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Introduction: Amongst different subtypes of Conversion Disorder (CD), DSM-V lists the Psychogenic Non-epileptic seizures (PNES). PNES are defined as episodes that visually resemble epileptic seizures but, etiologically, they are not due to electrical discharges in the brain. Objectives: Our study aims to explore the differences between PNES and other CDs. In particular, we studied the suicidality and its correlations with dissociation and alexithymia. Methods: Patients, recruited from the Psychiatry and Clinical Psychology Unit of the Fondazione Policlinico Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy, were diagnosed with PNES (n=22) and CD (n=16) using the DSM-5 criteria. Patients underwent the following clinical assessments: HAM-D, BDI, DES, BHS, TAS, CTQ. Results: PNES showed significantly higher scores than CD in all assessments, except for BDI-somatic (p=0.39), BHS-feeling (p=0.86), and the presence of childhood trauma. PNES also showed significantly higher suicidality (p = 0.003). By controlling for the confounding factor "depression", in PNES suicidality (and in particular the BHS-loss of motivation) appears to be correlated with DES-total score (p = 0.008), DES-amnesia (p = 0.002) and DES -derealization-depersonalization (p = 0.003). On the other hand, in CDs, the BHS-total score shows a correlation with the TAS-total score (p = 0.03) and BHS-Feelings with TAS-Externally-Oriented Thinking (p = 0.035), while only the BHS-Loss of motivation appears correlated with DES-Absorption (p = 0.011). Conclusions: Our study shows significant differences betweenPNES and CD, in several symptomatologic dimensions, including suicidality. Indeed, in PNES suicidality appears to be related to dissociation, while in CDs it appears mainly to be correlated with alexithymia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: International Classification of Diseases 11th Revision (ICD-11) has inserted complex post-traumatic stress disorder (cPTSD) as a clinically distinct disorder, different from PTSD. The diagnosis of cPTSD has the same requirements for the one of PTSD, in addition to disturbances of self-organization (DSO - e.g., disturbances in relationships, affect dysregulation, and negative selfconcept). Objectives: This study aimed to explore suicidality in PTSD and cPTSD. We examined also the association between clinical dimensions of hopelessness (feelings, loss of motivation, future expectations) and other symptomatologic variables. Methods: The sample, recruited at the Fondazione Policlinico Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy, consisted of 189 subjects, 132 diagnosed with PTSD, and 57 with cPTSD, according to the ICD-11 criteria. Participants underwent the following clinical assessments: Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS), Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90), Dissociative Experience Scale (DES), Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS). Results: cPTSD showed significantly higher BHS-total (p = 0.01) and BHS-loss of motivation subscale (p <0.001) scores than PTSD. Besides, cPTSD showed significantly higher scores in all clinical variables except for the IES-intrusive subscale. By controlling for the confounding factor "depression", suicidality in cPTSD (and in particular the BHS-total) appears to be correlated with IES-total score (p = 0.042) and with DES-Absorption (p = 0.02). Differently, no such correlations are found in PTSD. Conclusions: Our study shows significant symptomatologic differences between PTSD and cPTSD, including suicidality. Indeed, suicidality in cPTSD appears to be correlated with the "loss of motivation" dimension, which fits well within the ICD-11 criteria of DSO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: One in six adolescents aged suffers from mental health problems. Despite the presence of general information on Italian adolescents' mental health, provided by periodic epidemiological studies, researches conducted with standardized assessment tools are scarce in the scientific literature. Objectives: To evaluate the prevalence of self-reported behavioral and emotional problems in a group of Italian adolescents and to examine their relation to important socio-demographical variables, in order to provide relevant information about of adolescence mental health in our country. Methods: A population-based survey was conducted on high school students from urban areas of Rome and Latina. Sociodemographic variables, including age, gender, type of school, socio-economic status, urbanicity, as well as Youth Self-Report (YSR) evaluating 3 broadband scales (Internalizing Disorders; Externalizing Disorders; Total Problem scale) were collected. Univariable and Multivariable Logistic regression were used to assess the association between socio-demographic variables and YSR. Results: Our final sample consisted of 1400 adolescents (38.61% male, mean age 16 yrs, SD 1.42). Prevalence of Internalizing Problems, Externalizing Problems and Total Problems was 29.55%, 18.34% and 24.13%. Internalizing Symptoms were not explained by sociodemographic variables, while Externalizing Symptoms were explained by Male Gender (OR=1.53, [1.14,2.06]), older age (OR=2.06, [1.52,2.79]) and attending a Professional Institute (OR=2.15, [1.53,3.02] Adjusted R²=4.32%). Total Problems were explained by School Type (Professional Institutes and Art and Humanities vs. Grammar and Science School; OR 1.93 [1.40,2.67] and 1.64 [1.08,2.47], adjusted R²=1.94). Conclusions: The study estimates the prevalence of self-reported behavioral and emotional problems in a large sample of Italian adolescents, highlighting the role of socio-demographic risk factors for externalizing behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]