CERCA UNA PUBBLICAZIONE
Tenore, Katia; Granziol, Umberto; Luppino, Olga Ines; Mancini, Francesco; Mancini, Alessandra
In: Current Psychology, 2024.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tag:
@article{Tenore2024,
title = {Group imagery imagery rescripting via telehealth decreases dysfunctional personality beliefs and the meta‑emotional problem but does not increase positive self‑compassion},
author = {Katia Tenore and Umberto Granziol and Olga Ines Luppino and Francesco Mancini and Alessandra Mancini},
editor = {Springer Lynk },
url = {https://apc.it/2024-mancini-group-imagery-imagery-rescripting-via-telehealth-decreases/},
doi = {doi.org/10.1007/s12144-024-05815-x},
year = {2024},
date = {2024-03-24},
urldate = {2024-03-24},
journal = {Current Psychology},
abstract = {Imagery rescripting (ImR) has shown to reduce negative belief about the self, negative emotions and emotional dysregulation. However, the mechanisms through which this improvement in emotion regulation takes place is currently the object of investigation. An untested hypothesis is that ImR reduces the negative emotional response to primary emotions (i.e. the Meta-emotional problem) associated to difficulties in emotional regulation. In this study, the researchers aimed to investigate the impact of group ImR delivered via telehealth on dysfunctional personality beliefs, the Meta-emotional problem, difficulties in emotional regulation, and self-compassion in a non-clinical sample of participants. A total of 45 community sample participants received three sessions of group ImR delivered via telehealth. Personality dysfunctional beliefs, meta-emotions, self-compassion and emotional dysregulation were measured before ImR and in three follow-up sessions. Dysfunctional personality beliefs, specifically those associated with the dependent, obsessive–compulsive, antisocial, and histrionic personality disorders, were significantly reduced after the ImR intervention. Additionally, the Meta-emotional problem and difficulties in emotional regulation were also reduced. Moreover, negative self-compassion showed a significant decrease after ImR, but positive self-compassion remained unchanged. These findings suggest that group ImR delivered via telehealth can effectively reduce negative beliefs about oneself, negative emotions, and emotional dysregulation. However, it seems that this intervention does not increase a more benevolent attitude towards oneself, possibly due to the less direct intervention of the therapist in the group telehealth setting. The researchers discuss the implications of these findings for clinical practice in a group telehealth context.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Zaccari, Vittoria; Mancini, Francesco; Rogier, Guyonne
State of the art of the literature on definitions of self-criticism: a meta-review Journal Article
In: vol. 15, 2024.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tag:
@article{Zaccari2024,
title = {State of the art of the literature on definitions of self-criticism: a meta-review},
author = {Vittoria Zaccari and Francesco Mancini and Guyonne Rogier},
editor = {Frontiers in Psychiatry},
url = {https://apc.it/2024-mancini-state-of-the-art-of-the-literature-on-definitions-of-self-criticism-a-meta-review/},
year = {2024},
date = {2024-02-19},
volume = {15},
abstract = {Background: Several authors have developed important theoretical models on an important transdiagnostic factor in psychopathology: self-criticism (SC). Currently, there are substantial variations in the theoretical definition of SC. The lack of awareness of similarities and differences between models may in turn impact the comparison between empirical results, limiting their clinical implications.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Saliani, Angelo Maria; Perdighe, Claudia; Zaccari, Vittoria; Luppino, Olga Ines; Mancini, Alessandra; Tenore, Katia; Mancini, Francesco
Treating guilt-inducing self-talk in OCD with dramatized Socratic dialogue: A step by step intervention Journal Article
In: 2024, ISSN: 2385-0787.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tag:
@article{Saliani2024,
title = {Treating guilt-inducing self-talk in OCD with dramatized Socratic dialogue: A step by step intervention},
author = {Angelo Maria Saliani and Claudia Perdighe and Vittoria Zaccari and Olga Ines Luppino and Alessandra Mancini and Katia Tenore and Francesco Mancini},
editor = {Franco Angeli Editore},
url = {https://apc.it/2024-mancini-treating-guilt-inducing-self-talk-in-ocd-with-dramatized-socratic-dialogue/},
doi = {doi.org/10.36131/cnfioritieditore},
issn = {2385-0787},
year = {2024},
date = {2024-02-01},
urldate = {2024-02-01},
abstract = {Objective: Fear of moral guilt and conseque:nt increased attention to personal actions and intentions are the main ingredients of the self-criticism in patients
suffering from obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). This pathogenic attitude takes shape in a typical guilt-inducing self-talk.
The purpose of this work is to describe in detail a novel cognitive therapeutic procedure for OCD called “Dramatized Socratic Dialogue” (DSD).
Method: DSD is a theory-oriented intervention that combine elements of Socratic dialogue, chairwork, and cognitive acceptance strategies derived from Mancini’s
model, which posits that obsessive-compulsive (OC) symptoms stem from a fear of deontological guilt.
Results: DSD appears to have many strengths, being a theory-oriented treatment and focusing, as a therapeutic target, on the cognitive structures that determine
pathogenic processes and OC symptoms. Furthermore, it is a short, flexible and tailormade intervention.
Conclusions: Detailed description of the intervention could foster future research perspectives and thus be used in evidence-based effectiveness studies to establish whether DSD reduces OC symptoms and to investigate its mechanism of action.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
suffering from obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). This pathogenic attitude takes shape in a typical guilt-inducing self-talk.
The purpose of this work is to describe in detail a novel cognitive therapeutic procedure for OCD called “Dramatized Socratic Dialogue” (DSD).
Method: DSD is a theory-oriented intervention that combine elements of Socratic dialogue, chairwork, and cognitive acceptance strategies derived from Mancini’s
model, which posits that obsessive-compulsive (OC) symptoms stem from a fear of deontological guilt.
Results: DSD appears to have many strengths, being a theory-oriented treatment and focusing, as a therapeutic target, on the cognitive structures that determine
pathogenic processes and OC symptoms. Furthermore, it is a short, flexible and tailormade intervention.
Conclusions: Detailed description of the intervention could foster future research perspectives and thus be used in evidence-based effectiveness studies to establish whether DSD reduces OC symptoms and to investigate its mechanism of action.
