Social Adjustment Scale Research Articles

Psychological Mindedness, Personality Structure, and Outcomes in Short-Term Group Analytic Psychotherapy

ABSTRACT The present study investigated the treatment effects of focused short-term group analytic psychotherapy and examined whether outcomes were predicted by the client’s psychological mindedness and personality structure as measured by the Operationalized Psychodynamic Diagnosis (OPD). Treatment foci were formulated according to the OPD for 66 student counseling clients across nine groups. Two observers independently rated client psychological mindedness and personality structure. The pre-post Cohen’s d effect sizes were large on the Global Severity Index (GSI) and the Inventory of Interpersonal Problems (IIP-64) and moderate on the Social Adjustment Scale Self Report, including all 66 clients starting treatment. Psychological mindedness significantly predicted two outcomes (GSI, IIP), and personality structure predicted one outcome (GSI). These measures could be helpful when selecting clients for short-term group analytic psychotherapy. We discuss study limitations and implications for future research and practice.

Domain-Based Functional Improvements in Bipolar Disorder After Interpersonal and Social Rhythm Therapy.

BackgroundStudies typically report overall change in function when assessing bipolar disorder (BD) interventions, but individual domains are not analyzed. Which aspects of functioning are impacted is clearly important and may differ between treatments.MethodsData were analyzed from two previous clinical trials of Interpersonal and Social Rhythm Therapy (IPSRT) for BD patients. Change in total and subscale scores on the Social Adjustment Scale Self-Report (SAS-SR) from 0 to 78 weeks, were analyzed.Results152 BD patients took part in randomized controlled trials of IPSRT (n = 38) vs. Specialist Supportive Care (SSC) (n = 43), and of IPSRT (n = 41) vs. treatment as usual (TAU) which was discharge to primary care (n = 30). IPSRT was superior to TAU on change in the social and leisure activities and extended family subscales, and SAS-SR total score over 18 months.LimitationsStudies were not designed to be pooled. Patients in study 1 were younger and symptomatic at baseline. Patients assigned to TAU were more likely to drop-out. Patients did not respond to subscales that were not personally applicable (work, marital, children).ConclusionIPSRT had a positive impact on two SAS-SR subscales compared to TAU over 18 months. Other subscales were limited by the lack of respondents due to individual applicability. Different psychotherapy may have differential effects on different domains of function. Measures of function and research into functioning in BD should include domain-based measures, and report the numbers of participants who respond to questions in each domain.

Three-Month Follow-up Study of Mental Health Outcomes After a National COVID-19 Lockdown: Comparing Patients With Mood or Anxiety Disorders Living in an Area With a Higher Versus Lower Infection Incidence.

Objective: The COVID-19 pandemic and the related containment measures can represent a traumatic experience, particularly for populations living in high incidence areas and individuals with mental disorders. The aim of this study was to prospectively examine posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and depressive symptoms since the end of the first COVID-19 pandemic wave and Italy's national lockdown in subjects with mood or anxiety disorders living in 2 regions with increasing pandemic incidence.Methods: 102 subjects with a DSM-5 anxiety or mood disorder were enrolled from June to July 2020 and assessed at baseline (T0) and after 3 months (T1) with the Impact of Event Scale-Revised, Patient Health Questionnaire-9, Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-Item, and Work and Social Adjustment Scale. At T1, subjects were also assessed by means of the Trauma and Loss Spectrum Self-Report for PTSD.Results: At T0, subjects from the high COVID-19 incidence area showed higher levels of traumatic symptoms than those from the low COVID-19 incidence area (P < .001), with a decrease at T1 with respect to T0 (P = .001). Full or partial DSM-5 PTSD related to the COVID-19 pandemic emerged in 23 subjects (53.5%) from the high COVID-19 incidence area and in 9 (18.0%) from the low COVID-19 incidence area (P < .001).Conclusions: Subjects with mood or anxiety disorders presented relevant rates of PTSD, depressive, and anxiety symptoms in the aftermath of the lockdown, and in most cases these persisted after 3 months. The level of exposure to the pandemic emerged as a major risk factor for PTSD development. Further long-term studies are needed to follow up the course of traumatic burden.

