Università degli studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia

Background/objective: The aim of the current cross-sectional study is to assess the relations between emotion dysregulation, psychological distress, emotional eating, and BMI in a sample of Italian young adults (20-35). Methods: A total sample of 600 participants frm the general population, were asked to fill in demographical and physical data, the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale, the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale, and the Emotional Eating subscale of the Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire via an online anonymous survey. Relations between variables have been inspected using a path model. Results: Results showed that emotion dysregulation was a contributor to higher levels of psychological distress [b= 0.348; SE: 0.020; p=<0.001; 95% BC-CI (0.306–0.387)] and emotional eating [b= 0.010; SE: 0.002; p=<0.001; 95% BC-CI (0.006–0.014)] which in turn, was related to higher Body Mass Index [b= 0.0574; SE: 0.145; p=<0.001; 95% BC-CI (0.286–0.863)]. Conclusions: By providing additional evidence concerning the role of emotion dysregulation for physical and psychological outcomes, the current study could inform for improving psychological interventions aimed to promote emotion regulation strategies aimed at fostering physical and psychological well-being.

IntroductionThe COVID-19 pandemic caused several psychological consequences for the general population. In particular, long-term and persistent psychopathological detriments were observed in those who were infected by acute forms of the virus and need specialistic care in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Imagery rehearsal therapy (IRT) has shown promising results in managing nightmares of patients with different traumas, but it has never been used with patients admitted to ICUs for severe COVID-19 despite this experience being considered traumatic in the literature. MethodsThe purpose of this case study is to describe the application of a four-session IRT for the treatment of COVID-related nightmares in a female patient after admission to the ICU. A 42-year-old Caucasian woman who recovered from a pulmonary rehabilitation program reported shortness of breath, dyspnea, and everyday life difficulties triggered by the long-COVID syndrome. She showed COVID-related nightmares and signs of post-traumatic symptoms (i.e., hyperarousal, nightmares, and avoidance of triggers associated with the traumatic situation). Psychological changes in the aftermath of a trauma, presence, and intensity of daytime sleepiness, dream activity, sleep disturbances, aspects of sleep and dreams, and symptoms of common mental health status are assessed as outcomes at the baseline (during the admission to pneumology rehabilitation) at 1-month (T1) and 3-month follow-up (T2). Follow-up data were collected through an online survey. ResultsBy using IRT principles and techniques, the patient reported a decrease in the intensity and frequency of bad nightmares, an increase in the quality of sleep, and post-traumatic growth, developing a positive post-discharge. ConclusionImagery rehearsal therapy may be effective for COVID-19-related nightmares and in increasing the quality of sleep among patients admitted to the ICU for the treatment of COVID-19. Furthermore, IRT could be useful for its brevity in hospital settings.

Evidence on the relation between binge-watching and sleep quality is still scarce and inconsistent and none has taken into account both the healthy and pathological dimensions of the phenomenon. This study aimed at filling this gap by investigating both aspects in healthy participants with high and low sleep quality. Further, we aimed at identifying sociodemographic, psychological and sleep-related determinants of problematic binge-watching in poor sleepers. We first conducted independent comparisons between good (n = 253) and poor sleepers (n = 209) on different binge-watching symptoms and motives, assessed through ‘Binge-watching Engagement and Symptoms’ and ‘Watching TV Series Motives’ questionnaires, respectively. Then, we focused on the problematic aspects of binge-watching in poor sleepers, investigating the role of emotion regulation, loneliness, and sleep-related factors using hierarchical multiple regressions. Comparisons between the two groups revealed a greater extent of binge-watching behaviour (t = −2.80, p = 0.005) and greater use of this practise to cope with negative emotions (t = −4.17, p < 0.001) in poor sleepers. In addition, hierarchical multiple regressions showed that gender (β = −0.166, p = 0.008), alcohol consumption (β = −0.135, p = 0.035), emotional dysregulation (β = 0.260, p = 0.001; β = 0.298, p < 0.001), feelings of loneliness (β = 0.159, p = 0.029; β = 0.199, p = 0.003), and daytime sleepiness (β = 0.149, p = 0.016) are significant determinants of problematic binge-watching in this population. In addition to showing for the first time the relationship between sleep quality and different aspects of binge-watching, our findings indicate that emotional dysregulation, feelings of loneliness, and daytime sleepiness play a key role in determining problematic binge-watching in poor sleepers, possibly due to the existence of a pathological vicious circle between these factors in poor sleepers.

Individuals with fibromyalgia and obesity experience significant impairment in physical functioning. Pain catastrophizing, kinesiophobia, and pain acceptance have all been identified as important factors associated with the level of disability. The objective of this study was to evaluate the role of pain catastrophizing, kinesiophobia, and pain acceptance as mediators of the association between perceived pain severity and physical functioning in individuals with fibromyalgia and obesity.

Starting from the idea that dreaming could be considered an index of the psychological health of individuals regarding the COVID-19 outbreak, a major risk of psychological maladjustment has been registered formaladaptive daydreamers (MDers; i.e., people with a compulsive fantasy activity associated with distress and psychological impairment). Nevertheless, there is a gap in literature about dreaming inMDers in general and particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim of this study was to investigate differences in dreaming and dream content between probableMDers and non-MDers during the COVID-19 lockdown in Italy. A total of 3,857 Italian adults (664 probable MDers), completed the Maladaptive Daydreaming Scale (MDS-16) and the Mannheim Dream Questionnaire (MADRE). Among them, 1,095 participants (222 probable MDers) decided to recount their dreams, subsequently analysed through a cluster analysis performed by T-LAB software. Significantly higher levels of dream recall, emotional intensity of dreams, nightmare frequency, nightmare distress, recurring nightmares about daytime, lucid dreams, interest toward dreams, problem solving and creative dreams, and dreams affecting daytime mood emerged in probableMDers compared to non-MDers. No differences were observed in the emotional tone of dreams. From the quali–quantitative analysis of dream narratives, similar themes emerged in probable MDers and non-MDers, except for a cluster named Dreaming the loss of others, where the non-MDers variable is highly represented. Our results highlight some significant differences between probable MDers and non-MDers with respect to dreaming activity. The massive use of dream activity as an affective regulator emerges for both probable MDers and non-MDers during lockdown.

Background: Narcolepsy type 1 (NT1) is a rare neurological sleep disorder caused by the loss of neurons that produce hypocretin-a peptide that plays a crucial role in addictive behaviors. We aimed to compare, for the first time, levels of problematic online gaming, problematic social media use, and compulsive Internet use between NT1 patients and healthy controls (HC), and to evaluate the association between anxiety, depression, and emotion dysregulation with addictive online behaviors in NT1 patients. Methods: A total of 43 patients with NT1 and 86 sex- and age-matched HC participated in an online cross-sectional survey. Results: NT1 patients did not differ from HC in terms of problematic social media use and compulsive Internet use but displayed higher levels of problematic online gaming compared to HC. Higher levels of emotion dysregulation were significantly associated with higher levels of problematic social media use and compulsive Internet use, while none of the tested factors were associated with problematic online gaming. Conclusion: NT1 patients and HC had similar levels of problematic social media use and compulsive Internet use, but NT1 patients showed higher levels of problematic online gaming. Emotion dysregulation might be an intervention target for reducing compulsive Internet use and problematic social media use.