Giorgetta, Cinzia; Strappini, Francesca; Capuozzo, Alessandra; Evangelista, Elisa; Magno, Antonella; Castelfranchi, Cristiano; Mancini, Francesco
Guilt, shame, and embarrassment: similar or different emotions? A comparison between Italians and Americans Journal Article
In: 2023.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tag:
@article{Giorgetta2023,
title = {Guilt, shame, and embarrassment: similar or different emotions? A comparison between Italians and Americans},
author = {Cinzia Giorgetta and Francesca Strappini and Alessandra Capuozzo and Elisa Evangelista and Antonella Magno and Cristiano Castelfranchi and Francesco Mancini},
editor = {Frontiers in psychology },
url = {https://apc.it/2023-mancini-guilt-shame-and-embarrassment-similar-or-different/},
doi = {doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1260396},
year = {2023},
date = {2023-12-12},
urldate = {2023-12-12},
abstract = {Introduction: Guilt, shame, and embarrassment represent affective experiences with social implications and diverse self-relevant negative affect. While the distinction between these emotion terms has been extensively investigated, little is known about how they diverge and are related to each other and their crosscultural differences.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Grossi, Giuseppe; Strappini, Francesca; Iuliano, Enrico; Passiatore, Ylenia; Mancini, Francesco; Levantini, Valentina; Masi, Gabriele; Milone, Annarita; Santaguida, Erica; Salekin, Randall T.; Muratori, Pietro; Buonanno, Carlo
Psychopathic Traits, Externalizing Problems, and Prosocial Behavior: The Role of Social Dominance Orientation Journal Article
In: Journal of Clinical Medicine, vol. 12, iss. 10, no 351, 2023, ISSN: 2077-0383.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tag: social dominance; psychopathic traits; externalizing problems; prosocial behavior; conduct problems
@article{Grossi2023,
title = {Psychopathic Traits, Externalizing Problems, and Prosocial Behavior: The Role of Social Dominance Orientation},
author = {Giuseppe Grossi and Francesca Strappini and Enrico Iuliano and Ylenia Passiatore and Francesco Mancini and Valentina Levantini and Gabriele Masi and Annarita Milone and Erica Santaguida and Randall T. Salekin and Pietro Muratori and Carlo Buonanno},
editor = {MDPI },
url = {https://apc.it/2023-mancini-psychopathic-traits-externalizing-problems-and-prosocial/},
doi = {https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm12103521},
issn = {2077-0383},
year = {2023},
date = {2023-05-17},
urldate = {2023-05-17},
journal = {Journal of Clinical Medicine},
volume = {12},
number = {351},
issue = {10},
abstract = {Psychopathic traits in community and referred youths are strongly associated with severe externalizing problems and low prosocial behavior. However, less is known about the mechanisms that may link youth psychopathy and these outcomes. Social dominance orientation (SDO), defined as the general individual orientation toward unequal and dominant/subordinate relationships, might represent a valuable construct to explore to better understand the association between psychopathic traits, externalizing problems, and prosocial behavior. Based on this, the current study aimed to investigate the relationship between psychopathic traits, SDO, externalizing problems, and prosocial behavior in a community sample (N = 92, 45.57% females, mean age = 12.53, and SD = 0.60) and in a clinical (N = 29, 9% female, mean age = 12.57, and SD = 0.57) samples of adolescents with Oppositional Defiant Disorder or Conduct Disorder. Results showed that SDO mediated the relationship between psychopathic traits and externalizing problems and between psychopathic traits and prosocial behavior only in the clinical sample. These findings can provide valuable information on psychopathic trait correlates in youths with aggressive behavior disorders; treatment implications are discussed.},
keywords = {social dominance; psychopathic traits; externalizing problems; prosocial behavior; conduct problems},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Luppino, Olga Ines; Tenore, Katia; Mancini, Francesco; Mancini, Alessandra
The Role of Childhood Experiences in the development of Disgust Sensitivity: a preliminary study on early moral memories Journal Article
In: Clinical Neuropsychiatry, vol. 20, no 2, pp. 109-121, 2023.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tag: Deontological guilt, Disgust, early autobiographical memories, Early maladaptive schemas, imagery, Morality
@article{Luppino2023,
title = {The Role of Childhood Experiences in the development of Disgust Sensitivity: a preliminary study on early moral memories},
author = {Olga Ines Luppino and Katia Tenore and Francesco Mancini and Alessandra Mancini},
editor = {Giovanni Fioriti Editore s.r.l. },
url = {https://apc.it/2023-mancini-the-role-of-childhood-experiences/},
doi = {doi.org/10.36131/ cnfioritieditore2023020},
year = {2023},
date = {2023-04-01},
urldate = {2023-04-01},
journal = {Clinical Neuropsychiatry},
volume = {20},
number = {2},
pages = {109-121},
abstract = {bjective: Disgust is a basic emotion evolved to safeguard our omnivorous species from contagion. Although the factors eliciting disgust typically involve concerns related to physical contamination, physical disgust responses are also prompted by moral transgressions, (i.e. cannibalism, pedophilia, betrayal). The link between the general propensity to experience disgust (i.e. “Disgust Sensitivity”) and morality, in particular in the deontological domain, is supported by an increasing amount of data on clinical and non-clinical sample. Evolutionistic explanations of this link posit that disgust evolved to indicate the presence of a threat to the integrity of the individual not only in the physical domain but also in the social and moral domain. In addition to the evolutionary point of view, this link could also be better investigated in terms of individual development. To the best of our knowledge, literature is scarce regarding which early experiences are associated to high DS. Therefore, this study aims to explore the content of early memories associated with disgust. Based on the strict link between disgust and morality, we hypothesized an association between DS and early memories of moral criticism.
Method: 60 non-clinical participants filled in measures of DS. They were then
presented with an auditory disgust induction, after which they recalled early memories
through the technique of the “affect bridge”. 10 independent raters assessed the
emotional content of the memories on visual-analogical scales.
Results: Results showed a positive association between disgust sensitivity and
the propensity to experience deontological guilt. There was also a significant positive
association between disgust sensitivity and moral memories, in particular relating to
early experiences of being the object of contempt, moral criticism, anger, and of being
held responsible.
Conclusions: These data directly support the centrality of early morally-loaded
interpersonal experiences in the development of DS, confirming the link between
disgust and morality also at the level of individual historical developme},
keywords = {Deontological guilt, Disgust, early autobiographical memories, Early maladaptive schemas, imagery, Morality},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Method: 60 non-clinical participants filled in measures of DS. They were then
presented with an auditory disgust induction, after which they recalled early memories
through the technique of the “affect bridge”. 10 independent raters assessed the
emotional content of the memories on visual-analogical scales.
Results: Results showed a positive association between disgust sensitivity and
the propensity to experience deontological guilt. There was also a significant positive
association between disgust sensitivity and moral memories, in particular relating to
early experiences of being the object of contempt, moral criticism, anger, and of being
held responsible.
