188 results on '"Brugnera, Agostino"'
Search Results
152. An investigation of the psychometric properties of the Geriatric Anxiety Scale (GAS) in an Italian sample of community-dwelling older adults
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Gatti, Alessia, primary, Gottschling, Juliana, additional, Brugnera, Agostino, additional, Adorni, Roberta, additional, Zarbo, Cristina, additional, Compare, Angelo, additional, and Segal, Daniel L., additional
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- 2017
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153. E-mental Health for Elderly: Challenges and Proposals for Sustainable Integrated Psychological Interventions in Primary Care
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Zarbo, Cristina, primary, Brugnera, Agostino, additional, Cipresso, Pietro, additional, Brignoli, Ovidio, additional, Cricelli, Claudio, additional, Rabboni, Massimo, additional, Bondi, Emi, additional, and Compare, Angelo, additional
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- 2017
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154. Psychotherapy for eating disorders: A meta-analysis of direct comparisons.
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Grenon, Renee, Carlucci, Samantha, Brugnera, Agostino, Schwartze, Dominique, Hammond, Nicole, Ivanova, Iryna, Mcquaid, Nancy, Proulx, Genevieve, and Tasca, Giorgio A.
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EATING disorders ,PSYCHOTHERAPY ,COGNITIVE therapy ,BULIMIA ,META-analysis - Abstract
Objective: We conducted a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of bona fide psychotherapy for adults with eating disorders (EDs). Method: Thirty-five RCTs with 54 direct comparisons were included. The majority of RCTs included participants with bulimia nervosa and/or binge-ED, while only two RCTs included participants with anorexia nervosa, and three RCTs included participants with an ED not otherwise specified. Results: There was a clear advantage of bona fide psychotherapy over wait-list controls. Bona fide psychotherapy was superior to non-bona fide treatment; however, the majority of results were not stable. There were no significant differences between bona fide cognitive–behavioral therapy (CBT) and bona fide non-CBT, with the exception of bona fide CBT resulting in greater reductions in ED psychopathology assessed by the ED Examination, which primarily assesses maintenance factors according to the CBT model. Conclusions: Generally, the results indicate that any bona fide psychotherapy will be equally effective. While the number of trials remains modest, we hope that as more research becomes available, treatment guidelines can be updated, and more evidence-based treatment options will be available for treating EDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2019
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155. Attachment comes of age: adolescents' narrative coherence and reflective functioning predict well-being in emerging adulthood.
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Borelli, Jessica L., Brugnera, Agostino, Zarbo, Cristina, Rabboni, Massimo, Bondi, Emi, Tasca, Giorgio A., and Compare, Angelo
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ADOLESCENT psychology , *LIFE skills , *WELL-being , *NARRATIVES - Abstract
This study investigated the effects of adolescents' attachment security and reflective functioning (RF) (assessed by the adult attachment interview [AAI]) in the prediction of well-being in adulthood. Adolescents (N = 79; M = 14.6 years old; SD = 3.5 years) completed the AAI at Time 1 (T1), which was subsequently coded for inferred attachment experiences, narrative coherence, and RF by three nonoverlapping teams of raters. Participants completed the Psychological General Well-being Index at T1 and 8 years later (Time 2, T2). Analyses showed that (a) both adolescent narrative coherence and RF were significant predictors of almost all indices of well-being at T2 in adulthood; (b) both narrative coherence and RF indirectly linked inferred loving parental care and T2 well-being; (c) when included in the same model, RF was a significant indirect effect linking inferred loving parental care and T2 well-being. These findings contribute to theory in suggesting that both RF and narrative coherence are predictive of subsequent psychological well-being and operate as links between inferred parental care and subsequent adjustment. Possible mechanisms underlying these findings are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2019
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156. Testing a stepped care model for binge-eating disorder: a two-step randomized controlled trial.
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Tasca, Giorgio A., Koszycki, Diana, Brugnera, Agostino, Chyurlia, Livia, Hammond, Nicole, Francis, Kylie, Ritchie, Kerri, Ivanova, Iryna, Proulx, Genevieve, Wilson, Brian, Beaulac, Julie, Bissada, Hany, Beasley, Erin, Mcquaid, Nancy, Grenon, Renee, Fortin-Langelier, Benjamin, Compare, Angelo, and Balfour, Louise
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BULIMIA diagnosis ,BULIMIA ,BULIMIA treatment ,COGNITIVE therapy ,HEALTH outcome assessment ,PSYCHODYNAMIC psychotherapy ,PSYCHOTHERAPY ,REGRESSION analysis ,RANDOMIZED controlled trials ,TREATMENT effectiveness ,PREVENTION - Abstract
Background: A stepped care approach involves patients first receiving low-intensity treatment followed by higher intensity treatment. This two-step randomized controlled trial investigated the efficacy of a sequential stepped care approach for the psychological treatment of binge-eating disorder (BED). Methods: In the first step, all participants with BED (n = 135) received unguided self-help (USH) based on a cognitive-behavioral therapy model. In the second step, participants who remained in the trial were randomized either to 16 weeks of group psychodynamic-interpersonal psychotherapy (GPIP) (n = 39) or to a no-treatment control condition (n = 46). Outcomes were assessed for USH in step 1, and then for step 2 up to 6-months post-treatment using multilevel regression slope discontinuity models. Results: In the first step, USH resulted in large and statistically significant reductions in the frequency of binge eating. Statistically significant moderate to large reductions in eating disorder cognitions were also noted. In the second step, there was no difference in change in frequency of binge eating between GPIP and the control condition. Compared with controls, GPIP resulted in significant and large improvement in attachment avoidance and interpersonal problems. Conclusions: The findings indicated that a second step of a stepped care approach did not significantly reduce binge-eating symptoms beyond the effects of USH alone. The study provided some evidence for the second step potentially to reduce factors known to maintain binge eating in the long run, such as attachment avoidance and interpersonal problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2019
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157. Could fNIRS Promote Neuroscience Approach in Clinical Psychology?
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Adorni, R, Gatti, A, Brugnera, A, Sakatani, K, Compare, A, Adorni, Roberta, Gatti, Alessia, Brugnera, Agostino, Sakatani, Kaoru, Compare, Angelo, Adorni, R, Gatti, A, Brugnera, A, Sakatani, K, Compare, A, Adorni, Roberta, Gatti, Alessia, Brugnera, Agostino, Sakatani, Kaoru, and Compare, Angelo
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- 2016
158. A serial mediation model of insecure attachment and Internet Gaming Disorder: The role of psychological needs, social support and loneliness.
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REMONDI, CHIARA, GERBINO, MARIA, LA TONA, ANTONINO, and BRUGNERA, AGOSTINO
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LONELINESS ,GAMING disorder ,SOCIAL support ,YOUNG women ,SOCIAL problems ,YOUNG adults ,PATH analysis (Statistics) - Abstract
Background: Although Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) has become a serious social problem around the world, there is paucity of studies that investigated the risk factors underpinning disordered gaming. In this study, we sought to examine the serial mediating roles of three universally inherent psychological needs (i.e., autonomy, competence and relatedness) and perceived loneliness and social support from family and friends in the association between attachment insecurity (i.e., anxiety and avoidance) and IGD. Method: Using a cross-sectional design, data were collected from 1510 respondents (female N = 776; 51.4%) with a mean age of 23.64±4.04 years. Results: Results of path analyses indicated that, controlling for the time spent gaming, attachment anxiety was sequentially associated first with autonomy and then with perceived loneliness and support for family, which were in turn related to IGD, whereas attachment avoidance was sequentially associated first with autonomy and relatedness and then with perceived loneliness and support for family, which was in turn related to IGD. We also conducted a multiple group analysis allowing paths to vary by gender, age and by online and offline gaming. Results of the multigroup analysis showed that the serial mediation worked in a similar way for both men and women, early and young adults and for both online and offline gamers. Conclusions: The study findings inform theory on the development of IGD and may guide development and delivery of treatment for problematic gaming behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2023
159. Could fNIRS Promote Neuroscience Approach in Clinical Psychology?
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Adorni, Roberta, primary, Gatti, Alessia, additional, Brugnera, Agostino, additional, Sakatani, Kaoru, additional, and Compare, Angelo, additional
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- 2016
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160. An investigation of the psychometric properties of the Geriatric Anxiety Scale (GAS) in an Italian sample of community-dwelling older adults.
