THE HEALING FORCES OF MUSIC THERAPY

Author(s): Stela DRAGULIN / Language(s): English Issue: 1/2013

This article presents the major approaches to music therapy used today. The procedures for most of approaches are quite distinct; nevertheless there remain important commonalities among all of the approaches. The intent of each approach is to stimulate positive changes in the client through music, although some approaches emphasize changes in a specific area of human functioning: cognitive,physical, psychological or social. All of the approaches depend on the appeal and influence of music to bring about changes in the client, all of the approaches provide valid avenues for therapeutic work, and all of the approaches require training to be used effectively. The differences in approaches are well suited to the diversity of practicing clinicians and the clients they serve.

Religion as an Existential Resource

Author(s): Marinus H. F. van Uden,Hessel J. Zondag / Language(s): English Issue: 01-02/2016

In this paper, we make a contribution to the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder. We show how religion can function as an existential resource. Religions enable people to perceive an underlying pattern of order and purpose below the surface of life’s incomprehensible inevitabilities such as death and suffering. Religion then works as a meaning-making system that can positively influence the individual’s mental health. Recently, the relations between religion and health have been studied particularly in the context of the ‘religious coping paradigm’. Religious coping is aiming at a ‘search for significance’. Religious coping will often occur where non-religious coping fails, especially in situations involving loss of life, health and relational embeddedness. Religious activities and acts can also enable religious coping. A crucial religious act is the ritual. What are the functions of ritual, and how can a ritual contribute to the mental health of an individual in crisis? What is, in this context, the role of myths and symbols? Several examples are given of how rituals can work as therapeutic tools in the treatment of traumatic disorders. We conclude by stating that religion, being a robust form of meaning-making, is not the sole system able to contribute to working through a trauma, and that its success is far from guaranteed.

Reflexii ale psihologului şi psihologiei

Author(s): Bogdan Popoveniuc / Language(s): Romanian Issue: 15/2015

The paper presents the results of a survey over the sources of psychological information and the representation of psychology and psychologist among students. It analyzes and discusses the answers of 1200 students on the task, place and functions of psychology, the representation and role of psychologist, the function and conception on psychotherapy in comparative approach by gender, university profile and residence. The results show that students value the social role of psychologist, but their representation doesn’t emerges from an direct experience (the large majority didn’t went to a psychologist, don’t know psychologists, or people who went to one), but from circumstantial one, largely supplied from school and books. Therefore, psychology is seen more as a science or discipline than as a practice or profession, and the purpose of psychology is conceived primarily as one of knowledge. It is positive that aims psychotherapeutic interventions are seen as covering many different aspects, that it can address any issues, in different periods of life, for all strata of society, and especially the fact that there was no evidence of a pathologic image of people who go to a psychologist, but an open attitude toward this activity, especially from the female persons.

Coping Strategies in War Veterans 20 Years After the Exposure to Extreme Stress

Author(s): Dino Krupić,Martina Knežević,Sandra Šućurović / Language(s): English Issue: 3/2016

Many soldiers encounter difficulties while transitioning from military to civilian life. Such severe traumatic events may also have long-term effects. Previous studies have shown a strong relationship between coping strategies and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. The aim of this study was to investigate how veterans who were exposed to war trauma 20 years ago now deal with everyday life stressors, and how their current coping strategies relate to the four-factor model of PTSD. A total of 220 male Croatian Homeland War Veterans between the ages of 38 and 75 participated. Questionnaires included Combat Exposure Scale, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist – Military Version and Ways of Coping Questionnaire. Results showed positive association between dysphoria and escape-avoidance coping strategy and negative association between dysphoria and positive reappraisal coping strategy. Given that dysphoria symptoms are associated with the chronicity of PTSD and poorer response to PTSD therapy treatment in war veterans, our results underscore the importance of treating dysphoria symptoms and promoting engagement coping strategies for this population.