Conclusions: These data directly support the centrality of early morally-loaded
interpersonal experiences in the development of DS, confirming the link between
disgust and morality also at the level of individual historical developme
Pugliese, Erica; Mosca, Oriana; Saliani, Angelo Maria; Maricchiolo, Fridanna; Vigilante, Teresa; Bonina, Francesca; Cellitti, Erika; Barbaro, Grazia Foschino; Goffredo, Marvita; Lioce, Paola; Orsini, Ermelinda; Quintavalle, Chiara; Rienzi, Sandra; Vargiu, Alessia; Mancini, Francesco
In: Psychology, vol. 14, pp. 305-333, 2023.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tag:
@article{Pugliese2023b,
title = {Pathological Affective Dependence (PAD) as an Antecedent of Intimate Partner Violence (IPV): A Pilot Study of PAD’s Cognitive Model on a Sample of IPV Victims},
author = {Erica Pugliese and Oriana Mosca and Angelo Maria Saliani and Fridanna Maricchiolo and Teresa Vigilante and Francesca Bonina and Erika Cellitti and Grazia Foschino Barbaro and Marvita Goffredo and Paola Lioce and Ermelinda Orsini and Chiara Quintavalle and Sandra Rienzi and Alessia Vargiu and Francesco Mancini},
editor = {Scientific Research Publishing },
url = {https://apc.it/2023-mancini-pathological-affective-dependence-pad/},
doi = {DOI: 10.4236/psych.2023.142018},
year = {2023},
date = {2023-02-28},
urldate = {2023-02-28},
journal = {Psychology},
volume = {14},
pages = {305-333},
abstract = {The present paper has the aim of presenting a preliminary measure of the construct of Pathological Affective Dependence (PAD). The scale has been built on the basis of a cognitive model of PAD and characteristics of a typical affective dependent person (Saver, Unworthy, Traumatic, and Mixed). These profiles have been tracked, using a framework of anti-goals, self/other beliefs, and intrapsychic conflicts (absent, alternate, or akrasic conflict) as obstacles to a healthy and safe separation. PAD scale (PADS) was tested on a clinical sample of 25 people (F = 21, 84%; M = 4.16%; age ranged between 29 and 61 years) recruited in an online anti-violence mutual-support group called Millemé (http://www.milleme.it/) and a psychotherapeutic center (https://www.spc.it/).
We selected only patients in maladaptive relationships according to the specific characteristics of PAD, whose cognitive model will be explained in this paper. Other scales were administered to test convergent and discriminant validity through Pearson’s r correlations. The preliminary results support both research objectives and the PADS appears to have good validity. Furthermore, these preliminary results showed that PAD is both a stable trait and a latent psychological condition triggered by the abusive partner (i.e. a state component). This work is part of a larger project aimed at developing a measurement of PAD and cognitive-behavioral intervention protocols that reduce the morbidity and suffering of patients with PAD and the resulting high costs to our society. Understanding the antecedents of gender-based violence, such as PAD, is an essential protective factor also for the development of effective prevention strategies against Intimate Partner Violence (IPV).},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
We selected only patients in maladaptive relationships according to the specific characteristics of PAD, whose cognitive model will be explained in this paper. Other scales were administered to test convergent and discriminant validity through Pearson’s r correlations. The preliminary results support both research objectives and the PADS appears to have good validity. Furthermore, these preliminary results showed that PAD is both a stable trait and a latent psychological condition triggered by the abusive partner (i.e. a state component). This work is part of a larger project aimed at developing a measurement of PAD and cognitive-behavioral intervention protocols that reduce the morbidity and suffering of patients with PAD and the resulting high costs to our society. Understanding the antecedents of gender-based violence, such as PAD, is an essential protective factor also for the development of effective prevention strategies against Intimate Partner Violence (IPV).
Cheli, Simone; Cavalletti, Veronica; Lysaker, Paul H.; Dimaggio, Giancarlo; Petrocchi, Nicola; Chiarello, Francesca; Consuelo Enzo, Francesco Velicogna; Goldzweig, Gil
In: vol. 23, no 113, 2023.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tag: Compassion Evolution Evolutionary systems therapy for schizotypy Metacognition Schizotypal personality disorder Schizotypy
@article{Cheli2023,
title = {A pilot randomized controlled trial comparing a novel compassion and metacognition approach for schizotypal personality disorder with a combination of cognitive therapy and psychopharmacological treatment},
author = {Simone Cheli and Veronica Cavalletti and Paul H. Lysaker and Giancarlo Dimaggio and Nicola Petrocchi and Francesca Chiarello and Consuelo Enzo, Francesco Velicogna and Gil Goldzweig},
editor = {BMC Psychiatry},
url = {https://apc.it/2023-mancini-a-pilot-randomized-controlled-trial/},
doi = {https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-023-04610-5},
year = {2023},
date = {2023-02-20},
volume = {23},
number = {113},
abstract = {Background
Schizotypal personality disorder is characterized by a pervasive pattern of maladaptive behavior that has been associated with the liability for schizophrenia. Little is known about effective psychosocial interventions. This pilot non-inferiority randomized controlled trial aimed to compare a novel form of psychotherapy tailored for this disorder and a combination of cognitive therapy and psychopharmacological treatment. The former treatment – namely, Evolutionary Systems Therapy for Schizotypy—integrated evolutionary, metacognitively oriented, and compassion focused approaches.
Methods
Thirty-three participants were assessed for eligibility, twenty-four randomized on a 1:1 ratio, nineteen included in the final analysis. The treatments lasted 6 months (24 sessions). The primary outcome was change across nine measurements in personality pathology, the secondary outcomes were remission from diagnosis and pre-post changes in general symptomatology and metacognition.
Results
Primary outcome suggested a non-inferiority of the experimental treatment in respect to control condition. Secondary outcomes reported mixed results. There was no significant difference in terms of remission, but experimental treatment showed a larger reduction of general symptomatology (η2 = 0.558) and a larger increase in metacognition (η2 = 0.734).
Conclusions
This pilot study reported promising results about the effectiveness of the proposed novel approach. A confirmatory trial on large sample size is needed to provide evidence about relative effectiveness of the two treatment conditions.},
keywords = {Compassion Evolution Evolutionary systems therapy for schizotypy Metacognition Schizotypal personality disorder Schizotypy},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Schizotypal personality disorder is characterized by a pervasive pattern of maladaptive behavior that has been associated with the liability for schizophrenia. Little is known about effective psychosocial interventions. This pilot non-inferiority randomized controlled trial aimed to compare a novel form of psychotherapy tailored for this disorder and a combination of cognitive therapy and psychopharmacological treatment. The former treatment – namely, Evolutionary Systems Therapy for Schizotypy—integrated evolutionary, metacognitively oriented, and compassion focused approaches.
Methods
Thirty-three participants were assessed for eligibility, twenty-four randomized on a 1:1 ratio, nineteen included in the final analysis. The treatments lasted 6 months (24 sessions). The primary outcome was change across nine measurements in personality pathology, the secondary outcomes were remission from diagnosis and pre-post changes in general symptomatology and metacognition.
