SEARCH · PubMed Health

Results for “GUILT”

Explore indexed PubMed citations for clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health research. Read source abstracts and follow each citation to its original PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 775 records · Page 43Linked to original sources

PubMed2000

The unsolved puzzle of trauma.

This paper covers the inherent difference between psychoanalysis, which deals with unconscious fantasies, and trauma, which emphasizes the psychic repercussions caused by events in external reality. This distinction has led to variations in the treatment for victims of trauma, which also reflects the duality commonly observed in this group of patients. I suggest that trauma leads to unconscious guilt and the need for exoneration because individuals identify with their fate, and that this guilt can and indeed should be analyzed. Further studies might show that dividedness predates the experience of trauma and that this mode of defense mitigates the impact of trauma.

Adult↗

PubMed1995

Parental reaction and adaptability to the prenatal diagnosis of fetal defect or genetic disease leading to pregnancy interruption.

The objective of the study was to evaluate the psychological reaction of two groups of parents to a pregnancy termination after they had undergone a prenatal diagnostic procedure. The analysis involved interviews with a study group of 76 patients who were at risk of giving birth to a child with a genetic disease or defect and a comparison group of 124 who had a pregnancy termination after a major anomaly had been detected by routine ultrasound and who were not at known risk for a genetic disease. Only patients in the study group had received counselling before the prenatal diagnosis and were aware that the fetus could be affected. The overall reaction of the comparison group was one of shock, denial of fetal abnormality, and guilt over 'abandoning the fetus'. A feeling of guilt was expressed by patients in the comparison group (73 per cent versus 29 per cent) in the period immediately following the interruption. One-third of patients in both groups felt obliged to undergo a therapeutic abortion. More patients in the study group than in the comparison group expressed the need to see a psychiatrist at the time of the study (19 per cent versus 7 per cent) and viewed future pregnancies as a replacement for the lost pregnancy (63 per cent versus 19 per cent). The recommendations of the study focus on information sessions to personnel, nursing support, analgesia during the expulsion period, an atmosphere of respect that should be present at the time that the fetus is viewed, the anticipation of mourning, and the long-term follow-up of the couple to ensure that counselling for future pregnancies and psychological support are provided when needed.

Abortion, Therapeutic↗

PubMed1979

Grief intervention and sudden infant death syndrome.

A program utilizing nurses to deliver grief intervention to parents losing a baby to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is described. Because parents of SIDS victims experience profound feelings of guilt and especially servere crisis reactions, programs relieving guilt and providing additional support to them are felt to have significant preventive potential. Data are presented tentatively supporting the conclusion that the SIDS grief intervention program had a beneficial impact on the participants. Implications for crisis theory and preventive programming in general are also discussed.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

PubMed1980

Health professionals' perceptions of the psychological consequences of abortion.

Measures of depression, guilt, and state and trait anxiety were administered to doctors, nurses, and social workers under two conditions, self-report and role play. In the role-play condition, they were asked to complete the questions as would a woman who had undergone an abortion the previous day. Half of the subjects in each group were experienced with abortion patients, and half were inexperienced students. All three professional groups expected extreme depression, guilt, and anxiety on the part of the abortion patient, when compared with their own scores. These expectations do not match the experience reported by abortion patients in this and other studies. As previously found, nurses were more extreme in their attitudes; but this is explained in terms of their self-report data, which were also more extreme on all measures.

Abortion Applicants↗

PubMed1990

Attitudinal and experiential correlates of anorgasmia.

Twenty-four orgasmic and 10 anorgasmic women, ages 21-40, provided continuous self-report measures of sexual arousal while viewing explicit videotape segments depicting a variety of sexual activities. They also completed several questionnaires designed to assess sexual attitudes, knowledge, and guilt. As compared to the orgasmic women, the anorgasmic women reported (i) greater discomfort in communicating with a partner regarding only those sexual activities involving direct clitoral stimulation, (ii) more negative attitudes toward masturbation, (iii) greater endorsement of sex myths, and (iv) greater sex guilt. Contrary to expectations, the groups failed to differ significantly on either the frequency of use of any of the sexual activities depicted or on arousal to viewing these activities. The theoretical and clinical implications of these findings are explored.

Adult↗

PubMed1992

Sexual and aggressive motives in sexually aggressive college males.

The relative contributions to sexual aggression of general sexual and aggressive motives and their respective inhibitory factors were compared. One hundred forty-three university males responded to self-report measures of sexual and aggressive drives, sex and hostility guilt, social desirability response bias, and history of coercive sexuality. With the effects of social desirability controlled, the only predictor of sexual aggression was Sex Guilt, which predicted level of force used but not intimacy of the sexual act obtained.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1978

Therapy groups for women sexually molested as children.

