How the COVID-19 Pandemic and its Consequences Affect the Presence of and Search for Meaning of Life: A Longitudinal Study.

The presence of meaning in life (PML) and the search for meaning in life (SML) are crucial when facing difficult times. Although several theoretical frameworks have tried to explain the dynamics of meaning in life during adversity, empirical evidence about interactions among both constructs using longitudinal designs is scarce. This study examined the trajectories of both PML and SML during the COVID-19 lockdown period in Spain. In total, 220 adults fulfilled an online survey during two periods: a strict and a relaxed lockdown period. Latent growth models showed that both PML and SML declined slightly during the strict lockdown, but they reached a plateau during the relaxed lockdown. Results also showed that age and having a partner predicted higher PML and lower SML at baseline, whereas being male predicted higher scores on PML. PML and SML were negatively associated at baseline, higher SML at baseline was related to a steeper decreasing PML slope during the strict lockdown, and the PML and SML slopes in the relaxed lockdown period were negatively related. This study contributes to better understanding longitudinal fluctuations of meaning in life in situations of adversity.

Effectiveness of the Internet Attachment-Based Compassion Therapy (iABCT) to improve the quality of life and well-being in a population with chronic medical illness: A study protocol of a randomized controlled trial (SPIRIT compliant).

BACKGROUND: Chronic medical illnesses significantly and negatively affect the quality of life of individuals who suffer them and represent one of the most important challenges faced by healthcare providers and policy-makers due to its rising prevalence and high rates of comorbidity. Compassion-based interventions delivered over the Internet may be a useful approach to facilitate illness management and improve the quality of life of individuals with chronic medical conditions. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study is to describe a protocol for a randomized controlled trial to test the efficacy of the Internet Attachment-Based Compassion Therapy (iABCT) to improve the quality of life and well-being of patients with chronic medical illnesses. METHOD: A two-arm, parallel-group, randomized controlled trial (RCT) will be carried out, with three assessment points (baseline, 3-month, and 6-month) under two conditions: intervention group and control group (waiting list). The primary outcomes include the quality of life on the EuroQol 5-Dimensions Questionnaire (EQ-5D) and the Pemberton Happiness Index (PHI). Secondary outcomes, such as compassion, self-care behaviors, illness interference, self-criticism, symptomatology, attachment styles, social support, and illness perception, will be considered. Moreover, an assessment on satisfaction and usability will be carried out. A total of 68 participants as minimum will be recruited (34 per arm). Intent-to-treat mixed-model analyses without any ad hoc imputations will be conducted. CONCLUSIONS: Findings of this study will provide new insights into the potential of self-applied compassion-based interventions (CBI) delivered online in the context of chronic medical illnesses, considering aspects of their implementation (e.g., facilitators, barriers) and mechanisms of change. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The study is registered under Clinicaltrials.gov (NCT04809610) and it is currently in the participant recruitment phase.

mHealth intervention to improve quality of life in patients with chronic diseases during the COVID-19 crisis in Paraguay: A study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Patients with chronic disease represent an at-risk group in the face of the COVID-19 crisis as they need to regularly monitor their lifestyle and emotional management. Coping with the illness becomes a challenge due to supply problems and lack of access to health care facilities. It is expected these limitations, along with lockdown and social distancing measures, have affected the routine disease management of these patients, being more pronounced in low- and middle-income countries with a flawed health care system. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study is to describe a protocol for a randomized controlled trial to test the efficacy of the Adhera® MejoraCare Digital Program, an mHealth intervention aimed at improving the quality of life of patients with chronic diseases during the COVID-19 outbreak in Paraguay. METHOD: A two-arm randomized controlled trial will be carried out, with repeated measures (baseline, 1-month, 3-month, 6-month, and 12-month) under two conditions: Adhera® MejoraCare Digital Program or waiting list. The primary outcome is a change in the quality of life on the EuroQol 5-Dimensions 3-Levels Questionnaire (EQ-5D-3L). Other secondary outcomes, as the effect on anxiety and health empowerment, will be considered. All participants must be 18 years of age or older and meet the criteria for chronic disease. A total of 96 participants will be recruited (48 per arm). CONCLUSIONS: It is expected that the Adhera® MejoraCare Digital Program will show significant improvements in quality of life and emotional distress compared to the waiting list condition. Additionally, it is hypothesized that this intervention will be positively evaluated by the participants in terms of usability and satisfaction. The findings will provide new insights into the viability and efficacy of mHealth solutions for chronic disease management in developing countries and in times of pandemic. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04659746.

