18F-FDG PET/CT in lung cancer. The added value of quantification

OBJECTIVE

To test a software application for the quantification of metabolic heterogeneity and to evaluate its superiority in relation to visual interpretation. To investigate if a quantitative analysis adds information to the interpretation of ¹⁸F-FDG-PET/CT.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The study analyzed 215 patients with a ¹⁸F-FDG-PET/CT done for the initial staging of lung cancer between March 2011 and December 2015. The study included 57 (26.5%) women and 158 (73.5%) men, with ages ranging from 34 to 88 years (mean±SD: 67.23±10.04). There were 82 surgical stages (I, II, IIIA), and 133 non-surgical stages (IIIB, IV). The primary tumour was analyzed quantitatively by obtaining the following parameters: SUVmax, metabolic active tumour volume (MATV), total lesion glycolysis (TLG), and the entropy heterogeneity index (ET). Heterogeneity was assessed visually. Death dates and/or the follow-up time were registered, ranging from 0.70 to 67.60 months (mean±SD: 23.20±17.68).

RESULTS

In multivariate analysis, ET emerged as a better predictor of survival than visual analysis of heterogeneity that was not statistically significant. The C-index determination demonstrated that all quantitative parameters were statistically-significant predictors of survival. Cut-offs were obtained in order to compare survival times. A multivariate analysis was performed. In the total population, the best predictor was the TNM stage, but MATV, ET, and male gender were statistically significant and independent predictors of survival. In stages without surgical indication, the best predictor was the TNM stage, but the MATV and male gender were statistically significant and independent predictors of survival. In the surgical stages, ET was the only statistically significant and independent predictor of survival.

CONCLUSIONS

Quantification adds prognostic information to the visual analysis of ¹⁸F-FDG-PET/CT.

The Role of PEG on Pd- and Cu-Catalyzed Cross-Coupling Reactions

Carbon–carbon and carbon–heteroatom coupling reactions are among the most important transformations in organic synthesis as they enable complex structures to be formed from readily available compounds under different routes and conditions. Several metal-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions have been developed creating many efficient methods accessible for the direct formation of new bonds between differently hybridized carbon atoms.

During the last decade, much effort has been devoted towards improvement of the sustainability of these reactions, such as catalyst recovery and atom efficiency. Polyethylene glycol (PEG) can be used as a medium, as solid-liquid phase transfer catalyst, or even as a polymer support. PEG has been investigated in a wide variety of cross-coupling reactions either as an alternative solvent to the common organic solvents or as a support for catalyst, substrate, and ligand. In this review we will summarize the different roles of PEG in palladium- and copper-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions, with the focus on Heck, Suzuki–Miyaura, Sonogashira, Buchwald–Hartwig, Stille, Fukuyama, and homocoupling reactions. We will highlight the role of PEG, the preparation of PEGylated catalysts and substrates, and the importance for the reaction outcome and applicability.

1 Introduction

2 PEG in Heck Reactions

3 PEG in Homocoupling Reactions

4 PEG in Suzuki–Miyaura Reactions

5 PEG in Sonogashira Reactions

6 PEG in Buchwald–Hartwig Reactions

7 PEG in Stille Reactions

8 PEG in Fukuyama Reactions

9 PEG in Miscellaneous Cross-Coupling Routes

10 Conclusions

Confirmatory factor analysis of the eating attitudes test short version in a sample of Portuguese women

Introduction

The Eating Attitudes Test-40 (EAT-40) is a valid index of symptoms frequently observed in eating disorders. The EAT-40 was adapted and validated for the Portuguese population. Thereafter a short-version composed of 25 items selected from the exploratory factor analysis (EAT-25) was developed. Apart from the total score, the TAA-25 evaluates three dimensions: Diet, Bulimic Behaviours and Social Pressure to Eat.

Objective

To examine the factor structure of the EAT-25 using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) in a sample of Portuguese women.

Methods

The sample was composed of 433 women (mean age = 36.07; SD = 15.15). CFA was used to test the model suggested by prior exploratory factor analyses of EAT-25. AMOS software was used.

Results

After four items were deleted and some errors were correlated, CFA indicated a good fit for the second-order factor (χ2/df = 3.066; CFI = 0.918; GFI = 0.883, RMSEA = 0.069; P[rmsea ≤ 0.05] < 0.001). The 19-item TAA showed excellent internal consistency (α = 0.91) and the three dimensions presented good Cronbach's alphas (α > 0.80).

