The association between neurocognitive functioning and clinical features of borderline personality disorder

Objective: To investigate the relationship between neurocognitive profiles and clinical manifestations of borderline personality disorder (BPD). Methods: Forty-five patients diagnosed with BPD and 35 healthy volunteers were included in the study. The BPD group was evaluated with the Borderline Personality Inventory for dissociative, impulsivity and suicidal dimensions. The Verbal Memory Processes Test and the Cambridge Neurophysiological Assessment Battery were administered to both the BPD and healthy control groups. Results: BPD patients differed from controls in sustained attention, facial emotion recognition, and deteriorated verbal memory function. A model consisting of the Dissociative Experiences Scale - Taxon (DES-T), motor impulsivity and Scale for Suicidal Behavior scores explained 52% of the variance in Borderline Personality Inventory scores. It was detected that motor impulsivity, decision-making and recognizing sadness may significantly predict DES-T scores, and response inhibition and facial emotion recognition scores may significantly predict impulsivity. Conclusion: Our findings demonstrate that the disassociation, impulsivity, and suicidality dimensions are sufficient to represent the clinical manifestations of BPD, that they are related to neurocognitive differences, and that they interact with clinical features.

Perfeccionismo y alta capacidad intelectual / Perfectionism and high intellectual capacity

El perfeccionismo es un constructo psicológico relacionado con la excelencia y una manifestaciónóptima de alta capacidad intelectual (ACI). El objetivo principal de este trabajo fue comparar las tipologías y dimensiones de perfeccionismo entre jóvenes de ACI y un grupo de comparación apareado por género y edad. Se seleccionaron 137 participantes con diagnóstico de ACI y un grupo de 137 de comparación apareado por género y edad. La media de edad fue de 11.77 años (DT = 1.99). Como herramientas se utilizaron la Almost Perfect Scale-Revised (APS-R) y la Escala de Perfeccionismo Positivo y Negativo 12 (PNPS-12). El análisis de conglomerados para la muestra total, identificó la presencia de tres agrupaciones de participantes (No perfeccionista, Perfeccionista no saludable/negativo, y Perfeccionista saludable/positivo). El grupo de ACI presentó una mayor prevalencia de perfeccionistas de tipo saludables y una menor prevalencia de perfeccionistas de tipo no saludable, en comparación con el grupo de alumnos sin diagnóstico de ACI. Cuando se compararon las puntuaciones medias de APS-R y PNPS-12 entre los grupos de ACI y grupo de comparación, se encontraron diferencias estadísticamente significativas en altos estándares, orden, discrepancia, perfeccionismo positivo y perfeccionismo negativo. En todos los casos el grupo de comparación presentó puntaciones medias mayores que el grupo de ACI. Estos resultados tienen implicaciones claras en la comprensión de la expresión fenotípica del perfeccionismo relacionado con la excelencia y la manifestación óptima del alto potencial intelectual.

Perfectionism is a psychological construct related o excellence and an optimal manifestation of high intellectual ability (HIA). The main goal of the present work was to compare types and dimensions of perfectionism in students with HIA and an age-gender matched comparison group. We selected 137 participants with diagnosis of HIA and a comparison group of 137 matched by gender and age. The mean age was 11.77 years (SD = 1.99). The Almost Perfect Scale-Revised (APS-R) and the Positive and Negative Perfectionism Scale-12 (PNPS-12) were used. The cluster analysis for the total sample identified 3 groups of participants (non-perfectionist, unhealthy perfectionist/negative, and healthy perfectionist/positive). The HIA group presented a higher prevalence of healthy perfectionists and a lower prevalence of unhealthy perfectionists, in comparison with the group of students without a diagnosis of HIA. When comparing the average scores of APS-R and PNPS-12 between the ACI and the comparison group, statistically significant differences were found in high standards, order, discrepancy, positive and negative perfectionism. In all cases, the comparison group yielded higher mean scores than the HIA group. These results have clear implications in the understanding of the phenotypic expression of perfectionism related to excellence and optimal manifestation of the high intellectual potential.

