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This study explored the associations between personality dimensions, burnout, and psychopathology in healthcare professionals in intensive care units (ICUs). This study further aimed to discern the differences in these relationships when considering the variables of critical care experience (less than 5 years, 5–10 years, and more than 10 years), profession (nurses versus intensivists), and the urban size of the city where the ICU is located (metropolitan cities versus smaller urban cities). This cross-sectional investigation's outcomes are based on data from 503 ICU personnel, including 155 intensivists and 348 nurses, in 31 ICU departments in Greece. Participants underwent a comprehensive assessment involving a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQ), the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI), and the Symptom Checklist-90 (SCL-90). To analyze the interplay among critical care experience, burnout status, and psychopathology, a moderation analysis was conducted with personality dimensions (i.e., psychoticism, extraversion, and neuroticism) serving as the mediator variable. Profession and the urban size of the ICU location were considered as moderators influencing these relationships. Male healthcare professionals showed higher psychoticism levels than females, aligning with prior research. Experienced nurses reported lower personal achievement, hinting at potential motivation challenges for professional growth. Psychoticism predicted high depersonalization and low personal achievement. Neuroticism and psychoticism negatively impacted ICU personnel's mental well-being, reflected in elevated psychopathology scores and burnout status. Psychoticism appears to be the primary factor influencing burnout among the three personality dimensions, particularly affecting intensivists. In contrast, nurses are more influenced by their critical care experience on their mental health status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Studies have shown an association between intensive care unit environments and symptoms of psychological distress in family members of critically ill patients. Objective To investigate levels of cardiac anxiety in family members of intensive care unit patients. Methods From March 2012 to July 2013, on the third day after the patient's admission, 223 family members of 147 patients completed the Cardiac Anxiety Questionnaire. A total score was calculated from 3 subscales: fear and worry about heart sensations, avoidance of activities reproducing cardiac symptoms, and heart-focused attention and monitoring of cardiac activity. Results Among the family members, 142 were women (63.7%) and 81 (36.3%) were men, 150 (67.3%) were married, and 37 (16.6%) were unemployed. Their mean score for overall cardiac anxiety was 1.11 (SD, 0.64), significantly higher (P< .001 ) than for the general Greek population. Although all 3 subscales scores were significantly higher than for the general population, the highest score was recorded for the avoidance subscale (mean, 1.77; SD, 0.68).The relationship to the patient had a significant effect on heart-focused attention (F5 = 3.51; P=.03).The mean score for patients' siblings (2.0; SD, 0.01) differed significantly (P=.02) from the mean for other family member groups. Older adults (P=.02) and married participants (P=.05) reported higher levels of fear and worry related to cardiac stimuli, and women further reported higher levels of cardioprotective avoidance behavior (P=.02). Conclusions A noticeable number of family members of critical care patients had moderate to severe cardiac anxiety during the hospitalization of their relatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a study to explore the patterns of help-seeking among a representative sample of homeless people living in Greater Athens area and the port of Pireaus. Topics discussed include the 3 parts of the interview including demographic data, psychiatric examination and help-seeking-related issues, the status of homelessness and help-seeking of the mentally ill people as a complex phenomenon and the main barriers to care among the homeless mentally ill including economic factors.

Aim: This study aimed to investigate the effects of childhood trauma on hostility, family functioning and narcissism in adulthood. 595 healthy individuals participated, classified into two groups--trauma and no-trauma--based on experienced traumatic events. Methodology: The Hostility and Direction of Hostility Questionnaire, the Aggression subscale of The Symptom Checklist-90-R, the Family Environment Scale and The Narcissistic Personality Inventory were administered. Results: Higher levels of hostility (p=.040) and aggression (p=.041) were observed among participants reported exposure to a traumatic event. Apart from the conflict subscale (p=.018), no dysfunctional family environment was found. Narcissistic traits did not differ between the two groups (p=.199). Logistic regression models found that participants experienced childhood trauma had a higher risk of overall hostility (OR=0.92, 95% CI=.89-.99). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study assesses the psychometric properties and factor structure of the Greek version of the Cardiac Anxiety Questionnaire (CAQ). The questionnaire was administered to 598 healthy individuals from 15 different regions of Greece with a measure of socioeconomic characteristics and the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R). The sample was split into two random halves, and exploratory factor analysis indicated a three-factor solution. This solution was tested using a confirmatory factor analysis on the second half of the sample. In terms of latent dimensions, the Greek version retains the three-factor structure as proposed by the initial authors. However, adequate fit was achieved only after omitting eight items. The shorter (10-item) version was submitted to further analysis. The shorter version provided satisfactory internal reliability and evidence indicating the validity of the scale with respect to SCL-90-R subscales. The stability of the questionnaire was verified by a high test-retest reliability over a 3-mo. period (r = .86). Sex and age differences were assessed. The 10-item version appears to be a practical, brief tool for clinical use.