Биохимические показатели крови у девушек 17–20 лет разных типов конституции

Author(s): Aleksey Vladimirovich Lebedev,Olga Vladimirovna Tumanik,Mikhail Albertovich Subotyalov,Roman Idelevich Aizman / Language(s): Russian Issue: 5/2016

The article is devoted to the analysis of blood biochemical indicators of girls belonging to different constitutional types. It has been identified that the level of albumin and triglycerides was significantly lower, and the concentration of urea was higher in blood plasma of girls with asthenic body type in comparison with girls of other constitutional types. The studies revealed that girls of normosthenic constitution type had the lowered level of total and direct bilirubin in comparison with other types. Lower concentration of calcium, phosphorus, and α-cholesterol occurred in girls with hypersthenic constitution type, whereas the level of direct bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase and triglycerides was significantly higher in comparison with other types. The concentration of glucose, total protein, creatinine did not differ between girls of different constitutional groups. The correlation analysis of biochemical indicators showed that a range of parameters of protein, lipid, carbohydrate, mineral, fermental and pigmentary metabolism had reliable interrelations between themselves. The representatives of the asthenic type demonstrated more ap-parent system of correlation ties between the fermental and lipid balance. Significant correlations occurred between parameters of protein and fermental metabolism in females with a normosthenic body type, and between fermental, protein and mineral metabolic parameters in females with a hypersthenic type. The analysis of structure and the number of correlation ties in girls with the asthenic and the normosthenic constitutional types allows to assume high plasticity of metabolic processes which determines good performance of adaptive mechanisms against various external factors, whereas a large number of tight correlations occurred in girls of hypersthenic type indicates their high resistance to various factors and lower level of plasticity to changing conditions. It is emphasized that the type of constitution is a "phenotypical expression of a gene complex" that is caused by specific correlations between biochemical indicators in females with different types of body constitution. Probably, it reflects the constitutional determinant of metabolic processes determining an individual biochemical profile of a person. The obtained data have prognostic value for studying biological identity that is important in interpreting blood analysis results of both healthу and sick people.

Osobine ličnosti i kvalitet terapijske alijanse

Author(s): Sanja Bratina / Language(s): Serbian Issue: 8/2016

Over the past decades in the field of psychotherapy, the researchers were mainly concentrated on the investigation of therapeutic procedures, protocols, and therapeutic techniques. Although this way provides a significant contribution to the understanding of psychotherapy process and outcome, the unique contribution of personality traits of psychotherapists and clients was in the background. The research explored the relations between personality traits and evaluation of psychotherapeutic alliance. Basic problem was formulated via question: Are there relations between personality of the clients, diagnoses, age and evaluation of psychotherapy alliance? Personality traits were chosen from the “Big Five” model, and were measured by the Big Five plus Two Questionnaire. Evaluation of psychotherapy alliance was based on the humanistic-existential theory and was measured by the Relationship Questionnaire. The sample comprised of 58 subjects, participants of experiential Gestalt psychotherapy groups. The results showed that there was an important influence of Openness on evaluation of psychotherapy relationship F(6,44)=3.445, p<.01. Differences concerning Diagnoses were not significant.

Ból – analiza zagadnienia, przegląd piśmiennictwa

Author(s): Krzysztof Wróbel,Adam Wróbel / Language(s): Polish Issue: 2/2015

Pain is the most frequent medical problem, not only for diseased people, but doctors as well. It performs a warndefense function. Most often, pain occurs as a result of a damaging stimulus or a disease, through the stimulation of the nociceptive system, which releases proteolytic enzymes out of tissues. International Association for the Study of Pain has attempted to define this phenomenon. To systemize pain, the following categories have been provided: acute, chronic, inflammatory, pathological, located, projected and generalized ones. To determine the strength of pain feeling as well as the effectiveness of the therapy chosen, there have been developed a number of scales and questionnaires such as: McGill Pain Questionnaire, Visual Analogue Scales (VAS), Verbal Rating Scale (VRS) and Numeral Rating Scale (NRS). Different studies prove that the perception of pain may be affected, among others, by environmental conditions, genetic predispositions, social factors as well as current life situation. Pain therapy is always difficult due to its complexity. Therefore, it does not always bring the expected results. Except for standard phonological methods of pain treatment, Placebo effect, whose effectiveness reaches 35%, is of great importance.

PSYCHOLOGICAL COPING AND SOCIAL ASPECTS IN THE CASE OF THE ELDERLY WITH METABOLIC SYNDROME

Author(s): Gica Lehaci,Cositnela Georgescu,Ana-Maria Dumitrescu,Ioan Gotca,Rodica Ghiuru,Cristinel Stefanescu / Language(s): English Issue: 52/2016

