Laura Balottin | Università degli Studi di Padova (original) (raw)
Papers by Laura Balottin
Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy
Frontiers in Psychology
Parental bonding and emotional regulation, while important to explain difficulties that may arise... more Parental bonding and emotional regulation, while important to explain difficulties that may arise in child development, have mainly been studied at an individual level. The present study aims to examine alexithymia and parental bonding in families of adolescents with psychiatric disorders through different generations. The sample included a total of 102 adolescent patients with psychiatric disorders and their parents. In order to take a family level approach, a Latent Class Analysis was used to identify the latent relationships among alexithymia (Toronto Alexithymia Scale), perceived parental bonding (Parental Bonding Instrument) and the presence of adolescent internalizing or externalizing psychiatric symptoms (Youth Self-Report). Families of internalizing and externalizing adolescents present different and specific patterns of emotional regulation and parenting. High levels of adolescent alexithymia, along with a neglectful parenting style perceived by the adolescent and the father as well, characterized the families of patients with internalizing symptoms. On the other hand, in the families with externalizing adolescents, it was mainly the mother to remember an affectionless control parental style. These results suggest the existence of an intergenerational transmission of specific parental bonding, which may influence the emotional regulation and therefore the manifestation of psychiatric symptoms.
Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy
Frontiers in neurology, 2018
The literature examining primary headache, including migraine, in adolescents, has pointed out th... more The literature examining primary headache, including migraine, in adolescents, has pointed out the key role played by a wide range of psychiatric disorders in reducing the patients' quality of life. Moreover, pioneering studies showed that preexisting personality characteristics, specific emotion regulation styles and psychological-psychiatric difficulties are likely to increase the risk of the onset, maintenance, and outcome of headache. Still personality issues in migraine have been poorly studied, in particular in children and adolescents. This study aims, therefore, to investigate the specific characteristics of personality, and in particular emotion regulation and coping strategies, in adolescent with migraine, comparing them with age-matched patients with idiopathic epilepsy and healthy adolescents. 52 adolescents (age: 11-17) were assessed using a multi-method test battery, which included a self-report questionnaire (the youth self-report), a proxy-report (child behavior ...
Frontiers in psychology, 2017
Although scientific research on the etiology of mental disorders has improved the knowledge of bi... more Although scientific research on the etiology of mental disorders has improved the knowledge of biogenetic and psychosocial aspects related to the onset of mental illness, stigmatizing attitudes and behaviors are still very prevalent and pose a significant social problem.The aim of this study was to deepen the knowledge of how attitudes toward people with mental illness are affected by specific personal beliefs and characteristics, such as culture and religion of the perceiver. More precisely, the main purpose is the definition of a structure of variables, namely perceived dangerousness, social closeness, and avoidance of the ill person, together with the beliefs about the best treatment to be undertaken and the sick person' gender, capable of describing the complexity of the stigma construct in particular as far as schizophrenia is concerned.The study involved 305 university students, 183 from the University of Padua, Italy, and 122 from the University of Haifa, Israel. For the ...
Minerva pediatrica, Jan 20, 2017
Several studies have confirmed psychiatric comorbidity and a worse quality of life in children wi... more Several studies have confirmed psychiatric comorbidity and a worse quality of life in children with epilepsy, but the clinical assessment and monitoring of these patients often pays insufficient attention to their psychological aspects alongside their neurological issues. The present study aims to describe the distribution of psychopathologies and their clinical evolution over 18 months in a sample of children followed up since the onset of their epilepsy. After being diagnosed with epilepsy, 49 subjects (age 4-18y) were followed up with psychiatric and psychological assessments based on the use of dimensional and categorical psychometric tools. Baseline data (T0) showed a high psychiatric comorbidity in epileptic children, with a prevalence of anxious-depressive disorders and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Specifically, generalized epilepsy, antiepileptic drug intake and more frequent seizures were associated with externalizing problems, while focal epilepsy was l...
