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Aim: This study aims to explore the experiences of individuals with chronic kidney disease (CKD) undergoing haemodialysis and their caregivers, focusing on the disease's impact and the treatment process. Background: In Sri Lanka, CKD is a growing health concern, particularly affecting farming communities and contributing to the strain on the biomedical healthcare system. Despite increasing awareness of CKD's physical implications, its psychosocial impact remains underexplored. This study seeks to fill this gap, aiming to inform culturally sensitive interventions and improve the healthcare system's responsiveness to the unique needs of Sinhala Buddhist individuals with CKD and their caregivers. Design: An exploratory qualitative study. Method: Semistructured interviews were conducted with 10 individuals undergoing haemodialysis and 5 caregivers at a dialysis unit. The interviews were audio‐recorded, transcribed and analysed using conventional qualitative content analysis. Findings: The analysis revealed three interrelated main themes: (1) impact on standard of living (quality of life), (2) coping strategies and (3) medical experience, with a notable influence of traditional beliefs and practices. Conclusion: The findings highlight the need for a holistic approach to CKD management that integrates physical, emotional, psychological and social aspects, considering the significant role of traditional influences. Further research is essential to develop effective interventions that can enhance the quality of life for CKD. Patient or Public Contribution: The lived experiences of Sinhala Buddhist individuals with CKD and their caregivers served as a cornerstone, providing profound insights into the impact of the condition on their lives. Throughout the study, these participants played an instrumental role in refining the research's cultural sensitivity and relevance. Their engagement extended beyond the data collection phase to encompass feedback sessions, where they actively shared their perspectives. This ongoing collaboration ensured the study's depth and applicability to real‐world experiences. By actively involving those directly affected by CKD, this collaborative approach safeguards that the study remains rooted in their voices and addresses their unique needs. Reporting Method: This study adhered to relevant EQUATOR guidelines (the COREQ checklist). Trial Registration: This study is not a clinical trial, and thus, registration is not applicable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) can be identified as one of the non-communicable diseases (NCDs) which affect millions of people worldwide, including in Sri Lanka and Poland. The prevalence of CKD has been rising over the last three decades due to the identification of CKD with unknown etiology and the increment of NCDs such as hypertension and diabetes mellitus among the Sri Lankan population. Poland can be identified as a European country that has 4 million patients with CKD, which is the second most common chronic disease in the country. CKD is associated with the physical, economic, psychological, and social burden on patients and their caregivers. The current study is aimed to investigate the psychosocial well-being of CKD patients and their caregivers in Sri Lanka and Poland. The current study is a mixed-method study aimed to investigate the psychosocial well-being of individuals with chronic kidney disease undergoing hemodialysis and their caregivers in Sri Lanka and Poland. Participants in the quantitative part of the project will be individuals with chronic kidney disease undergoing hemodialysis from Sri Lanka (n  =  63) and Poland (n  =  63) who are currently undergoing hemodialysis treatment. Kidney Disease Quality of LifeSort Form, Beck Depression Scale, Test of Self-Conscious Affect, The Courtauld Emotional Control Scale, Acceptance of Illness Scale, and a demographic and medical information sheet will be used in both Sri Lankan and Polish samples. Apart from that, the qualitative phase of the study will involve semi-structured interviews with individuals diagnosed with CKD, selected randomly from the initial part of the research, and their close relatives. Notably, the participant count will remain undetermined, as this approach addresses the inherent challenges of exploratory research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There are usually multiple factors underlying dementia in old age. Somatic comorbidity is one important element that influences the progression of cognitive impairment. Objective: The goal of this study was to assess the relationship between the progression of cognitive impairment and the presence and severity of comorbidities based on a four-year observation. Material: Out of 128 patients from the Clinic for Outpatients in Gdansk, who were recruited into the study based on the criteria of the Working Group on Mild Cognitive Impairment, a total of 93 participants completed the four-year observation. Only the data from participants who completed the full period of observations were analysed. The mean age of the group was M = 75.93 (SD = 9.43). The level of progression of cognitive impairment was measured using the Clinical Dementia Rating Scale -- Sum of Boxes, the severity of comorbidities was measured using the modified Cumulative Illness Rating Scale, and, additionally, at the time of inclusion in the study, participants were assessed using the MMSE scale and the Activity Scale, and sociodemographic data were collected. The Generalized Estimating Equations method was employed to fit a marginal model for analyzing the data collected in a repeated measures design. The tested model elucidated the role of the overall severity of comorbidities in explaining the progression of cognitive impairment, while controlling for everyday activity and basic demographic variables. Results: During the four-year observation, a significant decline in cognitive function (B = 1.86, p < 0.01) was observed in the examined sample. The statistical analysis revealed that individuals with higher overall severity of comorbidities exhibited significantly more pronounced progression of cognitive impairment over time. Regarding particular comorbidities, metabolic diseases were found to be associated with a poorer prognosis (rho = 0.41, p < 0.05). Furthermore, a time physical activity interaction was identified as predicting cognitive impairment, indicating that individuals who were more physically active at the beginning of the study exhibited significantly less pronounced progression of cognitive impairment over the course of the 4 years. Conclusion: This study suggests the important roles