Social adjustment of tribal girls of aspirational districts of Odisha in relation to their socio-economic status

Success of an individual is largely depends upon the way which he/she interact with other individuals of the society. Social adjustment is the key for leading happy and fruitful life. Social adjustable persons lead a quality life. The ultimate aim of education is to bring about socially acceptable thinking and well desired response to the society. The present study was aimed to find the social adjustment of tribal girls of aspirational districts of Odisha in relation to their socio-economic status. The objectives of the study were a. To study the social adjustment of tribal girls of aspirational districts of Odisha, b. To compare the social adjustment of tribal girls in relation to the locality, c. To study the socio-economic status of the Parent’s of the tribal girls of aspirational districts of Odisha, d. To compare the mean score of social adjustment of tribal girls of low, medium and high socio-economic status of their parents., e. To find the relationship between social adjustment of adolescent tribal girls and their Parent’s socio-economic status. The investigator adopted descriptive survey method for the present study. All secondary school students belonging to aspirational districts of Odisha was considered as Population of the study. So, all the students of secondary school, studying in class IX and X in the Malkangiri, Nuapada, Balangir, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Gajapati, Dhenkanal, Koraput, Rayagada, Nawarangapur district are population for the Present study. From above mentioned population researcher randomly selected 316 tribal girls as the sample of the study. Social Adjustment Scale by Dr. Ashutosh Kumar has been adopted for data collection of the study. Socio-economic status scale developed and standardized by Rajeev Lochan Bharadwaj, translated & standardized by Dr Amulya Kumar Acharya was adopted for data collection of the study. The results of the study found that most of the tribal girls have average level of social adjustment, Urban tribal girls have better social adjustment that rural tribal girls, most of the parents have low socio-economic status, the social adjustment of tribal girls belonging to high, medium and low socio-economic status differs significantly, and social adjustment and socio-economic status were positive and significantly correlated.

Gender Differences in Social Adjustment and Interpersonal Support among Undergraduate Students

The present study was conducted during 2019 in Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar (GNDU); Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana (PAU) and Punjabi University, Patiala (PUP), Punjab, India to investigate the gender differences and relationship between social adjustment and interpersonal support among university students of Punjab. The sample consisted of 480 university students randomly selected from three purposively selected government universities of Punjab state i.e. Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar; Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana and Punjabi University, Patiala, India. An equal number of students distributed across both the gender were randomly selected from each university. Social Adjustment and Interpersonal Support Evaluation Scales were used for the study. The social adjustment of the university students was measured by using the Social Adjustment Scale and Interpersonal Support Evaluation scale was used to measure the peer support available to university students. Data was analyzed using t-test and Karl-Pearson’s coefficient of correlation. The results of the study revealed that male students had displayed significantly better social adjustment and interpersonal support than their female counterparts. Furthermore, correlation analysis emphasized that interpersonal support had positive relationship with social adjustment among male students whereas in case of female students, interpersonal support was found to have non-significant positive relationship with social adjustment. Because female students less likely to express their problems or emotions with their age mates as well as less involved in social activities as compared to male students. Therefore, Interpersonal support played a major role in the social adjustment of the students at university level.

Development and Validation of the Social Adjustment Scale for Adolescent Cancer Survivors

Development and Validation of the Social Adjustment Scale for Adolescent Cancer Survivors

The efficacy of short-term individual interpersonal psychotherapy in augmentation with pharmacotherapy in major depressive disorder

