States Of Self Research Articles

Reflective functioning mediates the relationship between insecure adult attachment and the severity of prolonged grief symptoms.

This study aimed to investigate the mediation role of reflective functioning (i.e., certainty and uncertainty about mental states) in the relationship between insecure attachment (i.e., attachment avoidance and attachment anxiety ) and the severity of prolonged grief symptoms. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 329 bereaved participants (51.7% females, mean age= 46.94 ± 14.62 years). Participants completed the Prolonged Grief Scale (PG-13), the Attachment Style Questionnaire (ASQ), and the Reflective Functioning Questionnaire (RFQ). Demographic and bereavement-related information were also collected. Certainty about mental states fully mediated the relationship between both the attachment avoidance and attachement anxiety and severity of prolonged grief symptoms. The findings of this study indicate that reflective functioning impairment, specifically certainty about mental states of self and others, mediate the paths from insecure attachment to prolonged grief symptoms. This suggests that improving reflective functioning may contribute to the treatment bereaved individuals at risk of PGD.

Identity pathology and mentalization deficits: An attempt to support clinical theory with data.

An extensive theoretical literature links identity pathology with deficits in mentalization, which is the ability to understand the internal mental states of self and others. However, only a few investigations have attempted to bridge theory and data by empirically testing the relation between mentalization and identity pathology, and none have done so with mentalization measured using a laboratory task. The current study investigated the association between mentalization deficits and identity pathology in a large, nonclinical sample. Participants (N = 305) completed a self-report measure assessing identity pathology and a laboratory task assessing mentalization ability. Whereas the existing theoretical literature would argue for a robust association between identity pathology and mentalization impairment, our results revealed essentially no association between identity pathology and mentalization impairment. Moreover, we found essentially no association between identity pathology and any of a number of specific mentalization deficits in our sample. Our findings failed to provide empirical support for the clinical and theoretical literature linking mentalization and identity pathology. Given our adequate statistical power to detect even relatively small associations, we offer these findings to advance theoretical and methodological discussion in this important area. We discuss the implications of these null findings, particularly attuned to the possibility that a link between mentalization impairment and identity pathology may be more complicated than hypothesized. We also consider that these results might be related to methodological features of our study (e.g., self-report and laboratory measures; the range of mentalization impairment in our sample). (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Rational intuition: a study on semiotic subjectivity

Abstract Although scientific research usually emphasizes objectivity unaffected by any form of subjectivity, semiotic inquiries have to consider the role of subjectivity. In fact, social development, art, and literature always follow certain rules of objectivity, but these rules seem to be inescapably linked to the subjectivity of human beings. How can we avoid the subjectivity of research, or research biases caused by subjectivity, to ensure the objectivity of scientific research to the greatest possible extent? This paper answers the question through the cultural semiotics of jingshen, which is grounded in Chinese cultural traditions, especially the philosophies of Lao Tseu and Chuang Tzu. This line of inquiry seeks to identify objectivity in the constant transformation between the subject’s states of self and selflessness, while striving to avoid inductive and deductive biases caused by the “conceit” of rationality and to eliminate the constraints of specific concepts and images formed by existing knowledge as well as possible consequential “Verborgenheit.” The purpose is to achieve a state of “rational intuition,” returning to the natural mode of human existence and forging for semiotics a rationality-based path to the intuitive understanding of meaning.

Воздействие фильма-комедии на Я-концепцию зрителя

<p>The article offers a theoretical analysis, as well as the results of an empirical study of the psychological impact of a comedy on the viewer. We offer a theoretical overview and generalization of various concepts of the comic. It is revealed that the phenomenon of the comic always presupposes intersubjective interactions, competitive relations of subjects, and therefore correlates with the formation of a position of self-affirmation in relation to another (others), transformed into an object of laughter. We constructed a model of the main assumed positions in the image of the world created by comedy: "Whistleblower", "Fool", "Rogue", "Good-natured" ("Rescuer"). We hypothesized that there is a cognitive basis of the image of the world created by comedy. We assume that the world of comedy is structured as a projection space described by J. Piaget, it is one of the forms of structuring the image of space in egocentric consciousness. This means that the impact of the comedy may be associated with an increase in egocentrism in the viewer's mind. We presentede results of an experiment which helped us to study the influence of a comedy film on the viewer's Self-concept. We took an American comedy "Vacation" (2015) as an example. As a result of watching the film, the indicators of "Independence" and "Sociability" ("Q-sorting") have significantly increased (p ≤ 0,05), at the trend level (p ≤ 0,08), the factor of "Strength" in the I-real ("Personal semantic differential") has increased. There were also correlations in the I-real: between "Assessment", "Strength" and "Activity", which indicates that after the comedy film, a positive attitude towards oneself is based on an assessment of one's strength. There was also a correlation between the "Assessment" in the Real Self and Ideal Self, i.e. idealization of oneself, and the correlation between "Evaluation" and "Strength" in the anti—ideal: the more negative the anti-ideal, the weaker it is, which indicates the reliance of self-affirmation on the humiliation of a negative character. In general, the results confirm that one of the main effects of comedy on the viewer is the emergence of a state of self—affirmation as a form of consciousness shift towards egocentrism</p>

