Aim of the study A previous research paper showed that individual defense styles mediate the relationships between temperamental traits and professional burnout among psychotherapists. It was decided to check which defense mechanisms may be involved in these relationships and examine the relationships that exist between temperamental traits and professional burnout and defense mechanisms in a group of psychotherapists. Subject or material and methods Eighty-two individuals working in the psychotherapy profession participated in the study. Three psychological tools were used: (1) FCB-TI(R), (2) DSQ-40, (3) OLBI, as well as own questionnaire used to describe the study group. Results The conducted analyses showed correlations between temperamental traits and defense mechanisms and between professional burnout and defense mechanisms of psychotherapists. Discussion Psychotherapists who are characterized by a high level of perseverance and emotional reactivity use neurotic and immature defense mechanisms to a greater extent, and mature defense mechanisms to a lesser extent. In turn, psychotherapists who are characterized by a high level of briskness and endurance use neurotic and immature defense mechanisms to a lesser extent. Conclusions Psychotherapists should presumably avoid the use of defense mechanisms such as somatization, displacement, schizoid fantasy, isolation, acting out, projection and undoing. It is possible that the more frequent use of these defense mechanisms by psychotherapists translates into a higher level of professional burnout. Instead, it seems beneficial to use suppression and pseudoaltruism, the use of which probably reduces the level of burnout in a group of psychotherapists. However, these results would require repetition in a larger research group to confirm the revealed relationships and further exploration.

Aim of the study Aim of the study was to examine how a woman diagnosed with borderline personality disorder (BPD) manages moments when her self is threatened during an initial couple-therapy consultation, using an interactional, multimodal perspective. Subject or material and methods We examined a video-recorded initial session with a heterosexual couple, sampled from a larger corpus of couple-therapy consultations in a medical setting. Using multimodal conversation analysis, three analysts repeatedly viewed and sequentially analyzed the interaction to identify “self-threatening sequences”, where the patient’s moral, epistemic, or relational self was challenged and then either repaired or further pursued by the participants. Results The analysis shows that self-threat is jointly produced and managed by patient, partner and therapist. The patient alternates between starkly self-pathologizing and self-defending formulations, using laughter, hesitations and embodied conduct (gaze, posture, self-touch) to regulate exposure and arousal. The partner’s categorizations and complaints variably escalate, renegotiate or close self-threatening trajectories, while the therapist’s questions and formulations selectively take up or soften different self-descriptions. Discussion Identity disturbance in BPD patients emerge here as context-dependent and interactionally accomplished rather than a fixed intrapsychic deficit. Conclusions The study illustrates how detailed analysis of couple-therapy interaction can illuminate how threats to self are produced, resisted and absorbed in real time in interaction dynamics with BPD patient, and suggests that therapists should attend not only to what is said about the self but also to who says it, in response to what, and with which embodied displays.

Aim of the Study: This study aims to examine the correlation between creativity and schizophrenia through a comprehensive review of contemporary research, focusing on the unique aspects of creative expressions in individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia. Subject or Material and Methods: The study encompasses a literature review conducted across multiple databases, including PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and Scopus. The search strategy involved specific keywords related to creativity and schizophrenia, identifying two main categories: "Creativity and schizophrenia" and "Creative products of schizophrenia patients," with relevant subcategories. Literature that did not investigate these subcategories or had more up-to-date analogues was excluded. Results: The findings indicate that schizophrenia affects various cognitive processes crucial for creativity, such as working memory, cognitive flexibility, mental processes, and executive functions. Generally, schizophrenia results in diminished creative abilities compared to other mental disorders. However, the symptoms can have a dual impact on creative thinking, either enhancing or impeding it based on their severity and influence on cognitive processes. Art created by individuals with schizophrenia displays distinct features, including deviations in values, reduced complexity, and unique color choices. Conclusions: This literature review highlights the complex relationship between schizophrenia and creativity. While schizophrenia generally impairs creative abilities, its impact on creativity is multifaceted and merits further exploration to enhance treatment approaches for patients with mental disorders. The study suggests that creativity can play a significant role in the therapeutic process, improving overall well-being and providing deeper insights into the cognitive and emotional experiences of individuals with schizophrenia.