A neglected class of sexual assault victims consists of women who were molested as children. In response to their unmet needs, therapy groups composed solely of women who were sexually abused in their childhood have been established. The goals of these groups are twofold: (1) the alleviation of sexual guilt and shame and (2) the clarification of emotional and behavioral consequences of molestation. Ten groups have been conducted, each containing four to six members, comprising an overall total of 50 women. In 97% of the cases, a prior relationship had existed between perpetrator and victim. Treatment consisted of a four-session format. During session I, each group participant described her molestation experiences in detail. Sessions II and III focused on how these experiences have affected the women. Session IV dealt with individual stages of recovery and further treatment plans. Clinical findings included feelings of guilt and depression, negative self-image, and problems in interpersonal relationships associated with an underlying mistrust of men, inadequate social skills, and difficulties in sexual functioning. Evaluations of the therapy groups by the participants indicated that the primary curative component was the sense of identification and emotional closeness instilled by a warm and supportive environment where a common bond was shared.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

PubMed2006

Emotions during sexual activity: differences between sexually functional and dysfunctional men and women.

The present study investigated the differences in emotional response to automatic thoughts presented during sexual activity between sexually functional and dysfunctional men and women. A total of 376 participants (160 women and 120 men without sexual problems and 47 women and 49 men with a DSM-IV-TR diagnosis of sexual dysfunction) completed the Sexual Modes Questionnaire (SMQ male and female versions; P. J. Nobre & J. Pinto-Gouveia, 2000) and measures of sexual functioning: The International Index of Sexual Function (IIEF; R. C. Rosen et al., 1997), and The Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI; R. C. Rosen et al., 2000). The SMQ is a combined measure constituted by three interdependent subscales: Automatic Thought subscale (AT), Emotional Response subscale (ER), and Sexual Response subscale (SR). Emotions were assessed by the ER subscale, where participants endorsed emotional reactions (worry, sadness, disillusion, fear, guilt, shame, anger, hurt, pleasure, satisfaction) to a list of automatic thoughts (AT subscale) that may occur during sexual activity. Results showed that both men and women with sexual dysfunction had significantly less positive emotional reactions to automatic thoughts during sexual activity. Sexually dysfunctional men had significantly more emotions of sadness, disillusion, and fear, and less pleasure and satisfaction, compared to men without sexual problems. Women with sexual dysfunction had significantly less pleasure and satisfaction, and more sadness, disillusion, guilt, and anger. Findings were congruent with recent studies indicating that emotions related to depressed affect (sadness, disillusion, lack of pleasure) as opposed to negative emotions (mostly related to anxiety) were stronger correlates of sexual dysfunction.

Adult↗

PubMed1995

First-trimester multifetal pregnancy reduction: acute and persistent psychologic reactions.

OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to determine acute and persistent psychologic impacts of multifetal pregnancy reductions and patients' ability to cope with fetal loss while simultaneously bonding to surviving infants. STUDY DESIGN: The first 100 women to undergo a multifetal reduction were invited to participate in a retrospective telephone study assessing their emotional reactions and attitudes toward multifetal reduction. The semistructured interview elicited demographic and obstetric data and contained scales used in previous studies of reproductive loss, which assessed repetitive thoughts about reduced fetuses, catastrophic fears, and lingering depressive feelings. RESULTS: More than 65% of the sample recalled acute feelings of emotional pain, stress, and fear during the reduction procedure. Mourning for the lost fetuses was reported by 70% of women, but most grieved for only 1 month. Thoughts about reduced fetuses occurred moderately frequently after the reduction but rarely at follow-up. Persistent depressive symptoms were mild, although moderately severe levels of sadness and guilt continued for many. Nonetheless, 93% would make the same decision again. Emotional reactions of patients who miscarried differed little. The small subsample who continued to be most affected were younger (p < 0.02), were more religious (p < 0.003), and had viewed the multifetal pregnancy on ultrasonography more often (p < 0.009). CONCLUSIONS: Multifetal reductions, although highly stressful psychologically, are well tolerated. Sadness and guilt may persist, especially for an identifiable subgroup. Normal maternal bonding and achievement of parenthood goals facilitate grief resolution. The large majority were reconciled to the termination of some fetuses to perserve the lives of a remaining few.

Abortion, Spontaneous↗

PubMed1985

Post-traumatic stress disorders in women who experienced childhood incest.

