Childhood traumatization and dissociative experiences among maladaptive and normal daydreamers in a Hungarian sample.

The aim of the study was to identify some potential etiological segments of maladaptive daydreaming, especially the relationships between maladaptive daydreaming, childhood traumatization, and dissociative propensity. The questionnaire package included the Hungarian version of the Maladaptive Daydreaming Scale, the Traumatic Antecedents Questionnaire, as well as the Dissociation Questionnaire. 717 participants were recruited online, 106 of whom were problematic daydreamers. The results revealed that certain types of childhood trauma occurred significantly more frequently in the group of maladaptive daydreamers. Furthermore, maladaptive daydreamers possessed a significantly higher level of dissociative propensity compared to normal daydreamers. The estimated SEM models showed that dissociative experiences - more precisely Identity confusion and fragmentation and Lack of control - mediated the relationship between certain childhood traumatic experiences and maladaptive daydreaming. The results suggest that we should consider childhood traumatization and increased dissociative propensity as potentially significant factors in the etiology of maladaptive daydreaming.

Alexithymia and emotion regulation in patients with Raynaud's disease.

OBJECTIVES: Besides cold, emotional distress is the most important trigger of Raynaud's disease (RD) attacks, although little is known about the factors that contribute to the effectiveness of coping with emotional distress. The aim of the present study was to explore alexithymia and emotion regulation and their relationship with depression and quality of life among patients with RD. METHODS: Total of 110 patients (mean age 53.65; 96 women) with RD completed self-report measures. RESULTS: Alexithymia was associated with adverse emotional regulation skills, depression, and quality of life impairment. Detailed analysis revealed that there are significant differences between alexithymic and nonalexithymic patients in emotion regulation. CONCLUSION: Alexithymia is a significant factor affecting health status in RD since it plays a significant role in emotion regulation. A multidisciplinary approach is essential to improve treatment outcome by identifying patients with high alexithymia, and to improve their emotional regulation skills.

[Quality of life of patients with Raynaud's disease]. / Raynaud-szindrómás betegek életminoségének jellemzoi.

INTRODUCTION: Raynaud's disease is characterized by episodic vasospastic attacks and digital ischemia usually followed by pain, numbness and cold. Despite the severity of the symptoms, the investigation of the quality of life in this disease received less attention yet. AIM: The aim of the study was to examine how the disease affects the patients' quality of life. METHOD: Semi-structured interviews were made with 28 patients diagnosed with Raynaud's disease. RESULTS: Almost every domain of quality of life is negatively affected. The somatic symptoms cause significant suffering, they are accompanied by loss of functionality; frequent preventive actions are needed; furthermore they affect job performance, commuting and sleep quality. Emotional and cognitive burdens and negative changes in interpersonal relationships were found. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study show that the disease is present as significant hardship in every aspect of daily life. Because of the decrease in the quality of life and the psychological burdens caused by this chronic disease, not only the basic medical care, but psychological treatment is also indicated. Orv Hetil. 2018; 159(16): 636-641.

[Examination of attitudes towards transplantation among patients with chronic renal failure]. / A krónikus vesebetegek transzplantációval kapcsolatos attitudjeinek vizsgálata.

The patients' attitudes towards kidney transplantation are significantly affected by the acceptance of the treatment to have a better quality of life. Exploration of the cognitive-emotional relation in patients with chronic renal failure. Our study included 285 kidney patients. We investigated three groups of patients: predialysis, dialysis and transplantation patients. In the framework of a pre-examination we have created an attitudinal questionnaire (85 items) that can be used to describe the cognitive and emotional attitude of kidney patients towards their illness and to measure scales. Negative attitudes towards transplantation were reported in dialysis and predialysis patients. In contrast, patients who had already undergone surgery were particularly positive about kidney transplantation. Many patients refuse transplantation which correlates with attitudes towards illness and healing. Our results showed that the exploration of the patients' cognitive emotional relation along with the medical diagnosis would have a better adherence towards the kidney substitutional treatment which ensures a better quality of life. Orv Hetil. 2018; 159(46): 1898-1904.

