Ricerca pubblicazioni scientifiche

@article{Grossi2023,

title = {Psychopathic Traits, Externalizing Problems, and Prosocial Behavior: The Role of Social Dominance Orientation},

author = {Giuseppe Grossi and Francesca Strappini and Enrico Iuliano and Ylenia Passiatore and Francesco Mancini and Valentina Levantini and Gabriele Masi and Annarita Milone and Erica Santaguida and Randall T. Salekin and Pietro Muratori and Carlo Buonanno},

editor = {MDPI },

url = {https://apc.it/2023-mancini-psychopathic-traits-externalizing-problems-and-prosocial/},

doi = {https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm12103521},

issn = {2077-0383},

year  = {2023},

date = {2023-05-17},

urldate = {2023-05-17},

journal = {Journal of Clinical Medicine},

volume = {12},

number = {351},

issue = {10},

abstract = {Psychopathic traits in community and referred youths are strongly associated with severe externalizing problems and low prosocial behavior. However, less is known about the mechanisms that may link youth psychopathy and these outcomes. Social dominance orientation (SDO), defined as the general individual orientation toward unequal and dominant/subordinate relationships, might represent a valuable construct to explore to better understand the association between psychopathic traits, externalizing problems, and prosocial behavior. Based on this, the current study aimed to investigate the relationship between psychopathic traits, SDO, externalizing problems, and prosocial behavior in a community sample (N = 92, 45.57% females, mean age = 12.53, and SD = 0.60) and in a clinical (N = 29, 9% female, mean age = 12.57, and SD = 0.57) samples of adolescents with Oppositional Defiant Disorder or Conduct Disorder. Results showed that SDO mediated the relationship between psychopathic traits and externalizing problems and between psychopathic traits and prosocial behavior only in the clinical sample. These findings can provide valuable information on psychopathic trait correlates in youths with aggressive behavior disorders; treatment implications are discussed.},

keywords = {social dominance; psychopathic traits; externalizing problems; prosocial behavior; conduct problems},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Luppino2023,

title = {The Role of Childhood Experiences in the development of Disgust Sensitivity: a preliminary study on early moral memories},

author = {Olga Ines Luppino and Katia Tenore and Francesco Mancini and Alessandra Mancini},

editor = {Giovanni Fioriti Editore s.r.l. },

url = {https://apc.it/2023-mancini-the-role-of-childhood-experiences/},

doi = {doi.org/10.36131/ cnfioritieditore2023020},

year  = {2023},

date = {2023-04-01},

urldate = {2023-04-01},

journal = {Clinical Neuropsychiatry},

volume = {20},

number = {2},

pages = {109-121},

abstract = {bjective: Disgust is a basic emotion evolved to safeguard our omnivorous species from contagion. Although the factors eliciting disgust typically involve concerns related to physical contamination, physical disgust responses are also prompted by moral transgressions, (i.e. cannibalism, pedophilia, betrayal). The link between the general propensity to experience disgust (i.e. “Disgust Sensitivity”) and morality, in particular in the deontological domain, is supported by an increasing amount of data on clinical and non-clinical sample. Evolutionistic explanations of this link posit that disgust evolved to indicate the presence of a threat to the integrity of the individual not only in the physical domain but also in the social and moral domain. In addition to the evolutionary point of view, this link could also be better investigated in terms of individual development. To the best of our knowledge, literature is scarce regarding which early experiences are associated to high DS. Therefore, this study aims to explore the content of early memories associated with disgust. Based on the strict link between disgust and morality, we hypothesized an association between DS and early memories of moral criticism.

Method: 60 non-clinical participants filled in measures of DS. They were then

presented with an auditory disgust induction, after which they recalled early memories

through the technique of the “affect bridge”. 10 independent raters assessed the

emotional content of the memories on visual-analogical scales.

Results: Results showed a positive association between disgust sensitivity and

the propensity to experience deontological guilt. There was also a significant positive

association between disgust sensitivity and moral memories, in particular relating to

early experiences of being the object of contempt, moral criticism, anger, and of being

held responsible.

Conclusions: These data directly support the centrality of early morally-loaded

interpersonal experiences in the development of DS, confirming the link between

disgust and morality also at the level of individual historical developme},

keywords = {Deontological guilt, Disgust, early autobiographical memories, Early maladaptive schemas, imagery, Morality},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Pugliese2023b,

title = {Pathological Affective Dependence (PAD) as an Antecedent of Intimate Partner Violence (IPV): A Pilot Study of PAD’s Cognitive Model on a Sample of IPV Victims},

author = {Erica Pugliese and Oriana Mosca and Angelo Maria Saliani and Fridanna Maricchiolo and Teresa Vigilante and Francesca Bonina and Erika Cellitti and Grazia Foschino Barbaro and Marvita Goffredo and Paola Lioce and Ermelinda Orsini and Chiara Quintavalle and Sandra Rienzi and Alessia Vargiu and Francesco Mancini},