Potential Relationship between Season of Birth and Clinical Characteristics in Major Depressive Disorder in Koreans: Results from the CRESCEND Study

We aimed to examine the potential relationship between season of birth (SOB) and clinical characteristics in Korean patients with unipolar non-psychotic major depressive disorder (MDD). Using data from the Clinical Research Center for Depression (CRESCEND) study in South Korea, 891 MDD patients were divided into two groups, those born in spring/summer (n=457) and those born in autumn/winter (n=434). Measurement tools comprising the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale, Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale, Scale for Suicidal Ideation, Clinical Global Impression of severity, Social and Occupation Functional Assessment Scale, WHO Quality of Life assessment instrument-abbreviated version, Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test, and Temperament and Character Inventory were used to evaluate depression, anxiety, overall symptoms, suicidal ideation, global severity, social function, quality of life, drinking, and temperament and character, respectively. Using independent t-tests for continuous variables and χ2 tests for discrete variables, the clinical characteristics of the two groups were compared. MDD patients born in spring/summer were on average younger at onset of first depressive episode (t=2.084, p=0.038), had greater loss of concentration (χ2=4.589, p=0.032), and were more self-directed (t=2.256, p=0.025) than those born in autumn/winter. Clinically, there was a trend for the MDD patients born in spring/summer to display the contradictory characteristics of more severe clinical course and less illness burden; this may have been partly due to a paradoxical effect of the 5-HT system.

A U-shaped Association between Body Mass Index and Psychological Distress on the Multiphasic Personality Inventory: Retrospective Cross-sectional Analysis of 19-year-old Men in Korea

Objective personality tests, such as the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI), might be more sensitive to reflect subclinical personality and be more state-dependent in an individual's lifetime, so they are good scales to predict the psychological distress regarding certain states. The aim of this study was to identify the specific pattern between body mass index (BMI) and psychological distress using the objective personality test. For this study, we investigated BMI and the Korean Military Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MPI). A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted with 19-yr-old examinees who were admitted to the Military Manpower Administration in Korea from February 2007 to January 2010. Of 1,088,107 examinees, we enrolled 771,408 subjects who were psychologically apparent healthy possible-military-service groups. Afterwards, we reviewed and analyzed directly measured BMI and MPI results. In terms of the validity scales, the faking-good subscale showed an inverted U-shaped association, and faking-bad and infrequency subscales showed a U-shaped association with BMI groups. In terms of the neurosis scales, all clinical subscales (anxiety, depression, somatization, and personality disorder) also showed a U-shaped association with BMI groups. For the psychopath scales, the schizophrenia subscale showed a U-shaped association, and the paranoia subscale showed a near-positive correlation with BMI. In conclusion, a specific U-shaped pattern was observed between BMI and the MPI in 19-yr-old men in Korea. Underweight and obesity are related to psychological distress, so supportive advice and education are needed to them.

Relations between Eastern Four Pillars Theory and Western Measures of Personality Traits

PURPOSE: The present study investigated the validity of personality classification using four pillars theory, a tradition in China and northeastern Asia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Four pillars analyses were performed for 148 adults on the basis of their birth year, month, day, and hour. Participants completed two personality tests, the Korean version of Temperament and Character Inventory-Revised-Short Version (TCI) and the Korean Inventory of Interpersonal Problems; scores were correlated with four pillars classification elements. Mean difference tests (e.g., t-test, ANOVA) were compared with groups classified by four pillars index. RESULTS: There were no significant correlations between personality scale scores and total yin/yang number (i.e., the 8 heavenly or earthly stems), and no significant between-groups results for classifications by yin/yang day stem and the five elements. There were significant but weak (r=0.18-0.29) correlations between the five elements and personality scale scores. For the six gods and personality scales, there were significant but weak (r=0.18-0.25) correlations. Features predicted by four pillars theory were most consistent when participants were grouped according to the yin/yang of the day stem and dominance of yin/yang numbers in the eight heavenly or earthly stems. CONCLUSION: Although the major criteria of four pillars theory were not independently correlated with personality scale scores, correlations emerged when participants were grouped according to the composite yin/yang variable. Our results suggest the utility of four pillars theory (beyond fortune telling or astrology) for classifying personality traits and making behavioral predictions.

