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La psicologia nel contesto penitenziario è un campo di studio e intervento che si sviluppa in risposta alle specifiche richieste delle Istituzioni, principalmente dell’Amministrazione penitenziaria. Tale disciplina è chiamata a rispondere alle esigenze legate alla fase di accoglienza, di esecuzione della pena all’interno degli istituti penitenziari, ma anche nella fase di esecuzione della pena in contesti esterni al carcere, nonché in ciò che attiene alla giustizia minorile. Questo capitolo offre un primo accompagnamento per coloro che sono interessati alla psicologia penitenziaria, concentrando l’attenzione sui compiti e sui metodi di lavoro applicati nei confronti di soggetti adulti nell’ambito dell’esecuzione della pena all’interno delle strutture detentive. Il capitolo esamina i molteplici compiti in cui è coinvolta la professionalità psicologica. Inizialmente, si concentra sull’attività trattamentale destinata ai soggetti reclusi e sull'importanza dell’attività di co-progettazione con tutti gli operatori coinvolti nel processo. Vengono quindi presentate in base alle progressive fasi del percorso di esecuzione, le attività svolte dagli psicologi. L’attenzione è quindi rivolta all’evoluzione delle modalità di accoglienza e sostegno fornito al detenuto per arginare il fenomeno del rischio autolesivo e suicidario nei contesti di detenzione, fenomeno che assume dimensioni notevolmente più rilevanti nell'ambito penitenziario rispetto alla popolazione generale. Successivamente, vengono presentati gli aspetti relativi al ruolo e alle attività svolte dallo psicologo cosiddetto esperto ex art. 80 O.P. (Ordimento Penitenziario), alle sue competenze e strumenti specifici. Il capitolo si conclude con riflessioni sul trattamento psicologico nel contesto penitenziario, fornendo elementi essenziali per una preliminare contestualizzazione della professione psicologica in situazioni di detenzione.

This case study examines the complex relationship between childhood trauma, dissociation, and Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) within the context of forensic psychiatry. It focuses on a young murder defendant named "Paul," who has experienced various traumatic events, including childhood maltreatment and domestic violence. These experiences have led to dissociative states marked by high emotional intensity, particularly of an aggressive nature, and impaired impulse control, resulting in violent behavior during dissociative episodes. The study employs advanced assessment tools like Raven's Standard Progressive Matrices (SPM), the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory-III (MCMI-III), and the Level of Service/Case Management Inventory (LS/CMI) to gain a comprehensive understanding of Paul's psychopathological condition, risk factors, and rehabilitation needs. The LS/CMI assessment highlights a high risk of recidivism, mainly influenced by family relationships, educational challenges, interpersonal connections, and aggressive tendencies. To address the multifaceted needs of individuals like Paul, the study emphasizes the importance of using transdiagnostic models for trauma and dissociation. This approach informs tailored treatment programs that include processing past traumatic experiences, improving self-identity, nurturing healthy relational patterns, and enhancing emotional regulation. Although this study is based on a single case, it serves as a model for integrating assessment tools and theoretical-clinical models in the field of forensic psychiatry. Understanding the intricate dynamics of childhood trauma, dissociation, and BPD is crucial for making informed decisions, conducting risk assessments, and developing rehabilitation programs within the justice system. Future research should expand the scope of cases and further validate assessment tools to advance our understanding of this complex relationship.

Purpose: Breast cancer (BC) and its treatments significantly impact the psychological wellbeing of women. Interventions offered during cancer survivorship have documented positive consequences for quality of life. However, limited evidence is available regarding the implementation of therapeutic photography. This study investigated the efficacy of the framed portrait experience (FPE) when implemented to BC survivors. Methods: A quasi-experimental study was conducted. Participants were enrolled in a non-randomized pre-post intervention with a comparison group. Forty BC survivors were recruited using a convenience sampling approach; of these, 20 were subsequently allocated to the intervention (FPE group) and 20 to the comparison group. Participants were assessed at pretest and posttest (3 weeks later) using self-reported measures of body image, coping, self-esteem, and self-efficacy. Independent samples t-tests compared group composition at pretest. Mixed between-within 2 × 2 repeated-measures ANOVAs examined pretest-posttest changes in the variables of interest. Results: No differences were detected between groups at pretest. A significant interaction effect on body image, problem-focused coping, emotion-focused coping, and in self-efficacy competence subscale (p < 0.05) was identified. Post hoc pairwise comparisons with the Bonferroni correction indicated improvement on these domains in the FPE group vs. comparison group. Additionally, significant main effects of time on self-efficacy total score and magnitude subscale (p < 0.05) were found. Conclusions: Preliminary results support the efficacy of FPE, but further research is needed. Implications for cancer survivors: Existential approaches inclusive of self-portraits and illness narratives can be utilized to support BC survivors in the management of the psychological consequences of the illness.

Il “Gruppo di Parola” è un intervento di gruppo per figli di genitori separati attivo in Italia a partire dal 2005. Si tratta di un percorso breve, preventivo e di supporto rivolto a bambini in età scolare (6-12 anni) e adolescenziale (13-17 anni). Il presente contributo si è proposto di indagare i fondamenti teorici dell’intervento entro una prospettiva etnografica focalizzata. Lo studio ha coinvolto 12 operatori che avevano concluso la loro formazione almeno due anni prima della ricerca. Questi ultimi sono stati intervistati e sulle trascrizioni verbatim è stata condotta un’analisi di contenuto. In particolare, è stata condotta un’analisi qualitativa di contenuto (QRS*NVivo) e successivamente un’analisi tematica dei contesti elementari (T-Lab) entro una prospettiva multimetodologica. Le analisi hanno mostrato una presenza di quattro cluster tematici, che illustrano come l’intervento si fondi sia su elementi teorici (i riferimenti teorici e concettuali), sia su elementi pratici (la tipologia di conduzione, il valore del gruppo, l’utilizzo particolare delle parole dei partecipanti) entro una prospettiva integrata.

Breast cancer treatments have multiple adverse effects, including concerns about body appearance and function that are experienced by most patients. Altered body image negatively affects mental health, social, and relationship functioning. While the relationship with a partner is critical for patients’ psychological wellbeing and partners can promote positive body image, limited research has investigated individual and relational factors affecting the experience of both. This cross-sectional study aimed at (1) exploring rates of body image concerns among breast cancer patients, and (2) identifying dyadic profiles among participating dyads. Couples composed by patients who had undergone surgery and their romantic partners (n = 32) were recruited from the Breast Unit of a hospital in northern Italy. Both partners completed measures of personality characteristics (BFQ-2), psychological distress (HADS), coping flexibility (PACT), dyadic coping (DCQ), and closeness (IOS). Body image (BIS) and adjustment to cancer (Mini-MAC) measures were completed by patients only. K-mean cluster analyses identified 2-cluster solution among patients and partners, respectively. “Active patients” (cluster-1) reported low rates of body image concerns (p < 0.001), anxious preoccupation, negative dyadic coping, and self-oriented stress communication (p < 0.05), compared to “worried patients” (cluster-2). “Comfortable partners” (cluster-1) reported lower anxiety and depression (p < 0.001), self-oriented negative dyadic coping and closeness (p < 0.05) than “uncomfortable partners” (cluster-2). Three different dyadic profiles emerged: functional, dysfunctional, and ambivalent. Significant variations (p < 0.05) by anxiety, depression, and delegating dyadic coping existed. Results indicate there are groups of couples at greater risk for impaired psychological distress and body image concerns, which should be addressed in the context of dyadic psychosocial interventions.

