The Consequentialist Scale: Translation and empirical investigation in a Greek sample

The Consequentialist Scale (Robinson, 2012) [89] assesses the endorsement of consequentialist and deontological moral beliefs. This study empirically investigated the application of the Greek translation of the Consequentialist Scale in a sample of native Greek speakers. Specifically, 415 native Greek speakers completed the questionnaire. To uncover the underlying structure of the 10 items in the Consequentialist Scale, an Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) was conducted. The results revealed a three-factor solution, where the deontology factor exhibited the same structure as the original work by Robinson (2012) [89], while the original consequentialism factor split into two separate factors. Significant Pearson's r correlations were observed between age and responses to the Consequentialist Scale. Separate EFAs were conducted for two age groups based on a medial split: younger (36 years old or less) and older (more than 36 years old). Interestingly, the younger group exhibited a two-factor solution with the same structure as the original work, while the older group showed a three-factor solution. A hierarchical k-means cluster analysis revealed that the cluster of participants who scored higher in deontology compared to consequentialism primarily consisted of older participants, whereas the two other clusters comprised of younger participants exhibited the reverse pattern. Neither gender nor previous experience with philosophy significantly affected scores on the Consequentialist Scale. Overall, our study provides evidence that the Consequentialist Scale is suitable for use in the Greek population

The Fox and the Lion: Investigating Associations between Empathy and Emotion Perspective-Taking in Aesop's Fables

Empathy is essential in story comprehension as it requires understanding of the emotions and intentions of the characters. We evaluated the sensitivity of an emotional perspective-taking task using Aesop’s Fables in relation to empathy. Participants (N = 301) were presented with 15 short fables and were asked to rate the intensity of the emotions they would feel (anger, sadness, disgust, fear, surprise, joy, trust, and anticipation) by adopting the perspective of one of the characters (offender, victim) or the observer’s perspective. A data-driven approach revealed that participants’ responses were aligned with the characters’ intentions, suggesting successful emotional perspective-taking. Participants sympathized with the victim rather than the offender, demonstrating affective sharing processes. Further, participants with higher empathy scores exhibited stronger negative emotions from the victim’s perspective, independently of their level of distress. Our task was not influenced by gender effects. We suggest that the Aesop’s Fables task could provide an indirect instrument to study empathy

Suicidal Behavior in a Patient with Burning Mouth Syndrome

Introduction. Chronic pain of the oral cavity is a long-term condition and like all other types of chronic pain is associated with numerous comorbidities such as depression or anxiety. Case Presentation. This is a case of a 93-year-old patient suffering from chronic oral cavity pain who repeatedly stabbed his palate due to ongoing local pain, over the last few months, which he could not further tolerate. The patient was suffering from depression and also a diagnosis of “burning mouth syndrome” (BMS) was made. Discussion. Burning mouth syndrome (BMS) is characterized by a burning sensation in the tongue or other oral sites. BMS has high psychiatric comorbidity but can occur in the absence of psychiatric diagnosis. Patients with multiple forms of pain must be considered as potential candidates for underdiagnosed depression (major) and suicidal thoughts

Neurological and neurourological complications of electrical injuries

Electrical injury can affect any system and organ. Central nervous system (CNS) complications are especially well recognised, causing an increased risk of morbidity, while peripheral nervous system (PNS) complications, neurourological and cognitive and psychological abnormalities are less predictable after electrical injuries.PubMed was searched for English language clinical observational, retrospective, review and case studies published in the last 30 years using the key words: electrical injury, electrocution, complications, sequelae, neurological, cognitive, psychological, urological, neuropsychological, neurourological, neurogenic, and bladder.In this review, the broad spectrum of neurological, cognitive, psychological and neurourological consequences of electrical trauma are discussed, and clinical features characteristic of an underlying neurological, psychological or neurourological disorder are identified. The latest information about the most recently discovered forms of nervous system disorders secondary to electrical trauma, such as the presentation of neurological sequelae years after electrocution, in other words long-term sequelae, are presented. Unexpected central nervous system or muscular complications such as hydrocephalus, brain venous thrombosis, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis are described. Common and uncommon neuropsychological syndromes after electrical trauma are defined. Neurourological sequelae secondary to spinal cord or brain trauma or as independent consequences of electrical shock are also highlighted

