Pub Date : 2023-12-18DOI: 10.5604/01.3001.0054.1734
N. Nowaczyk, Jolanta Góral-Półrola
Arnold–Chiari I malformation is a congenital malformation of the hindbrain characterized by displacement of the cerebellar tonsils into the foramen magnum, pressure on the fourth ventricle, and decreased fluid flow to the basal cisterns. It is a mild form of the neuro-cranio-vertebral syndrome (Arnold–Chiari syndrome) because in many cases it is asymptomatic or has few clinical signs and symptoms of mild severity.The case study presented in the article concerns a 16.5-year-old patient with Arnold–Chiari I malformation following surgery. Based on the neuropsychological diagnosis, clinical symptoms that might result from the course of structural and functional changes in the hindbrain in Arnold–Chiari I syndrome were described and explained. The following were observed: selective difficulties in planning and concentration (maintaining the direction of action) and a weakening of visual perception (described by the patient as a subjective state of derealization).The results of the neuropsychological diagnosis point to certain practical implications for the further therapeutic treatment of patients with a mild form of Arnold–Chiari I malformation, especially as there is a risk of clinical symptoms changing over time due to the posibility of progressive neurodegenerative changes in the hindbrain.
{"title":"Neuropsychological diagnosis of a female patient with Arnold-Chiari malformation type I","authors":"N. Nowaczyk, Jolanta Góral-Półrola","doi":"10.5604/01.3001.0054.1734","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5604/01.3001.0054.1734","url":null,"abstract":"Arnold–Chiari I malformation is a congenital malformation of the hindbrain characterized by displacement of the cerebellar tonsils into the foramen magnum, pressure on the fourth ventricle, and decreased fluid flow to the basal cisterns. It is a mild form of the neuro-cranio-vertebral syndrome (Arnold–Chiari syndrome) because in many cases it is asymptomatic or has few clinical signs and symptoms of mild severity.The case study presented in the article concerns a 16.5-year-old patient with Arnold–Chiari I malformation following surgery. Based on the neuropsychological diagnosis, clinical symptoms that might result from the course of structural and functional changes in the hindbrain in Arnold–Chiari I syndrome were described and explained. The following were observed: selective difficulties in planning and concentration (maintaining the direction of action) and a weakening of visual perception (described by the patient as a subjective state of derealization).The results of the neuropsychological diagnosis point to certain practical implications for the further therapeutic treatment of patients with a mild form of Arnold–Chiari I malformation, especially as there is a risk of clinical symptoms changing over time due to the posibility of progressive neurodegenerative changes in the hindbrain.","PeriodicalId":43280,"journal":{"name":"Acta Neuropsychologica","volume":"42 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2023-12-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139174971","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2023-11-20DOI: 10.5604/01.3001.0054.0125
M. Tkalych, I. Snyadanko, T. Shapovalova, O. Falova, Iryna Sokolova
Military action in eastern Ukraine [Anti-terrorist Operation (ATO)] has a significant impact on the psyche of combat participants and causes changes in the life activities and behaviour of the individuals concerned. The traumatic experience gained during hostilities has a negative impact on the health of military personnel. According to psychiatrists’ forecasts, in the best-case scenario, 20% of combatants in Ukraine will be diagnosed with chronic post-traumatic stress disorder, which has already been given the name “ATO syndrome”. Given this, there is now an urgent need for rehabilitation activities, and the new conditions of hybrid warfare require social service professionals to respond quickly to combatants’ requests to organise and deliver comprehensive rehabilitation. Therefore, the aim of this study is to analyse the provision and conduct of psychological rehabilitation of combatants in Ukraine from 2014 to 2021.Philosophical and general scientific methods were employed to achieve the aim. Among the general scientific methods, the theoretical (analysis, generalisation, classification, and synthesis) and empirical (description and comparison) levels should be highlighted. Also, a bibliosemantic method was used to summarise the analysis of the subject literature and our own experimental data. In addition, various programs were employed to rehabilitate the military. For example, the “Cyber Defenders” project, which was launched in 2021. This involved 30 veterans who will receive a certificate in cybersecurity upon graduation. The E-Veteran system, which allows veterans to seek psychological support, was also analyzed.As the main results, it is worth mentioning that psychological rehabilitation is a pool of psychophysiological, psychotherapeutic, organisational, and medical measures aimed at the resumption of lost mental functions and psychocorrection of the social status of military personnel who have suffered mental combat trauma. The study analysed the mental state and profile of servicemen and servicewomen, the psychological and psychiatric problems that affected them, and government programmes and projects to support and assist ATO/JFO(Joint Forces Operation) veterans. Regarding the process of psychological rehabilitation for military personnel in Ukraine itself, positive trends can be observed since 2014, such as the opening of the Ministry of Veterans’ Affairs, but in the light of current threats and challenges, these undertakings are still insufficient.The system of psychological assistance and rehabilitation of ATO participants should be considered a component of the national security of the state. The article is of practical value in a range of areas, including in political, social work, pedagogical, and educational fields, as well as having application in criminal justice and the law.
