Self-disgust in patients with borderline personality disorder. The associations with alexithymia, emotion dysregulation, and comorbid psychopathology.

BACKGROUND: Self-disgust is a negative self-conscious emotion, which has been linked with borderline personality disorder (BPD). However, it has not yet been investigated in relation to both emotion dysregulation and alexithymia, which are recognized as crucial to BPD. Therefore, the aim of our study was to measure these variables and examine the possible mediational role of emotional alterations and comorbid anxiety and depression symptoms in shaping self-disgust in patients with BPD and healthy controls (HCs). METHODS: In total, the study included 100 inpatients with BPD and 104 HCs. Participants completed: the Self-Disgust Scale (SDS), Disgust Scale - Revised (DS-R), Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), Emotion Dysregulation Scale short version (EDS-short), Borderline Personality Disorder Checklist (BPD Checklist), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), and Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CESD-R). RESULTS: Inpatients with BPD showed higher self-disgust, alexithymia, emotion dysregulation, core and comorbid symptoms levels, and lower disgust sensitivity. Alexithymia, emotion dysregulation, and trait anxiety partially mediated between BPD diagnosis and self-disgust. The relationship between the severity of BPD symptoms and self-disgust was fully mediated by alexithymia, emotion dysregulation, depressive symptoms, and trait anxiety. CONCLUSIONS: The results of our study may imply the contribution of emotion dysregulation, alexithymia, and comorbid psychopathology to self-referenced disgust in BPD.

The psychological determinants of obesity in children and adolescents.

The aim of this article is to show selected psychological mechanisms involved in the onset and maintenance of obesity in children and youth. This work presents a review of the literature related to the psychological determinants of obesity from different theoretical approaches. The role of the mother-child relationship, as well as the specific characteristics of the relationships within the family, have been emphasized in the onset of the disorder. Another topic discussed were the specifics of the body experience and certain body image distortions that promote the maintenance of the obese state. The control deficit caused by family relationships was also described.

Perception of the child's obesity in parents of girls and boys treated for obesity (preliminary study).

AIM: The aim of this study is to analyze how the parents of children treated for obesity perceive the child's obesity and to search psychological determinants of persistence of obesity in children despite of treatment Material and methods: 15 mothers and 15 fathers of children treated for obesity participated in the study. The age of their children ranged from 7 to 9 years. The average age of the studied children was 8.1 years. Clinical interview concerning mental child representation in mother/father was used to collect the data. RESULTS: The parents of children treated for obesity concentrate on description of the child's obesity (eg referring to obesity related behaviors and physical appearance). Majority of statements contained negative content. Mothers of girls as well as of boys with obesity see the problem primarily in the child's behavior related to over-eating. The parents of children treated for obesity express parents' attitude towards the child's obesity (eg parent's emotional attitude towards the child's obesity or source of child's obesity).They worry and fear about social and health consequence of obesity. Some parents attribute the fault for obesity in the child. An increased number of symptoms of anxiety, helplessness in parents may affect the quality of the child's relationship with mother and father. Mothers of girls more frequently indicate the daughters' obesity as an obstacle in their relationship. Obesity is perceived not only as a somatic problem but also as an interpersonal one. Mothers and fathers of girls with obesity describe the child's obesity and express their attitude towards it more often than mothers and fathers of boys with obesity. This may be conditioned by the lower social acceptance of obesity in woman than man. CONCLUSIONS: 1. It is paramount in treating children for obesity, to consider the parents' emotional attitude towards the child's problem and their awareness of its presence; 2. Taking note of parents' understanding of the complexity of the child's difficulties, which may be caused by negative perception of obesity by the mother and father as well as other persons in the environment; 3. particular consideration of parents' readiness to support and help the child during the treatment process.

[Perception manner of the father of an obese child]. / Dziecko otyle w oczach ojca.