Background The high prevalence rates and persistently increasing burden of depression indicate that there are still many unmet needs in the management of depression. Interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) is one of the main evidence-based psychotherapeutic interventions for depression.Aim To evaluate the efficacy of short-term individual IPT in combination with pharmacotherapy, compared with pharmacotherapy alone, in the treatment of depression and assess its role in improving social functioning.Setting and design This study was conducted in Mansoura University hospitals and was an interventional randomized controlled trial.Patients and methods A total of 40 patients were recruited and randomized into either the interventional group or the control group. The interventional group received IPT in combination with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor. IPT was in the form of once weekly session for 12 weeks. Patients in the control group received treatment with an selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor with appointments once every 2 weeks. Patients from both groups were assessed by the Montgomery–Asberg Depression Rating Scale and the Social Adjustment Scale Self-Report at the beginning and after 12 weeks.Statistical analysis IBM SPSS Statistics version 20.0 was used for statistical analysis.Results There were highly statistically significant improvements in depressive symptoms and in social functioning between the baseline assessments and after 12 weeks on the used scales in both groups. There was a trend for better improvement in the interventional group (IPT+pharmacotherapy) in depressive symptoms and in overall and specific domains of social functioning when compared with the control group. The interventional group showed statistically significant better improvements in social functioning when compared with the control group.Conclusions Combined IPT and pharmacotherapy shows clear benefits over pharmacotherapy alone, in both alleviating depressive symptoms and improvement of social functioning.

Supplemental Material for The Work and Social Adjustment Scale for Youth: Psychometric Properties of the Teacher Version and Evidence of Contextual Variability in Psychosocial Impairments

Supplemental Material for The Work and Social Adjustment Scale for Youth: Psychometric Properties of the Teacher Version and Evidence of Contextual Variability in Psychosocial Impairments

Psychometric Properties of Chinese Version of Work and Social Adjustment Scale for Outpatients With Common Mental Disorders: Classical Test Theory and Rasch Analysis

To determine the psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the work and social adjustment scale (CWSAS) in outpatients with common mental disorders, and to evaluate the correlations of CWSAS with Physical Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), General Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), World Health Organization Five Well-being Index (WHO-5), and Chinese version of the Perceived Stress Scale-10 (CPSS-10).Forward and backward translations of the CWSAS was performed. Between October 2018 and March 2020, 252 outpatients with a common mental disorder who had a job or a job plan were recruited from two psychiatric centres in Hong Kong. Participants were asked to complete the CWSAS, PHQ-9, GAD-7, WHO-5, and CPSS-10. Classical test theory and Rasch analysis were undertaken to determine the psychometric properties of the CWSAS and its correlations with other tools.Principal component analysis revealed that the CWSAS was a one-factor structure and showed adequate convergent and discriminant validities, internal consistency, item-total correlation, and inter-item correlation. There was a significant group difference in terms of employment status. CPSS-10 and PHQ-9 were predictors for CWSAS score. The CWSAS was a distinct factor among other outcome measures. Rasch analysis indicated that the CWSAS was well-targeted and unidimensional. The CWSAS had an adequate person separation index, item separation index, person reliability, and item reliability. No categorical disordering was found, whereas inadequate adjacent threshold distance was reported. The item of ability to work indicated a noticeable differential item functioning in employment status and main source of finance.The CWSAS is psychometrically appropriate to measure functional outcomes in outpatients with common mental disorders.

Role of Self Efficacy as a Moderator in the Relationship of Psychological Distress, Psychosocial Adjustment and Educational Adjustment among University Students

Psychological distress is a well-known term that has serious effect on the individual’s psychological and physical health. Now-a-days, it has become a topic of great concern for the psychosocial and educational adjustment amongst university students. The present study investigated the relationship between psychological distress, psychosocial adjustment and educational adjustment among university students. It also explored the moderating impact of self-efficacy on these variables. Data were collected from 304 university students (male=151, female=153). Kessler k10 Scale, General Self-efficacy Scale, Brief Adjustment Scale, Academic Adjustment Scale and Social Adjustment Scale were used to measure the study variables. Results of the current study revealed the inverse relationship between psychological distress, psychosocial and educational adjustment. Findings of regression analysis revealed that self-efficacy moderated the relationship between psychological distress, psychosocial adjustment and educational adjustment. Moreover, female students experienced more psychological distress as compared to male students. Results were discussed and limitations, suggestions and implications were presented for future research.

PTSD and Depression in Healthcare Workers in the Italian Epicenter of the COVID-19 Outbreak.

