Psychological Test Results Research Articles

Spot Drug Stimulation: а Randomized Study of 90 Patients with Lumbosacral Dorsopathies

AIM. A randomized placebo-controlled study was conducted to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of Vishnevsky anesthetic blockade and chondroprotective drug pharmacopuncture in dorsopathies. MATERIALS AND METHODS. 90 patients aged 29–65 years with acute lumbosacral dorsopathy were under observation. Clinical condition dynamics, thermography, tetrapolar rheovasography and results of psychological testing by the methods of «Multilateral personality study» and «Self-activity-mood» were assessed. After determining compliance with the inclusion and noninclusion criteria, the patients were divided into 3 randomized groups (each of 30 patients)differing in treatment methods. In the 1st (control) group, the patients received basic standard treatment, and in the other two groups we additionally performed local medication on the lumbar region and lower extremities on reflexotherapy points. Methodically, anesthetic was injected into the lumbar points according to the Vishnevsky method, and a chondroprotective drug (Group 2) or physiological solution (Group 3, placebo) was differentially injected into the distal points. A course of 10 procedures was carried out in the order of three times a week. Statistica for Windows v.7 program was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS. It was found that upon completion of the treatment there were significant differences in the regression of neurological manifestations, thermographic data and rheographic markers of lower extremity blood flow between the two resultant groups and the control group, in which no significant shifts in the analyzed indices were detected. Both variants of local stimulation, characterized by a pronounced reflex effect, were reliably superior to the basic therapy in terms of efficacy. However, despite the comparable rates of algia reduction in the 2nd and 3rd groups, the level of pain sensations by the end of the treatment course was significantly lower in the patients of the 2nd group that received not only anesthetic blockade in the lumbar region, but also chondroprotector pharmacopuncture. In the same group, more significant shifts were obtained according to the results of psychological testing. The noted phenomenon can be explained by the points of medication application: achieving rapid pain relief due to anesthetic blockade and the overall maximum performance provided by chondroprotector pharmacopuncture. The follow-up data obtained testify to the stability of the achieved positive results under the influence of the reflexotherapy techniques to a greater degree in the patients of the 2-nd group. CONCLUSION. The combined method including anesthetic blockade by Vishnevsky’s method and chondroprotective pharmacopuncture in the region of the lower extremities was highly effective in treating patients with lumbar dorsopathy. In this group, there were notably more significant positive shifts compared to the group that received only anesthetic injections on the lumbar region, according to the severity of the pain syndrome, the results of psychological testing and follow-up data.

Personality traits and preoperative lifestyle improvement are predictors of early weight loss after sleeve gastrectomy.

This study investigated the associations of personality traits and preoperative lifestyle improvements with early weight loss after sleeve gastrectomy. This was a single-center, retrospective study of 57 patients who underwent preoperative lifestyle intervention with a multidisciplinary team approach based on cognitive behavioral therapy before sleeve gastrectomy. All patients underwent preoperative psychological testing with the Neuroticism-Extraversion-Openness Five-Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI) and the Tokyo University Egogram New Version II (TEG II). We investigated the associations of psychological testing results and lifestyle improvements with percent total weight loss (%TWL) one year after surgery. The median %TWL at 1year was 38.2% for patients with an improved lifestyle and 26.9% for those without improvement (P = 0.0008). Although TEG II factors were not associated with %TWL at 1year, higher NEO-FFI extraversion (E) scores were significantly associated with a better %TWL at 1year. The median %TWL at 1year was 35.2% for patients with higher E scores and 25.4% for those with lower E scores (P = 0.0247). Lifestyle improvement and the NEO-FFI E score significantly influenced %TWL at 1year based on a logistic regression analysis. The NEO-FFI E score and preoperative lifestyle improvement may be predictors of early weight loss after sleeve gastrectomy.

Machine Learning and Eye Movements Give Insights into Neurodegenerative Disease Mechanisms.

