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Kick L, Schleicher D, Ecker A, Kandsperger S, Brunner R, Jarvers I. Alexithymia as a mediator between adverse childhood events and the development of psychopathology: a meta-analysis. Front Psychiatry 2024; 15:1412229. [PMID: 39011338 PMCID: PMC11246998 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1412229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2024] [Accepted: 06/07/2024] [Indexed: 07/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Victims of child abuse have an elevated risk of developing mental health issues later in life. Several variables have been suggested as mediators of this correlation, but little is known about the possible influence of alexithymia. Alexithymia is a sub-clinical personality trait that manifests as difficulties recognizing and verbalizing emotions. Methods In this study, two separate meta-analyses were conducted using questionnaire data, and Pearson correlations for overall effects were estimated. Results The correlation between child abuse and alexithymia showed to be significant (r = .26), as did the correlation between alexithymia and general psychopathology (r = .44). Further analyses revealed no indication for possible publication bias. When investigating differences between various subtypes of child maltreatment, each subtype significantly correlated with alexithymia. Emotional abuse, emotional neglect, and physical neglect had stronger correlations than physical and sexual abuse. Discussion These results suggest that alexithymia plays a mediating role, at least in part, in the relationship between experiences of child abuse and general psychopathology in adulthood. Therefore, alexithymia may be relevant to further research and deserves attention in the prevention of and therapy for mental health issues in victims of child abuse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorenz Kick
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Daniel Schleicher
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Angelika Ecker
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Stephanie Kandsperger
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Romuald Brunner
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Irina Jarvers
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
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Ricci V, Maina G, Martinotti G. Dissociation and Temporality in Substance Abuse: A Clinical Phenomenological Overview. Psychopathology 2023; 57:219-228. [PMID: 37903485 DOI: 10.1159/000533862] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2023] [Accepted: 08/26/2023] [Indexed: 11/01/2023]
Abstract
The term "dissociation" encompasses a wide array of symptoms and phenomena, all sharing the common characteristic of involving altered states of consciousness where an individual temporarily loses the sense of continuity of their own identity. In the context of addiction pathology, however, the dissociative paradigm remains a topic of ongoing debate. It fluctuates between the description of individual dissociative symptoms and the notion of post-traumatic dissociation as a structural process. This process involves fragmentation that extends beyond the confines of perception and experience within a singular moment, instead ensuring a persistent discontinuity of the self throughout one's existence. Pathological addiction stresses the question of the donation of sense in this deep and dramatic experience; it situates individuals within a compressed and constricted realm of vital space, alongside a frozen perception of time. Within this context, every emotion, sensation, and comprehension becomes impaired. Consequently, we have embarked on a journey starting with a historical analysis: the aim was to construct an elucidative framework for the dissociative paradigm in the context of addiction. This involves an in-depth exploration of the fundamental constructs of trauma and temporality, examined through the lens of phenomenological perspective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valerio Ricci
- Department of Psychiatry, San Luigi Gonzaga Hospital, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Maina
- Department of Psychiatry, San Luigi Gonzaga Hospital, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
- Department of Neurosciences "Rita Levi Montalcini", University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Giovanni Martinotti
- Department of Neurosciences, Imaging and Clinical Sciences, Università Degli Studi G. D'Annunzio Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
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Liu Y, Li M, Gao Y, Zhang C, Wang Y, Liu X, Yang S, Li J. Specific correlation between childhood trauma and social cognition in Chinese Han first-episode, drug-naïve major depressive disorder. J Affect Disord 2023; 333:51-57. [PMID: 37084962 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2023.04.059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2023] [Revised: 04/04/2023] [Accepted: 04/14/2023] [Indexed: 04/23/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Childhood trauma (CT) is a significant factor affecting social cognition in major depressive disorder (MDD). However, the relationship between CT, social cognition, and MDD is still not well-understood. METHODS A total of 251 Han Chinese participants, comprising 117 first-episode drug-naïve MDD patients and 134 healthy controls (HCs), were recruited. The Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI), and Facial Emotion Recognition Test were used to measure CT and social cognition. Partial correlations were conducted to analyze the association between CT and social cognition. RESULTS Our results showed that no significant correlation was observed between CTQ total score and social cognition in MDD (p > 0.05), while it was different in HCs (TAS-20 total score: r = 0.21, p = 0.016; difficulty identifying feelings (DIF): r = 0.219, p = 0.012; perspective-taking (PT): r = -0.214, p = 0.014; recognizing neutral facial emotions: r = -0.4, p < 0.001). CTQ subtyping analysis revealed that CTQ subscale scores in MDD were significantly correlated with PT, personal distress (PD), and recognizing angry facial emotions. Interestingly, physical abuse score was positively correlated with PT in MDD (r = 0.219, p = 0.019) but negatively with PT in HCs (r = -0.276, p = 0.001). LIMITATIONS Insufficient sample size and cross-sectional designs. CONCLUSION The correlation between CT and social cognition in MDD was weakened or reversed compared to HCs, highlighting the need for further investigation to determine the cause of this specific correlation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan Liu
- Institute of Mental Health, Tianjin Anding Hospital, Mental Health Center of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300222, China
| | - Meijuan Li
- Institute of Mental Health, Tianjin Anding Hospital, Mental Health Center of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300222, China
| | - Ying Gao
- Institute of Mental Health, Tianjin Anding Hospital, Mental Health Center of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300222, China
| | - Chuhao Zhang
- Institute of Mental Health, Tianjin Anding Hospital, Mental Health Center of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300222, China
| | - Yuting Wang
- Institute of Mental Health, Tianjin Anding Hospital, Mental Health Center of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300222, China
| | - Xueying Liu
- Institute of Mental Health, Tianjin Anding Hospital, Mental Health Center of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300222, China
| | - Shu Yang
- Institute of Mental Health, Tianjin Anding Hospital, Mental Health Center of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300222, China
| | - Jie Li
- Institute of Mental Health, Tianjin Anding Hospital, Mental Health Center of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300222, China.
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Kent L, Nelson B, Northoff G. Can disorders of subjective time inform the differential diagnosis of psychiatric disorders? A transdiagnostic taxonomy of time. Early Interv Psychiatry 2023; 17:231-243. [PMID: 36935204 DOI: 10.1111/eip.13333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2021] [Revised: 02/09/2022] [Accepted: 05/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
AIM Time is a core aspect of psychopathology with potential for clinical use and early intervention. Temporal experience, perception, judgement and processing are distorted in various psychiatric disorders such as mood (depression and mania), anxiety, autistic, impulse-control, dissociative and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorders. Can these disorders of time be used as early diagnostic or predictive markers? To answer this question, we develop a Transdiagnostic Taxonomy of (disordered) Time (TTT) that maps on to the symptomatological, phenomenal, perceptual and functional descriptions of each underlying disorder in a 2 × 2 × 2 state space. Temporal distortions may precede functional decline, and so assist efforts at early detection and intervention in at-risk groups. METHOD Firstly, this article integrates a psychological model of how time is processed with a subjective or phenomenological model of how time is experienced or perceived. Secondly, the integrated combined model of time is then used to heuristically map major psychiatric disorders on to the basic elements of temporal flow and integration. RESULTS The TTT systematically describes the basic temporal nature of eight diagnostic categories of psychiatric illness. It differentiates between diagnoses primarily associated with distorted "macro-level" phenomenal temporal experiences (i.e. anxiety, dissociation/PTSD, depression, and mania) from those primarily related to distorted 'micro-level' temporal processing (i.e. psychotic, impulse-control, autistic and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorders). CONCLUSIONS The TTT allows differential diagnostic classification of various psychiatric disorders in terms of a possible underlying time disorder, making it useful for future diagnostic and predictive purposes using novel techniques of temporal processing, time perception, passage of time, and time perspective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lachlan Kent
- Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Barnaby Nelson
- Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Georg Northoff
- Mental Health Center, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China
- Mind, Brain Imaging and Neuroethics, Institute of Mental Health Research, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada
- Center for Cognition and Brain Disorders, The Affiliated Hospital of Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China
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Rudy JA, McKernan S, Kouri N, D'Andrea W. A meta-analysis of the association between shame and dissociation. J Trauma Stress 2022; 35:1318-1333. [PMID: 35749645 DOI: 10.1002/jts.22854] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2021] [Revised: 05/05/2022] [Accepted: 05/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Shame and dissociation have been implicated theoretically and empirically in trauma exposure and its sequelae, with shame understood as an intense negative emotion and dissociation as a reaction to intense negative emotions. Understanding the connection between shame and dissociation is important for theory and practice; however, the strength of this association remains unclear. For example, in therapy, both shame and dissociation serve as a barrier to engaging with emotion. Theoretically, these two states should be distinct, as one (dissociation) confers low affective intensity and the other (shame) high intensity. The present meta-analysis focused on the magnitude of the association between these two phenomena and investigated the extent to which gender, trauma exposure, psychiatric comorbidities, and demographic characteristics influence this association given their independent links to shame and dissociation. An initial search of six databases identified 151,844 articles. Duplicates were removed, and additional articles were excluded based on abstract and title screening. After contacting authors for missing data, a full-text screen yielded 25 articles for the present analysis. The results indicate that shame and dissociation were moderately correlated (k = 33, n = 4,705), r = .42, 95% CI [.35, .48], p < .001, but no clear clinical moderators emerged. Despite this association, very few studies utilized experimental designs to examine the association between these constructs. Future research should focus on experimental study designs to investigate the extent to which shame induces dissociation or vice versa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justine A Rudy
- Department of Psychology, The New School for Social Research, New York, New York, USA
| | - Scott McKernan
- Department of Psychology, The New School for Social Research, New York, New York, USA
| | - Nicole Kouri
- Department of Clinical Psychology, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Wendy D'Andrea
- Department of Psychology, The New School for Social Research, New York, New York, USA
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Yılmaz F, Akcan G. Turkish adaptation of the scale of dissociative activities. EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF TRAUMA & DISSOCIATION 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejtd.2022.100270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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Chung MC, Chen ZS. The Impact of Child Abuse and Dissociation on Psychiatric Comorbidity and Self-Concealment Among Prisoners in China. JOURNAL OF INTERPERSONAL VIOLENCE 2022; 37:2354-2372. [PMID: 32643991 DOI: 10.1177/0886260520935480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Child abuse is a common experience among prisoners in China and associated with elevated psychiatric comorbidity. However, the association between child abuse profiles and dissociation is unclear. The extent to which the relationship between these profiles and dissociation might influence psychiatric comorbidity and self-concealment is also unclear. This study examined the impact of this relationship on the preceding outcomes among prisoners in China using Latent Class Analysis. Four hundred and ninety-six male prisoners from China completed questionnaires measuring child abuse, dissociation, self-concealment, and psychiatric comorbidity. A three-class solution was achieved: Class 1 (neglected with moderate dissociation) prisoners had a minimal level of abuse, the highest level of neglect experience, and a medium level of dissociation; Class 2 (low neglect with low dissociation) prisoners also had a minimal level of abuse but lower levels of neglect experience and dissociation; Class 3 (abused and neglected with high dissociation) prisoners had high levels of child abuse, neglect, and dissociation. Controlling for age, Class 3 reported significantly higher psychiatric comorbidity and self-concealment than the other two classes. Class 1 was more depressed than Class 2; Class 2 was more likely to engage in self-concealment than Class 1. To conclude, the kinds of childhood maltreatment experienced by prisoners and their readiness to detach from distressing emotions can influence the severity of current distress symptoms and the tendency to conceal things about themselves.