Il quadro concettuale del volume sostiene un'idea di lavoro psicologico in cui è cruciale la fase iniziale di costruzione della domanda. Tale lavoro preliminare si realizza attraverso un metodo orientato ad attribuire un nuovo significato alla richiesta portata al professionista, così da far emergere i bisogni più profondi e urgenti che vi sono sottesi

childbirth experience; predictors; obstetric factors; psychological variables; longitudinal

Background: At an international level, the risk assessment and management process of violent offenders follows a standard method that implies well-defined theoretical models and the use of scientifically validated tools. In Italy, this process is still highly discretionary. The aim of this study is to highlight the advantages deriving from the use of risk assessment tools within the framework of a single case study; Methods: Recidivism risk and social dangerousness of an Italian woman perpetrator of filicide were assessed through the administration of the Level of Service/Case Management Inventory (LS/CMI) instrument supported by Historical Clinical Risk-20 Version 3 (HCR-20 V3); Results: The administration of LS/CMI showed that, in this single case, the subcomponents represent a criminogenic risk/need factor are: Family/Marital, Companions, Alcohol and Drug Problem and Leisure; while constituting strengths: employment and the absence of a Pro-criminal Orientation and an Antisocial Pattern; Conclusions: Data collected through LS/CMI indicated life areas of a single case, which should be emphasised not only to assess the risk of re-offending and social dangerousness but also for a social rehabilitation programme more suited to the subject. This study demonstrates that the LS/CMI assessment tool is suitable for the Italian context.

Objective To explore the associations between intimate relationships, psychological health, and endometriosis-related variables such as pelvic pain and infertility. Methods In this cross-sectional study, data were collected with an online survey delivered through Qualtrics and posted on the Facebook page and website of a patient association (Associazione Progetto Endometriosi—APE) in August 2020. The survey was composed of a researcher-made questionnaire and four validated questionnaires assessing relational satisfaction (adapted Quality of Marriage Index), dyadic coping (Dyadic Coping Questionnaire), and psychological health (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale). Results Participants were 316 women (age: 35.9 ± 6.7) with endometriosis, who reported being in an intimate relationship from at least one year. A greater perceived negative impact of the disease on past and current intimate relationships was associated with poorer psychological health, lower relational satisfaction and worse dyadic coping. Women who perceived their partner as more informed about endometriosis, more informed about and interested in their health conditions, and more likely to accompany them to the medical appointments, showed greater relational satisfaction and dyadic coping. Relational satisfaction and dyadic coping were associated with psychological health. A greater perceived negative impact of endometriosis on intimate relationships was associated with more severe pelvic pain (especially dyspareunia). Conclusion Endometriosis has a negative impact on intimate relationships, which is associated with poorer psychological health. For the women with the disease, partner's support is important, and our findings suggest that effort should be made to involve both members of the couple in multidisciplinary treatment.

Il coronavirus è sbocciato come un germoglio del male, quasi alla fine dell’inverno, a cavallo con quella che dovrebbe essere una delle più belle stagioni in assoluto: la primavera. È entrato nella vita di ogni individuo silenziosamente, ma arrivando talmente forte da togliere il fiato, letteralmente. Ha gettato un’ombra sul mondo, provocando un forte e radicato sconforto, mettendo l’essere umano a nudo nella sua natura, nella sua paura, nella sua angoscia più profonda: il terrore di morire. Il virus non ha risparmiato nessuno, si è distribuito a macchia d’olio in qualsiasi regione e continente, non facendo distinzioni di nessun tipo ed è rapidamente arrivato a tingere di scuro anche le sbarre delle carceri, dove già si respira quotidianamente un’aria tesa e dolorosa.

Cancer diagnosis and treatments negatively affect quality of life and developmental processes of adolescents and young adults (AYAs), with self-esteem, self-efficacy, and body image discomfort reported. Despite increasing awareness of the psychosocial issues experienced by this group, a paucity of psychosocial interventions has been developed. This study aims to investigate the Framed Portrait Experience (FPE) as an intervention to promote well-being among AYA cancer survivors. A pilot study was conducted using a quasi-experimental design. The sample included 18 AYA leukemia survivors. Individuals in the intervention group (n = 10) participated in the FPE, a psychosocial program consisting of two sessions. In the first one, starting from the illness narrative recollected by the individual, pictures representing the subject in meaningful contexts are taken. Then, a selected number of pictures are used in a second encounter with a therapist to integrate the disease within past, present, and future of the participant. Survivors in the comparison group (n = 8) were offered usual psychosocial care at the participating institute. Measures of personality traits, coping, self-efficacy, self-esteem, and body image were compared at pre-test and 3 months later. Significant differences in self-efficacy and self-esteem scores were identified at post-test between the intervention and comparison group ( p < 0.05). No significant differences were identified for body self-esteem. These findings provide initial evidence supporting the FPE as a low-cost and easy-to-implement intervention to promote self-efficacy and self-esteem among AYA survivors. Further research with larger samples, with more rigorous designs, and different cancer types is needed.

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the use of a phototherapeutic technique called “Talking Pictures” within the forensic setting. This approach involves the use of a set of photographs to facilitate clients’ disclosure, self-growth and promote the development of positive self-narratives. The use of art therapies and the construction of adaptive identity narratives have been proven to support desistance and increase resocialization in the prison population. Design/methodology/approach: A 42-year-old Italian male offender was met for six therapy sessions and invited to talk about his past, present and future through the use of photographs. Session transcripts were analysed using the software for linguistic analysis T-LAB. Findings: Results show a progression in the language used during the sessions: in the beginning the client uses a denotative language with many concrete nouns and no emotional words, in subsequent sessions his speech begins to assume more symbolic connotations and emotional words are used to describe past traumas as well as to find new meanings to present events. Moreover, the fixity of the client’s self-image is contrasted with the emergence of new sides to his personality encompassing agency and self-worth. Research limitations/implications: The study is based on a single case, therefore results cannot be generalised to the prison population; moreover, the absence of any follow-up and standardized measurements of the client’s progression should be addressed by future research by both involving larger samples and including follow-up and quantitative measures of the study results. Practical implications: The paper provides details on an innovative technique that might be used to explore the offenders’ goods and values and to develop truly redemptive rehabilitation programmes. Originality/value: This paper adds to the scant literature on phototherapy in prisons and connects it with a reflection on desistance indicating that phototherape

L'arresto costituisce una frattura della continuità esistenziale. Negli stranieri la carcerazione rappresenta un potenziale evento traumatico spesso caratterizzato da difficoltà linguistiche che rendono la diagnosi complessa ed imprecisa. Tuttavia la precocità e l'accuratezza del processo diagnostico costituiscono un importante focus nella prevenzione del suicidio e del rischio autolesivo. La ricerca mira a dimostrare l'efficacia del Test dei Colori di Lüscher nella valutazione dei fattori di rischio suicidario

Secondo i dati riportati dall'OMS, ogni anno commettono suicidio fino a 800.000 persone. Tra le diverse categorie professionali, quella degli agenti di polizia sembra essere particolarmente a rischio per l'esposizione ad eventi potenzialmente traumatici, per i turni spesso massacranti e per la cultura organizzativa che stigmatizza la sofferenza psichica impedendo ai soggetti più sofferenti di mettere in parola la propria vulnerabilità. In questa revisione sistematica della letteratura sono state analizzate le risultanze di 24 articoli sul tema del suicidio in polizia pubblicati tra il 2003 e il 2018.

