Long-lasting effects of World War II trauma on PTSD symptoms and embodiment levels in a national sample of Poles.

The main aim of this study was to investigate the long-lasting influences of World War II (WWII) trauma in a national sample of Poles, based on Danieli's (1998) survivors' post-trauma adaptational styles (fighter, numb, victim) and their link with current post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and embodiment level among participants. We also sought to investigate whether the level of knowledge about WWII trauma among ancestors could moderate that association. The study was conducted among a representative sample of 1598 adult Poles obtained from an external company. Participants filled out the Danieli Inventory of Multigenerational Legacies of Trauma, the knowledge about traumatic World War II experiences in the family questionnaire, the Posttraumatic Diagnostic Scale-5, and the Experience of Embodiment Scale. We observed a positive relationship between all survivors' post-trauma adaptational styles and current levels of PTSD symptoms among participants. In addition, PTSD level mediated the relationships between those adaptational styles and embodiment intensity; that mediation was additionally moderated by a lack of knowledge about WWII trauma among ancestors in our participants. Our study adds to the literature on intergenerational trauma by highlighting the importance of evaluating embodiment in understanding the mechanisms of trauma transmission. Furthermore, it highlights the moderating effect of knowledge of family history in this mechanism and the need to share family histories with subsequent generations.

Exposure to self-reported traumatic events and probable PTSD in a national sample of Poles: Why does Poland's PTSD prevalence differ from other national estimates?

BACKGROUND: There is a lack of studies on trauma exposure and PTSD prevalence in Poland on representative samples. Available data from studies on convenient samples show very high rates of probable PTSD compared with relevant estimates in other countries. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to measure the exposure to self-report traumatic events (PTEs) and to estimate the current rate of prevalence of probable posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in accordance with DSM-5 criteria in a population-based sample of Poles. Additionally, the link between PTSD intensity and level of life satisfaction was investigated. METHOD: A representative sample of 1,598 adult Poles was recruited. Probable PTSD was assessed with the Posttraumatic Diagnostic Scale for DSM-5 (PDS-5) and the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) was also used. RESULTS: The findings showed that 60.3% of Poles had experienced at least one PTE and 31.1% of those who had been exposed to trauma reported symptoms of PTSD. At the level of the entire sample, the obtained rate for probable PTSD was 18.8%. The traumatic events with the highest probabilities of PTSD symptoms were child abuse and sexual assault. Levels of life satisfaction were significantly lower in the group of participants with probable PTSD. CONCLUSIONS: We found that the current prevalence of probable PTSD in Poland is intriguingly high relative to rates reported in comparable representative samples from other countries across the world. Possible mechanisms are discussed, including a lack of social acknowledgement of WWII and other traumas as well as poor access to trauma-focused care. We hope that this research may inspire more studies investigating cross-national differences in PTSD and trauma exposure.

Polish Adaptation and Validation of the Revised Illness Perception Questionnaire (IPQ-R) in Cancer Patients.

The article presents findings from three studies designed to validate and culturally adapt the Polish version of the Revised Illness Perception Questionnaire (IPQ-R), a measure of the cognitive and emotional components of illness representations among oncology patients. The tool is conceptually based on Leventhal's Self-Regulatory Model (Leventhal et al., 1984, 2001). The results of the study 1 (n = 40) show that it can be successfully used in a Polish cultural context as a reliable equivalent to its original English version (Moss-Morris et al., 2002). Analyses conducted in Study 2 (n = 318) provided good evidence for construct and criterion validity as well as the internal reliability of the IPQ-R subscales. Study 3 (n = 54) revealed that the IPQ-R subscales present good test-retest reliability. Overall, the results show that the Polish version of the IPQ-R provides a comprehensive and psychometrically acceptable assessment of the representation of cancer and can be reliably used in studies involving Polish oncology patients.