PERSPECTIVE-TAKING DECLINE IN OLDER ADULTS WITH AND WITHOUT SUBJECTIVE COGNITIVE DECLINE

Abstract Subjective cognitive decline (SCD), a self-reported decline in cognitive function without objective cognitive decline, is an early risk marker of pathological aging (Jessen et al., 2020). Healthy older adults with SCD(+) were found to have lower objective cognition and increased rates of cognitive decline compared to those without SCD(-) (Morrison & Oliver, 2023). Cognitively-healthy older adults (OA) had shown a decline in perspective-taking abilities compared to younger adults (YA). However, little research has examined whether self-report SCD plays a role in such age-related declines. We examined age-related changes in perspective-taking abilities in OA with and without SCD vis-à-vis YA. Participants were 25 YA (Mage=22.44, range=20-27), 27 SCD- (Mage=68.67, range=60-77), and 20 SCD+ (Mage=66.55, range=60-72). OA were categorized as SCD-/SCD+ based on SCD-Questionnaire (Rami, 2014). SCD- and SCD+ groups were comparable in general cognition (Montreal Cognitive Assessment; p=.91). Participants completed the “owl” task assessing visual perspective-taking (VPT) and the “director” task assessing cognitive perspective-taking (CPT). Kruskal-Wallis tests revealed that YA outperformed OA (Zs>3.52, ps<.001) in VPT, with no significant difference between SCD- and SCD+ (Z=1.27, p=.21). Surprisingly, both YA and SCD+ were better than SCD- in CPT (Zs>2.34, ps<.04), and SCD+ did not differ significantly from YA (Z=0.02, p=.99). Our results suggest that while visual perspective-taking may decline with age regardless of SCD, cognitive perspective-taking may be preserved in older adults with SCD. SCD(+) may signal a hyperawareness of cognitive states in self and others, which in turn stimulate better cognitive perspective-taking. Implications of SCD on social cognition will be discussed.

The Concept of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) is seen from the Legal Norms of Indian Society

This research is to find out that most homosexuals (Lesbian, Gay and transgender) begin to realize that they have different tendencies at a young age. Studies show that homosexual behavior and same-sex attraction are common from the age of 15, the prevalence is in men, in America 20.8%, UK 16.3%, and America 18.5%. While in the women's group respectively 17.8%, 18.6%, and 18.5%. This situation shows that the school age group is a vulnerable age to start engaging in same-sex relationships. This study uses cross-sectional (cross-sectional) with a qualitative approach. Data was collected using in-depth interviews, focus group discussions and literature review. While the decision to become homosexual mostly occurs at the age of young adults or at the age when most of them are students. Becoming LGBT is not an easy endeavor and even afterwards it is not without problems, many problems and risks arise when young adolescents start to engage in same-sex relationships, for young men the lack of knowledge about the risks of sexual relations can cause them to be easily exposed to HIV and sexual harassment from those with more experience . Ignorance of their state of self can also lead to social turmoil and depression. For young men, the lack of knowledge about the risks of having sex can make them more susceptible to HIV exposure and sexual harassment from those with more experience. Ignorance of their state of self can also lead to social turmoil and depression. For young men, the lack of knowledge about the risks of having sex can make them more susceptible to HIV exposure and sexual harassment from those with more experience. Ignorance of their state of self can also lead to social turmoil and depression.

Chinese cognitive processing of ToM: Distinctions in understanding the mental states of self, close others, and strangers.