INTRODUCTION: The child's representation in the father is understood as an experience manner of itself. There are specific relation properties of the father to the obese child. AIM OF THE STUDY: The aim of this article is an attempt to explain/find out what is a mental representation of a child experienced by fathers of obese girls and boys. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 30 fathers were investigated: 15 fathers of obese children (8 girls and 7 boys) and 15 fathers of children with normal body mass (8 girls and 7 boys). The mean age of the obese children of the investigated fathers was 8.23, and for normal body mass children of the investigated fathers it was 8.47. All fathers were investigated by a clinical interview with 15 questions concerning a mental child's representation. The obtained results were analyzed in relation to: 1. the contents of a mental father's representation of the child: cognitive, emotional, social, sexual, certificate, behavioral and somatic. 2. Access to a mental father's representation of the child. 3. Differentiation of a mental father's representation of the child. 4. Continuity of a mental father's representation of the child. RESULTS: 1. There are differences in a mental child's representation in fathers of obese and of normal body mass children. There are also differences in a mental child's representation in fathers of obese girls and boys 2. Fathers of obese children more often than the fathers of children with the normal body mass identify with the external contents of a mental child's representation. CONCLUSION: 1. A mental representation of an obese child in the father often contains external, not mental properties. 2. The representation of an obese child in the father contains deficit of mental properties. 3. Specific difficulties in the experience of a mental representation of an obese child in the father like f.e. emotional emptiness or dependence were pointed out.

[Obese teenager in the eyes of their mother]. / Otyly nastolatek w oczach matki.

INTRODUCTION: The child representation in mother is understand as a experience manner of themselves. There are specific relation properties of mother to obese child. The aim of the study is an attempt of an answer what is a mental representation of child experienced by mothers of obese girls and boys in adolescence. MATERIAL AND METHODS: There were 37 mothers investigated: 17 mothers of obese people (8 girls and 9 boys) and 20 mothers of people of normal body mass (13 girls and 7 boys). The mean age of the obese children of investigated mothers was 14.57, and for children with normal body mass was 13.42. All mothers were investigated by clinical interview with 10 questions concerning mental child representation. The obtain results were analyzed in relation to mental mother representation contents: cognitive, emotional, social, sexual, certificate, behavioral and somatic. RESULTS: 1. Mothers of obese people more often than the mothers of adolescents of the normal body mass identify in mental child representation emotional-social, cognitive, somatic, sexual, certificate and behavioral properties. 2. Mothers of obese teenagers more often than the mothers of kids with the normal body mass identify in mental child representation external contents. 3. There are differences in mental child representation in mothers of obese girls and mothers of obese boys. CONCLUSION: 1. Mental representation of obese, adolescent child in mother often contains external, not mental properties. 2. Mental representation of the obese, adolescent boy in mother contains some deficits of cognitive properties. It could be a reason of seeing son as dependent and expecting support. 3. Mothers of the obese, adolescent girls identify in their daughters mental representation contents, which give them possibility of identical experience. This perception manner, protects mother from notice of maturity and independence of her daughter.

[Obese teenagers in the eyes of their peers]. / Otyly nastolatek w oczach rówiesników.

INTRODUCTION: There is a social stereotype of a obese person. People very often manifest negative attitudes to the obese ones. The negative evaluation and rejection by peers experienced by obese people in adolescence can make some difficulties in the development of sense of identity and stabilization of relationship with others. The aim of the study is description of obese adolescents in the eyes of their peers. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 60 adolescents (30 girls and 30 boys) at the mean age 14,34 years, range 13,5-15,0 years. Investigation has been done by the method specially prepared for that particular purpose--four pictures representing four people (from obese to lean) girls and boys dressed hiding/disclosing their body. In the first part of investigation adolescents should point out twice (relating to all pictures) these people, who they would like to sit beside on a bench. In the second part of the investigation they should point out features to 8 people of different sex and body mass. The method was prepared in two versions for girls and for boys. RESULTS: 1. Girls more often than boys point out slim people as primary choice. 2. All participants involved in the investigation point out the slim boy in cloths disclosing his body. 3. Girls more often relate to mental features. Boys more often describe people in evaluate and behavioral features. 4. The slim adolescents are perceived in a more differential way than the obese ones. CONCLUSIONS: 1. Obese teenagers could be perceived by peers as unattractive, not able to keep interpersonal relation. 2. Rejected by peers, obese people are therefore more likely to remain in infantile relationships with their mothers.

