[Level of personality functioning (OPD-2) and the symptom severity of posttraumatic stress disorder - a cohort study]. / Steht das strukturelle Integrationsniveau nach OPD-2 in Zusammenhang mit der Symptomschwere einer Posttraumatischen Belastungsstörung (PTBS)? ­ Eine Kohortenstudie bei Patienten einer Trauma-Ambulanz.

Level of personality functioning (OPD-2) and the symptom severity of posttraumatic stress disorder - a cohort study Objectives: To investigate the affirmed correlation between the level of personality functioning (OPD-2, Axis IV "Structure") and the symptom severity of posttraumatic stress disorder based on clinical routine data was the main goal of this study. Method: Cross-sectional data was acquired between 2013 and 2016 using random samples of standardized questionnaires in the trauma outpatient clinic of the Department of Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University Hospital in Münster, Germany. The German version of the PDS (Ehlers et al. 1996) measured the symptoms and the severity of PTSD, level of personality functioning was assessed by the OPD-SFK (Ehrenthal et al. 2015) Results: Level of personality functioning in OPD-SFK and the severity of posttraumatic symptoms are significantly correlated to each other. The less the functioning of the psychic structure the more the symptom severity shows up. The results were confirmed with different sets of predictors in our statistical models. Conclusions: The level of the personality functioning (OPD-2) is related to the severity of posttraumatic symptoms. Whether a low-level personality functioning is a disposal for PTSD or more likely a result of a traumatic life event, should be discussed.

Subtle changes of gray matter volume in fibromyalgia reflect chronic musculoskeletal pain rather than disease-specific effects.

Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is a chronic pain syndrome. Neuroimaging studies provided evidence of altered gray matter volume (GMV) in FMS but, similarly, in chronic pain of other origin as well. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the disease specificity of GMV alterations in FMS by direct comparison. Structural MRI data of the brain were acquired in 25 females with FMS and two different control groups: 21 healthy subjects and 23 patients with osteoarthritis. Regional GMVs were compared by voxel-based morphometry and additional ROI-analyses. In conclusion, we did not identify significant GMV alterations in either FMS or OA patients compared to healthy controls when adopting a conservative statistical approach with multiple comparison correction. However, even under a more liberal approach no FMS-specific GMV changes were found because both pain groups presented increased gray matter volumes in the precentral gyrus and decreased GMV in the angular gyrus/middle occipital gyrus and middle temporal gyrus in comparison with healthy controls. Since no differences between both pain groups could be detected cortical GMV changes in FMS should not be interpreted as FMS-specific but might rather reflect changes in chronic pain in general. This previously held notion is confirmed in this study by direct comparison with a control group consisting of another pain disorder.

[Is the influence of religiousness on fearful, depressive and somatic symptoms and psychic traumatization overestimated? A representative cross-sectional study]. / Religiosität: in ihrem Einfluss auf ängstliche und depressive Symptome sowie Körperbeschwerden und Traumata überschätzt? Eine repräsentative Querschnittstudie.

Is the influence of religiousness on fearful, depressive and somatic symptoms and psychic traumatization overestimated? A representative cross-sectional study Objectives: The aim of this study is to prove if religious faith, spirituality and religious praxis are joined with lower depression, anxiety and physical pain-level and if subjects with traumatic experiences report more spirituality. Methods: In this consecutive study, 2508 adults of a representative sample in Germany were interviewed about religious faith and spirituality in relation to depression, anxiety, physical disorders as well as traumatic experiences. Results: Unlike our hypotheses people who are charged with mental (PHQ-4; Löwe et al. 2010) or physical disorders (GBB_8; Kliem et al. 2017) report more spirituality and more private religious/spiritual praxis than people without mental or physical problems. As expected people with traumatic experiences in their childhood (CTS; Grabe et al. 2012) describe significantly more spirituality than people without these experiences. Conclusions: Other than expected people with more mental or physical disorders report more spirituality and more private religious/spiritual praxis. It is to discuss if spirituality is less a protective factor for mental or physical disorders than disorders activate to look for spirituality and private religious/spiritual praxis.

Levels of personality functioning and not depression predict decline of plasma glucose concentration in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

AIMS: Psychosocial variables influence chronic diseases, such as type 2 diabetes mellitus. While there is evidence for a negative impact of depression, much less is known about stable, personality oriented factors. Aim of the study was to assess the impact of depression and personality functioning on glucose regulation in patients with type 2 diabetes. METHODS: Seventy-five adult individuals with a first diagnosis of type 2 diabetes were consecutively recruited in an outpatient medical practice. Plasma glucose (HbA1c) was measured at initial contact, and after three and six months of a standardized disease management program. Depression was assessed by self-report (Patient Health Questionnaire, PHQ-D), levels of personality functioning with the screening version of the Operationalized Psychodynamic Diagnosis structure questionnaire (OPD-SQS). RESULTS: Using mixed regression models, OPD-SQS scores were associated with lower baseline levels of HbA1c, but a less steep decline over time. PHQ-D scores were neither associated with intercept nor with slopes of HbA1c. CONCLUSIONS: In type 2 diabetes, levels of personality functioning but not depression predicted decline in plasma glucose during the first six months of a standardized disease management program. Personality functioning may be especially important in chronic diseases that demand a high level of compliance and lifestyle change.