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Violence against women impacts a minimum of 35% of the global female population, encompassing sexual, physical, and psychological forms. Perpetrators of this violence include partners, family members, or strangers. Its ramifications are substantial, evident in the prevalence of chronic pain reported by between 48% and 84% of women who have experienced abuse, with an odds ratio of 2.08. Notably associated diagnoses include pelvic/vaginal pain, fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome/bowel symptoms, abdominal pain, migraine/headache, and back and neck pain. These diagnoses significantly limit a woman's ability to participate in daily activities, such as exercising or working, leading to genuine disability. Despite substantial evidence, the precise cause and etiology of these conditions remain unclear. Adhering to the bio-psycho-social model, it is conceivable that chronic pain in victims of violence cannot be attributed to a single factor alone, but rather to a combination of all three: biological, psychological, and social factors. Uncovering these factors could have significant clinical and legal implications. On one hand, it would be possible to conduct screenings to avoid developing chronic pain. and guide individuals toward the correct treatment. On the other hand, victims could seek compensation for chronic pain resulting from violence. Considering the limited knowledge about the causes of chronic pain and the absence of tools to identify risk factors or a set of tests for evaluating victims of violence, the goal of the research described in this project protocol is to pinpoint the specific contributing factors for chronic pain due to violence victimization. Additionally, it aims to devise a comprehensive protocol for assessing these factors in forensic science. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work aims to shed light on the differential diagnosis of complex post-traumatic stress disorder (cPTSD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and borderline personality disorder (BPD) within the context of intimate partner violence (IPV), which represents a highly innovative field of clinical research. To this end, a critical review of the literature was conducted to identify and compare the clinical patterns and symptomatic overlaps among cPTSD, PTSD, and BPD, with an emphasis on their manifestation in both IPV victims and offenders. The results show that despite some symptomatic similarities, cPTSD, PTSD, and BPD have distinct clinical patterns of interpersonal violence. Specifically, disturbances in self-organization (DSO) are more commonly found in offenders, while the diagnosis of cPTSD seems more aligned with the psychological functioning of victims. In addition, cPTSD and specific characteristics of BPD, such as fear of rejection and instability of identity, constitute risk factors for IPV victimization. cPTSD is shown as a predisposing factor not only for IPV victims but also for offenders, while PTSD emerges as a consequential factor. The specific pathways linking PTSD, cPTSD, and BPD with IPV have significant implications for clinical practice. Further research is needed to understand these profiles and the mechanisms linking trauma-related features to IPV, which is crucial for implementing effective violence prevention programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aims to investigate the relationship between Pathological Affective Dependence (PAD) and Intimate Partner Violence (IPV), analyze its dynamics and propose a measurement and intervention for PAD. The study is part of a broader project to cross-validate the PAD measurement scale and to develop and validate a cognitive-behavioral treatment to improve the well-being and resilience of IPV victims. Method: Drawing on a recently published cognitive-behavioral clinical model (Pugliese et al., 2023a), this study (1) introduces the PAD model and cycle, (2) outlines psychopathological profiles associated with PAD, (3) validates the Pathological Affective Dependence Scale (PADS) in diverse populations, and (4) formulates intervention hypotheses for PAD. Results: PAD is a trans-diagnostic condition that makes a person more vulnerable to abusive, controlling, violent, or manipulative behavior by a partner in an intimate relationship. The inability to separate from the abusive partner, even in critical situations, shows that there is a strong link between PAD and IPV. The analysis of the psychopathological profile suggests different clusters: "Unworthy"," "Rescuer"," "Vulnerable" and "Mixed". Preliminary results of the validation of the PADS indicate its potential as a measurement tool and its ability in identifying profiles at higher risk of IPV. The absence of evidence-based treatments for PAD stresses the urgent need to fill this gap in combating IPV. Conclusions: The findings underscore the significance of PAD as a risk factor for violence in intimate relationships and the necessity for evidence-based, personalized cognitive-behavioral interventions for various profiles of IPV victims with PAD. Accurate identification of at-risk individuals, based on psychopathological profiles and the use of the PADS, is crucial for developing prevention strategies and targeted treatments to counteract the consequences of violence on the mental and physical health of victims. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organizational identification has been linked to both positive behavior and negative behavior at work. Based on theory and research that suggest that for many organizational behaviors, team identification may be a more important influence than organizational identification, we advance a research model proposing that team identification, more than organizational identification, predicts counterproductive work behavior and organizational citizenship behavior and is the more important mediator of the influence of communication climate (CC) and perceived external prestige (PEP) on these outcomes. This research model was tested in a survey of N = 300 employees of four Italian organizations from different sectors. Results show that team identification, but not organizational identification, predicts counterproductive behavior and citizenship behavior and mediates the influence of CC and PEP. To enhance team identification for sustaining positive voluntary behavior at