Is there evidence that emotional reasoning processing underlies emotional disorders in adults? A systematic review.

The prevalence of emotional disorders has increased in recent times. Emotional Reasoning (ER), which is a transdiagnostic process, occurs when feelings, rather than objective evidence, are used as a source of information to make judgements about the valence of a situation. Differences in ER may explain the existence and maintenance of emotional disorders. The objective is to systematically review the role of ER in the occurrence and severity of emotional disorders. Following PRISMA guidelines, we searched through: PubMed, PsycInfo, Scopus and The Cochrane Library. Search terms were "Emotional Reasoning", "ex-consequentia reasoning", "Affect-as-information"; and "emotional disorders", "anxiety", "depression", "depressive". Nine articles were included. An association was demonstrated between ER and a greater degree of anxious symptomatological severity. In depressive symptomatology, no significant differences were found. One study reported the effect of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy on ER bias, finding no changes after the intervention. Finally, another study evaluated the efficacy of computerised experiential training in reducing ER bias, showing significant differences. There are few studies on ER and its evolution in research has not been uniform over time. Encouragingly, though, research to date suggests that ER is a transdiagnostic process involved in several anxiety disorders. More investigation is needed to dilucidate whether ER also underlies the onset and maintenance of depressive disorders.

Too many lemons to make lemonade? Disentangling mental health during the third wave of COVID-19 infections in Spain.

The study aimed to analyze the longitudinal change in mental health during the third wave of COVID-19 infections in Spain. Negative (e.g., emotional distress) and positive (e.g., positive functioning variables) outcomes were analyzed. Protective factors (e.g., resilience) as predictors of psychological adjustment (i.e., positive mental health, openness to the future, and low burden due to COVID-19) after ten months of the pandemic were also examined. The sample consisted of 164 participants, and self-reported questionnaires were administered at the beginning of the lockdown (March 2020), at the end of the lockdown (June 2020), and during the third wave (January 2021). Linear mixed models showed that individuals' emotional distress increased, and positive functioning variables (i.e., meaning in life, gratitude, resilience, and life satisfaction) decreased over time, but an increase was observed in some dimensions of posttraumatic growth. Regression analyses showed that resilience scores at all three data collection time points were significant predictors of positive mental health, openness to the future, and burden during the third wave. Mediation analyses showed that positive mental health and openness to the future were mediators of the effect of resilience on burden. The prolonged situation of the COVID-19 crisis had an important impact on positive and negative mental health. However, resilience may help to build up resources that can act as a buffer against adverse psychological effects.

What is the Current and Future Status of Digital Mental Health Interventions?

The prevalence of mental disorders continues to increase, especially with the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic. Although we have evidence-based psychological treatments to address these conditions, most people encounter some barriers to receiving this help (e.g., stigma, geographical or time limitations). Digital mental health interventions (e.g., Internet-based interventions, smartphone apps, mixed realities -virtual and augmented reality) provide an opportunity to improve accessibility to these treatments. This article summarizes the main contributions of the different types of digital mental health solutions. It analyzes their limitations (e.g., drop-out rates, lack of engagement, lack of personalization, lack of cultural adaptations) and showcases the latest sophisticated and innovative technological advances under the umbrella of precision medicine (e.g., digital phenotyping, chatbots, or conversational agents). Finally, future challenges related to the need for real world implementation of these interventions, the use of predictive methodology, and hybrid models of care in clinical practice, among others, are discussed.