Background:Increasing evidence highlights the susceptibility of Healthcare Workers to develop psychopathological sequelae, including Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and depression, in the current COronaVIrus Disease-19 (COVID-19) pandemic, but little data have been reported in the acute phase of the pandemic.Objective:To explore Healthcare Workers’ mental health reactions in the acute phase of the COVID-19 pandemic in the first European epicenter (Lodi/Codogno, Italy), with particular attention to post-traumatic stress and depressive symptoms and their interplay with other psychological outcomes.Methods:74 Healthcare Workers employed at the Azienda Socio Sanitaria Territoriale of Lodi (Lombardy, Italy) were recruited and assessed by means of the Impact of Event Scale- Revised, the Professional Quality of Life Scale-5, the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 item, the Resilience Scale and the Work and Social Adjustment Scale. Socio-demographic and clinical variables were compared across three subgroups of the sample (No PTSD, PTSD only, PTSD and depression).Results:A total of 31% of subjects endorsed a diagnosis of PTSD and 28.4% reported PTSD comorbid with major depression. Females were more prone to develop post-traumatic stress and depressive symptoms. Subjects with PTSD and depression groups showed high levels of PTSD, depression, burnout and impairment in functioning. Anxiety symptoms were higher in both PTSD and depression and PTSD groups rather than in the No PTSD group.Conclusion:Our results showed high rates of PTSD and depression among Healthcare Workers and their comorbidity overall being associated with worse outcomes. Current findings suggest that interventions to prevent and treat psychological implications among Healthcare Workers facing infectious outbreaks are needed.

Effect of 3 Forms of Early Intervention for Young People With Borderline Personality Disorder

Clinical trials have neither focused on early intervention for psychosocial impairment nor on the contribution of components of borderline personality disorder (BPD) treatment beyond individual psychotherapy. To evaluate the effectiveness of 3 early interventions for BPD of differing complexity. This single-blinded randomized clinical trial recruited young people between March 17, 2011, and September 30, 2015, into parallel groups. The study took place at 2 government-funded mental health services for young people in Melbourne, Australia. Inclusion criteria were age 15 to 25 years (inclusive), recent DSM-IV-TR BPD diagnosis, and never receiving evidence-based BPD treatment. A total of 139 participants were randomized (pool of 876; 70 declined, 667 excluded), balanced for sex, age, and depressive symptomatology. Data analysis completed May 2020. (1) The Helping Young People Early (HYPE) dedicated BPD service model for young people, combined with weekly cognitive analytic therapy (CAT); (2) HYPE combined with a weekly befriending psychotherapy control condition; and (3) a general youth mental health service (YMHS) model, combined with befriending. Therefore, the 3 treatment arms were HYPE + CAT, HYPE + befriending, and YMHS + befriending. Participants were randomly assigned both to 1 treatment arm (in a 1:1:1 ratio) and to a clinician. Psychosocial functioning, measured with the Inventory of Interpersonal Problems Circumplex Version and the Social Adjustment Scale Self-report. One hundred twenty-eight participants (104 [81.3%] were female; mean [SD] age, 19.1 [2.8] years; HYPE + CAT: 40 [31.3%]; HYPE + befriending: 45 [35.2%]; YMHS + befriending: 43 [33.6%]) who provided postbaseline data were included in the intent-to-treat analysis. Regardless of group, from baseline to 12 months, there was a mean of 19.3% to 23.8% improvement in the primary outcomes and 40.7% to 52.7% for all secondary outcomes, except severity of substance use and client satisfaction. The latter remained high across all time points. Planned comparisons (YMHS + befriending vs HYPE; HYPE + CAT vs befriending) showed that neither the service model nor the psychotherapy intervention was associated with a superior rate of change in psychosocial functioning by the 12-month primary end point. The HYPE service model was superior to YMHS + befriending for treatment attendance (median [IQR], 22 [19] vs 3 [16] contacts; median duration, 200 [139.5] vs 94 [125] days) and treatment completion (44 of 92 [47.8%] vs 9 of 47 [19.2%]). HYPE + CAT was superior to befriending for treatment attendance (median [IQR], 12 [16.5] vs 3 [9.8] sessions) and treatment completion (24 of 46 [52.2%] vs 29 of 93 [31.2%]). In this randomized clinical trial of 3 interventions for young people with BPD, effective early intervention was not reliant on availability of specialist psychotherapy but did require youth-oriented clinical case management and psychiatric care. A dedicated early intervention BPD service model (HYPE), with or without individual psychotherapy, achieved greater treatment attendance and completion, making it more likely to meet service user, family, and community expectations of care. anzctr.org.au Identifier: ACTRN12610000100099.