Previous studies showed that people differ in attributing mental states to themselves and in understanding the mental states of others, but have not explored the differences when people attribute mental states to others at different social distances. The present study adds a 'close other' condition to the Self/Other differentiation paradigm to explore the potential differences in attributing mental states to others with different social distances. It emerged that the time required to reflect on one's self mental state is shortest in mental state attribution, longer when comprehending the mental state of close others, and longest for strangers. This result indicates that Chinese participants distinguish between close others and strangers when performing perspective-taking. When the perspective-shifting of belief-attribution is performed, a beforehand processing of information about close others or strangers does not interfere with the processing of information from oneself subsequently. However, when the information processed in the previous stage cannot be used for subsequent processing, it interferes with the processing of information from close others or strangers in the later stage. The lower the degree of automated processing of pre-processed information, the greater the interference effect produced. This finding indicated that processing the self mental state is automatically activated, but comprehending the mental state of others is not. The comprehension of others' mental states occurs only when required by the task and it entails more cognitive resources to process and maintain.

First episode psychotic mania and its aftermath: the experience of people diagnosed with bipolar disorder

ABSTRACT Background Optimal intervention for people diagnosed with bipolar disorder (BD) is seen as a priority within early intervention psychosis services. This is the first study to explore the experience of first-episode psychotic mania and its aftermath for people diagnosed with BD, and the potential implications for treatment. Method Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 11 young adults following first-episode psychotic mania and analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). Results Two overarching themes were identified: (i) “Changing states of self during first episode”; (ii) “Struggling with loss of self during episode aftermath”. Participants experienced exceptional, persecutory and angry states during psychotic mania, leading to identity disruption and low feelings or depression post-episode. Some mourned the loss of their exceptional manic self, and attempted to relapse into mania, while others struggled with the loss of who they had been prior to their episode. Discussion Results emphasise the importance of understanding identity change during first-episode psychotic mania and how that might be used to address identity disruption and low feelings during recovery. This process is likely to be pertinent to early intervention and prevention of manic relapse following first-episode BD.

Work Migrants: Some Positive Implications for the Enhancement of the Self

The self is the core of the personality and the more it becomes well established the more it will generate a sense of heightened self-esteem. In this article we will suggest that the self is a complex and multi-faceted organization. This is particularly relevant to the sphere and experience of work migrants in their work migration. Their experience is such that they often find themselves in strange and unfamiliar circumstances that are frequently lonely and anxiety-inducing. In this article we will focus on and explore the multi-faceted self, based on the findings of in-depth interviews of 28 work migrants who came to Israel from India, Nepal and the Philippines. We will examine the varied states of self that evolved from the complex experiences of work migration. This conceptualization is drawn from object relations theories and those of relational theorists regarding the self.

An Analysis of the Factors Affecting Chinese Teenagers’ Psychology of Study-Weary from the Perspective of Satir’S Iceberg Theory

The study aimed to analyze the psychological intrinsic mechanisms of learning-weariness among Chinese adolescents from the perspective of Satir's iceberg theory. Desktop research and literature review are adopted to investigate Chinese adolescents. Learning-weariness phenomenon among Chinese adolescents can be explained in three main aspects in conjunction with the iceberg theory: Resistance to Authority, labeling trap, and emotional Appetite, so that relevant suggestions can be made to focus on the positive qualities or capability of the service targets themselves, deconstruct the internal iceberg, use positive resources to change the state of self, and realize self-empowerment.

LONTAR GAMA TIRTHA; PEMULIAAN AIR DALAM KONTEKS EKO-RELIGIUS

Lontar Gama Tirtha is one of the Balinese literatures which has been inherited until now by Balinese people who believe in the position of water as a means of self-purification. Water has a very important position in the ecological system and is able to form ecosystems in the area of lakes, rivers, rice fields, and springs that are not only useful for daily needs but are also highly purified and functioned spiritually. Lontar Gama Tirtha explains the essence of water as a means of self-purification and a system of knowledge of water that is integrated with human beings. Lontar Gama Tirtha thoroughly explains the two water belief contexts that refer to the physical and spiritual aspects, namely "gama ning" and "gama cemer". The state of clear and cloudy water represents a state of self that is continuously purified from all impurities that are never separated from life. The context of the purification of water does not merely cleanse and purify the physical paradigm, but the strongest emphasis in that context is on the spiritual purification of the body, namely thoughts, words, and deeds.Keywords: Eco-Religious, water, Gama Tirtha

Theory of mind: a new perspective on cluster headache-a cross-sectional study.