Conclusions

These findings suggest that the 21-item TAA model obtained through CFA is a reliable and valid measure to assess disordered eating attitudes among women.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Predictors of Sleep Difficulties in College Students

Introduction

College students are known for their variable sleep schedules. Such schedules, along with other common student practices are associated with poor sleep hygiene. The persistence of the precipitating stressor is one of the factors involved in the persistence of insomnia.

Aims

To examine the role of the perceived stress, perseverative thinking, strategies of cognitive emotion regulation and negative affect as predictors of sleep difficulties.

Methods

The sample comprises 549 college students.

Measures

PSS-10, PTQ, CERQ and POMS-58. Three questions were used to access difficulties in initiating sleep (DIS), maintaining sleep (DMS) and early morning wakening (EMA). A Sleep Difficulties Index (SDI) was calculated by summing DIS, DMS and EMA scores.

Results

In total sample, the multiple linear regression explained 27.7% of the SDI total variance (R2 = .277, F(9, 375) = 15,942, P < .0001). The significant predictors of the total variance of SDI were perceived distress (B = .246, P = .0001), repetitive thought (B = .189, P = .005), cognitive interference and unproductiveness (B = −.188, P = .006), rumination (B = .130, P = .044) and negative affect (B = .156, P = .018).

Conclusions

Preventive interventions focused on predictor factors (perceived stress, perseverative thinking, rumination and negative affect) should be considered in order to promote better mental health in college students.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

The Relation Between Parent Personality Traits and Children Psychopathology: A Pilot Study

Introduction

Personality plays a crucial role in a person's behavior, emotions and cognitive patterns and shows an important relationship with several variables such as marital status, mental disorders or parenting models. However, little is known about the relation between the parental Big Five personality traits (Neuroticism, Extraversion, Openness, Conscientiousness and Agreeableness) and children psychopathology regardless of the diagnostic of their offspring.

Objectives

To analyze the correlation between parents’ Big Five personality traits and their children categorical diagnosis and psychopathology score.

Methods

The authors recruited 105 children in the outpatient unit of the child and adolescent psychiatry department of the pediatric hospital of Coimbra and their 117 parents. Parents were assessed using the Portuguese version of Neo Five-Factor Inventory and children psychopathology scores were rated by child and adolescent psychiatrists using the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale for Children.

Results

Forty-nine children (46.7%) were male and 56 (53.3%) were female, with a mean age of 12.5 ± 3.2 and 13.6 ± 2.9, respectively. Twenty parents (17.1%) were male and 97 (82.9%) were female, with a mean age of 45.8 ± 4.1 and 41.2 ± 5.4, respectively. After excluding children diagnosed with Schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, autism spectrum disorders and intellectual developmental disorder, Pearson's correlation coefficients were significant between: parents’ neuroticism and children Uncooperativeness (0.211), Manipulativeness (0.238), Hallucinations (0.257), Sleep difficulties (0.296) and Disorientation (0.204); parents’ agreeableness and children hostility (−0.228); and parent's conscientiousness and children disorientation (−0.231), all P < 0.05.

Conclusions

These preliminary results suggest that parental personality traits may influence psychopathological outcomes in their children. Data are still being collected to clarify the nature of this relationship.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Confirmatory factor analysis of the perinatal depression screening scale-24

Introduction

Pereira et al. (2013) adapted to the antenatal period and validated a shorter version of the original 35-items Postpartum Depression Screening Scale (PDSS [1]), composed of 24 items, selected from the exploratory factor analysis matrix. In their study, the researchers considered this version a useful alternative to evaluate depressive symptoms in pregnancy, taking into account its reliability, concurrent validity and satisfactory combinations of sensitivity and specificity to screen for antenatal depression.

Aim

To confirm the four dimensions’ structure of the PDSS-24 using confirmatory factor analysis.

Methods

616 women (mean age: 32.29 ± 4.466) in the second trimester of pregnancy (mean weeks of gestation = 17.13 ± 4.929), with uncomplicated pregnancies, completed the PDSS-24 while waiting for their routine prenatal consultation at local health medical centers.