[Sense of differentiation in child-mother relationship of obese persons in adolescence]. / Poczucie odrebnosci w relacji dziecko-matka u osób otylych w wieku dorastania.

INTRODUCTION: There are specific relation properties of mother to obese child. Sense of self-differentiation is the experience of one's own limitations. Sense of self-differentiation is based on a sense of identity and mental representation of mother. The sense of identity involves the contents of mental self-experiencing, sense of differentiation and sense of continuity. The mother's representation in child is understood as the way of one's experiencing. The aim of this article is a trial of answering what is a sense of differentiation experienced by obese girls and boys in adolescence. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 21 obese persons (12 girls, 9 boys) and 23 persons of normal body mass (15 girls, 8 boys) have been investigated. The mean age of the investigated obese persons was 14,53, and for a persons of normal body mass was 15,31 years. All persons were investigated by clinical interview. RESULTS: It enable obese person to experience distinction of theirselves and mothers. The obese persons are often in depending relation with their mothers, what is manifested in difficulties of their own distinction and stabilization of the mother relation limits. CONCLUSION: 1. Obesity seems to fulfill the fundamental role in relation of obese person to parents. 2. The necessary condition to effective weight loose is to take up by adolescent an independent decision regarding a treatment, which is a manifestation of autonomy in his mental function, what in the case of dependence upon from the others comes out to be impossible.

[Perception manner of self obese, preadolescent child]. / Sposób postrzegania siebie przez dziecko otyle w wieku preadolescencji.

INTRODUCTION: The sense of identity involves the contents of mental self-experiencing, sense of differentiation and sense of continuity. AIM OF STUDY: This presentation is a trial of an answer what is a sense of identity experienced by obese, preadolescent child. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 142 children have been examined (71 obese and 71 slim) at the age from 5 to 10 years. Children Apperception Test, the version with animal figures (CAT-A ) has been used to children examination. The CAT-A consists of 10 black-white pictures presenting animals in different situations, significant in a view of the child's development and functioning. RESULTS: The specific difficulties in an experience of sense of identity (sense of self-contact; sense of differentiation; sense of time continuity) by obese child were pointed out. The obese children have often limited self-contact. Seldom than slim, experience their own mental differentiation. Seldom refer to the future, often refer to actual experience. CONCLUSION: There is a relation between somatic symptom--obesity and emotional disturbance of obese child. The child is obesity can make more difficult his experience in the adolescent period and also realize developmental tasks combine with it.

[Mental and somatic elements of sense of identity obese girls and boys]. / Psychiczne i somatyczne elementy poczucia tozsamosci otylych dziewczat i chlopców.

BACKGROUND: The sense of identity during the sexual maturation is different for obese persons and for those having a normal body mass. The sense of identity involves mental and somatic contents, it is a self-knowledge, manner of self-experience. The aim of this article is a trial of an answer what is a sense of identity experienced by obese girls and boys in adolescence. Girls and boys realize fundamental, developmental tasks concerning definition of sense of self identity as well as conclusion of separation--individuation process. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 21 obese persons (12 girls and 9 boys) and 23 persons of normal body mass (15 girls and 8 boys) have been investigated. The mean age of the investigated obese persons were 14.53, and for a person of normal body mass was 15.31. All persons were investigated by a clinical interview with 8 questions concerning sense of identity. The obtained results were analyzed in relation to sense of identity contents: cognitive, emotional, social, sexual, certificate, behavioral and somatic. RESULTS: There were differences between obese and normal body mass persons in contents of sense of identity. These differences were concern girls and boys. Somatic categories were dominant for obese persons. Emotional and behavioral categories were dominant for normal body mass persons. CONCLUSION: 1. There were specific difficulties in the definition of sense of identity for obese persons in adolescence. 2. Particular difficulties concerned obese girls, what constituted one of mental cause of eating disorders.

