Publications by authors named "Menachem Ben-Ezra"

The current study explored grief reaction profiles after the October 7th, 2023, Israeli massacre regarding the loss of significant others. It investigated factors worsening pre-existing grief in 2,028 adult civilians, with 1,263 reporting pre- or post-massacre loss. Participants completed self-reports on prolonged grief disorder (PGD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), complex PTSD (CPTSD), cognitive emotional regulation (CER), and assumptive worldviews.

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Background: Childhood abuse (CA) is a risk factor for trauma-related disorders including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and complex posttraumatic stress disorder (CPTSD). This severe form of interpersonal trauma may result in "identification with the aggressor" (IWA), in which the individual may take on the beliefs, perspectives, and behaviors of the perpetrator. Although previous evidence suggests that IWA may be particularly related to CPTSD as compared to PTSD, there has been no study that investigated this hypothesis.

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Objective: This study is aimed to test the association of the Subjective Traumatic Outlook (STO) concept for distinguishing between posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and complex PTSD. Focusing on identity dimensions within identity theory, the research aims to understand how subjective factors influence psychological outcomes, especially in the context of trauma during prolonged war. Findings can inform our understanding of the perception of trauma during wartime.

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Background: Investigations have sought to model the structure of ICD-11 Complex PTSD (CPTSD) using factor analytic models, finding support for higher-order domains representing PTSD and Disturbances in Self Organisation (DSO). Network analysis has alternatively modelled CPTSD through dimensional symptom associations.

Methodology: This study investigated the structure of CPTSD leveraging a novel approach, Hierarchical Exploratory Graph Analysis, using African general population samples (N = 2524).

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This preliminary study examines the link between war-related auditory (pseudo)hallucinations and symptoms of acute ICD-11 posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and Complex PTSD (CPTSD) amidst ongoing conflict, with a specific focus on CPTSD. The research, which analyzed data from 2028 Israeli residents following the traumatic events of October 7, 2023, investigated the perception of non-existent sirens and their association with acute PTSD and CPTSD symptoms. The findings reveal that (pseudo)hallucinations were more prevalent among individuals with acute CPTSD symptoms compared to those with PTSD symptoms alone.

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Psychological assessment is commonly conducted using either self-report measures or clinical interviews; the former are quick and easy to administer, and the latter are more time-consuming and require training. Self-report measures have been criticized for producing higher estimates of symptom and disorder presence relative to clinical interviews, with the assumption being that self-report measures are prone to Type 1 error. Here, we introduce the use of "clinical checks" within an existing self-report measure.

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Facebook is one of the most popular social networking sites. However, Facebook intrusion or addiction is a growing concern as it involves an excessive attachment to Facebook, which disrupts daily functioning. To date, few studies have examined whether cross-cultural differences in the measurement of Facebook addiction exist.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study explored how being a descendant of Holocaust survivors affects sensitivity to terrorist threats among Holocaust G2 (children) and G3 (grandchildren) during rising terrorism in Israel.
  • Findings revealed that these descendants reported higher levels of anxiety and a stronger connection to their Holocaust background compared to non-descendants.
  • The research highlights the importance of addressing Holocaust centrality and anxiety in developing interventions for descendants during periods of increased terror threats.
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Background: The 'Memory and Identity Theory' of ICD-11 Complex Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (CPTSD) was recently published but has not yet been subjected to empirical testing. The objective of this study was to evaluate newly developed measures of memory and identity disturbances and test hypothesized structural relations between these constructs and CPTSD symptoms.

Methods: Self-report data were collected from a nationwide sample of adults living in Ukraine (N = 2050) in September 2023.

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The ongoing Ukraine-Russia war triggered significant mental health consequences, particularly posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and complex PTSD (CPTSD). A population study with 1895 Ukrainians explored the association between negative war-related beliefs and risk for PTSD and CPTSD. Negative war-related beliefs were shown to be significantly linked to increased risks for PTSD and more so for CPTSD.

