Brief Symptom Inventory Research Articles

An examination of distress tolerance, anxiety sensitivity, and intolerance of uncertainty in adults in routine psychiatric care

AimA person's ability to tolerate negative emotional states (Distress Tolerance - DT), uncertainty in their everyday lives (Intolerance of Uncertainty - IU), and a tendency to appraise their own feelings of anxiety as harmful (Anxiety Sensitivity - AS) have all been identified as vulnerability factors for anxiety and depressive disorders. However, the relationship between these variables and broader aspects of psychiatric symptom severity in participants recruited from routine care remains unclear. MethodThe Distress Tolerance Scale (DTS), Anxiety Sensitivity Scale-3 (ASI-3), and Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale-Short Form (IUS-12) were administered to 91 patients receiving treatment at the Lund Outpatient Psychiatric Clinic. Data was collected from their medical records about their psychiatric history and scores on the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI). The relationship between total scores on the DTS, ASI-3, IUS-12 and BSI were evaluated via correlations and regression analyses. ResultsDTS, ASI-3, and IUS-12 total scores correlated in the moderate to large range, and consistent with previous literature, were moderately to strongly correlated with the severity of self-reported depression, anxiety and overall symptoms (BSI). Regression analyses indicated that together, scores on the DTS, ASI-3 and IUS-12 explained moderate levels of variance in BSI symptom scores, with DTS scores showing the strongest associations. These findings suggest that further studies are needed to examine the construct and criterion validity of the three scales. Further validation of these Swedish-language are also warranted.

The Impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences on Mental Health and Suicidal Behaviors: A Study from Portuguese Language Countries

Background: Research on adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) demonstrates that they can be associated with physical and mental health problems throughout the lifecourse. However, few studies have examined this topic in the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLC). Objective: This study aims to assess the impact of ACEs on mental health and suicidal behaviors in a sample of participants from the CPLC. Participants and Setting: The sample consists of 1006 participants aged between 18 and 80 years (mean = 41.76; SD = 14.19). Methods: This study used an online survey that included a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Brief Symptom Inventory-18 (BSI-18) to assess somatization, depression, and anxiety symptoms, and overall mental functioning, the Suicidal Behaviors Questionnaire-Revised (SBQ-R) to assess suicidal behaviors, and the Family Adverse Childhood Experiences Questionnaire to assess ACEs. Results: Emotional abuse was the most reported ACE (32.7%). Participants from Brazil had higher levels of somatization, depression, anxiety, and suicide ideation and attempt, while participants from Portugal had a higher probability of suicide in the future. ACEs were strong and significant predictors of psychological symptoms and the likelihood of suicide in the future, with emotional abuse and emotional neglect being the domains with the greatest contribution, respectively. Conclusions: ACEs are a prevalent and general phenomenon across several countries. It is urgent to alert policymakers and mental health professionals of the need to intervene with children and families to ensure their harmonious and adjusted development, thus promoting quality of life and well-being of populations.

Psychological Effects of the Pandemic on Turkish University Students During the Period of Returning to Universities

The COVID-19 pandemic may have been psychologically stressful for everyone who was affected by it, but people who are predisposed to mental health problems may have felt it more intensely than others. Students at universities are one of these vulnerable populations. The uncertainty brought on by COVID-19 had a negative psychological impact on them, but this effect became more complex in the process of restarting education after a long break. The purpose of this study is to investigate the psychological situation of Turkish university students during the period when face-to-face education began to reappear as a result of the COVID-19 precautions being reduced. For this aim, the psychological situation of 224 Turkish students aged 17–25 was assessed using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), State and Trait Anxiety Scale (STAT), Connor Davidson-Resilience Scale (CD-RISC), Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS), and Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI). In addition, the students were asked about their life satisfaction, chronic illness, duration of physical activity, screen time, and needs of psychological support. The results revealed that during this period, students reported low levels of exercise and physical activity time, increased time spent in front of a screen, low life satisfaction, higher rates of receiving and needing psychological support, and higher levels of negative affect, depression, anxiety, and brief symptoms. Furthermore, the results showed that positive affect and resilience are protective factors for psychological health. The findings of the study highlighted the critical role of psychological support services at universities in promoting and preserving students' mental health.