Results
Primary outcome suggested a non-inferiority of the experimental treatment in respect to control condition. Secondary outcomes reported mixed results. There was no significant difference in terms of remission, but experimental treatment showed a larger reduction of general symptomatology (η2 = 0.558) and a larger increase in metacognition (η2 = 0.734).
Conclusions
This pilot study reported promising results about the effectiveness of the proposed novel approach. A confirmatory trial on large sample size is needed to provide evidence about relative effectiveness of the two treatment conditions.
Siciliano, Libera; Olivito, Giusy; Lupo, Michela; Urbini, Nicole; Gragnani, Andrea; Saettoni, Marco; Chiaie, Roberto Delle; Leggio, Maria
The role of the cerebellum in sequencing and predicting social and non-social events in patients with bipolar disorder Journal Article
In: Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience, 2023.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tag:
@article{Siciliano2023,
title = {The role of the cerebellum in sequencing and predicting social and non-social events in patients with bipolar disorder},
author = {Libera Siciliano and Giusy Olivito and Michela Lupo and Nicole Urbini and Andrea Gragnani and Marco Saettoni and Roberto Delle Chiaie and Maria Leggio},
editor = {Frontiers},
url = {https://apc.it/2023-gragnani-the-role-of-the-cerebellum/},
doi = {https://doi.org/10.3389/fncel.2023.1095157},
year = {2023},
date = {2023-02-15},
urldate = {2023-02-15},
journal = {Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience},
abstract = {Introduction: Advances in the operational mode of the cerebellum indicate a role in sequencing and predicting non-social and social events, crucial for individuals to optimize high-order functions, such as Theory of Mind (ToM). ToM deficits have been described in patients with remitted bipolar disorders (BD). The literature on BD patients’ pathophysiology reports cerebellar alterations; however, sequential abilities have never been investigated and no study has previously focused on prediction abilities, which are needed to properly interpret events and to adapt to changes.
Methods: To address this gap, we compared the performance of BD patients in the euthymic phase with healthy controls using two tests that require predictive processing: a ToM test that require implicit sequential processing and a test that explicitly assesses sequential abilities in non-ToM functions. Additionally, patterns of cerebellar gray matter (GM) alterations were compared between BD patients and controls using voxel-based morphometry.
Results: Impaired ToM and sequential skills were detected in BD patients, specifically when tasks required a greater predictive load. Behavioral performances might be consistent with patterns of GM reduction in cerebellar lobules Crus I-II, which are involved in advanced human functions.
Discussion: These results highlight the importance of deepening the cerebellar role in sequential and prediction abilities in patients with BD.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Methods: To address this gap, we compared the performance of BD patients in the euthymic phase with healthy controls using two tests that require predictive processing: a ToM test that require implicit sequential processing and a test that explicitly assesses sequential abilities in non-ToM functions. Additionally, patterns of cerebellar gray matter (GM) alterations were compared between BD patients and controls using voxel-based morphometry.
Results: Impaired ToM and sequential skills were detected in BD patients, specifically when tasks required a greater predictive load. Behavioral performances might be consistent with patterns of GM reduction in cerebellar lobules Crus I-II, which are involved in advanced human functions.
Discussion: These results highlight the importance of deepening the cerebellar role in sequential and prediction abilities in patients with BD.
Olivito, Giusy; Siciliano, Libera; Clausi, Silvia; Lupo, Michela; Baiocco, Roberto; Gragnani, Andrea; Saettoni, Marco; Chiaie, Roberto Delle; Laghi, Fiorenzo; Leggio, Maria
The Cerebellum Gets Social: Evidence from an Exploratory Study of Cerebellar, Neurodevelopmental, and Psychiatric Disorders Journal Article
In: Biomedicin, vol. 11, no 309, 2023.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tag:
@article{Olivito2023,
title = {The Cerebellum Gets Social: Evidence from an Exploratory Study of Cerebellar, Neurodevelopmental, and Psychiatric Disorders},
author = {Giusy Olivito and Libera Siciliano and Silvia Clausi and Michela Lupo and Roberto Baiocco and Andrea Gragnani and Marco Saettoni and Roberto Delle Chiaie and Fiorenzo Laghi and Maria Leggio },
editor = {MDPI},
url = {https://apc.it/2023-gragnani-the-cerebellum-gets-social/},
doi = {https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines11020309},
year = {2023},
date = {2023-01-22},
journal = {Biomedicin},
volume = {11},
number = {309},
abstract = {Social prediction is a key feature of social cognition (SC), a function in which the modulating role of the cerebellum is recognized. Accordingly, cerebellar alterations are reported in cerebellar pathologies, neurodevelopmental disorders, and psychiatric conditions that show SC deficits. Nevertheless, to date, no study has directly compared populations representative of these three conditions with respect to SC and cerebellar alterations. Therefore, the present exploratory study aimed to compare the SC profiles of individuals with cerebellar neurodegenerative disorders (CB), autism (ASD), bipolar disorder type 2 (BD2), or healthy subjects (HS) using a battery of social tests requiring different degrees of prediction processing. The patterns of cerebellar gray matter (GM) alterations were compared among the groups using voxel-based morphometry. Compared to HS, the clinical groups showed common SC deficits in tasks involving a moderate to high level of prediction. The behavioral results of the clinical groups are consistent with the presence of overlapping GM reduction in cerebellar right Crus II, an area notably involved in complex social processing and prediction. Although exploratory and preliminary, these results deepen the cerebellar role in social prediction and highlight the transdiagnostic value of the cerebellum in social functioning and prediction in pathologies of different aetiologies, forecasting novel possibilities for shared interventions.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Pugliese, Erica; Saliani, Angelo Maria; Mosca, Oriana; Maricchiolo, Fridanna; Mancini, Francesco
When the War Is in Your Room: A Cognitive Model of Pathological Affective Dependence (PAD) and Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) Journal Article
In: Sustainability, 2023.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tag:
@article{Pugliese2023,
title = {When the War Is in Your Room: A Cognitive Model of Pathological Affective Dependence (PAD) and Intimate Partner Violence (IPV)},
author = {Erica Pugliese and Angelo Maria Saliani and Oriana Mosca and Fridanna Maricchiolo and Francesco Mancini},
editor = {MDPI},
url = {https://apc.it/2023-mancini-when-the-war-is-in-your-room-2/},
doi = {https://doi.org/10.3390/su15021624},
year = {2023},
date = {2023-01-13},
urldate = {2023-01-13},
journal = {Sustainability},
