The Different Faces of (High) Sensitivity, Toward a More Comprehensive Measurement Instrument. Development and Validation of the Sensory Processing Sensitivity Questionnaire (SPSQ).

The main purpose of the study was the development of the Sensory Processing Sensitivity Questionnaire (SPSQ), designed to measure Sensory Processing Sensitivity, defined as a person's sensitivity to subtle stimuli, the depth with which these stimuli are processed, and its impact on emotional reactivity. The item pool generated for the development of the SPSQ consisted of 60 items. After exploratory factor analysis, 43 items remained, divided into six specific factors: (1) Sensory Sensitivity to Subtle Internal and External Stimuli, (2) Emotional and Physiological Reactivity, (3) Sensory Discomfort, (4) Sensory Comfort, (5) Social-Affective Sensitivity, and (6) Esthetic Sensitivity.

The impact of transvenous cardioverter-defibrillator implantation on quality of life, depression and optimism in dialysis patients: report on the secondary outcome of QOL in the randomized controlled ICD2 trial.

Rationale: The impact of prophylactic implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) implantation on the psychological well-being of patients on dialysis is unknown.

Objective: We aimed to identify the effect of primary ICD implantation on quality of life (QoL), mood and dispositional optimism in patients undergoing dialysis.

Methods And Results: We performed a prespecified subanalysis of the randomized controlled ICD2 trial.

Treatment-related and health-related quality of life in lipoprotein apheresis patients.

Background: There is evidence for beneficial effects of lipoprotein apheresis (LA) in terms of reduction of cardiovascular events and interventions, but quality of life (QOL) in LA patients has only been explored in small samples.

Objective: In this study, both LA- or treatment-related and health-related QOL (HRQOL) were assessed in 206 LA patients.

Methods: Mental and physical HRQOL of the LA patients was assessed by means of the SF-12 as well as the EQ-5D.

Self-compassion in somatoform disorder.

'Third wave' cognitive-behavioral therapies have given a boost to the study of resilience factors, such as self-compassion. To get an indication of the potential clinical relevance of self-compassion for somatoform disorder, this study examined whether self-compassion in patients with somatoform disorder is lower than in the general population, and whether self-compassion is associated with number of symptoms and health-related quality of life. Two-hundred-and-thirty-six participants with somatoform disorder and 236 subjects from the general population, matched on sex and age, filled out questionnaires regarding self-compassion (SCS), number of symptoms (PSC) and health-related quality of life (EQ-5D).

Evaluation of a self-regulation based psycho-educational pilot intervention targeting children and adolescents with epilepsy in Greece.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to describe the development and initial evaluation of a minimal structured psycho-educational intervention for children and adolescents with epilepsy. The intervention aimed at increasing the understanding and personal control (self-management) of epilepsy, and at reducing psychological distress, sleep problems and somatic complaints.

Method: Twelve patients participated in our intervention and another 12, matched on age and gender, served as the control group.