of comorbidities and physical activity for the prognosis of mild cognitive impairment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Surrogacy is one of the options in reproductive medicine that raises a lot of ethical, legal and psychological controversy. Surveying attitudes toward surrogacy plays an important role in building awareness of this phenomenon in the society, which may help eliminate its stigma. In this study authors aimed to develop and validate a scale to assess the attitudes towards surrogacy. Methods: In this study cross-sectional design was implemented. Development process of the Attitude towards Surrogacy Scale (ATSS) included items development based on literature reviews, other existing questionnaires, confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), and reliability analysis using internal consistence coefficients. A pilot study using adult members of the public was conducted after consultation with the Expert Advisory Panel Board. The final survey, which was used in this study, consisted of 24 items, which were organized into the four subscales: general opinion on surrogacy and its social context (7 items), financing and legalizing surrogacy (8 items), the acceptance of surrogacy (4 items), and attitudes towards the intended parents and children born through surrogacy (5 items). 442 individuals participated in this study. Results: The final version of Attitude towards Surrogacy Scale (ATSS) consists of 15 items, grouped in three subscales. Final version of the ATSS showed that the three-factor model indicated an acceptable model fit: Chi-square = 320.46, p < 0.01, df = 87, CFI = 0.94, TLI = 0.92, RMSEA = 0.078 (90% C.I.: 0.070–0.086), SRMR = 0.040 Reliability was assessed by calculating the McDonald's omega that ranged from 0.74 for the Surrogacy ethical context subscale to 0.94 for the overall ATSS score. Conclusion: ATSS was developed to measure general attitude toward surrogacy with satisfying psychometric properties. The analysis of socio-demographic variables with ATSS showed that the most significant predictor of the general attitude towards surrogacy, and three aspects of surrogacy was being a religious person (profess a Catholic religion or profess another religion). Plain English Summary: Surrogacy—is one of the most controversial methods of infertility treatment. This concept is associated with difficult ethical, psychological and social issues, in which each aspect may lead to different trends in attitudes. The study of attitudes in society plays an important role in the analysis of various aspects of a given phenomenon, helps to fill legal gaps and ambiguities, and to transform controversial dimensions into normative concepts. Thus, this study aimed to develop and validate a scale to assess the attitudes towards surrogacy. The survey used in this study, consisted of 24 questions, which were organized into the four subscales: general opinion on surrogacy and its social context (7 items), financing and legalizing surrogacy (8 items), the acceptance of surrogacy (4 items), and attitudes towards the intended parents and children born through surrogacy (5 items). 442 individuals participated in this study. The final version of Attitude towards Surrogacy Scale consists of 15 questions, grouped in three subscales: opinion on surrogacy ethical context, financing and legalizing surrogacy, and an acceptance of surrogacy. This is the first scale in Poland for the assessment of general attitudes towards surrogacy. This measure allows to capture the opinions towards three aspects of surrogacy: surrogacy's ethical context, the financing and legalizing surrogacy, and acceptance of surrogacy. The scale can be addressed to various groups in the society, not only for studies related to reproductive medicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The primary outcome of the study was to evaluate the maternal adult attachment and maternal-fetal attachment (MFA) in the context of romantic relationship quality among mothers of preterm born children. Associations between MFA, maternal adult attachment, maternal perceived stress, depressive symptoms, social support in the neonatal period were also examined as secondary outcomes. Materials and methods: The study had a cross-sectional design and involved 260 of women after premature birth, who participated in the study in the early neonatal period. The following self-reported methods were used: Socio-demographic questionnaire, Attachment Styles Questionnaire (ASQ), Maternal-Fetal Attachment Scale (MFAS), The Perceived Stress Questionnaire (PSQ), The Dyadic Adjustment Scale (DAS), The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), The Social Support Questionnaire (SSQ). Results: The results showed that a secure attachment style is associated with a higher intensity of the MFA and consequently, a higher quality of the romantic relationship. Regression analysis presented that the higher the secure attachment score, the lower the perceived level of stress and depressive symptoms, which in turn lead to a higher quality of the partner relationship. Conclusion: Maternal secure attachment positively impacts the romantic relationship quality and the maternal-fetal attachment. The findings also draw attention to the role of the secure attachment style as a protective factor while coping with stress and depressive symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Parkinson's disease is a motor disease, the second most common neurodegenerative disorder with cardinal symptoms including bradykinesia, rigidity, and rest tremor accompanied by cognitive difficulties. The caregivers play a crucial role for individuals with Parkinson's disease; however, many of them may suffer from high caregiver burden and mental health deterioration. This protocol of a systematic review presents a methodology of the review about the impact of cognitive impairment of individuals with Parkinson's disease on their caregivers' mental health. Material and methods: Research will be identified by combining electronic databases searching and hand searching. The following databases will be included: Medline, PsycInfo, Web of Sciences, Cochrane, CINAHL, Embase and Scopus. The inclusion and exclusion criteria followed to PECOS model. The population of informal caregivers is defined as family members providing care on a patient with Parkinson's disease. Exposure is linked with the evaluation of a cognitive functioning and outcome is defined as mental health among caregivers of individuals with Parkinson's disease. We will include two types of studies: observational and intervention. Both, screening and eligibility will be done by two independent reviewers. Study quality