The purpose of this manuscript was to present a brief history, the current status, and a prospectus of allergen and allergic reactions. Research on allergic reactions, particularly as viewed from the psychogenic position, was presented. The review strongly suggests that the psychogenic orientation has been frought with contradictions, unnecessarily complex interpretations, and an over-abundance of subjective, dynamic, and analytic redundancies which have done little more than perpetuate the stagnation of a rather important subdomain of the "mental" health professions.

Each psychotherapist has a personal theoretical framework, that is, a set of assumptions on which his or her psychotherapy is based. It appears from the published writings and opinions of therapists that therapists generally concur that a major factor in the formation of an individual therapist's theoretical framework is the therapist's personality. This study was designed to address this issue by examining the relationship between the psychogenic needs and theoretical framework of the therapist. From an accessible population of 178, responses were obtained from 153 therapist participants (108 males and 45 females) from five Utah training programs and three experience levels. Each of the participants completed a measure of theoretical framework (developed by the author) which assessed general adherence to the principles and techniques of person-centered, behavioral, and rational-emotive therapy. Based on scales from Jackson's Personality Research Form the following psychogenic need variables were also derived: Need for Achievement, Need for Affiliation, Need for Dominance, Need for Exhibition, Need to Give Nurturance, and Need for Order. Other independent variables were based on the experience levels and training programs of the therapists. Multiple regression analyses yielded uniformly small (less than 13.5% variance accounted for), generally non-significant relationships. The only clear relationship between a psychogenic need and the theoretical framework variables was between Need for Affiliation and the person-centered therapy variables. The experience level of the therapist accounted for the greatest portion of variance in the behavior therapy variables. There was no clear relationship between the rational-emotive therapy variables and any of the independent variables. The low magnitude of these results may be partially explained by the relatively low reliability of the research variables. Further, if a relationship does exist between psychogenic needs and theoretical framework, it may not be a linear relationship which was the assumptive basis of the analyses used in the research. An interesting finding was that scores of concurrence with the three theoretical schools had positive intercorrelations of between .14 and .54. An implication of this finding is that theoretical framework may be multidimensional versus unidimensional as it has previously been conceptualized. In summary, this research does not support the relationship between the psychogenic needs and theoretical framework of the therapist. However, given the theoretical emphasis placed on the topic, and the difficulties with this research, further research in the area appears warranted before the issues can be more definitely resolved.

No description available.

abstract: Psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES), is a conversion disorder thought to be linked to unresolved emotional distress. While some studies suggest that PNES patients do not attribute their somatic symptoms to severe psychological experiences (Stone, Binzer, & Sharpe, 2004; LaFrance & Barry, 2005), it is unclear what PNES patients do think causes their seizures, and the psychological consequences of those attributions. The aim of the present study was to investigate PNES patients' attributions for their seizures, and to determine how these attributions relate to stress and emotion regulation. It was hypothesized that participants who attribute their seizures to something (i.e., have an explanation for their seizures) will have lower perceived stress and less difficulty with emotion regulation than those who are unsure of the cause of their seizures. Twenty-four PNES participants completed a questionnaire assessing seizure diagnosis, characteristics of seizure impact, perceived stress, psychological symptoms, emotion regulation, attributions for seizures, and coping resources. Contrary to the hypothesis, having an explanation for seizures, rather than being “unsure” of seizure cause, was related to greater perceived stress. While it would seem that attributing unpredictable seizure events to a cause would lower perceived stress and emotion regulation difficulty, this study indicates that an attribution to an unknown cause may be more beneficial for the individual. / Dissertation/Thesis / M.S. Psychology 2012

abstract: Alexithymia is a personality trait characterized by a diminished ability to identify and describe feelings, as well as an inability to distinguish physical symptoms associated with emotional arousal. Alexithymia is elevated in both patients with epilepsy (a neurologically-based seizure disorder) and psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES; a psychological condition mimicking epilepsy); however, different neuropsychological processes may underlie this deficit in the two groups. To expand on previous research considering factors contributing to alexithymia in these populations, we examined the extent to which scores on the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20) were predicted by performance on measures of executive and language functioning. We studied 138 PNES and 150 epilepsy patients with video-EEG confirmed diagnoses. Neuropsychological tests were administered to assess executive functioning (interference scores of the Stroop Color-Word Test and Part B of the Trail Making Test) and language functioning (Animals, Controlled Oral Word Association Test, and Boston Naming Test). Hierarchical linear regressions revealed that the relationships between disparate neuropsychological domains and alexithymia were not moderated by diagnosis of PNES or epilepsy. Multiple regression analyses within each group demonstrated that phonemic verbal fluency and response inhibition were significant predictors of alexithymia in epilepsy. Thus, alexithymia may reflect impairments in language and aspects of executive functioning in both PNES and epilepsy. / Dissertation/Thesis / Masters Thesis Psychology 2017

No description available.

