Background: Previous research has consistently shown that parenting behavior and children's psychopathology such as internalizing and externalizing problems are closely interrelated. However, little is known about the impact of culture in this field.Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate parenting behaviors, childhood psychopathology, and their interrelation in Iran, representing a rather collective culture, and in Germany, representing an individualistic culture.Materials and Methods: In this comparative study, participants were 221 children from Iran and Germany, who voluntarily agreed to participate. The sample was collected between 2010 and 2011. Levels of children psychopathology were assessed, using the child depression inventory (CDI), and youth self-report (YSR) questionnaire. Parents completed children behavior check list (CBCL), and parenting scale (PS). Repeated measures ANOVAs, independent sample t-test, and Spearman correlations were used.Results: Iranian parents reported a more frequent use of parenting style of laxness when compared to German parents (P < 0.001). Furthermore, both children and parents in Iran reported more symptoms of internalizing and externalizing problems than the German sample (P < 0.001). Correlation analysis revealed a stronger relationship between over-reactivity with internalizing and externalizing symptoms in the Iranian group, while in the German sample, over-reactivity was related only to externalizing symptoms (P < 0.001).Conclusions: The study suggests that dysfunctional parenting such as over-reactivity is related to children's psychopathology across different cultures. Nonetheless, our research also provides evidence that specific parenting practices and the reported levels of childhood psychopathology differ between collective and individualistic cultures, and that culture seems to be an important factor in this field.

Objective Previous research has yielded evidence of increased attentional processing of negatively valenced body parts in women with anorexia nervosa (AN), especially for those with high depressive symptomatology. The present study extended previous research by implementing an experimental mood manipulation. Method In a within-subjects design, female adolescents with AN (n = 12) and an age matched female control group (CG; n = 12) were given a negative and a positive mood induction at a one-week interval. After each mood induction, participants underwent a 3-min mirror exposure, while their eye movements were recorded. Results After the positive mood induction, both AN and CG participants displayed longer and more frequent gazes towards their self-defined most ugly relative to their self-defined most beautiful body part. However, after the negative mood induction, only females with AN were characterized by increased attention to their most ugly compared to their most beautiful body part, while CG participants' attention distribution was balanced. Furthermore, in the negative (but not in the positive) mood induction condition gaze frequency and duration towards the most ugly body part was significantly stronger in the AN group relative to the CG. Discussion The results emphasize the role of negative mood in the maintenance of pathological information processing of the self-body. This increased body-related negativity-bias during negative mood may lead to the persistence and aggravation of AN patients' body image disturbance.

Objective Cognitive theories suggest that body dissatisfaction results from the activation of maladaptive appearance schemata, which guide mental processes such as selective attention to shape and weight-related information. In line with this, the present study hypothesized that patients with anorexia nervosa (AN) and bulimia nervosa (BN) are characterized by increased visual attention for the most dissatisfying/ugly body part compared to their most satisfying/beautiful body part, while a more balanced viewing pattern was expected for controls without eating disorders (CG). Method Eye movements were recorded in a group of patients with AN (n = 16), BN (n = 16) and a CG (n = 16) in an ecologically valid setting, i.e., during a 3-min mirror exposure. Results Evidence was found that patients with AN and BN display longer and more frequent gazes towards the most dissatisfying relative to the most satisfying and towards their most ugly compared to their most beautiful body parts, whereas the CG showed a more balanced gaze pattern. Discussion The results converge with theoretical models that emphasize the role of information processing in the maintenance of body dissatisfaction. Given the etiological importance of body dissatisfaction in the development of eating disorders, future studies should focus on the modification of the reported patterns.

Körperunzufriedenheit ist ein relevanter Faktor in der Entstehung und der Aufrechterhaltung von Essstörungen. Für das Erwachsenenalter konnte gezeigt werden, dass Emotionsregulation und Körperunzufriedenheit zusammenhängen.

