Nuevas pruebas de validez y confiabilidad de la escala reducida del Cuestionario de Imagen Corporal (BSQ-8D) en una muestra de mujeres mexicanas / New evidence about reliability and validity of the short version of the Body Shape Questionnaire (BSQ-8D) in a Sample of Mexican Women

Resumen: Antecedentes: El Cuestionario de Imagen Corporal (BSQ, por sus siglas en inglés) se ha utilizado ampliamente en población clínica y general destacando su carácter unidimensional para la medida de la insatisfacción corporal. Diversas investigaciones han generado hasta 10 versiones cortas basadas en reducciones del BSQ-34. Sin embargo, hasta el momento ninguna de ellas ha sido sometida a pruebas de confiabilidad y validez en muestras independientes. Objetivo: Analizar la estructura interna del BSQ-8D y su relación con los tres factores del Test de Actitudes Alimentarias (EAT-26, por sus siglas en inglés), así como la fiabilidad obtenida con un diseño de consistencia interna y otro de estabilidad temporal en una muestra de mujeres universitarias. Método: Participaron 492 mujeres universitarias quienes contestaron el BSQ-8D y el EAT-26. Resultados: El análisis factorial confirmatorio corroboró la estructura unidimensional del BSQ-8D. La consistencia interna fue adecuada, con α =.91 y ω = .89, así como la confiabilidad test-retest con un CCI = .80. La correlación entre las puntuaciones obtenidas de esta versión del BSQ y el EAT-26 fue de .56 y con sus factores fue .58 para Dieta, .33 para Bulimia y Preocupación por la Comida y .26 para Control Oral. Conclusiones: Estos hallazgos aportan evidencia empírica independiente que apoya la unidimensionalidad, la confiabilidad y la relación con las actitudes hacia la comida del BSQ-8D. Para fortalecer la solidez de esta versión del BSQ-8D hace falta recolectar datos en muestra clínica y en muestras de varones con y sin trastornos alimentarios y de la ingestión de alimentos.

Abstract: Background: The Body Shape Questionnaire (BSQ) has been widely used in the clinical and general population, highlighting its unidimensional nature. Research evidence has generated 10 short versions based on reductions of the BSQ-34. Hitherto, short versions have not been applied to analyze validity and reliability with independent samples. Aim: To analyze the internal structure of the BSQ-8D and its relationship with the three factors of the Eating Attitudes Test-26 (AET-26), as well as the reliability obtained with a design of internal consistency and another of temporal stability in a sample of university women. Methods: Participants were 492 undergraduate women who completed the BSQ-8D and the EAT-26. Results: Confirmatory factor analysis supported the one factor structure of the BSQ-8D. The internal consistency was adequate, α = .91 and ω = .89, as well as the test-retest reliability ICC = .80. Correlation between this BSQ-8D version and those obtained in the EAT-26 was = .56 besides the correlations with its factors .58 for Dieting, .33 for Bulimia and Food Concerns, and .26 for Oral Control. Conclusions: These findings added independent evidence about the unidimensionality of the instrument. To strengthen the robustness of this version of the BSQ-8D it is necessary to collect data in clinical and men sample with and without feeding and eating disorders.

Análise bifator da Escala Baptista de Depressão: Versão Idosos (EBADEP-ID) / Bifactor analysis of the Baptista's Depression Scale / Análisis bifactor de la Escala Baptista de Depresión

Modelos bifator têm sido relatados na literatura como explicações plausíveis para a estrutura latente da depressão. O presente estudo busca expandir essa área de investigação, tendo como objetivo principal realizar uma análise exploratória bifator da Escala Baptista de Depressão - Versão Idosos (EBADEP-ID). Os participantes foram 311 idosos com idades variando de 60 a 90 anos, provenientes de cinco grupos populacionais de tipo clínico e não clínico. Os resultados mostraram um melhor ajuste aos dados para o modelo bifator com um fator geral e dois fatores específicos, quando comparado a uma simples solução unidimensional. Entretanto, todos os itens carregaram predominantemente no fator geral, ocorrendo poucas cargas significativas nos fatores específicos, o que sustenta a unidimensionalidade do instrumento. O escore geral da EBADEP-ID apresentou elevada consistência interna (0,95 pelo coeficiente alfa, e 0,98 pelo coeficiente ômega) e capacidade informativa, além de alta sensibilidade e especificidade. Implicações teóricas e práticas dos resultados, bem como limitações do estudo, são discutidas ao final.

