73 results on '"Anna Maria Speranza"'
Search Results
2. Prosocial and externalizing behaviors in children raised by different-and same-gender parent families: new directions in parenting research
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Roberto Baiocco, Ainzara Favini, Jessica Pistella, Nicola Carone, Anna Maria Speranza, and Vittorio Lingiardi
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children adjustment ,parenting practices ,prosocial behaviors ,externalizing behaviors ,same-gender parent families ,Psychology ,BF1-990 - Abstract
IntroductionLimited research focused on the association between parenting practices and children’s prosocial and externalizing behaviors comparing same- and different-gender parent families. The present study considered 76 Italian families (73% same-gender and 27% different-gender parent families) with 8-year-old (SD = 2.17; 49% assigned female at birth) children born through assisted reproductive techniques, to explore parenting practices and children’s prosocial and externalizing behaviors.MethodWe ran a Multiple-group-by-couple Structural Equation Model in which we estimated the predictive role of parenting on children’s behaviors, controlling for age, gender, and family socioeconomic status using the Maximum Likelihood estimation.ResultsResults showed that both same- and different-gender parent families reported high levels of parental warmth and very low levels of hostility and rejection; regarding children’s behaviors, both same- and different-gender parent families reported high levels of prosociality and low levels of externalizing behaviors. In addition, same-gender parents reported significantly higher levels of children’s prosociality and parental warmth than different-gender parents. Regarding associations between parenting practices and behaviors, we found a positive association between positive parenting practices and increasing children’s prosocial behaviors and decreasing children’s externalizing behaviors, in both same- and different-gender families, controlling for family background characteristics.ConclusionThe present study encourages future research to investigate how specific parenting practices can influence behavioral adjustment in children, focusing on same-gender parent families.
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- 2024
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3. The catcher in the mind: validation of the brief-mentalized affectivity scale for adolescents in the Italian population
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Marianna Liotti, Alice Fiorini Bincoletto, Fabiola Bizzi, Marta Tironi, Simone Charpentier Mora, Donatella Cavanna, Guido Giovanardi, Elliot Jurist, Anna Maria Speranza, Vittorio Lingiardi, and Annalisa Tanzilli
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Mentalized affectivity ,adolescence ,B-MAS-A ,reflective functioning ,epistemic trust ,Psychology ,BF1-990 - Abstract
The concept of mentalized affectivity (MA) encompasses the dimensions of identifying, processing, and expressing emotions and describes the process of making sense of and reevaluating one’s affects in light of autobiographical memory. This construct was developed within the theoretical framework of mentalization and, due to its interpersonal nature, added further complexity to the emotion regulation construct. This research aimed to examine the factor structure and psychometric properties of the Brief-Mentalized Affectivity Scale for adolescents (B-MAS-A) on an Italian sample of young people (aged 13-19 years). Data were collected using non-probabilistic sampling and an online survey. Participants were asked to complete a large battery of instruments, including the B-MAS-A, the Toronto Alexithymia Scale, the Reflective Functioning Questionnaire, the Epistemic Trust, Mistrust, and Credulity Questionnaire, the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, and the General Self-Efficacy Scale. In study 1, factor analyses carried out on a total sample of 566 adolescents identified 3 distinct dimensions of the same components of MA found in the adult population: i) identifying; ii) processing; iii) expressing emotions. The subscales showed excellent internal consistency. Study 2 (involving a subsample of 288 participants) demonstrated good levels of construct and criterion validity. These results confirm that the B-MAS-A represents a valid and robust instrument for assessing the complex and multifaceted characteristics of MA in adolescents. The B-MAS-A can make a significant contribution to clinical practice and research and encourage systematic studies on MA in psychotherapy, taking into account the developmental stage of adolescence.
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- 2024
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4. Psychological Counseling among University Students Worldwide: A Systematic Review
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Silvia Cerolini, Andrea Zagaria, Costanza Franchini, Vito Giuseppe Maniaci, Alexandro Fortunato, Chiara Petrocchi, Anna Maria Speranza, and Caterina Lombardo
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psychological counseling ,university students ,psychological intervention ,university counseling services ,systematic review ,Public aspects of medicine ,RA1-1270 ,Psychology ,BF1-990 - Abstract
University counseling services (UCSs) are actively involved in mental health assessment and in supplying interventions aimed at preventing, facing and possibly overcoming psychological problems. However, we do not have a global overview of psychological counseling among universities. This systematic review aims at reviewing the literature on university psychological counseling, including articles documenting: (1) mental health and attitudes regarding help-seeking behaviors and UCSs among university students or counselors, (2) the description of protocols/services among UCSs, (3) the efficacy of psychological counseling/interventions among university students (both face-to-face and internet-delivered interventions). The study followed PRISMA guidelines and was registered on PROSPERO. After defining inclusion and exclusion criteria, a literature search was conducted, identifying 7085 records. Finally, 152 articles met the review eligibility criteria and were included in the qualitative synthesis. Results are divided into seven thematic topics that emerged during the analysis of the literature. The results mainly showed that face-to-face and web-based counseling/psychological interventions improve university students’ mental health. Cross-sectional studies showed that many biases exist toward help-seeking behaviors, especially among international students. Both students and counselors must strive to overcome cultural barriers. Available resources for UCSs are scarce and need to be strengthened, as well as efficacy studies through randomized clinical trials.
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- 2023
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5. Heterotypic and homotypic continuity in psychopathology: a narrative review
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Anna Maria Speranza, Marianna Liotti, Ilaria Spoletini, and Alexandro Fortunato
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psychopathology ,homotypic continuity ,heterotypic continuity ,adolescence ,childhood ,Psychology ,BF1-990 - Abstract
Psychopathology is a process: it unfolds over time and involves several different factors. To extend our knowledge of such process, it is vital to understand the trajectories that lead to developing and maintaining a specific disorder. The construct of continuity appears very useful to this aim. It refers to the consistency, similarity, and predictability of behaviors or internal states across different developmental phases. This paper aims to present a narrative review of the literature on homotypic and heterotypic continuity of psychopathology across the lifespan. A detailed search of the published literature was conducted using the PsycINFO Record and Medline (PubMed) databases. Articles were included in the review based on the following criteria: (1) publication dates ranging from January 1970 to October 2022; and (2) articles being written in the English language. To ensure a thorough investigation, multiple combinations of keywords such as “continuity,” “psychopathology,” “infancy,” “childhood,” “adolescence,” “adulthood,” “homotypic,” and “heterotypic” were used. Articles were excluded if exclusively focused on epidemiologic data and if not specifically addressing the topic of psychopathology continuity. The literature yielded a total of 36 longitudinal studies and an additional 190 articles, spanning the research published between 1970 and 2022. Studies on continuity focus on the etiology of different forms of mental disorders and may represent a fundamental resource from both a theoretical and clinical perspective. Enhancing our understanding of the different trajectories beneath psychopathology may allow clinicians to implement more effective strategies, focusing both on prevention and intervention. Since literature highlights the importance of early detection of clinical signs of psychopathology, future research should focus more on infancy and pre-scholar age.
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- 2023
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6. Free-Association Session Scale: factor structure and preliminary validity test
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Rachele Mariani, Cinzia Di Monte, Luca Caricati, Tiziana Bastianini, Anna Ferruta, Christian Christopher, Anna Maria Speranza, Benedetta Guerrini degli Innocenti, and Alessandro Musetti
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psychoanalysis ,free-association ,psychotherapy process ,clinician measure ,quality session ,Psychology ,BF1-990 - Abstract
One of the main concepts of the psychoanalytic method postulated by Freud in 1912 is the fundamental rule, which involves asking the patient to say whatever comes to mind as the analyst follows the patient's speech with fluctuating attention. Despite different theoretical models, this concept has remained an invariant element that characterizes the psychoanalytic method. For this reason, the purpose of the current study is to present a new instrument that measures this process based on the clinician's assessment. The Free-Association Session Scale (FASS) has been designed according to the psychoanalytic framework. Study 1 presented the preliminary validation of the FASS factor structure. Experienced Italian psychoanalysts (N = 281; 196 women) completed the FASS and sociodemographic questionnaire. The following two factors were identified using exploratory factor analysis: (1) Perturbing, and (2) Associativity. Study 2 cross-validated the two factors using an independent sample (N = 259; 187 women) of experienced psychoanalysts and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). The FASS has been tested for concurrent validity using the Session Evaluation Questionnaire (SEQ) and Linguistic measures of the Referential process. The two-factor model achieved a close-fit test, and the FASS items were found to measure the corresponding factors with good reliability. The Perturbing factor is negatively associated with three SEQ factors (Depth, Smoothness, and Positivity) and negatively correlated with symbolization (IWRAD and IWRAD_IWRRL), confirming a more complex and unexpected session. The Associativity factor is positively associated with all four SEQ factors (Depth, Smoothness, Positivity, and Arousal). In conclusion, the FASS is a promising new questionnaire for assessing psychoanalytic session quality processes with satisfactory validity and reliability.
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- 2023
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7. Psychodynamic university counseling: which factors predict psychological functioning after intervention?
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Anna Maria Speranza, Costanza Franchini, Maria Quintigliano, Silvia Andreassi, Mara Morelli, Silvia Cerolini, Chiara Petrocchi, and Alexandro Fortunato
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university counseling ,effectiveness ,university students ,personality ,affective problems ,young people ,Psychology ,BF1-990 - Abstract
IntroductionUniversity counseling centers represent important resources for personal development, and students are increasingly turning to them for help. The present study aimed at, first, evaluating changing in psychological functioning before and after a university counseling intervention and, second, exploring which psychological variables predicted the intervention outcome.MethodsFor this purpose, 122 students who attended university counseling services were administered measures to assess personality traits, and measures to assess state variables - intended as contextual, rather than stable, alterations in functioning - such as anxiety, hopelessness and depression. Several Linear Mixed Models were performed to measure the differences between OQ-45 scores before and after the intervention (one for each OQ dimension and OQ total score); then, two steps of multiple regression analyses were performed.ResultsSignificative reductions between pre-test and post-test OQ-45 scores were found, highlighting increased levels of well-being; personality traits seem not to be predictive of the intervention outcome, while state variables significantly contribute to the psychological wellbeing improvement after counseling intervention.DiscussionOur findings highlight the importance of paying attention to the role of affective difficulties in predicting the counseling effectiveness.
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- 2023
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8. Unpacking trust: The Italian validation of the Epistemic Trust, Mistrust, and Credulity Questionnaire (ETMCQ).
