scholarly journals Dissociation in patients with dissociative seizures: relationships with trauma and seizure symptoms

2017 ◽  
Vol 47 (7) ◽  
pp. 1215-1229 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Pick ◽  
J. D. C. Mellers ◽  
L. H. Goldstein
Keyword(s):  
Emotional Distress ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Traumatic Experiences ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Clinical Group ◽  
Somatoform Dissociation ◽  
Dissociative Symptoms ◽  
Post Traumatic ◽  
Traumatic Symptoms

BackgroundThis study aimed to extend the current understanding of dissociative symptoms experienced by patients with dissociative (psychogenic, non-epileptic) seizures (DS), including psychological and somatoform types of symptomatology. An additional aim was to assess possible relationships between dissociation, traumatic experiences, post-traumatic symptoms and seizure manifestations in this group.MethodA total of 40 patients with DS were compared with a healthy control group (n = 43), matched on relevant demographic characteristics. Participants completed several self-report questionnaires, including the Multiscale Dissociation Inventory (MDI), Somatoform Dissociation Questionnaire-20, Traumatic Experiences Checklist and the Post-Traumatic Diagnostic Scale. Measures of seizure symptoms and current emotional distress (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale) were also administered.ResultsThe clinical group reported significantly more psychological and somatoform dissociative symptoms, trauma, perceived impact of trauma, and post-traumatic symptoms than controls. Some dissociative symptoms (i.e. MDI disengagement, MDI depersonalization, MDI derealization, MDI memory disturbance, and somatoform dissociation scores) were elevated even after controlling for emotional distress; MDI depersonalization scores correlated positively with trauma scores while seizure symptoms correlated with MDI depersonalization, derealization and identity dissociation scores. Exploratory analyses indicated that somatoform dissociation specifically mediated the relationship between reported sexual abuse and DS diagnosis, along with depressive symptoms.ConclusionsA range of psychological and somatoform dissociative symptoms, traumatic experiences and post-traumatic symptoms are elevated in patients with DS relative to healthy controls, and seem related to seizure manifestations. Further studies are needed to explore peri-ictal dissociative experiences in more detail.

scholarly journals Child Trauma Experiences and Dissociative Symptoms in Women with Eating Disorders: Case-Control Study

Children ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (12) ◽  
pp. 274
Author(s):  
María F. Rabito-Alcón ◽  
José I. Baile ◽  
Johan Vanderlinden
Keyword(s):  
Eating Disorders ◽  
Case Control Study ◽  
Case Control ◽  
Traumatic Experiences ◽  
Child Trauma ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Somatoform Dissociation ◽  
Dissociative Experiences ◽  
Dissociative Symptoms ◽  
Control Study

Background: many people with different diagnoses, including eating disorders, have suffered traumatic experiences in childhood. Method: a case-control study was performed. The objective of this study was to evaluate the presence of child trauma and dissociative symptoms in people with eating disorders and compare the results obtained with a control group. Participants were administered the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) and the Structured Clinical Interview for Personality Disorders (SCID-II) to confirm diagnostic criteria and explore possible comorbidities. Traumatic experiences in childhood were evaluated with the Child Trauma Questionnaire in its abbreviated version (CTQ-SF), psychoform dissociation was measured with the Scale of Dissociative Experiences (DES-II) and somatoform dissociation with the Somatoform Dissociation Scale (SDQ-20). Results: women with eating disorders reported a greater severity and higher prevalence of child trauma than the control group. Significant differences were found by groups in dissociative symptoms. Conclusions: our results, in a Spanish sample, confirm the findings of previous studies.

Are Empathic Abilities Impaired in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder?