Families with Mentally Ill Parents and Their Partners: Overlaps in Psychiatric Symptoms and Symptom Coping.

Partners in families with a mentally ill parent often experience psychiatric symptoms themselves. Recent studies indicate that there might be overlaps in disorder-specific symptom areas between partners and spouses. This study aimed at examining associations in psychiatric symptoms and symptom coping in partners in families with a mentally ill parent, e.g., having a psychiatric diagnosis according to the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10). Furthermore, a moderation of the psychiatric symptoms of the parent with a mental illness on the association in symptom coping was assumed. Families with at least one parent with a mental illness were recruited into the longitudinal "Children of Mentally Ill Parents" (CHIMPS) trial at seven clinical centers in Germany and Switzerland. In total, 139 families were included in the current study. Psychiatric symptoms were assessed using the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI), Clinical Global Impression scale (CGI), Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF), and Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ), while symptom coping strategies were measured using the Freiburger Fragebogen zur Krankheitsverarbeitung (FKV). Regression analyses have indicated an association in psychiatric symptoms between mentally ill parents and their partners concerning psychosocial functioning, somatic, and stress-related symptoms. Additionally, one symptom coping strategy of the partners was predicted by the same strategy of the parent with a mental illness. The results emphasize the importance of screening and providing support to parents burdened by the mental disorder of their partners, especially regarding the children in these partnerships.

Improving the mental health and well-being of healthcare providers using the transcendental meditation technique during the COVID-19 pandemic: A parallel population study.

Frontline Healthcare provider (HCP) burnout has dramatically increased due to the COVID 19 pandemic. Hospitals are supporting wellness programs and techniques to reduce burnout including the Transcendental Meditation (TM) technique. This study evaluated the use of TM on HCP symptoms of stress, burnout and wellness. A total of 65 HCPs at three South Florida hospitals were recruited and instructed in the TM technique which they practiced at home for 20 minutes twice a day. A parallel lifestyle as usual control group was enrolled. Validated measurement scales (Brief Symptom Inventory 18 (BSI-18), Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), Maslach Burnout Inventory-Human Services Survey [MBI-HSS (MP)] and the Warwick Edinburgh Mental Well Being Scale (WEMWBS) were administered at baseline, 2 weeks, one and three months. No significant demographic differences were seen between the 2 groups; however, some baseline scales were higher in the TM group. TM average weekly session completion rate was very high at 83%. After 2-weeks, symptoms of somatization, depression, and anxiety in the TM group had all shown near 45% reductions, while insomnia, emotional exhaustion, and well-being had improved by 33%, 16%, and 11% respectively (P = 0.02 for somatization and < .001 for all others); no significant change was noted in the LAU group. At 3-months, in the TM group, the improvement in symptoms showed a mean reduction of in anxiety, 62%, somatization, 58%, depression, 50%, insomnia, 44%, emotional exhaustion 40%, depersonalization, 42%, and improvement of well-being 18% (for all p<0.004). P-values for between-group differences in change from baseline, based upon repeated measures ANCOVA covarying for baseline measurements, showed significance for all scales at 3-months. The study confirmed the reported significant and rapid benefits of the practice of TM and demonstrated its positive psychological impact on healthcare workers in a high stress setting.

Cognitive characteristics in women with mastectomy, mental symptoms and marriage compliance

IntroductionAlthough mastectomy is a treatment for the cleaning of cancer cells in the breast, it can also cause psychological changes in women.ObjectivesThis research was carried out to investigate the cognitive distortions, mental symptoms, and marital adjustment relationships in women with mastectomy.MethodsThe descriptive and comparatice study was conducted in a public hospital with 90 mastectomies and 90 healthy female samples. The data were collected using The Cognitive Distortions Scale (CDS), The Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI), and Marriage Adjustment Scale (MAS) and were evaluated by descriptive statistical analyzes, t test, Mann-Whitney U test and Spearman Correlation Analysis.ResultsWomen with mastectomy scored high in the healthy control group in all sub-dimensions of CDS and BSI and this difference is highly significant (p&lt;0,5). Women with mastectomy scored higher in total agreement sub-dimensions than the healthy control group and the difference between them was statistically significant (p&lt;0,5). There ara positive, very strong and statistically significant relationships between all sub-dimensions of the CDS and the total sub-dimension scores of the BSI (r=,769and, 919). There are positive, strong and statistically significant relationships between the sub-dimensions of the CDS and the sub-dimension of the agreement and the total score of MAS (r=681 and 734). There are strong and statistically significant relationships between the total and sub-dimension scores of the BSI and the sub-dimension and total score of the MAS’s agreement (r=,672 and 778).ConclusionsCognitive distortions and mental symptoms are significantly higher in women with mastectomy, and cognitive distortions are associated with mental symptoms. Cognitive distortions and psychological symptoms scores, marriage adjustment scores and agreement sub-dimension scores increase in women.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared

