Carolina da Motta

Influence of Family and Childhood Memories in the Development and Manifestation of Paranoid Ideation

Several studies point out to the influence of social experiences on perceptions of the environment and others in cognitive functioning and different aspects of psychopathology. The current study aimed at studying the influence of the psychosocial risk factors in a mixed sample of participants from the general population and affected by paranoid schizophrenia. The extent to which the existence of negative life events and events that are threatening to the inner models of the self (i.e., history of maltreatment, physical, social or psychological abuse) or the memories of these traumatic events occurring during childhood are related to the existence of paranoid beliefs in adulthood was explored. Results suggested that memories of parental behaviours characterized by antipathy from both parental figures, submissiveness and bullying victimization were important predictors of paranoid ideation in adult life. This further emphasizes the need for understanding the family and social dynamics of people presenting paranoid ideations to the development of therapeutic interventions that can effectively reduce the invalidation caused by severe psychopathology, as is the case of schizophrenia. Copyright

Paranoia in the general population: A revised version of the General Paranoia Scale for adults

Background Paranoid ideation has been regarded as a cognitive and a social process used as a defence against perceived threats. According to this perspective, paranoid ideation can be understood as a process extending across the normal–pathological continuum. Methods In order to refine the construct of paranoid ideation and to validate a measure of paranoia, 906 Portuguese participants from the general population and 91 patients were administered the General Paranoia Scale (GPS), and two conceptual models (one- and tridimensional) were compared through confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Results Results from the CFA of the GPS confirmed a different model than the one-dimensional model proposed by Fenigstein and Vanable, which comprised three dimensions (mistrust thoughts, persecutory ideas, and self-deprecation). This alternative model presented a better fit and increased sensitivity when compared with the one-dimensional model. Further data analysis of the scale revealed that the GPS is an adequate assessment tool for adults, with good psychometric characteristics and high internal consistency. Conclusion The model proposed in the current work leads to further refinements and enrichment of the construct of paranoia in different populations, allowing the assessment of three dimensions of paranoia and the risk of clinical paranoia in a single measure for the general population.

Clinical Change in Cognitive Distortions and Core Schemas After a Cognitive-Behavioral Group Intervention: Preliminary Findings from a Randomized Trial with Male Prison Inmates

AbstractThe goal of this pilot study was to assess the efficacy of a cognitive–behavioral program in reducing cognitive distortions and schemas in prison inmates. The Angry Cognitions Scale and the Young Schema Questionnaire was answered by a treatment and control group, and the treatment effects were tested using ANCOVA with baseline as covariate and condition as fixed factor. In order to assess clinical change, the Reliable Change Index was computed. At baseline, no differences were found between groups, except for one subscale of the Angry Cognitions Scale (Maladaptive Processes), where controls scored higher than treatment subjects. ANCOVA showed significant differences between groups at post-treatment, with treatment subjects presenting lower scores on the studied variables. Concerning clinical change, differences between groups were observed in the distributions by change categories in the majority of the variables. These outcomes offer preliminary evidence of the program’s ability to change cognitive variables underlying antisocial behavior.

Development of exposure to combat severity scale of the combat experiences questionnaire (CEQ).

Combat exposure is detrimental to physical and mental health, and is an important risk factor for Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The current study aimed to develop the first section of a self-report measure (Combat Experiences Questionnaire - CEQ), and to explore its psychometric properties on Portuguese Overseas War Veterans. The Exposure to Combat Severity Scale (CEQ A), assesses the exposure severity to objective scenarios related to military combat, common to contemporary and older theaters of operations. Studies included structural analysis through Rash Model, internal consistency, convergent validity (n=708), temporal reliability (n=112) and sensibility to differentiate war Veterans with and without war-related PTSD (N=40 and N=47, respectively). The scales structure presented adequate fit to the data, adequate psychometric properties, and discriminant validity. Thus, the CEQ A is a valid and reliable tool presenting diverse combat scenarios to assess severity of combat exposure in war Veterans.

DEVELOPMENT AND PSYCHOMETRIC PROPERTIES OF THE COMMUNITY INTEGRATION SCALE OF ADULTS WITH PSYCHIATRIC DISORDERS

The paper presents and analyzes the causes of the transformation of the land use in urban outskirts of Meknes. The City is experiencing a rapid urban growth in a speculative market. It is especially characterized by being crossed by three Wadis: Wadi Boufekrane, Wadi Ouislane and Wadi Bouishak and limited by a strong depression of the land in the North, notwithstanding a substantial proportion of the intensive agricultural area classified by the Master Plan for Urban Planning (SDAU) located in south of Meknes was opened to planning through derogations, due to its soils fertility. 822 hectares of farmland located around the city of Meknes were opened to urbanization via the derogation in urban planning including 312.6 hectares that were very fertile.

Correction to: Validation of the Community Integration Scale for Adults with Psychiatric Disorders (CIS-APP-34)

The original version of the article unfortunately contained a typo in the author name.

Model Comparison and Structural Invariance of the Peritraumatic Dissociative Experiences Questionnaire in Portuguese Colonial War Veterans.

