ISSN: 2081-3910 e-ISSN: 2353-8627 Yearbook (from 2023) SUBMISSIONS - The authors should submit papers for the journal Current Problems of Psychiatry via the internet platform. Click to log in. Current Problems of Psychiatry is a continuation of yearbook "Research on Schizophrenia" and is intended for a wide group of psychiatrists and clinical psychologists. The yearbook is a reviewed scientific journal of international scope, publishing original papers, review papers, case studies, conference reports, letters to the editor and book reviews. The journal obtained 70 points in the list of scientific journals announced in the notice of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education on 1st December 2021.
Antidepressants and Sexual Health – How to Improve Patients’ Quality of Life?
Introduction: Depression is one of the most common psychiatric disorders, with its prevalence continuously increasing. Consequently, more individuals are using antidepressants and experiencing various adverse effects. One of the important, yet often overlooked, side effect of depression pharmacotherapy is sexual dysfunction. This article aims to review sexual dysfunction associated with antidepressant therapy, explore available management strategies, and highlight emerging therapeutic options. Materials and methods: A literature review was performed using the PubMed and Scopus databases, covering publications from 2020 to 2024 focused on antidepressant-induced sexual dysfunction. Open-access publications in English-language were included, comprising original research articles, systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and narrative reviews. Results: The most frequently reported antidepressant-related sexual dysfunctions include decreased libido, delayed ejaculation, anorgasmia, and erectile dysfunction. These effects are most often observed in patients treated with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs). A lower, though still relevant, risk is associated with tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) and monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs). Medications such as vortioxetine, agomelatine, vilazodone, and bupropion offer promising therapeutic alternatives with a reduced risk of sexual side effects. Moreover, growing evidence supports the effectiveness of adjunctive and non-pharmacological interventions. Conclusions: Sexual dysfunctions significantly impair patients’ quality of life and often lead to treatment discontinuation and recurrence of depressive symptoms. Despite their prevalence, many patients do not report these symptoms due to embarrassment, which underscores the need for a conscious, empathetic approach from doctors. Active monitoring and implementing effective strategies to minimise these side effects without compromising antidepressant efficacy are essential.
Copyright (c) 2025 Weronika Maria Woźniak, Katarzyna Wiktoria Witczak, Zuzanna Winiarska, Marcin Wieleba, Ewelina Anna Soroka (Autor) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Sense of quality of life and professional burnout among nurses in the light of personality dimensions and stress coping strategies
Introduction: In healthcare occupations, stress and occupational burnout are common. Therefore, what can enhance nurses’ mental well-being and their quality of care despite the experienced stress and the risk of occupational burnout? Objective: This article aims to illustrate the nurse-based relationship between the life quality sense and occupational burnout, stress-coping styles, seniority, and dimensions of the MOA Personality and the Axiological Model (competence, relationships, and autonomy), new to psychology. Methods: The study involved 200 nurses aged 22 to 66, total surveys 218. The following research tools were used to measure the variables: new Modified Sense of Life Quality Questionnaire Z-KPJŻ, the CISS Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations, the ACL Adjective Checklist, and the MBI Maslach Burnout Inventory. Discussion: The correlation analysis showed that the sense of life quality is positively correlated with a task-oriented style and with all dimensions of the new Personality and Axiological Model. The sense of life connects negatively with an emotion-oriented coping style. Occupational burnout shows a positive correlation with the emotion-oriented coping style and a negative correlation with the competence and relationships of the MOA Model. The regression analysis demonstrated the MOA Model explained up to 29,4% of the sense of life quality. Conclusions: The results show that there is a relationship between stress coping styles and the dimensions of the new Personality and Axiology Model and the sense of life quality. The MOA Model is a stronger predictor of the sense of the life quality level than stress-coping strategies. The new MOA Personality and Axiological Model allows for a recognition of nurse's personality in a broader context and includes three dimensions: competence, relationships, and autonomy. Strategies that improve nurses’ stress-coping skills are very important in the leadership of a group and complex healthcare environment.
