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Aim. The most widely reported problems among people who have been hospitalized for COVID-19 are those associated with mental health. The aim of the study was to determine the incidence of PTSD in patients hospitalized due to COVID-19 and to determine predictors of the risk of its occurrence. Material and methods. The study group included 250 people after hospitalization due to COVID-19. Several standardized measurement tools were used: the PCL-5, PSS-10, ERRI, SPP-15, and PANAS. Results. Overall, 55.6% of respondents qualified for a diagnosis of PTSD. These were mostly people hospitalized for more than two weeks, with a more severe course of the disease, examined within three and six months after hospitalization. The regression model includes factors related to the course of treatment and psychological variables: some increase the risk of PTSD (i.e., perceived stress, intrusive ruminations and negative emotions), while others are protective factors (i.e., resilience, deliberate ruminations and positive emotions). Overall, the regression model explains 72% of the total variance. Intrusive ruminations, explaining 59% of the variance, and perceived stress (12%) appeared the most significant for predicting PTSD. Conclusions. As patients diagnosed with PTSD require therapeutic assistance, it is essential to identify both risk and protective factors as these may be helpful in improving the therapy process and facilitating preventive activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim. The changes in the structure of PTSD symptoms introduced in the DSM-5 classification require the use of an appropriate measurement tool. For this purpose, the PTSD Checklist (PCL-5) was constructed and popularized. In the presented studies, the psychometric properties of the Polish version of PCL-5 were assessed. In addition, referring to the controversy regarding the conceptualization of PTSD, various indicators of the fit of five PTSD structure models were checked based on our own research. Method. Individuals (N = 1,035) who experienced various traumatic events participated in the anonymous research. All respondents completed PCL-5 and other questionnaires used to assess the validity of PCl-5. Results. The psychometric properties of the Polish version of PCL-5 are satisfactory. In the differential diagnosis the optimal point of discrimination is the result of ⩾ 33. Confirmatory factor analysis results showed that all tested PTSD models met the basic fit criteria. The fourfactor model explained 58% of the variance, including changes in arousal and reactivity of 36%. Conclusions. PCL-5 is a reliable and accurate tool for PTSD measurement. It is used for the initial diagnosis of PTSD. The conducted analyses, despite demonstrating the diagnostical utility of PCL-5, do not indicate favoring a single model of PTSD dimensionality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The profession of policeman is one of the most stressful. It is associated with exposure to traumatic experiences. This research study aimed to determine the predictors of symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and occupational burnout and to examine how they correlated in policemen. We searched for these predictors in cognitive activity, and specifically in ruminations and perceived job stress. The study was conducted with 120 police officers who have experienced traumatic events related to their job. The study showed that intrusive ruminations serve as a predictor that intensifies PTSD, while certain stressful work conditions are predictors of burnout. The results suggest that numerous mechanisms are at play in the pathogenesis of PTSD and burnout. Police officers cope much better with exposure to traumatic stressors than with stressful work conditions. This leads to a practical conclusion regarding the necessity of preventing the everyday job stress experienced by police officers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the negative consequences of indirect trauma exposure is secondary traumatic stress (STS). Professionals helping victims of violence may be at the risk of STS symptoms development. Both empathy and cognitive processing of trauma seem to be important in this process. The aim of the study was to examine the relationship between empathy, cognitive processing of trauma and symptoms of STS in women working with people who have experienced violence trauma. The mediation role of cognitive coping strategies in the relationship between empathy and STS was also checked. A total of 154 female professionals representing three groups (therapists, social workers, and probation officers) were included in the study. The age of the respondents ranged from 26 to 67 years (M = 43.98, SD = 10.83). Three standard measurement tools were included in the study: the modified PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5), the Empathic Sensitivity Scale, and the Cognitive Processing of Trauma Scale. Correlational analysis indicated STS to have positive associations (Pearson's correlation coefficients) with all three aspects of