abstract = {In the last decade, Pathological Affective Dependence (PAD)—as a risk factor for Intimate Partner Violence (IPV)—has undergone considerable attention among clinical and social psychologists. However, the psychological nature of PAD has been described in discordant terms throughout the literature. We try to give a clear definition of the construct (1), theorize a first cognitive model of PAD (2), and describe the prototypical characteristics of a pathological affective dependent (in terms of goals, anti-goals, and dysfunctional self-other beliefs) based on goal-oriented theories (3). We finally present (4) the resulting specific TADs (typical affective dependent) profiles (Saver, Unworthy, Traumatic, and Mixed). We believe that our manuscript on the PAD makes a significant contribution to achieve the fifth UN Sustainable Development Goal aimed at eliminating “all forms of violence against all women”: in fact, understanding the psychological risk factors of IPV as PAD is an essential protective factor for designing effective prevention social strategies against IPV. Moreover, this work contributes to achieving one of the “outcome targets” of the sixteenth UN Sustainable Development
Goal. It is dedicated to the promotion of “peaceful and inclusive societies”, through the reduction of
all forms of violence and the protection of children from abuse. Indeed, IPV strongly affects (physical
and mental) health and social sustainability of well-being. However, empirical studies on this topic
are limited and there is a lack of a theoretical model of PAD. This work represents a theoretical
starting point for a broader project aimed at building a cognitive-behavioral protocol and social
interventions for the reduction of negative consequences on IPV victims},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Goal. It is dedicated to the promotion of “peaceful and inclusive societies”, through the reduction of
all forms of violence and the protection of children from abuse. Indeed, IPV strongly affects (physical
and mental) health and social sustainability of well-being. However, empirical studies on this topic
are limited and there is a lack of a theoretical model of PAD. This work represents a theoretical
starting point for a broader project aimed at building a cognitive-behavioral protocol and social
interventions for the reduction of negative consequences on IPV victims
Fusco, Gabriele; Ciccarone, Sofia; Petrucci, Manuel; Cozzaro, Barbara; Vercelli, Giuseppe; Cotugno, Armando; Bufolari, Ilaria
Altered processing of conflicting body representations in women with restrictive anorexia nervosa Journal Article
In: Psychological Research, vol. 87, pp. 1696–1709, 2023.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tag:
@article{Fusco2023,
title = {Altered processing of conflicting body representations in women with restrictive anorexia nervosa},
author = {Gabriele Fusco and Sofia Ciccarone and Manuel Petrucci and Barbara Cozzaro and Giuseppe Vercelli and Armando Cotugno and Ilaria Bufolari},
editor = {Springer },
url = {https://apc.it/2023-petrucci-altered-processing-of-conflicting-body-representations-in-an/},
doi = {https://doi.org/10.1007/s00426-022-01788-3},
year = {2023},
date = {2023-01-02},
journal = {Psychological Research},
volume = {87},
pages = {1696–1709},
abstract = {Cognitive and affective impairments in processing body image have been observed in patients with Anorexia Nervosa (AN) and may induce the hypercontrolled and regulative behaviors observed in this disorder. Here, we aimed to probe the link between activation of body representations and cognitive control by investigating the ability to resolve body-related representational conflicts in women with restrictive AN and matched healthy controls (HC). Participants performed a modified version of the Flanker task in which underweight and overweight body images were presented as targets and distractors; a classic version of the task, with letters, was also administered as a control. The findings indicated that performance was better among the HC group in the task with bodies compared to the task with letters; however, no such facilitation was observed in AN patients, whose overall performance was poorer than that of the HC group in both tasks. In the task with body stimuli, performance among patients with AN was the worst on trials presenting underweight targets with overweight bodies as flankers. These results may reflect a dysfunctional association between the processing of body-related representations and cognitive control mechanisms that may aid clinicians in the development of optimal individualized treatments},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Raimo, Simona; Battimiello, Valentina; Biondi, Dalila; Ciccarelli, Maria; Colardo, Tania; Riemma, Dora; di Zenise, Loredana Schiano; Gragnani, Andrea; Scuotto, Adriana; Cosentino, Teresa
L’utilizzo dell’Esposizione con Prevenzione della Risposta in un campione di psicoterapeuti italiani Bachelor Thesis
2022, ISSN: 1126-1072.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tag:
@bachelorthesis{Raimo2022,
title = {L’utilizzo dell’Esposizione con Prevenzione della Risposta in un campione di psicoterapeuti italiani},
author = {Simona Raimo and Valentina Battimiello and Dalila Biondi and Maria Ciccarelli and Tania Colardo and Dora Riemma and Loredana Schiano di Zenise and Andrea Gragnani and Adriana Scuotto and Teresa Cosentino},
editor = {Centro Studi Erickson},
url = {https://apc.it/2023-gragnani-lutilizzo-dellesposizione-con/},
doi = {https://doi.org/doi:10.14605/PCC2832201},
issn = {1126-1072},
year = {2022},
date = {2022-10-01},
journal = {Psicoterapia Cognitiva e Comportamentale},
volume = {28},
number = {3},
pages = {245-260},
abstract = {Exposure and response prevention (ERP) is an evidence-supported intervention indicated by international guidelines for the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder and anxiety disorders. Nevertheless, some studies show that it is still underutilized in clinical practice. The consulted literature inspired this pilot study, which aims to investigate the use of ERP among Italian cognitive psychotherapists. A specific questionnaire, adapted from the survey conducted by Sars et al. (2015) focused on ERP use, with the addition of specific items assessing the therapist’s personal variables, specifically anxiety and guilt sensitivity and self-efficacy, was administered to participants. Results showed that beliefs about the effectiveness of exposure techniques and positive attitudes about their use led respondents to use ERP more frequently, especially if they had few years of experience in clinical practice. In addition to specific beliefs on ERP, some personal characteristics of the therapist, such as perceived self-efficacy and guilt sensitivity, also appear to play a role in ERP use. The data are discussed in the light of current literature},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {bachelorthesis}
}
Pugliese, Erica; Mosca, Oriana; Paolini, Daniele; Mancini, Francesco; Puntonieri, Domenica; Maricchiolo, Fridanna
Families in quarantine for COVID‑19 in Italy. Resilience as a bufer of parental distress and problematic children’s emotions and behaviors Journal Article
In: Current Psychology, 2022.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tag: Anxiety, Distress, Emotional and behavioral problems of children, family, Resilience COVID-19, Stress
@article{Pugliese2022,
title = {Families in quarantine for COVID‑19 in Italy. Resilience as a bufer of parental distress and problematic children’s emotions and behaviors},
author = {Erica Pugliese and Oriana Mosca and Daniele Paolini and Francesco Mancini and Domenica Puntonieri and Fridanna Maricchiolo},
editor = {Springer Link},
url = {https://apc.it/2022-mancini-families-in-quarantine-for-covid/},
doi = {https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-022-03374-7},
year = {2022},
date = {2022-07-25},
journal = {Current Psychology},
