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
The Netherlands has experienced a surge in conspiracy believers over the last year. The antigovernment rhetoric has led to safety and security issues. The conspiracy beliefs (CB) are prevalent...Show moreThe Netherlands has experienced a surge in conspiracy believers over the last year. The antigovernment rhetoric has led to safety and security issues. The conspiracy beliefs (CB) are prevalent because the pandemic affects everyone. Also, the prolonged feelings of frustration and negative emotions caused by the lockdowns have compounded the already worsening emotional state. Emotional instability (EI) is ought to have some influence on people's perception of CB, this relationship has been studied. The results in the analysis support the hypothesis that EI influences CB, but the extent to which is low. Also, males are believed to be more likely to endorse conspiracies, this relationship has been examined in the exploratory analysis. However, the results gave no indication that males were indeed more susceptible to conspiracies. Overall, EI seems a more stable predictor for CB than gender. Therefore, I expect that CB will decrease when the lockdowns will disappear as lockdowns were the major contributor for EI.Show less