Oxcarbazepine as monotherapy of acute mania in insufficiently controlled type-1 diabetes mellitus: a case-report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Type-1 diabetes mellitus (DM) is a lifelong serious condition which often renders the application of standard treatment options for patients' comorbid conditions, such as bipolar disorder I, risky – especially for acute manic episodes. We present such a case whereby the application of standard anti-manic treatments would have jeopardized a patient whose physical condition was already compromised by DM.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We report the case of a 55-year-old female with a history of type-1 DM since the age of 11, and severe ocular and renal vascular complications thereof. While on the waiting list for pancreatic islet cell transplantation, she developed a manic episode that proved recalcitrant to a treatment with gabapentin, lorazepam and quetiapine. Moreover, her mental state affected adversely her already compromised glycemic control, requiring her psychiatric hospitalization. Her psychotropic medication was almost discontinued and replaced by oxcarbazepine (OXC) up to 1800 mg/day for 10 days.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The patient's mental state improved steadily and on discharge, 3 weeks later, she showed an impressive improvement rate of over 70% on the YMRS. Moreover, she remains normothymic 6 months after discharge, with OXC at 1200 mg/day.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Standard prescribing guidelines for acute mania recommend a combination of an antipsychotic with lithium or, alternatively, a combination of an antipsychotic with valproate or carbamazepine. However, in our case, administration of lithium was at least relatively contra-indicated because of patient's already compromised renal function. Furthermore, antipsychotics increase glucose levels and thus were also relatively contra-indicated. Moreover, the imminent post-transpantation immunosupressant treatment with immuno-modulating medicines also contra-indicated both valproate and carbamazepine. Despite the severe methodological limitations of case reports in general, the present one suggests that OXC as monotherapy might be both safe and efficacious in the treatment of acute mania in patients with early-onset type-1 DM, whose already compromised physical condition constitutes an absolute or relative contra-indication for the administration of standard treatments, though there are no, as yet, randomized clinical trials attesting to its efficacy unambiguously.</p

Greek College Students and Psychopathology: New Insights

Background: College students’ mental health problems include depression, anxiety, panic disorders, phobias and obsessive compulsive thoughts. Aims: To investigate Greek college students’ psychopathology. Methods: During the initial evaluation, 638 college students were assessed through the following psychometric questionnaires: (a) Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQ); (b) The Symptom Checklist-90 (SCL-90); (c) The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI); (d) State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). Results: State anxiety and trait anxiety were correlated, to a statistically significant degree, with the family status of the students (p = 0.024) and the past visits to the psychiatrist (p = 0.039) respectively. The subscale of psychoticism is significantly related with the students’ origin, school, family status and semester. The subscale of neuroticism is significantly related with the students’ school. The subscale of extraversion is significantly related with the students’ family psychiatric history. Students, whose place of origin is Attica, have on average higher scores in somatization, phobic anxiety and paranoid ideation than the other students. Students from abroad have, on average, higher scores in interpersonal sensitivity and psychoticism than students who hail from other parts of Greece. The majority of the students (79.7%) do not suffer from depression, according to the Beck’s depression inventory scale. Conclusions: Anxiety, somatization, personality traits and depression are related with the students’ college life

Neuropsychological and neuroendocrinological approach in diabetes mellitus type 2

