bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Augmentation strategies for treatment-refractory clozapine patients
Authors: Freudenreich O.
Published: February 2022

Background

Clozapine can be a life-saving and course-altering treatment for patients with psychosis, particularly treatment-resistant schizophrenia. Unfortunately, clozapine monotherapy rarely leads to a full symptomatic remission.

Aims

This talk outlines key decision points in the use of clozapine: how to select patients for clozapine treatment and how to optimize clozapine’s efficacy in patients with a poor response to an adequate clozapine monotherapy trial.

Conclusions

Clozapine’s main indication is for treatment-resistant schizophrenia. Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) should be used to optimize clozapine dosing during a clozapine trial and to rule-out pseudo-resistance. Up to 50% of patients do not respond to clozapine monotherapy and augmentation strategies can be utilized in such cases. Pharmacological add-on treatments are selected based on the most prominent symptom cluster (refractory psychosis, negative symptoms, depression and suicidality, aggression). Electroconvulsive therapy is the most effective augmentation strategy for refractory psychosis and suicidality. Non-pharmacological interventions and a focus on quality of life become important considerations in clozapine non-responders.

Comments

Clozapine is an important and underutilized tool in the management of treatment-resistant schizophrenia. It should be offered timely, as soon as treatment-resistance becomes apparent. Clinicians can use personalized augmentation strategies as part of a comprehensive treatment plan in order to achieve improvements even in patients with a poor response to clozapine alone. However, polypharmacy should be used judiciously, keeping in mind medical morbidity and quality of life.

Disclosure

I have the following financial relationship with a commercial interest to disclose (recipient SELF; content area SCHIZOPHRENIA): Alkermes – Research grant (to institution), consultant honoraria (Advisory Board); Avanir – Research grant (to institution);
A surface-based morphometry study of risk and resilience markers associated with supramarginal thickness in schizophrenia
Authors: Tomyshev A. , Omelchenko M. , Kaleda V. , Lebedeva I.
Published: February 2022

Introduction

Conventional structural neuroimaging methods can identify changes in cortical thickness but cannot relate these changes to specific cortical layers due to a lack of sensitivity. However, several indirect measures sensitive to changes specifically occurring in supragranular cortical layers were developed recently (github.com/kwagstyl/schizophrenia_gyral_sulcal).

Objectives

The aim was to assess the ability of these novel measures to detect cortical layers thickness characteristics potentially associated with risk or resilience to developing schizophrenia.

Methods

43 first-episode schizophrenia (FES) male patients, 29 non-converted individuals at ultra-high risk of psychosis (ncUHR, mean follow-up period – 6.5 years), and 43 matched healthy controls (HC) underwent structural MRI at 3T Philips scanner. Images were processed via FreeSurfer and MATLAB to derive two markers specific to supragranular thickness change: gyral-sulcal thickness differences (GSTD) and gyral-sulcal intrinsic curvature differences on pial surface (GSCD).

Results

GSCD measures were increased in temporal, parietal and occipital cortices, whereas both GSTD and GSCD were increased in the right frontal cortex in FES compared to HC. No GSTD or GSCD were changed in ncUHR compared to HC, and GSCD was decreased in the frontal cortex compared to FES.

Conclusions

Our findings from the indirect measures indicate a potential predominance of supragranular thinning in FES and suggest that a supragranular thinning in the right frontal lobe might be associated with precipitating risk and/or illness effects of schizophrenia. At the same time, no clear supragranular markers directly associated with resilience or risk mechanisms were identified. The work was supported by RFBR grant 20-013-00748.
Executive functions and theory of mind across age: The role of cognitive flexibility in perspective-taking skill
Authors: Galletta D. , Califano A.I. , Santoro A.
Published: February 2022

Introduction

Research has demonstrated that greater cognitive flexibility and perspective taking skills are associated with positive outcomes throughout the lifespan. Cognitive flexibility is a core component of executive function allowing us to control goal-directed behaviour and to face new and unexpected conditions in the environment. Perspective-taking or Theory of Mind (ToM) refers to the capacity to make inferences about and represent others’ point of view, mental states and intentions.

Objectives

The aim of this study was to assess age-related effects on executive functions and the role of cognitive flexibility in perspective-taking skills.

Methods

Two age groups (34-44 years and 45-55 years) were compared on a task-switching paradigm the MATeM neuropsychological software (Maria Grazia Inzaghi, 2019) and all participants completed the Edinburgh Handedness Inventory (Oldfield, 1971), the IRI Interpersonal Reactivity Index (Davis, 1980), the RMET Reading the Mind in the Eyes (Baron-Cohen, 2001) and the BIDR-6 Balanced Inventory of Desirable Responding (Paulhus, 1991).

Results

suggested that increased age was associated with decreased set-shifting, perspective-taking, mindreading abilities and increased tendency to give overly positive answers (socially desirable responding). Furthermore, participants with reduced cognitive flexibility (higher switch cost) were less able to attribute mental states to others and to appreciate another person’s point of view.