Bifactor models have been reported in the literature as plausible explanations of the latente structure of depression. In the present study, we offer a contribution to this area of research, by performing an exploratory bifactor analysis of the Baptista's Depression Scale-elderly version (EBADEP-ID). Participants were 311 elderlies with ages ranging from 60 to 90 years, coming from five distinct clinical and nonclinical populations. The bifactor model comprising one general factor and two specific factors yielded a better fit to the data when compared with a simple unidimensional model. However, all items loaded highly on the general factor, and few items had loadings on the specific factors in the model, then supporting the unidimensionality of the EBADEP-ID. The sum score provided by the instrument achieved high internal consistency (.95 according to alpha, and .98 according to ômega coefficient) and informative capacity, besides high sensitivity and specificity. Theoretical and practical implications of the findings, as well as limitations to the study, are discussed.

Los modelos bifator han sido reportados en la literatura como explicaciones plausibles para la estructura latente de la depresión. El presente estudio busca expandir esa área de investigación, teniendo como objetivo principal realizar un análisis exploratorio bifator de la Escala Baptista de Depressão-Versão Idosos (EBADEP-ID). Los participantes fueron 311 ancianos con edades variando de 60 a 90 años, provenientes de cinco grupos poblacionales de tipo clínico y no clínico. Los resultados mostraron un mejor ajuste a los datos para el modelo bifator con un factor general y dos factores específicos, en comparación con una simple solución unidimensional. Sin embargo, todos los elementos cargaron predominantemente en el factor general, ocurriendo pocas cargas significativas en los factores específicos, lo que sostiene la unidimensionalidad del instrumento. La puntuación general de EBADEP-ID presentó elevada consistencia interna (0,95 por el coeficiente alfa, y 0,98 por el coeficiente omega) y capacidad informativa, además de alta sensibilidad y especificidad. Las implicaciones teóricas y prácticas de los resultados, así como las limitaciones del estudio, se discuten al final.

Comprometimento organizacional: questões que cercam sua natureza e os seus limites conceituais / Organizational commitment: some issues surrounding its nature and conceptual bounds / Compromiso organizacional: cuestiones relativas a su naturaleza y sus límites conceptuales

O comprometimento organizacional, um dos fenômenos mais investigados no campo do comportamento organizacional, pode ser considerado um construto polissêmico e multifacetado. Este trabalho buscou discutir a complexidade e dispersão que cerca o conceito de comprometimento organizacional, envolvendo três problemas centrais: 1º) a quantidade de interfaces teóricas entre comprometimento organizacional e outros construtos da área organizacional; 2º) o grande desequilíbrio entre estudos que tomam o construto como uma atitude em detrimento de definições que enfatizem indicadores comportamentais; e 3º) a dimensionalidade do construto e a falta de consenso a respeito de quantas e quais são as bases constitutivas do comprometimento organizacional. Além de sistematizar os principais problemas sobre o construto, este estudo sugere alguns caminhos de investigação teórica e empírica que poderiam minimizar os problemas que cercam esta vertente de pesquisa, em razão das questões conceituais que caracterizam o seu construto central

Organizational commitment, although one of the most investigated phenomena in the field of organizational behavior, may still be considered as a multifaceted and polysemous construct. This work aims to present the complexity and dispersion that revolves around the concept of organizational commitment into three central problems: 1) large number of theoretical interfaces between organizational commitment and other organizational-related constructs, 2) the preponderance of studies that investigate commitment as an attitude rather than researches that emphasize behavioral indicators, and 3) the construct dimensionality, and the lack of a consensus about how many and which bases constitutes organizational commitment. In addition to discuss these main issues on the topic, this work suggests some theoretical and empirical research ways that could minimize some problems surrounding the mainstream organizational commitment literature, based on conceptual questions that revolve around this central construct

