ABSTRACT
During the Covid-19 pandemic crisis, telephone and internet analysis often became a temporary necessity. The author, who works with German- and English-speaking patients in Berlin, shows how some patients refused to return to the normal analytic setting even when the risk of infection was very low. She assumes that these patients and some analysts, in their countertransference, seemed to be drawn into a specific psychodynamic constellation where the remote setting offered a particular illusion in which both the fears of closeness and fears of separation can simultaneously be defended. She shows that under these conditions, unnoticed by patient and analyst, symbolic communication may break down, leading to a standstill in the analytic process. She describes this as a sort of psychic retreat, which becomes filled with idealized projections, whilst negative and frightening aspects of the transference situation remain split off and are deposited in the "non-telephone space". The chapter is based on her experience with telephone and internet analysis during the coronavirus epidemic. It is clear that analysis by telephone and internet analysis, tend to bring to fore the non-symbolic, concrete thinking tendencies in patients' personalities. Thus, the analysis tends to come to a standstill through these modes of communication. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)
ABSTRACT
Internet use has become an essential part of our daily lives;however, its widespread use has also called attention to potential negative consequences around the world. Research on problematic internet use has been hindered by a lack of clear definition and diagnosis. This study aimed to examine the relationships between the level of problematic internet use and psychological variables in order to determine common psychological correlates among those who are considered to exhibit problematic internet use. In this study, a diverse sample of 127 American adults completed measures of problematic internet use, depression, anxiety, personality dimensions, and substance use. Descriptive, correlational, and regression analyses were used to identify these relationships. Results indicated that as predicted, there were significant positive correlations between depression, anxiety, and substance use with problematic internet use. However, no significant relationship was found between extraversion and problematic internet use. Overall, male participants in the sample exhibited higher levels of problematic internet use. COVID-19 also appears to have had an effect on the sample, as 85.8% indicated an increase in internet use due to the pandemic. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)
ABSTRACT
Health professionals took on an important role in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic. It is understood that the current context requires attention to these workers, especially with regard to aspects that concern the work and mental health of the teams. Thus, this article aims to analyze the perception of professionals working in cancer hospitals about cooperation at work. Seventeen health professionals who work in cancer hospitals participated by answering a sociodemographic questionnaire and a semi-structured interview carried out by video-conference. Data were analyzed using the IRAMUTEQ software (Interface of R for Multi-Dimensional Text and Questionnaire Analysis). The results showed cooperation as a determinant in oncology work, especially through communication, as it is through this that trust is established and that individuals can build, together, new possibilities for action. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved) (Portuguese) Os profissionais da saude assumiram um papel importante no enfrentamento contra pandemia da Covid-19. Nesse sentido, entende-se que o atual contexto requer atencao a esses trabalhadores, sobretudo no que se refere aos aspectos que concernem ao trabalho e a saude mental das equipes. Assim, esse artigo tem como objetivo analisar a percepcao dos profissionais que atuam em hospitais oncologicos acerca da cooperacao no trabalho. Participaram dessa pesquisa 17 profissionais da saude, que responderam a um questionario sociodemografico e a uma entrevista semiestruturada realizada por videoconferencia. Os dados foram analisados por meio do Software IRAMUTEQ (Interface de R pour les Analyses Multidimensionnelles de Textes et de Questionnaires). Os resultados evidenciaram a cooperacao como determinante no trabalho em oncologia, sobretudo por meio da comunicacao, pois e atraves dela que a confianca se estabelece e que os individuos podem construir, juntos, novas possibilidades de atuacao. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved) (Spanish) Los profesionales de la salud asumieron un papel importante en la lucha contra la pandemia Covid-19. En este sentido, se entiende que el contexto actual requiere atencion a estos trabajadores, especialmente en lo que se refiere a aspectos que conciernen al trabajo y la salud mental de los equipos. Asi, este articulo tiene como objetivo analizar la percepcion de los profesionales que trabajan en los hospitales oncologicos sobre la cooperacion en el trabajo. Participaron de esta investigacion 17 profesionales de la salud, quienes respondieron un cuestionario sociodemografico y una entrevista semiestructurada realizada por videoconferencia. Los datos se analizaron utilizando el software IRAMUTEQ (R interface pour les Analyzes Multidimensionnelles de Textes et de Questionnaires). Los resultados mostraron que la cooperacion es un factor determinante en el trabajo oncologico, especialmente a traves de la comunicacion, ya que es a traves de ella que se establece la confianza y que los individuos pueden construir, juntos, nuevas posibilidades de accion. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)
ABSTRACT
