0000000000939195
AUTHOR
Epifanio Maria Stella
Alexithymia, burden and resilience in ALS’ caregivers
Living with a progressively disease such as Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) has a strong impact on the people affected and on their relatives, who have to tackle the demanding duties of caring for and assisting them (Tramonti et al., 2014). Many factors modulate the levels of burden in ALS’ caregivers: disease related factors, personality related factors, enviromental factors. Dennison et al (2001) showed that alexithymia could to contribute to increasing distress in ALS’ caregivers, but there are very few studies on this. Other studies supporting the role of resilience such as protective factor (Ripamonti, 2015). The aim of the study is to assess the relationship between alexithymia, r…
PRELIMINARY STUDY ON FATIGUE IN BREAST CANCER SURVIVORS
Introduction. Fatigue is the most common and stressful side effect of cancer and its treatments and it occurs not only during these but it is a condition that can persist even many years after the end anti-cancer treatment (Bower E. et al., 2006) interfering substantially with the activities of daily life of the subject (Lavoy E. et al., 2016; (Fatigoni S. et al.,2015). It has been estimated that between 19% and 38% of cancer survivors experience significant levels of fatigue after treatment (ibidem, 2016). It has been shown that the onset and severity of this syndrome is not related to the type of cancer or treatment variables, making it difficult to identify populations with the greatest …
The Rorschach method for obesity assessment: clinical study on a group of obese women
SUMMARY. Aim. The purpose of this study is to explore through the Rorschach method the psychological and personological profile of the woman with obesity. Methods. The Rorschach test was administered to 10 women with body mass index of 41.86±9.9 kg/m2 at the clinic for obesity surgical treatment at the University Hospital “Paolo Giaccone” of Palermo. Results. The quantitative and qualitative analysis of the Rorschach responses detected in the study show: limited practical and creative sense in managing daily life situations, rigid control of emotions, affective turmoil, sense of inadequacy; sufficient examination of reality and adaptation social. Conclusion. The Rorschach method can be the …
MENTAL FUNCTIONING IN A GROUP OF OBESE PATIENTS CANDIDATES FOR BARIATRIC TREATMENT: DEFENCE MECHANISMS AND ALEXITHYMIA
Several studies confirm that obesity with comorbidity psychiatric disorders decreases the long-term success of surgical treatment. The prevalence of psychiatric disorders varies from 30% to 76% between the obese patients candidate for bariatric treatment (Hudson et al., 2007; Striegel-Moore et al., 2009). It goes without saying that it is essential to prearrange a correct assessment in patient with a severe obesity who are candidate for surgical treatment in order to ensure a long term successful treatment. The aim of the study is to outline some psychological factors that could promote and maintain conditions of severe obesity and to identify weak points in widely applied care pathway. Thi…