In recent years, reports of institutional abuse within the Catholic Church have emerged and research on the consequences on mental health is in its beginnings. In this study, we report findings on ...current mental health and resilience in a sample of adult survivors of institutional abuse (N = 185). We compared 3 groups of survivors that differed regarding their current mental health to investigate aspects of resilience, coping, and disclosure. The majority of the sample was male (76.2%), the mean age was 56.28 (SD = 9.46) years, and more than 50.0% of the sample was cohabiting/married. Most of the survivors reported severe mental health problems. Known protective factors (education, social support, age) were not associated with mental health in our sample. Our findings corroborate that institutional abuse has long‐term effects on mental health. We found that fewer emotional reactions during disclosure, task‐oriented coping, and optimism were associated with better mental health. The study was limited by a cross‐sectional design, but we conclude that the kind of institutional abuse reported is especially adverse, and thus typical protective factors for mental health do not apply. Future research should focus on intrapersonal factors and institutional dynamics to improve treatment for persons affected by institutional abuse.
Resumen
Spanish s by the Asociación Chilena de Estrés Traumático (ACET)
En los últimos años, los reportes de abuso institucional en la Iglesia Católica han emergido y la investigación de sus consecuencias en la Salud Mental se encuentra en sus comienzos. En este estudio reportamos hallazgos en la salud mental y resiliencia de una muestra de adultos sobrevivientes de abuso institucional (N = 185). Comparamos 3 grupos de sobrevivientes que diferían en su estado mental actual para investigar aspectos de resiliencia, afrontamiento y denuncia. La mayoría de la muestra fueron hombres (76.2%), con edad promedio de 56.3 años y más de 50.0% de la muestra era conviviente/casado. La mayoría de los sobrevivientes reportaron problemas mentales severos. Los factores protectores conocidos (educación, apoyo social, edad) no se asociaron a la salud mental en esta muestra. Nuestros hallazgos corroboran que el abuso institucional tiene efectos de larga duración en la salud mental. Encontramos que menores reacciones emocionales durante la denuncia, afrontamiento orientado a la tarea y optimismo se asociaron a una mejor salud mental. El estudio estuvo limitado por su diseño seccional cruzado, pero concluimos que la clase de abuso institucional aquí reportado es especialmente adverso, y por tanto, los factores protectores conocidos para salud mental no se aplican. Investigaciones futuras debieran enfocarse en los factores intrapersonales y la dinámica institucional para mejorar los tratamientos para personas afectadas de abuso institucional.
抽象
Traditional and Simplified Chinese s by AsianSTSS
標題：奧地利天主教會機構內童年受虐的成人倖存者精神健康的復原力因素。
撮要：近年不斷出現天主教會機構內虐待的報告，但精神健康結果研究尚在萌芽階段。本文報導一批機構內虐待的成人倖存者現存精神健康和復原力方面的發現(N=185)。現存精神健康情況分為三組，再對照其中復原力、應對和揭露各方面情形。樣本多為男性(76.2%)，平均56.3歲，而>50.0%為同居/已婚者。大多數人有嚴重精神問題。已知保護因素(教育水平，社交支援，年紀)未與精神健康相關。本研究發現證實機構內虐待對精神健康的深遠影響。較佳精神健康與揭露時較少情緒反應、任務導向的應對和樂觀有關係。 本研究受其橫斷面設計所限，但可總結為：機構內虐待特大傷害性，導致已知精神健康保護因素未能有效。未來研究應聚焦：自身因素和機構動態可否改進受機構內虐待人士的治療。
标题：奥地利天主教会机构内童年受虐的成人幸存者精神健康的复原力因素。
撮要：近年不断出现天主教会机构内虐待的报告，但精神健康结果研究尚在萌芽阶段。本文报导一批机构内虐待的成人幸存者现存精神健康和复原力方面的发现(N=185)。现存精神健康情况分为三组，再对照其中复原力、应对和揭露各方面情形。样本多为男性(76.2%)，平均56.3岁，而>50.0%为同居/已婚者。大多数人有严重精神问题。已知保护因素(教育水平，社交支持，年纪)未与精神健康相关。本研究发现证实机构内虐待对精神健康的深远影响。较佳精神健康与揭露时较少情绪反应、任务导向的应对和乐观有关系。 本研究受其横断面设计所限，但可总结为：机构内虐待特大伤害性，导致已知精神健康保护因素未能有效。未来研究应聚焦：自身因素和机构动态可否改进受机构内虐待人士的治疗。
