Inner Stories : Identity and Value

Nothing is neutral, all things we create narrate. Manufactured objects enforce and support mythology and ritual, willingly or unwillingly. In this thesis I have been investigating how we structure reality and identification through narration. The approach ties in cultural anthropology and psychology. I have looked at how craft can support and embody values through the relationship of narration and reinforcement that it has with mythology and in turn with our inner stories. As such the thesis relates to both the collective and personal and attempts to raise questions about the original purpose of body related items, craft and art. My research has led me to believe that the purpose of the first items of craft and jewellery was to maintain the community. To maintain it through the mythologization of the environment and the world, creating the consensus needed for living as larger groups. In drawing my conclusions regarding jewellery and objects of craft I have tried to open the discussion within the field up to include the limited yet existing knowledge we have about our prehistoric heritage in Europe. Prehistory ends with the invention of writing systems through symbols. In this essay I have tied in the relevance of seeing jewellery and corpus as symbols and how these can aids us in the process of identification and personal growth. I have also considered the global overview we have access to today and I present jewellery and craft objects as potential anchor points or compasses on the increasingly vast ocean of values that the global perspective offers

The Efficacy of Genetic Counseling for Psychiatric Disorders:a Meta-Analysis

Psychiatric illnesses are complex, highly heritable disorders that have substantial implications for both affected individuals and their families. Though genetic testing is currently limited in its clinical usefulness in this area, interest in genetic counseling for psychiatric disorders has a relatively long history and many positive outcomes have been posited. Yet, empirical studies of genetic counseling outcomes have been emerging only more recently. The aim of the current meta-analysis was to analyze the efficacy of genetic counseling and explore potential moderators of its effect. An extensive electronic search was conducted investigating the literature published until July 2016. The initial search resulted in 2367 articles, four of which met the inclusion criteria and were included in the quantitative meta-analysis. Effect size parameters and sample sizes for all variables in each study were included. The efficacy has ben demonstrated both at post-intervention and at follow up, with an overall statistically significant effect size of moderate intensity. Implications of this study are discussed in detail.</p

Efficacy of genetic counseling for psychiatric disorders

Psychiatric illnesses are complex, highly heritable disorders that have substantial implications for both affected individuals and their families. Though genetic testing is currently limited in its clinical usefulness in this area, interest in genetic counseling for psychiatric disorders has a relatively long history and many positive outcomes have been posited. Yet, empirical studies of genetic counseling outcomes have been emerging only more recently. The aim of the current meta-analysis was to analyze the efficacy of genetic counseling and explore potential moderators of its effect. An extensive electronic search was conducted investigating the literature published until July 2016. The initial search resulted in 2367 articles, four of which met the inclusion criteria and were included in the quantitative meta-analysis. Effect size parameters and sample sizes for all variables in each study were included. The efficacy has ben demonstrated both at postintervention and at follow up, with an overall statistically significant effect size of moderate intensity. Implications of this study are discussed in detail.Medicine, Faculty ofNon UBCMedical Genetics, Department ofPsychiatry, Department ofReviewedFacult

The relationship of anger and cognitive distortions with violence in violent offenders’ population: A meta-analytic review

In the present meta-analysis, the magnitude of the relationship between cognitive distortions and anger and violent behaviour of incarcerated offenders, based on selected data for the relationship between anger and violence, and cognitive distortions and violence was empirically assessed. Out of nineteen studies included for analysis nine of them contain statistical indicators regarding the relationship between anger and violence, and fourteen studies regarding cognitive distortions and violence. The results indicated a strong relationship both between anger and violence, and between cognitive distortions and violent behaviour. Furthermore, the moderating effect of the type of instruments (self-reported vs. observational behavioural measurements) used for violence assessment was tested. The results indicated that the type of instruments had no significant influence on the cognition-violence relationship, QB(1) = 0.12, p > .05, while in case of the anger-violence relationship, a significant moderating effect was identified, QB(1) = 14.26, p < .01, which supports a higher effect size when violence was measured by a self-reported than when was measured by behavioural observation

