- Email: [email protected]
Codependence and post-traumatic stress disorders
Posters session 3 / International Journal of Psychophysiology 69 (2008) 276–316
287
scores and 3.76% — low scores of TA). During the stress day TA scores, but not SA scores, were significantly correlated with SDNN (R = −0.241; p = 0.012), VLF (R = −0.209; p = 0.030), LF (R = −0.259; p = 0.007), HF (R = −0.222; p = 0.021). Students with high TA scores had lower SDNN (Mann–Whitney (U) = 1007.00; Z = 2.26; p = 0.02), VLF (U = 1030.00; Z = 2.11; p = 0.03), LF (U = 958.50; Z = 2.57; p = 0.01), HF (U = 1021.00; Z = 2.17; p = 0.03) than those with normal TA scores. After correction “regression to mean” bias (RTM), differences between the expectations and the actual mark were significant associated with value of change in HRV (stress day minus control day). We find significant impact of BMI on HR (R = −0.19; p = 0.04) and LF (R = −0.255; p = 0.007) at the stress day. Power spectral analysis of HRV showed that the HR, LF and VLF were associated with the number of day after the last day of bleeding (R = 0.217, p = 0.036; R = − 0.253, p = 0.014; R = − 0.274; p = 0.008, respectively). Conclusion. This study demonstrates namely a higher sympathetic nervous activity and a lower parasympathetic nervous activity at stress day than at control day. This reaction may be modified by individual psychological features and menstrual cycle. Assessing change in HRV from rest to real life stress may underestimate or overestimate response, due to the impact of RTM.
Conclusions: peculiar behavioral characteristics of women with dissociative disturbances have a high degree of correlation and very often just coincide with the characteristics of the codependence. This makes it possible to assume that a codependence is one of the types of the posttraumatic stress disorders. In this case, a prolonged specific stress in an early childhood can be a reason behind the appearance of a codependence.
doi:10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2008.05.259
Psychophysiological state of 18 Ss, aged 78.4 years (у = 5.0), was studied by means of standardized psychological and gerontological inventories, basing on the facilities of the Municipal Gerontological Medico-Social Centre of St. Petersburg. Strong positive correlation of inner religiosity (by G.W. Allport) with the age of respondents was demonstrated (cf. Table 1, factor 2). Another trend positively linked predisposition to the experience of altered states of consciousness with higher level of general somatic fitness (factor 3). Neurotization which correlated with the assessment of psychological comfort, mood and agility (factor 1), proved not to be directly linked with reduced life expectancy, although the probability of indirect links between them should be regarded as highly plausible. As a result, positive correlation between longevity and spirituality, the latter comprising both religiosity and alteration of consciousness, was demonstrated. The study was conducted under general supervision of professor N.P. Bechtereva. It was supported by grant 06-06-80048, issued by Russian Foundation for Basic Research.
Codependence and post-traumatic stress disorders Y.B. Autenshlyus Saint-Petersburg State Integrated Center of Social Services, Medicine Psychology Department, St. Petersburg, Russia The aim of this research is to identify signs of dissociative disturbances among women with symptoms of codependence. Two hundred women at the age of 23 to 30 were investigated, with the aim of identifying the presence and type of dissociative disturbances. The type of a dissociative disturbance was identified through the behavioral dissociation reaction typical for that particular type. Within the scope of rehabilitation efforts, the method of answering questionnaires and group psychodramatic trainings was used. The present research describes a model under which a codependence can be a delayed chronic post-traumatic disorder, a dissociative change of identity (tertiary dissociation), caused by a fixation of a mechanism of dissociate responding to a specific stress in early childhood based on a disadaptation accompanied with a trend to developing a mutual dependence on a behavioral level. An understanding of the codependence phenomenon through a trauma allows explaining why codependence family scenarios are permanently repeated and passed over from one generation to another. Women are more prone to dissociation reactions, and, as it is widely known, they also develop codependence more often. Behavioral reactions of women with codependence symptoms largely coincide with a tertiarydissociation reaction to a trauma-related stress adopted later in life. The differences are caused by the fact that the formation process under the proposed model takes place at an early age, i.e. in a developing brain when neuron systems are being organized. Any experience, including a traumatic one, which results in sensitizing or training at a later age, determines functional capabilities of a human brain at an early age. The earlier a trauma takes place in a child's life, the sooner a dissociative way of responding to a stress will appear and get fixed. The present study proves that women with codependence symptoms show signs of traumatic disorders. The rate of identification of those disorders is statistically significant. How those disorders relate to one another is to be determined through a further and more thorough research. However, successful work with patients with codependence symptoms is dependent on a clear understanding of the nosology of that disturbance.
