It is commonly accepted that in most patients with schizophrenia external factors act on genetic predisposition to produce active psychotic symptoms. It is known that patients with schizophrenia have an abnormal peripheral autonomic response to psychological stress. We sought to characterize the brain activity patterns of such response in these patients.

We studied the pattern of brain activation in response to a mental arithmetic stress paradigm in 14 patients and 14 healthy subjects aged 18 to 50 years, using 3T-fMRI. A period of 6 minutes of resting state acquisition were followed by a block design with three 1-minute CONTROL task (one digit sum), 1 minute STRESS task (two digit substraction) and 1 minute rest after task. Data were analyzed with SPM and SPSS software.

While controls showed bilateral activation of hippocampi, parahippocampi, insulae, amygdalae, anterior cinguli and basal ganglia during mental stress, patients displayed less left hemisphere activation, specifically in insula, orbitofrontal cortex and frontal cortex, along with activation of pons. Moreover, patients did not show activation of hippocampi, parahippocampi and amygdalae.

After stress healthy subjects recovered its basal pattern. However, patients showed sustained activation of right posterior cingulum and temporal pole, along with bilateral orbitofrontal cortex, frontal cortex, precuneus, cuneus and angular gyrus for the observation period.

Present results suggest that abnormal activation of limbic structures underlies extensively documented peripheral autonomic abnormalities in patients with schizophrenia. Abnormal fronto-temporal connectivity may be the pathophysiological link for these results.

Perfectionism trait is commonly viewed as a personality style characterized by striving for flawlessness and setting of excessively high standards for performance which is accompanied by a tendency to be overly critical of one's behavior. Perfectionists are more likely than non-perfectionists to experience several kinds of stress in a variety of forms. Thus, the link between perfectionism and stress in influencing emotional distress /psychopathology can be quit complex.

1. 1) to analyze the association between perfectionism dimension and stress vulnerability;

2. 2) to explore the relation between perfectionism dimension and other stress related mechanisms (for example, coping and social support).

217 students filled in the Frost Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale, the Questionnaire of Stress Vulnerability, and four items to evaluate stress related mechanisms.

We found positive associations between maladaptive dimensions of perfectionism and stress vulnerability (from r=.181, p< .005 to r=.661, p< .005). The adaptive dimensions of perfectionism are not significantly associated with stress vulnerability. These results confirm that only maladaptive perfectionists are more vulnerable to stress. Doubts about actions and concerns over mistakes (perfectionism dimensions) showed significant and positive association with all the dimensions of stress, and are negatively related with the social support.

Only the maladaptive perfectionists are more vulnerable to stress, find life events as more stressful and obtain less social support from others. Maladaptive perfectionism dimensions, in particular self-critical perfectionism might have an important role in stress generation.

Perfectionism has been a topic of increased interest in recent years. Findings from the literature have shown that perfectionism is associated in the development and maintenance of a wide range of psychopathological conditions.

1. 1) to analyze the psychometric properties of the Portuguese version of the Frost Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale (FMPS);

2. 2) to explore the associations between perfectionism dimensions and positive/negative affectivity.

217 students from two Portuguese Universities filled in the FMPS and the Profile of Mood States (POMS). A subgroup (n=166) completed a retest of the FMPS with a four weeks interval.

Scale reliability was good (Cronbach alpha = .857). Corrected item-total correlations ranged from .019 and .548, and were higher than .2 for most of the items. Test-retest reliability suggested a good temporal stability for FMPS total score (r=.765). A principal component analysis with Varimax rotation was performed and based on Scree plot, two robust factorial structures were suggested (four and six factors). The more maladaptive dimensions of perfectionism were significantly and positively associated with negative affect and negatively associated with positive affect. Depression and anxiety/hostility dimensions are both positively associated with concern over mistakes (respectively, r=.338, r=.360, p< .01), parental criticism (respectively, r=.180, r=.254, p< .01) and doubts about actions (respectively, r=.312, r=.189, p< .01). An unexpected result was the positive association with personal standards dimension (respectively, r=.178, p< .05; r=.204, p< .01).

