Suchergebnisse

Background: It is well known that the absence of both autonomy and social support (relatedness) are two important etiologic pathways to major depressive disorder (MDD). However, cross-cultural researchers state that the implications of autonomy and relatedness for mental health vary across cultures. Aim: To test these assumptions, the current study investigated the relevance of autonomy and relatedness for mental health in healthy and depressed women from two different cultures (Germans and Turkish immigrants in Germany). Methods: One hundred and eight (108) women were evaluated for their levels of autonomy/relatedness satisfaction, for overall psychopathological complaints including depression, for affectivity and for perceived loneliness through self-report measures. Results: Among healthy groups, relatedness satisfaction predicted better mental health in Turkish women, whereas in German women, autonomy satisfaction was the better mental health predictor. Within depressed groups however, cultural differences in mental health outcomes regarding autonomy were no longer evident. Autonomy was associated with higher levels of mental health in Turkish as well as in German patients. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that the relationship between autonomy and mental health is culture-specific in healthy women, but disappears in depressed women. These findings are discussed with consideration of clinical implications and an outlook regarding further research.

"Kinder alkoholkranker Eltern (COA) weisen ein erhöhtes Risiko zur Entwicklung von Alkohol- und weiteren psychischen Störungen auf. Ziel dieser Studie war es, längsschnittlich zu überprüfen, ob auch beim Übergang von der Adoleszenz ins junge Erwachsenalter COAs ein erhöhtes Risiko für Alkohol- und weitere psychische Störungen aufweisen und welche Faktoren dabei eher verstärkend bzw. schützend wirken. Methode: 310 junge Erwachsene einer Allgemeinbevölkerungsstichprobe sowie deren Eltern wurden im Abstand von etwa 5 Jahren zu zwei Messzeitpunkten hinsichtlich Alkoholgebrauch, psychischen Störungen sowie soziodemografischen Variablen untersucht. Ergebnisse: Hinsichtlich Trinkmenge und Rauschtrinken zeigten sich keine Gruppenunterschiede zwischen COAs (n=83) und nonCOAs (n=227), jedoch berichteten COAs weniger regelmäßigen Alkoholkonsum (47.0% vs. 61.7%). Allerdings wiesen COAs ein 2.4fach erhöhtes Risiko für Alkoholstörungen (16.9 vs. 7.9%) auf, ebenso zeigten sie vermehrt affektive Störungen (18.1 vs. 8.8%) und tendenziell mehr Cluster-B-Persönlichkeitsstörungen (10.8% vs. 5.3%, p=.075). Gleichermaßen fanden sich erhöhte Psychopathologiewerte in der COA-Gruppe. Da nur etwa 17 Prozent der COAs eine Alkoholstörung aufwiesen, stellte sich die Frage, ob Persönlichkeitsdimensionen und Erziehungsverhalten das Risiko für Alkoholprobleme in der COA-Gruppe moderieren. Es fanden sich eine höhere emotionale Wärme der Eltern und höhere Werte im Temperamentsfaktor Belohnungsabhängigkeit der Kinder als Schutzfaktoren. Schlussfolgerungen: Es scheint eine besonders gefährdete Gruppe von COAs zu geben, die sich durch eine geringe Belohnungsabhängigkeit und ein als wenig warm wahrgenommenes Erziehungsverhalten charakterisieren lassen. Jedoch legen die Daten nahe, dass ein Großteil dieser Kinder sehr gute Regulationsmechanismen besitzt und nahezu abstinent bleibt. Dies sollte in zukünftigen Präventions- und Interventionsmaßnahmen berücksichtigt werden." (Autorenreferat)

This longitudinal study investigated the scope and course of attention problems over a period of time from preteen (ages 7–12 years) to early teen years (ages 13–17 years). We compared symptoms in subjects with and without a family history (FH) of alcohol abuse or dependence from among families without evidence of antisocial personality disorder. Evaluations of attention problems for the offspring were based on the Child Behavior Checklist and a validated semistructured interview carried out with the mother. The findings indicate no higher risk for attention problems and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)-like symptoms in the children of families with an alcohol use disorder. Regarding the course of problems, the ADHD symptom count tended to decrease over time, especially for children without a FH of alcohol abuse or dependence. Further research will be needed to determine whether results can be replicated with families from different social strata and including subjects with the antisocial personality disorder.

<i>Background:</i> Behavioral problems in adolescence have been shown to be associated with the presence of a positive family history of alcoholism (FH+), obstetric complications (OCs), and negative parenting practices. <i>Method:</i> This study tested the relation of these factors to aggression/delinquency and attention problems in an untreated population sample of 154 adolescents in Pomerania. Furthermore, we evaluated the predictive strength of a FH+, OCs and negative parenting styles in a prospective subsample of 127 adolescents using a hierarchical regression analysis. <i>Results:</i> Group comparisons between offspring with higher vs. lower values on aggression/delinquency revealed that only rejection by the parents was significantly more often reported by teenagers with higher measures on these behavioral problems. Offspring with higher values on attention problems had more OCs reported by the mother and also had more feelings of parental rejection compared to controls. The results of the hierarchical regression analysis showed that parental rejection was the only significant predictor for both aggression/delinquency, and attention problems measured 1 year after the initial assessment. <i>Conclusion:</i> We conclude that parental rejection is a major risk factor for both aggression/delinquency and attention problems. Reflecting the fact that these behavioral problems have been reported to be strongly associated with later substance misuse, the improvement of parenting practices should be considered in prevention and intervention programs.

This article investigates the prevalence of traumatization and mental distress in a sample of 1055 male European long-term prisoners as part of a wider study of the living conditions of prisoners serving sentences of at least five years in Belgium, Croatia, Denmark, England, Finland, France, Germany, Lithuania, Poland, Spain and Sweden. Data were collected in a written survey using the Posttraumatic Diagnostic Scale (PDS), the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI) as well as questions on attempted suicide and auto-aggressive behaviour. Participants experienced a mean of three traumatic events, with 14 per cent developing a Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) subsequently. In each national sample, more than 50 per cent of the participants were in need of treatment because of psychological symptoms and nearly one-third had attempted suicide.

Background/Aims: Maltreatment in childhood and adolescence is a risk factor for substance use disorders (SUDs) in adulthood. This association has rarely been investigated in the light of emotion dysregulation. To fill this gap, this study examines emotion dysregulation and SUDs among adults with a history of early maltreatment. Methods: Comparison of emotion dysregulation in adults with a history of early abuse and neglect who developed either an SUD (n = 105) or no mental disorder (n = 54). Further, a mediation model for the association between the severity of early maltreatment and SUDs was tested. Participants completed research diagnostic interviews for psychopathology, the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale, and the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire. Results: By using hierarchical regression techniques and mediational analyses controlling for age and gender, it was possible to provide evidence for the mediating role of emotion dysregulation between early emotional and physical maltreatment and later SUDs. Conclusions: Emotion dysregulation is a potential mechanism underlying the relationship between early emotional and physical maltreatment and the development of SUDs. In light of these findings, focusing on the early training of adaptive emotion regulation strategies after childhood maltreatment might be of considerable relevance to prevent the development of SUDs.