The importance of intellectual talent to achievement in all professional domains is well established, but less is known about other individual differences that predict success. The authors tested the importance of 1 noncognitive trait: grit. Defined as perseverance and passion for long-term goals, grit accounted for an average of 4% of the variance in success outcomes, including educational attainment among 2 samples of adults (N=1,545 and N=690), grade point average among Ivy League undergraduates (N=138), retention in 2 classes of United States Military Academy, West Point, cadets (N=1,218 and N=1,308), and ranking in the National Spelling Bee (N=175). Grit did not relate positively to IQ but was highly correlated with Big Five Conscientiousness. Grit nonetheless demonstrated incremental predictive validity of success measures over and beyond IQ and conscientiousness. Collectively, these findings suggest that the achievement of difficult goals entails not only talent but also the sustained and focused application of talent over time.

https://psycnet.apa.org/journals/psp/92/6/1087.pdf

Grit: Perseverance and Passion for Long-Term Goals

https://www.thelancet.com/pdfs/journals/lancet/PIIS0140-6736(07)61238-0.pdf

No health without mental health.

Sexual Behavior in the Human Male

https://www.thelancet.com/pdfs/journals/lancet/PIIS0140-6736(07)61162-3.pdf

Cannabis use and risk of psychotic or affective mental health outcomes: a systematic review

A systematic review of all reported incidence and prevalence studies of population rates of subclinical psychotic experiences reveals a median prevalence rate of around 5% and a median incidence rate of around 3%. A meta-analysis of risk factors reveals associations with developmental stage, child and adult social adversity, psychoactive drug use, and also male sex and migrant status. The small difference between prevalence and incidence rates, together with data from follow-up studies, indicates that approximately 75-90% of developmental psychotic experiences are transitory and disappear over time. There is evidence, however, that transitory developmental expression of psychosis (psychosis proneness) may become abnormally persistent (persistence) and subsequently clinically relevant (impairment), depending on the degree of environmental risk the person is additionally exposed to. The psychosis proneness-persistence-impairment model considers genetic background factors impacting on a broadly distributed and transitory population expression of psychosis during development, poor prognosis of which, in terms of persistence and clinical need, is predicted by environmental exposure interacting with genetic risk.

/pdf/a-systematic-review-and-meta-analysis-of-the-psychosis-468eokeeyn.pdf

A systematic review and meta-analysis of the psychosis continuum: evidence for a psychosis proneness-persistence-impairment model of psychotic disorder

Background: This paper seeks to extend research into the adult sequelae of childhood conduct problems by investigating the associations between conduct problems in middle childhood and psychosocial outcomes in adulthood.

Method:  Data were gathered during the course of a 25-year longitudinal study of a birth cohort of New Zealand young people. Information was collected on: a) parent and teacher reports of child conduct problems at ages 7, 8 and 9 years; b) measures of crime, substance use, mental health, sexual/partner relationships, education/employment; c) confounding factors, including childhood, family and educational characteristics.

Results:  There were statistically significant associations between childhood conduct problems from 7–9 years and risks of adverse outcomes across all domains of functioning. After control for confounding factors the associations between conduct problems and education/employment outcomes became statistically non-significant. Associations persisted for other outcomes (crime, substance dependence, mental health and sexual/partner relationships). Children in the most disturbed 5% of the cohort had rates of these outcomes that were between 1.5 and 19 times higher than rates for the least disturbed 50% of the cohort. The associations between conduct problems and adult outcomes were similar for males and females.

Conclusions:  Childhood conduct problems were associated with a wide range of adverse psychosocial outcomes (crime, substance use, mental health, sexual/partner relationships) even after control for confounding factors. The results reinforce the need for greater investment into interventions to address these problems.

