Suchergebnisse

Background: In recent decades there has been an increasing interest in cognitive deficits in schizophrenia. However, only a few studies have examined the impact of psychosocial support on the prevention of cognitive deterioration in patients who suffer from schizophrenia. Aim: The aims of the present study are: (1) to confirm the presence of cognitive deficits among patients with schizophrenia; (2) to explore any correlations between such deficits and a range of clinical and/or demographic characteristics of the patients; and (3) to investigate any association between cognitive deficits and psychosocial support. Method: A total of 118 patients with schizophrenia (the patient group) and 102 healthy volunteers (the control group) had a cognitive assessment using a battery of neuropsychological tests. The patients were allocated to one of the following groups: (1) patients under routine outpatient follow-up; or (2) patients receiving or having recently received intensive psychosocial support, in addition to follow-up. This included daily participation in vocational and recreational activities provided by dedicated mental health day centers. The findings of the neuropsychological testing of individuals in all groups were compared, after controlling for clinical or demographic factors. Results: The scores in the neuropsychological tests were lower overall in the patients group compared to healthy volunteers. Within the patients group, those receiving/having received psychosocial support had higher scores compared to those on routine follow-up alone. There were no significant differences between patients currently receiving psychosocial support and those having received it in the past. Lower education, age and illness duration (but not severity of positive or negative symptoms) were factors associated with lower test scores. Conclusions: The study provides some evidence that psychosocial support may be beneficial for the cognitive functioning of patients with schizophrenia and this benefit may be a lasting one.

Background: It has been suggested, mainly by case reports, that the collective trauma generated by mass calamities may be transmitted to, and have long-lasting effects on, new generations. Aims: To investigate the psychological impact on contemporary Armenians of traumatic events suffered by Armenians during the period 1914—1918. Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional study investigating demographic and cultural characteristics of a population of 689 people of Armenian origin, residents of Greece and Cyprus. Subjects were recruited during a range of Armenian cultural, athletic or charitable events. The participants completed a version of the Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) (Self-Rating) Scale and a questionnaire including ad hoc questions regarding their relationship to the Armenian community, their attitudes and their source of information about the 1914—1918 events. Results: Over a third (35.7%) of participants presented at least sub-clinical forms of such reactions during long periods of their lives. Women, older people, participants with a close relative lost during the events and those with strong connections to the Armenian community were more vulnerable. Conclusion: The results are indicative of a long-lasting (though gradually fading) cross-generational traumatizing effect of the discussed events. Clinicians having to deal with patients belonging to cultural or ethnic groups that suffered persecutions in the past should take into account the probable effects caused by a trauma-transmission mechanism.

Background: The aim of this paper is to report on the Greek version of the Derogatis Psychiatric Rating Scale (DPRS) and its validity and reliability when administered to a Greek sample. The DPRS is a clinician-rated measure of psychiatric symptoms with nine basic and eight complementary symptom dimensions and a Global Pathology Index. Method: The DPRS was translated into Greek and administered to 161 psychiatric patients and healthy volunteers. Its validity was assessed against the Semi-structured Clinical Interview (SCID) and the Symptoms Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R). The inter-rater reliability and test-retest reliability were also evaluated for each symptom dimension. Results: All the symptom dimensions of the DPRS, except euphoria, have concurrent validity with the SCID on the relevant symptom dimensions diagnoses set by the interview. At the cut-off point 2/3 the DPRS has a sensitivity of 98% and a specificity of 74% in indicating active psychiatric patients. The symptom dimensions of the DPRS also have strong correlations with the relevant dimensions of SCL-90-R. The range for inter-rater reliability was from 0.48 to 0.88, the range for test-retest reliability was from 0.25 to 0.85, and the internal consistency was 0.90. Conclusion: The Greek version of the DPRS has acceptable psychometric properties, rendering it a useful screening instrument of global psychopathology as well as a multidimensional measure of some basic psychiatric symptoms.