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Lynn SJ, Polizzi C, Merckelbach H, Chiu CD, Maxwell R, van Heugten D, Lilienfeld SO. Dissociation and Dissociative Disorders Reconsidered: Beyond Sociocognitive and Trauma Models Toward a Transtheoretical Framework. Annu Rev Clin Psychol 2022; 18:259-289. [PMID: 35226824 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-clinpsy-081219-102424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
For more than 30 years, the posttraumatic model (PTM) and the sociocognitive model (SCM) of dissociation have vied for attention and empirical support. We contend that neither perspective provides a satisfactory account and that dissociation and dissociative disorders (e.g., depersonalization/derealization disorder, dissociative identity disorder) can be understood as failures of normally adaptive systems and functions. We argue for a more encompassing transdiagnostic and transtheoretical perspective that considers potentially interactive variables including sleep disturbances; impaired self-regulation and inhibition of negative cognitions and affects; hyperassociation and set shifts; and deficits in reality testing, source attributions, and metacognition. We present an overview of the field of dissociation, delineate uncontested and converging claims across perspectives, summarize key multivariable studies in support of our framework, and identify empirical pathways for future research to advance our understanding of dissociation, including studies of highly adverse events and dissociation. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Clinical Psychology, Volume 18 is May 2022. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven Jay Lynn
- Psychology Department, Binghamton University, Binghamton, New York, USA;
| | - Craig Polizzi
- Psychology Department, Binghamton University, Binghamton, New York, USA;
| | - Harald Merckelbach
- Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Chui-De Chiu
- Department of Psychology, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Reed Maxwell
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas, USA
| | - Dalena van Heugten
- Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
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Kirchner K, Brauer H, Van der Auwera S, Grabe HJ. The Impact of Resilience, Alexithymia and Subjectively Perceived Helplessness of Myocardial Infarction on the Risk of Posttraumatic Stress. J Clin Psychol Med Settings 2022; 29:954-962. [PMID: 35169973 DOI: 10.1007/s10880-022-09857-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of resilience, alexithymia and the subjectively perceived severity (fear of death, pain intensity, helplessness) of myocardial infarction (MI) on posttraumatic symptom severity (PTSS) after MI. Patients were assessed with the Posttraumatic Diagnostic Scale (PDS), Resilience Scale (RS-11) and Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20). Subjectively perceived severity of MI was measured with three items on a 10-point Likert scale. To test our hypothesis, we applied Pearson correlations as well as multiple hierarchical linear regression analyses. A higher resilience score was significantly associated with lower (r = - .39, p < .001) PTSS. Higher scores of alexithymia (r = .38, p < .01) and subjectively perceived helplessness (r = .42, p < .001) were associated with higher PTSS. Multiple hierarchical linear regression analyses revealed that resilience, the TAS-20 subscale difficulty identifying feelings (DIF) and especially subjectively perceived helplessness were independent significant predictors for the PTSS, adjusted R2 = .29, F(5, 102) = 9.57, p < .001. Our results suggest that resilience reduces the PTSS whereas alexithymia and subjectively perceived helplessness increase the risk. Especially the subjectively perceived helplessness explains a high degree of variance of PTSS and should be assessed to hindering further mental health burden.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin Kirchner
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medicine Greifswald, Ellernholzstraße 1-2, 17489, Greifswald, Mecklenburg-West Pomerania, Germany.
| | - Hartmut Brauer
- Department of Cardiological Rehabilitation, KMG Klinik Silbermühle, Plau am See, Mecklenburg-West Pomerania, Germany
| | - Sandra Van der Auwera
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medicine Greifswald, Ellernholzstraße 1-2, 17489, Greifswald, Mecklenburg-West Pomerania, Germany.,German Centre for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Site Rostock/Greifswald, Mecklenburg-West Pomerania, Germany
| | - Hans Jörgen Grabe
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medicine Greifswald, Ellernholzstraße 1-2, 17489, Greifswald, Mecklenburg-West Pomerania, Germany.,German Centre for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Site Rostock/Greifswald, Mecklenburg-West Pomerania, Germany
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10
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The manifestations and correlates of dissociation amongst looked-after children in middle childhood. EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF TRAUMA & DISSOCIATION 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejtd.2021.100232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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11
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Powers A, Mekawi Y, Fickenwirth M, Nugent NR, Dixon HD, Minton S, Kim YJ, Gluck R, Carter S, Fani N, Schwartz AC, Bradley B, Umpierrez GE, Pace TWW, Jovanovic T, Michopoulos V, Gillespie CF. Emotion dysregulation and dissociation contribute to decreased heart rate variability to an acute psychosocial stressor in trauma-exposed Black women. J Psychiatr Res 2021; 142:125-131. [PMID: 34352557 PMCID: PMC8429185 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2021.07.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2021] [Revised: 07/12/2021] [Accepted: 07/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Reduced heart rate variability (HRV) in response to stress is a biomarker of emotion dysregulation (ED) and is related to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), yet less is known about its role with dissociation in trauma-exposed adults. The goals of the current study were to examine unique patterns of associations between ED, dissociation, and PTSD with HRV at 15, 30, and 45 min (T1, T2, T3) following an acute psychosocial stressor task in a sample of 49 trauma-exposed, urban-dwelling Black women. Associations with baseline psychophysiology measures were also examined. ED and dissociation were assessed using self-report; PTSD was determined using a semi-structured interview. Heart rate (HR) and HRV, indexed with low frequency/high frequency (LF/HF) ratio and respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA), were measured with electrocardiogram recordings. ED and dissociation were positively correlated with LF/HF ratio at T3 (p < .05). There were no significant differences between individuals with PTSD versus those without PTSD in HR or HRV following acute stressor; PTSD diagnosis was related to higher HR at baseline. Latent growth modeling revealed that ED was associated with higher LF/HF ratio directly following acute stressor, while dissociation was associated with increase in LF/HF ratio over time. These findings demonstrate that ED is related to higher sympathetic reactivity for a prolonged period of time following stress exposure, while dissociation shows a delayed association with LF/HF ratio, suggesting a distinct impaired parasympathetic activation pattern exists for dissociation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abigail Powers
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.
| | - Yara Mekawi
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Maximilian Fickenwirth
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Nicole R Nugent
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | - H Drew Dixon
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Sean Minton
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Ye Ji Kim
- Department of Epidemiology, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Rachel Gluck
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Sierra Carter
- Department of Psychology, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Negar Fani
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Ann C Schwartz
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Bekh Bradley
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA; Mental Health Service Line, Atlanta VA Medical Center, USA
| | - Guillermo E Umpierrez
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Thaddeus W W Pace
- College of Nursing, College of Medicine (Psychiatry), & College of Science (Psychology), University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Tanja Jovanovic
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Vasiliki Michopoulos
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA; Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Charles F Gillespie
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
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Terock J, Hannemann A, Weihs A, Janowitz D, Grabe HJ. Alexithymia is associated with reduced vitamin D levels, but not polymorphisms of the vitamin D binding-protein gene. Psychiatr Genet 2021; 31:126-134. [PMID: 34074948 DOI: 10.1097/ypg.0000000000000283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Alexithymia is a personality trait characterized by difficulties in identifying and describing emotions, which is associated with various psychiatric disorders, including depression and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Its pathogenesis is incompletely understood but previous studies suggested that genetic as well as metabolic factors, are involved. However, no results on the role of vitamin D and the polymorphisms rs4588 and rs7041 of the vitamin D binding protein (VDBP) have been published so far. METHODS Serum levels of total 25(OH)D were measured in two general-population samples (total n = 5733) of the Study of Health in Pomerania (SHIP). The Toronto Alexithymia Scale-20 (TAS-20) was applied to measure alexithymia. Study participants were genotyped for rs4588 and rs7041. Linear and logistic regression analyses adjusted for sex, age, waist circumference, physical activity, season and study and, when applicable, for the batch of genotyping and the first three genetic principal components, were performed. In sensitivity analyses, the models were additionally adjusted for depressive symptoms. RESULTS 25(OH)D levels were negatively associated with TAS-20 scores (β = -0.002; P < 0.001) and alexithymia according to the common cutoff of TAS-20>60 (β = -0.103; P < 0.001). These results remained stable after adjusting for depressive symptoms. The tested genetic polymorphisms were not significantly associated with alexithymia. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that low vitamin D levels may be involved in the pathophysiology of alexithymia. Given that no associations between alexithymia and rs4588 as well as rs7041 were observed, indicates that behavioral or nutritional features of alexithymic subjects could also explain this association.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Terock
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, HELIOS Hanseklinikum Stralsund, Rostocker Chaussee, Stralsund
| | - Anke Hannemann
- Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, University Medicine Greifswald
- German Centre for Cardiovascular Research DZHK, Partner Site Greifswald, University Medicine Greifswald
| | - Antoine Weihs
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, HELIOS Hanseklinikum Stralsund, Rostocker Chaussee, Stralsund
| | - Deborah Janowitz
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, HELIOS Hanseklinikum Stralsund, Rostocker Chaussee, Stralsund
| | - Hans J Grabe
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, HELIOS Hanseklinikum Stralsund, Rostocker Chaussee, Stralsund
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases DZNE, Site Rostock/Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
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13
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Terock J, Weihs A, Teumer A, Klinger-König J, Janowitz D, Grabe HJ. Associations and interactions of the serotonin receptor genes 5-HT1A, 5-HT2A, and childhood trauma with alexithymia in two independent general-population samples. Psychiatry Res 2021; 298:113783. [PMID: 33567384 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2021.113783] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2020] [Accepted: 01/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Previous studies suggested that childhood trauma and a disturbed serotonergic neurotransmission are involved in the pathogenesis of alexithymia. Specifically, genetic polymorphisms of the serotonin receptors 5-HT1A and 5-HT2A were found to be associated with alexithymia. However, it is unclear whether these factors show main or interaction effects with childhood trauma on alexithymia. Data from two independent general-population cohorts of the Study of Health in Pomerania (SHIP-Trend: N=3,706, Age: range=20-83, 51.6% female, SHIP-LEGEND: N=2,162, Age: range=20-80, 52.5% female) were used. The Toronto Alexithymia Scale-20 (TAS-20) and the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ) were applied. Genotypes of rs6295 of 5-HT1A and rs6311 of 5-HT2A were determined. Ordinary least-squared regression models with robust standard errors were applied to investigate associations of the main and interaction effects of childhood maltreatment and the polymorphisms with alexithymia. Childhood trauma, but none of the investigated polymorphisms showed main effects on alexithymia. However, childhood trauma showed significant CTQ sum score x rs6295 interactions in male subjects in both samples such that the presence of the G-allele diminished the CTQ associated increase in the TAS-20 sum scores. Our results support a strong role of early life stress and interactions with rs6295 on alexithymic personality features at least in male subjects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Terock
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany; Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, HELIOS Hanseklinikum Stralsund, Stralsund, Germany.
