Comparison of typical Thai and Hungarian personality profiles using the Zuckerman-Kuhlman-Aluja Personality Questionnaire.

The aim of our study was to compare typical Thai and Hungarian personality profiles of the Zuckerman-Kuhlman-Aluja Personality Questionnaire (ZKA-PQ). 672 Thai and 647 Hungarian were included in our study. The distribution of age, gender and education level were matched. The ZKA-PQ was administered that measures Aggression, Extraversion, Activity, Sensation Seeking and Neuroticism. We tested reliability, the structural invariance and analyzed aggregated mean profiles for cultures as well as typical profiles by cluster analyses. Reliability of factors were acceptable in both cultures, but some facets (especially AC3 Restlessness) showed low reliability. The global Tucker's coefficient of congruence (TCC) for cross-cultural factorial invariance was 95. We have also run a Multigroup Confirmatory Factor Analysis, but fit indices were not adequate. Cross-cultural neural network invariance was not met either. Hungarians scored significantly higher on Extraversion, Sensation Seeking, Aggression and Activity. Cluster-analyses revealed six typical profiles: Introverted impulsive, Reserved, Resilients, Overcontrolled, Aggressive impulsive and Positive sensation seeker. Majority of first two clusters were Thai respondents, majority for last two clusters were Hungarians. In sum, there were some cross-cultural congruence in factor structure, but strict invariance was not fulfilled. Comparison of mean profiles remain tentative, but cluster analysis revealed cross-cultural differences in typical profiles.

The development and validation of a new resilience inventory based on inner strength.

There are a number of resilience scales with good psychometric properties. However, the various scales differ in their item content in accordance with the model of resilience the developer had in mind. Culture is one of the reasons for the difference. Thailand, one of the Buddhist cultures, has a different view on resilience compared with Western culture. This study aimed to develop and validate a resilience inventory created based on the inner strength concept using a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and Rasch measurement model. The resilience inventory (RI) was developed by creating new items representing inner strengths attributed to resilience. The inner strength was adopted to form the resilience construct, including perseverance, wisdom, patience, mindfulness, loving-kindness and equanimity. In addition, face and content validity were examined by experts in both mental health and Buddhism. The final RI comprised nine items with a 5-point Likert-type scale. The RI-9 was completed by 243 medical students who participated in the study, along with other measurements, i.e., Inner Strength-Based Inventory (iSBI), measuring the ten characteristics of perfection or inner strength, and the Core Symptom Index, measuring anxiety, depression and somatization symptoms. CFA, internal consistency and the Polytomous Rasch rating model were used to investigate the RI-9 construct validity. The mean age of the participants was 22.7 years (SD, 0.8); one-half were male (50%). The RI-9 construct demonstrated item hierarchy as follows: perseverance, patience (tolerance), mindfulness and equanimity, wisdom and loving-kindness. CFA showed that the unidimensional model fitted the data well. Rasch analysis showed no misfitting items and local dependence. The reliability of the person and item was good, and no disordered threshold was observed. Two items were found to exhibit differential item functioning due to sex. RI-9 scores were significantly related to all ten strengths from the iSBI, whereas they were negatively related to depression, anxiety, somatization and interpersonal difficulties. The RI-9 demonstrated validity and reliability. It constitutes a promising tool for outcome assessment in nonclinical populations. Further investigation on external validity as well as psychometric validation in other different cultures, should be encouraged.

Moderating role of observing the five precepts of Buddhism on neuroticism, perceived stress, and depressive symptoms.

