Immigrants Psychopathology: Emerging Phenomena and Adaptation of Mental Health Care Setting by Native Language.

Mental health of immigrants is an important social and clinical issue. Immigrants may report higher rates of mental disorders and lower levels of use of mental health service with respect to natives. The aim of the present work is to review recent findings of the psychopathology of immigrants and analyze how to adapt the mental care settings through the use of mother tongues. We searched the literature to individuate and review the most recent scientific articles focused on the psychopathology of immigrants realized in Europe. Moreover, we summarized the guidelines about immigrants mental health care and we focused on the barriers caused by language. We individuated 15 papers reporting data…

Alexithymia and coping style in women going to visit in a breast cancer center.

Is BRCA1-5083del19, identified in breast cancer patients of Sicilian origin, a Calabrian founder mutation?

Various studies have been published in Italy regarding the different BRCA1 mutations, but only the BRCA1-5083del19 mutation is recurrent and specific to individuals of Italian descent with a founder effect on the Calabrian population. In our previous study, BRCA1-5083del19 mutation carriers were found in four index cases of 106 Sicilian patients selected for familial and/or hereditary breast/ovarian cancers. The high frequency rate of this mutation identified in the Sicilian population led us to perform haplotype analysis in all family carriers. Five highly polymorphic microsatellite markers were used (D17S1320, D17S932, D17S1323, D17S1326, D17S1325) to establish whether or not all these fa…

4843delC of the BRCA1 gene is a possible founder mutation in Southern Italy (Sicily).

Various studies have been published in Italy regarding the different BRCA1 mutations, but only the BRCA1-5083del19 mutation is recurrent and specific to individuals of Italian descent with a founder effect on the Calabrian population. In our previous study, BRCA1-5083del19 mutation carriers were found in four index cases of 106 Sicilian patients selected for familial and/or hereditary breast/ovarian cancers. The high frequency rate of this mutation identified in the Sicilian population led us to perform haplotype analysis in all family carriers. Five highly polymorphic microsatellite markers were used (D17S1320, D17S932, D17S1323, D17S1326, D17S1325) to establish whether or not all these fa…

BRCA1/2 variants of uncertain clinical significance in patients with famlial and hereditary breast/ovarian cancer

Risorse psicosociali e re-impiegabilità dopo lunghi periodi di inoccupazione: il caso degli operai ex-FIAT di Termini Imerese

Nel dibattito nazionale relativo al difficile equilibrio tra le esigenze delle organizzazioni lavorative e le politiche di tutela dei diritti dei lavoratori, certamente il caso del destino dello stabilimento FIAT di Termini Imerese (PA) ha avuto negli ultimi anni un ruolo di primo piano. Il presente lavoro rappresenta il primo contributo di un accordo siglato tra il Dipartimento SPPF dell'Università di Palermo, la azienda interessata al reinserimento dei lavoratori ex-FIAT (BLUTEC) e la società di consulenza incaricata di occuparsi di questo delicato processo di transizione. Tra finalità dell'accordo c'è quella di svolgere una attività di ricerca volta ad esplorare le variabili psicosociali…

Academic Workload, Well-Being and Workaholism in Italian Universities

As suggested by Romainville (1996), universities are the only organizations focussed on dual core functions of knowledge creation and knowledge transmission through the processes of research and teaching. University academic staff do complex work in an increasingly demanding environment, so the workaholism risk seems to be higher than in other professions. Although this type of work behavior seems to be culturally approved by the academic community, it constitutes an element of risk for the health and well being of those who have chosen this type of profession on the basis of different expectations, especially in pace, amount, and independence at work. A very interesting line of research (w…

The need for recovery scale

Abstract Introduction Need for Recovery scale is one of the main scales used to assess work-induced fatigue and quality of workers’ recovery time. In fact, need for recovery is considered relevant as a precursor of prolonged fatigue or psychological distress, an indicator of work stress, and a mediating or moderating characteristic in the etiology of work-related health problems, sick leave and work disability. Objective The purpose of the present study is to translate the Need for Recovery scale into Italian, and to adapt it to Italian culture; until now there has been no comparable valid instrument made for the Italian language that measures the need for recovery of employees. The stabili…

Analysis of TP53, Ki-Ras and P16INK4A promoter methylation as potential prognostic factors in patients with colorectal cancer

La rappresentazione della professionalità dello psicologo in ambito giuridico. Un contributo di ricerca.

