Development of a Culture-Common Formal Characteristics of Behavior - Temperament Markers Inventory (FCB-TMI-CC).

The goal was to create a brief temperament inventory grounded in the Regulative Theory of Temperament (FCB-TMI-CC), with a user-friendly, online applicability for studies in different cultures. As the regulative role of temperament is strongly revealed under meaningful stress, the study was planned within the time of the COVID-19 pandemic. To ensure high diversity in terms of culture, economic and environmental conditions, data from nine countries (Poland, United States of America, Italy, Japan, Argentina, South Korea, Ireland, United Kingdom and Kazakhstan) were utilized (min. N = 200 per country). Validation data were gathered on the level of COVID-19 stressors, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety and stress symptoms, and Big Five personality traits. Multigroup confirmatory factor analysis served as the basis for the inventory's construction. The final culture-common version includes 37 items (5-6 in each of the 7 scales) and covers the core aspects of temperament dimensions. Temperament structure was confirmed to be equivalent across measured cultures. The measurement is invariant at the level of factor loadings and the reliability (internal consistency) and theoretical validity of the scales were at least acceptable. Therefore, the FCB-TMI-CC may serve as a valuable tool for studying temperament across diverse cultures and facilitate cross-cultural comparisons.

Neuroticism and PTSD symptoms: Gender moderates the mediating effect of peritraumatic emotions and dissociation.

OBJECTIVE: Gender differences in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) prevalence and severity are well established; there is also growing evidence that men and women develop PTSD symptoms differently. This article aims to examine gender differences in the relationship between PTSD symptoms and personality traits according to the Five Factor model (FFM), based on the data from different studies conducted in Poland. METHOD: The meta-analysis method and path analyses were conducted on the data from seven studies, including 1,182 women and 1,150 men. Five studies were carried out among motor vehicle accident survivors, one from fire and flood victims. All of the studies had a cross-sectional design. RESULTS: All FFM traits were significantly related to PTSD symptoms. Neuroticism showed the strongest relationship. Further analyses revealed a moderated mediation of this relationship: It was stronger for men and mediated by peritraumatic emotions and dissociation for women. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that PTSD development is mediated by peritraumatic factors, but this mediation is moderated by gender. Men with higher Neuroticism are at particular risk of developing PTSD. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

Age As Moderator of Emotional Stroop Task Performance in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

Emotional Stroop task (EST) has been extensively used to investigate attentional processes in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Even though aging significantly changes the dynamics of emotion-cognition interactions, very little is known about its role in shaping EST performance in PTSD patients. In the present study we tested a uniquely large sample of motor vehicle accident victims. Data of 194 participants (75.3% female; mean age = 36.64 years, SD = 12.3) were included in the analysis, out of which 136 (70.1%) were diagnosed with PTSD. Prior to the psychiatric assessment, participants completed the pictorial version of EST (neutral, positive, negative, and accidents photos were presented). Comparison of the PTSD and control groups revealed a specific increase in reaction times (RTs) related to the exposure of trauma-related material. At the same time, previously unreported, moderating effects of age were also discovered. Older participants, in contrast to the younger group, showed no increase in RTs and interference scores in trials where accident photos were presented. Our study points to the key role of age as a previously understudied factor modifying EST performance in PTSD patients.

Trauma Related Guilt Inventory - psychometric properties of the Polish adaptation (TRGI-PL).

UNLABELLED: AIM : Although various aspects of guilt are frequent problems of patients suffering from PTSD, they have been included into the diagnostic criteria for PTSD just in the present version DSM-5. Kubany proposed a cognitive conceptualization of guilt in PTSD followed by development of the Trauma Related Guilt Inventory (TRGI). The aim of the paper is to present psychometric properties of the Polish version of the inventory - the TRGI-PL. METHODS: A Polish adaptation of the Trauma-Related Guilt Inventory was applied to a sample of 280 motor vehicle (MVA) participants (147 females, 133 males of age from 18 to 80 (M=34,93, SD=13,71) within 1-24 months after a MVA (M=10,18, SD=6,23). Validation of the Polish version was done by analyzing the internal structure of the instrument and comparing the emotional and cognitive aspects of guilt assessed by the TRGI with PTSD symptoms, post-traumatic cognitions and responsibility for MVA and subjective agreement with the judgment. RESULTS: The model with four latent factors: Distress, Hindsight-Bias/Responsibility, Wrongdoing and Insufficient Justification scales showed acceptable fit (Satorra-Bentler chi2=518,62, df=203, p<0,01, RMSEA=0,079, CFI=0,96, GFI=0,97), what confirms the four-factor structure of guilt, obtained in the studies on original TRGI version. Reliability coefficients are similar to original version. Correlations with other PTSD measures showed satisfactory convergent and discriminative validity. CONCLUSIONS: The Polish adaptation of the Trauma-Related Guilt Inventory is a reliable and valid tool for assessing guilt as a multidimensional phenomenon, comprising emotional and several cognitive characteristics, in trauma survivors.