Symptoms exhibited in a clinical population of 17 women who had experienced childhood or adolescent incest appear to fit the features of a chronic and/or delayed post-traumatic stress disorder. These women, entering individual therapy an average of 17 years after the abuse had ended, ranged in age from 24 to 44. All regarded their incest experience as the most damaging event of their lives, and had manifested, in adulthood, such symptoms as intrusive imagery of the incest, feelings of detachment or constricted affect, sleep disturbance, guilt, and intensification of symptoms when exposed to events resembling the incest trauma. Treatment included establishment of trust, expression of feelings, guilt reduction through an understanding of family dynamics and acquisition of new, adaptive behaviors.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1985

Refining DSM-III criteria in Major Depression. An assessment of the descriptive validity of criterion symptoms.

In this study we estimate the power of DSM-III Major Depression (MDD) symptoms to discriminate MDD from (1) Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) and (2) no disorder. The NIMH-DIS was administered to 319 women exposed to chronic stress (all were mothers of disabled children). Two methods were used: (1) conditional probabilities, and (2) multiple regression analysis. Symptoms had greater utility in discriminating MDD from no disorder than from GAD. 'Gained weight' and 'thinking about death' had the least efficacy in either discrimination. 'Hypersomnia' and 'insomnia' contributed to the discrimination from no disorder, whereas 'fatigue' and 'sex disinterest' discriminated MDD from GAD. 'Guilt', 'trouble concentrating', 'lost appetite' and 'wanted to die' were important in both comparisons. Despite recent emphasis on observable behaviors and physiologic measures, guilt, a subjectively experienced inner state, was the most important symptom in MDD.

Anxiety Disorders↗

PubMed2006

An examination of DSM-IV depressive symptoms and risk for suicide completion in major depressive disorder: a psychological autopsy study.

BACKGROUND: It is unclear whether certain DSM-IV depressive symptoms are more prevalent among individuals who die in the context of a major depressive episode and those who do not, whether this is associated with proximal or distal suicide risk, and whether depressive symptoms cluster to indicate suicide risk. METHOD: A psychological autopsy method with best informants was used to investigate DSM-IV depressive symptoms among 156 suicides who died in the context of a major depressive episode and 81 major depressive controls. RESULTS: Suicides' depressive symptoms were more likely to include weight or appetite loss, insomnia, feelings of worthlessness or inappropriate guilt as well as recurrent thoughts of death or suicidal ideation. Fatigue and difficulties concentrating or indecisiveness were less prevalent among depressed suicides. These associations were independent of concomitant axis I and II psychopathology. The concomitant presence of (a) fatigue as well as impaired concentration or indecisiveness and (b) weight or appetite gain and hypersomnia was associated with decreased suicide risk. Inter-episode symptom concordance suggests that insomnia is an immediate indicator of suicide risk, while weight or appetite loss and feelings of worthlessness or guilt are not. LIMITATIONS: This study employed proxy-based interviews. CONCLUSIONS: We found that discrete DSM-IV depressive symptoms and clusters of depressive symptoms help differentiate depressed individuals who die by suicide and those who do not. Moreover, some DSM-IV depressive symptoms are associated with an immediate risk for suicide, while others may result from an etiology of depression common to suicide without directly increasing suicide risk.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

An exploration of negative thoughts as a normal phenomenon after childbirth.

The period following the birth of a child brings many transitions into a woman's life, which can effect major psychological and social changes, including feelings of loss. If new mothers experience negative thoughts at this time, when societal expectations are of happiness, this may lead to feelings of unacceptability and guilt. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of negative thoughts after childbirth in nondepressed mothers. Following the identification of negative thoughts experienced by women who had suffered postnatal depression, a quantitative survey was conducted, which asked nondepressed mothers to indicate how often they experienced the negative thoughts or images identified by depressed mothers. One hundred and fifty-eight returned questionnaire packs were included in the analyses. The 158 nondepressed mothers acknowledged experiencing all but one of the 54 negative cognitions. Negative cognitions usually associated with postnatal depression are also experienced by mothers who are not considered depressed. This information provides evidence for reassuring new mothers that negative thoughts after childbirth are common. This, in turn, may help to reduce feelings of guilt associated with experiencing negative thoughts in the postpartum period.

Activities of Daily Living↗

PubMed2000

The influence of stress and state anxiety on the outcome of IVF-treatment: psychological and endocrinological assessment of Swedish women entering IVF-treatment.