Orthorexia nervosa and type 1 diabetes: results of a cross-sectional study.

Orthorexia nervosa (ON) is a condition characterized by an excessive importance attributed to the intake of healthy foods. This study was aimed at investigating the prevalence of ON in subjects with type 1 diabetes (T1D) compared to control subjects. Patient with T1D using either flash glucose monitoring or continuous glucose monitoring were enrolled. For the selection of control group, each patient was asked to indicate one non-diabetic subject of their same sex and approximate age among colleagues at work and school. Patients and controls completed the following questionnaires: ORTO-15, Dusseldorf Orthorexie Scale (DOS), Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q) and Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI). The principal outcome was the prevalence of ON among T1D and control subjects. We enrolled 44 patients with T1D aged 39.7 ± 15.7years, with BMI 24.3 ± 4.3kg/m2, and mean HbA1c 53.5 [49-57] mmol/mol. Control subjects were similar to T1D with respect to sex, age and BMI. Thirty-two [72%] and 29 [65%] subjects among patients and controls, respectively, had ORTO15 < 40 (between-group p = 0.48). Two (4.5%) and zero subjects among patients and controls, respectively, had DOS ≥ 30 (p = 0.29). Median scores of DOS, but not of ORTO-15, were significantly higher in patients than in controls. None of the metabolic variables showed a correlation with psychometric tests in T1D. Although the prevalence of ON was not significantly higher in T1D than in controls, patients with T1D showed higher scores of some, but not all, tests assessing orthorexia, without any significant correlation with metabolic parameters.

Using the emotional functioning in clinical practice to detect psychological distress in patients with advanced thoracic and colorectal cancer

PurposePatients with advanced cancer suffer significant decline of their psychological state. A rapid and reliable evaluation of this state is essential to detect and treat it and improve quality of life. The aim was to probe the usefulness of the emotional function (EF) subscale of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire C30 (EF-EORTC-QLQ-C30) to assess psychological distress in cancer patients.MethodsThis is a multicenter, prospective, observational study involving 15 Spanish hospitals. Patients diagnosed with unresectable advanced thoracic or colorectal cancer were included. Participants completed the Brief Symptom Inventory 18 (BSI-18), the current the gold standard, and the EF-EORTC-QLQ-C30 to assess their psychological distress prior to initiating systemic antineoplastic treatment. Accuracy, sensitivity, positive predictive value (PPV), specificity, and negative predictive value (NPV) were calculated.ResultsThe sample comprised 639 patients: 283 with advanced thoracic cancer and 356 with advanced colorectal cancer. According to the BSI scale, 74% and 66% displayed psychological distress with an EF-EORTC-QLQ-C30 accuracy of 79% and 76% in detecting psychological distress in individuals with advanced thoracic and colorectal cancer, respectively. Sensitivity was 79 and 75% and specificity was 79 and 77% with a PPV of 92 and 86% and a NPV of 56 and 61% (scale cut-off point, 75) for patients with advanced thoracic and colorectal cancer, respectively. The mean AUC for thoracic cancer was 0.84 and, for colorectal cancer, it was 0.85.ConclusionThis study reveals that the EF-EORTC-QLQ-C30 subscale is a simple and effective tool for detecting psychological distress in people with advanced cancer.

Mental Adjustment, Functional Status, and Depression in Advanced Cancer Patients.