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Gatti, Alessia, Gottschling, Juliana, Brugnera, Agostino, Adorni, Roberta, Zarbo, Cristina, Compare, Angelo, and Segal, Daniel L.
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ANXIETY diagnosis ,DIAGNOSIS of mental depression ,ATTENTION ,DISCRIMINANT analysis ,FACTOR analysis ,PSYCHOMETRICS ,QUALITY of life ,QUESTIONNAIRES ,RESEARCH evaluation ,SELF-evaluation ,INDEPENDENT living ,RECEIVER operating characteristic curves ,RESEARCH methodology evaluation - Abstract
Background: The Italian older adult population is increasing and psychiatric problems, such as anxiety among older adults, represent major challenges for public welfare. A strong need exists for instruments specifically developed to assess anxiety among Italian older adults. The Geriatric Anxiety Scale (GAS) is a 30-item self-report questionnaire that evaluates anxiety among older adults and has demonstrated strong psychometric properties in several languages. Objective: The present study aimed to validate an Italian version of the GAS (GAS-I) and to preliminarily investigate its psychometric properties. Method: The translation was performed using a five-stage procedure, following a forward-back process and paying attention to cultural issues. The GAS-I was administered to 231 community-dwelling older adults with other commonly-used questionnaires of anxiety, depression, and quality of life. Results: Results confirmed good psychometric qualities of the questionnaire. Confirmatory factor analyses evidenced a unidimensional structure of the GAS-I, in accordance with other validated versions. Convergent and discriminant validity were highly satisfactory. The three-factor model also provided an acceptable fit to the data. Receiver operating characteristic curve analyses revealed good discriminatory power of the GAS-I. Conclusion: These findings demonstrate that the GAS-I is a reliable and valid self-report questionnaire to measure anxiety among Italian older adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2018
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161. Behavioral, cognitive, and emotional coping strategies of women with endometriosis: a critical narrative review.
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Zarbo, Cristina, Brugnera, Agostino, Frigerio, Luigi, Malandrino, Chiara, Rabboni, Massimo, Bondi, Emi, and Compare, Angelo
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ADAPTABILITY (Personality) , *PSYCHOLOGICAL adaptation , *BEHAVIOR , *CHRONIC pain , *COGNITION , *DATABASES , *ENDOMETRIOSIS , *HEALTH , *QUALITY of life , *SYSTEMATIC reviews , *EMOTIONAL intelligence , *QUALITATIVE research , *PSYCHOSOCIAL factors , *QUANTITATIVE research - Abstract
Endometriosis is a disabling and long-term medical condition affecting quality of life and mental health. Behavioral, cognitive, and emotional coping strategies, emotional intelligence, and metacognition could in part explain the link between the disease and impaired psychological and life functioning. This critical narrative review aimed at examining the state of the art of the relationships between endometriosis and these factors. According to PRISMA principles, we performed a systematic search for quantitative and qualitative studies on multiple electronic databases as regards coping strategies, emotional intelligence, and metacognition in women with endometriosis. Studies were subjected to interpretative and critical narrative synthesis. A total of 9 papers were included in the review. Three main categories were identified in thematic analysis and resumed in the manuscript. Findings suggested that (a) pain is considered the major stressor; (b) they usually use both adaptive and maladaptive coping strategies; (c) women with endometriosis and related chronic pain seem to repress emotions more likely than healthy ones; (d) suppressing own emotions, pain catastrophizing, and having a passive coping style are related to higher self-reported pain; and (e) emotional and avoidance coping styles are associated to poor mental status, while positive coping strategies focusing on the problem or on emotions, detached and rational styles are associated to better mental health. Few studies with mixed results and some methodological flaws have focused on coping strategies in women with endometriosis. No studies focusing on metacognition or emotional intelligence were found. Methodological biases, suggestions for future research, and implications for clinical practice were discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2018
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162. Cortical and Autonomic Patterns of Emotion Experiencing During a Recall Task
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Brugnera, Agostino, Adorni, Roberta, Compare, Angelo, Zarbo, Cristina, and Sakatani, Kaoru
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Abstract.Emotions characterized by opposite valences (positive vs. negative) seem to lead to specific patterns of autonomic and cortical activity. For example, according to valence or approach-withdrawal hypotheses, specific emotions lead to an asymmetrical activation of left or right prefrontal cortex (PFC). The aim of the present study was to explore the psychophysiological underpinnings of emotion experiencing using a paradigm with higher ecological validity than is typically accomplished in neuroimaging research. A total of 28 healthy participants were instructed to recall personally-relevant situations from the past that caused positive (happiness) or negative (anger) emotions, during a 2 min silent preparatory phase and a subsequent 3 min verbal phase. A wearable electrocardiographic (ECG) recording system and a portable 2-channel near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) device were used to collect heart rate (HR), high frequencies of heart rate variability (HF-HRV), and the hemodynamic responses of prefrontal cortex during the entire procedure. Results showed that during both anger and happiness recall tasks, HR increased and high frequencies of HRV decreased with respect to the baseline. HR and HF-HRV reached, respectively, their highest and lowest points during the verbal phase of anger recall task. NIRS data evidenced a bilateral increase of oxyhemoglobin concentration changes during both anger and happiness recall tasks, which was highest during the verbal phases. However, no lateralization patterns were found. Overall, present results suggest that the experience of negative emotions, if compared with positive ones, is characterized by a combination of reduced parasympathetic activation and/or increased sympathetic activation. Thus, cardiological data provided partial support to autonomic specificity of emotions. However, the recall paradigm did not evidence an asymmetry of PFC activity during the experience of emotions with opposite valences, probably due to the high number of factors impacting prefrontal activity during a recall paradigm.
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- 2017
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163. The alliance-outcome association in group interventions: A multilevel meta-analysis
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Gianluca Lo Coco, Salvatore Gullo, Gaia Albano, Agostino Brugnera, Christoph Flückiger, Giorgio A. Tasca, Lo Coco, Gianluca, Gullo, Salvatore, Albano, Gaia, Brugnera, Agostino, Flückiger, Christoph, and Tasca, Giorgio A
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Therapeutic Alliance ,Mental Disorders ,Professional-Patient Relations ,group therapy ,Psychotherapy ,Psychiatry and Mental health ,Clinical Psychology ,Treatment Outcome ,Alliance outcome correlation ,Group therapy ,Therapeutic alliance ,Three level meta analysis ,Humans ,Multilevel Analysis ,Settore M-PSI/08 - Psicologia Clinica ,three-level meta-analysis ,alliance-outcome correlation - Abstract
Objective: The therapeutic alliance has been studied in group interventions, but its relationship to patient outcome is still controversial. This study systematically reviewed the association of both the member-leader and member-group alliance with patient outcomes, and assessed the effects of several theoretically informed moderators. Method: A three-level meta-analysis was conducted on 57 studies to disentangle within- and between-study variability in the alliance-outcome association. Results: The overall effect size of the unconditional model was r = -.259 (95% CI: -.302, -.214; p < .001), whereas the correlation between alliance and outcome based on the three-level meta-analytic model was r = -.215 (95% CI: -.252, -.178; p < .001) indicating a medium effect. Meta-regressions of moderators showed that the alliance-outcome correlation was higher when patients reported on their alliance with the group/other members compared with when they rated the alliance with the leader. Outcome type, rating perspective, theoretical orientation, treatment length, and year of publication were significant moderators of the relationship between alliance and outcome. Conclusions: The current meta-analysis highlighted that the therapeutic alliance, especially with other group members, is a significant predictor of outcomes in group therapies even after controlling for several moderators and adopting more conservative statistical modeling.What is the public health significance of this article? Prior research has established that member-leader alliance is a predictor of outcome in group psychotherapy with a small effect. This meta-analysis provides a comprehensive analysis of the complex role of the alliance in group therapy, suggesting that the alliance with other group members or the group as a whole has a significantly larger association with outcome. This study provides support for the importance of the group context on the alliance-outcome relationship.