Exploring the Heterogeneity and Trajectories of Positive Functioning Variables, Emotional Distress, and Post-traumatic Growth During Strict Confinement Due to COVID-19.

COVID-19 pandemic-related confinement may be a fruitful opportunity to use individual resources to deal with it or experience psychological functioning changes. This study aimed to analyze the evolution of different psychological variables during the first coronavirus wave to identify the different psychological response clusters, as well as to keep a follow-up on the changes among these clusters. The sample included 459 Spanish residents (77.8% female, Mage = 35.21 years, SDage = 13.00). Participants completed several online self-reported questionnaires to assess positive functioning variables (MLQ, Steger et al. in J Loss Trauma 13(6):511-527, 2006. 10.1080/15325020802173660; GQ-6, McCullough et al. in J Person Soc Psychol 82:112-127, 2002. 10.1037/0022-3514.82.1.112; CD-RISC, Campbell-Sills and Stein in J Traum Stress 20(6):1019-1028, 2007. 10.1002/jts.20271; CLS-H, Chiesi et al. in BMC Psychol 8(1):1-9, 2020. 10.1186/s40359-020-0386-9; SWLS; Diener et al. in J Person Assess, 49(1), 71-75, 1985), emotional distress (PHQ-2, Kroenke et al. in Med Care 41(11):1284-1292, 2003. 10.1097/01.MLR.0000093487.78664.3C; GAD-2, Kroenke et al. in Ann Internal Med 146(5):317-325, 2007. 10.7326/0003-4819-146-5-200703060-00004; PANAS, Watson et al. in J Person Soc Psychol 47:1063-1070, 1988; Perceived Stress, ad hoc), and post-traumatic growth (PTGI-SF; Cann et al. in Anxiety Stress Coping 23(2):127-137, 2010. 10.1080/10615800903094273), four times throughout the 3 months of the confinement. Linear mixed models showed that the scores on positive functioning variables worsened from the beginning of the confinement, while emotional distress and personal strength improved by the end of the state of alarm. Clustering analyses revealed four different patterns of psychological response: "Survival", "Resurgent", "Resilient", and "Thriving" individuals. Four different profiles were identified during mandatory confinement and most participants remained in the same cluster. The "Resilient" cluster gathered the largest number of individuals (30-37%). We conclude that both the heterogeneity of psychological profiles and analysis of positive functioning variables, emotional distress, and post-traumatic growth must be considered to better understand the response to prolonged adverse situations. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10902-021-00469-z.

Corrigendum: Elena+ Care for COVID-19, a Pandemic Lifestyle Care Intervention: Intervention Design and Study Protocol.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2021.625640.].

Psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 in users of the Ecuadorian public health care system

Introduction: Depression is one of the most prevalent public health problems worldwide and remains an underdiagnosed disease, especially in developing countries. The availability of instruments that permit detecting this problem is essential for reducing the burden of this disorder. The aim of this study was to examine the psychometric properties (factor structure, sex invariance, internal consistency, and convergent and divergent validity) of the Spanish version of the PHQ-9 (Patient Health Questionnaire-9). Method: A sample of 366 public hospital users in Ecuador was recruited and accordingly completed a survey that included sociodemographic data, the PHQ-9, and other standards of measurement such as the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), the Generalised Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7), the Positive and Negative Affect Scale (PANAS), and the Quality-of-Life Index (QLI). Results: The unidimensional factor model of the PHQ-9 provided the best fit for the data. The PHQ-9 assesses depressive symptoms equivalently in both sexes, and presents high internal consistency, as well as good convergent and divergent validity with the other constructs. Conclusion: The application of the PHQ-9 could aid in the screening of patients with depressive symptomatology in the Ecuadorian public health system (EPHS).