Copyright (c) 2025 Barbara Mróz, Aleksandra Różańska, Julia Garus, Olimpia Brzostek, Kamil Greschütz, Julia Sampolska (Autor) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Exploding Head Syndrome – A Puzzling Parasomnia: A Literature Review
Introduction: Exploding head syndrome (EHS) is a rarely diagnosed sleep disorder classified as a parasomnia. It is characterised by sudden auditory hallucinations resembling explosions, gunshots, or loud cracking sounds that occur during falling asleep or waking up. Although EHS seldom causes physical pain, it is often associated with severe anxiety and sleep disruption. Despite its relatively high prevalence, awareness of this disorder among physicians and patients is low. The aim and methods: The purpose of this article is to present the current state of knowledge about the EHS, its classification, symptomatology, diagnosis, and treatment methods. A literature review was conducted in the PubMed and Google Scholar databases, covering publications from 1980–2025, searching for the following terms: exploding head syndrome, parasomnias, sleep disorders. Results: The incidence of EHS has not been clearly defined, while research results indicate that it may affect 10–52.7% of the population. Although the first descriptions of this disorder date back to the 17th century, the ICD Classification included this syndrome for the first time together with the criteria for its diagnosis in the last 11th edition. This syndrome may co-occur with other sleep disorders, neurological disorders, and mental disorders. The etiology remains unclear, but the most popular theories suggest that it may be related to abnormal brainstem activity, GABAergic, and serotonergic neurotransmission disturbances or sensory processing dysfunctions. Treatment is based mainly on psychoeducation, improved sleep hygiene, and in some cases, pharmacotherapy. Conclusions: EHS is an underdiagnosed disorder that requires further research. Increased awareness and better diagnostics can improve the quality of life of patients. Additional research is needed to investigate its mechanisms and effective treatment methods.
Copyright (c) 2025 Paulina Wróbel-Knybel, Klaudia Kister (Autor) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Differences in cognitive functioning between older and younger people with multiple myeloma
Introduction: The aim of the study was to illustrate the difference in how multiple myeloma and its treatment affect the cognitive functioning of both older and younger patients. Material and methods: The study involved the use of selected neuropsychological methods, i.e., experimental trials based on the Battery of Tests for Assessing Cognitive Functions PU1 and the Choynowski’s Memory Scale. Results: The interaction of health status and age appeared to be a differentiating factor between subjects under and over 65 years of age. Younger people with multiple myeloma displayed poorer performance in direct auditory memory compared to subjects of the same age without a cancer diagnosis. Similarly, regarding long-term verbal memory, patients in middle adulthood showed inferior performance in verbal memory as compared to those without multiple myeloma. Phonemic and semantic verbal fluency levels were also lower across some indicators in younger patients compared to older people with plasma cell myeloma. Better task performance by younger patients subjects with cancer was only noticeable in terms of short-term visual memory. Discussion and conclusions: Decreased cognitive functioning in the middle adulthood group was associated with a worse disease course. Although the disease progresses rapidly and is detected at an advanced stage, but this does not translate negatively into patient survival, which results from a good response to treatment, mainly bone marrow transplantation. The younger age group is also subjected to more aggressive forms of treatment, known as high-dose chemotherapy, which may be associated with their poorer condition and diminished mental and physical condition.
Copyright (c) 2025 Authors https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Measuring depression as a short-term state and as a trait: multilevel approach
Introduction: The Whole Trait Theory allows to conceptualise constructs as a short-term state and as a trait. Depression also can be understood in two ways as a short-term state and as a trait. The aim of the presented study was to verify the factor structure of depression scale at both the inter- and intra-individual levels and to examine the correlation between the density of depression state and depression as a trait. Material and methods: The study used the depression scale from the DASS-21, and conducted a diary study that lasted 14 days and was based on repeated measurements on a sample of 147 people (49.3% female, 50.7% male). The research was conducted as an online survey, with items displayed in random sequence for each person every day. Respondents reported daily on the intensity of their experience of depression. Results: A two-level confirmatory factor analysis proved that single-factor structures are the best way to explain the inter- and intra-individual variance of depression. The congeneric reliability for the measurement of depression as a state and as a density of states was high. The correlation between the average measurement of depression as a state and a single measurement of depression as a trait was very strong, thus providing empirical evidence of the Whole Trait Theory. Conclusions: The present study opens new possibilities for measuring depression in research and clinical practice using repeated measurements of depression as a state. The study of the dynamics of changes in depression states allows for more precise prediction of a person's tendency to experience depression.