[Medically Unexplained Symptoms].

The term "medically unexplained symptoms" (MUS) refers to the manifestation of multiple somatic complaints not explained satisfactorily by organic changes, where the origin of the symptoms is not psychoactive drug use or simulation. Even though the beginnings of the investigations of this topic are dated back to the mid-18th century, still no adequate conceptual consensus has been reached. In the treatment of MUS we face the challenges of the need for multidisciplinarity and the issue of not putting enough emphasis in the medical training on the evaluation of the possible psychological background of somatic symptoms and on the teaching of communication skills. This study outlines the main characteristics of MUS, the related epidemiological results and - together with the effect of MUS on the healthcare system and economy - highlights the attitudes of patients and medical doctors. We make practical and theoretical points, which may contribute to the efficient treatment of MUS.

Relational Intimacy Mediates Sexual Outcomes Associated With Impaired Sexual Function: Examination in a Clinical Sample.

BACKGROUND: Relational intimacy is hypothesized to underlie the association between female sexual functioning and various sexual outcomes, and married women and women with sexual dysfunction have been generally absent from prior studies investigating these associations, thus restricting generalizability. AIM: To investigate whether relational intimacy mediates sexual outcomes (sexual satisfaction, coital frequency, and sexual distress) in a sample of married women with and without impaired sexual functioning presenting in clinical settings. METHODS: Using a cross-sectional design, 64 heterosexual married women with (n = 44) and without (n = 20) impaired sexual functioning completed a battery of validated measurements assessing relational intimacy, sexual dysfunction, sexual frequency, satisfaction, and distress. Intimacy measurements were combined using latent factor scores before analysis. Bias-corrected mediation models of the indirect effect were used to test mediation effects. Moderated mediation models examined whether indirect effects were influenced by age and marital duration. OUTCOMES: Patients completed the Female Sexual Function Index, the Couple's Satisfaction Index, the Sexual Satisfaction Scale for Women, the Inclusion of the Other in the Self Scale, and the Miller Social Intimacy Test. RESULTS: Mediation models showed that impaired sexual functioning is associated with all sexual outcomes directly and indirectly through relational intimacy. Results were predominantly independent of age and marital duration. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Findings have important treatment implications for modifying interventions to focus on enhancing relational intimacy to improve the sexual functioning of women with impaired sexual functioning. STRENGTHS AND LIMITATIONS: The importance of the role relational intimacy plays in broad sexual outcomes of women with impaired sexual functioning is supported in clinically referred and married women. Latent factor scores to improve estimation of study constructs and the use of contemporary mediation analysis also are strengths. The cross-sectional design precludes any causal conclusions and it is unknown whether the results generalize to male partners, partners within other relationship structures, and non-heterosexual couples. CONCLUSION: Greater relational intimacy mitigates the adverse impact of impaired sexual functioning on sexual behavior and satisfaction in women. Witherow MP, Chandraiah S, Seals SR, et al. Relational Intimacy Mediates Sexual Outcomes Associated With Impaired Sexual Function: Examination in a Clinical Sample. J Sex Med 2017;14:843-851.

Relational Intimacy and Sexual Frequency: A Correlation or a Cause? A Clinical Study of Heterosexual Married Women.

Researchers and practitioners have noted the importance of using clinical samples in sex therapy research. This study investigated the relationship between perceived levels of marital intimacy, sexual frequency, and sexual functioning among heterosexual married women. A clinical sample of 67 women completed the Couples Satisfaction Index (CSI), the Miller Social Intimacy Test (MSI), the Sexual Satisfaction Scale for Women (SSS-W), the Inclusion of the Other in the Self Scale (IOS), and the Female Sexual Functioning Index (FSFI-6). Data analyses revealed that marital intimacy acted as a predictor in univariate relationships on sexual frequency and sexual functioning but did not act as a mediator on sexual frequency and sexual functioning. Overall, these findings may further the discussion in the treatment of relational intimacy, sexual desire discrepancy, and female sexual dysfunction.