{"title":"Psychological rehabilitation of combatants in Ukraine from 2014 to 2021: statistics and current status","authors":"M. Tkalych, I. Snyadanko, T. Shapovalova, O. Falova, Iryna Sokolova","doi":"10.5604/01.3001.0054.0125","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5604/01.3001.0054.0125","url":null,"abstract":"Military action in eastern Ukraine [Anti-terrorist Operation (ATO)] has a significant impact on the psyche of combat participants and causes changes in the life activities and behaviour of the individuals concerned. The traumatic experience gained during hostilities has a negative impact on the health of military personnel. According to psychiatrists’ forecasts, in the best-case scenario, 20% of combatants in Ukraine will be diagnosed with chronic post-traumatic stress disorder, which has already been given the name “ATO syndrome”. Given this, there is now an urgent need for rehabilitation activities, and the new conditions of hybrid warfare require social service professionals to respond quickly to combatants’ requests to organise and deliver comprehensive rehabilitation. Therefore, the aim of this study is to analyse the provision and conduct of psychological rehabilitation of combatants in Ukraine from 2014 to 2021.Philosophical and general scientific methods were employed to achieve the aim. Among the general scientific methods, the theoretical (analysis, generalisation, classification, and synthesis) and empirical (description and comparison) levels should be highlighted. Also, a bibliosemantic method was used to summarise the analysis of the subject literature and our own experimental data. In addition, various programs were employed to rehabilitate the military. For example, the “Cyber Defenders” project, which was launched in 2021. This involved 30 veterans who will receive a certificate in cybersecurity upon graduation. The E-Veteran system, which allows veterans to seek psychological support, was also analyzed.As the main results, it is worth mentioning that psychological rehabilitation is a pool of psychophysiological, psychotherapeutic, organisational, and medical measures aimed at the resumption of lost mental functions and psychocorrection of the social status of military personnel who have suffered mental combat trauma. The study analysed the mental state and profile of servicemen and servicewomen, the psychological and psychiatric problems that affected them, and government programmes and projects to support and assist ATO/JFO(Joint Forces Operation) veterans. Regarding the process of psychological rehabilitation for military personnel in Ukraine itself, positive trends can be observed since 2014, such as the opening of the Ministry of Veterans’ Affairs, but in the light of current threats and challenges, these undertakings are still insufficient.The system of psychological assistance and rehabilitation of ATO participants should be considered a component of the national security of the state. The article is of practical value in a range of areas, including in political, social work, pedagogical, and educational fields, as well as having application in criminal justice and the law.","PeriodicalId":43280,"journal":{"name":"Acta Neuropsychologica","volume":"55 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2023-11-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139255298","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2023-11-02DOI: 10.5604/01.3001.0053.9340
Maria Pąchalska, Agnieszka Buczaj, Jakub Kopowski, Anna Pecyna, Piotr Maksym, Marcin Buczaj, Anna Rasmus
One of the key parameters in the evaluation of disorders of consciousness (DOC) is visual behavior. In the past, visual potential testing or PET scanning was mainly used to assess these parameters. Recently, Eye Tracker (ET) technology for assessing visual functions has emerged; however, there are only a few publications devoted to the use of this technology in assessing people with disorders of consciousness (DOC). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of using ET in the diagnosis of visual functioning in DOC patients.The study group consisted 25 patients (8 women and 17 men) awakened from prolonged post-traumatic coma in the Care and Treatment Facility of the "Light" Foundation in Toruń. The coma occurred as a result of severe brain damage: brain injury, stroke or sudden cardiac arrest. The mean age was 39.83 (SD 11.88) for the entire group, 38.85 (SD 9.99) for women, and 40.23 (SD 12.84) for men. All of these patients were in various states of disorders of consciousness (DOC), which was examined using the Coma Recovery Scale-Revised (CRS-R) (Giaciano et al., 2004). Appropriate inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied based on examinations by an internal medical physician and an ophthalmologist. Important exclusion criteria from the study were infection, elevated temperature, visual impairment and patient agitation. The visual functioning of the patients was measured with the use of the Eye Tracker Tobii X-120 device.A significant difference in visual functioning was demonstrated primarily in the areas of (1) reaction time to first fixation, where the Minimal Consciousness State minus (MCS-) group showed a significantly longer reaction time compared to the Minimal Consciousness State plus (MCS+) and the Emergency of Minimal Consciousness State (EMCS) groups; (2) fixation duration, where the MCS- group showed a longer time compared to patients in the MCS+ and EMCS groups; (3) the number of fixation points on the screen, where the MCS- group showed a significantly lower number of fixation points compared to the MCS+ and EMCS groups.Eye Tracker Tobii X-120 can serve as a valuable tool to aid in the neuropsychological diagnosis of individuals experiencing states of reduced consciousness. Indicators that most differentiate between the different levels of impaired consciousness include the time to the first fixation, the number of fixation points on the screen and the total number of fixations.