[Diagnosis of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) by the Structured Clinical Interview SCID-I]. / Diagnoza pourazowego zaburzenia stresowego (PTSD) za pomoca ustrukturalizowanego wywiadu klinicznego SCID-I.

OBJECTIVES: Valid and reliable diagnosis of posttraumatic stress disorder is important for clinical practice, scientific research and forensic settings. The aim of the study was to assess the psychometric properties of the Polish version of SCID-I F Module for the diagnosis of PTSD. METHODS: Five hundred twenty six motor vehicle accident survivors participated in the study. Clinical diagnosis was based on SCID-I-PTSD interview. Participants filled out a set of self-report inventories concerning PTSD symptoms (PDS), depression (BDI-II), anxiety (STAI) and posttraumatic cognitions (PTCI). RESULTS: The interview assessment showed high reliability and both convergent and discriminative validity. SCID-I-PTSD interview proved to be more specific than PDS inventory. Interview items show good psychometric properties (except an item C3) and no differential item functioning for sex. Latent structure analysis of PTSD symptoms were nonconclusive. CONCLUSIONS: A part of Module F of the SCID-I, a structured clinical interview for the assessment of posttraumatic stress disorder is a valid and reliable psychometric tool useful for the diagnosis of PTSD.

Prolonged exposure, paroxetine and the combination in the treatment of PTSD following a motor vehicle accident. A randomized clinical trial - The "TRAKT" study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Little is known about direct comparisons of the efficacy of trauma-focused psychotherapies and SSRIs. This is the first randomized clinical trial comparing the efficacy of prolonged exposure (PE), paroxetine (Ph) and their combination (Comb) in a sample of adults diagnosed with PTSD following motor vehicle accidents (MVA). METHODS: A total of 228 people were randomly assigned to a twelve-week treatment of PE (N = 114), Ph (N = 57) or Comb (N = 57). RESULTS: The ITT analyses showed that the remission rate of PTSD was significantly greater after PE (65.5%) compared with Ph (43.3%), whereas Comb (51.2%) did not differ from either. The differences in dropout rates were not significant between treatments (18.4% - PE; 12.2% - Ph; 22.8% - Comb), while the differences in numbers of refusers were significant (3.5% PE <31.6% Comb <47.4% Ph; p < .01). The changes in self-rated PTSD were significant for each treatment and without significant differences between treatments. Differences between clinician and self-rated outcomes can be explained by depressive symptoms influencing self-rating by the PDS. At a 12 month follow-up treatment results were maintained and different trajectories of functioning were identified. LIMITATIONS: Larger samples would allow analyses of predictors of treatment response, dropout and refusal. CONCLUSIONS: In this, largest to date study comparing PE, paroxetine and combination treatment in PTSD PE was more effective than Ph in achieving remission of PTSD. The additive effect of Comb over any monotherapy was not shown.

The usefulness of ultrasound in the diagnosis of patients after chest trauma - two case reports.

The effectiveness of ultrasound in diagnosing fractures of the ribs and sternum has been confirmed in the literature. The aim of our study was to present two case reports of patients with chest trauma history in whom ultrasound examination proved useful in the diagnostic process. The role of thoracic ultrasound in the diagnosis of ribs and sternal fractures is discussed as well. The authors conclude the following: 1) the examination was easy to perform and assess, and provided clinically useful conclusions; 2) due to the mobility of the ultrasound machine, the examination may be carried out outside of radiology departments, e.g. by the patient's bedside - in departments of surgery; 3) ultrasound should be the examination of choice after chest trauma and can be performed successfully by non-radiologist physicians.

[Cognitive therapy of trauma related guilt in patients with PTSD]. / Terapia poznawcza poczucia winy zwiazanego z trauma u osób z PTSD.