[Knowledge and perception of medical students about infertility]. / Meddoséggel kapcsolatos vélekedések orvostanhallgatók körében.

INTRODUCTION: The effectiveness of fertility treatments is influenced by the health care professionals' knowledge regarding infertility as well as their empathy. AIM: The aim of the study was to examine infertility-related knowledge and perceptions of emotional and mind/body consequences of infertility among medical students. METHODS: A questionnaire design was used. Data were obtained from 112 medical university students (76 women, 36 men) who participated involuntary and compensation-free. RESULTS: Medical students' knowledge concerning infertility proved to be incomplete and ambiguous. Subjects underestimated the presence of mind/body and emotional symptoms caused by infertility in men particularly, and overestimated some emotional concerns in women, e.g. sadness. CONCLUSIONS: Medical students have gaps in their subject-specific knowledge, so that they need more (even practical) information regarding infertility during their studies. Students' conceptions about emotional and physical consequences of infertility are distorted by stereotypes. The risk of these biases is that it could make it difficult to perceive patients in a non-distorted way, especially infertile male patients.

[Impact of depressive symptomatology in Hungarian infertile couples]. / A depressziós tünetegyüttes hatásai Magyar meddo pároknál.

INTRODUCTION: Involuntary childnessness is a paranormative crisis for couples who react with depressive and anxious symptoms to infertility. Depressive symptoms correlate with infertility-related distress and fertility specific quality of life. At the same time, depression effects not only the personal, but also the partner's psychological adjustment. In our study, we investigate the incidence rate of depressive symptomatology and correlations between severity of depression and infertility-related distress in Hungarian couples. METHODS: We recruited 126 couples attending the first infertility consultation who filled in Fertility Problem Inventory (FPI), shortened version of Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and answered sociodemographic questions. In statistical analyses, logistic regression analysis and multivariate analysis of variance were performed. RESULTS: Mild depressive symptoms were more frequent in the infertile sample compared to general population (OR=0.43, 95% CI: 0.20-0.92, p<0.05). In women, there were more mild (OR: 1.97, 95% CI 1.07-3.60, p<0.05) and severe depressive symptoms (OR: 2.46, 95% CI 1.21-5.00, p<0.05), than in men. In women, only severe depression made a difference in fertility specific distress; in men both mild and severe depressive symptoms correlated with more concerns (all ps<0.001). Being depressed correlated with partner's depression (all ps<0.05). If the partner had more severe depressive symptoms, it increased one's infertility-related relational concerns (all ps<0.01). Men reported more sexual concerns when female partner had mild level of depression (F(2)=3.29, p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Our results provide important information for reproductive medical staff. Our findings emphasize that women and men could have depressive symptoms already at the beginning of assisted reproductive treatments and that depression effects on infertility-related distress on personal and partner levels.

[Characteristics of infertility-specific quality of life in Hungarian couples]. / A meddoséggel összefüggo életminoség jellemzoi magyar pároknál.

INTRODUCTION: Experiencing involuntary childlessness has a great impact on couples' quality of life. AIM: The aim of the authors was to examine the correlations among infertility-specific quality of life and depression on the level of individuals and couples. METHOD: 126 couples in five fertility centers in Hungary filled out the FertiQoL and Beck Depression Inventory and answered some sociodemographic questions. RESULTS: In gender comparison, women reported about more depressive symptoms and poorer quality of life than men. Both in men and women, the higher depression level correlated with lower level of quality of life. Moreover, the presence of more depressive symptoms in women was related to men's poorer quality of life. CONCLUSIONS: The results show that differences may exist in affective responses to infertility between women and men and that female affective problems take effects on the level of the couple relationship. These findings may be useful in psychosocial support of the couples facing infertility, especially in couple counselling or couple therapy.

[Body image and quality of life in women with polycystic ovary syndrome]. / A testkép és életminoség vizsgálata polycystás ovarium szindrómában.

