1,721,203 research outputs found
Using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale for women and men—some cautionary thoughts
No full textThe objective of the study was to critically consider some of the possible limitations in the Edinburgh Depression Scale (EDS), given that great emphasis is put on the results of this measure within both clinical and research fields. Using findings and discussion points from other studies, as well as from a critical analysis of issues by the authors based upon their clinical and research experience, possible limitations with the scale in nine areas are discussed. Possible limitations include the following: (1) ambiguous items, (2) exclusion of certain types of distress, (3) scoring difficulties, (4) low positive predictive value, (5) frequent use of incorrect cut-off scores, (6) a vast array of validated cut-off scores, (7) validation against a questionable gold-standard, (8) limited anxiety detection and of depressive symptoms in men, and (9) many screen positive women only have transient distress. While the EDS has unquestionably been an extremely valuable instrument in aiding in the recognition of the importance of perinatal mental health, users of the scale should be aware that it, like other measures, has limitations. We discuss possible strategies to overcome these limitations and describe a recent scale that has been developed to surmount these shortcomings more effectively
From difficulty to competency: cognitive abilities beyond mathematics and their impact on mathematical performance
Full text linkMathematics represents a discipline in which there is increasing interest in recent years. Indeed, achieving good mathematical competence seems to positively affect employment success, socioeconomic status, financial choices and even health status (Ritchie & Bates, 2013).
Precisely because of the importance of this discipline, the present work aims to investigate mathematical skills in children and young adults. Both the studies will be introduced with a systematic review aimed at identifying the domain-general abilities more involved in mathematical difficulties (children) or performance (young adults). In light of some critical issues that emerged from the reviews, such as the lack of consensus in defining the groups with mathematical difficulties, it was considered appropriate to alter the course of the experimental studies of this work focusing on mathematical competence, and not on the mathematical disorder. However, to investigate mathematical competence, it is necessary to consider some characteristics of this construct. First, mathematics is a composite discipline, and therefore its measurement is heterogeneous.
That implies that to define overall mathematical competence it is necessary to identify "sub-competencies" which may be influenced by different cognitive abilities. All that considerations, combined with the purpose of identifying the cognitive functions that most influence these skills, will be the cross-cutting aim of the present work
Perinatal depression in a cross-cultural perspective: how useful is assesment through Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale in developing countries?
No full textPerinatal mood disorders are shown to be relevant risk factors for the women's wellbeing, therefore special attention to this time of adjustment is clinically relevant. In a cross-cultural perspective, there is a wide variability in the way each culture expresses psychological distress and depressive symptoms. For example, in Africa depression is expressed mainly through somatic symptoms (sleeping problems, eating problems and weight fluctuation, pain). In Asia and particularly in Vietnamese culture, emotions are considered weaknesses of the mind, therefore complaining is rare.
The EPDS is a self-report questionnaire and it is one of the most used instruments to identify perinatal depressive symptoms. Our curiosity was focused on 3 aspects regarding the use of EPDS in developing countries:
How is it been used? Did it show to be a valid instrument?
Which was the rate of symptoms detected by EPDS in different countries? At this purpose, we undertook a systematic review of the literature. The collected articles identified a high variability in the rate of perinatal depressive symptoms, even though the prevalence of depression was detected considering the EPDS alone. This high variability might be due to the different cut-off scores used, the time of the assessment, and the sample characteristics. Moreover, the prevalence of depression was significantly higher in developing countries than in western countries, most of studies reporting rates between 20% and 40%.
Our preliminary consideration focus on the need to further explore the concept of perinatal depression in developing countries and the methods used for its detection. The heterogeneity of the findings might reflect in fact a miscellaneous context, but also difficulties due to the structure of the instrument.
