Psychological trauma can occur at any time in life
1
, and when it happens during childhood or adolescence, it may have negative repercussions on mental health that prevail in adult life
2
. The ...main objective of this study was to evaluate the relationship between childhood victimisation trauma experiences and empathy among incarcerated males.
The sample was composed of 99 incarcerated males with ages between 18 and 73 years old (M = 37.96; SD = 11.6). Some of the participants were arrested for drug trafficking (n = 24, 24.2%), domestic violence (n = 10, 10.1%), homicide (n = 9, 9.1%), robbery (n = 7, 7.1%), theft (n = 5, 5.1%), and other types of crimes (e.g. kidnapping, attempted murder). Participants answered face-to-face to a sociodemographic questionnaire, to the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ)
3
and the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI)
4
.
All the participants experienced all types of victimisation in their childhood: emotional abuse, physical abuse, emotional neglect, physical neglect, and sexual abuse. The experience of emotional neglect (M = 9.56; SD = 5.19) showed the highest incidence of child victimisation, and the other types of victimisation showed moderate rates. The analysis of the IRI confirmed high values of perspective taking (M = 16.70; SD = 4.00), empathic concern (M = 17.83; SD = 3.69), personal distress (M = 9.84; SD = 4.88), and fantasy (M = 13.09; SD = 4.39) among the participants. We found a positive and significant correlation between childhood trauma and interpersonal reactivity, specifically concerning the physical abuse (r = 0.22; p=.03) and the physical neglect (r = 0.24; p=.02) on childhood with the presence of personal distress on adulthood.
This study pointed out the emotional neglect as the most frequent victimisation in childhood, and this result is similar to previous studies
4
,
5
. Contrarily to some researches
6
, our sample showed high general rates of empathy on inmates. It was also possible to verify that physical abuse and physical neglect during childhood, can influence the experience of distress in those incarcerated adults. Therefore, we conclude that the traumatic events of victimisation bring negative repercussions to adult life
2
.
In 2011, the Brazilian Minister for Health created the Health Academy Program (Programa Academia da Saúde) as a strategy to promote health and healthy lifestyles. However, the official standards do ...not seem to be clear enough to support the implementation program in the towns. The aim of this study was to analyse the degree of Health Academy Program implementation in a Brazilian midsize town Vitória de Santo Antão, Pernambuco State, in 2018. This is an evaluative study that carry out a normative approach, considering the dimensions of structure and process related to work process. The research is divided into: (1) elaboration of the theoretical model of evaluation, through the validation of the logical model; (2) verification of the level of implementation, through an interview with workers and managers. The cut-off scores for classification of implementation levels were: (1) incipient: > 0 < 33.3%; (2) intermediate: > 33.3 < 66.6%; (3) advanced: > 66.6%. The level of implementation was considered intermediate (37.54%). The score of the structure was higher (54.76%) than the process (26.06%). The low level of Health Academy Program implementation, especially related to the multi-professional articulation and the difficult connection with other sectors or social actors, shows the necessity of reorganization of the actions.
El ministro brasileño de salud creó en 2011 el Programa Academia de la Salud (Programa Academia da Saúde) como estrategia para promover la salud y estilos de vida saludables. Sin embargo, los estándares oficiales no parecen estar lo suficientemente claros para apoyar la implementación del programa en las ciudades. El objetivo de este estudio fue analizar el grado de implementación del Programa Academia de la Salud en un pueblo de tamaño medio en Brasil (Vitória de Santo Antão, Pernambuco) en 2018. Es un estudio evaluativo, con un enfoque normativo, que considera las dimensiones de la estructura y proceso relacionado con el sistema laboral. La investigación está dividida en dos pasos: (1) elaboración del modelo teórico de evaluación, a través de la validación del modelo lógico; (2) verificación del nivel de implementación, mediante una entrevista con trabajadores y gestores. Las puntuaciones de corte para la clasificación de implementación por niveles fueron: (1) incipiente: > 0 y < 33,3%; (2) intermedios: > 33,3 y < 66,6%; (3) avanzados: > 66,6%. El nivel de implementación fue considerado intermedio (37,54%). La puntuación de la estructura fue mayor (54,76%) que el proceso (26,06%). El bajo nivel de implementación del Programa Academia de la Salud, especialmente relacionado con la coordinación multiprofesional, y la difícil conexión con otros sectores o actores de la sociedad, muestra la necesidad de una reorganización de las acciones.
