Predictors of depressive symptoms among hospitalized COVID-19 patients with respiratory problems.

COVID-19 patients and survivors quite often experience depressive symptoms, which can increase risk for lower immune system response and poorer recovery. Vulnerability to depressive symptoms may be elevated in those patients who have the most severe COVID-19 course of illness, that is, patients who require supplementary oxygen therapy or even intubation. The current study involved a unique sample of patients who were hospitalized due to COVID-19 and who required respiratory support (N = 34, 10 women) in which we investigated depressive symptoms as well as psychopathological personality traits (PID5) as predictors. The majority of patients (76.5%) presented some degree of depressive symptoms. Although we expected severe levels of depressive symptoms to be most prevalent, more patients showed rather moderate levels. At the same time, Negative Affectivity was most predictive of depressive symptoms. We suggest that medical care for patients with greater emotional sensitivity and vulnerability to stress be supplemented with psychological support in order to address depressive symptoms and foster recovery.

Motivation to smoking cessation in head and neck cancer and dysplasia patients in confrontation with the attitudes of otorhinolaryngologists in delivering anti-smoking therapies.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to determine the influence of oral, oropharyngeal, laryngeal and hypopharyngeal dysplasia and cancer diagnosis on motivation to smoking cessation in patients. Consecutively, we assessed the competence of ENT specialists in counseling anti-smoking therapies. METHODS: Questionnaire of expected support, Schneider motivation test and Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND) were administered to 50 smoking patients. The online survey was collected from 152 ENT doctors. RESULTS: Mean FTND score was 4.58 and Heaviness of Smoking Index (HSI) was 3.1. Patients with oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancer showed the greatest dependence to nicotine 7.67 and 5.25, respectively, and with hypopharyngeal cancer had the lowest 3.5, (p = 0.039). The ranges of HSI were significantly higher for younger patients (p = 0.036). 35 patients were adequately motivated to quit smoking, and their mean age was statistically higher (p = 0.05). Self-reported motivation to smoking cessation was 76%. Of 152 surveyed doctors, only 39% declared knowledge of the diagnostic and therapeutic cessation interventions. 75% showed interest in the training programs.

[Attachment patterns and anxiety in adolescents suffering from mixed disorders of conduct and emotions]. / Wzory przywiazania i lek u adolescentów z diagnoza zaburzen zachowania i emocji.

AIM: The paper presents results of research concerning attachment patterns and anxiety in adolescents suffering from mixed disorders of conduct and emotions. METHOD: Both clinical and control group completed the Parental Bonding Instrument and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. The first questionnaire measures parental style as perceived by the child, it consists of two scales: care and control. The second one the temporary condition of "state anxiety" and the more general and long-standing quality of "trait anxiety". RESULTS: The study revealed that adolescents from the clinical group perceive their parents as less protective than the control. Adolescents from the clinical group revealed also a higher level of anxiety, both as a state and as a trait. CONCLUSIONS: The basic conclusion is that there are differences between groups in family functioning--adolescents from the clinical group received less protection from parents, which may influence their behaviours aimed at providing them more safety.

[Attachment patterns and aggressive behaviours in adolescents suffering from mixed disorders of conduct and emotions]. / Wzory przywiazania i zachowania agresywne wsród mlodziezy z diagnoza zaburzen zachowania i emocji.

AIM: The paper presents results of research concerning attachment patterns and aggressive behaviours in adolescents suffering from mixed disorders of conduct and emotions. METHOD: Both the clinical and the control group completed Parental Bonding Instrument and Polish version of Buss-Durkee Inventory. The first questionnaire measures parental style as perceived by the child, it consists of two scales: care and control. The second one measures some dimensions of aggression. RESULTS: The study revealed that adolescents from the clinical group perceive their parents as less protective than the control. It showed very weak relations between relations with the parents and expression of aggression. These results are discussed. CONCLUSIONS: The basic conclusion is that there are differences between groups in family functioning--adolescents from the clinical group received less protection from their parents what may influence their behaviours aimed at providing them more safety. Results concerning the relation between family relations and aggression indicate that future research must take into consideration other social relations of adolescents.