doi:10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2008.05.260
Longevity and spirituality: A psychophysiological study D.L. Spivak a, A.G. Zakharchuk b, A.E. Pavlov c, I.M. Spivak d a Human Brain Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg, Russia b Municipal Gerontological Medico-Social Centre of St. Petersburg, St. Petersburg, Russia c Faculty of Biology and Soil Science, State University of St. Petersburg, St. Petersburg, Russia d Institute of Cytology, Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg, Russia
Table 1 Results of factor analysis of data on psychophysiological aspects of ageing Indices
Factor 1
Factor 2
Factor 3
Mood Neurotization Sincerity Religiosity Asc Age Sex State Fitness Agility Value %
−0.83⁎ 0.94⁎ −0.27 −0.23 0.20 0.18 0.24 0.47 0.03 0.38 2.20 0.22
0.33 0.21 0.00 0.58⁎ 0.49 0.84⁎ −0.75⁎ −0.43 0.72⁎ −0.52 2.95 0.30
0.17 0.13 −0.68⁎ 0.06 −0.60⁎ 0.04 0.23 −0.65⁎ 0.26 −0.60⁎ 1.78 0.18
Indices: mood — general index of psychological comfort, mood and agility (by N.A. Kurgansky et al., 1990); neurotization — general index of neurotization (by L.I. Wasserman et al., 1999); sincerity — index of correction, from the aforementioned inventory by L.I. Wasserman et al.; religiosity — general index of religiosity (by J.D. Kass, 1991); ASC — general index of altered states of consciousness (by D.L. Spivak et al., 2003); age — full years; sex — male/female; state — index of general state of the S at the beginning of present hospitalization; fitness — index of the ability to cope by oneself with basic household tasks; agility — index of the ability to move by oneself (the three latter indices were assessed by routine gerontological inventories), value — factor value; % — part of dispersion interpreted. Factor analysis: principal components, orthogonal rotation (Varimax normalized); asterisk (⁎) marks factor loadings ≥0.55.
doi:10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2008.05.261
287
scores and 3.76% — low scores of TA). During the stress day TA scores, but not SA scores, were significantly correlated with SDNN (R = −0.241; p = 0.012), VLF (R = −0.209; p = 0.030), LF (R = −0.259; p = 0.007), HF (R = −0.222; p = 0.021). Students with high TA scores had lower SDNN (Mann–Whitney (U) = 1007.00; Z = 2.26; p = 0.02), VLF (U = 1030.00; Z = 2.11; p = 0.03), LF (U = 958.50; Z = 2.57; p = 0.01), HF (U = 1021.00; Z = 2.17; p = 0.03) than those with normal TA scores. After correction “regression to mean” bias (RTM), differences between the expectations and the actual mark were significant associated with value of change in HRV (stress day minus control day). We find significant impact of BMI on HR (R = −0.19; p = 0.04) and LF (R = −0.255; p = 0.007) at the stress day. Power spectral analysis of HRV showed that the HR, LF and VLF were associated with the number of day after the last day of bleeding (R = 0.217, p = 0.036; R = − 0.253, p = 0.014; R = − 0.274; p = 0.008, respectively). Conclusion. This study demonstrates namely a higher sympathetic nervous activity and a lower parasympathetic nervous activity at stress day than at control day. This reaction may be modified by individual psychological features and menstrual cycle. Assessing change in HRV from rest to real life stress may underestimate or overestimate response, due to the impact of RTM.
Conclusions: peculiar behavioral characteristics of women with dissociative disturbances have a high degree of correlation and very often just coincide with the characteristics of the codependence. This makes it possible to assume that a codependence is one of the types of the posttraumatic stress disorders. In this case, a prolonged specific stress in an early childhood can be a reason behind the appearance of a codependence.
doi:10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2008.05.259
Psychophysiological state of 18 Ss, aged 78.4 years (у = 5.0), was studied by means of standardized psychological and gerontological inventories, basing on the facilities of the Municipal Gerontological Medico-Social Centre of St. Petersburg. Strong positive correlation of inner religiosity (by G.W. Allport) with the age of respondents was demonstrated (cf. Table 1, factor 2). Another trend positively linked predisposition to the experience of altered states of consciousness with higher level of general somatic fitness (factor 3). Neurotization which correlated with the assessment of psychological comfort, mood and agility (factor 1), proved not to be directly linked with reduced life expectancy, although the probability of indirect links between them should be regarded as highly plausible. As a result, positive correlation between longevity and spirituality, the latter comprising both religiosity and alteration of consciousness, was demonstrated. The study was conducted under general supervision of professor N.P. Bechtereva. It was supported by grant 06-06-80048, issued by Russian Foundation for Basic Research.