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- 2022
164. A Serial Mediation Model of Insecure Attachment and Psychological Distress: The Role of Dispositional Shame and Shame-Coping Styles
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Chiara Remondi, Giulia Casu, Camilla Pozzi, Francesco Greco, Paola Gremigni, Agostino Brugnera, Remondi, Chiara, Casu, Giulia, Pozzi, Camilla, Greco, Francesco, Gremigni, Paola, and Brugnera, Agostino
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psychological distress ,Settore M-PSI/08 - Psicologia Clinica ,Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis ,attachment ,dispositional shame ,mediation ,shame-coping ,Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health ,psychological distre - Abstract
Shame is an intense, difficult to regulate, self-conscious emotion that predicts aspects of poor psychological functioning and is also strongly related to early relationships. Attachment insecurities, which constitute non-specific risk factors for psychological maladjustment, have been associated with an individual’s tendency to experience shame. In this study, we sought to examine the serial mediating roles of dispositional shame and shame-coping styles (i.e., attack other, attack self, withdrawal and avoidance) in the association between anxious and avoidant attachment, and psychological distress. Using a cross-sectional design, self-reported data were collected. The study sample included 978 respondents (57% female) with a mean age of 32.17 ± 13.48 years. The results of the path analysis indicated that both attachment dimensions were sequentially associated with dispositional shame and then with the attack self shame-coping style, which was, in turn, positively related to psychological distress. Further, attachment insecurities were sequentially associated with dispositional shame and then with the avoidance shame-coping style, which was, in turn, negatively related to psychological distress. The model was gender invariant, suggesting that the serial mediation worked in a similar way for men and women. The practical implications of these findings are discussed.
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- 2023
165. Online consultations in mental healthcare: Modelling determinants of use and experience based on an international survey study at the onset of the pandemic
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Tom Van Daele, Kim Mathiasen, Per Carlbring, Sylvie Bernaerts, Agostino Brugnera, Angelo Compare, Aranzazu Duque, Jonas Eimontas, David Gosar, Lise Haddouk, Maria Karekla, Pia Larsen, Gianluca Lo Coco, Tine Nordgreen, João Salgado, Andreas R. Schwerdtfeger, Eva Van Assche, Sam Willems, Nele A.J. De Witte, Catholic University of Leuven - Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (KU Leuven), University of Bergamo, Centro Diagnostico Italiano (CDI), CB - Centre Borelli - UMR 9010 (CB), Service de Santé des Armées-Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM)-Université Paris-Saclay-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Ecole Normale Supérieure Paris-Saclay (ENS Paris Saclay)-Université Paris Cité (UPCité), University of Cyprus [Nicosia] (UCY), Department of Psychology, Università cattolica del Sacro Cuore [Milano] (Unicatt), Laboratoire de psychologie cognitive (LPC), Aix Marseille Université (AMU)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Van Daele, Tom, Mathiasen, Kim, Carlbring, Per, Bernaerts, Sylvie, Brugnera, Agostino, Compare, Angelo, Duque, Aranzazu, Eimontas, Jona, Gosar, David, Haddouk, Lise, Karekla, Maria, Larsen, Pia, Lo Coco, Gianluca, Nordgreen, Tine, Salgado, João, Schwerdtfeger, Andreas R, Van Assche, Eva, Willems, Sam, and De Witte, Nele A J
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Psychiatry ,Science & Technology ,Psychology, Clinical ,Social Sciences ,COVID-19 ,Health Informatics ,Digital mental health ,digital mental health ,online consultations ,telepresence ,TELEPSYCHOLOGY ,CLINICS ,Health Care Sciences & Services ,Online consultations ,Telepresence ,Settore M-PSI/08 - Psicologia Clinica ,[SDV.MHEP.PSM]Life Sciences [q-bio]/Human health and pathology/Psychiatrics and mental health ,PSYCHOTHERAPY ,Psychology ,Life Sciences & Biomedicine ,Medical Informatics - Abstract
INTRODUCTION: While online consultations have shown promise to be a means for the effective delivery of high-quality mental healthcare and the first implementations of these digital therapeutic contacts go back nearly two decades, uptake has remained limited over the years. The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic dramatically altered this relative standstill and created a unique turning point, with a massive amount of both professionals and clients having first hands-on experiences with technology in mental healthcare. OBJECTIVE: The current study aimed to document the uptake of online consultations and explore if specific characteristics of mental health professionals across and beyond Europe could predict this. METHODS: An international survey was designed to assess mental health professionals' (initial) experiences with online consultations at the onset of the pandemic: their willingness to make use of them and their prior and current experiences, alongside several personal characteristics. Logistic mixed-effects models were used to identify predictors of the use of online consultations, personal experience with this modality, and the sense of telepresence. RESULTS: A total of 9115 healthcare professionals from 73 countries participated of which about two-thirds used online consultations during the initial COVID-19 outbreak. The current study identifies multiple determinants relating to the use and experience of online consultations, including the professionals' age, experience with the technology before the outbreak, the professional context, and training. CONCLUSIONS: Despite strong evidence supporting the relevance of training in digital mental health, this is clearly still lacking. Nevertheless, the COVID-19 pandemic presented a first, and potentially transformative, experience with online consultations for many healthcare professionals. The insights from this study can help support professionals and, importantly, (mental) healthcare organisations to create optimal circumstances for selective and high-quality continued use of online consultations. ispartof: INTERNET INTERVENTIONS-THE APPLICATION OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY IN MENTAL AND BEHAVIOURAL HEALTH vol:30 ispartof: location:Netherlands status: published
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- 2022
166. Therapeutic Alliance and Binge-Eating Outcomes in a Group Therapy Context.
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Tasca, Giorgio A., Compare, Angelo, Zarbo, Cristina, and Brugnera, Agostino
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BULIMIA treatment , *GROUP psychotherapy , *PATIENT-professional relations , *NUTRITION counseling , *PSYCHOTHERAPY , *QUESTIONNAIRES , *BODY mass index , *TREATMENT effectiveness - Abstract
The therapeutic alliance in individual and group psychotherapy is associated with treatment outcomes for a variety of disorders. However, debate persists about the centrality of the alliance in determining positive outcomes. We examined the alliance-outcome relationship across 20 sessions of emotionally focused group therapy (EFGT) for binge-eating disorder (BED). We hypothesized that (1) previous session alliance increase will predict lower subsequent session binge eating level while controlling for previous session binge eating level; and (2) previous session binge eating decline will predict higher subsequent session alliance level while controlling previous session alliance level. Participants were 118 individuals with BED who received 20 sessions of EFGT in 8 groups. Levels of binge eating and therapeutic alliance to the therapist were measured weekly. Linear growth in alliance during group therapy was associated with reduced binge eating at 6 months' posttreatment. We also found that the group's and the individual's alliance scores and binge-eating episodes were significantly associated across treatment, suggesting a mutual influence of the group's and individual's experience of the alliance with the therapist. Regarding the first hypothesis, previous session alliance increase was significantly associated with lower subsequent session binge eating. Regarding the second hypothesis, previous session binge-eating decline was not significantly related to higher subsequent session alliance. The findings provide evidence in a group therapy context for a model in which alliance change influences subsequent symptom levels, but not the other way around. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2016
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167. Subjective correlates of stress management in outpatient cardiac rehabilitation: the predictive role of perceived heart risk factors
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Angelo Compare, Paolo Marchettini, Agostino Brugnera, Mario Fulcheri, Ali Soroush, Danilo Carrozzino, Saeid Komasi, Mozhgan Saeidi, Massimo Rabboni, Komasi, Saeid, Soroush, Ali, Saeidi, Mozhgan, Brugnera, Agostino, Rabboni, Massimo, Fulcheri, Mario, Carrozzino, Danilo, Marchettini, Paolo, and Compare, Angelo
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Stress management ,Longitudinal study ,medicine.medical_treatment ,Psychological Stress ,030204 cardiovascular system & hematology ,Affect (psychology) ,03 medical and health sciences ,0302 clinical medicine ,Risk Factors ,Cardiovascular Disease ,Settore M-PSI/08 - Psicologia Clinica ,medicine ,Diseases of the circulatory (Cardiovascular) system ,030212 general & internal medicine ,Depression (differential diagnoses) ,Rehabilitation ,business.industry ,Regression analysis ,Risk perception ,RC666-701 ,Anxiety ,Original Article ,medicine.symptom ,Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine ,business ,Psychological Stre ,Clinical psychology - Abstract
Introduction: The causal attributions and perceived risk factors can affect patients’ health behaviors. Therefore, the present study aimed to assess (i) the effect of an outpatient cardiac rehabilitation (CR) program on perceived heart risk factors (PHRFs) and on psychological stress, and (ii) the role of changes of PHRFs at pre-post CR in predicting changes in psychological stress. Methods: In this longitudinal study, 110 CR patients were assessed from June to November 2016 in a hospital in Iran. Perceived heart risk factors and perceived stress were investigated using the PHRFs scale and the Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scale-21, respectively. PHRFs and DASS-21 Stress scale scores were compared before and after 26 sessions of exercise-based CR through paired sample t-tests. In addition, we investigated the effect of PHRF’s change scores on DASS-21 Stress scale scores using linear regression analysis. Results: Results showed that CR has a little impact in improving the patients’ perception of heart risk factors, However, CR is significantly effective in reducing stress (P < 0.05). Regression analysis evidenced that improvements in patients’ perception of risk factors can significantly predict a reduction in psychological stress (P = 0.030). The model explained 11.2% of the variance in the results. Conclusion: PHRFs appear to be significant predictive components of CR’s stress reduction. Practitioners should focus on patients’ perception of risk factors to facilitate stress management in CR program.
