Rafał Styła

A computational approach to quantifiers as an explanation for some language impairments in schizophrenia

UNLABELLED We compared the processing of natural language quantifiers in a group of patients with schizophrenia and a healthy control group. In both groups, the difficulty of the quantifiers was consistent with computational predictions, and patients with schizophrenia took more time to solve the problems. However, they were significantly less accurate only with proportional quantifiers, like more than half. This can be explained by noting that, according to the complexity perspective, only proportional quantifiers require working memory engagement. LEARNING OUTCOMES (1) Working memory deficits can be a source of language disorders in schizophrenia. (2) Processing of proportional quantifiers, like more than half or less than half involves working memory. (3) Patients with schizophrenia are less accurate only with proportional quantifiers, like more than half. (4) This result support the computational model of quantifiers processing.

Change in Self-Concept Differentiation after Psychotherapy and its Relation to Psychological Maladjustment

The research was carried out with a group of 105 psychotherapy participants, diagnosed with neurosis or personality disorders, and 36 controls. Analysis supported the hypotheses that self-concept differentiation (SCD) decreases after psychotherapeutic interventions and that the reduction in SCD is positively correlated with an improvement in neurotic symptoms and neurotic personality traits.

Polish Version of the Managing the Emotions of Others Scale (MEOS) Psychometric Properties and Validation

The present study aimed to test the psychometric properties of the Polish version of the managing the emotions of others scale (MEOS). MEOS consists of six dimensions: mood enhancing (Enhance), mood worsening (Worsen), concealing emotions from others (Conceal), use of inauthentic displays for self-serving purposes (Inauthentic), poor emotion skills (Poor skills), and use of diversion to enhance another’s mood (Divert). The results showed that among MEOS dimensions, Enhance was the most strongly related to performance-based emotional intelligence. Among the Dark Triad, Narcissism was related to the greatest number of MEOS subscales—all except Poor skills. The results indicated that the MEOS has a similar factor structure, reliability, and pattern of correlations with personality and emotional intelligence in Poland as in previous studies.

Characteristics of therapists working with people experiencing psychosis: A nation-wide survey in Poland

Objective: To characterise how psychotherapy with people who expereince psychosis is conducted in Poland, and by whom. Method: A nation-wide online survey and paper and pencil enquiry comprised of 40 questions and addressed mainly to the members of psychological, psychiatric and psychotherapeutic associations was administered to a sample of 1196 people who provide psychotherapy. Results: Of the 1196 therapists surveyed, 30.8% reported working with people experiencing psychosis. Therapists working with psychotic people were more likely than the rest of the therapists to have graduated in medicine, worked in a psychiatric hospital or public counselling centre and trained in psychoanalytic or psychodynamic psychotherapy. No difference in gender and age or years of experience was found between the two groups. Conclusions: The percentage of therapists working with psychotic patients in Poland is similar to the international average, but lower than in Austria. Psychoanalytic and psychodynamic psychotherapists play an important role in the psychological treatment of people experiencing psychosis in Poland.