PURPOSE: Evidence has shown that the Five precepts significantly affect the relationship between attachment and resilience; however, little is known whether observing the Five Precepts would help reduce depressive symptoms among those who experience risks. The aim of this study was to examine the moderating role of the Five Precepts in the mediation model relationship among neuroticism, perceived stress, and depression. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study employed a cross-sectional survey design and data were collected from the end of 2019 to September 2022 in Thailand. In all, 644 general participants completed questionnaires on the Neuroticism Inventory (NI), the 10-item Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), Depression Subscale, and the Five-Precept Subscale of the Inner Strength-based Inventory (SBI-PP). Mediation and moderation analyses with 5000 bootstrapping methods were used. RESULTS: Among all, 74.2% were female, and the mean age totalled 28.28 years (SD = 10.6). SBI-PP was shown to have a moderation effect on the relationship between NI, PSS and depressive symptoms. The moderating effect between SBI-PP and PSS was significant, whereas SBI-PP and NI was not. The index of moderated mediation from the Five Precepts was significant (b = -0.019 (95%CI -0.029, -0.009)). The moderated mediation model increased the percent variance explaining depressive symptoms to 47.6%, compared with 32.6% from the mediation model alone. CONCLUSION: Observing the Five Precepts offers evidence that it buffers the effect of perceived stress on depression. People with high levels of observing the Five Precepts are less likely to develop depressive symptoms. Implications as well as possible future research are discussed.

Gratitude and social support mediate the association between mindfulness and mood: A cross-cultural replication study.

Swickert and colleagues surveyed young adults in the United States and found that gratitude and social support mediated the association between mindfulness and mood (both positive and negative affect). This study attempted to replicate Swickert et al.'s mediational findings using a young adult Hungarian sample. Results indicated that with one exception, the mediational findings were replicated. The exception was that for the Hungarians, gratitude did not mediate the association between mindfulness and negative affect. Overall, these findings indicate that the mediational effects of gratitude and social support are quite similar for individuals living in the United States and Hungary.

Role of Equanimity on the Mediation Model of Neuroticism, Perceived Stress and Depressive Symptoms.

Background: Equanimity is widely and commonly practiced, but few have investigated the concept in clinical research. While the mediation model of neuroticism, perceived stress and depression have been demonstrated, it remains unclear whether equanimity mediates the relationship of these variables in parallel, serial or moderated mediation models. This study aimed to investigate the role of equanimity among those models. Methods: In all, 644 general participants (74.2% female, mean age = 28.28 (SD = 10.6)) provided data on the 10-item Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), the Neuroticism Inventory (NI), depression subscale of the Core Symptom Index, and the equanimity subscale of the inner Strength-based Inventory. Mediation and moderation analyses with the 5000 bootstrapping method were applied. Results: Equanimity was shown to moderate the relationship between NI/PSS and depressive symptom. Statistical evaluation supported all parallel, serial and moderated mediation models. Equanimity as a moderator provided a higher amount of percent variance explained by depressive symptoms than parallel and serial mediation models. Conclusions: Results suggest that the effect of perceived stress and neuroticism on depression can be mitigated by increasing levels of equanimity. The results demonstrated one potential benefit from practicing equanimity; enabling its extension to mental health problems could constitute an interesting focus for future research.

Representations of Chronic Illness in Patients and Their Partners.

BACKGROUND: Representations of chronic illness have a strong influence on quality of life and coping. Illness-related believes and attitudes depend on the medical condition itself (including illness type and duration), as well as individual and relational variables. Couples affected by chronic illness develop shared illness representations, which support the patients' adaptation process. Our study was focused on illness representations in five patient groups, considering variables of illness duration and relationship satisfaction. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The Illness Perception Questionnaire was administered to 154 subjects (79 male 75 femaile) and their partners in five illness groups (average illness duration 6.9 years). Marital satisfaction and similarity of illness representations as well as accuracy of estimates about the partner's illness representations were studied. RESULTS: The five patient groups significantly differed in their illness representations. In groups with longer illness duration, illness was perceived as chronical and more symptoms were experienced. Similarity of illness perceptions between subjects and their partners was highest for the asthma and lung cancer group, and spouses' scores differed most for the dimension of coherence. Marital satisfaction was related to similarity of illness perceptions, and more accurate estimates of the partners' perception. CONCLUSIONS: Marital satisfaction has a remarkable influence on illness representation similarity and accuracy of the perception about the partner's illness representations. Patients and their partners are more likely to form similar illness representations if symptoms are clearly observable as in the case of asthma or lung cancer. The dimension of coherence has significant within-person variations, as illness usually has a deeply personal meaning to both the patients and their partners.