Nonostante negli ultimi anni ci sia stata una evoluzione ed una sistematizzazione normativa in merito alla professione dello psicologo, tuttavia essa è da sempre attraversata da una crisi d’immagine. Come afferma Perussia (1994), il problema dell’immagine pubblica dello psicologo incide su vari aspetti, tra i quali: autostima e immagine di sè da parte del professionista, attese del pubblico, ruolo assunto nei contesti lavorativi, disponibilità di fondi pubblici, ecc. Proprio per questi motivi, varie sono le ricerche dedicate a questo argomento (Guest, 1948; Nunnally & Kittross 1958; Webb & Speer, 1985; Carli, 2001; Bosio, 2004). I dati fin qui emersi mettono in evidenza come nel tempo si si…

The impact of the patient's Adjustment to breast cancer of the burden and distress of the caregiver.

Emotional expression and coping style in female breast cancer.

Background: The study of the relationship of emotional status and tumor etiology has been investigated in order to elaborate a multifactorial model able to provide an answer integrating the different disciplines on cancer. The aim of this work is to investigate the knowledge on the alexithymia construct, exploring the presence of such trait in women affected by mammary carcinoma and analyzing the used coping strategies. The study has also examined personal thoughts related to event control (locus of control). Method: The Toronto Alexithymia Scale, Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced, and Locus of Control questionnaires were administered to a group of 86 women aged 31-55 years (mean =…

Using the QEEW to evaluate the organizational climate in Italian work contexts

Our research work aims to evaluate the possible use of the questionnaire on the experience and evaluation of work (QEEW; van Veldhoven & Meijman, 1994) in Italian work contexts. The QEEW was modeled to evaluate a) job demands and job resources, to collect relevant information on the amount of exposure to environmental and psychological job characteristics; b) outcome measures, such as job enjoyment and need for recovery. The QEEW is wide used in north Europe to test a theoretical model useful to understand the workers wellbeing (the job demands-resources model, Bakker, van Veldhoven and Xanthopoulou, 2010). The research was conducted in 3 different work contexts (public hospital, public…

Benessere, fonti di stress e strategie di coping in un campione di medici oncologi

CONTRIBUTO ALL’ADATTAMENTO ITALIANO DELLE SCALE SUL BENESSERE AFFETTIVO DI WARR

Introduzione Il benessere affettivo nei luoghi di lavoro è un tema a lungo trascurato a causa del susseguirsi di modelli teorici razionalistici di comprensione del rischio psicosociale. Il modello sviluppato da Warr (2007) si basa su un concetto di benessere psicologico definito in termini affettivi, ossia basato sulla tipologia di emo- zioni sperimentate dall’individuo. Nello specifico, l’autore ipo- tizza un modello multidimensionale di benessere che viene rappresentato da due dimensioni ortogonali (piacevolezza e attivazione mentale), ma misurato da tre dimensioni (piacevo- lezza, ansia-comfort, depressione-entusiasmo). Obiettivi e Metodi Scopo del presente contributo è valutare la strut…

GENOTYPE ANALYSIS OF COLORECTAL CARCINOMAS THROUGH LASER PRESSURE CATAPULTING (LPC)

BRCA 1/2 GENES MUTATIONAL SCREENING IN SICILIAN BREAST AND/OR OVARIAN CANCER FAMILIES

“POSSO MOSTRARE QUELLO CHE PROVO?” LA DISSONANZA EMOTIVA E I SUOI EFFETTI SUL BENESSERE

Introduzione. La gestione e la regolazione delle proprie emozioni all’interno dei luoghi di lavoro assumono un’importanza fondamentale soprattutto per quei lavoratori che sono costantemente a contatto diretto con le persone. La dissonanza emotiva è intesa come una discrepanza tra le emozioni sperimentate e quelle richieste dall’organizzazione nel contesto di lavoro (Zapf, 2002). Gli antecedenti della dissonanza emotiva possono essere individuati in alcune caratteristiche del lavoro (es. bassa autonomia, Johnson & Spector, 2007). Inoltre, diversi studi sostengono che la tensione e il conflitto che derivano dalla dissonanza emotiva sono associati e predicono l’esaurimento emotivo (Lewig & Dol…

BRCA 1/2 VARIANTS OF UNCERTAIN CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE IN PATIENTS WITH FAMILIAL AND HEREDITARY BREAST/OVARIAN CANCER

Il benessere nei luoghi di lavoro: il ruolo dei fattori “di contenuto” e “di contesto”.