Translation and cross-cultural adaptation of the Temperament & Personality Questionnaire into Brazilian portuguese / Tradução e adaptação cultural para o português brasileiro do Temperament and Personality Questionnaire

Introduction: The Temperament & Personality Questionnaire (T&P) is a self-report instrument designed to evaluate personality styles overrepresented in patients with depression. This report briefly describes the translation and adaptation of the T&P into Brazilian Portuguese. Methods: The procedures, which included 10 steps, followed guidelines for the adaptation of self-report instruments defined by the International Society For Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research (ISPOR) Task Force for Translation and Cultural Adaptation. Results: The author of the original T&P questionnaire authorized and participated in the translation conducted by the authors and independent native speakers. Evaluation of the translated questionnaire indicated that only minor adjustments were required in the Portuguese version. Conclusions: The Brazilian version of T&P, translated and adapted following a rigid standardized process, is available for use free of charge and may be especially useful in pursuing links between personality styles and depressive conditions (AU)

Introdução: O Temperament & Personality Questionnaire (T&P) é um instrumento de autorrelato criado para avaliar quais estilos de personalidade têm maior representação em pacientes com depressão. Este trabalho descreve brevemente o processo de tradução e adaptação do T&P para o português brasileiro. Métodos: A tradução e a adaptação cultural se desenvolveram em 10 passos e seguiram as diretrizes para adaptação de instrumentos de autorrelato definidas por força-tarefa do ISPOR (International Society For Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research). Resultados: O autor do questionário T&P original autorizou e participou da tradução feita pelos autores e por falantes nativos independentes. A avaliação do questionário traduzido mostrou que apenas pequenos ajustes foram necessários na versão em português. Conclusões: A versão brasileira do questionário T&P, traduzido e adaptado seguindo um rígido processo padronizado, está disponível gratuitamente e pode ser de grande utilidade na pesquisa sobre as relações entre estilos de personalidade e quadros depressivos (AU)

Psychometric properties of the revised conscientiousness dimension of Inventário Dimensional Clínico da Personalidade (IDCP) / Propriedades psicométricas da versão revisada da dimensão conscienciosidade do Inventário Dimensional Clínico da Personalidade (IDCP)

This study investigated the psychometric properties of the revised scale of conscientiousness of a clinical personality inventory (Inventário Dimensional Clínico da Personalidade, IDCP). One hundred and twenty participants (68 women; 56.7%) aged 18 to 53 years (mean = 22.58, standard deviation = 6.19) were recruited by convenience and answered the IDCP and the NEO Personality Inventory - Revised. The analysis of internal structure, association with external variables and reliability of the dimension under review confirmed its validity. The psychometric characteristics of the revised dimension seem to be more adequate than those of the original version and more focused on pathological functioning, which was expected and desirable (AU)

O presente estudo teve como objetivo investigar as propriedades psicométricas da versão revisada da dimensão conscienciosidade do Inventário Dimensional Clínico da Personalidade (IDCP). Para tanto, participaram da pesquisa 120 sujeitos, recrutados por conveniência, com idade variando entre 18 e 53 anos (média = 22,58; desvio padrão = 6,19), sendo 68 mulheres (56,7%). Todos os sujeitos responderam o IDCP e o Inventário de Personalidade NEO-PI Revisado. Os dados encontrados no estudo foram favoráveis quanto às evidências de validade com base na estrutura interna e na relação com variáveis externas, bem como em relação à fidedignidade da dimensão revisada do instrumento. A partir disso, aponta-se que a dimensão revisada é mais adequada do ponto de vista psicométrico quando comparada com a versão original da mesma e, além disso, apresenta conteúdos mais voltados para o funcionamento patológico, o que era esperado e desejável (AU)

Comparación de las propiedades psicométricas del MMPI y el MMPI-2 en una muestra de universitarios bogotanos / Comparison of the MMPI and MMPI-2 psychometric properties in a group of undergraduate students of Bogotá

El estudio compara las propiedades psicométricas del MMPI Y el MMPI-II en un grupo de estudiantes universitarios de Bogotá. El MMPI se aplicó a 2483 aspirantes y estudiantes de un programa académico superior; la versión MMPI-II fue aplicada a 95 estudiantes regulares del programa. Análisis factoriales exploratorios arrojan estructuras de tres factores, tanto para el MMPI como para el MMPI-II; la consistencia interna(alfa de Cronbach)es elevada para la mayoría de las escalas de las dos versiones; las principales correlaciones (Pearson) entre escalas se dan entre las análogas de las dos versiones de prueba; estos hallazgos son coherentes con resultados reportados en otros estudios en Colombia. En general, el MMPI-II muestra mejores niveles de confiabilidad y validez de constructo.

