Giancarlo Di Battista

Il contributo di questo volume ed in generale del lavoro, ricco di stimoli, di Enrica Leo, è offrire approfondimento e riflessioni sul tema della comunicazione di massa nell'era della tecnologia e dell'informazione con la formazione di un gruppo di lavoro tematico ed interdisciplinare (Storia dell'Arte, Antropologia, Neurologia, Psicologia) e con differenti prospettive di studio e ricerca dedicati alla comprensione delle nuove dinamiche sensoriali in riferimento alla comunicazione,. Ciò consente, tra l’altro, di aggiornare studi ormai lontani nel tempo e non più sufficienti a spiegare la grande novità della “società liquida”; per comprendere come e dove si sta svolgendo ed evolvendo il percorso di sviluppo dell'arte, e non solo dell'arte, facendo doverosamente i conti con la tematica dei sensi che ci “formano la mente”. L'idea quindi si è rivelata sorprendentemente utile e innovativa offrendo un originale e produttivo approccio alla riflessione proposta.

Neuropsychiatric abnormalities are frequently reported in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Previous studies have investigated the neurotic aspects of psychopathology, and the importance of the personality structure underlying neurotic symptoms has only recently been reconsidered. The aim of our study was to investigate the frequency and type of personality profiles in MS using the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory-III (MCMI-III). We evaluated 77 nondemented patients with MS using physical disability scales and self-report questionnaires focused on mood, fatigue, and personality. In our cohort study, we found a personality scale score greater than 85 in 62.3% of enrolled participants. In particular, high scores on the Histrionic and Narcissistic scales emerged, respectively, in 20.8% and 15.6% of the sample. The presence of moderate abnormal elevation scores in MCMI personality scales in MS does not seem to be influenced by age, the Expanded Disability Status Scale score, di...

The prevalence of multiple sclerosis varies considerably throughout the world. To better define the prevalence of MS in central Italy. This is a population-based study conducted in the province of Frosinone, which is situated in the Lazio region, central Italy. The selected prevalence day was 1 January 2007. A total of 467 patients, with a definite diagnosis of multiple sclerosis, were considered for crude, age- and sex-specific prevalence estimation. The overall crude prevalence rate was 95.0 cases per 100,000 (95% confidence interval (CI) 86.6-104.0). A significantly higher prevalence rate was recorded in females (134.9, 95% CI 121.0-150.1) than in males (53.3, 95% CI 44.4-63.3) (p = 0.001). Age-specific prevalence peaked in the 25-34 year, 35-44 year and 45-54 year age groups; moreover, it was found to increase up to the 35-44 year age group in males and the 45-54 year age group in females, decreasing thereafter. The female to male ratio was 2.6. The results confirm that MS occur...

Investigated the possibility of differentiating developmental paths by means of dependency grids, following an outline of a constructivist conceptualization of dependency. Three alternative personal paths of dependency were hypothesized, each initiated by the main transition of aggressiveness, threat, and guilt that the child experiences through early dependency relationships with parents. A cluster analysis performed on 4 variables (dispersion of dependency, dependence on mother, dependence on father, and dependence on self) within a sample of 122 adults (aged 18–54 yrs) differentiated 4 groups of Ss whose characteristics, explored by means of the Adjective Check List and the Helping Grid, largely corresponded to the expected ones. Findings suggest that by assessing the client's paths of dependency, a therapist may be better able to anticipate a client's dependency transference. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2013 APA, all rights reserved)

Background and Purpose— We sought to determine whether the introduction of EEG monitoring during head-up tilt testing could significantly improve the understanding of the cerebral events occurring during tilt-induced vasovagal syncope and the potential danger to the patient of this diagnostic procedure. Methods— EEG monitoring was performed during head-up tilt testing in a group of 63 consecutive patients (27 males

To investigate whether clinical and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) outcomes of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) who required a reduction of administration frequency of interferon-beta (IFNB) were similar to those of patients who did not. We identified three subgroups of patients under treatment for 24 months with subcutaneous (sc) high-frequency IFNB-1a or -1b: those continuing to receive IFNB according to the drug label (recommended frequency group), those reducing the administration frequency of sc IFNB-1a or -1b (reduced frequency group), and those switched to once weekly intramuscular (im) IFNB (switched group). All patients were followed for further 24 months. The occurrence of relapse, MRI activity and disability worsening were considered as outcome measures. We identified 308 patients, 201 in the recommended frequency group, 70 in the reduced frequency group, and 37 in the switched group. Patients in the reduced frequency group had increased risk for relapses (HR = 1.95, p < 0.001) and MRI activity (HR = 1.41, p < 0.001), while patients in the switched group had increased risk for relapses (HR = 1.67, p = 0.012), but not for MRI activity (HR = 1.26, p = 0.08) than those in the recommended frequency group. Predictors for disease activity re-start after the reduction of IFNB administration frequency were younger age, higher pre-IFNB relapse rate, and reducing sc IFNB frequency to twice weekly rather than switching to im IFNB-1a once weekly. Our findings discourage the reduction of sc IFNB administration frequency, especially in younger patients with a higher pre-IFNB relapse rate. However, switching to im IFNB-1a may be considered in some selected cases.

Domestic accidents are widespread, but no data are available on their occurrence in pathological populations such as patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Aim was to investigate domestic habits and occurrence of different types of domestic accidents and near falls in a sample of MS patients compared with healthy controls and to determine whether patients' domestic accidents are linked to any disease characteristics. Descriptive survey of 50 patients and 50 healthy controls. Participants were administered an ad-hoc questionnaire to collect data on domestic habits and accidents they had in the past 2 months. Their physical and neuropsychological functioning, mood and fatigue were also assessed. Results showed that patients spend most of their time at home with caregivers. No differences emerged for total number of domestic accident types, but there were differences in bumps and near falls. The latter seem to be linked to patients' walking ability and to bowel/bladder functioning and the former to reasoning ability and fatigue. This study provides the first data on the occurrence of domestic accidents and possible causes in MS patients. It encourages further studies on the topic, with the final goal of designing preventive and rehabilitation strategies.