Conclusions

It can be argued that readiness to appropriately adjust one’s behaviour according to a changing environment is related to flexibly shift between conflicting psychological perspectives. Future research include training studies which would further our understanding of these relationships and allow more effective cognitive and social interventions.
Impact of non-farmacological methods on improvement cognitive function in epilepsy
Authors: Blazhina I. , Korostiy V.
Published: February 2022

Introduction

The quality of life of patients with epilepsy, their social activity and functioning depends not only on the presence of epileptic seizures, but also on the level of cognitive decline.

Objectives

The object of our study is impact of non-pharmacological methods on cognitive functions, decreasing of which deteriorates social activity in patients with epilepsy.

Methods

We have studied the features of clinical and psychopathological manifestations in patients suffering from epilepsy. The study covered 27 patients who were in inpatient care. The following psychodiagnostic techniques were used: the Toronto Cognitive Assessment TorCA, the MOCA and the MiniMult tests, Patient Social Functioning Questionnaire. Currently, a group of patients with cognitive decline cause by epilepsy is undergoing remote cognitive training on one of an online platforms, under our observation. Correction occurs throughout regular daily performance, assessment of cognitive functions is carried out on three indicators: attention, memory and thinking

Results

The following results of the study were observed: initially decreased memory in 88,8 % patients and the level of cognitive decline were directly proportional to the duration of the illness, this category of patients has reduced activity and limited social contacts.The result of the use of cognitive training is an increase in all three indicators.

Conclusions

The results of the study indicate the need for further study of the features of cognitive disorders in epilepsy and the use of methods of psychotherapeutic correction.
Relationship between cognitive functions and empathy in patients with neurocognitive deficit
Authors: Galletta D. , Lauria I. , Mastrola A.M. , Confuorto M.
Published: February 2022

Introduction

Empathy is a social emotive skill that let to experience the same feelings of another person without being in the same situation. It changes during the growth becoming more over sophisticated with the involving of cognitive functions such as perspective taking (Hoffmann, 2000). Several researches observed a correlation between empathy and psychopathologies that involve cognitive functions such as attention and executive functions (Abdel-Hamid et al., 2019; Blair, 2018; Pijper et al., 2018) or decision-making (Francis et al., 2019).

Objectives

To investigate the impact of cognitive impairment on different empathy dimensions.

Methods

80 subjects with severe neurocognitive deficit were examined. WAIS-R, neuropsychological battery and IRI test were performed.

Results

The impairment of perspective-taking dimension was significantly noticeable (=or<17/30). In addition, impairments of self-regulation process and inner-state monitoring mechanisms were also observed (=or<18/40).

Conclusions

According to previous researches, this study confirms that empathy can be reduced when cognitive functions are compromised by psychopathologies or other medical conditions. Personal distress and perspective taking are empathy dimensions more affected in these cases.
Profile of patients consulting in child psychiatry for trichotillomania
Authors: Sahnoun M. , Guedria A. , Gaddour N.
Published: February 2022

Introduction

Trichotillomania is a disorder characterized by the compulsive pulling out of one’s own hair. It usually starts just before or after puberty, and about 1 to 2% of people have this disorder. But its incidence is variable over the years and socio-demographic data.

Objectives

Describe the profile of children and adolescents consulting for trichotillomania.

Methods

An incidence survey was carried out among children and adolescents followed for trichotillomania at the out-patient unit of child psychiatry (Monastir - Tunisia) from January 2003 to September 2020.

Results

Among the 11000 patients who were followed during the study period, 47 patients presented trichotillomania, corresponding to a rate of 0.42%. Three of them presented with associated trichophagia and two were operated on in pediatric surgery for trichobezoar. A female predominance was noted with a sex-ratio of 0.37. The average age was 9.3 years with extremes ranging from 2 to 15 years. Almost all of the patients were in school. Most of the patients were referred by dermatologists. We retained in these patients: 17% presented an attachment disorder, 14.8% had a depressive disorder, 6.3% had anxiety elements, 6.3% had an intellectual disability, 4.2% had an associated enuresis and one case had a GAD. The treatment was to undergo behavioral measurements or CBT in 91.4%. Pharmacological management was carried out in 46.8% of patients and was mainly based on antidepressants.

Conclusions

Trichotillomania is a disorder that can be stressful for patients as well as their families. Better knowledge of the profile of these patients is necessary in order to better therapeutic efficacy.
Psychosis as a symptom of Vitamin B12 deficiency. Report of one case
Authors: Calle-Gonzalez A. , Batet-Sanchez D. , Mata A. Hernández , Gómez A. Sotillos , Zulueta R. Pinilla
Published: February 2022

Introduction

Vitamin B12 deficiency may cause neurological and psychiatric symptoms, especially among elderly patients. Two clinical cases are presented of patients admitted to an Acute Inpatient Psychiatry Unit due to psychotic symptoms, being reported a B12 deficiency.

Objectives

Review clinical information about vitamin B12 deficiency as a factor involved in the development of psychiatric disorders, specifically psychotic symptoms, pointing out the peculiarities regarding clinical presentation, diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment management.

Methods

Search in the medical database PUBMED, MEDSCAPE and UPTODATE.