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- 2018
168. Patients with Binge Eating Disorder and Obesity have qualitatively different interpersonal characteristics: Results from an Interpersonal Circumplex study
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Rachel Sutton, Gianluca Lo Coco, Laura Salerno, Salvatore Gullo, Angelo Compare, Agostino Brugnera, Giorgio A. Tasca, Brugnera, Agostino, Lo Coco, Gianluca, Salerno, Laura, Sutton, Rachel, Gullo, Salvatore, Compare, Angelo, and Tasca, Giorgio A.
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Adult ,Male ,050103 clinical psychology ,lcsh:RC435-571 ,media_common.quotation_subject ,binge eating disorder ,interpersonal circumplex ,obesity ,interpersonal profile ,Interpersonal communication ,Interpersonal circumplex ,Anger ,Body Mass Index ,03 medical and health sciences ,Interpersonal relationship ,0302 clinical medicine ,Binge-eating disorder ,lcsh:Psychiatry ,Settore M-PSI/08 - Psicologia Clinica ,medicine ,Humans ,0501 psychology and cognitive sciences ,Interpersonal Relations ,Obesity ,media_common ,Group membership ,Binge eating ,05 social sciences ,Middle Aged ,medicine.disease ,030227 psychiatry ,Clinical Psychology ,Psychiatry and Mental Health ,Female ,medicine.symptom ,Psychology ,Binge-Eating Disorder ,Stress, Psychological ,Clinical psychology - Abstract
Background: Patients with Binge Eating Disorder (BED) and obesity experience distressing relationships, which could trigger negative affect and over-eating. To date no studies compared the interpersonal profiles and prototypicality of both groups using the Interpersonal Circumplex.Method: A sample of 177 patients with BED (mean age: 41.0 +/- 12.5 years; 11.3% males), 321 obese non-BED adults (mean age: 44.5 +/- 13.4 years; 28% males), and 108 normal weight adults (mean age: 37.3 +/- 9.6 years; 52.77% males) completed the Inventory of Interpersonal Problems (IIP-32), and scales of binge eating and psychological distress at one time-point.Results: Compared to normal weight and obese participants, those with BED reported higher levels of interpersonal problems on all circumplex dimensions, except for Vindictive, with small to medium effects. All groups had highly prototypical profiles. Both obese and normal weight adults had very similar interpersonal profiles characterized by predominant friendly-dominant themes. On the contrary, those with BED had predominant friendly-submissive themes. Patients with BED reported significantly higher levels of psychological distress and binge eating severity, compared to the other two groups. Greater Domineering, Cold, Socially Inhibited and Non-Assertive scale scores, and lower Vindictive scale scores significantly predicted higher binge eating and psychological distress, regardless of group membership.Discussion: Findings lend support to an interpersonal model of binge eating and to the presence of qualitative differences between patients with obesity and BED. Finally, results suggest some strategies for the clinical management of BED focused on non-assertion and problems with experiences and expression of anger. (C) 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
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- 2018
169. Problematic Social Media Use Among Italian Midadolescents: Protocol and Rationale of the SMART Project.
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Donisi V, Salerno L, Delvecchio E, and Brugnera A
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- Humans, Adolescent, Italy epidemiology, Male, Female, Mobile Applications, Adolescent Behavior psychology, Longitudinal Studies, Internet Addiction Disorder psychology, Internet Addiction Disorder epidemiology, Social Media
- Abstract
Background: Social media (SM) use constitutes a large portion of midadolescents' daily lives as a way of peer interaction. A significant percentage of adolescents experience intense or problematic social media use (PSMU), an etiologically complex behavior potentially associated with psychological distress. To date, studies longitudinally testing for risk or protective factors of PSMU, and collecting qualitative data are still scarce among midadolescents. Self-help interventions specifically targeting PSMU in this population and involving midadolescents in co-creation are needed., Objective: The 2-year SMART multicenter project aims to (1) advance knowledge on PSMU; (2) co-design an unguided self-help app for promoting awareness and functional SM use; and (3) test feasibility and provide preliminary findings on its effectiveness to further improve and adapt the app., Methods: The SMART project is organized in 3 phases: phase 1 will focus on knowledge advancement on PSMU and its risk and protective factors using a longitudinal design; phase 2 will explore adolescents perspectives using qualitative approach and will co-design an unguided self-help app for reducing PSMU, which will be evaluated and adapted in phase 3. Around 1500 midadolescents (aged 14-18 years) will be recruited in northern, central, and southern Italy to investigate the potential intra- and interpersonal psychological risk and protective factors for PSMU and define specific PSMU profiles and test for its association with psychological distress. Subjective (self-report) PSMU's psychosocial risk or protective factors will be assessed at 3 different time points and Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) will be used. Moreover, focus groups will be performed in a subsample of midadolescents to collect the adolescents' unique point of view on PSMU and experiences with SM. Those previous results will inform the self-help app, which will be co-designed through working groups with adolescents. Subsequently, the SMART app will be deployed and adapted, after testing its feasibility and potential effectiveness in a pilot study., Results: The project is funded by the Italian Ministry of University and Research as part of a national grant (PRIN, "Progetti di Rilevante Interesse Nazionale"). The research team received an official notice of research funding approval in July 2023 (Project Code 2022LC4FT7). The project was preregistered on Open Science Framework, while the ethics approval was obtained in November 2023. We started the enrollments in December 2023, with the final follow-up data to be collected within May 2025., Conclusions: The innovative aspects of the SMART project will deepen the conceptualization of PSMU and of its biopsychosocial antecedents among midadolescents, with relevant scientific, technological, and socioeconomic impacts. The advancement of knowledge and the developed self-help app for PSMU will timely respond to midadolescents' increased loneliness and psychological burden due to COVID-19 pandemic and humanitarian crisis., Trial Registration: OSF Registries; https://osf.io/2ucnk/., International Registered Report Identifier (irrid): DERR1-10.2196/58739., (©Valeria Donisi, Laura Salerno, Elisa Delvecchio, Agostino Brugnera. Originally published in JMIR Research Protocols (https://www.researchprotocols.org), 09.09.2024.)
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- 2024
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170. Group member attachment style interacts with actor and partner helping alliance to predict decreasing binge eating episodes.
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Lo Coco G, Brugnera A, Salerno L, Compare A, Tasca GA, and Kivlighan DM Jr
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Objective: An individual's attachment style may impact how they interact with their therapy group. This study examined the moderating role of a group member's attachment on the dynamic relationships between that group member's (actor) and other group members' (partner) therapeutic alliances and symptom outcomes. Method: This is a secondary analysis of data from a trial testing the outcome of emotionally-focused group therapy for binge-eating disorder. The sample consisted of 2,360 sessions nested within 118 group members who attended a 20-session treatment. Patients recorded binge eating episodes (BEE), their body weight and an alliance measure session-by-session., Results: Dynamic structural equation modelling showed decreases in BEE and weight over the therapy. When attachment style was not included in the model, higher-than-average partner's alliance scores in the previous session were related to decreases in BEE in the current session. Attachment style moderated these actor and partner effects. For patients with preoccupied attachments, higher-than-average actor alliance in the previous session was related to subsequent decreases in BEE. For patients with dismissing or disorganized attachments, higher partner alliance in the previous session was related to subsequent decreases in BEE., Conclusion: Group members' attachment characteristics can play a role in the development of alliance-outcome patterns in group therapy.