Theory of mind (ToM) is the ability to attribute mental states of self and others, such as beliefs (cognitive ToM) and feelings (affective ToM). Based on the role of the hypothalamus in pain and social cognition, our aim is to determine whether ToM is impaired in patients with cluster headache (CH). Cross-sectional study in which 31 episodic cluster headache (ECH) patients outside the bout and 20 matched controls carried out social cognition and executive function tasks. Patients were recruited from an outpatient Headache Unit. Patients performed worse than healthy controls at cognitive ToM (t = 4.2, p < 0.001) task but not at affective ToM. Executive function was also impaired (t = 4.8, p < 0.001) and higher scores at anxiety and depression questionnaires (t = - 2.9, p = 0.006; t = - 3.6, p = 0.001) were reported. There was no correlation between ToM scores and executive function, anxiety and depression symptoms, or disease duration and severity. Our results suggest that ECH patients can perceive other people's or selves' feelings (affective ToM) but have more difficulties than healthy subjects at recognizing beliefs (cognitive ToM).

Tackling the Electro-Topography of the Selves Through the Sphere Model of Consciousness

In the current hypothesis paper, we propose a novel examination of consciousness and self-awareness through the neuro-phenomenological theoretical model known as the Sphere Model of Consciousness (SMC). Our aim is to create a practical instrument to address several methodological issues in consciousness research. We present a preliminary attempt to validate the SMC via a simplified electrophysiological topographic map of the Self. This map depicts the gradual shift from faster to slower frequency bands that appears to mirror the dynamic between the various SMC states of Self. In order to explore our hypothesis that the SMC’s different states of Self correspond to specific frequency bands, we present a mini-review of studies examining the electrophysiological activity that occurs within the different states of Self and in the context of specific meditation types. The theoretical argument presented here is that the SMC’s hierarchical organization of three states of the Self mirrors the hierarchical organization of Focused Attention, Open Monitoring, and Non-Dual meditation types. This is followed by testable predictions and potential applications of the SMC and the hypotheses derived from it. To our knowledge, this is the first integrated electrophysiological account that combines types of Self and meditation practices. We suggest this electro-topographic framework of the Selves enables easier, clearer conceptualization of the connections between meditation types as well as increased understanding of wakefulness states and altered states of consciousness.

Room to breathe: Using adaptive architecture to examine the relationship between alexithymia and interoception

ObjectiveIndividuals with alexithymia experience difficulties interpreting emotional states in self and others, which has been associated with interoceptive impairment. Current theories are primarily based on subjective and conscious measures of interoceptive sensitivity, such as heartrate detection, but it is unclear whether similar observations would be found for objective or implicit psychophysiological measures. The present exploratory study assesses the potential of a novel assay through the use of adaptive immersive architecture [ExoBuilding]. MethodsN = 88 participants were screened for alexithymic traits and N = 27 individuals, representing the range of scores, were sampled to participate in the behavioural task. In a repeated-measures design, participants were placed within ExoBuilding and asked to match their respiration to its movement. Performance was compared to a two-dimensional pacer condition. Behavioural (accuracy) and psychophysiological (Respiratory Sinus Arrhythmia [RSA] and heartrate) measures were compared across conditions, and also related to individual alexithymic traits. ResultsParticipants with higher levels of alexithymia performed less accurately than participants with lower levels, in both conditions. High-alexithymia participants showed a smaller reduction in heartrate over the course of the ExoBuilding condition than low-alexithymia participants, although there were no differences in RSA between conditions or participants. ConclusionAlexithymia extends beyond conscious interoceptive activities and is also observed in immersive contexts that usually exert psychophysiological effects on typical occupants. These initial findings highlight the importance of considering both conscious and implicit measures of interoception, and we suggest ways in which theories of alexithymia might benefit from capturing this distinction.

Self-Centered Function of Adaptive Immunity in Regulation of Immune Responses and in Tolerance.

The search for common mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of chronic inflammatory conditions has crystalized the concept of continuous dual resetting of the immune repertoire (CDR) as a basic principle of the immune system function. Consequently, outlined was the first dynamic comprehensive picture of the immune system function. The goal of this study is to elaborate on regulation of immune responses and mechanisms of tolerance, particularly focusing on adaptive immunity. It is well established that the T/B cell repertoire is selected and maintained based on interactions with self. However, their activation also requires interaction with a self-specific major histocompatibility complex (MHC) “code,” i.e., the context of MHC molecules. Therefore, not only repertoire selection and maintenance but also the T/B cell activation and function are self-centered. Thus, adaptive effectors may be primarily focused on the state of self and maintenance of integrity of the self, and only to a certain degree on elimination of the foreign. As examples of such function are used immunologically poorly understood MHC-disparate settings typical for transplantation and pregnancy. Transplantation represents an extreme setting of strong systemic compartment-level adaptive/MHC-restricted immune responses. Described are clinically identified conditions for operational tolerance of MHC-disparate tissues/living systems in allotransplantation, which are in line with the CDR-proposed self-centered regulatory role of T/B cells. In contrast, normal pregnancy is coexistence of semiallogeneic or entirely allogeneic mother and fetus, but without alloreactivity akin to transplantation settings. Presented data support the notion that maintenance of pregnancy is a process that relies predominantly on innate/MHC-independent immune mechanisms. By the inception of hemotrophic stage of pregnancy (second and third trimester), both mother and child are individual living systems, with established adaptive immune repertoires. Although mother-fetus interactions at that point become indirect systemic compartment-level communications, their interactions throughout gestation remain within the innate realm of molecular-level adaptations.