Em 2011, o Ministério da Saúde criou o Programa Academia da Saúde como estratégia para promover a saúde e estilos de vida saudáveis. Entretanto, as normas oficiais não parecem ser suficientemente claras para apoiar a implementação do programa nas cidades. O estudo teve como objetivo analisar o grau de implementação do Programa Academia da Saúde em uma cidade brasileira de porte médio, Vitória de Santo Antão, Pernambuco, em 2018. É um estudo avaliativo com abordagem normativa, considerando as dimensões de estrutura e processo relacionadas ao processo de trabalho. O estudo é divido em dois passos: (1) a elaboração de um modelo teórico de avaliação, através da validação do modelo lógico e (2) a verificação do nível de implementação através de entrevistas com os profissionais e gestores. Os pontos de corte para a classificação dos níveis de implementação foram: (1) incipiente: > 0 < 33,3%; (2) intermediário: > 33,3 < 66,6%; (3) avançado > 66,6%. O grau de implantação foi considerado intermediário (37,54%). A pontuação da estrutura foi mais alta (54,76%) que a do processo (26,06%). O nível baixo de implementação do Programa Academia da Saúde, principalmente relacionado a problemas de articulação multi-profissional e à dificuldade de articulação com os outros setores e atores da sociedade, mostra a necessidade de reorganização das ações.
Positive childhood experiences have a positive effect on adulthood, and the absence of positive experiences can be more damaging throughout life than the presence of adversity. Recently, researchers ...have developed the Benevolent Childhood Experiences Scale (BCEs), an instrument designed to assess positive childhood experiences.
The present study aims to adapt the BCEs to the Portuguese population and examines its psychometric properties.
1886 adults with a mean age of 36.36 years (SD = 13.66) from the community participated in this study.
Participants responded to an online protocol consisting of a sociodemographic questionnaire, the BCEs, and the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ).
Exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis revealed a one-factor structure for the BCEs with a good fit, CFI = 0.94; NFI = 0.92; RMSEA = 0.043 0.036, 0.050. Results also indicated satisfactory internal consistency and discriminant validity values. Predictive validity showed that higher BCEs scores predicted fewer adverse experiences in the last 3 years, but only before accounting for adverse childhood experiences.
Overall, the results support the assertion that the Portuguese version of the BCEs is a valuable, brief, and psychometrically reliable instrument to measure positive childhood experiences that is suitable for use in Portugal.
•Portuguese version of BCEs showed one-factor structure with a good model fit.•The sample showed considerably high levels of positive childhood experiences.•Higher scores of BCEs predicts less adverse experiences and victimization in the last 3 years.•Older participants, married, employed, retired, and students, reported higher scores of BCEs.
Introduction: Attachment theory focuses on the emergence and development of models acquired during child development and on the role that such models play in future interpersonal relationships ...throughout the life cycle
1
. The insecure attachment can be seen as a risk factor for intimate partner violence. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate attachment as a risk factor, mainly analyse the relationship between adult attachment, beliefs about intimate violence, aggression, and the presence of psychopathology in adulthood.
