Schizophrenia and family rituals: measuring family rituals among schizophrenics and “normals”

1994 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 45-51 ◽  
Author(s):  
MG Madianos ◽  
M Economou

SummaryFamily rituals consisting of ceremonial acts, traditions and patterned interactions serve as a basis of communication, collective identity, and stabilizing relationships. Therefore, the measurement of rituals in a schizophrenic family is an objectification of the family's symbolic communication and integration. Based upon this, the relationship between family rituals practice in 138 families both with a schizophrenic member (71) and without (67) was examined by the use of an originally developed instrument, the “Family Rituals Scale” (FRS). The psychometric properties of this instrument were tested and proved to be reliable. Families with a schizophrenic member were less ritualizing than the “normal” families. The correlation between FRS scores and Global Assessment Scale scores in schizophrenic patients was negative (the higher the psychosocial functioning level, the lower FRS scores), which means a higher performance of family rituals. The effect of other factors on FRS scores and the therapeutic implications are discussed.

2003 ◽  
Vol 37 (2) ◽  
pp. 160-168 ◽  
Author(s):  
Teija Honkonen ◽  
Hasse Karlsson ◽  
Anna-Maija Koivisto ◽  
Eija Stengård ◽  
Raimo K.R. Salokangas

Objective: We investigated differences in psychosocial and clinical characteristics, as well as the use of services, of schizophrenic patients in different treatment settings three years after their discharge from a psychiatric hospital. Furthermore, we examined secular changes in these phenomena during the era of rapid deinstitutionalization in Finland. Method: Three nationally representative samples comprised 3257 schizophrenic patients who had been discharged in 1986, 1990 and 1994. The patients were interviewed three years after discharge by each district's psychiatric professionals using a structured interview schedule specifically designed for the purposes of the present study. Psychosocial functioning was assessed on the Global Assessment Scale and on a modified version of the Medical Research Council Practices Profile. Results: In the 1990s, more patients with a poor clinical and psychosocial state were transferred from hospital to alternative outpatient facilities, such as sheltered workshops or supported residences. In successive cohorts, the proportion of patients who had dropped out of treatment decreased and the psychiatric and somatic state of the drop-outs improved. Conclusion: In general, the psychiatric treatment system has worked well for most deinstitutionalized patients. In the future, however, it is important that the quality of care and adequate resources in the alternative outpatient facilities are ensured.


1993 ◽  
Vol 163 (4) ◽  
pp. 522-534 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. Adams ◽  
R. E. Kendell ◽  
E. H. Hare ◽  
P. Munk-Jørgensen

The epidemiological evidence that the offspring of women exposed to influenza in pregnancy are at increased risk of schizophrenia is conflicting. In an attempt to clarify the issue we explored the relationship between the monthly incidence of influenza (and measles) in the general population and the distribution of birth dates of three large series of schizophrenic patients - 16 960 Scottish patients born in 1932–60; 22 021 English patients born in 1921–60; and 18 723 Danish patients born in 1911–65. Exposure to the 1957 epidemic of A2 influenza in midpregnancy was associated with an increased incidence of schizophrenia, at least in females, in all three data sets. We also confirmed the previous report of a statistically significant long-term relationship between patients' birth dates and outbreaks of influenza in the English series, with time lags of - 2 and - 3 months (the sixth and seventh months of pregnancy). Despite several other negative studies by ourselves and others we conclude that these relationships are probably both genuine and causal; and that maternal influenza during the middle third of intrauterine development, or something closely associated with it, is implicated in the aetiology of some cases of schizophrenia.


2018 ◽  
Vol 46 (4) ◽  
pp. 521-540
Author(s):  
Mara Malagodi

The relationship between federalism and identity was the single most contentious issue in the drafting of Nepal's 2015 Constitution, and remains an embattled feature of the country's post-conflict constitutional settlement. This article explains why ‘constitutional incrementalism'—the innovative constitution-making strategy for deeply divided societies theorised by Hanna Lerner—was ultimately (and wisely) rejected in Nepal's federalisation process. Historically a unitary state since its creation in the late eighteenth century, Nepal committed itself to federal restructuring in 2007, but profound disagreements endured over the set of institutional choices concerning the features of Nepal's federal arrangements throughout the constitution-making process (2008–15). Constitutional incrementalism with its emphasis on deferral, ambiguity and contradiction was thought of in some quarters as a pragmatic and instrumental way out of Nepal's political impasse. In the end, the 2015 Constitution expressly named the provinces (even if by just using numbers) and demarcated their boundaries already at the time of its promulgation. Any changes to this framework can only take place by way of constitutional amendment. This article explains why the incrementalist approach was rejected in Nepal's federalisation process, and reflects on the conditions under which constitutional incrementalism may succeed in societies that present profound disagreements over the collective identity of the polity.