Introducción: La depresión es uno de los problemas de salud pública más prevalentes a nivel mundial, y suele ser subdiagnosticada especialmente en países en vías de desarrollo. Contar con instrumentos que permitan realizar un cribado de este problema es fundamental para reducir el costo de este trastorno. El objetivo de este artículo fue examinar las propiedades psicométricas (estructura factorial, invarianza en función del sexo, consistencia interna, validez convergente y divergente) de la versión española del PHQ-9 (Patient Health Questionnaire-9). Método: Se reclutó una muestra de 366 usuarios de un hospital público en Ecuador, los cuales respondieron una encuesta que incluía datos sociodemográficos, el PHQ-9, el inventario de depresión de Beck-II (BDI-II), la Escala de Trastorno de Ansiedad Generalizada-7 (GAD-7), la Escala de Afecto Positivo y Negativo (PANAS), y el índice de calidad de vida (QLI). Resultados: El modelo unidimensional del PHQ-9 proporcionó mejor ajuste de los datos. El PHQ-9 evalúa síntomas depresivos de forma equivalente en ambos sexos y presenta una elevada consistencia interna, así como una buena validez convergente y divergente con el resto de los constructos. Conclusión: La administración del PHQ-9 podría apoyar el cribado de pacientes con sintomatología depresiva en el sistema público de salud ecuatoriano (SSPE).

Elena+ Care for COVID-19, a Pandemic Lifestyle Care Intervention: Intervention Design and Study Protocol.

Background: The current COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic is an emergency on a global scale, with huge swathes of the population required to remain indoors for prolonged periods to tackle the virus. In this new context, individuals' health-promoting routines are under greater strain, contributing to poorer mental and physical health. Additionally, individuals are required to keep up to date with latest health guidelines about the virus, which may be confusing in an age of social-media disinformation and shifting guidelines. To tackle these factors, we developed Elena+, a smartphone-based and conversational agent (CA) delivered pandemic lifestyle care intervention. Methods: Elena+ utilizes varied intervention components to deliver a psychoeducation-focused coaching program on the topics of: COVID-19 information, physical activity, mental health (anxiety, loneliness, mental resources), sleep and diet and nutrition. Over 43 subtopics, a CA guides individuals through content and tracks progress over time, such as changes in health outcome assessments per topic, alongside user-set behavioral intentions and user-reported actual behaviors. Ratings of the usage experience, social demographics and the user profile are also captured. Elena+ is available for public download on iOS and Android devices in English, European Spanish and Latin American Spanish with future languages and launch countries planned, and no limits on planned recruitment. Panel data methods will be used to track user progress over time in subsequent analyses. The Elena+ intervention is open-source under the Apache 2 license (MobileCoach software) and the Creative Commons 4.0 license CC BY-NC-SA (intervention logic and content), allowing future collaborations; such as cultural adaptions, integration of new sensor-related features or the development of new topics. Discussion: Digital health applications offer a low-cost and scalable route to meet challenges to public health. As Elena+ was developed by an international and interdisciplinary team in a short time frame to meet the COVID-19 pandemic, empirical data are required to discern how effective such solutions can be in meeting real world, emergent health crises. Additionally, clustering Elena+ users based on characteristics and usage behaviors could help public health practitioners understand how population-level digital health interventions can reach at-risk and sub-populations.

Predictors of Adherence in Three Low-Intensity Intervention Programs Applied by ICTs for Depression in Primary Care.

