Laterality effect on emotional faces processing: ALE meta-analysis of evidence.

Recognizing emotion from facial expressions draws on diverse psychological processes implemented in a large array of neural structures. Two major theories of cerebral lateralization of emotional perception have been proposed: (i) the Right-Hemisphere Hypothesis (RHH) and (ii) the Valence-Specific Hypothesis (VSH). To test these lateralization models we conducted a large voxel-based meta-analysis of current functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies employing emotional faces paradigms in healthy volunteers. Two independent researchers conducted separate comprehensive PUBMED (1990-May 2008) searches to find all functional magnetic resonance imaging studies using a variant of the emotional faces paradigm in healthy subjects. Out of the 551 originally identified studies, 105 studies met inclusion criteria. The overall database consisted of 1785 brain coordinates which yield an overall sample of 1600 healthy subjects. We found no support for the hypothesis of overall right-lateralization of emotional processing. Conversely, across all emotional conditions the parahippocampal gyrus and amygdala, fusiform gyrus, lingual gyrus, precuneus, inferior and middle occipital gyrus, posterior cingulated, middle temporal gyrus, inferior frontal and superior frontal gyri were activated bilaterally (p=0.001). There was a valence-specific lateralization of brain response during negative emotions processing in the left amygdala (p=0.001). Significant interactions between the approach and avoidance dimensions and prefrontal response were observed (p=0.001).

Reliability, validity and factor structure of the 12-item General Health Questionnaire among young males in Italy.

The internal consistency, validity and factor structure of the 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) were investigated in a homogeneous sample consisting of 18-year-old males in Italy. The GHQ-12 proved to be a reliable instrument, as indicated by a Cronbach's alpha of 0.81. When the screening characteristics of the GHQ-12 (scored by the Likert method) were evaluated against the psychiatrist's ratings, the best balance between sensitivity and specificity was found at the GHQ cut-off score of 8/9: at this threshold, sensitivity was 0.68 and was paired to a specificity of 0.59 and an overall misclassification rate of 0.40. Validity coefficients based on a single severity score were rather low compared with those reported in other settings. When a principal components analysis with varimax (and oblimin) rotation was performed, two factors were identified: factor A (general dysphoria) was defined by 7 items related to anxiety and depression; factor B (social dysfunction) included 6 items testing the ability to perform daily activities and to cope with everyday problems. The identified factors revealed distinct ability in the discrimination between subjects with and without emotional disturbance according to the psychiatrist's ratings and correlated differently with 3 Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory subscales (depression, D; conversion hysteria, Hy; psychasthenia, Pt). Thus, the factor structure of the GHQ-12 might provide useful information along with that offered by a single severity score, and the detection of cases might be improved by examining an individual's profile of scores on different subscales derived from factor analysis.

[Heart transplantation experience: Rorschach test five years after surgery]. / Sul vissuto del trapianto cardiaco. Analisi di protocolli rorschach a 5 anni dall'intervento.

This paper presents some reflections on the experience of heart transplantation on the basis of Rorschach tests, collected from fifteen patients who underwent cardiac transplantation five years before. We suggest the use of six criteria: responses to Card I; movement (M, MA, m) as a key determinant; importance of surfaces and middle line; responses to Cards IV and VI; responses to Card X; complexual response, if present. Performances show problems related to the integration of the acquired organ. This process is long and difficult but easier in those patients who succeeded in working-through the graft re-acquisition.

[Primary community health districts and changes in the utilization of a psychiatric service for diagnosis and therapy]. / Distretti socio-sanitari di base e variazioni nell'utilizzo di un servizio psichiatrico di diagnosi e cura.

The Authors analyze the activity of Pavia's General Hospital Psychiatric Unit over a ten year period. Data, presented as rates standardized by sex and age, are processed according to patients' residential socio-health districts. The analysis of the results shows marked differences in the Service utilization among different districts. Correlations between these differences and some socio-demographic and clinical variables enable the Authors to put forward some hypotheses in order to understand this pattern of Service utilization. In particular, "high-users" and patients with a past history of admissions to psychiatric hospitals tend to be found especially in the districts which provide the Service with a heavy workload. A closer attention to these patients and to their pathways to care will enable the Service staff to optimize its supply of care and to plan new kinds of treatments.