The thesis deals with a nurse and the care of her own health. The theoretical part mainly deals with mental health, proper regimen and physical as well as mental load on nurses in relation to the health care job. The main aim of the thesis was to identify the factors affecting the regimen of nurses and their care about their own health, and to try to find how the work load and department character is related to possible occurrence of health problems. Partial goals and working hypotheses were set for this purpose. Variables like age, gender, education and type of department were included among the assumed factors affecting care about health and health problems.

Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The primary aim of this study was to explore a possible association between the coping styles and the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of patients with psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES) in the South African context. Twenty-two PNES patients (aged 14 years or older) with confirmed video EEG were recruited from Constantiaberg Medi-Clinic and Tygerberg Hospital. These participants were matched by age and gender with a healthy control group. Participants had to complete a demographic questionnaire as well as self-reported measures of HRQOL (SF-36v2 health survey) and coping strategies (the Ways of Coping (WOC) and the Coping Strategy Indicator (CSI)). Analyses of variances were performed to explore the differences between the PNES group and the healthy control group on the various measurement instruments. The association between specific coping strategies and HRQOL was investigated by calculating Pearson’s correlation coefficient. Multiple regressions were conducted to determine the extent to which HRQOL could be accounted for by each of the coping instruments. The results indicated that the HRQOL of the PNES group were significantly lower than the HRQOL of the healthy control group. The PNES participants utilised significantly more emotion-focused coping strategies, such as escape-avoidance and distancing coping strategies, in comparison to the healthy control group. The WOC and the CSI accounted respectively for 56% and 42% of the variance in the HRQOL of the sample. The results also indicated that the escape-avoidance coping strategies utilised by PNES participants had a significant negative effect on their HRQOL. The findings of this study provided greater insight into the coping strategies utilised by PNES participants, which have been identified as a risk factor in PNES. It also highlights that the type of coping strategies utilised by the PNES participants in our sample had a significant negative influence on their level of HRQOL. This is the first study of this nature on people with PNES in South Africa. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die primêre doel van hierdie studie was om te bepaal of daar 'n verband tussen spesifieke hanteringstyle en die gesondheidssverwante kwaliteit van lewe van pasiënte met psigogeniese nie-epileptiese aanvalle (PNEA) in die Suid-Afrikaanse konteks is. Twee-en-twintig PNEA-pasiënte (14 jaar of ouer) met 'n bevestigde video-EEG-diagnose was gewerf uit die Constantiaberg Medi-Kliniek en die Tygerberg Hospitaal. Hulle is ten opsigte van ouderdom en geslag gepaar met 'n gesonde kontrolegroep. Deelnemers moes 'n demografiese vraelys voltooi asook vraelyste wat die gesondheidssverwante lewenskwaliteit (die SF-36v2 gesondheidsvraelys) en hanteringstyle (die hanteringsmeganisme-vraelys (WOC) en die hanteringstrategie-aanduider (CSI)) meet. Analises van variansies is uitgevoer om die moontlike verskille tussen die PNEA-groep en die gesonde kontrolegroep op die verskeie metingsinstrumente te ondersoek. Die verwantskap tussen spesifieke hanteringsmeganismes en gesondheidssverwante lewenskwaliteit is ondersoek deur Pearson se korrelasie-koëffisiënt te bereken. Verskeie regressiewe analises is uitgevoer om te bepaal tot watter mate hanteringsmeganismes gesondheidssverwante lewenskwaliteit kan beïnvloed. Die resultate het aangedui dat die gesondheidssverwante lewenskwaliteit van die PNEA-groep beduidend laer was as dié van die gesonde kontrole groep. Die PNEA-deelnemers het beduidend meer gebruik gemaak van emosie-gefokusde hanteringsmeganismes, soos die ontvlugting-vermyding en distansiëring hanteringsmeganismes, as die gesonde kontrolegroep. Die WOC en die CSI het bygedra tot onderskeidelik 56% en 42% van die variansie in die totale gesondheidssverwante lewenskwaliteit-telling van die steekproef. Die resultate het ook aangedui dat die ontvlugting-vermyding hanteringsmeganisme wat deur PNEA-deelnemers gebruik word 'n beduidende negatiewe invloed op hul lewenskwaliteit gehad het. Die bevindings van die studie bied meer insig oor die hanteringsmeganismes wat die PNEA-deelnemers gebruik het, wat al voorheen as 'n risikofaktor vir die ontwikkeling van PNEA geïdentifiseer is. Dit lig ook uit dat die tipe hanteringsmeganismes wat die PNEA-deelnemers gebruik het, hul gesondheidssverwante lewenskwaliteit negatief beïnvloed het. Dit is die eerste studie van dié aard van persone met PNES in Suid Afrika.