will be assessed by two authors independently. Data will be extracted by two reviewers independently and will follow a pre-pilot extraction form. Any discrepancies will be resolved by discussion or/and consultation with another reviewer. The synthesis without meta-analysis (SWiM) guidelines will be used to report on included studies data. The metanalysis with usage the statistical software R version 4.1.2 (2021-11-01) "Bird Hippie" and R metaphor package 3.0–2 of will be conducted if possible. Discussion: The goal of this systematic review is to present the association between caregivers' mental health problems and their proteges' cognitive impairment. It will enable to identify the gaps in literature and its methodology giving the suggestions for further research. Protocol registration: Protocol registration number in PROSPERO: CRD42022296670 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multiple sclerosis is a progressive demyelinating disease of the central nervous system that can lead to permanent disability and significantly impact the quality of life. The present study explores the relationship between neurological disability and disease symptoms, quality of life, and the level of sense of coherence, which is an important resource for coping with the disease. EDSS, GNDS, SOC-29, and MSIS-29 were used in the presented study. The study group consisted of 137 people diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. The study showed the correlation between most of the analyzed variables. Mood disability and fatigue were significant predictors of the sense of coherence and explained 34% of its variance. Physical disability and fatigue served as significant predictors of the physical aspect of quality of life, explaining 49% of its variance. Fatigue and sense of coherence were significant predictors of the psychological aspect of quality of life, explaining 47% of the variance. In studies on a group of people with multiple sclerosis, it is worth considering, in addition to the level of disability, also invisible symptoms, such as fatigue or mood disability, which are important for the quality of life and the level of resources. As this study suggests, a sense of coherence is a resource essential for the quality of life of people with disabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Multiple sclerosis is a progressive, demyelinating illness of the central nervous system, which may lead to significant disability. Mental resiliency is a personal resource, which makes it easier to cope with difficult situations such as incurable chronic illness. Aim of the study was to verify the relationship between the level of disability, biomedical variables and resiliency in patients with multiple sclerosis. Material and methods: The Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), Guy's Neurological Disability Scale (GNDS), and the Resiliency Assessment Scale (SPP-25) were used in the presented study, in order to verify the relationship between neurological disability and resiliency. A total of 117 individuals diagnosed with multiple sclerosis took part in this study. Results: Resiliency was not significantly related with illness duration, age of diagnosis or motor disability measured by EDSS. However, selected resiliency subscales were associated with some neurological disability levels measured using GNDS. Of the symptoms of multiple sclerosis, the strongest relationship was observed between resiliency and mood disorders. In the present study there were no statistically significant differences in the resiliency levels between patients with different forms of multiple sclerosis. Conclusions: Both the disability itself and most of the symptoms of multiple sclerosis were not related to the level of mental resiliency. The exceptions are mood disorders, which explain only a small percentage of the variance in the case of one resiliency subscale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic is contributing to increased fear and anxiety throughout society, which may affect life satisfaction. Health-related hardiness and sense of coherence (SOC) are personal resources that help people adapt to difficult circumstances. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between fear of COVID-19, SOC, health-related hardiness, and life satisfaction. Methods: A total of 907 Polish people (522 women and 385 men) participated in this study. The Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FOC-6), the Health-Related Hardiness Scale, the Sense of Coherence Scale (SOC-29), and the Satisfaction with Life Scale were used. Results: Correlation showed that fear of COVID-19 was negatively related to health-related hardiness, SOC, and life satisfaction. Health-related hardiness and SOC were positively related to life satisfaction. Both SOC and hardiness were mediators between fear of COVID-19 and life satisfaction during the current pandemic. Conclusion: SOC and health-related hardiness are personal resources that are important for dealing with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. According to our study, SOC and hardiness can mediate between fear of COVID-19 and life satisfaction. Presented cross-sectional results have to be verified in future longitudinal studies in order to strengthen the conclusions presented in this manuscript. This study verified the role of only two personal resources, so more research is needed on the role of other personal resources during COVID-19 pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This perspective article aims to present insights into an initiative to provide free psychological support to students at the University of Gdańsk (UG) – one of the first universities in Poland to offer such help – during the first major COVID-19 pandemic lockdown in March 2020. We begin by introducing key psychological consequences of the pandemic, with particular emphasis on university students, according to Pandemic Management Theory (PMT). Next, we highlight the most significant challenges reported to us by the students in response to the support initiative and applied psychological interventions (including psychoeducation, relaxation, arranging day plans, taking care of relationships, and "just" talking). We conclude by reflecting on the challenges for mental health posed by the COVID-19 pandemic as well as the outcome of our initiative – the creation of the Academic Psychological Support Centre at the University of Gdańsk. These insights and lessons learned from developing our practice can help enhance the effectiveness of future psychological support programs through the pandemic and beyond. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study explored a multidimensional model of the relationships between social media use, gender, peer bullying victimization experiences, and the onset of anxiety symptoms among children. We hypothesized that greater experience of bullying would be associated with greater onset of anxiety. We also expected that gender and social media use (specifically Instagram and YouTube) would be linked with anxiety among elementary school children. To test this hypothesis, a structural equation modeling approach was used. Methods: A total of 456 elementary children aged 11–13 years from nine schools were recruited for this research. We used two psychological measures: The Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders (SCARED) and the Personal Experience Checklist (PECK) as well as a sociodemographic questionnaire (general demographic information and social media-related information). Results: The social media usage survey found that all participants (100%) used social media. Instagram (52.42%) and YouTube (47.58%) were the platforms most used by the participants. The Structural Equation Model results suggest that bullying victimization and gender predicted the onset of anxiety in elementary school children. The model explained 32.1% of the variance of the outcome with very adequate fit indicators based on most indices, χ2 = 173.56, df = 52, p < 0.001; CFI = 0.92; TLI = 0.94; RMSEA = 0.07 (90% CI: 0.06–0.08). Instagram use was correlated positively with generalized anxiety disorder. Gender was negatively correlated with Instagram use and positively correlated with YouTube use. Girls were found to use Instagram more and boys were found to use YouTube more. It was also found that girls had higher scores onSCARED dimensions, except for school avoidance. Girls were more prone to onset of anxiety than boys, except for school avoidance, which was not related to gender. Boys were found to experience significantly more physical bullying than girls. On the other hand, girls were found to experience more panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, separation anxiety disorder, and social anxiety than boys. Conclusion: This study found that bullying victimization significantly influences the onset of anxiety in children. Particular attention should be paid to cyberbullying in this context. This study also found a link between gender and anxiety—girls had a greater tendency to experience the onset of various types of anxiety, including panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, separation anxiety disorder, and social anxiety. Gender was also correlated with the form of bullying victimization. The findings of this study suggest that boys were more likely to experience physical bullying than girls. Interestingly, we found that Instagram use was significantly correlated with developing separation anxiety. In particular, children demonstrated school avoidance when experiencing cyberbullying. Limitations and future directions are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction : Parental postpartum bonding has been studied by many researchers focusing on maternal bonding. The objective of this study was to examine the psychological and socio-demographic predictors of paternal postpartum bonding in the early postpartum period. Methods : In this cross-sectional study, 131 couples (fathers median age of 32.37 years, SD = 4.59; mothers median age of 30.23 years, SD = 3.90) of newborns from full-term pregnancies were recruited from November 2019 until March 2020. The primary outcome was paternal postpartum bonding as measured by the Postpartum Bonding Questionnaire (PBQ). Secondary outcomes included: maternal and paternal anxiety [with the Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) Assessment]; maternal and paternal stress [with the Parental Stress Scale (PSS)]; maternal depressive symptoms [with the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (EPDS)]; and maternal and paternal socio-demographic variables as fathers' presence at childbirth, education level, age, and parental experience. Results : Paternal postpartum bonding was significantly correlated with paternal anxiety (moderate strength), maternal stress (strong correlation), and maternal postpartum bonding. No significant correlations between paternal postpartum bonding, maternal depression symptoms, and maternal anxiety were found. The mediating role of paternal stress in paternal postpartum bonding was proven. Paternal anxiety strengthens paternal stress (b = 0.98). Further, a high level of paternal stress disrupts paternal postpartum bonding (b = 0.41). Results of regression analyses have revelated that maternal infant bonding (p < 0.01) and paternal stress (p < 0.01) are the only predictors of parental postpartum bonding across all included variables. None of investigated socio-demographic variables were associated with paternal postpartum bonding. Conclusion : Notwithstanding limitations, the current findings add to a growing body of literature on paternal postpartum bonding. The results have shown that paternal mental health is related to parental postpartum bonding directly after delivery. Clinical Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04118751. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) anxiety and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms in the hospital staff, as well as to identify protective factors of COVID-19 anxiety once the coronavirus pandemic was announced in Poland. Methods: 90 healthcare workers from the hospital in Poland completed validated self-report questionnaires assessing self-efficacy, emotional control, and PTSD symptoms; a questionnaire assessing COVID-19 anxiety; and a socio-demographic questionnaire. A multiple linear regression was conducted to assess the effects of gender, being directly vs indirectly exposed to patients, and general self-efficacy on COVID-19 anxiety. Results: The analysis showed that female (β = −0.271, p < 0.01) healthcare professionals indirectly exposed to patients (β = −0.336, p < 0.01) and those who reported lower levels of general self-efficacy (β = −0.295, p < 0.01) have a stronger tendency to experience COVID-19 anxiety [ R 2 = 0.301, F (3,89) = 12.34, p < 0.01]. Conclusion: The findings show the importance of self-efficacy for dealing with COVID-19 anxiety. The internal coping strategies should be introduced to healthcare workers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Psychological studies undertaken during the COVID-19 pandemic rarely include people in their 60s or older. In our study, we studied the predictors of quality of life, well-being, and life satisfaction (including risky behavior, trait anxiety, feeling of threat, sleep quality, and