STEPS TOWARDS A UNIFIED THEORY OF PSYCHOPATHOLOGY: THE PHASE SPACE OF MEANING MODEL

none6noThe hypothesis of a general psychopathology factor (p factor) has been advanced in recent years. It is an innovation with breakthrough potential, in the perspective of a unified view of psychopathology; however, what remains a controversial topic is how its nature might be conceptualized. The current paper outlines a semiotic, embodied and psychoanalytic conceptualization of psychopathology – the Phase Space of Meaning (PSM) model – aimed at providing ontological grounds to the p factor hypothesis. Framed within a more general model of how the mind works, the PSM model maintains that the p factor can be conceived as the empirical marker of the degree of rigidity of the meaning-maker’s way of interpreting experience, namely of the dimensions of meanings used to map the environment’s variability. As to the clinical implications, two main aspects are outlined. First, according PSM model, psychopathology is not an invariant condition, and does not have a set dimensionality, but is able to vary it locally, in order to address the requirement of situated action. Second, psychopathology is conceived as one of the mind’s modes of working, rather than the manifestation of its disruption. Finally, the puzzling issue of the interplay between stability and variability in the evolutionary trajectories of patients along with their life events is addressed and discussed.openVenuleo, C.; Salvatore, G.; Andrisano-Ruggieri, R.; Marinaci, T.; Cozzolino, M.; Salvatore, S.Venuleo, C.; Salvatore, G.; Andrisano-Ruggieri, R.; Marinaci, T.; Cozzolino, M.; Salvatore, S

What game we are playing: the psychosocial context of problem gambling, problem gaming and poor well-being among Italian high school students

Gambling and gaming are not infrequent among adolescents and preventing low-risk youth from becoming at-risk appears to be a priority of public health strategies. Greater scrutiny of the risk and protective factors in the relationships and community of young people appears crucial in steering prevention initiatives adequately. This study aimed to explore the role of the qualities of relational networks (i.e. family functioning, perceived social and class support), family and peer approval and view of the social environment in predicting problem gambling, problem gaming and overall well-being among adolescents. High-school students aged 14–18 years (N: 595; female: 68,7%) completed a survey including the target variables. A multivariate multiple regression analysis was performed to examine the role of socio-demographic characteristics and psychosocial predictors on gaming, gambling, and well-being. Multivariate multiple regressions identify a common core underpinning problem gambling, gaming and poor well-being but also the distinct roles of psychosocial variables: being male, with low parental monitoring, and an anomic view of the social environment all predict problem gambling and gaming, which were also found to be associated. Low social support predicts problem gambling but not problem gaming; poor family functioning predicts problem gaming but not problem gambling. All the target psychosocial variables, except approval of gambling, predict poor well-being. On the whole the findings suggest the need to look more closely at the way adolescents, their system of activity and their culture participate in constructing the meaning of gambling and gaming activities and their impact on adolescents’ well-being, so that future studies and strategies can more effectively examine the relational dynamics in which problem gambling and gaming develo

Steps towards a unified theory of psychopathology: The phase space of meaning model

The hypothesis of a general psychopathology factor (p factor) has been advanced in recent years. It is an innovation with breakthrough potential, in the perspective of a unified view of psychopathology; however, what remains a controversial topic is how its nature might be conceptualized. The current paper outlines a semiotic, embodied and psychoanalytic conceptualization of psychopathology – the Phase Space of Meaning (PSM) model – aimed at providing ontological grounds to the p factor hypothesis. Framed within a more general model of how the mind works, the PSM model maintains that the p factor can be conceived as the empirical marker of the degree of rigidity of the meaning-maker’s way of interpreting experience, namely of the dimensions of meanings used to map the environment’s variability. As to the clinical implications, two main aspects are outlined. First, according PSM model, psychopathology is not an invariant condition, and does not have a set dimensionality, but is able to vary it locally, in order to address the requirement of situated action. Second, psychopathology is conceived as one of the mind’s modes of working, rather than the manifestation of its disruption. Finally, the puzzling issue of the interplay between stability and variability in the evolutionary trajectories of patients along with their life events is addressed and discussed

The Role of Interpretation in Fostering the Psychotherapy Process: Evidence from a Single Case Study