Humans are a vision-dominated species; what we perceive depends on where we look. Therefore, eye movements (EMs) are essential to our interactions with the environment, and experimental findings show EMs are affected in neurodegenerative disorders (ND). This could be a reason for some cognitive and movement disorders in ND. Therefore, we aim to establish whether changes in EM-evoked responses can tell us about the progression of ND, such as Alzheimer's (AD) and Parkinson's diseases (PD), in different stages. In the present review, we have analyzed the results of psychological, neurological, and EM (saccades, antisaccades, pursuit) tests to predict disease progression with machine learning (ML) methods. Thanks to ML algorithms, from the high-dimensional parameter space, we were able to find significant EM changes related to ND symptoms that gave us insights into ND mechanisms. The predictive algorithms described use various approaches, including granular computing, Naive Bayes, Decision Trees/Tables, logistic regression, C-/Linear SVC, KNC, and Random Forest. We demonstrated that EM is a robust biomarker for assessing symptom progression in PD and AD. There are navigation problems in 3D space in both diseases. Consequently, we investigated EM experiments in the virtual space and how they may help find neurodegeneration-related brain changes, e.g., related to place or/and orientation problems. In conclusion, EM parameters with clinical symptoms are powerful precision instruments that, in addition to their potential for predictions of ND progression with the help of ML, could be used to indicate the different preclinical stages of both diseases.

Методы нахождения взаимосвязей при обработке психологических тестов

The paper describes the approaches and metrics used to interpret the results of psychological testing. The methods of automatic clustering of respondents into groups corresponding to certain patterns of specific abilities are considered. The effect of Spearman's diminishing returns is discussed, which is well manifested in the median comparison, but is violated in other evaluation scales.

Blood MAPT expression and methylation status in Alzheimer's disease.

This study aimed to investigate the expression levels and methylation status of microtubule-associated protein tau (MAPT) in the blood of Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients and age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Fifty AD outpatients and 50 healthy contorls were enrolled. Blood samples were collected for processing of complementary DNA and genomic DNA. MAPT messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) expression was analyzed by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The methylation rates of four cytosine-phosphate-guanine (CpG) sites in the upstream region of MAPT exon1 were evaluated by the pyrosequencing method. No significant differences in MAPT mRNA expression levels were found between AD and control subjects (AD 0.97 ± 0.49 vs. control 1.0 ± 0.64, p = 0.62). MAPT mRNA expression levels were not correlated with any other clinical characteristics or results of psychological tests. MAPT mRNA expression levels were significantly higher in AD subjects treated with acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (AchEIs) (n = 25) than in subjects not treated with AChEIs (n = 25) (unmedicated 0.83 ± 0.33 vs. medicated 1.12 ± 0.59, p = 0.049). The AD subjects did not differ from the control subjects in methylation rates at selected CpG sites. MAPT methylation status were not correlated with clinical characteristics, the results of psychological tests, or MAPT mRNA expression. MAPT mRNA expression levels and methylation status in blood do not appear useful as biomarkers for AD or the examined CpG sites were not genetically significant for MAPT gene expression or AD pathology. However, AChEIs may alter MAPT mRNA expression. Further studies are needed to explore blood biomarkers that can discriminate AD patients from controls.

Психологічний та пупілоалгометричний моніторинги стоматологічних хворих під час їх антистресорної терапії