optimism) during the pandemic in older people from Germany and Poland and compared them to three different age groups. Methods: A total of 494 adults in four groups−60+ (N = 60), 50–60 (N = 139), 36–49 (N = 155), <35 (N = 140)—completed validated self-report questionnaires assessing: socio-demographic data, quality of life, trait anxiety, risk tolerance, Coronavirus threat, optimism regarding the pandemic, difficulty relaxing, life satisfaction, well-being, and sleep quality during the pandemic period. Results: Older people rated their quality of life higher than did young (mean difference=0.74, SE =0.19, p < 0.01) and middle-aged (mean difference=0.79, SE =0.18, p < 0.01) participants, rated their life satisfaction higher than young (mean difference=1.23, SE = 0.31, p < 0.01) and middle-aged (mean difference=0.92, SE = 0.30, p < 0.05) participants, and rated their well-being higher than young (mean difference=1.40, SE = 0.31, p < 0.01) and middle-aged (mean difference=0.91, SE = 0.31, p < 0.05) participants. They also experienced lower levels of trait anxiety and Coronavirus threat (mean difference=-9.19, SE = 1.90, p < 0.01) than the younger age groups. They experienced greater risk tolerance (mean difference=1.38, SE =0.33, p < 0.01), sleep quality (F =1.25; eta 2 = 0.01), and optimism (F = 1.96; eta 2 = 0.01), and had less difficulty relaxing during the pandemic (F = 3.75; eta 2 = 0.02) than middle-aged respondents. Conclusions: Quality of life, life satisfaction, and well-being during the pandemic is affected by age, trait anxiety, and Coronavirus threat. Older people rated their quality of life, life satisfaction, and well-being during pandemic higher than young people, and experienced lower levels of trait anxiety and Coronavirus threat than the younger age groups. They experienced greater risk tolerance, sleep quality, and optimism, and had less difficulty relaxing than middle-aged respondents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Background: This paper discussed a case study of a 15-year-old girl who had had a hemorrhagic stroke, caused by arteriovenous malformation. A brain arteriovenous malformation is a defect in the vascular system, a tangle of abnormal blood vessels connecting arteries and veins in the brain. The patient attended regularly neuropsychological rehabilitation and several various therapeutic methods were applied. Material/Methods: A neuropsychological diagnosis was performed before and after therapy. The first assessment showed some cognitive disturbances: difficulties in the organization of memorized ma terial, difficulties in maintaining attention and deficits in abstract thinking. Furthermore there were observed emotional problems: depression and high perfectionism. The patient participated in individual therapy lasting one year. The program was directed toward cognitive and emotional difficulties. Results: As a result, there was observed an improvement in consequent cognitive functions: organization of memorized material, working memory, abstract thinking and verbal fluency. The emotional state was stable. Conclusions: It is important that the therapy should be holistic and includes all aspects of the patient's functioning, which may have an influence on the final result of rehabilitation. One of the most important aims of the therapy psychologist was an acceptance of the disease. The cognitive tasks can also include psychological and therapeutic exercises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim. To investigate the likelihood of postpartum depression and to explore maternal characteristics in terms of personality, social support and other medical and psychological data. Method. A sample of 548 patients was investigated 4 weeks and 3 months after delivery. They responded to questionnaires containing sociodemographic questions: the EPDS (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale), the PHQ-9 (Patient Health Questionnaire-9), the NEO-FFI (Personality Inventory), and the BSSS (Berlin Social Support Scales). Results. Probable depression any time during first 3 months postpartum was prevalent among 6.38% of women, based on the following criteria: EPDS > 12 points and PHQ-9 > 9 points. A score of EPDS > 9 in the first week after delivery (ORa = 4.16; CI 1.59-10.86), a history of hospitalisation during pregnancy (ORa = 3.51; CI 1.32-9.20), a high level of neuroticism (ORa = 1.37; CI 1.05-1.77), and high buffering-protective social support (ORa = 2.56; 1.25-5.23) were significantly associated with depressive symptoms. Potential protective factors were initial breastfeeding (ORa = 0.31; CI 0.11-0.90) and high satisfaction with currently received social support (ORa = 0.41; CI 0.22-0.79). The total dropout rate was 23%. Conclusions. New mothers who are neurotic and who suffered from physical or mental problems during pregnancy and puerperium might experience depressive symptoms more easily. They would also protect those close to them from negative information about themselves. A lack of initial breastfeeding and unsatisfactory social support played a similar role. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This paper investigates the connections in pregnant women between their mother attachment style and their self-image as a mother, the image of their mother as a mother, and their bond with the unborn child. Background: The relationship with one's mother plays a crucial role in the process of becoming a mother. It influences what a pregnant woman thinks about herself as a mother. This relationship is a predictor of the bond with the child during the pregnancy. Methods: This research was participated in by 165 pregnant women. They completed the following: a modified version of the Experiences in Close Relationships (ECR) questionnaire, investigating a mother's attachment to her own mother; the Adjective Check List (ACL), developed by Gough and Heilbrun; the Maternal-Fetal Attachment Scale (MFAS); and a sociodemographic survey. Results: A mother's attachment style is connected with the need for autonomy, as measured by the ACL, and with 'assuming a parental role' in the MFAS questionnaire. The strongest connection was found between a mother's attachment style and the image of one's own mother as a mother. Statistically-significant correlations were found for 32 of 37 scales on the ACL. Conclusion: Attachment style exerts influence upon a mother's selfimage, the image of one's own mother as a mother and the bond with the unborn child. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to investigate the degree of risk of maternal postpartum depression during the second month of puerperium.MethodIn total, 387 postnatal women filled out a questionnaire concerning their health and social status, as well as the following tests: the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), the Neo Five-Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI) Personality Inventory and the Berlin Social Support Scales. After 4–8 weeks, patients responded to another questionnaire with the EPDS and the PHQ-9.ResultsIn total, 48 patients (12.40%) were found to be at risk of postpartum depression between the fourth and eighth weeks after delivery. Premenstrual syndrome [adjusted odds ratio (ORa)=2.93, confidence interval (CI) 1.30–6.63] and EPDS>12 points during the first week after the delivery (ORa=3.74, CI 1.59–9.04) increased the risk of postnatal depression. A similar role is played by a high result in neuroticism scale of the NEO-FFI (ORa=1.50, CI 1.17–1.92) and a positive family history of any psychiatric disorder (ORa=1.03, CI 1.01–1.06).ConclusionA history of premenstrual syndrome and a higher risk of affective disorder soon after a childbirth are associated with greater chances of depressive symptoms in the second month postpartum. This is also the case if a patient is neurotic and has a relative with a history of any psychiatric disorder. Such women should have their mental status carefully evaluated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The subject literature identifies many predictors of a feeling of burden, yet it often ignores aspects of the psychological and social functioning of caregivers, i.e., resources for efficiently coping with a difficult situation. This study aimed to verify the predictors of a feeling of burden experienced by the caregivers of individuals suffering from Parkinson's disease, taking into account the cognitive functioning of the patients as well as the psychological resources and social competences of the caregivers themselves. Material/Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 20 individuals suffering from Parkinson's disease and their caregivers. It included a neuropsychiatric examination of the patients, with a special focus on executive functions, as well as an assessment of the psychological and social resources of their caregivers using standard psychometric methods. Self esteem was measured using the SES scale and sense of coherence was measured using SOC-29. Results: The statistical analysis included correlation analysis and multiple hierarchical regression. The duration of the disease as well as cognitive impairments, especially executive dysfunction, are significant predictors of a feeling of burden. A high sense of coherence is associated with a positive assessment of one's own resources in the context of coping with a difficult situation. Conclusions: The feeling of burden experienced by caregivers of individuals suffering from neurodegenerative disorders is a complex phenomenon, composed of many factors. The predictors discussed in this study point to various individual differences in the psychological resources possessed by caregivers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The aim of this research, based on 7 years of observations, was to assess the relationship between the dynamics of changes in the realm of cognitive functions in the early stages of observations and the presence of neuropsychiatric symptoms as well as further progression of cognitive function impairments in people diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment (MCI).Material and Methods: One hundred and ninety three individuals were included in the study, all of whom referred themselves to the Mental Health Clinic and were diagnosed with MCI based on the criteria of the Working Group on MCI. It was assumed that these individuals would be subjected to systematic psychiatric and neuropsychological observation until they were diagnosed with dementia. This report concerns a completed 7-year period of these observations. Participants were assessed based on the following scales: MMSE, NPI and GDS.Results: The obtained results indicate statistically significant differences between groups of subjects at the time of inclusion in the study, regarding the frequency of occurrence and severity of the following categories of impairments: thought impairments (p < 0.001), arousal/aggression (p < 0.001), depression/dysphoria (p < 0.001), disinhibition (p < 0.03), irritability/lability (p < 0.001), abnormal motor behaviors (p < 0.02), as well as sleep and night-time behavior disorders (p < 0.01) Moreover, individuals who developed dementia during observation exhibited greater progression in cognitive function impairment assessed with the MMSE scale in the first year of observation (p < 0.01).Conclusions: The accruing of cognitive function impairments and the presence of neuropsychiatric symptoms seem to be important risk factors for the development of dementia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: A stroke is an interruption in the course of one's life. It often results in physical disability, cognitive or executive disorders, emotional problems and, as a consequence, the decrease of one's quality of life. The goal of this research was to determine whether music therapy during neurorehabilitation can positively influence the assessment of one's quality of life after a stroke. PARTICIPANTS AND PROCEDURE: Sixty-one people who had had strokes and were in the early stages of neurorehabilitation in a hospital took part in the research (n = 31 in the control group and n = 30 in the experimental group). All of them were physically disabled and had either minor cognitive and executive disabilities or none at all. People were randomly assigned to groups. Those in the experimental group participated in a one-onone music therapy programme divided into 10 sessions based on guided imagery music therapy and cognitive music therapy. The first measurement of quality of life took place at the beginning of the hospital stay at the department of neurorehabilitation (about 1 month after the stroke) and the second took place about 1.5 months later. RESULTS: Analysis of the results showed that participation in the music therapy programme was associated with a higher assessment of quality of life in the following aspects: general health, vitality, mental health, communication, emotional condition, and alertness. However, taking part in the music therapy had no influence on the assessment of quality of life in the areas of pain, limitation of social roles, relationships, self-care, mobility, and taking care of the house. CONCLUSIONS: Stroke survivors who took part in music therapy assess their quality of life as higher compared to patients who did not take part in music therapy. Music therapy could constitute a supplementary method of