Person-oriented Approach in Examining Chinese-Hungarian Personality and Affective Disorder Profiles.

BACKGROUND: Our Chinese-Hungarian crosscultural research aimed to apply a person-oriented approach on examining patterns of cultural, personality and affective disorder variables. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Our sample consisted of 238 Chinese and 167 Hungarian university students under the age of 26 years old. 238 Chinese university students (112 males, 126 females; mean age: 19.55, SD: 1.60) and 167 Hungarian University students (65 males and 100 females; mean age: 20.47, SD: 1.83) participated in our research. All individuals were under 26 years old. No gender (χ2(df=1)=2.32, p=0.127)) and no age differences between countries were observed. We analyzed in person-oriented approach the Zuckerman-Kuhlman-Aluja Personality Questionnaire, the universal values scale of Schwartz and three affective disorder questionnaires (Mood Disorder Questionnaire, Hypomania checklist, PVP Depression Scale). RESULTS: We applied model-based clustering that resulted in a model with five spherical, varying volume components. This meant that five clusters emerged, five typical patterns of the cultural, personality and affective variables. Significant cultural difference arose (χ2(df=4)=79.489, p<0.000)) in cluster proportions. In three clusters, proportion of Chinese was significantly higher than proportion (Overcontrolled: 82.6%, Reserved: 71.1%, Ordinary: 60.5%) of Hungarian. In the two remaining clusters, majority were Hungarian (Positive Sensation Seeker: 90.0%, Aggressive-Impulsive: 80.4%). Moreover, different psychiatric vulnerability emerge in relation to different profiles. Profiles that are more typical to Hungarians, have high sensation seeking level, and show vulnerability to hypomania, mood disorder and impulsive depression. On the other hand, typical Chinese profiles are linked to vulnerability of non-impulsive depression. CONCLUSIONS: In sum, culture and cultural values play an important role in the vulnerability of different affective disorders. These differences can be linked to different typical personality patterns.

Adolescent Drug Use, Relational Variables and Personality Factors.

OBJECTIVE: An ongoing issue in the study of adolescent drug use is the impact of family and the peer group on the problem of adolescent substance use. The present study has examined relative effects of these contexts as well as personality variables on drug use outcomes. METHOD: A test battery measuring various psychological variables was administered to a representative sample of 1652 secondary school students (grades 9 and 11), 876 male (mean age=17,61, SD=0.99) and 789 female (mean age=16.73, SD=1.31). Data about relationship to parents and association with deviant peers were collected, personality dimensions such as Neuroticism and Sensation Seeking were measured. Regressional and discriminant analyses were conducted, then a decision tree model was created. RESULTS: Sensation seeking arose as the most significant predictor of substance use. Fatheradolescent relationship had the highest predictive value primarily in male sensation seekers. Peer effects were stronger in comparison to parental influences. In adolescent boys, contact with deviant friends and sensation seeking constituted two independent pathways to drug use. CONCLUSIONS: Our study highlights the necessity to give consideration to sensationseeking in prevention initiatives during adolescence, as well as the need for education of parents about parenting techniques recommended during adolescence.

Opinions about coronavirus vaccination ­ the role of healthcare workers in communication in December 2020 / A koronavírus elleni védooltással kapcsolatos vélekedések - az egészségügyi dolgozók szerepe az ismeretek átadásában 2020 decemberében.