editor = {Scientific Research Publishing },

url = {https://apc.it/2023-mancini-pathological-affective-dependence-pad/},

doi = {DOI: 10.4236/psych.2023.142018},

year  = {2023},

date = {2023-02-28},

urldate = {2023-02-28},

journal = {Psychology},

volume = {14},

pages = {305-333},

abstract = {The present paper has the aim of presenting a preliminary measure of the construct of Pathological Affective Dependence (PAD). The scale has been built on the basis of a cognitive model of PAD and characteristics of a typical affective dependent person (Saver, Unworthy, Traumatic, and Mixed). These profiles have been tracked, using a framework of anti-goals, self/other beliefs, and intrapsychic conflicts (absent, alternate, or akrasic conflict) as obstacles to a healthy and safe separation. PAD scale (PADS) was tested on a clinical sample of 25 people (F = 21, 84%; M = 4.16%; age ranged between 29 and 61 years) recruited in an online anti-violence mutual-support group called Millemé (http://www.milleme.it/) and a psychotherapeutic center (https://www.spc.it/).

We selected only patients in maladaptive relationships according to the specific characteristics of PAD, whose cognitive model will be explained in this paper. Other scales were administered to test convergent and discriminant validity through Pearson’s r correlations. The preliminary results support both research objectives and the PADS appears to have good validity. Furthermore, these preliminary results showed that PAD is both a stable trait and a latent psychological condition triggered by the abusive partner (i.e. a state component). This work is part of a larger project aimed at developing a measurement of PAD and cognitive-behavioral intervention protocols that reduce the morbidity and suffering of patients with PAD and the resulting high costs to our society. Understanding the antecedents of gender-based violence, such as PAD, is an essential protective factor also for the development of effective prevention strategies against Intimate Partner Violence (IPV).},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Cheli2023,

title = {A pilot randomized controlled trial comparing a novel compassion and metacognition approach for schizotypal personality disorder with a combination of cognitive therapy and psychopharmacological treatment},

author = {Simone Cheli and Veronica Cavalletti and Paul H. Lysaker and Giancarlo Dimaggio and Nicola Petrocchi and Francesca Chiarello and Consuelo Enzo, Francesco Velicogna and Gil Goldzweig},

editor = {BMC Psychiatry},

url = {https://apc.it/2023-mancini-a-pilot-randomized-controlled-trial/},

doi = {https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-023-04610-5},

year  = {2023},

date = {2023-02-20},

volume = {23},

number = {113},

abstract = {Background

Schizotypal personality disorder is characterized by a pervasive pattern of maladaptive behavior that has been associated with the liability for schizophrenia. Little is known about effective psychosocial interventions. This pilot non-inferiority randomized controlled trial aimed to compare a novel form of psychotherapy tailored for this disorder and a combination of cognitive therapy and psychopharmacological treatment. The former treatment – namely, Evolutionary Systems Therapy for Schizotypy—integrated evolutionary, metacognitively oriented, and compassion focused approaches.



Methods

Thirty-three participants were assessed for eligibility, twenty-four randomized on a 1:1 ratio, nineteen included in the final analysis. The treatments lasted 6 months (24 sessions). The primary outcome was change across nine measurements in personality pathology, the secondary outcomes were remission from diagnosis and pre-post changes in general symptomatology and metacognition.



Results

Primary outcome suggested a non-inferiority of the experimental treatment in respect to control condition. Secondary outcomes reported mixed results. There was no significant difference in terms of remission, but experimental treatment showed a larger reduction of general symptomatology (η2 = 0.558) and a larger increase in metacognition (η2 = 0.734).



Conclusions

This pilot study reported promising results about the effectiveness of the proposed novel approach. A confirmatory trial on large sample size is needed to provide evidence about relative effectiveness of the two treatment conditions.},

keywords = {Compassion Evolution Evolutionary systems therapy for schizotypy Metacognition Schizotypal personality disorder Schizotypy},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Siciliano2023,

title = {The role of the cerebellum in sequencing and predicting social and non-social events in patients with bipolar disorder},

author = {Libera Siciliano and Giusy Olivito and Michela Lupo and Nicole Urbini and Andrea Gragnani and Marco Saettoni and Roberto Delle Chiaie and Maria Leggio},

editor = {Frontiers},

url = {https://apc.it/2023-gragnani-the-role-of-the-cerebellum/},

doi = {https://doi.org/10.3389/fncel.2023.1095157},

year  = {2023},

date = {2023-02-15},

urldate = {2023-02-15},

journal = {Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience},

abstract = {Introduction: Advances in the operational mode of the cerebellum indicate a role in sequencing and predicting non-social and social events, crucial for individuals to optimize high-order functions, such as Theory of Mind (ToM). ToM deficits have been described in patients with remitted bipolar disorders (BD). The literature on BD patients’ pathophysiology reports cerebellar alterations; however, sequential abilities have never been investigated and no study has previously focused on prediction abilities, which are needed to properly interpret events and to adapt to changes.



