Leonor Lencastre

Cognitive processing of emotions in anorexia nervosa

OBJECTIVE This study attempts to explore the cognitive processing of emotions in anorexia nervosa (AN), based on the study of emotions felt and the assessment of meta-emotional abilities. METHOD Eighty patients with AN and a control group of 80 healthy female participants were screened for anxiety, depression and alexithymia and completed an experimental task designed to analyse the emotional experience and meta-emotional abilities. RESULTS Despite presenting higher levels of alexithymia, participants with AN demonstrated they were able to imagine emotions in hypothetical situations and to identify and label them. The group of patients with AN revealed feeling more intense and internally based negative emotions in comparison with the control group, but this emotional pattern tends to occur in situations associated with food and weight. CONCLUSIONS Findings on meta-emotional abilities suggested no global deficit in emotional processing, but rather, specific sensitivities pertaining to situations relevant to AN.

Relação entre Sintomatologia Psicopatológica, Adesão ao Tratamento e Qualidade de Vida na Infecção HIV e AIDS

The study shows evidence of statistical association among psychopathological symptoms (BSI), treatment adherence (CEAT-VIH) and quality of life (WHOQOL-Bref) in 125 HIV-positive/AIDS patients followed at Porto Hospital (Portugal). The psychopathological symptoms present a negative correlation with treatment adherence and quality of life. On the other hand, adherence was positively correlated with quality of life. The model of adherence to the antiretroviral treatment using multiple regression analysis includes absence of psychopathological symptoms, an adherence behavior (i.e. to get the medication at the hospitals pharmacy) and the experience of side effects because of medication (R2 = 0.30). Besides, psychopathological symptoms have a mediation effect between adherence and quality of life in people with HIV/AIDS.

Alexithymia in anorexia nervosa: The mediating role of depression

The role of depression in the expression of alexithymia in anorexia nervosa (AN) has been controversially explained and several variables that may mask or increase the presence of emotional difficulties have scant examination in previous studies. This study aims to analyze the associations between alexithymia and state variables, such as age, BMI, illness duration, treatment duration, and medication status in AN participants, and to test the mediating role of depression in emotional difficulties. The Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20) and the Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale were administrated to 160 females: 80 participants with AN and 80 healthy controls. High levels of alexithymia were not a function of state variables. The mediating role of depression differed by the alexithymia dimension, with total mediation found for the TAS-DDF and partial mediation found for the TAS-DIF. Alexithymia is a relevant feature throughout the spectrum of AN and does not seem to be related to developmental maturation and some clinical features. Depression is probably the variable that best accounts for the variance in alexithymia, but is not a complete explanation for the known cognitive-affective disturbances in AN. Specific emotional competencies require scrutiny during psychiatric treatment.

Increasing Awareness about Antibiotic Use and Resistance: A Hands-On Project for High School Students

Background Health-promoting education is essential to foster an informed society able to make decisions about socio-scientific issues based on scientifically sustained criteria. Antibiotic resistance is currently a major public health issue. Considering that irrational antibiotic use has been associated with the development and widespread of antibiotic resistant bacteria, educational interventions to promote prudent antibiotic consumption are required. Methodology/Principal Findings This study focuses on the outcomes of an interventional program implemented at the University of Porto, Portugal, to promote awareness about antibiotic resistance at high school levels (15–17 year old). The project Microbiology recipes: antibiotics à la carte articulates a set of wet and dry lab activities designed to promote the participants’ understanding of concepts and processes underlying antibiotics’ production and activity, such as the notion of mechanisms of action of antibiotics. Following a mix-method approach based on a pre−/post design, the effectiveness of this project was assessed by gathering data from surveys, direct observation and analysis of artifacts of 42 high school students (aged 15 and 16 years). The results indicate that the participants developed a more comprehensive picture of antibiotic resistance. The project was shown to promote more sophisticated conceptualizations of bacteria and antibiotics, increased awareness about the perils of antibiotic resistance, and enhanced consciousness towards measures that can be undertaken to mitigate the problem. The participants regarded their experiences as enjoyable and useful, and believed that the project contributed to improve their understanding and raise their interest about the issues discussed. Furthermore, there were also improvements in their procedural skills concerning the laboratory techniques performed. Conclusions/Significance This study evidences the possibility of increasing high school students’ awareness about the consequences of antibiotic resistance and the importance of judicious antibiotic use. The findings inform about the educational benefits of incorporating hands-on activities in science education programs.

Prevalência da alexitimia na anorexia nervosa e sua associação com variáveis clínicas e sociodemográficas

objective: To analyze the prevalence of alexithymia in anorexia nervosa and its relationship with clinical and sociodemographic variables, such as, body mass index, anorexia nervosa duration, age, years of education and socioeconomic status. Methods: Two groups of female participants, between the ages of 13 and 34 years, were recruited. One group was composed of 80 participants with anorexia nervosa (AN Group) and the other consisted of 80 healthy participants (Control Group). The Portuguese version of the Toronto Alexithymia Scale – 20 items – was applied to both groups. results: The prevalence of alexithymia in the AN Group was 62.5% and 12.5% in the Control Group. The mean values of alexithymia (total score and factors) did

Treatment adherence and subjective well-being in HIV/AIDS infection

The aim of this study was to analyze the relationship between treatment adherence and subjective well-being (positive and negative affects and satisfaction with life) in HIV/AIDS infection. The empirical study was conducted at two Portuguese hospitals (Porto and Lisbon) with a sample of 197 outpatients diagnosed with HIV/AIDS attending the Infectology service and on antiretroviral medication, during a 6-month period (February–July 2009). All patients were asked for voluntary fulfillment of the questionnaire which recorded information on different socio-demographic variables. Clinical records were inspected in order to collect additional clinical information from the patients. The “Questionnaire to Assess Adherence to Antiretroviral Treatment-HIV” was used in order to assess the adherence degree in Portuguese version of Reis et al. The Portuguese versions of “Positive and Negative Affect Schedule” (PANAS) and the “Satisfaction with Life Scale” were used to measure subjective well-being. The study collected evidence on the positive correlation between therapeutic adherence (assessed by CEAT-VIH) and positive affect, as well as between adherence and satisfaction with life. Differences in therapeutic adherence and positive affect according to some clinical variables were also found. The multiplicity and the interaction of several determinants are being considered in the adjustment process during treatment for HIV/AIDS. The results may have implications for the psychological intervention directed at improving adherence to antiretroviral therapy.