empathy, and three of the five cognitive coping strategies (denial, regret, downward comparison). Mediation analysis performed by the bootstrapping method found strategies of regret and downward comparison to act as mediators in the relationship between STS and empathic concern. The same results were obtained for perspective taking. In addition, the regret and denial strategies mediated the relationship between personal distress and STS. Empathy and cognitive trauma processing may play an important role in STS symptoms development. Preventive programs for professionals helping trauma victims should focus on cognitive processing of trauma and empathy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Many patients with psoriasis demonstrate psychological disturbances, including decreased health-related quality of life (HRQoL). The aim of this study was to evaluate selected personal resources and HRQoL in 168 in-patients with psoriasis vulgaris. The following questionnaires were used: Skindex-29, General Health Questionnaire, Coping with Skin Disease Scale, Acceptance of Illness Scale, Life Orientation Test, Multidimensional Health Locus of Control Scale and General Self-Efficacy Scale. It was demonstrated that younger patients experienced fewer problems in psychosocial functioning, and that they showed a correlation between worse HRQoL and both external powerful others and external chance domains in locus of health control. Subjective self-evaluation of health correlated with HRQoL irrespective of patient's age. Coping with stress strategies hopelessness/ helplessness and distraction/catastrophization correlated with worse overall HRQoL, whereas fighting spirit strategy correlated with better overall HRQoL. Hopelessness/ helplessness coping strategy, somatic symptoms, disease acceptance, psoriasis severity and patient's age explained 61% of overall HRQoL variance. Psychomedical interventions designed for psoriatic patients should take into account the above variables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The most widely-reported problems among people who have been hospitalized for COVID-19 are those associated with mental health. The aim of the study was to determine the incidence of PTSD in patients hospitalized due to Covid-19 and to determine predictors of the risk of its occurrence., Methods: The study group included 250 people after hospitalization due to Covid-19. Several standardized measurement tools were used: the PCL-5, PSS-10, ERRI, SPP-15 and PANAS., Results: Overall, 55.6% of respondents qualified for a diagnosis of PTSD. These were mostly people hospitalized for more than two weeks, with a more severe course of the disease, examined within three months after hospitalization. The regression model includes factors related to the course of treatment and psychological variables: some increase the risk of PTSD, i.e. perceived stress, ruminations and negative emotions, while others are protective factors, i.e. resilience, and positive emotions. Overall, the regression model explains 72% of the total variance. Intrusive ruminations, explaining 59% of the variance, appeared the most significant for predicting PTSD., Conclusions: As patients diagnosed with PTSD require therapeutic assistance, it is essential to identify both risk and protective factors as these may be helpful in improving the therapy process and facilitating preventive activities.

Researches on quality of life have been undertaken from dozens of years. However, there are few information about quality of life among people suffering from systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The aim of this study was to set predictors making possible quality of life anticipation. The participants of the studied group were 42 patients with inactive illness stage (disease severity were estimated by SLAM scale). Quality of life was measured by own questionnaire. Personal resources, which are the base of anticipation, were estimated by standardized tests (AIS, LOT, GSES). The results indicated that two of examined variables became the quality of predictors: helpless/hopeless strategy and illness acceptation.

Aim: The aim of our study was to determine the relationship between personal and social resources and coping strategies with illness of family members with major depression in caregivers., Method: 40 caregivers (16 men, 24 women) of patients (25 spouse, 15 parents) recruited during their in-patient psychiatric stay completed 4 self-report instruments (Mini-MAC, SOZ-U K-22, STV, LOT-R). The structural equation model (SEPATH) includes four latent exogenous constructs (Patient, Caregiver, Personal and Social support) measured by observed variables and two endogenous latent constructs (Active and Destructive Coping Strategies) loading by strategies: fighting spirit, positive reinterpretation, anxious preoccupation and helplessness-hopelessness. Overall, the model fits well., Result and Conclusion: The results of the study indicate, that a high level of dispositional optimism and perceived emotional support play a causal role in use of active coping strategies with illness of family members.