Frontiers in psychology, 2016
The latest studies and practice guidelines for the treatment of adolescent patients with anorexia... more The latest studies and practice guidelines for the treatment of adolescent patients with anorexia nervosa agree in pointing out the key role played by parents in determining the young patients' therapeutic possibilities and outcomes. Still family functioning has usually been studied using only self-reported instruments. The aim of the present study is therefore to investigate the triadic interactions within the families of adolescents with anorexia nervosa using a semi-standardized observational tool based on a recorded play session, the Lausanne Trilogue Play (LTP). Parents and adolescent daughters, consecutively referred to adolescent neuropsychiatric services, participated in the study and underwent the observational procedure (LTP). The 20 families of adolescent girls with anorexia nervosa (restricting type) were compared with 20 families of patients with internalizing disorders (anxiety and depression). The results showed different interactive patterns in the families of ad...
Frontiers in psychology, 2016
The latest studies and practice guidelines for the treatment of adolescent patients with anorexia... more The latest studies and practice guidelines for the treatment of adolescent patients with anorexia nervosa agree in pointing out the key role played by parents in determining the young patients' therapeutic possibilities and outcomes. Still family functioning has usually been studied using only self-reported instruments. The aim of the present study is therefore to investigate the triadic interactions within the families of adolescents with anorexia nervosa using a semi-standardized observational tool based on a recorded play session, the Lausanne Trilogue Play (LTP). Parents and adolescent daughters, consecutively referred to adolescent neuropsychiatric services, participated in the study and underwent the observational procedure (LTP). The 20 families of adolescent girls with anorexia nervosa (restricting type) were compared with 20 families of patients with internalizing disorders (anxiety and depression). The results showed different interactive patterns in the families of ad...
Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment, 2017
Introduction: The attachment theory is widely used in order to explain anorexia nervosa origin, c... more Introduction: The attachment theory is widely used in order to explain anorexia nervosa origin, course and treatment response. Nevertheless, very little literature specifically investigated parental bonding in adolescents with anorexia, as well as the parents' own bonding and intergenerational transmission within the family. Purpose: This study aims to identify any specific pattern of parental bonding in families of adolescents newly diagnosed with restricting-type anorexia, comparing them to the families of the control group. Patients and methods: A total of 168 participants, adolescents and parents (78 belonging to the anorexia group and 90 to the control one), rated the perceived parental styles on the parental bonding instrument. The latent class analysis allowed the exploration of a maternal bonding latent variable and a paternal one. Results: The main findings showed that a careless and overcontrolling parental style was recalled by the patients' parents, and in particular by the fathers. As far as the adolescents' responses were concerned, patients with anorexia did not seem to express differently their parental bonding perception from participants of the control group. Conclusion: Clinical implications driven from the results suggest that a therapeutic intervention working on how the parents' own attachment representations influence current relationships may help to modify the actual family functioning and thus the outcome of patients with anorexia.
Clinical Psychologist, 2016
Scandinavian Journal of Psychology, 2016
The study, conducted on Italian preadolscents aged 11 to 13 belonging to the general population, ... more The study, conducted on Italian preadolscents aged 11 to 13 belonging to the general population, aims to investigate the relationship between the emotional functioning, namely, alexithymia, and the risk of developing behavioral and emotional problems measured using the Strength and Difficulty Questionnaire. The latent class analysis approach allowed to identify two latent variables, accounting for the internalizing (emotional symptoms and difficulties in emotional awareness) and for the externalizing problems (conduct problems and hyperactivity, problematic relationships with peers, poor prosocial behaviors and externally oriented thinking). The two latent variables featured two latent classes: the difficulty in dealing with problems and the strength to face problems that was representative of most of the healthy participants with specific gender differences. Along with the analysis of psychopathological behaviors, the study of resilience and strengths can prove to be a key step in order to develop valuable preventive approaches to tackle psychiatric disorders.