The Portuguese version of FMPS showed good reliability and internal consistency. The perfectionism personality trait is associated with mood states.

Early environmental risk factors have a role in the development of violent behaviour in adulthood.

The aim of the study was to assess the impact of childhood trauma, expressed violent behaviour as a child, co morbid personality disorder and substance abuse on self reported interpersonal violence as an adult in suicide attempters.

A total of 161 suicide attempters were diagnosed with SCID I and II and assessed with the Karolinska Interpersonal Violence Scale (KIVS) measuring exposure to violence and expressed violent behaviour in childhood (between 6-14 years of age) and during adult life (15 years or older). A standard linear regression analyses was conducted with the two predictive KIVS subscales exposure to violence as a child and expressed violent behaviour as a child, Axis 1 mood and anxiety disorder diagnosis, co morbid substance abuse diagnosis, co morbid personality disorder diagnosis, age and gender as predictors of expressed interpersonal violence as an adult.

The regression model was significant with adjusted R square 0.22, F ratio 7.2, DF=7, p< 0.0001. Expressed violent behaviour as a child and personality disorder were significant predictors of expressed interpersonal violence as an adult. Broken down by gender expressed violent behaviour as a child was a significant predictor of violence as an adult in both men and women, whereas exposure to violence as a child and personality disorder predicted violence as an adult only in men.

It is important to take into account expressed violent behaviour in childhood in violence risk assessments.

Behavior disorders (addiction, eating disorders) which the teenagers suffer would come from a dysfunction from the early relations and an installation of mental representations of the attachment relations marked by insecurity, discontinuity and Separation Anxiety (SA). Quality of the early and current relations of attachment is going to influence the process of adolescence, which is connected to a second period of separation-individuation. Nevertheless, the SA of the adolescents remains a very rare and unknown diagnosis.

This study evaluated the relationship between cannabis abuse or dependence (A/D) and family functioning in adolescent cannabis users.

A sample of 336 adolescents filed up the questionnaires about frequency of their cannabis use, SA symptoms in adult populations, dysfunctional separation-individuation process in early adolescents, parental types perceived by the children and depression symptoms.

Cannabis A/D adolescents got significantly higher scores than non-cannabis A/D adolescents at the Anxiety Separation Adulthood (p < 0,005) and lower scores at the “care” subscale about parents representations (“mother” p < 0,01; “father” p < 0,001). The logistic regression analysis highlighted that SA disorders and care were significantly encouraging cannabis A/D.

The cannabis use would be a solution hindering the SA disorder's unbearable feeling. If a successful separationindividuation allows autonomy, the results have shown that cannabis would dress the individuation problem. Thanks to the substance the adolescent can express his personality and differentiate himself from the others by a marginal behavior.

Cognitive Adaptation Training Cognitive Adaptation Training (CAT) is a treatment that circumvents cognitive impairments by rearranging the environment to support, prompt and sequence appropriate behaviours. CAT has shown promising results, including improved social functioning. As yet, no reports have appeared on the use of CAT in combination with Assertive Community Treatment (ACT).

To evaluate the effect of CAT in comparison with ACT, focusing on social functions (primary outcome), symptoms, readmission, and quality of life of outpatients with schizophrenia.

To conduct a randomised clinical trial to test the effect of CAT compared to ACT on primary and secondary outcome.

From January 2009 to September 2010, 62 patients from three early intervention centres (where ACT was a principal part of the treatment) were enrolled in a randomised clinical trial. The effect of CAT was assessed at six and nine months.

The results indicated no significant difference between intervention group and control group at six and nine months for any outcome. The results indicated no significant difference on primary outcome GAF-F at six months (p= 0.32) or nine months (p= 0.34).

The results from this trial differ from previous CAT trials; this is the first trial without significant results in comparison with treatment as usual. However, the low number of patients in the trial may have resulted in accepting a false null hypothesis, giving a type II error. Further studies are needed to determine if some elements from CAT can make ACT more economically effective.

