Personalità, pattern di attaccamento e trauma complesso in un campione di transessuali adulti

Introduction: In order to better understand adult transsexualism, several authors focused their research on personality and early traumatic experiences within the attachment relationships. Trans people's personality was the object of several research, displaying contrasting results. Some studies reported a high proportion of personality pathology, whereas others showed psychological functioning in the non-psychopathological range. In contrast, just a few studies explored adult attachment. The purpose of this study was to explore personality, quality of attachment representations and history of traumatic experiences among trans adults. Methods: 95 trans adults were compared with 123 cisgender adults. The Adult Attachment Interview (AAI) was administered to both samples for the assessment of current state of mind. The Complex Trauma Questionnaire (ComplexTQ) was completed by clinicians in order to evaluate early relational traumas. Personality was assessed in a subsample of 44 individuals with the Shedler-Westen Assessment Procedure-200 (SWAP-200). Results: Data revealed significant differences regarding the distribution of attachment patterns between transsexuals and the control sample. The two samples also differentiated regarding the exposure to complex trauma in childhood and the intensity of multi-type maltreatment experienced. With regard to personality, overall individuals showed a good functioning. In order to find latent subgroups that shared personality characteristics a Q-factor analysis was performed. Three personality clusters emerged: High Functioning (54%); Depressive/Introverted (32%) and Histrionic/Extroverted (14%). Conclusions: Our findings underline the traumatic history and the disorganization of attachment which characterise the experiences of our transsexual sample and indicate that in terms of personality trans individuals show articulate and diverse types

A Short History of a Controversial Diagnosis

This work retraces the history of gender identity, a construct which came to light at the end of the sixties, and whose path we will follow up until the present day. In detail, the work focuses on the situations in which a person – belonging to what is commonly known as the trans* world – lives with a lack of correspondence between assigned birth gender and actual gender experience. We will revisit the different diagnoses connected to gender variance – in childhood, adolescence and adulthood – that have been put forward, and examine the different diagnostic classifications that have been used up to now, in order to reach the discussion of this theme in a psychoanalytic field. We will highlight how, alongside pathologizing theories, the psychiatric and psychoanalytic fields have become enriched via theoretical and clinical knowledge that enhance and recognize the depth of the subjective experience of trans* people, without stopping therefore, at a simply reductive diagnosis

Heart rate variability in response to the recall of attachment memories

Internal Working Models (IWM) of the attachment system are the devices by which individuals modulate emotional responses and the Disorganized attachment pattern is characterized by the breakdown of such emotion regulation. Vagally-mediated heart rate variability (vmHRV) is an index of regulated and flexible emotional responding. The current study aims at investigating vmHRV in non-clinical adults (n = 59; 29 males) with an Organized or Disorganized attachment pattern before, increase in vmHRV during the AAI which also persisted during the recovery phase. Results suggest that while Organized face the recollection of attachment memories by showing the adaptive stress response characterized by parasympathetic withdrawal and immediate recovery, individuals with Disorganized attachment need to keep regulating their emotions effortfully both during and after the recall of potential traumatic events

Attachment patterns, mentalization and childhood traumatic experiences in a sample of adolescence at ultra high risk for psychosis

The ultra-high risk (UHR) criteria were defined to identify young people at high and imminent risk of developing a first episode of psychosis. Identifying UHR individuals presents the opportunity for preventing the onset of a full psychotic disorder, or at least the possibility of reducing patient’s disability. The link between insecure attachment and the risk for developing psychosis has been explained by the alterations of specific neurobiological pathways. Some studies also underlined the role of mentalization processes in moderating the risk of transition to psychotic disorders. Nevertheless, to date, attachment and mentalization in UHR population have not been studied using “golden standard” measures. The aim of this study was to explore the quality of attachment representations, mentalization capacity and childhood traumatic experiences among UHR adolescence outpatients. 21 UHR adolescent outpatients were compared with 33 other who did not meet the ultra-high risk criteria. Each patient was evaluated with M.I.N.I., Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, Structured Interview for Prodromal Syndromes (SIPS) and Scale for Prodromal Symptoms (SOPS). During the first month of treatment the Adult Attachment Interview was also administered, and the AAI transcripts were assessed by the RF Scale. Although no differences between groups with respect to self-reported childhood traumatic experiences have been found, UHR patients showed a higher degree of “Unresolved” and “Cannot Classify” attachment patterns. Moreover, the RF scores were significantly lower in the UHR sample and significant negative correlations between RF and two SOPS’ subscales, “Suspiciousness/Persecutory Ideas” and “Expression of Emotion” were found. Our results underline the importance of taking both disorganized attachment and mentalization impairment into consideration when treating psychotic prodromal symptomatology

Early exploitation of Neapolitan pozzolan (pulvis puteolana) in the Roman theatre of Aquileia, Northern Italy