Methods: To address this gap, we compared the performance of BD patients in the euthymic phase with healthy controls using two tests that require predictive processing: a ToM test that require implicit sequential processing and a test that explicitly assesses sequential abilities in non-ToM functions. Additionally, patterns of cerebellar gray matter (GM) alterations were compared between BD patients and controls using voxel-based morphometry.



Results: Impaired ToM and sequential skills were detected in BD patients, specifically when tasks required a greater predictive load. Behavioral performances might be consistent with patterns of GM reduction in cerebellar lobules Crus I-II, which are involved in advanced human functions.



Discussion: These results highlight the importance of deepening the cerebellar role in sequential and prediction abilities in patients with BD.},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Olivito2023,

title = {The Cerebellum Gets Social: Evidence from an Exploratory Study of Cerebellar, Neurodevelopmental, and Psychiatric Disorders},

author = {Giusy Olivito and Libera Siciliano and Silvia Clausi and Michela Lupo and Roberto Baiocco and Andrea Gragnani and Marco Saettoni and Roberto Delle Chiaie and Fiorenzo Laghi and Maria Leggio },

editor = {MDPI},

url = {https://apc.it/2023-gragnani-the-cerebellum-gets-social/},

doi = {https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines11020309},

year  = {2023},

date = {2023-01-22},

journal = {Biomedicin},

volume = {11},

number = {309},

abstract = {Social prediction is a key feature of social cognition (SC), a function in which the modulating role of the cerebellum is recognized. Accordingly, cerebellar alterations are reported in cerebellar pathologies, neurodevelopmental disorders, and psychiatric conditions that show SC deficits. Nevertheless, to date, no study has directly compared populations representative of these three conditions with respect to SC and cerebellar alterations. Therefore, the present exploratory study aimed to compare the SC profiles of individuals with cerebellar neurodegenerative disorders (CB), autism (ASD), bipolar disorder type 2 (BD2), or healthy subjects (HS) using a battery of social tests requiring different degrees of prediction processing. The patterns of cerebellar gray matter (GM) alterations were compared among the groups using voxel-based morphometry. Compared to HS, the clinical groups showed common SC deficits in tasks involving a moderate to high level of prediction. The behavioral results of the clinical groups are consistent with the presence of overlapping GM reduction in cerebellar right Crus II, an area notably involved in complex social processing and prediction. Although exploratory and preliminary, these results deepen the cerebellar role in social prediction and highlight the transdiagnostic value of the cerebellum in social functioning and prediction in pathologies of different aetiologies, forecasting novel possibilities for shared interventions.},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Pugliese2023,

title = {When the War Is in Your Room: A Cognitive Model of Pathological Affective Dependence (PAD) and Intimate Partner Violence (IPV)},

author = {Erica Pugliese and Angelo Maria Saliani and Oriana Mosca and Fridanna Maricchiolo and Francesco Mancini},

editor = {MDPI},

url = {https://apc.it/2023-mancini-when-the-war-is-in-your-room-2/},

doi = {https://doi.org/10.3390/su15021624},

year  = {2023},

date = {2023-01-13},

urldate = {2023-01-13},

journal = {Sustainability},

abstract = {In the last decade, Pathological Affective Dependence (PAD)—as a risk factor for Intimate Partner Violence (IPV)—has undergone considerable attention among clinical and social psychologists. However, the psychological nature of PAD has been described in discordant terms throughout the literature. We try to give a clear definition of the construct (1), theorize a first cognitive model of PAD (2), and describe the prototypical characteristics of a pathological affective dependent (in terms of goals, anti-goals, and dysfunctional self-other beliefs) based on goal-oriented theories (3). We finally present (4) the resulting specific TADs (typical affective dependent) profiles (Saver, Unworthy, Traumatic, and Mixed). We believe that our manuscript on the PAD makes a significant contribution to achieve the fifth UN Sustainable Development Goal aimed at eliminating “all forms of violence against all women”: in fact, understanding the psychological risk factors of IPV as PAD is an essential protective factor for designing effective prevention social strategies against IPV. Moreover, this work contributes to achieving one of the “outcome targets” of the sixteenth UN Sustainable Development