| | - Antoine Weihs
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Alexander Teumer
- Institute for Community Medicine, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Johanna Klinger-König
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Deborah Janowitz
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Hans J Grabe
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany; German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases DZNE, Site Rostock/ Greifswald, Germany
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Terock J, Klinger-König J, Janowitz D, Nauck M, Völzke H, Grabe HJ. Alexithymia is associated with increased all-cause mortality risk in men, but not in women: A 10-year follow-up study. J Psychosom Res 2021; 143:110372. [PMID: 33540301 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychores.2021.110372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2020] [Revised: 01/18/2021] [Accepted: 01/24/2021] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Alexithymia is associated with various mental as well as physical disorders. Some evidence also suggested high alexithymia to increase mortality risk, but these results are few and based on specific sample compositions. We aimed to investigate the impact of alexithymia on mortality risk in a large population based cohort. In addition, we sought to elucidate the effects of the subfactors of alexithymia and sex differences. METHODS In a sample of N = 1380 individuals from the Study of Health in Pomerania (SHIP), we investigated the hazard-ratio (HR) of alexithymia as obtained by the Toronto Alexithymia Scale-20 (TAS-20) on all-cause mortality over an average observation time of 10 years. Sex-by-TAS-20-interactions as well as sex-stratified analyses were performed. RESULTS Alexithymia was significantly associated with enhanced mortality risk (HR = 1.033; 95%-CI = 1.008-1.058); p = 0.009). While sex-by-TAS-20 interactions remained insignificant, sex-stratified analyses showed that this effect was only significant in men (HR = 1.050; 95%-CI = 1.022-1.079; p ≤ 0.001), but not in women (HR: 1.008; 95%-CI = 0.960-1.057; p = 0.76). The effect was validated for the "difficulties identifying feelings" (DIF) and "difficulties describing feelings" (DDF) subfactors of the TAS-20. CONCLUSION Our study supports and extents previous findings by indicating that mortality risk enhancing effects of alexithymia are specific to male subjects and validated for the DIF and DDF facets. Socioeconomic, clinical and metabolic factors were associated with this relationship. Finding that the impact of alexithymia remains stable in the fully adjusted models suggests that yet unidentified additional factors must be considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Terock
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, HELIOS Hanseklinikum Stralsund, Rostocker Chaussee 70, 18437 Stralsund, Germany; Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medicine Greifswald, Ellernholzstraße 1-2, 17475 Greifswald, Germany.
| | - Johanna Klinger-König
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medicine Greifswald, Ellernholzstraße 1-2, 17475 Greifswald, Germany
| | - Deborah Janowitz
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, HELIOS Hanseklinikum Stralsund, Rostocker Chaussee 70, 18437 Stralsund, Germany; Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medicine Greifswald, Ellernholzstraße 1-2, 17475 Greifswald, Germany
| | - Matthias Nauck
- Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, University Medicine Greifswald, Ferdinand-Sauerbruch-Straße, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Henry Völzke
- Institute for Community Medicine, University Medicine Greifswald, Ellernholzstraße 1-2, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Hans J Grabe
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medicine Greifswald, Ellernholzstraße 1-2, 17475 Greifswald, Germany; German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases DZNE, Site Rostock/Greifswald, Ellernholzstraße 1-2, 17475 Greifswald, Germany
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Kopera M, Zaorska J, Trucco EM, Suszek H, Kobyliński P, Zucker RA, Nowakowska M, Wojnar M, Jakubczyk A. Childhood trauma, alexithymia, and mental states recognition among individuals with alcohol use disorder and healthy controls. Drug Alcohol Depend 2020; 217:108301. [PMID: 32979738 PMCID: PMC7736369 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2020.108301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2020] [Revised: 09/14/2020] [Accepted: 09/14/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although prior work indicates a link between childhood trauma, alexithymia, and mental states recognition, empirical support is limited. Moreover, findings based on adult samples are mixed. Previous studies demonstrate that childhood trauma might either enhance, preserve, or reduce mental states recognition in selected at-risk populations. The current study investigates whether alcohol use disorder (AUD) status moderates the association between childhood trauma, alexithymia, and mental states recognition in a treatment-seeking AUD sample and non-AUD healthy adults. METHODS Data comes from 255 individuals participating in an ongoing project that compares emotional and behavioral functioning of patients treated in an inpatient setting for AUD and a comparison sample of 172 healthy controls (HCs). Mental states recognition was measured using a computerized version of the Reading the Mind in the Eyes Task (RMET). The presence of childhood trauma was assessed with the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire. Alexithymia was measured with the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20). Demographic information, as well as alcohol drinking and psychopathological symptoms were assessed. A moderated mediation model was estimated whereby alexithymia was included as a mediator in the association between childhood trauma and RMET performance, with AUD diagnosis status moderating the link between alexithymia and RMET performance. RESULTS Findings provide support for moderated mediation. Childhood emotional trauma impacted negative mental states recognition performance via difficulty describing feelings, but only among HCs (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS Findings highlight the impact that AUD status has on the association between early life emotional trauma and difficulty describing feelings on individual differences in mental states recognition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maciej Kopera
- Department of Psychiatry, Medical University of Warsaw, 27 Nowowiejska St., 00-665, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Justyna Zaorska
- Department of Psychiatry, Medical University of Warsaw, 27 Nowowiejska St., 00-665, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Elisa M. Trucco
- Department of Psychology, Center for Children and Families, Florida International University, Academic Health Center 1, 11200 Southwest 8th Street, Miami, FL, 33199, USA,Department of Psychiatry, Addiction Center, University of Michigan, 4250 Plymouth Rd, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Hubert Suszek
- Department of Psychology, University of Warsaw, 5/7 Stawki St., 00-183, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Paweł Kobyliński
- National Information Processing Institute, Laboratory of Interactive Technologies, 188 b al Niepodległości, 00-608, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Robert A. Zucker
- Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, 530 Church St, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA,Department of Psychiatry, Addiction Center, University of Michigan, 4250 Plymouth Rd, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Malwina Nowakowska
- Department of Psychiatry, Medical University of Warsaw, 27 Nowowiejska St., 00-665, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Marcin Wojnar
- Department of Psychiatry, Medical University of Warsaw, 27 Nowowiejska St., 00-665, Warsaw, Poland,Department of Psychiatry, Addiction Center, University of Michigan, 4250 Plymouth Rd, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Andrzej Jakubczyk
- Department of Psychiatry, Medical University of Warsaw, 27 Nowowiejska St., 00-665, Warsaw, Poland.
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Terock J, Van der Auwera S, Janowitz D, Wittfeld K, Teumer A, Grabe HJ. Functional polymorphisms of the mineralocorticoid receptor gene NR3C2 are associated with diminished memory decline: Results from a longitudinal general-population study. Mol Genet Genomic Med 2020; 8:e1345. [PMID: 32558353 PMCID: PMC7507013 DOI: 10.1002/mgg3.1345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2020] [Revised: 05/13/2020] [Accepted: 05/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) in the brain has a key role in the regulation of the central stress response and is associated with memory performance. We investigated whether the genetic polymorphisms rs5522 and rs2070951 of NR3C2 showed main and interactive effects with childhood trauma on memory decline. METHODS Declarative memory was longitudinally assessed in 1,318 participants from the community-dwelling Study of Health in Pomerania using the Verbal Learning and Memory Test (VLMT). In a subsample of 377 participants aged 60 and older, the Mini-Mental Status Examination (MMSE) was additionally applied. Mean follow-up time for the VLMT and MMSE were 6.4 and 10.7 years, respectively. RESULTS Homozygous carriers of the G allele of rs2070951 (p < .01) and of the A allele of rs5522 (p < .001) showed higher immediate recall of words as compared to carriers of C allele (rs2070951) or the G allele (rs5522). The CG haplotype was associated with decreased recall (p < .001). Likewise, in the subsample of older patients, the AA genotype of rs5522 was associated with higher MMSE scores (p < .05). CG haplotypes showed significantly reduced MMSE scores in comparison to the reference haplotype (β = -0.60; p < .01). CONCLUSIONS Our results indicate that the GG genotype of rs2070951 as well as the AA genotype of rs5522 are associated with diminished memory decline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Terock
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany.,Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Helios Hanseklinikum Stralsund, Stralsund, Germany
| | - Sandra Van der Auwera
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Deborah Janowitz
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Katharina Wittfeld
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany.,German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Greifswald, Germany
| | - Alexander Teumer
- Institute for Community Medicine, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Hans J Grabe
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
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17
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Terock J, Van der Auwera S, Janowitz D, Wittfeld K, Frenzel S, Klinger-König J, Grabe HJ. Childhood trauma and adult declarative memory performance in the general population: The mediating effect of alexithymia. CHILD ABUSE & NEGLECT 2020; 101:104311. [PMID: 31877447 DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2019.104311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2019] [Revised: 10/21/2019] [Accepted: 12/02/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Previous studies suggested that childhood maltreatment is associated with altered memory performance in adulthood. Deficits in identifying and describing feelings as captured by the alexithymia construct are strongly linked with childhood trauma and may mediate the associations with memory function. OBJECTIVE To investigate the associations of childhood trauma with verbal declarative memory performance and the putative mediating role of alexithymia. METHOD Associations of the different dimensions of childhood trauma with adult declarative memory performance were tested in two large, independent general population samples comprising a total of N = 5574 participants. Moreover, we tested whether associations were mediated by alexithymia. RESULTS In both samples, childhood emotional neglect, but not abuse emerged as a negative statistical predictor of early (sample 1: β=-1.79; p < 0.001, sample 2: β=-0.26; p < 0.001) as well as delayed recall (β=-0.78; p < 0.001; β=-0.24; p < 0.05). Likewise, childhood emotional neglect was the strongest predictor for alexithymia (β = 3.2; p < 0.001; β = 3.54; p < 0.001). Finally, the association between childhood emotional neglect and early (Total Mediated Effect (TME): 13.2, CI: 0.087-0.302; TME: 20.1; CI: 0.123-0.619) as well as late recall (TME: 13.2, CI: 0.086-0.301; TME: 9; CI: -0.442-0.699) was significantly mediated by alexithymia. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that childhood emotional neglect is particularly detrimental to memory functioning in adulthood. In comparison, childhood abuse was not associated with reduced declarative memory capacity. Our results contribute to explain the mechanism underlying the relation of childhood trauma and memory deficits: Finding specific associations with emotional neglect and a mediating role of alexithymia highlights the relevance of emotion processing capacities for memory functioning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Terock
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medicine Greifswald, Ellernholzstraße 1-2, 17475 Greifswald, Germany; Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, HELIOS Hanseklinikum Stralsund, Rostocker Chaussee 70, 18437 Stralsund, Germany.