Own body experience and parents' attitudes perceived retrospectively in patients with irritable bowel syndrome. / Doswiadczenie wlasnego ciala i retrospektywnie postrzegany postawy rodziców u pacjentów z zespolem jelita drazliwego.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of the study was to seek connections between mentalbody representations (body image, body schema and body sense) and parents' attitudes perceived retrospectively in patients with irritable bowel syndrome. METHODS: 184 adults aged 18 to 64 participated in the study, including patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS; N=63), patients with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD; N=60) and healthy respondents (N=61). Respondents took the Batteryof Tests of the Body Self Representations (B. Mirucka) and the Childhood Questionnaire (J. Hardt, U.T. Egle and A. Engfer). RESULTS: (1) IBS patients are characterized by lower representations of the body schema, body image and body sense compared to healthy people as well as lower organized body schema and body sense compared to IBD patients. (2) IBS patients in a similar way to IBS patients and healthy people describe the attitude of their mothers during childhood. In comparison to healthy people, IBS patients experience their fathers as significantly less loving. (3) In the group of IBS patients, there are significant relationships between the body sense and the retrospectively perceived attitude of love and control from both mothers and fathers. CONCLUSIONS: IBS patients are characterized by lower organization of mental body representation than healthy people and IBD patients. In the psychosocial functioning of IBS patients, the representation of body sense is particularly important. The peculiarity of the IBS patients'childhood relationship with their parents seems to be significant and requires further research.

[The role of childhood stress in symptoms of social phobia and agoraphobia in adulthood]. / Kindheitsbelastungen und Symptome der Sozialen Phobie und Agoraphobie im Erwachsenenalter.

The role of childhood stress in symptoms of social phobia and agoraphobia in adulthood Objectives: Anxiety disorders are among themost prevalent mental disorders inmodern times. Childhood stress constitutes a risk factor for their occurrence in adulthood. METHODS: In a sample of 1000 Polish and German probands recruited via the internet, we studied the associations of nine childhood stress factors (physical abuse, periodic harsh physical punishment, threat of physical violence, sexual abuse, neglect, long-term absence of a parent, violence between parents, arguments between parents and financial hardship) with later agoraphobic and sociophobic symptoms. RESULTS: Especially neglect showed a strong association to both forms of phobic symptoms. Threat of physical violence aswell as periodic harsh physical punishment and threat of physical violence also showed an association to both forms of phobic symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: The study revealed plausible associations for both forms of anxiety and various childhood adversities, though the amounts of explained variances were generally small.

Childhood Adversities and Adult Headache in Poland and Germany.

OBJECTIVE: Various childhood adversities have been found to be associated with chronic pain in adulthood. However, associations were moderate in most studies, i.e. odds ratios (OR) were between one and two. METHOD: An internet survey was performed in 508 Polish and 500 German subjects. A total of 19 childhood adversities were selected and their associations with headaches explored. Age, gender and country were included as potential confounders, as well as their two-way interaction with the risk factors. RESULTS: Two strong risk factors were identified. (1) A combined score for physical and emotional neglect showed an odds ratio (OR) of 2.78 (p < .002) to the frequency of headache in adulthood as a main effect. (2) Father having had chronic pain showed an OR of 4.36 (p < .001) with headache in adulthood for women, but not for men (OR = 0.86, p < .556). The majority of the examined childhood adversities were not associated with adult headache, neither when tested individually nor as a sum score. CONCLUSION: This study confirms results from previous ones that childhood adversities may play a role in the development of adult headache, but it is a rather minor one. Contrary to other studies, neglect turned out to be one of the strongest predictors.

Temperament traits, social support, and trauma symptoms among HIV/AIDS and chronic pain patients.

The main goal of our study was to investigate and compare the relationship between temperament traits postulated by the Regulative Theory of Temperament (RTT) and social support dimensions with the level of trauma symptoms, as appear in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), in an HIV/AIDS patient sample [HIV+ (n=182) and AIDS (n=128)] and in patients suffering from chronic pain (rheumatoid arthritis; n=150). The level of trauma symptoms was assessed with the PTSD Factorial Version Inventory (PTSD-F), temperament was measured with the Formal Characteristics of Behaviour-Temperament Inventory (FCB-TI), and social support was tested with the Berlin Social Support Scales (BSSS). Significant predictors of trauma symptoms among participants were temperament traits (emotional reactivity, perseveration, and sensory sensitivity), and social support dimensions (perceived support, need for support, support seeking, and actually received support). We also noticed significant differences between the levels of trauma symptoms, temperament, and social support between HIV/AIDS and chronic pain patients. The importance of trauma symptoms, as well as temperament traits and social support, should be taken into account in planning the forms of psychological support that should accompany pharmacotherapy for HIV/AIDS and chronic pain patients.