Emerson’s abolitionist perfectionism

This article aims to rewrite Emerson’s moral perfectionism – his anti-foundationalist pursuit of an always more perfect state of self and society – onto his moral and intellectual participation in the abolitionist movement. I argue that Cavell artificially separated Emerson’s moral perfectionism from his extensive, decades-long abolitionism. The source of Cavell’s oversight is his participation in the long-standing norm of dichotomizing Emerson’s work into the theoretical ‘essays’ and the ‘anti-slavery writings’ or the philosophical and the polemical. Recent scholars of Emerson have questioned and even dismissed this dichotomy, however, while recentring Emerson’s politics in his oeuvre as a whole. They find much to praise, and also plenty to criticize, in Emerson’s abolitionist writings. I follow and extend that scholarly trend here and introduce what I call Emerson’s abolitionist perfectionism as an expansion of Cavell’s influential work on moral perfectionism.

Psychometric properties and factor structure of the Greek version of Reflective Functioning Questionnaire.

The ability to mentalize, namely to understand, interpret and effectively communicate the mental state of self and others is considered important in self-organisation and affect regulation. The aim of the present study was to provide data on the validation process of Reflective Functioning Questionnaire (RFQ), a recently developed measure of mentalizing, in order to evaluate its use in research and in clinical practice for Greek populations. A total of 219 participants (102 people with type 1 diabetes and 117 healthy individuals) completed the RFQ. A principal component analysis supported the 2-factor model (RF certainty for mental states and RF uncertainty for mental states) in both samples. Internal consistencies of both subscales were satisfactory (α=0.80 for RF certainty and α=0.79 for RF uncertainty). Relationships with validity measures of psychological distress, empathy and emotional intelligence provided further support for the psychometric properties of the scale. As expected, there were positive associations between the degree of certainty concerning mental states and emotional intelligence (r=0.390, p<0.01), as well as empathy (r=0.292, p<0.01) in general population. Conversely, negative associations were found between the degree of certainty about mental states and psychological distress in the diabetes group (r=-0.470, p<0.01) and in general population (r=0.320, p<0.01). A reverse pattern of associations was observed between the degree of uncertainty about mental states and emotional intelligence (r=-0.265, p<0.01) in general population, as well as psychological distress in both the diabetes group (r=0.590, p<0.01) and in general population (r=0.330, p<0.01). Also, as expected, there were differences across age groups, with older participants reporting a more balanced reflective functioning - with higher certainty levels in the diabetes group (t=-2.133, p>0.05) and the healthy participants (t=-2.738, p>0.05) and lower uncertainty levels in the diabetes group (t=-2.480, p>0.05) and the healthy participants (t=-2.779, p>0.05). The data collected so far support the reliability and validity of the measure that can be used in research to address mentalizing impairments. However, further research is needed to evaluate its consistency thought time with a test-retest analysis, and to evidence its factorial structure with a confirmatory factor analysis. In addition, it is of primary importance to extend the validity testing of RFQ in clinical populations to further support its use in clinical practice.

Von Economo Neuron Pathology in Familial Dysautonomia: Quantitative Assessment and Possible Implications

Von Economo neurons (VENs) and fork cells are principally located in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and the frontoinsular cortex (FI). Both of these regions integrate inputs from the autonomic nervous system (ANS) and are involved in decision-making and perception of the emotional states of self and others. Familial dysautonomia (FD) is an orphan disorder characterized by autonomic dysfunction and behavioral abnormalities including repetitive behavior and emotional rigidity, which are also seen in autism spectrum disorder. To understand a possible link between the ANS and the cortical regions implicated in emotion regulation we studied VENs and fork cells in an autonomic disorder. We determined the densities of VENs, fork cells, and pyramidal neurons and the ratio of VENs and fork cells to pyramidal neurons in ACC and FI in 4 FD patient and 6 matched control brains using a stereologic approach. We identified alterations in densities of VENs and pyramidal neurons and their distributions in the ACC and FI in FD brains. These data suggest that alterations in migration and numbers of VENs may be involved in FD pathophysiology thereby supporting the notion of a functional link between VENs, the ANS and the peripheral nervous system in general.