Associations of Autistic Traits with Early Maladaptive Schemas by J. Young
Introduction: Associations between the severity of autistic traits and variables such as early maladaptive schemas (EMS) have not been widely studied to date. The purpose of this study is to evaluate differences in the intensity of individual EMS between individuals with and without a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and to examine whether higher intensity of autistic traits in the ASD group is accompanied by higher intensity of individual early maladaptive schemas. Material and methods: The study involved 102 individuals with a mean age of 18 – 49 years (mean age: M = 29.47; SD = 7.79), including 51 individuals with an ASD diagnosis and 51 individuals not treated for Axis I or II mental disorders. The respondents were asked to fill in the Autism-Spectrum Quotient (AQ) Test, the Young Schema Questionnaire (YSQ-S3-PL), and a sociodemographic questionnaire. Results: The median score for the AQ Test, which measures the intensity of autistic traits, was 30.14 (for the group of participants with an ASD diagnosis). Those with an ASD diagnosis scored higher in four of the five domains of early maladaptive schemas. The exception was the Other-Directedness domain. The respondents with an ASD diagnosis also scored higher on most EMS. Statistical significance was found for two schemas, i.e., Social Isolation/Alienation (p=0.0002*) and Emotional Inhibition (p=0.015). Statistically significant correlations between the intensity of autistic traits and EMS refer to the following domains (from the strongest relationship to the weakest): Overvigilance/Inhibition, Disconnection/Rejection, and Impaired Autonomy and Performance. Among the individual schemas, the order from the strongest relationship to the weakest was as follows: Social Isolation/Alienation, Emotional Inhibition, Unrelenting Standards/Hypercriticalness, Dependence/Incompetence, Vulnerability to Harm or Illness, Absolute strictness/Punitiveness, Negativity/Pessimism, and Defectiveness/Shame. Conclusions: 1. In comparison to the control group , individuals with ASD diagnosis present significantly higher intensity of the following two early maladaptive schemas: Social Isolation/Alienation and Emotional Inhibition. 2. The intensity of autistic traits in the group with ASD diagnosis is correlated with both the intensity of the domains and schemas relating specifically to social isolation and emotional reactions.
Robot-mediated therapy: Emotion Recognition and Social Skills Trainingfor children with ASD. Analysis of the use of Zoomorphic Robot Brian - preliminary reports
Introduction: The study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the zoomorphic robot Brian in the therapy of children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) compared to standard therapist-led interventions. The assessment focused on the child's level of interest in the robot, willingness to respond to verbal commands given by the robot, adaptive behaviors, social communication, imitation during play, and recognition of emotional states presented by the robot. Materials and methods: The study included fourteen children, with a total of 116 therapy sessions conducted. Each child participated in four sessions with the zoomorphic robot and four sessions with a therapist. During the sessions, the children's responses to verbal commands, ability to recognize emotions, and skills in social communication and imitation were evaluated. Results: The study showed a significantly greater willingness of autistic children to respond to verbal commands given by the robot than to the same commands spoken by the therapist. Additionally, children with ASD demonstrated better recognition and naming of emotional states displayed on the robot’s face compared to those on a human face. Conclusions: In interaction with the robot, autistic children acquired and exhibited desired social communication and imitation behaviors more quickly than in traditional therapy conducted by a therapist. These results suggest that robots may serve as an effective tool to support the therapy of children with ASD.
Orthorexia in a population of Polish university students: prevalence aswell as demographic and psychological risk factors
Introduction: The number of publications on orthorexia is steadily increasing, however little is still known about the psychological risk factors. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of the risk of orthorexia in a population of students doing various university courses, and to estimate psychological risk factors for orthorexia in this group. The relationships between the risk of orthorexia and demographic factors were also analyzed. Material and methods: The study was conducted on a group of 447 respondents (350 women, 97 men) aged 17-50 years (mean 22.34). The Polish version of the ORTO-15 scale with a threshold of 35 points was used to estimate the risk of orthorexia. Results: The risk of orthorexia was identified in 22.6% of the total study group. Gender, the course of study, being in a relationship and body mass index were unrelated to the risk of orthorexia. However, such risk was higher in those from singleparent families and those who exercise more often. The risk of orthorexia was increased by attachment anxiety and overall risk of eating disorders, and decreased by the preference for a physically active lifestyle. Emotional intelligence and perceived social support were unrelated. Conclusions: The risk of orthorexia is common in the population of Polish students, and is increased by a general tendency for eating disorders, insecurity in close relationships, and being raised in a single-parent family. Those at higher risk of orthorexia engage in physical activity more frequently, although they may derive less pleasure from it.
The major goal in treating diabetes is the effective metabolic control of the disease as well as avoiding hypoglycaemia. Hypoglycaemia is an abnormally diminished content of glucose in the blood (below 55 mg/dl (3.0 m/M)) and an intrinsic element in every diabetic’s life. Diabetics experience hundreds or even thousands symptomatic and asymptomatic hypoglycaemic episodes throughout their lives. Acute hypoglycaemic episodes may lead to convulsions, coma or even death. They increase the risk of trauma resulting from those episodes. Recurrent acute hypoglycaemic episodes may lead to changes in behaviour as well as cause the worsening of cognitive functions. Episodes of hypoglycaemia occur more often in people suffering from diabetes type 1, however the frequency of those episodes significantly increases with the duration of diabetes type 2 and the risk of occurrence of those episodes approaches the risk present in diabetes type 1. The occurrence of hypoglycaemia worsen the quality of patient’s life. The problem of hypoglycaemia in diabetes particularly concerns children, their parents and elderly people. The consequence of recurrent hypoglycaemia is more frequent occurrence of depression and anxiety symptoms. Hypoglycaemia is also one of the main factors limiting the correct control of glycaemia in patients. Striving to achieve glycaemic targets should be individualised in many cases. Moderating the criteria of balancing carbohydrate metabolism in the case of elderly people may not be efficient to prevent hypoglycaemic incidents. An additional proceeding to effectively limit the risk of hypoglycaemic incidents among patients is educational activity.