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- 2024
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171. Italian validation of the Clinical Outcomes in Routine Evaluation-10 (CORE-10): a short measure for routine outcome monitoring in clinical practice.
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La Tona A, Tagini S, Brugnera A, Poletti B, Aiello EN, Lo Coco G, Del Piccolo L, and Compare A
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The customization of the intervention using patient feedback is an evidence-based practice aimed at the continuous evaluation, during treatment, of the patient's change at a clinical level. There are few easy-to-use tools for common assessment of psychological distress, designed to be used for screening and during treatment to monitor progress. The Clinical Outcomes in Routine Evaluation-10 (CORE-10) is definitely one of them. Thus, the aim of the present study was to examine the psychometric properties of the Italian version of the CORE-10. A sample of 548 participants (females, N=463, 84.5%; mean age 23.29±7.21 years) was recruited in the study and filled out a battery of measures. The internal validity of the CORE-10 was investigated through a confirmatory factor analysis which evidenced a good fit to the data, suggesting a unidimensional factorial structure of the measure. Further, the scale had a good internal reliability and was significantly associated with other measures of distress, interpersonal problems, well-being, and insecure attachment. Finally, it showed excellent diagnostic accuracy, as well as intrinsic and post-test diagnostics. Given its validity and reliability, the CORE-10 may be adopted by Italian-speaking psychotherapists and researchers to evaluate the outcomes of mental health interventions as well as to track the session-to-session changes over time in psychological distress among patients.
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- 2023
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172. Training community-based psychotherapists to maintain a therapeutic alliance: A psychotherapy practice research network study.
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Tasca GA, Ravitz P, Hunter J, Chyurlia L, Baker S, Balfour L, Mcquaid N, Pain C, Compare A, Brugnera A, and Leszcz M
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- Humans, Psychotherapists, Professional-Patient Relations, Psychotherapy, Countertransference, Therapeutic Alliance
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The goal of this study was to test the efficacy of training community-based psychotherapists who were part of a practice research network to be more attuned to their patients' experiences of the therapeutic relationship. We were particularly interested in the effect of therapist training on the congruence of alliance ratings with their patients. Forty psychotherapists who treated 117 patients were randomly assigned to receive either no training or training, whose learning objectives were to help therapists to develop and maintain a therapeutic alliance. The training included workshops and ongoing consultations to help the clinician to strengthen the therapeutic relationship with the use of mentalizing, attachment theory, countertransference management, and metacommunication. Therapeutic alliance and well-being outcomes were measured at each of six consecutive early psychotherapy sessions. We used the truth and bias model and response surface analysis within a multilevel modeling context to test hypotheses. There was a significantly faster rate of alliance growth in the training versus the no training condition when the alliance was rated by therapists, but not when rated by patients. Trained therapists experienced greater temporal congruence in alliance ratings with their patients compared to untrained therapists. Patient well-being outcomes improved in a session when trained therapists and their patients agreed in their positive alliance ratings in a previous session. This association not significant among untrained therapists. Training therapists in key interpersonally focused skills may lead them to be better attuned to their patients' experiences of the therapeutic relationship. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).
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- 2023
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173. Compensating for verbal-motor deficits in neuropsychological assessment in movement disorders: sensitivity and specificity of the ECAS in Parkinson's and Huntington's diseases.
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Carelli L, Solca F, Migliore S, Torre S, Brugnera A, Mancini F, Tagini S, Ferrucci R, Maffi S, Ceccarelli C, Pasquini J, Sassone J, Squitieri F, Ciammola A, Silani V, and Poletti B
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- Humans, Neuropsychological Tests, Sensitivity and Specificity, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis complications, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis diagnosis, Cognition Disorders, Huntington Disease complications, Huntington Disease diagnosis, Parkinson Disease complications, Parkinson Disease diagnosis
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Introduction: The study aims at investigating psychometric properties of the Edinburgh cognitive and behavioural ALS screen (ECAS) in Parkinson's (PD) and Huntington's (HD) diseases. The sensitivity and specificity of the ECAS in highlighting HD and PD cognitive-behavioural features and in differentiating between these two populations and from healthy controls (HC) were evaluated. Moreover, correlations between the ECAS and traditional cognitive measures, together with core clinical features, were analysed., Methods: Seventy-three PD patients, 38 HD patients, and 49 education-matched healthy participants were enrolled. Participants were administered the ECAS, together with other cognitive screening tools and psychological questionnaires. Patients' behavioural assessment was also carried out with carers., Results: The ECAS distinguished between HD patients and HC and between the two clinical syndromes with high sensitivity and specificity. Even if the diagnostic accuracy of the ECAS in distinguishing between PD and HC was low, the PD cognitive phenotype was very well described by the ECAS performances. Convergent validity of the ECAS against other traditional cognitive screening was observed, as well as correlations with psychological aspects and typical clinical features, especially for the HD group., Conclusions: The ECAS represents a rapid and feasible tool, useful also in other neurodegenerative disorders affecting verbal-motor abilities than the amyotrophic lateral sclerosis such as PD and HD. Clinical applications in these neurodegenerative conditions require further investigations and, probably, some adaptations of the original test., (© 2021. Fondazione Società Italiana di Neurologia.)
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- 2021
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174. Online consultations in mental healthcare during the COVID-19 outbreak: An international survey study on professionals' motivations and perceived barriers.
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De Witte NAJ, Carlbring P, Etzelmueller A, Nordgreen T, Karekla M, Haddouk L, Belmont A, Øverland S, Abi-Habib R, Bernaerts S, Brugnera A, Compare A, Duque A, Ebert DD, Eimontas J, Kassianos AP, Salgado J, Schwerdtfeger A, Tohme P, Van Assche E, and Van Daele T
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Introduction: While the general uptake of e-mental health interventions remained low over the past years, physical distancing and lockdown measures relating to the COVID-19 pandemic created a need and demand for online consultations in only a matter of weeks., Objective: This study investigates the uptake of online consultations provided by mental health professionals during lockdown measures in the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in the participating countries, with a specific focus on professionals' motivations and perceived barriers regarding online consultations., Methods: An online survey on the use of online consultations was set up in March 2020. The Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) guided the deductive qualitative analysis of the results., Results: In total, 2082 mental health professionals from Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, France, Germany, Italy, Lebanon, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, and Sweden were included. The results showed a high uptake of online consultations during the COVID-19 pandemic but limited previous training on this topic undergone by mental health professionals. Most professionals reported positive experiences with online consultations, but concerns about the performance of online consultations in a mental health context (e.g., in terms of relational aspects) and practical considerations (e.g., relating to privacy and security of software) appear to be major barriers that hinder implementation., Conclusions: This study provides an overview of the mental health professionals' actual needs and concerns regarding the use of online consultations in order to highlight areas of possible intervention and allow the implementation of necessary governmental, educational, and instrumental support so that online consultations can become a feasible and stable option in mental healthcare., Competing Interests: The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: Assoc. Prof. Ebert reports to have received consultancy fees or served in the scientific advisory board from several companies such as Minddistrict, Sanofi, Lantern, Schön Kliniken, German health insurance companies (BARMER and Techniker Krankenkasse), and chambers of psychotherapists. Dr. Ebert is one of the stakeholders of the Institute for health trainings online (GET.ON/HelloBetter), which aims to implement scientific findings related to digital health interventions into routine care. Anne Etzelmueller is employed by the Institute for health trainings online (GET.ON/HelloBetter) as research coordinator. All other authors do not report any conflict of interest., (© 2021 The Authors.)
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- 2021
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175. Psychometric properties of the Italian version of the Experience in Close Relationship Scale 12 (ECR-12): an exploratory structural equation modeling study.