Improved cognitive function in patients with major depressive disorder after treatment with vortioxetine: A EEG study.

IntroductionVortioxetine has a positive effect on cognitive function in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). This study aimed to examine the changes in cognitive function and EEG (spectral power and mismatch negativity (MMN)) in patients with MDD pre‐ and postvortioxetine treatment.MethodsThirty patients with MDD were included in the study. They were given vortioxetine (10‐20mg po per day) for eight weeks. Depression and anxiety severities, social function (Korean version of the social adjustment scale (K‐SAS)), and cognitive function (digit‐symbol substitution Test (DSST), Korean version of the attentional control questionnaire (K‐ACQ), and Korean version of the perceived deficits questionnaire for depression (K‐PDQD)) were evaluated. Spectral power of EEG and MMN was also measured pre‐ and postvortioxetine treatment.ResultsDepression and anxiety severity, social function, and cognitive functioning significantly improved after vortioxetine treatment. Also, there was a significant decrease in the right central delta band and an increase in the right central beta 2 band following vortioxetine treatment. The changes in EEG spectral power were not related to changes in cognitive functions. Baseline MMN significantly predicted changes in DSST score after controlling for the baseline clinical variables.ConclusionVortioxetine treatment improved cognitive function and induced changes in EEG (decreased theta power and increased beta power) in patients with MDD. Our results suggest that greater negative MMN amplitude is associated with greater potential for cognitive improvement following vortioxetine treatment.

Gender and occupational role differences in work-related post-traumatic stress symptoms, burnout and global functioning in emergency healthcare workers

ObjectivesTo explore gender and occupational role impact on work-related Post-Traumatic Stress Symptoms, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, burnout and global functioning in a sample of emergency healthcare workers. DesignA cross-sectional study. Participants/setting126 healthcare workers of the Emergency Department, including Intensive Care Unit, Emergency Room and Emergency Medicine, of a major University Hospital in central Italy were recruited. Main outcome measuresParticipants were assessed by means of the: Trauma and Loss Spectrum-Self Report (TALS-SR) to explore Post-Traumatic Stress Spectrum Symptoms, Professional Quality of Life (ProQOL) Scale to assess Compassion Satisfaction, Burnout and Compassion Fatigue and Work and Social Adjustment Scale (WSAS) to measure global functioning. ResultsThe present findings showed females were more prone to develop Post-Traumatic Stress Symptoms, particularly re-experiencing (p = .010) and hyperarousal (p = .026) symptoms and medical doctors reporting higher Burnout (p < .001) and lower Compassion Satisfaction (p = .009) mean scores than nurses. Higher levels of functioning impairment emerged amongst medical doctors rather than nurses, in both social (p = .029) and private (p = .020) leisure activities. Linear correlations highlighted relationships between the TALS-SR, ProQOL and WSAS scores. Finally, medical doctor status was significantly associated with lower Compassion Satisfaction (p = .029) and higher Burnout (p = .015). ConclusionOur results highlight high post-traumatic stress symptoms and burnout levels in emergency healthcare workers with a relevant impact of female gender and occupational role, supporting the need for preventive strategies, also in light of the current COVID-19 pandemic.

Associated Effects of Meaning in Life and Social Adjustment Among Chinese Undergraduate Students With Left-Behind Experiences in the Post-epidemic Period.

