Please read the abstract in the section 00front of this document / Dissertation (MA (Psychology))--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Psychology / unrestricted

Research suggests that there are now two distinct approaches to Emotional Intelligence (EI): ability and trait. To date, however, the literature indicates that the construct remains poorly defined and not always adequately measured. Focusing on trait EI, the current thesis identifies a number of research questions that centre on what it is that defines EI in relation to existing definitions and other constructs, namely, happiness, self-esteem, mood and personality. Moreover, a programme of empirical study investigates whether a training intervention can enhance levels of EI and thus contribute to the emerging applied field of enquiry. This has been achieved through the employment of a series of studies. The initial study used the Repertory Grid Technique (RGT) and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) to generate a definition of EI, which directed this thesis towards alignment with the trait approach. The second study aimed to identify correlations and explore possible predictor variables through the application of Pearson’s r and Hierarchical Regression analysis. Moreover, a Mediation and Moderation analysis investigated whether EI has a mediating or moderating role when combined with other predictors. Two further experimental studies examined whether EI could be experimentally enhanced through a programme of relaxation and positive thinking when compared with a control group engaged in a non-demanding reading task. The results of the first study produced a definition of EI that included descriptions of work-related qualities with the second study yielding results of high correlations between EI, happiness and self-esteem, which were also identified as predictor variables. EI was found to act as a mediator and moderator. Analysis of Variance generated results for the first experimental study that showed overall non-significant interactions. To investigate beyond these findings, the second programme showed that the training programme induced positive changes. It was concluded that, overall, the results contribute to a definition beyond existing definitions of EI, demonstrating EI’s strong associations particularly with happiness, self-esteem and, its mediating and moderating role with other predictors. Primarily, the results from the second experimental study demonstrate the potential of EI in the applied field, including education, work and health.

Charles University Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Králové Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology Student: Jana Rambousková Supervisor: Prof. MUDr. Radomír Hrdina, CSc. Title of diploma thesis: Pharmacotherapy of mood disorder This diploma thesis deals with the characterization of mood disorders concentrating especially on depression disorders. It presents the classification of mood disorders according to classification MKN-10. The diploma thesis presents patophysiology of depression disorders, their causes, symptoms and progress. It analyses the choice of pharmacotherapy in depression disorders and bipolar affective disorder. It describes individual groups of antidepressants and drugs used for treatement of bipolar affective disorder. It analyses their mechanism of action, indications, contraindications and adverse effects. At the end of diploma thesis states the other use of antidepressants in non- psychiatric indications.

This dissertation explores the occurrence of symptoms of temporolimbic dysfunction with persons with mood disorder. Groups of pacients was concerned to persons with depression and manic depression disorder. The occurrence of symptoms was examined by questionnaire method. It is assumed that mood disorders are result of damage of structures in the temporolimbic area and that they will also manifest in the questionnaires being used. Theoretical part describes anatomy of the temporolimbic area and temporolimbic dysfunction. Practical part is focused on the evaluation of the outcomes from submitted questionnaires. KEY WORDS Temporolimbic disfunction, limbic system, depression, manic depression

Background/Aims: Temperament and mood swings are promising indicators for the characterization of mood spectrum vulnerability. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between affective temperament and mood swings in bipolar disorder. We explored these clinical features retrospectively. Methods: Patients who met the criteria for bipolar I disorder were enrolled in the study. Exclusion criteria were partial remittance and a full affective or psychotic episode. Data concerning illness and family history, mood swings (semistructured interview for mood swings) and depression (Beck, Depression Inventory) were obtained. We examined premorbid temperament with the validated German version Temps-M of the original version Temps-A. Patients with and without mood swings were compared with respect to the dominant temperament. Results: Out of 20 bipolar patients, 6 subjects reported mood swings prior to the onset of affective disorder. Subjects with mood swings prior to the onset of bipolar disorder significantly correlated with a positive family history of affective disorders. Concerning cyclothymic and irritable temperament, bipolar affective patients with mood swings had higher scores. No differences were found between males and females. Conclusion: Our findings go in line with previous results that mood swings, as represented by the cyclothymic temperament, are present prior to the first onset of bipolar disorder in a subset of patients. These traits may represent vulnerability markers and could presumably be used to identify individuals at high risk for developing bipolar disorder in order to prevent this illness. Further studies are indicated to clarify the correlation with genetic risk factors.