Background: Alcohol consumption among adolescents is becoming an increasingly widespread phenomen... more Background: Alcohol consumption among adolescents is becoming an increasingly widespread phenomenon in Italy, even among the younger population (Italy ranks first in Europa) with consequent negative effects on neurologic and psychic health. Alcohol dependence in adult age seems to be related to the inadequate way emotions and affects are perceived and managed since they are still not mentalized and poorly differentiated from physical states (alexithymia). Although evidence exists of a relationship between alexithymia and alcohol abuse in adults, there are no such studies on an adolescent sample. Objectives: Assess the potential correlation between alcohol consumption, alexithymia and the ability to attribute emotional states to others. Methods: Two samples were used for this study: one comprising high school students enrolled in the province of Padua and the other psychiatric patients affected by a Mixed Disturbance of Emotions and Conduct treated in the neuropsychiatric service of ...
The present research aimed to define a latent measurement dimension underlying personal beliefs a... more The present research aimed to define a latent measurement dimension underlying personal beliefs about the psychotherapeutic relationship. In Study 1, 927 university students completed a newly devised 40-item questionnaire. A latent trait modeling approach was used, by applying the Many-Facet Rasch Measurement model (MFRM). In Study 2, 237 participants, presenting different levels of mental health expertise, completed the defined instrument and the Mental Disorders Causal Beliefs (MDCB) scale. A second MFRM analysis was performed along with a bias/interaction analysis. The main results evidenced a 27-item measure denominated Mental Disorders Therapy Relationship (MDTR); several MDTR item contents differed in relation to the professional expertise level and the MDCB aetiological beliefs, emphasizing either the active, balanced, or passive patient's role.
ABSTRACT FOLLOW UP OF YOUNG PATIENS AFFECTED BY PSYCHO-BEHAVIOURAL DISORDERS AFTER THE DISCHARGE ... more ABSTRACT FOLLOW UP OF YOUNG PATIENS AFFECTED BY PSYCHO-BEHAVIOURAL DISORDERS AFTER THE DISCHARGE FROM A DAILY SEMI-RESIDENTIAL SERVICE FOR ADOLESCENTS L. Balottin1, L. Del Col1, A. Spoto2, P.C. Testa1, G. Ceranto1, R. Sorgato1, P. Tomadini3, P.A. Battistella3, M. Gatta3 1Neuropsychiatric Unit for Children and Adolescents, Azienda ULSS 16, Padua (ITALY) 2Department of General Psychology, University of Padua (ITALY) 3Pediatrics Department, University of Padua (ITALY) Background The evolution of psychopathology in the developmental age is a complex problem about which there aren’t many available evidences, besides some indications about the high level of continuity in the adult age. There are few studies about the efficacy of a multimodal therapeutic treatment based on the integration of educational, psychological and psychiatric interventions for adolescent patients. Aim The aim is to study the changing in the course of time of the psychopathological behaviour and of the global psychosocial functioning of adolescents affected by psycho-behavioural disorders of medium-high level who referred to the daily Semi-residential Service for Adolescents at the Childhood and Adolescence Neuropsychiatry Unit of the Public Health Services (Azienda ULSS 16) in Padua, Italy after the discharge and the passage to the Services for adult age. Sample and methodology The sample consists of adolescents referred to the daily Semi-residential Service for Adolescents starting from 2001 who already finished their own therapeutic path. The final sample of patients examined for the follow up study is formed by 36 adolescents, 30 male and 6 female. 61 adolescents were reachable, but we decided to leave out 7 patients who are living at the moment in other institutions (residential child care institution or prison), whereas 18 adolescents decided not to collaborate to the research. For this research we used two tests the Global Assessment Functioning Scale (GAF) and the Youth Self Report of T. Achenbach (YSR 11 - 18), version 2001, moreover we used a semi-structured questionnaire in order to collect data about life and medical history of the patients. Collected data were compared with previous evaluations made in the first period of access to the service and in the final discharge phase, regarding both GAF and YSR and also regarding the previous data about life and medical history already existing in the database. Data were analyzed using the statistical program SSPS version 17,0. Results In the evaluation made by the operators throughout the GAF it is to be noticed a general significant improvement during the treatment period in the daily service which seems to be long lasting during the follow up. The variable with the widest influence on the evolution is the parents’ collaboration during the semi-residential treatment, instead the type of psychiatric diagnosis does not significantly define different profiles in the evolution. It is to be pointed out that there are different evolution conditions according to the therapy set up after the discharge from the semi-residential service (intensive or non- intensive psychotherapy, pharmacological therapy,..). keywords: adolescence, psychopathology, outcome, multimodal intervention.