INTRODUCTION: Polycystic ovary syndrome is the most common endocrine disease in women. Psychic consequences are significant; patients have difficulties to be pregnant and the disease disturbs the quality of life. Due to complications associated with polycystic ovary syndrome, studies on psychological state and disease perception of patients appear to be important. AIM: The aim of the authors was to assess how the disease influences quality of life and changes in body image. METHOD: The authors used the Illness Intrusiveness Ratings Scale, Health-Related-Quality-of-Life Questionnaire for Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome and their own body image questionnaire. 121 women took part in the study. RESULTS: There was a negative correlation between illness intrusiveness and quality of life (r = -0.353) and a positive correlation between body image and quality of life (r = 0.614). A significant difference was observed in body satisfaction between patients who had visible body changes and those who had metabolic disturbances (p<0.05). Overweight patients who lost weight with lifestyle changes had significantly better quality of life (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: These results appear to be convincing in that in addition to gynecological care, psychotherapy could be offered to patients with polycystic ovary syndrome.

[Compairing investigation of the stereotypes concerning doctors and psychotherapists]. / Pszichoterapeutákra és orvosokra vonatkozó sztereotípiák osszehasonlító vizsgálata.

In this study the stereotypes about psychotherapists and medical doctors were examined. 172 personality traits were selected and dimensions were created, that was grouped by three professions (engineers, physicians, psychotherapists). The research questionnaire contained 45 contrary personality dimensions, which was rated to the previous three professions. After the screening criteria, 101 persons were included in the statistical analysis. Analyses of the variance filtered out 20 of the 45 dimensions in which the professions did not differ and 25 profession-specific dimensions remained in the study. In these dimension, the doctors and the psychotherapists (with the exception of introversion-extroversion) were significantly different. Dimensional factor analysis was carried out by the dimensions of doctors and psychotherapists and it listed the dimensions to 3-3 factors. The first profile of the medical doctor released a picture of a doctor who has magical expectations of the patients, the second profile is distant, technocratic doctors, and the third is a pleasant human characteristics of medical images. The first factor of the psychotherapist is the humanistic therapist, the second profile is the cold, analytic therapist's image and the third is the image of a professional scientist. 2-2 factors are correlated, and the third ones in the trust / distrust towards the helpers are also connected. A hypothesis testing was carried out that people with own psychotherapy experiences and without own psychotherapeutic experience significantly differed: people with own psychotherapy experiences evaluated the psychotherapists significantly more imaginative, but in the other dimension there were no difference. Finally, we compared the assessments of the psychotherapists by men and women: women found them significantly more respectful, more scientific and more accurate workers, than the men did.

Spirituality is associated with immune parameters and disease activity in primary Sjögren's syndrome: a cross-sectional study.

The role of spirituality in health and disease is a complex and emerging area of research. Incorporating spirituality into the bio-psycho-social model of health and disease leading to the bio-psycho-social-spiritual model provides a more comprehensive framework. In this context, chronic disorders like primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) are of interest due to their intricate interactions between biological, psychological, and spiritual factors. This study explored the relationship between spirituality, immune parameters, and disease activity in pSS patients. Data from 108 patients were analyzed, including self-assessed spirituality (answering to direct questions and completing the Spiritual Transcendence Scale), immunological parameters and disease activity scores. The findings revealed several associations. Individuals with spiritual attitudes or engaged in regular prayer/meditation showed lower serum levels of autoantibodies specific to pSS and lower disease activity scores. Spiritual engagement was also linked to decreased perceived skin and tracheal dryness, suggesting potential benefits for physical symptoms. These findings suggest that spirituality may play a significant role in modulating immune responses and disease activity in pSS patients. The study underscores the importance of considering spirituality as an integral part of the holistic approach to health and disease, further expanding the understanding of the interconnectedness of biological, psychological, and spiritual dimensions.