AIMS: Diabetes mellitus (DM) according to WHO facts is a very common phenomenon that will develop to an epidemic in the coming decade. Diabetes mellitus frequently is accompanied with a variety of neuropsychological problems, including cognitive, mood, anxiety, and psychotic disorders, as well as personality disorders. In this context, it is of interest that neuro-endocrine and psycho-immune factors are interrelated not only with psychological and psychopathological symptoms but also with different aspects of diabetes. The aim of the present study was to record and explore the relationships and interactions of neuropsychological conditions with neuroendocrine, biochemical, and immune factors in diabetes mellitus type II. MATERIALS/ METHOD: During the initial phase of the study 131 patients with diabetes mellitus type II were examined. The participants were patients of the Diabetes Mellitus Unit of the 2nd 2nd Department of Internal Medicine-Propaedeutic-Research Institute and Diabetes Center at Attiko Hospital. The selection of the participants was random. Participants with 1)cancer, 2)disorders of the endocrine system, 3) known artiriopathy 4) coronary disease, 5) renal disorders, 6) amputations, 7) known psychopathology were excluded from the sample. In the initial assessment of the participants the following psychometric inventories were administered (a) Zung depression scale, (b) the personality inventory EPQ on extraversion, neuroticism and psychoticism, (c) the hostility and direction of hostility scale of HDHQ, (d) the scale SCL-90 and the (e) MOCI scale on obsessive compulsive symptomatology. From each patient a blood sample of 40cc was taken for the determination of oxytocin, homocystein, cytοcine(IL-6, IL-12), cortizol, and TNF-a. The sample consisted of 55 female patients with an age range between 42 and 80 years old and 76 male patients with an age range between 36 and 77 years old. For every patient the HbA1C, HDL, LDL ,TRIC were recorded. The participants were divided into two groups according to their metabolic profile control. The Group A of participants with uncontrolled metabolic profile (Group A with HbA1C? 7%) included 45 patients (21 female and 24 male) while the Group B with the patients with controlled metabolic profile (Group B with HbA1C? 7) consisted of 86 patients, 36 females and 50 males. The patients from Group A (HbA1C? 7%) were reassessed after 9-12 months after efforts to control their metabolic profile had been made. During the second assessment the same psychometric tools were administered and a second blood sample of 40cc was taken for the determination of της oxytocin, homocysteine, cytokines ( IL-6, IL-12) ,cortizol και TNF-a. Out of the 45 participants of Group A 31 were reassessed. From these 31 patients 10 had HbA1C? 7 having controlled their metabolic profile. ..............................................................................................................ΣΚΟΠΟΣ: Ο σακχαρώδης διαβήτης (ΣΔ) σύμφωνα με τα δεδομένα του ΠΟΥ είναι πολύ συχνό φαινόμενο και λαμβάνει μορφή «επιδημίας» στην ερχόμενη δεκαετία. Ο σακχαρώδης διαβήτης συνοδεύεται πολύ συχνά από μία ποικιλία νευροψυχολογικών προβλημάτων, τα οποία περιλαμβάνουν γνωσιακές, συναισθηματικές, αγχώδεις και ψυχωσικές διαταραχές, όπως και διαταραχές προσωπικότητας. Σε αυτό το πλαίσιο, ενδιαφέρον παρουσιάζει το γεγονός ότι νευροενδοκρινικές και ψυχοανοσολογικές παράμετροι, αλληλοδιαπλέκονται τόσο με ψυχολογικές- ψυχοπαθολογικές εκδηλώσεις, όσο και με πτυχές του διαβήτη. Σκοπός της μελέτης είναι η συσχέτιση και η αλληλεπίδραση νευροψυχολογικών καταστάσεων με νευροενδοκρινικούς, βιοχημικούς και ανοσολογικούς παράγοντες στο σακχαρώδη διαβήτη τύπου ΙΙ, καθώς και η καταγραφή τους. ΥΛΙΚΟ ΜΕΘΟΔΟΣ: Κατά την έναρξη της μελέτης εξετάσθηκαν συνολικά 131 ασθενείς με σακχαρώδη διαβήτη τύπου 2. Οι ασθενείς παρακολουθούνταν από τα Διαβητολογικό ιατρείο της Β΄ Προπαιδευτική Πανεπιστημιακής Παθολογικής κλινικής,Μονάδα Ερευνας στο Αττικό Νοσοκομείο. Oι ασθενείς επελέγησαν τυχαία. Από το συγκεκριμένο δείγμα εξαιρέθηκαν διαβητικοί ασθενείς τύπου 2 με 1.κακοήθειες, 2.ενδοκρινολογικά νοσήματα, 3.γνωστή αρτηριοπάθεια, 4.στεφανιαία νόσο, 5.νεφρική ανεπάρκεια, 6.ακρωτηριασμούς, 7.γνωστή ψυχοπαθολογία. Κατά την αφετεριακή αξιολόγηση, σε όλους τους διαβητικούς ασθενείς χορηγήθηκαν η ψυχομετρική κλίμακα κατάθλιψης Zung, η ψυχομετρική κλίμακα προσωπικότητας εξωστρέφειας, νευρωτισμού, ψυχωτισμού EPQ, η ψυχομετρική κλίμακα επιθετικότητας και κατεύθυνσης της επιθετικότητας ΗDHQ, η ψυχομετρική κλίμακας γενικής ψυχοσωματικής επιβάρυνσης SCL-90 και η ψυχομετρικής κλίμακα ψυχαναγκαστικής σημειολογίας MOCI. Από κάθε ασθενή ελήφθησαν 40cc φλεβικό αίμα προκειμένου να υποβληθούν σε προσδιορισμό της ωκυτοκίνης, ομοκυστεΐνης, κυταροκίνων (IL 6, IL 12), κορτιζόλης και TNF-a. Το συνολικό δείγμα αποτελείται από 55 γυναίκες ηλικίας 42 έως 80 ετών και 76 άνδρες ηλικίας 36 έως 77 ετών. Σε κάθε ασθενή καταγράφηκε η γλυκοζυλιωμένη αιμοσφαιρίνη, η HDL, η LDL και τα τριγλυκερίδια .Οι ασθενείς χωρίσθηκαν σε δύο ομάδες ανάλογα με τη μεταβολική ρύθμιση. Η ομάδα Α των αρρύθμιστων διαβητικών ασθενών (ΟΜΑΔΑ Α με HbA1C ? 7%) αποτελέσθηκε από 45 ασθενείς (21 γυναίκες και 24 άνδρες ) ενώ η ομάδα των ρυθμισμένων διαβητικών ασθενών από 86 ασθενείς (36 γυναίκες και 50 άνδρες). Οι ασθενείς της ομάδας Α (με HbA1C ? 7%) επανεξετάσθηκαν μετά από διάστημα 9-12 μηνών αφού έγινε προσπάθεια βελτίωσης της μεταβολικής ρύθμισης. Χορηγήθηκαν εκ νέου τα ίδια ψυχομετρικά εργαλεία και ελήφθησαν εκ νέου 40 cc φλεβικό αίμα πάλι προσδιορισμό της ωκυτοκίνης, ομοκυστεΐνης, κυτταροκίνων (IL-6, IL-12), κορτιζόλης και TNF-a. Από τους 49 ασθενείς της ομάδας Α έγινε επανεκτίμηση των 31 ασθενών εκ των οποίων βρέθηκε ότι οι 10 είχαν ΗbA1C ? 7 και είχαν πια ρυθμισθεί. ........................................................................................................................

