Análisis sobre la formación académica y el ejercicio profesional del psicólogo clínico en Ecuador / Analysis of Academic Training and Professional Practice of Clinical Psychologists in Ecuador / Análise sobre formação académica e exercício profissional do psicólogo clínico do Equador

Resumen Objetivo. Analizar la formación académica y el campo laboral del psicólogo clínico en una muestra de profesionales de la zona de planificación III del Ecuador (ZP3). Método. La muestra del estudio estuvo conformada por 101 psicólogos clínicos, con una edad media de 30.6 (DE = 7.1) y una media de ejercicio profesional de 6.5 años (DE = 5.75), que ejercen su labor profesional en la ZP3 del Ecuador. Resultados. Los participantes, en su mayoría, se titularon en la Universidad Técnica de Ambato (pública) y en la Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador Sede Ambato (cofinanciada). Más del 64% de los profesionales laboran en el sector público. El 40% de los participantes accedieron a sus puestos actuales por concurso de méritos. El 56.6% trabajan en el sector salud e intervención social. El salario general en promedio es de USD 1380. Conclusión. La formación del psicólogo clínico se restringe de manera significativa a la titulación de grado, dejando de lado, por diversas razones, la formación de posgrado como elemento complementario.

Abstract Objective. To analyze the academic and occupational training of clinical psychologists in a sample of professionals from Planning Zone III in Ecuador (PZ3). Method. The study sample consisted of 101 clinical psychologists with an average age of 30.6 (SD = 7.1) and an average professional practice of 6.5 years (SD = 5.75) who carry out their work activities in PZ3 in Ecuador. Results. The participants were mostly graduates of the Technical University of Ambato (public) and the Pontifical Catholic University of Ecuador - Ambato (co-financed). More than 64% of these professionals work in the public sector. 40% accessed their current positions through merit based competitions. 56.6% work in the health and social intervention sector. The general salary averages 1380.00 USD. Conclusion. The training of the clinical psychologist is significantly limited to the primary academic degree, leaving aside post-graduate education as a complementary element for a variety of reasons.

Resumo Escopo. Analisar a formação académica e o campo laboral do psicólogo clínico em uma amostra de profissionais da zona de planificação III do Equador (ZP3). Metodologia. A amostra do estudo esteve conformada por 101 psicólogos clínicos, com uma idade media de 30.6 (DE=7.1) e uma media de exercício profissional de 6.5 anos (DE=5.75) que realizam suas atividades laborais na ZP3 do Equador. Resultados. Os participantes, na sua maioria, são titulados da Universidade Técnica de Ambato (pública) e na Pontificia Universidade Católica do Equador Sede Ambato (cofinanciada). Mais do 64% dos profissionais laboram no sector público. Um 40% dos participantes acederam a seus trabalhos atuais por concursos de méritos. Um 56.6% trabalham no setor saúde e intervenção social. O salário geral em média é de 1380 USD. Conclusão. A formação de psicólogo clínico está restringida de maneira significativa à titulação de grado, deixando de lado, por diversos motivos, a formação de pós-graduação como elemento complementário.

Progress of health psychology regulation: A comparison between countries

The independent practice of clinical psychology has experimented recent changes. Spain has achieved to regulate the current professional situation of the different figures of clinical psychologists mainly in three arms: 1) by authorizing those psychologists who met the required legal criteria to continue with their clinical practice, 2) by creating the Master in General Health Psychology (MGHP) and 3) by maintaining the tasks and public scope for Psychologist Specialized in Clinical Psychology (PSCP) This manuscript aims to summarize the process for the regulation of clinical and health psychology in Spain and to compare it to other European and North American countries. Discussion about the quality, benefits and future ambitions of the MGHP programs have been made.

Construcción y Validación de la Escala Preliminar de Actitud hacia la Psicología Clínica y el Rol de los Psicólogos Clínicos

Este trabajo tuvo como objetivo construir y presentar evidencia empírica sobre la validez y confiabilidad de una escala piloto para medir la actitud hacia la psicología clínica y el rol del psicólogo clínico (APCPC). El instrumento se constituyó a partir de una muestra de 100 personas, hombres y mujeres no estudiantes ni pertenecientes al área de la psicología. Se validó una escala con 53 ítems iniciales con formato tipo Likert los cuales se redujeron a 21 ítems. Para este procedimiento se aplicó el coeficiente de consistencia interna Alfa de Cronbach que dio como resultado 0,901 con una reducción de 3 factores que explican el 43,7% de la varianza total. En este primer análisis exploratorio el instrumento mostro que las mujeres tiene una mejor APCPC con un puntaje promedio de 3,41 de un total de 5. Los hombres también estuvieron dentro de un buen rango con un promedio de 3,21 puntos.