| | - Sandra Van der Auwera
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medicine Greifswald, Ellernholzstraße 1-2, 17475 Greifswald, Germany; German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases DZNE, Site Rostock/ Greifswald, Ellernholzstraße 1-2, 17475 Greifswald, Germany
| | - Deborah Janowitz
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medicine Greifswald, Ellernholzstraße 1-2, 17475 Greifswald, Germany
| | - Katharina Wittfeld
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases DZNE, Site Rostock/ Greifswald, Ellernholzstraße 1-2, 17475 Greifswald, Germany
| | - Stefan Frenzel
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medicine Greifswald, Ellernholzstraße 1-2, 17475 Greifswald, Germany
| | - Johanna Klinger-König
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medicine Greifswald, Ellernholzstraße 1-2, 17475 Greifswald, Germany
| | - Hans J Grabe
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medicine Greifswald, Ellernholzstraße 1-2, 17475 Greifswald, Germany; German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases DZNE, Site Rostock/ Greifswald, Ellernholzstraße 1-2, 17475 Greifswald, Germany
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18
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De Berardis D, Vellante F, Fornaro M, Anastasia A, Olivieri L, Rapini G, Serroni N, Orsolini L, Valchera A, Carano A, Tomasetti C, Varasano PA, Pressanti GL, Bustini M, Pompili M, Serafini G, Perna G, Martinotti G, Di Giannantonio M. Alexithymia, suicide ideation, affective temperaments and homocysteine levels in drug naïve patients with post-traumatic stress disorder: an exploratory study in the everyday 'real world' clinical practice. Int J Psychiatry Clin Pract 2020; 24:83-87. [PMID: 31829763 DOI: 10.1080/13651501.2019.1699575] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Objective: The present exploratory study aimed to investigate relationships between alexithymia, suicide ideation, affective temperaments and homocysteine levels among drug-naïve adult outpatients with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in an everyday 'real world' clinical setting.Method: Sixty-four adult outpatients with PTSD were evaluated using the Davidson Trauma Scale (DTS), the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), the Scale of Suicide Ideation (SSI), the Temperament Evaluation of the Memphis, Pisa, Paris and San Diego-Autoquestionnaire. As well, homocysteine levels were measured.Results: Alexithymic subjects showed higher values on all scales but not homocysteine levels. Partial correlations showed that almost all studied variables were correlated with each other, except homocysteine levels. Regression analysis showed that higher disorder severity as measured by DTS and TAS-20 'Difficulty in Identifying Feelings' dimension was associated with higher SSI scores.Conclusions: In conclusion, alexithymic PTSD outpatients may be characterised by higher disorder severity and difficulty in identifying feelings that may be linked to increased suicide ideation, regardless of affective temperaments or homocysteine levels. Homocysteine levels were not related to any studied variable. However, study limitations are discussed and must be considered. KeypointsPatients with alexithymia showed increased PTSD severity, a higher score on TEMPS-A subscales, and more severe suicide ideation.The Difficulty in Identifying Feelings (DIF) dimension of TAS-20 was associated with suicide ideation in patients with PTSD.Homocysteine did not correlate with any studied variables.This study was exploratory and cross-sectional: further larger and prospective studies are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Domenico De Berardis
- NHS, Department of Mental Health, Psychiatric Service of Diagnosis and Treatment, Hospital 'G. Mazzini', Teramo, Italy.,Department of Neurosciences and Imaging, University 'G. D'Annunzio, Chieti, Italy
| | - Federica Vellante
- Department of Neurosciences and Imaging, University 'G. D'Annunzio, Chieti, Italy
| | - Michele Fornaro
- Department of Psychiatry, Federico II University, Naples, Italy.,Polyedra, Teramo, Italy
| | | | - Luigi Olivieri
- NHS, Department of Mental Health, Psychiatric Service of Diagnosis and Treatment, Hospital 'G. Mazzini', Teramo, Italy
| | - Gabriella Rapini
- NHS, Department of Mental Health, Psychiatric Service of Diagnosis and Treatment, Hospital 'G. Mazzini', Teramo, Italy
| | - Nicola Serroni
- NHS, Department of Mental Health, Psychiatric Service of Diagnosis and Treatment, Hospital 'G. Mazzini', Teramo, Italy
| | - Laura Orsolini
- Polyedra, Teramo, Italy.,School of Life and Medical Sciences, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield, UK
| | - Alessandro Valchera
- Polyedra, Teramo, Italy.,Villa S. Giuseppe Hospital, Hermanas Hospitalarias, Ascoli Piceno, Italy
| | - Alessandro Carano
- Department of Mental Health, Psychiatric Service of Diagnosis and Treatment, Hospital 'Madonna Del Soccorso', NHS, Ascoli Piceno, Italy
| | - Carmine Tomasetti
- NHS, Department of Mental Health, Psychiatric Service of Diagnosis and Treatment, Hospital 'SS. Annunziata' ASL, Giulianova, Italy
| | | | | | - Massimiliano Bustini
- NHS, Department of Mental Health, Psychiatric Service of Diagnosis and Treatment, Hospital 'San Camillo de Lellis' ASL, Rieti, Italy
| | - Maurizio Pompili
- Department of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Sensory Organs, Suicide Prevention Center, S. Andrea Hospital, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Gianluca Serafini
- Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health, Section of Psychiatry, University of Genoa, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy
| | - Giampaolo Perna
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Hermanas Hospitalarias, Villa San Benedetto Menni Hospital, FoRiPsi, Albese con Cassano, Italy.,Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands.,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Leonard Miller School of Medicine, Miami University, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Giovanni Martinotti
- Department of Neurosciences and Imaging, University 'G. D'Annunzio, Chieti, Italy
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Pust GEA, Dettmers C, Randerath J, Rahn AC, Heesen C, Schmidt R, Gold SM. Fatigue in Multiple Sclerosis Is Associated With Childhood Adversities. Front Psychiatry 2020; 11:811. [PMID: 33005150 PMCID: PMC7485280 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2020.00811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2020] [Accepted: 07/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Fatigue is a common and disabling symptom in patients with Multiple Sclerosis (PwMS). Its pathogenesis, however, is still not fully understood. Potential psychological roots, in particular, have received little attention to date. The present study examined the association of childhood adversities, specific trait characteristics, and MS disease characteristics with fatigue symptoms utilizing path analysis. Five hundred and seventy-one PwMS participated in an online survey. Standardized psychometric tools were applied. The Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ) served to assess childhood adversities. Trait variables were alexithymia (Toronto Alexithymia Scale; TAS-26) and early maladaptive schemas (Young Schema Questionnaire; YSQ). Current pathology comprised depression (Beck's Depression Inventory FastScreen; BDI-FS) and anxiety symptoms (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory; STAI-state), as well as physical disability (Patient determined Disease Steps; PDDS). The Fatigue Scale for Motor and Cognitive Functions (FSMC) was the primary outcome variable measuring fatigue. PwMS displayed high levels of fatigue and depression (mean FSMC score: 72; mean BDI-II score: 18). The final path model revealed that CTQ emotional neglect and emotional abuse remained as the only significant childhood adversity variables associated with fatigue. There were differential associations for the trait variables and current pathology: TAS-26, the YSQ domain impaired autonomy and performance, as well as all current pathology measures had direct effects on fatigue symptoms, accounting for 28.2% of the FSMC variance. Bayesian estimation also revealed indirect effects from the two CTQ subscales on FSMC. The final model fitted the data well, also after a cross-validation check and after replacing the FSMC with the Chalder Fatigue Questionnaire (CFQ). This study suggests an association psychological factors on fatigue in Multiple Sclerosis. Childhood adversities, as well as specific trait characteristics, seem to be associated with current pathology and fatigue symptoms. The article discusses potential implications and limitations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gesa E A Pust
- Institute of Neuroimmunology and Multiple Sclerosis (INIMS), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.,Department of Psychology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany.,ZIST, Penzberg, Germany
| | - Christian Dettmers
- Department of Psychology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany.,Lurija Institute for Rehabilitation and Health Sciences at the University of Konstanz, Schmieder Foundation for Sciences and Research, Allensbach, Germany
| | - Jennifer Randerath
- Department of Psychology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany.,Lurija Institute for Rehabilitation and Health Sciences at the University of Konstanz, Schmieder Foundation for Sciences and Research, Allensbach, Germany
| | - Anne C Rahn
- Institute of Neuroimmunology and Multiple Sclerosis (INIMS), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Christoph Heesen
- Institute of Neuroimmunology and Multiple Sclerosis (INIMS), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.,Department of Neurology, University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), Hamburg, Germany
| | - Roger Schmidt
- Department of Psychology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany.,Lurija Institute for Rehabilitation and Health Sciences at the University of Konstanz, Schmieder Foundation for Sciences and Research, Allensbach, Germany.,Klinik für Psychosomatik und Konsiliarpsychiatrie, Departement Innere Medizin, Kantonsspital St. Gallen, St. Gallen, Switzerland
| | - Stefan M Gold
- Institute of Neuroimmunology and Multiple Sclerosis (INIMS), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.,Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Berlin, Germany.,Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Department of Psychosomatic Medicine, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Berlin, Germany
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20
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Canan F, North CS. The Association between General and Pathological Dissociation and Disaster-Related Psychopathology in Directly Exposed Survivors. Psychiatry 2020; 83:292-305. [PMID: 32069180 DOI: 10.1080/00332747.2020.1716440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Objective: Dissociation and trauma have a well-documented relationship, and dissociation is assumed to result from trauma exposure. If trauma generates dissociative psychopathology, it should be observed after exposure to disaster and be associated with disaster-related psychopathology. Few studies have focused specifically on dissociation as an outcome of disaster trauma. This study examined dissociation and its association with disaster-related psychopathology in survivors of five different disasters. Methods: In the first 6 postdisaster months, directly exposed survivors (N = 216) of mass shootings, floods, or a firestorm completed structured diagnostic interviews providing lifetime predisaster and postdisaster prevalent/incident psychiatric diagnoses and the Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES) 1-3 years after baseline. Results: DES scores were very low; only 1% met the DES Taxon signifying pathological dissociation. In multivariate models including predisaster lifetime major depression, lifetime panic disorder, lifetime generalized anxiety disorder, and lifetime alcohol use disorder; disaster-related PTSD; and number of incident somatoform symptoms as independent covariates, predisaster lifetime major depression and alcohol use disorder were independently associated with both general (DES score) and pathological (DES Taxon) dissociation, and postdisaster incident somatization symptoms were also associated with general dissociation, but postdisaster psychopathology including disaster-related PTSD was not associated with general or pathological dissociation. Conclusions: Neither general nor pathological dissociation was independently associated with disaster-related PTSD or other incident psychopathology. The only psychiatric disorders associated with dissociation were present before the disasters. Coupled with the low dissociation rates, these findings indicate that dissociation does not appear to be a mental health outcome of disaster trauma.