Ankle edema after administration of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors

Clinical manifestations of drug-induced skin reactions include a wide range of symptoms, from mild drug-induced exanthemas to dangerous and life-threatening generalized systematic reactions. Druginduced skin reactions to psychotropic medication are usually associated with antiepileptic drugs. However, a significant role can be assigned to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. We report a case of a female patient, who after approximately one month therapy with escitalopram developed a bilateral ankle edema, which resolved completely within the first week following its discontinuation. Although serious complications are rare, clinicians should be aware of severe skin complications in patients treated with antidepressants, which necessitate careful clinical monitoring and management. Individualization of pharmacotherapy is crucial, together with regular evaluation of safety and tolerance of the treatment

Ankle edema after administration of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors

Clinical manifestations of drug-induced skin reactions include a wide range of symptoms, from mild drug-induced exanthemas to dangerous and life-threatening generalized systematic reactions. Drug-induced skin reactions to psychotropic medication are usually associated with antiepileptic drugs. However, a significant role can be assigned to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. We report a case of a female patient, who after approximately one month therapy with escitalopram developed a bilateral ankle edema, which resolved completely within the first week following its discontinuation. Although serious complications are rare, clinicians should be aware of severe skin complications in patients treated with antidepressants, which necessitate careful clinical monitoring and management. Individualization of pharmacotherapy is crucial, together with regular evaluation of safety and tolerance of the treatment