Dysfunctional Attitude Scale Research Articles

Development of a psychosocial functioning questionnaire for patients with major depressive disorder

BackgroundThe importance of psychosocial functioning in the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD) is widely recognised. However, there is a lack of effective scales to assess psychosocial...

Dysfunctional Attitudes in Victims of Terrorism: Validity Evidence for the DAS-A.

The Dysfunctional Attitudes Scale, Form A (DAS-A), is the reference instrument for measuring dysfunctional attitudes which, according to Beck's cognitive theory, constitute the key vulnerability factor for depression. The psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the DAS-A have been examined in university students, but not in people with psychological disorders, despite being one of the most widely-used instruments in research and clinical practice of cognitive therapy for depression. The objective of the present study was to obtain validity evidence for the DAS-A in victims of terrorism with and without emotional disorders. The DAS-A's factor structure, internal consistency, and relationship with depression were analyzed in 196 victims of terrorism with emotional disorders and 280 victims without disorders. In both samples, the DAS-A exhibited a structure with three correlated factors: Achievement-Perfectionism, Dependency-Need for Approval, and Autonomous Attitude. In general, the total scale and the subscales showed good or adequate indices of internal consistency (alphas and omegas = .60 - .89) and a relationship with depression ( r =.22 - .44). The DAS-A provides reliable, valid measures of depressogenic dysfunctional attitudes in Spanish adults with emotional disorders and victims of terrorism.

Depression, Anxiety, and Stress in University Students: Effects of Dysfunctional Attitudes, Self-Esteem, and Age

Abstract Introduction: This study aimed to investigate the direct and indirect effects of dysfunctional attitudes (perfectionism and dependency) and age on depression, anxiety, and stress and the mediator role of self-esteem in these relationships in undergraduate university students. Methods: This study was designed as a relational study to examine the relationships between dysfunctional attitudes, depression, anxiety, stress, self-esteem, and age using path analysis technique. The participants consisted of 407 undergraduate university students, 287 females and 120 males. The data were collected using the Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scale (DASS-21), the short form of the Dysfunctional Attitudes Scale (DAS-17), the Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale, and Demographic Information Form. Results: The findings showed that perfectionism positively affected the participants’ depression and stress levels; however, direct effect of the perfectionism on anxiety was not significant at the alpha level of .05. Dependency directly and positively affected their stress level; however, it did not have a significant effect on their depression and anxiety levels. Self-esteem and age directly and negatively affected their depression, anxiety, and stress levels. Perfectionism and dependency negatively affected their self-esteem. Finally, dependency positively affected their depression, anxiety, and stress levels through the mediation of self-esteem. Discussion: The findings showed that the students with high self-esteem would stay away from depression, anxiety, and stress. University students, who want to be flawless in all tasks and to be approved by others, have difficulties in making positive judgments about their selves. When the perfectionist and dependent students face difficulties, they may react emotionally, physically or behavioraly, and may feel disappointed, unhappy, guilty or depressed. The students who lose self-esteem, self-confidence, and optimism due to not feeling perfect may be more depressive and stressful. Self-esteem was found to have a full mediator role in the relationship between dependency and both depression and anxiety. The beliefs about the necessity of approval by others for being happy indirectly lead to worries about experiencing bad events in the future and being sad, unhappy, and depressed. These beliefs increase the negative self-judgments and cause losing self-confidence and underestimating the abilities and success. When the university students lose their self-esteem due to being disapproved by others, they may feel guilty, unhappy, depressive, and anxious. Self-esteem had a partial mediator role in the relationship between dependency and stress. Considering that stress is a reaction occurring when an individual feels threatened, it might be thought that the university students, who have beliefs about dependency, feel more threatened. The students who are not approved by others lose their self-esteem, so they may experience more stress. Finally, the increase in age led to a decrease in depression, anxiety, and stress. In addition to the developmental difficulties, the difficulties about university life may cause younger university students to experience more depression, anxiety, and stress. Limitations: The data were collected from the students enrolled in the same university in the South-Eastern Anatolia Region of Turkey. The gender distribution of the participants was not balanced. The participants of this study were selected using the convenience sampling method. This study was designed quantitatively. Conclusion: The results revealed that low self-esteem and the presence of dysfunctional attitudes were important risk factors in terms of university students’ mental health. In order to prevent depression, anxiety, and stress in university students, the university counseling centers may organize individual or group counseling practices. These counseling practices should aim to support the development of self-esteem. Besides, psycho-educational programs aiming to increase self-esteem should be conducted.