[Perception manner of mother of obese persons in adolescence]. / Sposób spostrzegania matki u osób otylych w wieku dorastania.

BACKGROUND: There are specific relation properties of mother to the obese child. The mother representation in child is understand as a experience manner of herself. Representation (mental image) include perceptions, knowledge about characteristics and behaviors of a person and evaluation and experiences that provoke in others. The aim of this article is a trial of an answer what is a mental representation of mother experienced by obese girls and boys in adolescence. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 21 obese persons (12 girls and 9 boys) and 23 persons of normal body mass (15 girls and 8 boys) have been investigated. The mean age of the investigated obese persons were 14.53, and for a person of normal body mass was 15.31. All persons were investigated by a clinical interview with 6 questions concerning mental mother representation. The obtained results were analyzed in relation to mental mother representation contents: cognitive, emotional, social, sexual, certificate, behavioral and somatic. RESULTS: Obese persons more often than the person of the normal body mass identify to mental mother representation somatic contents, more rarely social, sexual and behavioral contents. Obese girls more rarely than girls of the normal body mass identify to social contents, more often to somatic. Obese girls more rarely than obese boys identify to mental mother representation emotional contents, more often to somatic contents. CONCLUSION: The specific relation properties of mother to obese person in adolescence could be manifested in difficulties in turn on contents of mental mother representation, in external, somatic point of concern for mental mother representation, difficulties in contact with mental contents of mother representation.

[Sense of self-contact experienced by an obese child]. / Poczucie kontaktu z samym soba doswiadczane przez dziecko otyle.

BACKGROUND: Sense of self-contact experienced by a child is a mental availability of the contents of self-experience. It is a possibility of identifying and expressing the contents of own feelings, experiences and conditions. Sense of self-contact is an element of a sense of identity. The sense of identity involves the contents of mental self-experiencing, sense of differentiation and sense of continuity. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this article is an attempt to answer what is a sense of self-contact experienced by an obese child. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 142 children have been examined (71 obese and 71 slim) at the age from 5 to 10 years. Children Apperception Test, the version with animal figures (CAT-A) has been used to children examination. The CAT-A consists of 10 black-white pictures presenting animals in different situations, significant in view of the child's development and functioning. RESULTS: The specific difficulties in an experience of self-contact by an obese child were pointed out. CONCLUSION: Psychotherapy should be aimed at finding internal, mental points for self-description, thus also the sense of mental self-contact and self experience in personal dimension.

[Perception of self and parents of obese preschool children]. / Sposób postrzegania siebie i rodziców u otylych dzieci przedszkolnych.

UNLABELLED: THE AIM of the study is to present characteristics of the sense of identity and mental representation of parents of obese preschool children. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 21 children with obesity and 24 children with normal weight were investigated using the Children's Apperception Test--CAT-A. The CAT-A consists of 10 black and white pictures presenting animals in different situations, significant in the child's development and functioning. RESULTS: Significant differences were found in the sense of identity of the examined children in the area of sense of mental distinctness as well as socio-emotional and sexual aspects of the sense of identity. The mental representations of parents were characterized by differences in accessibility and sense of continuity as well as socio-emotional, sexual and activity-related aspects of mental representation. The differences were connected with sex and body mass of the examined children. CONCLUSIONS: Therapeutic indications for clinical practice with obese children have been formulated: motivating the family as a whole to partake in the therapeutic process, necessity of early intervention, different modes of diagnosis and therapy for boys and girls, prophylactic care for obese girls as a potential risk group for eating disorders.