El compromiso organizacional, uno de los fenómenos más investigados en el campo del comportamiento organizacional, puede ser considerado un constructo polisémico y multifacético. El presente estudio tuvo como objetivo discutir la complejidad y dispersión en torno del concepto de compromiso organizacional, involucrando a tres problemas fundamentales: 1) la cantidad de conexiones teóricas entre el compromiso organizacional y otros constructos del área organizacional, 2) el gran desequilibrio ente estudios que asumen el constructo como una actitud, en detrimento de definiciones que enfaticen indicadores de comportamiento, 3) la dimensionalidad del constructo y la falta de consenso sobre cuántas y cuáles son las bases constitutivas del compromiso organizacional. Además de sistematizar los principales problemas sobre el constructo, este estudio sugiere algunos caminos de investigación teórica y empírica que podrían minimizar los problemas relacionados con esta línea de investigación, en función de las cuestiones conceptuales que caracterizan su constructo central

La "sofisticación" como dimensión de cambio en el desarrollo de la epistemología personal / "Sophistication" as a Dimension of Change in Developing a Personal Epistemology

Resumen Este trabajo plantea refinar la noción de "cambio evolutivo" mediante el estudio de su dimensionalidad, i.e., el conjunto de sus dimensiones o aspectos; en ese marco, "sofisticación" sería la dimensión usualmente vista como sinónimo de "cambio evolutivo". Se propone indagarla desde criterios a) formal (la significación estadística de las diferencias) y sustanciales: (b) el contraste del carácter "débil"-"fuerte" de la evolución de las creencias, y c) su correspondencia con las predicciones a partir de la literatura. Para su estudio sobre datos cuantitativos, se sugirió respectivamente: a) MANOVA, b) un dispositivo para situar las creencias en su continuo de significación y analizar su evolución, y c) detallar la forma y sentido de las trayectorias definidas por los datos. Se usaron tales procedimientos sobre datos de una investigación más amplia sobre el desarrollo de las creencias epistemológicas sobre la ciencia y la tecnología en estudiantes de educación técnico profesional de nivel secundario. Se halló una posición epistemológica no informada previamente ("objetivismo avanzado"), evidencia de la distinción entre "sofisticación débil" y "fuerte" en los significados asignados a las creencias epistemológicas, y varios patrones de formas en las trayectorias; estos hallazgos resultan estrictamente del planteo de la noción de "sofisticación".

Abstract This work aims to refine the notion of "developmental change" by studying its dimensionality, i.e., the whole of its dimensions or aspects. In that context, "sophistication" would be the dimension usually seen as synonymous with "developmental change". It is proposed to probe it from a) a formal criterion: (statistical significance of differences) and two substantial ones: (b) the contrast of the "weak" vs. "strong" character of belief development, and c) their correspondence with predictions from the literature. For their study on quantitative data, the following was suggested: a) MANOVA; b) a device to locate the beliefs in their continuum of meaning, and analyze their evolution; and c) to detail the shape and meaning of trajectories defined by the data set. Such procedures were used on data from a wider investigation on the development of epistemological beliefs about science and technology in secondary technical vocational education students. A not yet informed epistemological position ("advanced objectivism"), evidence of the distinction between "weak" and "strong sophistication" in the meanings assigned to epistemological beliefs, and several form patterns were found in the trajectories. These findings are strictly the result of proposing the notion of "sophistication".

A constituição do espaço psíquico e a mente primitiva / The constitution of the psychical space and the primitive mind

Em seu texto, a autora parte do princípio de que o espaço psíquico não é algo dado, mas que necessita ser construído. Nesse processo de construção, entram em jogo vários fatores, entre os quais a capacidade materna de rêverie. Utilizando conceitos como os de simetria absoluta, assimetria, os estudos de E. Bick e D. Meltzer sobre dimensionalidade, a autora vai apresentando suas ideias e ilustrando-as com vinhetas clinicas. A constituição de uma terceira dimensão, quando, então, o espaço psíquico passa a existir, é um dos temas tratados no artigo, pois se liga à possibilidade de representar e simbolizar(AU)