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Brugnera A, Zarbo C, Farina B, Picardi A, Greco A, Lo Coco G, Tasca GA, Carlucci S, Auteri A, Greco F, and Compare A
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The Experiences in Close Relationship Scale (ECR) is one of the most commonly used self-report instruments of adult attachment and has been widely adopted in psychotherapy research. Composed of two subscales, namely Attachment Avoidance and Anxiety, the ECR was recently shortened to a 12-items version, called the ECR-12. Given the importance of extending knowledge on its applicability in understudied populations, our aim was to validate the ECR-12 in a large sample of Italian native-speakers. A total of 1197 participants (73.2% females; mean age=28.53±11.37 years) completed the ECR-12. Each participant also completed other measures of attachment, psychopathology, interpersonal distress, coping strategies, and well-being. An Exploratory Structural Equation Modeling analysis showed an excellent fit of the data, providing support for the two-dimensional orthogonal structure of the ECR-12. In addition, the measurement model was invariant across genders. Both attachment anxiety and attachment avoidance subscales demonstrated good internal reliability, with McDonald's Omegas and Cronbach's Alphas above the suggested 0.8 cut-off. Finally, the Italian version of ECR-12 showed adequate convergent, concurrent, and divergent validity. Highly anxious individuals reported the highest levels of maladaptive interpersonal functioning and coping strategies, resulting in lower well-being. Interestingly, both attachment insecurity dimensions predicted higher levels of psychopathology, even after controlling for demographic variables and levels of self-reported relational difficulties. Given the good psychometric properties of the ECR-12, researchers and practitioners in Italy are encouraged to adopt the ECR-12 in their future research on adult attachment in psychotherapy., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest: the authors declare no potential conflict of interest. Funding: none., (©Copyright: the Author(s).)
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- 2019
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176. Cognitive and Personality Factors Implicated in Pain Experience in Women With Endometriosis: A Mixed-Method Study.
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Zarbo C, Brugnera A, Dessì V, Barbetta P, Candeloro I, Secomandi R, Betto E, Malandrino C, Bellia A, Trezzi G, Rabboni M, Compare A, and Frigerio L
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- Adaptation, Psychological, Adult, Anxiety psychology, Catastrophization psychology, Endometriosis complications, Fear, Female, Humans, Middle Aged, Pain etiology, Pain Management, Pain Measurement, Psychological Distress, Quality of Life, Surveys and Questionnaires, Cognition, Endometriosis psychology, Pain psychology, Personality
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Objective: The impact of pain on quality of life and mental health of women with endometriosis is well known. However, the role that personality traits and coping strategies might have in influencing pain experience is still poorly understood and was the chief purpose of this study., Materials and Methods: We conducted a mixed-method sequential explanatory study, composed of a quantitative survey followed by qualitative interviews. The first quantitative phase included 162 women with endometriosis who completed a battery of validated questionnaires. After statistical analysis, a semistructured qualitative interview has been developed and conducted with 6 of them, in order to help explain findings obtained in the first phase. Thereafter, both analyses were combined in a metamatrix., Results: From the metamatrix, it emerged that acute pain experience, fear of its occurrence, its unpredictability, and control difficulties are the main concerns of women with endometriosis. Worry trait characteristics (ie, the need for control, anticipatory anxiety, intrusive worry thoughts) and maladaptive thoughts such as coping strategies (ie, self-blame, rumination, catastrophizing) were common in this sample and seem to indirectly affect pain experience. Indeed, the unsuccessful struggle in controlling pain reinforces negative thoughts/beliefs and feelings of powerlessness, leading, in turn, to psychological distress and higher pain experience., Discussion: From the study emerged a model of onset and maintenance of acute pain in women with endometriosis. Findings have clinical implications for the medical team and psychologists.
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- 2019
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177. Negative metacognitive beliefs predict sexual distress over and above pain in women with endometriosis.
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Zarbo C, Brugnera A, Compare A, Secomandi R, Candeloro I, Malandrino C, Betto E, Trezzi G, Rabboni M, Bondi E, and Frigerio L
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- Dyspareunia psychology, Endometriosis pathology, Endometriosis psychology, Female, Humans, Pelvic Pain etiology, Quality of Life psychology, Depression complications, Dyspareunia complications, Endometriosis complications, Metacognition, Pelvic Floor pathology, Pelvic Pain psychology, Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological complications, Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological psychology, Stress, Psychological psychology
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The aim of the study was to assess the predictive value of dyspareunia, general chronic pain, and metacognitive beliefs to sexual distress in a sample of women with endometriosis. Ninety-six women (mean age = 34.60 ± 6.44 years) with a diagnosis of endometriosis took part to this cross-sectional study. Sociodemographic and clinical data were collected by means of a structured ad hoc questionnaire. Metacognitive beliefs and sexual distress were assessed by means of the Metacognitions Questionnaire (MCQ30) and the Female Sexual Distress Scale-R (FSDS-r). General chronic pain intensity was collected by means of a Numeric Rating Scale. Data were subjected to Hierarchical logistic regression. We found high percentages of dyspareunia and sexual distress (i.e., 66% and 76%). Findings suggested that dyspareunia and chronic pain did not predict sexual distress, while negative beliefs about worries predicted sexual distress over and above them (p = .040, odd ratio 1.159). In the target population, metacognitive beliefs may have more influence on sexual distress than pain symptomatology.
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- 2019
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178. Higher levels of Depressive Symptoms are Associated with Increased Resting-State Heart Rate Variability and Blunted Reactivity to a Laboratory Stress Task among Healthy Adults.
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Brugnera A, Zarbo C, Tarvainen MP, Carlucci S, Tasca GA, Adorni R, Auteri A, and Compare A
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- Adult, Electrocardiography, Female, Healthy Volunteers, Humans, Male, Neuropsychological Tests statistics & numerical data, Surveys and Questionnaires, Young Adult, Autonomic Nervous System physiopathology, Depression psychology, Heart Rate physiology, Stress, Psychological physiopathology
- Abstract
Laboratory stress tasks induce strong changes in linear and non-linear indices of heart rate variability (HRV) among healthy adults, due to a task-induced parasympathetic withdrawal. Previous findings suggested that negative affectivity and its correlates (i.e., depressive symptoms, anxiety, hostility, type D personality, and situational stress) could profoundly affect autonomic activity. However, to date no studies considered these psychological dimensions simultaneously while trying to disentangle their acute effects on HRV during a laboratory stress task. A total of 65 healthy participants completed a battery of questionnaires and later underwent a psychosocial stress protocol, which involves a stressful and a non-stressful mental arithmetic task, with the latter serving as a control condition for the former. During the entire procedure, autonomic activity was recorded through a portable ECG device. We analysed longitudinal changes in HRV indices using Mixed Models, taking into account respiration rates and the associations between psychophysiological variables through bivariate Pearson's r (partial) correlation indices. We found significant changes in linear (e.g., HF power, RMSSD) and non-linear (e.g., Poincaré Plot and Correlation Dimension D2) HRV indices during the procedure, with the lowest point reached during the stressful mental arithmetic task. Interestingly, only depressive symptomatology was significantly and positively related to a higher resting-state HRV and to a blunted reactivity to the stress task, even after controlling for baseline values. Results suggest that healthy individuals with higher levels of depressive symptoms could experience atypical cardiovascular responses to stressful events: several speculative interpretations, considering autonomic, behavioral, and motivational dysregulations, are discussed.
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- 2019
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179. Determinants of metabolic syndrome in obese workers: gender differences in perceived job-related stress and in psychological characteristics identified using artificial neural networks.
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Vigna L, Brunani A, Brugnera A, Grossi E, Compare A, Tirelli AS, Conti DM, Agnelli GM, Andersen LL, Buscema M, and Riboldi L
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- Adult, Aged, Feeding Behavior psychology, Female, Humans, Male, Metabolic Syndrome blood, Metabolic Syndrome psychology, Middle Aged, Obesity blood, Obesity psychology, Occupational Stress blood, Occupational Stress psychology, Risk Factors, Surveys and Questionnaires, Triglycerides blood, Waist Circumference, Young Adult, Metabolic Syndrome etiology, Obesity complications, Occupational Stress complications, Sex Characteristics
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Objective: The metabolic syndrome (MS) is a multifactorial disorder associated with a higher risk of developing cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes. However, its pathophysiology and risk factors are still poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the associations among gender, psychosocial variables, job-related stress and the presence of MS in a cohort of obese Caucasian workers., Methods: A total of 210 outpatients (142 women, 68 men) from an occupational medicine service was enrolled in the study. Age, BMI, waist circumference, fasting glucose, blood pressure, triglycerides and HDL cholesterol were collected to define MS. In addition, we evaluated eating behaviors, depressive symptoms, and work-related stress. Data analyses were performed with an artificial neural network algorithm called Auto Semantic Connectivity Map (AutoCM), using all available variables., Results: MS was diagnosed in 54.4 and 33.1% of the men and women, respectively. AutoCM evidenced gender-specific clusters associated with the presence or absence of MS. Men with a moderate occupational physical activity, obesity, older age and higher levels of decision-making freedom at work were more likely to have a diagnosis of MS than women. Women with lower levels of decision-making freedom, and higher levels of psychological demands and social support at work had a lower incidence of MS but showed higher levels of binge eating and depressive symptomatology., Conclusion: We found a complex gender-related association between MS, psychosocial risk factors and occupational determinants. The use of these information in surveillance workplace programs might prevent the onset of MS and decrease the chance of negative long-term outcomes., Level of Evidence: Level V, observational study.