Results

Vitamin B12 deficiency is associated with hematological, neuropsychiatric, and digestive disorders, is estimated that around 5-40% of the elderly population may present it. Neuropsychiatric syndromes may be the first, and sometimes sole, manifestation, related to a different etiological mechanism. Vitamine B12 deficiency implies enzymatic defects that cause an accumulation of methylmalonic acid and homocysteine, which is proportionally related to the severity of the neuropsychiatric symptoms. The range of clinical features includes psychotic and affective episodes, behavioral disorders, cognitive impairment, along with other neurological manifestations such as polyneuropathy and encephalopathy. The diagnosis delay is crucially important, as early detection could lead to reverse the neuropsychiatric symptoms and some of the neuroradiological alterations. Parenteral and oral vitamin B12 supplementation should be initiated, monitoring levels in plasma, together with psychiatric drugs until the symptoms are controlled.

Conclusions

Vitamin B12 deficiency is a factor that may be involved in the etiopathogenesis of psychiatric disorders. Thus, screening must be considered among the vulnerable population when presenting neuropsychiatric disorders as early diagnosis and treatment are key to clinical prognosis.
Combined exercise programs as protective factor against depression later in life: A systematic review
Authors: Argyropoulos K. , Ntantouti E. , Argyropoulou A. , Avramidis D. , Jelastopulu E.
Published: February 2022

Introduction

Exercise has been repeatedly reported as an effective means of preventing and treating mood disorders. Therefore, there is a significant research interest for the way exercise is connected with depression and the effectiveness of different exercise parameters as intensity, duration and modality. There is significant research evidence supporting the hypothesis that exercise can alleviate the symptoms of clinical depression. Nevertheless, there has not enough evidence to compare the effectiveness of deferent types of exercise as complementary therapy in depression.

Objectives

The purpose of the present study was to review the available research concerning the effect of exercise modality in depression and attempt to code and analyze the programs used in elderly (>65).

Methods

A systematic review was contacted of randomized control trials published in electronic journals. The electronic data bases PubMed, EBSCOhost and Trip Medical Database were used.

Results

Combined programs are predominate used for improving mood in elderly and the combinations used more frequently was short-term, light to moderate sub maximal aerobic exercise combined with dynamic resistance exercise following by Short-term, light to moderate sub maximal aerobic exercise combined with static exercise. Other psychosocial factors that commonly included in the combined exercise programs are group interaction, mindfulness and music.

Conclusions

Combined exercise programs are as effective as simple programs in alleviated the symptoms of depression in elderly. Their advantages over simple programs are that they can promote other health benefits; they are less time consuming and more pleasurable to participants. Therefore, they are good exercise choice for elderly.
COVID-related confinement experience in people with major neurocognitive disorders and their caregivers in new aquitaine region, France
Authors: Calvet B.
Published: February 2022

The COVID-19 epidemic is an unexpected global event that has shaken up the organisation of care in France. The spread of the epidemic was limited thanks to the confinement of people from Tuesday 17 March 2020 to Monday 11 May 2020. However, this confinement led to a change in the care of vulnerable people, including people suffering from neurocognitive disorders (NCDs). The aim of this study is to question people suffering from NCDs and their family carers about their experiences during the period of confinement introduced in connection with the COVID-19 epidemic and on any physical and/or functional consequences.

Methods

All persons whose memory consultations at CMRR Limoges were cancelled during the period of confinement (17 March to 11 May 2020) were contacted by telephone by the nurses or psychologists at CMRR.

Results

The experience of the confinement episode as well as the deconfinement are studied. The survey records the clinical changes in patients and the medical/medical-social events that occurred during this period. The impact of the aids maintained and the place where people live is studied.

Discussion

Confinement is an exceptional measure that makes it possible to reduce the risk of contagion in the event of an epidemic, at the risk of harmful consequences for people weakened by a NCDs. In the event of an epidemic episode in the future, this study could help to define the arrangements to be put in place to better protect people suffering from NCDs and their family caregivers.

Disclosure

No significant relationships.
Stroke patients and visual memory: Exploring the role of spirituality and religiousness
Authors: Giannouli V. , Giannoulis K.
Published: February 2022

Introduction

The relationship of spirituality, religiousness and stroke is a topic of interest.

Objectives

The aim of this preliminary study is to explore whether self-reports in two questionnaires measuring the personal experience of spirituality and religiousness can influence cognition and more specifically performance on neuropsychological tests examining visual memory.

Methods

Fifteen male stroke patients participated voluntarily one year after their hospitalization. The mean age of the patients was 75.58 years (SD = 7.50, range 61-90), level of education 15.47 years (SD = 3.82). In addition to that, fifteen controls with similar demographics, free of physical and mental diseases, were also examined. Depressive symptoms of the participants were assessed with the 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale. The Daily Spiritual Experience Scale, the Systems of Belief Inventory (SBI-15R) and a number of standardized tests examining visual memory were administered: visual perception (copy condition) and memory (Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure Test-number of correct components on immediate and delayed recall trials and recognition-true positive responses).