Goal. It is dedicated to the promotion of “peaceful and inclusive societies”, through the reduction of

all forms of violence and the protection of children from abuse. Indeed, IPV strongly affects (physical

and mental) health and social sustainability of well-being. However, empirical studies on this topic

are limited and there is a lack of a theoretical model of PAD. This work represents a theoretical

starting point for a broader project aimed at building a cognitive-behavioral protocol and social

interventions for the reduction of negative consequences on IPV victims},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Pugliese2022,

title = {Families in quarantine for COVID‑19 in Italy. Resilience as a bufer of parental distress and problematic children’s emotions and behaviors},

author = {Erica Pugliese and Oriana Mosca and Daniele Paolini and Francesco Mancini and Domenica Puntonieri and Fridanna Maricchiolo},

editor = {Springer Link},

url = {https://apc.it/2022-mancini-families-in-quarantine-for-covid/},

doi = {https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-022-03374-7},

year  = {2022},

date = {2022-07-25},

journal = {Current Psychology},

abstract = {The pandemic of Covid-19 has had a high impact on people’s lives and especially on families. In Italy, in 2020, the several forced closures led families to live indoors to manage anxiety and distress. It was considered appropriate to investigate which protective factors, like parental resilience, can mitigate the negative impact of pandemic-related distress on family life. We have conducted two online surveys during different national lockdowns for Covid-19. The first survey was conducted immediately after the disruption of the virus and the second one after nine months. We measured parental resilience and distress, anxiety, problematic behaviors, and somatization of their children (as assessed by the parents). The aim was to investigate the protective role of parental resilience in mitigating parental distress and in turn problematic emotional states and behavior of their children. Mediation analyses confirmed the hypothesis that parental resilience lowers parental distress and consequently the anxiety and behavioral disorders of their children in both acute distress (first study) and chronic distress (second study) situations. Such results suggest that the improvement of parents’ resilience can buffer the negative impact of pandemic-related parental distress and children’s behavioral problems on both occasions. The need for focused interventions and treatments aimed to reinforce parental resilience is discussed. Targeted prevention and support strategies are needed now, and early in case of future health crises.},

keywords = {Anxiety, Distress, Emotional and behavioral problems of children, family, Resilience COVID-19, Stress},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Bacaro2022,

title = {The impact of COVID-19 on Italian adolescents’ sleep and its association with psychological factors},

author = {Valeria Bacaro and Debora Meneo and Sara Curati and Carlo Buonanno and Paola De Bartolo and Dieter Riemann and Francesco Mancini and Monica Martoni and Chiara Baglioni},

editor = {Wiley Online Library},

url = {https://apc.it/2022-mancini-the-impact-of-covid%e2%80%9019-on-italian-adolescents-sleep-and-its-association-with-2/},

doi = {doi.org/10.1111/jsr.13689},

year  = {2022},

date = {2022-07-13},

journal = {Journal of Sleep Research},

volume = {1},

number = {8},

abstract = {Insomnia and circadian dysregulation during adolescence represent important risk factors for emotional and psychological problems. Recent studies have shown that the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has been linked to a high prevalence of behavioural sleep problems in the general population. This study aimed to provide two pictures of two different time points of the pandemic regarding the prevalence of sleep problems in adolescents and their association with psychological health variables. Two different independent large samples of Italian adolescents aged 13–17 years were recruited at two pandemic time points. A total of 1,146 adolescents at Time 1 (T1; April 2020) and 1,406 at Time 2 (T2; April 2021) took part in the study. Measures of insomnia symptoms, sleep hygiene, chronotype, psychological distress and emotion regulation were collected. Prevalence of insomnia was 12.13% at T1 and 23.19% at T2. Furthermore, high levels of poor sleep habits (late bedtime, poor sleep hygiene, use of electronic devices at bedtime) were also detected at both time points. Insomnia symptoms strongly correlated with poor sleep hygiene, higher psychological distress, and emotional suppression at both time points. Results highlighted an alarming picture for two large samples at two different time points of the pandemic that showed a potential negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, in both the first outbreak and in the later phase of the pandemic, on sleep habits, psychological distress and insomnia symptoms in adolescents. This strongly suggests the need for monitoring these variables and their interaction in the post-pandemic period and to develop and promote interventions for insomnia and circadian disturbances during adolescence.},

keywords = {adolescents, COVID-19, health, insomnia, psychology, sleep},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Tenore2022,

title = {Group Imagery Rescripting on Childhood Memories Delivered via Telehealth: A Preliminary Study},

author = {Katia Tenore and Alessandra Mancini and Olga Ines Luppino and Francesco Mancini},

editor = {Frontiers in Psychiatry},

url = {https://apc.it/2022-mancini-group-imagery-rescripting/},

doi = {https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2022.862289},

year  = {2022},

date = {2022-06-23},

journal = {Frontiers in Psychiatry},

abstract = {Background: Imagery Rescripting (ImR) has proved to be effective in the treatment of different mental disorders as an integral part of broader clinical protocols or as a standalone technique. ImR has also been successfully incorporated as part of group Schema Therapy treatment; however, to the best of our knowledge, it has never been assessed as a standalone technique in a group setting.



Aim: In this study, we focused on ImR delivered via telehealth in groups and we aimed to assess whether group ImR is effective in responding to basic emotional needs, in changing participants’ affective state, and in reducing dysfunctional beliefs. We also wanted to assess whether memory realism is associated with a greater effectiveness of the technique.