Show me the child at seven: the consequences of conduct problems in childhood for psychosocial functioning in adulthood

Background There is increasing interest in the extent to which individuals with subthreshold depression face increased risks of subsequent major depression and other disorders. Objective To examine linkages between the extent of depressive symptoms (asymptomatic, subthreshold, major depression) at ages 17 to 18 years and mental health outcomes up to age 25 years in a New Zealand birth cohort. Design Data were gathered during the Christchurch Health and Development Study, a 25-year longitudinal study of a birth cohort of 1265 New Zealand children (635 males, 630 females). Setting General community sample. Participants The analysis was based on 1006 participants who represented 80% of the original cohort. Main Outcome Measures Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Editionsymptom criteria for major depression and anxiety disorder, treatment-seeking, suicidal ideation, and suicide attempt. Results There were significant associations (P Conclusions Findings suggest that sample members with subthreshold depression are a group with elevated risks of later depression and suicidal behaviors. Current diagnostic procedures, which classify people with subthreshold depression into complex discrete groups, might obscure the fact that depressive symptoms are dimensional and range from none to severe.

/pdf/subthreshold-depression-in-adolescence-and-mental-health-2ru15e65ov.pdf

Subthreshold Depression in Adolescence and Mental Health Outcomes in Adulthood

Conduct and attentional problems in childhood and adolescence and later substance use, abuse and dependence: results of a 25-year longitudinal study.

Background: Little is known about the incidence and prevalence of traumatic brain injury (TBI), particularly for infants, children and young adults.Primary objective: The purpose of this study was to provide an accurate estimate of the incidence and prevalence of TBIs for individuals between 0–25 years of age.Method and procedures: A birth cohort of 1265 individuals was used, for which information regarding TBI events, both hospitalized and non-hospitalized, had been recorded.Main outcomes and results: The average incidence for this age group ranged from 1.10–2.36 per 100 per year, with an overall prevalence of ∼30%. The most common source of injury was falls for individuals 0–14 years of age and contact sports and motor vehicle accidents for 15–25 year olds. Approximately one third of the individuals who experienced a TBI went on to have one or more additional injuries.Conclusions: The incidence rates reported here are much higher than those previously found. It is clear that TBIs constitute a major heal...

Prevalence of traumatic brain injury among children, adolescents and young adults: Prospective evidence from a birth cohort

Aim To examine possible causal linkages between cannabis use and psychosis using data gathered over the course of a 25-year longitudinal study. Design A 25-year longitudinal study of the health, development and adjustment of a birth cohort of 1265 New Zealand children (635 males, 630 females). Setting The Christchurch Health and Development Study, a general community sample. Participants A total of 1055 participants from the Christchurch Health and Development Study (CHDS) cohort for whom data on cannabis use and psychotic symptoms were available on at least one occasion from 18, 21 and 25 years. Measurements As part of this study, data were gathered on frequency of cannabis use and psychotic symptoms at ages 18, 21 and 25 years. Findings Regression models adjusting for observed and non-observed confounding suggested that daily users of cannabis had rates of psychotic symptoms that were between 1.6 and 1.8 times higher ( P < 0.001) than non-users of cannabis. Structural equation modelling suggested that these associations reflected the effects of cannabis use on symptom levels rather than the effects of symptom levels on cannabis use. Conclusions The results of the present study add to a growing body of evidence suggesting that regular cannabis use may increase risks of psychosis. The present study suggests that: (a) the association between cannabis use and psychotic symptoms is unlikely to be due to confounding factors; and (b) the direction of causality is from cannabis use to psychotic symptoms.

/pdf/tests-of-causal-linkages-between-cannabis-use-and-psychotic-3nhdths90a.pdf

Elizabeth M. Ridder

Papers

Show me the child at seven: the consequences of conduct problems in childhood for psychosocial functioning in adulthood

Subthreshold Depression in Adolescence and Mental Health Outcomes in Adulthood

Conduct and attentional problems in childhood and adolescence and later substance use, abuse and dependence: results of a 25-year longitudinal study.

Prevalence of traumatic brain injury among children, adolescents and young adults: Prospective evidence from a birth cohort

Tests of causal linkages between cannabis use and psychotic symptoms.