Abstract The aim of this study was to explore the nature and dimensions of institutional child abuse (IA) by the Austrian Catholic Church and to investigate the current mental health of adult ...survivors. Data were collected in two steps. First, documents of 448 adult survivors of IA ( M = 55.1 years, 75.7% men) who had disclosed their abuse history to a victim protection commission were collected. Different types of abuse, perpetrator characteristics, and family related risk factors were investigated. Second, a sample of 185 adult survivors completed the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist (PCL-C) and the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI). Participants reported an enormous diversity of acts of violent physical, sexual, and emotional abuse that had occurred in their childhood. The majority of adult survivors (83.3%) experienced emotional abuse. Rates of sexual (68.8%) and physical abuse (68.3%) were almost equally high. The prevalence of PTSD was 48.6% and 84.9% showed clinically relevant symptoms in at least one 1 of 10 symptom dimensions (9 BSI subscales and PTSD). No specific pre-IA influence was found to influence the development of PTSD in later life (e.g. poverty, domestic violence). However, survivors with PTSD reported a significantly higher total number of family related risk factors ( d = 0.33). We conclude that childhood IA includes a wide spectrum of violent acts, and has a massive negative impact on the current mental health of adult survivors. We address the long-term effects of these traumatic experiences in addition to trauma re-activation in adulthood as both bear great challenges for professionals working with survivors.
Similar, but less pronounced effects were found for eicosapentaenoic acid and arachidonic acid (20:4n-6). Because the liver is the major source of endogenous HUFA, pseudocholinesterase activity, a ...marker of hepatic metabolizing capacity, was examined and shown to be inversely correlated with increased end-diastolic and end-systolic ventricular wall stress, which emphasizes the hypothesis of a cardio-hepatic syndrome (e.g., influenced by congestion). Because DHA exhibits antiarrhythmogenic actions, the question arises whether reduced atrial DHA levels account for an increased risk of atrial fibrillation.
Sense of Coherence (SOC) and mindfulness are known protective factors against psychopathology, also in older age. We set out to investigate the influence of SOC and mindfulness on posttraumatic ...symptoms and cognitions in the context of lifetime trauma in elderly persons with a history of childhood war-experiences.
Elderly Austrians (N = 97) filled in questionnaires on traumatic lifetime experiences and posttraumatic symptoms (ETI), posttraumatic cognitions (PTCI), SOC (SOC-13) and mindfulness (FFMQ). We expected the influence of SOC scores on posttraumatic symptoms and cognitions to be on one hand influenced by mindfulness. On the other hand, we expected that both aspects would uniquely explain fewer posttraumatic symptoms and cognitions.
Participants reported various lifetime traumas (M = 2.42), including experiences during World War II (WWII) as children and adolescents. Mindfulness partially mediated the association of SOC scores with posttraumatic cognitions, but not with posttraumatic symptoms. However, in a two-stage mediation model, mindfulness significantly predicted posttraumatic symptoms via its effects on posttraumatic cognitions.
Although SOC was the strongest predictor of posttraumatic symptoms, mindfulness influenced the severity of posttraumatic symptoms via its effects on posttraumatic cognitions. We discuss implications for mindfulness-based interventions on trauma-related cognitions in the elderly.