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21
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Letica-Crepulja M, Stevanović A, Protuđer M, Grahovac Juretić T, Rebić J, Frančišković T. Complex PTSD among treatment-seeking veterans with PTSD. Eur J Psychotraumatol 2020; 11:1716593. [PMID: 32166005 PMCID: PMC7054953 DOI: 10.1080/20008198.2020.1716593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2019] [Revised: 12/27/2019] [Accepted: 12/31/2019] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: In the ICD-11 hierarchical classification structure, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and complex PTSD (CPTSD) are separate and distinct but also 'sibling' disorders, meaning that the diagnoses follow from the parent category of traumatic stress disorders. Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the prevalence of CPTSD in treatment-seeking war veterans with PTSD more than 20 years after the exposure to cumulative war-related trauma(s). The second aim was to examine if there was an association between demographic and psychosocial variables and CPTSD or PTSD. Method: A sample of 160 male war veterans with PTSD referred to the outpatient service of the PTSD Referral Centre at the Clinical Hospital Centre (CHC) Rijeka participated in a cross-sectional study. Psychiatric comorbidity was assessed using the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) and participants completed validated self-report measures: The Life Events Checklist for DSM-5 (LEC-5), International Trauma Questionnaire (ITQ). Results: In total, 80.63% of the sample met criteria for a probable diagnosis of CPTSD. The study revealed that there was no significant difference in the length of deployment, in the intensity of the PTSD symptoms, types of trauma exposure and pharmacotherapeutic treatment between PTSD and CPTSD group. It was found that veterans with PTSD were more likely to be divorced and to participate in PTSD clubs. On the other hand, veterans with CPTSD were significantly more likely to have higher levels of functional impairment and comorbidity with general anxiety disorder (GAD) compared to the PTSD group. Conclusions: This study supports the proposition that a prolonged trauma of severe interpersonal intensity such as war is related to high rates of CPTSD among treatment-seeking veterans, years after the war. The distinction between PTSD and complex PTSD may help the selection of person-centred treatment interventions that would target specific mental health and functional problems in patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina Letica-Crepulja
- Department for Psychiatry and Psychological Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia.,Department of Psychiatry, Clinical Hospital Center Rijeka, Referral Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Croatia, Rijeka, Croatia
| | - Aleksandra Stevanović
- Department for Psychiatry and Psychological Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia.,Department of Psychiatry, Clinical Hospital Center Rijeka, Referral Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Croatia, Rijeka, Croatia
| | - Marina Protuđer
- Department of Addiction Prevention and Treatment, Teaching Institute of Public Health of Primorsko-Goranska County, Rijeka, Croatia
| | - Tanja Grahovac Juretić
- Department for Psychiatry and Psychological Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia.,Department of Psychiatry, Clinical Hospital Center Rijeka, Referral Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Croatia, Rijeka, Croatia
| | - Jelena Rebić
- Department for Psychiatry and Psychological Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia.,Department of Psychiatry, Clinical Hospital Center Rijeka, Referral Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Croatia, Rijeka, Croatia
| | - Tanja Frančišković
- Department for Psychiatry and Psychological Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia.,Department of Psychiatry, Clinical Hospital Center Rijeka, Referral Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Croatia, Rijeka, Croatia
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22
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Honkalampi K, Flink N, Lehto SM, Ruusunen A, Koivumaa-Honkanen H, Valkonen-Korhonen M, Viinamäki H. Adverse childhood experiences and alexithymia in patients with major depressive disorder. Nord J Psychiatry 2020; 74:45-50. [PMID: 31808358 DOI: 10.1080/08039488.2019.1667430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
The purpose of the article: Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) have been postulated to negatively affect the development of emotional regulation. However, little is known about specific associations between ACEs, depressive symptoms, and alexithymia or its components [i.e. difficulty in identifying feelings (DIF), difficulty in describing feelings to others (DDF) and externally-oriented thinking (EOT)] in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). The aims of the present cross-sectional study were to (1) compare ACEs (emotional neglect, emotional abuse, physical neglect, physical abuse, sexual abuse) between alexithymic and non-alexithymic patients with MDD; (2) explore whether specific ACEs, depressive symptoms or the interaction between sex and depressive symptoms predicted TAS-20 or its components.Materials and Methods: The study sample consisted of 186 psychiatric outpatients with MDD (aged 21-61 years, mean 33.87 years, SD 10.88) recruited from the Department of Psychiatry, Kuopio University Hospital between 2016-2019. Alexithymia and its components were assessed using the 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20). ACEs were assessed with the Trauma and Distress Scale (TADS).Results: Almost all patients with alexithymia and 80% of non-alexithymic patients reported that they had experienced emotional abuse or neglect, at least sometimes. Approximately 60% of MDD patients reported having experienced physical neglect and 30% described physical abuse. Emotional and physical abuse and neglect predicted DDF score.Conclusions: These findings suggest that among MDD patients, early experiences of emotional and physical abuse and neglect is associated with difficulties in describing feelings in adulthood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kirsi Honkalampi
- School of Educational Sciences and Psychology, University of Eastern Finland, Joensuu, Finland
| | - Niko Flink
- School of Educational Sciences and Psychology, University of Eastern Finland, Joensuu, Finland
| | - Soili M Lehto
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.,Department of Psychiatry, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland.,Department of Psychology and Logopedics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Anu Ruusunen
- Department of Psychiatry, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland.,IMPACT Strategic Research Centre/Food and Mood Centre, School of Medicine, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia.,Institute of Public Health and Clinical Nutrition, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Heli Koivumaa-Honkanen
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.,Department of Psychiatry, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland.,Department of Psychiatry, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland
| | - Minna Valkonen-Korhonen
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.,Department of Psychiatry, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Heimo Viinamäki
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.,Department of Psychiatry, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland
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23
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Terock J, Van der Auwera S, Hannemann A, Janowitz D, Homuth G, Teumer A, Grabe HJ. Interaction of childhood trauma with rs1360780 of the FKBP5 gene on trait resilience in a general population sample. J Psychiatr Res 2019; 116:104-111. [PMID: 31226578 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2019.06.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2019] [Revised: 06/11/2019] [Accepted: 06/13/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jan Terock
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, HELIOS Hanseklinikum Stralsund, Germany; Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medicine Greifswald, Germany.
| | | | - Anke Hannemann
- Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, University Medicine Greifswald, Germany
| | - Deborah Janowitz
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medicine Greifswald, Germany
| | - Georg Homuth
- Interfaculty Institute for Genetics and Functional Genomics, University Medicine Greifswald, Germany
| | - Alexander Teumer
- Institute for Community Medicine, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Hans Jörgen Grabe
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medicine Greifswald, Germany; German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases DZNE, Site Rostock/ Greifswald, Germany
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24
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Terock J, Hannemann A, Janowitz D, Van der Auwera S, Bahls M, Völzke H, Grabe HJ. Differential activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone-system in response to childhood and adulthood trauma. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2019; 107:232-240. [PMID: 31174161 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2019.05.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2019] [Revised: 05/10/2019] [Accepted: 05/27/2019] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Previous evidence suggested lasting and cumulative effects of traumatization on the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone-system (RAAS). However, it is unclear whether traumas during childhood and those experienced in adulthood differentially impact the RAAS. In this study, we sought to investigate main and putative interactive effects of childhood and adulthood trauma on RAAS functioning. METHODS Plasma concentrations of renin and aldosterone were measured in a general population sample (n = 2016). Childhood trauma was assessed using the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), adulthood trauma was measured using the PTSD module of the Structured Clinical Interview of the DSM-IV. Linear regression models were calculated to assess the relations between childhood or adulthood traumatization with renin and aldosterone concentrations. RESULTS Exposure to (ß = 0.094; p = 0.01), severity of childhood trauma (ß = 0.004; p = 0.01) were associated with increased aldosterone, but not renin levels. Results were carried by all dimensions of abuse, while childhood neglect was not associated with altered RAAS activity. In contrast, adulthood traumas (ß = 0.113; p < 0.01) were significantly associated with increased renin concentrations. Subjects with PTSD (renin: ß = 0.345; p = 0.01; aldosterone: ß = 0.232; p = 0.04) and those who had been exposed to both childhood and adulthood trauma showed increases in renin (ß = 0.180; p < 0.01) and aldosterone (ß = 0.340; p < 0.01) levels. DISCUSSION These findings indicate that trauma is associated with differential alterations of the RAAS depending on the time of traumatization. Moreover, exposure to childhood or adulthood trauma may act synergistically on the RAAS, resulting in severe dysregulation of the RAAS. The results contribute to explain associations between trauma and enhanced risk for physical disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Terock
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany; Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, HELIOS Hanseklinikum Stralsund, Stralsund, Germany.