The purpose of the study was to investigate the psychological status and pain sensitivity by the pupillometric method in dental patients during preoperative antistress drug therapy. Materials and methods. In 100 patients, during their initial examination, signs of psychological stress were detected in them in social conditions during the last month before surgical interventions, using the PSM-25 scale of Lemoureux-Tessier-Fillion. The level of anxiety and depressive symptoms were determined using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Pain sensitivity in patients was studied by measuring the reaction of the pupil of the eye to the action of an algogenic mechanical factor using the developed proprietary technique of digital pupillometry. Depending on the applied schemes of antistress drug therapy, patients were divided into two clinical groups. The control group included 50 people with different levels of psychological stress. During premedication, they were given Gidazepam for sedation. The main group included 50 patients who were under psychological stress. At the stage of preoperative preparation (for 7 days), they were prescribed a course of antistress therapy: enterally the drug “Antistress” (which contains L-tryptophan) and endonasally – dalargin solution. Results and discussion. Psychological stress acquired by patients in social conditions is a favorable background for the appearance of clinical manifestations of anxiety and depression before the start of operations. The use of Gidazepam by stress-labile dental patients of the control group during premedication made it possible to provide antistressor protection only in 8 cases. These patients had a moderate level of psychological stress. The results of psychological testing and pupillo-algometry confirm the need to use alternative medication schemes of antistressor protection for emotionally labile dental patients during their preparation for planned surgical interventions. In patients of the main group with an average level of psychological stress before surgical interventions, antistressor protection was achieved in 100% of cases. The effectiveness of the applied medicinal scheme was statistically significant in comparison with the standard scheme of treatment of psychoemotional tension used by patients of the control group – χ2 - 15.771 (р<0.001). Preoperative antistress therapy was not sufficiently effective for only 16.7% of patients in the main group with a high level of psychological stress. When comparing the results of stress-protective therapy with those of patients in the control group, statistically significant differences were also found – χ2 - 16.875 (р<0.001). Conclusion. In dental patients who are in a state of chronic psychological stress, psychoemotional tension (reactive anxiety) increases and pain sensitivity increases before the start of planned surgical interventions, which is confirmed by psychological tests and digital pupillo-algometry. One-time use of Gidazepam by stress-sensitive patients during premedication is not effective enough to normalize their psycho-emotional state. Prescribing a course of drug antistress therapy (L-tryptophan and dalargin) to dental patients diagnosed with chronic psychological stress allows to statistically reliably normalize their psychoemotional state and reduce pain sensitivity before the start of surgical interventions

Original method of local stimulation for lumbosacral dorsopathies

The article is devoted to the mechanisms of action and effectiveness of the original technology, combining the blockade in accordance with Vishnevsky method and pharmacopuncture with the drug Alflutop.Materials and methods. 90 patients under 65 years of age with exacerbation of lumbosacral dorsopathy, who signed informed consent form were inсluded in observation. Along with clinical characteristics, the results of psychological tests, thermography and zonal rheovasography were evaluated. Patients were divided into 3 groups in which standard treatment was performed. In the 1st control group, they were limited to it, and in others, local stimulation was additionally performed. Methodically, up to 20 loci in the lumbar zone and 6–8 reflexology points in the lower extremities were selected. At the same time, the anesthetic Lidocaine was injected into the points of the lumbar zone, and the drug Alflutop (2nd group) or physiological solution (3rd) was injected into the distal points. The course of stimulation included 10 procedures performed every other day.Outcomes. Both variants of local stimulation significantly exceeded the effectiveness of basic therapy. However, despite the comparability of the rate of pain symptomatics reduction in these groups, the final level of pain was significantly lower in the case of Alflutop. These data were consistent with a clear tendency to normalize the mental and vascular background in patients of the 2nd group. This phenomenon can be explained by the points of application of medicines: rapid anesthesia due to blockade by anesthetic and the maximum effectiveness provided by pharmacopuncture.

Mathematical model for forecasting the desadaptation of military personnel of the navy according to the results of psychological testing: retrospective study