A crise não-epilética psicogênica é definida como uma manifestação corporal semelhante àquela das crises epiléticas, porém sem um correlato neurológico que justifique a sua ocorrência. Sua etiologia é atribuída a fatores psicológicos, entretanto as questões subjetivas que estão na origem dos sintomas são pouco estudadas. Esta pesquisa tem por objetivo investigar os traços histéricos da personalidade em dois pacientes encaminhados para psicoterapia de orientação psicanalítica após receberem esse diagnóstico médico, além de analisar os conteúdos afetivos latentes que se relacionam às manifestações sintomáticas nos casos estudados. O material coletado durante o atendimento prestado a esses pacientes se constituiu como registro e fonte de informação, por meio do qual os elementos relativos à personalidade histérica e mecanismos inconscientes que engendram os sintomas são descritos e estudados. Este trabalho tem por referencial a psicanálise e o estudo dos casos foi realizado considerando seus pressupostos conceituais sobre sintoma, conflito, conversão e histeria. O material obtido durante o curso das sessões evidenciou elementos como erotização do espaço analítico, constante reivindicação para ocupar o lugar de objeto de desejo alheio, além da recusa em abandonar a posição de insatisfação e buscar um estado de contentamento. Também foi observado um investimento em fantasias infantis, nas quais há o desejo inconsciente de união exclusiva com as figuras parentais. / A psychogenic nonepileptic seizure is defined as a physical manifestation similar to that of epileptic seizures, but lacking a neurological correlation to justify its occurrence. Its etiology is attributed to psychological factors although subjective questions concerning the origin of symptoms are barely studied. This research aims to investigate hysterical personality traits in two patients forwarded for psychoanalytic psychotherapy after receiving this medical diagnosis, as well as analyze latent affective contents associated with the symptomatic manifestations in these case studies. The material collected during the patient consultation served as a file and source of information through which elements relative to hysterical personality and unconscious mechanisms linked to the symptoms are described and studied. This work has psychoanalysis as a reference and the case studies were carried out considering its conceptual assumptions of symptoms, conflict, conversion and hysteria. The material obtained during the sessions evidenced elements, such as erotization of the analytic space, continuous demands to occupy the place of an object of beauty, as well as refusal to abandon discontentment and search for a contented state. Investment in infantile fantasies with an unconscious desire of exclusive union with parental figures was also observed.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-28T20:38:50Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Karina Castrezana Pinto Carlos.pdf: 51948939 bytes, checksum: b4d699e8220844eff0cb64fa7a136c11 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-02-07 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / The present study aimed at observing the perceptions, feelings and fantasies of patients in relation to their symptoms of psychogenic excoriation. The population consisted of 48 people, 28 of the control group and 20 of the experimental group, referred by the city clinic of the University of Mogi das Cruzes. Both groups answered a form of characterization and Beck Anxiety Inventory. The second group also answered a semi structured interview, the technical drawing of the human figure, guided imagery and thematic design. The method of analysis of the results was quantitative for anxiety and the form of characterization in both groups, and qualitative analysis was intended only to other techniques applied in the experimental group. The analysis was based on assumptions of Analytical Psychology. It was concluded that stressful situations and conflict contributed to the development and aggravation of symptoms and it was observed that feelings of abandonment, neglect and emptiness arising from childhood surfaced for many participants, in which we found evidence of maternal and paternal complexes. A multidisciplinary approach is necessary and psychological intervention is of paramount importance for the development of traumatic content / pacientes quanto a seus sintomas de escoriação psicogênica. A população foi composta de 48 pessoas, sendo 28 do grupo controle e 20 do experimental, indicadas pela Policlínica da Universidade de Mogi das Cruzes. Ambos os grupos responderam ao formulário de caracterização e ao inventário de Beck de ansiedade, sendo que o segundo também respondeu à entrevista semiestruturada, participou das técnicas do desenho da figura humana, da imaginação dirigida e do desenho temático. O método de análise foi quantitativo para os resultados de ansiedade e caracterização da amostra nos dois grupos, e a análise qualitativa se destinou às demais técnicas aplicadas somente no grupo experimental. A análise dos resultados foi baseada em pressupostos da Psicologia Analítica. Concluiu-se que situações estressantes e de conflito contribuíram para o aparecimento e o agravamento dos sintomas e observou-se que sentimentos de abandono, negligência e vazio advindos da infância vieram à tona por muitos participantes, estando presentes evidências dos complexos materno e paterno. Uma atuação multidisciplinar se faz necessária e a intervenção psicológica é de suma importância para elaboração dos conteúdos traumáticos