Gierowski Jk

[Group psychoeducation in bipolar mood disorders - the influence on the cognitive representation of the illness. The results of the program "Taming the bipolar affective disorder"].

OBJECTIVES To assess the influence of group psychoeducation in bipolar disorder on selected aspects of cognitive representation of illness. METHODS 51 patients with bipolar diagnosis were included in the study, and 24 were included in the final statistical analysis. The participants took part in 8 meetings of group psychoeducation. The assessment of selected aspects of cognitive representation of illness, i.e. acceptance of illness, health locus of control, generalized self-efficiency, hope for success, therapeutic compliance, beliefs about bipolar disorder was conducted with validated questionnaires before, after, and 18 months after receiving psychoeducation to register possible changes. RESULTS Statistically significant increase in acceptance of illness, perceived self-efficiency, hope for success, therapeutic compliance, and positive modification of beliefs about bipolar disorder were detected. The observed change occurred right after the intervention, but it was not sustained during the follow-up. CONCLUSIONS Psychoeducation may exert a positive influence on virtually important cognitive variables, which seem to be clinically important. This influence may disappear with time, thus the interventions should either be repeated or the duration of intervention should be prolonged. The study shows new possible research directions in the field of searching for the mechanism of action of psychoeducation in bipolar disorder, as well as of its active components.

Marital relations of patients with myocardial infarction from the spouses’ perspective

Materials and method: Respondents (60 spouses: 17 men, 43 women) assessed the functioning of the marital dyad using the Family Assessment Questionnaire (modified by Cierpka). The first group of respondents (N=30) was tested in the period immediately after a heart attack, and the spouses assessed functioning in the period before the heart attack. The second group (N=30) was tested over 1 year after a heart attack.

EPA-1062 – Acceptance and suppression of negative and positive emotions in patients with depressive disorders

Introduction Emotional dysregulation represents a typical trait of many psychiatric disorders. One aspect of emotional regulation deficiencies are acceptance and suppression of negative and/or positive emotions. Changes of acceptance and suppression during the course of illness have not been investigated yet. Objectives Investigation of the course of emotional regulation strategies. Aims The purpose of this study was to investigate, 1. whether acceptance and suppression are related to positive and negative emotions; 2. if there is any change of acceptance and suppression over time; 3. whether depressive patients and healthy controls differ regarding acceptance and suppression levels. Methods Subjects were 40 patients with depression and 29 healthy controls. The study was conducted in the Clinic of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy Bethel, Bielefeld, Germany. The patients were diagnosed according to DSM–IV criteria. BDI was used to assess the level of depressive symptoms. For the assessment of acceptance and suppression of negative and positive emotions the questionnaire FrAGe (Questionnaire of the acceptance of emotions) was used at the begin (T1) and at the end (T2) of inpatient treatment. Results Depressive patients reported reduced acceptance of positive and negative emotions. Although the level of acceptance was higher at T2, they still accepted their emotions less than the healthy controls. Patients also suppressed emotions more intensively than controls. Conclusions There are significant differences between depressive and healthy subject in terms of the acceptance and suppression of negative and positive emotions. Nevertheless, the suppression and acceptance of emotions are changing during treatment towards a more adaptive level.

Stress coping mechanisms in patients with chronic dermatoses

Summary Objective. The results of numerous studies of today confirm that persons suffering from psychosomatic disorders are not able to effectively cope with stress. The experience of stress is also frequently combined with the occurrence or aggravation of various skin diseases. The goal of our study was to identify the predominant ways of coping with stress in the group of patients with chronic dermatoses. Methods. The group under study included patients receiving treatment in the Dermatology Clinic of Collegium Medicum, Jagiellonian University. They were either hospitalized patients or those who came for control examinations at the Outpatient Clinic. Evaluation of the forms of coping with stress was conducted with the help of the Endler and Parker Questionnaire – CISS. Results . They significantly more often apply the style of coping focused on avoiding (p-value= 0.0056). It also turned out that the patients in the dermatological groups manifested a constant tendency to get involved in vicarious activities (p-value=0.0247). Discussion. The results of the presented study indicate that there is a statistically significant difference between the patients with dermatological disorders and those in the control group as regards their ways of coping with stress. Conclusion . The results obtained in the discussed study may be a starting point for designing a complex support for the patients with skin diseases. The therapeutic technique that may prove helpful for this group of patients is the cognitive-behavioral therapy (CTB). psoriasis / stress coping mechanisms / connective tissue diseases / rosacea

Dynamika przystosowania do choroby i jej akceptacji u pacjentów z nowotworami głowy i szyi

Summary Introduction Psychological adjustment to disease and acceptance of illness are essential issues in psychooncology. They describe the patients’ psychological functioning after the diagnosis of cancer and their further adaptation to the disease. Aim of the study The aim of the study was to assess the dynamics of adjustment to disease and acceptance of illness in patients with head and neck malignancies. Material and method The study group comprised patients with malignant head and neck tumours operated at the Clinic of Otolaryngology in Krakow. The psychological measurements were performed by means of questionnaires (mini-MAC and AIS) before and after surgery, as well as after several months delay. The influence of medical and demographical variables on acceptance of illness and adjustment to disease was analyzed. Results The research proved that the destructive style of adjustment to disease and acceptance of disease change over time of treatment. The influence of certain medical and demographical variables on the analyzed issue was also demonstrated. Conclusions Adjustment to disease is a dynamic process. With time the patients’ style of coping with cancer becomes more active. Acceptance of illness is constant over time.