Italian Validation of the Symptom Rating Test (SRT) and Symptom Questionnaire (SQ) *

Self Cite

Background: Emotional inhibition has been an enduring concept in the psychosomatic literature explaining the onset and course of medical disorders. Currently the personality style of alexithymia is a focus of this dimension in psychosomatic theory, while actual conscious emotional inhibition, which may overlap with alexithymia, has received less attention. In the early 80s Robert Kellner developed the Emotional Inhibition Scale (EIS), a self-rating scale for emotional inhibition based on clinimetric principles. In this study we explored whether the EIS differentiated a sample of cardiac recipients from normal controls, as well as the associations between the EIS and 2 measures of alexithymia, i.e. the Toronto Alexithymia Scale-20 (TAS-20) and the Diagnostic Criteria for Psychosomatic Research (DCPR). We also examined whether the EIS and the TAS-20 were differently related to depressive symptoms measured by the Symptom Questionnaire (SQ). Methods: Ninety-five heart-transplanted patients and a sample of normal controls, matched for sociodemographic variables, were administered the EIS (total score and 4 subscales concerning ‘verbal inhibition’, ‘timidity’, ‘disguise of feelings’, and ‘self-control’), the TAS-20, the SQ, and the Structured Interview according to the DCPR for alexithymia. Results: Cardiac recipients did not display significant differences compared to normal controls in observer (DCPR) and self-rated (TAS-20) measures of alexithymia. There were, however, significant differences in EIS with regard to ‘disguise of feelings’. In both groups the EIS ‘verbal inhibition’ and ‘timidity’ subscales were positively associated with the TAS-20, while the EIS ‘disguise of feelings’ and ‘self-control’ subscales were independent of alexithymia. Depressive symptoms were more related to TAS-20 than EIS total scores. Conclusions: Our results suggest that emotional inhibition and alexithymia are distinct phenomena even though they may share certain features. The EIS appears to be relatively independent of depressed mood and will be useful in assessing the individual’s conscious management of affect in future psychosomatic research.

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Kellner’s Emotional Inhibition Scale: A Clinimetric Approach to Alexithymia Research

Grandi

Sirri

Wise

et al. 2011

Self Cite

“…These assessment tools were selected on the basis of their sensitivity (the ability to discriminate between different groups of patients and to reflect changes in experiments in therapeutics) [10, 15]. Further, they had undergone extensive validation with Italian populations [6, 7, 10, 11,16,17,18]. …”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Well-Being Therapy of Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Fava

Ruini

Rafanelli

et al. 2004

Self Cite

303

171

Background: There is increasing awareness that the goal of treatment in generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) should not simply be a response, but restoration of normal function. The aim of this study was to apply a novel psychotherapeutic approach for increasing the level of remission in GAD. Methods: Twenty patients with DSM-IV GAD devoid of comorbid conditions were randomly assigned to 8 sessions of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) or the sequential administration of 4 sessions of CBT followed by other 4 sessions of well-being therapy (WBT). Assessment methods included the Anxiety and Depression Scales of Paykel’s Clinical Interview for Depression, Ryff’s Psychological Well-being Scales and Kellner’s Symptom Questionnaire. A one-year follow-up was undertaken. Results: Significant advantages of the CBT-WBT sequential combination over CBT only were observed with both observer and self-rated methods after treatment. Such gains were maintained at follow-up. Conclusions: These preliminary results suggest the feasibility and clinical advantages of adding WBT to the treatment of GAD. They lend support to a sequential use of treatment components for achieving a more sustained recovery.

“…Kellner’s Symptom Questionnaire [7, 8]. This is a 92-item self-rating scale for measuring psychological distress (anxiety, depression, somatization and hostility-irritability) and well-being (relaxation, contentment, physical well-being and friendliness).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The symptom scales may be combined in a total distress scale (0–68) and the well-being scales in a total well-being scale (0–24). There is extensive evidence that suggests that the Symptom Questionnaire (SQ) is a very sensitive indicator of quality of life [7, 8], particularly when the combined distress and well-being scales are used.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Slow-Release Lanreotide Treatment in Acromegaly: Effects on Quality of Life

Sonino

Scarpa²,

Paoletta³

et al. 1999

Background: It is not known whether medical treatment to lower growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1 levels may improve the compromised quality of life of patients with acromegaly. Methods: We studied the effects on quality of life of the slow-release somatostatin analogue lanreotide, 30 mg i.m., every 14 days for 2 months in 10 patients with active acromegaly (8 females/2 males, mean age 57.3 ± 11.4). Hormone measurements and psychometric evaluation by means of self-rating scales were carried out in baseline conditions and after 1 and 2 months. The Symptom Questionnaire (SQ), the Cognitive Scale of the Screening List for Psychosocial Problems by Kellner and the Social Situation Questionnaire by Marks were employed. Results: Together with a significant decrease in GH and IGF-1, treatment with lanreotide significantly improved SQ psychological distress, SQ well-being and Social Situation Questionnaire social fears. Conclusion: Medical treatment with lanreotide may improve the quality of life of patients with acromegaly. Being an open trial, changes could be due to nonspecific effects. However, they did not fade at 2 months. Improvement involved fears of social situations that have been linked to GH abnormalities.