Dal momento della fondazione dell’approccio della Psicologia Positiva e dei suoi obiettivi e metodi di ricerca si è sempre più rafforzato l’interesse, nel campo della Psicologia del Lavoro e delle organizzazioni, per la ricerca e lo studio di quei fattori psicologici in grado di rappresentare adeguatamente la condizione di benessere nei luoghi di lavoro (Schaufeli e Bakker, 2006). Ad esempio Luthans (2002) ha cercato di richiamare l’attenzione verso lo studio “delle risorse umane orientate positivamente, i punti di forza e le capacità psicologiche che possono essere misurate, sviluppate e gestite in modo efficace per migliorare le prestazioni nei luoghi di lavoro” (p. 698). Il presente stud…

Imprenditorialità ed aziende familiari

In Italia, le imprese familiari sembrano ancora essere saldamente il cuore pulsante dello sviluppo economico. Nel contesto degli studi dedicati al tema dell'imprenditorialità, la specificità espressa delle imprese familiari appare evidente, in particolare per quel che riguarda il tema del passaggio generazionale, vero punto debole di molte realtà del nostro Paese. Tale passaggio va ovviamente considerato bidirezionale, in quanto processo dinamico inserito in un contesto socio-economico in continua evoluzione: i processi psicologici implicati sono spesso considerati meno importanti delle procedure formali che vengono messe in atto nei momenti di passaggio, creando le condizioni per un peggio…

62 THE ROLE OF PSYCHOLOGICAL ASPECTS IN ONCOGENETIC COUNSELLING

Disoccupazione e percezione di efficacia nelle scelte di carriera

Aplotype analysis in four sicilian families with 5083del19bp-BRCA1.

Well-being of physicians who work in oncology unit and in BMT unit: analysis of protective factors from work stress

Background. Recently a great deal of attention has been given on doctors' work related stress and possibility of improving their quality of life. Several studies report that oncologists are overloaded psychologically. Contact with serious diseases, excessive working pressure, structural weaknesses, are some of the factors that predispose oncologists to stress. In 2008, at the ASPHO annual meeting, pediatric hematologists/oncologists noted burnout (considered as a result of protracted stress at work) was a significant challenge in their lives. To date, no studies have extensively ruled out on protective factors from work stress among pediatric oncologists. Aims. Our research investigates the…

Well-being among Italian medical oncologists: An exploratory study

<b><i>Background:</i></b> Recently, attention has been focused on physicians' stress and quality-of-life improvement. Due to their relationship with patients, oncologists in particular are overloaded physically, emotionally and psychologically. Previous studies showed that training of communication skills improves the satisfaction and well-being of physicians and patients. <b><i>Aims:</i></b> Our research investigates the relationship between work stress and engagement and personal well-being in physicians working in Italian hospitals. <b><i>Materials and Methods:</i></b> 176 physicians were included. Doctors filled out…

Use of herbal products among cancer and transplanted patients in the town of Palermo,Sicily.

Emotional Demands and Emotional Dissonance in the workplace: effects on well-being and workplace mood

Theoretical background. The connection between work-related stress and psychosocial risks and workers’ health and safety has been confirmed in a wide range of studies all over the world. According EU-OSHA (2016), "while acknowledging the role of individual dispositions and general life circumstances, it has been shown that stress stemming from work-related factors may significantly affect workers’ functioning in and outside work". In the same report, focused on emerging risks, it is stated that "every job has some degree of pressure involved, but with proper monitoring, the allocation of adequate resources and support, workers should be in a position to deal with these pressures while remai…

The relation between socio-relational self-efficacy and work engagement in an Italian sample of social workers

This study examined how much in social workers the confidence about perceived socio-relational competencies is related to work engagement. We used a questionnaire delevoped to assess the socio- relational self-efficacy (according to the Bandura’s theory), and the UWES (Schaufeli & Bakker, 2003), a measure of work engagement, defined as a positive, fulfilling work-related state of mind. Subjects were interviewed in therapeutic commu- nities (for drug addicts, for abused women etc.) or family communities. It was found that some aspects of relational competence (like to feel able to understand others’ feelings) are strongly related to work engagement.