abstract = {The pandemic of Covid-19 has had a high impact on people’s lives and especially on families. In Italy, in 2020, the several forced closures led families to live indoors to manage anxiety and distress. It was considered appropriate to investigate which protective factors, like parental resilience, can mitigate the negative impact of pandemic-related distress on family life. We have conducted two online surveys during different national lockdowns for Covid-19. The first survey was conducted immediately after the disruption of the virus and the second one after nine months. We measured parental resilience and distress, anxiety, problematic behaviors, and somatization of their children (as assessed by the parents). The aim was to investigate the protective role of parental resilience in mitigating parental distress and in turn problematic emotional states and behavior of their children. Mediation analyses confirmed the hypothesis that parental resilience lowers parental distress and consequently the anxiety and behavioral disorders of their children in both acute distress (first study) and chronic distress (second study) situations. Such results suggest that the improvement of parents’ resilience can buffer the negative impact of pandemic-related parental distress and children’s behavioral problems on both occasions. The need for focused interventions and treatments aimed to reinforce parental resilience is discussed. Targeted prevention and support strategies are needed now, and early in case of future health crises.},
keywords = {Anxiety, Distress, Emotional and behavioral problems of children, family, Resilience COVID-19, Stress},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Bacaro, Valeria; Meneo, Debora; Curati, Sara; Buonanno, Carlo; Bartolo, Paola De; Riemann, Dieter; Mancini, Francesco; Martoni, Monica; Baglioni, Chiara
The impact of COVID-19 on Italian adolescents’ sleep and its association with psychological factors Journal Article
In: Journal of Sleep Research, vol. 1, no 8, 2022.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tag: adolescents, COVID-19, health, insomnia, psychology, sleep
@article{Bacaro2022,
title = {The impact of COVID-19 on Italian adolescents’ sleep and its association with psychological factors},
author = {Valeria Bacaro and Debora Meneo and Sara Curati and Carlo Buonanno and Paola De Bartolo and Dieter Riemann and Francesco Mancini and Monica Martoni and Chiara Baglioni},
editor = {Wiley Online Library},
url = {https://apc.it/2022-mancini-the-impact-of-covid%e2%80%9019-on-italian-adolescents-sleep-and-its-association-with-2/},
doi = {doi.org/10.1111/jsr.13689},
year = {2022},
date = {2022-07-13},
journal = {Journal of Sleep Research},
volume = {1},
number = {8},
abstract = {Insomnia and circadian dysregulation during adolescence represent important risk factors for emotional and psychological problems. Recent studies have shown that the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has been linked to a high prevalence of behavioural sleep problems in the general population. This study aimed to provide two pictures of two different time points of the pandemic regarding the prevalence of sleep problems in adolescents and their association with psychological health variables. Two different independent large samples of Italian adolescents aged 13–17 years were recruited at two pandemic time points. A total of 1,146 adolescents at Time 1 (T1; April 2020) and 1,406 at Time 2 (T2; April 2021) took part in the study. Measures of insomnia symptoms, sleep hygiene, chronotype, psychological distress and emotion regulation were collected. Prevalence of insomnia was 12.13% at T1 and 23.19% at T2. Furthermore, high levels of poor sleep habits (late bedtime, poor sleep hygiene, use of electronic devices at bedtime) were also detected at both time points. Insomnia symptoms strongly correlated with poor sleep hygiene, higher psychological distress, and emotional suppression at both time points. Results highlighted an alarming picture for two large samples at two different time points of the pandemic that showed a potential negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, in both the first outbreak and in the later phase of the pandemic, on sleep habits, psychological distress and insomnia symptoms in adolescents. This strongly suggests the need for monitoring these variables and their interaction in the post-pandemic period and to develop and promote interventions for insomnia and circadian disturbances during adolescence.},
keywords = {adolescents, COVID-19, health, insomnia, psychology, sleep},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Tenore, Katia; Mancini, Alessandra; Luppino, Olga Ines; Mancini, Francesco
Group Imagery Rescripting on Childhood Memories Delivered via Telehealth: A Preliminary Study Journal Article
In: Frontiers in Psychiatry, 2022.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tag: affective state, autobiographical memories, emotional needs, imagery rescripting, maladaptive beliefs, memory realism, needs’ satisfaction
@article{Tenore2022,
title = {Group Imagery Rescripting on Childhood Memories Delivered via Telehealth: A Preliminary Study},
author = {Katia Tenore and Alessandra Mancini and Olga Ines Luppino and Francesco Mancini},
editor = {Frontiers in Psychiatry},
url = {https://apc.it/2022-mancini-group-imagery-rescripting/},
doi = {https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2022.862289},
year = {2022},
date = {2022-06-23},
journal = {Frontiers in Psychiatry},
abstract = {Background: Imagery Rescripting (ImR) has proved to be effective in the treatment of different mental disorders as an integral part of broader clinical protocols or as a standalone technique. ImR has also been successfully incorporated as part of group Schema Therapy treatment; however, to the best of our knowledge, it has never been assessed as a standalone technique in a group setting.
Aim: In this study, we focused on ImR delivered via telehealth in groups and we aimed to assess whether group ImR is effective in responding to basic emotional needs, in changing participants’ affective state, and in reducing dysfunctional beliefs. We also wanted to assess whether memory realism is associated with a greater effectiveness of the technique.
Methods: A total of 52 participants were presented with 3 ImR sessions on childhood memories related to the current dysfunctional belief that elicited more suffering.
Results: The technique was effective in facilitating the retrieval of a memory in almost the entire sample (in the range of 92.3–100%). Overall, memory realism values (level of vividness, ability to immerse, and participants’ distance from the images) were high in all three sessions. Almost all participants were reported having their needs met during ImR (89.7%). Importantly, need satisfaction was associated with the ability to immerse in the image. In addition, the intensity of the dysfunctional belief decreased significantly from pre-test to Session 3. The technique also changed the affective state, reducing arousal. Importantly, we also observed a general reduction in shame levels from the first to the third session.
Conclusion: A telehealth delivered ImR group intervention on childhood memories provides cognitive and emotional improvement. Along with the ability to satisfy the patient’s basic emotional needs, the technique seems to be effective in modifying maladaptive beliefs encapsulated in memory.},
keywords = {affective state, autobiographical memories, emotional needs, imagery rescripting, maladaptive beliefs, memory realism, needs’ satisfaction},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Aim: In this study, we focused on ImR delivered via telehealth in groups and we aimed to assess whether group ImR is effective in responding to basic emotional needs, in changing participants’ affective state, and in reducing dysfunctional beliefs. We also wanted to assess whether memory realism is associated with a greater effectiveness of the technique.
Methods: A total of 52 participants were presented with 3 ImR sessions on childhood memories related to the current dysfunctional belief that elicited more suffering.