In this text, the author starts from the principle that the psychical space is not something given, but rather something that needs to be built. In this process of constitution, several factors come into play such as the maternal ability of rêverie. Using concepts as those of absolute symmetry and asymmetry, and the studies conducted by E. Bick and D. Meltzer on dimensionality, the author presents her ideas and illustrates them by means of clinical vignettes. The constitution of a third dimension, the moment when the psychical space starts to exist, is one of the topics referred to in this work, since it is connected to the possibility of representing and symbolizing(AU)

En su texto, la autora parte del principio de que el espacio psíquico no es algo dado, sino que necesita construirse. En ese proceso de construcción, entran en juego varios factores, entre los cuales la capacidad materna de rêverie. Utilizando conceptos como los de simetría absoluta, asimetría, los estudios de E. Bick y D. Meltzer sobre dimensionalidad, la autora va presentando sus ideas e ilustrándolas con viñetas clínicas. La constitución de una tercera dimensión, cuando, entonces, el espacio psíquico pasa a existir, es uno de los temas tratados en el artículo, pues se conecta a la posibilidad de representar y simbolizar(AU)

Propiedades psicométricas del Test Revisado de Necesidad de Cierre Cognitivo (TR-NCC) en una muestra de estudiantes de la Universidad de Buenos Aires / Exploratory study on the assessment of the need for cognitive closure (NCC) in a sample of university students from the City of Buenos Aires

Webster y Kruglanski (1994) desarrollaron el constructo de necesidad de cierre cognitivo para explicar tanto los aspectos motivacionales de la toma de decisiones como la interfaz entre las propiedades cognitivas y motivacionales del individuo en el proceso de adquisición de conocimiento y de creencias. Así, este concepto se refiere a la motivación de las personas por buscar y mantener una respuesta definitiva ante un problema determinado, como algo opuesto a la confusión, la ambigüedad y/o la incertidumbre. Para evaluar las diferencias individuales en este constructo los autores elaboraron la escala de Necesidad de cierre cognitivo (NCC), cuya formulación original presentaba una estructura factorial unidimensional. Sin embargo, trabajos posteriores (Neuberg, Judice & West, 1997; Kruglanski & Pierro, 2005) han señalado la presencia de una estructura bifactorial para el estudio del constructo: Tendencia a la urgencia (Seizing) y Tendencia a la permanencia (Freeizing). Con el objetivo de estudiar la posible bidimensionalidad de la escala, Kruglanski y Pierro (2005) desarrollaron el Test Revisado de NCC (TR-NCC). El presente trabajo tuvo como objetivo principal estudiar las propiedades psicométricas de esta escala en el contexto argentino. Para tal fin se trabajó con una muestra de tipo intencional, no probabilística, compuesta por estudiantes universitarios de la Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires (N = 350), de diferente sexo y edad. Los resultados indican adecuadas propiedades psicométricas de los ítems en nuestro contexto.

Webster and Kruglanski (1994) developed the construct of need for cognitive closure to explain both the motivational aspects of decision-making as the interface between cognitive and motivational properties of the individual in the process of knowledge acquisition and belief. Thus, this concept refers to the motivation of people to seek and maintain a definitive answer to a particular problem, as opposed to confusion, ambiguity and / or uncertainty. To assess individual differences in this construct the authors developed the scale of need for cognitive closure (NCC), whose original formulation had a unidimensional structure. However, subsequent work (Neuberg, Judice & West, 1997; Kruglanski & Pierro, 2005) have pointed out the presence of a two-factor structure for the study of the construct: Seizing and Freeizing. In order to study the possible bidimensionality of the scale, Pierro and Kruglanski (2005) developed the NCC Test Revised (NCC-TR). This study\'s main objective was to study the psychometric properties of this scale in the Argentine context. To this end, we worked with a non-probabilistic and intentional sample composed of university students from the City of Buenos Aires (N = 350), of different sex and age. The results show adequate psychometric properties of the items in our context.

Using Bilingual Examinees to Evaluate the Comparability of TestStructure across Different Language Versions of a Mathematics Exam

Malay- and English-language versions of a mathematics exam were analyzed for structural equivalence by administering both versions to a group of Malay-English bilingual students. The analysis and comparison of test structure was determined using both DIMTEST and weighted multidimensional scaling. The assessment was found to be unidimensional and to possess similar structure across the two language versions. Implications of this study suggest bilingual examinees can be used to evaluate the invariance of test structure across translated test forms. Future research should explore situations where bilingual examinees can be used to link different language versions of assessments for monolingual populations.