Results

The 4-dimensional model of PDSS-24 presented good fit (χ2[242] = 893,275; RMSEA = 0.067, CFI = 0.934, TLI = 0.94, PGFI = 0.717; P<.001). The PDSS-24 Cronbach's alpha was α=0.90; all factors presented good/excellent reliability: Derealization and failure (a = 0.87); Concentration difficulties and anxiety (a = 0.81), Suicidal ideation (a = 0.94), and sleeping difficulties (a = 0.89).

Conclusion

This further validation study emphasizes that PDSS-24 in an adequate measure of antenatal depressive symptoms. To better distinguish it from the version to use in the postpartum (PDSS-21 [2]), from now on, we will denominate it perinatal depression screening scale-24.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Psychometric properties of the Revised Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQR) - a contribution to the Portuguese validation of the scale

BACKGROUND

Fibromyalgia (FM) remains a relatively misunderstood and clinically challenging condition that impact significantly in the individual´s life, impairing global functioning and diminishing quality of life. Management is complex and frequently unsatisfactory, requiring personal tailoring and adaptation of interventions according to the fluctuations of the disease manifestations and their response to therapy. The use of comprehensive and quantified assessment tools constitutes, therefore, an essential component of the management of patients with FM. The Revised Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQR) is currently one of the most used and well validated instruments to assess functional (in)capacity and global impact of FM and associated symptoms.

OBJECTIVES

To translate to Portuguese the FIQR and to study its psychometric properties.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The total sample comprised 103 women with fibromyalgia, defined according to the established criteria for FM. A self-report battery composed by the Revised Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQR), the Portuguese version of Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) and the Profile of Mood States (PoMS) was administered. The FIQR was re-administered to twenty-four participants, six weeks after the first evaluation. Internal reliability was assessed through Cronbach's alpha, corrected item-total score correlations and alpha if item deleted. Spearman and Pearson correlations along with repeated measures tests were computed to assess the temporal stability of the scale. Convergent and divergent validity were assessed via Spearman and Pearson correlations.

RESULTS

The FIQR demonstrated a good to very good internal consistency (from α = 0.87 to α = 0.94). All items correlated to a good degree (above 0.30) to the total score and contributed significantly to the overall reliability. Moreover, FIQR presented a good temporal stability (from r = .617 to r = .886, p ≤ .001) and favorable convergent and discriminant validity with depressive symptoms (r > .289, p ≤ .01) and positive (r > -.186, p > .05) and negative affect (r > .206, p ≤ .05).

CONCLUSIONS

The Portuguese version of the FIQR demonstrated good psychometric properties, which renders it a proper and valuable tool to be used in different settings.

Exploring the factorial structure of the revised Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQR) in a Portuguese sample of fibromyalgia patients

Introduction

The Revised-Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQR), composed by 21 items, is one of the most used tools to measure the impact of fibromyalgia both in clinical and research settings. Although it has demonstrated good psychometric properties (Bennet et al., 2009; Costa et al., 2015), little is known about its factorial structure.

Objective/Aims

To explore FIQR's factorial structure and examine its association with several psychological constructs.

Methods

Hundred and three women with fibromyalgia (mean age 47.32 ± 10.63) filled in the Portuguese validated versions of the FIQR, Perceived Stress Scale, Perseverative Thinking Questionnaire, Beck Depression Inventory-II and Profile of Mood States. A principal components analysis with varimax rotation was carried out. The number of factors to extract was based on Cattel's scree plot and eigenvalues’ magnitude. The associations between FIQR dimensions and psychological constructs were examined via Pearson correlations and multiple linear regressions.

Results

Three factors were extracted [F1/Function = Items 1–9, α = 0.92; F2/Symptoms = Items 12, 16–21, α = 0.83; F3/Impact = Items 10, 11, 13–15, α = 0.83] explaining 58.57% of the variance. FIQR symptoms were the best and, nearly in all analyses, the only significant predictor.

Conclusions

The factorial structure of the Portuguese version of FIQR partially overlaps with the proposed theoretical domains (Bennet et al., 2009). Similarly to Luciano et al.’s study (2013), factorial analysis also evidenced the multidimensionality of some items. Fibromyalgia symptoms seem to play the most deleterious effect, being associated with poor mental health indicators. Future studies are needed to confirm the factorial structure found, due to sample size, items subjectivity and study's exploratory nature.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Perseverative negative thinking prospectively mediates the relationship between perfectionism and psychological distress

Introduction

We have recently found that Perfectionism and Perseverative Negative are both correlates of psychological distress/PD and that PNT mediates the relationship between perfectionism and PD (Macedo et al., 2015).