A study of impulsivity, compulsivity, and dysfunctional belief among medical undergraduate students with problematic internet use

Background: Internet addiction has been described as an emerging behavior related to the development of new technologies. Impulsivity is a risk factor for addictive behaviors. Maladaptive use of the Internet has been coined as compulsive Internet use. Dysfunctional belief is an irrational thinking pattern where there is a negative view of self, the outer world, and future. Aim: The present study aims to assess the role of impulsivity, compulsivity, and dysfunctional belief leading to problematic Internet use. Materials and Methods: A total of 300 undergraduate medical students were assessed on this cross-sectional scale. Demographic details, Internet Addiction Test, Urgency Perseveration Premediation Sensation Seeking Positive Urgency Scale, Compulsive Internet Use Scale, and Dysfunctional Attitude Scale were filled by the participants using Google Forms. One hundred students could not be assessed due to nonresponse. Results: This study had a response rate of 66.6%, and of the respondents, 74.4% were mild, 25.2% were moderate, and 0.76% were severe in nature. A positive correlation was observed between Internet addiction and compulsive Internet use. There was a positive correlation between Internet addiction and lack of perseverance and positive urgency. There is an overall significance between level of dependency, achievement, and self-control in problematic and nonproblematic users. Conclusions: In the emerging era of Internet use, we must learn to differentiate excessive Internet use from addiction and be vigilant about psychopathology.

Нарушение временных перспектив виктимной личности

The relevance of the study of time perspective as a phenomenon that can be conceptualized in different ways is caused by its critical role in perception and experience of life events, their meaning. Psychological time of a person unites all the reality structures as all life processes develop in a continuum. The specifics of perception of different (most commonly traumatic) life events by a victim person attract special emphasis. The growth of victimization is caused by the escalation of tensions of modern society with the mosaic structure of the ideas about the specifics of view of life. The paper covers the theoretical and empirical analysis of time perspectives violation and cognitive distortions of a victimized personality. The authors give characteristics of a personality time perspective as a multidimensional dynamic construct, describe its differentiation. The paper describes the role of cognitive distortions in the determination of victim behavior of a person. Based on a theoretical review, the authors formulated a hypothesis that a victim personality is characterized by the time perspective violations. An empirical sample group involved young male and female students and graduate students of Russian universities (N=165). The average age of tested people was 21.8 years (max=29, min=20). In the study, the authors used the following methods: O.O. Andronnikova’s Technique of the Research of Propensity to Victim Behavior; Zimbardo Time Perspective Inventory; A. Beck and A. Weisman Dysfunctional Attitudes Scale, and A. Ellis Survey of Personal Beliefs. The empirical study identified the reliable interrelations between the victim behavior scales and time perspective parameters. A victim personality is characterized by a pessimistic attitude to the events in the past, fatalistic, helpless, and hopeless attitude to the present and the life on the whole, inability to develop time perspective of the future with the lack of ability to enjoy current events.