Se analizó la equivalencia estructural entre las versiones de un examen de matemáticas en lengua malaya e inglesa mediante la administración de ambas versiones a un grupo de estudiantes bilingües en ambas lenguas. El análisis y comparación de la estructura del test fue realizada utilizando DIMTEST y escalamiento multidimensional ponderado. Se encontró que la evaluación es unidimensional y posee una estructura similar en las dos versiones. Las conclusiones de este estudio sugieren que se pueden utilizar personas bilingües para evaluar la invarianza de la estructura del test utilizando formas traducidas de un test. Las investigaciones futuras deberían explorar situaciones donde se puedan utilizar personas bilingües para conectar distintos idiomas en las evaluaciones de las poblaciones monolingües.

Application of the principal-component analysis in the evaluation of three grass varieties / Aplicación del análisis por componentes principales en la evaluación de tres variedades de pasto / Aplicação da análise de componentes principais na avaliação de três variedades de capim

Objective: demonstrate how to use the principal-component analysis to reduce dimensionality in assessing three varieties of Ryegrass (Lolium sp. L.), namely, tetraploid hybrid (Foster), annual diploid (Southern Star), and annual tetraploid (Beefbuilder). Both the statistical properties and programming using the SAS statistical package are also highlighted. Results: The variables that defined the main factor for the three grass varieties were: height from the floor, middle width of the fully elongated last leaf, and biomass.

Objetivo: mostrar una aplicación del análisis de componentes principales en la reducción de la dimensionalidad de variables derivadas de la evaluación agronómica de tres variedades de pasto. Métodos: los pastos evaluados fueron Ryegrass (Lolium sp. L.), híbrido tetraploide (Foster), anual diploide (Southern Star) y anual tetraploide (Beef Builder). Igualmente se destacan las propiedades estadísticas y la forma de programación en el paquete estadístico SAS. Resultados: se observó que las variables que definieron el factor principal para las tres variedades fueron: altura desde el piso, ancho de la parte media de la última hoja completamente elongada y biomasa.

O objetivo principal deste trabalho foi mostrar uma aplicação da análise de componentes principais na redução da dimensionalidade de variáveis derivadas da avaliação agronômica de três variedades de capim azevém (Lolium sp. L), a saber, híbrido tetraplóide (Foster), anual diplóide(Southern Star) e anual tetraploide (BeefBuilder). Também se destacam as propriedades estatísticas e a programação no pacote estatístivo SAS. Resultados: como um resultado notável do processo de pesquisa foi observado que as variáveis que definiram o principal fator para as três variedades foram: altura do solo, a largura da parte meia da última folha totalmente alongada e a biomassa.

EVALUACIÓN DE TÉCNICAS PARA EL ANÁLISIS DE RELEVANCIA BASADAS EN FILTROS SOBRE IMÁGENES RADIOLÓGICAS / EVALUATION OF TECHNIQUES FOR RELEVANCE ANALYSIS OF RADIOLOGICAL IMAGES USING FILTERS

Una etapa importante y fundamental en el reconocimiento de patrones sobre imágenes es la determinación del conjunto de características que mejor pueda describir la misma. En este artículo se presenta una etapa adicional entre la caracterización de la imagen y su posterior clasificación o recuperación de imágenes similares a una imagen dada, conocido como análisis de relevancia. Este permite reducir la dimensionalidad del conjunto inicial de características a un nuevo conjunto de menor dimensión que conserva la tasa de acierto de la recuperación. Las imágenes analizadas correspondieron a nódulos pulmonares de placas radiológicas de tórax disponibles en una base de datos de acceso libre disponible a través de la sociedad japonesa de tecnología radiológica. Se analizaron algoritmos de selección de características basados en filtros que incluyeron los métodos FOCUS, RELIEEF-F y Branch & Bound (B&B). Estos algoritmos fueron modificados e implementados en C++. En el caso de RELIEF-F se logró obtener un ahorro del 34% de características sin afectar la tasa de recuperación cuando se empleaba el 100% de las características originales. Asimismo, el algoritmo implementado presentó un desempeño superior al algoritmo original disponible en la herramienta de código abierto Weka. Asimismo se implementó una estrategia de ponderación de pesos aplicada a las características identificadas cuando se utilizaron los algoritmos RELIEF-F, FOCUS y B&B simultáneamente. Dicha estrategia permitió ponderar cada característica de acuerdo a su participación en los conjuntos mínimos de características relevantes y determinar la consistencia de los mismos. La estrategia de pesos permitió un ahorro del 48% de características necesarias para la recuperación, aunque la tasa de recuperación fue disminuida de 77% a 76%.