This study sought to analyze the relationship between physical and functional status and depressive symptoms, and to assess the role of mental adjustment across these variables in people with advanced cancer. A prospective, cross-sectional design was adopted. Data were collected from 748 participants with advanced cancer at 15 tertiary hospitals in Spain. Participants completed self-report measures: Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI), Mini-Mental Adjustment to Cancer (Mini-MAC) scale, and the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) questionnaire. Depression was present in 44.3% of the participants and was more common among women, patients <65 years old, non-partnered, and those with recurrent cancer. Results revealed a negative correlation with functional status, and functional status was negatively associated with depressive symptoms. Mental adjustment affected functional status and depression. Patients having a positive attitude displayed fewer depressive symptoms, while the presence of negative attitudes increased depressive symptoms in this population. Functional status and mental adjustment are key factors in the presence of depressive symptoms among people with advanced cancer. Assessment of functional status and mental adjustment should be considered when planning treatment and rehabilitation in this population.

The effect of Ramadan fasting on mental health and some hormonal levels in healthy males

BackgroundMillions of Muslims around the world fast during the holy month of Ramadan as a requirement of their religion Islam. Studies have reported varying effects of Ramadan fasting on mental health and various hormones. This study aimed to examine the effects of Ramadan fasting on mental health and plasma Leptin, Ghrelin, Neuropeptide Y (NPY), Growth Hormone levels in healthy individuals, and to evaluate the possible relationship between their hormone values and scale scores. Male healthcare professionals working at a university hospital without any psychiatric disease were included in the study. In the last week before Ramadan and in the first week after Ramadan, participants’ blood samples were taken at 8.00 in the morning after 12 h of fasting, taking into account the release pattern and pulsatile release of these hormones in order to measure plasma Leptin, Ghrelin, NPY and Growth Hormone levels. Simultaneously, a sociodemographic data form, the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI) and the Scale of Dimensions of Interpersonal Relationships were applied to participants.ResultsThe sample of the study included a total of 40 healthcare professionals. Participants’ BSI interpersonal sensitivity and phobic anxiety subscales scores and their general severity and positive symptom distress index scores decreased significantly after Ramadan compared to those measured before Ramadan. (p < 0.001, p = 0.020, p = 0.042, p = 0.006 respectively). Also participants’ ghrelin levels increased significantly after Ramadan compared to those measured before Ramadan (p < 0.001).ConclusionsThe effects of Ramadan fasting on mental health may be mediated by some psychoneuroendocrine mechanisms. In order to elucidate these mechanisms that mediate the effect of Ramadan fasting on mental health, there is a need for better-structured studies with larger samples and more variables.

Psychotic spectrum features in borderline and bipolar disorders within the scope of the DSM-5 section III personality traits: a case control study

BackgroundPsychotic spectrum features in borderline personality disorder (PD) are a long-standing phenomenon, but remarkably, to date, they have not been the focus of many empirical studies. Moreover, the comparative studies that acknowledge their links to affective psychoses are even more scarce. Likewise, the contributions of empirical research on the DSM-5 dimensional approach to this topic are also uncommon. This study seeks to identify the best set of pathological personality traits and/or symptoms that are predictors of psychotic features (psychoticism and ideation paranoid symptoms) in borderline PD and in bipolar disorder, based on the framework of the DSM-5 section III personality traits.MethodsA cross-sectional study of two clinical samples: 1) Borderline PD group of 63 participants; 2) Bipolar disorder group of 65 participants. Self-reported assessment: Personality Inventory for DSM-5 (PID-5); Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI). A series of linear and logistic regression analyses were computed.ResultsOverall, the data emerging as common predictors are detachment, negative affectivity, psychoticism, depressivity, grandiosity, suspiciousness and interpersonal sensitivity symptoms. Borderline PD has the highest score in BSI paranoid ideation which emerges as its discriminating trait (Nagelkerke R2 = .58): cognitive and perceptual dysregulation (OR: 13.02), restricted affectivity (OR: 12.09), withdrawal (OR: 11.70), anhedonia (OR: 10.98) and emotional lability (OR: 6.69).ConclusionsBesides the commonality that appears to overlap both disorders with a psychosis superspectrum, the patterns of the pathological personality-symptoms underlying the psychotic features appear to reinforce a position between schizophrenia and bipolar disorders that borderline PD may occupy, highlighting the possibility of its intersection with schizoaffective/psychosis spectra. The pathological personality nature of the psychotic features emerges as a potential comprehensive trait of the phenomenological dimensions.

