Dopamine D4 receptor exon III polymorphism, adverse life events and personality traits in a nonclinical German adult sample.

Personality and temperament embrace a wide area of both psychological and behavioral processes which are also based on disposition. A functional polymorphism in exon III of the dopamine D4 receptor gene (DRD4) has been a highly suspect genetic marker for personality in spite of ambiguous results. The present study aimed to further elucidate the relationship between DRD4, negative life events and personality in a representative nonclinical sample. Hundred sixty-seven Germans completed the NEO Five-Factor Inventory, the Tridimensional Personality Questionnaire and the California Adult Q-Sort. A factor analysis revealed 3 factors: emotional stability, social orientation and impulsivity. DNA fr…

Association of mental distress with smoking status in the community: Results from the Gutenberg Health Study.

Abstract Background Exposition to tobacco smoke is among the major modifiable risk factors in the general population. There is strong evidence for a close association between smoking exposure and mental disorders. Methods Cross-sectional associations of different conditions of smoking status (former, current, and second hand smoking (SHS)) with indicators of mental distress were analyzed in a sample of N =5000 participants (aged 35–74 years) of the population-based survey “Gutenberg Health Study”. Results In the general population clinically significant depression (OR 1.59, 95%CI 1.17–2.17) and a previous diagnosis of depression (OR 1.50, 95%CI 1.16–1.94) were associated with current smokin…

Adult attachment and gene polymorphisms of the dopamine D4 receptor and serotonin transporter (5-HTT).

Recently, the Dopamine D4 Receptor Gene (DRD4) and the Serotonin Transporter Gene (5-HTT) have been found to be candidate genes for infant attachment disorganization. The present study aimed to explore the relationship of these genes to adult attachment representations. The Adult Attachment Interview was used to assess attachment representations in 167 German adults. DNA from buccal cells was genotyped for the DRD4 VNTR Exon III and 5-HTT LPR polymorphisms with respect to the presence of the 7repeat allele and the short allele, respectively. DRD4 7repeat allele carriers were significantly more likely to be securely attached than those without 7repeat but only for subjects with unloving care…

Validating the German version of the Quality of Relationship Inventory: confirming the three-factor structure and report of psychometric properties.

Research on psychosocial influences such as relationship characteristics has received increased attention in the clinical as well as social-psychological field. Several studies demonstrated that the quality of relationships, in particular with respect to the perceived support within intimate relationships, profoundly affects individuals' mental and physical health. There is, however, a limited choice of valid and internationally known assessments of relationship quality in Germany. We report the validation of the German version of the Quality of Relationships Inventory (QRI). First, we evaluated its factor structure in a representative German sample of 1.494 participants by means of confirm…

Adult attachment representation moderates psychotherapy treatment efficacy in clinically depressed inpatients

Abstract Background We explored in a sample of clinically depressed patients the influence of attachment security and unresolved trauma on psychotherapeutic outcome as well as changes in attachment representation through psychotherapeutic intervention. Methods The sample consisted of 85 women (aged 19–52), 43 clinically depressed patients from a psychosomatic inpatient unit, and 42 healthy control subjects matched for age and education. Average length of hospitalization in the patient group was eight weeks. Attachment representations were assessed with the Adult Attachment Interview at the time of admission (baseline) and at discharge. Depressive symptoms were measured using the PHQ-9 at T1…

Symptoms of adjustment disorder and smoking predict long-term functional outcome after ankle and lower leg fracture

Objective To examine the psychological, social, behavioural and injury-related factors impacting functional outcome in patients with ankle or lower limb fracture one year post-operation. Methods In this prospective study 66 patients with ankle or lower leg fracture were recruited and followed up one year post-operation. Possible associations between predictors and functional outcome were explored by regression analyses. Functional outcome was assessed with the American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society Ankle-Hindfoot Score. Results Linear regression models revealed that smoking and elevated symptoms of adjustment disorder were associated with lower functional outcome one year post-operation…

Noise annoyance predicts symptoms of depression, anxiety and sleep disturbance 5 years later. Findings from the Gutenberg Health Study

Abstract Background Cross-sectional studies have shown that noise annoyance is strongly associated with mental distress, however, its long-term effects on mental health is unknown. We therefore investigated whether noise annoyance predicts depression, anxiety and sleep disturbance in a large, representative sample 5 years later. Methods We investigated longitudinal data of N = 11 905 participants of the Gutenberg Health Study, a population-based, prospective, single-centre cohort study in mid-Germany (age at baseline 35–74 years). Noise annoyance was assessed at baseline and 5-year follow-up (sources: road traffic, aircraft, railways, industrial, neighbourhood indoor and outdoor noise; and …