| | - Anke Hannemann
- Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, University Medicine Greifswald, Germany
| | - Deborah Janowitz
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Sandra Van der Auwera
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany; German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases DZNE, Site Rostock/ Greifswald, Germany
| | - Martin Bahls
- Department of Internal Medicine B, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany; DZHK (German Center for Cardiovascular Research), partner site Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Henry Völzke
- Institute for Community Medicine, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Hans J Grabe
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany; German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases DZNE, Site Rostock/ Greifswald, Germany
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25
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Powers A, Dixon HD, Conneely K, Gluck R, Munoz A, Rochat C, Mendoza H, Hartzell G, Ressler KJ, Bradley B, Pace TWW, Umpierrez GE, Schwartz AC, Michopoulos V, Gillespie CF. The differential effects of PTSD, MDD, and dissociation on CRP in trauma-exposed women. Compr Psychiatry 2019; 93:33-40. [PMID: 31306866 PMCID: PMC6689425 DOI: 10.1016/j.comppsych.2019.06.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2019] [Revised: 05/01/2019] [Accepted: 06/25/2019] [Indexed: 10/26/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE C-reactive protein (CRP), a marker of systemic inflammation, has been associated with psychiatric disorders including major depressive disorder (MDD) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Some research suggests that exposure to trauma can trigger increased activity in the inflammatory system. Dissociation is associated with chronic trauma exposure and may be an important factor in understanding the risk for psychiatric outcomes associated with inflammation. The main objective of the current study was to understand how CRP was related to trauma, dissociation, PTSD and MDD in a sample of 55 traumatized African American women with type 2 diabetes mellitus recruited from an urban hospital. METHOD High sensitivity CRP (hsCRP) was assayed through blood samples; psychiatric disorders were assessed with structured clinical interviews, dissociation was assessed with the Multiscale Dissociation Inventory, and exposure to trauma in childhood and adulthood was assessed with the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire and the Traumatic Events Inventory, respectively. RESULTS Correlational results showed a significant association between higher concentrations of hsCRP and child abuse (p < 0.05), overall dissociation severity (p < 0.001), and PTSD symptoms (p < 0.01). ANOVA results showed significantly higher levels of hsCRP in those with current MDD, current PTSD, and remitted PTSD. A hierarchical linear regression model demonstrated a significant association between dissociation symptoms and greater hsCRP levels independent of childhood abuse, PTSD, and MDD (R2∆ = 0.11, p = 0.001) and independent of emotion dysregulation (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION These findings suggest that dissociation symptoms among those with a history of trauma may be particularly associated with higher levels of inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abigail Powers
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, United States of America.
| | - Hayley Drew Dixon
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine
| | - Karen Conneely
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine
| | - Rachel Gluck
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine
| | - Adam Munoz
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine
| | - Cleo Rochat
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine
| | - Hadrian Mendoza
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine
| | - Georgina Hartzell
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine
| | - Kerry J. Ressler
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine,Center for Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Research, Harvard University
| | - Bekh Bradley
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine,Atlanta VA Medical Center
| | - Thaddeus W. W. Pace
- College of Nursing & College of Medicine (Psychiatry), University of Arizona
| | | | - Ann C. Schwartz
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine
| | - Vasiliki Michopoulos
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine,Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Atlanta, GA
| | - Charles F. Gillespie
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine
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26
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Terpou BA, Harricharan S, McKinnon MC, Frewen P, Jetly R, Lanius RA. The effects of trauma on brain and body: A unifying role for the midbrain periaqueductal gray. J Neurosci Res 2019; 97:1110-1140. [PMID: 31254294 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.24447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2019] [Revised: 04/09/2019] [Accepted: 05/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a diagnosis that may follow the experience of trauma, has multiple symptomatic phenotypes. Generally, individuals with PTSD display symptoms of hyperarousal and of hyperemotionality in the presence of fearful stimuli. A subset of individuals with PTSD; however, elicit dissociative symptomatology (i.e., depersonalization, derealization) in the wake of a perceived threat. This pattern of response characterizes the dissociative subtype of the disorder, which is often associated with emotional numbing and hypoarousal. Both symptomatic phenotypes exhibit attentional threat biases, where threat stimuli are processed preferentially leading to a hypervigilant state that is thought to promote defensive behaviors during threat processing. Accordingly, PTSD and its dissociative subtype are thought to differ in their proclivity to elicit active (i.e., fight, flight) versus passive (i.e., tonic immobility, emotional shutdown) defensive responses, which are characterized by the increased and the decreased expression of the sympathetic nervous system, respectively. Moreover, active and passive defenses are accompanied by primarily endocannabinoid- and opioid-mediated analgesics, respectively. Through critical review of the literature, we apply the defense cascade model to better understand the pathological presentation of defensive responses in PTSD with a focus on the functioning of lower-level midbrain and extended brainstem systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Braeden A Terpou
- Department of Neuroscience, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Margaret C McKinnon
- Mood Disorders Program, St. Joseph's Healthcare, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.,Homewood Research Institute, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Paul Frewen
- Department of Psychology, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Rakesh Jetly
- Canadian Forces, Health Services, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Ruth A Lanius
- Department of Neuroscience, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Psychiatry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
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27
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Alexithymer Patient. PSYCHOTHERAPEUT 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s00278-019-0363-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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28
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Farina B, Liotti M, Imperatori C. The Role of Attachment Trauma and Disintegrative Pathogenic Processes in the Traumatic-Dissociative Dimension. Front Psychol 2019; 10:933. [PMID: 31080430 PMCID: PMC6497769 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2019.00933] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2019] [Accepted: 04/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Epidemiological, clinical, and neurobiological studies of the last 30 years suggest that traumatic attachments during the early years of life are associated to specific psychopathological vulnerabilities based on dissociative pathogenic processes. It has been observed that the dissociative pathogenic processes caused by these traumatic attachments either may contribute to the genesis of well-defined mental disorders (e.g., dissociative disorders) or may variably occur in many other diagnostic categories, complicating their clinical pictures and worsening their prognosis. For this reason, we proposed to define the dimension of psychopathological outcomes linked to traumatic attachments and dissociative pathogenic processes as the "traumatic-dissociative" dimension (TDD). The clinical complexity of the TDD requires specific training to enable mental health professionals to recognize the signs of traumatic developments and to implement specific treatment strategies. The present article aims to review some crucial points about the clinical meaning and treatment strategies of the TDD, the dissociative pathogenic processes characterizing the TDD, as well as of the role of attachment trauma in the TDD. We also focused on the clinical and theoretical evidence suggesting that dissociation and dis-integration may be considered two different processes but highly correlated. The usefulness of clinical reasoning in terms of psychopathological dimensions, instead of distinct diagnostic categories, as well as several therapeutic implications of these issues was finally discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benedetto Farina
- Department of Human Sciences, European University of Rome, Rome, Italy
- Traumatic Treatment Unit, Centro Clinico De Sanctis, Rome, Italy
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29
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Sopp MR, Brueckner AH, Michael T. The Prospective Influence of Trait Alexithymia on Intrusive Memories: What Is the Role of Emotional Recognition Memory? Front Psychol 2019; 9:2642. [PMID: 30670997 PMCID: PMC6331440 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2018.02642] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2018] [Accepted: 12/10/2018] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is often considered to be a disorder of memory as patients suffer from fragmented uncontrollable memories (intrusions) whilst experiencing difficulties in intentionally retrieving details of the traumatic event. Recent research suggests that trait-related deficits in the identification of emotional states (alexithymia) may impact emotional memory processes in a way that promotes intrusion formation in PTSD. Therefore, we investigated the influence of alexithymia on intrusive re-experiencing and emotional recognition memory in a prospective analog study. Twenty-six healthy participants took part in a laboratory experiment, which combined two independent paradigms. Participants were exposed to a traumatic film (first session) and completed an episodic memory task comprising neutral and emotional stimuli (second session). In between sessions, participants recorded intrusive memories of the film. Individuals with higher trait alexithymia (HTA) reported an increased number of intrusions on the day of film presentation. Moreover, analyses of memory performance revealed a negative correlation between alexithymia and emotional recognition memory. Further analyses suggest that reduced emotional recognition memory, as evident in individuals with HTA, may, in turn, be associated with enhanced intrusive re-experiencing. As such, the current findings provide first indications regarding the role of alexithymia in emotional learning and PTSD. Future studies should further investigate these associations as well as potential implications for the treatment of PTSD.
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Affiliation(s)
- M. Roxanne Sopp
- Division of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Department of Psychology, Saarland University, Saarbrücken, Germany
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30
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Vannikov-Lugassi M, Soffer-Dudek N. No Time Like the Present: Thinking About the Past and the Future Is Related to State Dissociation Among Individuals With High Levels of Psychopathological Symptoms. Front Psychol 2018; 9:2465. [PMID: 30581402 PMCID: PMC6292924 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2018.02465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2018] [Accepted: 11/21/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Several short-term pathways have been implicated in relation to dissociative experiences, among them are daily stress, sleepiness, and rumination. In addition, it has been claimed that mechanisms contributing to dissociative experiences may differ, according to specific psychopathological symptoms. Accordingly, this study had two aims. The first was to sample moment-to-moment increases or decreases in current stress, sleepiness, and rumination, in order to assess their temporal relations with state dissociation. Rumination was broken down to its basic two subcomponents: the negative value of the thoughts and thinking about the past (in comparison to present or future), in order to differentiate it from other repetitive thought patterns (e.g., worry). The second goal was to explore whether depression, anxiety, and obsessive–compulsive symptoms may moderate the links between the three mechanisms and specific state dissociation scales [specifically, depersonalization-derealization (DEP-DER) and absorption (ABS)]. Ninety-nine undergraduate students completed trait questionnaires and then answered state items four times a day for 4 days. These experience sampling data were analyzed using multilevel linear modeling (MLM) with Level 1 state measurements and Level 2 demographic and trait variables of the participants. Moments of stress, sleepiness, thinking about the past and negative thoughts were all associated both with state DEP-DER and with state ABS. Dissociation, negative thinking, stress, and sleepiness were positively associated with moments of thinking about the past and the future but inversely associated with moments of thinking about the present. Finally, in accordance with our expectations, the links between DEP-DER and hypothesized mechanisms were mostly moderated by depression and anxiety symptoms, whereas the links between ABS and hypothesized mechanisms were moderated mainly by obsessive–compulsive symptoms. Our findings are in accordance with literature on the efficacy of mindfulness as well as the maladaptive correlates of mind-wandering, as they suggest that dissociative detachment from one’s present occupation is associated with decreased well-being.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miriam Vannikov-Lugassi
- Consciousness and Psychopathology Laboratory, Department of Psychology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beersheba, Israel
| | - Nirit Soffer-Dudek
- Consciousness and Psychopathology Laboratory, Department of Psychology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beersheba, Israel
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31
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Shapiro P, Tobia A, Aziz R. Is the Film Unbreakable Really About PTSD with Dissociation? ACADEMIC PSYCHIATRY : THE JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF DIRECTORS OF PSYCHIATRIC RESIDENCY TRAINING AND THE ASSOCIATION FOR ACADEMIC PSYCHIATRY 2018; 42:871-872. [PMID: 30225782 DOI: 10.1007/s40596-018-0979-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2018] [Accepted: 09/05/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Periel Shapiro
- Department of Psychiatry, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, NJ, USA.