With regard to autonomous driving, on-road projections cannot only be used for communication with the driver but also with other road users. Our study aims to investigate the distraction potential ...for other road users when on-road projections (e.g., for driver assistance) are used to communicate with the driver of the projecting vehicle. We perform this investigation in a blind study with 38 test persons who are overtaken six times on a constant motorway section by the projection vehicle. The distraction potential is examined with an eye-tracking system, which detects the direction of the subjects’ gaze. In addition, the subjects’ physiological perception of the headlight projection is recorded with a questionnaire afterward. Several test subjects looked at the projection for less than one second, which is well below the critical threshold for the distraction of 1.6 s. In the interviews, on the other hand, only one of the 38 test persons stated that a projection on the road was recognized. For the examined scenario, it is therefore deduced that on-road projections with the selected symbol shape and brightness do not lead to critical distraction.
Anger is a known factor that adds to the distress caused by mental health problems in traumatized samples. Limited strategies for emotion regulation play a key role in this relationship. People with ...a history of severe trauma frequently report less adaptive emotion regulation strategies, low self-esteem, and high levels of anger. To our knowledge, their interrelationship has not yet been sufficiently researched.
We investigated the mediating role of self-esteem in the relation between emotion regulation strategies and different forms of anger (trait anger and anger rumination) in an Austrian sample of adult survivors of childhood abuse in foster care homes (n=220).
The relationship of emotion regulation strategies (DERS), trait anger (STAXI), anger rumination (DAQ), and self-esteem (MSWS) was assessed using two mediation models. Both models showed significant mediation effects. Self-esteem mediated 26% of the effect of emotion regulation on trait anger and 57.5% of the effect of emotion regulation on anger rumination.
Self-esteem potentially supports adaptive emotion regulation through its beneficial effects on distressing emotional states. As a practical implication for treatment, it may be assumed that supporting adaptive emotion regulation strategies and self-esteem positively influences anger in traumatized patients.
The proposal for ICD-11 postulates major changes for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) diagnosis, which needs investigation in different samples.
To investigate differences of PTSD prevalence and ...diagnostic agreement between ICD-10 and ICD-11, factor structure of proposed ICD-11 PTSD, and diagnostic value of PTSD symptom severity classes.
Confirmatory factor analysis and latent profile analysis were used on data of elderly survivors of childhood trauma (>60 years, N=399).
PTSD rates differed significantly between ICD-10 (15.0%) and ICD-11 (10.3%, z=2.02, p=0.04). Unlike previous research, a one-factor solution of ICD-11 PTSD had the best fit in this sample. High symptom profiles were associated with PTSD in ICD-11.
ICD-11 concentrates on PTSD's core symptoms and furthers clinical utility. Questions remain regarding the tendency of ICD-11 to diagnose mainly cases with severe symptoms and the influence of trauma type and participant age on the factor structure.
War-related traumata in childhood and young-adulthood may have long-lasting negative effects on mental health. The focus of recent research has shifted to examine positive adaption despite traumatic ...experiences, i.e. resilience. We investigated personal and environmental factors associated with resilience in a sample of elderly Austrians (N = 293) who reported traumatic experiences in early life during World War II and subsequent occupation (1945-1955).
After reviewing different concepts of resilience, we analysed our data in a 3-phased approach: Following previous research approaches, we first investigated correlates of PTSD and non-PTSD. Secondly, we compared a PTSD positive sample (sub-threshold and full PTSD, n = 42) with a matched control sample regarding correlates of resilience and psychometrically assessed resilience (CD-RISC). Thirdly, we examined factors of resilience, discriminating between psychologically healthy participants who were exposed to a specific environmental stressor (having lived in the Soviet zone of occupation during 1945-1955) from those who were not.
A smaller number of life-time traumata (OR = 0.73) and a medium level of education (OR = 2.46) were associated with better outcome. Matched PTSD and non-PTSD participants differed in psychometrically assessed resilience mainly in aspects that were directly related to symptoms of PTSD. Psychologically healthy participants with an environmental stressor in the past were characterized by a challenge-oriented and humorous attitude towards stress.