Results

indicated a statistically significant difference between the control group and the stroke group in performance regarding visual memory. There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups regarding the levels of spirituality and religiousness.

Conclusions

Visual memory does not seem to be influenced by spirituality and religiousness one year post-stroke. Future research should further investigate the possible influence of the abovementioned factors in post-stroke recovery and rehabilitation.
Portuguese ABE’s BPSD score (ABS): exploring agreement between ABS items and neuropsychiatric inventory domains
Authors: Ferreira A.R. , Dias C.C. , Simões M.R. , Abe K. , Fernandes L.
Published: February 2022

Introduction

Neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) are common, disabling and burdensome core-features of dementia, with important diagnostic and prognostic value. However, their measurement remains challenging. The Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) is the most widely used NPS measure. Nevertheless, it is also time-consuming and impractical in most clinical settings. Therefore, the Abe’s BPSD score (ABS) has been proposed as a brief score to facilitate the NPS assessment.

Objectives

To explore the concurrent validity of the Portuguese ABS by comparing the 10 ABS items with the relevant NPI-12 domains.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted with outpatients attending a gerontopsychiatric consultation. Patients were included if they were ≥65 years and had a reliable caregiver. NPS frequency rates (number of patients with a symptom) were estimated with ABS and NPI-12, and an agreement analysis was undertaken by calculating kappa-coefficients (k) and the respective 95% confidence interval [95%CI] between ABS items and relevant NPI-12 domains.

Results

Overall, 107 patients were included. Kappa-values ranged from 0.277 to 1.000. Higher agreement was recorded for the ABS items eating/toilet problems (k=1.000), day–night reversal (k=0.976[0.925-1.000]) and depressive/gloomy mood (k=0.957[0.899-1.000]), with the NPI-12 appetite/eating abnormalities, night-time behavioural disturbances and dysphoria domains, respectively. The ABS item violent force recorded the lowest agreement (k=0.277[0.104-0.45]) with the NPI-12 agitation/aggression domain.

Conclusions

This exploratory analysis demonstrates good levels of agreement between most ABS items and relevant NPI-12 domains. Data add to the evidence that both measures capture a comparable broad spectrum of psychopathology, supporting the ABS use in clinical routine. Support: FCT(PD/BD/114555/2016), and National Funds through FCT-within CINTESIS, R&D Unit (ref.UIDB/4255/2020).
Psychogeriatrics and case-mix in residential and home services
Authors: Riolo A. , Albert U.
Published: February 2022

Introduction

The frail elderly with multimorbidity and polytherapy may need both residential and home services. The psychogeriatric patient can make both of these contexts very demanding and painful, so that the care burden increases.Psycho-behavioral events lead to an unexpected and particularly complex workload, requiring specific and integrated skills in the fields of health, social assistance and education.

Objectives

Evaluate whether the integrated team, operating in the health district, is able to intecept multimorbidity in the presence of psychogeriatric disorders. A possible index of the ability to take charge of psychogeriatric multimorbidity is to measure admission rates to acute psychiatric services or to nursing homes.

Methods

Metodi. This is an observational study on a cohort of thirty elderly patients over-65, consecutively assessed in the health district with multimorbidity and psycho-behavioral, followed for six months.

Results

One third of psychogeriatric patients with multimorbidity, despite being intercepted by health services of community, are admitted to acute psychiatric services for brief observation or hospitalization. Psychogeriatric patients have high clinical instability, reducing ability to make adequate choices, lower levels of consistent actions.

Conclusions

Organizational models, in response to the growing multimorbidity, and the allocation of resources cannot be oriented to the single pathology but to groups of patients in the perspective of long term care. The case-mix is an index of the complexity of the cases treated; when we refer to the psychogeriatric population, this index is high, due to emergence of social and medical problems in both residential and home services.
Vascular depression – regarding a case report
Authors: Felgueiras P. , Martins A. , Miguel A. , Almeida N.
Published: February 2022

Introduction

Age-related vascular changes have long been documented as an etiopathogenic factor of some geriatric depressive syndromes. More recently, it has emerged the concept of “Vascular Depression” recognizing that cardiovascular disease may predispose, precipitate or perpetuate late life depression. This condition was defined by an episode of major depressive disorder within the preceding 12 months in elderly with cardiovascular/cerebrovascular disease, or major cardiovascular risk factors. Vascular Depression isn`t described in DSM-V, and that difficults clinical recognition and affects clinically informed systematic studies.

Objectives

Regarding a clinical case, we enphasize the clinical impact of Vascular Depression`s hypothesis.

Methods

We present a qualitative review of this topic using the Pubmed Central database.

Results

74 years old male patient, with major depressive disorder about ten years. Depressive and cognitive symptoms didn`t respond to antidepressive treatment and his functional state has gradually declined.