| | - Anthony Tobia
- Department of Psychiatry, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, NJ, USA
| | - Rehan Aziz
- Department of Psychiatry, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, NJ, USA
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32
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Vonderlin R, Kleindienst N, Alpers GW, Bohus M, Lyssenko L, Schmahl C. Dissociation in victims of childhood abuse or neglect: a meta-analytic review. Psychol Med 2018; 48:2467-2476. [PMID: 29631646 DOI: 10.1017/s0033291718000740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 98] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Childhood abuse and neglect are associated with dissociative symptoms in adulthood. However, empirical studies show heterogeneous results depending on the type of childhood abuse or neglect and other maltreatment characteristics. In this meta-analysis, we systematically investigated the relationship between childhood interpersonal maltreatment and dissociation in 65 studies with 7352 abused or neglected individuals using the Dissociative Experience Scale (DES). We extracted DES-scores for abused and non-abused populations as well as information about type of abuse/neglect, age of onset, duration of abuse, and relationship to the perpetrator. Random-effects models were used for data synthesis, and meta-regression was used to predict DES-scores in abused populations from maltreatment characteristics. The results revealed higher dissociation in victims of childhood abuse and neglect compared with non-abused or neglected subsamples sharing relevant population features (MAbuse = 23.5, MNeglect = 18.8, MControl = 13.8) with highest scores for sexual and physical abuse. An earlier age of onset, a longer duration of abuse, and parental abuse significantly predicted higher dissociation scores. This meta-analysis underlines the importance of childhood abuse/neglect in the etiology of dissociation. The identified moderators may inform risk assessment and early intervention to prevent the development of dissociative symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruben Vonderlin
- Institute for Psychiatric and Psychosomatic Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, Heidelberg University,Mannheim J5, D-68159,Germany
| | - Nikolaus Kleindienst
- Institute for Psychiatric and Psychosomatic Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, Heidelberg University,Mannheim J5, D-68159,Germany
| | - Georg W Alpers
- Department of Psychology,School of Social Sciences, University of Mannheim,Mannheim,Germany
| | - Martin Bohus
- Institute for Psychiatric and Psychosomatic Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, Heidelberg University,Mannheim J5, D-68159,Germany
| | - Lisa Lyssenko
- Institute for Psychiatric and Psychosomatic Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, Heidelberg University,Mannheim J5, D-68159,Germany
| | - Christian Schmahl
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy,Medical Faculty Mannheim/Heidelberg University,Mannheim,Germany
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33
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Vang ML, Shevlin M, Karatzias T, Fyvie C, Hyland P. Dissociation fully mediates the relationship between childhood sexual and emotional abuse and DSM-5 PTSD in a sample of treatment-seeking adults. EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF TRAUMA & DISSOCIATION 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejtd.2018.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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34
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Miki K, Nakae A, Shi K, Yasuda Y, Yamamori H, Fujimoto M, Ikeda M, Shibata M, Yukioka M, Hashimoto R. Frequency of mental disorders among chronic pain patients with or without fibromyalgia in Japan. Neuropsychopharmacol Rep 2018; 38:167-174. [PMID: 30507027 PMCID: PMC7292302 DOI: 10.1002/npr2.12025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2018] [Revised: 06/17/2018] [Accepted: 06/18/2018] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Aim To explore the characteristics of psychiatric morbidity in chronic pain patients who present with or without fibromyalgia. Methods Patients are referred to our chronic pain clinic from primary medical institutions, as we are a secondary medical institution. Although some patients have chronic pain, they have no clear organic disorder such as rheumatoid arthritis to account for the pain. Among the 367 new patients seen during the period from March 2009 to August 2012, 347 patients underwent psychiatric evaluation in face‐to‐face interviews with mental health specialists before a physical examination. Results Of the 347 patients examined, at least one psychiatric diagnosis was made for 94.6%. The average number of DSM‐IV‐TR diagnoses was 1.46 in the 330 chronic pain patients who had at least one psychiatric diagnosis. The breakdown of the number of psychodiagnoses was one in 60.8%, two in 27.1%, three in 4.9%, and more than three in 2.3% chronic pain patients with or without fibromyalgia. In fibromyalgia patients, the highest relative frequencies were found for somatoform disorders (76%), followed by dysthymic disorder (17%) and major depressive disorder (15%). In patients without fibromyalgia, the highest relative frequencies were found for somatoform disorders (64%), followed by major depressive disorder (15%) and dysthymic disorder (14%). Psychiatric disorders were found in 96.9% of fibromyalgia patients, and in 93.5% of chronic pain patients without fibromyalgia in Japan (no significant difference using chi‐square test). Conclusion Results show that chronic pain patients with or without fibromyalgia are extremely likely to be diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder. Psychodiagnoses of fibromyalgia patients and chronic pain patients without fibromyalgia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenji Miki
- Department of Pain Medicine, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan.,Center for Pain Management, Hayaishi Hospital, Osaka, Japan.,Department of Rheumatology, Yukioka Hospital, Osaka, Japan
| | - Aya Nakae
- Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Kenrin Shi
- Tenjin Orthopaedics and Rheumatology, Osaka, Japan
| | - Yuka Yasuda
- Department of Psychiatry, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Hidenaga Yamamori
- Department of Psychiatry, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Michiko Fujimoto
- Department of Psychiatry, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Manabu Ikeda
- Department of Psychiatry, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Masahiko Shibata
- Department of Pain Medicine, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Masao Yukioka
- Department of Rheumatology, Yukioka Hospital, Osaka, Japan
| | - Ryota Hashimoto
- Department of Psychiatry, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan.,Molecular Research Center for Children's Mental Development, United Graduate School of Child Development, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
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35
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Palmisano GL, Innamorati M, Sarracino D, Bosco A, Pergola F, Scaltrito D, Giorgio B, Vanderlinden J. Trauma and dissociation in obese patients with and without binge eating disorder: A case – control study. COGENT PSYCHOLOGY 2018. [DOI: 10.1080/23311908.2018.1470483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/16/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Luca Palmisano
- Department of Psychology of the University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, Piazza Umberto I, 70121 Bari, BA, Italy
| | - Marco Innamorati
- Department of History, Cultural Heritage, Education and Society of the University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Via Columbia 1, 00133 Roma, Italy
| | - Diego Sarracino
- Department of Psychology, University of Milan “Bicocca”, Piazza dell’Ateneo Nuovo 1, CP 20126 Milan, MI, Italy
| | - Andrea Bosco
- Department of Psychology of the University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, Piazza Umberto I, 70121 Bari, BA, Italy
| | - Filippo Pergola
- Department of History, Cultural Heritage, Education and Society of the University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Via Columbia 1, 00133 Roma, Italy
| | - Daniela Scaltrito
- Department of Psychiatry of "Santa Maria Del Piede" Hospital, Eating Disorder Center “Salvatore Cotugno”, Gravina in Puglia, Via S Maria Del Piede 5, Bari, CP 70024, Italy
| | - Bartolomeo Giorgio
- Department of Psychiatry of "Santa Maria Del Piede" Hospital, Eating Disorder Center “Salvatore Cotugno”, Gravina in Puglia, Via S Maria Del Piede 5, Bari, CP 70024, Italy
| | - Johan Vanderlinden
- Eating Disorder Unit, University Psychiatric Center K.U. Leuven, Campus Kortenberg, Leuvense Steenweg 517, B-3070 Kortenberg, Belgium
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36
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Childhood maltreatment is associated with attachment insecurities, dissociation and alexithymia in bipolar disorder. Psychiatry Res 2018; 260:391-399. [PMID: 29253803 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2017.12.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2017] [Revised: 10/10/2017] [Accepted: 12/11/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Child maltreatment is a public health issue that is a well-established risk factor for many psychological conditions, including bipolar disorder. The current study is one of the first to investigate associations among child maltreatment, dissociative symptomatology, alexithymia, anxiety, depression, and attachment insecurities. 40 patients with bipolar disorder-I and 40 healthy subjects matched for age, gender, and education participated in the study. The Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES), Somatoform Dissociation Questionnaire (SDQ), Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ-28), Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-21), and Experiences in Close Relationships-Revised (ECR-R) were completed by participants. In comparison to control participants, patients with bipolar disorder-I reported significantly more frequent abusive experiences in childhood, higher levels of attachment insecurities, more severe pathological and somatoform dissociation, as well as higher scores on measures of alexithymia, anxiety, depression and psychological stress. Reports of psychopathology among first-degree relatives (OR = 102.169, 95%IC = 4.596-2271.255; P < 0.01) and childhood emotional trauma (OR = 1.032; 95%CI = 0.782-1.363, P = 0.05) significantly contributed to bipolar disorder-I diagnosis. In contrast, absorption was negatively associated with bipolar illness (OR = 0.852; 95% CI = 0.747-0.973, P < 0.05). Our results showed significant associations between childhood trauma exposure and risk of bipolar disorder. Moreover, the results demonstrate that emotional abuse exposure predicts bipolar illness.