Objectives

To investigate if perfectionism and PNT are prospectively associated to PD and if PNT is a longitudinal mediator between perfectionism and PD, controlling for perceived stress and gender.

Methods

A total of 227 university students (80.1% girls) filled in the Portuguese validated versions of Perseverative Thinking Questionnaire (PTQ), Multidimensional Perfectionism Cognitions Inventory (MPCI), Profile of Mood States and Perceived Stress Scale, with an additional item to evaluate perceived social support/PSS at T0 and after approximately one year (T1) (Mean months = 12.77 ± 1.137). Only variables significantly correlated with the outcomes (Tension/Anxiety at T1 and Depression at T1) were entered in the conditional process analysis. The moderating role of perceived support on the link between Concern over Mistakes (MPCI) and psychological distress and between PTQ total score and psychological distress (anxiety and depression separately) was examined via conditional process analyses.

Results

The estimated models were significant (F = 4.257, P = .002; F = 6.476, P < .001) explaining 15.9% of tension-anxiety and 25.5% of depression variance. A significant conditional indirect effect of PTQ total score on psychological distress at average and higher levels of perceived support was found, in both models (anxiety and depression). On the contrary, the two models showed a non-significant conditional direct effect of Concern over Mistakes on psychological distress only at any level of perceived support.

Conclusion

PNT prospectively mediates the relationship between negative perfectionism and PD.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Mindfulness, Self-compassion And Depressive Symptoms In Pregnant Women

Introduction

Depressive symptoms in pregnancy are risk factors for postpartum depression and associated to adverse child outcomes (Glover, 2014). Depressive symptoms decreases after participation in mindfulness and self-compassion based interventions for pregnant women (e.g. Goodman et al., 2014). However, apart from intervention trials, there are not studies on the relationship between mindfulness, self-compassion and depressive symptoms in pregnancy (Zoeterman, 2014).

Objective

To explore the association between mindfulness, self-compassion and depressive symptoms in pregnant women.

Methods

Four hundred and twenty-seven pregnant women (mean age: 32.56 ± 4.785 years) in their second trimester of pregnancy completed a set of self-report questionnaires validated for pregnancy: Facets of Mindfulness Questionnaire-10 ([FMQ-10]; Azevedo et al., 2015; to evaluate Nonjudging of experience/NJ, acting with awareness (AA) and observing and describing (OD), Self-Compassion Scale ([SCS]; Bento et al., 2015; to evaluate self-kindness, self-judgment, common humanity [CH], isolation, mindfulness and over-identification [OD]) and Postpartum Depression Screening Scale-24 (PDSS-24; Pereira et al., 2013). Only variables significantly correlated with the outcomes were entered in the multiple regression models.

Results

FMQ-10 and SCS Total scores were both significant predictors of PDSS-24 (B = –0.294,–0.272). Derealization and failure predictors were NJ and Isolation (B = –0.234; 0.384); Suicidal ideation predictor was NJ, OD and isolation (B = –0.152;–0.115; 0.334); concentration difficulties and anxiety predictors were isolation and CH (B = 0.296;–0.201); Sleep difficulties predictors were AA and isolation (B = –0.199; 0.248) (all P < 0.05).

Conclusions

Mindfulness and self-Ccompassion dimensions, particularly nonjudging of experience, acting with awareness, observing and describing are protective correlates of antenatal depressive symptoms. Isolation is a correlate of PD in pregnancy.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

A longitudinal approach to the contribution of trauma and external shame on depressive symptoms in adolescence

Introduction

Trauma experiences during childhood and adolescence (Gibb, 2002; Ansel et al., 2011; Musliner et Singer, 2014; Hopwood et al., 2015), the experience of shame (Rubeis et al., 2008; Cunha et al., 2012; Rosso et al., 2014; Stuewig et al., 2015) and gender (English et al., 2004; Rosso et al., 2014) had been considered as predictors of depressive symptoms.

Objectives

To observe intra-indidual variability of trauma, external shame, gender (as predictors) and depressive symptoms (as dependent variable).

Aims

To test the predictive value of trauma, external shame and gender on depressive symptoms at 6 months, in adolescents.

Method

A sample of 325 adolescents (ages ranging from 12–18) completed the Child Depression Inventory, the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire and Other as Shamer, adolescents version. The results were analysed by the hierarchical multiple regression method (SPSS Inc., 22).