T106. CHILDHOOD TRAUMA IS ASSOCIATED WITH THEORY OF MIND IMPAIRMENT IN SCHIZOPHRENIA-SPECTRUM PSYCHOSIS

BackgroundChildhood trauma (CT), a generic term encompassing experiences of severe abuse and neglect during childhood and adolescence, has been established as an important risk factor for the emergence of psychosis. Among the potential pathways involved in the CT-psychosis association, Theory of Mind (ToM) disruption holds a central position. ToM reflects the ability to attribute distinct mental states to oneself and other people, and correctly infer the beliefs, wishes, intentions and dispositions of others in order to predict their behavior and produce proper social responses. ToM is further elaborated in 1st order ToM (ToM1: the ability to understand that someone may hold a false belief about the state of the world) and 2nd order ToM (ToM2: the ability to understand that one person may hold a false belief about the belief of another person). Research shows that patients with schizophrenia-spectrum psychosis (SSP) exhibit marked deficits in ToM. CT may increase SSP risk by disrupting the emergence of normal ToM skills, thus inducing a vulnerability for cognitive errors, perceptual aberrations and impaired reality testing. Our study sought to explore the effect of CT on ToM performance in a group of SSP patients and a healthy control group (HC).MethodsWe compared 63 SSP patients to a healthy control group on measures of CT and ToM. CT (presence of parental antipathy, parental neglect, physical abuse, sexual abuse) was assessed with the Childhood Experience of Care and Abuse Questionnaire (CECA.Q). ToM1 and ToM2 performance was measured with the Perception of Social Inference Test (PESIT). Chi-squared analysis was performed to compare CT rates between SSP patients and HCs. Mann-Whitney U tests were employed to detect differences in ToM between the two groups. Within each group, the impact of CT and polytraumatization (accumulation of different CT types) on ToM performance was examined.ResultsSSP patients displayed significantly higher CT rates (χ2 (1, N = 124) = 34.5, p < .001) and worse ToM performance (ToM1: U = 653,5, p < .001; ToM2: U = 435,5, p < .001) than HCs. SSP inpatients were 11.6 times more likely to have been exposed to severe CT than HCs. Within the SSP group, CT was associated with increased ToM2 deficits (U = 259, p = .020), while polytraumatization was negatively correlated to both ToM1 (rs = -.297, p = .020) and ToM2 (rs = -.341, p = .007) performance. Maternal antipathy (U = 207, p = .036) and neglect (U = 148, p = .017) were the CT subtypes associated with worse ToM2 performance. No similar effects were detected within the HC group.DiscussionOur finding of ToM deficits in SSP patients may indicate a bidirectional association, involving on the one hand a negative effect of psychotic illness on ToM skills, and on the other hand a vulnerability towards psychosis induced by severe, early disruptions in normal ToM acquisition. Worse ToM performance in SSP patients with cumulative CT may signify an additive or synergistic effect of CT and psychosis on ToM skills. The involvement of maternal antipathy and neglect in the aforementioned association highlights the pivotal role of the mother in the development of the child’s capacity to envision distinct mental states in self and others, a prerequisite for self-awareness and self-other individuation. The failure to detect similar effects in HCs may be attributed to the low frequency of CT in this group, potentially restricting the strength of this analysis. On the same matter, another explanation could be that CT by itself is not a sufficient condition for ToM impairment, and only becomes relevant when it acts in synergy with other harmful processes inherent in psychosis.

The Influence of Neuroscience on the Theory and Approaches to Panic Disorder and the Impact of Trauma

ABSTRACTOur minds operate within the potentialities and limits of certain biologically based systems. Problems in the functioning of these systems, in conjunction with environmental pressures, can lead to psychopathology. A better understanding of these systems through the neuroscientific ideas of Jaak Panksepp and Antonio Damasio informs psychoanalytic conceptions of and approaches to panic disorder and trauma. Of particular relevance are systems that translate somatic states to emotions and symbolized representations, those that identify mental states in self and others, and those involving aggression, anxiety, and attachment. A series of recommendations regarding treatment interventions are made based on these ideas.