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Mindfulness and pathological dissociation fully mediate the association of childhood abuse and PTSD symptomatology. EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF TRAUMA & DISSOCIATION 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejtd.2017.06.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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38
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Palmisano GL, Innamorati M, Susca G, Traetta D, Sarracino D, Vanderlinden J. Childhood Traumatic Experiences and Dissociative Phenomena in Eating Disorders: Level and Association with the Severity of Binge Eating Symptoms. J Trauma Dissociation 2018; 19:88-107. [PMID: 28281939 DOI: 10.1080/15299732.2017.1304490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
The aim of the current study is to evaluate the presence of childhood trauma, psychoform, and somatoform dissociation in eating disorders (ED). Eighty-six ED outpatients participated in this study, 20 of them were diagnosed with restrictive anorexia (AN-R), 10 of them with anorexia nervosa binge-purging subtypes (AN-B), 25 with bulimia nervosa (BN), and 31 with binge eating disorder (BED). They were matched by sex and age with a control group consisting of 86 healthy subjects (HC). Traumatic experiences were assessed by means of the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), psychological, and somatoform dissociation, respectively, by means of the Dissociative Experience Scale (DES-II) and Somatoform Dissociation Questionnaire (SDQ-20), and binge eating symptoms by means of Binge Eating Scale (BES). ED subjects showed higher levels of childhood trauma, and both psychoform and somatoform dissociation compared to HC subjects. ED patients showed higher levels of childhood trauma compared to the HC group. No significant differences were shown between ED subgroups with respect to all forms of childhood trauma. BN and AN-B subgroups showed higher levels of both psychological and somatoform dissociation. Dissociation and childhood trauma predicted the severity of binge eating symptoms. Our results confirm previous studies in the same field.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Marco Innamorati
- b Department of Science and Technology of Education , University of Rome "Tor Vergata" , Roma , Italy
| | - Giovanna Susca
- a Department of Psychology , University of Bari "Aldo Moro" , Bari , Italy
| | - Denise Traetta
- c Eating Disorder Center "Salvatore Cotugno" , Department of Psychiatry, "Azienda Unità Sanitaria Locale-4" , Bari , Italy
| | - Diego Sarracino
- d Department of Psychology , University of Milan "Bicocca" , Milano , Italy
| | - Johan Vanderlinden
- e Eating Disorder Unit of the University Psychiatric Center K.U. Leuven , Kortenberg , Belgium
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39
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Kienle J, Rockstroh B, Bohus M, Fiess J, Huffziger S, Steffen-Klatt A. Somatoform dissociation and posttraumatic stress syndrome - two sides of the same medal? A comparison of symptom profiles, trauma history and altered affect regulation between patients with functional neurological symptoms and patients with PTSD. BMC Psychiatry 2017; 17:248. [PMID: 28693577 PMCID: PMC5504809 DOI: 10.1186/s12888-017-1414-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2016] [Accepted: 07/02/2017] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND History of traumatic experience is common in dissociative disorder (DD), and similarity of symptoms and characteristics between DD and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) encouraged to consider DD as trauma-related disorder. However, conceptualization of DD as a trauma-related syndrome would critically affect diagnosis and treatment strategies. The present study addressed overlap and disparity of DD and PTSD by directly comparing correspondence of symptoms, adverse/traumatic experience, and altered affect regulation between patients diagnosed with dissociative disorder (characterized by negative functional neurological symptoms) and patients diagnosed with PTSD. METHODS Somatoform and psychoform dissociation, symptoms of posttraumatic stress, general childhood adversities and lifetime traumata, and alexithymia as index of altered affect regulation were screened with standardized questionnaires and semi-structured interviews in 60 patients with DD (ICD-codes F44.4, F44.6, F44.7), 39 patients with PTSD (ICD-code F43.1), and 40 healthy comparison participants (HC). RESULTS DD and PTSD patients scored higher than HC on somatoform and psychoform dissociative symptom scales and alexithymia, and reported more childhood adversities and higher trauma load. PTSD patients reported higher symptom severity and more traumata than DD patients. Those 20 DD patients who met criteria of co-occuring PTSD did not differ from PTSD patients in the amount of reported symptoms of somatoform dissociation, physical and emotional childhood adversities and lifetime traumata, while emotional neglect/abuse in childhood distinguished DD patients with and without co-occuring PTSD (DD patients with co-occuring PTSD reporting more emotional maltreatment). CONCLUSION The pattern of distinctive somatoform and psychoform dissociative symptom severity, type of childhood and lifetime traumata, and amount of alexithymia suggests that DD and PTSD are distinctive syndromes and, therefore, challenges the conceptualization of DD as trauma-related disorder. Together with the detected close correspondence of symptom and experience profiles in DD patients with co-occuring PTSD and PTSD patients, these findings suggest that adverse/traumatic experience may intensify dissociative symptoms, but are not a necessary condition in the generation of functional neurological symptoms. Still, diagnosis and treatment of DD need to consider this impact of traumata and post-traumatic stress symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johanna Kienle
- Department of Psychology, University of Konstanz, P.O.Box 905, D-78457, Konstanz, Germany.
| | - Brigitte Rockstroh
- 0000 0001 0658 7699grid.9811.1Department of Psychology, University of Konstanz, P.O.Box 905, D-78457 Konstanz, Germany
| | - Martin Bohus
- 0000 0001 2190 4373grid.7700.0Institute for Psychiatric and Psychosomatic Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, Heidelberg University, J5, 68159 Mannheim, Germany ,0000 0001 0790 3681grid.5284.bDepartment of Health, Antwerp University, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Johanna Fiess
- 0000 0001 0658 7699grid.9811.1Department of Psychology, University of Konstanz, P.O.Box 905, D-78457 Konstanz, Germany
| | - Silke Huffziger
- 0000 0001 2190 4373grid.7700.0Institute for Psychiatric and Psychosomatic Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, Heidelberg University, J5, 68159 Mannheim, Germany
| | - Astrid Steffen-Klatt
- 0000 0001 0658 7699grid.9811.1Department of Psychology, University of Konstanz, P.O.Box 905, D-78457 Konstanz, Germany
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40
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Dapunt J, Kluge U, Heinz A. Risk of psychosis in refugees: a literature review. Transl Psychiatry 2017; 7:e1149. [PMID: 28608852 PMCID: PMC5537641 DOI: 10.1038/tp.2017.119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2016] [Revised: 04/13/2017] [Accepted: 04/20/2017] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Conflicts and precarious living conditions resulted in the arrival of large numbers of refugees in Europe and especially in Germany. Evidence suggests that immigrant populations are at elevated risk of psychotic disorders. Considering the traumatic pre- and post-migratory adversities refugees may have encountered, people granted refugee status may even be more susceptible to psychosis than non-refugee migrants. The aim of this literature review is to summarise and interpret recent research on the incidence or prevalence of psychotic disorders in refugees, additionally focusing on the aspects of gender and Middle Eastern provenance. A systematic search in PubMed was performed in the time from 20 to 28 May 2016. Relevant literature was limited to articles describing cohort studies conducted in Western industrialised countries. Articles published between 1 June 2006 and 28 May 2016 were analysed. Content relating to psychotic disorders in refugees was reviewed and summarised. The selected studies showed an increased risk of psychotic disorders in refugees compared with both the indigenous population and non-refugee. migrants. The elevated risk was more pronounced in refugee men. A particularly high risk in refugees of Middle Eastern origin could not be inferred. The higher susceptibility to psychotic disorders in refugees emphasises the need for the development and implementation of adequate prevention strategies. Clinicians and people working in a refugee setting should be aware of early signs and symptoms of psychosis. Further research is required to evaluate post-migratory experiences and investigate the population of refugees affected by the current humanitarian crisis.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Dapunt
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - U Kluge
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany,Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Charité Mitte, Charitéplatz 1, Berlin 10117, Germany. E-mail:
| | - A Heinz
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
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41
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De Berardis D, Fornaro M, Orsolini L, Valchera A, Carano A, Vellante F, Perna G, Serafini G, Gonda X, Pompili M, Martinotti G, Di Giannantonio M. Alexithymia and Suicide Risk in Psychiatric Disorders: A Mini-Review. Front Psychiatry 2017; 8:148. [PMID: 28855878 PMCID: PMC5557776 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2017.00148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 97] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2017] [Accepted: 07/28/2017] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
It is well known that alexithymic individuals may show significantly higher levels of anxiety, depression, and psychological suffering than non-alexithymics. There is an increasing evidence that alexithymia may be considered a risk factor for suicide, even simply increasing the risk of development of depressive symptoms or per se. Therefore, the purpose of this narrative mini-review was to elucidate a possible relationship between alexithymia and suicide risk. The majority of reviewed studies pointed out a relationship between alexithymia and an increased suicide risk. In several studies, this relationship was mediated by depressive symptoms. In conclusion, the importance of alexithymia screening in everyday clinical practice and the evaluation of clinical correlates of alexithymic traits should be integral parts of all disease management programs and, especially, of suicide prevention plans and interventions. However, limitations of studies are discussed and must be considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Domenico De Berardis
- NHS, Department of Mental Health, Psychiatric Service of Diagnosis and Treatment, Hospital "G. Mazzini", ASL 4, Teramo, Italy.,Department of Neurosciences and Imaging, Chair of Psychiatry, Università degli Studi 'G. d'Annunzio' Chieti - Pescara, Chieti, Italy
| | - Michele Fornaro
- New York Psychiatric Institute, Columbia University, New York City, NY, United States.,Polyedra, Teramo, Italy
| | - Laura Orsolini
- Polyedra, Teramo, Italy.,School of Life and Medical Sciences, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield, United Kingdom.,Villa S. Giuseppe Hospital, Hermanas Hospitalarias, Ascoli Piceno, Italy
| | - Alessandro Valchera
- Polyedra, Teramo, Italy.,Villa S. Giuseppe Hospital, Hermanas Hospitalarias, Ascoli Piceno, Italy
| | - Alessandro Carano
- Department of Mental Health, Psychiatric Service of Diagnosis and Treatment, Hospital "Madonna Del Soccorso", NHS, San Benedetto del Tronto, Italy
| | - Federica Vellante
- NHS, Department of Mental Health, Psychiatric Service of Diagnosis and Treatment, Hospital "G. Mazzini", ASL 4, Teramo, Italy.,Department of Neurosciences and Imaging, Chair of Psychiatry, Università degli Studi 'G. d'Annunzio' Chieti - Pescara, Chieti, Italy
| | - Giampaolo Perna
- Hermanas Hospitalarias, FoRiPsi, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Villa San Benedetto Menni, Albese con Cassano, Italy.,Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, University of Maastricht, Maastricht, Netherlands.,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Leonard Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Gianluca Serafini
- Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health, Section of Psychiatry, University of Genova, Genova, Italy
| | - Xenia Gonda
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Kutvolgyi Clinical Center, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.,MTA-SE Neuropsychopharmacology Research Group, Hungarian Academy of Sciences and Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.,Department of Pharmacodynamics, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Maurizio Pompili
- Department of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Sensory Organs, Suicide Prevention Center, Sant'Andrea Hospital, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Giovanni Martinotti
- Department of Neurosciences and Imaging, Chair of Psychiatry, Università degli Studi 'G. d'Annunzio' Chieti - Pescara, Chieti, Italy
| | - Massimo Di Giannantonio
- Department of Neurosciences and Imaging, Chair of Psychiatry, Università degli Studi 'G. d'Annunzio' Chieti - Pescara, Chieti, Italy
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