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Marianna Liotti, Alberto Milesi, Grazia Fernanda Spitoni, Annalisa Tanzilli, Anna Maria Speranza, Laura Parolin, Chloe Campbell, Peter Fonagy, Vittorio Lingiardi, and Guido Giovanardi
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Medicine ,Science - Abstract
The construct of epistemic trust has received much consideration in recent psychological literature, even though mainly from a theoretical perspective. The overall aim of this study was to validate the first self-report measure of epistemic trust-the Epistemic Trust, Mistrust, and Credulity Questionnaire (ETMCQ)-in an Italian sample. Our primary goal was to test the factorial validity of the instrument, also exploring the influence of age, gender, and level of education on epistemic trust (Study 1, n = 843). Secondarily, we investigated the associations between epistemic trust, mistrust, credulity, and other aspects of psychological functioning, as well as with the presence of adverse childhood experiences in a smaller number of participants (Study 2, n = 445). Besides the ETMCQ, the survey included an ad hoc questionnaire investigating socio-demographic characteristics and self-report measures of reflective functioning, mentalized affectivity, traumatic experiences, attachment, and psychological symptoms. Statistical analysis showed a three-factor hierarchical structure similar to the model proposed in the original validation, with some differences that suggest an influence of cultural factors in determining individuals' epistemic stance. Our results corroborate previous theoretical contributions regarding the association between epistemic trust and psychological wellbeing, and between epistemic disruptions and higher levels of psychological suffering. Both Mistrust and Credulity were significantly related to the presence of childhood traumatic experiences, attachment avoidance and anxiety, lower levels of mentalization, lower abilities in emotional regulation, and higher levels of psychopathological symptoms. The ETMCQ represents an easily administered and time-effective tool. Its use could pave the way for interesting clinical and theoretical findings.
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- 2023
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9. Anxiety Symptoms, COVID-19-Related Stress Reactions in the Italian General Population, and Validation of the Italian COVID Stress Scales (CSS-I)
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Antonio Del Casale, Martina Nicole Modesti, Carlo Lai, Valeria Carola, Simone Mimun, Alba Bruzzese, Anna Maria Speranza, Dalainey H. Drakes, Gordon J. G. Asmundson, and Giampaolo Nicolais
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COVID-19 ,Italian people ,anxiety ,depression ,fear ,compulsive behaviour ,Medicine - Abstract
Background. The COVID Stress Scales (CSS) assess COVID-related stress experienced in the past week related to danger and contamination fears, socioeconomic consequences, xenophobia, compulsive checking, and reassurance seeking, and traumatic stress symptoms. Our objective was to provide a translation into Italian, replication, and psychometric validation of the CSS in the general population. Moreover, we aimed to test the convergent and discriminant validity of the Italian CSS (CSS-I) with respect to anxiety, stress, and depressive symptoms in the general Italian population. Method. Adult participants (n = 935) over the age of 18 years were recruited from the general population in Italy. Psychological status was assessed using multiple validated measures, including the CSS, Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scales-21 (DASS-21), and the Prejudice Against Immigrants Scale (PAIS). Results. Our confirmatory factor analysis supported a 6-factor model, including danger fears (DAN), socioeconomic consequences (SEC), xenophobia (XEN), compulsive checking and reassurance seeking (CHE), contamination fears (CON), and traumatic stress symptoms (TSS). Strong reliability of the CSS-I (Cronbach’s α = 0.863–0.936) and convergent validity with the DASS-21 and PAI were established with positive correlations between total and scale scores across measures. Conclusions. The CSS-I is a valid and reliable instrument to measure COVID-19-related distress in the Italian population.
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- 2023
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10. Exploring Gender Diversity in Transgender and Non-Binary Adults Accessing a Specialized Service in Italy
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Marta Mirabella, Bianca Di Giannantonio, Guido Giovanardi, Irene Piras, Alessandra D. Fisher, Vittorio Lingiardi, Luca Chianura, Jiska Ristori, Anna Maria Speranza, and Alexandro Fortunato
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gender identity ,access to care ,gender expression ,gender non-conforming adults ,Medicine - Abstract
In Italy, studies investigating gender identity and expression in gender non-conforming adults are lacking, as well as data regarding the non-binary population. The present study aimed at dimensionally exploring how transgender and non-binary Italian adults identify and express their gender. The Gender Diversity Questionnaire (GDQ) was administered to a sample of 112 adult subjects aged 18–60 years accessing a gender-specialized service in Rome. The majority of the participants were aged 18–24 years (53.6%), whereas fewer subjects were aged 25–35 years (32%) and 35 years and older (14.3%). Most participants (83.9%) identified themselves as trans binary, while the remaining (16.1%) identified as non-binary. Trans binary participants reported a stable gender identity, whereas non-binary participants reported a more fluid gender identity over time and across contexts. Younger subjects recognized the use of chosen names, pronouns, and clothes as important for their gender expression, whereas older subjects attributed more importance to physical appearance and emotions. Differences regarding gender-affirmative interventions emerged between non-binary and transbinary participants. Findings evidence that gender non-conforming adults accessing gender-specialized services have unique needs and features, thus it is essential to shed light on this population by providing greater visibility and recognition.
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- 2023
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11. The CPAP-Q: A Q-Sort Assessment Procedure for assessing traits and emerging personality patterns in childhood
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Alexandro Fortunato, Annalisa Tanzilli, Vittorio Lingiardi, and Anna Maria Speranza
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Child personality ,Diagnosis ,Emerging personality patterns ,CPAP-Q ,Psychology ,BF1-990 - Abstract
Introduction: Different from psychopathological assessment, personality assessment considers an individual's entire range of functioning. The evaluation of personality during childhood is more complex than assessment in other life phases, but crucial for understanding the risk and protective factors for personality pathology. This paper has two main goals. The first goal is to describe the CPAP-Q, including its development and features. The CPAP-Q is a 200-item clinician-report tool that can be used by therapists of any orientation. The second goal is to provide additional preliminary data on the validity of the CPAP-Q. Method: A sample of 257 clinicians completed the CPAP-Q to assess the personality features of 257 children (aged 4–11 years) who had been in their care for 2–12 months. Clinicians also completed a clinical questionnaire to provide information on themselves, their child patients, and their patients' families; and the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) to evaluate patients' behavioral problems and social competencies. Results: The CPAP-Q seems to represent a useful assessment tool with good concurrent validity. Correlations between the CPAP-Q and the CBCL revealed strong convergent and divergent validity. Furthermore, the associations between personality prototypes and syndromic scales concurred with the clinical literature. Conclusion: The CPAP-Q is a new tool for assessing child personality, from a clinical perspective. It is effective at identifying personality styles, even during childhood.
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- 2022
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12. Special issue: Research in child and adolescent psychotherapy
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Miriam Steele and Anna Maria Speranza
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Editorials ,special issue ,child and adolescent psychotherapy. ,Psychology ,BF1-990 - Abstract
Not available.
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- 2022
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13. Psychodiagnostic Chart–Child (PDC–C): A valid and clinically sensitive diagnostic tool for patient-tailored interventions planning
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Alexandro Fortunato, Annalisa Tanzilli, Vittorio Lingiardi, and Anna Maria Speranza
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Assessment ,childhood ,treatment ,personality ,mental functioning. ,Psychology ,BF1-990 - Abstract
Background: Reliable clinical-diagnostic evaluation is crucial in childhood. The present research sought to examine the validity of the Psychodiagnostic Chart – Child (PDC–C) in assessing children’s mental functioning and personality organization according to the Psychodynamic Diagnostic Manual- Second Edition (PDM–2)’s framework. Method: A sample of 209 clinicians completed the PDC-C to assess 209 children between the age of 4 and 11 who had been in their care for a time range between 2 and 12 months. Each clinician completed a clinical questionnaire to collect demographic information, as well as the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) to evaluate the presence of behavioral problems and the attainment of social competences, and the Childhood Personality Assessment Q-Sort (CPAP–Q) to assess emerging personality patterns. Results: The findings confirmed that the PDC–C is a valid tool able to provide a comprehensive diagnosis considering the child’s full range of functioning. Moreover, this measure showed good levels of sensitivity and appears clinically useful in distinguishing some psychological characteristic in different clinical populations. Conclusions: PDC–C could be a useful measure in promoting an accurate assessment in developmental stage and to tailor individualized therapeutic interventions. One of the PDC–C’s advantages is its ability to capture variations in the child’s functioning even within the same diagnostic category, illuminating strengths and psychological vulnerabilities. Noteworthy, additional research is needed to establish the utility of PDC–C derived ratings in predicting clinically relevant constructs and to monitor both the process and the outcome of interventions.
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- 2022
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14. Conceptual comparison of constructs as first step in data harmonization: Parental sensitivity, child temperament, and social support as illustrations
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Marije L. Verhage, Carlo Schuengel, Annaleena Holopainen, Marian J. Bakermans-Kranenburg, Annie Bernier, Geoffrey L. Brown, Sheri Madigan, Glenn I. Roisman, Mette S. Vaever, Maria S. Wong, Lavinia Barone, Kazuko Y. Behrens, Johanna Behringer, Ina Bovenschen, Rosalinda Cassibba, Jude Cassidy, Gabrielle Coppola, Alessandro Costantini, Mary Dozier, Karin Ensink, R. M. Pasco Fearon, Brent Finger, Airi Hautamaki, Nancy L. Hazen, Elena Ierardi, Inês Jongenelen, Simo Køppe, Francesca Lionetti, Sarah Mangelsdorf, Mirjam Oosterman, Cecilia S. Pace, K. Lee Raby, Cristina Riva Crugnola, Alessandra Simonelli, Gottfried Spangler, George M. Tarabulsy, Mette S. Væver, Bronia Arnott, Heidi Bailey, Patrick J. Brice, Karl-Heinz Brisch, Germana Castoro, Elisabetta Costantino, Chantal Cyr, Carol George, Gabriele Gloger-Tippelt, Sonia Gojman, Susanne Harder, Carollee Howes, Heidi Jacobsen, Deborah Jacobvitz, Mi Kyoung Jin, Femmie Juffer, Miyuki Kazui, Esther M. Leerkes, Karlen Lyons-Ruth, Catherine McMahon, Elizabeth Meins, Salvador Millán, Lynne Murray, Katja Nowacki, David R. Pederson, Lynn Priddis, Avi Sagi-Schwartz, Sarah J. Schoppe-Sullivan, Judith Solomon, Anna Maria Speranza, Miriam Steele, Howard Steele, Doug M. Teti, Marinus H. van IJzendoorn, W. Monique van Londen-Barentsen, and Mary J. Ward
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Conceptual comparison to assure construct validity in data harmonization ,Science - Abstract
This article presents a strategy for the initial step of data harmonization in Individual Participant Data syntheses, i.e., making decisions as to which measures operationalize the constructs of interest - and which do not. This step is vital in the process of data harmonization, because a study can only be as good as its measures. If the construct validity of the measures is in question, study results are questionable as well. Our proposed strategy for data harmonization consists of three steps. First, a unitary construct is defined based on the existing literature, preferably on the theoretical framework surrounding the construct. Second, the various instruments used to measure the construct are evaluated as operationalizations of this construct, and retained or excluded based on this evaluation. Third, the scores of the included measures are recoded on the same metric. We illustrate the use of this method with three example constructs focal to the Collaboration on Attachment Transmission Synthesis (CATS) study: parental sensitivity, child temperament, and social support. This process description may aid researchers in their data pooling studies, filling a gap in the literature on the first step of data harmonization. • Data harmonization in studies using combined datasets is of vital importance for the validity of the study results. • We have developed and illustrated a strategy on how to define a unitary construct and evaluate whether instruments are operationalizations of this construct as the initial step in the harmonization process. • This strategy is a transferable and reproducible method to apply to the data harmonization process.