Cognitive Attitudes and Biases of Victim Mentality

The research analyzes cognitive attitudes and biases in people with victim mentality. The hypothesis that the study aims to test is that there is a correlation between the level of victimhood and the cognitive attitudes and biases that determine victim behaviour. Methodologically, the study relies on a range of tools, including the questionnaire “Predisposition to Victim Behaviour”, the Victim Mentality Questionnaire, the Dysfunctional Attitudes Scale and the adjusted REBT-test (rational emotive behaviour therapy). The study was conducted in 2018 in Russia and covered a sample of 106 people: 45 male and 61 female respondents aged 20–29. The hypothesis was confirmed and correlations were found between the type of victim behaviour, victim mentality, dysfunctional attitudes and irrational beliefs. Irrational beliefs are thus considered as victimogenic determinants correlating with the level of victimhood and forms of victim behaviour. These findings can be used to develop preventive and therapeutic strategies to help patients suffering from victim mentality and related problems.

Cognitive Models of Loneliness in Women in Early and Middle Adulthood

The problem of loneliness is caused by a disunity and alienation of modern society, dissatisfaction with the basic social needs for acceptance and support. The fact that the subjective feeling of loneliness does not coincide with the real degree of social isolation determines the need to study the cognitive aspects. The aim of this study is to show the role of cognitive structures in loneliness in women. A survey of 144 women aged 26-55 years was conducted. Using the UCLA Loneliness Scale and the Differential Loneliness Experience Questionnaire, loneliness was measured as a global experience, positive and negative attitudes towards it. Cognitive models were studied using the Dysfunctional Attitude Scale, Young Schema Questionnaire, the author’s questionnaire that reveals cultural myths and gender stereotypes about loneliness. A comparative analysis of the groups showed no differences in the perception of loneliness among women with different family situations; it also does not depend on having children and their number. Age was found to be a significant determinant of perceptions of loneliness and family circumstances. Cognitive models influence women’s loneliness to a greater extent than family situation. The publication describes correlations between perceived loneliness and individual dysfunctional attitudes, and builds regression models of predictors of loneliness in different age groups. The study shows the prevalence of cultural stereotypes about the need for marriage and motherhood, and a special female vulnerability in relationships. The construct “tolerance to loneliness” is proposed and described, which reveals the positive potential of this experience for self-knowledge and self-development.

Childhood Maltreatment Predicts Specific Types of Dysfunctional Attitudes in Participants With and Without Depression.

Background: Studies have shown a strong association between childhood maltreatment (CM) and major depressive disorder (MDD). Dysfunctional attitudes (DAs) play a crucial role in the development of MDD. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether (1) DAs are associated with CM, (2) specific CM types predict specific types of DAs, and (3) higher childhood trauma counts (CTCs) predict more DAs.Methods: One hundred seventy-one MDD participants and 156 healthy controls (HCs) were enrolled for the study. CM was assessed retrospectively with the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire. DAs were evaluated using the Chinese version of the Dysfunctional Attitude Scale–Form A (C-DAS-A). A series of analyses, including multiple analyses of covariance and hierarchical regression analyses, were used in this study to examine the hypotheses.Results: The proportion of CM was 60.2% in the MDD group and 44.2% in the HC group. The 2 × 2 analysis of covariance results showed no interaction effect between CM and MDD on C-DAS-A total score. When the factor scores replaced the C-DAS-A total score, a similar trend was observed. Within the MDD group, emotional abuse (EA) predicted two forms of DAs: self-determination type and overall DAs; physical neglect (PN) was predictive of attraction and repulsion-type DAs. Higher childhood trauma counts significantly predicted more types of DAs in the MDD group.Conclusion: DAs are a trait feature of CM. EA and PN predict specific types of DAs in MDD patients. Higher CTCs predict more DAs in MDD patients.

Effect of perceived husband's support on postpartum depression: Mediating role of need for approval.