Results

The model – shame (b = 0.63; P < 0.001); affective abuse (b = 0.15, P = 0.001), gender (b = 0.12; P = 0.001), sexual abuse (b = 0.12, P = 0.002), and emotional neglect (b = 0.10; P = 0.013) – explained 63% of depressive symptoms variance.

Conclusions

The data indicate that the higher the level of shame and trauma, the higher the level of depressive symptoms at 6 months. The present study can add important information that sheds light to the role of mechanisms underlying the vulnerability to depressive symptoms and that might have impact in the existing therapeutic interventions.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Validation of the insomnia assessment scale – adapted in a community sample of portuguese pregnant women

Introduction

Pregnancy is characterized by important changes in sleep and some of them (as insomnia) predict negative outcomes, like depression, through all the perinatal period. There are few Portuguese adapted and validated instruments assessing insomnia in pregnancy.

Objective

To validate the Insomnia Assessment Scale in a sample of Portuguese pregnant women.

Methods

419 pregnant women (mean age: 32.51 ± 4.759; weeks of gestation: 17.32 ± 4.803) answered the Insomnia Assessment Scale (IAS), constructed according to the DSM-V and the ICSD-3 criteria and presenting fourteen items: three evaluating insomnia symptoms (1 to 3); one assessing if sleep difficulties were present although there were adequate conditions to sleep (item 4); one assessing if sleep difficulties occurred three times/week (item 5); one evaluating if sleep was not restorative (item 6); three assessing daily impairment associated to insomnia symptoms (7 to 9); two assessing the use of prescribed and/or homemade medication (10 and 11); three excluding that sleep difficulties were not due to another sleep disorder, substance use, a physical condition or a mental disorder) (12 to 14).

Results

The IAS Kuder-Richardson alpha was very good (α=0.85) and none of the items increased the alpha if removed. A principal component analysis revealed a three factors solution, explaining a variance/EV of 63,74%: F1/Insomnia symptoms (items 1 to 6) (EV 36.02%; α=0.81); F2/Daily impairment associated to insomnia symptoms (items 7 to 9) (EV 18.67%; α=0.79); F3/Differential diagnosis (items 12 to 14) (EV 8.38%; α=0.81).

Conclusions

The IAS adapted for Portuguese pregnant women presented good reliability and validity.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Mindfulness, self-compassion and spiritual well-being in chronic depression

Introduction

Depression is one of the main causes of incapacity worldwide. Research has shown that mindfulness practice, self-compassion promotion, and spiritual well-being are beneficial for depressed individuals.

Objective

Analyze the associations between compassion, mindfulness, and spiritual well-being, during and after a therapeutic intervention (concluded less than a year ago).

Aims

To determine if mindfulness, self-compassion, and spiritual well-being are predictors of depression.

Method

Patients diagnosed with chronic depression were treated in a residential therapeutic community for a period of six to eight months. The 63 participants (M = 32.84, SD = 10.24, range = 15–50 years old; 32 during treatment; 31 after treatment) were assessed with the Beck Depression Inventory, the Questionnaire of the Five Facets of Mindfulness, the Self-Compassion Scale, and the Spiritual Well-Being Questionnaire.

Results

There were differences in mindfulness, self-compassion, spiritual well-being and depression by sex, existence of previous psychiatric treatment, moment of the study (during versus after intervention), and depression levels. After intervention the group had higher levels of mindfulness and self-compassion (common humanity) and lower levels of over-identification, compared with group during treatment. The predictors of depression were the self-judgment dimension of the self-compassion scale and, negatively, the mindfulness dimensions of non-reactivity and non-judging, and the spiritual well-being dimension of personal well-being.

Conclusion

Results confirm the relationship between the study variables and depression. This reinforces the importance of intervention based on positive psychology enhancing positive areas of human experience, rather than focusing on psychological pain, weaknesses, and disabilities.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

The role of self-compassion in lifetime history of depression: A study in Portuguese pregnant women

Introduction

Although self-compassion has been pointed as an effective strategy for coping with depression, there are not any studies investigating its association with lifetime history of depression (LTHD).

Objective

To compare self-compassion levels in pregnant women with vs. without LTHD and to analyze if self-compassion dimensions are significant predictors of LTHD.

