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Objective: A combination of hereditary dispositions and adverse environmental factors are involved in the development of most mental disorders. The study aimed to assess associations between various forms of childhood adversity and long-term anxiety in the population and disorders from the spectrum of neurotic, stress and somatoform disorders in adulthood. Research sample and methods: The following were selected from a representative sample of the Czech Republic (n = 1800, 48.7% men, mean age 46,61): (A) subjectively "healthy" respondents (n = 405, 58% men, mean age 36.54 ± 14.45) and (B) respondents who subjectively reported long--term anxiety (n = 125, 32.8% men, mean age 40.51 ± 12.71). The clinical sample (C) consisted of patients from the spectrum of neurotic, stress and somatoform disorders (F 40-48) (n = 73, 27.4% men, mean age 40.51 ± 12.71). Respondents answered the following questionnaires in a standardized interview: the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), the Experiences in Close Relationships - Revised questionnaire (ECR--R-16), the Brief Resilience Scale (BRS) and selected questions on anxiety within the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI-53). Results: Respondents from the population sample reporting emotional abuse and emotional and physical neglect had even higher odds of suffering from long--term anxiety, after adjusting for age and gender. All forms of childhood adversity were associated with increased risk of clinically diagnosed disorder from the spectrum of neurotic, stress and somatoform disorders compared to the population which did not report any difficulties but also compared to the population reporting anxiety. The risk of long-term anxiety in the population sample and the sample with a clinically diagnosed disorder remained statistically significant even after adjusting for attachment anxiety, attachment avoidance and resilience. Conclusion: Significant associations between childhood adversity and long-term anxiety in the population sample and the occurrence of disorders in the spectrum of neurotic, stress and somatoform disorders in adulthood point to the importance of environmental factors - especially adverse experiences with child caregivers - in the aetiopathogenesis of the disorders and prevention and highlight the possibilities of prevention and the need to consider them in therapeutic interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives. The aim of this article is to describe objective obstetric and population factors for the development of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after childbirth, the ways in which they interact with subjective factors, in order to identify those women who are at an increased risk of developing PTSD symptoms after delivery. Methods. The Web of Science database was used to search the literature. The keywords “posttraumatic stress disorder”, “PTSD”, “childbirth”, “trauma” and “risk factors” were entered. Out of 79 resulting articles in English, 48 articles dealing with the topic of postpartum PTSD were selected, of which 29 directly dealt with the identification and description of risk factors for the development of postpartum PTSD. Additional relevant literature has been obtained through the study of these articles. Results. The incidence of PTSD at 4-6 weeks after childbirth is estimated at 5.77% in the total population of postpartum women, and in the atrisk subpopulation, the estimate is 12.64%. Obstetric factors appear to be largely mediated by the emotional support of birthing woman from medical staff as well as by the presence and support of the accompanying person. Subjective perception of childbirth by the women giving birth, and the degree of control they feel during the birth process are among strongest factors which influence the risk of developing PTSD after childbirth. Early intervention in the form of providing comprehensive information and emotional support during childbirth, as well as in the postpartum period, and various forms of social support reduce the risk of developing a chronic form of PTSD. Study limitations. Due to the specifics of childbirth systems across geographies, the incidence rate of PTSD and the representation of risk factors in the Czech and Slovak environments can differ from the incidence and representation of those countries included in the resources for this review article. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims. Attachment formed in early childhood affects an individual's mental and physical health. The aim of the study was to assess the psychometric properties of the Slovak version of the ECR-R questionnaire designed to detect attachment in adulthood, to create a shorter version, and to examine the sociodemographic differences in anxiety and avoidance among Slovak respondents. Sample, settings and methods. In a cross-sectional study with a representative sample of the adult Slovak population (N=1018, age 46.24, SD 16.56, 48.7% men), data were collected using the Slovak translation of the ECR-R questionnaire. The Slovak version of the Relationship Questionnaire (RQ) was used to assess the convergence validity. Results. The data of the psychometric analysis of the shortened version of the Close Relationship Questionnaire, the ECR-R-SK-14, indicate its better suitability for measuring relationship in adulthood compared to the ECR-R-16 version. Convergent validity was confirmed. Sociodemographic differences in individual groups of the Slovak population, which