Life Satisfaction in Women With Breast Cancer1

It is well known that breast cancer carries many psychosocial consequences. For a deeper understanding of this topic, this study aims to analyze the relationship between life satisfaction, meaning in life, optimism, body image and depression in 55 women with breast cancer, organized into two groups: mastectomized and submitted to conservative surgery. The variables were characterized based on the results from the Auto-Actualizacao-SentidoVida [Self-Actualization-Life Meaning] sub-scale, the Escala de Otimismo [Optimism scale], the Body Image Scale, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and the Escala de Satisfacao com a Vida [Life satisfaction scale]. Meaning in life and optimism were positively correlated with life satisfaction. Higher depression and body image disturbance appeared associated with lower life satisfaction. Body image disturbance was higher in mastectomized women. It was concluded that women submitted to conservative surgery do not have more life satisfaction than mastectomized women, requiring equal attention in terms of preventing depression and promoting positive variables.Sabe-se que o cancro da mama acarreta consequencias psicossociais. Para aprofundar esta problematica este estudo teve como objetivo analisar a relacao entre satisfacao com a vida, sentido de vida, otimismo, imagem corporal e depressao em 55 mulheres com cancro da mama, organizadas em dois grupos: mastectomizadas e tumorectomizadas. Essas variaveis foram caracterizadas com base nos resultados da subescala Auto-Actualizacao-SentidoVida, da Escala de Otimismo, da Body Image Scale, da Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale e da Escala de Satisfacao com a Vida. Sentido de vida e otimismo correlacionaram-se positivamente com satisfacao com a vida. Maiores indices depressivos e disturbio na imagem corporal apareceram associados a menor satisfacao com a vida. O disturbio na imagem corporal foi superior em mulheres mastectomizadas. Concluiu-se que as mulheres tumorectomizadas nao estao mais satisfeitas com a vida do que as mastectomizadas, necessitando de igual atencao em termos de prevencao da depressao e promocao de variaveis positivas.

Meaning in life in medical settings: A new measure correlating with psychological variables in disease

Abstract Meaning in life or lack of it is frequently associated to the psychological adjustment to disease. This study aims at contributing to the clarification of the concept and developing a meaning in life scale which may be applied either in a clinical population or in the general population as well as presenting its psychometric evaluation. Four samples were used to perform the psychometric analyses, of which three of them represented different diseases. Sample one consists of 200 patients with colorectal cancer, where 51% are males, sample two consists of 150 females with breast cancer and sample three consists of 92 male patients mainly with prostatic cancer. Sample four consists of 88 healthy subjects of which 37.5% are males. Confirmatory Factorial Analysis was performed, and the maximum likelihood extraction method was applied. Findings suggested a unidimensional scale with a good model of fit across the four samples, acceptable reliability and appropriate convergent validity. There was a negative relationship with Anxiety and Depression and a positive relationship with Quality of Life, Life Satisfaction, Optimism and Social Support. No differences were found in the new scale concerning gender and cancer types. The meaning in life scale is a promising tool to be used in health settings.

A Hands-on Activity to Raise Awareness about Healthy Sun Exposure

Excessive exposure to solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation causes sunburn and has been consistently associated with increased susceptibility to melanoma and skin ageing. Acknowledging the need to promote healthy sun exposure habits, numerous educational initiatives have been developed to raise public awareness towards this issue. However, studies reveal that misinformed behaviours persist, particularly amongst young people, emphasising the need to broaden the range of interventions specifically targeting this population segment. The goal of this study was to develop and assess a hands-on activity addressing the lethal effect of sunlight. Using a mixed-method approach based on a case-control pre-/post-test design, the effectiveness of this activity was evaluated following its implementation in four high schools in Portugal. Data collected through questionnaires, classroom observations, analysis of activity reports and interviews with 140 12th-grade science students aged 17.10 ± 0.67 years old attending biology classes reveal that the activity had a positive impact on student knowledge about the effects of solar UV radiation and the importance of safe sunlight exposure. The implications of these findings for health and biology education–namely, concerning the instructional design of practical activities in this scope–are discussed.

A statistical approach to quantitative data validation focused on the assessment of students’ perceptions about biotechnology

Student awareness levels are frequently used to evaluate the effectiveness of educational policies to promote scientific literacy. Over the last years several studies have been developed to assess students’ perceptions towards science and technology, which usually rely on quantitative methods to achieve broad characterizations, and obtain quantifiable and comparable data. Although the usefulness of this information depends on its validity and reliability, validation is frequently neglected by researchers with limited background in statistics. In this context, we propose a guideline to implement a statistical approach to questionnaire validation, combining exploratory factor analysis and reliability analysis. The work focuses on the psychometric analysis of data provided by a questionnaire assessing 1196 elementary and high school students’ perceptions about biotechnology. Procedural guidelines to enhance the efficiency of quantitative inquiry surveys are given, by discussing essential methodological aspects and relevant criteria to integrate theory into practice.