Quali risultati ci si propone di raggiungere con l'esecuzione della pena? Gli obiettivi dichiarati in termini espliciti sono quelli dell'Art. 27 della Costituzione, ma problematica è la declinazione in termini pratici di tali principi. Risulta tuttavia riduttivo calcolare l'esito della reclusione mediante il mero calcolo della recidiva.L'attenzione ai contesti e alle caratteristiche psicologiche dei soggetti è fondamentale

Scopo del contributo è descrivere la Framed Portrait Experience che ha coinvolto soggetti detenuti presso una Casa Circondariale. Questa esperienza coniuga la tecnica del ritratto fotografico e della narrazione autobiografica. I due strumenti sono stati utilizzati per facilitare il processo di integrazione dei vissuti anche traumatici e accrescere sia la consapevolezza relativa all'esperienza passata e presente sia la possibilità di progettare il futuro.

Aims: The economic burden of endometriosis and pelvic pain involves direct and indirect healthcare costs due to work loss and decreased productivity. However, the relation between endometriosis, pelvic pain, and employment remains underinvestigated. This study aimed at providing preliminary insights into this topic. Methods: We compared the employment status (having vs. not having a job) in 298 consecutive endometriosis patients and in 332 women without a history of endometriosis (control group). We also examined the association between pelvic pain and employment status. Results: Women with endometriosis were less likely to be employed compared to women without endometriosis (OR 0.508; 95% CI 0.284-0.908; p = 0.022). Women with symptomatic endometriosis were less likely to be employed relative to controls (OR 0.345; 95% CI 0.184-0.650; p = 0.001), as well as to asymptomatic endometriosis patients (OR 0.362; 95% CI 0.167-0.785; p = 0.01). No significant differences emerged between asymptomatic endometriosis and the control group (p > 0.05). Greater severity of dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, chronic pelvic pain, and dyschezia was found in unemployed endometriosis patients (vs. employed endometriosis participants). Conclusion: Endometriosis symptoms may significantly affect women's professional life, with important socioeconomic, legal, and political implications. Community-based participatory research is encouraged.

Although penitentiaries represent places whose necessary function is to limit anomy and deviance, a formally managed and closed organizational system prohibits the ability to make changes. Anyway, without changes these organizations may become ‘inadequate or alienating’ (Jaques, 1955). In the present issue we discuss relevant changes that occurred in the Italian penitentiary system and we highlight how this transformation can only occur as a result of dynamism and evolution skills; characteristics that are not often identified as prisons’ distinctive features.We propose that a ‘cultural reorganization’, developed in close collaboration with the human resources of the organization, is necessary. It follows that these changes require a profound restructuring of the organizational culture and several modifications at different levels are involved: a. institutional regulation, b. roles and identities of penitentiary professionals, and c. evaluation of the appropriateness of the punishment. For these reasons it’s essential to concentrate our attention on the ongoing transformational processes involving penitentiary institutions, carried out with the goal to achieve higher suitability of the penitentiary institutions to serve the community given the present socio-cultural context and the different needs of both the operators and the inmates.

Background: The prevalence of fear of childbirth in pregnant women is described to be about 20-25%, while 6-10% of expectant mothers report a severe fear that impairs their daily activities as well as their ability to cope with labour and childbirth. Research on fear of childbirth risk factors has produced heterogeneous results while being mostly done with expectant mothers from northern Europe, northern America, and Australia. Aims: The present research investigates whether fear of childbirth can be predicted by socio-demographic variables, distressing experiences before pregnancy, medical-obstetric factors and psychological variables with a sample of 426 Italian primiparous pregnant women. Methods: Subjects, recruited between the 34th and 36th week of pregnancy, completed a questionnaire packet that included the Wijma Delivery Expectancy Questionnaire, the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, the Dyadic Adjustment Scale, the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, as well as demographic and anamnestic information. Fear of childbirth was treated as both a continuous and a dichotomous variable, in order to differentiate expectant mothers as with a severe fear of childbirth. Findings: Results demonstrate that anxiety as well as couple adjustment predicted fear of childbirth when treated as a continuous variable, while clinical depression predicted severe fear of childbirth. Conclusions: Findings support the key role of psychological variables in predicting fear of childbirth. Results suggest the importance of differentiating low levels of fear from intense levels of fear in order to promote adequate support interventions.

This study aimed to develop a grounded theory of how endometriosis affects psychological health. Open interviews were conducted with 74 patients. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale was administered to all women, who were divided into distressed versus non-distressed. At the core of our grounded theory was the notion of disruption due to the common features of living with endometriosis. Experiencing disruption (vs restoring continuity) involved higher distress and was associated with a long pathway to diagnosis, bad doctor–patient relationships, poor physical health, lack of support, negative sense of female identity, and identification of life with endometriosis.

Personality traits are an important part of the psychology with so many study to consider this actually a huge field. On the other hand, the relationship between personality traits and attentional process has not been deepen extended yet, above all using technological advanced measures to quantify attention. In this study we selected personal and neutral photos presenting all of them to the participants while tracking the eyes movements by using an eye-tracker. Results showed that personal images have in general higher number of fixation and more saccades. Specifically, while extroverts showed no differences in exploring personal and neutral photos, introverts participants showed an higher number of fixations and more saccades for personal images than neutral. These results if confirmed in further studies pone interesting questions about the role of personality in attentional processes linked to personal experiences.

Paternal postpartum depression (PPD) has received little attention compared with maternal prenatal and postpartum depression, despite research reporting that paternal PPD concerns a substantial number of fathers. History of depression and antenatal depression have been identified as important PPD’s risk factors, underlining the continuity of depressive symptoms during the transition to parenthood. However, only few studies have focused on the evolution of depressive symptoms with longitudinal research design. The present study aims at analyzing the longitudinal trajectories of depressive symptoms from the third trimester of pregnancy to 1 year after childbirth. One hundred and twenty-six first-time fathers completed the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale at four time points (7-8 months of pregnancy, 40 days, 5-6 months, and 12 months after childbirth). Data were analyzed throughout latent growth mixture modeling. Latent growth mixture modeling analysis indicated a three-class model as the optimal solution. The three-class solution included a trajectory of low, stable depressive symptoms across the four time points (resilient, 52%); a trajectory of moderate, relatively stable depressive symptomatology (distress, 37%); and a trajectory of emergent clinical depression following a pattern of high depressive symptoms (emergent depression, 11%). This study allowed to identify different subpopulation within the sample, distinguishing among mental well-being, emotional distress, and high-risk conditions when—1 year after childbirth—fathers report the highest scores to the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. These results underline the importance to analyze fathers’ well-being over the time during the transition to fatherhood.

