This study investigated the relationship between childhood trauma, emotion dysregulation, dissociative psychopathology, and aggression in adult female ADHD and BPD patients. The study aimed to...Show moreThis study investigated the relationship between childhood trauma, emotion dysregulation, dissociative psychopathology, and aggression in adult female ADHD and BPD patients. The study aimed to determine whether childhood maltreatment predicted aggression and if emotion dysregulation and dissociation mediated this relationship. Methods: The study included eighty-six women (n=29 patients with BPD, n=28 patients with ADHD; and n=29 healthy controls, HC) recruited from the Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy at the Central Institute of Mental Health in Mannheim, Germany. Childhood trauma was measured using the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), which assessed various forms of abuse and neglect. Aggression was measured using the Buss Perry Aggression Questionnaire (AQ), which assessed physical aggression, verbal aggression, anger, and hostility. Emotion dysregulation was assessed using the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS), which measured six dimensions of emotion regulation difficulties. Dissociation was measured using the Dissociative Experience Scale (DES), which assessed various aspects of dissociative psychopathology. Results: The results revealed that childhood maltreatment had a significant effect on aggression, mediated by emotion dysregulation but not dissociation. Furthermore, scores for aggression, emotion dysregulation, and dissociation were higher in the ADHD and BPD groups compared to healthy controls. These findings suggest a need for clinical emphasis on trauma-informed care and emotion regulation strategies. Additionally, the study highlighted the necessity of future research on gender differences in these relationships, providing an impetus for personalised treatment strategies. Conclusion: This study emphasises the crucial role of childhood trauma and emotion dysregulation in managing aggression in female ADHD and BPD patients.Show less
Itch is a sensation that draws attention. However, this becomes dysfunctional when more attention is given to itch related stimuli compared to other stimuli, e.g. Attentional Bias (AB), which might...Show moreItch is a sensation that draws attention. However, this becomes dysfunctional when more attention is given to itch related stimuli compared to other stimuli, e.g. Attentional Bias (AB), which might be the case for chronic itch. Therefore, the current study aimed to identify the existence of an AB. It was expected that people with chronic itch would have an AB towards itch related visual stimuli and that a higher level of psychological distress could predict a higher level of AB. Finally, it was expected that a higher level of AB would be associated with a more severe impact on quality of life. A sample of five patients with chronic itch, as a result of atopic dermatitis or psoriasis, participated in the study. To test the presence of an AB towards itch related visual stimuli, a dot-probe test was performed. Furthermore, the level of psychological distress and quality of life were measured using the DASS-21 and the DLQI, respectively. A paired-samples t-test, multiple linear regression and Pearson correlation were used for data analysis. The results do not indicate the presence of an AB toward visual itch related stimuli in a population with chronic itch. Furthermore, psychological distress was not a significant predictor for the level of AB. Finally, no significant association was found between the level of AB and quality of life. Future research should examine different stadia of the attentional process towards itch related stimuli. This would help guide the development of interventions for patients with chronic itch.Show less