{"title":"EYE TRACKER AS A TOOL SUPPORTING DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS IN THE STATES OF DISORDES OF CONSCIOUSNESS (DOC)","authors":"Maria Pąchalska, Agnieszka Buczaj, Jakub Kopowski, Anna Pecyna, Piotr Maksym, Marcin Buczaj, Anna Rasmus","doi":"10.5604/01.3001.0053.9340","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5604/01.3001.0053.9340","url":null,"abstract":"One of the key parameters in the evaluation of disorders of consciousness (DOC) is visual behavior. In the past, visual potential testing or PET scanning was mainly used to assess these parameters. Recently, Eye Tracker (ET) technology for assessing visual functions has emerged; however, there are only a few publications devoted to the use of this technology in assessing people with disorders of consciousness (DOC). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of using ET in the diagnosis of visual functioning in DOC patients.The study group consisted 25 patients (8 women and 17 men) awakened from prolonged post-traumatic coma in the Care and Treatment Facility of the \"Light\" Foundation in Toruń. The coma occurred as a result of severe brain damage: brain injury, stroke or sudden cardiac arrest. The mean age was 39.83 (SD 11.88) for the entire group, 38.85 (SD 9.99) for women, and 40.23 (SD 12.84) for men. All of these patients were in various states of disorders of consciousness (DOC), which was examined using the Coma Recovery Scale-Revised (CRS-R) (Giaciano et al., 2004). Appropriate inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied based on examinations by an internal medical physician and an ophthalmologist. Important exclusion criteria from the study were infection, elevated temperature, visual impairment and patient agitation. The visual functioning of the patients was measured with the use of the Eye Tracker Tobii X-120 device.A significant difference in visual functioning was demonstrated primarily in the areas of (1) reaction time to first fixation, where the Minimal Consciousness State minus (MCS-) group showed a significantly longer reaction time compared to the Minimal Consciousness State plus (MCS+) and the Emergency of Minimal Consciousness State (EMCS) groups; (2) fixation duration, where the MCS- group showed a longer time compared to patients in the MCS+ and EMCS groups; (3) the number of fixation points on the screen, where the MCS- group showed a significantly lower number of fixation points compared to the MCS+ and EMCS groups.Eye Tracker Tobii X-120 can serve as a valuable tool to aid in the neuropsychological diagnosis of individuals experiencing states of reduced consciousness. Indicators that most differentiate between the different levels of impaired consciousness include the time to the first fixation, the number of fixation points on the screen and the total number of fixations.","PeriodicalId":43280,"journal":{"name":"Acta Neuropsychologica","volume":"77 5","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-11-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135976064","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Burnout or occupational exhaustion syndrome is a neuropsychological disorder resulting from chronic stress at work. Employees of private companies are highly exposed to this risk because of the overload of work in addition to the long daily working hours. We have therefore conducted a study whose aim is to assess the prevalence of burnout and its components, as well as to study socio-professional determinants among employees.We tested 102 employees aged between 22 and 60 years with an average age of 36.76 years 10.5 years. 77% were men and 24% were women. They were asked to complete freely and anonymously a general information sheet and the MBI questionnaire “Maslach Burn-out Inventory” in its French version with language adaptation. This consists of 22 items, evaluating three dimensions: emotional exhaustion (EE), depersonalization (DP) and personal accomplishment (PA). A score was calculated and a rating in the degree of severity (low, moderate and high) was given for each of the dimensions, according to internationally accepted standards.The analysis of the results showed a high prevalence of burnout. Statistical analyses show that the rate of burnout in the age group over 40 equals 47.2% against 31.8% only among employees aged under 40. Similarly, the burnout rate among women is about the same as men (p=0.977). Emotional exhaustion (EE) is the most widespread component in exhausted subjects. It was found to be high for 14.7% of em- ployees; while depersonalization (DP) or high cynicism affects only 3.9% of subjects. Significant links between depersonalization and gender as well as professional seniority are obtained. Concerning the level of schooling, the rate of burnout decreases when the school level increases but without significance (p = 0.474). The rate of burnout is high among executing workers followed by senior managers. However, this link remains statistically insignificant. Concerning seniority, we note that the prevalence of burnout increases with professional seniority and even in the meaningless position. We also observe a higher rate of burnout among employees withcompany seniority of less than 10 years in addition to the oldest, but without any meaning.Professional exhaustion or burnout exists strongly in Moroccan compa- nies. In order to be able to adapt to the rapid development of the market and its increased demands, it is essential that business leaders prevent this pathology by improving the psychosocial work environment.