Journal of Child Neurology, 2015
Tourette syndrome is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by multiple tics and commonly as... more Tourette syndrome is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by multiple tics and commonly associated with behavioral problems, especially obsessive-compulsive disorder and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The presence of specific personality traits has been documented in adult clinical populations with Tourette syndrome but has been underresearched in younger patients. We assessed the personality profiles of 17 male adolescents with Tourette syndrome and 51 age- and gender-matched healthy controls using the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-Adolescent version, along with a standardized psychometric battery. All participants scored within the normal range across all Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-Adolescent version scales. Patients with Tourette syndrome scored significantly higher than healthy controls on the Obsessiveness Content Scale only (P = .046). Our findings indicate that younger male patients with Tourette syndrome do not report abnormal personality traits and have similar personality profiles to healthy peers, with the exception of obsessionality traits, which are likely to be related to the presence of comorbid obsessive compulsive symptoms rather than tics.
Minerva pediatrica, Jan 19, 2014
The aim of this study was to describe the distribution, timing, and risk factors for psychopathol... more The aim of this study was to describe the distribution, timing, and risk factors for psychopathology and to further examine the quality of life in an Italian sample of children with recent onset epilepsy. Sociodemographic and psychosocial variables, family factors, as well as illness--related factors themselves were examined in order to clarify the relationship among these variables, psychopathology and quality of life. For this purpose, 49 children and adolescents (4--18 years), consecutively referred to a Neurophysiology Service, were evaluated by a multidisciplinary team using dimensional as well as categorical instruments both self--administered (self--report and proxy--report) and interviewer administered. 45% of the patients exhibited one or more Axis I disorders (DSM--IV) when evaluated with K--SADS--PL interview. It's worth noting that preadolescent and adolescent patients tend to underestimate their problems compared to their parents'opinion, when answering self--ad...
Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment, 2014
Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy
Frontiers in Psychology
Parental bonding and emotional regulation, while important to explain difficulties that may arise... more Parental bonding and emotional regulation, while important to explain difficulties that may arise in child development, have mainly been studied at an individual level. The present study aims to examine alexithymia and parental bonding in families of adolescents with psychiatric disorders through different generations. The sample included a total of 102 adolescent patients with psychiatric disorders and their parents. In order to take a family level approach, a Latent Class Analysis was used to identify the latent relationships among alexithymia (Toronto Alexithymia Scale), perceived parental bonding (Parental Bonding Instrument) and the presence of adolescent internalizing or externalizing psychiatric symptoms (Youth Self-Report). Families of internalizing and externalizing adolescents present different and specific patterns of emotional regulation and parenting. High levels of adolescent alexithymia, along with a neglectful parenting style perceived by the adolescent and the father as well, characterized the families of patients with internalizing symptoms. On the other hand, in the families with externalizing adolescents, it was mainly the mother to remember an affectionless control parental style. These results suggest the existence of an intergenerational transmission of specific parental bonding, which may influence the emotional regulation and therefore the manifestation of psychiatric symptoms.
Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy
Frontiers in neurology, 2018
The literature examining primary headache, including migraine, in adolescents, has pointed out th... more The literature examining primary headache, including migraine, in adolescents, has pointed out the key role played by a wide range of psychiatric disorders in reducing the patients' quality of life. Moreover, pioneering studies showed that preexisting personality characteristics, specific emotion regulation styles and psychological-psychiatric difficulties are likely to increase the risk of the onset, maintenance, and outcome of headache. Still personality issues in migraine have been poorly studied, in particular in children and adolescents. This study aims, therefore, to investigate the specific characteristics of personality, and in particular emotion regulation and coping strategies, in adolescent with migraine, comparing them with age-matched patients with idiopathic epilepsy and healthy adolescents. 52 adolescents (age: 11-17) were assessed using a multi-method test battery, which included a self-report questionnaire (the youth self-report), a proxy-report (child behavior ...