To examine the mediating role of need of approval between perceived husband's support and postpartum depression. The cross-sectional study was conducted from December 2017 to May 2018 and comprised women diagnosed with postpartum depression at different public-sector hospitals of district Gujarat in the Punjab province of Pakistan. Urdu versions of the Marital Empathy Scale, the Need for Approval subscale of the Dysfunctional Attitude Scale Form A-17, and the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale were used to collect relevant data which was then analysed using SPSS (version 26). Of the 170 women, 101(59.4%) belonged to rural background, and 108(63.5%) had a girl as their last child. The overall mean age was 29.81±5.66 years (range: 18-42 years). Perceived husband's support had negative significant direct effect on need of approval (p<0.01) and postpartum depression (p<0.01). Need of approval had significant positive direct effect on postpartum depression (p<0.05). The significant indirect effect of perceived husband's support through need of approval on postpartum depression was negative (p<0.001). Perceived husband's support reduced the need of approval, which in turn, lowered the degree of postpartum depression.

The effects of the psychoeducation on cognitive distortions, negative automatic thoughts and dysfunctional attitudes of patients diagnosed with depression

ABSTRACT There are many studies showing a positive relationship between depression level and cognitive distortions in the literature. The study was carried out to determine the effects of cognitive behavioral therapy–based psychoeducation on cognitive distortions, negative automatic thoughts and dysfunctional attitudes of patients diagnosed with depression. This study was designed as a two-group pre-posttest study. The study sample composed of a total of 60 patients (30 patients in the treatment group and 30 patients in the control group) who met the eligibility criteria. The data have been collected by using The Personal Information Form, Automatic Thoughts Questionnaire, The Dysfunctional Attitude Scale and Interpersonal Cognitive Distortions Scale. Psychoeducation was provided in the form of individual training once a week in total of eight sessions. For the pretest, assumption and schemas that make people predispose to depression, dysfunctional attitudes and cognitive distortions in interpersonal relationships were seen frequently to be above average in all patients. It was determined that patients in the treatment group used significantly less dysfunctional attitudes and to had lower negative automatic thoughts and interpersonal cognitive distortions compared with patients in the control group in posttest (p < 0.05). Consequently, cognitive behavioral therapy–based psychoeducation has become considerably effective in decreasing the use of negative automatic thoughts, interpersonal cognitive distortions and dysfunctional attitudes in patients with depression. cognitive behavioral therapy–based psychoeducation should be thought of as a treatment component due to its effectiveness in nursing care of depressed patients.

Depression and cognitive distortions in hemodialysis patients with end stage renal disease: A case-control study

Background and objectivesIdentifying cognitive distortions is essential for Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) that plays a key role in the treatment of depression. Depression seen in patients with End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) has not been sufficiently diagnosed and treated. This study aimed to examine the cognitive distortions and schemas of patients diagnosed with ESRD. MethodsFifty-six patients undergoing hemodialysis and forty-seven controls were enrolled in the study. A sociodemographic and clinic data form, Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders (SCID-I), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Dysfunctional Attitudes Scale (DAS), Automatic Thoughts Questionnaire (ATQ) were applied to all participants. ResultsThe prevalence of the psychiatric disorder in the case group was significantly higher than the prevalence of the psychiatric disorder in the control group. Compared with the control group, the HADS depression subscale was significantly high in the patient group. There was a positive correlation between the duration of hemodialysis and total scores of DAS as well as the “dependency attitudes” factor among the case group. The “helplessness” subscale scores of the ATQ were significantly higher in the case group compared to the control group. ConclusionsThe duration of hemodialysis was related to dependency attitudes of cognitive distortions among patients with ESRD. Studies investigating cognitive modalities are needed to treat depression more successfully in this population. It will contribute to the Cognitive Behaviour Therapy of ESRD patients when these factors are taken into consideration.

Traditional Chinese Medicine Body Constitutions and Psychological Determinants of Depression among University Students in Malaysia: A Pilot Study.

