The European Network on Psychosomatic Medicine (ENPM) - history and future directions.

BACKGROUND: Within national and international societies of psychosomatic medicine the idea has emerged of bringing together and coordinating psychosomatic, behavioural, psychological and medical actions with common interests throughout Europe as a way to increase their scientific and political influence. METHODS: It was felt that there was a strong need and opportunity of a common and unifying forum for scientific exchange. RESULTS: It was considered desirable to exchange scientific thoughts and experiences in an open minded and boundless way, among individuals and societies, between disciplines and across borders. The course of ideas and discussions within the group of European psychosomatic scientists over 12 years is presented as an effort to combine strengths and actions supporting clinical psychosomatic research and medical practice in Europe. The fields of psycho-cardiology, quality in primary care, psycho-oncology, gastrointestinal psychosomatics, C/L Psychiatry, and Psychosomatics are examples of such positive developments. DISCUSSION: Several historic ideas are mentioned and the aims and advantages of the newly founded European Association of Psychosomatic Medicine are discussed. The advantages and virtues of a more powerful common European organisation of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychiatric Consultation-Liaison are compared to continuing our work within the present Psychosomatic/Psychiatric and Behavioural fields. CONCLUSION: Psychosomatic and Behavioural Medicine have reached a strong position in Europe. There are studies in which the medical speciality is on equal terms with psychosomatic medicine representatives. There is a continuous need for scientific conferences, for teaching, and for better practice with patients. This could be coordinated by a network. Much energy and time is lost in isolated societies and countries. We want to focus our resources in scientific projects within the boundaries of a scientific network with the primary aim of developing psychosomatic scientific exchange.

Cross-Cultural Psychometric Assessment of the Leeds Assessment of Neuropathic Symptoms and Signs (LANSS) Pain Scale in the Portuguese Population.

BACKGROUND: Chronic pain is a well-known phenomenon. The differential diagnosis between neuropathic and nociceptive pain syndromes is a challenge. Consequently, assessment instruments that can distinguish between these conditions in a standardized way are of the utmost importance. The Leeds Assessment of Neuropathic Symptoms and Signs (LANSS) is a screening tool developed to identify chronic neuropathic pain. The aim of this study was the Portuguese language translation, linguistic adaptation of the LANSS pain scale, its semantic validation, internal consistency, temporal stability, as well its validity and discriminative power. METHODS: LANSS Portuguese version scale was applied to 165 consecutive patients attending the pain clinic: 103 fulfilled the clinical criteria for the diagnosis of pain of neuropathic origin and the remaining 62 fulfilled the criteria for nociceptive pain. RESULTS: The scale proved to be an internally consistent (Cronbach's alpha = 0.78) and reliable instrument with good test-retest stability (r = 0.7; P < 0.001). However, its validity and specificity with a cutoff point of ≥ 12, for differentiating patients with neuropathic pain from those with non-neuropathic pain, had 89% sensitivity, 74% specificity, positive predictive value of 85%, and negative predictive value of 81%. CONCLUSIONS: The Portuguese LANSS version pain scale properties lead us to the conclusion that such a cross-cultural version is a reliable and valid instrument for the differentiation of this type of pain. Its usage is recommended.

[Cross-cultural psychometric assessment of the Bermond-Vorst alexithymia questionnaire]. / Avaliação psicométrica transcultural do questionário da alexitimia de Bermond-Vorst.