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- 2019
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180. Perfectionistic traits and importance given to parenthood are associated with infertility-related quality of life in a sample of infertile women with and without endometriosis.
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Zarbo C, Brugnera A, Compare A, Candeloro I, Secomandi R, Betto E, Fusi F, Marabini R, Malandrino C, Carnelli M, Trezzi G, Bondi E, Rabboni M, and Frigerio L
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- Adult, Cross-Sectional Studies, Endometriosis complications, Family, Female, Humans, Infertility, Female complications, Parenting, Parents, Stress, Psychological, Surveys and Questionnaires, Endometriosis psychology, Fertility, Infertility, Female psychology, Perfectionism, Quality of Life, Self Concept
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Objective: To assess quality of life and psychological differences between infertile women with endometriosis and without endometriosis. To investigate predictive role of perfectionism, mindful awareness and beliefs about parenthood to quality of life in a sample of women with fertility problems., Methods: 43 infertile women (22 with endometriosis; 21 without endometriosis) who recurred to Assisted Reproductive Treatments (ARTs) in the last 12 months took part to this cross-sectional study. Sociodemographic and clinical data were collected by means of a structured ad hoc questionnaire. Fertility Quality of Life, Fertility Problem Inventory - Need of parenthood subscale, Obsessive Beliefs Questionnaire - Perfectionism subscale, and Cognitive and Affective Mindfulness Scale - Revised were used to assess target outcomes., Results: Any difference in quality of life and psychological condition was found between infertile women with and without endometriosis. Importance given to parenthood (beta = -.60, p < .001) and perfectionism (beta = -.30, p < .05) predicted quality of life related to fertility issues, independently of group., Conclusions: Infertility might elicit self-discrepancy between real-self (i.e. being infertile) and ideal-self (being fertile), which in turn has a negative impact on quality of life. Conclusions about the role of psychologist in ART's team are discussed., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)
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- 2018
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181. Patients with Binge Eating Disorder and Obesity have qualitatively different interpersonal characteristics: Results from an Interpersonal Circumplex study.
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Brugnera A, Lo Coco G, Salerno L, Sutton R, Gullo S, Compare A, and Tasca GA
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- Adult, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Obesity psychology, Binge-Eating Disorder psychology, Body Mass Index, Interpersonal Relations, Obesity rehabilitation, Stress, Psychological psychology
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Background: Patients with Binge Eating Disorder (BED) and obesity experience distressing relationships, which could trigger negative affect and over-eating. To date no studies compared the interpersonal profiles and prototypicality of both groups using the Interpersonal Circumplex., Method: A sample of 177 patients with BED (mean age: 41.0 ± 12.5 years; 11.3% males), 321 obese non-BED adults (mean age: 44.5 ± 13.4 years; 28% males), and 108 normal weight adults (mean age: 37.3 ± 9.6 years; 52.77% males) completed the Inventory of Interpersonal Problems (IIP-32), and scales of binge eating and psychological distress at one time-point., Results: Compared to normal weight and obese participants, those with BED reported higher levels of interpersonal problems on all circumplex dimensions, except for Vindictive, with small to medium effects. All groups had highly prototypical profiles. Both obese and normal weight adults had very similar interpersonal profiles characterized by predominant friendly-dominant themes. On the contrary, those with BED had predominant friendly-submissive themes. Patients with BED reported significantly higher levels of psychological distress and binge eating severity, compared to the other two groups. Greater Domineering, Cold, Socially Inhibited and Non-Assertive scale scores, and lower Vindictive scale scores significantly predicted higher binge eating and psychological distress, regardless of group membership., Discussion: Findings lend support to an interpersonal model of binge eating and to the presence of qualitative differences between patients with obesity and BED. Finally, results suggest some strategies for the clinical management of BED focused on non-assertion and problems with experiences and expression of anger., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)
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- 2018
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182. Efficacy of Alternative Cardiac Rehabilitation Delivery Formats in Improving Psychological Symptoms after Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting.
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Saeidi M, Soroush A, Komasi S, Brugnera A, Patucelli M, Carrozzino D, Fulcheri M, and Compare A
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Background: Health-care systems always strive for alternative cardiac rehabilitation (CR) models to ensure that options available to patients better fit their needs, risk factor profiles, and preferences. We assessed the effects of hospital-based cardiac rehabilitation (HBCR) and hybrid cardiac rehabilitation (HCR) on psychological symptoms (i.e., anxiety, depression, and stress) among patients following coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG). Methods: This cross-sectional study recruited 115 CABG patients who were referred to the Department of Cardiac Rehabilitation at Imam Ali Hospital in the Iranian city of Kermanshah between January and May 2016. The patients were assigned to 1 of the 2 programs of HBCR (26 sessions) and HCR (10 sessions). The study population's psychological symptoms were assessed using the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS) before and after the intervention, and the data were analyzed using paired t-tests and ANCOVA. Results: A total of 105 (91%) patients concluded the CR program. Respectively, 50.8% and 26.2% of the participants in the HBCR and HCR programs were female. The mean age was 59.6±9.2 years in the HBCR group and 58.7±6.1 years in the HCR group. The ANCOVA results indicated that both HBCR and HCR programs were equally effective in reducing anxiety (P=0.001 vs. P=0.015) and stress (P=0.002 vs. P=0.003) among the CABG patients, while only HBCR was effective in alleviating depressive symptoms (P=0.001). Conclusion: Our results demonstrated the efficacy of HBCR and HCR in diminishing stress and anxiety levels among the CABG patients. However, depression was affected only by HBCR.
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- 2018
183. Heart rate variability during acute psychosocial stress: A randomized cross-over trial of verbal and non-verbal laboratory stressors.
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Brugnera A, Zarbo C, Tarvainen MP, Marchettini P, Adorni R, and Compare A
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- Adult, Cross-Sectional Studies, Electrocardiography, Female, Humans, Male, Nonlinear Dynamics, Retrospective Studies, Sex Characteristics, Stroop Test, Surveys and Questionnaires, Young Adult, Heart Rate physiology, Respiratory Rate physiology, Speech Perception physiology, Stress, Psychological physiopathology, Verbal Behavior physiology
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Acute psychosocial stress is typically investigated in laboratory settings using protocols with distinctive characteristics. For example, some tasks involve the action of speaking, which seems to alter Heart Rate Variability (HRV) through acute changes in respiration patterns. However, it is still unknown which task induces the strongest subjective and autonomic stress response. The present cross-over randomized trial sought to investigate the differences in perceived stress and in linear and non-linear analyses of HRV between three different verbal (Speech and Stroop) and non-verbal (Montreal Imaging Stress Task; MIST) stress tasks, in a sample of 60 healthy adults (51.7% females; mean age = 25.6 ± 3.83 years). Analyses were run controlling for respiration rates. Participants reported similar levels of perceived stress across the three tasks. However, MIST induced a stronger cardiovascular response than Speech and Stroop tasks, even after controlling for respiration rates. Finally, women reported higher levels of perceived stress and lower HRV both at rest and in response to acute psychosocial stressors, compared to men. Taken together, our results suggest the presence of gender-related differences during psychophysiological experiments on stress. They also suggest that verbal activity masked the vagal withdrawal through altered respiration patterns imposed by speaking. Therefore, our findings support the use of highly-standardized math task, such as MIST, as a valid and reliable alternative to verbal protocols during laboratory studies on stress., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)
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- 2018
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184. Post-operative cognitive decline (POCD) after gynaecologic surgery: current opinions and future applications.
