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Khosravani V, Sharifibastan F, Aghaeimazraji M, Berk M, Samimi Ardestani SM. The contribution of alexithymia, childhood maltreatment, impulsivity, C-reactive protein, lipid profile, and thyroid hormones to aggression and psychological distress (depression and anxiety) in schizophrenia. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2024; 167:107087. [PMID: 38820716 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2024.107087] [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: 03/03/2024] [Revised: 05/22/2024] [Accepted: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 06/02/2024]
Abstract
There are individual effects of alexithymia, childhood maltreatment, impulsivity, and some biological markers on aggression and psychological distress in schizophrenia. However, the combined effects of these psychological and biological markers have not yet been fully studied. This study therefore aimed to investigate the influence of these psychological and biological markers on aggression and psychological distress (e.g., depression and anxiety) in inpatients with schizophrenia (n = 355). Participants completed self-report and clinician-rated scales, and blood samples were collected. There were no significant differences between patients with and without alexithymia regarding biological markers. Patients with childhood maltreatment exhibited higher levels of free triiodothyronine (FT3) and C-reactive protein (CRP), as well as lower total cholesterol (TC) levels, compared to non-traumatized individuals. Aggression was positively predicted by psychological distress, alexithymia, childhood maltreatment, impulsivity, CRP, and FT3, and negatively by TC and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Negative symptoms, childhood maltreatment, alexithymia, aggression, and CRP positively, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol negatively emerged as predictors of psychological distress. The study highlights the connections between childhood maltreatment, alexithymia, impulsivity, and potentially related biological dysregulation in explaining aggression and negative mood states as a bio-psychological model of aggression and mood in schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vahid Khosravani
- Behavioral Sciences Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Farangis Sharifibastan
- Behavioral Sciences Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Department of Psychosocial Science, University of Bergen, Norway
| | - Morteza Aghaeimazraji
- Department of Clinical Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Semnan University, Semnan, Iran
| | - Michael Berk
- Deakin University, IMPACT - The Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation, School of Medicine, Geelong, Victoria, Australia; University of Melbourne, Florey Institute for Neuroscience and Mental Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; University of Melbourne, Department of Psychiatry, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, Victoria, Australia; Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia; Orygen, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Seyed Mehdi Samimi Ardestani
- Department of Psychiatry, Behavioral Sciences Research Center, Imam Hossein Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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Utas-Akhan L, Avci D, Basak I. Art Therapy as a Nursing Intervention for Individuals With Schizophrenia. J Psychosoc Nurs Ment Health Serv 2024; 62:29-38. [PMID: 37956349 DOI: 10.3928/02793695-20231025-02] [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: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
The aim of the current study was to determine the effects of group art therapy on clinical symptoms, alexithymia, and quality of life among people with schizophrenia. This single-blinded, randomized controlled trial was performed with 66 individuals with schizophrenia from a community mental health center in western Turkey between September 2021 and February 2022. Following art therapy, the intervention group had lower severity of positive, negative, and general psycho-pathology symptoms; lower levels of alexithymia; and higher levels of psychological health, social relationships, and total quality of life than the control group; and the difference between groups was statistically significant (p < 0.05). Results reveal that art therapy combined with pharmacological therapy contributes to good clinical outcomes among individuals with schizophrenia. This evidence can guide psychiatric nurses to use art therapy to reduce psychopathology severity and increase functionality and quality of life among individuals with schizophrenia. [Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, 62(5), 29-38.].
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Pachi A, Tselebis A, Sikaras C, Sideri EP, Ivanidou M, Baras S, Milionis C, Ilias I. Nightmare distress, insomnia and resilience of nursing staff in the post-pandemic era. AIMS Public Health 2023; 11:36-57. [PMID: 38617404 PMCID: PMC11007420 DOI: 10.3934/publichealth.2024003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2023] [Revised: 12/10/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 04/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction The pandemic has led to notable psychological challenges among healthcare professionals, including nurses. Objective Our aims of this study were to assess insomnia and nightmare distress levels in nurses and investigate their association with mental resilience. Methods Nurses participated in an online survey, which included the Nightmare Distress Questionnaire (NDQ), Brief Resilience Scale (BRS) and Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS). Demographic information, such as age, professional experience and gender, was also collected. Results The study included 355 female and 78 male nurses. Findings revealed that 61.4% had abnormal AIS scores, 7% had abnormal NDQ scores and 25.4% had low BRS scores. Female nurses had higher AIS and NDQ scores but lower BRS scores compared to males. BRS demonstrated negative correlations with both AIS and NDQ. Multiple regression analysis indicated that NDQ accounted for 24% of the AIS variance, with an additional 6.5% explained by the BRS. BRS acted as a mediator, attenuating the impact of nightmares on insomnia, with gender moderating this relationship. Conclusions Nursing staff experienced heightened sleep disturbances during the pandemic, with nightmares and insomnia being prevalent. Nightmares significantly contributed to insomnia, but mental resilience played a vital role in mitigating this effect. Strategies are warranted to address the pandemic's psychological impact on nursing professionals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Argyro Pachi
- Psychiatric Department, Sotiria Thoracic Diseases Hospital of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
| | - Athanasios Tselebis