The alexithymia construct was introduced by Nemiah and Sifneos in the early 70s. It is a multifaceted personality construct that has been recognized associated with various conditions of health disorders. Nonetheless, despite the abundant literature, due to methodological weaknesses, a great share of the studies has been proved of questionable validity and reliability. In recent years a new self-report instrument has been developed, the Bermond-Vorst Alexithymia Questionnaire (BVAQ), meant to assess the alexithymia construct in a more comprehensive way than the more commonly used 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20). The aim was to investigate the cross-cultural psychometric properties of the Portuguese version of the BVAQ. In this study, carried out in a sample of university students (n = 369), we began testing the originally proposed 5-factor structure, by means of a factor analysis; just to proceed thereafter with the internal consistencies determination. Furthermore we investigated the stability, as well as its convergent validity with the Toronto Alexithymia Scale--20 items (TAS-20). Principal Components Analysis showed that internal structure of the 40 items acceptably fitted into the 5-factor solution. The mean total score differs about 0.6 SD from the original Dutch sample. Internal consistencies are also acceptably about the ones in the original sample: Cronbach's alpha = 0.82 for the global scale and a mean 0.77 for the subscales. Moreover the instrument is reliably stable; and the expected correlations between BVAQ and TAS-20 subscales support evidence of BVAQ's validity. The Portuguese version of the BVAQ is a highly promising new instrument to comprehensively assess alexithymia, and its use can therefore be recommended.

Quality of life in inflammatory bowel disease: psychometric evaluation of an IBDQ cross-culturally adapted version.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: The health related quality of life (HR-QoL) construct was introduced as a requirement to assess the subjective health status. It is a multifaceted construct that has contributed to a better understanding of the patients' adaptation to his condition. The Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire (IBDQ), a widely used instrument to assess QoL among IBD patients, has already shown its validity and reliability. Our aim was to obtain an easier revised version of the (IBDQ-R) and to investigate its cross-cultural psychometric properties. METHOD: Carried out in a sample of outpatients recruited in a specialized University Clinic (n=76), this study began with the translation and linguistic validation of a self-report 32-item version of the questionnaire with a 7-point Likert type answering system. We assessed thereafter its reliability through internal consistencies and also looked into its discriminatory power. We also investigated its convergent validity with other health status - clinical assessment, SCDAI and CDAI-m - and well-being measures. RESULTS: With a Cronbach's alpha = 0.92 for the global scale and a mean 0.82 for the subscales, internal consistencies proved adequate. On the other hand, discriminatory power was also significant according to the model. Moreover, the expected correlations between IBDQ and the clinical assessment, SCDAI, CDAI-m and perception of well-being support evidence of IBDQ-R's convergent validity. CONCLUSION: This IBDQ revised version is a highly promising instrument to easily, yet feasibly and comprehensively, assess the quality of life in inflammatory bowel disease; therefore its use in daily practice is worthy to be recommended.

[Emotional intelligence, social support and affect regulation]. / Inteligência emocional, apoio social e regulação afectiva.

The aim of the present study was to gain additional information about the relationship between emotional intelligence, social support, and affectivity. The subjects were 64 university students who completed the short form of the Trait Meta-Mood Scale (TMMS-30), the Social Support Questionnaire, and the Multiple Affect Adjective Check List (MAACL). The results show that Social Support is high and significantly related with both Mood Repair, on one hand, and more Positive Affects and Sensation Seeking, on the other. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that social support can be considered, somehow, as a way of mood repair; and thus not surprisingly is also associated with more Positive Affects and Sensation Seeking.

[Emotional intelligence: from alexithymia to emotional control]. / Inteligência emocional: da alexitimia ao controlo emocional.

The aim of the present study is to gain additional information about the relationship between emotional control and alexithymia, on one hand, and emotional intelligence on the other. The subjects were 251 university students who completed the Emotional Expression and Control Scale (EEC), the 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20) and the Emotional Intelligence Scale (EIS). The results show that both constructs explored are significantly related with emotional intelligence: emotional control positively and alexithymia negatively in all its dimensions. These findings revealed that both emotional control and alexithymia are significantly related to emotional intelligence. Thus confirming that emotional intelligence and alexithymia are inverse but strongly overlapping constructs; albeit also consistent with previous reports that alexithymic individuals lack the regulation by cognitively processing inherent to emotional control, and necessarily also to emotional intelligence while recognizable as one of its characteristics.