{"title":"DETERMINANTSOF BURNOUT AND ITS PREVALENCE AMONG EMPLOYEES IN A MOROCCAN PRIVATE COMPANY","authors":"Samira Arji, Rabea Ziri, Youssef Aboussaleh, Fatima Zahra Azzaoui, Kamil Krupa, Ahmed O.T. Ahami","doi":"10.5604/01.3001.0053.9565","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5604/01.3001.0053.9565","url":null,"abstract":"Burnout or occupational exhaustion syndrome is a neuropsychological disorder resulting from chronic stress at work. Employees of private companies are highly exposed to this risk because of the overload of work in addition to the long daily working hours. We have therefore conducted a study whose aim is to assess the prevalence of burnout and its components, as well as to study socio-professional determinants among employees.We tested 102 employees aged between 22 and 60 years with an average age of 36.76 years 10.5 years. 77% were men and 24% were women. They were asked to complete freely and anonymously a general information sheet and the MBI questionnaire “Maslach Burn-out Inventory” in its French version with language adaptation. This consists of 22 items, evaluating three dimensions: emotional exhaustion (EE), depersonalization (DP) and personal accomplishment (PA). A score was calculated and a rating in the degree of severity (low, moderate and high) was given for each of the dimensions, according to internationally accepted standards.The analysis of the results showed a high prevalence of burnout. Statistical analyses show that the rate of burnout in the age group over 40 equals 47.2% against 31.8% only among employees aged under 40. Similarly, the burnout rate among women is about the same as men (p=0.977). Emotional exhaustion (EE) is the most widespread component in exhausted subjects. It was found to be high for 14.7% of em- ployees; while depersonalization (DP) or high cynicism affects only 3.9% of subjects. Significant links between depersonalization and gender as well as professional seniority are obtained. Concerning the level of schooling, the rate of burnout decreases when the school level increases but without significance (p = 0.474). The rate of burnout is high among executing workers followed by senior managers. However, this link remains statistically insignificant. Concerning seniority, we note that the prevalence of burnout increases with professional seniority and even in the meaningless position. We also observe a higher rate of burnout among employees withcompany seniority of less than 10 years in addition to the oldest, but without any meaning.Professional exhaustion or burnout exists strongly in Moroccan compa- nies. In order to be able to adapt to the rapid development of the market and its increased demands, it is essential that business leaders prevent this pathology by improving the psychosocial work environment.","PeriodicalId":43280,"journal":{"name":"Acta Neuropsychologica","volume":"59 1-2","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-10-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135218846","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2023-09-11DOI: 10.5604/01.3001.0053.8795
Ludmiła Zając-Lamparska, Alina Grabowska, Aleksandra Gawrońska
Caregivers of persons suffering from dementia constitute a group displaying a great need for mental health support, while at the same time being largely neglected in terms of receiving this support. In this context, the aim of this article is to propose the Stepped Care 2.0 (S.C. 2.0) model as a mental health care systemic solution for carers of persons with dementia.In this article, we focus on presenting the argumentation that proves the need and validity of introducing the proposed mental health care model for carers of persons with dementia. For this purpose, we draw on the results of our own pilot study, as well as a review of the subject literature.As the literature review indicates, caring for individuals with dementia is a source of multidimensional burden and deterioration in well-being. Results obtained in our own study indicate that there exists a burden of care among carers of persons with dementia in Poland and their well-being is significantly lower compared to non-carers. Moreover, the results suggest that the degree of negative consequences of being a caregiver varies depending of the degree of the patient’s disability. The flexibility of support and client-centric approach assumed in the S.C. 2.0 model can provide a good response to the diverse and changing needs of the carers of persons with dementia. It can also serve as a kind of hub encompassing and organising existing forms of support for carers. Moreover, the effectiveness of the selected types of support included in this model is confirmed by existing research findings.The need for mental health support for carers of individuals with dementia is undeniable. In the light of the arguments provided, the S.C. 2.0 model is a suitable solution for the systemic organisation of such support.