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- 2022
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15. The Role of Complex Trauma and Attachment Patterns in Intimate Partner Violence
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Anna Maria Speranza, Benedetto Farina, Caterina Bossa, Alexandro Fortunato, Carola Maggiora Vergano, Luigia Palmiero, Maria Quintigliano, and Marianna Liotti
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intimate partner violence ,attachment disorganization ,complex trauma ,childhood trauma ,victimization ,attachment trauma ,Psychology ,BF1-990 - Abstract
ObjectiveEven if the relationship between adverse childhood experiences and intimate partner violence (IPV) has already been established, there are no sufficient studies examining the relationships between these factors and attachment representations, specifically attachment disorganization. Thus, this study aimed to explore, in a sample of women who experienced IPV (a) the presence of interpersonal adversities during childhood, and (b) attachment representations, with a particular focus on disorganization.MethodsWomen’s representations of attachment experiences were investigated through the Adult Attachment Interview, while the presence of various forms of interpersonal adversities during childhood was assessed using the Complex Trauma Questionnaire. The results of the IPV group (n = 98) were compared with those of women with no history of IPV (control group, n = 81).ResultsWomen in the IPV group showed higher values of multiple forms of adverse experiences within their caregiving system. They presented significantly higher rates of disorganized states of mind regarding attachment, indicative of a lack of resolution regarding traumatic experiences, and of disorganized working models resulting from complex trauma. Our results highlighted that, more than the presence of traumatic experiences, it is their irresolution – reflected in the disorganized states of mind regarding attachment at the Adult Attachment Interview – to be a significant predictor of IPV.ConclusionThese results suggest underline the significance of offering a trauma- and attachment-informed therapy to those who experience IPV. Such results could help both clinicians and researchers in formulating clearer guidelines for IPV interventions.
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- 2022
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16. Role of Parental Attachment Styles in Moderating Interaction Between Parenting Stress and Perceived Infant Characteristics
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Maria Quintigliano, Cristina Trentini, Alexandro Fortunato, Marco Lauriola, and Anna Maria Speranza
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infancy ,parenting stress ,attachment styles ,social communication abilities ,sensory regulatory functions ,Psychology ,BF1-990 - Abstract
By employing the transactional model of development and focusing on the multifactorial nature of parenting, this study aimed to (1) examine whether important risk factors, particularly mothers’ insecure attachment styles and parenting stress contribute to the perception of their infants’ characteristics and (2) explore whether maternal attachment styles moderate the relationship between parenting stress and perceived infants’ characteristics. We recruited 357 mothers (age: 34.23; ± 5.38) who had 1-year-old infants (161 males and 196 females; age: 12.70; ± 1.60 months). All the mothers completed three self-report instruments: Parenting Stress Index–Short Form (PSI-SF), Attachment Style Questionnaire (ASQ), and 1st-Year Inventory (FYI). Although the latter was originally developed to determine the risk for autism in 1-year-olds, it was employed in this study to measure infant’s characteristics within two domains: social communication and sensory regulatory functions. Multiple regression analyses revealed that one of the PSI-SF dimensions - specifically the Parent–Child Dysfunctional Interaction - contributed to mothers’ perceptions of their children’s social communication abilities, whereas the attachment style did not. Other multiple regression analyses showed that all the dimensions of parenting stress - that is, Parenting Distress (PD), Parent-Child Dysfunctional Interaction (PCDI), and Difficult Child (DC) - contributed to mothers’ perceptions of their sensory regulatory abilities. The attachment styles, particularly anxious attachment, contributed significantly to a biased perception of these abilities controlled for parenting stress. Mothers reporting high levels of avoidance and high levels of PD viewed their children as less able in the social communicative domain (SC Dom) than if they had low levels of PD. By contrast, when levels of avoidance were low, mothers with high PD perceived their children as less difficult in the SC Dom than those with low levels of PD. Moreover, high avoidance levels influenced how mothers who considered the interaction with their children as difficult perceived them as having greater difficulties in relation to sensory regulatory domain (SR Dom). By contrast, mothers with high levels of anxiety high levels of PD view their children as less able in the SC Dom than if they had low levels of PD. When mothers’ levels of anxiety were very low, those with high PD viewed their children as less difficult in the SC Dom in comparison to those with low levels of PD.
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- 2021
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17. Mentalized affectivity in a nutshell: Validation of the Italian version of the Brief-Mentalized Affectivity Scale (B-MAS).
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Marianna Liotti, Grazia Fernanda Spitoni, Vittorio Lingiardi, Antonella Marchetti, Anna Maria Speranza, Annalisa Valle, Elliot Jurist, and Guido Giovanardi
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Medicine ,Science - Abstract
The term "mentalized affectivity" describes the ability to reflect on, process, modulate and express emotions through the prism of autobiographical memory. It represents a bridge concept that integrates previous contributions on emotion regulation and mentalization, offering a quite unique perspective on affective and reflective functioning. The overall aim of this study was to validate the Brief-Mentalized Affectivity Scale (B-MAS), a 12-items self-report instrument, on the Italian population. We tested both the factorial validity of the instrument and its reliability and convergent validity with other similar constructs. We also obtained normative data for the Italian population, broken down by gender. Participants (n = 389) were recruited through snowball sampling. Data was collected through an online survey. Besides the Brief-Mentalized Affectivity Scale, the survey included an ad hoc schedule with questions investigating socio-demographic characteristics, and self-report measures of empathy and reflective functioning. Statistical analysis has shown a three-component (Identifying, Processing, and Expressing emotions) hierarchical structure underlying mentalized affectivity, mirroring the model already proposed in the original validation of the instrument. Moreover, the B-MAS showed good psychometric properties for what regards both reliability and convergent validity. The results of our study highlight the good operationalization and robust empirical foundation of the construct, revealing that the B-MAS is a promising instrument to assess mentalized affectivity. Its brevity makes it particularly valuable both in clinical and research contexts, and the normative data provided in this study will allow an easy comparison with the scores obtained by other samples (clinical and non-clinical).
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- 2021
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18. Effects of COVID-19 Epidemic Lockdown on Postpartum Depressive Symptoms in a Sample of Italian Mothers
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Olivia Spinola, Marianna Liotti, Anna Maria Speranza, and Renata Tambelli
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COVID- 19 ,lockdown ,postpartum depression (PPD) ,mental health ,motherhood ,Psychiatry ,RC435-571 - Abstract
The extraordinary health emergency of the COVID-19 pandemic represents a new challenge for mental health researchers and clinical practitioners. The related containment measures may be a risk factor for psychological distress and mood disorders, especially in at-risk populations. This study aims to explore the impact of COVID-19 on postpartum depressive symptoms in mothers with children below 1 year of age. An online questionnaire survey was therefore conducted in Italy between May and June 2020. The survey consisted of several self-administered questionnaires: besides some ad-hoc questionnaires, the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), the Scale of Perceived Social Support (SPSS) and the Maternity Social Support Scale (MSSS) were used. Two hundred forty-three Italian women were included in the study. The prevalence of postpartum depression symptomatology among mothers was 44%, as measured through the EPDS (cut-off >12). Women who spent the isolation in northern Italy adopted maladaptive coping strategies significantly more than women living in areas at lower risk. The analysis highlighted a significant difference between the group that was not directly affected by the virus and women who have had a direct or indirect contact with it. Besides situational factors specific to the pandemic, the results show that there are some risk factors tied to the personal history of the mother (e.g., having had a previous abortion). These data should inform and enlighten future protocols of intervention.
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- 2020
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19. The Body I Live in. Perceptions and Meanings of Body Dissatisfaction in Young Transgender Adults: A Qualitative Study
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Marta Mirabella, Guido Giovanardi, Alexandro Fortunato, Giulia Senofonte, Francesco Lombardo, Vittorio Lingiardi, and Anna Maria Speranza
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gender incongruence ,body dissatisfaction ,body image ,appearance ,negative outcomes ,eating disorders ,Medicine - Abstract
Body dissatisfaction in individuals with Gender Incongruence (GI) represents a primary source of suffering. Several studies have highlighted how this suffering has psychological, physical, and biological implications. This work aims to explore experiences related to body dissatisfaction and investigate the issues associated with living in a body perceived as incongruent for individuals with GI. Thirty-six individuals, aged between 18 and 30 years old and at stage T0 of hormone treatment, participated in the study. Body dissatisfaction and experiences related to it were investigated using the Clinical Diagnostic Interview. The Consensual Qualitative Research methodology was applied to the transcripts of the interviews. Several themes emerged: experiences with GI development, experiences with puberty and bodily changes, perception of one’s body, psychological problems and complex behavioral patterns related to body dissatisfaction. Results pointed out the complexity implied in the relationship with one’s body for individuals with GI, highlighting specific aspects of body dissatisfaction among these individuals (e.g., eating disorders, sexual difficulties, social withdrawal). This study underlines the need for a deeper understanding of some aspects of GI to better define guidelines for a correct assessment of it. In this way it will be easier to avoid negative outcomes for the psychological and general health of transgender people.
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- 2020
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20. Attachment Patterns and Complex Trauma in a Sample of Adults Diagnosed with Gender Dysphoria
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Guido Giovanardi, Roberto Vitelli, Carola Maggiora Vergano, Alexandro Fortunato, Luca Chianura, Vittorio Lingiardi, and Anna Maria Speranza
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gender dysphoria ,transgender ,clinical health psychology ,attachment ,complex trauma ,parental relationships ,Psychology ,BF1-990 - Abstract
The current study investigated attachment representations and complex trauma in a sample of gender dysphoric adults. Although it has been proven that the psychological wellbeing of gender diverse persons is largely mediated by family acceptance and support, research on their relationships with parental figures is scarce. A total of 95 adults took part in the study. The attachment distribution was as follows: 27% secure, 27% insecure and 46% disorganized. Regarding early traumas, 56% experienced four or more traumatic forms. Further, gender dysphoric adults showed significantly higher levels of attachment disorganization and polyvictimisation, relative to controls. Comparisons of subgroups, defined by natal gender, showed that trans women, compared to control males, had more involving and physically and psychologically abusive fathers, and were more often separated from their mothers; trans men, relative to female controls, had more involving mothers and were more frequently separated from and neglected by their fathers. The research has several implications for treatment, clinical health psychology, family support and education.