Background: The outbreak of COVID-19 has brought about radical changes in social life. The study focuses on a special group, Chinese undergraduate students with left-behind experiences. Specifically, the study addresses how such students feel and grasp the meaning in life and how they adapt to the current social environment after experiencing the impermanence of life. The correlation between the meaning in life and social adjustment in the post-epidemic period is evaluated.Methods: The Meaning in Life Scale and the Social Adjustment Scale were used to test 988 undergraduate students. Multi-factor analysis, correlation, regression, and dominance analysis were performed on the test results.Results: (1) During the epidemic, Chinese undergraduate students generally had low meaning in life scores, including below-average values for life goals, and middle-range scores for social adjustment. (2) Having or not having left-behind experiences had an important influence on the meaning in life and social adjustment of undergraduates: undergraduates with left-behind experiences performed better than those without left-behind experiences in terms of meaning in life, while their social adjustment was weaker than those without left-behind experiences. (3) The zest for life and freedom of life of undergraduates in both groups negatively predicted social adjustment, and zest for life preferentially influenced social adjustment. Zest for life also had a significant effect on life value in the group without left-behind experiences. Zest for life was a priority factor influencing social adjustment.Conclusion: The epidemic and left-behind experiences are important factors influencing the relationship between meaning in life and social adjustment among Chinese undergraduate students.

Parenting Style and Social Adjustment of School Going Adolescents

Parenting is considered to be a combination of biological and social process. Adolescence is an exciting and dynamic period for young people. Mother is measured to be the primary caregiver who emotionally promises and upbringing the child while, father is professed to be leading and earning. Social adjustment is an exertion made by an individual to manage with ethics, values and desires of a society in order to be accepted. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of parenting style on social adjustment among adolescent. The study was cross- sectional comparative and conducted at private schools (secondary school going students) of urban area Agra city. A series of socio demographic data sheet, Parenting style scale, social adjustment scale for the purpose of data collection. It has been found that parents have higher authoritative and authoritarian parenting style with girls and higher permissive parenting style with boys. There is a positive social adjustment with father’s parenting style & negative social adjustment with mother’s parenting style. Parenting style is very essential phenomenon for adolescent in social adjustment. By healthy parenting adolescents have positive and healthy adjustment towards society, nation and also self- development.

The added value of cognition-targeted exercise versus symptom-targeted exercise for multiple sclerosis fatigue: A randomized controlled pilot trial.

Fatigue is considered one of the most common symptoms of multiple sclerosis (MS) and lacks a current standardized treatment. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine the feasibility and effectiveness of a cognition-targeted exercise versus symptom-targeted exercise for MS fatigue. In this Pilot, parallel-group, randomized controlled trial, sixty participants with multiple sclerosis, were randomly assigned to either a Cognition-Targeted Exercise (CTE) (N = 30, mean age 41) or a Symptom-Targeted Exercise (STE) (N = 30, mean age 42). The participants in the experimental group received eight, 50-minute sessions of weekly Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) in addition to a CTE Program; whereas, participants in the control group received eight, 50-minute sessions of weekly CBT in addition to the standardized physiotherapy program (STE Program). Feasibility was assessed through recruitment rate, participant retention, adherence and safety, in addition to clinical outcome measures, including: (1) Modified Fatigue Impact Scale (MFIS), (2) Work and Social Adjustment Scale (WSAS), (3) Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). All outcome measures were assessed at baseline (pretreatment), following completion of the eight visit intervention protocol, and at 3-months follow-up. The recruitment rate was 60% and 93% of participants completed the entire study. The recruited participants complied with 98% of the required visits. No adverse events were recorded. A Generalized Estimation Equation Model revealed a significant difference over time as an interaction term during the post and follow up visit for all clinical outcome measures (p < .001). The addition of CTE to CBT exhibited positive and more lasting influence on MS fatigue outcomes compared to Symptom-Targeted Exercise (STE). Feasibility and efficacy data from this pilot study provide support for a full-scale RCT of CTE as an integral component of Multiple Sclerosis fatigue management.

Avoidant personality disorder and social functioning: A longitudinal, observational study investigating predictors of change in a clinical sample.

