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E H Eurelings-Bontekoe

Publications and source records attributed to E H Eurelings-Bontekoe.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

An exploratory investigation into types of adult homesickness.

BACKGROUND: It is not clear yet whether or not homesickness is a singular syndrome. Some authors have proposed different subtypes or forms of homesickness. Since there may be great differences between various subtypes of homesickness regarding etiology, causes, manifestations and consequences, a distinction of subtypes may have far-reaching implications for research and therapy. This exploratory study was conducted to find out whether homesickness can be considered a homogeneous syndrome, or whether there are distinct subtypes that differ in etiology, severity of the condition and manifestations. METHOD: Thirty-one individuals, who have had severe homesickness experiences, were interviewed, and verbal scripts were typed out. Twenty-four interviews were suited for analyses. All text related to the topics most relevant to the purpose of the study was extracted. The text was first analyzed searching for meaning and categories and afterwards coded and used in a HOMALS analysis. RESULTS: The HOMALS analysis yielded two dimensions. The first dimension can be described as a dimension of psychopathology differentiating 'recovered' and recurrent homesickness. The second dimension was strongly dominated by homesickness during holidays. CONCLUSIONS: It seems that there are reasons to presume the existence of at least two subtypes of homesickness: (1) recurrent homesickness related to signs of psychopathology and recurrent homesickness experiences and (2) recovered homesickness, which can be considered as a normal adjustment problem which most people overcome. Very tentatively, a third type of homesickness might be distinguished: holiday homesickness, which is associated with difficulties in breaking with old routines. Consequences for research and therapy are discussed. Furthermore, the need of validation studies is underlined.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

Workshops to support the bereavement process.

When a bereaved person is in need of extra support during the bereavement process, at present four types of support can be distinguished: professional individual- and group counseling and non-professional individual- and group counseling. In this article another support facility is proposed: the workshop. It is indicated that the workshop can be considered as a valuable addition to the current counseling alternatives for bereavement and can possibly prevent more serious bereavement problems. After an explanation of bereavement counseling, the set-up of the workshop is described. Special attention is payed to the group dynamic aspects of the workshop.

Adult↗

DSM-III-R and ICD-10 personality disorder features among women experiencing two types of self-reported homesickness: an exploratory study.

This study investigated the intensity of DSM-III-R and ICD-10 personality disorder features among females experiencing self-reported homesickness. Three groups were compared: (a) a group of women experiencing chronic feelings of homesickness (CHS); (b) a group of women experiencing episodic attacks of homesickness, each time they go on holidays (EHS); and (c) a group of healthy control females, recruited from the general population (HC). This study aimed to investigate whether the homesick participants showed stronger features of personality pathology than the controls and whether those who report experiencing chronic feelings of homesickness showed stronger features of personality pathology than those who at the moment of testing were not in an actual state of homesickness. Glass effect sizes revealed that the DSM-III-R avoidant and dependent and the ICD-10 anxious and dependent traits were most strongly associated with either type of homesickness. Finally, CHS was particularly associated with passive-aggressive traits and EHS with sadistic traits. Based on the stories of 21 homesick women, a link between adverse attachment experiences in childhood and certain personality features on the one hand and homesickness on the other is tentatively suggested.

Adult↗

Clinical experience with patients suffering from hyperemesis gravidarum (severe nausea and vomiting during pregnancy): thoughts about subtyping of patients, treatment and counseling models.

The medical and psychological treatment of hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) is generally acknowledged as being difficult. It is also recognized that the somatic changes during pregnancy play a role in the process of HG and that psychosocial factors are of particular importance. The following issues have been studied: psychosocial stressors; personality disorders; coping mechanisms and stress tolerance. The reviewed studies mention many different causes of HG. Some produce symptoms in certain women and some will not. As a result of clinical experience and observation during several years treating women with HG from a broad social, cultural and ethnic background in a large inner-city general hospital, we have been able to identify several subgroups of HG patients according to personality pathology, psychiatric symptoms and psychosocial stress factors. Accurate assessment is necessary in order to be able to tailor the interventions to the characteristics and needs of the individual patient. For the various subgroups different treatment strategies are recommended.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

Symptomatology, social support and social support seeking: long-term results of a prospective study among primary mental health care patients.

The long-term association between social support and symptomatology is studied. Social support variables were: experienced understanding, satisfaction, number of contacts, social support seeking and severity of interpersonal conflicts. Data were collected at the start of a short-term behavioural therapy (T1) and 6 (T2) and 18 months later (T3). In addition, a comparison is made between patients who had finished their therapy by the second measurement and those who were by that time still in therapy. A fine-grained analysis demonstrated that of all social support variables interpersonal problems were most strongly related to symptomatology, in particular to interpersonal sensitivity. The tendency to seek social support becomes associated with well-being in the long term. The best predictors of symptomatology at T3 were the initial severity of symptomatology, the change in severity of symptomatology between T1 and T2 and the severity of symptomatology at T2. The social support variables did not have any prognostic significance. All social support variables retained their high temporal stability. Results are translated into practical suggestions that might help maximize gains of short-term behavioural therapy within primary mental health care.

Adult↗

Psychological distress, social support and social support seeking: a prospective study among primary mental health care patients.

This study addresses the time ordering of both quantitative and qualitative social support variables, social support seeking and psychological distress. Number of contacts, perceived understanding, satisfaction, severity of network conflicts, social support seeking and symptomatology were assessed at two points in time: at the start of a short term behavioural therapy (T1) and six months later (T2). Severity of symptomatology at T2 was best predicted by the severity of symptomatology at referral and by the change in interpersonal problems. Social support-seeking was at both measurements unrelated to symptomatology. The number of contacts, satisfaction, understanding and social support seeking demonstrated high temporal stability, in contrast to symptomatology and interpersonal problems. A more fine-grained analysis demonstrated that of all social support variables, interpersonal conflicts were most strongly related to symptomatology, especially to interpersonal sensitivity and depression. It is concluded that interventions aimed in particular at relieving interpersonal sensitivity and interpersonal stress and at fostering interpersonal effectiveness may prove to be critical in breaking vicious circles.

Adaptation, Psychological↗