The metabolic syndrome (MetS) represents a disease with a complex pathogenesis being associated with a constellation of metabolic and cardiovascular disorders, and not only, resulting from the co-occurrence of obesity, dyslipidemia, insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes mellitus, according to the American Education Guide “National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment – Panel III”. We present the case of a 67-year- old patient, female, pensioner with metabolic syndrome diagnosed by the co-occurrence of stage I hypertension, grade I obesity, diabetes mellitus and dyslipidemia with hypercholesterolemia. People with MetS have a poorer quality of life, with references towards physical and social functions, regarding both general and mental states of health. With the help of a trained psychologist we interpreted the obtained results of the Freiburg Personality Inventory (FPI) and a Psychological Coping Questionnaire-Personal Needs Evaluation Questionnaire (V33A-GoldInc) and had a perspective upon patient’s views regarding her personal illness and the involvement of spirituality, socioeconomic status and ethics in the management of the metabolic syndrome as a complex pathology, and particularly of the cardiovascular component of the disease. Regarding the presented case, it is indicated that the social worker, within the inter multidisciplinary relationship social worker- psychologist-doctor, interferes more with elderly on informing them about different sort of abuses against them, the risks of exposing their personal lives excessively, the matter of trust both within society and medical systems through community projects and information campaigns.

Obrzezanie mężczyzn - perspektywa medyczna i psychologiczna

Author(s): Agnieszka Jaśkowiak / Language(s): Polish Issue: 3/2017

Circumcision is one of the most commonly performed surgical procedures in the world. It is performed both due to medical indications as well as for social reasons. In this review, the influence of circumcision on the prevalence HIV infection, other sexually transmitted diseases, urogenital tract infections, and penile cancer is presented. Medical and psychological complications of the procedure are also described, and the problem of sexual satisfaction after circumcision is also tackled.

Діагностика і лікування психічних розладів у контексті дихотомії «природа – виховання»

Author(s): Tetiana Viktorivna Danylova,Alika Saikovskaya / Language(s): Ukrainian Issue: 05/2017

The complex multifaceted essence of human as a biological, psychological, social being has attracted the attention of researchers and has caused hot debates during centuries. The deep understanding of the phenomenon of human being, his/her nature and essence is critical for the field of clinical medicine such as psychiatry. Nowadays, diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders are the acute problems. Appropriate methods of diagnosis and treatment in the context of “nature vs nurture” dichotomy cause scientific disputes between experts in the relevant fields. The paper attempts to analyze different approaches to mental disorders, as well as specific and non-specific treatment.

Etička pitanja primene „poboljšivača“ kod dece tipičnog razvoja

Author(s): Ilija Milovanović / Language(s): Serbian Issue: 2/2016

Given that psychology is a humanistic science and a helping profession, we can say that ethical questions are the basis of an adequatelly designed psychological research. If we add in the interdisciplinarity of psychology, as well as the steady progress of scientific accomplishments that are used in psychology, we can establish the necessity of continuous checks of the nature of research by the ethics committees. Research with particular populations, such as with kids who are using relatively problematic substances – enhancer medicaments, for example - in the prevention or treatment of certain maladaptive phenomena in the domain of psychological functioning, require a stricter control by the ethics committees. Expansion of production of medicaments used in the treatment of children who are beyond the pathological functioning makes this area even more problematic. This paper describes the conceptual framework of the problems of applying enhancer medicaments in the population of children with typical development, describes the arguments for and against the use of enhancers in this particular population, and, from the perspective of psychology, discusses the consequences of excesive medicament use in situations where they are not necessary. In the last part of the paper we analyze the possibilities and obligations of the psychologist as an expert in working with children who consume medicaments in order to improve their own cognitive and emotional performances that are already functioning at an optimal level.

Narcizam u kontekstu psihološkog zdravlja adolescenata

Author(s): Stanislava Popov,Olivera Sekulić-Bartoš / Language(s): Serbian Issue: 2/2016

'Generation Me' is the term referring to the personality of contemporary youth in Western culture. Their basic characteristics such as high self-esteem, narcissism, and individualism are attributed to systematic trends in the upbringing and education over the past few decades. On the other hand, self-esteem figures as a significant correlate of mental health. The aims of this study were to examine the latent structure of narcissism measured by the Narcissistic Personality Inventory (NPI-40) on a sample of adolescents, and to estimate adaptive and maladaptive aspects of narcissism in relation with mental health indicators in the RE & CBT context: unconditional self-acceptance, self-esteem, self-efficacy, positive and negative affect and subjective well-being. The sample of the study consisted of 198 secondary school students, aged 16 to19 (56% female). The examination of the latent structure of the instrument indicates the multidimensionality of the construct of narcissism, but with fewer components than in the original proposal of its authors. Four factors were extracted, whose relation with the mental-health variables in the subsequent regression analysis indicated the presence of adaptive and maladaptive traits of narcissism.