Depression and distress in couples with infertility - who suffers more?

Introduction/Objective. Infertility is the inability to achieve pregnancy after a year or more of unprotected sexual intercourse. It is a clinical and social issue affecting both sexes. Infertility can cause anxiety, depression, and personal distress with long-lasting consequences. Men and women tend to cope with infertility in different ways and reliance on certain coping mechanisms can be harmful. This study aims to examine the correlative effects of infertility, distress and depression among couples, and investigate sex disparities in levels of suffering. Methods. The research is a cross-sectional study that included 168 participants (84 couples) divided into two groups, control and infertility group. Beck Depression Inventory Second Edition (BDI-II) and the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI) were used to identify and assess psychological symptoms. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS at the 0.05 level of significance. Results. The results showed that there was a significant difference in the scores on BDI and BSI scales between the infertile and fertile groups, with participants in the infertile group reporting higher levels of depression and distress (t = -2.724, df = 166, p &lt; 0.01; t = -3.609, df = 166, p &lt; 0.01). Women had significantly higher scores on the depression scale than men (t = -2.079, df = 166, p &lt; 0.05). Conclusion. In summary, the study found that couples dealing with infertility experience higher levels of distress and depression compared to the control group. Women in these couples are particularly vulnerable to depression. The study highlights the importance of addressing the mental health needs of individuals and couples dealing with infertility, in addition to treating the underlying medical issues.

ASSESSMENT OF SEASONAL AGRICULTURAL WORKERS’ MENTAL HEALTH

Background and Aim: Mental health of the seasonal agricultural workers (SAW) can be negatively affected due to working under hard conditions, being exposed to discrimination from time to time, working in a socially isolated field, and having insufficient social support resources. This study aimed to assess the mental health of the SAW. Method: This study was conducted from June to September 2021 in a family health center region in a province located in the southeast of Turkey in which the SAW intensely populated. The study sample consisted of 300 seasonal agricultural workers. Data were collected using an introductory form and the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI) through face-to-face interviews. The data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) 22.00 program, descriptive statistics (numbers, percentages, means), independent samples t-test, the Mann Whitney-U test, variance analysis, and the Kruskal-Wallis test. Results: The participants’ mean subscale scores were 8.08±6.39 for somatization, 15.81±9.15 for depression, 11.79±8.32 for anxiety, 8.84±5.18 for hostility, and 14.10±8.13 for negative self-concept. Their mean index scores were 1.10±0.58 for the Global Severity Index (GSI), 24.44±11.09 for the Positive Symptom Total (PST), and 2.08-0.53 for the Positive Symptom Distress Index (PSDI). A statistically significant difference was found between anxiety and depression subscales by gender; somatization subscale by marital status, education level, presence of chronic diseases, and duration of employment; and negative self-concept and hostility subscales by presence of chronic diseases (p&lt;0.05). Conclusions: It can be concluded that the SAW had psychopathological tendencies. Therefore, it is critical to periodically assess the mental health of the SAW and to develop coping strategies regarding the problems they experience. Keywords: Seasonal Agricultural Worker, Mental Health, Psychological Symptom.

Soygundan Hüküm Giymiş Erkeklerde, Çocukluk Dönemi İstismarı ile Psikolojik Semptomların Uyuşturucu Kullanma Sıklığı ve Kendine Zarar Verme Sıklığını Ayırt Ediciliği

The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of prior childhood abuse and current psychological symptoms on the frequency of drug use and self-harming behavior among a group of male prisoners convicted of robbery. The sample consists of 127 men convicted of armed, aggravated, unarmed/forced robbery, who were held in Metris T-type closed penitentiary state correctional institution. History of childhood abuse was assessed with The Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ) and psychological symptoms were assessed with The Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI). Frequency of drug use was assessed with three questions and self-harm was assessed through four questions both on the self-completed demographic information form. Among 127 men recruited, history of childhood abuse and psychological symptoms provided discrimination concerning frequency of drug use and self-harm. The rate of self-harming individuals in the present study was relatively high compared to the literature. There was a significant correlation between CTQ total and subscale scores and BSI total and subscale scores, except for the emotional neglect subscale.