Copyright (c) 2011 Authors https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/
This article aims to analyze the Japanese concept of “Mottainai” and its possible new application.
A review of Internet addiction with regards to assessment method design and the limited parameters examined
“Internet addiction” (IAD) was formally introduced in the late 1990’s, and while it has not been extensively researched compared to other pathologies, it is significant enough to be considered for inclusion into the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5). [1,2]. Although many methods evaluating internet usage have been developed, a gold standard IAD test has not been recognized, and knowledge is therefore limited regarding the consequences of pathological internet use on a person’s well-being [3]. This article attempts to highlight a sample of the general IAD literature with regards to its shortcomings and its findings regarding sample population demographics, lifestyle, and predictive values.
Cardiac complications of antidepressants
Depressive disorders are an independent risk factor for coronary heart disease. There are also a risk factor for death in patients suffering from ischemic heart disease. Modern antidepressants such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) and selective noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors (SNRI) increase the safety of therapy in patients with depressive disorders, mainly through its favorable profile of adverse effects. Although they are not free from defects, and some risk of cardiac side effects exist, as confirmed by scientific reports.
Risk of Internet addiction among secondary school children
Introduction. The increasingly universal access to computers and the Internet has numerous positive aspects. However, the fact that using the Internet may also create a threat to the correct physical, psychological, intellectual, social or moral development, must not be overlooked. Aim. To assess the risk of Internet addiction among secondary school children in Bialystok Material and methods. The study was conducted from December 2010 to March 2011 among the students of 8 gymnasia in Bialystok. A group of 320 students aged 13-15 years was investigated with a questionnaire survey designed by the authors. Results. Most respondents had a computer with the Internet access at home (97.5%) and used the Internet every day (69.1%). Every tenth respondent declared that he or she always used the Internet longer than planned. Almost 10% of the respondents continually thought about what they would do after switching on the computer or logging in to the Internet. In the case of every eighth student, people from their immediate environment reproved them for spending too much time on the Internet. Internet-dependency was reported by 11.6% of the students , while 5.3 % devoted over 5 hours a day to using the Internet. Conclusion. To make it possible for computers and the Internet to play a useful role, education of children, youth, as well as their parents and guardians, in this field is necessary.
Health and welfare situation of the disabled and their families in their natural residential environment
The aim of this study was to assess the health and welfare situation of the disabled and their families in their natural residential environment. The study covered 199 persons with motor disability and their families. Ninentynine study participants lived in nursing homes, while 100 – in their family homes. The study was conducted using a diagnostic survey. The disabled who lived in nursing homes were mainly single women from rural environments, with primary education; their health problems were related to the disorders of motor organs and nervous system. Most of them either had limited independence and needed occasional care or were fully dependent and needed twenty-four-hour care. The surveyed disabled who lived in family homes came from urban environments and had secondary or university education. The welfare situation of the disabled living in family homes was positively affected by a high percentage of professionally active family members. Thanks to the support of their families, people with a limited independence that lived in family homes coped with their dis-ability and its psychological effects better than the disabled living in nursing homes.
the family of the person with a disability
Psychosocial effects of mandibular prognathism treatment with the use of bilateral sagittal split osteotomy
Mandibular prognathism is a dentofacial deformity, in which the most pronounced feature is mandibular anterior excess. Unfavorable psychosocial effect deriving from unaesthetic facial appearance is the major indication for treatment of dentofacial deformities but other important factors are disturbed mastication, speech, pain and temporomandibular joint dysfunction. Bilateral sagittal split osteotomy (BSSO) is a popular technique among several methods utilized in tratment of dentofacial deformities including mandibular prognathism. The aim of this paper was the evaluation of impact of surgical correction of mandibular prognathism with use of BSSO on self-assessment of facial esthetics, mastication, general health, social interactions in conjunction with improvement of wellbeing. The material was the medical records of 54 patients treated for mandibular prognathism in The Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at The Medical University of Lublin. Two questionnaires and one psychological test were utilized to assess the orthodontic-surgical impact on patients’ physical and psychological function. In the evaluated group of patients considerable increase in self-assessment and self-confidence was noted after surgical treatment. They also pointed at better social interactions postoperatively in comparison with the presurgical period as well as less constraint during meal consumption. Moreover, speech improvement was noted in the evaluated group of patients. In conclusion, it was found that in majority of evaluated patients there was improvement of self-acceptance which reflects high degree of satisfaction obtained from the treatment.