INTRODUCTION: Disadaptation to the conditions of military service is manifested in young recruits in the first 1– 2 months of service, in graduates of training military units — within 2–4 weeks after arrival, and in contract military personnel — during the first three months of service. The effectiveness of the prevention of these risks primarily depends on the quality of the study of military personnel, the adoption of the necessary measures for the early identification of persons with unstable mentality, deviations in physical development and mental health.OBJECTIVE: to develop a mathematical model for predicting the maladjustment of the military personnel of the navy.MATERIALS AND METHODS: 307 men, conscripts aged 18–23 years old in the joint training center of the Navy were examined. 14 of them with objective signs of maladjustment. The following methods were used: a questionnaire of volitional self-control, a technique for diagnosing a dominant mental state, a test «Communicative and organizational inclinations», a brief orientation test, a multifactorial personality questionnaire «Adaptiveness», a questionnaire for character traits of an adult, a test for determining a tendency to deviant behavior, a test «Forecast-2».RESULTS: When performing discriminant analysis using the «forward step by step» method, a highly informative model was obtained: Lambda Wilks: 0.82590 approx. F(7.299)=9.0041 p<0.0001. Linear classification function «Norm»=–47.1631+2.6336׫Personal adaptive potential»+1.1769׫Self-control»+2.3582׫Tendency to overcome norms and rules»+0.1035׫Behavioral regulation»+0.6821׫Social desirability»–0.1497׫Emotional stability»+7.8663׫Number of solved intelligence tasks». Linear classification function «Disadaptation»=–44.6142+1.6254׫Personal adaptive potential»+0.5151׫Self-control»+1.9143׫Tendency to overcome norms and rules»+0.5895׫Behavioral regulation+0.1439׫Social Desirability»+0.1439׫Emotional Stability»+8.5341׫Number of Solved Intelligence Tasks». DISCUSSION: Predictors of maladjustment in the navy is a combination of indicators: personal adaptive potential and behavioral regulation of the Adaptability method, the self-control subscale of the volitional self-control questionnaire, the indicator of the propensity to overcome the norms and rules of the test for determining the propensity for deviant behavior, the scale of emotional stability and the scale of orientation toward social the desirability of a methodology for diagnosing a dominant mental state, the number of completed tasks of a short orientation test. >< 0.0001. Linear classification function «Norm»=–47.1631+2.6336׫Personal adaptive potential»+1.1769׫Self-control»+2.3582׫Tendency to overcome norms and rules»+0.1035׫Behavioral regulation»+0.6821׫Social desirability»–0.1497׫Emotional stability»+7.8663׫Number of solved intelligence tasks». Linear classification function «Disadaptation»=–44.6142+1.6254׫Personal adaptive potential»+0.5151׫Self-control»+1.9143׫Tendency to overcome norms and rules»+0.5895׫Behavioral regulation+0.1439׫Social Desirability»+0.1439׫Emotional Stability»+8.5341׫Number of Solved Intelligence Tasks».DISCUSSION: Predictors of maladjustment in the navy is a combination of indicators: personal adaptive potential and behavioral regulation of the Adaptability method, the self-control subscale of the volitional self-control questionnaire, the indicator of the propensity to overcome the norms and rules of the test for determining the propensity for deviant behavior, the scale of emotional stability and the scale of orientation toward social the desirability of a methodology for diagnosing a dominant mental state, the number of completed tasks of a short orientation test.CONCLUSION: The developed mathematical model for predicting maladjustment of military personnel of the navy is expedient to use when conducting medical and psychological support for conscripts.

RESEARCH ON COMPETENCY MODEL OF HEALTH EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT CADRES BASED ON SCL-90 PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATION

BackgroundSince entering the 21st century, a series of public health emergencies such as SARS, influenza A and covid-19 in 2019 have occurred continuously, causing serious damage and loss to people's lives and property. In the process of social transformation and economic globalization, the probability of various new public health events is increasing, the number of group unexplained diseases is increasing, and the cross-border and cross-border impact of the virus is rising, which has brought a lot of new challenges to China's health emergency management. Health emergency management cadres are the key groups to deal with public health emergencies. So far, the existing theoretical research results have not established a unified evaluation standard and detailed evaluation index for the post competence of health emergency management cadres, which will not be conducive to the comparison and application of evaluation results. Based on the psychological test results, this study constructs the competency model of health emergency management cadres and compiles the evaluation scale, so as to provide an objective evaluation tool for comprehensively measuring the post competency of health emergency management cadres.Subjects and MethodsCompetency elements, also known as competency, refer to the potential characteristics that can distinguish outstanding people from ordinary people in work (or organization and Culture). Grounded theory research is a qualitative method, which refines the concept of the research object and the relationship between its elements by encoding the collected data sentence by sentence. The grounded theory (GT) was used to conduct psychological evaluation and behavioral interviews with health emergency management experts to construct the competency element system of health emergency management cadres. Through exploratory factor analysis, the competency model of health emergency management cadres was constructed. The competency evaluation of health emergency management cadres should not only be based on scientific competency elements, but also establish specific quantitative items to test the competency level of this group. According to the competency model of health emergency management cadres, the corresponding Likert five point evaluation scale is compiled in order to provide a management tool for the evaluation of the competency of health emergency management cadres. At the same time, SCL-90 scale was used to measure the psychological state of these cadres.ResultsThe competency model of health emergency management cadres was composed of three competency dimensions: specialization, professional quality and professional ability, and 16 competency dimensions. On this basis, the competency evaluation scale of health emergency management cadres was compiled. The final scale contains 43 items.ConclusionThe scale has good reliability, validity and fit. It is a reliable, effective and applicable scale. It can not only be used as a tool to evaluate the post competence of health emergency management cadres, but also provide a scientific basis for the selection, training and self-assessment of health emergency management cadres. In short, we should carry out relevant combination of industry and education according to our own advantages and characteristics. Make clear the goal of motivation by example, and regularly hold activities such as successful model sharing, experience introduction and project display, so as to set a successful example for positive emotions, clarify the specific objectives of the activities, form a strong psychological momentum, stimulate internal potential and help the realization of positive behavior. We should strengthen professional guidance, give full play to the concentration of professionals, high intelligence, professional knowledge in business fields, and give full play to the advantages of talents and intelligence. We can organize experts and scholars to establish a professional bid winning guidance team, give full play to the business projects of experts and scholars in their respective fields, and carry out scientific research on relevant projects.AcknowledgementsFund Project: 1. CAAC safety capability project: research on theoretical system of civil aviation supervision with Chinese characteristics; 2.CAAC educational talent project:(Project No.:MHJY2022018) construction of competency model and assessment scale development for senior civil aviation inspectors; 3.Special fund project of Central Universities basic scientific research business (Project No.: J2021-114): Competency model construction and evaluation scale development of civil aviation health emergency management cadres.