Methods: A total of 52 participants were presented with 3 ImR sessions on childhood memories related to the current dysfunctional belief that elicited more suffering.



Results: The technique was effective in facilitating the retrieval of a memory in almost the entire sample (in the range of 92.3–100%). Overall, memory realism values (level of vividness, ability to immerse, and participants’ distance from the images) were high in all three sessions. Almost all participants were reported having their needs met during ImR (89.7%). Importantly, need satisfaction was associated with the ability to immerse in the image. In addition, the intensity of the dysfunctional belief decreased significantly from pre-test to Session 3. The technique also changed the affective state, reducing arousal. Importantly, we also observed a general reduction in shame levels from the first to the third session.



Conclusion: A telehealth delivered ImR group intervention on childhood memories provides cognitive and emotional improvement. Along with the ability to satisfy the patient’s basic emotional needs, the technique seems to be effective in modifying maladaptive beliefs encapsulated in memory.},

keywords = {affective state, autobiographical memories, emotional needs, imagery rescripting, maladaptive beliefs, memory realism, needs’ satisfaction},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Brasini2022,

title = {“Col muso non si scherza... oppure sì? Un’attitudine giocosa riduce l’impatto negativo del silent treatment come forma di ostracismo interpersonale”},

author = {Maurizio Brasini and Mauro Giacomantonio and Francesco Mancini},

editor = {Rivista Italiana di Studi sull'Umorismo},

url = {https://apc.it/2022-mancini-col-muso-non-si-scherza/},

issn = {2611-0970},

year  = {2022},

date = {2022-06-18},

journal = {Rivista Italiana di Studi sull'Umorismo},

volume = {5},

number = {2},

pages = {113-124},

abstract = {La letteratura sull’ostracismo sociale costituisce ad oggi il principale punto di riferimento concettuale per comprendere il fenomeno del “muso”. Sebbene le esperienze interpersonali caratterizzate dal muso siano estremamente comuni ed appaia evidente la sofferenza che questo comporta, tuttavia la ricerca specifica sull’argomento è poco sviluppata; in particolare, non esistono indicazioni univoche su quali fattori possano mitigarne l’impatto negativo. Nel presente studio, sono stati confrontati gli effetti provocati dalla rievocazione di due episodi, uno di dolore fisico e uno di muso; la Social Mentalities Scale è stata utilizzata per valutare l’effetto di mediazione di alcune disposizioni interpersonali a base evoluzionistica sull’impatto delle due esperienze sfavorevoli. I risultati mostrano che unicamente il gioco, e non l’attaccamento o il senso di appartenenza, consente di mitigare l’effetto negativo del muso.},

keywords = {gioco, mentalità sociali, muso, ostracismo, silent treatment, sistemi motivazionali},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Salmani2022,

title = {Anti-Disgust Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Contamination-Based Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial},

author = {Behzad Salmani and Francesco Mancini and Jafar Hasani and Zahra Zanjani},

editor = {MDPI},

url = {https://apc.it/2022-mancini-anti-disgust-cognitive-b/},

doi = {https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm11102875},

year  = {2022},

date = {2022-05-19},

journal = {Journal of Clinical Medicine},

volume = {11},

number = {10},

pages = {2875},

abstract = {Background: Disgust is a strong and persistent emotion that frequently occurs during exposure-based treatments for contamination-based obsessive compulsive disorder (C-OCD). This study aimed to examine the efficacy of augmenting cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) with a novel type of anti-disgust cognitive intervention in reducing the severity of OCD, disgust propensity/sensitivity, and refusal rate of exposure and response prevention, while simultaneously increasing acceptance of disgust. Materials and Methods: Fifty-five individuals with C-OCD (mean age 28.1 years, SD = 3.52; 77% female) were randomly assigned to 15 weekly sessions of anti-disgust plus CBT (AD-CBT) or CBT alone. They were evaluated for outcomes four times (pretreatment, prior to exposure and response prevention (ERP) sessions, posttreatment, and three-month follow-up), and mixed-design ANOVAs were used to analyze the data. Results: The findings indicated that when compared to CBT alone, AD-CBT significantly reduced OCD severity, disgust propensity/sensitivity, and concurrently increased disgust acceptance (p < 0.001). Additionally, engaging in an anti-disgust cognitive intervention was associated with lower ERP refusal rate (4% vs. 16%). The superiority of AD-CBT over CBT persisted through the three-month follow-up period. Conclusions: The current study suggests that supplementing CBT for C-OCD with an anti-disgust cognitive intervention significantly increased acceptance of disgust and decreased the refusal rate of ERP, OCD severity, and disgust-related factors.},

keywords = {obsessive compulsive disorder; cognitive behavioral therapy; disgust; anti-disgust cognitive intervention},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Gragnani2022,

title = {Cognitive–Behavioral Treatment of Obsessive–Compulsive Disorder: The Results of a Naturalistic Outcomes Study},

