A person's self-evaluation influences purposeful activity undertaken in the situation of illness. It is observed in neurological patients that limited self-awareness disturbs rehabilitation. The goal of the study was to investigate select dimensions of emotional state, the relationship between anxiety and emotional state, and the level of insight into emotional state in patients at different time periods after cerebral vascular accidents (CVAs). Sixty-five patients with short (n = 36) or long (n = 29) time periods following a stroke participated in this study. The patients' relatives (n = 65) evaluated their emotional functioning. The modified Neuropsychology Behavior and Affect Profile (NBAP; Nelson, Satz, & D'Elia, 1994 ) and State and Trait Anxiety Inventory were administered. Compared groups differed significantly in self-reporting and in relatives' reports on the NBAP scales. Patients with short and long time periods after stroke did not differ in terms of mania, indifference, depression, or inappropriateness. Significant positive moderate correlations between anxiety and depression were found in both groups. In the group with a long time period after CVA, ratings of depression, mania, indifference, and inappropriateness among patients with right-hemisphere damage were significantly correlated with their relatives' ratings. Biological and psychological factors determining emotional state and adequacy of patients' self-evaluations have also been discussed.

This study was primarily designed to investigate the perception of changes in selected areas of life experienced by adults of various nationalities in connection to the long-lasting COVID-19 pandemic. The second objective was to identify the factors increasing the risk of perception of negative changes in life during the pandemic. The tools applied in the study include a self-report questionnaire designed to measure sociodemographic data and health status of the subjects, COVID-19 Sense of Life Changes Questionnaire, as well as the Impact of Event Scale: Revised. The study involved over 600 adult subjects. With increased intensity of intrusions, the likelihood of negative perception of the changes emerging as a result of the pandemic was reduced by approximately 7%, whereas a higher intensity of hyperarousal increased that risk. Individuals reporting a sense of negative changes presented a greater degree of hyperarousal compared to those reporting positive changes. In the group of subjects perceiving the changes in a positive way, increasing the intensity of intrusion and/or hyperarousal corresponded to a growing conviction about a negative nature of life changes concerning the relationship with their partner and affecting their work as well as regarding a positive meaning of the changes in relations with their parents and in daily life. Generally, there was a prevailing sense of negative changes; however, there was also a group of subjects that perceived these as positive. Intrusions and hyperarousal in certain individuals may play a role in motivating them to take action in protecting against effects of the pandemic and, in others, may lead to frustration and anxiety.

AimIn the elderly, type 2 diabetes is a frequent chronic condition that requires the attention of health care. As patient involvement is a prerequisite for treatment, it seems crucial to assess psychosocial aspects, including patient's cognitive component of attitude towards the condition, as early as upon diagnosis. The aim of this study was to examine whether the cognitive illness representation in older female and male patients with type 2 diabetes is differentiated. Considering disease duration, we determined the effect of cognitive illness representation on older diabetes emotional wellbeing.MethodsThe study in 99 older adults with type 2 diabetes used Disease‐Related Appraisals Scale (Skala Oceny Własnej Choroby; SOWCh) to assess cognitive illness representation and State–Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) to assess the severity of state anxiety.ResultsIn a subgroup with short‐standing diagnosis, women scored significantly higher than men on subscales of Threat, Obstacle/Loss and Profit. In a subgroup with long‐standing diagnosis, women scored significantly higher than men on the subscale of Threat and significantly lower than men on the subscale of Value. The associations between the individual dimensions of cognitive illness representation and anxiety were also determined. These correlations differed between sexes and stages of the disease.ConclusionBoth at early and late stages of type 2 diabetes, women perceive their illness as a threat significantly more than men do. This appraisal persists throughout the entire duration of the illness. Men with long‐standing diagnosis, attribute higher value to diabetes than women do, perceiving it as an opportunity to appreciate values they did not pay attention to before. Anxiety reported by older women and men can be explained to a significant extent by certain dimensions of their respective cognitive illness representation.