Depression is commonly observed in university students, who are a high risk group for developing psychiatric disorders during adulthood. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of depression and its traditional Chinese medicine body constitutions and psychological determinants among university students in Malaysia. A cross-sectional pilot study was conducted between 9 and 28 September 2020 among 80 university students in Malaysia. Participants completed online survey questionnaires, including the validated Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), Constitution in Chinese Medicine Questionnaire (CMCQ), Dysfunctional Attitude Scale (DAS), Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-21) stress subscale, Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10), and Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES), which assess depression, body constitution, dysfunctional attitude, stress, perceived stress, and self-esteem. Multiple linear regression analyses were performed to determine the associated risk factors for depression. The overall prevalence of depression among university students was 33.8%. The multiple regression analysis showed a significant relationship between depression and qi-stagnation constitution (B = 0.089, p = 0.011), balanced constitution (B = −0.077, p = 0.049), and self-esteem (B = −0.325, p = 0.001). Our findings suggest that some traditional Chinese medicine body constitutions and self-esteem are significant risk factors affecting depression among university students. Identifying risk factors of depression is vital to aid in the early detection of depression among university students.

Dysfunctional Attitudes as a Mediator in the Association Between Problematic Internet Use and Depression, Anxiety, and Stress

The aim of this study was to describe the mediating role of dysfunctional attitudes in the association between problematic internet use and general distress. The study was performed based on the correlational design. It included 543 university students (69.6% female, n = 378; 28.4% male, n = 154, 2% gender not stated, n = 11). The ages of university students participating in this cross-sectional study varied from 17 to 28 years and mean age was 18.49 years (SD = 1.06). Data were collected with the Problematic Internet Use Scale, Dysfunctional Attitudes Scale, Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-42) and a personal information form. Research findings showed significant correlations between variables. According to mediation analysis results, dysfunctional attitudes were determined to have a partial mediating role in the association between problematic internet use and depression and anxiety. Additionally, dysfunctional attitudes were found to have a fully mediating role in the association between problematic internet use and stress. When generally assessed, the indirect effects of problematic internet use on general distress were found to be significant. The research findings are considered to be beneficial for experts in both clinical and education environments. The findings were discussed in line with the literature.

Revisiting the “manic defence hypothesis”: assessing explicit and implicit cognitive biases in euthymic bipolar disorder

ABSTRACT Objective: The manic defence theory of bipolar disorder suggests that manic symptoms arise from an attempt to overcompensate for underlying depression. This depression avoidance may also be active in euthymia, raising concerns about the accuracy of explicit self-report measurement, and, more importantly, the presence of underlying negative cognitions. Methods: Ninety-six individuals identifying as bipolar-depressed, bipolar-euthymic, unipolar-depressed, unipolar-euthymic (based on self-reported diagnosis and mood state), and 53 non-psychiatric controls completed a series of online questionnaires assessing explicit and implicit measures of activated negative schemata. These included the Dysfunctional Attitudes Scale and the Young Schema Questionnaire, and an implicit measure, the Pragmatic Inference Task. Results: When assessed explicitly, bipolar-euthymic individuals endorsed negative schema content at a level intermediate between depressed individuals (bipolar and unipolar) and controls. However, when assessed implicitly, bipolar-euthymic individuals endorsed the highest levels of negative schema content of all groups. Conclusions: These findings indicate depression avoidance during euthymia, suggesting that implicit measurement may have a role in understanding latent negative cognitions in bipolar euthymia. The results have clinical implications as they suggest that reliance upon explicit self-report may overlook underlying and unconscious affective instability. KEY POINTS (1) People with bipolar euthymia reported low levels of explicit negative schemas, but high implicit signs of negative/depressive cognitions. (2) This implicit negative schema activation was higher than that seen in depression. (3) Bipolar euthymia may not represent wellness but suppression of negative cognitions.

Predictive validity of the Seasonal Beliefs Questionnaire for discriminating between seasonal and nonseasonal major depressive disorder.