El objetivo fue investigar la relación entre rasgos de temperamento postulados por la Regulative Theory of Temperament (RTT) y dimensiones de apoyo social con el nivel de síntomas de trauma, como aparecen en el trastorno de estrés postraumático (TEPT), en pacientes VIH+ (n = 182) y SIDA (n = 128)] y en pacientes que sufren dolor crónico (artritis reumatoide; n = 150). El nivel de los síntomas de trauma se evaluó con el Inventario TEPT-F, el temperamento se midió con Inventario FCB-TI y el apoyo social con las Escalas BSSS. Los predictores significativos de síntomas de trauma fueron los rasgos de temperamento (reactividad emocional, perseverancia y sensibilidad sensorial) y las dimensiones de apoyo social (apoyo percibido, necesidad de apoyo, búsqueda de apoyo y apoyo real recibido). También destacan las diferencias significativas entre los niveles de síntomas de trauma, el temperamento y el apoyo social entre el grupo VIH/SIDA y pacientes con dolor crónico. La importancia de los síntomas de trauma, así como los rasgos de temperamento y el apoyo social, se deben tomar en cuenta en la planificación de las formas de apoyo psicológico que deben acompañar a la farmacoterapia para el VIH/SIDA y pacientes con dolor crónico.

Sex differences in trauma symptoms, body image and intensity of pain in a Polish sample of patients suffering from chronic pain.

The main goal of the current study was to investigate sex differences in the relationship between the level of trauma symptoms appearing in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and intensity of pain in a sample of 300 Polish patients suffering from chronic pain, specifically rheumatoid arthritis and lower back pain. We also focused on participants' body image with body esteem as a mediator. To assess the intensity of pain among participants, we used the Numerical Rating Scale. The level of trauma symptoms was assessed with the PTSD Factorial Version Inventory. To measure body image among participants, we used the Body Esteem Scale. The results of our study suggest that trauma symptoms and body image dimensions were significant predictors of pain intensity among men suffering from chronic pain. Moreover, trauma symptoms and age were significant predictors of pain intensity among women suffering from chronic pain. Finally, we demonstrated that sex differentiates the reaction to chronic pain.

Pain intensity, temperament traits and social support as determinants of trauma symptoms in patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis and low-back pain.

AIM: The main goal of our study was to investigate the relationship between age, duration of pain, pain intensity, temperament traits as postulated by the Regulative Theory of Temperament (RTT), social support dimensions and the level of trauma symptoms, as appear in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in a sample of 300 patients suffering from chronic pain in two groups comprised of 150 patients with a clinical diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and 150 patients with a clinical diagnosis of low-back pain (LBP). They were analyzed together as a one group of 300 patients with chronic pain. METHOD: Temperament was measured with the Formal Characteristics of Behaviour - Temperament Inventory (FCB-TI). Social support was tested with the Berlin Social Support Scales (BSSS). The Numerical Rating Scale (NRS-11) was used to measure pain intensity. The level of trauma symptoms was assessed with the Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Factorial Version Inventory (PTSDF). RESULTS: The results of our study suggest that the intensity of pain, participants' age, Emotional Reactivity and Sensory Sensitivity as temperament traits, need for support, and actually received social support were related to the level of trauma symptoms. The sum of the squared semi-partial correlations showed that all six variables (age, pain intensity, Emotional Reactivity, Sensory Sensitivity, need for support and actually received support), account for 20% of the variance of general trauma symptoms level. CONCLUSION: The importance of temperament traits, social support and trauma symptoms should be taken into an account in psychotherapy accompanying pharmacotherapy for pain.

[Life without childhood--parentification of women with ACoA syndrome]. / Zycie bez dziecinstwa--parentyfikacja u kobiet z syndromem DDA.

AIM OF THE STUDY: The aim of the study conducted on 110 women (55 research group, 55 control group) was to answer the question: If and what kind of parentification (role reversal in the family) do women with Adult Children of Alcoholics (ACoA) syndrome experience in comparison to women who did not experience parent's alcoholism in childhood? METHOD: The following methods were applied in the study: a questionnaire prepared for screening children of alcoholics Children of Alcoholics Screening Test (CAST) by John Jones and Joanne Pilat, and a questionnaire to examine parentification Filial Responsibility Scale for Adult (FRS--A) created by Gregory Jurkovic and Alison Thirkield. RESULTS: The results have shown that in comparison to women who did not experience parental alcoholism in childhood, women with ACoA syndrome have more often experienced parentification and a sense of injustice in the past. Currently, these women also experience this feeling more frequently. CONCLUSIONS: The analysis of the results of this study could serve as valuable clues for the therapeutic work with women who are Adult Children of Alcoholics.