This study examines and compares the psychometric properties of the MMPI and MMPI-2 tests in a group of undergraduate students from Bogota. The MMPI test, in a computerized format, was applied to 2483 regular students and applicants in an undergraduate program; MMPI-2, in a printed format, was applied to 95 regular students. The exploratory factor analysis showed three-factor structures for both MMPI and MMPI-2 versions. The internal consistency (Cronbach’s Alpha) was high in several clinical and control MMPI and MMPI-2 scales; stronger Pearson’s correlations were generally found between analogous MMPI-MMPI-2 scales. These findings replicate previous results in other Colombian samples. Generally, MMPI-2 shows better reliability and construct validity than MMPI version.

Propiedades psicométricas del Inventario de Depresión de Beck-II en adolescentes chilenos / Psychometric properties of Beck's Depression Inventory II

En la presente investigación se estudian las propiedades psicométricas de la más reciente versión del Inventario de Depresión de Beck (BDI-II, Beck, Steer & Brown, 1996) en adolescentes chilenos. Una muestra de adolescentes consultantes a servicios de salud mental fue comparada con dos tipos de muestras controles. El inventario mostró un alto grado de consistencia interna (alfa=0,91) y apropiada correlación test-retest (t=0,66), así como capacidad para identificar adolescentes consultantes en servicios de salud mental. El BDI-II y la escala de afecto depresivo del MACI mostró una correlación de 7=0,82. Tanto una estructura unifactorial como bifactorial mostraron una adecuada bondad de ajuste en el análisis factorial confirmatorio. Los resultados indican que el BDI-II es un instrumento adecuado para evaluar sintomatología depresiva en adolescentes chilenos.

The psychometric properties of the most recent version of Beck's Depression Inventory (BDI-II, Beck, Steer & Brown, 1996) in Chilean adolescents is evaluated in the current research. A sample of adolescents from the mental health services was compared with two kind of control samples. The inventory showed high internal reliability (alpha=0,91) and proper test-retest correlation (r=0,66), as well as the ability to identify adolescents consulting in mental health services. The BDI-II and the MACI depression affection scale show a correlation of r=0,82. Both unifactorial and bifactorial structure show a suitable goodness-of-fit in the confirmatory factor analysis. The results indicate that BDI-II is an adequate instrument to assess depressive symptoms in Chilean adolescents.

Análisis preliminar y datos normativos del Cuestionario de Ansiedad Estado-Rasgo en adolescentes y adultos de la ciudad de Santiago de Chile / Preliminary analysis and normative Data of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) in adolescent and adults of Santiago, Chile

El estudio reporta los análisis preliminares y datos normativos, para una muestra de población general del Cuestionario de Ansiedad Estado Rasgo (Spielberger, Gorsuch & Lushene, 1970). Los datos fueron obtenidos de una muestra total de 1488 personas entre 13 y 60 años de edad. La consistencia interna obtenida fue .92, para STAI-S y .87 para STAI-R. Del análisis factorial confirmatorio se obtienen dos factores para cada escala. Finalmente, se realizan análisis de comparación de medias para la obtención de datos normativos, para la muestra total diferenciada por sexo y para la muestra de adolescentes y adultos.

The present study reports the preliminary analyses and normative data of the State-Trate anxiety inventory (Spielberger, Gorusch & Lushene, 1970), for a Chilean, general population sample. Data were obtained from a total sample of 1488 people, between 13 and 60 years old. A high internal consistency for STAI-S .92 and for STAI-T .87 is reported. Two factors were obtained from the confirmatory factorial analysis. Finally, analyses of the means were carried out, obtaining normative data for the total sample, differentiated by sex, and for the adolescents and adults sample.

Errores estándar de medida condicionales para las normas metropolitanas de la adaptación chilena del EPQ-R: aplicación de un modelo binomial a un test de personalidad / Conditional standards of the error of measurement for the chilean norms of the EPQ-R: applying a binomial model to a personality test

El Error Estándar de Medida (EEM) es un índice de la precisión de la puntuación obtenida por una persona en un test. El EEM, sin embargo, no es constante a través de todo el rango de puntuaciones. Estudios teóricos y empíricos indican que el EEM es más pequeño para las puntuaciones cercanas al extremo de la escala y mayor alrededor del centro de la escala. Un valor de EEM que aplica a un nivel de puntuación específica es denominado Error Estándar de Medida Condicional (EEM ). Este trabajo utiliza un Modelo Beta Binomial (Lord, 1964, 1965) para estimar los EEMCOND de las normas chilenas del EPQ-R (N=1666), desarrolladas por Kaplan y Liberman (1992). Se concluye que los EEMCOND proveen información psicométrica más útil sobre las escalas del EPQ-R que el EEM tradicional. Adicionalmente, los resultados muestran la validez del Modelo Beta Binomial como enfoque psicométrico para analizar un test de personalidad. Se entregan recomendaciones prácticas para el uso de los EEMCOND.

