Isolde Daig

Die Stimmung in der deutschen Bevölkerung: Referenzwerte für den Mehrdimensionalen Befindlichkeitsfragebogen MDBF

Mood may be associated with several aspects of psychopathology. Though mood is more context dependent than other psychological variables it is useful to calculate norms. Based on a representative sample of the German general population (N=2 443), mood was assessed with the Multidimensional Mood Questionnaire MDBF (short form A). The correlations among the 3 bipolar scales (good - bad mood, alertness - tiredness and calmness - restlessness) ranged between 0.70 and 0.75. Good mood and alertness decline with increasing age. Males (compared to females) show higher mean values in alertness and calmness. The mean scores presented in this article can be used as comparison values for clinical samples.

Anxiety and depression in cardiac patients: age differences and comparisons with the general population.

Background: Anxiety and depression are often found in cardiac patients, but also in the general population. Therefore, evaluation of these symptoms in patients requires a comparison with norm values. The purpose of this study was to explore differences between cardiac patients and the general population in age dependency of anxiety and depression, and to discuss possible reasons for these differences. Methods: A sample of German cardiac patients (n = 2,696) and a sample of the German general population (n = 2,037) were tested using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Results: While we confirmed a linear age trend of anxiety and depression in the general population, we observed an inverted U-shaped age dependency in the patient sample. Young patients are especially affected by anxiety and depression. Five items of the HADS that mainly contributed to the age differences were identified. Formal characteristics of these 5 items could not explain the age differences. Concerning the meaning of the items, however, most of the items refer to worrying about the future. Conclusions: The relatively low rates of anxiety and depression in older patients (compared with the general population) indicate that adaptation processes took place, which should be taken into account in studies concerning the psychological status of patients. Young patients need special attention when dealing with mental distress.

Sind Städter depressiver und ängstlicher im Vergleich zur Landbevölkerung? Ergebnisse einer repräsentativen Bevölkerungsumfrage

This study investigates the association between urbanicity and mental health in the general population. We conducted a representative survey (N = 5,036) measuring depression (PHQ-2), anxiety (GAD-2) as well as life satisfaction (FLZM). Results support the assumption that the prevalence rate for pathological scores of depression and anxiety are higher in urban than in rural areas. But, there is no clear linear association between urbanicity and mental health. Urbanicity seems to be a distal factor for higher rates in anxiety and depression. Urban-rural differences in other studies can not be transferred to the German population that easily. Future studies have to take variables on an individual and community level into account to analyse the relationship between urbanicity and mental health.

Prävalenz von psychischer und physischer Erschöpfung in der deutschen Bevölkerung und deren Zusammenhang mit weiteren psychischen und somatischen Beschwerden

The delineated mental and somatic symptoms in the context of burnout have to be seen as serious health complaints. Exhaustion is one of the symptoms in this context. The present study focuses the prevalence of exhaustion symptoms (assessed with a screeninger for mental wellbeing) in the German general population and the correlation with anxiety and depression as well as further symptoms that co-occur. For this purpose, data of 2 433 persons from a population-based representative sample were analysed. After setting a cut-off point the results reveal that 6% of the population show serious mental impairments, which can be interpreted as a exhaustion prevalence rate. Moreover, the results imply clear relationships of exhaustion and other symptoms as well as mental and somatic impairments and the intake of pharmaceuticals.

Low effective organizational strategies in visual memory performance of unmedicated alcoholics during early abstinence.

Objective: Alcohol-dependent patients in early abstinence show an impairment of cognitive functions which can be seen in poor implementation of newly learned skills for avoiding relapse. Executive dysfunction may persist during abstinence in alcohol-dependent persons, thus mitigating long-term abstinence. This study assessed visual memory function and choice of organizational strategies in alcoholics, as these are major factors necessary to implement ongoing behavior changes which are required for maintaining abstinence. Methods: We investigated 25 severely alcohol-dependent male patients between days 7 to 10 of abstinence, immediately after clinical withdrawal symptoms have ceased, compared to 15 healthy age, sex, and education matched controls. Pharmacological therapy had been terminated at least four half-lifes before inclusion into the study. Visual perceptual learning and organizational strategies were assessed with the Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure Test (R-OCF). Results: There were no group differences in copying or recalling the figure, but time differences occurred. Alcoholics and healthy controls performed worse in recalling than in copying. But, alcoholics used less effective organizational strategies. Conclusions: There was a deficit in choice of organizational strategy in newly abstinent and unmedicated alcohol-dependent patients. Due to the imperfect organizational strategies, alcoholics might need auxiliary therapeutic care to strengthen their cognitive ability.

Development and Factorial Validation of a Short Version of the Narcissism Inventory (NI-20)

Background: Narcissism is seen as a normal but heterogeneously formed personality variable, ranging from ‘grandiosity-exhibitionism’ to ‘vulnerability-sensitivity’. This article reports the development and factorial validation of a short version of a narcissism inventory. Sampling and Methods: The sample includes data of 4,509 consecutive psychosomatic inpatients. The overall sample was divided in 2 equally sized randomized subsamples. One sample (n = 2,262) was used for exploratory factor analysis (principal component analysis). The other sample (n = 2,265) was used for confirmatory tests of the model fit of the newly built NI-20 version, and to analyze the model fit separately for men and women using structural equation modeling with AMOS software. Results: The short version (NI-20) consists of 20 items, with items representing almost all of the original 18 subscales and 4 second-order dimensions. The NI-20 possesses properties similar to the NI-90, with a considerable gain in test economy. The 4-factor structure of the NI-20 was confirmed, and reaches good fit indices. Conclusions: The NI-20 is an economical instrument with acceptable psychometric characteristics that reflects the heterogeneous aspects of narcissism. A methodological limitation is that the interactions between sociodemographic variables were not included as potential predictors.