Results: The technique was effective in facilitating the retrieval of a memory in almost the entire sample (in the range of 92.3–100%). Overall, memory realism values (level of vividness, ability to immerse, and participants’ distance from the images) were high in all three sessions. Almost all participants were reported having their needs met during ImR (89.7%). Importantly, need satisfaction was associated with the ability to immerse in the image. In addition, the intensity of the dysfunctional belief decreased significantly from pre-test to Session 3. The technique also changed the affective state, reducing arousal. Importantly, we also observed a general reduction in shame levels from the first to the third session.
Conclusion: A telehealth delivered ImR group intervention on childhood memories provides cognitive and emotional improvement. Along with the ability to satisfy the patient’s basic emotional needs, the technique seems to be effective in modifying maladaptive beliefs encapsulated in memory.
Brasini, Maurizio; Giacomantonio, Mauro; Mancini, Francesco
In: Rivista Italiana di Studi sull'Umorismo, vol. 5, no 2, pp. 113-124, 2022, ISSN: 2611-0970.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tag: gioco, mentalità sociali, muso, ostracismo, silent treatment, sistemi motivazionali
@article{Brasini2022,
title = {“Col muso non si scherza... oppure sì? Un’attitudine giocosa riduce l’impatto negativo del silent treatment come forma di ostracismo interpersonale”},
author = {Maurizio Brasini and Mauro Giacomantonio and Francesco Mancini},
editor = {Rivista Italiana di Studi sull'Umorismo},
url = {https://apc.it/2022-mancini-col-muso-non-si-scherza/},
issn = {2611-0970},
year = {2022},
date = {2022-06-18},
journal = {Rivista Italiana di Studi sull'Umorismo},
volume = {5},
number = {2},
pages = {113-124},
abstract = {La letteratura sull’ostracismo sociale costituisce ad oggi il principale punto di riferimento concettuale per comprendere il fenomeno del “muso”. Sebbene le esperienze interpersonali caratterizzate dal muso siano estremamente comuni ed appaia evidente la sofferenza che questo comporta, tuttavia la ricerca specifica sull’argomento è poco sviluppata; in particolare, non esistono indicazioni univoche su quali fattori possano mitigarne l’impatto negativo. Nel presente studio, sono stati confrontati gli effetti provocati dalla rievocazione di due episodi, uno di dolore fisico e uno di muso; la Social Mentalities Scale è stata utilizzata per valutare l’effetto di mediazione di alcune disposizioni interpersonali a base evoluzionistica sull’impatto delle due esperienze sfavorevoli. I risultati mostrano che unicamente il gioco, e non l’attaccamento o il senso di appartenenza, consente di mitigare l’effetto negativo del muso.},
keywords = {gioco, mentalità sociali, muso, ostracismo, silent treatment, sistemi motivazionali},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Salmani, Behzad; Mancini, Francesco; Hasani, Jafar; Zanjani, Zahra
Anti-Disgust Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Contamination-Based Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial Journal Article
In: Journal of Clinical Medicine, vol. 11, no 10, pp. 2875, 2022.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tag: obsessive compulsive disorder; cognitive behavioral therapy; disgust; anti-disgust cognitive intervention
@article{Salmani2022,
title = {Anti-Disgust Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Contamination-Based Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial},
author = {Behzad Salmani and Francesco Mancini and Jafar Hasani and Zahra Zanjani},
editor = {MDPI},
url = {https://apc.it/2022-mancini-anti-disgust-cognitive-b/},
doi = {https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm11102875},
year = {2022},
date = {2022-05-19},
journal = {Journal of Clinical Medicine},
volume = {11},
number = {10},
pages = {2875},
abstract = {Background: Disgust is a strong and persistent emotion that frequently occurs during exposure-based treatments for contamination-based obsessive compulsive disorder (C-OCD). This study aimed to examine the efficacy of augmenting cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) with a novel type of anti-disgust cognitive intervention in reducing the severity of OCD, disgust propensity/sensitivity, and refusal rate of exposure and response prevention, while simultaneously increasing acceptance of disgust. Materials and Methods: Fifty-five individuals with C-OCD (mean age 28.1 years, SD = 3.52; 77% female) were randomly assigned to 15 weekly sessions of anti-disgust plus CBT (AD-CBT) or CBT alone. They were evaluated for outcomes four times (pretreatment, prior to exposure and response prevention (ERP) sessions, posttreatment, and three-month follow-up), and mixed-design ANOVAs were used to analyze the data. Results: The findings indicated that when compared to CBT alone, AD-CBT significantly reduced OCD severity, disgust propensity/sensitivity, and concurrently increased disgust acceptance (p < 0.001). Additionally, engaging in an anti-disgust cognitive intervention was associated with lower ERP refusal rate (4% vs. 16%). The superiority of AD-CBT over CBT persisted through the three-month follow-up period. Conclusions: The current study suggests that supplementing CBT for C-OCD with an anti-disgust cognitive intervention significantly increased acceptance of disgust and decreased the refusal rate of ERP, OCD severity, and disgust-related factors.},
keywords = {obsessive compulsive disorder; cognitive behavioral therapy; disgust; anti-disgust cognitive intervention},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Gragnani, Andrea; Zaccari, Vittoria; Femia, Giuseppe; Pellegrini, Valerio; Tenore, Katia; Fadda, Stefania; Luppino, Olga Ines; Basile, Barbara; Cosentino, Teresa; Perdighe, Claudia; Romano, Giuseppe; Saliani, Angelo Maria; Mancini, Francesco
Cognitive–Behavioral Treatment of Obsessive–Compulsive Disorder: The Results of a Naturalistic Outcomes Study Journal Article
In: Journal of Clinical Medicine, vol. 11, no 10, 2022.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tag: obsessive–compulsive disorder; cognitive–behavioral therapy; cognitive interventions; outcomes; effectiveness; naturalistic study
@article{Gragnani2022,
title = {Cognitive–Behavioral Treatment of Obsessive–Compulsive Disorder: The Results of a Naturalistic Outcomes Study},
author = {Andrea Gragnani and Vittoria Zaccari and Giuseppe Femia and Valerio Pellegrini and Katia Tenore and Stefania Fadda and Olga Ines Luppino and Barbara Basile and Teresa Cosentino and Claudia Perdighe and Giuseppe Romano and Angelo Maria Saliani and Francesco Mancini},
editor = {MDPI},
doi = {https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm11102762},
year = {2022},
date = {2022-05-13},
journal = {Journal of Clinical Medicine},
volume = {11},
number = {10},
abstract = {Cognitive–behavioral therapy is a well-established treatment for obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD). There are a variety of cognitive and behavioral strategies, and it is necessary to analyze the outcomes of the treatments. The aim of the present study is to verify the effectiveness of a treatment that combines evidence-based procedures and specific cognitive interventions highlighting the issue of acceptance. Forty patients with OCD were recruited and underwent a specific treatment procedure. All patients had a psychodiagnostic assessment for OCD using the Y–BOCS (Yale–Brown obsessive–compulsive scale) performed twice: before treatment (t0) and after nine months (t1). Data analysis showed a decrease in the scores between t0 and t1 according to the Y–BOCS in terms of the interference, severity, and impairment of obsessive–compulsive symptoms. A repeated-measures ANOVA showed a significant reduction in symptoms after treatment, with values of F (1, 39) = 137.56, p < 0.001, and η2 = 0.78. The ANOVA results were corroborated by a Wilcoxon signed-rank test. A reliable change index analysis indicated that 33 participants reported improvements in symptoms, of which 23 were clinically significant. The results showed clinical relevance for OCD treatment and highlighted how this cognitive procedure favored positive outcomes.},