{"title":"Access to mental health services for the carers of persons suffering from dementia in Poland – proposal for a system solution","authors":"Ludmiła Zając-Lamparska, Alina Grabowska, Aleksandra Gawrońska","doi":"10.5604/01.3001.0053.8795","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5604/01.3001.0053.8795","url":null,"abstract":"Caregivers of persons suffering from dementia constitute a group displaying a great need for mental health support, while at the same time being largely neglected in terms of receiving this support. In this context, the aim of this article is to propose the Stepped Care 2.0 (S.C. 2.0) model as a mental health care systemic solution for carers of persons with dementia.In this article, we focus on presenting the argumentation that proves the need and validity of introducing the proposed mental health care model for carers of persons with dementia. For this purpose, we draw on the results of our own pilot study, as well as a review of the subject literature.As the literature review indicates, caring for individuals with dementia is a source of multidimensional burden and deterioration in well-being. Results obtained in our own study indicate that there exists a burden of care among carers of persons with dementia in Poland and their well-being is significantly lower compared to non-carers. Moreover, the results suggest that the degree of negative consequences of being a caregiver varies depending of the degree of the patient’s disability. The flexibility of support and client-centric approach assumed in the S.C. 2.0 model can provide a good response to the diverse and changing needs of the carers of persons with dementia. It can also serve as a kind of hub encompassing and organising existing forms of support for carers. Moreover, the effectiveness of the selected types of support included in this model is confirmed by existing research findings.The need for mental health support for carers of individuals with dementia is undeniable. In the light of the arguments provided, the S.C. 2.0 model is a suitable solution for the systemic organisation of such support.","PeriodicalId":43280,"journal":{"name":"Acta Neuropsychologica","volume":"2015 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-09-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"136026511","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2023-09-11DOI: 10.5604/01.3001.0053.8796
Katarzyna Markiewicz, Bożydar L.J. Kaczmarek, Zbigniew B. Gaś
The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly increased feelings of insecurity and anxiety for the health of oneself and those of one’s loved ones, as well as for the future, which has led to an increased level of stress. This has resulted in a tendency to use alcohol and drugs. Studies show that such behaviors are triggered both by external and internal factors. Therefore, the study has looked for interrelations between personality traits, mental state, and learning mode (online versus hybrid) and the frequency of stimulants and tranquilizers consumption in the last 6-12 months of the COVID-19 pandemic.The study involved 113 university students aged 19-34. Due to pandemic-related limitations, 51.3% of students took online courses, while 48.7% were involved in hybrid learning.. The participants were all asked to complete an online questionnaire that included 17 questions regarding mental health, drug and alcohol use. Additionally, the TIPI questionnaire was used to assess personality traits.The study found that online learning as well as feelings of loneliness and emptiness resulted in increased use of alcohol, antidepressants and sleeping pills. On the other hand, personality traits such as extraversion, agreeableness and emotional stability helped to limit the use of this type of stimulants.Online learners more often reported deterioration in their mental state, related to difficulties in adapting to pandemic-related conditions. This group was also more likely to use sedatives, sleeping pills, and antidepressants, with a significant difference in means, compared to hybrid students. In contrast, hybrid learners frequently reported a sense of the loss of meaning as well as worrying about the fate of loved ones, thinking back to a situation no longer under their control, and difficulties in making decisions. At the same time, most respondents of this group reported a positive vision of their future and a high sense of responsibility.