Testing the efficacy of the Virtual Body Project in a sample of Turkish female university students using a Randomized Controlled Trial

The current study aimed to test the effectiveness of the Virtual Body Project (vBP) on self-esteem, disordered eating attitudes, and psychological symptoms in young females. A pretest posttest control group design was used in the study. The intervention (vBP, N = 40) and placebo (Expressive Writing, N=33) groups were determined using random assignment. The Body Mass Index (BMI), Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI), Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q), Body Image Quality of Life (BIQLI), and Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES) were administered. The groups did not differ in terms of pretest scores. However, the intervention group had significantly lower EDE-Q, BIQLI, BSI scores, and higher RSES scores than the placebo group in the post-test assessment. Within-subjects comparisons showed that the placebo group’s pretest and post-test scores were not significantly different. However, the EDE-Q, BIQLI, and BSI posttest scores were found to be significantly lower than the pretest scores in the intervention group. In addition, the RSES post-test scores were significantly higher than the RSES pretest scores in the intervention group. The current study indicated that the Virtual Body Project was found to be an effective intervention on eating disorder risk factors, psychological symptoms, and self-esteem in young females. It is thought that the Virtual Body Project, which is applied to groups online, makes an extremely important contribution to preventive mental health studies.

An interdisciplinary multimodal integrative healthcare program for somatic symptom disorder, with predominant (spinal) pain

Objective Although multimodal interventions are generally recommended in patients with long-term somatic symptom disorders (SSD), available evidence is limited. The current study evaluates the effectiveness of an outpatient secondary care interdisciplinary multimodal integrative healthcare program for patients with SSD and predominant (spinal) pain. Method The healthcare program consisted of two active treatment phases: main 20-week program and a 12-month relapse prevention program. Participants were 4453 patients diagnosed with SSD. The primary outcome was health-related quality of life (HRQoL) assessed using the RAND-36 (i.e., mental/physical component summary) and secondary outcomes included physical and psychological symptoms assessed using the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI) and RAND-36 subscales. Mixed linear models were used to examine the effects of the multimodal healthcare program on primary/secondary outcomes over four time points: before start 20-week program (T0), halfway 20-week program (T1), end of 20-week program (T2) and end of relapse prevention program (T3). Results Significant improvements were found from T0 to T2 for all primary variables (i.e., mental/physical component summary) and secondary variables (i.e., BSI/RAND-36 subscales), which were maintained until the end of the relapse prevention program (T3). Conclusion An interdisciplinary multimodal integrative treatment for SSD is effective for improving HRQoL and reducing physical and psychological symptoms.

Psychological Profile and Social Behaviors of Patients with Hyperacusis.

Increased noise sensitivity refers to the abnormal subjective response to external sounds, with a prevalence of between 8% and 15.2% in the adult population as suggested by epidemiological studies. The basic neural mechanism of hyperacusis still remains obscure, so therapies for this often-devastating symptom remain elusive. The aim of this study was to assess psychological profiles in patients with presbycusis without tinnitus in a perspective case-control design. All subjects were initially submitted to audiological evaluation (tympanometry, recordings of the acoustic reflex thresholds, pure tone audiometry) and subsequently were administered the following questionnaires: the hyperacusis questionnaire (HQ), the brief symptom inventory (BSI), and the modified somatic perception questionnaire (MSPQ). Patients with hyperacusis reported a total score and subscales (attentional, social, and emotional) of the HQ significantly higher than controls. They also reported higher scores of the MSPQ and significantly higher mean values with concern to the somatization, obsessive-compulsive, interpersonal sensitivity, depression, and anxiety subscales of the BSI. These results show that psychological distress, as expressed by higher level of somatic attention, somatization, anxiety, and depression, is a significant factor to consider for a complete diagnosis and effective treatment of hyperacusis. For a correct diagnosis of patients seeking help for hyperacusis, their psychological distress should also be assessed, regardless of their hearing abilities. Further studies are required to investigate the pathological mechanisms that are involved in the onset of hyperacusis in patients with normal hearing and those with sensorineural hearing loss.