- Published
- 2018
- Full Text
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21. Therapeutic interventions in intimate partner violence: an overview
- Author
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Valeria Condino, Annalisa Tanzilli, Anna Maria Speranza, and Vittorio Lingiardi
- Subjects
Intimate partner violence ,Therapeutic interventions ,Treatment ,Well-being ,Psychology ,BF1-990 - Abstract
Intimate partner violence (IPV) is associated with significant morbidity and mortality, and its prevention is a global public health priority. There is strong scientific evidence that suggests IPV and symptoms such as anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, substance abuse, chronic pain, etc. are linked. Despite recommendations and various interventions for the treatment of IPV that have been tried in these last 20 years, the rates of recurrence are still too high. Furthermore, there is a lack of research evidence for the effectiveness of the most common treatments provided for victims and perpetrators of IPVs. The purpose of this paper is to present most used, at a global level, therapeutic interventions for women experiencing IPV (as well as treatments for perpetrators). The possibility of building a preliminary theoretical and clinical model is discussed.
- Published
- 2016
- Full Text
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22. Disclosure and child exploration of surrogacy origins in gay father families: Fathers' Adult Attachment Interview coherence of mind matters
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Nicola Carone, Demetria Manzi, Lavinia Barone, Marta Mirabella, Anna Maria Speranza, Roberto Baiocco, and Vittorio Lingiardi
- Subjects
Reproductive Medicine ,Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health ,Obstetrics and Gynecology ,General Psychology - Published
- 2023
23. Parent–Child Relationship Scale (P‐CRS): A valid and clinically sensitive tool for assessing the parent‐child relationship
- Author
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Maria Quintigliano, Alexandro Fortunato, Marco Lauriola, and Anna Maria Speranza
- Subjects
Psychiatry and Mental health ,Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health ,Developmental and Educational Psychology - Abstract
The present study measured the efficacy of the Parent-Child Relationship Scale (P-CRS) in assessing the relationship between parents and children. The aims of the study were to explore how the scale scores change in relation to age and sex of the children, evaluate its ability to capture relational difficulties, and investigating its usefulness to assess the parent-child relationship in the context of certain psychopathological conditions. A total of 322 clinicians rated 542 mother-child dyads (92% Italian, 8% other nationality). The clinical group was comprised of 267 children with confirmed clinical conditions. The control group was comprised of 275 children with typical development, rated by clinicians in their private offices after four to five evaluative sessions. Descriptive statistics were captured and ANOVAs and linear regression analyses were performed to investigate in both groups the efficacy of the scale in assessing the parent-child relationship. Finally, to test P-CRS accuracy, optimal cutoff scores for each subscale were computed using the ROC method. The findings provide evidence for the P-CRS ability to capture relational difficulties in both groups, showing its utility as screening tool. Thus, the results support that P-CRS can be used for exploring how different relationship patterns can occur in different clinical conditions.
- Published
- 2022
24. Computerized linguistic analysis of counselors’ clinical notes in a university counseling center: Which associations correspond with students’ symptom reduction in a brief psychodynamic intervention?
- Author
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Alexandro Fortunato, Alessia Renzi, Silvia Andreassi, Vito Giuseppe Maniaci, Costanza Franchini, Mara Morelli, Gaetano Maria Sciabica, Anna Maria Speranza, and Rachele Mariani
- Subjects
General Materials Science - Published
- 2023
25. From symptoms to subjective and bodily experiences: the contribution of the Psychodynamic Diagnostic Manual (PDM-2) to diagnosis and treatment monitoring in eating disorders
- Author
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Marta Mirabella, Laura Muzi, Anna Franco, Alessia Urgese, Michele A. Rugo, Claudia Mazzeschi, Anna Maria Speranza, Nancy McWilliams, and Vittorio Lingiardi
- Subjects
Psychiatry and Mental health ,Clinical Psychology - Abstract
Purpose Atheoretical and descriptive conceptualizations of eating disorders (EDs) have faced substantial criticism due to their limited ability to assess patients’ subjective characteristics and experiences, as needed to determine the most appropriate treatment options. The present article provides an overview of the clinical and empirical literature supporting the potential contribution of the Psychodynamic Diagnostic Manual (PDM-2) to both diagnostic assessment and treatment monitoring. Methods Following a discussion of the most relevant shortcomings of current diagnostic models of EDs and a description of the rationale and structure of the PDM-2, evidence supporting the core PDM-2 dimensions of ED patients’ subjective experiences (i.e., affective states, cognitive processes, relational patterns, somatic/bodily experiences and states) are examined, alongside their relevance to ED diagnosis and treatment. Results Overall, the reviewed studies support the diagnostic importance of these patterns of subjective experiences in EDs, highlighting their potential role as either predisposing or maintaining factors to target in psychotherapy. A growing body of multidisciplinary evidence also shows that bodily and somatic experiences are central to the diagnosis and clinical management of ED patients. Moreover, there is evidence that a PDM-based assessment may enable closer monitoring of patient progress during treatment, with regard to both subjective experiences and symptom patterns. Conclusions The study suggests that current diagnostic frameworks for EDs would benefit from the addition of a person-centered perspective that considers not only symptoms, but also patients’ full range of functioning—including their deep and surface-level emotional, cognitive, interpersonal, and social patterns—to improve patient-tailored interventions. Level of evidence Level V, narrative review.
- Published
- 2023
26. Anorexia nervosa and familial risk factors: a systematic review of the literature
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Antonio Del Casale, Barbara Adriani, Martina Nicole Modesti, Serena Virzì, Giovanna Parmigiani, Alessandro Emiliano Vento, and Anna Maria Speranza
- Subjects
Risk factors ,Anorexia nervosa ,Family ,Eating disorders ,Environment ,General Psychology - Abstract
Anorexia Nervosa (AN) is a psychological disorder involving body manipulation, self-inflicted hunger, and fear of gaining weight.We performed an overview of the existing literature in the field of AN, highlighting the main intrafamilial risk factors for anorexia. We searched the PubMed database by using keywords such as “anorexia” and “risk factors” and “family”. After appropriate selection, 16 scientific articles were identified. The main intrafamilial risk factors for AN identified include: increased family food intake, higher parental demands, emotional reactivity, sexual family taboos, low familial involvement, family discord, negative family history for Eating Disorders (ED), family history of psychiatric disorders, alcohol and drug abuse, having a sibling with AN, relational trauma. Some other risk factors identified relate to the mother: lack of maternal caresses, dysfunctional interaction during feeding (for IA), attachment insecurity, dependence. Further studies are needed, to identify better personalized intervention strategies for patients suffering from AN.
- Published
- 2022
27. Modification of EEG power spectra and EEG connectivity in autobiographical memory: a sLORETA study.
- Author
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Claudio Imperatori, Riccardo Brunetti, Benedetto Farina, Anna Maria Speranza, Anna Losurdo, Elisa Testani, Anna Contardi, and Giacomo Della Marca
- Published
- 2014
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
28. Appearent autistic traits in transgender people: a prospective study of the impact of gender-affirming hormonal treatment
- Author
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Dr. Francesca Mazzoli, Dr. Emanuele Cassioli, Dr. Jiska Ristori, Prof. Giovanni Castellini, Dr. Eleonora Rossi, Dr. Alessia Romani, Dr. Carlotta Cocchetti, Dr. Guido Giovanardi, Dr. Maddalena Mosconi, Prof. Vittorio Lingiardi, Prof. Anna Maria Speranza, Prof. Valdo Ricca, Prof. Linda Vignozzi, Prof. Mario Maggi, and Dr. Alessandra D. Fisher
- Subjects
Psychiatry and Mental health ,Endocrinology ,Reproductive Medicine ,Urology ,Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism - Published
- 2022
29. Personality Disorders in Childhood: Validity of the Coolidge Personality and Neuropsychological Inventory for Children (CPNI)
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Vittorio LINGIARDI, ANNALISA TANZILLI, Anna Maria Speranza, and Alexandro FORTUNATO
- Subjects
CPNI ,Personality Inventory ,diagnosis ,assessment ,Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis ,Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health ,personality disorder ,Reproducibility of Results ,Personality Disorders ,Checklist ,childhood personality ,Research Design ,Surveys and Questionnaires ,Humans ,Child ,Personality - Abstract
Background: A growing body of evidence has shown that maladaptive traits and emerging patterns of personality can be traced to an early stage of development and may be assessed in childhood. The goal of present study was to provide preliminary data on the validity of the Coolidge Personality and Neuropsychological Inventory for Children (CPNI), an instrument designed to assess personality pathologies and other clinical conditions in childhood. Method: A sample of 146 clinicians completed the CPNI, as well as the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) to evaluate the behavioral problems and social competencies, regarding a child (aged 6–11 years) who had been in their care between 2 and 12 months. The clinicians also filled out a clinical questionnaire to provide information on the children, their families, and psychotherapies. Results: There were significant and clinically consistent associations between the CPNI and CBCL. They confirmed the good concurrent (convergent and discriminant) validity of the CPNI. Conclusions: The findings seem to support the validity of the CPNI as diagnostic instrument, taking children’s PDs and behavioral problems into account. Despite some limitations, the CPNI represents a helpful measure to evaluate the children’s personality configurations according to the DSM model. It may be employed along with other tools based on other diagnostic frameworks within the context of a multi-method and multi-informant assessment to provide an accurate and comprehensive formulation of children’s overall functioning.
- Published
- 2022
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
30. School refusal behavior. role of personality styles, social functioning, and psychiatric symptoms in a sample of adolescent help-seekers
- Author
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Renato, Carpentieri, Maria Elena, Iannoni, Martina, Curto, Mario, Biagiarelli, Giulia, Listanti, Maria Paola, Andraos, Beatrice, Mantovani, Carla, Farulla, Simona, Pelaccia, Giuseppe, Grosso, Anna Maria, Speranza, and Cinzia, Sarlatto
- Subjects
swap-a ,adolescence ,personality style ,school refusal behavior ,social functioning - Abstract
School refusal (SR) in adolescence represents an important risk factor associated with adverse consequences. Although many clinical features of adolescents presenting with SR have been studied, the relationship between SR and personality styles-specifically in the help-seeking population-remains unclear. The present study aimed at investigating differences in personality style, adaptive functioning, and symptomology between Italian help-seeking adolescents who refused (SRa) and did not refuse (non-SRa) to attend school, to provide preliminary evidence of personality patterns in adolescent help-seekers presenting with SR.The study sample was comprised of 103 help-seeking adolescents (54 female, 49 male) aged 14-18 years. Participants were recruited during their first clinical visit and evaluated using the Shedler and Westen Assessment Procedure - Adolescent version (SWAP-A), the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D), the Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety (HAM-A), the Maniac Rating Scale (MRS), the Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF), the Global Functioning Social Scale (GFSS), and the Global Functioning Role Scale (GFRS). Differences in the studied variables between SRa and non-SRa were measured and a multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to identify possible predictive factors of SR.SRa presented with more anxious and depressive symptomatology and worse social functioning compared to non-SRa. With respect to personality, SRa displayed more schizoid and schizotypal characteristics and fewer adaptive and healthy personality features. Irrespective of any differences between groups, SRa were largely characterized by inhibited-self-constricted and emotionally dysregulated personality styles.The results suggest that personality styles are clinical features that may contribute to broadening our knowledge of SR behavior and aid in the detection of SRa, also in the help-seeking population. The findings have clinical, social, and political implications for prevention, diagnosis, and treatment, in both clinical and non-clinical settings. However, more data are needed on personality features to clarify their contribution to the more complex phenomenon of school absenteeism.