author = {Andrea Gragnani and Vittoria Zaccari and Giuseppe Femia and Valerio Pellegrini and Katia Tenore and Stefania Fadda and Olga Ines Luppino and Barbara Basile and Teresa Cosentino and Claudia Perdighe and Giuseppe Romano and Angelo Maria Saliani and Francesco Mancini},

editor = {MDPI},

doi = {https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm11102762},

year  = {2022},

date = {2022-05-13},

journal = {Journal of Clinical Medicine},

volume = {11},

number = {10},

abstract = {Cognitive–behavioral therapy is a well-established treatment for obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD). There are a variety of cognitive and behavioral strategies, and it is necessary to analyze the outcomes of the treatments. The aim of the present study is to verify the effectiveness of a treatment that combines evidence-based procedures and specific cognitive interventions highlighting the issue of acceptance. Forty patients with OCD were recruited and underwent a specific treatment procedure. All patients had a psychodiagnostic assessment for OCD using the Y–BOCS (Yale–Brown obsessive–compulsive scale) performed twice: before treatment (t0) and after nine months (t1). Data analysis showed a decrease in the scores between t0 and t1 according to the Y–BOCS in terms of the interference, severity, and impairment of obsessive–compulsive symptoms. A repeated-measures ANOVA showed a significant reduction in symptoms after treatment, with values of F (1, 39) = 137.56, p < 0.001, and η2 = 0.78. The ANOVA results were corroborated by a Wilcoxon signed-rank test. A reliable change index analysis indicated that 33 participants reported improvements in symptoms, of which 23 were clinically significant. The results showed clinical relevance for OCD treatment and highlighted how this cognitive procedure favored positive outcomes.},

keywords = {obsessive–compulsive disorder; cognitive–behavioral therapy; cognitive interventions; outcomes; effectiveness; naturalistic study},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Albanese2022,

title = {Nightmare Rescripting: Using Imagery Techniques to Treat Sleep Disturbances in Post-traumatic Stress Disorder},

author = {Marzia Albanese and Marianna Liotti and Lucia Cornacchia and Francesco Mancini},

url = {https://apc.it/2022-mancini-nightmare-rescripting/},

doi = {doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.866144},

year  = {2022},

date = {2022-04-04},

journal = {Frontiers in Psychiatry},

abstract = {Besides affecting 8% of the general population, nightmares are one of the most frequent symptoms of traumatized individuals. This can be a significant factor in the treatment of post-traumatic disorders; indeed, several studies demonstrated its strong predictive and prognostic value. Sleep disorders, nightmares in particular, could be very distressing for individuals and need targeted interventions, especially if they are associated with a PTSD diagnosis. To date, the best technique for the treatment of traumatic sleep disturbances seems to be Imagery Rehearsal Therapy (IRT), an empirically supported method. Through a review of the literature on this matter, this article aims to outline the incidence and consequences of nightmares in PTSD, illustrate how IRT could prove useful in their treatment, and investigate its clinical applications.



Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition, which in the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders [DSM-5; (1)] has been included in a new category, “Trauma and Stressor Related Disorders.” PTSD is characterized by the appearance of a wide array of symptoms after experiencing “death, threatened death, actual or threatened serious injury, or actual or threatened sexual violence” [(1), p. 271], in the following ways: direct exposure to the event; witnessing the event; learning that a close one was exposed to a traumatic event; indirect exposure to details of the trauma.



PTSD diagnosis was added–not without many controversies–only in the third edition of the DSM [DSM-III; (2)], after noticing the development of post-traumatic symptoms among many veteran soldiers. However, it is possible to identify some descriptions ascribable to this disorder already at the beginning of the twentieth century, when many authors spoke of “war neurosis,” “soldier's heart,” and “shell shock” to describe the physio-psychological consequences of being exposed to war situations [for a historical overview, see (3)]. Shortly after the diagnosis of PTSD was introduced in the DSM, clinicians began to notice that there were other individuals–victims of sexual or physical abuse, for example–whose symptoms largely corresponded with those observed in soldiers. Today we know that the traumatic events that can give rise to PTSD are numerous and of various kinds. They produce lasting effects, which the DSM-5 describes as follows, dividing them into four clusters:



1) Re-experience of the traumatic event (intrusion symptoms) through distressing memories, dreams and nightmares, flashbacks, and dissociative reactions.



2) Avoidance of stimuli associated with the traumatic event.



3) Negative alterations in cognition and mood (e.g., amnesia, negative beliefs and expectations, distorted cognitions, feelings of detachment).



4) Marked alterations in arousal and reactivity (e.g., irritability, self-destructive behaviors, hypervigilance, difficulties in concentrating, sleep disturbances).