STUDY ON CIVIL LITIGATION PSYCHOLOGY AND LEGAL IDENTITY FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF EMOTIONAL BEHAVIOR REGULATION

STUDY ON CIVIL LITIGATION PSYCHOLOGY AND LEGAL IDENTITY FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF EMOTIONAL BEHAVIOR REGULATION

Improved parent self-efficacy following pediatric evaluation: Evidence for value of a telemedicine approach in psychological and neuropsychological assessment

Objective: While considerable inquiry is currently underway into the comparability of psychological test results obtained in onsite/in-person settings versus telemedicine settings, there has been less attention given to the comparability of the impact/outcome of the assessment process across settings. The current quality improvement study conceptualized impact/outcome according to the model of Austin et al. and sought to determine whether the prior finding of increased parent self-efficacy following onsite neuropsychological assessment was also observed when psychological and neuropsychological assessment was conducted via a telemedicine modality. Method: In the course of standard care delivery, ratings from Austin et al.’s four parent self-efficacy items were obtained at time 1 prior to patients’ assessment visits and then again at time 2 either (1) following their last assessment/feedback visit (the Complete Assessment group; n = 157) or (2) in the middle of the assessment process prior to the last planned visit (the Incomplete Assessment group; n = 117). Results: Analyses revealed significant findings for time and time × group. Parent self-efficacy ratings improved over time in both groups, with significantly higher ratings in the Complete Assessment group at time 2. When compared to reference means from the in-person/onsite Austin et al. study, ratings from the current study found comparable improvement in parent self-efficacy achieved via telemedicine assessment in the Complete Assessment group. Conclusions: These data support the use of telemedicine based psychological and neuropsychological evaluation and provide preliminary evidence that the impact/outcome is comparable with in-person/onsite assessment.

К задаче обоснования оптимальных параметров факторов риска образовательной среды детей школьного возраста по критериям антропометрических, психологических характеристик и соматического здоровья