The previous neuropsychological studies have pointed to a significant understanding of the neurobiological correlates of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder with deficits in the functions of the intellect.

To establish the existence of intellectual changes in war veterans with developed PTSD and their relationship to PTSD.

War veterans are divided into two groups: Group A, war veterans with PTSD and “B” groups, veterans without PTSD. Were used:

1. - Wechsler's Adult Intelligence Scale (WB-F2)

2. - Trauma Questionnaire (UT-PTSD)

Questionnaire-socio-biographical data promjena u intelektualnom funkcionisanju.

The severity of stress and severity of post-traumatic stress disorder is directly associated with the intellectual functions. War veterans, who had more severe traumatic experience, with a strong and destructive PTSD compared to veterans without PTSD had significantly lower ratio of general, verbal and non-verbal intelligence quotient of mental efficiency, a high level of mental deterioration with significantly pronounced oscillations in intratest and insidetest variability. Veterans with PTSD showed significantly lower scores in the immediate memory capacity, efficient attention, concentration under conditions of mental activity, visual perceptual skills predicted exactly bit of trivial things, of associative elasticity of thinking and short-term learning abilities.

These results suggest that deficits in the intellect, are not primarily the result of low intelligence, of premorbid states, but it occurs under the devastating impact of PTSD, which influencing changes in certain centers in the brain and changes in intellectual functioning.

Our aim was to asses the severity of trauma experiences, cognitive impairs, depressiveness and anxiety of war veterans who suffered from posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

A sample consisted from war veterans who were clinically treated because of PTSD (n=50) and healthy controls who accepted to participate voluntarily in this study (n=54) who were recruited in local association of war veterans. We used Harvard trauma questionnaire (HTQ) for assessment of PTSD, Hopkins Check Scale SBCL 25 for assessment of depressiveness and anxiety, and mini mental status (MINI) for assessment of cognitive impairs.

Mean age of tested subjects was 50.6 (SD=5.2) years, with no significant differences between groups: PTSD group was 50.3 (SD=6.0) years and no PTSD group was 50.9 (SD=4.4) years (df=1, F= 0.337, P= 0.563, ANOVA). War veterans who were treated from PTSD reported significantly more multiple trauma experiences 21.9 (SD=5.7) than their peers without PTSD 13.7 (SD=5.8)(F=52.213, P< 0.001, ANOVA). The score of severity of cognitive impairs was significantly lower of PTSD group. 22.6 (SD=3.7) than veterans without PTSD 26.6 (SD=2.1) (F=47.028, p< 0.001, ANOVA). War veterans with PTSD had significantly higher severity of depressiveness 3.0 (SD= 0.5) and anxiety 3.2 (SD= 0.6) than their peers without PTSD (1.4±0.4; 1.7±0.5, respectively) (F=241.979, p< 0.001; F=193.021, P>0.001, respectively, ANOVA).

War veterans who were clinically treated from PTSD reported significantly more trauma experiences, they were more depressive and anxious and also they were more severe cognitive impaired, than their peers who did not suffer from PTSD.

This research aims to evaluate psycho-emotional challenges for older adults and the relevance of person-centered therapy (PCT) for older adults.

Forty senior adults, aged above 65 years (M = 71.7; SD = 4.6) were assessed with the the Self-Esteem Scale (‘SES’) and the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). Socio-demographic data, including gender (57.5% women), marital status (37.5% married) and education (39.2% mandatory school) were also assessed. Bivariate associations were performed.

Results yielded a set of five descriptive categories that captured the distinct ways older adults perceived psychoemotional challenges and that reflected the individual's perceived importance of PCT: ‘time perspective’, ‘the aging body’, ‘autonomy and control’, ‘cognitive endurance’ and ‘loss and reminiscing’. Regarding bivariate associations, results indicated that ‘autonomy and control’ was associated with the ‘aging body’ (r=.552, p< .001) and ‘cognitive endurance’ with ‘time perspective’ (r=.425, p< .001). This latter was also associated with ‘loss and reminiscing’ (r=.616, p< .001).