Molecular analysis of TP53, Ki-Ras and P16 methylation status in tissue and plasma of subjects affected by gastrointestinal cancer

Alexithymia and copyng style in women going to visit in a breast cancer center

Protection from work stress and burnout in Italian oncologists

Oncology is a field of medicine with an high psychological investment and therefore at high risk for burnout (Gandey, 2006). Is possible to identify the causes of burnout in the complex combination of environmental stressors, including factors that are closely related to oncology and elements of the personality of the subjects (Guarino, 2006). This work aims to explore burnout risk, job satisfaction, quality of life and coping styles in a sample of physicians that works in some Italian oncological units. We used the Health Professions Stress and Coping Scale, the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale, the General Health Questionnaire and a scale that explore the socio-relational perceived skills. T…

THE ROLE OF PSYCHOLOGICAL ASPECTS IN ONCOGENETIC COUNSELLING

Background: As result of the recent developments in DNA testing and the knowledge that cancer can be hereditary, it is now possible to offer genetic counselling to people within identified “cancer families”, and to inform them about their assumed increased risk for developing cancer. The aim of this study was to test the role of psychological aspect in oncogenetic counselling. The primary purpose of the research was to evaluate the difference between Anxiety Trait and Anxiety State in subjects going to oncogenetic counselling. The secondary aim was to explore the relationships between alexithymia, personality trait, coping style, psychological distress, in subjects attending genetic counsel…

Le caratteristiche del lavoro come possibili predittori della ‘necessità di recupero’

Introduzione. La necessità di recupero (quel periodo di tempo di cui un individuo ha bisogno per ritornare ad un livello normale di funzionamento in seguito allo stress sperimentato durante la giornata lavorativa; Craig et al., 1992) è stata considerata indicatore di stress lavorativo e caratteristica rilevante di mediazione/moderazione nell’eziologia della fatica. Lo “sforzo” lavorativo prolungato provoca sensazioni di fatica e una serie di reazioni che cessano quando lo sforzo si ferma. Quando la normale possibilità di recupero non è sufficiente, si rischia l’avvio di un processo cumulativo (Kompier, 1988) che implica l’impiego di uno sforzo supplementare al fine di riequilibrare lo stato…

La forma ridotta del Questionnaire on Experience and Evaluation of Work (QEEW)

La promozione del benessere nei luoghi di lavoro, oggi, è un obbligo di Legge (cfr. D.Lgs. 81/2008). Per le organizzazioni di successo, oltre ad essere un adempimento legislativo, l'attenzione verso il benessere dei lavoratori diviene una leva strategica per la produttività e la crescita. In diversi paesi europei, la promozione del benessere lavorativo e la valutazione dei rischi psicosociali trovano riscontro nel contesto culturale e sono, ormai, realtà consolidate. Diversi studi mostrano che alcune caratteristiche del lavoro possono avere un profondo impatto sul benessere dei lavoratori; in particolare, il Job Demands and Resources Model (JD-R) (Demerouti, Bakker, Nachreiner & Schaufeli, …

Sovraccarico e rischi da dipendenza da lavoro negli accademici italiani: un'indagine conoscitiva

Negli ultimi anni in Italia si è assistito ad un cambiamento nel lavoro del docente universitario, che ha spinto ad aumentare la quota di tempo da dedicare alle diverse attività (molte delle quali inattese all'atto della assunzione) e che ha prodotto una sorta di giustificazione "culturale" di comportamenti che possono essere configurabili a margine del rischio workaholism. Esiste una ampia letteratura relativa al peso del sovraccarico lavorativo dei lavoratori del sistema dell'educazione, ed in particolare connessi al peso delle attività d'aula ed all'aumento del lavoro burocratico; le ricerche che si sono occupate della "higher education" hanno però perlopiù connesso il sovraccarico lavor…

Career Adaptability and re-employability after long periods of inactivity

There has recently been an increasing interest in stimulating re-employment of unemployed workers by so-called active labor market policies. In Italy, the Fiat factory in Termini Imerese (Sicily) is one of the most important business cases in the study of the relationship between economic and psycho-social needs of an entire area in relation to the theme of the work importance. This paper is the result of an agreement signed between our University Department, the company interested to reintegrate ex-FIAT workers (BLUTEC), and the consulting firm who have in charge with this delicate transition process. We want to explore the psychosocial variables related to the long period of inactivity, s…

LE EMOZIONI NELLE ORGANIZZAZIONI: POSSIAMO DAVVERO IGNORARLE?