1998 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 303-309 ◽  
Author(s):  
I Berlin ◽  
L Givry-Steiner ◽  
Y Lecrubier ◽  
AJ Puech

SummaryAnhedonia may be considered as a transnosological feature of depression and schizophrenia. The aim of the present study was to assess hedonic responses to sucrose solutions and sweet taste perception threshold in patients with major depression and in schizophrenic patients in comparison with healthy subjects (matched for age and gender with depressive patients), and to compare these responses to evaluations by the Physical and Social Anhedonia scale of Chapman and the Pleasure Scale of Fawcett, generally used to quantify anhedonia. Hedonic responses to sucrose solutions were similar in patients with major depression (n = 20), schizophrenia (n = 20), and healthy controls (n = 20). Sweet taste perception threshold was significantly higher in depressive patients than in controls. Hedonic response to sucrose was inversely correlated with physical Anhedonia Scores and sweet taste perception threshold with Pleasure Scale scores. Measures of hedonia/anhedonia were not related with the intensity of depression or anxiety as measured by the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) and Hamilton Anxiety Scale, respectively. In 11 depressed patients hospitalised for 17 to 33 days, neither hedonic ratings to sucrose solutions, sweet taste perception threshold, Physical, Social Anhedonia scores nor Pleasure Scale scores were modified in spite of substantial decrease in MADRS or Hamilton Anxiety scores. Hedonic responses to sucrose solutions and sweet taste perception threshold may be used as complementary evaluation to quantify anhedonia.


2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Susan J. Wenze ◽  
Brandon A. Gaudiano ◽  
Lauren M. Weinstock ◽  
Ivan W. Miller

We conducted a secondary analysis of data from a clinical trial to explore the relationship between degree of personality disorder (PD) pathology (i.e., number of subthreshold and threshold PD symptoms) and mood and functioning outcomes in Bipolar I Disorder (BD-I). Ninety-two participants completed baseline mood and functioning assessments and then underwent 4 months of treatment for an index manic, mixed, or depressed phase acute episode. Additional assessments occurred over a 28-month follow-up period. PD pathology did not predict psychosocial functioning or manic symptoms at 4 or 28 months. However, it did predict depressive symptoms at both timepoints, as well as percent time symptomatic. Clusters A and C pathology were most strongly associated with depression. Our findings fit with the literature highlighting the negative repercussions of PD pathology on a range of outcomes in mood disorders. This study builds upon previous research, which has largely focused on major depression and which has primarily taken a categorical approach to examining PD pathology in BD.


2006 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 339-355 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miriam Getz ◽  
Yeshayahu Hutzler ◽  
Adri Vermeer

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between motor performance in the aquatic setting as measured by the Aquatic Independence Measure (AIM) to motor performance on land as measured by the Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM) and the Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory (PEDI). Fourty- nine children with neuro-motor impairments ages 3 to 7 participated in the study. Pearson correlations were applied to determine the relationships between the AIM and the GMFM, PEDI, and Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS). Significant correlations were found between the total AIM and GMFM scores (r = 69, p < .01) and PEDI self-care sub-scale (r = .79, p < .01) as well as the PEDI mobility sub-scale scores (r = .35, p < .05). The water adjustment sub-scale as measured by the AIM showed the strongest relationship to motor performance on land as measured by the GMFM and PEDI in our sample of 49 children.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Pierre Petitet ◽  
Jacqueline Scholl ◽  
Bahaaeddin Attaallah ◽  
Daniel Drew ◽  
Sanjay Manohar ◽  
...  