Study question: What specific factors affect the mental health of women with endometriosis? Summary answer: The psychological health of women with endometriosis can be affected by age, intimate relationship status, time from diagnosis, pelvic pain, and self-concept. What is known already: Although it is well known that endometriosis as a chronic disease has a negative impact on mental health and quality of life, recent studies have shown that women’s experience of endometriosis is characterized by remarkable variability in psychological outcomes. Such variability is partly explained by the presence of pelvic pain, which is associated with impaired mental health and whose severity can be influenced by personality. However, endometriosis is a multidimensional disease that involves a complex interaction of multiple variables (including individual characteristics such as self-concept) and further research is necessary to identify what specific factors may affect women’s mental health. Study design, size, duration: A total of 187 consecutive endometriosis patients were included in this cross-sectional study conducted between 2015 and 2017 at an Italian academic department of obstetrics and gynaecology located in Northern Italy. Participants/materials, setting, methods: Participants were 187 endometriosis patients (mean age: 36.8 ± 7.1 years). Demographic and endometriosis-related information (i.e. surgical and hormonal treatment, pelvic pain severity [dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, chronic pelvic pain, dyschezia], time from diagnosis) was collected. Self-concept was assessed using three validated measures evaluating self-esteem (Rosemberg Self-Esteem Scale), emotional self-efficacy (Emotional Self-Efficacy Scale), and body image (Body Esteem Scale). Mental health was assessed using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and the Ruminative Response Scale (RRS). Main results and the role of chance: A multivariable approach (i.e. hierarchical multiple regression) was

It is recognized that the experience of childbirth can influence post-partum mothers’ adjustment. If a positive birth experience may facilitate mother-newborn first interactions, a stressful or negative experience may impair the mothers’ emotional and physical wellbeing and may relate to post-partum depression. Childbirth experience can be influenced by medical-obstetric variables, but also by women’s expectations towards labor and delivery. The present study aims to investigate whether women’s expectations related to childbirth, and specifically fear of childbirth, and some childbirth medical-obstetric variables (complications or problems during labor and delivery, type of delivery, use of epidural analgesia) predict the subjective experience of childbirth. 117 Italian first-time pregnant women completed the Wijma Delivery Expectancy Questionnaire (version A) between the 32nd and 37th week of pregnancy (time 1) and the Wijma Delivery Experience Questionnaire (version B) 30-40 days postpartum (Time 2). Furthermore, some information about delivery (type of delivery, labor duration, epidural analgesia) were obtained from the maternal ward birth records. Results revealed that women’s childbirth experience is significantly predicted by complications during labor and delivery and by the type of delivery (vaginal versus operative delivery/emergency cesarean section). Contrarily, neither the labor duration nor the use of epidural analgesia or women’s expectations towards childbirth predict the mothers’ subjective experience. Clinical implication will be discussed, with particular attention to the role that the birth experience can play in the mother-infant post-partum wellbeing.

Recenti ricerche dimostrano come leggere ad alta voce al proprio figlio, già a partire dal primo anno di vita, rappresenti una forma di promozione della salute del bambino e della relazione tra genitore e figlio. Scarsi tuttavia sono i contributi scientifici che indaghino i fattori associati a tale pratica. La ricerca presentata intende indagare se l’attitudine a leggere ad alta voce si leghi a variabili genitoriali di natura socio-culturale (età, titolo di studio, occupazione) e/o psicologica (stile d’attaccamento, percezione di stress genitoriale). A 225 madri e 140 padri di bambini di 3-6 anni sono stati somministrati: una scheda sull’attitudine a leggere ad alta voce; una scheda per la raccolta di informazioni socio-anagrafiche; l’Attachment style Questionnaire (ASQ); il Parenting Stress Index (PSI-SF); una domanda sulla rappresentazione di benessere del proprio figlio. I risultati rivelano come le madri con attitudine alla lettura abbiano un titolo di studio più elevato, mostrino uno stile d’attaccamento meno distanziante e una minor percezione d’avere un “bambino difficile”. Queste madri sono, inoltre, più portate a rappresentarsi il benessere del bambino in termini relazionali. Nei padri l’attitudine a leggere ad alta voce si lega ad uno stile d’attaccamento più sicuro. I dati ottenuti consentono di osservare come elementi di natura psicologica e relazionale siano fortemente coinvolti nella lettura ad alta voce. Tale pratica sembra, pertanto, legata alla capacità genitoriale a “stare nella relazione” e alla ricerca di attività piacevoli e gratificanti da svolgere con il figlio., Recent research demonstrates that reading aloud to your child, as early as the first year of life, promotes the child's health, in terms of linguistic and cognitive development, as well as the parent/child relationship. However, factors involved in this practice have not been thoroughly investigated. The current research examines if reading aloud is connected to parental socio-cultural variables (age, education, occupation) and/or psychological variables (attachment styles, parental stress perception). 225 mothers and 140 fathers of children aged 3-6 years were administered a questionnaire on reading aloud attitudes, a questionnaire about socio-economic information, the Attachment Style Questionnaire (ASQ), the Parenting Stress Index (PSI-SF) and a question on the representation of well-being of their child. Results reveal that mothers with attitudes towards reading have a higher education, a less dismissing attachment style and perceive their child as less distressing. Mothers are also more likely to represent the child's well-being in relational terms. Fathers with attitude toward reading have a more secure attachment style. The data allows one to observe how the practice of reading aloud is influenced by psychological and relational elements, like the ability to "stay in the relationship" and the finding of enjoyable and rewarding activities with one’s children.

The present study examines the factor structure of the Perceived Ability to Cope with Trauma (PACT) scale (Bonanno, Pat-Horenczyk, & Noll, 2011) in an Italian sample. The authors investigated whether the structure which emerged in the original scale is confirmed in a culturally different sample. Using data from a non-random sample of 450 Italian youths recruited through a snowball sampling approach, an explorative and a confirmatory factor analysis were conducted. The original two-factor structure (Forward Focus and Trauma Focus) was confirmed in the study. However, only 14 of the original 20 items were included in the resulting factor structure. The study highlights the challenges of cross-cultural measurement, in particular about the adaptation of a measure for a different culture. Theoretical and methodological implications are discussed. Further studies are necessary to collect additional information about the instrument and to better adapt it for the Italian population.

The aim of this research was to explore and conceptualize the adaptation process activated by prison workers relating to the current organizational change that is characterizing the Italian prison system. To achieve the present goals, it has been selected the Grounded Theory methodology (Glaser & Strauss, 1967) with a sample constituted by 121 prison workers coming from four Italian regions (Lombardia, Liguria, Emilia-Romagna, Campania). Results showed many important elements of similarity between the various professionals, despite the difference of role, geographical origin and type of institute. The most important transversal element emerged about the perception of the problems in relation to two main levels of reading, the first concerning the organizational dimension and the second concerning the intrapsychic-relational dimension. Furthermore, elements of homogeneity also emerged in the range of mentioned emotions, often characterized by highly negative connotation.