The Peritraumatic Dissociative Experiences Questionnaire (PDEQ) is a widely used self-report measure to assess peritraumatic dissociation, but studies evaluating its latent structure are scarce. The aims of the current study were to clarify the latent structure of PDEQ by comparing the models based on Brooks et al. (2009) and Marmar, Weiss, and Metzler (1997) and test the invariance across groups and other psychometric properties of the best-fitted model. Portuguese Colonial War Veterans participated in this study. The models were analyzed through confirmatory factor analysis in a sample of the general population of war Veterans (N = 300). In this sample, we analyzed internal consistency and convergent validity. Temporal stability was verified in a subgroup of 110 participants of this first sample. The invariance across groups and discriminant validity of the best-fitted model were assessed in 2 other independent samples with (N = 42) and without (N = 45) war-related posttraumatic stress disorder diagnosis. Findings showed that first- and second-order 2-factor models (Lack of Awareness and Depersonalization/Derealization) based on Brooks et al.’s model presented the best fit to the data and statistical equivalence. The first-order model is more appropriate from the clinical and research standpoint. This model showed invariance across groups with and without posttraumatic stress disorder, and presented adequate psychometric properties. Overall, the PDEQ according to the structure proposed by Brooks et al. is a valid, reliable, and invariant measure across groups with different degrees of peritraumatic dissociation. These results encourage its use for clinical and research purposes.

Biting myself so I don't bite the dust: prevalence and predictors of deliberate self-harm and suicide ideation in Azorean youths

Objective: To characterize non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) behaviors, methods, and functions as well as suicide ideation in the adolescent population of a Portuguese community in São Miguel Island, Azores. Increasing rates of NSSI behaviors among adolescents have been observed globally, while suicidal behavior has been pointed as a major cause of death during adolescence. Methods: A sample of 1,763 adolescents, aged 14 to 22, was randomly drawn from public and private schools and administered a set of self-report questionnaires. Descriptive and regression analyses were used to look for specific relationships and predictors of NSSI and suicide ideation in this isolated community. Results: Approximately 30% of youths reported at least one NSSI behavior, a rate that is twice as high as most studies carried out in mainland Portugal and in other European countries. Biting oneself was the most frequent form of NSSI, and NSSI behaviors served predominantly automatic reinforcement purposes (i.e., regulation of disruptive emotional states). NSSI and suicide ideation encompassed different distal and proximal risk factors. Conclusions: Exploring and characterizing these phenomena is necessary to provide a better understanding, enhance current conceptualizations, and guide the development of more effective prevention and intervention strategies in youths.

Is the offence the best defense? Influences of childhood experiences and paranoia in the aggression in Azorean youths || Atacar será a melhor defesa? A influência das experiências precoces e da paranoia na agressividade dos jovens açorianos

EnglishParanoid ideation is a normative cognitive and social process considered normative (e.g. occasional mistrust feelings) or dysfunctional and pathological symptom (e.g. Paranoid delusions). Even at subclinical levels, paranoid ideation can hinder interpersonal functioning, to the extent that the resulting disruptive behavior can impact several life areas (e.g. family, peer and academic/professional relationships). The current study explores the influence of parental styles and the mediating role of paranoid ideation in aggression during adolescence, and discusses the implications for prevention and intervention in clinical and educational settings portuguesA ideacao paranoide e um processo cognitivo e social que pode ser considerado normativo (e.g. sentimentos de desconfianca ocasionais) ou disfuncional, constituindo-se, neste ultimo caso, como um sintoma psicopatologico (e.g. delirios paranoides). Mesmo em niveis subclinicos, a ideacao paranoide pode constituir um entrave para o bom funcionamento interpessoal, na medida em que o comportamento disruptivo que dela advem pode afetar todas as esferas de funcionamento do individuo (e.g. relacoes familiares, entre pares, profissionais e/ou academicas). O presente estudo explorara a influencia dos estilos parentais e o papel mediador da ideacao paranoide na agressividade durante a adolescencia, bem como as implicacoes para a prevencao e intervencao em contextos clinicos e educacionais.

Development of the Combat Distress Scale of the Combat Experiences Questionnaire (CEQ)

BACKGROUND Military combat exposure can be perceived as a great threat to the integrity of soldiers. However, no available assessment tools evaluate the degree of emotional distress that results from the exposure to various combat scenarios. This paper presents the second independent section of the Combat Exposure Questionnaire, the Combat Distress Scale (CEQ B). This questionnaire assesses Veterans׳ subjective emotional distress that is due to objective and typical military combat scenarios during war. METHODS A sample of 708 Portuguese Overseas War Veterans participated. The scale structure of the CEQ B was analyzed with a Rasch Model, and the internal consistency and convergent validity of the scale were studied. The temporal reliability was calculated in a subgroup of 112 participants. Two samples of war Veterans with and without war-related Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (N=40 and N=47, respectively) were used to explore the scale׳s discriminant validity. RESULTS Overall, the CEQ B showed an acceptable fit to the data, excellent internal consistency, high temporal stability, adequate convergent validity and suitable discriminant validity. LIMITATIONS This study used a population of male war Veterans that did not equally represent genders or the full adult age span, which may hinder the generalization of the results. CONCLUSION The findings indicated that the CEQ B is valid, reliable and supported by convergent and discriminant data. This lends confidence in the use of the measure as an assessment of the subjective emotional distress resulting from exposure to military combat scenarios in clinical and research settings.