Materials and methods: Data was collected in Victims Information and Assistance Office (partnership with Egas Moniz High University), between 2014 and 2018 from lawsuits, semi-structured interviews of the defendant, collateral information and clinical and forensic assessment tools e.g. Experiences in Close Relationships, Brennan, Clark & Shaver, 1998; Portuguese Version Moreira, et al., 2006; Scale of Beliefs about Marital Violence, Matos, Machado & Gonçalves, 2000; Aggression Questionnaire, Buss & Perry, 1992; Portuguese Version Simões, 1993; Brief Symptom Inventory, Derogatis, 1993; Portuguese Version Canavarro, 1995). Defendants signed an informed consent term, which contained the goal of the evaluation, the limits of the confidentiality, and also information about the ethics and impartiality of the technicians. A total of 41 intimate partner violence offenders were evaluate.
Results: The results show us that 21 offenders had a secure attachment and 20 had an insecure attachment (assess the two basic dimensions of individual differences in adult attachment style, namely avoidance and preoccupation). We found a positive association between preoccupation and beliefs about violence, namely minimizing small acts of violence (r=.55; p=.00), supporting violence through women's misconduct (r=.36; p=.02), supporting violence through family privacy (r=.41; p=.00) and the general level of tolerance/acceptance of physical and psychological violence (r=.48; p=.00). There is a significant correlation between preoccupation and aggression (r=.52; p=.00), specifically anger (r=.48; p=.00) and hostility (r=.44; p=.00). Finally, we corroborate a relationship between preoccupation and psychopathology: Somatization (r=.34; p=.02), interpersonal sensitivity (r=.40; p=.01), depression (r=.44; p=.00), hostility (r=.37; p=.01), phobic anxiety (r=.49; p=.00) and psychoticism (r=.45; p=.00).
Discussion and conclusions: The data demonstrated that some offenders tends to develop an insecure attachment in their intimate relationships, have an intense concern with relationships and a constant desire of closeness and obsession with abandonment and loss of intimacy. In a global analysis it appears that the attachment is relate with beliefs, aggression and psychopathology. In fact, these results allow aid professionals and institutions to have a deep knowledge about adult attachment as a risk factor.
Introduction: Violence against the elderly is a complex multidisciplinary social problem that requires cooperation between institutions and professionals. World Health Organization
1
defines this ...kind of violence as a single or repeated action, or the absence of an appropriate action, arising in the context of a relationship where there is an expectation of trust that causes suffering or harm to an elderly person. Occurs through several behaviors involving psychological, physical, sexual, financial violence, neglect and self-neglect
2
. In Portugal it is possible to identify a small number of studies about elder abuse, only about general prevalence and about some subtypes of elder abuse
3
, but not about risk assessment. According to Portuguese Association for Victims Support, between 2013 and 2015, were recorded 2.063 processes of elderly people were victims of violence
4
. The main goal of this research is to contribute for the definition and prevalence of elder abuse in Portugal, identifying familiar, social and cultural dynamics and develop an integrative risk management protocol that will allow the elder abuse risk assessment.
Materials and methods: In order to assist the victims' support professionals and the criminal justice system have been developed a new risk assessment tool, called "Assessment Guidelines for Elder Domestic Violence" (AGED). This work is organized in 3 phases/studies: Study I. Elderly abuse prevalence, risk, protective and vulnerability factors study, and checklist variables construction; Study II. Retrospective study of the elder abuse cases reported in the victims support organizations and criminal justice system; Study III. Development of the AGED. All ethical principles have been taken due to the sensitive nature of the data involved.
Results: After study 1 and study 2, the results of the development of AGED were composed by five sections/areas: I. Victim's Risk factors; II. Offender's Risk Factors; III. External, Contextual and Relational Risk Factors; IV. Victim/Context Protective Factors; and finally, V. Institutional Risk Factors, if applicable. AGED also contemplates the possibility of the evaluator being able to add other additional factors that they consider necessary, contributing to the effectiveness of the measurement of the level of risk of the victim (low, moderate or high) and critical factors.
Discussion and conclusions: AGED is developed with the main goal to supporting professionals who work in domestic violence. Scientific community make evident the need for an evidence-based, valid, user-friendly risk assessment tool of elder abuse to support the professionals. This study offers the opportunity to provide professionals specific knowledge, skills, competences and a tool, in order to an effective risk assessment and management of elder abuse, contributing to the efforts for protect victims and prevent the occurrence of future cases.