Negative Emotionen sind ein häufiger Auslöser von Essanfällen bei Personen mit Binge-Eating-Störung (BES). Erste Untersuchungen haben gezeigt, dass Defizite in der Emotionsregulation (ER) den Zusammenhang von negativen Emotionen und Essanfällen mediieren. Vor diesem Hintergrund erhielten im Rahmen einer Pilotstudie 14 Frauen mit BES ein ER-Training in der Gruppe. Indikatoren für die Effektivität des Trainings waren Anzahl der Episoden und Tage mit objektiven Essanfällen, Körperunzufriedenheit, sowie Depressivität vor Studienbeginn (T0), nach 8 Wochen Wartezeit (T1) und nach dem 8-wöchigen ER-Training (T2). Während es keine Veränderungen von T0 zu T1 gab, zeigte sich eine signifikante Reduktion der Symptomatik in allen erhobenen Variablen von T1 zu T2. Die Ergebnisse der Pilotstudie unterstützen die Relevanz der ER bezüglich der Reduktion von Essanfällen und damit die Notwendigkeit gut implementierter Therapiestudien, die die Effektivität von ER-Trainings in der Veränderung der Psychopathologie der BES untersuchen. Zudem sind weitere Studien, die die Rolle der ER bei der Aufrechterhaltung der BES klären, notwendig.

Negative emotions are a frequent antecedent in the occurrence of binge eating episodes in binge eating disorder (BED). First evidence shows that emotion regulation (ER) deficits may mediate the link between negative emotions and binge eating episodes. On this background 14 females with BED were administered an ER training in group format. Indicators for the effectiveness of the training were number of episodes and days with objective binge eating episodes, body dissatisfaction as well as depression at study entry (T0), after a waiting period of 8 weeks (T1) and after 8-week ER training (T2). While there were no differences from T0 to T1, there was a significant reduction of symptoms in all assessed variables from T1 to T2. The results of the pilot study undermine the relevance of ER in the reduction of binge eating episodes and thereby the necessity of thoroughly implemented treatment studies assessing the efficacy of ER trainings in the modification of the psychopathology of BED. Furthermore, studies clarifying the role of ER in the maintenance of BED are needed.

Background: Internalizing and externalizing disorders in children and adolescents have been described in many countries. This study was performed to better understand the effect of culture on emotion regulation, and aimed to identify the relationship between emotion regulation and psychopathology in children. Methods: Participants were 269 children from Iran and Germany who voluntarily agreed to participate. Groups were defined by cultural background, Participants completed the Children Emotion Management Scale (CEMS), Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (CERQ), and the Youth self-report YSR questionnaires. Data were analyzed using Multivariate Analysis of Variance (MANOVA) with post-hoc Scheffe tests conducted to identify the exact nature of group differences. Results: There were significant main effect of country (P < 0.001) and sex (P = 0.003). For CEMS, but no significant interaction For CERQ there was a significant main effect of country (P <0.001), but no main effect of sex nor an interaction. MANOVA analyses for internalizing and externalizing symptoms as measured by the YSR indicated significant main effects of country and sex, but the interaction did not reach significance (P=0.088). Conclusions: A main result of the study showed that children in Iran report more internalizing and externalizing symptoms. Culture and emotional expression may explain differences between Iranian and German children. It seems to be difficult for young children in Iran to express themselves, this may be because they are expected to show respect to maintain harmony in the family.

Shame is related to several mental disorders. We assume that facets of shame, namely bodily, cognitive and existential shame, may occur in typical patterns in mental and personality disorders. An excessive level of shame may lead to psychopathological symptoms. However, a lack of shame may also lead to distress, for instance as it may facilitate violation of social norms and thus may promote interpersonal problems. In this study we investigated facets of shame in females suffering from various mental disorders and personality disorders presumably associated with specific aspects of shame. Women suffering from borderline personality disorder (BPD, n=92), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD, n=86), major depressive disorder (MDD, n=17), social anxiety disorder (SAD, n=33), and a community sample (COM, n=290) completed the SHAME questionnaire, which is a newly developed instrument to assess adaptive and maladaptive aspects of shame. BPD patients reported the highest level of existential shame compared to all other groups. Compared to the controls, SAD patients displayed stronger bodily and cognitive shame, and ADHD showed lower bodily shame. As assumed, specific aspects of shame were found in different patient groups. It may be important to specifically address these specific aspects of shame in psychotherapy.