Aim of the study Language deterioration in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) involves word-finding difficulties which may hinder conversational abilities. A well-designed language program may support verbal fluency and highlight the potential of non-pharmacological interventions. This study assessed the effect of a self-designed language stimulating program on verbal fluency in mild and moderate AD. Subject or material and methods The study involved 54 Alzheimer’s patients and a control group (ConG) of 34 patients with mild and moderate AD, with only intervention group (IntG) patients participating in the program. Every 3 months, category (CFT) and letter (LFT) fluency were assessed in both groups, along with clustering and switching evaluation across 60s time interval. Results The program enhanced verbal fluency in patients with AD, as evidenced in the VFT. Patients generated more words from broad categories, making few errors. The CFT results were higher than those of the LFT. Clustering was more frequent in semantic tasks, particularly in the animal category, while phonemic fluency involved more switching, suggesting differences in retrieval strategies. Discussion The study confirms that a structured language program supports verbal fluency in mild-to-moderate AD, although this finding is not consistent across the studies. Although there might be short-term benefits for patients, the long-term clinical significance requires further investigation. Maintaining motivation in AD persons is crucial for cognitive training effectiveness, as higher engagement correlates with improved outcomes. Conclusions Our findings highlight the importance of implementing language programs as part of non-pharmacological interventions in AD to maintain verbal fluency in phonemic and semantic categories.

Aim of the study To explore differences in working memory and learning between individuals with deficit schizophrenia (DS), non-deficit schizophrenia (NDS), and healthy controls (HC), and to assess whether working memory mediates the relationship between negative symptoms and learning in schizophrenia. Subject or material and methods Twenty‑nine DS patients, 45 NDS patients, and 39 HC were assessed. Working memory and learning were measured using the Letter-Number Span Test, Spatial Span Subtest, Hopkins Verbal Learning Test – Revised, and Brief Visuospatial Memory Test – Revised. Psychopathological symptoms were evaluated with the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale, Brief Negative Symptom Scale, and Self‑evaluation of Negative Symptoms. Results DS patients scored lower on all working memory and learning measures compared with their NDS counterparts and HC. Despite similar learning profiles, DS patients exhibited significantly reduced performance. The mediation model showed good fit indices, suggesting that verbal and visual working memory significantly mediate the relationships between negative symptoms and both verbal and visual learning in patients with schizophrenia. Discussion Patients with DS exhibit impairments in both verbal and visual working memory and learning. Nonetheless, the capacity for new learning is preserved, albeit to a reduced degree. These findings suggest working memory’s role as a neurocognitive mechanism linking negative symptoms to learning deficits in schizophrenia. Conclusions Cognitive remediation programs for schizophrenia should incorporate tasks aimed at enhancing working memory.

Aim of the study Police officers working with individuals who have directly experienced trauma are exposed to the negative consequences of such exposure to the tragic experiences of others, including secondary traumatic stress (STS). The aim of this study was to examine the relationships between empathy, job satisfaction, and secondary traumatic stress among police officers exposed to indirect trauma. Subject or material and methods The study analyzed data from 220 police officers who, as part of their official duties, provided assistance to individuals who had directly experienced trauma. Their age ranged from 22 to 59 years (M = 39.08, SD = 7.00). The majority of the respondents were men 83.2%). The research utilized a specially designed survey, the Secondary Traumatic Stress Inventory, the Empathic Sensitivity Scale and the Job Satisfaction Scale. Results Police officers exhibited relatively low levels of secondary traumatic stress. Job satisfaction was negatively correlated with the severity of secondary traumatic stress. Moreover, specific aspects of empathic sensitivity were positively related to the intensity of secondary traumatic stress. The strongest predictor of secondary traumatic stress was one of the components of empathic sensitivity—personal distress. Discussion A lower level of empathy and high job satisfaction may protect police officers working with trauma survivors from developing secondary traumatic stress. Therefore, it is important to enhance officers' skills in maintaining their mental health and increasing job satisfaction. Conclusions Implementing strategies that support police officers' mental health can enhance their effectiveness in working with trauma survivors.