- Published
- 2022
31. Caring for gender diverse children and adolescents in Italy: A mixed-method investigation of clinicians’ knowledge and approach to clinical practice
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Vittorio Lingiardi, Alexandro Fortunato, Marta Mirabella, Anna Maria Speranza, Guido Giovanardi, Giorgio Caviglia, Domenico Di Ceglie, Fortunato, Alexandro, Giovanardi, Guido, Mirabella, Marta, Di Ceglie, Domenico, Speranza Anna, Maria, Caviglia, Giorgio, and Lingiardi, Vittorio
- Subjects
transgender care ,Male ,Adolescent ,Gender diversity ,Health Services for Transgender Persons ,Transgender Persons ,transgender youth ,Young Adult ,03 medical and health sciences ,0302 clinical medicine ,Gender diverse youth ,Surveys and Questionnaires ,Humans ,Psychology ,0501 psychology and cognitive sciences ,Pediatricians ,Gender diverse youth, transgender youth, childhood, adolescence, transgender care ,Practice Patterns, Physicians' ,Child ,Qualitative Research ,childhood ,Medical education ,05 social sciences ,Visibility (geometry) ,Gender Identity ,General Medicine ,030227 psychiatry ,Clinical Practice ,Psychiatry and Mental health ,Clinical Psychology ,Italy ,Child, Preschool ,Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health ,adolescence ,Female ,Clinical Competence ,050104 developmental & child psychology - Abstract
Introduction: In today’s Italy, gender diversity has assumed a remarkable resonance and visibility in both scientific and popular literature, which has facilitated the development of studies regarding treatments and support for children and adolescents with gender-related issues. Aim: the aim of this study was to conduct a preliminary evaluation of how Italian clinicians (psychologists and pediatricians) perceive gender variant children and adolescents, evaluating their approach to clinical practice. Methods: An online questionnaire directed to clinicians regarding their experience with, and perceptions of, gender variant children and adolescents was used for the first part of the research. In the second part of this study, Consensual Qualitative Research (CQR) methodology was applied to semi-structured interviews aimed at investigating clinicians’ approach to clinical practice. Results: Professionals reported 374 cases, including 200 children (aged 2–11 years) and 174 adolescents (aged 12–19 years); a total of 10 interviews were conducted with professionals. Conclusion: This study highlights the increase of gender variant children and adolescents seen by professionals, but also the poor awareness of Italian professionals about gender diversity and their care, as well as an absence of a network model of intervention.
- Published
- 2020
32. Adolescent Development and the Parent–Adolescent Relationship in Diverse Family Forms Created by Assisted Reproduction
- Author
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Maria Quintigliano, Nicola Carone, Anna Maria Speranza, Annalisa Tanzilli, Roberto Baiocco, Lavinia Barone, Concetta Pastorelli, and Vittorio Lingiardi
- Subjects
heterosexual parents ,Adolescent ,Reproductive Techniques, Assisted ,lesbian mothers ,identity formation ,parent–child relationship ,Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis ,assisted reproduction ,Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health ,Homosexuality, Female ,Adolescent Development ,gay fathers ,Sexual and Gender Minorities ,Fertilization ,Humans ,Female ,single parents ,adolescent development ,attachment - Abstract
Assisted reproduction techniques (ARTs) are employed by single individuals and couples who are not otherwise able to conceive spontaneously. While the use of ARTs is increasing, research is lacking on the attempts made by adolescent offspring conceived via ARTs to integrate their ART conception into their identity and negotiate a connection with, and autonomy from, their parents. The present article reviews studies investigating adolescent development and the parent–adolescent relationship in diverse family forms created by ARTs (mainly heterosexual and lesbian parent families), and discusses the results in light of attachment, identity development, and emotional distance regulation theories. Overall, the results indicate that the psychological adjustment of adolescents conceived via ARTs is not undermined by the manner of their conception, and that they enjoy positive relationships with their parents with no difference from those enjoyed by spontaneously conceived adolescents. However, it remains unknown whether the development of a reproductive identity in adolescence is likely to influence adolescents’ interest in searching for or contacting their donors, surrogates, and/or donor siblings. The results suggest the relevance of considering the parent–adolescent relationship, disclosure, and identity formation issues when planning psychological counseling and support interventions with ART parents and their adolescent offspring, and emphasize the need to further investigate these aspects in diverse ART families, including single-, gay-, bisexual-, and trans*-parent families.
- Published
- 2022
33. Childhood Personality Assessment Q-Sort (CPAP-Q): A Clinically and Empirically Procedure for Assessing Traits and Emerging Patterns of Personality in Childhood
- Author
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Annalisa Tanzilli, Alexandro Fortunato, Anna Maria Speranza, and Vittorio Lingiardi
- Subjects
Adult ,050103 clinical psychology ,Adolescent ,diagnosis ,Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis ,media_common.quotation_subject ,Validity ,CBCL ,Personality psychology ,Personality Assessment ,Personality Disorders ,Article ,child personality ,medicine ,Personality ,Humans ,0501 psychology and cognitive sciences ,emerging personality patterns ,CPAP-Q ,Child Behavior Checklist ,Child ,media_common ,05 social sciences ,Perspective (graphical) ,Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health ,Infant ,Reproducibility of Results ,medicine.disease ,Personality disorders ,Q-Sort ,Medicine ,Personality Assessment Inventory ,Psychology ,050104 developmental & child psychology ,Clinical psychology - Abstract
Background: Despite increasing research confirming the existence of childhood personalities, which are recognizable from a developmental perspective, controversies over the possibility to assess personality in childhood have continued. The purpose of this study was to provide initial data on the validation of the Childhood Personality Assessment Q-Sort (CPAP-Q), a clinician report instrument that can be employed to evaluate children’s personalities and address the gap in the field of emerging personality in children classification. Method: A sample of 135 clinicians completed the CPAP-Q to assess the personality features of 135 children (ages 4–11) who had been in their care between two and 12 months. The clinicians completed a clinical questionnaire to collect information on them, the children, and their families, as well as the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL), to evaluate the children’s behavioral problems and social competencies. Results: Q-factor analysis identified seven specific emerging personality patterns: psychological health, borderline/impulsive, borderline/dysregulated, schizoid, inhibited/self-critical, obsessive, and dysphoric/dependent. These patterns revealed good levels of validity and reliability. Conclusions: These findings are preliminary, but seem to support the possibility of evaluating emerging personality patterns in childhood and their developmental pathways that may lead to personality disorders in adolescence and adulthood. The CPAP-Q promises to significantly contribute to less explored research areas and encourage systematic studies of children assessment, promoting best practices for individualized diagnoses.
- Published
- 2021
34. Is It Autism? A Critical Commentary on the Co-Occurrence of Gender Dysphoria and Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Author
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Vittorio Lingiardi, Giorgio Caviglia, Alexandro Fortunato, Marta Mirabella, Guido Giovanardi, Anna Maria Speranza, Eleonora Innocenzi, Fortunato, A., Giovanardi, G., Innocenzi, E., Mirabella, M., Caviglia, G., Lingiardi, V., and Speranza, A. M.
- Subjects
Gender dysphoria ,Social Psychology ,Autism Spectrum Disorder ,assessment ,Population ,co- occurrence ,Education ,Gender Studies ,Correlation ,critical aspect ,co-occurrence ,medicine ,Prevalence ,Humans ,Autistic Disorder ,education ,autism spectrum disorder ,critical aspects ,treatment ,gender diversity ,Gender Dysphoria ,General Psychology ,education.field_of_study ,Co-occurrence ,General Medicine ,medicine.disease ,Distress ,Phenotype ,Autism spectrum disorder ,Autism ,Clinical case ,Psychology ,Clinical psychology - Abstract
An increasing amount of literature revealed a link between GD and ASD. Both GD and ASD are complex and heterogeneous conditions characterized by a large variety of presentations. Studies have reported that individuals with GD tend to have higher prevalence rates of autistic traits in comparison to the general population. The purpose of this commentary is to provide, through the description of a clinical case, our reading and a possible interpretation of the correlation of these two conditions in light of the several methodological limitations found in literature. We hypothesize that the traits often classified as autistic could be more accurately related to the distress and discomfort evoked by GD. The autistic traits of individuals with GD as forms of psychological defenses and coping mechanisms aimed at dealing with socio-relational and identity problems are discussed.
- Published
- 2021
35. Heart rate variability and interoceptive accuracy predict impaired decision-making in Gambling Disorder
- Author
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Maria Quintigliano, Luigi Janiri, Marco Di Nicola, Guyonne Rogier, Delfina Janiri, Vittorio Gallese, Anna Maria Speranza, Lorenzo Moccia, Valentina De Martin, Gabriele Sani, and Patrizia Velotti
- Subjects
interoception ,somatic marker ,autonomic nervous system ,Decision Making ,Heart Rate ,Humans ,Gambling ,medicine.medical_specialty ,Settore MED/25 - PSCHIATRIA ,Medicine (miscellaneous) ,Audiology ,Arousal ,Linear regression ,medicine ,Heart rate variability ,Vagal tone ,Reactivity (psychology) ,General Medicine ,Iowa gambling task ,Psychiatry and Mental health ,Clinical Psychology ,Autonomic nervous system ,Psychology ,Somatic marker hypothesis - Abstract
Background and aims Gambling Disorder (GD) entails maladaptive patterns of decision-making. Neurophysiological research points out the effect of parasympathetic arousal, including phasic changes in heart rate variability (HRV), and interoceptive accuracy (IA, i.e., the ability to track changes in bodily signals), on decision-making. Nevertheless, scarce evidence is available on their role in GD. This is the first study exploring the impact in GD of respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA), an index of HRV, and IA on decision-making, as measured by the Iowa Gambling Task (IGT). Methods Twenty-two patients experiencing problems with slot-machines or video lottery terminals gambling and 22 gender- and age-matched healthy controls (HC) were recruited. A resting ECG was performed before and after the completion of the IGT. IA was assessed throughout the heartbeat detection task. We conducted a MANCOVA to detect the presence of significant differences between groups in RSA reactivity and IA. A linear regression model was adopted to test the effect of factors of interest on IGT scores. Results Patients with GD displayed significantly decreased RSA reactivity (P = 0.002) and IA (P = 0.024) compared to HCs, even after controlling for affective symptoms, age, smoking status, and BMI. According to the linear regression model, cardiac vagal reactivity and IA significantly predict decision-making impairments on the IGT (P = 0.008; P = 0.019). Discussion and conclusions Although the exact pathways linking HRV and IA to impaired decision-making in GD remain to be identified, a broader exploration relying upon an embodiment-informed framework may contribute to shed further light on the clinical phenomenology of the disorder.