Review of Internet addiction comorbities and physiological parameters
Despite the growing research collective regarding Internet Addiction (IAD) and its demographics, lifestyle influences, and predic-tors very little experimentation has been done to assess IAD comorbidities and associated physiological parameters [1]. Cross-sectional studies that have been performed often determine a high comorbidity rate of IAD with psychiatric disorders such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and affective disorders [2]. However, despite a similar associative incidence rate, Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is seldom mentioned in such analysis’. This article attempts to highlight IAD comorbidities with particular emphasis on the literature written regarding BPD and IAD. It will also examine various physiological parameters that have been assessed and suggest possible treatment modalities that may be effective for this morbidity in the future.
Selenium and its role in medicine with special regard to psychical disorders
Since the end of 1950s the knowledge about biological role of the selenium compounds has been steadily growing. Along with the development of biochemistry and molecular biology, there is more and more evidence pointing out to incredibly significant role of the selenium compounds in the cell metabolism processes. The analyses covering the protective properties of selenium concerning the phenomenon of oxidative stress seem to be particularly important from the point of view of the research on broadly understood etiology of neoplastic, inflammatory, degenerative and genetic processes as well as the immunological disorders. The aim of this work is to present the recent scientific findings discussing the most important directions of the research on the physiological role of selenium compounds and their influence on the occurrence of the human organism structure and functioning with special regard to the disorders concerning the central nervous system. Selenium, being the component of the centers of active enzymes such as gluthatione peroxidase, is necessary for the proper course of numerous enzymatic processes. The significance of selenium is also frequently emphasized in the prophylactics of cancers, diseases of the cardio-vascular system and rheumatic diseases. This paper focuses on the main directions of the research on the pathogenetic and therapeutic role of selenium compounds in affective diseases, schizophrenia, autism, disorders of cognitive functions connected i.e. with Alzheimer’s disease. Undoubtedly the vital fact is that there has been discovered an intensified gene expression for SELENBP-1 protein in the experimental animals in which the states were induced that may constitute the model of psychotic and affective disorders.
Copyright (c) 2025 Current Problems of Psychiatry
Selen i jego rola w medycynie ze szczególnym uwzględnieniem zaburzeń psychicznych
Od końca lat pięćdziesiątych dwudziestego wieku, wiedza na temat biologicznej roli związków selenu nieustannie się poszerza. Wraz z rozwojem biochemii i biologii molekularnej przybywa dowodów na niezwykle istotną regulacyjną rolę związków selenu w procesach metabolizmu komórkowego. Szczególnie ważne z punktu widzenia badań nad szeroko rozumianą etiologią procesów nowotworowych, zapalnych, degeneracyjnych, zaburzeń immunologicznych, jak również genetycznych wydają się analizy obejmujące ochronne właściwości selenu dotyczące zjawiska stresu oksydacyjnego. Celem niniejszej pracy jest przedstawienie aktualnych doniesień naukowych omawiających najważniejsze kierunki badań nad fizjologiczną rolą związków selenu oraz ich wpływem na występowanie zaburzeń struktury i funkcji organizmu ludzkiego ze szczególnym uwzględnieniem zaburzeń dotyczących ośrodkowego układu nerwowego. Selen jest niezbędny dla prawidłowego przebiegu wielu procesów enzymatycznych, stanowiąc składnikiem centrów aktywnych enzymów m.in. peroksydazy glutationowej. Często podnosi się znaczenie selenu w profilaktyce chorób nowotworowych, jak również chorób układu sercowo-naczyniowego i schorzeń reumatycznych. W niniejszej pracy opisano główne kierunki badań nad rola patogenetyczna i terapeutyczną związków selenu w chorobach afektywnych, schizofrenii, autyzmie, zaburzeniach funkcji poznawczych związanych m.in. z chorobą Alzheimera. Niewątpliwie istotne wydaje się odkrycie wzmożonej ekspresji genów dla białka SELENBP-1 u zwierząt doświadczalnych, u których wywołano stany mogące stanowić model zaburzeń psychotycznych i afektywnych.
The concept of social support has long been used in contexts of problematic situations, crises, difficult and traumatic events, as one of elements of seeking help and the mechanisms of health and disease. Recently it has been used in analyzing the problems of stress and ways of coping with it. Social support is one of the elements of psychosocial resistance resources, known as the properties of individuals and groups that are necessary to cope with difficult situations and as a consequence - to achieve an optimal state of adaptation. Mere fact of having social support, as an interactive resource, stemming from the outside, is not synonymous with the ability to cope with problems and maintaining health. There is a need of readiness of the individual and her own activity to its causative use and processing. A number of difficulties in giving clear definition of this phenomenon have a multifaceted character. They are dictated by the genesis of dealing with social support inherent in man's practical experience, and derived from natural need to help others.