Összefoglaló. Bevezetés: A koronavírus elleni védooltással kapcsolatos vélekedések igen aktuális, társadalmi szempontból fontos területét adják az egészségmagatartással foglalkozó kutatásoknak. Célkituzés: Vizsgálatunk a védooltásról különbözoképpen vélekedo (oltást elutasító, oltást választó, oltáson nem gondolkodó, valamint bizonytalan) csoportok elemzését tuzte ki célul az oltás elonyeinek és hátrányainak, valamint az információforrások használatának tekintetében. Módszer: A mintát "A koronavírus-járvány okozta lelki tényezok utánkövetéses vizsgálatának" 2020 decemberében felvett adatai adják; a vizsgálat során 1009 fo válaszait egyszempontos varianciaanalízissel elemeztük. Eredmények: Eredményeink azt mutatják, hogy a budapestiek és a Közép-Magyarországon élok, az idosebbek, a férfiak, a magasabb iskolai végzettséguek, valamint a házasok választják nagyobb eséllyel a védooltást. Az oltásról különbözoképpen vélekedo csoportokat az oltás elonyei jobban elkülönítik egymástól, mint az oltás hátrányai. Az elonyök közül a csoportokat foképp a társas, társadalmi érdekekre fókuszáló tételek differenciálják, melyek a járvány megfékezésérol, a fertozés átadásáról szólnak. A használt információforrásokat elemezve pedig elmondható, hogy mind a négy csoport jobban támaszkodik a személyes (család, barátok) és az orvosi, egészségügybol érkezo információkra, mint a médiából érkezo hírekre. Következtetés: Az oltási csoportok véleménye az oltás pozitív hozadékait, különösképp társadalmi hasznosságát illetoen tér el, mely vélemények a leginkább a személyes kapcsolatokon, így az egészségügyi dolgozók álláspontján keresztül formálódnak. Tehát az egészségügyben dolgozóknak kiemelkedo szerepük van a hozzájuk tanácsért fordulók differenciált megértésében, szakértoi tájékoztatásában és megfelelo tanácsokkal való ellátásában. Orv Hetil. 2021; 162(24): 931-937. INTRODUCTION: Beliefs regarding coronavirus vaccination provide very actual and socially important area in mental health research. OBJECTIVE: The aim of our study was to differentiate the opinions related to coronavirus vaccination (acceptance, refusal, ignorance, hesitation). We analyzed advantages and disadvantages of vaccination, and the different channels in getting information about the vaccine. METHOD: Our study is part of the "Longitudinal examination of mental factors caused by the coronavirus epidemic" research project, wave of December 2020. We analyzed the responses of 1009 people by one-way analysis of variance tests. RESULTS: Our results show that elder people, males, and those who have higher education are more likely to accept the vaccine. In addition, those who live in Budapest and Cental Hungary are more likely to choose vaccination against the coronavirus than those living in other areas. The groups with different opinions on vaccination are better discriminated by benefit-related than risk-related opinions. Those benefit-related items showed the largest variance between groups, which focused on social usefulness on curbing the epidemics, preventing the spread of the infection. Analyzing the sources of information, we found that all groups rely more on personal (family, friends) and medical health information than on news from the media. CONCLUSION: The opinions of the vaccination groups differ mostly regarding the positive benefits of vaccination, especially the social usefulness. Opinions are mostly formed through personal relationships including relations with healthcare workers. Healthcare professionals therefore have a key role in providing a differentiated understanding of those seeking advice, providing expert information and appropriate advice. Orv Hetil. 2021; 162(24): 931-937.

Gratitude, Religiousness and Well-Being.