Various aspects of guilt are frequent problems of patients suffering from PTSD, though they have been included into the diagnostic criteria for PTSD just in the present version DSM-5. Some studies indicate limitation of effectiveness of exposure therapy in PTSD patients with predominant emotions of anger or guilt. The aim of this paper is to present cognitive conceptualization of guilt in PTSD proposed by Kubany, and a treatment protocol resulting from this conceptualization. The clinical application of the protocol is illustrated with preliminary results of systematic observation of 8 patients with moderate to severe PTSD who were treated with cognitive therapy for guilt followed by a standard prolonged exposure protocol. The cognitive therapy of guilt can be a valuable supplement for treatment of PTSD. This protocol can also be an inspiration for therapists working with patients with dysfunctional guilt as a problem in other than PTSD disorders--like depression or adjustment disorders. In discussion the place of guilt in treatment according to different (PE-Foa et al.; CPT-Resick et al.; CT-Ehlers and Clark) trauma focused therapy approaches is addressed, and the need for further studies is underlined.

The validation of the Polish version of the Posttraumatic Diagnostic Scale and its factor structure.

BACKGROUND: Posttraumatic Diagnostic Scale (PDS) is a self-descriptive measure developed to provide information regarding posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) diagnosis and symptom severity. OBJECTIVES: THE AIM OF THIS ARTICLE IS TO REPORT ON THE VALIDATION OF THE POLISH VERSION OF PDS AND TO TEST ITS FACTOR STRUCTURE WITH REFERENCE TO TWO MODELS: an original three-factor model (Reexperiencing, Avoidance, and Arousal) and alternative five-factor model (Reexperiencing, Avoidance, Numbing, Dysphoric Arousal, and Anxious Arousal). METHOD: THE VALIDATION PROCEDURE INCLUDED THREE STUDIES CONDUCTED ON SAMPLES OF SEPARATE POPULATIONS: university-level students (n=507), individuals who had experienced various traumas (n=320), and treatment-seeking survivors of motor vehicle accidents (MVA) (n=302). Various other measures of trauma-related psychopathology were administered to participants, as well as the PTSD module of the Structured Clinical Interview (SCID) in the case of MVA patients. RESULTS: PDS showed high internal consistency and test-retest reliability, good diagnostic agreement with SCID, good sensitivity but relatively low specificity. The satisfactory convergent validity was supported by a large number of significant correlations with other measures of trauma-related psychopathology. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) generally confirmed both the three-factor structure and the alternative five-factor structure of the questionnaire. CONCLUSIONS: The results show generally good psychometric properties of the Polish version of PDS.

Una comparación de la eficacia del análisis de los pensamientos automáticos en un marco individual y grupal: Informe preliminal / A comparison of effectiveness of analysis of the authomatic thoughts in individual and group settings: Preliminary report

El objetivo de este estudio fue hacer una comparación de la eficacia y la economía de la terapia focalizada en el análisis de los pensamientos automáticos registrados en marco de Terapia Comportamental Cognitiva individual y grupal. Doce pacientes admitidos en la Unidad de Trastornos Afectivos fueron asignados azar en dos grupos equivalentes: Terapia de Grupo Coportamental-Cognitiva (TGCC) o Terapia individual Comportamental-Cognitiva (TICC). Cada participante tomó parte en seis sesiones consecutivas de 90 minutos de grupo abierto o en 60 minutos de terapia individual; en ambos casos el foco estuvo en el registro de los pensamientos automáticos. Los síntomas depresivos fueron evaluados con el HAM-D y el BDI (Inventario de Depresión de Beck). De acuerdo a los resultados, la terapia de grupo (TGCC) pareciera ser más efectiva en términos de los puntajes evaluados en el HAM-D y menos costosa que la terapia individual (TICC) para el tratamiento de la depresión. Se presentan conclusiones para futuras investigaciones.

Una comparación de la eficacia del análisis de los pensamientos automáticos en un marco individual y grupal: Informe preliminal / A comparison of effectiveness of analysis of the authomatic thoughts in individual and group settings: Preliminary report

El objetivo de este estudio fue hacer una comparación de la eficacia y la economía de la terapia focalizada en el análisis de los pensamientos automáticos registrados en marco de Terapia Comportamental Cognitiva individual y grupal. Doce pacientes admitidos en la Unidad de Trastornos Afectivos fueron asignados azar en dos grupos equivalentes: Terapia de Grupo Coportamental-Cognitiva (TGCC) o Terapia individual Comportamental-Cognitiva (TICC). Cada participante tomó parte en seis sesiones consecutivas de 90 minutos de grupo abierto o en 60 minutos de terapia individual; en ambos casos el foco estuvo en el registro de los pensamientos automáticos. Los síntomas depresivos fueron evaluados con el HAM-D y el BDI (Inventario de Depresión de Beck). De acuerdo a los resultados, la terapia de grupo (TGCC) pareciera ser más efectiva en términos de los puntajes evaluados en el HAM-D y menos costosa que la terapia individual (TICC) para el tratamiento de la depresión. Se presentan conclusiones para futuras investigaciones.(AU)