Background: Shame is connected to different mental disorders, but seems to have a positive impact on the acceptance of social norms and self-regulation. Notably, shame is a relevant emotion for borderline personality disorder (BPD). Objective: Can one instrument assess positive and negative aspects of shame? Methods: Based on scientific literature, the questionnaire SHAME was developed. An item analysis was conducted (Sample 1) and the questionnaire was tested with a community sample (Sample 2) and BPD patients (Sample 3). It includes bodily and cognitive shame as adaptive subscales and existential shame, developed to measure pathological-dysfunctional shame. Results: A validation study (N=506) showed good reliability and stable factor structure. Women reached an overall higher shame level than men. Overall and especially concerning existential shame, a significant difference appeared between healthy women and female BPD patients. Conclusions: The idea of existential shame as a maladaptive aspect of shame is underpinned. The moderate scores of bodily and cognitive shame in Sample 2 support their meaning as functional aspects of shame.

Hintergrund: Scham wird mit unterschiedlichen psychischen Störungen, insbesondere mit der Borderline-Persönlichkeitsstörung (BPS), aber auch mit der Einhaltung sozialer Normen und der Selbstregulation in Zusammenhang gebracht. Fragestellung: Können mit einem Instrument positive wie negative Schamaspekte erfasst werden? Methode: Ein Fragebogen (SHAME) wurde entwickelt, der körperliche und kognitive Scham als adaptive sowie existenzielle Scham als pathologisch-dysfunktionale Subskala konzipiert und itemanalytisch (Stichprobe 1) überprüft, sowie an Gesunden (Stichprobe 2) und BPS-Patientinnen (Stichprobe 3) getestet. Ergebnisse: In einer Validierungsstudie (N= 506, Stichprobe 2) weist der SHAME gute Reliabilität sowie eine stabile Faktorstruktur auf. Frauen berichteten insgesamt höhere Schamwerte als Männer. Im Vergleich zu gesunden Frauen erreichten BPS-Patientinnen insgesamt und insbesondere hinsichtlich existenzieller Scham höhere Werte. Schlussfolgerungen: Der Fragebogen SHAME erscheint geeignet für die Erfassung verschiedener Schamaspekte. Dabei kann durch existenzielle Scham ein dysfunktionaler Schamaspekt abgebildet werden, wohingegen die mittleren Ausprägungen körperlicher und kognitiver Scham in Stichprobe zwei auf funktionale Aspekte hindeuten.

Mirror exposure is an efficient treatment for body image problems in eating disorders. Although habituation processes and cognitive changes are postulated to be underlying mechanisms, evidence is scarce, especially during repeated mirror exposure treatment. Fourteen participants with eating disorders not otherwise specified (EDNOS) and five with bulimia nervosa (BN) composed the bulimic group (BG), and 19 healthy women without any mental disorder composed the healthy controls group (HC). The participants were treated by four standardized mirror exposure sessions. Subjective distress was assessed five times during each session. Both negative and positive emotions and negative thoughts were assessed after each session. The patients in the BG reported significantly higher levels of negative emotions and cognitions than did those in the HC in all measures and across all sessions. In both groups, subjective distress increased significantly within each session and decreased toward the end of each session. Only in the subjects of the BG group did both distress and negative thoughts and emotions decrease significantly from session to session, whereas positive emotions increased. The patterns of change differed between the BG and the HC, suggesting that habituation between sessions occurred only in the BG. Our findings suggest that the additional underlying cognitive affective processes merit further investigation. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The present study examined predictors of treatment outcome among children and adolescents with social anxiety disorder (SAD). Seventy-five participants (8-13 years) participated in a 12-session cognitive behavioral group treatment (CBT). Potential predictors were the pre-treatment severity of anxious symptoms assessed from both the child's and parent's perspective as well as depressive symptoms (child report only) and general emotional distress in parent (parent self-report). Furthermore, the relationship between treatment outcome and child's self-reported pre-post changes in self-consciousness and maladaptive anxiety regulation was investigated. Pre-treatment level of social anxiety reported by the child was a significant predictor for outcome, i.e. children with higher levels of social anxiety at pretreatment reported a greater reduction in social anxiety at post-treatment. Reduction in self-consciousness and maladaptive anxiety regulation both predicted reduction in social anxiety, although not independently. The results suggest that tailoring intervention to include strategies for emotion regulation of anxiety may improve treatment outcome.