- Published
- 2021
36. Psychological well-being of trans* people in Italy during the COVID-19 pandemic: critical issues and personal experiences
- Author
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Anna Maria Speranza, Vittorio Lingiardi, Giulia Senofonte, Marta Mirabella, Guido Giovanardi, Francesco Lombardo, and Alexandro Fortunato
- Subjects
Health (social science) ,Sociology and Political Science ,Population ,Access to care ,Computer-assisted web interviewing ,Article ,Psychological well-being ,Gender Studies ,Gender identity ,Pandemic ,Transgender ,medicine ,COVID-19 ,transgender ,gender identity ,access to care ,psychological well-being ,risk factors ,education ,education.field_of_study ,Stressor ,medicine.disease ,Risk factors ,Anxiety ,medicine.symptom ,Psychology ,Somatization ,Clinical psychology - Abstract
Introduction The COVID-19 pandemic represents risk to physical health and psychological well-being. Specifically, it causes concerns among minoritized communities, such as transgender/non-binary individuals. The study investigates the experience of this group in Italy during the pandemic and identifies risk factors that exerted negative impacts on psychological well-being and physical health. Methods The study developed an online questionnaire to investigate psychological status, access to medical health services, and factors such as predictors of risk outcomes among transgender/non-binary people during lockdown restrictions. Responses were collected (n = 256) on April 2020. Descriptive analysis, univariate analysis of variance, and t-test were conducted. Results The respondents confirmed several issues, such as worries about the future (58.2%), negative emotions (46.9%), and self-uncertainty (52.7%) during the pandemic. Difficulties in undertaking hormone therapy and access to health facilities were reported. Living with family members represented a significant stressor for psychological well-being, whereas lack of support from LGBT + communities was reported. Subjects undergoing psychological therapy during the pandemic reported increases in depression, anxiety, somatization, and lack of privacy in the household. Conclusions The study findings provide a framework for critical aspects experienced by transgender/non-binary individuals during the pandemic. Specifically, the study provides evidence of the vulnerability of this population underlined by multiple difficulties. Policy Implications The study findings provide an overview of the experience of transgender and non-binary people during the pandemic, insights regarding risk factors, and aspects that require adequate attention and care.
- Published
- 2021
37. SIGIS-SIAMS-SIE position statement of gender affirming hormonal treatment in transgender and non‑binary people
- Author
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Giulia Senofonte, Giovanni Corona, Francesco Lombardo, Marina Pierdominici, Carlotta Cocchetti, G. Guercio, J. Ristori, M. Mosconi, Vittorio Lingiardi, Maria Cristina Meriggiola, Alessandra D. Fisher, Giovanna Motta, Mario Maggi, and Anna Maria Speranza
- Subjects
Male ,medicine.medical_specialty ,Hormone Replacement Therapy ,Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism ,media_common.quotation_subject ,education ,gender incongruence ,Identity (social science) ,Fertility ,Emotional Adjustment ,Transgender Persons ,psychological functioning ,Endocrinology ,Sexual medicine ,hormonal treatment ,transgender healthcare ,Transgender ,Health care ,Sex Reassignment Surgery ,medicine ,Humans ,Feminization (sociology) ,Gonadal Steroid Hormones ,Expert Testimony ,Reproductive health ,media_common ,business.industry ,Gender Identity ,Guideline ,Quality Improvement ,Italy ,Reproductive Medicine ,Family medicine ,Patient Care ,business ,Psychology ,Transsexualism - Abstract
Gender Incongruence (GI) is a marked and persistent incongruence between an individual's experienced and the assigned gender at birth. In the recent years, there has been a considerable evolution and change in attitude as regards to gender nonconforming people. According to the Italian Society of Gender, Identity and Health (SIGIS), the Italian Society of Andrology and Sexual Medicine (SIAMS) and the Italian Society of Endocrinology (SIE) rules, a team of experts on the topic has been nominated by a SIGIS–SIAMS–SIE Guideline Board on the basis of their recognized clinical and research expertise in the field, and coordinated by a senior author, has prepared this Position statement. Later on, the present manuscript has been submitted to the Journal of Endocrinological Investigation for the normal process of international peer reviewing after a first internal revision process made by the SIGIS–SIAMS–SIE Guideline Board. In the present document by the SIGIS–SIAMS–SIE group, we propose experts opinions concerning the psychological functioning, gender affirming hormonal treatment, safety concerns, emerging issues in transgender healthcare (sexual health, fertility issues, elderly trans people), and an Italian law overview aimed to improve gender non-conforming people care. In this Position statement, we propose experts opinions concerning the psychological functioning of transgender people, the gender-affirming hormonal treatment (full/partial masculinization in assigned female at birth trans people, full/partial feminization and de-masculinization in assigned male at birth trans people), the emerging issues in transgender health care aimed to improve patient care. We have also included an overview of Italian law about gender affirming surgery and registry rectification.
- Published
- 2021
38. Mentalized affectivity in a nutshell: validation of the Italian version of the Brief-Mentalized Affectivity Scale (B-MAS)
- Author
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Anna Maria Speranza, Antonella Marchetti, Annalisa Valle, Grazia Fernanda Spitoni, Vittorio Lingiardi, Marianna Liotti, Guido Giovanardi, and Elliot L. Jurist
- Subjects
Male ,European People ,Emotions ,Social Sciences ,Surveys ,Cognition ,Mathematical and Statistical Techniques ,Surveys and Questionnaires ,Psychology ,Ethnicities ,media_common ,Multidisciplinary ,Statistics ,Mentalized Affectivity ,Middle Aged ,Built Structures ,Italian People ,Convergent validity ,Italy ,Research Design ,Scale (social sciences) ,Physical Sciences ,Medicine ,Engineering and Technology ,Female ,Construct (philosophy) ,Factor Analysis ,Cognitive psychology ,Research Article ,Adult ,Psychometrics ,Structural Engineering ,Adolescent ,media_common.quotation_subject ,Science ,Empathy ,Research and Analysis Methods ,Young Adult ,Brief-Mentalized Affectivity Scale ,Mentalization ,Facial Expressions ,Humans ,Nonverbal Communication ,Statistical Methods ,Aged ,Behavior ,Operationalization ,Survey Research ,mentalized affectivity ,mentalization ,brief mentalized affectivity scale ,b-mas ,reflective functioning ,empathy ,emotion regulation ,Biology and Life Sciences ,Settore M-PSI/04 - PSICOLOGIA DELLO SVILUPPO E PSICOLOGIA DELL'EDUCAZIONE ,People and Places ,Normative ,Cognitive Science ,Population Groupings ,Self Report ,Mathematics ,Mirroring ,Neuroscience - Abstract
The term “mentalized affectivity” describes the ability to reflect on, process, modulate and express emotions through the prism of autobiographical memory. It represents a bridge concept that integrates previous contributions on emotion regulation and mentalization, offering a quite unique perspective on affective and reflective functioning. The overall aim of this study was to validate the Brief-Mentalized Affectivity Scale (B-MAS), a 12-items self-report instrument, on the Italian population. We tested both the factorial validity of the instrument and its reliability and convergent validity with other similar constructs. We also obtained normative data for the Italian population, broken down by gender. Participants (n = 389) were recruited through snowball sampling. Data was collected through an online survey. Besides the Brief-Mentalized Affectivity Scale, the survey included an ad hoc schedule with questions investigating socio-demographic characteristics, and self-report measures of empathy and reflective functioning. Statistical analysis has shown a three-component (Identifying, Processing, and Expressing emotions) hierarchical structure underlying mentalized affectivity, mirroring the model already proposed in the original validation of the instrument. Moreover, the B-MAS showed good psychometric properties for what regards both reliability and convergent validity. The results of our study highlight the good operationalization and robust empirical foundation of the construct, revealing that the B-MAS is a promising instrument to assess mentalized affectivity. Its brevity makes it particularly valuable both in clinical and research contexts, and the normative data provided in this study will allow an easy comparison with the scores obtained by other samples (clinical and non-clinical).
- Published
- 2021
39. Role of Parental Attachment Styles in Moderating Interaction Between Parenting Stress and Perceived Infant Characteristics
- Author
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Cristina Trentini, Maria Quintigliano, Alexandro Fortunato, Marco Lauriola, and Anna Maria Speranza
- Subjects
Infancy ,media_common.quotation_subject ,Parenting stress ,Dysfunctional family ,sensory regulatory functions ,medicine.disease ,attachment styles ,Developmental psychology ,BF1-990 ,Distress ,Transactional leadership ,social communication abilities ,Perception ,medicine ,Attachment theory ,Infancy, parenting stress, attachment styles, social communication abilities, sensory regulatory functions ,parenting stress ,Autism ,Anxiety ,Psychology ,medicine.symptom ,General Psychology ,Original Research ,media_common - Abstract
By employing the transactional model of development and focusing on the multifactorial nature of parenting, this study aimed to (1) examine whether important risk factors, particularly mothers’ insecure attachment styles and parenting stress contribute to the perception of their infants’ characteristics and (2) explore whether maternal attachment styles moderate the relationship between parenting stress and perceived infants’ characteristics. We recruited 357 mothers (age: 34.23; ± 5.38) who had 1-year-old infants (161 males and 196 females; age: 12.70; ± 1.60 months). All the mothers completed three self-report instruments: Parenting Stress Index–Short Form (PSI-SF), Attachment Style Questionnaire (ASQ), and 1st-Year Inventory (FYI). Although the latter was originally developed to determine the risk for autism in 1-year-olds, it was employed in this study to measure infant’s characteristics within two domains: social communication and sensory regulatory functions. Multiple regression analyses revealed that one of the PSI-SF dimensions - specifically the Parent–Child Dysfunctional Interaction - contributed to mothers’ perceptions of their children’s social communication abilities, whereas the attachment style did not. Other multiple regression analyses showed that all the dimensions of parenting stress - that is, Parenting Distress (PD), Parent-Child Dysfunctional Interaction (PCDI), and Difficult Child (DC) - contributed to mothers’ perceptions of their sensory regulatory abilities. The attachment styles, particularly anxious attachment, contributed significantly to a biased perception of these abilities controlled for parenting stress. Mothers reporting high levels of avoidance and high levels of PD viewed their children as less able in the social communicative domain (SC Dom) than if they had low levels of PD. By contrast, when levels of avoidance were low, mothers with high PD perceived their children as less difficult in the SC Dom than those with low levels of PD. Moreover, high avoidance levels influenced how mothers who considered the interaction with their children as difficult perceived them as having greater difficulties in relation to sensory regulatory domain (SR Dom). By contrast, mothers with high levels of anxiety high levels of PD view their children as less able in the SC Dom than if they had low levels of PD. When mothers’ levels of anxiety were very low, those with high PD viewed their children as less difficult in the SC Dom in comparison to those with low levels of PD.