treatment for patients during neurorehabilitation after a stroke, thus improving their quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: There are many studies on the influence of psychological factors in the appearance of symptoms and their treatment among gastroenterological patients. It is increasingly indicated that these factors are of great importance also for the quality of life of people struggling with a chronic disease. Aim: To evaluate personality traits and emotional disorders in female patients with gastrointestinal conditions such as functional dyspepsia (FD), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), or inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Material and methods: The sample of 28 patients was verified in terms of the disease using the GAST questionnaire and assessed by personality questionnaires and psychological tests: the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), EAS Temperament Survey, Eysenck Personality Inventory (EPQ-R), Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations (CISS); Beliefs about Pain Control Questionnaire (BPCQ), General Self-efficacy Scale (GSES), and Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS). Results: The control group was recruited from female university students declaring full health. The conducted statistical analysis showed that there is a significant relationship between personality traits, psychological predispositions, and both the experience of illness and satisfaction with life among this specific group of patients. Conclusions: This pilot study demonstrated the need for a personalized approach to gastroenterological patients, also based on their personality characteristics. Such an approach may increase the effectiveness of therapy and bring benefits in long-term treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to analyze the specificity and dynamics of psychomotor development in children from triplet pregnancy. The studied group was composed of siblings from triple pregnancy (T1, T2, T3), including two girls and one boy. This longitudinal study comprised three stages: stage I - children aged 25 months, stage II - children aged 29 months, and stage III - children aged 38 months. At each stage, the psychomotor development of children was examined with the Third Edition of Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development (BSID-III) and subjectively by their mother. Additionally, medical and nursing documentation was analyzed. Individual psychomotor development of children from triple pregnancy is different with regards to various spheres, and has different rates and dynamics throughout consecutive years. Psychomotor development of children from triple pregnancies is determined by gender and postnatal clinical parameters, i.e. birth weight, head circumference, postnatal morbidity, and prematurity-related conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The prevalence of triplet pregnancies is estimated to be at about 0.7% of all pregnancies, however, their number is constantly increasing. Deficits of psychomotor development pertain both to premature children from singleton pregnancies and to those from twin and triple pregnancies. Consequently, these three risk groups deserve special attention. The aim of the research was to show the specificity and dynamics of a mother's perception of triplet siblings born prematurely in 2009 in one of the hospitals in Gdansk, aged 24, 29 and 38 months. Case study: The studied cases comprised siblings from a triple pregnancy (T1, T2, T3), including two girls and one boy. This longitudinal study consisted of three stages: stage I - children aged 25 months, stage II - children aged 29 months, and stage III - children aged 38 months. At each stage, psychomotor development of the children was evaluated subjectively by their mother using the Socila-emotional and Adaptive Behaviors Questionnaire. Additionally, medical and nursing documentation was analyzed at stage I, and an interview was obtained. Results: A qualitative analysis of the results has revealed that the mother perceives the development of each child differently. Her perception was affected first of all by the health condition due to the children differentiation process and the intensification of the differences among them. It is observed that in case of triplet siblings the differentiation has been present since the first years of life and it has always been a dynamic process, one conditioned by many factors. The children's state of health in early childhood was conditioned by the multi-fetal pregnancy, as well as the premature termination of the pregnancy. Conclusions: The mother perceives the development of each sibling triplet differently. The child's state of medical health affects the mother's perception. Having triplet siblings with different states of medical health as well as three children of the same age affects the process of differentiating children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Vascular changes are observed in most cases of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Observations of AD and vascular disease (VD) allow us to surmise that vascular changes may not only affect cognitive impairment in AD but may also have a negative influence on the neuropsychiatric symptoms which often occur in the course of the disease. The aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of vascular factors on the neuropsychiatric symptoms in Alzheimer's Disease. Material and methods: The study included 48 people with a preliminary diagnosis of Alzheimer's Disease on the basis of NINCDS/ADRDA criteria. The evaluation of impairments in cognitive functioning was carried out by means of the Alzheimer Disease Assessment Scale - the cognitive part (ADAS - cog), whereas the behavioural and psychological symptoms were evaluated by means of the Neuropsychiatric Inventory - the version adapted for residents of nursing homes for the elderly (Neuropsychiatric Inventory - Nursing Home Version) (NPI - NH). The score on the Hachinski scale was the basis for dividing the study participants into two groups - those with a mild vascular component (0-1 points on the Hachinski scale) and those with a severe vascular component (2-4 points). Results: The analyzed groups did not differ with respect to the intensity of cognitive impairments (ADAS-cog) or age of the participants. Scores obtained on the NPI - NH scale as well as some of its elements (depression/dysphoria and anxiety) had a discriminating value. Studies show that vascular factors are a serious risk factor for neuropsychiatric symptoms in AD. Conclusions: Vascular factors in Alzheimer's Disease influence the presence of