Using an experimental design, we analysed differences in the occurrence of cognitive-evaluative distortions and performance deficits across children with social anxiety disorder, with subclinical anxiety and without any anxiety symptoms. Twenty-one children with full syndrome social phobia, 18 children with partial syndrome social phobia and 20 children without any symptoms of social phobia were compared with respect to their degree of anxiety, negative thinking and task performance during two social-evaluative tasks. In addition, self-ratings of task performance, performance estimations for other children and objective behavioural ratings by two independent observers were obtained. Children with social anxiety disorder and subclinical social anxiety showed higher degrees of experienced anxiety and negative thinking than healthy control children. There was no group difference in respect to actual task performance. Findings are discussed with regard to the continuum assumption of childhood social anxiety disorder and the need of well-adapted early interventions.

Zusammenfassung. Theoretischer Hintergrund: Empirische Befunde zeigen, dass körperbezogenes Kontrollverhalten und die zugrunde liegenden Kognitionen eine zentrale Rolle in der Aufrechterhaltung von Essstörungspsychopathologie spielen. Fragestellung: Eine deutschsprachige Version der Body Checking Cognitions Scale (BCCS) soll teststatistisch überprüft werden. Methode: Frauen mit Anorexia Nervosa (n = 19), Bulimia Nervosa (n = 22) und Binge-Eating Störung (n = 28) sowie eine weibliche nicht-klinische Vergleichsgruppe (n = 195) füllten die BCCS sowie weitere Fragebögen zur Essstörungspsychopathologie aus. Ergebnisse: Das 4-Faktorenmodell der englischsprachigen Originalversion zeigte in Faktorenanalysen die beste Passung. Die deutschsprachige BCCS erwies sich als intern konsistent und zeigte eine zufriedenstellende konvergente und diskriminante Validität. Schlussfolgerungen: Die deutschsprachige BCCS ist ein reliabler und valider Selbstbeurteilungsfragebogen. Sie stellt ein vielversprechendes Instrument zum Einsatz in der Essstörungstherapie und -forschung dar.

Prevention of Social Anxiety Disorder in Children and Adolescents: Necessary or Needless?With respect to the symptoms and course of social anxiety and social anxiety disorders the following review shows that there is a strong need for programs that may prevent social anxieties or social anxiety disorders. The review summarizes the research literature regarding the effectiveness of different approaches aimed to prevent social anxiety or social anxiety disorders.

In dem vorliegenden Überblicksbeitrag wird zunächst anhand der Symptomatik und des Verlaufs sozialer Ängste und sozialer Phobien vom Kindes- und Jugendalter bis hin zum Erwachsenenalter deutlich gemacht, dass es notwendig ist, wirksame Präventionsprogramme zu entwickeln, um soziale Ängste von Kindern und Jugendlichen bereits frühzeitig zu reduzieren bzw. einer Chronifizierung und Verschlimmerung entgegenzuwirken. Darauf aufbauend wird der Stand der Forschung zur Prävention sozialer Ängste bzw. sozialer Phobien im Kindes- und Jugendalter vorgestellt und bewertet.

Background: Body checking and its underlying dysfunctional cognitions have been shown to play a key role in the maintenance of eating disorder psychopathology. Objective: A German version of the Body Checking Cognitions Scale (BCCS) was statistically validated. Method: Patients with anorexia nervosa (n = 19), bulimia nervosa (n = 22) and binge-eating disorder (n = 28) as well as a matched nonclinical comparison group (n = 195) completed the BCCS as well as several other questionnaires on eating disorder psychopathology. Results: The four factor structure reported for the English BCCS showed the best fit in the German sample. The German version of the BCCS was highly internally consistent and proved to have satisfactory convergent and discriminant validity. Conclusions: The German BCCS is a reliable and valid instrument with high promise for the study of the psychopathology and treatment of eating disorders.