Conclusions

Vascular depression develops after the 60 – 65 years in the absence of personal and family history of affective disorder. The key symptoms are low energy, anhedonia, deficits in selfinitiation, psychomotor retardation, reduced processing speed and lack of insight into mood symptoms. Clinical assessment includes a review of history of vascular risk factors or/and disease, but also an imagiological evidence demonstrating subcortical white matter abnormalities. Insidious and chronic course tends to delay its recognition and management. This becomes critical because Vascular Depression is associated with poor response to antidepressant treatment and persistent depressive symptoms. It`s also associated with poor selfmanagement of comorbidities and impairment in daily function. Increased mortality from all causes is widely documented.
The role of self-compassion in the relationship between pain and depression in palliative patients
Authors: Guerra J. , Santiago L. , Carreiras D.
Published: February 2022

Introduction

In palliative care, depression and pain are prevalent variables with a reciprocal and controversial relationship. Depression is common in people with chronical diseases. In the last decades, self-compassion has been pointed as a protective psychological process to negative affect.

Objectives

The current study aimed to test the role of self-compassion in the relationship between pain and depression in palliative patients.

Methods

Sample was composed of 33 patients in palliative care, with a mean of 74.12 years of age (SD = 12.76). Participants completed self-report questionnaires and data was analyzed using SPSS.

Results

From the descriptive analysis of the results of the Geriatric Depression Scale, 22 patients were depressed (66.6%), 9 of them in severe depression (27.7%). Self-compassion presented a negative and moderate correlation with depression. Depression was positively correlated with pain. A hierarchical regression to predict depression was conducted. Firstly, pain was entered as a predictive variable with a significant effect. Secondly, self-compassion was entered, and the model was significantly incremented, explaining 41% of depression. Only self-compassion was significant in this model.

Conclusions

Discussion and conclusion: The association between pain and depression in palliative care corroborate previous research. Results seemed to show that self-compassion has a significant effect in the relationship between pain and depression. Cultivating a compassion self-to-self relationship might have an important effect attenuating the link between pain and depression in palliative care.
Burnout among health care professionals in medical oncology in tunisia
Authors: Daldoul A. , Khechin W. , Krir W. , Ezzairi F. , Kefi H. , Zaied S. , Ahmed S. Ben
Published: February 2022

Introduction

Burnout syndrome concerns 27.8% of the general working population against 37% among doctors.

Objectives

This study aimed to report the prevalence of burnout among health care professionals in medical oncology in Tunisia.

Methods

This was a cross sectional study including health care professionals in medical oncology working in public hospitals in Tunisia. It was carried out from 15 January 2019 to 15 June 2019. Health profeessionals were asked to answer the Maslach –Burnout Inventory Test. Three scores allowing to locate the burn-out state of the person: the Score of emotional exhaustion (SEE), the Depersonalization score (SD) and the Score of personal achievement at work (SAP).

Results

Le taux de participation était de 58,3%. La combinaison d’un SEE élevé, d’un SD élevé et d’un SAP bas définit le syndrome de Burn-out. Le SEE était élevé chez 44 travailleurs (63%), indiquant un épuisement émotionnel sévère. Un SD élevé a été trouvé chez 37 répondants (53%). La majorité des participants (59%) avaient un PAS faible. Le burnout est défini par l’association chez la même personne d’un épuisement émotionnel élevé, d’une dépersonnalisation élevée et d’un faible rendement personnel. Cela a été trouvé chez 15 des participants (21%). Selon l’étude analytique, le sexe féminin était significativement associé à un SEE élevé, un SAP bas et un épuisement global. Le travail de nuit était significativement associé à un degré élevé de dépersonnalisation et à un degré élevé d’épuisement général.

Conclusions

Burnout is linked to an increasingly ergonomic load. Health care professionnel, particularly in oncology, are frequently faced to this syndrome.
A comparison of group art therapy in decreasing the depression level of leukemia pediatric patients
Authors: Naveed A. , Masood S.
Published: February 2022

Introduction

Cancer and its treatment often impose physical and psychological consequences. Children with cancer are not only at a risk of adverse events resulting from medical procedures but also severe effects on their social and mental health as a result of its treatment. Depression being one of the most common psychiatric disorders associated with cancer in children and adolescents. The current study aims to provide evidence of an easy and inexpensive intervention that can be used in oncology patients in a low resource setting to help maintain mental health stability in pedriatric patients..

Objectives

To examine the effectiveness of therapeutic group art therapy, in reducing depression scores in children with cancer.

Methods

The study is quasi experimental, through convinient sampling data of fifteen children in initial stage of thier treatment were selected. They were divided into two groups experimental and controlled through random allocation. Three sessions of forty minutes of group art therapy was given in experimental group, in control normal treatment was provided excluding group art therapy. Childhood Depression Scale (CDI) was used in both group as pre and post test to determine the depression level.

Results

The results shows a positive change in the level of depression in experimental group as compared to controlled group.

Conclusions

Group art therapy is an effective and inexpensive way of reducing depression level of paediatric leukemia patients that can be used by oncology healthcare centres worldwide with trained mental healthcare professionals in order to maintain positive treatment results of cancer.
Concern about chemotherapy in oncological patients first referred to this treatment predicts negative emotions
Authors: Sadovnichaja V. , Ledin E. , Kovyazina M. , Kirsanova S.
Published: February 2022

Introduction

Treatment representation is an important factor of motivation and well-being during treatment (Horne, 2002).

