional gene regulation in eukaryotes. The identification and functional characterization of proteins that specifically recognize RNA N6-methyladenosine (m6A) unveiled it as a modification that cells utilize to accelerate mRNA metabolism and translation. N6-adenosine methylation directs mRNAs to distinct fates by grouping them for differential processing, translation and decay in processes such as cell differentiation, embryonic development and stress responses. Other mRNA modifications, including N1-methyladenosine (m1A), 5-methylcytosine (m5C) and pseudouridine, together with m6A form the epitranscriptome and collectively code a new layer of information that controls protein synthesis.

Taking Stock of Self-Control A Meta-Analysis of How Trait Self-Control Relates to a Wide Range of Behaviors

Abstract: Given assertions of the theoretical, empirical, and practical importance of self-control, this meta-analytic study sought to review evidence concerning the relationship between dispositional self-control and behavior. The authors provide a brief overview over prominent theories of self-control, identifying implicit assumptions surrounding the effects of self-control that warrant empirical testing. They report the results of a meta-analysis of 102 studies (total N = 32,648) investigating the behavioral effects of self-control using the Self-Control Scale, the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale, and the Low Self-Control Scale. A small to medium positive effect of self-control on behavior was found for the three scales. Only the Self-Control Scale allowed for a fine-grained analysis of conceptual moderators of the self-control behavior relation. Specifically, self-control (measured by the Self-Control Scale) related similarly to the performance of desired behaviors and the inhibition of undesired behaviors, but its effects varied dramatically across life domains (e.g., achievement, adjustment). In addition, the associations between self-control and behavior were significantly stronger for automatic (as compared to controlled) behavior and for imagined (as compared to actual) behavior.