Methods

Four hundred and twenty-seven pregnant women with a mean age of 33 years (±4.785) in their second trimester of pregnancy completed the Self Compassion Scale validated for pregnancy (SCS; Bento et al., 2015) and a new self-report questionnaire to evaluate the presence of LTHD according to DSM-5 criteria for depression.

Results

Ninety-seven (23.0%) women had LTHD. Bisserial Spearmen correlations between LTHD and SCS total score were significant, negative and moderate (r = –0.31). SCS subscales, except Common Humanity, showed significant correlations: Self-Kindness/SK (r = –0.130), self-judgement (SJ) (0.313), isolation (0.357), mindfulness (r = –0.102), over-identification (OI) (r = 0.393). Independent sample t tests revealed that women with vs. without LTHD had significantly lower levels of total SCS, SK and Mindfulness scores and higher levels of SJ, Isolation and OI.Logistic regression (assumptions were fulfilled, Tabachnick and Fidell, 2007) showed that the SCS explained 26.7%–43.6% of the LTHD variance and correctly classified 86.9%; the odds ratio (OR) was.865 (95% CI 0.834–0.898; P < 0.001). The model composed by the correlated dimensions explained 15.9%–24.0% and correctly classified 80.6%. Odds ratios: SK = 0.017; SJ = 0.021; isolation = 16.027; mindfulness = 0.167 and OI = 20.178 (all P < 0.05).

Conclusions

Self-compassion, specifically the ability to treat oneself with care and understanding and to be aware and accepting one's present-moment experiences, decrease the probability of having LTHD.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Perceived causes for changes in sleep pattern in postpartum women

Aim

To investigate the causes that postpartum women most mention for changes in sleep pattern and its associations with obstetric and sleep variables and depressive symptoms.

Methods

At three months postpartum 192 women fill in a booklet containing obstetric and sleep variables and the Postpartum Depression Screening Scale (PDSS; Pereira et al., 2010). If they experienced changes in their sleep pattern, they were asked about the perceived cause(s) (multiple choice). Chi-squared and Student t tests were applied as appropriate.

Results

A total of 64.6% women referred to some cause(s); the most mentioned were feeding/baby care and older children care (32.3%) and worries (baby and life problems related) (29.5%). Women who mentioned feeding/baby and older children care as a cause did not significantly differ in relation to type of delivery, feeding method proportions and in PDSS mean scores. Women who identified worries as a cause vs. women who did not – presented significant differences in proportions of vaginal (20.0%) vs. assisted delivery (52.2%) (OR 4.444), caesarean-section (22.2%) vs. assisted delivery (52.6%) (OR 3.827), in breast-feeding (36.0%) vs. bottle-feeding (12.9%) (OR .263) and in “having trouble sleeping even when the baby is asleep” (28.0% vs. 2.9%) (OR 12.833) (all P<.05). PDSS mean scores were also significantly higher in women who mentioned worries as a cause (50.20 ± 20.622 vs. 58.640 ± 15.766, P < 0.05).

Conclusion

It is important to distinguish the causes for changes in sleep pattern in postpartum women. Worries as a perceived cause have a higher impact and clinical significance than causes related to baby care demands.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Correlates of sleep difficulties in young adults: A gender comparison

Introduction

Sleep disturbance is one of the most common health complaints among late adolescents and young adults. Women report more sleep-related complaints than men (Krishnan and Collop, 2006) and more anxiety or depressive symptoms (Voderholzer et al., 2003). Higher levels of repetitive negative thinking appear to be causally involved in the initiation/maintenance of emotional problems (Ehring and Watkins, 2008).

Aims

To analyze the sleep difficulties differences by gender and its associations with stress, cognitive emotion regulation, perseverative thinking and negative affect.

Methods

Five hundred and forty-nine students (80.1% females) from two Universities filled in the PSS-10 (Cohen et al., 1983; Amaral et al., 2014), CERQ (Garnefski et al., 2001; Castro et al., 2013), PTQ (Ehring et al., 2011; Chaves et al., 2013) and POMS-58 (McNair et al., 1971; Azevedo et al., 1991; Amaral et al., 2013). Three questions were used to access difficulties of initiating sleep (DIS), maintaining sleep (DMS) and early morning wakening (EMA).

Results

Females reported more sleep difficulties (excluding DIS), stress, perseverative thinking than males. Males reported higher levels in self-blame and blaming-others dimensions. In female sample we found significant correlations between all sleep difficulties and stress, perseverative thinking, emotional regulation (rumination, self-blame, catastrophizing) and negative affect. In male sample only the difficulties of initiating sleep are correlated with stress, perseverative thinking, self-blame and negative affect.