Codependence and post-traumatic stress disorders Y.B. Autenshlyus Saint-Petersburg State Integrated Center of Social Services, Medicine Psychology Department, St. Petersburg, Russia The aim of this research is to identify signs of dissociative disturbances among women with symptoms of codependence. Two hundred women at the age of 23 to 30 were investigated, with the aim of identifying the presence and type of dissociative disturbances. The type of a dissociative disturbance was identified through the behavioral dissociation reaction typical for that particular type. Within the scope of rehabilitation efforts, the method of answering questionnaires and group psychodramatic trainings was used. The present research describes a model under which a codependence can be a delayed chronic post-traumatic disorder, a dissociative change of identity (tertiary dissociation), caused by a fixation of a mechanism of dissociate responding to a specific stress in early childhood based on a disadaptation accompanied with a trend to developing a mutual dependence on a behavioral level. An understanding of the codependence phenomenon through a trauma allows explaining why codependence family scenarios are permanently repeated and passed over from one generation to another. Women are more prone to dissociation reactions, and, as it is widely known, they also develop codependence more often. Behavioral reactions of women with codependence symptoms largely coincide with a tertiarydissociation reaction to a trauma-related stress adopted later in life. The differences are caused by the fact that the formation process under the proposed model takes place at an early age, i.e. in a developing brain when neuron systems are being organized. Any experience, including a traumatic one, which results in sensitizing or training at a later age, determines functional capabilities of a human brain at an early age. The earlier a trauma takes place in a child's life, the sooner a dissociative way of responding to a stress will appear and get fixed. The present study proves that women with codependence symptoms show signs of traumatic disorders. The rate of identification of those disorders is statistically significant. How those disorders relate to one another is to be determined through a further and more thorough research. However, successful work with patients with codependence symptoms is dependent on a clear understanding of the nosology of that disturbance.
doi:10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2008.05.260
Longevity and spirituality: A psychophysiological study D.L. Spivak a, A.G. Zakharchuk b, A.E. Pavlov c, I.M. Spivak d a Human Brain Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg, Russia b Municipal Gerontological Medico-Social Centre of St. Petersburg, St. Petersburg, Russia c Faculty of Biology and Soil Science, State University of St. Petersburg, St. Petersburg, Russia d Institute of Cytology, Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg, Russia
Table 1 Results of factor analysis of data on psychophysiological aspects of ageing Indices
Factor 1
Factor 2
Factor 3
Mood Neurotization Sincerity Religiosity Asc Age Sex State Fitness Agility Value %
−0.83⁎ 0.94⁎ −0.27 −0.23 0.20 0.18 0.24 0.47 0.03 0.38 2.20 0.22
0.33 0.21 0.00 0.58⁎ 0.49 0.84⁎ −0.75⁎ −0.43 0.72⁎ −0.52 2.95 0.30
0.17 0.13 −0.68⁎ 0.06 −0.60⁎ 0.04 0.23 −0.65⁎ 0.26 −0.60⁎ 1.78 0.18
Indices: mood — general index of psychological comfort, mood and agility (by N.A. Kurgansky et al., 1990); neurotization — general index of neurotization (by L.I. Wasserman et al., 1999); sincerity — index of correction, from the aforementioned inventory by L.I. Wasserman et al.; religiosity — general index of religiosity (by J.D. Kass, 1991); ASC — general index of altered states of consciousness (by D.L. Spivak et al., 2003); age — full years; sex — male/female; state — index of general state of the S at the beginning of present hospitalization; fitness — index of the ability to cope by oneself with basic household tasks; agility — index of the ability to move by oneself (the three latter indices were assessed by routine gerontological inventories), value — factor value; % — part of dispersion interpreted. Factor analysis: principal components, orthogonal rotation (Varimax normalized); asterisk (⁎) marks factor loadings ≥0.55.
doi:10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2008.05.261