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Healthcare
Special Issues
Psychological Diagnosis and Treatment of People with Mental Disorders
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Psychological Diagnosis and Treatment of People with Mental Disorders

A special issue of Healthcare (ISSN 2227-9032). This special issue belongs to the section "Health Assessments".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 January 2026 | Viewed by 3781

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Michał Lew-Starowicz

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Psychiatry, Centre of Postgraduate Medical Education, 01-809 Warsaw, Poland
Interests: binge eating disorder; compulsive sexual behavior disorder; schizophrenia
Dr. Paweł Larionow

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor Assistant
Faculty of Psychology, Kazimierz Wielki University, 85-064 Bydgoszcz, Poland
Interests: environmental psychology; health psychology; methodology; psychological assessment; psychosomatic medicine
Dr. Karolina Mudło-Głagolska

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor Assistant
Faculty of Psychology, Kazimierz Wielki University, 85-064 Bydgoszcz, Poland
Interests: mental health; passion; psychological assessment; well-being
Dr. Magdalena Gawrych

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor Assistant
Institute of Psychology, The Maria Grzegorzewska University, 02-353 Warsaw, Poland
Interests: epidemiology; public mental health; psychological interventions; nature-based interventions

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Mental disorders are one of the most significant problems of public health. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), globally, 1 out of 8 people suffers from a mental illness. The WHO’s Comprehensive Mental Health Action Plan 2013–2030 highlights, among others, the need for strengthening evidence-based research for mental health as well as implementing strategies for its promotion and prevention. With this in mind, we are pleased to invite scholars to contribute to our Special Issue dedicated to the psychological diagnosis and treatment of people with mental disorders.

Our Special Issue aims at providing the scientific community with new insights into conceptualisation, assessment, treatment, and prevention of mental illnesses and other clinical conditions, with the focus on their interdisciplinary nature. Given the critical role of sexual health in mental health issues, contributions that investigate these topics are welcome.

Research areas may include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Conceptualisation of various emotional constructs in psychopathology;
  • Emotional functioning (e.g., emotion regulation) in mental disorders;
  • Etiology, transdiagnostic risk factors (e.g., alexithymia), and prevention of mental disorders;
  • Examining premorbidity of mental health issues;
  • Innovative psychological interventions (e.g., mindfulness and nature-based interventions);
  • Investigating links between mental health and sexual well-being;
  • Prevalence and comorbidity of mental health disorders;
  • Psychological interventions strengthening resources of people suffering from mental health problems;
  • Researching changes in psychosocial functioning in the course of diagnosis and treatment;
  • Revealing psychological mechanisms triggering mental disorders;
  • Screening and psychological assessment of mental health problems;
  • The role of positive and negative psychological factors in mental health outcomes;
  • Theory and practice of new approaches for understanding and treatment of mental disorders;
  • Transdiagnostic treatment of emotional disorders.

We are interested in acquiring high-quality and leading-edge research in the field. Most common article types (e.g., original research articles, reviews, opinions, and perspectives) are welcome. Submissions should be prepared in compliance with rigorous methodological and ethical standards. We look forward to receiving insightful contributions.

Prof. Dr. Michał Lew-Starowicz
Guest Editor

Dr. Paweł Larionow
Dr. Karolina Mudło-Głagolska
Dr. Magdalena Gawrych
Guest Editor Assistants

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Healthcare is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • etiology of mental illnesses
  • mental health disorders
  • psychological assessment
  • psychological interventions
  • treatment of mental health issues