Depression is one of the most common disorders in psychiatric and primary care settings, and is associated with disability, loss in quality of life, and economic costs. Internet-based psychological interventions have been shown to be effective in depression treatment but present problems with a low degree of adherence. The main aim of this study is to analyze the adherence predictors in three low-intensity interventions programs applied by Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) for depression. A multi-center, randomized, controlled clinical trial was conducted with 164 participants with depression, who were allocated to: Healthy Lifestyle Program, Positive Affect Promotion Program or Mindfulness Program. Sociodemographic characteristics, Patient Health Questionnaire-9, Visual Analog Scale, Short Form Health Survey, Positive and Negative Affect Schedule, Five Facets Mindfulness Questionnaire, Pemberton Happiness Index and Treatment Expectancy Questionnaire were used to study adherence. Results showed that positive affect resulted in a predictor variable for Healthy Lifestyle Program and Positive Affect Promotion Program. Perceived health was also a negative adherence predictor for the Positive Affect Promotion Program. Our findings demonstrate that there are differences in clinical variables between treatment completers and non-completers and we provide adherence predictors in two intervention groups. Although new additional predictors have been examined, further research is essential in order to improve tailored interventions and increase adherence treatment.

Understanding the Influence of Eating Patterns on Binge Drinking: A Mediation Model.

BACKGROUND: Binge drinking is an important health problem, and it has been related to binge eating and fat intake in animal models, but this relationship has not been tested in humans. The first objective of this study was to analyze whether binge eating and fat intake are related to binge drinking in a youth sample. The second objective was to analyze whether binge eating and fat intake mediate the relationship between individual factors associated with binge eating and fat intake (sex, body mass index (BMI), drive for thinness, body dissatisfaction, eating styles, impulsivity, and food addiction) and binge drinking. METHODS: A sample of 428 undergraduate students filled out several questionnaires on binge drinking, binge eating, fat intake, drive for thinness, body dissatisfaction, eating styles, food addiction, and impulsivity. RESULTS: Results showed an excellent model fit: χ2(25) = 30.342 (p = 0.212), comparative fit index (CFI) = 0.992, root mean squared error of approximation (RMSEA) = 0.022 [90% CI = 0.000, 0.047]. Binge eating and fat intake were positively related to binge drinking. Furthermore, emotional eating, external eating, and food addiction showed positive and statistically significant indirect relationships with binge drinking, whereas the relationship with restrained eating was negative. CONCLUSIONS: These findings point to the need to use a broader approach in understanding and preventing binge drinking in the youth population by showing the influence of the eating pattern on this problem. This information could be helpful in preventing future behaviors and improving interventions that address health risk behaviors.

A Low-Intensity Internet-Based Intervention Focused on the Promotion of Positive Affect for the Treatment of Depression in Spanish Primary Care: Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: A large number of low-intensity Internet-based interventions (IBIs) for the treatment of depression have emerged in Primary Care; most of them focused on decreasing negative emotions. However, recent studies have highlighted the importance of addressing positive affect (PA) as well. This study is a secondary analysis of a randomized control trial. We examine the role of an IBI focused on promoting PA in patients with depression in Primary Care (PC). The specific objectives were to explore the profile of the patients who benefit the most and to analyze the change mechanisms that predict a significantly greater improvement in positive functioning measures. Methods: 56 patients were included. Measures of depression, affect, well-being, health-related quality of life, and health status were administered. Results: Participants who benefited the most were those who had lower incomes and education levels and worse mental health scores and well-being at baseline (7.9%-39.5% of explained variance). Improvements in depression severity and PA were significant predictors of long-term change in well-being, F (3,55) = 17.78, p < 0.001, R2 = 47.8%. Conclusions: This study highlights the importance of implementing IBIs in PC and the relevance of PA as a key target in Major Depressive Disorder treatment.