The present study explored the course of maternal and paternal perinatal depression and identified different trajectories of wellbeing/disease during the transition to parenthood. 126 Italian first-time mothers and 126 first-time fathers completed the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale at four time points: 7th-8th month of pregnancy, 40 days, 5-6 months, and 12 months after childbirth. The analyses performed throughout Latent Growth Mixture Modeling (LGMM) identified three trajectories for both males and females. Specifically, most mothers and fathers belong to the resilience trajectory, characterized by a stable emotional wellbeing over time. A significant group of mothers and fathers show moderate, and yet relatively stable, depressive symptoms (distress trajectory). Lastly, a small group of mothers and fathers develop more serious symptoms over time, with some differences between mothers (chronic illness) and fathers (emerging depression).

Objective: In the 1st year of the post-partum period, parenting stress, mental health, and dyadic adjustment are important for the wellbeing of both parents and the child. However, there are few studies that analyze the relationship among these three dimensions. The aim of this study is to investigate the relationships between parenting stress, mental health (depressive and anxiety symptoms), and dyadic adjustment among first-time parents. Method: We studied 268 parents (134 couples) of healthy babies. At 12 months post-partum, both parents filled out, in a counterbalanced order, the Parenting Stress Index-Short Form, the Edinburgh Post-natal Depression Scale, the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and the Dyadic Adjustment Scale. Structural equation modeling was used to analyze the potential mediating effects of mental health on the relationship between parenting stress and dyadic adjustment. Results: Results showed the full mediation effect of mental health between parenting stress and dyadic adjustment. A multi-group analysis further found that the paths did not differ across mothers and fathers. Discussion: The results suggest that mental health is an important dimension that mediates the relationship between parenting stress and dyadic adjustment in the transition to parenthood.

Paternal postpartum depression (PPD) has received little attention compared with maternal prenatal and postpartum depression, despite research reporting that paternal PPD concerns a substantial number of fathers. History of depression and antenatal depression have been identified as important PPD’s risk factors, underlining the continuity of depressive symptoms during the transition to parenthood. However, only few studies have focused on the evolution of depressive symptoms with longitudinal research design. The present study aims at analyzing the longitudinal trajectories of depressive symptoms from the third trimester of pregnancy to 1 year after childbirth. One hundred and twenty-six first-time fathers completed the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale at four time points (7-8 months of pregnancy, 40 days, 5-6 months, and 12 months after childbirth). Data were analyzed throughout latent growth mixture modeling. Latent growth mixture modeling analysis indicated a three-class model as the optimal solution. The three-class solution included a trajectory of low, stable depressive symptoms across the four time points (resilient, 52%); a trajectory of moderate, relatively stable depressive symptomatology (distress, 37%); and a trajectory of emergent clinical depression following a pattern of high depressive symptoms (emergent depression, 11%). This study allowed to identify different subpopulation within the sample, distinguishing among mental well-being, emotional distress, and high-risk conditions when—1 year after childbirth—fathers report the highest scores to the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. These results underline the importance to analyze fathers’ well-being over the time during the transition to fatherhood.

Aim: The study aims to investigate the change in the culture of an Italian psychiatric residential care home as perceived by the Mental Health Workers’ (MHWs) who have worked in it over the course of three decades. Method: The Emotional Text Analysis (ETA) framework was used to run an Elementary Context analysis of the MHWs’ handovers completed in from 1990 to 2011. Results: The analysis generated four clusters illustrating the change in the MHWs’ representations of the residential care home and its occupants over the years. Three underlying factors organizing the clusters oppositions on the factorial space were also identified. The factors showed: 1. the shift from an individualistic, problem-focused view to an inclusive, community-oriented approach; 2. the simultaneous presence of a descriptive as well as a specialized language; 3. the involvement of two actors (professionals and patients). Conclusions: Handovers have proven capable of documenting several important changes in the psychiatric facility under analysis: a. the adoption of a more inclusive approach to patient care; b. the increased importance of administrative aspects; c. the reduction of power imbalance between providers and carers. The paper shows the potential of handovers as instruments for illustrating organizational change.

This paper focuses on the evaluation of the therapeutic use of photocards by prisoners and facilitators in a counselling psychology led European project, based on responses to open-ended questionnaires. It is part of a wider project, involving seven partner organisations in six European countries (England, Fin-land, Greece, Italy, Malta and Romania), which developed and trialled four different approaches to using photography in the context of counselling in prisons. Of the 51 inmates that participated in the project, 48 (94%) com-pleted the questionnaires; of those, 39 (77%) were available for individual analysis due to prison restrictions in one partner organisation only allowing group data. Of those 39, who returned their completed questionnaires, over 92% found the therapeutic use of photographs either very helpful (56.4%) or helpful (35.9%), and the remaining 7.7% described it as average. From the thematic analysis, main themes emerging regarding inmates’ experiences of working with photocards were that it: facilitates emotional expression and sharing; unlocks memories and reconnects with life outside; fosters insight, reflection and self-growth; breaks the monotony of prison life and, overall aids emotional learning. A thematic analysis of 11 psychological therapists/facilita-tors’ perspectives showed that the use of photocards: gives clients a voice; provides a safe and collaborative frame and a therapeutic relationship; and, provides a useful icebreaker, helpfully overcoming anxieties of both client and psychotherapist/facilitator. Overall, photocards were considered useful as their projective nature can help facilitate prisoners’ strong need for expression in a context where there are limited opportunities and trust is fragile.

Questo contributo presenta un intervento psicologico rivolto a giovani adulti che hanno contratto una malattia oncologica sistemica durante l’adolescenza. L’intervento trova il suo fondamento in quattro riferimenti teorici: la specificità della malattia oncologica diagnosticata in adolescenza; il costrutto di body image, per l’importanza che esso riveste in questo periodo dello sviluppo e in ragione di quanto la malattia le cure necessarie per combatterla danneggino il corpo; il terzo presupposto riguarda la narrazione autobiografica che facilita la costruzione ermeneutica del senso degli eventi; l’ultimo presupposto rimanda all’utilizzo del ritratto fotografico, esperienza che consente al soggetto di sperimentare ed esprimere emozioni, pensieri e ricordi al fine di una miglior comprensione di sé. La delineazione di due casi, corredata da alcuni scatti fotografici completerà la descrizione dell’intervento in oggetto.