According to the DSM-5, in the United States PTSD affects ~5% of men and 10% of women (1). In Italy, epidemiological studies show that about 56.1% of the general population is exposed to at least one traumatic event (with an average of 4 traumatic events experienced during the lifespan); the risk of experiencing PTSD following exposure to a traumatic event(s) is assessed to be between 0.8 and 12.2% (4). These data highlight the significance of a better understanding of the complex symptoms that are often associated with PTSD to develop targeted and effective intervention techniques.},

keywords = {imagery rehearsal therapy, imagery rescripting, insomnia, nightmares, post-traumatic stress disorder, trauma},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Mancini2022,

title = {Moral Orientation Guilt Scale (MOGS): Development and validation of a novel guilt measurement},

author = {Alessandra Mancini and Umberto Granziola and Daniele Migliorati and Andrea Gragnani and Giuseppe Femia and Teresa Cosentino and Angelo Maria Saliani and Katia Tenore and Olga Ines Luppino and Claudia Perdighe and Francesco Mancini},

editor = {Elsevier},

url = {https://apc.it/2022-mancini-moral-orientation-guilt-scale-2/},

doi = {10.1016/j.paid.2021.111495},

issn = {0191-8869},

year  = {2022},

date = {2022-04-01},

journal = {Personality and Individual Differences},

volume = {189},

number = {111495},

abstract = {Guilt emerges as the emotional result of a conflict between our behavior and internalized morality. Since morality is best conceptualized as a multidimensional construct, guilt results in different phenomena depending on the moral values internalized by the “guilty”. Indeed, mounting evidence supports the distinction between guilt feelings emerging from deontological morality and guilt feelings emerging from altruistic morality. Most measures fail to consider moral orientation when assessing guilt. Our aim was to develop a reliable and valid tool, able to independently measure different types of guilt feelings. We presented the 17-items Moral Orientation Guilt Scale (MOGS) to a large subclinical sample, along with other questionnaires. Analyses included measures of classical test theory and innovative techniques of network analysis. This cross-validation approach pointed at four factors: “Moral Norm Violation”, “Moral Dirtiness”, “Empathy” and “Harm”. Results suggested MOGS good reliability and a strong construct and convergent validity. Importantly, “Moral Norm Violation” and “Moral Dirtiness” scores were positively correlated with disgust sensitivity, supporting the link between disgust and deontological guilt. Differently, “Harm” scores were negatively correlated with disgust sensitivity scores, in line with the notion that altruism and disgust possibly evolved as part of contrasting motivational systems.},

keywords = {Deontological Guilt; Interpersonal Guilt; Disgust; Moral disgust; Exploratory graph analysis},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Zaccari2022,

title = {EXPLAINING INTERACTION OF GUILT AND OBSESSIVE-COMPULSIVE SYMPTOMS IN NOT JUST RIGHT EXPERIENCES},

author = {Vittoria Zaccari and Guyonne Rogier and Daniela Pulsinelli and Francesco Mancini and Francesca D’Olimpio},

editor = {Giovanni Fioriti Editore},

url = {https://apc.it/2022-mancini-explaining-interaction-of-guilt-clinical22_1_zaccarietal-2/},

doi = {doi.org/10.36131/ cnfioritieditore20220106},

year  = {2022},

date = {2022-01-01},

journal = {Clinical Neuropsychiatry},

volume = {19},

number = {1},

pages = {39-44},

abstract = {Objective: “Not Just Right Experiences” (NJREs) are currently considered a characteristic of Obsessive–Compulsive Disorder (OCD). Significant associations have been found between NJREs and Obsessive–Compulsive (OC) symptoms in nonclinical and clinical populations. Literature support a significant relationship between NJREs, feelings of guilt and OC features. This study aims to clarify the role of the potential interplay between guilt and OC symptomatology in NJREs and verify if high levels of guilt will predict NJREs and OC symptoms and trait guilt levels will

positively interact in their prediction of NJREs.

Method: One hundred and eighty-nine adults recruited from normal population were assessed with questionnaires of NJREs and OC symptoms and proneness to experience guilt.

Results: All the variables involved in the study (NJREs severity, guilt and OCI-R scores) were positively and significantly correlated and showed that guilt and OCI-R scores significantly and positively interact in the prediction of NJREs levels. Guilt predicted NJREs only when levels of OCI-R were high.

