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Objectives: The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence and severity of emotional problems among Polish women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and seek factors which increase the risk of their occurrence. Material and methods:The study group consisted of 82 women (aged 18-48), who were diagnosed with PCOS based on the Rotterdam criteria. During hospitalization, the patients completed a number of questionnaires, providing their sociodemographic data and information concerning the inconvenience of disease-associated symptoms. The questionnaires included the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), and Multidimensional Self-Esteem Inventory (MSEI). Data obtained during medical examinations (blood tests, transvaginal ultrasound, height and body mass measurements) were analyzed.Results: Out of 82 women, the results detected risk for depression in 42 (51.22%), mild depressive disorders in 32, moderate disorders in 8, and severe disorder in 2 patients. No statistically significant correlation between BDI or state anxiety and the level of the analyzed hormones, insulin resistance, or infertility treatment, was found. General self-esteem, trait anxiety, and marital status were associated with the occurrence of depression symptoms. BMI was associated with the level of state anxiety during hospitalization. Conclusions:Women with PCOS are at risk for mood and anxiety disorders. Disease-related somatic factors are not directly associated with the risk for disorder occurrence. However, severity of depression symptoms has been shown to be influenced by permanent psychological characteristics of the studied women, i.e. self-esteem, trait anxiety, and life situation (marital status). Therefore, it is recommended to include interviews about patient life situation and screening questionnaires for assessing depression into the diagnostic procedures in PCOS patients. Patients should be referred for a psychological or psychiatric consultation, if needed.

The concept of cognitive distortion was created by A. T. Beck and it is one of the key-concepts of cognitive psychotherapy. In the 80s of the twentieth century, researchers began to use it in studies of sexual offending, but with reference to the social learning theory rather than to the theory of cognitive psychotherapy. Subsequent authors continued the use of this term in the determinants of child molestation and defined them as products emerging from specific implicit theory of the offender, the judgements resulting from his beliefs, values and actions, dysfunctional cognitive schemas, deviant cognitive practices undertaken in the interaction of internal and external components of perpetrator's cognitive system and his social practices. The primary theoretical background in the description of the concept of cognitive distortions of child molesters was the social cognition theory, but it was complemented with the assumptions of the theory of cognitive psychotherapy, extended theory of mind and discursive psychology perspective. Particular concepts describe the cognitive distortions relating them to different classes of cognitive phenomena: products, processes and structures, and the only thing they have in common is their incompatibility of their content to the social norms. Giving this concept a normative nature leads to internal contradictions within the conceptions that concern it. Moreover, using it to explain the various processes oversimplifies the picture of this phenomenon and leads to contradictions between theories. It is, therefore, necessary to consider replacing the term cognitive distortions with alternative and more precise concepts.

Pojęcie preferencji seksualnych człowieka odnosi się do względnie stałych wzorców reagowania seksualnego i kierowania zachowań seksualnych ku określonym bodźcom pobudzającym, ważnym także dla satysfakcji seksualnej. Preferencje dotyczyć mogą cech obiektu, jak również samej czynności seksualnej. Diagnozowanie preferencji seksualnych odbywa się, w podstawowym zakresie, przy użyciu kryteriów zaburzeń określonych w klasyfikacjach diagnostycznych takich jak ICD-10 czy DSM 5. I choć posłużenie się tymi kryteriami pozwala na przyporządkowanie preferencji seksualnych pacjenta do obszaru zdrowia lub choroby, wydaje się jednak dalece niewystarczające do pełnego opisu możliwej złożoności indywidualnego wzorca zainteresowań seksualnych. Celem artykułu jest przedstawienie uszczegółowionego, dymensonalnego modelu opisu preferencji seksualnych. Propozycja ta zakłada opis dwóch aspektów preferencji: aspektu treściowego, określającego indywidualną hierarchię bodźców seksualnie atrakcyjnych i awersyjnych oraz aspektu formalnego. Ten ostatni obejmuje cztery wymiary: zakres różnorodności bodźców mieszczących się we wzorcu zainteresowań seksualnych pacjenta, zmienność preferencji w czasie, spójność pomiędzy poszczególnymi komponentami reagowania na bodźce seksualne oraz wgląd we własne preferencje. Zaproponowany model ma za zadanie uzupełniać podstawowy opis preferencji seksualnych dokonywany w oparciu o obowiązujące kryteria zaburzeń. Stanowić ma narzędzie pomocne w praktyce diagnostycznej, przede wszystkim w precyzyjnym określaniu różnorodności problemów pacjentów związanych z cechami ich seksualnych zainteresowań. Może także stać się inspiracją dla nowych badań nad mniej eksplorowanymi dotąd właściwościami wzorców zainteresowań seksualnych.

The goal of this study was to assess the effectiveness of a therapeutic program for female survivors of interpersonal trauma, among others, of domestic violence. The participating women took part in four two-day modules in a group setting during which they were offered focusing training and arts-based Gestalt therapy. The effectiveness of the interventions was evaluated in terms of improvements in body image and body experience, according to the model of body self as developed by Sakson-Obada. participants and procedure The Body-Self Questionnaire, the Affective Body Image test and the Draw-a-Woman test were administered to 21 participants before and after the program. results After the therapy, the participants reported a reduction of disturbances in their body experience (interpretation and regulation of emotions and bodily needs and in body identity). In the body image domain, increased body satisfaction was observed using both declarative and projective tools-the women were also more likely to draw uncovered parts of the female body. Although improvements were noted in most of the women, three of them reported an increase in difficulties, mainly in the body image domain. conclusions The study demonstrated that: (1) a combination of the two techniques, i.e., focusing training and art included in the Gestalt group therapy program, resulted in satisfactory changes in body image and body experience; (2) the therapy's effects should be monitored in the context of a woman's various life situations; and (3) the use of both declarative and non-declarative methods can be recommended to assess the effectiveness of body-centered therapy.