Schoolchildren are simultaneously exposed to several risk factors associated with the educational process, nutrition in school, ambient air quality, water quality, socioeconomic conditions etc. Their intensity and combinations largely determine indicators of children’s physical, somatic and mental health. Our research goal was to quantify influence exerted by a set of risk factors existing in the educational environment on key indicators of schoolchildren’s health. We examined 661 children who attended four secondary education institutions of different types. The educational processes in each institution were estimated to check their conformity with sanitary-epidemiological requirements and hygienic standards. Psychological testing included tests aimed at assessing attention, cognitive functions, memory and stress. Laboratory tests involved using liquid and gas chromatography and spectrophotometry. Nutrition provided by schools was estimated to check whether it conformed to the standards stipulated in the Sanitary Rules and Norms SanPiN 2.3/2.4.3590-20. Socioeconomic factors influencing the examined children were assessed as per results produced by a social survey. All the data were statistically analyzed with conventional statistical procedures and mathematical analysis. Influence exerted by risk factors on body composition, incidence and results of psychological testing was assessed by using single-factor logistic regression modeling of “dose – likelihood of a response (effect)” relationships. Significance of the created models was estimated as per Fischer’s test. We established parameters of risk factors that would ensure absence of any negative effects on schoolchildren’s health under simultaneous exposure. The article provides the results produced by comparative analysis of the educational environment in different types of schools and its conformity with established optimal parameters as well as existing standards. We have also developed certain recommendations on how to create a health-preserving environment for a contemporary schoolchild, both in school and beyond classes.

Substantiating optimal parameters of risk factors existing in the educational environment for schoolchildren as per indicators of physical, mental and somatic health

Schoolchildren are simultaneously exposed to several risk factors associated with the educational process, nutrition in school, ambient air quality, water quality, socioeconomic conditions etc. Their intensity and combinations largely determine indicators of children’s physical, somatic and mental health. Our research goal was to quantify influence exerted by a set of risk factors existing in the educational environment on key indicators of schoolchildren’s health. We examined 661 children who attended four secondary education institutions of different types. The educational processes in each institution were estimated to check their conformity with sanitary-epidemiological requirements and hygienic standards. Psychological testing included tests aimed at assessing attention, cognitive functions, memory and stress. Laboratory tests involved using liquid and gas chromatography and spectrophotometry. Nutrition provided by schools was estimated to check whether it conformed to the standards stipulated in the Sanitary Rules and Norms SanPiN 2.3/2.4.3590-20. Socioeconomic factors influencing the examined children were assessed as per results produced by a social survey. All the data were statistically analyzed with conventional statistical procedures and mathematical analysis. Influence exerted by risk factors on body composition, incidence and results of psychological testing was assessed by using single-factor logistic regression modeling of “dose – likelihood of a response (effect)” relationships. Significance of the created models was estimated as per Fischer’s test. We established parameters of risk factors that would ensure absence of any negative effects on schoolchildren’s health under simultaneous exposure. The article provides the results produced by comparative analysis of the educational environment in different types of schools and its conformity with established optimal parameters as well as existing standards. We have also developed certain recommendations on how to create a health-preserving environment for a contemporary schoolchild, both in school and beyond classes.

A deep learning based method for intelligent detection of seafarers' mental health condition

Mental health monitoring of seafarers is an important part of achieving normal development of the ocean shipping industry. In this paper, a dual subjective–objective testing scheme is proposed to achieve a more effective and intelligent assessment of seafarers' mental health status. Firstly, a new seafarers' mental health test scale (SMHT) is revised based on fuzzy factor analysis and the test data of 283 marine practitioners are analyzed using SPSS v24 software; secondly, this paper proposes an intelligent framework module for immersive subjective emotion extraction based on natural language processing, namely semantic summary extraction (SSE), speech emotion extraction (SEE), using hybrid scoring mechanism to obtain semantic and emotion matching values and assist the seafarer mental health scale to obtain the final correction score. The results showed that the assessment results of the SMHT scale exhibited good reliability (Cronbach's alpha of 0.852 in (0.80{-}0.90) and retest reliability R of 0.873in (0.85{-}0.90)) and scale association validity (for SCL-90, (text{r}= 0.468{-}0.841)>0.45). In addition, the calibration rate of the subject-object dual test method was improved by approximately 12.05% compared to the traditional mental health scale. Finally, the advantages and disadvantages of this solution were compared with mental health testing techniques such as CAT, machine learning, SCL-90, and fMRI, and the method demonstrated more accurate psychological testing results, providing a simple and intelligent solution for standardized psychological testing of seafarers.

Nurses' caring behavior based on personality in Indonesia: A pilot study for better-humanized healthcare services.

