Self-esteem involves the evaluative and affective dimensions of self-concept. It could be influenced by stress situations
such as diseases or injuries, especially in the period of puberty and ...adolescence. The aim of this study was to establish the
influence of isolated long tubular bone limbs’ fractures in children and adolescents and type of its treatment (conservative
or active surgical treatment-various techniques) on self-esteem of patients, as well as to establish relationships between
self-esteem, depression, anxiety and perception of the social support in the mentioned patients. This prospective
clinical trial comprehends 135 patients, 94 male and 41 female, aged 10 to 18, treated for the mentioned fractures in the
period from October 2003 until March 2005 in Departments for Pediatric Surgery of three hospitals: the Clinical Hospital
Center in Rijeka (88.8% patients), the Clinical Children’s Hospital in Zagreb (9.7%), both in Croatia, and 1.5% of the
patients in the Clinical Hospital in Mostar (Bosnia and Herzegovina). 53.3% of the patients were treated conservatively,
29.6% of them underwent the elastic stable intramedullary nailing (ESIN), while the remaining 17.1% of the patients
were treated with other surgical techniques (AO-plates or Kirschner-wire ostheosyntheses). The basic methods of work
were self-reported questionnaires: Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale (RSS), to establish the degree of self-esteem; Children Depression
Inventory (CDI), to establish existence and degree of depression; Spielberg State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI)-
form STAI2, to establish general anxiety; and Test of Perception of Social Support (TPSS). RSS, CDI and STAI2 were
administered twice to the patients: at baseline and after 6 months of the trauma, whereas TPSS once, after 1 month of the
trauma. Our results point at an decreased self-esteem followed by increased depression and increased general anxiety indicators
in all patients within 1 week of experienced trauma, especially in those who underwent the ESIN method,
whereas after 6 months of the experienced trauma, self-esteem significantly increased and depression and general anxiety
indicators were greatly reduced in all patients. The type of treatment of fractures has no influence on the perception of
the social support. Our results suggest that the ESIN method (regardless of its good surgical results and advantages in
relation to many other surgical techniques) reduces self-esteem more than conservatively treatment of fractures and AOplates
and K-wire ostheosyntheses. At the same time self-esteem has been recuperated faster in patients treated with
ESIN method. Thus, there is no difference in the influence of the type of the treatment of fractures on self-esteem, but in
the dynamics of its recuperation in patients according to type of treatment of fractures. Anyway, from a psychological
point of view, any type of surgical treatment could be additional stressor, so it should be practiced with criticism and according
to the strict surgical indications.
Depression has been implicated as a possible risk factor for low bone mineral density (BMD). However, there is still no solid evidence that could connect these two different illnesses. This research ...examined the association between self-reported depression and low BMD in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women. This research screened 130 female patients who were 44 to 72 years old and registered at the densitometry clinic of KBC Rijeka during a three month period. Densitometry was performed in order to establish their BMD and according to the results two groups of participants were formed: normal BMD – 38 participants with normal BMD at hip and spine and reduced BMD – 75 participants with lower BMD at hip and spine. Depression was assessed using Beck depression inventory. Both groups of participants were compared regarding their depression scores. There were no significant differences between the groups with normal and
reduced BMD regarding mean age, age of menopause, length of menopause and number of births (p=0.001). Difference regarding depressiveness between the two groups was not significant (t=0.73; p=0.468). Also, there were no differences between the groups regarding the frequency of certain levels of depression. (c2=2.27; p=0.52). Results of this research suggest that self-reported depression is not associated with low BMD in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women.
To determine the socio-demographic characteristics of survivors who presented for treatment in therapeutic centers in the four Balkan countries involved in the study by summarizing the results of ...STOP study ("Treatment Seeking and Treatment Outcomes in People Suffering from PTSD Following the War and Migration in the Balkans"). STOP study was performed in the following countries: Bosnia and Herzegovina (specialized center Sarajevo), Croatia (centers in Zagreb and Rijeka), Serbia and Montenegro (center in Belgrade), Germany (center in Dresden) and United Kingdom (center in London).