Fragmentisana ličnost našeg doba - granice fenomena graničnosti

Author(s): Tamara Džamonja-Ignjatović / Language(s): Serbian Issue: 2/2016

ZABURZENIE NAPADOWEGO OBJADANIA SIĘ I JEGO PRZEBIEG. PRZEGLĄD LITERATURY DOTYCZĄCY NIEDIAGNOSTYCZNYCH CZYNNIKÓW ZWIĄZANYCH Z ZABURZENIEM

Author(s): Karolina Lewandowska,Waldemar Klinkosz,Wojciech Styk / Language(s): Polish Issue: 3/2022

This work is a literature review on binge-eating disorder (BED) and non-diagnostic fac- tors associated with this disorder, such as anger expression, anxiety, self-efficacy, and body image. Binge-eating disorder includes recurrent episodes of uncontrolled eating, not related to physical hunger, and these episodes are accompanied by high mental costs. Current research highlight the psychological complexity of this disorder. Resear- chers suggest that people with BED recognition are a separate subgroup among obese patients, because they show an unique clinical profile that is associated with a higher psychopathological intensity. Increased psychopathology most often concerns affecti- ve disorders, impulsivity, mood disorders, and body dissatisfaction. Binge-eating people feel anger and anxiety more often than those who do not experience binge-eating. Moreover, patients diagnosed with BED experience lower self-efficacy, but research re- sults in this field remain ambiguous. The anxiety related to the body among patients with BED is similar to the anxiety experienced among patients with bulimia. Due to the limited number of research on the relatively new problem which is binge-eating, it is necessary to develop knowledge in this area.

Endogenous Juvenile-asthenic Failure Syndrome: Thirty-Year Follow-up of a Case

Author(s): Toshiyuki Kobayashi,Manabu Yasuda,Satoshi Kato / Language(s): English Issue: 4/2014

Endogenous juvenile-asthenic failure syndrome (EJ-AFS; Glatzel and Huber,2 three core features of which are cenesthopathy, alienation, and thought disorder, develops at a young age and is considered to be the initial stage or an abortive form of schizophrenia. It is rarely been discussed in the English-language literature, however, a number of cases have been continuously reported in Japan. In this paper, a case study is presented of a patient who showed the psychopathology of EJ-AFS early on and progression to severe personality and social dysfunction 30years later. From the 21 reported cases in Japan, an overall trend was observed of the symptoms remaining unchanged or improving somewhat, but persisting, in most cases. Only 3 of the cases had been followed for more than 10years. The present case leads us to reexamining the concept of EJ-AFS and to consideration of long-term course of an attenuate form of schizophrenia.

Psychotropic Medications: Optimal Prescribing Through the Utilization of Genetic Testing

Author(s): Robert Perna / Language(s): English Issue: 5/2014

Psychiatric drug treatment is characterized by large interindividual differences in drug response and dosage requirements. Interindividual variability in drug response can be a major clinical problem and may lead to discontinuation of potentially efficacious medications. Research suggests that individual variability in CYP enzyme activity is an important reason for drug therapy failure. The most substantial variability in medication metabolism is due to genetic polymorphisms. The polymorphisms present in most CYP genes, are responsible for a substantial part of this variability. Research has found that four CYP phenotypes can be identified: poor (slow) metabolizers (PM); intermediate metabolizers (IM); extensive metabolizers (EM); and the ultra-rapid metabolizers (UM), who have multiple gene copies. The ultra-rapid metabolizer (UM) phenotype is recognized as a cause of therapeutic inefficacy of antidepressant (due to resulting low serum levels), whereas an increased risk of toxicity and side effects has been reported in poor (slow) metabolizers (PMs) with several psychotropics (desipramine, venlafaxine, amitriptyline, haloperidol). Based on a review of the literature, it is reasonable to assume that some individuals will metabolize relevant drugs too quickly (and perhaps be nonresponders) and others may metabolize medications too slowly and become toxic and symptomatic. These groups perhaps represent individuals who would benefit most from the genetic testing. Despite cost and inconvenience of testing, these individuals may benefit.