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

16 pages, 1251 KiB  
Article
Effectiveness of Psychotherapy for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in Subjects Suffering from Traumatic Brain Injuries After Motor Vehicle Accidents
by Agnieszka Popiel, Beata Banaszak, Ewa Pragłowska and Bogdan Zawadzki
Healthcare 2025, 13(10), 1194; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13101194 - 20 May 2025
Viewed by 72
Abstract
Background and Objectives: PTSD and traumatic brain injury (TBI) frequently co-occur in survivors of combat exposure, blasts, assaults, or motor vehicle accidents (MVAs), yet the impact of TBI on the psychotherapy outcomes for PTSD, especially in civilians, remains underexplored and frequently underestimated. Methods [...] Read more.
Background and Objectives: PTSD and traumatic brain injury (TBI) frequently co-occur in survivors of combat exposure, blasts, assaults, or motor vehicle accidents (MVAs), yet the impact of TBI on the psychotherapy outcomes for PTSD, especially in civilians, remains underexplored and frequently underestimated. Methods: This study focused on analysis of the effectiveness of psychotherapies (trauma-focused: prolonged exposure (PE); non-trauma-focused: self-efficacy-focused cognitive therapy (SEF-CT)) in individuals with PTSD, comparing those with and without TBIs. The data of 45 PTSD patients with TBIs were drawn from a clinical trial cohort, with a total of 134 completing treatment. PTSD symptoms were assessed pre- and post-treatment using CAPS-5 and PDS-5. Cognitive functioning was measured via tests of fluid and crystallized intelligence. ANCOVA models examined the level of post-treatment PTSD symptoms with the control of pretreatment symptoms and the effects of TBI, treatment type, gender, age, education, time since the MVA, and level of cognitive functioning. Results: Both psychotherapies were equally effective in reducing PTSD symptoms, regardless of TBI status. The early initiation of treatment predicted better outcomes in non-TBI patients but not in those with TBIs. The TBI participants who began treatment earlier exhibited lower fluid intelligence scores, suggesting mild cognitive impairments that may have moderated the therapy benefits. Conclusions: Patients with PTSD and TBIs can benefit from both trauma-focused and non-trauma-focused CBT. While earlier intervention is beneficial for patients with PTSD alone, cognitive impairments may reduce this advantage in those with TBIs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Psychological Diagnosis and Treatment of People with Mental Disorders)
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20 pages, 1565 KiB  
Article
Effectiveness of Frequency-Specific Microcurrent (FSM) Therapy and Relaxation in Adults with Distress: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial
by M. Graça Pereira, Ana Mónica Machado, Margarida Vilaça, Susana Faria, Isabela Monteiro and Martim Santos
Healthcare 2025, 13(10), 1151; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13101151 - 15 May 2025
Viewed by 271
Abstract
Background: Somatic symptoms of stress are a major concern among the general population, given their severity and overall burden. Objectives: This pilot randomized controlled study (RCT) aimed to assess the effectiveness of frequency-specific microcurrent (FSM) therapy alone (experimental group 1 [EG1]) and combined [...] Read more.
Background: Somatic symptoms of stress are a major concern among the general population, given their severity and overall burden. Objectives: This pilot randomized controlled study (RCT) aimed to assess the effectiveness of frequency-specific microcurrent (FSM) therapy alone (experimental group 1 [EG1]) and combined with a relaxation intervention (experimental group 2 [EG2]), compared to a relaxation intervention alone (active control group [ACG]) and combined with placebo (passive control group [PCG]), to determine the need for a future definitive RCT. Methods: Participants with clinically significant levels of stress were recruited and assessed at three moments (i.e., baseline assessment [T0], at the end of six sessions [T1], and at the end of 12 sessions [T2]) on somatic symptoms and satisfaction with life (primary outcomes), perceived stress, emotional distress, emotional states, and emotion regulation (secondary outcomes). A total of 85 participants completed T0, of whom 58 were randomized into four groups. Results: Using linear mixed models, differences between groups revealed that the participants receiving FSM therapy reported fewer somatic symptoms and negative emotions than those who received relaxation, at T1. Within-group analysis showed that somatic symptoms and satisfaction with life significantly improved after six or twelve sessions of FSM therapy as well as after relaxation. There were also significant improvements in perceived stress, emotional distress, emotion regulation, and emotional states (negative emotions, self-efficacy, and serenity), after six and/or 12 sessions of FSM therapy or relaxation. Conclusions: The results suggest that FSM may be a promising treatment for addressing somatic complaints and negative emotional states, supporting the implementation of a definitive RCT. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Psychological Diagnosis and Treatment of People with Mental Disorders)
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16 pages, 1580 KiB  
Article
Disconnecting from Difficult Emotions in Times of Crisis: The Role of Self-Compassion and Experiential Avoidance in the Link Between Perceived COVID-19 Threat and Adjustment Disorder Severity
by Paweł Holas, Aleksandra Juszczyk, Jan Wardęszkiewicz, Joseph Ciarrochi and Steven C. Hayes
Healthcare 2025, 13(8), 934; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13080934 - 18 Apr 2025
Viewed by 888
Abstract
Objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted mental health worldwide. This study investigated the relationship between perceived COVID-19 threat and adjustment disorder (AjD) severity, examining self-compassion (SC) and experiential avoidance (EA) as potential moderators. Additionally, cluster analysis—a statistical method for grouping individuals based [...] Read more.
Objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted mental health worldwide. This study investigated the relationship between perceived COVID-19 threat and adjustment disorder (AjD) severity, examining self-compassion (SC) and experiential avoidance (EA) as potential moderators. Additionally, cluster analysis—a statistical method for grouping individuals based on similar psychological characteristics—was employed to identify distinct profiles of SC and EA and their associations with AjD, depression, and anxiety symptoms. Methods: A sample of 308 participants meeting AjD criteria completed measures assessing AjD severity (ADNM-20), depression (PHQ-9), anxiety (GAD-7), SC, EA, and perceived threat of COVID-19. Moderation analyses were performed using the PROCESS macro. Cluster analysis identified profiles based on SC and EA scores, with clusters compared on AjD, PHQ, and GAD symptom severity. Results: SC and EA moderated the relationship between perceived COVID-19 threat and AjD severity. Interestingly, individuals with high EA and low SC exhibited no significant association between perceived threat and AjD symptoms. Cluster analysis revealed four distinct profiles: (1) high SC and low EA, (2) average SC and EA, (3) low SC and low EA, and (4) low SC and high EA. Participants in the high SC/low EA cluster reported significantly lower levels of AjD, depression, and anxiety symptoms compared to those in the low SC/high EA cluster, who exhibited the highest symptom severity across all measures. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that individuals who relied on experiential avoidance and lacked self-compassion experienced less emotional distress related to pandemic-related worries, potentially shielding themselves from acute AjD symptoms. However, this strategy was associated with greater emotional distress, as those with high AE and SC exhibited more symptoms of AjD, depression, and anxiety. In contrast, individuals with low AE and high SC demonstrated significantly better psychological well-being. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Psychological Diagnosis and Treatment of People with Mental Disorders)
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19 pages, 682 KiB  
Article
A Screening Measure of Emotion Regulation Difficulties: Polish Norms and Psychometrics of the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale-8 (DERS-8)
by Paweł Larionow, Monika Mazur and Karolina Mudło-Głagolska
Healthcare 2025, 13(4), 432; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13040432 - 18 Feb 2025
Viewed by 734
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Difficulties in emotion regulation (DER) serve as a transdiagnostic risk factor for a wide range of emotion-based psychopathologies, including anxiety and depression disorders. This study presents a report on the psychometrics of the eight-item Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale-8 (DERS-8) and the [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Difficulties in emotion regulation (DER) serve as a transdiagnostic risk factor for a wide range of emotion-based psychopathologies, including anxiety and depression disorders. This study presents a report on the psychometrics of the eight-item Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale-8 (DERS-8) and the development of its Polish norms. Methods: The sample comprised 1329 Polish adults aged 18–73, with 907 females, 384 males, 36 non-binary, and 2 people with an unidentifiable gender. The participants filled out a series of self-report questionnaires on DER, anxiety and depression symptoms, and well-being. Factor structure and measurement invariance, as well as discriminant validity of the DERS-8, were tested with confirmatory factor analysis. Convergent and divergent validity was assessed via relationships with negative and positive mental health outcomes. Internal consistency reliability was evaluated with alpha and omega coefficients. Demographic differences were also examined. Results: Our empirical evidence supported the strong psychometrics of the Polish DERS-8, including its good level of internal consistency reliability (i.e., 0.89) and strong validity. The one-factor DERS-8 model had a good fit, with its supported scalar invariance between a set of demographic variables and levels of mental health outcomes. DERS-8 scores were strong positive predictors of anxiety and depression symptoms and negative predictors of well-being, emphasizing the potential detrimental effects of DER on the dual continuum of mental health and mental illness. Conclusions: The Polish DERS-8 has strong psychometric properties. Given the development of its percentile rank norms, the scale can be used as a good screening measure of DER in the Polish adult sample. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Psychological Diagnosis and Treatment of People with Mental Disorders)
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18 pages, 1257 KiB  
Article
Severity Benchmarks for the Level of Personality Functioning Scale—Brief Form 2.0 (LPFS-BF 2.0) in Polish Adults
by Karolina Juras, Mateusz Mendrok, Janusz Pach and Marcin Moroń
Healthcare 2025, 13(3), 340; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13030340 - 6 Feb 2025
Viewed by 1074
Abstract
Background/Objectives: The Level of Personality Functioning Scale—Brief Form 2.0 (LPFS-BF 2.0) is a self-report screening measure of personality impairments according to the DSM-5 Alternative Model for Personality Disorders and the ICD-11 classification of personality disorders. Nevertheless, reliable cut-off scores that could help in [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: The Level of Personality Functioning Scale—Brief Form 2.0 (LPFS-BF 2.0) is a self-report screening measure of personality impairments according to the DSM-5 Alternative Model for Personality Disorders and the ICD-11 classification of personality disorders. Nevertheless, reliable cut-off scores that could help in clinical decision making are still lacking for many populations. The aim of this study was to develop severity benchmarks of the LPFS-BF 2.0 for a Polish population based on the item response theory (IRT) approach. Methods: A sample of Polish adults (n = 530) took part in the study. The participants assessed their personality functioning and pathological personality traits and provided information about psychiatric diagnosis and psychotherapy seeking. The severity benchmarks were developed using IRT and validated using mean and frequency comparisons between groups of different personality impairments according to the developed cut-offs. Results: Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) supported a unidimensional model of the LPFS-BF 2.0. The graded IRT model indicated satisfactory item functioning for all LPFS-BF 2.0 items. The normative observed score thresholds at different latent severity levels of personality impairments were developed, and significant overall differences were found between the LPFS-BF 2.0 norm-based severity benchmarks in pathological personality traits and psychotherapy seeking. Conclusions: The IRT-based cut-offs for the LPFS-BF 2.0 identified individuals high on pathological personality traits (particularly disinhibition) and were predictive of psychotherapy seeking. The developed severity benchmarks allow for the interpretation of LPFS-BF 2.0 scores, supporting clinical diagnosis and relevant decision making in the Polish population. Practical implications for healthcare practice and research are being discussed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Psychological Diagnosis and Treatment of People with Mental Disorders)
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