Frontiers in psychology, 2017
Although scientific research on the etiology of mental disorders has improved the knowledge of bi... more Although scientific research on the etiology of mental disorders has improved the knowledge of biogenetic and psychosocial aspects related to the onset of mental illness, stigmatizing attitudes and behaviors are still very prevalent and pose a significant social problem.The aim of this study was to deepen the knowledge of how attitudes toward people with mental illness are affected by specific personal beliefs and characteristics, such as culture and religion of the perceiver. More precisely, the main purpose is the definition of a structure of variables, namely perceived dangerousness, social closeness, and avoidance of the ill person, together with the beliefs about the best treatment to be undertaken and the sick person' gender, capable of describing the complexity of the stigma construct in particular as far as schizophrenia is concerned.The study involved 305 university students, 183 from the University of Padua, Italy, and 122 from the University of Haifa, Israel. For the ...
Minerva pediatrica, Jan 20, 2017
Several studies have confirmed psychiatric comorbidity and a worse quality of life in children wi... more Several studies have confirmed psychiatric comorbidity and a worse quality of life in children with epilepsy, but the clinical assessment and monitoring of these patients often pays insufficient attention to their psychological aspects alongside their neurological issues. The present study aims to describe the distribution of psychopathologies and their clinical evolution over 18 months in a sample of children followed up since the onset of their epilepsy. After being diagnosed with epilepsy, 49 subjects (age 4-18y) were followed up with psychiatric and psychological assessments based on the use of dimensional and categorical psychometric tools. Baseline data (T0) showed a high psychiatric comorbidity in epileptic children, with a prevalence of anxious-depressive disorders and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Specifically, generalized epilepsy, antiepileptic drug intake and more frequent seizures were associated with externalizing problems, while focal epilepsy was l...
Frontiers in psychology, 2016
The latest studies and practice guidelines for the treatment of adolescent patients with anorexia... more The latest studies and practice guidelines for the treatment of adolescent patients with anorexia nervosa agree in pointing out the key role played by parents in determining the young patients' therapeutic possibilities and outcomes. Still family functioning has usually been studied using only self-reported instruments. The aim of the present study is therefore to investigate the triadic interactions within the families of adolescents with anorexia nervosa using a semi-standardized observational tool based on a recorded play session, the Lausanne Trilogue Play (LTP). Parents and adolescent daughters, consecutively referred to adolescent neuropsychiatric services, participated in the study and underwent the observational procedure (LTP). The 20 families of adolescent girls with anorexia nervosa (restricting type) were compared with 20 families of patients with internalizing disorders (anxiety and depression). The results showed different interactive patterns in the families of ad...
Frontiers in psychology, 2016
The latest studies and practice guidelines for the treatment of adolescent patients with anorexia... more The latest studies and practice guidelines for the treatment of adolescent patients with anorexia nervosa agree in pointing out the key role played by parents in determining the young patients' therapeutic possibilities and outcomes. Still family functioning has usually been studied using only self-reported instruments. The aim of the present study is therefore to investigate the triadic interactions within the families of adolescents with anorexia nervosa using a semi-standardized observational tool based on a recorded play session, the Lausanne Trilogue Play (LTP). Parents and adolescent daughters, consecutively referred to adolescent neuropsychiatric services, participated in the study and underwent the observational procedure (LTP). The 20 families of adolescent girls with anorexia nervosa (restricting type) were compared with 20 families of patients with internalizing disorders (anxiety and depression). The results showed different interactive patterns in the families of ad...
Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment, 2017
Introduction: The attachment theory is widely used in order to explain anorexia nervosa origin, c... more Introduction: The attachment theory is widely used in order to explain anorexia nervosa origin, course and treatment response. Nevertheless, very little literature specifically investigated parental bonding in adolescents with anorexia, as well as the parents' own bonding and intergenerational transmission within the family. Purpose: This study aims to identify any specific pattern of parental bonding in families of adolescents newly diagnosed with restricting-type anorexia, comparing them to the families of the control group. Patients and methods: A total of 168 participants, adolescents and parents (78 belonging to the anorexia group and 90 to the control one), rated the perceived parental styles on the parental bonding instrument. The latent class analysis allowed the exploration of a maternal bonding latent variable and a paternal one. Results: The main findings showed that a careless and overcontrolling parental style was recalled by the patients' parents, and in particular by the fathers. As far as the adolescents' responses were concerned, patients with anorexia did not seem to express differently their parental bonding perception from participants of the control group. Conclusion: Clinical implications driven from the results suggest that a therapeutic intervention working on how the parents' own attachment representations influence current relationships may help to modify the actual family functioning and thus the outcome of patients with anorexia.
Clinical Psychologist, 2016
Scandinavian Journal of Psychology, 2016
The study, conducted on Italian preadolscents aged 11 to 13 belonging to the general population, ... more The study, conducted on Italian preadolscents aged 11 to 13 belonging to the general population, aims to investigate the relationship between the emotional functioning, namely, alexithymia, and the risk of developing behavioral and emotional problems measured using the Strength and Difficulty Questionnaire. The latent class analysis approach allowed to identify two latent variables, accounting for the internalizing (emotional symptoms and difficulties in emotional awareness) and for the externalizing problems (conduct problems and hyperactivity, problematic relationships with peers, poor prosocial behaviors and externally oriented thinking). The two latent variables featured two latent classes: the difficulty in dealing with problems and the strength to face problems that was representative of most of the healthy participants with specific gender differences. Along with the analysis of psychopathological behaviors, the study of resilience and strengths can prove to be a key step in order to develop valuable preventive approaches to tackle psychiatric disorders.
Background: Alcohol consumption among adolescents is becoming an increasingly widespread phenomen... more Background: Alcohol consumption among adolescents is becoming an increasingly widespread phenomenon in Italy, even among the younger population (Italy ranks first in Europa) with consequent negative effects on neurologic and psychic health. Alcohol dependence in adult age seems to be related to the inadequate way emotions and affects are perceived and managed since they are still not mentalized and poorly differentiated from physical states (alexithymia). Although evidence exists of a relationship between alexithymia and alcohol abuse in adults, there are no such studies on an adolescent sample. Objectives: Assess the potential correlation between alcohol consumption, alexithymia and the ability to attribute emotional states to others. Methods: Two samples were used for this study: one comprising high school students enrolled in the province of Padua and the other psychiatric patients affected by a Mixed Disturbance of Emotions and Conduct treated in the neuropsychiatric service of ...
The present research aimed to define a latent measurement dimension underlying personal beliefs a... more The present research aimed to define a latent measurement dimension underlying personal beliefs about the psychotherapeutic relationship. In Study 1, 927 university students completed a newly devised 40-item questionnaire. A latent trait modeling approach was used, by applying the Many-Facet Rasch Measurement model (MFRM). In Study 2, 237 participants, presenting different levels of mental health expertise, completed the defined instrument and the Mental Disorders Causal Beliefs (MDCB) scale. A second MFRM analysis was performed along with a bias/interaction analysis. The main results evidenced a 27-item measure denominated Mental Disorders Therapy Relationship (MDTR); several MDTR item contents differed in relation to the professional expertise level and the MDCB aetiological beliefs, emphasizing either the active, balanced, or passive patient's role.