Mental disorders in the course of neoplasms
In the course of neoplastic disease in patients mental adaptation disorders can appear, being the response to the situation of severe disease and also as a result of pathological changes which are caused in organism by progressive degenerative process. Some patients suffer from mental disorders which exist irrespective of tumour. However in most of them these disturbances are related with oncological factors. Mental disorders which most often appear in the course of neoplasms are: depression and anxiety disorders, also disorders of consciousness, psychoorganic and psychotic disorders. Pathological psychic symptoms manifested by patients hamper communication between the patient and the doctor and also limit the ill person's possibilities to express own needs and describe pain. Moreover in case of brain tumours, psychic symptoms often appear before focal neurological symptoms. Therefore it's very important to diagnose them early in oncological patients and initiate suitable pharmacological therapy and psychological support.
Psychiatric disorders in urology patients – a review of the literature
The purpose of this study was to analyze the existing literature regarding patients’ mental disorders after urological treatment. Special attention was paid to problems of patients with cancer, treated surgically, and with andropause and intimate problems. Mental disorders occurring in the course of somatic diseases may be a reaction to the disease itself, its severity, nuisance, and limitations coming along with the disease. It may also be a result of poor prognosis, as well as significant change of social situation, and the outcome of somatic factors influencing the central nervous system. Also it may be a combination of two mentioned above conditions. Cancer, due to its stereotypical social perception, is mainly identified with death in agony, which can be an enormous psychological burden, even though it may not cause any limitation to physical or social activities. Many surgical procedures are associated with particularly high anxiety. The issue of andropause, called simultaneously the male midlife psychoendocrine syndrome is also associated with changes in the psyche, and patients intimate sphere. Taking into consideration urological aspect, sexual disorders occurring after surgery can be a consequence of invasive treatment. These disorders affect both men and women, although the literature devoted to women’s sexual disorders with purely urological problems is poor. Reduced sexual ability can lead to various disorders, complex and reduced self-esteem; for instance: psychosomatic, depressive and neurotic disorders, relationship and interpersonal problems, low patience. Based on the literature, it can be concluded that patients undergoing urological treatment are facing various psychological or psychiatric disturbances. These problems are often margina-lized in somatic medicine. In many cases setting proper diagnosis is difficult due to similarity of symptoms that occur in both disturbances: urological, and psychiatric. It is worth to carry on the therapy holistically, combining psychological and somatic symptoms.
Diagnostic issues regarding the patient with personality disorder – case report
A case of 22 years old woman has been presented. This patient was hospitalized in the Department of Psychiatry, Medical University of Lublin due to strong suicidal thoughts and worsened mood. The patient was psychiatrically treated for one year, although first mental problems had appeared in the period of early adolescence with the picture of mood liability and suicidal ideations. Almost one year before the admission she had taken a suicidal attempt. During current hospitalization a variety of diagnostic examinations was performed that excluded psychotic disorder. The results of psychological tests indicated disordered personality traits as a reason of patient’s problems. Based on psychiatric and psychological examinations the diagnosis was made – personality disorder type histrionic with borderline personality elements.
Psychiatric aspects of the phenomenon of stigmata
A stigma is a notion used in some religions to describe the wounds which were symbols of a special relationship to God. The phenomenon is known in Christianity (the wounds corresponding to Christ’s wounds in his forehead, hands, feet and side) and Islam (the wounds corresponding to those of Mohammed that he suffered during his battles). Stigmata were the reason of lots of controversies, especially those concerning their authenticity and the ability of their bearers to control them. In the article I would like to refer the phenomenon of stigmata occurrence to the interpretation suggested in the subject literature – in terms of dissociational or controversial phenomena.