An important and fundamental stage in the image pattern recognition is the determination of the characteristics set that best describes the image. This paper describes a further step between the image characterization and its posterior classification or image retrieval similar to a given image, known as relevance analysis. It allows reducing the dimensionality of an initial set of features to a new set with fewer dimensions that preserves the hit rate of the retrieval. The analyzed images corresponded to lung nodules of radiological plaques of thorax, available through the open access library available through the Japanese society of radiological technology. To achieve these results, characteristic selection algorithms based on different filters such as FOCUS, RELIEEF-F, and BRANCH & BOUND (B&B) were analyzed. In the case of RELIEF-F it was possible to save as much as 34% of the initial characteristics set without affecting the retrieval rate compared to when the 100% of characteristics were used. Further, the implemented algorithm achieved a superior performance to that of the original algorithm included in the validated Weka software. Likewise, a strategy consisting in weights averaging was implemented that was applied to identified characteristics when the algorithms RELIEF-F, FOCUS and B&B were used simultaneously. Such weighting scheme, allowed the averaging of each characteristic according to its contribution in the minimal set of relevant features, allowing to determinate their consistency. The weighting strategy allowed a 48% reduction in the characteristics, although the retrieval hit rate slightly decreased from 77% to 76%.

Periodismo, desmovilización y reinserción / Journalism, demobilization and reinsertion

En este artículo las autoras presentan la manera en que desde la prensa escrita dominical (El Tiempo y El Espectador) y las revistas (Cambio y Semana) se observaron y describieron los fenómenos de la desmovilización y los desmovilizados, de la reinserción y los reinsertados, el marco legal que los regulaba y los problemas que enfrentaban las víctimas del conflicto armado durante los años 2004 y 2005. Describen en forma detallada los subtemas que la prensa escrita destaca en estos tres grandes temas. A partir de la forma y el estilo en que los medios construyen marcos interpretativos diferentes de estos fenómenos desde las crónicas, los reportajes y los artículos de opinión definen la "dimensionalidad del estado mental" y la "dimensionalidad informativa" lo que caracteriza a quienes hablan en la prensa escrita sobre estos fenómenos. En las crónicas se registra la información factual somera o detallada; en los reportajes se destacan las voces exigentes y amenazantes de los culpables y los logros y alabanzas de las autoridades y en los artículos de opinión se resaltan la crítica, los temores y las dudas sobre la realidad definida por los medios como importante. Terminan el artículo con una breve referencia a la mentalidad "copiadora-repetidora" y la mentalidad "acomodaticia-camaleónica" de los periodistas y a la mentalidad "reflexiva" de los columnistas.

In this article, the authors bring up the way in which the phenomena of demobilisation and demobilised people, reinsertion and reinserted people were observed by the Sunday written press (El Tiempo and El Espectador) and magazines (Cambio and Semana), including the legal framework that regulated them and the problems that the victims of the armed conflict had to go through during 2004 and 2005. They describe in detail the sub-topics that the written press highlights in these three great topics. From the way and style of the media to build different interpretative frameworks for these phenomena in their features, reports and opinion articles, the authors define the different "dimensionality of the mental state" and the "informative dimensionality" that characterise the people who speak in the written press about these phenomena. The features contain factual information either superficial or in detail; the reports highlight the demanding and threatening voices of the culprits and the achievements and praises of the authorities; last, the opinion articles are characterised by criticism, fear and doubts about the reality defined as important by the media. Finally, the authors make a brief reference to the "copying-repeating" mentality and the "accommodative-chameleon-like" mentality of the newspapers and the "reflective" mentality of the columnists.

