Personality profiles of patients with dysthymic and panic disorder.

Background: The research objective was to identify personality characteristics as well as similarities between, and differences in personality profiles of persons suffering from Dysthymic (DD) and Panic Disorder (with/without Agoraphobia) (PD/PDA).

Subjects And Methods: Three groups (N=120) were analysed: DD, PD/PDA, and a healthy control group, matched by socio-demographic characteristics and classified in sub-groups according to gender. Diagnoses were made using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV DD and PD/PDA, and the personality assessment was made using the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory 201 (MMPI-201).

[Significance of perfectionism in understanding different forms of insomnia].

Introduction: Studies consistently show a connection between perfectionism as a multidimensional construct with various psychological and psychopathological states and characteristics. However, studies that analyze the connection between this concept and sleep disturbances, especially modalities of insomnia, are rare.

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine whether dimensions of perfectionism can explain different forms of insomnia; difficulties initiating sleep (insomnia early), difficulties during the sleep (insomnia middle), waking in early hours of the morning (insomnia late) and dissatisfaction with sleep quality (subjective insomnia).

Neuropsychological assessment: computerized batteries or standard tests.

In clinical neuropsychology a huge number of neuropsychological tests have been developed, and the corpus of these instruments is always increasing. Because of this, the question has been raised as to which are the most usefull instruments that provide the best neuropsychological profiles of the subjects. In the actual literature, there are polemics about the advantages and disadvantages of computerized neuropsychological batteries versus standard paper and pencil tests.