Validation Study of Tripartite Model of Anxiety and Depression in Children and Adolescents: Clinical Sample in Korea

Although the currently available literature has provided some empirical support for a tripartite model of child and adolescent anxiety and depression, one of the limitations of these studies was that they have been conducted in America, primarily with Caucasians. In order to make this model more applicable to diverse ethnic and cultural groups, this study used a tripartite model for child and adolescent anxiety and depression in Korea, using confirmatory factor analysis with logically selected items from the Revised Children's Manifest Anxiety Scale (RCMAS), as well as the Children's Depression Inventory (CDI). The results indicated that the model fit of a threefactor model was superior to one- and two-factor models. In addition, the findings of discriminant analysis demonstrated that the correct classification rate with three factors of the tripartite model was superior to the classification rate achievable using CDI and RCMAS. In a departure from Clark and Watson's hypothesis, however, the correlations of three factors were significantly higher than had been expected. The results are discussed on the basis of cultural background.

El inventario de organización de la personalidad (IPO): sus características y aplicaciones / The inventory of personality organization (IPO): its characteristics and applications

La adaptación y validación de instrumentos de medición psicológica de la personalidad para ser aplicado a grandes muestras es una tarea de relevancia para la planificación de intervenciones psicosociales. El ôInventario de Organización de la Personalidadõ (IPO) es un instrumento que evalúa estructura de personalidad sobre la base de la teoría psicoanalítica de Kernberg. Se describe el proceso de adaptación, las características formales y psicométricas del instrumento, junto con los resultados de las pruebas de confiabilidad y validez factorial de su versión para Chile. Los resultados muestran valores de confiabilidad y validez similares al instrumento original. Se discute el valor del instrumento como herramienta diagnóstica y la importancia de adaptar instrumentos de esta naturaleza en Chile.

Psychiatric profile of patients with neurodermatitis.

Fifty patients of neurodermatitis attending the dermatology clinic of a general hospital were screened for psychiatric morbidity. Fifty patients suffering from tinea from the same clinic were taken as a control group (age, sex and socio-economic class matched). A majority of neurodermatitis patients were between 21-30 years of age-group (52%), males (84%), married (90%), literate up to primary (42%) and belonged to socio-economic class V (44%). The common sites of neurodermatitis were legs (28%), arms (16%), scrotum (12%) or multiple sites (36%). The duration of symptoms ranged from 1 month to 2 years (average duration was 6 months). The study group also showed significantly higher occupational and psychosexual problems (p < 0.001). The neurodermatitis patients scored significantly higher on N-2 scale and Hamilton rating scale for depression.

Necesidades fisicas, personales y sociales del adolescente y su relacion con el rendimiento academico / Physical, personal and social needs of the adolescent and their connection with scholastic performance

En 1982, en Santiago, Chile, se estudio una muestra de 402 adolescentes de ambos sexos, de colegios privados y estatales, que cursaban tercer ano de ensenanza media, con objeto de detectar el reconocimiento y el grado de satisfacción de sus necesidades fisicas, personales y sociales, y relacionar dicha satisfacción con el rendimiento academico. Los adolescentes reconocieron, en diversos porcentajes y sin distincion de colegios, una gran parte de los estados de necesidad planteados. Se exceptuaron los de "hambre" y "manejo de dinero", menos reconocidos en general, aunque significativamente mas importantes para los alumnos de colegios privados, y los de "status" e "independencia" para los de colegios estatales. En cuanto a la distribución por sexo, las mujeres reconocieron mas los estados de "independencia" y "tener formacion religiosa"; los varones, los de "sed", "hambre" y "evacuacion". En cerca de la mitad de los adolescentes estudiados se observo que las necesidades estaban satisfechas. Algunas de ellas no lograron superar el 20 por ciento (formacion religiosa, independencia, descanso, sexo, sed, hambre, actividad fisica). En general, no se apreciaron diferencias importantes por tipo de colegio ni por sexo. No se han comprobado las hipotesis acerca de una relacion directa entre satisfacción de necesidades y rendimiento academico ni entre el tipo de colegio y el grado de satisfacción, exceptuados algunos estados de necesidad