: The paper reports the results of the analyses on mortar-based materials from the Roman theatre of Aquileia (Friuli Venezia Giulia, Northern Italy), recently dated between the mid-1st Century BCE and the mid-1st Century CE. Samples were characterized by Polarized Light Microscopy on thin sections (PLM), Scanning Electron Microscopy with Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) and Quantitative Phase Analysis by X-Ray Powder Diffraction (QPA-XRPD). Pyroclastic aggregates (mainly pumices and scattered tuffs), incompatible with the regional geology, were found in two samples from the preparation layers of the ground floor of the building. Their provenance was determined by means of QPA-XRPD, SEM-EDS, X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) and Laser-Ablation Inductively-Coupled-Plasma Mass-Spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS). Mineralogical and geochemical analyses demonstrated their provenance from the Bay of Naples, thus recognizing them as pulvis puteolana, a type of pozzolanic aggregate outcropping around the modern town of Pozzuoli and prescribed by Vitruvius (De Architectura, 2.6.1) in mortar-based materials to strengthen masonries and produce hydraulic concrete for harbor piers. This evidence represents the oldest analytically-established case of pulvis puteolana exploitation in Northern Italy up to now, and an early use of the material out of Campania adapted for civil constructions in a non-strictly maritime-related environment. Indeed, the theatre was built in the low-lying Aquileia's deltaic plain, prone to water infiltrations that are typical in lagoon-like environments. The data highlight the craftsmen's resilience in adapting and reinterpreting the traditional use of the Neapolitan volcanic materials to deal with the geomorphological challenges of Aquileia's lowland

Attachment patterns and complex trauma in a sample of adults diagnosed with gender dysphoria

The current study investigated attachment representations and complex trauma in a sample of gender dysphoric adults. Although it has been proven that the psychological wellbeing of gender diverse persons is largely mediated by family acceptance and support, research on their relationships with parental figures is scarce. A total of 95 adults took part in the study. The attachment distribution was as follows: 27% secure, 27% insecure and 46% disorganized. Regarding early traumas, 56% experienced four or more traumatic forms. Further, gender dysphoric adults showed significantly higher levels of attachment disorganization and polyvictimisation, relative to controls. Comparisons of subgroups, defined by natal gender, showed that trans women, compared to control males, had more involving and physically and psychologically abusive fathers, and were more often separated from their mothers; trans men, relative to female controls, had more involving mothers and were more frequently separated from and neglected by their fathers. The research has several implications for treatment, clinical health psychology, family support and education

class 1 and class 2 integrons in avian pathogenic escherichia coli from poultry in italy

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The intergenerational transmission of attachment during middle childhood in lesbian, gay, and heterosexual parent families through assisted reproduction: The mediating role of reflective functioning

the present study examined the attachment patterns distribution of 60 lesbian mothers, 50 gay fathers, and 42 heterosexual parents through assisted reproduction and their 76 children, using the Adult Attachment Interview (AAI) and the Friends and Family Interview (FFI), respectively. the study also explored the intergenerational transmission of attachment through reflective functioning (AAI-RF). all families lived in italy and children were aged 6-12 years (Myears = 8.11, SD = 2.17; 48.68% assigned female at birth). the AAI patterns distribution was similar across family types and did not significantly differ from international and national normative data. similarly, children's FFI attachment patterns were evenly distributed between family types, and no significant differences emerged in comparison to international and national normative data referring to middle childhood samples. mediational models revealed that, in all three family types, parents with greater AAI coherence of mind exhibited higher AAI-RF, which, in turn, was associated with increased FFI attachment security in children. Furthermore, parents' AAI coherence of mind directly influenced children's FFI attachment security. the results support and expand hypotheses regarding the intergenerational transmission of attachment in lesbian, gay, and heterosexual parent families through assisted reproduction, while offering unique indications to support these families during middle childhood

How future surgery will benefit from SARS-COV-2-related measures: a SPIGC survey conveying the perspective of Italian surgeons

COVID-19 negatively affected surgical activity, but the potential benefits resulting from adopted measures remain unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the change in surgical activity and potential benefit from COVID-19 measures in perspective of Italian surgeons on behalf of SPIGC. A nationwide online survey on surgical practice before, during, and after COVID-19 pandemic was conducted in March-April 2022 (NCT:05323851). Effects of COVID-19 hospital-related measures on surgical patients' management and personal professional development across surgical specialties were explored. Data on demographics, pre-operative/peri-operative/post-operative management, and professional development were collected. Outcomes were matched with the corresponding volume. Four hundred and seventy-three respondents were included in final analysis across 14 surgical specialties. Since SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, application of telematic consultations (4.1% vs. 21.6%; p < 0.0001) and diagnostic evaluations (16.4% vs. 42.2%; p < 0.0001) increased. Elective surgical activities significantly reduced and surgeons opted more frequently for conservative management with a possible indication for elective (26.3% vs. 35.7%; p < 0.0001) or urgent (20.4% vs. 38.5%; p < 0.0001) surgery. All new COVID-related measures are perceived to be maintained in the future. Surgeons' personal education online increased from 12.6% (pre-COVID) to 86.6% (post-COVID; p < 0.0001). Online educational activities are considered a beneficial effect from COVID pandemic (56.4%). COVID-19 had a great impact on surgical specialties, with significant reduction of operation volume. However, some forced changes turned out to be benefits. Isolation measures pushed the use of telemedicine and telemetric devices for outpatient practice and favored communication for educational purposes and surgeon-patient/family communication. From the Italian surgeons' perspective, COVID-related measures will continue to influence future surgical clinical practice