- Psychiatric Department, Sotiria Thoracic Diseases Hospital of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
| | - Christos Sikaras
- Nursing Department, Sotiria Thoracic Diseases Hospital of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
| | - Eleni Paraskevi Sideri
- Emergency Department of General Hospital of Athens Korgialeneio-Benakeio Hellenic Red Cross, 11526, Athens, Greece
| | - Maria Ivanidou
- Psychiatric Department, Sotiria Thoracic Diseases Hospital of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
| | - Spyros Baras
- Psychiatric Department, Sotiria Thoracic Diseases Hospital of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
| | | | - Ioannis Ilias
- Department of Endocrinology, “Elena Venizelou” Hospital, 11521 Athens, Greece
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Peng P, Wang D, Wang Q, Zhou Y, Hao Y, Chen S, Wu Q, Liu T, Zhang X. Alexithymia in Chinese patients with chronic schizophrenia: Prevalence, clinical correlates, and relationship with neurocognition and empathy. Asia Pac Psychiatry 2023; 15:e12547. [PMID: 37635651 DOI: 10.1111/appy.12547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2023] [Revised: 07/30/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 08/29/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Alexithymia is highly prevalent and strongly related to adverse consequences in patients with schizophrenia. However, its associated factors remain largely unexplored. The present study aimed to determine the prevalence of alexithymia and its association with sociocultural characteristics, clinical symptoms, neurocognition, and empathy in 854 Chinese patients with schizophrenia. METHOD Demographic information was collected through a self-designed questionnaire. Alexithymia was assessed by the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20). We assessed clinical symptoms, neurocognition, and empathy via the following instruments: Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale, Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status, and Interpersonal Reactivity Index. A multiple logistic regression model was conducted to determine the independent correlates of alexithymia. RESULTS Approximately one-third (n = 277, 32%) of patients with schizophrenia had alexithymia. Patients with alexithymia had significantly more severe negative symptoms, neurocognition, and empathy impairment than patients without alexithymia. Being male, negative symptoms, personal distress, empathic concern, and language functioning were independently associated with alexithymia. DISCUSSION Our findings demonstrate a high prevalence of alexithymia and its strong association with clinical symptoms, neurocognition, and empathy, which calls for timely screening and intervention for alexithymia in patients with schizophrenia. Targeting impaired language function, negative symptoms, and impaired affective empathy might help reduce alexithymia and its related negative consequences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pu Peng
- Department of Psychiatry, National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, and National Center for Mental Disorders, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Dongmei Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Qianjin Wang
- Department of Psychiatry, National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, and National Center for Mental Disorders, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Yanan Zhou
- Department of Psychiatry, Hunan Brain Hospital (Hunan Second People's Hospital), Changsha, China
| | - Yuzhu Hao
- Department of Psychiatry, National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, and National Center for Mental Disorders, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Shubao Chen
- Department of Psychiatry, National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, and National Center for Mental Disorders, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Qiuxia Wu
- Department of Psychiatry, National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, and National Center for Mental Disorders, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Tieqiao Liu
- Department of Psychiatry, National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, and National Center for Mental Disorders, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Xiangyang Zhang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
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Pachi A, Kavourgia E, Bratis D, Fytsilis K, Papageorgiou SM, Lekka D, Sikaras C, Tselebis A. Anger and Aggression in Relation to Psychological Resilience and Alcohol Abuse among Health Professionals during the First Pandemic Wave. Healthcare (Basel) 2023; 11:2031. [PMID: 37510472 PMCID: PMC10378977 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare11142031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2023] [Revised: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Mental health problems, behavior changes, and addictive issues have been consistently documented among healthcare workers during the pandemic. The objective of this study was to investigate the levels of anger and aggression in relation to psychological resilience and alcohol abuse among healthcare workers during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 120 physicians and 123 nurses completed an online survey of the Dimensions of Anger Reactions-5 (DAR-5), the Brief Aggression Questionnaire (BAQ), the Brief Resilience Scale (BRS), and the Alcohol Screening questionnaire CAGE which is an acronym for the focus of the questions (Cutting down, Annoyance by criticism, Guilty feeling, and Eye-openers). Demographic and professional data were also recorded. A total of 53 men and 190 women participated in the study. Almost one-third of the participants had a positive score on the DAR-5 scale and one out of ten respondents presented with current problematic alcohol use. Male participants demonstrated lower scores on the DAR-5 scale compared to females. Individuals with current problematic alcohol use displayed higher scores on the BAQ compared to those without alcohol use disorders. Regression analysis revealed that 16.4% of the variance in the BAQ scores can be attributed to scores on the DAR-5, 5.9% to the BRS scores, 2.1% to the CAGE scores, 1.7% to gender, and 1.2% to years of work experience. Mediation analysis highlighted the role of psychological resilience as a negative mediator in the DAR-5 and BAQ relationship. Professional experience and alcohol abuse emerged as positive and negative risk factors contributing to aggression and psychological resilience. The findings hold practical implications for implementing interventions to strengthen resilience in order to compensate for aggressive tendencies and discourage addictive issues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Argyro Pachi
- Psychiatric Department, Sotiria Thoracic Diseases Hospital of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece; (A.P.); (E.K.); (D.B.); (K.F.); (S.M.P.); (D.L.)