Conclusions: These results support the association between guilt sensitivity or OC symptoms and NJREs in clinical and nonclinical participants and that a disposition toward high levels of guilt and OC symptoms have a particular sensitivity to NJREs corroborating centrality of guilt in OC symptoms.},

keywords = {guilt, not just right experiences (njres), obsessive– compulsive disorder (ocd), Obsessive–compulsive features, obsessive–compulsive symptoms, Trait-guilt},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Benedetto2021,

title = {Giada: "la trappola dell'indegnità", un caso di Tricotillomania in comorbidità con Disturbo ossessivo-compulsivo e Disturbi di personalità borderline},

author = {Serena Di Benedetto and Andrea Gragnani},

editor = {Quaderni di Psicoterapia Cognitiva},

url = {https://apc.it/di-benedetto-e-gragnani-2022-giada-la-trappola-dellindegnita/},

doi = {DOI: 10.3280/qpc49-2021oa13212},

issn = {1127-6347},

year  = {2021},

date = {2021-12-23},

urldate = {2021-12-23},

journal = {Quaderni di Psicoterapia Cognitiva},

number = {49},

abstract = {This article describes the clinical case of Giada, a 19-year-old female with a borderline personality characterized by a pervasive emotional dysregulation. Trichotillomania and obsessive-compulsive disorder, two disorders belonging to the obsessive spectrum, represent dysfunctional attempts to manage the sense of unworthiness, combined with a deep self-repulsion and the deontological guilt for irreparably worsening one’s body.

This in turn increases the risk of one’s imperfection being discovered and hence refused, abandoned by others. The repeat behaviours focused on one’s body such as hair ripping in the pubic region and legs are on one hand premeditated and ritualized, when activated by the feeling of self-repulion and the need to feel good enough, and on the other hand are an impulsive reaction to an emotional dysregulation, such as attempts to manage painful emotional and mental statuses. The patient also shows a history of anxiety and obsessive behavious such as compulsive washing, intrusive throughs, and feelings of “not just right experience” (NJRE).

The therapeutic path, within which the interventions based on Schema Therapy have played a central role, has combined standard cognitive therapy techniques with third generation techniques (Act, DBT, Mindfullness), balancing radical acceptance with a push for change. The therapeutic relationship has proven an important tool to contain emotional experiences linked to self-unworthiness.},

keywords = {disregolazione emotiva, Disturbo Ossessivo-Compulsivo, Schema therapy, Terapia dialettico comportamentale, Tricotillomania},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Demaria2021,

title = {Psychoeducation focused on family accommodation: a practical intervention for parents of children and adolescents with obsessive-compulsive disorder},

author = {Francesco Demaria and Maria Pontillo and Maria Cristina Tata and Prisca Gargiulo and Francesco Mancini and Stefano Vicari},

editor = {BMC},

url = {https://apc.it/2021-mancini-psychoeducation-focused-on-family-accomodation-2/},

doi = {https://doi.org/10.1186/s13052-021-01177-3},

issn = {1824-7288},

year  = {2021},

date = {2021-11-06},

journal = {Italian Journal of Pediatrics},

volume = {47},

number = {224},

abstract = {Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a neuropsychiatric disorder that is frequently diagnosed in children and adolescents. In pediatric OCD, family plays an important role in the development and maintenance of the disease. In this relationship, both genetic and behavioral factors, such as parental modeling and family accommodation, are significant. Parental modeling concerns the daily enactment of dysfunctional behavioral patterns by a parent with OCD, which may influence children. Family accommodation, in contrast, describes the direct participation of parents in their child’s compulsive rituals, by modifying daily routines or by facilitating avoidance of OCD triggers, to decrease the child’s distress and time spent executing compulsions. Approximately 80–90% of the relatives of OCD patients actively participate in patients’ rituals. The literature demonstrates that a high level of family accommodation is associated with OCD symptom severity, reduced response to cognitive-behavioral treatment (CBT), and a higher risk of therapy dropout.



Despite this, no studies have aimed at delineating practical guidance for psychotherapists to support parents in reducing family accommodation.



The main aim of this paper is to propose a psychoeducation intervention focused on cognitive-behavioral strategies to help families to manage their child’s OCD behaviors without enacting dysfunctional family accommodation behaviors in order to support their child’s successful therapy.},

keywords = {obsessive-compulsive disorder, Psychoeducation focused},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Cheli2021,

title = {What if metacognition is not enough? Its association with delusion  may be moderated by self-criticism},

author = {Simone Cheli and Veronica Cavalletti and Francesco Mancini and Gil Goldzweig},

editor = {Springer Link},

url = {https://apc.it/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/2021-mancini-Cheli_et_al-2021-Current_Psychology-1.pdf},

doi = {https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-021-02451-7},

year  = {2021},

date = {2021-11-05},

journal = {Current Psychology},

abstract = {Metacognition among those reporting psychotic symptoms is associated with a distortion in the way they understand their own 

and others’ mental states. Recent advances suggest that distortion in the form of self-criticism may activate a threat response 

and fuel symptom expression. At high level of self-criticism metacognition may reduce its protective role towards psychosis. 

Here, we explored whether the associations between impaired self-reflectivity and delusional ideation would decrease in 

the presence of self-criticism. A moderated regression model confirmed our hypothesis in a large sample of healthy young 

adults (N = 2065) even when controlled for sex, education, and family income. Our findings suggest how interventions aimed 

at reducing symptoms and promoting metacognition should always be interconnected with those targeting self-criticism.},

keywords = {Compassion Delusional ideation Metacognition Psychosis Self-criticism Self-reflectivity},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}