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Zarbo C, Brivio M, Brugnera A, Malandrino C, Trezzi G, Rabboni M, Bondi E, Compare A, and Frigerio L
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- Aged, Cognition Disorders psychology, Female, Gynecologic Surgical Procedures psychology, Humans, Male, Treatment Outcome, Anesthesia, Cognition physiology, Cognition Disorders etiology, Gynecologic Surgical Procedures adverse effects, Postoperative Complications etiology
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Objective: Postoperative cognitive decline (POCD) is known to occur quite frequently after a cardiac surgery, especially in older population. Few studies specifically focused on its incidence and characteristics in gynecological setting., Methods: Current opinions and future applications of POCD studies in gynecological setting have been discussed., Result: There are still many questions and issues about POCD in gynecological setting that remain unanswered as well as numerous research fields that have not been still explored. In particular, from this article emerges the need of further studies in gynecological setting focusing on: (a) the evaluation of long-term effect of POCD (e.g. over 3 months after surgery); (b) elderly population; (c) a wide range of cognitive functions (memory, attention, concentration, orientation, etc.); (d) the evaluation of risk and protective factors for subsequent POCD development; (e) the relationships between POCD and previous psychological or neuroendocrine factors; (f) the difference on POCD outcomes between different anaesthesia and disorders., Conclusion: Promoting studies on this topic is significant for the reduction of sociosanitary costs, mortality rates, social dependences and the likelihood of comorbidity.
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- 2018
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185. Reliability and validity of the Experiences in Close Relationships Scale-12: Attachment dimensions in a clinical sample with eating disorders.
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Tasca GA, Brugnera A, Baldwin D, Carlucci S, Compare A, Balfour L, Proulx G, Gick M, and Lafontaine MF
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- Adult, Female, Humans, Interpersonal Relations, Male, Object Attachment, Reproducibility of Results, Risk Factors, Surveys and Questionnaires, Feeding and Eating Disorders psychology, Psychometrics methods
- Abstract
Objective: Attachment insecurity is a potential risk factor for the development and maintenance of eating disorders (EDs). To date, there are multiple psychometrically sound questionnaires for the evaluation of attachment in both clinical and healthy populations, such as the Experience in Close Relationships (ECR) scale. Composed by two subscales (i.e., attachment anxiety and avoidance), the ECR scale was recently adapted to a shorter, 12-item version (ECR-12). However, a validation of the ECR-12 among patients with EDs is still lacking. The present study sought to investigate the psychometric properties of the ECR-12, when used in a treatment-seeking sample with EDs., Method: A total of 1,262 treatment-seeking patients with various ED diagnoses completed the ECR-12, together with a commonly used measure of ED psychopathology (Eating Disorder Inventory-2). Subsamples also completed the Attachment Style Questionnaire (n = 66) or underwent a Day Hospital Program (n = 128)., Results: A multigroup confirmatory factor analysis indicated that the ECR-12 maintained its two-factor structure across the ED diagnostic groups. In addition, the scale demonstrated good convergent validity, internal consistency, concurrent, and incremental validity. Finally, both ECR-12 subscales demonstrated adequate test-retest reliability., Discussion: Our results provide preliminary evidence of the psychometric properties of ECR-12 in assessing attachment anxiety and avoidance among patients with EDs. This short scale could help clinicians tailor interventions for EDs that take into account attachment dimensions., (© 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)
- Published
- 2018
- Full Text
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186. Cortical and cardiovascular responses to acute stressors and their relations with psychological distress.
- Author
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Brugnera A, Zarbo C, Adorni R, Tasca GA, Rabboni M, Bondi E, Compare A, and Sakatani K
- Subjects
- Adult, Autonomic Nervous System physiopathology, Electrocardiography, Female, Humans, Male, Prefrontal Cortex physiopathology, Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared, Young Adult, Anxiety physiopathology, Autonomic Nervous System physiology, Depression physiopathology, Heart Rate physiology, Prefrontal Cortex physiology, Psychomotor Performance physiology, Stress, Psychological physiopathology
- Abstract
The purpose of this study was to assess the interrelation between cortical, cardiovascular, behavioural, and psychological responses to acute stressors in a large sample of healthy individuals. To date, there are only preliminary evidences for a significant association among these psychophysiological indexes during a stress task. 65 participants completed psychological questionnaires (Beck Depression Inventory and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory) and underwent a psychosocial math stress task, consisting of a control and an experimental (i.e. stressful) condition. Prefrontal and autonomic activities were recorded using respectively a 2-channel near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) device and a portable ECG monitoring system. Results evidenced an increased activation of both frontal areas assessed by NIRS, and a positive association between the right NIRS channel and heart rate changes from baseline, during both control and experimental conditions. Subjective stress increased during the procedure, reaching its maximum during the experimental condition. Behavioural performances during the task (e.g. response time) did not correlate with anxiety or depression. Autonomic data evidenced, as expected, an overall reduction of vagal tone during the experimental condition. Finally, severity of depressive and anxious symptoms predicted an increase in parasympathetic activity both at rest and during the task, even when controlling for respiration rate. Results support the hypothesis of an integration between right sectors of frontopolar or dorsolateral PFC and cardiac regulation. Trait anxiety and depression predicted an increase in vagal tone during the entire procedure. The implication of these findings is discussed., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)
- Published
- 2017
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
187. Psychiatric comorbidity and maternal distress among adolescent eating disorder patients: A comparison with substance use disorder patients.
- Author
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Anastasiadou D, Parks M, Brugnera A, Sepulveda AR, and Graell M
- Subjects
- Adolescent, Anxiety, Comorbidity, Cross-Sectional Studies, Depression, Female, Humans, Male, Spain, Feeding and Eating Disorders epidemiology, Mothers psychology, Stress, Psychological, Substance-Related Disorders epidemiology
- Abstract
High rates of comorbidity are found among eating disorder (ED) patients, which may negatively affect treatment outcome and prognosis. However, there is a shortage of studies in Spain using clinician administered interviews to assess rates of comorbidity among these patients, particularly in adolescents. This study aimed to evaluate Axis I psychiatric diagnoses in adolescent patients with an ED and to compare them with patients with a distinct disorder with adolescent onset, substance use disorder (SUD) patients. Considering that maternal psychological distress is another factor involved in ED prognosis, a secondary aim was to examine the relationship between patient's psychological variables and maternal distress (depression and anxiety). The cross-sectional study included 50 ED patients, 48 SUD patients, and their mothers. More than half of the patients received a diagnosis for a comorbid disorder. Internalizing problems were more common among EDs and externalizing disorders were the most common comorbidities among SUDs, similar to findings from other countries. Maternal distress was associated with higher levels of depression and symptom severity in patients. No differences in distress were found between mothers of patients with a comorbid diagnosis and those without. Elevated anxiety or depression in mothers did not increase the likelihood of patients having a particular primary diagnosis. In short, while both ED and SUD patients presented high rates of comorbidity, the types of comorbid diagnoses were specific to each group. Assessing for the presence of comorbid disorders and targeting maternal psychological distress may guide treatment interventions and improve patient prognosis., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)
- Published
- 2017
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
188. Effects of Positive and Negative Mood Induction on the Prefrontal Cortex Activity Measured by Near Infrared Spectroscopy.
- Author
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Compare A, Brugnera A, Adorni R, and Sakatani K
- Subjects
- Adult, Anger, Female, Happiness, Humans, Male, Mental Recall, Oxyhemoglobins metabolism, Time Factors, Verbal Behavior, Young Adult, Affect, Brain Mapping methods, Oximetry methods, Oxygen blood, Prefrontal Cortex metabolism, Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared
- Abstract
The neurophysiological mechanism of positive versus negative emotions is insufficiently understood. In the present study, we examined the effect of event recall tasks on the prefrontal cortex (PFC) activity using near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). Nine healthy adults were instructed to recall episodes of their life associated with positive (happiness) and negative (anger) emotion, both silently and verbally. Heart rate (HR) changes were simultaneously measured. NIRS showed an increased oxyhemoglobin (oxy-Hb) in the bilateral PFC during silent and verbal recall of both positive and negative episodes. The changes of oxy-Hb in the bilateral PFC during silent recall of negative episodes were significantly larger than those during silent recall of positive episodes (p < 0.01). There was no difference in average changes of oxy-Hb between silent and verbal recall of negative episodes (p > 0.95), while changes of oxy-Hb during verbal recall of positive episodes were larger than those during silent recall of positive episodes (p < 0.05). Both verbal and silent recall of positive and negative episodes increased HR; however, verbal recall caused larger increases of HR than silent recall (p < 0.01). The present results suggest that recall of negative episodes affect the PFC activity, which plays a key role in cognitive control of emotions, more than positive episodes.
- Published
- 2016
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
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