BACKGROUND: Previous researches have identified the positive effects of gratitude on happiness and well-being. It has been found that spirituality can enhance gratitude and well-being. Our study aimed to examine the link between gratitude and subjective well-being among religious and non-religious people. Furthermore we tested if a 4-week long gratitude diary has a positive effect on subjective well-being. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: In our online, qualitative investigation the sample consisted of 54 males and 169 females (mean age=39.13, SD=15.90). 54.1% of respondents regarded themselves as "religious with a given religion", 24.8% as "religious on my own way" and 21.2% as "non-religious". The experimental group (leading a gratitude diary for 4 weeks) with 103 individuals and a control group with 120 individuals with no differences in age, gender and religiousness. We compared the questionnaires' results (filled out both before and after the intervention) of the experimental group (n=103) with the results of the control group (n=120) similarly filled out on two different occasions. We applied Gratitude Resentment and Appreciation Test and Subjective Well-being Scale. RESULTS: Our results showed that religious people showed elevated level of gratitude (F(2, 219)=23.66, p<0.001) but same well-being (F(2, 219)=1.97, p=0.142) compared to non-religious groups. In the experiment group the gratitude and the subjective well-being both increased (p<0.01), and there was no significant changes in control group. 2x2 ANOVA showed significant interaction effect (Subjective well-being: (F(1, 221)=13.32, p<0.001); Gratitude: F(1, 221)=12.43, p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Religiousness is linked to higher gratitude and an increase in gratitude can result in an increase in subjective well-being. The importance of gratitude diary both among religious and non-religious people will be discussed.

Relationship between Personality Traits and the Inner Strengths.

BACKGROUND: Zuckerman-Kuhlman-Aluja Personality questionnaire (ZKA-PQ) measures five psychobiologically based personality factors (activity, aggression, extraversion, neuroticism, and sensation seeking). The inner strength (from the ten perfections based on Theravada Buddhism) deems positive character, which includes truthfulness, perseverance, wisdom, generosity, morality (five precepts), mindfulness and meditation, patience and endurance, equanimity, determination, and loving kindness measured by the strength-based inventory (SBI). Our aim was to unfold the relationship between ZKA factors and SBI. METHODS: 642 Thai (age mean = 28.27, SD = 10.61) individuals (males 26.2%, females 73.8%) filled out our questionnaire battery: (1) Zuckerman-Kuhlman-Aluja Personality questionnaire - 200 items, 20 facets, five factors: Aggressiveness, Sensation Seeking, Activity, Extraversion, Neuroticism. (Cronbach alphas: 0.88, 0.81, 0.83, 0.89, 0.91 for AG, SS, AC, EX, NEU, respectively). (2) Strength-based inventory - 10 items, measuring 10 inner strength (Cronbach alpha: 0.68). Pearson correlation, neural network modelling and person-oriented methodology (model-based clustering) were conducted for analysis. RESULTS: Our correlational results revealed that inner strengths are negatively related to Aggression (r=-0.44**), Neuroticism (r=-0.43**), Sensation seeking (r=-0.16**), whereas positively related to Extraversion (r=0.37**) and Activity (r=0.24**). Highest correlations were found between AG and patience (-0.43**) and NEU and perseverance (r=-0.40**), both with negative sign. According to neural network modelling Activity was most related to Perseverance, Aggression to lack of Patience, Neuroticism to lack of Perseverance and Equanimity, Sensation Seeking to lack of Morality. Extraversion was most weakly related to inner strengths, but it was related to all other personality dimensions. Model based clustering revealed four typical personality profiles: resilients (41.8%), extraverted undercontrollers (29.0%), introverted undercontrollers (10.6%) and overcontrolled (18.6%). Results showed that resilients had highest inner strength levels, whereas overcontrolled ones had the lowest. CONCLUSION: Negative traits are, as expected, conversely related with strength, while positive traits (extraversion and activity) are positively related with strength. Our results confirm that resilient personality pattern can be linked to the inner strengths measured by SBI scale, which was based on 10 Buddhist perfections. Further results should be addressed how increase in inner strength can be related to changes in biologically based personality dimensinos towards the resilient pattern.

Relations between God-Images and Early Maladaptive Schemas.