AbstractApathy and impulsivity are debilitating conditions associated with many neuropsychiatric conditions, and expressed to variable degrees in healthy people. While some theories suggest that they lie at different ends of a continuum, others suggest their possible co-existence. Surprisingly little is known, however, about their empirical association in the general population. Here, gathering data from six large studies ($$n = 3755$$ n = 3755 ), we investigated the relationship between measures of apathy and impulsivity in young adults. The questionnaires included commonly used self-assessment tools—Apathy Evaluation Scale, Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-11) and UPPS-P Scale—as well as a more recent addition, the Apathy Motivation Index (AMI). Remarkably, across datasets and assessment tools, global measures of apathy and impulsivity correlated positively. However, analysis of sub-scale scores revealed a more complex relationship. Although most dimensions correlated positively with one another, there were two important exceptions revealed using the AMI scale. Social apathy was mostly negatively correlated with impulsive behaviour, and emotional apathy was orthogonal to all other sub-domains. These results suggest that at a global level, apathy and impulsivity do not exist at distinct ends of a continuum. Instead, paradoxically, they most often co-exist in young adults. Processes underlying social and emotional apathy, however, appear to be different and dissociable from behavioural apathy and impulsivity.


Author(s):  
Olga Khavanova

The article is based on the materials from Russian and Austrian archives and devoted to lesser-known circumstances of the preparation and course of the 1761 diplomatic mission of Baron A.S. Stroganov to Vienna on the occasion of the wedding of the heir to the throne, Archduke Joseph, with Isabella of Parma. The embassy is considered in the context of symbolic communication through ceremonial gestures between St. Petersburg and Vienna. It emphasised the particularly friendly nature of the relationship between the two dynasties and two courts, not only united by a bilateral treaty and membership in the anti-Prussian alliance during the Seven Years War but also symbolically related as godparents. A.S. Stroganov was a young aristocrat without proper experience in the field of diplomacy and of the modest court rank of Kammer-Junker. The appointment was explained by his kinship with Chancellor M.I. Vorontsov whose daughter Anna officially accompanied her husband on the trip. The imperial ambassador to St. Petersburg Count Nicolaus Esterházy spared no effort to smooth over the awkwardness and find benevolent patrons for the young couple in Vienna. European education and the exceptional personal qualities of the ambassador allowed A. Stroganov to fulfil the commission with honour and receive the title of a Count of the Holy Roman Empire from Emperor Francis I as a reward. The embassy became the last page in the history of relations between St. Petersburg and Vienna on the eve of the break of bilateral relations and Russia’s withdrawal from the Seven Years War in 1762.


2016 ◽  
Vol 33 (S1) ◽  
pp. S441-S441
Author(s):  
S. Campi ◽  
C. Esposito ◽  
P. andreassi ◽  
P. Bandinelli ◽  
P. Girardi ◽  
...  

Introductionaggressive behavior in wards is associated to poor treatment compliance and low clinical insight. Most studies focused on the clinical and cognitive dimensions of insight, while the relationship between metacognitive dimension and aggressive behaviors was not investigated. Our aim was to understand what relationship occurs between dimensions of insight (metacognitive, cognitive, clinical), and specific aggressive behaviors in acute patients.Methodswe recruited 75 acute schizophrenic patients using: aQ; MO aS; IS; P aNSS; BCIS.Resultsa positive correlation between the IS score and the hostility, angry and physical aggression sub-scores of the aQ was highlighted, while no correlation between the score of IS and MO aS total score was found. No correlation between the score of the P aNSS G12 item and the aQ scores and MO aS was found, and no correlation between BCIS scores, MO aS and aQ scores was found.Conclusionsin our patients, a higher level of metacognitive insight, but not clinical nor cognitive insight, was associated to higher levels of hostility. we suggest that a higher ability to monitor and appraise one's own altered processes of thought and related discomfort, feeling of destabilization and loss of control, could contribute to enhance resentment and suspiciousness. Findings help develop specific therapeutic strategies to enhance metacognitive and self-monitoring abilities, helping patient's understanding of the illness, improving compliance with treatment, and patient's quality of life. Our results support the multidimensional nature of insight in schizophrenia, confirming that clinical, cognitive and metacognitive dimensions are independent though related facets of the phenomenon of insight in schizophrenia.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.


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