The impact of associated large-fiber peripheral neuropathy on health-related quality of life in Parkinson’s disease – results from a Romanian cohort

Background. Recent studies described a higher prevalence of peripheral neuropathy (PN) in Parkinson’s disease that was linked to L-Dopa exposure. Peripheral neuropathies are known causes of a decreased health-related quality of life (HrQoL). Until now, no studies addressed the issue of how or if associated PN in PD affects HrQoL. Methods. In a cross-sectional, observational study, 73 non-demented PD patients, from which 36 with confirmed PN based on clinical (using the Toronto Clinical Neuropathy Scale-TCSS) and nerve conduction studies completed the Romanian version of PDQ-39. Results. Significant differences between mean scores in Motor (49.86 (27.61) vs. 31.50 (26.24), p = 0.005), Activities of daily living (49.86 (27.61) vs. 31.75 (30.10), p = 0.003) and body discomfort (52.54 (29.54) vs. 23.64 (18.48), p = 0.002) domains of PDQ-39 in the PN-PD group versus non-PN group were observed. TCSS significantly correlated to motor, emotional well-being and body discomfort domains (r = 0.406 p< 0.001; r = 0.316 p = 0.007; r = 0.356 p = 0.002, respectively). The multivariate linear regression model showed that motor impairment and PN correlated to motor domain (beta = 0.601, p = 0.000; beta = 0.211 p = 0.041, respectively) and PN significantly correlated to body discomfort domain (beta = 0.314, p = 0.020) of PDQ-39. Conclusions. The presence of associated PN in PD determines a further deterioration of HrQol in subjects with already a poorer HrQol

The Effect of Symphonic and Lounge Music Upon Anxiety and Pain in a Sample of Romanian Dental Patients

Many patients with dental anxiety avoid dental visits. Listening to music is an effective method to reduce anxiety. Our objective was to examine the effects of musical audition in reducing anxiety and perceived pain in a sample of Romanian dental patients. We expected to find significantly reduced anxiety in the two intervention groups, and significantly lower levels of perceived pain in the intervention groups compared with the control group. The 123 participants involved were randomly assigned in control (CG-no music—38 participants), the symphonic (41 participants), and lounge music groups (44 participants). The subjective level of anxiety was measured on a 10-points Likert scale (10—very tensioned), whereas the objective level of anxiety was measured using the pulse rate. Perceived pain was also measured on a 10-points Likert scale (10—very painful). Results indicate that the musical audition had no effect upon the reduction in subjective anxiety, irrespective of the type of music. This may reflect that the only variable that had an effect on subjective anxiety is ending the dental procedure. Objective levels of anxiety present a decreasing pattern in both experimental groups with no significant decrease in the control group. The severity of the intervention is a significant predictor of perceived pain, suggesting that the complexity of the dental procedure is the only variable that influences retrospectively perceived pain. Future studies should test alternative methods (music preferred by patients, or music that previously worked for them as relaxation method). (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2018 APA, all rights reserved

Psychometric Properties of the 25-Item Connor-Davison Resilience Scale: Preliminary Data for a Romanian Military Population

The following study is aimed at investigating the construct validity of the 25-item Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC 25) on a Romanian military population. The exploratory factor analysis was conducted on 434 male military participants, aged between 24 and 50 years (M = 34.83, S.D. = 6.14) and the confirmatory factor analysis was conducted on a sample of 679 military participants, of 605 men and 74 women, aged between 18 and 59 years (M = 38.37, S.D. = 9.07). Factor analysis of the scale showed it to be a bidimensional, rather than a multidimensional instrument, as the original five-factor structure was not replicated in this military Romanian sample. Moreover, EFAs suggested that a 14-item bidimensional model should be retained and CFA confirmed that this model fit the data best