Although it is well-recognized by the literature that receiving a cancer diagnosis and making treatment-related decisions can have significantly effects on the quality of life and psychological well-being of patients and significant others, improvements in cancer treatments and early detection have contributed to increasing number of cancer survivors. This change in the cancer continuum represents surely a challenge; yet it creates a unique opportunity for those involved in the psychosocial oncology field to dedicate their work to the creation of interventions and treatment approaches able to meet the multiple needs of those living with cancer

This article follows a previous study that has recently been published in Narrare I Gruppi and explored the reasons for the large numeric gap between the regions of the North and South of Italy, referring to the breast cancer screening program adherence rate sponsored by the Italian Healthcare System, that addresses all women living in Italy ranging in age between 48 and 69 years, and proposes a free mammogram every two years. The effectiveness of cancer early detections has been widely demonstrated by medical research; this kind of diagnosis is particularly important in the case of breast cancer. A diagnosis of this form of cancer at its early phases in 97% of cases allows women to survive at least five years after it. However, the different level of trust women feel for healthcare structures is the discriminating element between the North and South of Italy for their access to the screening program. This topic will be thoroughly analyzed by presenting the results of research aimed at evaluating the meaning given to the outcomes of a first exploratory study, this second study also offers the opportunity to share our results within the social context that has generated them. The outcomes of the present research have been presented to a group of “privileged witnesses” living in the South (Naples and its surroundings): 12 women aging from 49 to 65, and 5 healthcare workers (one doctor, 25 two nurses, and two Local Health Authority supervisors); they took part in three Focus Groups for an in-depth look of the theme in question. The analyses of the groups’ debates, carried out by means of a software for text analysis (T-LAB), confirmed the results of the previous research: the diffidence and lack of synergy between institutions and healthcare workers are the causes of southern women’s lack of participation to the breast cancer screening program. In particular, the comparison between women’s and workers’ viewpoints shows a different emotional connotation about the possib

The positive outcomes associated with Patient Engagement (PE) have been strongly supported by the recent literature. However, in the context of cancer, this construct has been marginally addressed. Limited attention has also received the role of informal caregivers in promoting physical and psychological well-being of patients, as well as the interdependence of dyads. The present work examines the literature about couple-based psychosocial interventions in psychosocial oncology and describes the Cancer Dyads Group Intervention (CDGI); an innovative protocol developed to promote engagement in management behaviors, maximize positive health outcomes, and the quality of the relationship between cancer patients and their informal caregivers. Finally, the article examines the ability of the CDGI to promote adaptive coping behaviors and the perceived level of closeness by comparing participants and individuals receiving usual care. Results indicate that individuals diagnosed with cancer attending the CDGI present significant increases in Fighting Spirit and Avoidance, while reporting also reduced levels of Fatalism and Anxious Preoccupation. Findings about Hopelessness are explained by comparing the scores of breast cancer patients and individuals diagnosed with rare tumors. The intervention also contributed to strengthening the relationship with the primary support person.

Objective: Although there is a proven link between parenting stress, postnatal depression, and anxiety, no study has yet investigated this link in first-time parental couples. The specific aims of this study were 1) to investigate whether there were any differences between first-time fathers’ and mothers’ postnatal parenting stress, anxiety, and depression symptoms and to see their evolution between three and six months after their child’s birth; and 2) to explore how each parent’s parenting stress and anxiety levels and the anxiety levels and depressive symptoms of their partners contributed to parental postnatal depression. Method: The sample included 362 parents (181 couples; mothers’ MAge = 35.03, SD = 4.7; fathers’ MAge = 37.9, SD = 5.6) of healthy babies. At three (T1) and six months (T2) postpartum, both parents filled out, in a counterbalanced order, the Parenting Stress Index-Short Form, the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Results: The analyses showed that compared to fathers, mothers reported higher scores on postpartum anxiety, depression, and parenting stress. The scores for all measures for both mothers and fathers decreased from T1 to T2. However, a path analysis suggested that the persistence of both maternal and paternal postnatal depression was directly influenced by the parent’s own levels of anxiety and parenting stress and by the presence of depression in his/her partner. Discussion: This study highlights the relevant impact and effects of both maternal and paternal stress, anxiety, and depression symptoms during the transition to parenthood. Therefore, to provide efficacious, targeted, early interventions, perinatal screening should be directed at both parents.

Background: Previous research has demonstrated that negative childbirth expectations adversely influence perinatal outcomes. The current research builds on this with Italian mothers-to-be. Objective: The present study (1) explored the influence of cognitive and emotional variables on labour and delivery outcomes and (2) examined how individual characteristics, couple adjustment, and medical factors influence the childbirth experience. Method: 121 Italian primiparous women participated in a prospective longitudinal study where participants completed a set of questionnaires between the 32nd and 37th week of pregnancy and again 30–40 days postdelivery. Results: Binary logistic regression analyses revealed that women with negative childbirth expectations were three times more likely to experience an emergency C-section or an instrumental vaginal delivery. Furthermore, childbirth expectations predicted subjective birth experience. This relationship between expectations and delivery type and the subjective childbirth experience was weak while other variables (such as anxiety, depression, couple adjustment) did not significantly influence delivery type or the subjective childbirth experience. Conclusions: The weak relationship between childbirth expectations and perinatal outcomes renders it necessary to question the nature of the relationship found in previous research, especially considering inconsistencies of the literature on the subject. The current research makes it clear that further research is needed to understand better the relationship between expectations and perinatal outcomes in order to better improve the well-being of mothers-to-be during labour and delivery.

Study question: Is pelvic pain due to endometriosis associated with temperament and character dimensions? Summary answer: Women with endometriosis and pelvic pain do not clearly exhibit a specific personality profile; however, personality is associated with pelvic pain perception. What is known already: There is research evidence suggesting that endometriosis patients with pelvic pain are more likely to present psychological disruption. Little is known about the association between subjective factors, such as personality traits, and pelvic pain. study design, size, duration: This cross-sectional study (N = 133) is part of a larger research on the association between endometriosis and several psychological variables carried out between 2012 and 2014. Participants/materials, settings, methods: The participants were 82 endometriosis patients and 51 healthy controls. Endometriosis patients indicated on a dichotomous scale (yes/no) whether they were suffering from pelvic pain and were divided in two study groups: painful endometriosis group (N = 58) and pain-free endometriosis group (N = 24). The severity of pelvic pain (chronic pelvic pain, dysmenorrhoea, dyspareunia, and dyschezia) was rated on a 0–10 point numerical rating scale. All participants completed a 240-item psychometric test (TCI-R) evaluating personality in terms of temperament and character dimensions. Main results and the role of chance: Women with painful endometriosis had lower novelty seeking compared with the control group (P = 0.017) and higher harm avoidance (P = 0.007) and lower exploratory excitability (P = 0.034) and responsibility (P = 0.027) compared with the pain-free endometriosis group, as well as higher fatigability compared with the pain-free endometriosis group (P = 0.001) and the control group (P = 0.032). Higher harm avoidance (B = 0.081; P = 0.002) and lower self-directedness (B = 20.053; P = 0.015) were associated with a greater severity of chronic pelvic pain. Limitations, reasons fo

La familia y su dinámica constituyen "objetos" de gran interés para los psicólogos y psicoterapeutas, tanto desde el punto de vista clínico como para la investigación. La literatura está repleta de diferentes metodologías y herramientas para ayudar a analizarla y poner de relieve los aspectos de mayor interés en relación con el objetivo perseguido. A los consabidos cuestionarios autoaplicados cuantitativos, que tratan de medir por ejemplo el grado de satisfacción conyugal o las áreas que se desean cambiar, se suman instrumentos con una vertiente cualitativa. Éstos estudian el matrimonio y la familia desde una perspectiva diferente, y aportan una información que no puede ser “recogida” por los tests cuantitativos. Las herramientas cualitativas se mueven en planos diferentes (verbal y simbólico-imaginario) por lo que definen mejor las dinámicas de relación (Saita et al., 2010). A continuación presentamos un método cualitativo de análisis de dinámicas conyugales y familiares.