Effects of gender roles, child wish motives, subjective well-being, and marital adjustment on infertility-related stress: a preliminary study with a Hungarian sample of involuntary childless men and women.

PURPOSE: The aim of the study is to investigate the infertility-related stress in a Hungarian infertile population and examine the effects of gender roles, child wish motives, subjective well-being, and marital relationship on the experience of infertility according to our self-constructed conceptual framework. METHODS: Validated self-report questionnaires measuring the factors of the conceptual framework were taken in the study carried out in a sample of 53 people attending the fertility unit of a Hungarian clinic. RESULTS: Infertility-related global stress, infertility-related social concerns, and general health problems have more intensive effect on women than on men (all p < 0.05). Women from the infertile group scored higher their femininity (p < 0.001) and lower their general health (p < 0.05) than the reference population. Infertile men believe deeper in meaning of life than women (p < 0.05) or reference population (p < 0.01). Femininity (ß = 0.460, p < 0.05), traditional gender role concepts (ß = -0.248, p < 0.05), general health (ß = -0.474, p < 0.05), and marital relationship (ß = -0.251, p < 0.05) play the strongest role to predict stress caused by infertility. CONCLUSIONS: The current study emphasizes the importance of interrelations of gender role attitudes, gender role identification, general health, and satisfaction in couple relationship with infertility-related stress. In further investigations, both social and personal aspects and their effect on experiencing infertility need to be measured in infertile people, particularly in different cultural settings.

[Normative data on clinical neuropsychological tests in Hungary I.] / Klinikai neuropszichológiai tesztek magyarországi normatív adatai I.

INTRODUCTION: Executive functions are crucial cognitive processes which enable us to manage our daily life, to be able to sustain goal-oriented behavior, to adapt to environmental changes and to regulate and coordinate the behavior during task situations. There are several means of evaluating executive functioning, but normative data for the Hungarian population were unavailable for detailed assessment. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of gender, age, and education on the performance of three neurocognitive tests measuring executive functions, and to provide normative data in the Hungarian population. METHOD: Victoria Stroop Test, Five-Point Test and Trail Making Test were administered to 316 individuals (175 female, 141 male). The sample was representative for Hungarian adults regarding age, gender and education. RESULTS: Performance scores decreased with increasing age, while scores increased by higher educational level. Performance was not influenced by gender. Significant correlations were observed between the measures. CONCLUSION: The provision of normative data should enhance the potential of the applied measures for clinical and research applications. These data provide a normative comparison for the assessment of executive functions and cognitive decline. Orv Hetil. 2023; 164(15): 577-585.

[Normative data on clinical neuropsychological tests in Hungary II.] / Klinikai neuropszichológiai tesztek magyarországi normatív adatai II.

INTRODUCTION: One basis of clinical neuropsychology is the application of objective, standardized measurements. Several internationally widespread measurements of memory and learning do not have normative data of the Hungarian population, hence it is crucial to provide a basis for future reference. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to provide normative data about neuropsychological instruments measuring executive functions, memory and verbal learning skills in relation to demographic factors. METHOD: Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT), Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and Prospective and Retrospective Memory Questionnaire (PRMQ) were administered to an adult, Hungarian representative sample (age, sex, education). RESULTS: Higher educated participants performed better on PRMQ, MoCA and RAVLT. Participants with primary education were identified as a risk group for poor verbal learning skills, executive functions and they committed more memory errors. Age had no significant effect on the results of PRMQ, while on MoCA and RAVLT a significant decline in performance was observed with the passage of lifetime. Females performed better in immediate and delayed recall on RAVLT. CONCLUSION: Application of the presented neuropsychological tests is recommended in clinical practice and scientific research as well. The presented normative data could be a valuable reference point for future studies and practical application, furthermore a basis for early identification of neurocognitive deficits. Orv Hetil. 2023; 164(16) 618-629.

[Cancer as psychological trauma and its effects on positive illusions]. / A daganatos betegség okozta trauma és annak pozitiv illuziókra gyakorolt hatása.