Background: Caring behavior is influenced by psychological factors, including the characteristics of personality. However, psychological test results for nurses’ recruitment are not optimal for nursing resource development. This study aimed to determine the relationship between personality characteristics and nurses’ caring behavior in hospitals.Design and methods: A cross-sectional design was adopted involving 153 nurses of a private hospital in Jakarta selected by convenience sampling technique. Data were also collected from the Caring Behavior Inventory (CBI-24) and Myers-Briggs Type Indicators (MBTI) test results. Statistical analysis using the oneway ANOVA to identify differences in nurses’ CBI scores based on MBTI personality.Results: The results study indicate that most of the nurses were traditionalists (75.16%), and the average CBI score (85.43±5.94) was equivalent to 85%, which means that nurses’ caring behavior was good. There were differences in the scores of caring behaviors among personality characteristics; however, these differences were not statistically significant (p=0.320; α=0.05). Furthermore, the post hoc test analysis showed that the conceptualizer nurses had the highest caring behavior score, while the experiencers had the lowest.Conclusions: Personality characteristics, as measured by MBTI, are not related to the caring behavior of nurses. One possible reason for this result is that the MBTI does not specifically measure caring personality. Psychological tests on personality characteristics are used in career development and nurse placement. This study recommends that human resource management in healthcare use more specific tools to measure caring personality and psychological tests in healthcare staff recruitment for betterhumanized healthcare services. Significance for public health Nurses interact with patients 24 hours a day and more often than other health workers, so patient satisfaction with nursing services is used as an indicator to assess the quality of health services. However, patient satisfaction with nursing services in Indonesia is still low. Patient satisfaction with nursing services is closely related to the behavior displayed by nurses when providing care. Internal factors that influence nurses include personality, emotional intelligence, and motivation. Personal characteristics or personality is an internal factor that plays a role in shaping the caring behavior of nurses. Caring behavior is influenced by psychological factors, including personality characteristics that are measured using psychological tests in some hospitals. However, the psychological test results of nurse recruitment have not been optimal for the development of nursing resources. This study shows that the personality characteristics as measured by Myers-Briggs Type Indicators, are not related to the caring behavior of nurses. This study can provide new insights for human resource management in healthcare to use more specific tools to measure caring personality, in addition to psychological tests, in healthcare staff recruitment for better-humanized healthcare services.

Case Report of Specific Learning Disorder

A seven years old boy was referred to an outpatient department of psychiatry. He came with the complaints of limited words, difficulties in learning and using academic skills, refuses to comply requests from authority figures and easily annoyed. Client was assessed with Informal and Formal Assessment. Informal assessment includes detailed history taking and Mental state examination whereas Formal Assessment includes Portage Guide for early education and Learning Disabilities Checklist. Retrospectively, DSM criteria, case history and results of psychological testing conclude that Client was suffering from Severe Specific learning disorder with specifiers of with impairment of reading, written expression and mathematics. Treatment was done including Applied Behavior Analysis, Positive reinforcement and long-term goals for the dyslexia, dysgraphia and dyscalculia whcorich resulted in a recovery over time, which will be examined through follow-up sessions in order to maintain the recovery

Positive coping style reduction in elderly end-stage renal disease patients: mediating role of white matter mean diffusivity.

The aim of this study was to explore elderly patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) white matter changes, the relationship between white matter (WM) abnormalities and emotional regulation strategies, coping styles in elderly ESRD patients. Twenty-eight elderly ESRD patients and twenty-eight sex and age matched healthy controls (HC) were included in this study. Tract-based spatial statistic (TBSS) was used to investigate the microstructural changes of WM. Two questionnaires were used to measure emotional regulation strategies and coping styles. Neuroimaging analysis showed that the damage of WM structure was widespread in elderly ESRD patients. Psychological test results showed that there were differences in emotional regulation strategies and coping styles between elderly ESRD patients and HC. Furthermore, mediating analysis showed that the mean diffusivity (MD) of the significantly different brain regions played a complete mediating role between group and positive coping style. These results suggest that the integrity of WM, emotional regulation strategies and coping styles play an important role in ESRD patients. Our findings provide evidence that positive coping style may be fully mediated by MD. These results may help us develop new ways to treat and prevent physical and psychological problems in elderly ESRD hemodialysis patients.