Working Alliance Inventory for Online Interventions-Short Form (WAI-TECH-SF): The Role of the Therapeutic Alliance between Patient and Online Program in Therapeutic Outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Therapeutic alliance (TA) between the patient and therapist has been related to positive therapeutic outcomes. Because Internet-based interventions are increasingly being implemented, a tool is needed to measure the TA with Internet-based self-guided programs. The Working Alliance Inventory for online interventions (WAI-TECH-SF) was adapted based on the WAI Short Form (Hatcher & Gillaspy, 2006). The objectives of this study were: (1) to analyse the psychometric properties of the WAI-TECH-SF; (2) to explore the differences in the WAI-TECH-SF scores according to different categories of the sample; and (3) to analyse whether the WAI-TECH-SF can predict therapeutic outcomes and satisfaction with the treatment. METHODS: 193 patients diagnosed with depression were included and received blended Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy. Measures of preferences, satisfaction, and credibility about the treatment, TA with the online program, depressive symptoms, and satisfaction with the treatment were administered. RESULTS: An exploratory factor analysis revealed a one-dimensional structure with adequate internal consistency. Linear regression analyses showed that the WAI-TECH-SF predicted changes in depressive symptoms and satisfaction with the treatment. CONCLUSIONS: WAI-TECH-SF is a reliable questionnaire to assess the TA between the patient and the online program, which is associated with positive therapeutic outcomes and satisfaction with the treatment.

Efficacy of Three Low-Intensity, Internet-Based Psychological Interventions for the Treatment of Depression in Primary Care: Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Primary care is a major access point for the initial treatment of depression, but the management of these patients is far from optimal. The lack of time in primary care is one of the major difficulties for the delivery of evidence-based psychotherapy. During the last decade, research has focused on the development of brief psychotherapy and cost-effective internet-based interventions mostly based on cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). Very little research has focused on alternative methods of treatment for depression using CBT. Thus, there is a need for research into other therapeutic approaches. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of 3 low-intensity, internet-based psychological interventions (healthy lifestyle psychoeducational program [HLP], focused program on positive affect promotion [PAPP], and brief intervention based on mindfulness [MP]) compared with a control condition (improved treatment as usual [iTAU]). METHODS: A multicenter, 4-arm, parallel randomized controlled trial was conducted between March 2015 and March 2016, with a follow-up of 12 months. In total, 221 adults with mild or moderate major depression were recruited in primary care settings from 3 Spanish regions. Patients were randomly distributed to iTAU (n=57), HLP (n=54), PAPP (n=56), and MP (n=54). All patients received iTAU from their general practitioners. The main outcome was the Spanish version of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) from pretreatment (time 1) to posttreatment (time 2) and up to 6 (time 3) and 12 (time 4) months' follow-up. Secondary outcomes included the visual analog scale of the EuroQol, the Short-Form Health Survey (SF-12), the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS), and the Pemberton Happiness Index (PHI). We conducted regression models to estimate outcome differences along study stages. RESULTS: A moderate decrease was detected in PHQ-9 scores from HLP (ß=-3.05; P=.01) and MP (ß=-3.00; P=.01) compared with iTAU at posttreatment. There were significant differences between all intervention groups and iTAU in physical SF-12 scores at 6 months after treatment. Regarding well-being, MP and PAPP reported better PHI results than iTAU at 6 months post treatment. PAPP intervention significantly decreased PANAS negative affect scores compared with iTAU 12 months after treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The low-intensity, internet-based psychological interventions (HLP and MP) for the treatment of depression in primary care are more effective than iTAU at posttreatment. Moreover, all low-intensity psychological interventions are also effective in improving medium- and long-term quality of life. PAPP is effective for improving health-related quality of life, negative affect, and well-being in patients with depression. Nevertheless, it is important to examine possible reasons that could be implicated for PAPP not being effective in reducing depressive symptomatology; in addition, more research is still needed to assess the cost-effectiveness analysis of these interventions. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ISRCTN Registry ISRCTN82388279; http://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN82388279. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): RR2-10.1186/s12888-015-0475-0.

Efficacy and cost-effectiveness of a blended cognitive behavioral therapy for depression in Spanish primary health care: study protocol for a randomised non-inferiority trial.