{"title":"THE IMPACT OF PERSONALITY TRAITS AND STUDY MODE ON MENTAL HEALTH AND STIMULANT USE AMONG UNIVERSITY STUDENTS DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC","authors":"Katarzyna Markiewicz, Bożydar L.J. Kaczmarek, Zbigniew B. Gaś","doi":"10.5604/01.3001.0053.8796","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5604/01.3001.0053.8796","url":null,"abstract":"The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly increased feelings of insecurity and anxiety for the health of oneself and those of one’s loved ones, as well as for the future, which has led to an increased level of stress. This has resulted in a tendency to use alcohol and drugs. Studies show that such behaviors are triggered both by external and internal factors. Therefore, the study has looked for interrelations between personality traits, mental state, and learning mode (online versus hybrid) and the frequency of stimulants and tranquilizers consumption in the last 6-12 months of the COVID-19 pandemic.The study involved 113 university students aged 19-34. Due to pandemic-related limitations, 51.3% of students took online courses, while 48.7% were involved in hybrid learning.. The participants were all asked to complete an online questionnaire that included 17 questions regarding mental health, drug and alcohol use. Additionally, the TIPI questionnaire was used to assess personality traits.The study found that online learning as well as feelings of loneliness and emptiness resulted in increased use of alcohol, antidepressants and sleeping pills. On the other hand, personality traits such as extraversion, agreeableness and emotional stability helped to limit the use of this type of stimulants.Online learners more often reported deterioration in their mental state, related to difficulties in adapting to pandemic-related conditions. This group was also more likely to use sedatives, sleeping pills, and antidepressants, with a significant difference in means, compared to hybrid students. In contrast, hybrid learners frequently reported a sense of the loss of meaning as well as worrying about the fate of loved ones, thinking back to a situation no longer under their control, and difficulties in making decisions. At the same time, most respondents of this group reported a positive vision of their future and a high sense of responsibility.","PeriodicalId":43280,"journal":{"name":"Acta Neuropsychologica","volume":"60 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-09-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"136025429","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2023-09-11DOI: 10.5604/01.3001.0053.8853
Jacek Łukasiewicz, Bożydar L.J. Kaczmarek
Working as a doctor, nurse, and midwife is associated with great responsibility for the health and life of patients. It is a source of many burdens, which result in marked, chronic stress leading to professional burnout and related consequences affecting all spheres of life. The research aimed to analyze healthcare workers’ preferred stress-coping strategies.The study encompassed 134 healthcare workers practicing the profession of doctor, nurse, and midwife, working in the cities of Lublin in the period from May 2022 to February 2023. We employeda self-made questionnaire and the Stress Coping Inventory (Mini-COPE). The PS IMAGO 9.0 program was used for the calculations and analysis of the results.The strategies of coping with stress most often used by doctors, nurses, and midwives were based on active coping and planning. The three surveyed groups of healthcare workers differ statistically significantly in using the denial strategy. Nurses are more likely than physicians to use denial as a coping strategy. There were no statistically significant differences in the remaining strategies of coping with stress.Healthcare workers in stressful situations often choose active ways of dealing with them, especially active coping and planning. An important factor that strengthens the choice of active strategies for coping with stress seems to be training aimed at improving the professional qualifications of healthcare workers.
{"title":"HEALTH CARE WORKERS STRATEGIES FOR COPING WITH STRESS","authors":"Jacek Łukasiewicz, Bożydar L.J. Kaczmarek","doi":"10.5604/01.3001.0053.8853","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5604/01.3001.0053.8853","url":null,"abstract":"Working as a doctor, nurse, and midwife is associated with great responsibility for the health and life of patients. It is a source of many burdens, which result in marked, chronic stress leading to professional burnout and related consequences affecting all spheres of life. The research aimed to analyze healthcare workers’ preferred stress-coping strategies.The study encompassed 134 healthcare workers practicing the profession of doctor, nurse, and midwife, working in the cities of Lublin in the period from May 2022 to February 2023. We employeda self-made questionnaire and the Stress Coping Inventory (Mini-COPE). The PS IMAGO 9.0 program was used for the calculations and analysis of the results.The strategies of coping with stress most often used by doctors, nurses, and midwives were based on active coping and planning. The three surveyed groups of healthcare workers differ statistically significantly in using the denial strategy. Nurses are more likely than physicians to use denial as a coping strategy. There were no statistically significant differences in the remaining strategies of coping with stress.Healthcare workers in stressful situations often choose active ways of dealing with them, especially active coping and planning. An important factor that strengthens the choice of active strategies for coping with stress seems to be training aimed at improving the professional qualifications of healthcare workers.","PeriodicalId":43280,"journal":{"name":"Acta Neuropsychologica","volume":"18 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-09-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"136026510","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2023-09-11DOI: 10.5604/01.3001.0053.9172
Ewa Wilczek-Rużyczka
Empathy and resilience have an indirect effect on raising the level of the quality of care, as empathy is the basis for good interactions between medical workers and patients, and resilience, as a dynamic process, helps caregivers adapt well to difficult working conditions, risks or traumas experienced. The development of empathy and resilience of these medical workers is possible by a training method already employed among medical students in order to both improve the quality of care, but also to more effectively prevent professional burnout. The purpose of the study was to determine the level of empathy and the level of resilience, their possible correlations with each other, as well as the relationship of these variables with socio-demographic variables.The study was carried out in 2021 among 31 doctors and 45 nurses using two main tools - the Emotional-Cognitive Empathy Questionnaire (EEP)by Ewa Wilczek-Rużyczka and the Resilience Measurement Scale(SPP-25) by Nina Oginska-Bulik and Zygfryd Juczynski, as well as a socio-demographic questionnaire.The most valuable results of the study turned out to be the demonstration of statistically significant concordant associations of empathy level with resilience level both in general, and their individual factors as statistically significant intercorrelations. In addition, statistically significant differences were shown in the case of cognitive empathy - higher levels of empathy were found among people with longer work experience and women when compared to men. In the case of the level of other components of empathy, as well as resilience, differences so as to be statistically significant could not be confirmed.It is recommended that empathy and resilience training sessions be implemented for health care workers, and that the study be continued with larger research groups, with additional control groups, to refine the programs of these training sessions.
