Emotional and cognitive representation of COVID-19 among Polish adults during the peak of the second wave of the pandemic

Introduction: This paper presents the results of cognitive and emotional representation of COVID-19 in the sample of adult Poles during the peak of the second wave of the pandemic (November–December 2020). Aims: The study was designed to investigate the mental and emotional representation of COVID-19 in adult Poles. It was hypothesised that the representation would have a different structure depending on gender, age, education as well as personal experience of COVID-19 or other medical conditions. Methods: The survey was carried out in November and December 2020, and involved two hundred Polish adults aged 17 to 58 years (Mage = 32.59, SD = 10.19). The subjects were surveyed via the Google Forms web survey platform. A link to the survey was sent to the participants on Facebook. Results: Three in four respondents were found to believe that COVID-19 indeed existed, and that a virus was the most important cause of the problem. According to nearly one in two respondents, the effects of the disease were exaggerated by the mass media. On average, the respondents tend to believe that the severity of the disease may be controlled by one’s behaviour. The emotional representation of COVID-19 reflected predominantly negative emotions. The respondents were convinced that the disease led to significant consequences affecting the domains of personal life and work. Discussion: According to many participants, the effects of the disease are overestimated in media reports. The lack of knowledge about neurological and neuropsychological complications suggests that this aspect of the disease is insufficiently emphasised in the mass media during the second wave of the pandemic. Conclusions: Individual variables and experience of COVID-19 affect one’s cognitive and emotional representation of the disease and one’s beliefs concerning the mitigation of risks. This means that any future information related to COVID-19, and the promotion of knowledge concerning the possible mechanisms of disease development, must be conveyed in a way adjusted to gender and age as well as the level of education.

Modafinil in the treatment of selected sleep disorders

Until 2010, modafinil, which is a wakefulness promoting agent, was approved in Europe for a wider spectrum of indications, such as narcolepsy, idiopathic hypersomnia, obstructive sleep apnoea and shift work sleep disorder. Currently, it is registered by the European Medicines Agency only for the treatment of narcolepsy, and is used as an off-label therapy in other sleep disorders. This paper presents the efficacy of modafinil in selected sleep disorders. Modafinil remains first-choice treatment for narcolepsy. It reduces the frequency of bouts of inadvertent sleep and nap episodes, the duration and intensity of daytime hypersomnolence, and also significantly improves the quality of life of patients. However, it is associated with only a slight improvement in cataplexy and other symptoms. In idiopathic hypersomnia, modafinil reduces the frequency of naps and unintentional sleep episodes, as well as subjective sleepiness measured with the Epworth Sleepiness Scale. Furthermore, the drug is used to treat hypersomnia from obstructive sleep apnoea in the case of lack of improvement despite optimal positive airway pressure therapy. Modafinil is also approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of shift work sleep disorder. The drug has been shown to reduce the level of somnolence, but it has not been found to reduce unintentional sleep episodes, reported mistakes or accidents at work. Given the strong negative impact of hypersomnolence on performance at work and school, the risk of accidents and the quality of life, the risk-benefit assessment of modafinil often justifies its use in the treatment of hypersomnolence also outside the approved indications.

Mental health prevention in children and adolescents in the European Union and measures taken in Poland – good practices and limitations

Mental health of children and adolescents is one of important issues managed as part of preventive interventions not only in Poland, but throughout the European Union. Many studies have shown continuous deterioration of mental health among children and adolescents. Alarming data have been published by the World Health Organization, which show that up to 20% of children suffer from various types of mental problems, hence the need for interventions that will put an end to this process. The most important target set by the European Union countries is to introduce large-scale multilevel preventive measures aimed at the total population, referred to as universal prevention. In addition to universal prevention, European Union countries, including Poland, implement targeted interventions for those at risk and those already diagnosed, as part of preventive mental health care. These measures are part of the WHO Comprehensive Mental Health Action Plan 2013–2030, which encompasses the following objectives: promote mental well-being, enhance recovery, and reduce the mortality, morbidity and disability for persons with mental disorders. This plan was intended to focus on improving mental health care and implementing comprehensive actions at the local level in all European Union countries, which often requires legislative changes in member states. Mental health is becoming the focal point of national and local interventions in Poland. Fast and free access to specialists close to one’s place of residence becomes crucial.