Background. Neuroimaging studies have demonstrated an association between lithium (Li) treatment and brain structure in human subjects. A crucial unresolved question is whether this association reflects direct neurochemical effects of Li or indirect effects secondary to treatment or prevention of episodes of bipolar disorder (BD). Method. To address this knowledge gap, we compared manually traced hippocampal volumes in 37 BD patients with at least 2 years of Li treatment (Li group), 19 BD patients with <3 months of lifetime Li exposure over 2 years ago (non-Li group) and 50 healthy controls. All BD participants were followed prospectively and had at least 10 years of illness and a minimum of five episodes. We established illness course and long-term treatment response to Li using National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) life charts. Results. The non-Li group had smaller hippocampal volumes than the controls or the Li group (F₂,₁₀₂ =4.97, p=0.009). However, the time spent in a mood episode on the current mood stabilizer was more than three times longer in the Li than in the non-Li group (t₅₁ =2.00, p=0.05). Even Li-treated patients with BD episodes while on Li had hippocampal volumes comparable to healthy controls and significantly larger than non-Li patients (t₄₃=2.62, corrected p=0.02). Conclusions. Our findings support the neuroprotective effects of Li. The association between Li treatment and hippocampal volume seems to be independent of long-term treatment response and occurred even in subjects with episodes of BD while on Li. Consequently, these effects of Li on brain structure may generalize to patients with neuropsychiatric illnesses other than BD.

Background. General population data were used to study co-morbidities between lifetime social phobia and mood disorders. Methods. Data come from the US National Comorbidity Survey (NCS). Results. Strong associations exist between lifetime social phobia and major depressive disorder (odds ratio 2·9), dysthymia (2·7) and bipolar disorder (5·9). Odds ratios increase in magnitude with number of social fears. Reported age of onset is earlier for social phobia than mood disorders in the vast majority of co-morbid cases. Temporally-primary social phobia predicts subsequent onset of mood disorders, with population attributable risk proportions of 10–15%. Social phobia is also associated with severity and persistence of co-morbid mood disorders. Conclusions. Social phobia is a commonly occurring, chronic and seriously impairing disorder that is seldom treated unless it occurs in conjunction with another co-morbid condition. The adverse consequences of social phobia include increased risk of onset, severity and course of subsequent mood disorders. Early outreach and treatment of primary social phobia might not only reduce the prevalence of this disorder itself, but also the subsequent onset of mood disorders.

In der vorliegenden Arbeit wurden die Auswirkungen des Musikhörens nach der einmaligen Inhalation eines Gasgemisches aus 35 % CO2 und 65 % O2 auf Emotionen, die aktuelle Stimmung sowie auf die Stress- und Immunparameter Noradrenalin, Leptin, Somatostatin und TNF-α untersucht. Außerdem wurden die Stress- und Immunparameter betreffs ihres Zusammenhangs mit den Emotionen und Stimmungen sowie ihrer Geschlechter- und Tageszeiteneffekte näher betrachtet. In die Studie wurden 143 gesunde Probanden eingeschlossen, die randomisiert jeweils einer Experimentalgruppe und einer Kontrollgruppe zugeteilt wurden. Die Experimentalgruppe hörte nach der Inhalation des Gasgemisches fröhliche belebende Instrumentalmusik, während die Versuchspersonen der Kontrollgruppe nach Zugabe des Gasgemisches neutrale Zwölftonfolgen dargeboten bekamen. Während des Hörens wurden die Emotionen an Hand standardisierter Fragebögen bewertet. Die aktuelle Stimmung wurde jeweils vor und nach dem Experiment erhoben. Zu 6 definierten Zeitpunkten wurden den Probanden Blutproben entnommen, die auf die Stress- und Immunparameter untersucht wurden. Dabei zeigte sich die Inhalation des Gasgemisches aus 35 % CO2 und 65 % O2 als wirkungsvoller Stressor, der die Schlüsselmechanismen der humanen Stressantwort zu aktivieren imstande war. Das Hören der Instrumentalmusik erbrachte signifikant positive Effekte auf die Einschätzung der Emotionen und aktuellen Stimmung verglichen mit dem Hören von Zwölftonfolgen. In den Konzentrationen der Stress- und Immunparameter zeigten sich im Vergleich von Instrumentalmusik mit Zwölftonfolgen jedoch keine eindeutigen Unterschiede. Diese Arbeit liefert damit einen Beleg zur positiven Wirkung von Musik und unterstützt die Bestrebungen, vergleichbare musikalische Stimuli im klinischen Alltag therapeutisch einzusetzen.