{"title":"Empathy and resilience in health care professionals","authors":"Ewa Wilczek-Rużyczka","doi":"10.5604/01.3001.0053.9172","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5604/01.3001.0053.9172","url":null,"abstract":"Empathy and resilience have an indirect effect on raising the level of the quality of care, as empathy is the basis for good interactions between medical workers and patients, and resilience, as a dynamic process, helps caregivers adapt well to difficult working conditions, risks or traumas experienced. The development of empathy and resilience of these medical workers is possible by a training method already employed among medical students in order to both improve the quality of care, but also to more effectively prevent professional burnout. The purpose of the study was to determine the level of empathy and the level of resilience, their possible correlations with each other, as well as the relationship of these variables with socio-demographic variables.The study was carried out in 2021 among 31 doctors and 45 nurses using two main tools - the Emotional-Cognitive Empathy Questionnaire (EEP)by Ewa Wilczek-Rużyczka and the Resilience Measurement Scale(SPP-25) by Nina Oginska-Bulik and Zygfryd Juczynski, as well as a socio-demographic questionnaire.The most valuable results of the study turned out to be the demonstration of statistically significant concordant associations of empathy level with resilience level both in general, and their individual factors as statistically significant intercorrelations. In addition, statistically significant differences were shown in the case of cognitive empathy - higher levels of empathy were found among people with longer work experience and women when compared to men. In the case of the level of other components of empathy, as well as resilience, differences so as to be statistically significant could not be confirmed.It is recommended that empathy and resilience training sessions be implemented for health care workers, and that the study be continued with larger research groups, with additional control groups, to refine the programs of these training sessions.","PeriodicalId":43280,"journal":{"name":"Acta Neuropsychologica","volume":"14 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-09-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"136027154","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2023-07-03DOI: 10.5604/01.3001.0053.8593
Ksenia Cielebąk, Mikołaj Kobos, Jolanta Góral-Półrola
The aim of the study was to evaluate the quality of life of a patient af- terendarterectomy (CEA) of the Internal Carotid Artery (ICA) following an Acute ischemic stroke (AIS) during COVID-19.A right-handed, 51-year-old patient, a visual artist, single, in good health and no chronic illnesses to date, became infected with SARS-CoV-2 and contracted COVID-19. The presence of SARS-CoV-2 virus was confirmed by a RT PCR antigen test. The patient was hospitalized, and required mechanical ventilation at an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) before an acute ischemic stroke (AIS) onset. Except for untreated hypertension, her medical history was unremarkable. Her blood pressure was 180/100 mm Hg; her pulse was 76 beats per minute and was regular. AIS from the left middle cerebral artery (MCA) has resulted primarily in damage to the left hemisphere, and secondary effects on the right side resulting in body weakness and mild anomic aphasia. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) confirmed stroke and detected brain tissue damaged by an AIS. It revealed hyperintense foci in the T2 and FLAIR sequences, 21 mm in size in the left hemisphere of the brain. In search of the cause of AIS, CT angiography was performed. It revealed a large (90%) ICA occlusion. The patient was admitted to the emergency room at the Vascular Surgery Clinic with an Endovascular Subunit. The revascularization procedure (CEA) was performed under general endotracheal anesthesia with the use of the protocol and techniques (elaborated at the Department of Vascular Surgery and Endovascular Procedures, The John Paul II Hospital in Krakow). The CEA procedure improved her general health: she regained the ability to name objects and her HRQOL also improved in her perception. The improvement achieved was statistically significant. She returned to painting and functions well in society.The patient’s perception of HRQoL measured by the SF-36 domains was better after the CEA: a significant improvement in self-reported overall health has occured. The HRQoL outcome measures may be valuable in future clinical trials of comparing different methods of treatment offered after AIS.