Objectives

The aim was to reveal the relationship between treatment representation and well-being in oncological patients first referred to chemotherapy.

Methods

40 oncological patients (10 males, 20-72 years old, mean age 50.49±13.75 years old, localizations included gastrointestinal tract and genitourinary system) first referred to chemotherapy filled Satisfaction with Life Scale (Diener et al., 1985), Scale for Positive and Negative Experiences (Diener et al., 2009), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (Zigmond, Snaith, 1983) and Beliefs about Medication Questionnaire (Horne, 2002) that was slightly modified for the situation of chemotherapy. Disturbance of functioning was assessed in the interview as an opportunity to cope with job, home responsibilities or self-care (1-5-point Likert scale).

Results

Cronbach’s alphas for Necessity and Concern scales were .69 and .76. Despite high appraisals of necessity of chemotherapy (mean 4.24±.53 on 1-5 Likert scale), concern about it was rather high (2.83±.82). Hierarchical regression analyses revealed that, after adjusting for disturbances in social functioning, concern about chemotherapy (but not its subjective necessity) predicted more severe negative emotions (β=.32, p<.05, ΔR2=10.0%). After control for general level of anxiety and depression, this relationship became weaker but marginally significant (β=.32, p<.10, ΔR2=8.4%).

Conclusions

Concern about chemotherapy in patients first referred to this treatment could be important predictor of well-being demanding for interventions aimed at stabilization of emotional reaction to chemotherapy regardless belief in its necessity.
Subjective perception of treatment in patients first referred to radiotherapy and its relationship to their well-being
Authors: Kovyazina M. , Rasskazova E. , Kuznetsova A. , Shilko R. , Zinchenko Y. , Sadovnichaja V.
Published: February 2022

Introduction

There are wide-spread fears and expectations about radiotherapy in people referred to it that are not only unrealistic (Shaverdian et al., 2018) but also lead to poorer compliance with doctors and poorer satisfaction with treatment (Dong et al., 2014).

Objectives

The aim was to reveal relationship between different aspects of subjective perception of radiotherapy in patients and their well-being.

Methods

34 patients first referred to radiotherapy, 23-70 years old (mostly females with breast cancer) filled modified version of Beliefs about Medication Questionnaire including items about radiotherapy (Horne et al., 1996), Satisfaction With Life Scale (Diener et al., 1985), Scale of Positive And Negative Experience (Diener et al., 2009).

Results

Six scales were revealed by factor analysis in the structure of beliefs about radiotherapy (Cronbach’s alphas .74-.85): confidence in the effectiveness of radiation therapy, subjective need for it, lack of understanding of it, concern and general negative attitudes towards radiotherapy, doubts about the effectiveness of radiation therapy. Elder patients reported higher need for radiotherapy but also higher concerns about it (r=.35-.37). Concerns about radiotherapy were related to lower satisfaction with life and positive emotions (r=-.44 - -.34) while subjective need of radiotherapy was related to higher health anxiety (r=.71) and lower positive emotions (r=-.41).

Conclusions

Subjective concerns of patients regarding radiotherapy are related to poorer well-being and could be addressed in psychotherapy.
Gender peculiarities of pain syndrome in older age patients
Authors: Chernus N. , Serdakova K. , Sivkov A. , Gorenkov R. , .Sivkov S. , Savina T.
Published: February 2022

Introduction

The study of gender-related peculiarities of vertebral pain syndrome course in order age patients appears to be highly relevant.

Objectives

Study population included 46 female patients and 38 male patients in the age between 60 and 75 years old; mean age was 67,4±6,6 years old.

Methods

Pain syndrome intensity was assessed using the visual analogue scale (VAS), vegetative disfunction was assessed using A.M. Wayne Questionnaire; the Toronto Alexithymia Scale

Results

The conducted comparative study showed that the male patients perceived the pain syndrome as more intense as compared to the female patients in lumbar spine: 4,5 ±0,8 vs 3,6±0,5 scores (р <0,001) and in thoracic spine: 4,1 ±1,0 vs. 3,4±1,0 (р <0,05). On the other hand, in vegetative dysfunction assessment, the male patients demonstrated generally lower score: 43,3±7,5 scores vs. 59,6+10,3 in female patients, р <0,001. The results of correlation analysis pf interrelations between alexithymia and pain intensity revealed the differences between the study groups in emotion recognition accuracy (Mann-Whitney U-test = 109,00, р = 0.09): female patients showed lower scores (60,7 ±3,5) as compared to the male patients (74,2 ±2,1).

Conclusions

Therefore, the vertebral pain syndrome tends to be more pronounced in older age male patients as compared to the similar population of older age female patients. Therefore, vertebral pain syndrome correction requires multidisciplinary approach, including psychotherapeutic support.
How neuroticism affects prejudical attitudes and social distance
Authors: Jonáš J. , Heissler R. , Doubková N. , Preiss M.
Published: February 2022

Introduction

Previous studies didn’t find any connection between Neuroticism and authoritarian personality or social dominance orientation, but xenophobic attitudes might be hold even apart from these constructs.

