Denial Of Distress Research Articles

Psychopathology in adolescents with TLE and FLE.

To describe the rates and types of psychiatric disorders among adolescents with chronic symptomatic epilepsies and to evaluate syndrome-specific differences between temporal lobe (TLE) and frontal lobe (FLE) epilepsies. A cross-sectional single-center study design applying the Youth Self Report (YSR) to investigate psychopathological symptoms and the Weinberger Adjustment Inventory (WAI) to investigate personality dimensions was used. Consecutive adolescents between 14 and 18 years of age with drug-resistant symptomatic TLE and FLE were investigated during pre-surgical evaluation prior to epilepsy surgery. Data from twenty-eight patients (19 with TLE and 9 with FLE) were analyzed for this report. Compared with the test norm, higher prevalence rates and a wider range of psychopathological symptoms were seen in patients with TLE. This result was not seen in patients with FLE. Concerning personality dimensions, significantly higher values of repressive defensiveness and significantly lower values of positive emotion and confidence were found in patients with TLE. In contrast, significantly lower levels of distress and significantly higher levels of repressive defensiveness and denial of distress were seen in patients with FLE. Comparing TLE with FLE, a significantly higher mean score for distress, and a significantly lower mean score for positive emotion and denial of distress were found in patients with TLE. In summary, psychiatric comorbidity was frequently found in this sample of youths with chronic drug-resistant localization-related epilepsies. Although results have to be interpreted with caution because of the small sample size, psychiatric symptomatology was significantly different between TLE and FLE. Our results show that continuous and syndrome-specific psychiatric monitoring is essential in young patients with epilepsy.

Personality and Psychopathology in African Unaccompanied Refugee Minors: Repression, Resilience and Vulnerability

Examining personality and psychopathological symptoms among unaccompanied refugee minors (URMs), we measured intra-individual dimensions (repression and correlates thereof) usually associated with resilience. Forty-one URMs completed the Weinberger Adjustment Inventory (WAI), assessing personality, and the Youth Self-Report (YSR), describing current symptoms. URMs endorsed high levels of Repressive Defensiveness, Denial of Distress, and Restraint; unexpectedly, URMs reported high Distress and reduced Happiness (WAI, p's < 0.05). Although YSR symptoms were below clinical cut points, there were notable correlations between Distress and Attention Problems, Self-destructive, and Aggressive Behavior (all on the YSR), correcting for multiple comparisons (p's < 0.004). URMs exposed to non-normative stressors reported non-symptomatic outcomes, and high levels of personality dimensions correlating with resilience. However, URMs also endorsed high Distress and low Happiness, calling their resilience into question. Positive correlations between WAI Distress and YSR symptom subscales suggest that URMs harbor vulnerabilities of clinical and forensic significance.

Adaptive styles in elite collegiate athletes: the role of activation and self‐regulation

AbstractThe present study examined the interaction of emotional activation and self‐regulation in elite collegiate athletes. We hypothesized that athletes would report higher levels of self‐restraint, repressive defensiveness and denial of distress, but lower levels of distress than non‐athletes. Participants were composed of 461 collegiate athletes and 61 age‐ and gender‐matched non‐athletes from Stanford University. Social‐emotional adjustment and personality were assessed with the Weinberger Adjustment Inventory. Results indicate significant differences between athletes and non‐athletes. Athletes report lower levels of distress, higher levels of self‐restraint, repressive defensiveness and denial of distress. Logistic regressions assessed the important predictors of athlete status. Age, denial of distress and responsibility proved to be the most significant indicators of athlete status. Data can be interpreted in at least two ways: (1) athletes are better at dealing with pressure and therefore report lower levels of distress; or (2) athletes report lower distress because they utilize high levels of repressive defensiveness and denial of distress. Utilizing non self‐report methods would further clarify this question and would provide a deeper understanding of personality traits in athletes. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley &amp; Sons, Ltd.

Comparison of Short-Term Psychological Outcomes of Respiratory Failure Treated by Either Invasive or Non-Invasive Ventilation

There is now widespread recognition of the development of symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in individuals subjected to treatment in the hospital intensive care unit (ICU). The authors sought to investigate traumatic aspects of the ICU hospitalization experience. A group of 20 adult pulmonary patients requiring ventilation in the ICU were compared with 20 patients treated without ventilation. Subjects completed a semistructured interview about their hospital experience and were given self-report measures to assess PTSD and coping style. Subjects requiring invasive ventilation were significantly more likely to endorse symptoms of PTSD. There was a strong correlation between symptoms of PTSD and recall of memories of traumatic medical events. Symptoms of PTSD were positively associated with habitual experiences of distress and negatively associated with the use of denial of distress. Specific traumatic aspects of a patient's treatment, in this case the experience of intubation and mechanical ventilation, may be an additive risk factor for the development of PTSD.

Does Defensiveness Account for the Relationship Between Religiosity and Psychosocial Adjustment?

Religiosity has been related to positive psychosocial adjustment across a large number of studies. Some researchers question, however, whether this relationship is an accurate finding, observing that there are many potential confounds that have not been controlled for, such as defensiveness. This study examined whether defensiveness accounted for the relationship between religiosity and psychosocial adjustment. Two samples of religious individuals were assessed on religiosity (Duke University Religion Index), defensiveness (measured using the denial of distress and repressive defensiveness subscales from the Weinberger Adjustment Inventory [WAI]), and psychosocial adjustment (Depression subscale from the WAI, the Perceived Stress Scale, and the Sarason Social Support Scale). In both studies it was found that religiosity was related to positive psychosocial adjustment as well as higher levels of defensiveness. Defensiveness, however, did not account for the relationships between religiosity and psychosocial adjustment. These findings add to the research literature by eliminating a potential confound of the relationship between religiosity and psychosocial adjustment.

Linguistic Analysis to Assess Medically Related Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms

The authors examined the presence of posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) in 20 patients requiring ventilation after acute respiratory distress. The subjects completed a semistructured interview about their ventilation experience that was subject to content and linguistic analysis. Subjects also completed two self-report measures to assess PTSS and socioemotional adjustment. Subjects who endorsed PTSS were more likely to use a narrative style suggesting emotional involvement in their recall of the stressful event. The authors indicate that the presence of PTSS is a common consequence of traumatic medical experiences and that denial of distress may be an adaptive short-term coping strategy.

Changes in Daily Mood and Self-Restraint among Undercontrolled Preadolescents: A Time-Series Analysis of “Acting Out”

Acting out among boys with disruptive behavior disorders was investigated by evaluating how changes in their daily moods predicted changes in their behavior. During a 6-week period, 20 preadolescent boys enrolled in day treatment programs rated their mood upon arrival at school, and teachers rated their behavior at the end of the day. Time-series and path-analytic methodologies were used to analyze the data. The boys did engage in emotional acting out, in that their morning moods predicted their subsequent disruptive behavior, controlling for both individual differences and their behavior the previous day. Boys' mood changes served as a mediator between the intensity of interpersonal conflicts in their lives (with peers and among significant adults) and decrements in their self-restraint. Acting-out behavior was associated with defensive processes, in that boys who reported low subjective distress and whom the teachers rated as high in denial of distress had the strongest links between their moods and behavior. Individual differences in levels of conduct problems, but not hyperactivity, also predicted acting out. Emotional processes and defensive acting out may often be integral aspects of conduct-disordered behavior.