We investigated the effects of injection into the supraoptic nucleus (SON) of losartanand PD 123319 (nonpeptide AT
1 and AT
2-angiotensin II ANG II receptor antagonists, respectively); d(CH
2)
...5-Tyr(Me)-AVP (AVPA; an arginine–vasopressin AVP V
1 receptor antagonist), FK 409 (a nitric oxide NO donor), and
N
W-nitro-
l-arginine methyl ester (
l-NAME; an NO synthase inhibitor) on water intake, sodium chloride 3% (NaCl) intake and arterial blood pressure induced by injection of ANG II into the lateral septal area (LSA). Male Holtzman rats (250–300 g) were implanted with cannulae into SON and LSA unilaterally. The drugs were injected in 0.5 μl over 30–60 s. Controls were injected with a similar volume of 0.15 M NaCl. ANG II was injected at a dose of 10 pmol. ANG II antagonists and AVPA were injected at doses of 80 nmol. FK 409 and
l-NAME were injected at doses of 20 and 40 μg, respectively. Water and NaCl intake was measured over a 2-h period. Prior administration of losartan into the SON decreased water and NaCl intake induced by injection of ANG II. While there was a decrease in water intake, ANG II-induced NaCl intake was significantly increased following injection of AVPA. FK 409 injection decreased water intake and sodium intake induced by ANG II.
l-NAME alone increased water and sodium intake and induced a pressor effect.
l-NAME-potentiated water and sodium intake induced by ANG II. PD 123319 produced no changes in water or sodium intake induced by ANG II. The prior administration of losartan or AVPA decreased mean arterial pressure (MAP) induced by ANG II. PD 123319 decreased the pressor effect of ANG II to a lesser degree than losartan. FK 409 decreased the pressor effect of ANG II while
l-NAME potentiated it. These results suggest that both ANG II AT
1 and AVP V
1 receptors and NO within the SON may be involved in water intake, NaCl intake and the pressor response were induced by activation of ANG II receptors within the LSA. These results do not support the involvement of LSA AT
2 receptors in the mediation of water and NaCl intake responses induced by ANG II, but influence the pressor response.
Background: Positive childhood experiences help to develop resilience and better support adverse experiences throughout life. Childhood trauma is usually associated with the various types of abuse ...that are associated with low empathy in adulthood. People with low empathy tend to be more aggressive, violent, and conflicted with others. Objectives: Adapt the BCEs to the Portuguese population. To analyze the relationship between positive childhood experiences and childhood trauma. To verify the relationship between positive childhood experiences, childhood trauma, and empathy in adulthood by comparing the normative population and prisoners. Participants: The study consists of two samples: one with 1886 Portuguese adults (1475 women and 411 men) between 18 and 91 years old (M = 36.36, SD = 13.66); and another with 244, where 123 (100 women and 23 men) between 18 and 67 years old (M = 34.28, SD = 11.902) years belong to the normative population and 119 are male prisoners between 18 and 73 years old (M = 36.97, SD = 11.090). Method: The normative population responded to an online protocol and the prison population responded to a paper protocol. The protocol consisted of a sociodemographic questionnaire, Scale of Benevolent Childhood Experiences (BCEs), Child Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), and Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI). Results: The results show that having a few positive experiences in childhood is related to the experience of more trauma in childhood and/or youth. Positive childhood experiences and infantile trauma predict empathy for prisoners. Conclusion: The BCEs are a good instrument to assess the presence of positive experiences in childhood and that childhood trauma is present in both samples. Positive childhood experiences and childhood trauma predicts empathy in adulthood.