Increasing evidence has demonstrated that patients’ involvement promotes better health care outcomes and cost-effectiveness of services. However, limited literature is available about the experience of living donor kidney transplantation and best practices to promote patients and donors’ engagement. Aim of the present chapter is to review the literature about patient engagement in the context of chronic kidney disease, and to introduce an innovative protocol developed to promote potential donors and recipients’ participation and adherence to care at the Niguarda Ca’ Granda Hospital in Milan (Italy). Results are critical to reflect on the identification of best practices for patients’ engagement in the context of chronic kidney disease. Through a better understanding of the emotional and affective dynamics and the relational implications that may influence the elaboration of the information given by health care providers, it will be possible to develop evidence-informed interventions.

Un numero crescente di ricerche attesta come leggere ad alta voce, con continuità, a bambini in età prescolare produca effetti positivi sul loro sviluppo, così come sulla relazione genitore-figlio. Nello specifico, questo tipo di attività potenzia le capacità attentive e l’acquisizione dell’alfabetizzazione precoce, aumenta la probabilità di successo scolastico e aiuta il bambino a regolare le proprie emozioni. Da un punto di vista relazionale, la lettura ad alta voce di un libro può costituire una routine rassicurante e un momento intimo di scambio tra genitore e figlio. Il lavoro presentato nasce con l’obiettivo di esplorare l’attitudine a leggere ad alta voce da parte di genitori di bambini italiani in età prescolare; esso intende indagare, nello specifico, se tale attitudine si leghi ad alcune caratteristiche genitoriali, in particolare allo stile d’attaccamento e alla percezione di stress nella relazione con il figlio. La ricerca mira inoltre ad esplorare se l’attitudine alla lettura si leghi alle rappresentazioni che i genitori hanno circa la salute e il benessere del proprio figlio. A 225 madri e 140 padri di bambini frequentanti la scuola dell’infanzia sono stati somministrati l’Attachment Style Questionnaire, il Parenting Stress Index, una scheda relativa all’attitudine a leggere ad alta voce, una scheda per la raccolta di dati socio-demografici e, infine, alcune domande aperte sulle rappresentazioni di salute e benessere del proprio bambino. I risultati rivelano come l’attitudine a leggere ad alta voce abbia un legame con lo stile d’attaccamento genitoriale, nello specifico con la fiducia nella relazione con l’altro. Inoltre, tale predisposizione mostra una connessione significativa con una rappresentazione di salute del proprio bambino che contempli non solo l’assenza di malattie, ma soprattutto la componente affettiva e relazionale dell’essere amato.

La letteratura perinatale evidenzia come una percentuale di gestanti compresa tra il 5 e il 20% manifesti un’elevata paura del parto (FOC), che si esprime sia per sé (dolore, possibili lacerazioni, non essere in grado, ecc.), che per il bambino (lesioni, malformazioni, ecc.). Tale emozione è spesso celata dal ricorso a parti cesarei programmati, ma può comportare anche un incremento del rischio di complicanze durante il travaglio e il parto; inoltre, essa risulta connessa ad una valutazione negativa della propria esperienza da parte della donna. Il contesto italiano – in cui si registra tra l’altro il più alto tasso di tagli cesarei in Europa – è pressoché privo di studi che indaghino la natura della FOC, nonché i suoi effetti sul parto. In particolare, scarse sono le ricerche che approfondiscono la connessione tra FOC e altri disturbi perinatali, così come i fattori di rischio e di risorsa ad essa legati. Il presente lavoro intende esplorare le tipologie di legame della FOC con alcune variabili di natura intrapsichica, quali ansia e depressione, così come con dimensioni relazionali, quali la percezione di supporto sociale e l’adattamento di coppia. A 300 donne italiane tra il 7° e l’8° mese di gravidanza contattate durante i corsi di accompagnamento alla nascita, sono stati somministrati: il Wijma Delivery Expectancy Questionnaire, lo State-trait Anxiety Inventory, l’Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, la Scala Multidimensionale del Sostegno Sociale Percepito, la Dyadic Adjustment Scale. I risultati mostrano l’esistenza di differenti profili della FOC, ovvero diversi legami tra l’emozione della paura del parto e le variabili intrapsichiche e relazionali indagate. In sede congressuale verranno delineati tali profili e discusse le implicazioni cliniche.

Background For some couples joyful anticipation of parenthood turns to sadness and pain when they learn that their unborn baby has a life-threatening condition. This is one of the most profound, stressful events an adult may experience and perinatal palliative care could be an alternative to termination of these pregnancies. At Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital of New York-Presbyterian Neonatal Comfort Care (NCC) is a medical care option for those parents who rejected abortion and decide to continue the pregnancy. Guidelines for a personalized medical plan of care focused on infant’s comfort have been developed, however evaluation of the effectiveness of this management is essential. Objective To assess how the parents perceive the state of comfort in infants affected by life-limiting or terminal conditions and treated with personalized comfort measures. Methods Observational study of parents of 17 infants diagnosed with life-limiting or terminal condition and treated with NCC. The parents filled in a questionnaire aimed to assess each baby’s state of comfort. An open question about how they would describe NCC with an image or a metaphor was included. Results Twenty-two questionnaires were collected and analyzed. Parents felt that their child was cared for with solicitude by the hospital staff and thought that the child was satisfied in his/her fundamental needs. The metaphors or images for NCC shown by parents are closely related to transcendence and meaning of life. Conclusion This study, although limited by a small number of subjects, shows that parents of infants with life-limiting or terminal conditions perceive a state of overall comfort of their baby and have found this alternative fits better with their values. There is a suggestion that to hold and to take care their baby once born causes thoughts about death, grief and life’s meaning.

Fear of Childbirth (FOC) represents an important women’s health issue: approximately 20% of all pregnant women report this emotion, even if its severity can be very different, ranging from mild worry to extreme-clinical fear (tokophobia). Scientific literature has analyzed FOC focusing both on the antecedents and the consequences as well as on the variables connected to fear. In particular, several studies have found that FOC is associated with medical variables during pregnancy (such as the medication use) and delivery (such as the type of delivery, the request for pain relief during labour, the labour duration). At the same time, FOC is associated with some psychological variables, intrapsychic (such as anxiety and depression) and interpersonal (such as the quality of couple relationship, the presence of support networks). The present study aims to analyze the connection between FOC and different variables - intrapsychic, relational e social - during pregnancy. This research is supported by grants from PRIN 2013/2016 - 20107JZAF4, Italian Ministry for Education, University and Research (MIUR). 150 primiparous women at 7th-8th month of pregnancy, recruited in Cagliari, Milan, Rome and Turin during the participation to courses that accompany the woman in delivery, completed some self-report scales (Wijma Delivery Experience Questionnaire, Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Dyadic Adjustment Scale, Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support) and a psychosocial risk questionnaire created ad hoc. Preliminary results show that FOC is associated with different variables, meaning that it is a complex construct that needs further investigation in order to better understand its characteristics and proprieties. Future research would be addressed to identify different clusters of women, starting from the connection between FOC and the other variables investigated.