Our God image not only determines the nature of our relationship with God, it also influences our personality, actions, self-concept, mindset and social relations. It acts within and through us. Although everyone has a God image - regardless of whether one is a believer or not - the ways in which we experience God's relation to us are manifold. It is not unusual that even believers of the same congregation give accounts of diverse God images. Schema is a widely used term in psychology. Schemas describe cognitive structures that filter, encode and interpret the stimuli affecting the person. They can influence the perception of reality, which later impacts the behavior and mood of the individual and in severe cases can result in pathology. The factors influencing the God image and early maladaptive schemas both have proven roots in early childhood and are impacted by the child-parent relationship. Our research focuses on examining the connection between maladaptive schemas and the God image and their relation to parental influence.

Cancer as a Source of Posttraumatic Growth: A Brief Review.

The diagnosis and treatment of cancer represents an experience that is potentially psychologically traumatizing for patients. However, cancer can contribute to the experience of positive psychological changes, namely posttraumatic growth. We conducted a review of empirical studies (n=44) on posttraumatic growth in cancer patients. We focused on the relations of posttraumatic growth to socio-demographic, medical, and psychological adjustment correlates. Results from forty-four reviewed articles indicated that age, gender, and ethnicity were consistently associated with posttraumatic growth in cancer. Regarding illness-related factors, the majority of relationships were positive and were found between subjective severity of cancer, chemotherapy, and experienced growth. The review revealed inconsistent relationships between indicators of psychological adjustment (emotional distress, posttraumatic stress symptoms, and quality of life) and perceived positive changes in the case of the cancer patients. Longitudinal studies might resolve this inconsistency by showing that posttraumatic growth has benefits for later psychological adjustment, as other studies have already documented.

Online and offline video game use in adolescents: measurement invariance and problem severity.

BACKGROUND: Despite the increasing popularity of video game playing, little is known about the similarities and differences between online and offline video game players. OBJECTIVES: The aims of this study were (i) to test the applicability and the measurement invariance of the previously developed Problematic Online Gaming Questionnaire (POGQ) in both online and offline gamers and to (ii) examine the differences in these groups. METHODS: Video game use habits and POGQ were assessed in a sample of 1,964 (71% male) adolescent videogame players. Those gamers who played at least sometimes in an online context were considered "online gamers," while those who played videogames exclusively offline were considered "offline gamers." RESULTS: Confirmatory factor analysis supported the measurement invariance across online and offline videogame players. According to the multiple indicators multiple causes (MIMIC) model, online gamers were more likely to score higher on overuse, interpersonal conflict, and social isolation subscales of the POGQ. CONCLUSION: The results of the present study suggest that online and offline gaming can be assessed using the same psychometric instrument. These findings open the possibility for future research studies concerning problematic video gaming to include participants who exclusively play online or offline games, or both. However, the study also identified important structural features about how online and offline gaming might contribute differently to problematic use. These results provide important information that could be utilized in parental education and the prevention program about the possible detrimental consequences of online vs. offline video gaming.

The relationship between the big five personality dimensions and acute psychopathology: mediating and moderating effects of coping strategies.

BACKGROUND: Prior research suggests that the Big Five personality dimensions might be associated with coping strategies as well as acute psychopathology. The aim of the present study was to investigate direct and indirect associations between the Big Five personality traits, coping styles, and psychopathological variables. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Subjects were 1140 adults from various institutions and regions in Hungary. A comprehensive test battery was administered including the Big Five Inventory (BFI), Psychological Immune System Inventory (PISI), and some subscales of the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI). Several moderation-mediation analyses were conducted using the PROCESS tool in SPSS to test for influence paths. RESULTS: Coping and personality variables jointly accounted for 40% to 50% of variance in psychopathology outcome. Personality dimensions of Extraversion, Conscientiousness and Emotional Stability had strongest predictive values. Emotional Stability had a more direct and unmediated effect, whereas Extraversion and Conscientiousness effects were mediated by the Approach and Self-regulation coping systems. In comparison to personality, coping style was generally a stronger predictor. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study might add to better understanding of complex pathways leading from broad personality dimensions to coping strategies and psychological (mal)adjustment.