Objectives

In our study we compared subjects with high Neurtoticism score with controls with a focus on racism and social distance.

Methods

The Bogardus Social Distance Scale (BSDS) is a measure of perceived social distance of a subject towards concrete outgroups. Modern Racism Scale (MRS) and The Blatant and Subtle Prejudice Scales (BSRS) are scales measuring racism. For our study we used the Neuroticism scale of the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQ). Also, we asked about personal conflicts with outgroup members and how subjects perceived their unpleasantness and importance. We measured the attitudes towards Romani, Vietnamese, foreigners, homeless people, migrants, people with mental disease and people with a physical disability.

Results

People with the high neuroticism score (SD≥1; N=48) showed significantly higher scores in racism. In comparison to control group (CG; N=96), their social distance differed significantly towards Romani, Vietnamese and migrants. Effect sizes were however on the threshold between weak and moderate. After Bonferroni correction, only the social distance towards migrants remained significant. People with the high neuroticism score didn’t report higher rate in conflict with outgroup members than HC.

Conclusions

People with the high neuroticism score showed different pattern in attitudes towards outgroup members, but not in conflict with them, which might point at higher need of internalization of negative attitudes.
Servicemen’s features of professional reliability
Authors: Novikova Y. , Boyarinov D. , Gubaidulina L. , Kachina A. , Barabanshchikova V.
Published: February 2022

Introduction

In our days the professional reliability of servicemen is an important issue. Servicemen not only protect the state but also ensure a stable and harmonious life of society (Vagin, 2012). This profession is extreme for life, therefore the significance of human error in this profession is very high. Study of personal characteristics forming professional reliability is important for professional psychological selection. The study was supported by the RFBR #19-013-00799 А.

Objectives

Study of the psychological factors for reliability of servicemen.

Methods

The study involved 708 servicemen, the average age of 20.3 (min – 18, max – 32), the sample consisted only of men. The methodological package included the following methods: Managerial stress survey — MSS (Leonova, 2007), The Sixteen Personality Factor Questionnaire (Kapustina, 2001).

Results

The exploratory factor analysis revealed that the professional reliability includes the following personal characteristics: low level of Сhronic stress (-0.851), Emotional Stability (0.823), Motivational Distortion (0.761), Apprehensiveness (-0.716). The Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin Measure of Sampling Adequacy = 0.781, and Bartlett’s test of sphericity = 865.26 (p = 0.0001), the total variance of this factor is 62.4%.

Conclusions

According to this factor, the profile of professional reliability of each serviceman was compiled: low stress level, self-confidence, non-fearfulness, efficiency, high self-esteem, personal maturity. In the future, confirmatory factor analysis will be performed, and the relationship of this scale with objective data will be investigated.
Validation of the portuguese version of the mentalization questionnaire in a sample of college students: Preliminary results
Authors: Rebelo P. , Gooskens B. , Pereira D. , Cabaços C. , Pereira A.T. , Caldeira S. , Madeira N. , Bos S.
Published: February 2022

Introduction

Mentalization (MZ) is the capacity by which people make sense of their own’s and others’ mental states; when compromised, it is associated with several mental disorders (Bateman & Fonagy, 2010). A valid instrument to assess MZ is missing and required for the Portuguese population.

Objectives

To develop and validate a Portuguese version (Questionário de Mentalização – QMZ) of the Mentalization Questionnaire (MZQ) (Hausberg et al., 2012).

Methods

A sample of 184 Portuguese medical students (mean age = 21.6 ± 2.47 years, 59.8% female) was used to explore the psychometric properties of the scale, using reliability and factor analysis (varimax rotation method).

Results

The QMZ exhibited a Cronbach’s alpha score of .80. All items contributed to its reliability. Based on the scree plot of Cattell and interpretability of items, a 2-factor and a 5-factor structures were further explored. The former explained 38.8% of the total variance (VE) and included a regulation of affect (VE= 27.3%, α=.79) and a self-reflection and emotional awareness (VE= 11.5%, α=.62) factors. The latter explained 60.6% of the total variance and incorporated the following dimensions: self-control (VE= 27.3%, α=.74), daily relationships (VE= 11.5%, α=.67), self-comprehension (VE= 8.1%, α=.54), close relationships (VE= 7.0%, α=.41) and self-monitoring (VE= 6.7%, α=.52). The 5-factor structure was closer to the dimensional concept of mentalization.

Conclusions

The QMZ has proved to be a promising instrument, with adequate psychometric properties, confirmed by its acceptable construct, criterion and factorial validity and reliability to assess mentalization in Portuguese language.
High vs low trait primary psychopathy in males: Differences in cardiac responses to emotional film clips
Authors: Fusina F. , Angrilli A.
Published: February 2022

Introduction

Primary psychopathy, although not included in DSM-5, is a personality trait characterized by callousness, unemotionality and a low sensitivity to anxiety and fear. From a psychophysiological standpoint, individuals with this trait exhibit a number of alterations, most notably lower heart rate at rest and lower heart rate variability (HRV).

Objectives

We investigated the relationship between primary psychopathy and heart rate dynamics in response to emotional stimuli in a healthy community sample. In the high psychopathy participants we expected to find lower HRV and a general lower cardiovascular responsiveness to aversive emotional stimuli.

