Types of reactions to malignant disease in view of V.E. Frankl philosophy.

Purpose: The purpose of this work was to find out whether there is interdependence between the patients- assessments of biological, psychological, psychosocial and spiritual levels.

Methods: 590 subjects, both ill and healthy, were examined by appropriate means and asked to consider their level of fear, depression (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale - Modification), aggression, quality of life (EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaire), and the purpose and meaning of life (The "PURPOSE in Life Test" - PIL questionnaire).

Results: Three groups of patients were established with the help of statistical procedures.

[Real self and ideal self of pregnant and postpartum women with symptoms of perinatal depression].

Aims: To assess real self and ideal self in pregnant and postpartum women with symptoms of perinatal depression in the area of psychological needs and topical scales.

Methods: The study involved 239 pregnant women whose gestational age ranged between 32 and 40 weeks, and 105 postpartum women (2 to 5 days after childbirth). The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale questionnaire was used as a screening test for antenatal and postnatal depressive symptoms.

Infertility as a psychological problem.

Recently there has been enormous progress in couple infertility treatment and diagnostics. Some couples cannot conceive despite the fact that there seems to be no objective somatic or immunologic reasons. In such situations gynaecologists are helpless and couples may be overwhelmed by a sense of defeat and hopelessness.

Personality traits assessed by the NEO Five-Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI) as part of the perinatal depression screening program.

Background: As pre- and postnatal depression is a multifactorial disorder, the screening programmes which are currently in use in obstetric clinics remain problematic due to their inadequate standardization and limited efficacy. The evaluation of core risk factors for perinatal depression in the screening process, in addition to routine questionnaire-based tools such as the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), might improve the diagnosis and early treatment of women affected by depression. This study was undertaken to analyze the relationship between personality traits and the risk of perinatal depression in pregnant and postpartum women.

[Personality profiles of pregnant and postpartum women with symptoms of perinatal depression: the differences of self image in the sphere of psychological needs].

Objectives: The aim of the following study was to assess personality profiles of pregnant and postpartum women with symptoms of perinatal depression and to estimate the differences in their real and ideal self image in the sphere of psychological needs.

Material And Methods: 50 pregnant (between 32-40 weeks of gestation) and 26 postpartum women (2-5 days after the delivery) were recruited for the study. Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) was used as a screening test for symptoms of pre- and postnatal depression.

[Cohabitation as a strong predicting factor of perinatal depression].

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess if the marital status, especially cohabitation, of pregnant and postpartum women, has any influence on the incidence of perinatal depression symptoms.

Material And Methods: 117 pregnant women (at 32-40 weeks of gestation) and 105 postpartum patients (2-5 days after the delivery) were included in the study. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) was used as a screening test for symptoms of pre- and postnatal depression.

[Ways of coping in stressful situations and anxiety-state or anxiety-trait among women with symptoms of perinatal depression].

Objectives: The aim of the following study was to establish whether there is any connection between an elevation of anxiety experienced by women during pregnancy or postpartum and their styles of coping with stressful situations, as well as to assess if those factors influence higher risk of incidence of perinatal depressive symptoms.

Material And Methods: A total of 229 patients admitted to the Department of Foeto-Maternal Medicine, Pomeranian Medical University, Szczecin in 2006-2007, were recruited for the study. By means of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), a study group of 76 pregnant and postpartum women with high risk of perinatal depression was assigned, as well as a control group of 153 patients without such risk.