Zdenka Novović

Relations among positive and negative affect, dysphoria and anxiety1

According to Tellegen et al.s Two-factor model, commonalities between depression and anxiety are due to their shared variance with Negative affect (NA), a broad dimension of general distress. Low Positive affect (PA), a dimension of pleasurable emotions, is believed to be uniquely related to depression. In this study, we tested these basic assumptions. A sample of 141 students at the Faculty of Philosophy in Novi Sad filled out a state measure of PA, NA, and basic emotions (SIAB-PANAS), a depression scale (BDI-II), and a state anxiety scale (STAI-S). Hierarchical regression analyses were conducted to estimate the unique contributions of PA, NA, and basic emotions in the prediction of dysphoria and anxiety. The hypothesis that NA is a general dimension related to both dysphoria and anxiety was supported. Sadness and fear added incrementally to the prediction of both criteria. However, contrary to our hypothesis, PA was related to both dysphoria and anxiety. Joviality, attentiveness, and self-assurance were better predictors of anxiety than dysphoria. Methodological and clinical implications of the results were discussed.

Psychometric characteristics of the Beck depression inventory on a Serbian student sample

Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) is one of the most popular instruments for measuring intensity and symptoms of depression in clinical and general population. The instrument has been translated into many languages and validated in many different cultures, but there is still no published paper on psychometric characteristics and the norms for the BDI in Serbian language. In this paper, we checked psychometric characteristics of the BDI-II on 400 students of the University of Novi Sad, Serbia. Descriptive statistics (M=8.02; SD=7.10), internal consistency (α=.87), and test-retest reliability (.63) are satisfactory and similar to the results of other validation studies. Convergent and divergent validity of the instrument are also supported by moderate to high correlations with the measures of similar phenomena (r=.70 with Depression Symptoms Scale) and by low correlations with unrelated constructs (i.e., r=.19 with Impulsive Sensation Seeking Scale). However, the divergent validity is not supported by a high correlation with a measure of anxiety (r=.70), similar finding is commonly obtained in other validation studies. Our results suggest cut-off scores which are similar to those suggested by Canadian authors (Kappa coefficient=.85). Two-factor structure of the inventory is also in concordance with other authors. Cognitive-Affective factor explains 29.27% of the variance and its structure resembles those reported in other analyses. The second extracted factor explains 7.76% of the variance and is saturated mostly with somatic items; however, a significant contribution of some cognitive items has led us to identify the factor as Exhaustion, specific to our student sample. The two-factor solution is confirmed by Confirmatory Factor Analyses once the item related to sexual difficulties was eliminated. General conclusion is that BDI-II has satisfactory psychometric characteristics and can reliably be used with Serbian student population.

Coping strategies in PTSD

The aim of this study is to analyse the type of coping strategies used by patients with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSI)). For that purpose, two groups of war veterans (40 subjects in each group) were compared. The first group was made up of patients with PTSD, and the second (control) group comprised veterans who suffered combat trauma, but did not show any PTSD symptoms. Coping strategies were assessed using the Questionnaire of Coping Responses (McCrae, 1984). The results show that out of 118 items (examples of coping strategies) 10 show statistically significant differences between the group with PTSI) and the one without it. PTSD patients used more maladaptive strategies (avoidance, pseudo-planning, fantasizing, impulsive and depressive behaviour), while subjects from the control group were more likely to use the strategy of controlling impulses.

TENDENCY TO SELF-HANDICAPPING IN THE SITUATION OF EXPECTED FAILURE

The basic objective of this research is to determine what type of self-handicapping strategies subjects will use when they face potential failure, under the condition that they have the possibility of strategy choice. Another research objective is directed to the research of relation between the selected self-handicapping strategy and personality characteristics. 120 student of the second and third year of the Department of psychology, University of Novi Sad has been taken into sample. In the first research stage, all students administrated a series of personality self-report tests. In the second experiment stage, the participants were divided into four groups, on the basis of two criteria: the solvability of intelligence test tasks and the presence of hampering factors during task solving. The research results show that there are at least two types of self-handicapping strategies. One type is used by the majority of people when found in the situation where potential failure is expected. It refers to searching for alibis in external circumstances and it is probably the reflection of sound tendencies of facing possible consequences of information on one’s own incompetence. Another type of strategies presents consistent behaviour pattern, determined by the higher degree of adverse affectivity and negative image of oneself, and it is manifested in the use of poor psychophysical condition as the alibi for failure.

Anxiety and depression: One, two or three disorders?