La restriction des apports alimentaires est une méthode couramment utilisée pour perdre du poids dans les sports à catégories de poids. La réduction des apports caloriques se traduit par une activation des systèmes physiologiques du stress, au niveau central et périphérique, visant à préserver l’homéostasie énergétique. Néanmoins, l’influence sur les paramètres physiologiques, psychologiques et physiques reste controversée et ne permet pas de définir clairement un impact négatif de la restriction alimentaire sur la santé et le niveau de performance. L’objectif de ce travail était d’évaluer l’influence d’une restriction alimentaire sur les indicateurs psychophysiologiques du stress, ainsi que le niveau de performance chez des haltérophiles de haut niveau. Nos résultats ont montré que la restriction alimentaire ne modifiait pas le niveau de performance en haltérophilie, mais induisait une altération des paramètres psychologiques. La période de restriction alimentaire se traduisait par une dissociation de l’activité des systèmes physiologiques du stress, ainsi qu’une modification des réponses hormonales à une compétition simulée d’haltérophilie. Il reste à définir les répercussions à long terme de l’altération des paramètres psychophysiologiques sur la santé et la capacité de performance du sportif. Il serait également intéressant d'étudier l'influence de la restriction alimentaire sur le microbiote intestinal et les répercussions éventuelles sur l'axe intestin-cerveau. / Restricting dietary intake is a widespread method for losing weight in weight categories sports. Reduction of calorie intake results in an activation of the physiological stress systems, both at central and peripheral levels, aiming at preserving energy homeostasis. Nevertheless, the influence on physiological, psychological and physical parameters remains controversial and do not allows to clearly defining a negative impact of dietary restriction on health and performance level. The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of a dietary restriction period on the psychophysiological indicators of stress, as well as the level of performance in high-level weightlifters. Our results showed that dietary restriction did not modify weightlifting performance level, but resulted in an alteration of the psychological parameters. The dietary restriction period resulted in a dissociation of the activity of the physiological stress systems, as well as a modification of the hormonal responses to a simulated weightlifting competition. It remains to define the long-term impacts of the alteration of psychophysiological parameters on the athlete’s health and performance capacity. It would also be interesting to evaluate the influence of dietary restriction on intestinal microbiota and the possible influence on the gut-brain axis.

Education during recovery could impact a forensic psychiatric patient's community reintegration; however, individual education goals for patients can be difficult due to the lack of available parameters. The purpose of this study was to test whether age at first hospitalization is predictive of educational attainment among forensic psychiatric patients and to determine which ages of first hospitalization best predict 8 levels of educational attainment. Cattell's intelligence theory served as the theoretical framework for this study because mental illness requiring early hospitalization may affect education and learning. This quantitative, nonexperimental study involved a predictive design with data from the Canadian Institute for Health Information database. The sample of patients from 2011-2016 consisted of 16,639 diagnosed with schizophrenia or other psychotic disorder and 2,227 diagnosed with mood disorder. Multinomial logistic regression analysis indicated age at first hospitalization to be a predictor of educational attainment among both categories of diagnoses. Odds ratio analyses identified which ages of first hospitalization best predict 8 levels of educational attainment. Increased rates of education levels were indicated when age at first hospitalization increased. Patients were more likely to attain a high school diploma than drop out between 9th to 11th grade unless first hospitalized at age 14 or under. Based on the results from this study, completion of a general equivalency diploma or a life skills program may provide additional opportunities for independent living and employment, which can improve the lives of patients and those in the community. Therefore, this project can lead to social change by encouraging changes through the results and recommendations presented in a white paper.