The Seasonal Beliefs Questionnaire (SBQ) is a 26-item self-report measure of a winter seasonal affective disorder (SAD)-specific cognitive vulnerability consisting of maladaptive thoughts about the seasons, light availability, and weather conditions. In a known groups comparison, currently depressed adults with SAD had significantly higher SBQ scores than currently depressed adults with nonseasonal major depressive disorder (MDD) and healthy controls, and the MDD group had significantly higher SBQ scores than controls. Using that database, this study explored the predictive validity of using an SBQ cutoff score to differentiate SAD from MDD. Receiver operator characteristic curve analyses used SBQ total score to predict SAD versus MDD, SAD versus control, and MDD versus control status. The SBQ subscale combined score, derived from multivariable logistic regression with SBQ subscales, was examined as an alternative predictor. SBQ total score with a cutpoint of 132 had good predictive ability for distinguishing SAD from MDD (C-statistic = .792, sensitivity = .798, specificity = .794). The SBQ subscale combination score slightly improved predictive ability for the SAD/MDD distinction (C-statistic = .813), with better sensitivity (.930) but worse specificity (.571). In contrast, the score on a generic measure of depressogenic cognitive vulnerability, the Dysfunctional Attitudes Scale, was poor for differentiating SAD from MDD. SBQ total score was excellent in discriminating SAD cases from controls with a cutpoint of 121 (C-statistic = .962, sensitivity = .939, specificity .873), but had poor sensitivity for discriminating MDD cases from controls. Results support using the SBQ to screen for probable SAD in practice settings. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

Dysfunctional Cognition in Individuals With an Increased Risk for Mania.

There is still a lack of knowledge about attitudes and cognitions that are related to bipolar disorder. Theoretically, it was proposed that exaggerated beliefs about the self, relationships, the need for excitement, and goal-related activities might lead to mania in vulnerable individuals, however, the few studies that examined this hypothesis provided mixed results. One of the unresolved issues is if such a cognitive style is associated with current mood symptoms or with different stages of the illness, i.e. at-risk versus diagnosed bipolar disorder. Therefore, the present study aimed at evaluating depression and mania-related cognitive style in individuals at-risk for mania. In an online survey, we collected data of 255 students of the University of Klagenfurt, Austria. All participants completed the Hypomanic Personality Scale (HPS), the Cognition Checklist for Mania - Revised (CCL-M-R), the Dysfunctional Attitude Scale (DAS), the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and the Internal State Scale (ISS). In a hierarchical regression, HPS was positively related to scores of all subscales of the CCL-M-R. The HPS did not significantly predict scores of the DAS. Current manic and depressive symptoms significantly contributed to the models. The present results suggest that a trait-like risk for mania is associated with mania-related but not depression-related cognitions.

Relationship between chronotype and depression schemas and sensitivity to depression in medical students

Aim: We aimed to investigate the relationship between chronotype and depression schemas and sensitivity to depression in healthy medical students with sensitivity and cognitive scales.Materials and Methods: The study included 38 healthy fifth-year medical students enrolled in Van Yuzuncu Yil University Medical Faculty. All the participants were administered a sociodemographic background questionnaire, followed by the Morningness-Eveningness Questionnare (MEQ), the Dysfunctional Attitude Scale (DAS), and the Leiden Index of Depression Sensitivity-Revised (LEIDS-R).Results: The average total MEQ score was 51.60 ± 8.71. No significant correlation was found between total DAS score total LEIDS-R score (p: 0.5847; r: 0.09154) and LEIDS-R type (p: 0.9081, r: 0.01936). Both MEQ type and total MEQ score established a significant correlation with the ‘perfectionism’ parameter on LEIDS-R. Moreover, the correlation between total MEQ score and ‘perfectionism’ was at a moderate level (p: 0.0014, r: 0.50021), it indicated that the level of perfectionism increases with the increase in the tendency towards morningness.Conclusion: No relationship was found between chronotype and tendency to depression among medical students. It was determined that the perfectionism scheme was strengthened with the increasing tendency towards the morningness. Hypothetically, the hyperactivation of morning-type features can be a protective factor against depression.