were expanded to include subjectively perceived loneliness in the last year of life, were described. Summary. The ECR-R questionnaire and its shorter version, the ECR-R-SK-14, are suitable tools for measuring relationships in adulthood, whether scientific or clinical. Limitations. The complete version of the ECR-R questionnaire can be difficult for some respondents to understand due to the large number of reversely formulated questions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. The occurrence of traumatic events in childhood and during later life increases the incidence of many mental and somatic diseases. The lifetime impact of cumulative stressful events throughout life is very substantial. The aim of this study was to check selected psychometric parameters of the Czech version of the LSC-R, to assess the occurrence of life stressors in a representative sample of adult population in the CR and to determine associations between the occurrence of stressors, health, pain and problematic use of alcohol and nicotine. Sample and settings. A cross-sectional study on a representative sample of the adult Czech population (N=1800, age 46.4, SD 17.4, 48.7% of men) collected data on the LSC-R. For convergent validity the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, the Short-Form Health Survey (SF-8) and the CAGE-questionnaires were used. Results. In 80% of respondents at least one stressor and in 15% five or more stressors were found. The sociodemographic differences are discussed. People with problematic use of alcohol and nicotine experienced significantly more overall stressors, stressors that began before the age of 16 years old and more interpersonal violence in comparison with non-drinkers and nonsmokers. Confirmatory analysis showed satisfactory fit parameters for the created five-factor model, and convergent validity was demonstrated. Significant associations between scores on the LSC-R, physical and mental health, pain and the problematic use of alcohol and nicotine are discussed. Summary. The Life Stressor Checklist-Revised appears to be a clinically useful instrument for the detection of lifetime stressors and for research purposes in the context of planning prevention and therapeutic possibilities. Limitations. The LSC-R was the part of a larger battery and was placed in the last third. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives. Attachment experience and behaviours adopted during childhood and their manifestation in adulthood are related to mental and physical health. The Experiences in Close Relationships-Revised (ECR-R) questionnaire was used to detect attachment style. The aim of the study was to explore the psychometric properties of the reworked Czech translation of the ECR-R (Prožívání blízkých vztahů) with reformulated problematic items and to compare it with the shortened version, the ECR-R-16. The other aim was to assess the sociodemographic differences in attachment anxiety and avoidance in different population groups. Sample and settings. A cross-sectional study on a representative sample of the adult population of the Czech Republic (N=1800, age 46.4, SD 17.4, 48.7% of men) collected data on the ECRR questionnaire. Results. The results of exploratory factor analysis showed that the short version ECR-R-16 is more appropriate and has a clear two-factor solution with great reliability at the scale of attachment anxiety (α=.91) and attachment avoidance (α=.91). Confirmatory analysis showed a better fit with the data after excluding the two items with the lowest h² communalities (ECR-R-14). The convergent validity of the ECR-R-16 with the Relationships questionnaire was confirmed. The demographic differences in various groups are described. Summary. The ECR-R and the ECR-R-16 questionnaires are appropriate for the research of the attachment in adults and for the clinical purposes. Limitations. When comparing with other studies, it is necessary to take into account that the "face to face" method was used. Even in adolescents (age 15 to 19, N=97) the adult ECR-R variant was used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives. Assessment of psychopathological symptoms is an important part of research and clinical practice. This study examines the psychometric characteristics of the Czech version of the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI-53 CZ) and forms the basis for creating standards for the Czech non-clinical population. The BSI-53 is a shorter, multidimensional version of the Symptom-Checklist 90-R (SCL 90-R) questionnaire used to detect the presence of psychopathological symptoms. The instrument contains nine subscales and three general indexes: the Global Severity Index (GSI), Positive Symptom Total (PST) and Positive Symptom Distress Index (PSDI). Sample and settings. A cross-sectional study on a representative sample of the adult Czech population (N=1800, mean age 46.4, SD 17.4, 48.7% men). Statistical analyses were performed on the collected BSI-53 data. The Short-Form Health Survey (SF-8) was used to determine the convergent validity. Results. Spearman's correlation coefficients between the BSI-53 subscales are moderately high, with values of 0.45-0.75. Confirmatory factor analysis for a standard nine-factor model showed that loadings of all items on the associated factors were medium to high, with values of 0.55-0.87. This model shows a sufficient fit to our data: χ² (1091)=4328.2, p<0.001, CFI=0.994, TLI=0.994, SRMR=0.045, RMSEA= 0.041 (90%CI=0.039-0.042). Internal consistency of the BSI-53 is high, with