work, two possible strategies could be considered: improving perceived external prestige and promoting a good communication climate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aims to investigate the relationship between Pathological Affective Dependence (PAD) and Intimate Partner Violence (IPV), analyze its dynamics and propose a measurement and intervention for PAD. The study is part of a broader project to cross-validate the PAD measurement scale and to develop and validate a cognitive-behavioral treatment to improve the well-being and resilience of IPV victims. Method: Drawing on a recently published cognitive-behavioral clinical model (Pugliese et al., 2023a), this study (1) introduces the PAD model and cycle, (2) outlines psychopathological profiles associated with PAD, (3) validates the Pathological Affective Dependence Scale (PADS) in diverse populations, and (4) formulates intervention hypotheses for PAD. Results: PAD is a trans-diagnostic condition that makes a person more vulnerable to abusive, controlling, violent, or manipulative behavior by a partner in an intimate relationship. The inability to separate from the abusive partner, even in critical situations, shows that there is a strong link between PAD and IPV. The analysis of the psychopathological profile suggests different clusters: "Unworthy"," "Rescuer"," "Vulnerable" and "Mixed". Preliminary results of the validation of the PADS indicate its potential as a measurement tool and its ability in identifying profiles at higher risk of IPV. The absence of evidence-based treatments for PAD stresses the urgent need to fill this gap in combating IPV. Conclusions: The findings underscore the significance of PAD as a risk factor for violence in intimate relationships and the necessity for evidence-based, personalized cognitive-behavioral interventions for various profiles of IPV victims with PAD. Accurate identification of at-risk individuals, based on psychopathological profiles and the use of the PADS, is crucial for developing prevention strategies and targeted treatments to counteract the consequences of violence on the mental and physical health of victims. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article describes the clinical case of a patient with Pathological Affective Dependence (PAD). The interest in reporting this case is related to some specific aspects of PAD: (a) the overinvestment in avoiding loneliness, meant as loss of nurture, unworthiness and sufferance, due to the cross-scope of not losing relationships; (b) the role of the intrapsychic conflict in explaining the psychological suffering, and (c) the intergenerational transmission of PAD. Giving the lack of an effective treatment for PAD, guideline to treat Dependent Personality Disorder (DDP) were considered adequate in this case. However, even if DDP shares some common traits with PAD, it does not totally overlap with it. From a clinical point of view, this treatment overlap between PAD and DDP, shows some limitations such as objectives and behavioural patterns not shared between the two disorders. As such, there is the need of creating a specific treatment protocol for PAD that takes into account objectives, believes, and maladaptive behaviours to prevent longlasting difficulties and pathological relapses. Such protocol in currently under validation with the authors of the PAD cognitive model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of this work is to explore the issue of online psychotherapy as a means of intervention which has become necessary due to the COVID-19 emergency. Research was conducted with the aim of investigating, from the point of view of therapists and patients, the quality, self-efficacy and difficulties related to the online setting, highlighting their limitations and advantages. Method: Two macro-samples, a first composed by therapists (Tp) (n=364) and a second by patients (Pz) (n = 226) filled out a questionnaire built ad hoc, sent with a remote link that investigated different areas. Exploratory and parametric analyses were carried out on the two samples (Tp and Pz) obtaining different comparisons and correlations. Results: From the comparison made between the total sample of therapists and patients on a set of investigated variables (quality of interaction/communication, sharing, perception of setting, COVID selfdisclosure, perceived self-efficacy, impotence, frustration, optimism, willingness to continue online) it emerges that the group of therapists shows higher scores, with respect to the group of patients, on all the variables investigated, maintaining an optimistic attitude and a willingness to continue psychotherapy with online modality also following the quarantine. The comparison analysis between therapists with expertise and without, shows less impotence in the former than in the latter without previous experience in the online setting. Finally, interesting meaningful correlations emerge between the negative prejudice of the patients, the course of the therapy, the negative emotional experiences of the patient and the perception of the therapist during the therapy in online mode. Conclusions: This study highlights interesting results, highlighting the point of view of psychotherapists and patients on online psychotherapy. In this regard, there are some difficulties found in both therapists and patients. However, it highlights the difficulties encountered most in both therapists and patients. That is to say, the therapists' concerns about the perceived self-efficacy of the intervention, the quality of communication with their patients, greater in therapists without previous experience of online therapy. In addition, therapists see greater use of self-disclosure interventions than the COVID-19 issue and in response to perceived difficulties. Furthermore, the prejudice and negative beliefs of patients seem to have an influence on the perception of the quality of therapy. The study highlights the advantages of the online psychotherapy as functional to emergency management and as a possible alternative to the standard setting. It provides food for thought regarding the management of this type of setting emphasizing how the difficulties encountered are not only patients-experience-related but also therapists-experience-related, both forced by the emergency COVID-19 to adapt to this change of setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]