Social Media Addiction among Turkish Young Adults Is Partially Mediated by Automatic Thoughts and Social Problem-Solving Skills.

This study aimed to reveal a process model of the relations between automatic thoughts, dysfunctional attitudes, social problem-solving skills, and social media addiction. In this context, the aim was to investigate the mediating effect of automatic thoughts and social problem-solving skills in the relationship between intermediate beliefs and social media addiction. This study included 56 male and 107 female young adults aged 18-25 years who were referred to the psychiatry outpatient clinic of Yenimahalle Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey. The participants completed sociodemographic data form, social problem-solving inventory revised form, social media addiction scale, dysfunctional attitudes scale short form, and automatic thoughts questionnaire. In the data analysis, the effect and mediation were tested by the process method. Dysfunctional attitudes positively affected social media addiction and automatic thoughts and negatively affected social problem solving. According to this, the effect of dysfunctional attitudes on social media addiction was mediated by automatic thoughts and social problem solving. In this sense, both cognitive and behavioral processes can be useful in the treatment of social media addiction, and cognitive behavioral therapies can be an effective option.

Effect of Structured Cognitive-Behavioral Group Therapy on Body Weight, Mental Status and the Quality of Life in Obese and Overweight Individuals: A 16-Week Follow Up Study.

It was aimed in this study to investigate the effects of group cognitive and behavioral therapy (CBT) on the body weight, depression, anxiety, quality of life, self-esteem, dietary cognitive distortions and eating behavior of obese and overweight people. The study was carried out at the Department of Psychiatry, Gazi University Faculty of Medicine, between 01.07.2017 and 31.12.2017. The participants attended group CBT sessions once weekly for eight weeks. Reinforcement sessions took place at the 12th and 16th weeks. At the first, 8th, 12th and the 16th weeks, body weights were measured and the participants were asked to complete the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), the Obese Individuals Specific Quality of Life Scale (OISQLS), the Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire (DEBQ), the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES) and the Diet Related Dysfunctional Attitudes Scale (DRDAS). The group mean age was 41.71±4.46 years, 32 (91.4%) being female. Significant improvements were found in body weight and the scores on the BDI, BAI, DEBQ, OISQLS, DRDAS, and the RSES (p<0.001 for each). The average percent weight loss was 10.2%. The BDI score was the best predictor of the change in body mass index (BMI). CBT-based group treatments for obese and overweight people are effective in losing weight. Therapy participants with less depression symptoms benefit more from treatment and lose more weight. These results should be re-evaluated in randomized controlled trials.

Functioning, dysfunctional attitudes and neurocognitive functions in euthymic patients with bipolar disorder type 1.

Background: Previously it has been shown that patients with bipolar disorder (BD) have significant functional impairments even if they are in remission. Here we aimed to assess the effects of clinical factors, neurocognitive functions and dysfunctional attitudes on psychosocial functioning in remitted patients with BD type 1. Methods: Patients were enrolled (n=51) after screening with Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV-TR axis I disorders (SCID-I), Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D-17) and Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS). Neurocognitive functions were evaluated with Stroop Colour Word and Interference Test TBAG Form (SCWT) and Trail Making Tests A and B (TMT-A/B). Dysfunctional attitudes were evaluated with Dysfunctional Attitude Scale Revised Form (DAS-R), functioning was evaluated with Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS). Results: Functioning scores were not related with dysfunctional attitudes, subclinical symptoms or neurocognitive functions. Only previous hospitalization number of patients (r = 0.341, p = 0.01) and age of patients (r = 0.295, p = 0.04) were significantly related with functioning of patients. Conclusion: Hospitalization number and older age were inversely related with functioning. Due to our results, previous hospitalization and age of patients may be evaluated in daily clinical practice in euthymic patients with BD type 1 to assess their influence on the psychosocial functioning of BD patients.