The role of interpretation as a core intervention promoting good outcomes in psychotherapy is well acknowledged and established. Nevertheless, evidence of the role of interpretative interventions in promoting patients’ change dynamic is still lacking. The present work, a good outcome psychotherapy single case study, focuses on how different interpretative modalities support different patients’ intrapsychic dynamics implied in changing affective experience interpretation and clinical success. The grid of the models of interpretation (GMI) and the Discourse Attributes Analysis Program (DAAP) were applied to all therapy transcripts (N = 76 sessions) in order to detect, respectively, the interpretative models enacted by the therapist and patients’ intrapsychic processes subtending affects elaboration. Two different regression models tested the role of interpretative interventions in promoting specific processes supporting patients’ affective elaboration. A further regression model then highlighted a specific configuration in the clinical course in processes promoting affect elaboration. Results are discussed, offering cues for a clearer understanding of the role of the therapist’s interpretative interventions in promoting the clinical dynamics, thereby paving the way for the change process

Draft 19.11.2021. The Role of Interpretation in Fostering the Psychotherapy Process: Evidence from a Single Case Study

The role of interpretation as a core intervention promoting good outcomes in psychotherapy is well acknowledged and established. Nevertheless, evidence of the role of interpretative interventions in promoting patients’ change dynamic is still lacking. The present work, a good outcome psychotherapy single case study, focuses on how different interpretative modalities support different patients’ intrapsychic dynamics implied in changing affective experience interpretation and clinical success. The grid of the models of interpretation (GMI) and the Discourse Attributes Analysis Program (DAAP) were applied to all therapy transcripts (N = 76 sessions) in order to detect, respectively, the interpretative models enacted by the therapist and patients’ intrapsychic processes subtending affects elaboration. Two different regression models tested the role of interpretative interventions in promoting specific processes supporting patients’ affective elaboration. A further regression model then highlighted a specific configuration in the clinical course in processes promoting affect elaboration. Results are discussed, offering cues for a clearer understanding of the role of the therapist’s interpretative interventions in promoting the clinical dynamics, thereby paving the way for the change process

The Role of Interpretation in Fostering the Psychotherapy Process: Evidence from a Single Case Study

The role of interpretation as a core intervention promoting good outcomes in psychotherapy is well acknowledged and established. Nevertheless, evidence of the role of interpretative interventions in promoting patients’ change dynamic is still lacking. The present work, a good outcome psychotherapy single case study, focuses on how different interpretative modalities support different patients’ intrapsychic dynamics implied in changing affective experience interpretation and clinical success. The grid of the models of interpretation (GMI) and the Discourse Attributes Analysis Program (DAAP) were applied to all therapy transcripts (N = 76 sessions) in order to detect, respectively, the interpretative models enacted by the therapist and patients’ intrapsychic processes subtending affects elaboration. Two different regression models tested the role of interpretative interventions in promoting specific processes supporting patients’ affective elaboration. A further regression model then highlighted a specific configuration in the clinical course in processes promoting affect elaboration. Results are discussed, offering cues for a clearer understanding of the role of the therapist’s interpretative interventions in promoting the clinical dynamics, thereby paving the way for the change process

Fatal Listeria monocytogenes septicemia and meningitis complicated by Candida glabrata fungemia: a case report

Listeria monocytogenes is a Gram-positive bacteria and etiological agent of listeriosis. It has the ability to colonize the intestinal lumen and cross the intestinal, blood–brain, and placental barriers, leading to invasive listeriosis responsible for septicemia and meningitis in subjects at risk such as patients with diabetes mellitus, the elderly, and immunocompromised individuals and, for maternal-neonatal infection in pregnant women. We report a rare case of L. monocytogenes septicemia and meningitis complicated by Candida glabrata fungemia on a patient with a history of type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypothyroidism, hypertension, chronic kidney failure, chronic ischemic vascular encephalopathy, and atrial fibrillation. Although adequate therapy was rapidly started with an initial partial clinical improvement, the patient suddenly experienced clinical worsening concomitantly with Candida septicemia resulting in a fatal outcome. To our knowledge, this is the first described case of an invasive L. monocytogenes infection complicated by Candida sepsis. We hypothesize that concomitant Candida infection may play a significant role in the pathogenesis and virulence of L. monocytogenes