The reported dataset addresses potential correlates and predictors of beliefs in conspiracy theories about the COVID-19 pandemic. Different psychological constructs (self-esteem, Dark Triad personality traits, collective narcissism, political attitude, individualism/collectivism), social status, and socio-demographic variables were assessed. Data from 746 participants from all parts of Germany who study part-time while working were collected between May 26 to July 5, 2020. We used a cross-sectional online survey comprising a total of 98 items. Preliminary analysis revealed sound psychometric properties of the measures. These data provide several opportunities for further use and can be utilized for research and educational purposes. For example, comparisons can be drawn between existing research on conspiracy theories to determine whether known factors determining beliefs in conspiracy theories are also relevant for COVID-19. All data and additional materials (e.g., codebook of all items, R code) are available at https://osf.io/p6q7w/. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)
ABSTRACT
Background: Hikikomori, a severe and often prolonged social withdrawal observed primarily in young people, was first described in Japan, but cases have now been reported in many other countries. Methods: A review paper on hikikomori has been prepared following the literature searches in 3 databases. Search terms related to hikikomori included epidemiology, globalization, diagnosis, treatment, comorbidity, and COVID-19. Conclusions: Hikikomori was first reported in Japan and has been described in detail by researchers there, but there are now reports in many countries of hikikomori-like cases. It occurs primarily in young people, often men in their late teens and early twenties who isolate themselves, sometimes confining themselves to their homes for months or even years. It has been proposed that hikikomori has increased in recent years in part because of advances in information technology that result in decreased socialization. Hikikomori was originally considered a non-psychotic phenomenon, but comorbidity with psychiatric disorders is often present and should be considered during diagnosis. Considerable efforts have been made in recent years to establish reliable, widely applicable guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of hikikomori. There is very little information with regard to neurobiology, although involvement of the immune system, oxidative stress, and the social brain network has been proposed. It is widely agreed that hikikomori must be treated in a multi-dimensional fashion, with family support very important. Lessons learned from these treatment approaches are relevant to the potential increased risk of social withdrawal arising from COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns.
ABSTRACT
My qualitative research uses a psychosocial approach to explore GPs’ experiences during changes in healthcare delivery prior to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. The challenges of running everyday general practice under the neoliberal paradigm meant that GPs were retiring early, and that new GPs were hard to recruit. Even before March 2020, the biopsychosocial model of medicine was contending with many complexities, including workforce shortages, an ageing population, increasing incidence of chronic comorbidity, and the development of clinical technologies, to name but a few. General practice is also challenged by the requirements of commissioning, bidding, and contracting in order to sustain income and viability. What defines GPs’ primary tasks, roles, and systems, and how are GPs’ motivations and identities affected by this situation of clinical complexity and financial challenge? My research reveals three types of GP and an ecosystem’s model of the organisation in the-mind, involving various social defences and valencies for individual and group functioning. © 2022. Organisational and Social Dynamics. All Rights Reserved.
ABSTRACT
This open access book provides a comprehensive look at the pluses and minuses of leadership in times of an unparalleled crisis, such as the COVID-19 global pandemic. It examines the COVID-19 crisis in terms of psychodynamics, crisis management, and especially from the standpoint of complex, messy systems. It analyses how leaders need to think and act differently to cope better with-unfortunately not prevent-future crises. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)
ABSTRACT
Optimal psychic response during the COVID-19 pandemic is the result of many different factors. One of the main factors is the psychodynamic understanding of essential emotions such as shame. Despite the immense effort by health workers to address stress- and trauma-related disorders in the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, a large proportion of the people affected by the disorder do not have information regarding the emotion of shame. Lack of mentalizing capacity implies disturbed shame dynamics. The therapeutic relationship and optimal alliance offer the frame for acceptance of shame as useful for psychological growth. Empathy should be a cure for dysfunctional shame, at the individual or social level. We believe that including a psychodynamic approach in the national public and mental health emergency system will empower national prevention strategies.
ABSTRACT
Work is a major issue in the discussions on the Covid-19 pandemic, whose consequences impair the capacities of workers at all organizational levels and impose unexpected challenges on managers. Nevertheless, the scientific literature still lacks an overview of how researchers have been covering the issue. This article presents a systematic review to investigate the impact of Covid-19 on work and workers of all occupations, reveal research gaps, and help managers to adapt to organizations amid the pandemic. This review is based on a sample of 258 papers from Web of Science and Scopus databases. Quantitative and qualitative analysis indicated a vast majority of studies focused on frontline healthcare workers and a lack of empirical investigation on managers' work. We show how literature has been addressing different aspects of work (e.g., workers' health, working conditions, procedures, protection equipment, remote working, etc.) in the various economic sectors. We discuss the results in light of ergonomics and psychodynamics of work, two disciplines that conceive work and organization as intimately connected, and that can assist managers in meeting the difficulties brought by the pandemic. We highlight that considering the construction of health, interindividual variability, subjective relation to work, supportive workplace environment, and organizational and individual capabilities can play a key role in successfully adapting and transforming organizations in the current scenario.