Modafinil in the treatment of selected mental disorders

Modafinil belongs to a class of wakefulness promoting agents. It is widely used in the treatment of sleep disorders. Although narcolepsy is the main indication for its use, hypersomnia from obstructive sleep apnoea and shift work sleep disorder are also indications in some countries. Due to its efficacy in the treatment of hypersomnia, the drug has also been clinically assessed in patients with mental disorders to reduce the severity of symptoms such as fatigue, hypersomnolence and cognitive impairment. The aim of this paper is to present the potential clinical applications of modafinil in the treatment of selected mental disorders. The use of modafinil in depressive disorders to enhance the treatment applied may improve mood, anhedonia and apathy, fatigue, hypersomnolence and executive cognitive impairment. In severe episodes of bipolar depression, modafinil may improve depressive symptoms, fatigue, and hypersomnia. Despite the potential risk of manic symptoms during modafinil treatment, recent studies show no increased risk of switching from depressive to manic phase. In schizophrenia, there is no evidence for the beneficial effect of modafinil on the negative symptoms, but improvement in selected cognitive functions accompanied by exacerbation of psychotic symptoms was observed in some patients. Furthermore, modafinil is used as an alternative to standard therapy in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Despite lacking evidence for the efficacy of modafinil in cocaine addiction, an analysis of selected studies indicates a potential benefit in the form of maintained abstinence. Modafinil is well tolerated and safe in most cases. The risk of dependence is lower than with other psychostimulants.

Emotional intelligence, indirect self-destructiveness and gender

Emotional intelligence may beneficially affect human life and psychological and social functioning, whereas indirect self-destructiveness exerts a rather adverse impact thereon. The aim of this study was to synthesise the results of research on possible relationships between emotional intelligence and indirect self-destructiveness, emotional intelligence dimensions and indirect self-destructiveness categories, as well as the gender differentiation of relationships between particular dimensions of emotional intelligence and the categories of indirect self-destructiveness. A population of 260 individuals (130 females and 130 males) aged 20–30 years (mean age of 24.5 years) was assessed using INTE, i.e. the Polish version of the Assessing Emotions Scale (AES) and the Polish version of Chronic Self-Destructiveness Scale (CS-DS). The level of emotional intelligence differentiated the intensity of indirect self-destructiveness and vice versa. Emotional intelligence and its factors showed many significant, mainly negative, correlations with indirect self-destructiveness and its categories. Relationships between particular dimensions of emotional intelligence and categories of self-destructiveness differed between women and men. One of the crucial differences was the association between the ability to recognise emotions and transgression. In general, low emotional intelligence can be said to correlate with poor psychological and social functioning, which in turn is associated with indirect self-destructiveness and its categories. It seems advisable to utilise emotional intelligence in the prophylactic and therapeutic work with those suffering from various types of disorders, especially the indirect self-destructiveness syndrome. Knowledge on the differentiation of the said relationships may help properly target prophylactic and therapeutic interventions, adjusting them to a given gender.

Interpretation strategy for the MMPI-2 protocol – a case study of a patient with bipolar disorder during remission of hypomanic symptoms

The paper presents an exemplary strategy for interpreting MMPI-2 data. Due to the multitude of diagnostic tools, the complex nature of the questionnaire and the time-consuming analysis of the data obtained, all examples of interpretation may be helpful for a psychologist. Polish reports supporting the broad interpretation of the MMPI-2 are sparse. The presented case study illustrates an interpretative path replicable in any clinical psychological practice. The article is based on the official guidelines of the Psychological Test Laboratory of the Polish Psychological Association. They were developed by Marek Matkowski and Tomasz Kucharski, specialists dealing with the discussed tool, and represent individual diagnostic recommendations created under the supervision of experienced clinicians and a one-time consultation with MSc Andrzej Janiak. Respecting the original copyrights belonging to the Psychological Test Laboratory of the Polish Psychological Association in Poland, I recommend purchasing only official and authorised materials in the above-mentioned Laboratory and familiarising with its official position on the diagnostic path in MMPI-2.