We are pleased to present the September issue of Archives of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, which showcases the diversity of research and reflections on contemporary psychiatry and clinical psychology. The articles collected here share a strong focus on the practical dimensions of diagnosis, therapy, and prevention—both in the field of mental disorders and in the challenges faced by mental health care systems. The issue opens with an article by Marlena Banasik et al., dedicated to developing a model procedure for violence risk assessment in Polish conditions. The authors emphasize the need for systematization and wider implementation of structured professional judgment tools, which could enhance the reliability of forensic-psychiatric evaluations and improve public safety.

The article presents a case study on the launch and operation of an online psychological help line administered by psychology students for other students and other young people. This initiative was created in response to the challenging pandemic situation in 2020 and was continued in the following years due to the demand for this type of assistance. The people reaching out for support expressed emotional difficulties, increased anxiety, feelings of isolation, loneliness or problems in interpersonal relationships. The online nature of the project allowed young people to obtain an easily accessible, flexible form of help in a modern tech environment. Students reported that the project provided them with substantial professional experience, development of practical skills, and satisfaction from offering peer support. The biggest challenges of the support line included the instability of contacts with those in need, the difficulty of setting a framework for support and the ethical aspects of the support offered. A limitation of this type of initiatives is the need to make every effort to ensure the safety and quality of the support provided through regular supervision and attention to the confidentiality of the platforms used.

Aim of the study The main aim of the study was to examine how patients’ initial levels of psychopathology and general functioning affected their recovery during treatment in a day rehabilitation psychiatric ward. Subject or material and methods Demographic and clinical data were collected during patients’ hospitalization in a day rehabilitation psychiatric ward. Sixty patients were included. The variables were measured at baseline (Pretest) and at the end (Posttest). The study included the following tools: the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), the Global Assessment of Functioning Scale (GAF) and the Illness and the Recovery Management Scale (IMRS). Results The results showed a significant improvement in patients’ subjective experiences of illness management and recovery between the Pretest and Posttest. In addition, an initial lower level of psychopathology and better general functioning, as assessed by clinicians, improved treatment outcomes. Treatment led to a reduction of psychopathological symptoms and improved daily functioning in the day rehabilitation unit. Discussion: The findings of this study support the importance of multidimensional rehabilitation approaches for schizophrenia treatment, thus emphasizing the need for thorough diagnostic assessment before treatment to ensure a more personalized approach. Discussion The findings of this study support the importance of multidimensional rehabilitation approaches for schizophrenia treatment, thus emphasizing the need for thorough diagnostic assessment before treatment to ensure a more personalized approach. Conclusions This study provides preliminary conclusions on the legitimacy of implementing the assumptions of programs focused on recovery in psychiatric care and proves that the therapeutic effects provided within them are effective.

The aim of the article is to analyse the possibilities available to Polish specialists in the process of assessing the risk of violence and accompanying difficulties. In the study, three categories of problems related to the assessment of the violence risk are taken into account: systemic, personal and methodological. In accordance with the conclusions formulated based on the results of the authors’ research, an analysis of the literature and on the recommendations of the creators of internationally recognised tools for assessing the risk of violence, a model procedure for diagnosing and monitoring risk was proposed, aimed at improving the accuracy and effectiveness of assessment in Polish conditions. The authors also formulate recommendations for improving activities at systemic, personal and methodological levels, facilitating the effective and efficient implementation of the model procedure in psychiatric and penitentiary areas.