Our studies have focused on the effect of
l-
NG-nitroarginine methyl ester (
l-NAME), an inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase (NOS), and
l-arginine, the substrate of NOS, on salivary secretion induced ...by the administration of pilocarpine into the lateral cerebral ventricle (LV) of rats. The present study has also investigated the role of the β-adrenergic agonists and antagonist injected into LV on the salivary secretion elicited by the injection of pilocarpine into LV. Male Holtzman rats with a stainless-steel cannula implanted into the LV were used. The amount of salivary secretion was studied over a 7-min period after injection of pilocarpine, isoproterenol, propranolol, salbutamol, salmeterol,
l-NAME and
l-arginine. The injection of pilocarpine (10, 20, 40, 80 and 160 μg/μl) into LV produced a dose-dependent increase in salivary secretion. The injection of
l-NAME (40 μg/μl) into LV alone produced an increase in salivary secretion. The injection of
l-NAME into LV previous to the injection of pilocarpine produced an increase in salivary secretion.
l-Arginine (30 μg/μl) injected alone into LV produced no change in salivary secretion.
l-Arginine injected into LV attenuated pilocarpine-induced salivary secretion. The isoproterenol (40 nmol/μl) injected into LV increased the salivary secretion. When injected previous to pilocarpine at a dose of 20 and 40 μg/μl, isoproterenol produced an additive effect on pilocarpine-induced salivary secretion. The 40-nmol/μl dose of propranolol injected alone or previous to pilocarpine into LV attenuated the pilocarpine-induced salivary secretion. The injection of salbutamol (40 nmol/μl), a specific β-2 agonist, injected alone into LV produced no change in salivary secretion and when injected previous to pilocarpine produced an increase in salivary secretion. The 40-nmol/μl dose of salmeterol, a long-acting β-2 agonist, injected into LV alone or previous to pilocarpine produced no change in salivary secretion. The results have shown that central injections of
l-NAME and
l-arginine interfere with the salivary secretion, which implies that might participate in pilocarpine-induced salivary secretion. The interaction between cholinergic and β-adrenergic receptors of the central nervous system (CNS) for the control of salivary secretion can also be postulated.
In this study we investigated the influence of d(CH
2)
5-Tyr(Me)-Arg
8vasopressin (AAVP) and adamanteanacetyl
1,0-ET-
d-Tyr
2,Val
4,aminobutyryl
6,Arg
8,9-Arg
8vasopressin (ATAVP), which are ...antagonists of vasopressin V
1 and V
2 receptors, and the effects of losartan, a selective angiotensin AT
1 receptor antagonist, and CGP42112A, a selective AT
2 receptor antagonist, injected into the lateral septal area (LSA) on thirst and hypertension induced by Arg
8vasopressin (AVP). AAVP and ATAVP injected into the LSA reduced the drinking responses elicited by injecting AVP into the LSA. Both the AT
1 and AT
2 ligands administered into the LSA elicited a concentration-dependent decrease in the water intake induced by AVP injected into the LSA, but losartan was more effective than CGP42112A. The increase in MAP, due to injection of AVP into the LSA, was reduced by prior injection of AAVP from 18±1 to 6±1 mm Hg. Losartan injected into the LSA prior to AVP reduced the increase in MAP to 7±0.8 mm Hg. ATAVP and CGP42112A produced no changes in the pressor effect of AVP. These results suggest that the dipsogenic effects induced by injecting AVP into the LSA were mediated primarily by AT
1 receptors. However, doses of losartan were more effective when combined with CGP42112A than when given alone, suggesting that the thirst induced by AVP injections into LSA may involve activation of multiple AVP and angiotensin II receptor subtypes. The pressor response of AVP was reduced by losartan and by AAVP. CGP42112A and ATAVP did not change the AVP pressor response. These results suggest that facilitator effects of AVP on water intake are mediated through the activation of V
1 receptors and that the inhibitory effect requires V
2 receptors. The involvement of AT
1 and AT
2 receptors can be postulated. Based on the present findings, we suggest that the AVP in the LSA may play a role in the control of water and arterial blood pressure balance.
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