Relations in the families of women at risk and not at risk of mobile phone addiction
The aim of this work was to verify the hypothesis that there are statistically significant differences between women at risk and not at risk of mobile phone addiction in their relationships with their parents. Material and methods. The study included 80 women at a mean age of 25 years. The following instruments were used in this study: a socio-demographic questionnaire, the Mobile Phone Addiction Assessment Questionnaire by Potembska and Pawłowska, and Pawłowska's Parent-Child Relationship Questionnaire. Based on the general KBUTK scale a group of 30 women at risk of mobile phone addiction was singled out as well as a group of 50 women who were not at risk of this addiction. Results. The women at risk of mobile phone addiction significantly more often, as compared to women who are not at risk of this addiction, inform us about emotional violence experienced from their parents, punishment, sense of loneliness in the family, lack of acceptance, understanding, lack of interest in their problems and not taking into account their opinion. They experience a lack of support and care, they think that parents need their support because they are helpless, they mention participation in the conflicts between their parents, feel guilty for their problems and think that their existence is the cause of the problems of their parents as well as of their failures and conflicts between them. The women at risk of mobile phone addiction significantly more often as compared to the control group (i.e. women who are not at risk of this addiction) inform us that they drew their parents’ attention only when they were sick or caused problems at school and indicate that their parents formulated contradictory requirements in relation to them, they undermined up-bringing principles practised by the other parent, they indicate that they were a disappointment to their mothers and that in the future they would not like to be like their mothers as well as that they are afraid of adult life. The results of linear regression show that addiction to mobile phone conversation as well as texting, their symptoms being: making unsuccessful attempts to cut down on the number of conversations and text messages, limiting the hours of sleep due to phone conversations, paying extremely high bills exceeding their budget for phone conversations and text messages, concealing the costs of phone conversations from their families, belittling the number of mobile phone conversations, are accounted for in 73% by family factors: sense of lack of understanding shown by their parents, being a disappointment to their mothers, experience of indifference and lack of time shown by their parents and of situations when the examined women defended their mothers from their fathers. The experience of loneliness in a situation when no phone conversations and text messages are received is accounted for in 57% by the following: fear of adult life and parents’ indifference to their children’s problems. Excessive use of mobile phone in order to listen to music, make films, take pictures, play games, stay online account for 37% of family factors: participation in conflicts between parents and assuming responsibility for the fathers’ conduct. Preferring interpersonal interactions and expressing emotions via phone conversations and text messaging to “face- to -face” interactions as shown by the examined women account for 46% of the desire to get care and advice and by the sense of indifference shown by their mothers when they mentioned problems. Conclusions. Women at risk of mobile phone addiction assessed their relationships with their parents significantly more negatively than women at no risk of this addiction. Women at risk of mobile phone addiction more frequently than women not at risk had experienced conflicts, loneliness, emotional abuse, punishment, and lack of acceptance, understanding and interest in their families. The most significant predictors of mobile phone addiction include family factors, in particular, experiencing indifference, lack of understanding, disappointment with the child from their parents, sense of loneliness in a family as well as the fear of adult life.
Comparison of intensification of mobile phone addiction in Polish, Taiwanese and American students
The aim of the research was the verification of the hypothesis assuming the occurrence of statistically significant differences between the students from Poland, Taiwan and the USA as regards the intensification of mobile phone addiction. Material and Methods. The total group of examined students, studying in Poland, numbered 147 and it consisted of 83 Poles, 31 Taiwanese and 33 Americans, their average age being 21. The following research methods were used in the research: the Survey Form and the Mobile Phone Assessment Addiction developed by Potembska and Pawłowska. Results and conclusions. Taiwanese and American students show significantly more intensified mobile phone addiction symptoms as compared to their Polish peers. More students from Taiwan (55%) fulfil the criteria of being at risk of developing the mobile phone addiction as compared to the American students (39%) and Polish students (22%). As compared to the American and Polish students, the students from Taiwan prefer using mobile phones to talk to other people and text them instead of “face to face” encounters. As compared to the Polish students, the students from Taiwan and the USA significantly more often buy the latest models of mobile phones. Their use of the mobile phone includes listening to music, taking pictures, making films and sending them to their friends as well as playing games and going online. The Taiwanese students, as compared to their Polish peers, show intensified symptoms of addiction to talking on the mobile phone and texting, moreover, they use a mobile phone to satisfy the need for acceptance, affiliation and self-disclosure.
Predictors of response to electroconvulsivetherapy
Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)is the oldest method still used in psychiatric treatments. Due to small amount of randomized clin-ical trials there is little agreement about precise efficacy (most often determined in the range of 50-80%) and clinically useful predictors of acute ECT outcomes in individual patients. Factors such as index episode duration equal or longer than one year, fewer failed antide-pressant treatments, previous successful ECT course, presence of suicidal thoughts, good response to initial therapy (first three treatments) and postictal suppression are considered as significantly predictive by most authors. Contrarily, medication resistance, chronic depression/dysthymia and personality disorders especially borderline personality disorder are regarded as predictors of nonremission. Data on such factors as: psychotic or hypochondriac features, concurrent antidepressant medication, and baseline severity are contradictory. The existing literature suggests that combination of ECT and antipsychotic treatment is a useful option for patients with medication-resistant schizophrenia or when rapid global improvement of clinical condition is desired. The tolerability of ECT is not influenced by concomitant neuroleptic medication. Variables such as age, gender, and comorbidity of somatic diseases do not affect the effectiveness of ECT, although the first two in combination with certain parameters of EEG are useful in adjusting the dose of electrical impulse, thereby improving the effectiveness of individual seizures. Isolating the biological variability among the neurophysiological and neuroimaging factors, that predisposes to positive or negative clinical response to ECT would allow optimization of individual treatments and thus improve the safety of therapy and reduce its costs.