- Published
- 2021
40. Defensive functioning of individuals diagnosed with gender dysphoria at the beginning of their hormonal treatment
- Author
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Marta Mirabella, Vittorio Lingiardi, Francesco Lombardo, Mariagrazia Di Giuseppe, Anna Maria Speranza, and Guido Giovanardi
- Subjects
Gender dysphoria ,body satisfaction ,defense mechanisms ,media_common.quotation_subject ,Stressor ,Psychological intervention ,Settore M-PSI/08 ,gender dysphoria ,medicine.disease ,Neuroticism ,transgender ,BF1-990 ,personality ,Transgender ,medicine ,Personality ,Psychology ,Emotional conflict ,General Psychology ,media_common ,Clinical psychology ,Psychopathology ,Original Research - Abstract
Defense mechanisms are relevant indicators of psychological functioning and vulnerability to psychopathology. Their evaluation can unveil individuals' unconscious strategies for mediating reactions to emotional conflict and external stressors. At the beginning of their journey toward gender reassignment, individuals diagnosed with gender dysphoria (GD) may experience conflict and stressful experiences that trigger a wide range of defense mechanisms. Mature defenses may strengthen these individuals as they travel along this important path, while neurotic and immature defenses may exacerbate their body dissatisfaction (BD) and hinder their processing of change. Only a few studies have investigated self-reported defensive functioning in transgender people, finding a higher frequency of maladaptive defense mechanisms relative to controls. The present study was the first to apply an in-depth clinician-rated tool to assess the entire hierarchy of defense mechanisms within a sample of transgender people. Defensive functioning and personality organization were assessed in 36 individuals diagnosed with GD (14 trans women, 22 trans men, mean age 23.47 years), using the Defense Mechanisms Rating Scales (Perry,1990) and the Shedler-Westen Assessment Procedure-200 (Shedler et al.,2014). Body uneasiness was assessed using the Body Uneasiness Test (BUT; Cuzzolaro et al.,2006). The findings showed that defensive functioning correlated positively with healthy personality functioning and negatively with BD. Compared to cisgender controls, participants with GD who presented greater defensive functioning were found to be more immature and to demonstrate significant differences in many levels of functioning. The clinical implications of the results suggest that psychological interventions aimed at improving defensive functioning in individuals with GD will be important in helping them manage the challenges posed by their gender transition.
- Published
- 2021
41. Gender Diverse Children and Adolescents in Italy: A Qualitative Study on Specialized Centers’ Model of Care and Network
- Author
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Vittorio Lingiardi, Marta Mirabella, Guido Giovanardi, Alexandro Fortunato, and Anna Maria Speranza
- Subjects
Parents ,050103 clinical psychology ,Adolescent ,Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis ,gender incongruence ,qualitative study ,lcsh:Medicine ,Health Services for Transgender Persons ,Transgender Persons ,Article ,Interviews as Topic ,Intervention (counseling) ,Transgender ,Agency (sociology) ,Psychological support ,specialized centers ,transgender youths ,Humans ,0501 psychology and cognitive sciences ,Child ,Gender Dysphoria ,Qualitative Research ,Service (business) ,Medical education ,lcsh:R ,05 social sciences ,Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health ,Gender Identity ,Italy ,Thematic analysis ,Psychology ,Transsexualism ,050104 developmental & child psychology ,Qualitative research - Abstract
In recent years, Italy, similar to many other countries, has witnessed an increase in children and adolescents presenting gender incongruence. This trend has led to the development and implementation of specialized centers providing care and support for these youths and their families. The present study aimed at investigating the functioning of agencies specialized in working with transgender and gender non-conforming youths in the Italian territory. Professionals in these agencies were interviewed about their perspectives on their agency&rsquo, s functioning, networks with other services, and work with trans* youths and their families. A semi-structured interview was developed and administered to professionals in specialized centers and associations dedicated to trans * youths, and deductive thematic analysis was applied to the transcripts. Eight professionals were interviewed: six working in specialized centers and two working in associations. The qualitative analyses of transcripts revealed four main themes, pertaining to service referrals, assessment protocols and intervention models, psychological support for youths and families, and agency shortcomings. The study explored the functioning of Italian agencies specialized in caring for transgender and gender non-conforming youths, from the perspective of professionals working in these agencies. While several positive aspects of the work emerged, the study highlighted a lack of uniformity across the Italian territory and the need for better networks between agencies and other medical professionals.
- Published
- 2020
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42. Effects of COVID-19 Epidemic Lockdown on Postpartum Depressive Symptoms in a Sample of Italian Mothers
- Author
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Marianna Liotti, Renata Tambelli, Olivia Spinola, and Anna Maria Speranza
- Subjects
Postpartum depression ,medicine.medical_specialty ,COVID- 19 ,lcsh:RC435-571 ,Computer-assisted web interviewing ,Abortion ,lockdown ,03 medical and health sciences ,Social support ,0302 clinical medicine ,lcsh:Psychiatry ,medicine ,Risk factor ,Psychiatry ,Original Research ,business.industry ,motherhood ,postpartum depression (PPD) ,medicine.disease ,Mental health ,030227 psychiatry ,Psychiatry and Mental health ,Mood disorders ,Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale ,COVID- 19, lockdown, postpartum depression (PPD), mental health, motherhood ,business ,030217 neurology & neurosurgery ,mental health - Abstract
The extraordinary health emergency of the COVID-19 pandemic represents a new challenge for mental health researchers and clinical practitioners. The related containment measures may be a risk factor for psychological distress and mood disorders, especially in at-risk populations. This study aims to explore the impact of COVID-19 on postpartum depressive symptoms in mothers with children below 1 year of age. An online questionnaire survey was therefore conducted in Italy between May and June 2020. The survey consisted of several self-administered questionnaires: besides some ad-hoc questionnaires, the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), the Scale of Perceived Social Support (SPSS) and the Maternity Social Support Scale (MSSS) were used. Two hundred forty-three Italian women were included in the study. The prevalence of postpartum depression symptomatology among mothers was 44%, as measured through the EPDS (cut-off >12). Women who spent the isolation in northern Italy adopted maladaptive coping strategies significantly more than women living in areas at lower risk. The analysis highlighted a significant difference between the group that was not directly affected by the virus and women who have had a direct or indirect contact with it. Besides situational factors specific to the pandemic, the results show that there are some risk factors tied to the personal history of the mother (e.g., having had a previous abortion). These data should inform and enlighten future protocols of intervention.
- Published
- 2020
43. Emerging criteria for the low-coherence cannot classify category
- Author
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Carola Maggiora Vergano, Giampaolo Nicolais, Nino Dazzi, and Anna Maria Speranza
- Subjects
05 social sciences ,Reproducibility of Results ,050109 social psychology ,Coherence (statistics) ,Object Attachment ,Developmental psychology ,Psychiatry and Mental health ,Coding system ,Surveys and Questionnaires ,Developmental and Educational Psychology ,Humans ,0501 psychology and cognitive sciences ,Child Abuse ,Child ,Adaptation (computer science) ,Psychology ,Adult Attachment Interview ,cannot classify ,clinical samples ,coding system ,disorganization ,low-coherence ,Psychiatry and Mental Health ,Attachment measures ,050104 developmental & child psychology ,Cognitive psychology - Abstract
As suggested by Main et al., to respond to the need for an adaptation of the existing Adult Attachment Interview (AAI) coding system, especially regarding the application to nonnormative samples, this study presents additional criteria that characterize the low-coherence cannot classify (CC) category. Three AAIs were selected from a sample of parents of maltreated children. All transcripts indicated a very low coherence, with no evidence of contradictory insecure discourse strategies. Moreover, global category descriptors were identified, together with specific indices of discourse characteristics and features that highlight the breakdown in reasoning and discourse experienced by the speakers. The aim of the study is to illustrate new criteria to identify and rate a low-coherence CC profile toward the operationalization of this pervasively unintegrated state of mind. Through the definition of additional criteria for low-coherence CC category, our study helps the AAI and its coding system be more flexible and effective when dealing with clinical samples.
- Published
- 2017
44. Transition memories. Experiences of trans adult women with hormone therapy and their beliefs on the usage of hormone blockers to suppress puberty
- Author
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Vittorio Lingiardi, P Morales, Luca Chianura, Marta Mirabella, Anna Maria Speranza, Guido Giovanardi, and Alexandro Fortunato
- Subjects
Gender dysphoria ,Adult ,Male ,hormone blockers ,Adolescent ,Hormone Replacement Therapy ,Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism ,medicine.medical_treatment ,Culture ,030209 endocrinology & metabolism ,Human sexuality ,gender dysphoria ,Human physical appearance ,Dysphoria ,Transgender Persons ,Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone ,Interviews as Topic ,03 medical and health sciences ,Young Adult ,0302 clinical medicine ,Endocrinology ,Hormone Antagonists ,Memory ,Surveys and Questionnaires ,Transgender ,medicine ,Humans ,Sexual Maturation ,Social isolation ,hormone therapy ,Puberty ,Gender Identity ,Middle Aged ,medicine.disease ,puberty suppression ,030220 oncology & carcinogenesis ,Sex Reassignment Procedures ,Female ,Perception ,Hormone therapy ,medicine.symptom ,Psychology ,Transsexualism ,Clinical psychology ,Qualitative research - Abstract
In recent years, an increasing number of specialized gender clinics have been prescribing gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analogs to adolescents diagnosed with gender dysphoria (GD) to suppress puberty. This paper presents qualitative research on the hormone therapy (HT) experiences of older trans-people and their views on puberty suppression. The main aim of this research was to explore the psychological aspects of hormonal treatments for gender non-conforming adults, including the controversial use of puberty suppression treatments. Using a semi-structured interview format, ten adult trans-women were interviewed (mean age: 37.4) to explore their personal histories regarding GD onset and development, their HT experiences, and their views on the use of GnRH analogs to suppress puberty in trans-children and adolescents. Results: the interview transcripts were analyzed using the consensual qualitative research method from which several themes emerged: the onset of GD, childhood experiences, experiences with puberty and HT, views on the puberty suspension procedure, and the effects of this suspension on gender identity and sexuality. The interviews showed that overall, the participants valued the new treatment protocol due to the opportunity to prevent the severe body dysphoria and social phobia trans-people experience with puberty. It seems that the risk of social isolation and psychological suffering is increased by the general lack of acceptance and stigma toward trans-identities in the Italian society. However, during gender transitions, they highlight the need to focus more on internal and psychological aspects, rather than over-emphasize physical appearance. This study gives a voice to an under-represented group regarding the use of GnRH analogs to suppress puberty in trans-individuals, and collected firsthand insights on this controversial treatment and its recommendations in professional international guidelines.