neuropsychiatric symptoms. In the course of angiogenic dementia a greater frequency in depressive disorders was shown. The most visible differences between individuals with a greater and lesser burden of vascular factors was in the realm of depressive and dysphoric disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The goal of our study was to examine the functioning of a family with a child who has Rubenstein-Taybi syndrome (RSTS) in respect to the quality of life (QOL) of the child's parents. We used measures associated with the parents' QOL, an evaluation of the child's psychomotor development and temperament, sociodemographic variables, and psychological variables, such as parental attitudes and coping styles. Material/Methods: We used our own clinical history questionnaire; participatory observation; analysis of medical documentation; the Self-Anchoring Ladder; the Satisfaction with Life Scale; the Good Marriage Questionnaire; the Parental Attitudes Scale; the Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations; the Emotionality, Activity, and Shyness temperament questionnaire; and the Bayley Scales of Infant Development - Third Edition. Results: The child's disability affects the parents' QOL negatively. In this case, the child's mother subjectively evaluates marital functioning at a lower level than does the father. Parental attitudes and coping styles differ in the two parents: the mother shows emotional/avoidance behavior, while the father is more task-oriented. The mother's attitude towards the child is more negative, especially in terms of non-acceptance, rejection, denial of autonomy, and inconsistency. Both parents display an adequate level of care and concern. Conclusions: The parents of an RSTS child require particular support, which should encompass the entire family system. This support should be predicated on an analysis of the family's available resources, as well as the barriers and difficulties that prevent them from fulfilling their roles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim. The goal of this study was to evaluate the influence of vascular factors on the psychopathology of Alzheimer's Disease. Material. The study included 50 people with a DSM-IV diagnosis of Alzheimer's Disease who met the following criteria: they agreed to take part in the study, they had a caregiver who could provide the researchers with all the necessary biographical details about their lives. Methods. The patients were evaluated with the use of the following scales: Alzheimer Disease Assessment Scale -- cognitive part (ADAS -- cog) and non-cognitive part (ADAS-ncog), Montgomery-Asberg Depression Scale (MADRS), Instrumental Activity of Daily Living (IADL). Additionally, patients were evaluated by means of the AMDP scale and Hachinski's Ischemic Scale, the score on which was the basis for dividing the study group into those patients who had a minor vascular component (score on Hachinski's scale was 0 -- 1 points) and a major vascular component (2 -- 4 points). Results. Statistically significant differences were found between people who had a minor vascular component and those who had a major vascular component. These differences were related to somatic symptoms and orientation, thought disorders, emotional disturbances and "other" symptoms. Conclusion. In summary, we must mention that the presence of vascular factors did affect the clinical profile in people diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease. Studies show that vascular factors do not exacerbate the depth of dementia itself but are related to the occurrence of non-cognitive symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(1) Background: This study compared anterior attentional–intentional system performance between three groups: Parkinson's disease (PD) patients with normal cognition (PD-NC), with mild cognitive impairment (PD-MCI), and a comparison group (CG). It also evaluated the feasibility of the recruitment and study procedures; (2) Methods: From 45 participants recruited, 39 were allocated (mean age 65.31; 43.59% men) to PD-NC, PD-MCI and CG (13 per group). To assess attention, we used three tasks from the ROtman–Baycrest Battery for Investigating Attention: Simple Reaction time (RT), Choice RT, and Prepare RT. We conducted a mixed-model analysis of variance with a 3 (groups) × 4 (tasks) design to compare reaction times; (3) Results: PD-MCI had slower reaction times than PD-NC (p = 0.028) and the CG (p = 0.052); there was no difference between PD-NC and CG. PD-MCI might perform worse on monitoring tasks than PD-NC, Z = −1.68, p = 0.092. Nearly half the volunteers from the CG and 87% of all eligible patients were enrolled in the study and completed all neuropsychological procedures; (4) Conclusions: General cognitive decline appears related to partial deficits in energization and tends to impair attentional monitoring. Furthermore, PD-NC exhibited similar reaction times to the CG. Results from the feasibility study contributed to the definitive study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND Self-efficacy expresses the individual's belief in their ability to take up and continue actions in order to achieve a particular result and cope with various life events. For people with multiple sclerosis (MS), self-efficacy is an important resource because it affects how they adapt to the disease, and influences their motivation, health-related behavior and physical activity. It also has a great impact on their quality of life. Because of the lack of tools for measuring self-efficacy in Polish patients with multiple sclerosis, the goal of the current study was to develop a Polish language version of the Liverpool Self-efficacy Scale (LSES) and assess its validity and reliability. PARTICIPANTS AND PROCEDURE A total of 175 people diagnosed with MS took part in the study. A Polish version of the LSES, the Sense of Coherence Questionnaire (SOC-29), the Resiliency Assessment Scale (SPP-25), the Health-Related Hardiness Scale (HRHS), the Acceptance of Illness Scale (AIS) and the Multiple Sclerosis Impact Scale were applied. RESULTS Confirmatory factor analysis, reliability analysis using α and ω coefficients, and two measures of validity (content and criterion validity) were used in order to validate psychometric properties of the Polish version of the LSES. Our analyses confirmed a good fit of the one-factor and twofactor models. CONCLUSIONS The results indicate that the Polish version of the LSES is a useful and valuable tool for assessing levels of self-efficacy in Polish patients with multiple sclerosis. The scale can be used for both clinical and research purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]