keywords = {obsessive–compulsive disorder; cognitive–behavioral therapy; cognitive interventions; outcomes; effectiveness; naturalistic study},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Albanese, Marzia; Liotti, Marianna; Cornacchia, Lucia; Mancini, Francesco
Nightmare Rescripting: Using Imagery Techniques to Treat Sleep Disturbances in Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Journal Article
In: Frontiers in Psychiatry, 2022.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tag: imagery rehearsal therapy, imagery rescripting, insomnia, nightmares, post-traumatic stress disorder, trauma
@article{Albanese2022,
title = {Nightmare Rescripting: Using Imagery Techniques to Treat Sleep Disturbances in Post-traumatic Stress Disorder},
author = {Marzia Albanese and Marianna Liotti and Lucia Cornacchia and Francesco Mancini},
url = {https://apc.it/2022-mancini-nightmare-rescripting/},
doi = {doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.866144},
year = {2022},
date = {2022-04-04},
journal = {Frontiers in Psychiatry},
abstract = {Besides affecting 8% of the general population, nightmares are one of the most frequent symptoms of traumatized individuals. This can be a significant factor in the treatment of post-traumatic disorders; indeed, several studies demonstrated its strong predictive and prognostic value. Sleep disorders, nightmares in particular, could be very distressing for individuals and need targeted interventions, especially if they are associated with a PTSD diagnosis. To date, the best technique for the treatment of traumatic sleep disturbances seems to be Imagery Rehearsal Therapy (IRT), an empirically supported method. Through a review of the literature on this matter, this article aims to outline the incidence and consequences of nightmares in PTSD, illustrate how IRT could prove useful in their treatment, and investigate its clinical applications.
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition, which in the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders [DSM-5; (1)] has been included in a new category, “Trauma and Stressor Related Disorders.” PTSD is characterized by the appearance of a wide array of symptoms after experiencing “death, threatened death, actual or threatened serious injury, or actual or threatened sexual violence” [(1), p. 271], in the following ways: direct exposure to the event; witnessing the event; learning that a close one was exposed to a traumatic event; indirect exposure to details of the trauma.
PTSD diagnosis was added–not without many controversies–only in the third edition of the DSM [DSM-III; (2)], after noticing the development of post-traumatic symptoms among many veteran soldiers. However, it is possible to identify some descriptions ascribable to this disorder already at the beginning of the twentieth century, when many authors spoke of “war neurosis,” “soldier's heart,” and “shell shock” to describe the physio-psychological consequences of being exposed to war situations [for a historical overview, see (3)]. Shortly after the diagnosis of PTSD was introduced in the DSM, clinicians began to notice that there were other individuals–victims of sexual or physical abuse, for example–whose symptoms largely corresponded with those observed in soldiers. Today we know that the traumatic events that can give rise to PTSD are numerous and of various kinds. They produce lasting effects, which the DSM-5 describes as follows, dividing them into four clusters:
1) Re-experience of the traumatic event (intrusion symptoms) through distressing memories, dreams and nightmares, flashbacks, and dissociative reactions.
2) Avoidance of stimuli associated with the traumatic event.
3) Negative alterations in cognition and mood (e.g., amnesia, negative beliefs and expectations, distorted cognitions, feelings of detachment).
4) Marked alterations in arousal and reactivity (e.g., irritability, self-destructive behaviors, hypervigilance, difficulties in concentrating, sleep disturbances).
According to the DSM-5, in the United States PTSD affects ~5% of men and 10% of women (1). In Italy, epidemiological studies show that about 56.1% of the general population is exposed to at least one traumatic event (with an average of 4 traumatic events experienced during the lifespan); the risk of experiencing PTSD following exposure to a traumatic event(s) is assessed to be between 0.8 and 12.2% (4). These data highlight the significance of a better understanding of the complex symptoms that are often associated with PTSD to develop targeted and effective intervention techniques.},
keywords = {imagery rehearsal therapy, imagery rescripting, insomnia, nightmares, post-traumatic stress disorder, trauma},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition, which in the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders [DSM-5; (1)] has been included in a new category, “Trauma and Stressor Related Disorders.” PTSD is characterized by the appearance of a wide array of symptoms after experiencing “death, threatened death, actual or threatened serious injury, or actual or threatened sexual violence” [(1), p. 271], in the following ways: direct exposure to the event; witnessing the event; learning that a close one was exposed to a traumatic event; indirect exposure to details of the trauma.
PTSD diagnosis was added–not without many controversies–only in the third edition of the DSM [DSM-III; (2)], after noticing the development of post-traumatic symptoms among many veteran soldiers. However, it is possible to identify some descriptions ascribable to this disorder already at the beginning of the twentieth century, when many authors spoke of “war neurosis,” “soldier's heart,” and “shell shock” to describe the physio-psychological consequences of being exposed to war situations [for a historical overview, see (3)]. Shortly after the diagnosis of PTSD was introduced in the DSM, clinicians began to notice that there were other individuals–victims of sexual or physical abuse, for example–whose symptoms largely corresponded with those observed in soldiers. Today we know that the traumatic events that can give rise to PTSD are numerous and of various kinds. They produce lasting effects, which the DSM-5 describes as follows, dividing them into four clusters:
1) Re-experience of the traumatic event (intrusion symptoms) through distressing memories, dreams and nightmares, flashbacks, and dissociative reactions.
2) Avoidance of stimuli associated with the traumatic event.
3) Negative alterations in cognition and mood (e.g., amnesia, negative beliefs and expectations, distorted cognitions, feelings of detachment).
4) Marked alterations in arousal and reactivity (e.g., irritability, self-destructive behaviors, hypervigilance, difficulties in concentrating, sleep disturbances).
According to the DSM-5, in the United States PTSD affects ~5% of men and 10% of women (1). In Italy, epidemiological studies show that about 56.1% of the general population is exposed to at least one traumatic event (with an average of 4 traumatic events experienced during the lifespan); the risk of experiencing PTSD following exposure to a traumatic event(s) is assessed to be between 0.8 and 12.2% (4). These data highlight the significance of a better understanding of the complex symptoms that are often associated with PTSD to develop targeted and effective intervention techniques.