PHQ-2 and GAD-2 scores predict mortality in patients undergoing oral anticoagulation

Symptome einer Anpassungsstörung nach einer Unfallverletzung: Risiko- und Schutzfaktoren

Symptoms of Adjustment Disorder after an accidental injury: risk and protective factors Objectives: The identification of protective and risk factors for symptoms of adjustment disorder (AD) after an accident injury. Methods: In this prospective long-term study, data from 73 patients with ankle and lower leg fractures were analyzed. Symptoms of AD were assessed at enrollment (T0), 1 month (T1) and 12 months (T2) after injury. In addition, questionnaires regarding adverse childhood experiences, coping strategies and the number of stressors during the last year were obtained. The Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV (SCID) was conducted at T1 and T2. Results: 4.1 % of patients met the cri…

Childhood adversities and distress - The role of resilience in a representative sample.

While adverse childhood experiences have been shown to contribute to adverse health outcomes in adulthood, specifically distress and somatic symptoms, few studies have examined their joint effects with resilient coping style on adult adjustment. Hence, we aim to determine the association between resilient coping and distress in participants with and without reported childhood adversities. A representative German community sample (N = 2508) between 14-92 years (1334 women; 1174 men) was examined by the short form of the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, the Brief Resilience Coping Scale, standardized scales of distress and somatoform symptoms. Childhood adversity was associated with reduced ad…

Prevalence and determinants of online-sex use in the German population.

Introduction The unlimited access to sexual features in the World Wide Web has raised concerns about excessive and problematic online-sex use. However, little is known about antecedents of internet-sex use of different intensity. Based on a representative German sample of 2,522 participants between the ages of 14 and 97 years, the aims of the present study were (1) to determine the prevalence rates of online-sex users with the short version (ISSTGSV) of the Internet Sex Screening Test and (2) to associate online-sex use with anxious vs. avoidant partner attachment patterns and “Big Five” personality traits as potential antecedents. Results The ISST is a brief, one-dimensional and reliable m…

Symptoms of depression and anxiety predict mortality in patients undergoing oral anticoagulation: Results from the thrombEVAL study program

Abstract Background/objectives Depression and anxiety are highly prevalent in cardiovascular patients. Therefore, we examined whether the 4-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-4, measuring symptoms of depression and anxiety) predicts all-cause mortality in outpatients with long-term oral anticoagulation (OAC). Methods The sample comprised n=1384 outpatients from a regular medical care setting receiving long-term OAC with vitamin K antagonists. At baseline, symptoms of anxiety and depression were assessed with the PHQ-4 and the past medical history was taken. The outcome was all-cause mortality in the 24month observation period. The median follow-up time was 13.3months. Results N=191 pati…

Methylation of the oxytocin receptor gene in clinically depressed patients compared to controls: The role of OXTR rs53576 genotype

The emerging field of epigenetics provides a biological basis for gene-environment interactions relevant to depression. We focus on DNA methylation of exon 1 and 2 of the oxytocin receptor gene (OXTR) promoter. The research aims of the current study were to compare OXTR DNA methylation of depressed patients with healthy control subjects and to investigate possible influences of the OXTR rs53576 genotype. The sample of the present study consisted of 43 clinically depressed women recruited from a psychosomatic inpatient unit and 42 healthy, female control subjects - mean age 30 years (SD = 9). DNA methylation profiles of the OXTR gene were assessed from leukocyte DNA by means of bisulfite seq…

Das Adult Attachment Interview - Grundlagen, Anwendung und Einsatzmöglichkeiten im klinischen Alltag

The present paper looks at the potential of the Adult Attachment Interview (AAI) and its underlying basis in attachment theory for use in psychotherapeutic work. We summarize the basic tenets of attachment theory, detail the content and structure of the AAI, provide instructions for conducting the AAI, and introduce the Main et al. (2002) coding system. We then report on associations between AAI-Attachment groups and psychosomatic diseases and, finally, demonstrate applications of the AAI in clinical work and research.

Loneliness and its relation to mental health in the general population: Validation and norm values of a brief measure

Abstract Background Loneliness has been increasingly recognized as an important determinant of mental health. The purposes of this study were to (1) determine the degree of loneliness of women and men across different age groups, (2) explore its association with distress, (3) psychometrically evaluate the Three-Item Loneliness Scale, (4) provide norm values. Methods The Three-Item Loneliness Scale was applied in a representative survey of the German population (N=2527; 14–95 years). Standardized scales were used measuring distress (depression and anxiety symptoms, perceived stress, hopelessness, suicidal ideation, fatigue, life satisfaction). Factor structure and measurement invariance acro…