Methods

The study was carried out on male students with high (HP) and low scores (LP) of primary psychopathy according to Levenson’s LSRP. The stimuli were 15 short movie clips of different emotional content (Erotic, Scenery, Neutral, Compassion and Fear), lasting 2 minutes each and presented during ECG recording. Mean heart rate (HR) and HRV were analyzed.

Results

Concerning HR, a Category by Group interaction revealed that participants in the HP group did not differentiate among emotional movie clips, whereas those in the LP group manifested significant reduced HR to Fear and Scenery compared to the other clips. Concerning HRV, the main Group effect showed in HP participants a lower HRV than LP subjects, irrespective of the film categories.

Conclusions

Using ecological stimuli is considered more effective in evoking spontaneous emotions, and our results point to a clear alteration of emotional cardiovascular response in high primary psychopathy trait individuals selected from a community sample.
Big five personality traits prediction with AI
Authors: Mereu A.
Published: February 2022

Introduction

Openness, conscientiousness, extroversion, agreeableness and neuroticism are known as the Big Five personality traits (BFPT). They are theoretical building blocks of the personality and comprise wide and interconnected spectra. Artificial intelligence (AI) could help to grasp their complexity.

Objectives

To investigate whether AI could predict the BFPT from themselves.

Methods

Data from 2,697 questionnaires were analysed using an AI. The short form of the International Personality Item Pool was used to assess the BFPT. Four of the BFPT scores were employed to predict the fifth one and the procedure was repeated for all of them alternatively. The AI was conservatively tuned to maximize the one-way random intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) between predicted and real values. Their Pearson’s r was calculated too. The free and open source programming language R was used for all the analyses. Dataset source: Hansson, Isabelle; Berg, Anne Ingeborg; Thorvaldsson, Valgeir (2018), “Can personality predict longitudinal study attrition? Evidence from a population-based sample of older adults”, Mendeley Data, V1, doi: 10.17632/g3jx8zt2t9.1

Results

Openness, conscientiousness, extroversion, agreeableness and neuroticism predictions obtained ICC of 0.219, 0.146, 0.306, 0.354, 0.121 and Pearson’s r of 0.254, 0.149, 0.393, 0.446, 0.122 respectively. The results for extroversion and agreeableness were indicative of fair performance.

Conclusions

AI might be useful to predict personality traits, mainly extroversion and agreeableness. This could be utile in many situations, such as dealing with missing data or deciding whether to formally test someone. Finally, the AI used in this study is freely available, allowing anyone to experiment.
Epigenetic association with environmental risk factors for mental disorders
Authors: Le Hellard S.
Published: February 2022

Abstract Body

Major mental disorders have typically a complex aetiology where both genetic and environmental risk factors have been implicated. It has also been suggested that these risk factors could be interactive rather than just additional. In the last decade, large genetic studies have began to unravel the genetic architecture of several of these disorders. While the mechanisms of action of environmental risk factors are still unclear. At the molecular level, gene expression can be regulated at the epigenetic level, e.g. chromatin modifications or DNA methylation. Epigenetic modifications can be affected by both genetic variations as well as environment variations. In this presentation, we will review recent results either from literature or from own data on how several known environmental risks for mental disorders can be associated with modifications of epigenetic markers, especially in DNA methylation. We will for instance look at the modifications associated with smoking, alcohol, cannabis, childhood trauma or obstetric complications. We will discuss also the limits of these studies and how epigenetic modifications can be relevant for the onset of mental disorders and their treatment.

Disclosure

No significant relationships.
Personality traits among the staff of moroccan call centers
Authors: Drissi E. , Boulbaroud S. , Hami H. , Ahami A. , Azzaoui F.Z.
Published: February 2022

Introduction

The aim of this research is to study the five major personality traits in a sample of call center employees in the Rabat-Salé-Kénitra Region, Morocco.

Objectives

Demonstrate the domination of certain personality dimensions over others in this population.

Methods

This is a cross-sectional epidemiological study that involved 121 individuals, including 59 men and 62 women with an average age of 31.74 ± 7.93. The personality traits were assessed using the Big Five test.

Results

The results show that, (63.64%) of our sample has a more dominant extraversion pole, while (36.36%) of the participants have a more dominant introversion pole. (66.12%) of our study subjects have a dominance of agreeableness dimension, while for (33.88%) of the sample the disagreeableness dimension dominates. Almost parity is observed between those in our sample who have a dominance of the conscientiousness pole (50.41%), and those who have a dominance of the impulsivity pole (49.59%). 74.38% of the participants have a dominance of the neuroticism pole, while (25.62%) have a dominance of the emotional stability pole. (57.02%) has a dominance of the openness pole, while (42.98%) have a dominance of the closedness pole.

Conclusions

This study sample is characterized to a large extent by extraversion and agreeableness; moreover this study has shed light on the dominance of the neuroticism trait in this kind of population. However, considering this study concerned only one region, it would be interesting to widen the geography of the survey to acquire more exhaustive results.