BACKGROUND: Comparing stress levels in women entering IVF treatment with those of fertile controls as well as relating these levels to the outcome of IVF. METHODS: State anxiety and personality profiles as well as stress hormones were studied in 22 normally menstruating women entering IVF treatment for tubal infertility. Their personality profiles as well as state anxiety scores measured before entering IVF treatment were related to the outcome of treatment. Twenty-two fertile women served as controls. Stress markers were serum prolactin and cortisol. These were estimated by radioimmunoassay. The psychological evaluation included the Karolinska Scales of Personality (KSP) and state anxiety as measured by the STAI questionnaire. Basal FSH on cycle day 3 and E2 and P4 AUC during the luteal phase were evaluated as hormonal predictors for the outcome of IVF treatment. RESULTS: Comparison of the personality profiles of the two groups, showed that infertile women had significantly higher scores of suspicion (p>0.05), guilt (p>0.05), and hostility (p>0.01), but lower somatic anxiety (0.05) and indirect aggression (0.05) than fertile controls. The infertile women also had significantly higher levels of prolactin and cortisol throughout the menstrual cycle. Serum cortisol, prolactin and FSH levels on cycle day 3 did not differ between the women who conceived after IVF treatment and those who did not conceive. However, significant differences were found in E2 and P4 AUC (p>0.01) in the luteal phase between those women who became pregnant and those who failed. There was a trend (p<0.06) toward higher state anxiety levels among the women who did not succeed in becoming pregnant after IVF treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The main findings suggest that infertile women have a different personality profile in terms of more suspicion, guilt and hostility as compared to the fertile controls, perhaps as a response to their infertility. Their stress levels in terms of circulating prolactin and cortisol levels were elevated compared to the fertile controls. Psychological stress may affect the outcome of IVF treatment since state anxiety levels among those who did not achieve pregnancy were slightly higher than among those who became pregnant.

Adult↗

PubMed1975

Sex differences in moral internalization and values.

The subjects were fifth- and seventh-grade white middle-class children and their parents. The major moral internalization indices pertain to internal moral judgment, guilt intensity, and fear of punishment. The findings support the prevalent view that consideration for others is more salient in females. They also suggest, with considerable consistency (especially in adults) that moral transgressions are more likely to be associated with guilt in females and fear in males. No sex differences in internal moral judgment were obtained. Evidence was presented suggesting that the differences in children may be due partly to different discipline and affection patterns. It was also suggested that the results for adults as well as children might be explained by differential sex-role socialization as well as by increasing pressures on males over the life cycle to achieve and succeed, which may often conflict with concerns about the welfare of others.

Achievement↗

PubMed1989

Testing some attribution-emotion relations in the People's Republic of China.

We conducted a questionnaire study to test the generality of attribution-emotion relations to individuals in the People's Republic of China. Replications of prior findings of studies conducted with American subjects were reported: (a) High effort and success enhanced interpersonal evaluations when ability, effort, and outcome information were provided; (b) affective communications of pity, anger, and guilt were respectively used to infer low ability, lack of effort, and teacher as causes of failure; (c) effort and ability levels were inferred from the presence or absence of anger reactions; and (d) controllable causes of a broken social contract were expected to result in anger from others. Chinese and American respondents also indicated what situations would arouse the affects of anger, guilt, pity, pride, and shame. We found no evidence for the characterization of Chinese as (a) emphasizing effort over ability as a cause of achievement outcomes or (b) de-emphasizing the importance of personal achievement and stressing group goals and accomplishments.

Achievement↗

PubMed1989

Trivial persuasion in the courtroom: the power of (a few) minor details.

Investigated the influence of trivial testimonial detail on judgments of 424 undergraduates who served as mock jurors. Ss read a summary of a court case involving robbery and murder. In Experiment 1, detailed testimony influenced judgments of guilt, even when the detail was unrelated to the culprit. In Experiment 2, detailed testimony was especially powerful when an opposing witness testified that she could not remember the trivial details. Subsequent analyses suggest that the impact of detailed testimony on guilt judgments is mediated by inferences about the eyewitnesses. When eyewitnesses provided more detail, they were generally judged to be more credible, to have a better memory for the culprit's face and for details, and to have paid more attention to the culprit.

Attention↗

PubMed1993

In search of the "hot" cognitions: attributions, appraisals, and their relation to emotion.

Two studies examined the hypothesized status of appraisals, relative to attributions, as proximal antecedents of emotion. In Study 1, which looked at 6 emotions (happiness, hope-challenge, anger, guilt, fear-anxiety, and sadness), undergraduates (N = 136) reported on their attributions, appraisals, and emotions during past encounters associated with a variety of situations. In Study 2, which was focused on anger and guilt, undergraduates (N = 120) reported on these same variables in response to experimenter-supplied vignettes that systematically manipulated theoretically relevant attributions. The results of both studies indicated that the emotions were more directly related to appraisals than they were to attributions, and Study 2 provided evidence that appraisal serves as a mediator between attribution and emotional response. These findings lend support to the hypothesized status of appraisal as the most proximal cognitive antecedent of emotion.

Anger↗