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The International Depression Questionnaire (IDQ) and International Anxiety Questionnaire (IAQ) are self-report measures of ICD-11 single episode depressive disorder (DD) and generalised anxiety disorder (GAD). The present study sought to describe the development and psychometric evaluation of the caregiver-report versions of the IDQ and IAQ for children, referred to as the IDQ-CG and IAQ-CG, respectively. Participants were 639 parents living in Ukraine who provided data on themselves and one child in their household as part of "The Mental Health of Parents and Children in Ukraine Study: 2023 Follow-up" study.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study investigates how the intergenerational effects of the Holocaust impact the descendants of survivors, revealing heightened sensitivity to traumatic events across three generations.
  • In 2023, Israeli civil unrest prompted fears for democracy, and Holocaust descendants exhibited greater anxiety and preoccupation with this turmoil compared to those without such a background.
  • Results indicate that Holocaust descendants experience unique stress reactions, especially increased anxiety, during prolonged periods of social and political upheaval.
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The International Grief Questionnaire (IGQ) is a self-report measure of ICD-11 Prolonged Grief Disorder (PGD) in adults. This study sought to develop and validate a caregiver-report version of the IGQ for children and adolescents aged 7-17 years; the IGQ-Caregiver Version (IGQ-CG). 639 parents living in Ukraine provided data on themselves and one child in their household as part of the " study.

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Article Synopsis
  • - The study assessed the mental health of Ukrainian adults following Russia's invasion in February 2022, focusing on the prevalence of seven disorders and associated sociodemographic factors.
  • - Out of 2,050 participants surveyed in September 2023, 36.3% screened positive for at least one disorder, with generalized anxiety disorder being the most common at 15.2%.
  • - Findings indicate that factors like financial worries and past disruptions (such as the 2014 invasion) are linked to higher risks of mental health issues, highlighting the need for effective resource allocation in Ukraine's strained mental healthcare system.
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Background: Although high rates of bereavement are evident in war-affected populations, no study has investigated the prevalence and correlates of probable ICD-11 prolonged grief disorder (PGD) under these circumstances.

Methods: Participants were 2050 adults who participated in a nationwide survey exploring the effects of the Ukraine-Russia war on the daily lives and mental health of Ukrainian people.

Results: Of the total sample, 87.

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Background: This study examined the interplay between engagement in social unrest, mental indicators, state-hope and demographic variables. In addition, mental indicators and state-hope were compared in line with levels of engagement in social unrest.

Methods: In a cross-sectional study, conducted from March 23 to April 10, 2023, 2031 Israelis were recruited via a survey company.

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Objective: The Russo-Ukrainian War intensified when Russian troops invaded Ukraine in February 2022. The current study examined whether children (second generation; G2) and grandchildren (third generation; G3) of Holocaust survivors are more preoccupied with the war relative to comparisons. Moreover, whether there was more exacerbation in psychological distress in Holocaust survivor families relative to comparisons since the escalation of the war.

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Negative symptoms of schizophrenia remain clinically and theoretically understudied and represent an unmet psychiatric need. Negative symptoms are assumed to be related to other psychiatric disorders, but their association with dissociative symptoms is yet to be explored, particularly in light of depression and anxiety symptoms. We examined the five domains of negative symptoms (anhedonia, asociality, avolition, blunted affect and alogia) in an Israeli national sample of 1930 participants of whom 645 (33.

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Background: Medication adherence among adolescents and emerging adults following kidney transplantation was found to be lower with harmful consequences. The current study aimed to examine associations between illness cognition of helplessness, family relationships, and perceived barriers to medication adherence among post-kidney transplant adolescent and emerging adult recipients and their parents by applying a dyadic perspective.

Methods: Fifty-nine dyads of adolescents and emerging adults aged 11-26 years and their parents, were recruited from a pediatric nephrology department in a medical center in Israel.

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ICD-11 posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and complex PTSD have been understudied in the older population. The study focused on the associations between traumatic exposure before the pandemic, COVID-19 worries, depression, and loneliness with current PTSD and CPTSD among older adults. A random sample of five hundred and twelve Israeli older adults ( 72.

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This study sought to explore the association between changes in daily life and war-related anxiety. In this study, we analyzed self-reported data from 2,004 Ukrainian adults, obtained through an opportunistic survey in the Ukraine. Our assessment focused on changes in everyday routines and generalized anxiety symptoms since the Russian invasion of Ukraine on the 24 February 2022.

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Positive solitude (PS), the choice of being alone to engage in meaningful inner or physical, spiritual, mental, or cognitive activity/ experience, was recently suggested as a stand-alone phenomenon differentiated from loneliness and negative solitude. As loneliness was previously found to have adverse implications for mental health, the present study examined whether the ability to engage in PS can moderate the harmful effect of loneliness on depressive symptoms. The sample consisted of 520 community-dwelling older adults in Israel aged 68-87 (Mage = 72.

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