Conclusions

There are no gender differences in frequency and most of correlates of DIS. DMS and EMA were higher in females and were related to perseverative thinking and emotional regulation mechanisms in this sample.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Clinical morbidity at pregnancy: The role of previous suicidal attempts and repetition

Introduction

Previous suicide attempts are a consistent risk factor for suicide. Repetition has been associated with higher future morbidity and suicidality.

Aim

To examine the relationship between psychological variables at pregnancy and previous repetition of suicidal attempts, first attempts and absence of attempts.

Methods

The sample comprise 568 third trimester pregnant women, mean aged 29.82 years (SD = 4.55; variance = 17–44). Previous suicidal behaviors were assessed with diagnostic interview for genetic studies, depression with PDSS and BDI-II, and affect with POMS. Current suicidal thoughts were assessed with PDSS dimension; hopelessness and helplessness by summing the scores of the POMS items hopeless/gloomy; and lonely/helpless, respectively.

Results

Repeaters (R; n = 11, 1.9%) scored higher than non-repeaters (NR; n = 20, 3.5%) in most of the clinical variables, but only significantly in sleeping/eating disturbances (PDSS).

R and NR when compared to women who never attempted suicide (NA; n = 535, 94.5%) both revealed significant higher levels of depressive/hostility affect (POMS), BDI-II total score, suicide ideation, guilt/shame (PDSS) and anxiety/insecurity or anxiety/somatic (PSDD or BDI-II).

In comparison with NA, R also revealed significant higher levels of negative affect (POMS), PDSS total score, loss of self, mental confusion (PDSS), cognitive and affective symptoms, fatigue (BDI-II), hopelessness and helplessness. NR also differs from NA in their higher emotional liability (PDSS).

Conclusion

Women with previous suicide attempts are at elevated risk for high depressive symptoms, negative affect and suicide ideation at pregnancy. Compared to never attempters, repeaters revealed high morbidity than first attempters. The intervention in pregnancy must carefully assess previous history of suicide attempts.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Mental Health, Self-Compassion, Organizational Virtuosity and Commitment in Workers From Local Administration

Introduction

Positive and organizational psychology can offer an important contribution to strengthen human virtues that protects intra- and interpersonal functioning, which, in turn, might enhance worker's well-being and the success of organizations.

Objective

To study the associations between a psychological construct, self-compassion, and some organizational constructs, organizational commitment and organizational virtuosity and to explore differences in each construct by gender, age, working time (in the organization), type of employment bond and professional group.

Aims

Positive actions inside organizations promote positive emotional states.

Method

One hundred and thirty workers from local administration (men, n = 78; 60%; age, M = 44,22; SD = 8,67; range = 19-63 years old) filled in the Self-Compassion Scale, the Organizational Commitment Questionnaire, the Organizational Virtuosity Questionnaire and the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scales.

Results

There was a positive association between organizational commitment and organizational virtuosity. Optimism and integrity (organizational virtuosity dimensions) positively correlated with the self-criticism dimension and with self-compassion total score. Some dimensions of mental health (depression and stress) were negatively associated with organizational virtuosity. Employees with less education, belonging to a professional group less qualified or with an unfavourable employment bond perceived the organization as less virtuous, and were less committed.

Conclusion

Promoting positive actions inside organizations seem to encourage positive emotional states in individuals. The development of a compassionate capacity, by self-compassion and mindfulness, humanize both individuals and organizations. These workers, with their leaders, can promote affective and normatively committed workforces, presenting positive perceptions about organizational virtues.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Disordered Eating Behaviors, Perfectionism And Perseverative Negative Thinking–study In a Clinical Sample

Introduction

In a recent study developed with a community sample, we have found that although PNT mediated the relationship between perfectionist cognitions and bulimic behavior, the effect of perfectionism on other disordered eating dimensions, such as diet, was independent of the PNT levels (Monteiro et al., 2015).

Objective

To investigate if PNT mediates the relationship between perfectionism and disordered eating behaviors in a clinical sample.