This study highlights the importance of PCT for older adults facing psycho-emotional challenges in old age. Interventions with older adults may benefit from clearly understanding older adults’ specific issues as an important component for promoting successful aging and reducing health disparities.

A higher SE is suggested by a reduced difference between ideal and real self. The present pilot study was designed to investigate if a brief eight-session individual person-centered therapy (PCT) intervention on older adults can promote their self-esteem (SE), as compared with a control group (waiting list). We hypothesized that participants randomized to PCT would report improvements in SE from pre- to post-intervention compared tocontrol group.

We recruited 81 persons aged between 65-82 years (M=71.9 SD=4.77) and randomized 40 to PCT and 41 to control group. Measures were completed, including demographics and the Self-esteem Scale (SES) at the baseline, post-treatment and at the 12-month follow-up.

Findings indicated that individual PCT with older adults may improve their SE. The difference between ideal self and real self, evidenced at follow-up (M=1.251, SD=.524) by the participants who had undergone PCT, was significantly lower (41.3%) in comparison to the baseline score (M=2.131, SD=.799). Significant differences between the intervention group and the control group were found in the post- intervention (F(1) = 34.939, p < 0.01) and follow-up (F(1) = 34.595, p < 0.01). During these three assessments there were no significant differences in the waiting list participants. In addition, results revealed no significant between group differences in any socio-demographic variable (P's>.05) in t1, t2 and t3.

Results suggest that PCT is beneficial for improving SE. Clinical practice and health care context may benefit from including PCT as an important component for reducing health disparities and for aging well.

Older adults’ sense of coherence (SOC) is often challenged by changes in later adulthood. Therefore, this study aims to explore if a brief eight-session individual person-centered therapy (PCT) intervention on older adults can promote their SOC, as compared with a control group (waiting list). We posited that participants and randomized to PCT would report improvements in SOC from pre- to post-intervention compared to those in waiting list.

The Sense of Coherence Scale (SOCS).and demographics were assessed at the baseline (t1), post-treatment (t2) and at the 12-month follow-up (t3), in a group of 87 participants between 65-86 years (M=71.9 SD=4.77).

Results indicated that participants in PCT evidenced greater improvements as to their SOC (31.4%) than those in waiting list (2.3%). Both at the post-intervention, and at follow-up, participants who underwent PCT had a significantly higher SOC (M=4.76, SD=.524). In addition, results revealed no significant between group differences in any socio-demographic variable (P's>.05) in t1, t2 and t3.

Changes in SOC were positive and maintained, thus, findings suggest that PCT is favorable to enhancing SOC. In this context, PCT is also a personal resource to promote SOC. Moreover, since SOC is shown to be associated with healthrelated well-being among older populations, SOC development in old age should be focused.

To analyze the indicators of adjustment to aging (AtA) and to investigate the latent constructs that can work as major determinants in spirituality for a cross-national older community-dwelling population.

Questionnaires were completed, assessing participants’ background information. Interviews were performed, addressing one core area: indicators of AtA. Complete data were available for 154 older adults, aged between 75-103 years (M = 86.6, SD = 6.98) from two different nationalities. Data was subjected to content analysis. Representation of the associations and latent constructs were analyzed by a Multiple Correspondence Analysis (MCA).

The most prevalent response of the interviewed participants for indicators of AtA was ‘spirituality’ (43.2%) whereas ‘financial stability’ was the least referred indicator of AtA (10.3%). ‘Spiritual activities’ was the most reported response regarding ‘spirituality’ (20.0%). Spirituality for older adults was explained by a three-factor overall model: ‘spiritual and existential meaning’, ‘limit-related awareness’ and ‘community embeddedness’.

