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Effects of a physical activity program in stress management and motivation for the regular practice of physical activity of teachers from Portugal and Brazil
- A. P. Amaral, L. Mariano, H. Simões, M. Pocinho
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- Journal:
- European Psychiatry / Volume 66 / Issue S1 / March 2023
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 19 July 2023, p. S985
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Introduction
Teaching is considered by the International Labor Organization as one of the most stressful professions, with consequences on the mental and physical health and on their professional performance. Intervention programs focused on physical activity usually present a significant decrease in the level of stress and an improvement in the quality of life of teachers. Physical activity is considered one of the main non-pharmacological strategies to reduce stress, generating a positive influence on mental health.
ObjectivesTo evaluate the impact of an intervention program based on the practice of physical activity on the level of stress and motivation for the regular practice of physical activity in teachers.
MethodsThis study employed a pretest-posttest design. Measures: Portuguese versions of Stress Perception Scale and Motivation Inventory for Regular Physical Activity Practice. Sample: 33 teachers from Portugal and Brazil, 57,6% females, 54,5% from Portugal, 63,6% with age between 26 and 35 years. The intervention ran for 8 weeks, with a total of 40 sessions with cardiorespiratory conditioning exercises, muscle strengthening and stretching, relaxation and meditation techniques.
ResultsOn baseline we found significant relationship between “years of teaching experience” and the level of stress (p=.027). After the intervention, the level of stress significantly decreased in Portuguese teachers (p=.031). In 83% of the sample, there is a decrease in the levels of perceived stress. Concerning Brazilian teachers (p=.006), in 73% of the sample, there is a decrease in the levels of perceived stress. Regarding motivation, there is a significant increase in Portuguese teachers related to “stress control” (p<.001), “sociability” (p=.001), “competitiveness” (p<.001), and “esthetic” (p=.004). In Brazilian teachers there is an increase related to “stress control” (p=.003), and “competitiveness” (p=.001).
ConclusionsBoth samples showed positive results, attesting the efficacy of the intervention based in physical exercises to reduce stress and increase motivation to practice physical activity regularly. After intervention, more motivational dimensions are changed in Portuguese teachers, comparing with Brazilian teachers.
Disclosure of InterestNone Declared
Do we have an “anti-stigmotic”? – Addressing Mental-Illness Related Stigma as the main issue
- C. Cabaços, J. Andrade, F. Pocinho, M. Carneiro, G. Santos, D. Loureiro, A. Macedo
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- Journal:
- European Psychiatry / Volume 66 / Issue S1 / March 2023
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 19 July 2023, p. S1031
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Introduction
For people with mental illness, internalized stigma, also referred to as self-stigma, is characterized by a subjective perception of devaluation, marginalization, secrecy, shame, and withdrawal. It has many adverse effects on individual’s psychological well-being and clinical outcomes. The iatrogenic effects it has during psychotherapeutic treatment can significantly reduce utilization of mental health care services, reduce quality of life and increase avoidant coping. Overall, internalized stigma is considered a risk factor for poorer mental health prognosis. Although some interventions have recently been developed to specifically intervene on this target as part of psychological recovery goals over the course of treatment, most clinicians are not yet aware or empowered to correctly address this.
ObjectivesDescription of a clinical case illustrating the relevance on addressing internalized mental illness related stigma during the recovery process.
MethodsClinical case report and review of the literature on the subject.
ResultsWe present the case of a 47-year-old female patient, C.S., single, graduated in social work (currently unemployed), who was admitted at the Psychiatry Day Hospital, where she was referred by her Psychiatry Assistant because of abulia, social withdrawal and isolation, depressed mood, thoughts of shame, guilt and self-devaluation and work incapacity. She had been admitted in the Psychiatry ward one year earlier for a first psychotic breakthrough, presenting persecutory and grandiose delusions and auditory hallucinations. After three weeks of inpatient treatment with antipsychotics, a full remission of the symptoms was achieved, without any posterior relapse. Before that first psychotic episode, the patient had been taking anti-depressive medication (escitalopram 20 mg id) for many years, prescribed by her General Practitioner, for mild to moderate depressive symptoms. After being discharged from the Psychiatry ward, C. kept following an outpatient treatment with anti-depressives and behavioural activation-based psychotherapy. She started to believe she was mentally ill and therefore weak, uncapable, and less deserving than her peers or her previous self. These self-stigmatizing ideas were enhanced by the lack of family support and the beliefs that were fostered by her mother, with whom she started to live after the hospitalization. These factors led to a dysfunctional internalization of an illness behaviour, jeopardizing the patient’s ability to reach full recovery.