- Published
- 2019
45. Mothers with depressive symptoms display differential brain activations when empathizing with infant faces
- Author
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Massimo Ammaniti, Sonia Graziano, Patrizia Pantano, Cristina Trentini, Emiliano Macaluso, Delia Lenzi, and Anna Maria Speranza
- Subjects
Adult ,media_common.quotation_subject ,Emotions ,Neuroscience (miscellaneous) ,Mothers ,Prefrontal Cortex ,Empathy ,Developmental psychology ,03 medical and health sciences ,Child Development ,0302 clinical medicine ,Orbitofrontal cortex ,Cognitive development ,Humans ,Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and imaging ,media_common ,Depression ,Infant ,Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale ,Amygdala ,Emotional dysregulation ,Magnetic Resonance Imaging ,Child development ,Mother-Child Relations ,030227 psychiatry ,Facial Expression ,Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) ,Psychiatry and Mental health ,Dyadic interaction ,Default mode network ,Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), Empathy, Depression, Amygdala, Default mode network, Orbitofrontal cortex ,Female ,Psychology ,030217 neurology & neurosurgery ,Psychopathology - Abstract
Maternal care during the first year of life provides the foundation for the infant's emotional and cognitive development. Depressive symptoms in mothers can undermine their early dyadic interaction, which may lead to various psychopathological disorders with long-term consequences. During this period, the mother-child interaction is exclusively preverbal and is based on the mother's ability to understand her infant's needs and feelings (i.e., empathy) and on reciprocal imitation of facial expressions that promote a social dialog that influences the development of the infant self. To study the effects of maternal depressive symptoms on neural circuits underlying these processes, we studied 16 healthy mothers (H) and 14 mothers with depressive symptoms (D), as assessed by the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale. Subjects underwent functional magnetic resonance during observation/empathizing (OE) and imitation (IM) of the faces of both their own child and of that of an unknown child aged between 6 and 12 months. During OE, D deactivated the orbital and medial prefrontal cortex to a greater extent (compared with H), thus pointing to an increased internally focused cognitive style during rest. Moreover, D, in respect to H, displayed a greater reactivity of the right amygdala, which may be an expression of emotional dysregulation.
- Published
- 2016
46. Alterations of EEG functional connectivity in resting state obese and overweight patients with binge eating disorder: A preliminary report
- Author
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Giacomo Della Marca, Anna Contardi, Dorian A. Lamis, Claudio Imperatori, Anna Maria Speranza, Marco Innamorati, Maria Isabella Quintiliani, Benedetto Farina, and Mariantonietta Fabbricatore
- Subjects
Adult ,Male ,obesity ,medicine.medical_specialty ,Rest ,Middle temporal gyrus ,eLORETA ,Electroencephalography ,Audiology ,Overweight ,Binge-eating disorder ,binge eating disorder ,medicine ,Humans ,overweight ,Psychiatry ,eeg functional connectivity ,neuroscience (all) ,medicine.diagnostic_test ,Binge eating ,Resting state fMRI ,General Neuroscience ,Middle Aged ,medicine.disease ,Obesity ,Eating disorders ,Female ,medicine.symptom ,Psychology ,Binge-Eating Disorder - Abstract
Alterations in brain functional connectivity have been detected in patients with eating disorders, but have not been studied in binge eating disorder (BED). We have investigated electroencephalographic (EEG) functional connectivity in thirteen overweight and obese patients with BED and thirteen overweight and obese patients without BED during RS condition. EEG analyzes were conducted by means of the exact Low Resolution Electric Tomography software (eLORETA). Compared to patients without BED, patients with BED demonstrated an increase of lagged phase synchronization in the beta frequency band among the cortical areas explored by FC1-T3 (left superior frontal gyrus-left middle temporal gyrus), T5-O1 (left inferior temporal gyrus-left middle occipital gyrus), and C4-O1 (right postcentral gyrus-left middle occipital gyrus) electrodes (T=4.861, p
- Published
- 2015
47. P-CRS: A Clinical Scale to Assess the Parent-Child Relationship in Infancy and Early Childhood
- Author
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Alexandro Fortunato, Marco Lauriola, Maria Quintigliano, and Anna Maria Speranza
- Subjects
Parents ,caregiving ,assessment ,Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis ,Clinical scale ,lcsh:Medicine ,050109 social psychology ,Clinical settings ,Article ,Child Development ,Humans ,parent-child relationship ,0501 psychology and cognitive sciences ,Early childhood ,Parent-Child Relations ,infancy ,Medical diagnosis ,Child ,Mental Disorders ,lcsh:R ,05 social sciences ,Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health ,Infant ,early childhood ,Child, Preschool ,Clinical diagnosis ,Scale (social sciences) ,Psychology ,Clinical evaluation ,Developmental psychopathology ,050104 developmental & child psychology ,Clinical psychology - Abstract
This study aimed to examine the ability of a new clinician-report tool, the Parent-Child Relationship Scale (P-CRS), to assess the individual contributions that parents and their children make within the parent-child relationship, as well as interactions between parents and children in terms of developmental psychopathology. As clinical diagnoses in early childhood is both important and difficult, it is necessary to identify tools that can effectively contribute to evaluating parent-child relationships during the diagnostic process. A sample of 268 mother-child dyads, taken from both public and private clinical settings, was assessed. Clinicians were asked to assess these dyads using the P-CRS after four to five sessions of clinical evaluation. The results indicated that the three areas assessed by the P-CRS&mdash, &ldquo, Interaction&rdquo, Child&rdquo, and &ldquo, Parent&rdquo, &mdash, could have different impacts on the various aspects of the parent-child relationship within distinct diagnostic groups. Thus, our findings support the use of the P-CRS to assist with clinical diagnosis during early childhood.
- Published
- 2020
48. Mental health and developmental disorders in infancy and early childhood. The PDM-2
- Author
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Miriam Steele, Anna Maria Speranza, and Norka Malberg
- Subjects
PDM-2 ,medicine.medical_specialty ,assessment ,05 social sciences ,050108 psychoanalysis ,Psychodynamics ,Mental health ,development ,infant mental health ,clinical psychology ,03 medical and health sciences ,0302 clinical medicine ,medicine ,Infant development ,0501 psychology and cognitive sciences ,Early childhood ,Psychology ,Psychiatry ,030217 neurology & neurosurgery - Published
- 2018
49. Change in Heart Rate Variability After the Adult Attachment Interview in Dissociative Patients
- Author
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Giacomo Della Marca, Benedetto Farina, Claudio Imperatori, Maria Isabella Quintiliani, and Anna Maria Speranza
- Subjects
Adult ,Male ,medicine.medical_specialty ,medicine.drug_class ,Emotions ,Dissociative Disorders ,Dissociative ,Age and gender ,Electrocardiography ,Heart Rate ,Interview, Psychological ,medicine ,Humans ,Heart rate variability ,Prospective Studies ,Dissociative disorders ,Psychiatry ,Frequency ratio ,Middle Aged ,medicine.disease ,Object Attachment ,Psychiatry and Mental health ,Clinical Psychology ,Case-Control Studies ,Female ,Psychology ,Attachment measures ,Psychopathology ,Clinical psychology - Abstract
The aim of this study was to assess heart rate variability (HRV) in individuals with dissociative disorders (DD) before and after the Adult Attachment Interview (AAI). Electrocardiograms were recorded before, during, and after the AAI in 13 individuals with DD and 13 healthy participants matched for age and gender. Significant change in HRV was observed only in the DD group. After the AAI, those with DD showed significant increases in the low frequency/high frequency ratio (pre-AAI = 1.91 ± 1.19; post-AAI = 4.03 ± 2.40; Wilcoxon test = -2.76, p = .005). Our results suggest that the retrieval of childhood attachment experiences in individuals with DD is associated with a change in HRV patterns that could reflect the emotion dysregulation of dissociative psychopathological processes.
- Published
- 2014
50. Personality and attachment in transsexual adults
- Author
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Alexandro Fortunato, Vittorio Lingiardi, Guido Giovanardi, Valentina Nassisi, and Anna Maria Speranza
- Subjects
Adult ,Male ,Gender dysphoria ,Transsexualism ,gender dysphoria ,gender identity disorder ,attachment ,personality ,050103 clinical psychology ,Gender Identity Disorder ,media_common.quotation_subject ,Absorption (psychology) ,Personality Assessment ,Personality Disorders ,Developmental psychology ,03 medical and health sciences ,0302 clinical medicine ,Arts and Humanities (miscellaneous) ,medicine ,Humans ,Personality ,0501 psychology and cognitive sciences ,Big Five personality traits ,General Psychology ,media_common ,05 social sciences ,medicine.disease ,Personality disorders ,030227 psychiatry ,Transsexual ,Female ,Psychology ,Attachment measures - Abstract
The main aim of this study was to investigate the associations between personality features and attachment patterns in transsexual adults. We explored mental representations of attachment, assessed personality traits, and possible personality disorders. Forty-four individuals diagnosed with gender identity disorder (now gender dysphoria), 28 male-to-female and 16 female-to-male, were evaluated using the Shedler-Westen assessment procedure-200 (SWAP-200) to assess personality traits and disorders; the adult attachment interview was used to evaluate their attachment state-of-mind. With respect to attachment, our sample differed both from normative samples because of the high percentage of disorganized states of mind (50% of the sample), and from clinical samples for the conspicuous percentage of secure states of mind (37%). Furthermore, we found that only 16% of our sample presented a personality disorder, while 50% showed a high level of functioning according to the SWAP-200 scales. In order to find latent subgroups that shared personality characteristics, we performed a Q-factor analysis. Three personality clusters then emerged: Healthy Functioning (54% of the sample); Depressive/Introverted (32%) and Histrionic/Extroverted (14%). These data indicate that in terms of personality and attachment, GD individuals are a heterogeneous sample and show articulate and diverse types with regard to these constructs.
- Published
- 2017
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