Shame – a forgotten emotion: psychopathology, neurobiology, and therapy of shame in eating disorders

The paper focuses on shame in the context of eating disorders. As a common emotion occurring in various spheres of human life, shame is of particular importance in the understanding and treatment of eating disorders as it is one of the key factors in their development and sustenance. There is scientific evidence that individuals with eating disorders experience higher levels of shame and guilt compared to those with other clinical diagnoses, which distinguishes eating disorders from other psychopathologies. Therefore, we present the mechanisms underlying the emotion of shame and its relationship with eating disorders, along with selected therapeutic strategies for overcoming shame. This paper also presents the research on neural correlates of shame and their relationship with the development and sustenance of a disturbed body image, which is one of the key psychopathological aspects of eating disorders. We also discuss the role of work on the patient’s shame in successful therapeutic processes, as well as the possible use of neuroscience in understanding and treating patients experiencing this emotion. Furthermore, we attempted to explain the concept of shame and its possible classification in the context of selected psychological theories. The paper also refers to the concepts of healthy and toxic shame, which are strongly associated with developing a specific type of personality and coping strategies in social relationships, and which influence self-esteem.

Development of professional thinking in the setting of group multimodal supervision

The aims of this article are multifaceted: to change the ideas about the traumatic nature of supervision, to reveal its potential in the development of young specialists, to preserve and maintain professional identity among experienced psychologists, and to develop supervision as an integral part of the full-fledged activity of practising psychologists and specialists in the helping professions in Kazakhstan. The article is devoted to the analysis of the main definitions of professional thinking which are developing in the setting of group multimodal supervision. Based on the analysis, three definitions were identified – the unity of affect and intelligence, theoretical thinking, and the principle of differentiation. The article shows the importance of the development of these definitions of professional thinking among practising psychologists, and describes the features of the development of these definitions in group multimodal supervision. The following definitions of thinking were identified in the course of data analysis: the unity of affect and intelligence, theoretical thinking, and the principle of differentiation. These definitions productively describe what professional competencies are formed in the process of supervision by a specialist. The described competencies of professional thinking fill in the existing gap of knowledge in this area, showing how the experience of supervision in the multimodal supervision group works towards the establishment of professional identity, and what specific mental competences are developing. It is worth noting that this is the first experience of highlighting the formation of the definitions of professional thinking. The study is based on the following theoretical traditions in psychology: general psychology, psychoanalysis, and professional multimodal model of supervision.

Educational program “Communication in the Treatment Process” – description, goals, and theoretical background

Effective medical communication is an extremely important aspect of patient-centered medicine. It allows for achieving better treatment outcomes and is of key importance in the case of patients experiencing mental problems. Research clearly indicates that the quality of communication is a fundamental element of medical services, which not only affects patient satisfaction, but can also reduce the risk of burnout among staff who have contact with patients. A sense of mutual understanding translates into trust and contributes to more conscientious adherence to medical recommendations. Considering the cooperation of all medical and non-medical personnel, high-quality communication reduces the risk of tensions and conflicts, as well as the number of complaints reported by patients. Both research findings and our own experience show that individuals with mental disorders often feel misunderstood, stigmatised, or ignored by healthcare personnel. Based on the above assumptions, the experts from Józef Babiński Specialist Hospital in Kraków developed their own program entitled “Communication in the Treatment Process.” It was implemented in 2018 by the Ministry of Health among over 2,500 professionals in the Małopolskie and Podkarpackie provinces. The aim of the project was to improve the communication skills of medical and non-medical personnel in the context of communication with patients with mental disorders. The paper describes in detail the theoretical background, the goals, and the course of the program.