Introduzione. Questo studio esplora l'importanza delle esperienze affettive dei lavoratori nel settore dei servizi, partendo dall’ipotesi di ricerca: come possono le esperienze affettive sul luogo di lavoro contribuire a spiegare gli esiti dello stress lavorativo? L’Affective Events Theory (AET) costituisce il fondamento teorico di partenza. Obiettivi e Metodi. In particolare, l’obiettivo principale del presente studio è stato quello di indagare il ruolo che gli stati affetti positivi e negativi sperimentati sul luogo di lavoro giocano come mediatori della relazione tra le caratteristiche del lavoro e gli esiti del processo dello stress lavorativo. A partire dal modello JD-R, è stato testat…

Genotype analysis of colorectal carcinomas through laser pressare catapulting (LPC)

Recently, new chemotherapy agents which target the non-structural components of mitosis have been developed. An important protein involved in several mitotic phases is the Aurora-A protein. By means of the phosphorylation of different substrates, Aurora-A regulates the correct development of the various phases of mitosis. The kinase activity of this protein makes Aurora-A an excellent candidate as an oncogene. The first data of Aurora-A involvement in cancer regarded the identification of Aurora-A overexpression in primary breast and colon tumour samples. With regard to the predictive role of Aurora-A, it has been shown that its overexpression disrupts the spindle checkpoint activated by pa…

Academic Workload: quando il prof va in sovraccarico

La valutazione dello stress lavoro-correlato consiste probabilmente in una delle migliori occasioni per favorire lo sviluppo delle organizzazioni in direzione di un migliore riequilibrio tra gli obiettivi delle stesse e i bisogni di benessere dei lavoratori che le abitano. In Italia questa occasione di sviluppo, dalla attuazione del D.lgs. 81 del 2008, in effetti stenta un po' a prendere forma, soprattutto a causa di una certa ritrosia, da parte delle organizzazioni lavorative, a voler affrontare i cosiddetti rischi psicosociali che una valutazione approfondita consentirebbe di far emergere con chiarezza. Sono molti gli accademici che negli ultimi anni hanno prestato il loro contributo scie…

WELL-BEING, SOURCES OF STRESS AND COPING STRATEGIES IN A SAMPLE OF ONCOLOGISTS

Background: Several studies have highlighted that some professional categories, called: ‘helping professions’, appear, more than other professions, to be subjected to sources of stress and the connected risks of burn-out. In particular personnel working in oncology face potentially stressful situations and having to deal daily with the needs and concerns of the patients and their families. It is therefore necessary to understand the variables that can limit the impact of stress. This research seeks to explore the degree of personal well-being of the oncologists interviewed, taking into consideration some possible predictors, such as the age and specific trainings (i.e. in diagnosis communic…

Molecular analysis of TP53, Ki-Ras and P16 methylation status in tissue and plasma of subjects affected by gastrointestinal cancer (GIC)

BACKGROUND: Despite the improvement in detection and surgical therapy in the last years, the outcome of patients affected by colorectal carcinoma (CRC) remains limited by metastatic relapse. The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of free tumor DNA in the plasma of CRC patients in order to understand its possible prognostic role. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Ki-Ras, TP53 mutations and p16(INK4A) methylation status were prospectively evaluated in tumor tissues and plasma of 66 CRC patients. RESULTS: In 50 of the 66 primitive tumor cases (76%) at least one significant alteration was identified in Ki-Ras and/or TP53 and/or p16(INK4A) genes. Eighteen of the 50 patients presented the same…

Using the Questionnaire on Experience and Assessment of Work with the Italian Population

The assessment of work-related stress has been an issue that has attracted attention of Italian psychologists for a long time, but only in recent years it has been remarked in the laws protecting workers. In fact, it has just been recalled the need, in a legislative decree, to place special emphasis on psychological well-being of the worker and not just on his security. The Italian professionals (Work, Organizational or Personnel Psychologists) who worked on the assessment of psychological risks of work-related stress, used instruments to assess the organizational climate primarily, by integrating qualitative m ethodologies (such as focus group) with quantitative instruments. These instrume…

AZIENDE FAMILIARI E RAPPORTI DI PARENTELA AL LAVORO

Introduzione. Le imprese familiari sono i maggiori contributori allo sviluppo economico, alla crescita in tutte le economie mondiali. Diversi studi sulle imprese familiari riportano risultati ricchi di contraddizioni, di certo, una delle peculiarità delle imprese familiari riguarda la sovrapposizione tra le istituzioni “famiglia” e “impresa”. Alcuni studi mostrano che essere lavoratore e membro della famiglia al contempo, può configurarsi come punto di forza o di debolezza, può inasprire la percezione delle domande lavorative oppure rappresentare una risorsa, soprattutto in termini di supporto sociale. Obiettivi e Metodi. Il presente studio si propone di esplorare le percezioni delle caratt…