ABSTRACT FOLLOW UP OF YOUNG PATIENS AFFECTED BY PSYCHO-BEHAVIOURAL DISORDERS AFTER THE DISCHARGE ... more ABSTRACT FOLLOW UP OF YOUNG PATIENS AFFECTED BY PSYCHO-BEHAVIOURAL DISORDERS AFTER THE DISCHARGE FROM A DAILY SEMI-RESIDENTIAL SERVICE FOR ADOLESCENTS L. Balottin1, L. Del Col1, A. Spoto2, P.C. Testa1, G. Ceranto1, R. Sorgato1, P. Tomadini3, P.A. Battistella3, M. Gatta3 1Neuropsychiatric Unit for Children and Adolescents, Azienda ULSS 16, Padua (ITALY) 2Department of General Psychology, University of Padua (ITALY) 3Pediatrics Department, University of Padua (ITALY) Background The evolution of psychopathology in the developmental age is a complex problem about which there aren’t many available evidences, besides some indications about the high level of continuity in the adult age. There are few studies about the efficacy of a multimodal therapeutic treatment based on the integration of educational, psychological and psychiatric interventions for adolescent patients. Aim The aim is to study the changing in the course of time of the psychopathological behaviour and of the global psychosocial functioning of adolescents affected by psycho-behavioural disorders of medium-high level who referred to the daily Semi-residential Service for Adolescents at the Childhood and Adolescence Neuropsychiatry Unit of the Public Health Services (Azienda ULSS 16) in Padua, Italy after the discharge and the passage to the Services for adult age. Sample and methodology The sample consists of adolescents referred to the daily Semi-residential Service for Adolescents starting from 2001 who already finished their own therapeutic path. The final sample of patients examined for the follow up study is formed by 36 adolescents, 30 male and 6 female. 61 adolescents were reachable, but we decided to leave out 7 patients who are living at the moment in other institutions (residential child care institution or prison), whereas 18 adolescents decided not to collaborate to the research. For this research we used two tests the Global Assessment Functioning Scale (GAF) and the Youth Self Report of T. Achenbach (YSR 11 - 18), version 2001, moreover we used a semi-structured questionnaire in order to collect data about life and medical history of the patients. Collected data were compared with previous evaluations made in the first period of access to the service and in the final discharge phase, regarding both GAF and YSR and also regarding the previous data about life and medical history already existing in the database. Data were analyzed using the statistical program SSPS version 17,0. Results In the evaluation made by the operators throughout the GAF it is to be noticed a general significant improvement during the treatment period in the daily service which seems to be long lasting during the follow up. The variable with the widest influence on the evolution is the parents’ collaboration during the semi-residential treatment, instead the type of psychiatric diagnosis does not significantly define different profiles in the evolution. It is to be pointed out that there are different evolution conditions according to the therapy set up after the discharge from the semi-residential service (intensive or non- intensive psychotherapy, pharmacological therapy,..). keywords: adolescence, psychopathology, outcome, multimodal intervention.
Journal of Child Neurology, 2015
Tourette syndrome is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by multiple tics and commonly as... more Tourette syndrome is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by multiple tics and commonly associated with behavioral problems, especially obsessive-compulsive disorder and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The presence of specific personality traits has been documented in adult clinical populations with Tourette syndrome but has been underresearched in younger patients. We assessed the personality profiles of 17 male adolescents with Tourette syndrome and 51 age- and gender-matched healthy controls using the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-Adolescent version, along with a standardized psychometric battery. All participants scored within the normal range across all Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-Adolescent version scales. Patients with Tourette syndrome scored significantly higher than healthy controls on the Obsessiveness Content Scale only (P = .046). Our findings indicate that younger male patients with Tourette syndrome do not report abnormal personality traits and have similar personality profiles to healthy peers, with the exception of obsessionality traits, which are likely to be related to the presence of comorbid obsessive compulsive symptoms rather than tics.
Minerva pediatrica, Jan 19, 2014
The aim of this study was to describe the distribution, timing, and risk factors for psychopathol... more The aim of this study was to describe the distribution, timing, and risk factors for psychopathology and to further examine the quality of life in an Italian sample of children with recent onset epilepsy. Sociodemographic and psychosocial variables, family factors, as well as illness--related factors themselves were examined in order to clarify the relationship among these variables, psychopathology and quality of life. For this purpose, 49 children and adolescents (4--18 years), consecutively referred to a Neurophysiology Service, were evaluated by a multidisciplinary team using dimensional as well as categorical instruments both self--administered (self--report and proxy--report) and interviewer administered. 45% of the patients exhibited one or more Axis I disorders (DSM--IV) when evaluated with K--SADS--PL interview. It's worth noting that preadolescent and adolescent patients tend to underestimate their problems compared to their parents'opinion, when answering self--ad...
Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment, 2014