For what concern developing countries, we should note a tendency to express depressive symptoms through somatic problems. However, EPDS does not explore somatic symptoms as it has been developed in western context. Therefore, further investigations are needed in this field
ANALYTICAL PSYCHODRAMA AS A USEFUL TREATMENT FOR ANXIETY-DEPRESSIVE DISORDERS IN COLLEGE STUDENTS
No full textIntroduction: Analytical Psychodrama has shown the potential for obtaining positive change in group members and is reputed by practitioners as an effective form of psychotherapy. Despite this, the lack of empirical validation for its multifarious interventions has contributed to its low visibility amongst contemporary psychotherapy approaches.
The main aim of the present study was to explore whether the analytical psychodrama offered by the Counselling Center of the University of Bologna to college students with anxiety-depressive disorders was useful to decrease symptomatology and increase well-being.
Method: Thirty patients (22 females) from 20 to 26 years old (mean age 22.33 ± 1.75) with anxiety-depressive disorders took part to the study and completed one year of analytical psychodrama. Participants fulfilled the Italian validation of Clinical Outcomes in Routine Evaluation – Outcome Measure (CORE-OM, Evans, 2002; Palmieri et al., 2009) questionnaire before and at the end of the group psychotherapy (40 sessions, one a week).
Results: Comparing pre and post-treatment CORE-OM mean scores, paired t-test analyses showed a statistically significant reduction on clinical outcomes scores. Specifically, the results revealed the usefulness of the treatment in terms of symptoms decrease and patients’ improvement in subjective well-being.
Conclusion: Our preliminary findings suggested that analytical psychodrama is a suitable treatment for college students, as it actually reduces young adults’ anxiety-depressive symptoms. These results contribute to a poorly covered topic on the validity of analytical psychodrama interventions and encourage research regarding the specific psychotherapeutic effects of this method
Il trauma della nascita pretermine e la sintomatologia ansiosa-depressiva materna
No full textLa nascita pretermine, in quanto evento altamente stressante e carico di preoccupazione e angoscia, costituisce un momento di crisi emozionale per i genitori. Sintomi ansiosi e depressivi possono in alcuni casi manifestarsi non solo durante la degenza ospedaliera, ma anche nei due anni dopo la nascita. Tale sintomatologia può interferire sulla capacità di assumere adeguatamente il ruolo genitoriale. Per questo motivo, è importante monitorare lo stato emozionale dei genitori e pianificare interventi precoci, dove siano necessari
Europe’s Immigration Challenge and Outdoor Education
Full text linkLittle is known about the role of Outdoor Education for immigrants’ inclusion in Europe. This brief article tries to fill the gap on this poorly recognized topic, presenting researches and experiences which are able of bridging issues such as: immigration policy, use of green public spaces, and Outdoor programmes. A theoretical framework is also needed, to recognize a structurally relevant function of Outdoor experiences in several dimensions like inclusion, health and learning. Outdoor Education can be effective not only for recreational use, but also for culturally relevant learning tasks, so that, by means of specific Outdoor Learning programmes, it can improve immigrants’ inclusion within European societies
A Methodological Analysis of the LINC Actions
Full text linkThis essay wants to introduce readers to the miscellaneous of categories the LINC project had to deal with, for educational, pedagogical and research purposes. The cluster of approaches is brought together, and their implications for the project undertaking are addressed and studied; in particular, goals and tools adopted are discussed. However, the main principle is here the fitness for purpose: it means that we used different tools for different ends, but paying attention on setting out the whole programme in a coherent way
Trauma della nascita pretermine e problematiche alimentari precoci
No full textPreterm birth is a traumatic event both for the mother and for the child and nutrition represent a problematic area. The trauma of prematurity may lead to dysfunctional early mother-child interactions with a high risk of developing difficulties during breastfeeding and weaning. In this framework are presented the preliminary results of a longitudinal study aimed at exploring the transition to eating autonomy, field still unexplored in literature. The research involved 20 mother-child preterm dyads and 17 dyads at term assessed at 18 and 24 months. The child eating habits, maternal mental state, and the characteristics of mother-child eating interaction are explored. Results highlight preterm children were less breastfed and show less autonomy during the meal compared to full-term children
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