Identifying state self-criticism subscales within the Brief Symptoms Inventory: Analyses of data from Israeli young adults

Recent works in personality and psychopathology emphasize both trait and state self-criticism as transdiagnostic risk factors for mental disorders. Yet, common screening and intake measures do not include assessment of state self-criticism. We provide a reanalysis of data from nine samples (total N = 1442), with the aim to identify and validate a state self-criticism subscale within the Brief Symptoms Inventory (BSI), a popular and extensively researched instrument for the assessment of general and specific psychopathology. We identified four potential state self-criticism subscales, comprising three to five items, tapping the experience of self-criticism. All state self-criticism subscales demonstrated good internal consistency and test-retest reliability. In addition, all subscales were highly correlated with psychopathology and low psychological well-being, thus suggesting strong convergent validity. Furthermore, all subscales demonstrated incremental predictive validity, when predicting psychological distress, depression, brooding and suicidal ideations, above and beyond trait self-criticism. Interestingly, our results show no clear advantage for one subscale over the others. Findings contribute to contemporary personality science, attesting to the importance of assessing personality on both trait and state features. We discuss clinical implications and offer clinicians a brief alternative to longer screening methods, focusing on currently ‘inflamed’ and distressing aspects of experience, namely the self-critical experience.

Somatoform Symptoms in Parkinson Disease.

Co-occurring somatoform symptoms complicate the diagnosis and treatment of Parkinson disease (PD). To learn more about the relationship between somatoform symptoms and PD by comparing demographic and clinical features across PD groups differing in somatoform symptom severity. Using standardized Brief Symptom Inventory-18 (BSI-18) scores to measure somatoform symptom severity, we assigned 1093 individuals with PD to one of four subgroups using comparisons to normative means: low (M < -½ SD), average (M ± ½ SD), high (M +½ SD to +1 SD), very high (M > +1 SD). We used demographics and disease severity measures to assess each subgroup. Most of the individuals with PD (56%) had high or very high somatoform symptom levels. Increased somatoform symptom levels were associated with female gender, lower socioeconomic status, greater disease duration, increased PD severity (Total Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale), greater disability (Older Americans Resource and Services Disability subscale), increased BSI-18 Depression and Anxiety subscale scores, lower cognitive function (Mini-Mental State Examination), lower self-efficacy scores (Self-Efficacy to Manage Chronic Disease Scale), lower quality of life scores (SF-12 Health Status Survey), and greater medical comorbidity (Cumulative Illness Rating Scale-Geriatrics) (all comparisons: P < 0.001). We found no significant between-group differences for age, race, or marital status. Somatoform symptom severity in individuals with PD is associated with greater PD severity and disability and is more common in females and in individuals with low socioeconomic status. Greater awareness of somatoform symptoms should help improve PD treatment.

Clinical Trial Data: Both Parents Having Psychiatric Symptoms as Risk Factor for Children's Mental Illness.

Children of mentally ill parents represent a particularly vulnerable risk group for the development of mental illness. This study examines whether there is a predictive association between children's psychiatric symptomatology and (1) the clinical diagnosis according to the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD-10) of their mentally ill parent as well as (2) to families both parents showing psychiatric symptoms. The study is part of the multicenter controlled trial project "Children of Mentally Ill Parents" (CHIMPS). For this purpose, the psychiatric symptomatology of the mentally ill parent (N = 196) and his or her partner (N = 134) as well as the psychiatric symptomatology of their children aged 4 to 18 years (N = 290) was measured using clinical rated ICD-10-diagnosis, self-rated Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI), and Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL). Using multilevel analyses, the severity of the parental psychiatric symptomatology (BSI) was identified as a significant predictor of children's psychiatric symptomatology (CBCL). Children of parents with a personality disorder (ICD-10) were not more affected than children of parents with another ICD-10-diagnosis. However, children with two parents showing psychiatric symptoms (CBCL) were significantly more affected than children with one mentally ill parent. The results of this study support the well-known view that parental mental illness is a risk factor for children's psychiatric symptoms. Therefore, increased support, especially in high-risk families, both parents having psychiatric symptoms, is highly necessary and should be implemented in the future psychotherapeutic family care.