This study aimed to construct and present empirical evidence on the validity and reliability of a pilot scale for measuring attitudes towards clinical psychology and the role of the clinical psychologist (APCPC). The instrument was constructed from a sample of 100 people, men, and women who are not students or belonging to the area of psychology. The scale was validated with 53 initial ítems with a Likert format which was reduced to 21 items. In this procedure, the Cronbach's alpha for internal consistency was 0,901 with reduction of 3 factors that explain 43.7% of the total variance. In this first exploratory analysis, the instrument showed that women have a better APCPC with an average score of 3,41 of a total of 5. Men also had a good range with an average of 3,21 points.

The effectiveness of psychological interventions amongtinnitus sufferers: A review

SUMMARY Introduction: The aim of this article was to review the types of psychological interventions for patients with tinnitus, professionals involved in giving the intervention, the effectiveness of each method of interventions and comparisons with non-psychological approaches in treating tinnitus. Materials and Methods: PubMed database searched. Results: Twenty one articles that employed randomized controlled trials design were included. Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) was the most common intervention conducted by the researchers. Clinical psychologists and trainee psychologists were the most professionals involved in the therapy. The length of therapy ranged from six weeks to three months. Discussion: Psychological interventions were more effective in reducing psychological impacts of tinnitus than non-psychological interventions such as the use of tinnitus maskers. Nevertheless, the combination of the treatments yielded more superior outcomes. Conclusion: A simplified version of psychological intervention that can be implemented by other clinical professionals should be developed to treat tinnitus holistically to overcome the shortage number of clinical psychologists.

Effective clinical psychological interventions for breast cancer patients with psychological distress

<b>Background/Purpose</b>: The purpose of this study is to clarify the effectiveness of interventions for breast cancer patients with psychological distress by a clinical psychologist on the basis of the contents of the interventions and counseling. <b>Methods</b>: The participants were 20 inpatient and outpatient women aged from 33 to 73 years who had been diagnosed with breast cancer. The interventions were conducted on the basis of patients' complaints about anxiety and/or depression or by a medical doctor's request. The interventions employed unstructured, one-on-one interviews. Each interview usually lasted no more than 60 minutes. <b>Results</b>: The 20 cases were classified into the following categories: (1) 15 general (nonpsychiatric) cases, consisting of (1-1) 9 cases at the cancer-notification and progressive-therapeutic stages and (1-2) 6 cases at the progressive-relapse stage; and (2) 5 specific (psychiatric) cases, consisting of (2-1) 3 cases at the cancer-notification and progressive-therapeutic stages and (2-2) 2 cases at the progressive-relapsestage. As for the general cases, interventions were found to be effective in all 9 cases at the cancer-notification and progressive-therapeutic stages but in only 2 of 6 cases at the progressive-relapse stage. In specific cases, effective interventions were found at the cancer-notification, the progressive-therapeutic, and the progressive-relapsestages. <b>Conclusion</b>: This study suggested that interventions for breast cancer patients by a clinical psychologist are effective. The psychological interventions had two roles: to assess the patients properly and to interview the patients as purposefully as a medical team member would.

Intervention of a clinical psychologist in the treatment of an autistic patient with pancreatic cancer: a report on a surgical case

<b>Case</b>: A 40-year-old woman. <b>Clinical diagnosis</b>: Autistic disorder with mild mental retardation. <b>Case report</b>: The patient underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy for the treatment of her pancreatic cancer. We held several conferences with individuals from different medical fields and examined the influence of the patient's autistic disorder on the perioperative conditions. The senior author, a clinical psychologist, conducted repeated individual, acceptive, and sympathetic interviews with the patient and her family and maintained supportive relationships with them as an honorary family member. Thus, the clinical psychologist helped reduce the patient's anxiety about the medical treatment. <b>Conclusion</b>: The participation of a clinical psychologist in the medical conferences enabled the medical staff to understand the complications involved and provide mental support to the patient and her family. Palliat Care Res 2010; 5(2): 323-326

Roles of clinical psychologists desired by palliative care team members: Focus group interviews

The objective of this study was to identify the roles of clinical psychologists in palliative care teams by conducting focus group interviews. The participants were 7 physicians and nurses of highly active palliative care teams. Results from the qualitative analysis of interview content revealed that the most important knowledges needed by psychologists in palliative care is fundamental and specialized psychological knowledges and skills. The second most important was general and psychiatric medical knowledges regarding cancer. Otherwise, psychologists were expected to understand the roles of other staff members and the medical system, and provide mental and emotional support to medical staff. Our results clarified that psychologists require a broad understanding of medical care for cancer, good communication skills for interacting with other staff members, and the ability to actively utilize their psychiatric specialty to provide psychological support to patients, families and medical workers. Palliat Care Res 2009; 4(2): 228-234