The profound change the Italian penitentiary system is currently undergoing seems to be particularly relevant for psychological sciences as it affects aspects like systems of belonging, roles as well as the professional identity of the professionals who work in prison. Scientific literature shows that the representation of one’s job and role are shaped on the basis of the local organizational culture (Hotho, 2008) and, in particular, of the shared scripts used to face problems. The construct of organizational change well describes the present condition of the penitentiary system: prisons, in fact, involve a variety of professional figures, each with their own culture and set of values and the undergoing changing processes urge these professionals non only to revise some aspects connected to their specific tasks but also to redefine their role and professional identity, thus inevitably putting them through a certain degree of psychological distress. Through the analysis of some focus groups (Krueger, 1994), the present study explores the representations regarding the undergoing transformative processes as perceived by 120 penitentiary operators (officials, prison officers, and teachers) working in different regions in Italy. The focus groups transcripts, analyzed throughout the software T-LAB (Lancia, 2004), show the presence of some common themes both across the various regions in Italy as well as within the professionals involved. In particular, professionals feel the need for change in order to deal with obstacles like bureaucratization, a rigid separation of roles and a defensive attitude towards convicts, legacies of an outdated penitentiary system that they are determined to modify to achieve wellbeing and integration.

L’ordinamento penitenziario italiano è tuttora oggetto di numerose modifiche volte ad incrementare il benessere dei detenuti così come degli operatori. Un cambiamento di grande rilevanza è stata l’introduzione, da parte del Dipartimento dell’Amministrazione Penitenziaria, della figura del funzionario della professionalità giuridicopedagogica a sostituzione dell’educatore penitenziario (GDAP-0438879-2010). Dette modificazioni hanno comportato una ristrutturazione del concetto di identità professionale da parte dei professionisti del settore. Avvalendosi del focus group e del Disegno Simbolico dello Spazio di Vita Organizzativo (DSSVO), il presente studio approfondisce il tema delle rappresentazioni circa l’identità professionale e il concetto di cambiamento di 10 funzionari della professionalità giuridico-pedagogica operanti in due penitenziari della regione Lombardia. Le trascrizioni dei focus group sono state analizzate con l’ausilio del software T-LAB mentre un analisi di tipo fenomenologico è stata condotta sui DSSVO. I risultati delle analisi evidenziano come tali rappresentazioni siano fondate sulle pratiche e sugli script condivisi e socializzati a livello locale entro la struttura di riferimento, meno rilevanti le identificazioni con specifici valori legati al ruolo professionale. Emerge dunque una differenza tra le due strutture considerate, aderenti alla propria specifica mission: “istituzione totale” con scarsa apertura nei confronti del mondo esterno da un lato e tentativo di creazione di rapporti sinergici con il territorio e le istituzioni dall’altro., The Italian prison organization has been undergoing several modifications aiming at increasing the inmates’ as well as the professionals’ well-being. In particular, the Penitentiary Administration Department’s decision of replacing former penitentiary educators with juridical-educational professionals (circular letter 0438879-2010) repre- Monica Accordini, Emanuela Saita, Martina Tramontano 255 www.narrareigruppi.it – Etnografia dell’interazione quotidiana. Prospettive cliniche e sociali, vol. 10, n° 3, dicembre 2015 sented an extremely relevant change. Such modifications also led professionals working in prison to restructure their concept of professional identity. The present study makes use of focus groups interviews and the Symbolic Drawing of the Organizational Life Space (SDOLS) in order to investigate the professional identity representations as well as the concept of change in a group of 10 juridical-educational professionals working in two correctional facilities in Lombardy. Focus group transcripts were analyzed using the software T-LAB while a phenomenological analysis was carried out on the SDOLSs. Our findings show that such representations are based on practices and scripts that are only shared and socialized at a local level, that is within the organization professionals work in; on the contrary, specific values connected to their professional role appear to be less relevant. Hence, a difference between the two correctional facilities considered can be observed: although they both serve their mission, one can find a 'total institution', characterized by a lack of openness towards the outside world on one hand, and the attempt to develop synergic relationships with the local community on the other.

ntroduction: No prior study of endometriosis has investigated the psychological impact of having asymptomatic endometriosis versus endometriosis with pelvic pain in a systematic way. This study aimed at examining the impact of endometriosis on quality of life, anxiety and depression by comparing asymptomatic endometriosis, endometriosis with pelvic pain, and healthy, pain-free controls. The psychological impact of different types of endometriosis pain was also tested. Methods: One hundred and ten patients with surgically diagnosed endometriosis (78 with pelvic pain and 32 without pain symptoms) and 61 healthy controls completed two psychometric tests assessing quality of life, anxiety and depression. Endometriosis participants indicated on a numerical rating scale the intensity of four types of pain (dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, non-menstrual pelvic pain and dyschezia). Results: Endometriosis patients with pelvic pain had poorer quality of life and mental health as compared with those with asymptomatic endometriosis and the healthy controls. No significant differences were found between asymptomatic endometriosis and the control group. Dysmenorrhea had significant effects only on physical quality of life; non-menstrual pelvic pain affected all the variables; no significant effects were found for dyspareunia and dyschezia. Conclusions: Pain significantly affects women’s experience of endometriosis. The medical treatment of endometriosis with pain may not be sufficient and psychological intervention is recommended.

Senza pretesa di esaustività, il presente special issue intende focalizzare l’attenzione proprio sui processi trasformativi attualmente in corso presso le istituzioni penitenziarie, processi attuati in ricerca di una più elevata adeguatezza delle istituzioni all’attuale contesto socioculturale e ai differenti bisogni degli individui, operatori e soggetti in stato di detenzione. I contributi proposti costituiscono un tentativo di porre in dialogo punti di vista e prospettive, superando la cultura dei ‘monologhi’ e delle relazioni infertili, cosicché anche l’attuale ‘confusione’ che prevale in molti contesti penitenziari, possa approdare ad un livello di generatività e possano essere assunte nuove forme del fare, dell’andare verso un nuovo benessere. Per questo i primi due contributi sono centrati sugli attori-operatori, gli ultimi due sugli attori-detenuti. Oltre a ciò, è opportuno sottolineare come le riflessioni proposte dagli autori si diramino in sforzi d’individuazione di strumenti efficaci per evidenziare anche la dimensione inconscia e simbolica delle rappresentazioni, dei vissuti e delle dinamiche psichiche e relazionali che hanno luogo entro le organizzazioni. Lo studio di tali aspetti, anche nelle sue dimensioni inconsapevoli, è infatti fondamentale nel perseguire un reale e fattivo cambiamento organizzativo. Apre la rassegna il contributo di D’Angelo, Gozzoli e Mezzanotte, orientato all’analisi approfondita di vissuti e rappresentazioni degli agenti di polizia penitenziaria circa il proprio ruolo professionale ed alcuni aspetti della loro vita lavorativa. Segue il contributo di Accordini, Saita e Tramontano. L’uso del Disegno Simbolico dello Spazio di Vita Organizzativo consente di, evidenziare le trasformazioni che concernono i funzionari della professionalità giuridico-pedagogica, figura professionale di recenti istituzione, la cui identità professionale risulta più ancorata a specifiche pratiche, socializzate entro il contesto locale di appart