Purpose: Most stroke patients require long-term care of their family members. Excessive care burden entails several negative consequences; therefore, the severity of the burden should be periodically assessed. For this purpose, valid multidimensional measures are needed. Our study, which is a part of a larger research project, aims to translate and evaluate the psychometric properties of the Polish Caregiver Burden Scale (CBS) in relation to construct validity and internal consistency in caregivers of the patients after stroke. Patients and Methods: The sample of this cross-sectional observational study consisted of 366 informal caregivers to consecutive first-ever stroke survivors. The five-factor Polish CBS and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) were administered during the home visits at three to six months after patients’ hospitalisation. Exploratory (EFA), confirmatory (CFA) factor analyses and a net analysis were performed to investigate the internal structure and a factorial construct validity of the CBS. Correlation analyses between the CBS and the HADS were carried out to examine convergent validity. Cronbach’s alpha and item-total correlation were applied to assess internal consistency. Results: Three out of five factors identified by EFA were similar to the original indices of the CBS, while the remaining two deviated from the original structure of the CBS. The CFA five-factor model represented an acceptable fit (confirmatory fit index, CFI = 0.96, root mean square error, RMSEA = 0.04) but only after a modification. All subscale scores of the CBS were positively correlated with the HADS, supporting the convergent validity. Cronbach’s alpha coefficients for the overall scale (0.92) and all subscales (0.72– 0.87) except one (0.69) and item-total correlation results indicated good internal consistency. Conclusion: The Polish version of the CBS showed acceptable internal consistency and good convergent validity. Factorial validity and structural integrity were partially supported. The interrelationships between the CBS subdomains, their partial mutual contamination, and the scale’s non-orthogonal structure should be considered when interpreting the results of further studies using this version of the scale.

Fear and anxiety during dental visits are common issues that can lead to avoidance of appointments and deterioration of oral health. Effectively managing patients’ emotions during dental treatments is crucial to improving their experiences, increasing adherence to regular visits, and achieving better treatment outcomes. This study aimed to assess the levels of fear and anxiety in patients undergoing hygiene treatments utilizing Guided Biofilm Therapy (GBT) and identify factors that could reduce these negative emotions. A total of 247 patients were evaluated using standardized questionnaires (MDAS, STAI X1, STAI X2, and Gatchel), custom questions, and heart rate monitoring as a physiological stress indicator. Clinical factors, including dental status confirmed by AI-based radiographic analysis (Diagnocat system), as well as sociodemographic influences, were analyzed. Results indicated significant reductions in fear and anxiety after the procedure, as shown by both heart rate and questionnaire scores. Factors such as pain, the presence of caries, and implants were linked to higher anxiety, while strategies like avoiding visible needles and postprocedure interaction with staff were associated with lower stress levels. The findings underscore the importance of personalized care and emotional support to enhance patient experiences.

Background: Severe mental disorders, including affective disorders (AD), are associated with high rates of physical illnesses that lead to premature patient death. Excess somatic comorbidity may be partially explained by lifestyle factors. This study aimed to investigate the health behaviours (HBs) of patients with AD in comparison to the HBs of patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and healthy controls (HCs) and to examine associations among HBs and sociodemographic and clinical factors, subjective quality of life and health status, and health locus of control. Methods: The sample consisted of 108 patients with AD, including 60 with bipolar disorder (BP) and 48 with unipolar disorder (UAD). Analyses included comparisons with a subgroup of AD individuals, patients with T2D and HCs matched in age and sex. The Health Behaviour Inventory was used to evaluate the overall levels of HBs and 4 HB categories. To identify independent determinants of health behaviours, a multivariate linear regression analysis was performed with factors identified as significant in bivariate analyses. Results: Most AD patients had a low level of HBs (40%), followed by moderate (35%) and high levels (25%), and there were no significant differences in HBs between the BP and UAD groups. Compared with the T2D and HC groups, the AD group had a significantly lower level of overall HBs and lower levels of HBs in one of the categories. Independent predictors of overall HBs were quality of life (β = 0.28, p < 0.001), age (β = 0.27, p = 0.002), and depressive symptoms (β = 0.23, p = 0.008). A total of 30% of the variance in HBs was explained. Conclusions: These findings emphasise the need for a systematic assessment of single and multiple health behaviours to provide better care for patients with AD and reduce the potential adverse effects of an unhealthy lifestyle.

Background: Dental anxiety is a significant barrier to dental care, leading to avoidance behaviors and compromised oral health. This study aimed to analyze fear and anxiety during dental hygiene visits with Guided Biofilm Therapy (GBT), focusing on gender differences in psychological and physiological responses to develop a more personalized approach to dental care. Methods: A total of 247 patients participated in this study. Psychological assessments included the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS) and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI X2), while physiological responses were measured through heart rate monitoring before and after procedures. Multivariate regression analysis was conducted to identify predictors of anxiety levels. Results: Multivariate regression analysis identified gender, sensory sensitivity (e.g., absence of tools in the field of view), past traumatic dental experiences, and individual preferences for anxiety reduction as significant predictors of anxiety levels. Gender differences were also observed in anxiety management strategies, with women more frequently preferring the elimination of sensory triggers and direct communication with dental professionals. Conclusions: The findings highlight the importance of personalized anxiety management protocols in dentistry. Tailored communication strategies, optimized clinical environments, and individualized pre- and post-procedure care plans can enhance patient experience and treatment acceptance. Implementing such patient-centered, data-driven approaches aligns with the broader principles of precision medicine in dental care.

Background and Aims: During last decades several studies on negative symptoms (NS) have been performed in first episode of schizophrenia (FES). H |

Aim of the study: In bipolar disorder (BD), evidence for both cognitive impairment and deficit in emotion recognition has been found. Several investigations indicate that cognition and face processing can be interrelated. In this study, we assessed the correlations between cognitive functioning...