Back pain in Poland and Germany: a survey of prevalence and association with demographic characters.

BACKGROUND: Back pain is the most common form of pain and leads to high costs in all medical care systems. OBJECTIVE: The present study examines the prevalence of back pain and its associations with some basic demographics. METHODS: Two samples from Poland and Germany (about n = 500 each) were examined via Internet regarding back pain, gender, age, and body mass index (BMI). RESULTS: Back pain is more common in women than in men (risk ratio about 1.7), and a high BMI constitutes an additional risk factor. Age was not related to back pain prevalence. CONCLUSION: Congruent results in two countries based on the same measure of back pain lead to the assumption that much of the variety found in estimates of back pain are due to inconsistent assessment. For future research, a definition of common criteria on how to assess back pain would be an asset.

Temperament traits, social support, and burnout symptoms in a sample of therapists.

Burnout is conceptualized as a multidimensional syndrome consisting of physical and emotional exhaustion, a decreased sense of personal accomplishment, and a tendency to evaluate oneself and one's work negatively. This article examines the severity of burnout symptoms and their relationship to temperament traits and social support in a large sample (n = 200) of therapists, selected from professional organizations for Gestalt and cognitive-behavioral therapists in Poland. Participants filled out 3 questionnaires: the Oldenburg Burnout Inventory, the Formal Characteristics of Behavior-Temperament Inventory, and the Berlin Social Support Scale. The mean prevalence of particular burnout symptoms within the Oldenburg Burnout Inventory scales was calculated, the most frequent of which were "tired before work," "loss of commitment," "thinking about other jobs," and "lack of energy for work." The level of burnout symptoms among all therapists was related to temperament traits, briskness, and perseveration, as well as to perceived social support. Perseveration was associated with an increase in burnout symptoms, whereas perceived social support and briskness were related to a decrease in symptoms.

Childhood neglect: exploring a short questionnaire in Poland and Germany.

BACKGROUND: Estimates about childhood abuse and neglect in various countries of the world indicate that cases of neglect outnumber cases of abuse by far. However, childhood neglect itself constitutes a neglected domain in psychological and medical research; far more articles have been published about abuse. SAMPLING AND METHODS: A ten-item questionnaire assessing childhood neglect was administered to two surveys in Poland (n = 508) and Germany (n = 500) via the internet. RESULTS: Internal consistency was high in both countries, i.e. Cronbach's α was 0.82 in Poland and 0.88 in Germany. No distinction could be made between physical and emotional neglect. Values for neglect were similar for Polish and German men, but German women reported more neglect than Polish women. CONCLUSIONS: The Neglect Questionnaire is suitable for research in both Poland and Germany.

[Emotional childhood parentification and mental disorders in adulthood]. / Parentifizierung in der Kindheit und psychische Störungen im Erwachsenenalter.

BACKGROUND: Emotional parentification is considered harmful to a child's development. METHOD: A total of about 975 patients were examined at a Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and in the practices of general practitioners with regard to childhood adversities. RESULTS: Emotional parentification is a risk factor for 2 symptom groups: the patients with depression and the patients with somatoform pain. While the occurrence of depression is mainly predicted by maternal emotional parentification, paternal influences are also relevant in regard to the development of somatoform pain. CONCLUSION: Emotional parentification is an important risk factor for the occurrence of psychological and somatoform complaints in adulthood. This is especially apparent in combination with further risk factors, such as low reported values for love, sexual abuse, or being raised without a father.

Suicidal ideation, parent-child relationships, and adverse childhood experiences: a cross-validation study using a Graphical Markov Model.

Suicide is one of the leading causes of death in many Western countries. An exploration of factors associated with suicidality may help to understand the mechanisms that lead to suicide. Two samples in Germany (n = 500 and n = 477) were examined via Internet regarding suicidality, depression, alcohol abuse, adverse childhood experiences, and parent-child relationships. A Graphical Markov Model was constructed from the first subsample, testing for main, quadratic and interaction effects. All effects in the model were cross-validated using the second subsample. Depression was found to be a strong predictor of suicidality; alcohol abuse was not a predictor. Both maternal and paternal love also predicted suicidality; the former had an indirect effect via depression and the latter a direct effect. Early experiences with violence showed both a direct and indirect association with suicidality. In addition to depression being a predictor for suicidality, various pathways connect suicidality with early childhood experiences.