ConclusionsThis case reinforces the importance of targeting mental illness related stigma during the recovery process. Also, involving the family is of extreme importance to achieve support and address shared beliefs and the interchange between social and internalized stigma.
Disclosure of InterestNone Declared
Sleep and personality in college students: A preliminary study
- A.P. Amaral, C. Fernandes, M. Pocinho
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- Journal:
- European Psychiatry / Volume 64 / Issue S1 / April 2021
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 13 August 2021, pp. S553-S554
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Introduction
Sleep represents an important process in the stable behavioural and emotional functioning of the individual and is an important health indicator. Personality is related with academic and occupational achievement, quality of interpersonal relationships, but also with sleep. Concerning personality, individuals with lower emotional stability have greater sensitivity to stress and maladaptive sleep-related behaviour.
ObjectivesThe main goal of this study is to analyze the relation between sleep quality and personality in college students.
MethodsThis study employed a correlational design. A sample of 220 Portuguese students (84.9% females), with mean age of 19.5 years (sd=3.4), from different health courses, filled in the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Questionnaire and HEXACO-60, during a single individual session. A descriptive statistical analysis, a Pearson correlation analyses and the t Student test, for independent samples, were performed.
ResultsThe results showed a predominance of poor sleep quality among students (96.3%). The more prevalent HEXACO dimensions are: Conscientiousness (X=32.6; sd=4.2) and Emotionality (X=31.2; sd=5.2). When exploring personality differences between sleep groups (GSG=Good Sleep Group; PSG=Poor Sleep Group) a significant difference was found in mean scores of the dimension Emotionality. It was observed that the PSG revealed higher levels of Emotionality than the GSG (PSG=31.5; sd=5.1; PSG=26.3; sd=4.0; p<.05).
ConclusionsCollege students self-report a poor sleep and the prevalent personality dimensions are Conscientiousness and Emotionality. Students with higher levels of Emotionality (fearfulness, anxiety, dependence and sentimentality) presented a poor sleep. To conclude, mediation studies are needed in order to better understanding the link between personality and sleep.
Specific phobias in older adults: characteristics and differential diagnosis
- Carlos M. Coelho, Daniela C. Gonçalves, Helena Purkis, Margarida Pocinho, Nancy A. Pachana, Gerard J. Byrne
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- Journal:
- International Psychogeriatrics / Volume 22 / Issue 5 / August 2010
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 18 May 2010, pp. 702-711
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Background: Differential diagnosis implies identifying shared and divergent characteristics between clinical states. Clinical work with older adults demands not only the knowledge of nosological features associated with differential diagnosis, but also recognition of idiosyncratic factors associated with this population. Several factors can interfere with an accurate diagnosis of specific phobia in older cohorts. The goal of this paper is to review criteria for specific phobia and its differential diagnosis with panic disorder, agoraphobia, post-traumatic stress disorder and obsessive compulsive disorder, while stressing the specific factors associated with aging.
Methods: A literature search regarding specific phobia in older adults was carried out using PubMed. Relevant articles were selected and scanned for further pertinent references. In addition, relevant references related to differential diagnosis and assessment were used.
Results: Etiologic factors, specificity of feared stimulus or situation, fear predictability and the nature of phobic situations are key points to be assessed when implementing a differential diagnosis of specific phobia.
Conclusions: First, age-related sensory impairments are common and interfere both with information processing and communication. Second, medical illnesses create symptoms that might cause, interfere with, or mimic anxiety. Third, cohort effects might result in underreporting, through the inability to communicate or recognize anxiety symptoms, misattributing them to physical conditions. Finally, diagnostic criteria and screening instruments were usually developed using younger samples and are therefore not adapted to the functional and behavioral characteristics of older samples.