Stigmatising attitude of medical students towards a psychiatry label

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The Opinions of Italian Psychology Students About People Diagnosed with Depression and Schizophrenia: A Comparative Study

This study explored the opinions about depression and schizophrenia among Italian psychology students, and whether students’ opinions changed during education. Of the 705 students who read a description of depression (N = 275) or schizophrenia (N = 430) and then completed a questionnaire on their opinions about the disorder, 490 made a correct diagnosis (depression = 243/275; schizophrenia: 247/430) and were included in the study. Compared to schizophrenia-group students, depression-group students: more frequently mentioned psychosocial factors and less frequently heredity among the causes; were more convinced about the usefulness of psychological therapies and less about pharmacotherapies; had more prognostic optimism; had lower perception of unpredictability and dangerousness. Compared to first-year students, fifth-year students (depression = 105; schizophrenia = 162): in both diagnostic groups more frequently cited heredity among the causes; in depression group, had lower perception of unpredictability; in schizophrenia group, had higher perception of dangerousness and more prognostic pessimism. More education about stigma should be provided to psychology students

Temperament and character dimensions as predictors of depression and anxiety [Depresyon ve Kayginin Yordayicisi Olarak Mizaç ve Karakter Boyutlari]

The relationships between depressive mood and anxiety and personality are highly complex. The purpose of the present study was to explore the relations between depressive mood and anxiety and personality characteristics in the context of Cloninger's seven-factor psychobiological model of temperament and character. More specifically, the present study investigated the relationship between the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) in a sample of 241 working adolescents who have a risk developing depression and anxiety disorders. Correlations with the TCI and the BDI and the STAI were computed. To identify the predictor variables of depression and anxiety the stepwise multiple regression analysis was performed. Using LISREL, relationships were examined between personality dimensions, depression, a latent variable with two indicators (cognitive and somatic-affective) and anxiety, a latent variable with two indicators (state and trait). The analyses showed that personality scales HarmAvoidance and Self-Directedness correlated significantly with depression and anxiety. High "Self-Directedness" and low "Harm Avoidance" are probably protective factors against the development of depressive mood/ a depressive disorder or an anxiety disorder

Computer-aided supporting tool for LCA evaluation of energy efficiency of the buildings – assessment method and case studies

Abstract In the paper methods and the development of computer tool for the comprehensive life cycle assessment evaluation of the new or renovated buildings is presented. To support decision making process, computer tool was developed and consists of two computational units: the building description unit (BDU), and the life cycle assessment tool (Etool). BDU enables the determination of energy needs and final energy demand for the operation of EPBD systems. For the purpose of environment impact assessment, the life cycle inventory database is integrated into the BDU. Data are exported to LCA evaluation tool Etool that include two assessment modules: life cycle environmental impact module for mid-point and end-point assessment taking into account impact groups and damage factors from IMAPCT2002+ and ReCiPe methods and life cycle costs assessment module for evaluation of costs optimal values of energy efficiency measures for nearly zero energy buildings (nZEB). In the paper case studies are presented and discussed. The results show that energy use has dominant influence on buildings’ environment impacts and that life cycle cost analysis show optimal thermal insulation thickness higher than required in current regulative.</jats:p

Testing a Transdiagnostic Model Including Distal and Proximal Risk Factors for Depression and Anxiety

This study aimed to test a transdiagnostic model for depression and anxiety by including childhood trauma and parenting as the distal factors and neuroticism, emotion dysregulation, and repetitive negative thinking (RNT) as the proximal factors. Data were obtained from clinical (major depression, panic, generalized anxiety, or comorbid disorders) and nonclinical samples. Results showed that healthy controls had lower scores than the clinical sample in all measures. Moreover, participants with a single diagnosis had lower scores than those with comorbid diagnoses. The structural regression confirmed that the proximal factor represented by neuroticism, emotion dysregulation, and RNT had a mediating role between the distal factor represented by childhood trauma and negative parenting and emotional symptoms. Results refer to common vulnerability factors underlying depression and anxiety. Such findings indicate the transdiagnostic nature of the variables, provide new insight into psychopathology, and contribute to the development of common psychotherapy programs for emotional disorders