2010 ◽  
Vol 106 (3) ◽  
pp. 832-844 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gabriela Nietlisbach ◽  
Andreas Maercker ◽  
Wulf Rösler ◽  
Helene Haker
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Functions ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Traumatic Experiences ◽  
Reactivity Index ◽  
Trauma Survivors ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Cognitive States ◽  
Resonance Test ◽  
Empathic Resonance ◽  
Ptsd Group

Trauma survivors with PTSD show social interaction and relationship impairments. It is hypothesized that traumatic experiences lead to known PTSD symptoms, empathic ability impairment, and difficulties in sharing affective, emotional, or cognitive states. A PTSD group ( N = 16) and a nontraumatized Control group ( N = 16) were compared on empathic abilities, namely the Empathic Resonance Test, Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test, and Faux Pas Test. The Interpersonal Reactivity Index as a self-report measure of empathy and measures of nonsocial cognitive functions, namely the Verbal Fluency Test, the Five-Point Test, and the Stroop Test, were also administered. The PTSD group showed lower empathic resonance. No clear indications of other impairments in social cognitive functions were found. The PTSD group had significantly higher personal distress. Empathic resonance impairments did not correlate with subjective severity of PTSD symptomatology. This article discusses whether impaired empathic resonance in PTSD trauma survivors is a consequence of trauma itself or a protective coping strategy.

scholarly journals Psychodramatic psychotherapy combined with pharmacotherapy in major depressive disorder: an open and naturalistic study

2006 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 40-43
Author(s):  
Elisabeth Maria Sene Costa ◽  
Rosilda Antonio ◽  
Márcia Britto de Macedo Soares ◽  
Ricardo Alberto Moreno
Keyword(s):  
Major Depressive Disorder ◽  
Depressive Disorder ◽  
Social Adjustment ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Hamilton Depression Scale ◽  
Major Depressive ◽  
The Social ◽  
Social Adjustment Scale

OBJETIVE: Recent literature has highlighted the role of psychotherapy in the treatment of major depressive disorder. Combined therapies comprising both psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy have presented the best results. Although several kinds of psychotherapies have been studied in the treatment of depressive disorders, there remains a lack of data on psychodramatic psychotherapy in the treatment of major depressive disorder. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of psychodramatic psychotherapy (in a sample of major depressive disorder patients. METHOD: This is an open, naturalistic, controlled, non-randomized study. Twenty major depressive disorder patients (according to the DSM-IV criteria), under pharmacological treatment for depression, with Hamilton Depression Scale total scores between 7 and 20 (mild to moderate depression), were divided into two groups. Patients in the psychotherapeutic group took part in 4 individual and 24 structured psychodramatic group sessions, whilst subjects in the control group did not participate in this psychodramatic psychotherapy. Both groups were evaluated with the Social Adjustment Scale - Self Report and the Hamilton Depression Scale. RESULTS: Psychotherapeutic group patients showed a significant improvement according to the Social Adjustment Scale - Self Report and the Hamilton Depression Scale scores at endpoint, compared to those of the control group. CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that individual and group psychodramatic psychotherapy, associated to pharmacological treatment, provides good clinical benefits in the treatment of major depressive disorder.

Influence of post-migration living difficulties on post-traumatic symptoms in Chinese asylum seekers resettled in Italy

2019 ◽  
Vol 66 (2) ◽  
pp. 129-135
Author(s):  
Massimiliano Aragona ◽  
Miriam Castaldo ◽  
Maria Cristina Tumiati ◽  
Cristina Schillirò ◽  
Alessandra Dal Secco ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder ◽  
Traumatic Stress ◽  
Asylum Seekers ◽  
Traumatic Experiences ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Potentially Traumatic Events ◽  
Harvard Trauma Questionnaire ◽  
Post Traumatic ◽  
Migration Experiences ◽  
Traumatic Symptoms