Methods

Fifty-two patients with eating disorders/ED (mean age = 22.54 ± 7.637; mean BMI = 20.07 ± 4.192; 14.5% Anorexia Nervosa cases; 7.8% Bulimia Nervosa and 9.0% EDNOS) were assessed with the ED section of the Diagnostic Interview for Genetic Studies and fill in the Portuguese validated versions of Eating Attitudes Test/EAT-25 (to evaluate Bulimic behaviors/BB, Diet and Social pressure to eat), Multidimensional Perfectionism Scales (to evaluate perfectionism composite dimensions Evaluative Concerns/EC and Perfectionistic Strivings/PS) and Perseverative Thinking Questionnaire/PTQ-15 (to evaluate Repetitive Thought/RT, Cognitive interference and unproductiveness/CIU). Only variables significantly correlated with the outcomes (EAT-25_Total and its dimensions) were entered in the regression models. Mediation analyses using Preacher and Hayes bootstrapping methodology were performed.

Results

EC, PS, CIU and RT were significant predictors of EAT_Total. PA, CIU and PR were significant predictors of BB. EC and PS were significant predictors of Diet. CIU partially mediated the relationship between EC and EAT_Total (95% CI = 0.0025–0.3296) and between EC and BB (95% CI = 0.0037–0.1877).

Conclusion

Also in a clinical sample, CII, the most pernicious dimension of PNT, mediates the relationship between perfectionism and disordered eating behavior, particularly bulimic behavior; diet is predicted by perfectionism independently of PNT.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

The role of mindfulness in lifetime history of depression: A study in Portuguese pregnant women

Introduction

Despite the empirical support for the effects of mindfulness based interventions for recurrent depression (Velden et al., 2015), the literature on the relation between Mindfulness and Lifetime History of Depression/LTHD are scarce.

Objective

To compare Mindfulness levels between women with vs. without LTHD and to analyze if mindfulness dimensions are significant predictors of LTHD.

Methods

One hundred and twenty-seven pregnant women (mean age: 32.56 ± 4.785 years) in their second trimester of pregnancy (17.34 ± 4.790 weeks of gestation) completed: Facets of Mindfulness Questionnaire-10 (FMQ10; Azevedo et at. 2015) assessing the dimensions non-judgement of inner experience/NJ, ACt with awareness/AA and observe and describe/OD; a new self-report questionnaire developed to evaluate the presence of LTHD, with several “Yes/No” questions, based on DSM-5 criteria for depression.

Results

Ninety-seven (23.0%) women had LTHD. Bisserial Spearmen correlations between LTHD and FMQ scores were significant, negative and moderate (> .30, P < .01); only OD did not significantly correlated with LTHD. Independent sample T-test revealed that women with vs. without LTHD had significantly higher levels of total FMQ-10, NJ and AA (all P < .001). Logistic regression analysis showed that the model containing FMQ-10 explained 12.7–18.8% of the LTHD variance and correctly classified 77.9%; the OR was of 1.19 (95% CI .801–.886; Wald = 44.504; P < .001). The model composed by NJ and AA explained 15.5–23% and correctly classified 76.5%. NJ OR was of 1.23 (CI .734–.884; Wald = 20.806; P < .001) and AA OR was of 1.41 (CI .708–.903; Wald = 13.004; P < .001).

Conclusions

Our research discloses that less mindfulness abilities enhances the probability of having lifetime history of depression.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Comparing LDA-1/2, HSE03, HSE06 and G₀W₀ approaches for band gap calculations of alloys

It has long been known that the local density approximation and the generalized gradient approximation do not furnish reliable band gaps, and one needs to go beyond these approximations to reliably describe these properties. Among alternatives are the use of hybrid functionals (HSE03 and HSE06 being popular), the GW approximation or the recently proposed LDA-1/2 method. In this work, we compare rigorously the performance of these four methods in describing the band gaps of alloys, employing the generalized quasi-chemical approach to treat the disorder of the alloy and to obtain judiciously the band gap for the entire compositional range. Zincblende InGaAs and InGaN were chosen as prototypes due to their importance in optoelectronic applications. The comparison between these four approaches was guided both by the agreement between the predicted band gap and the experimental one, and by the demanded computational effort (time and memory). We observed that the HSE06 method provided the most accurate results (in comparison with experiments), whereas, surprisingly, the LDA-1/2 method gave the best compromise between accuracy and computational resources. Due to its low computational cost and good accuracy, we decided to double the supercell used to describe the alloys, and employing LDA-1/2 we observed that the bowing parameter changed remarkably, only agreeing with the measured one for the larger supercell, where LDA-1/2 plays an important role.