Avoidant personality disorder (AvPD) is an understudied, severe disorder. This study includes a clinical sample of AvPD patients (N = 460) treated within specialist mental health services. Social functioning was repeatedly assessed by self-report: Work and Social Adjustment Scale. Personality functioning (self-report), pretreatment occupational activity, civil status/family situation (self-report), and comorbidity; personality and symptom disorders were assessed at baseline. More extensive baseline impairment of social functioning was significantly associated with poorer personality functioning, occupational inactivity, and a larger number of comorbid PD traits and symptom disorders. Poorer personality functioning and greater comorbidity did not impede improvement. More persisting impairment of functioning was associated with living alone. The study confirms major impairments of social functioning in AvPD, strongly related to personality dysfunction. A slow improvement of social functioning was demonstrated. With the exception of the civil status, living alone, improvement was not impeded by baseline severity aspects. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

Experience of Subjective Symptoms in Euthymic Bipolar Disorder and Remitted Schizophrenia Patients and its Relation with Quality of Life and Social Functioning

Introduction : Subjective experience means subtle, not yet psychotic abnormalities of experience that might be present during remitted phase and also in prodromal phase of schizophrenia and might be accurately efficient in identifying individual at risk of eminent psychosis. Most studies on the subjective experiences have been conducted in schizophrenia and to a lesser extent in affective disorders.Only few studies have compared subjective experience of patients with bipolar disorder with the patients with schizophrenia, and the results were inconsistent. These subjective experiences may be related to distorted cognitive functions in these patients. Cognitive deficits are a major contributor to the functional and social impairment suffered by these patients and have been noted to have more of an impact on the daily lifeand overall quality of life of these patients. Objective : The current study aims at comparing the subjective experience in schizophrenia and bipolar patients, in order to elucidate the difference between the two groups and this study was further extended to measure the effect of subjective experiences on one’s occupational and social functioning. Method : The study was conducted on 30 euthymic bipolar patients and 30 remitted schizophrenic patients diagnosed as per ICD-10. The patients were rated for on Frankfurt Complaint Questionnaire (FCQ-24) and Symptoms check list 90 revised (SCL90-R) to assess subjective symptoms. Work and social adjustment scale, functional status questionnaire and WHO-QOL BREF were administered one by one on the patient. Results : Diagnosis of schizophrenia was associated with elevated score on FCQ as compared to bipolar disorders mainly in the areas of perception, thought, language and motility as well as total FCQ scores. FCQ scores correlated negatively with scores on functional status questionnaire, positively with work and social adjustment scale and negatively with all the domains of WHOQOL BREF except environment/financial resources. Conclusion : These findings, in conjunction with those from other, methodologically similar studies, suggest that certain anomalies of subjective experience aggregate significantly in schizophrenia when compared with bipolar disorders and adversely affected their functioning and quality of life Keywords : subjective symptoms, euthymic bipolar disorder, remitted schizophrenia

Psychometric properties of the 7-item version of the Concise Health Risk Tracking Self-Report Scale for rural adults enrolled in an Internet-delivered self-help program for depression.

Monitoring suicide risk in clinical practice requires valid and reliable assessment instruments. This study evaluated the psychometric properties of the 7-item version of the Concise Health Risk Tracking Self-Report, CHRT-SR7 in a primarily rural population. The sample comprised 788 participants (81.7% female) of an effectiveness trial of an internet-based self-help intervention for depression. Participants completed self-report questionnaires, including the CHRT-SR7 , Patient Health Questionnaire-9, Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7, Work and Social Adjustment Scale, Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale-10, and Barriers to Seeking Mental Health Care. Four-week test-retest reliability was calculated for a subsample of 147 participants randomized to a waitlist control group. The CHRT-SR7 internal consistency was α = 0.80 (total sample), α = 0.80 (women), and α = 0.83 (men). The 4-week test-retest reliability was strong for women (r = 0.78) and moderate for men (r = 0.66). Confirmatory factor analysis supported the original 3-factor solution: Hopelessness (2 items), Perceived Lack of Social Support (2 items), and Current Suicidal Thoughts and Plans (3 items), which was invariant across gender and rural status. Convergent and divergent validity was supported as reflected in significant correlations of the CHRT-SR7 and its subscales with measures of depression, anxiety, adjustment, and resilience. Limitations include the limited demographic diversity (mostly non-Hispanic White women) and reliance on self-report data. Our findings complement those reported in prior studies of patients with severe depression and support the use of the CHRT-SR7 for measuring suicide risk in rural adults; future studies should further test the instrument's psychometric properties in racial or ethnic minority rural residents.