Background: Little is known about mental health and resettlement difficulties of Chinese asylum seekers fleeing China due to religious persecutions. Aim: This study explores main post-migration living difficulties (PMLD) in this population, with a focus on their role in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Methods: A total of 67 patients (95.52% women, mean age 34.75 ± 7.63) were included in the study. The Harvard Trauma Questionnaire (HTQ) was used to assess PTSD, the List of Migration Experiences (LiMEs) was used for pre-migration and post-migration experiences (potentially traumatic events as well as living difficulties). The t-test was used to examine the differences in pre-migration and post-migration mean scores. Logistic regression was used to test the effect of pre-migration traumatic experiences (PMTE) and most frequent PMLD on having a PTSD. Results: A total of 49 patients scored above the HTQ cut-off score for PTSD. As expected, traumatic experiences were concentrated in the pre-migration phase, while living difficulties were present in both phases but more frequently in the post-migration period. PMTE were significantly related to PTSD (OR 1.29, p = .01). However, three PMLD (‘Feeling that you do not know where you will lend up tomorrow’, ‘Loneliness and boredom’ and ‘Not being able to find work’) showed a significant interaction with PMTE, suggesting that their presence in the post-migration phase has a modulation effect by increasing the likelihood of PTSD. Conclusion: This study extends to Chinese asylum seekers the previous evidence that PMLD have a significant role in the likelihood to have a PTSD after landing in the host country.

scholarly journals Attentional bias and its temporal dynamics among war veterans suffering from chronic pain: investigating the contribution of post-traumatic stress symptoms

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mazidi ◽  
Kelsey Vig ◽  
Mohammad-Reza Ebrahimi ◽  
Seyran Ranjbar ◽  
Ali Khatibi
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Pain ◽  
Attentional Bias ◽  
Facial Expressions ◽  
Traumatic Stress ◽  
Temporal Dynamics ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Stress Symptoms ◽  
Post Traumatic

Background: Cognitive models propose that attentional dysregulation, including an attentional bias towards threat, is one potential mechanism underlying the association between chronic pain and post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS). We assessed the attentional bias for painful facial expressions and its relationship with PTSS, using both traditional and variability-based attentional bias measures, among veterans with chronic pain and PTSS and controls.Method: Fifty-four veterans with chronic pain and 30 age/education-matched controls participated in this investigation. Participants completed a self-report measure of PTSS and a dot-probe task with painful/happy/neutral facial expressions. Attention was assessed using both traditional and variability-based reaction time measures of attentional bias.Results: Veterans directed attention away from painful facial expressions (i.e., avoidance) relative to both the control group (between-subject effect) and relative to zero. Veterans showed significantly elevated attentional bias variability for happy and painful expressions compared to controls. Veteran’s attentional bias variability for happy expressions was correlated with PTSS and symptoms of depression.Conclusion: Veterans with chronic pain and PTSS avoided pain-related stimuli and displayed an overall attentional dysfunction for emotional facial expressions. Avoidance of pain cues may be a coping strategy that these individuals develop under stressful conditions. Implications, limitations, and directions for future are discussed.

scholarly journals Dissociative disorders and other psychopathological groups: exploring the differences through the Somatoform Dissociation Questionnaire (SDQ-20)

2007 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 354-358 ◽  
Author(s):  
Helena Maria Amaral do Espirito Santo ◽  
José Luís Pio-Abreu
Keyword(s):  
Conversion Disorder ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Dissociative Disorders ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Dissociative Disorder ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Diagnostic Efficacy ◽  
Portuguese Version ◽  
Somatoform Dissociation ◽  
Psychopathological Disorders

OBJECTIVE: The Somatoform Dissociation Questionnaire is a self-report questionnaire that has proven to be a reliable and valid instrument. The objectives of this study were to validate the Portuguese version and to determine its capability to distinguish patients with dissociative disorders from others with psychopathological disorders. METHOD: 234 patients answered the translated version of Somatoform Dissociation Questionnaire. The Portuguese Dissociative Disorders Interview Schedule was used to validate clinical diagnosis. Patients with dissociative disorder (n = 113) were compared to a control group of 121 patients with various anxiety and depression disorders. RESULTS: Reliability measured by Cronbach's a was 0.88. The best performance of the Portuguese form was at a cut-off point of 35, which distinguishes between dissociative disorder and neurotic disorders with a good diagnostic efficacy (sensitivity = 0.73). The somatoform dissociation was significantly more frequent in dissociative disorder patients, conversion disorder patients and post-traumatic stress disorder patients. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that dissociative disorders can be differentiated from other psychiatric disorders through somatoform dissociation. The Portuguese version of the Somatoform Dissociation Questionnaire has fine psychometric features that sustain its cross-cultural validity.

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