{"title":"QUALITY OF LIFE OF A PATIENT AFTER ENDARTERECTOMY OF THE INTERNAL CAROTID ARTERY (ICA) FOLLOWINGAN ACUTE ISCHEMIC STROKE (AIS) DURING COVID-19","authors":"Ksenia Cielebąk, Mikołaj Kobos, Jolanta Góral-Półrola","doi":"10.5604/01.3001.0053.8593","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5604/01.3001.0053.8593","url":null,"abstract":"The aim of the study was to evaluate the quality of life of a patient af- terendarterectomy (CEA) of the Internal Carotid Artery (ICA) following an Acute ischemic stroke (AIS) during COVID-19.A right-handed, 51-year-old patient, a visual artist, single, in good health and no chronic illnesses to date, became infected with SARS-CoV-2 and contracted COVID-19. The presence of SARS-CoV-2 virus was confirmed by a RT PCR antigen test. The patient was hospitalized, and required mechanical ventilation at an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) before an acute ischemic stroke (AIS) onset. Except for untreated hypertension, her medical history was unremarkable. Her blood pressure was 180/100 mm Hg; her pulse was 76 beats per minute and was regular. AIS from the left middle cerebral artery (MCA) has resulted primarily in damage to the left hemisphere, and secondary effects on the right side resulting in body weakness and mild anomic aphasia. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) confirmed stroke and detected brain tissue damaged by an AIS. It revealed hyperintense foci in the T2 and FLAIR sequences, 21 mm in size in the left hemisphere of the brain. In search of the cause of AIS, CT angiography was performed. It revealed a large (90%) ICA occlusion. The patient was admitted to the emergency room at the Vascular Surgery Clinic with an Endovascular Subunit. The revascularization procedure (CEA) was performed under general endotracheal anesthesia with the use of the protocol and techniques (elaborated at the Department of Vascular Surgery and Endovascular Procedures, The John Paul II Hospital in Krakow). The CEA procedure improved her general health: she regained the ability to name objects and her HRQOL also improved in her perception. The improvement achieved was statistically significant. She returned to painting and functions well in society.The patient’s perception of HRQoL measured by the SF-36 domains was better after the CEA: a significant improvement in self-reported overall health has occured. The HRQoL outcome measures may be valuable in future clinical trials of comparing different methods of treatment offered after AIS.","PeriodicalId":43280,"journal":{"name":"Acta Neuropsychologica","volume":"13 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2023-07-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139364295","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2023-07-03DOI: 10.5604/01.3001.0053.7563
A. Lindell
Previous research has established that photos of great apes, including humans, show a left cheek bias. As this bias is absent in images of lower primates and other animals, phylo-genetic proximity appears to influence humans’ depictions of nonhuman species. However Thomas et al.’s (2006) finding of a left cheek bias for dogs challenges this argument. As their analyses were underpowered, the present study sought to replicate Thomas et al.’s study with a larger sample to help determine whether human depictions of non-human animals vary as a function of their evolutionary relatedness.Photographs (N=2883) were sourced from Instagram’s ‘Most Recent’ feed using hashtags that matched Thomas et al.’s Google Image search terms: #dog, #cat, #fish, #lizard, #cute- baby, #cryingbaby. The first 401 lateral images for each hashtag were coded for pose orientation (left, right).Replicating Thomas et al., results confirmed a left cheek bias for mammals but not nonmammals. The left cheek bias was driven by images of human infants; there were no cheek biases for images of nonhuman animals (dogs, cats, lizards, fish).As a left cheek bias was evident in photos of primates (#cutebaby, #cryingbaby), but absent for other mammals (#dog, #cat) and nonmammals (#lizard, #fish), the data support the argument that phylogenetic proximity influences posing biases.
{"title":"NO CHEEK BIAS FOR NON-PRIMATES: AN INSTAGRAM REPLICATION OF THOMAS ET AL. (2006)","authors":"A. Lindell","doi":"10.5604/01.3001.0053.7563","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5604/01.3001.0053.7563","url":null,"abstract":"Previous research has established that photos of great apes, including humans, show a left cheek bias. As this bias is absent in images of lower primates and other animals, phylo-genetic proximity appears to influence humans’ depictions of nonhuman species. However Thomas et al.’s (2006) finding of a left cheek bias for dogs challenges this argument. As their analyses were underpowered, the present study sought to replicate Thomas et al.’s study with a larger sample to help determine whether human depictions of non-human animals vary as a function of their evolutionary relatedness.Photographs (N=2883) were sourced from Instagram’s ‘Most Recent’ feed using hashtags that matched Thomas et al.’s Google Image search terms: #dog, #cat, #fish, #lizard, #cute- baby, #cryingbaby. The first 401 lateral images for each hashtag were coded for pose orientation (left, right).Replicating Thomas et al., results confirmed a left cheek bias for mammals but not nonmammals. The left cheek bias was driven by images of human infants; there were no cheek biases for images of nonhuman animals (dogs, cats, lizards, fish).As a left cheek bias was evident in photos of primates (#cutebaby, #cryingbaby), but absent for other mammals (#dog, #cat) and nonmammals (#lizard, #fish), the data support the argument that phylogenetic proximity influences posing biases.","PeriodicalId":43280,"journal":{"name":"Acta Neuropsychologica","volume":"16 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2023-07-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139364071","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}