Cancer as a psychological trauma can result in development of psychopathological disorders (e.g. depression), and also positive changes experienced in numerous domains of life (e.g. greater appreciation of life). Cognitivists tried to explain the potential traumatic impact of the adversities with the phenomenon that most of the people's world concepts are full of positive illusions and they mostly lack the idea that tragedies can occur also with them. However, this naive worldview can be altered by a trauma in a negative way. Moreover, according to the theory of cognitive adaptation certain positive illusions (perception of personal control, self-enhancement, unrealistic optimism, search for meaning) become even more activated by traumatic life events helping the adjustment to the adversity. More recently, researches have succeeded in proving the role of positive illusions in maintaining mental and physical health. The aim of the present study is to review the potential psychological consequences of cancer as a trauma and to display the schema-changes of trauma victims through the phenomenon of positive illusions.

Central Nervous System Involvement in Primary Sjögren's Syndrome: Narrative Review of MRI Findings.

Central nervous system (CNS) involvement is one of the numerous extraglandular manifestations of primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS). Moreover, neurological complaints precede the sicca symptoms in 25-60% of the cases. We review the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) lesions typical for pSS, involving the conventional examination, volumetric and morphometric studies, diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and resting-state fMRI. The most common radiological lesions in pSS are white matter hyperintensities (WMH), scattered alterations hyperlucent on T2 and FLAIR sequences, typically located periventricularly and subcortically. Cortical atrophy and ventricular dilatation can also occur in pSS. Whilst these conditions are thought to be more common in pSS than healthy controls, DTI and resting-state fMRI alterations demonstrate evident microstructural changes in pSS. As pSS is often accompanied by cognitive symptoms, these MRI alterations are expectedly related to them. This relationship is not clearly delineated in conventional MRI studies, but DTI and resting-state fMRI examinations show more convincing correlations. In conclusion, the CNS manifestations of pSS do not follow a certain pattern. As the link between the MRI lesions and clinical manifestations is not well established, more studies involving larger populations should be performed to elucidate the correlations.

[The emotions of oncologists]. / Az onkológusok érzelmei.

Emotions are parts of organizational reality to an ever increasing extent. Importantly, they are not just tools in the hand of healthcare workers to achieve better physician / healthcare professional-to-patient interactions but intrinsic processes and characteristics with psychic, cognitive and somatic actions. For a thorough investigation of the issue, a PANAS-X questionnaire was used to examine the emotions of 187 physicians and other healthcare professionals, all engaged in oncology, in 2009. The research succeeded in exploring the overall emotional state oncology professionals had assumed in relation with their job as well as enabled the authors of this study to draw the respondents' emotional map and assess their fundamental emotional attitudes. Furthermore, the authors managed to identify groups of respondents that had felt more intense positive, and/or less intense negative emotions that are socially accepted than others. They included those of senior experienced oncologists, males, individuals with families, childless individuals, ward workers, and skilled professionals. According to the findings, the range of emotions an oncologist experiences / feels intently during his everyday work is dependent upon a great number of factors.

[Determination of psychological types of completed suicides based on the content analysis of suicide notes]. / Szuicid tipusok meghatározása befejezett öngyilkosságot elkövetok búcsúleveleinek tartalomelemzése alapján.

INTRODUCTION: Coherently classifying the numerous information gathered by suicide research may contribute to defining the major points of this research topic, furthermore the gathered data becomes more easy to handle. Similarly, the suicide classes help a deeper understanding. METHOD: Examinees committed fatal suicide were investigated using content analysis. The obtained emotional and cognitive contents were classified by cluster algorithms. RESULTS: Having analysed suicide notes of patients completed suicide we could distinguish 5 different suicidal motives: dependent; remorse-lead - perfectionist; physically suffering - seeking for greater autonomy; aggressive-narcissistic; masochist- revenge seeking. CONCLUSION: The types reveal which personality traits and motives are the most definitive risk factors of committed suicide. Our results are affirmed by other typologies and research results.