| | - Evgenia Kavourgia
- Psychiatric Department, Sotiria Thoracic Diseases Hospital of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece; (A.P.); (E.K.); (D.B.); (K.F.); (S.M.P.); (D.L.)
| | - Dionisios Bratis
- Psychiatric Department, Sotiria Thoracic Diseases Hospital of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece; (A.P.); (E.K.); (D.B.); (K.F.); (S.M.P.); (D.L.)
| | - Konstantinos Fytsilis
- Psychiatric Department, Sotiria Thoracic Diseases Hospital of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece; (A.P.); (E.K.); (D.B.); (K.F.); (S.M.P.); (D.L.)
| | - Styliani Maria Papageorgiou
- Psychiatric Department, Sotiria Thoracic Diseases Hospital of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece; (A.P.); (E.K.); (D.B.); (K.F.); (S.M.P.); (D.L.)
| | - Dimitra Lekka
- Psychiatric Department, Sotiria Thoracic Diseases Hospital of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece; (A.P.); (E.K.); (D.B.); (K.F.); (S.M.P.); (D.L.)
| | - Christos Sikaras
- Nursing Department, Sotiria Thoracic Diseases Hospital of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece;
| | - Athanasios Tselebis
- Psychiatric Department, Sotiria Thoracic Diseases Hospital of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece; (A.P.); (E.K.); (D.B.); (K.F.); (S.M.P.); (D.L.)
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Pachi A, Anagnostopoulou M, Antoniou A, Papageorgiou SM, Tsomaka E, Sikaras C, Ilias I, Tselebis A. Family support, anger and aggression in health workers during the first wave of the pandemic. AIMS Public Health 2023; 10:524-537. [PMID: 37842274 PMCID: PMC10567974 DOI: 10.3934/publichealth.2023037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2023] [Revised: 05/24/2023] [Accepted: 05/31/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Anger is considered as one of the basic human emotions, constituting the affective component of aggression. In the first year of the pandemic, the intense pressure on healthcare workers resulted in the deterioration of their psychosocial problems. Objective The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between family support, anger, and aggression. Methods The present study included physicians and nurses who completed an online survey of Dimensions of Anger Reactions-5 (DAR-5), a Brief Aggression Questionnaire (BAQ) and a Family Support Scale (FSS). Before completing the questionnaires, participants were asked to state their gender, years of work, age, and profession. Results Fifty-three men and 190 women participated in the study. Almost one-third of the participants had a positive score on the DAR-5 scale. Male participants displayed lower DAR-5 scores compared to women. Female participants displayed lower FSS scores compared to men, but higher scores when compared with earlier measures. Regression showed that 15.2% of the variance in BAQ scores can be explained by DAR-5 scores, with an additional 3.8% explained by FSS scores, while an additional 2.3% is explained by years of working experience. Mediation analysis highlighted the role of family support as a negative mediator in the DAR-5 and BAQ relationship. Conclusion During the first year of the pandemic, there was an increase in the sense of family support among female health workers. One-third of the participants displayed increased anger scores. Family support acts as a mediator by preventing anger derailing into aggression. In healthcare worker support programs, it seems necessary to entail a specific section on anger management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Argyro Pachi
- Psychiatric Department, Sotiria Thoracic Diseases Hospital of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
| | - Maria Anagnostopoulou
- Psychiatric Department, Sotiria Thoracic Diseases Hospital of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
| | - Athanasios Antoniou
- Psychiatric Department, Sotiria Thoracic Diseases Hospital of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
| | | | - Effrosyni Tsomaka
- Psychiatric Department, Sotiria Thoracic Diseases Hospital of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
| | - Christos Sikaras
- Nursing Department, Sotiria Thoracic Diseases Hospital of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
| | - Ioannis Ilias
- Department of Endocrinology, “Elena Venizelou” Hospital, 11521 Athens, Greece
| | - Athanasios Tselebis
- Psychiatric Department, Sotiria Thoracic Diseases Hospital of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
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Primary Mental Health Care in a New Era. Healthcare (Basel) 2022; 10:healthcare10102025. [PMID: 36292472 PMCID: PMC9601948 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare10102025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2022] [Accepted: 10/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Clinical experience and scientific studies highlight the pivotal role that primary health care services have and should have as a gateway to the health care system and as a first point of contact for patients with mental disorders, particularly-but not exclusively-for patients with a disorder in the spectrum of common mental disorders [...].
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