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Research has widely demonstrated that religiosity is related to psychological well-being even in situations of severe illness. To assess religious beliefs, explicit measures have generally been used. In this study, we measured the belief that God is reality as opposed to myth or abstraction by using an implicit technique (the Single Category Implicit Association Test). The study was carried out in Italy, where a large majority of the population is Catholic, and the prevailing image of God is that of a compassionate and supportive father. Participants were cancer patients identifying themselves as believers. As expected, the automatic belief that God is reality (vs. abstraction) was related to beneficial outcomes: lower reported psychophysical anxiety symptoms and a weaker use of avoidance strategies to cope with stress. Thus, also, automatic religious beliefs may affect feelings and behaviors.

Objective Assisting a patient with cancer implies assuming a role that may fit in with the previous role of the person or that may contrast with it, thereby provoking suffering. This research explores if it is possible to identify different profiles of caregivers on the basis of different levels of anxiety and depression as well as on different ways of distributing one's own dependency. Methods There were 50 Italian primary caregivers of patients with cancer who completed the Beck Anxiety Inventory, the Beck Depression Inventory-II, and Kelly's Dependency Grids. Cluster analysis was conducted on the indices derived from the three instruments. Results Three profiles were found on the basis of how the caregivers used their resources to give and to receive help. If there was congruence between the situation of giving help that the caregivers experienced and their personal role, then anxiety and depression decreased, otherwise, they increased. The implications of the balance/imbalance between the usual and the present role depended also on the typicality of the caregivers' experience, as related to their caring role. Conclusions These results suggest the usefulness of planning different kinds of support for different experiences of caregiving. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

To understand the complexity of the obese condition, this article reports all the aspects involved in the care and treatment of obese people. In the first part are retrieved practical, technical, and medical features. Even though it seems obvious, an adequate setting and devices are essential in the proper planning of care. Also a qualified and adequate medical team composed not only of medicals and nurses but other health professionals, such as dietitians, psychologists, and physical trainers, is fundamental. In the second part are examined the psychological aspects, both in the obese situation and during weight loss. Obese people present low self-esteem, a negative body image, depression, and anxiety. They are victims of discriminations, prejudice, and bullying. It is important, during weight loss, to help them to control their eating impulse, in particular the binge eating, and prevent relapse.