Some Thoughts (and Some Defenses) on Modern Psychiatric Practice

Author(s): Eric S. Rogers / Language(s): English Issue: 5/2014

This brief opinion article presents 10 critiques regarding modern training and practice of clinical psychiatry in the United States from the perspective of a psychologist who works closely with psychiatric prescribers. Issues covered include polypharmacy and use of psychotropic medication, conceptual and theoretical orientations of psychopathology, and diagnostics/nosology

Psychodynamic Aspects of Pregnancy and the Puerperal Experience

Author(s): Claudia Melville / Language(s): English Issue: 6/2014

Osobowość schizoidalna a dymensjonalna konceptualizacja zaburzeń osobowości według ICD-11

Author(s): Sandra Nowak,Emilia Soroko / Language(s): Polish Issue: 2/2024

Cel: Współczesne badania naukowe i praktyka kliniczna w coraz większym stopniu uwzględniają dymensjonalne modele zaburzeń osobowości. Tendencja ta wymaga precyzyjnego wyjaśnienia relacji między tradycyjnymi sposobami konceptualizacji zaburzeń i nowymi propozycjami opartymi na wymiarach. Celem tego badania było określenie związku pomiędzy cechami osobowości schizoidalnej a elementami (krokami) diagnozy wg ICD-11 oraz określenie, w jakim stopniu osobowość schizoidalna jako konstrukt wymiarowy może być przewidywana (diagnozowana) na podstawie konceptualizacji ICD-11, takich jak nasilenie (severity) zaburzenia osobowości i patologiczne cechy. Metoda: Badaną grupę stanowiło 176 osób w wieku 18–71 lat (M = 28,3; SD = 10,3; 83,5% kobiet). Do określenia poziomu patologicznych cech osobowości wykorzystano Inwentarz osobowości dla ICD-11 (PiCD), natomiast do oceny poziomu nasilenia zaburzeń osobowości wykorzystano Skalę osobowości i funkcjonowania interpersonalnego (SIFS). Kwestionariusz stylów charakteru został wykorzystany do określenia poziomu schizoidalnego zaburzenia osobowości. Wyniki: Wyniki analizy korelacji wskazują na istotne związki między schizoidalnym zaburzeniem osobowości (jako konstruktem wymiarowym) a skalami mierzącymi poziom nasilenia zaburzenia osobowości (tożsamość, samokierowanie, empatia, intymność) a poziomem cech patologicznych (z wyjątkiem anankastii). Wyniki analizy regresji krokowej pokazują, że pierwszy etap oceny zaburzeń osobowości według modelu ICD-11, czyli diagnoza stopnia nasilenia zaburzeń osobowości, wyjaśnia 41% osobowości schizoidalnej, a włączenie cech patologicznych (istotna okazała się tu cecha izolacji) podnosi ten odsetek do 54. Konkluzja: Wyniki sugerują zbieżność między nowymi wymiarowymi konceptualizacjami zaburzeń osobowości i wcześniejszymi podejściami kategorycznymi oraz potrzebę przyszłych badań.

W głąb istnienia: analiza lęku egzystencjalnego w kontekście przywiązania i patologicznych cech osobowości

Author(s): Michalina Marczewska / Language(s): Polish Issue: 2/2024

Cel: Lęk egzystencjalny jest nieodzownym aspektem życia. Osoby o nieprzystosowawczych stylach przywiązania, jak np. lękowo-ambiwalentny, są szczególnie podatne na odczuwanie ogólnego niepokoju. Łączy się to z nasileniem patologicznych cech osobowości. Celem badania jest weryfikacja hipotez o związku między niepokojem egzystencjalnym a stylami przywiązania (bezpiecznym, lękowo-ambiwalentnym, unikowym), a także z negatywnym afektem oraz izolacją oraz zależności między stylami przywiązania i patologicznymi cechami osobowości. Metoda: Badana próba składa się z 466 respondentów w wieku 16–87 lat o podobnym poziomie wykształcenia. Udało się zachować równoliczność grup z podziałem na płeć. Niepokój egzystencjalny był mierzony SNE, style przywiązania za pomocą KSP, zaś cechy patologicznej Wielkiej Piątki z wykorzystaniem Inwentarza osobowości PID-5. Wyniki: Pomiędzy badanymi zmiennymi pojawiają się istotne różnice ze względu na płeć. Korelacje zachodzą pomiędzy niepokojem egzystencjalnym (wraz z jego wymiarami), cechami osobowości oraz stylami przywiązania. Dla wyjaśnienia wymiarów niepokoju (lęk przed winą i potępieniem, lęk przed pustką i bezsensem, lęk przed losem i śmiercią) zostały przedstawione modele regresyjne. Główną zmienną wyjaśniającą okazał się negatywny afekt. Konkluzja: Osoby o stylu lękowo-ambiwalentnym oraz wyższym nasileniu negatywnego afektu wyraźniej odczuwają niepokój egzystencjalny. Pozabezpieczne style przywiązania łączą się z nasileniem patologicznych cech osobowości.