Our results show no clear picture of factors constituting resilience. Instead, most aspects of resilience rather appeared to be concomitants or consequences of PTSD and non-PTSD. However, special attention should be placed on a challenge-oriented and humorous attitude towards stress in future definitions of resilience.
Abstract Background In several trials, beneficial prognostic effects of highly unsaturated fatty acids (HUFAs) in heart failure were shown. Because other studies showed no incremental benefit in ...nearly preserved cardiac function, the question arises, whether the degree of cardiac dysfunction is involved. It is hypothesized that increased left ventricular (LV) wall stress affects the endogenous hepatic HUFA metabolism, which in turn exhibits adverse cardiac consequences. Methods Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging was performed in 30 patients with suspected cardiomyopathy. The serum fatty acid profile was assessed using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Results Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; P = 0.002) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA; by trend) levels were decreased in patients with reduced LV ejection fraction (≤ 50%) or LV dilatation (≥ 90 mL/m2 ). Decreased DHA ( P = 0.003) and EPA ( P = 0.022) levels were associated with a reduced LV ejection fraction. Decreased DHA level was correlated with increased end-diastolic ( P = 0.047) and end-systolic LV wall stress ( P = 0.001). Pseudocholinesterase activity was inversely correlated with end-diastolic ( P = 0.020) and end-systolic LV wall stress ( P = 0.025). Conclusions DHA level was significantly reduced in heart failure. Similar, but less pronounced effects were found for EPA and arachidonic acid by trend. Increased LV wall stress was correlated with a reduced DHA level. Increased LV wall stress exhibits various adverse consequences (eg, increased oxygen consumption, favouring of arrhythmias, and an unfavourable remodelling). The increase of wall stress was paralleled by reduced HUFA level. Increased LV wall stress was correlated with reduced pseudocholinesterase, which is suggestive of hepatic congestion (ie, a cardiohepatic syndrome, involved in the altered fatty acid profile in heart failure) and has major consequences regarding the dose-efficacy of HUFA treatment.
Background
: While in recent years epidemiological
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Tobias M. Glück and Ulrich S. Tran contributed equally to this work. They wrote the paper and conducted the statistical analysis, Brigitte ...Lueger-Schuster designed and supervised the project and contributed in writing and revising the paper.
studies on World War (WW) II-related traumatization and prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in elderly persons have been conducted for various European countries, for Austria, these numbers are unknown.
Objective
: The focus of this epidemiologic study was to picture the current mental health status and prevalence of PTSD and lifetime traumatic events in Austria's elderly with respect to WWII and subsequent occupation.
Method
: In an interdisciplinary approach of psychologists and historians, 316 elderly Austrians (born before 1946) were interviewed for symptoms of PTSD and lifetime traumatization (Traumatic Life Events Questionnaire, PTSD Checklist-Civilian Version), current mental health (Brief Symptom Inventory), wartime-related trauma, and traumatic experiences with occupational forces. These factors were also compared regarding the zone of occupation (Allied vs. Soviet). Data were collected between March and September 2010.
Results
: 97.5% of the sample reported at least one lifetime trauma. War-related traumata were reported by 92.7% and non-war-related traumata by 82.3%; 40.2% experienced traumatic events with occupational forces. PTSD was present in 1.9% of the sample and up to 13.9% taking subthreshold PTSD into account. Both, the presence of symptoms indicative of PTSD and subthreshold PTSD implied weaker current mental health (regarding General Distress: odds ratios up to 25.51; 95% CI = 9.82 to 66.27). Independent of PTSD diagnosis persons from the Soviet occupied zone showed higher levels of Interpersonal Sensitivity, Global Distress, and Phobic Anxiety. Prevalence of PTSD was independent of gender.
Conclusions
: Our results corroborate findings from other European countries that PTSD is a common disorder in the elderly due to WWII experience and that PTSD and trauma affect mental health even across long periods of time. Postwar distressing conditions also pose a further risk factor for symptomatology and distress in later years.
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