La depresión: ¿un trastorno dimensional o categorial?

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Summary One of the crucial subjects, either for the clinical or scientific activity, is the dimensional or categorical character of depression and other mental diseases. Each approach is different from the theoretical and epistemological points of view. At presence, the categorical model for the definition and estimation of the presence of a disorder are reflected in the data on epidemiology, the results of investigations, instruments and the interventions. These elements are related to a system of thinking which results in a particular form of conceiving the psychopathology and intervention. Nevertheless, the strong influence of the categorical model in which the disorders are defined as a group of accomplished criteria has not prevented from development of a dimensional model. The latter postulates the existence of a continuum between the normality and pathology which correspond with dimensions, levels and severity related to the certain behaviours, traits or even symptoms. The interest in the dimensional approach to psychopathology, in general and in mood disorders, is caused by the observation in clinics which indicate, for example, that many patients do not improve with medicines and present residual symptoms during long periods of time. For these reasons, some personality factors which would explain the chronic symptoms of disorders have been proposed in Psychology and Psychiatry. Although the diagnostic manuals consider different types of mood disorders, many investigations have showed the possibility to consider depression as a continuum, where the least severe extreme would be the depressive personality and the most severe, major depression. According to the abovementioned proposal, it is possible that some people present certain vulnerability which would explain the different answers in case of depression. Cognitive factors, together with social and genetic factors increase the risk of chronic depressive symptoms. The catastrophic perception of self, the world and future, the dichotomous thinking and tunnel vision are the cognitive factors associated with the presence of the mood disorders symptoms. Additionally, some studies show the importance of gender, as women are more prone to develop depression and similar disorders which is related to traditional social roles. This can be caused by the need to sacrifice the professional career to dedicate time to housework, or to assume multiple roles. Concerning the genetic factors, the presence of first degree relatives with mood disorders increases the risk of development of depression or dysthymia. The consideration of depressive personality is based on the presence of symptoms which do not fulfil the criteria of severity and frequency of major depression but do affect the mood. The presence of these stable traits is related to major chronicity and worse prognosis. This condition has been described in manuals as dysthymia. Nevertheless, as it remains relatively stable in time it could be understood as a personality disorder. The disorder would be a continuum with the normality similar to this described as neuroticism in which some entities are qualitatively and quantitatively different which represent the categories. The analysis of what has been described above shows the possibility of differentiation between the mood disorders which are related to the dimensional focus where some traits increase the vulnerability to develop them. On the other hand, the categorical focus requires the accomplishment of the diagnostic criteria. The cognitive models also support the existence of depressive personality disorder. These models emphasize the importance of schemes in thinking which are created in childhood together with the attachment to the caretaker. The schemes are the basis for the future relationships which in case of mood disorders are always perceived with continuous thread of abandonment and lost. On the other hand, the behavioural models emphasize the patterns of negative interpersonal interaction in childhood, as the factors which predispose to the development of depression, whereas the psychodynamic theories establish the successive lost during the lifetime as the principal cause of mood disorders. All these theories show the existence of unfavourable emotional conditions which cause a certain vulnerability to develop symptoms of depression. The dimensional focus on depression is also supported by the evidence on the distinction between the disorders according to the severity. The difference between the normality and the psychopathology is not as clear as in the categorical focus. There is a necessity to develop new forms of evaluation which would enable the differentiation between the stable traits and punctual states of mood. At presence, most of the questionnaires are based on the categorical classification which makes the estimation from the dimensional point of view more difficult. On the other hand, the measures which provide differentiation between the traits and states are an alternative to estimate the stable conditions which would be related to the depressive personality and also specific reactions which depend on the present situation. Most of the instruments have been developed on the basis of the categorical model in which the diagnosis is the presence or absence of a disorder according to the diagnostic criteria. For this reason they do not have sufficient sensitivity to determinate less severe levels which are also important in clinical interventions as they allow the estimation of the improvements and decrease of symptomatology. The dimensional focus allows the preventive interventions in mood disorders which are very important to solve this serious health problem in the population.