The authors applied a socio-demographic questionnaire in patients with PTSD who presented for treatment in the centers.
The authors present the differences among the socio-demographic characteristics of survivors who presented for treatment in therapeutic centers in the four Balkan countries involved in the study according to: gender, status (refugee, war veterans, refugee and war veteran, civilian), ethnic background, employment status, marital status and household monthly net income.
Comparative statistical analysis of data obtained through interviews in four countries shows significant differences across the centers concerning socio-economic characteristics of the patients.
War and migration in the Balkans caused traumatic experiences in great parts of it's population. About four million people living in former Yugoslavia as well as about 100,000 refugees living in ...different European countries are estimated to suffer from on-going and severe psychological symptoms of post-traumatic stress. Although in need of treatment, many of these people do not seek treatment. Given the fact that, if untreated, post-traumatic stress reactions tend to persist for many years, often resulting in impairment and disability secondary to the symptom complex, offering appropriate care is a special challenge to health services. With regard to this context, an EC-funded multi-centre study including partners from Belgrade (SCO). Dresden (D), London (UK), Rijcka (HR), Sarajevo (BIH), and Zagreb (HR) aims (a) to provide an empirical basis for designing care programmes for people suffering from post-traumatic stress following war and migration in the Balkans who currently do not seek treatment, and (b) to improve the cost-effectiveness of treatment programmes for those patients who are cared for in specialised treatment centres. The paper presents the aims and the design of the STOP study. The first results of the study will be available in 2005.
Posljedice rata u Hrvatskoj uključuju psihološke i socijalne poremećaje. Mnogi su hrvatski ratni veterani zbog brojnih traumatskih iskustava oboljeli od posttraumatskog stresnog poremećaja (PTSP). Sa ...svojim specifičnim simptomima PTSP značajno utječe na svakodnevno društveno funkcioniranje ovih ljudi. To se osobito osjeća u obitelji koja bi s jedne strane trebala pružati emocionalnu potporu svom oboljelom elanu, dok s druge strane obitelj najviše trpi zbog tog stanja u kojem se nalazi jedan od njezinih članova. Supruge branitelja u većini su slučajeva one koje nastoje očuvati prijašnju ravnotežu u obitelji. U ovom smo ispitivanju razmotrili psihičke posljedice življenja sa suprugom koji boluje od PTSP-a. Ispitane su dvije skupine supruga branitelja: skupina supruga branitelja koji boluju od PTSP-a i skupina supruga branitelja bez PTSP-a. Pritom smo rabili sljedeće ispitne instrumente: ljestvicu M-PTSD za PTSP, HSCL-25 za depresiju i anksioznost, te upitnike za demografske podatke i kroničnu bol. Rezultati su pokazali da su supruge branitelja koji boluju od PTSP-a značajno depresivnije i anksioznije, češće pokazuju simptome posredne traumatizacije i češće pate od bolnih sindroma u kojima uobičajena medikamentna terapija ne daje rezultata nego supruge branitelja bez PTSP-a. Zaključeno je da PTSP u branitelja značajno utječe na psihofizičko stanje njegove supruge te da ona trpi znatne posljedice uslijed njegove bolesti.
Describes the three phases of group work with refugees in Croatia designed to prevent pathological reaction to stress. Phase 1 solved the problems of adjustment; phase 2 addressed prevention of ...serious psychic disorders, which meant working through traumatic experiences; & phase 3 prepared refugees to return to their native towns & villages & live together. 7 References. Adapted from the source document.
Problems & resistance encountered by psychological group leaders working with groups of refugees from the Croatian war of 1991/92 are dicussed. Groups of refugees are markedly regressive people with ...increased sensitivity, low degree of tolerance, great demands on society, & strongly expressed projectivity. In performing psychological group work with refugees, group leaders experience various types of personal reactions: (1) specific reactions to traumatized people; (2) reactions to the uncertainty of life manifested by the existence of refugees; (3) problems of professional identity & the role of a leader; (4) feelings of helplessness & lack of sources of gratification; & (5) confrontation with the reality of war & feelings toward it. 3 References. Adapted from the source document.
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