Cronbach's α=0.97 (95%CI 0.97-0.98) and Mc-Donald coefficients ωh=0.84 and ωt=0.97. The convergent validity, assessed by correlations with the mental health subscale of the SF-8 questionnaire, was found to be moderate to high. Significant differences in the occurrence of psychopathological symptoms among different sociodemographic groups of the Czech population were found. Differences between the Czech data and data from several foreign countries (Germany, Great Britain and Israel) were found. Conclusion. The BSI-53 questionnaire is a short, reliable instrument for the assessment of psychological distress. The degree of utility of the instrument in clinical work and the evaluation of its potential to identify specific clinical syndromes and sensitivity to detect changes should be documented by further studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. The aim of the study was to verify psychometric properties of the Czech version of Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ) in a representative sample of the Czech Republic and to assess sociodemographic differences in various types of trauma across different groups of the Czech population. Methods. A cross-sectional study (N=1000, mean age 46.0, 48.6% men) collected data using the CTQ. Medians and quartiles were used to assess the data, non-parametric tests were used to test the differences between groups. The dimensional structure was tested by confirmatory and exploratory factor analyses. Results. All subscales of the CTQ correlated moderately. The exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses showed the suitability of the original 5-factor solution. The internal consistency of the CTQ subscales was very good (a ranged from .817 to .922), except physical neglect with questionable consistency (a= .642). According to the empirically derived cut off score, emotional abuse (EA) was found in 20.2%, physical abuse (PA) in 18%, sexual abuse (SA) in 9.7%, emotional neglect (EN) in 15.6% and physical neglect (PN) in 37.2% of the Czech population, with 24.5% of respondents with one type of trauma experience and 23.8% with multiplex traumatisation. People living alone had a significantly higher occurrence of EA, EN and PN. People with primary school education had a significantly higher occurrence of EN and PN compared to those with higher education. Disability was significantly associated with the occurrence of EA. The incidence of SA was significantly associated with living alone and achieved primary education. Limitations. Data collection method (a standardised face to face interview) could affect the social desirability of answers as well as sensitivity to emotionally demanding items. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives. The SF-8 Health Survey Questionnaire is an effective health-related quality of life (HRQOL) measurement tool consisting of eight items. The aim of the study was to verify the factor structure of the Czech version of the questionnaire, to describe the basic psychometric properties of the tool, to develop a basis for the creation of standards based on the analysis of the results from a representative sample and to compare the global scores between respondents with and without chronic health problems. Sample and settings. A nationally representative sample of 1800 Czech respondents (N = 1800, age 46.4, SD 17.4, 48.7% men) participated in the survey focused on health issues. Results: Females achieved lower scores in all items compared with males, except for physical functions and total physical health. With increasing age, the individual items, as well as the PCS (physical component summary) and the MCS (mental component summary) scores, declined for both genders. Thus, higher age was associated with worse subjective health status. Respondents with higher education showed a higher quality of life in the sphere of both mental and physical health experience. The study revealed revealed differences between healthy and chronically ill patients with back pain, hypertension, depression, allergy and migraine for all diseases in the overall PCS and MCS scores. In order to assess the number of factors, the Kaiser criterion, scree plot, Parallel Analysis (PA) and Minimum Average Partial test (MAP) were used. All of these methods resulted into a two-factor solution. Confirmation factor analysis confirmed the model's compliance for our data. A Cronbach's alpha of 0.92 and McDonald's coefficient omega with a value of 0.94 showed that the Czech version of the SF-8 Health Survey is a tool with high internal consistency and reliability. Conclusion. The Czech version of the SF-8 Health Survey is a tool with high internal consistency and reliability, suitable for use in research and practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper is to present the Czech version of the methods used to measure attachment in adulthood, specifically we are concerned with the Experiences in Close Relationship method and its derived variants together with their basic psychometric properties and specifics. With the full texts of the individual questionnaires enclosed, this overview should help researchers select the appropriate version for their research questions. The information about the individual methods, their advantages and disadvantages together with the items in full ought to contribute to the unification of the use of adapted methods and to lowering the risk of repeated translations of the same methods in the context of the Czech Republic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]