Objectives: a) To validate the Interpersonal Support Evaluation List (ISEL) - college version in a Greek population sample and b) To test the hypothesis that students scoring high on the ISEL present stronger resistance to stressful experiences and fewer psychological or physical problems. Design: Rating scale assessment and analytical cross-sectional study. Method: The ISEL was translated into Greek and then back-translated into English. A random sample of 145 students of the Faculty of Medicine completed: a) the translated version of the ISEL, b) the Symptom Check List 90-R (SCL-90-R), c) the Scale of Stressful Life Events (SSLE) and d) a questionnaire about physical health problems. Comparisons were conducted between the scores on the ISEL and the scores on the other measures. Correlations were also calculated between the scores on the Global Severity Index (GSI) of the SCL-90-R and SSLE, separately for students with high, fair and low social support, in order to assess the protective role of social support. The test-retest reliability and the internal consistency of the ISEL were also investigated. Results: The students with a lower score in social support reported more psychological and somatic symptoms. The students with a higher score in social support were protected against the harmful effect of stressful events. The ISEL presents good internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha: 0.452-0.752) and test-retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC): 0.631-0.847). Conclusions: The ISEL is a valid and reliable instrument for measuring social support among Greek students. A higher score on the ISEL is correlated with a significant stress-buffering effect.

This pilot study investigates the contribution of supportive psychodynamically oriented group psychotherapy to the clinical characteristics and functioning of psychotic patients. After a year of group psychotherapy using an intermediary object, the drawings of a number of psychotic patients were inspected separately so as to ascertain the improvement of psychopathological elements depicted. Two groups of 38 patients each, with similar psychopathology, clinical and demographic data were assessed before and after 1 year. One group participated in group psychotherapy, with or without an intermediary object; the other group received standard care. The study demonstrated improvement in functioning, quality of life, positive/negative symptoms, and relapses of hospitalizations for patients participating in group psychotherapy. Moreover, elements that indicate psychopathology declined in the drawings of the group in therapy with an intermediary object. Psychodynamically oriented group psychotherapy, with or without an intermediary object, could be an additional treatment option for psychotic patients.

Background: In contrast to extensive research on psychiatric patients' dangerousness, very few studies have examined their victimization. Aim: The aim of our study is to record reported victimization of seriously mentally ill outpatients in Greece and compare them with healthy controls. Method: We interviewed 150 severely mentally ill outpatients and a matched group of healthy controls using a semi-structured interview. This recorded incidents of victimization and perceived discrimination during the previous year. Logistic regression models were used to examine the influence of demographic parameters on both victimization and discrimination. Results: In this study 59.3% of patients and 46.0 % of controls ( p = .02) reported being victims of a criminal act at least once and 52.0% of patients and 24.0 % of controls ( p < .001) reported experiencing discrimination during the previous year. Patients, in comparison to controls, were more likely to report being victims of any kind of victimization (OR = 1.85, 95% CI = 1.07–3.21), of assault/threat (OR = 4.62, 95% CI = (2.32–9.19) and of discrimination (OR = 3.34, 95% CI = (2.1–5.62). In addition, patients reported experiencing higher distress in assault/threat crime compared to controls ( p = .03). Conclusions: Patients with serious mental illness are more likely than the general population to report being victims of criminal acts and experiencing discrimination.

The aim of this survey was to determine levels and severity of self-reported alcohol and drug misuse and associated physical and mental health problems in Greek male prisoners. The sample consisted of 80 randomly selected convicted and remanded male prisoners in a prison in northern Greece. The Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) was used to assess psychiatric disorders including substance abuse and dependence. All prisoners who participated completed the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT). Those who reported daily use of opiates and stimulants completed the Severity of Dependence Scale (SDS). Information was obtained from medical notes about the prisoners' hepatitis B and HIV status. The MINI identified 27.5% of the prisoners as dependent on opiates, 26.3% on alcohol and 73.8% as cannabis users, while 13.8% were misusing both alcohol and illicit drugs. Severity of dependence was rated, using SDS, as serious for all opiate and stimulant users. In terms of physical health examination of medical records indicated that no prisoner was HIV-positive but 26.5% were hepatitis-B-positive. Of those who had a previous history of substance misuse, 31.2% fulfilled the criteria for depression and 37.5% for antisocial personality disorder. Similarly, 15% of those misusing substances had a previous history of deliberate self-harm and 16% were assessed to have moderate to high suicide risk.