The study deals with theoretical psychiatric proposals about relations between anxiety and depressive disorders. Three theoretical positions developed on the basis of numerous evidence on relationship of anxiety and depressive disorders: unitaristic (anxious and depressive disorders represent one disorder with different clinical pictures or phases of the disorder), pluralistic (there are two classes of disorders with clearly recognizable boundaries) and anxious-depressive position (mixed anxious-depressive disorder represents also a single disorder). Possible reasons for antagonisms, connections (i.e. lack of connections) to some proposals of psychologists are commented upon, as well as the significance of this problem for classification of mental disorders in general.

Negative feedback, beliefs and personal goals in prediction of dysfunctional emotions

Rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT) demonstrates good results in evaluation therapy researches. However, some of its basic concepts, as well as theory as a whole itself, did not receive satisfactory empirical support so far, in comparison to other cognitive models (Beck, Lazarus etc.). Quasiexperimental study was designed to test the role that (1) negative feedback (A) and (2) irrational beliefs (B) both play in formation of dysfunctional negative emotions, in the context of significant personal goals (in our case value of potential award - G). ABC theoretical model received limited support: statistically significant three-times interaction A x B x G was found in predicting general negative emotional state, as well as anger. In contrast with that, ANOVA showed only main effect of irrational beliefs (as continuous variable) to be significant in predicting emotions of anxiety and depression. Findings are discussed in the context of REBT theory of emotions, as well as their possible practical applications. Limitations of the study were also mentioned. .

Positive and Negative Affect in Illusion of Control

Research regarding the illusion of control was dominated by the studies examining the effect of depressive affect on the overestimation of control over uncontrollable events. However, the relative contributions of high Negative Affect (NA) and low Positive Affect (PA), as underlying dimensions of depressive states, has remained unclear. This study researched how both PA and NA had affected the illusion of control. Two weeks before illusion induction, trait PA and NA of 54 first-year university students were assessed, and just before and after illusion induction task their state forms were estimated. The induction consisted of solving unsolvable tasks and obtaining positive feedback for all the answers. The illusion of control was significantly correlated with all three PA scores, and none of the NA. After controlling for trait measures, the PA after illusion induction remained the only significant predictor of illusion. The relation of positive affect and illusory judgement in maintaining mental health were discussed.

Discriminant possibilities of the Hamilton depression scale: ROC analysis

The purpose of this study is to compare discrimination power of original and reconstructed version of Hamilton’s depression scale in separation of depressive vs. anxious patients and to suggest some possibilities which offer ROC analysis. The subjects of the study were 119 patients of Psychiatric clinic in Novi Sad. 67 of them were diagnosed with some of the forms of affective disorders and 52 with an anxious-phobic diagnosis. Results of ROC analysis suggest that both instruments can be used in distinguishing depressive from anxious patients, but reconstructed version shows greater sensitivity and specificity with optimal cut-off score. It also has more significant AUC, which refers to probability of prediction on the basis of the whole spectrum of the results. These data is commented in relation with current debates, between unitaristic and pluralistic oriented authors, about the nature of the anxious-depression relationship.

The Dimensions of Ruminative Thinking: One for All or All for One

The Ruminative Thought Scale (RTS) was developed to measure the ruminative thinking style, presumably common to various psychopathological disorders. However, prior factor-analytic research was inconclusive regarding unidimensionality versus multidimensionality of the RTS. The present study was conducted on a large, heterogeneous Serbian sample (N = 838). A subsample was retested 6 months later providing information about symptoms of depression and various anxiety symptoms. Results showed that a bifactor model of the RTS (representing one general and four group factors) had a better fit than the second-order and one-factor models. The subscale scores were not prospective predictors of symptoms of depression and anxiety, over and above the contribution of the total score. The RTS is a reliable transdiagnostic measure of repetitive thinking. Although there is some clustering of more homogeneous items, there is not enough evidence to support interpretation of the subscales.

Procena uspešnosti u klasifikovanju rezultata na osnovu graničnih (cut-off) skorova: Receiver operating characteristic curve

Aim of this study to draw attention to possibilities for use ROC curve analysis (receiver operating characteristic curve) for determining the classification capabilities of the tests. Concepts of sensitivity and specificity, underlying creation of ROC curves, are explained. Interpretation of formulas for calculating the positive and negative predictive values and accuracy of the tests are also given. ROC curve is a graphical representation of sensitivity and specificity for every possible threshold score (test result) in the coordinate system where the ordinate shows the values of sensitivity and the abscissa value of 1-specificity. It is explained how to determine optimal threshold score on the basis of sensitivity and specificity, and how to perform ROC analysis in several statistical packages (SPS, PSPP and R). In the end, it is pointed to the findings within clinical psychology that are based on ROC analysis and test characteristics (such as sensitivity and specificity) on which this analysis is based.