The findings presented in this paper emphasized the need to explore the potential of spirituality to AtA and the need for improving the spiritual dimension of health care for the older population.

To analyze subjective age (SA) and the contributors to adjustment to aging (AtA) identified by older adults and to investigate the latent constructs that can work as major determinants in SA and AtA in an older population.

Measures were completed, using a variety of appropriate methods, including demographics and interviews. Complete data were available for 108 older adults aged between 75-99 years (M=81.1; SD = 6.43). Data was subjected to content analysis. Representation of the associations and latent constructs were analyzed by a Multiple Correspondence Analysis (MCA).

The most prevalent response of the interviewed participants for contributors to AtA was ‘sense of limit and existential issues’ (20.2%). ‘With congruence’ (29.3%) was identified as the most frequent SA response. AtA and SA for Portuguese elderly were explained by a three-factor model: ‘integrated’, ‘involved’ and ‘young-at-heart’. A three-dimension model formed by ‘attentive’, ‘driven’ and ‘connected’ was indicated as a best-fit solution for English elderly.

AtA is related to SA in older adults in both samples. The results presented in this paper stressed the underdeveloped potential of an adjustment and age overall model for this population.

Our aim was to investigate is there association between level of cogmitive funtionings and severity of PTSD symptoms, depression symptoms, amd anxiety symptos.

We tested 104 war veterans on presence of PTSD, depression symptoms, anxiety, and level of cognitive functionongs.We used Harvard trauma questionnaire (HTQ) for assessment of severity of PTSD symptoms, Hopkins Check Scale (SBCL 25) for severity of depressiveness and anxiety, mini mental status (MINI) for severity of cognitive impairs.

Mean age of tested subjects was 50.6 (SD=5.2) years. The score of the cognitive functionings negatively correlated to severity of trauma experiences (Pearson's r -0.310, p= 0.001), to PTSD symptom severity and depressiveness (Pearson's r=-0.649, p< 0.001; r=-0.606, p< 0.001, respectively). Besides that the score of cognitive functioning negatively correlated with presented anxiety (Pearson's r=-0.566,p< 0.001).

Trauma experiences severity, PTSD symptoms severity, depressiveness and anxiety symptoms severity decreised cognitive functiongs in war veterans seventeen years asfter war 1992-1995 quited in Bosnia-Herzegovina.

TEACCH program (Treatment and Education of Autistic and related Communication Handicapped Children) represents a model for management of five major autistic behavioral problems:

1. (1) Self abuse,

2. (2) Aggression,

3. (3) Disruptive behaviors,

4. (4) Repetitive Behaviors,

5. (5) Other behavioral deficits.

Present study introduces TEACCH based model for behavioral intervention of autistic preschoolers in school setting.

Studying effectiveness of usage of (TEACCH) program in decreasing commonly experienced behavioral disorders among autistic preschool children according to Parent/Teacher assessment and follow up.

5 autistic children aged (2-6) years (4 boys and 1 girl) were selected according to the study inclusion criteria and legal guardian consent. They were subjected to psychiatric assessment (psychiatric interview sheet and DSM IV criteria for autistic disorder), psychological assessment using:

1. (1) Childhood Autism Rating Scale” (CARS)(2000) (Arabic version),

2. (2) Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scale(2004)(Arabic version), as well as

3. (3) Autistic Behavioral Checklist for preschool children and

4. (4) Disordered Behavior Intervention Program (3 and 4 were made by researchers).

Study subjects were assessed by their mothers and teachers for their behavioral problems. Pre- intervention assessment were arranged for each child and commonly experienced behaviors both at home and school as regard both severity and frequency were listed for intervention. Mother/Teacher Post-intervention and follow up assessment were also arranged for each child.

Both Pre/post and Post /follow up assessment and comparison were statistically significant both for mother and teacher ratings. Behavioral problems were significantly decreased using TEACCH model for behavioral intervention of disordered behaviors among study subjects.

Early identification, Individualized intervention and follow up of significant behavioral problems using study model helps reducing them.