Structural alterations of the insula in depression patients – A 7-Tesla-MRI study

IntroductionThe insular cortex is part of a network of highly connected cerebral “rich club” - regions and has been implicated in the pathophysiology of various psychiatric and neurological disorders, of which major depressive disease is one of the most prevalent. “Rich club” vulnerability can be a contributing factor in disease development. High-resolution structural subfield analysis of insular volume in combination with cortical thickness measurements and psychological testing might elucidate the way in which the insula is changed in depression. Material and methodsHigh-resolution structural images of the brain were acquired using a 7T-MRI scanner. The mean grey matter volume and cortical thickness within the insular subfields were analysed using voxel-based morphometry (VBM) and surface analysis techniques respectively. Insular subfields were defined according to the Brainnetome Atlas for VBM - and the Destrieux-Atlas for cortical thickness - analysis. Thirty-three patients with confirmed major depressive disease, as well as thirty-one healthy controls matched for age and gender, were measured. The severity of depression in MDD patients was measured via a BDI-II score and objective clinical assessment (AMDP). Intergroup statistical analysis was performed using ANCOVA. An intragroup multivariate regression analysis of patient psychological test results was calculated. Corrections for multiple comparisons was performed using FDR. ResultsSignificant differences between groups were observed in the left granular dorsal insula according to VBM-analysis. AMDP-scores positively correlated with cortical thickness in the right superior segment of the circular insular sulcus. ConclusionsThe combination of differences in grey matter volume between healthy controls and patients with a positive correlation of cortical thickness with disease severity underscores the insula’s role in the pathogeneses of MDD. The connectivity hub insular cortex seems vulnerable to disruption in context of affective disease.

Factor Analysis of Suicidal Risk and Protective Mechanisms of Pedagogical Students in Kazakhstan.

The study aims to identify the underlying causes, risks and protection factors in the field of suicidal behavior among pedagogical students to understand and reduce the prevalence of victimization and suicide in the education system. The analysis of suicidal risk factors and protective mechanisms among pedagogical students is carried out based on the results of psychological testing, correlation and factor analysis. Results of the study show that the following two factors greatly influence suicidal behavior among pedagogical students. Firstly, there is "Psychological (personal) risk factor of suicidal behavior", which combines indicators of destructive personality of students, leading to suicidal behavior. Secondly, there is "Conflict socio-environmental risk factor of suicidal behavior" that combines indicators of disharmonious upbringing and disharmonious relationships with the immediate environment. Moreover, in stressful situations, most future teachers from the "risk group" use non-constructive strategies of the protective mechanisms "projection" and "regression" and have a high level of an overall tension index of these mechanisms. It is found that the suicidal factors, characteristic for pedagogical students, do not differ from the suicidal factors characteristic for students from other specialties. These factors affect a large number of pedagogical students (41.5%). There might be several risk factors at once, which increases the likelihood of suicidal thoughts and actions. The results of the study can be used to predict and prevent suicidal behavior among pedagogical students and increase the effectiveness of the psychological services of universities.

Impact of alcohol consumption on the health of pregnant women and their children – a review of studies

Introduction: Alcohol is one of the strongest teratogens. Since the 1960s, information campaigns have been conducted to address its harmful effect and promote quitting drinking, especially by pregnant women. The aim of this paper includes a review of literature concerning research on alcohol use by pregnant women and learning about their knowledge of the detrimental effects of ethanol on the health of themselves and their unborn children. This paper shall also assess social campaigns devoted to informing this group of women about the harmful effects of alcohol consumption. Description of state of knowledge: The review explicitly confirmed data on the harmful effect of alcohol on the formation of morphological and behavioural changes stigmatising children, which are not always visible from birth, and often take the form characteristic of foetal alcohol syndrome only in schoolchildren. The results of molecular and psychological tests have raised the question as to whether the acceptable limits for blood alcohol content in pregnant women should be established. The toxic effects of alcohol and its metabolites depend not only on the amount consumed, but also on the body condition, style of drinking, and age. Summary: Studies covering 11 European countries have shown that drinking alcohol during pregnancy is more and more common, especially in better-educated women with higher earnings and from larger cities. Therefore, information campaigns that stress the harmfulness of the so-called risky drinking by pregnant women should be targeted primarily at this group.