Significant association between the C(-1019)G functional polymorphism of the HTR1A gene and impulsivity.

Serotonin-1A (5-HT(1A)) receptors are known to play a role in impulsivity-related behavior. The C(-1019)G functional polymorphism (rs6295) has been suggested to regulate the 5-HT(1A) receptor gene (HTR(1A)) expression in presynaptic raphe neurons, namely, increased receptor concentration and reduced neuronal firing could be associated with the G allele. Previous studies indicate that this polymorphism is associated with aggression, suicide, and several psychiatric disorders, yet its association with impulsivity has rarely been investigated. We studied the relationship between impulsivity and the C(-1019)G polymorphism of the HTR(1A) in a population sample of 725 volunteers using the Impulsiveness subscale (IVE-I) of the Eysenck Impulsiveness, Venturesomeness, and Empathy scale and also the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-11). Data were analyzed using analysis of variance with age and gender as covariates and Tukey's HSD post-hoc test. Post-hoc analysis revealed that the study had 0.958 power to detect 0.15 effect size. Significant differences between the C(-1019)G genotype groups (GG vs. GC vs. CC) were found. Subjects carrying GG genotype showed significantly higher impulsiveness scores compared to GC or CC carriers for the IVE-I scale (P = 0.014), for the Motor (P = 0.021), Cognitive Impulsiveness (P = 0.002), and for the BIS total score (P = 0.008) but not for the Nonplanning Impulsiveness (P = 0.520) subscale of the BIS-11. Our results suggest the involvement of the HTR(1A) in the continuum phenotype of impulsivity.

[Communication deviance and thought disorder in schizophrenia: a case study]. / A kommunikációs és gondolkodási zavar megnyilvánulásai egy szkizofrén páciens családjának interakciómintáiban.

INTRODUCTION: Communication deviance (CD) means forms of communication that are hard to follow and that make difficult the consensual sharing of attention and meaning, and it has been hypothesized as a contributor to psychopathology of offspring, including schizophrenia. There is increasing evidence that CD may also trigger relapse of symptomatic illness in remission. We present a case with detailed sequence analysis, where we demonstrate disordered functioning in a family of a 27-year-old male patient with schizophrenia. METHOD: The patient and his parents participated in the Consensus Rorschach (CR) situation, a common problem solving task. Behaviour during the interaction was coded and analysed on different levels, including relational and symbolic level; and also, focusing on specific patterns of thought disorder. Results are in accordance with former findings that CD level is high in families of patients with schizophrenia. This type of communication was found to initiate transactional processes which resemble "games" aimed at gaining control over other family members. The content level of communication was frequently immature, and communication reflected pseudo-dependence as an only form of conflict resolution. CONCLUSIONS: Findings from the present study may be important from the perspective of secondary and tertiary prevention, and they reflect need for intervention focusing on the whole family.

[Interaction patterns in male and female suicide attempters]. / Interakciós minták öngyilkosságot megkísérelt férfiaknál és noknél.

UNLABELLED: The present study aimed to assess the interaction dynamics of suicidal patients' close relationships using the Consensus Rorschach method. Our sample consisted of 24 male and 8 female patients and their spouses as well as 30 control couples. We have analysed the couples' behavior in situations where communication difficulties ("communication crisis") have arisen, comparing communication of female and male patients to controls. Results have shown that couples with suicide history expressed more passive and passive emotional messages, with evident signs of problem solving difficulties. Male patients frequently expressed helplessness, while female patients showed poor emotional control. CONCLUSIONS: difficulties in communication and conflict management as well as lack of empathy and perspective taking observed in the relationships of these couples can be explained by disturbances in the bonding process (probably both in patients and partners); which indicates the need for individual and family therapy.