Familial occurrence of bipolar disorder – review
Since the very origin of Emil Kraepelin’s concept of recurrent psychoses the knowledge concerning affective disorders has developed significantly. Nowadays bipolar disorder is a separate disease and it is still not sure if we deal with a single illness or with many ones resembling each other. Basing on clinical course, four types of bipolar disorders are presently distinguished. They differ significantly and have tendency to familial occurrence. This familial occurrence may be sometimes a key to better and quicker diagnosing of disturbances occurring in children and adolescents. Atypical symptoms of bipolar disorder in the young are rather a rule than an exception. Symptoms leading to diagnosing of ADHD or conduct disorder may be early forms of affective disturbances. Even if not, their over incidental co-occurrence should lead psychiatrists to monitor any signs of affective disorder. The additional fact is that diagnosis of bipolar disorder is usually given between 16-25thyear of life. Therefore it is very important to know, as precisely as possible, the family history of any psychiatric disturbances. Data show that cases of bipolar disorder but also other mood disturbances and drug or alcohol abuse, conduct disorder, attention deficiency hyperkinetic disorder, personality disturbances, anxiety disturbances including panic ones, should be perceived as bipolar spectrum disorder. In this review of literature we analyze subtypes of bipolar disorder, comorbidity, clinical connections and familial correlations.
Social functioning and social cognition in patients with schizophrenia
In recent years, much attention has been given to the problems of social functioning and functions of social cognition in schizophrenia. An adequate level of social functioning makes it possible for patients to fulfill important life roles, such as achieving independence, making interpersonal relations and partner relationships, starting up a family, finding employment. Undisturbed social cognition remains a factor which significantly determines correct social functioning. This paper, which is a review of literature related to these issues, was divided into three parts: first part shows definitions of social functioning, in the second one definitions of social cognition are presented, and in the third one we describe relations between social cognition and social functioning and the possibilities of pharmaco- and psychotherapeutic improvements in social cognition which lead to improvements in functioning in patients with schizophrenia.
Symptoms of anxiety and depression in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis
Aim. The aim of this article was to present the emotional functioning of patients facing the diagnosis of the chronic disease Multiple Sclerosis. Methods. The instruments used in the study included a socio-demographic questionnaire, Cattell's Self-Analysis Form and the Beck Depression Inventory. Participants. The study included a group of 108 patients with relapsing-remitting MS and 69 healthy controls (31 women and 38 men). The patients' disability score on Kurtzke's EDSS scale was 2.13 points. (2.0 points in the female group and 2.2 points in the male group). In the study period, all patients were in remission of MS symptoms. Results and Conclusions. The analyses revealed that there were statistically significant differences between MS patients and healthy controls regarding the symptoms of anxiety and depression. Compared to healthy subjects, MS patients significantly more often experienced symptoms of depression in the sphere of emotions, somatic reactions and social relations. MS patients were characterized by significantly higher levels of overt, covert and general anxiety and higher levels of needs and drives, self-dissatisfaction, suspicious-ness, guilt and neurotic behavior than healthy controls. There were no significant differences in depressive symptoms between female and male patients. Men with MS, compared to female patients, were significantly more prone to neurotic behavior, self-blame and suspiciousness, and had more intense needs and drives and higher levels of overt and general anxiety.
Kynurenic acid and positive symptoms in schizophrenia
Kynurenic acid (KYNA) is a neuroactive metabolite of tryptophan that is synthesized in the brain mainly by astrocytes. Growing evidence indicates an anticonvulsant and neuroprotective role of KYNA. Differences in kynurenic acid concentration are described in the course of diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease, epilepsy, depression, anxiety disorder or schizophrenia. Progress in the field of schizophrenia research points out that dopamine plays only an intermediary role in the pathogenesis of the disease and that there is a necessity forfinding a source of this disorders in relation to other neurotransmitters, in particular as far as the glutamatergic system is concerned. In reference to searching for the pathogenesis of positive symptoms in schizophrenia, it is vital to find an element linking dopaminergic hyperactivity with glutamatergichypoactivity. KYNA is a nonselective antagonist of ionotropic receptors for excitatory aminoacids: NMDA receptor, kainic acid receptor, AMPA receptor. Moreover, KYNA is an antagonist of an independent of strychnine glicyne site of the NMDA receptor complex. Recent research indicates that cerebrospinal fluid level of KYNA is elevated in schizophrenic patients. Pharmacologically elevated level of KYNA leads to increased dopaminergic activity of the neurons in the rat ventral tegmental area. Research provides evidence that KYNA has inhibiting influence on glutamate release. Elevated level of KYNA causes an effect similar to the effect demonstrated after administration of ketamine or phencyclidine and is associated with psychomimetic effects. To sum up, the raised dopaminergic activity in the mesolimbic system and glutamatergic hypoactivity play an important role in pathogenesis of positive symptoms in schizophrenia and KYNA is a modulator of both of these mechanisms.