Psychometric Properties of the German Narcissism Inventory 90 (NI-90) in a Clinical and Non-Clinical Sample of Adolescents: A Comparative Study

Background: The Narcissism Inventory (NI) is a frequently used German inventory for measuring narcissism in clinical settings; an additional short version (NI-90) also exists. Psychometric properties of the NI-90 scales were examined in clinical and non-clinical adolescent samples. Methods: Two adolescent samples were assessed with the NI-90: a non-clinical sample (n = 439, mean age ± SD = 15.05 ± 1.77 years) and a clinical sample (n = 235, 18.26 ± 0.77 years). Confirmatory factor analysis and principle component analysis were used to scrutinize the structure of the scales. Multiple regression analysis was used to predict the scores on two scales (helpless self; negative body self). Results: This study revealed heterogeneity in the NI-90 scales, which in turn explains the wide range seen in Cronbach’s α (from 0.53 to 0.93). The postulated 4-factor structure could not be replicated in both samples. Multiple regression analysis revealed that personality disorder did not significantly predict negative body self or helpless self scores, whereas eating, mood, as well as somatoform and conversion disorders did. One NI-90 scale (greedy for praise and reassurance) showed sufficient psychometric quality for the measurement of narcissism in both samples. Conclusion: Based on the results, the authors recommend revising the NI-90. Items that may be useful for measuring aspects related to affective and body image complaints are presented. The greedy for praise and reassurance scale may be valuable for measuring features of ‘overt’ narcissism.

Körperbeschwerden nach politischer Inhaftierung und deren Zusammenhang mit Ängstlichkeit und Depressivität

Hintergrund: Über 200.000 Menschen waren in der DDR aus politischen Gründen inhaftiert. Mehrere Studien existieren zu den psychischen (Langzeit-)Folgen dieser biografischen Erfahrung. Weniger untersucht wurden bisher die körperlichen Folgen. Ziel dieser Studie ist (1) die Ausprägungen körperlicher Beschwerden von ehemals politisch Inhaftierten in der DDR mit Daten aus der Allgemeinbevölkerung zu vergleichen, (2) die körperlichen Beschwerden mit soziodemografischen und Inhaftierungsmerkmalen in Beziehung zu setzen und (3) den Zusammenhang zwischen körperlichen Beschwerden und Ängstlichkeit sowie Depressivität innerhalb der Gruppe der ehemals Inhaftierten zu untersuchen. Methoden: In dieser Querschnittstudie beantworteten 149 Personen, die aus politischen Gründen in der DDR inhaftiert waren, einen Fragebogen über körperliche Beschwerden (Gießener Beschwerdebogen, Kurzform), Ängstlichkeit und Depressivität (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale). Für den Vergleich mit der Allgemeinbevölkerung wurde eine hinsichtlich Alter und Geschlecht vergleichbare Stichprobe aus einer deutschen Repräsentativbefragung verwendet (n = 473). Ergebnisse: Ehemalige politisch Inhaftierte berichten im Vergleich zur Allgemeinbevölkerung auch viele Jahre nach der politischen Inhaftierung deutlich mehr körperliche Beschwerden (p < 0,001). Soziodemografische Merkmale und Merkmale der Inhaftierung stehen nur punktuell mit den angegebenen Körperbeschwerden im Zusammenhang. Zur Vorhersage von Ängstlichkeit in der Gruppe der politisch Inhaftierten leisten insbesondere Herzbeschwerden einen substantiellen Beitrag, zur Vorhersage von Depressivität Erschöpfung. Die Haftdauer ist für Ängstlichkeit und Depressivität kein signifikanter Prädiktor. Schlussfolgerungen: Personen, die aus politischen Gründen in der DDR inhaftiert waren, stellen eine Risikogruppe in der medizinischen Versorgung dar. Sie berichten über deutlich mehr Körperbeschwerden als die Allgemeinbevölkerung und weisen stark erhöhte Werte für Depression und Ängstlichkeit auf.

Decreased verbal learning but not recognition performance in alcohol-dependent individuals during early abstinence

OBJECTIVE Alcoholism ultimately leads to impairment of memory and other cognitive functions. This can interfere with treatment, if cognitively impaired alcohol-dependent individuals have difficulties recalling and implementing skills acquired during therapy. We investigate if alcohol-dependent individuals without clinically apparent withdrawal symptoms may still be impaired in higher-order cognitive functions. METHODS Thirty-four alcohol-dependent patients and 20 matched healthy controls were tested with the Verbal Learning and Memory Test which includes seven measurement points. The test comprises free recall, free recall after distraction and after 30 minute delay, and a word recognition task. Testing was performed between day seven and day 10 after the beginning of abstinence, when clinical withdrawal symptoms had ceased. RESULTS Compared to healthy controls, alcohol-dependent patients performed worse in free recall after delay, but not in word recognition. Healthy controls showed a more linear progression of improvement in verbal memory performance. Overall, alcohol-dependent individuals showed reduced verbal learning efficiency. The extent of impaired recall after distraction was positively associated (one-tailed test) with history of delirium (r=0.34, p=0.04), seizures (r=0.46, p=0.01), and years since diagnosis for alcohol dependency (r=0.39, p=0.01). CONCLUSIONS Our results provide evidence that unmedicated alcohol-dependent patients without obvious withdrawal symptoms had impaired verbal recall, but normal recognition performance, at seven to 10 days after onset of abstinence. This deficit may deteriorate treatment outcomes due to poorer implementation of skills newly-learned during this time period.