Natalia Szejko

Introduction: Rape and pedophilic child molestation are the most commonly convicted sexual offenses in Poland. Recent studies have suggested a possible genetic contribution toward pathologic sexual interests and behaviors. Aim: To analyze and compare functional polymorphisms of genes associated with the activity of the serotonin and dopamine systems in a group of paraphilic sexual offenders and control subjects. Methods: The study sample (n ¼ 97) consisted of two groups: paraphilic sexual offenders (65 pedophilic child molesters and 32 rapists) and controls (n ¼ 76). Genetic polymorphisms previously associated with behavioral control, addictive behaviors, and sexual functions were chosen for analyses. Specifically, functional poly-morphisms in dopamine receptors genes (DRD1, DRD2, DRD4), catechol-O-methyltransferase gene (COMT), dopamine transporter gene (DAT), serotonin transporter gene (SLC6A4), serotonin type 2A receptor gene (5HTR2A), tryptophan hydroxylase 2 gene (TPH2), monoamine oxidase A gene (MAOA), and brain-derived neurotrophic factor gene (BDNF) were analyzed. Main Outcome Measures: An association between a history of sexual offense and the distribution of genotypes and alleles in the analyzed polymorphisms. Results: Our results found no association between a history of sexual offense and the distribution of genotypes or alleles in the analyzed polymorphisms. Conclusion: Although these results are limited by the small sample and are exploratory, they highlight a novel approach to sample selection in a population that is difficult to access and study. Future research should include larger samples and other relevant polymorphisms to advance this field of study.

• Inter-and intrapersonal emotional processes in individuals with alcohol use disorder and healthy controls was assessed. • Deficits in identification and description of their own emotions were recognized in individuals with alcohol use disorder. • Groups did not differ in self-reported recognition of other people's emotions, social skills, and mental states recognition. • Specific rather than general emotion-processing deficits in individuals with alcohol use disorder were identified. • The results suggest problems with processing of intrapersonal emotional signals in patients with alcohol use disorder. Introduction: Prior work largely confirms the presence of various emotional processing deficits among individuals with an alcohol use disorder (AUD); however, their specificity and relevance still warrant investigation. The aim of the current study was to compare selected aspects of emotional processing (i.e., mental state recognition, alexithymia, and emotional intelligence) between individuals treated for an AUD and healthy individuals. Methods: The AUD sample consisted of 92 abstinent men with AUD who were participating in an 8-week in-patient abstinence-based treatment program in Warsaw, Poland. The healthy control (HC) group consisted of 86 men recruited from the Medical University of Warsaw and the Nowowiejski Hospital administrative staff. Baseline information about demographics, psychopathological symptoms, and severity of alcohol problems was obtained. Mental states recognition was assessed using the Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test (RMET). Alexithymia was measured with the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20). The Schutte Self-Report Emotional Intelligence Test (SSEIT) was used to measure emotional intelligence (EI). Results and conclusions: After accounting for potentially confounding variables (demographics, severity of depression , anxiety symptoms) in MANCOVA models, patients with AUD presented deficits in identification and description of their own emotional states, as well as lower emotion regulation skills when compared to HCs. No between-group differences were observed in self-reported recognition of other people's emotions, social skills, and a behavioral measure of mental states recognition. Specific rather than general emotion-processing deficits in participants with AUD were identified, suggesting problems with processing of intrapersonal emotional signals.

Clinical characteristics and the prevalence of psychogenic tics (PT) METHODS: 268 consecutively examined patients aged 4 to 54 years (221 men, 47 females; 134 children, 134 adults) with tic phenotype: Gilles de la Tourette syndrome (GTS, n = 255), chronic motor tics (n = 6), chronic vocal tics (n= 1), transient tics (n = 1), tics unclassified (n = 2), PT (n= 5) were analyzed. The diagnosis of tic disorders was made on the DSM-IV-TR criteria and mental disorders by psychiatrists. PT were found in 5 patients (1.9%), aged 17 to 51 years, four men and one woman. The phenotype included vocalizations and complex movements. In none of the patients simple motor facial tics, inability to tic suppress, unchanging clinical pattern, peak severity from the beginning of the disease, lack of concern about the disease were present. The absence of premonitory urges, regression in unexpected positions, and the presence of atypical for GTS mental disorders were found in two persons. PT occurred in thr...