BACKGROUND: Data from primary health care in Spain show a high prevalence of the major depressive disorder. Blended treatment (combination of face-to-face and online components) seems to be a very promising tool for the optimization and dissemination of psychological treatments in a cost-effective form. Although there is growing data that confirm the advantages of blended therapies, few studies have analyzed their application in regular clinical practice. The objective of the present paper is to describe the protocol for a clinical study aimed at exploring the clinical and cost-effectiveness of a blended cognitive behavioral therapy (b-CBT) for depression, compared to treatment as usual (TAU) in a primary health care setting. METHODS: A two-arm randomised controlled non-inferiority trial will be carried out, with repeated measures (baseline, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months) under two conditions: b-CBT and TAU. The b-CBT program will consist in three face-to-face sessions and eight online sessions. The TAU is defined as the routine care delivered by the general practitioner for the treatment of depression in primary care. The primary outcome is a symptomatic change of depressive symptoms on the patient-health questionnaire (PHQ-9). Other secondary outcomes will be considered (e.g., quality of life, treatment preference). All participants must be 18 years of age or older and meet the diagnostic criteria for major depressive disorder according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental disorders 4th edition. 156 participants will be recruited (78 per arm). DISCUSSION: It is expected that b-CBT is clinically non-inferior when compared to TAU. This is the first study in Spain to use a b-CBT format in primary and specialized care, and this format could be an efficacious and cost-effective therapeutic strategy for the treatment of depression. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02361684. Registered on 8 January 2015. Currently recruiting participants.

La escala de “Autoverbalizaciones durante la situación de hablar en público” (ssps): propiedades psicométricas en una muestra española de fóbicos sociales / Self-statements during Public Speaking Scale (SSPS): psychometric properties in a Spanish sample of social phobics

El principal objetivo de este estudio es llevar a cabo la validación, en población clínica española, de la escala de “Autoverbalizaciones durante la situación de hablar en público” (Self-Statements during Public Speaking, SSPS; Hofmann y DiBartolo, 2000). Este instrumento está formado por 10 ítems con un formato de respuesta de seis puntos que miden las autoverbalizaciones asociadas a hablar en público. La escala fue administrada a 121 participantes con un diagnóstico de fobia social (American Psyquiatric Association, 2000). El análisis factorial exploratorio indicó la existencia de dos factores: la subescala de Autoverbalizaciones positivas (SSPS-P) y la subescala de Autoverbalizaciones negativas (SSPS-N). La consistencia interna fue alta para ambas subescalas (SSPS-P α= 0,81; SSPS-N α= 0,88). Además el análisis de varianza reveló diferencias significativas en ambas subescalas del SSPS en función de los subtipos de fobia social. Los resultados apoyan la utilidad del SSPS en población clínica española (con diagnóstico de fobia social) para la evaluación de las autoverbalizaciones durante situaciones de hablar en público (AU)

The primary objective of this study was to validate in a Spanish clinical population the Self-Statements during Public Speaking Scale (SSPS; Hofmann & DiBartolo, 2000). This instrument consists of 10 items, scored on a six-point scale that measures self-statements related to public speaking. The questionnaire was administered to 121 participants with a diagnosis of social phobia (American Psychiatric Association, 2000). Exploratory factor analysis identified two factors: the Positive Self-Statements scale (SSPS-P) and the Negative Self-Statements scale (SSPS-N). Internal consistency was high for both scales (SSPS-P α= 0.81, SSPS-N α= 0.88). Moreover, analysis of variance revealed significant differences among social phobia subtypes in both scales. Results supported the utility of the SSPS in a Spanish clinical population with a diagnosis of social phobia to assess self-statements related to public speaking

Validación del “Cuestionario de confianza para hablar en público” en una muestra clínica española / Validation of the Personal Report of Confidence as Speaker in a Spanish clinical sample

El objetivo del presente trabajo fue obtener datos psicométricos del “Cuestionario de confianza para hablar en público” (Personal Report of Confidence as Speaker-Modified; PRCS-M; Paul, 1966) adaptado al español y validado por Bados (1986) en una muestra de fóbicos sociales (N= 120). El 84,17% fueron mujeres entre 17 y 48 años (M= 24,06; DT= 5,16). Mediante un análisis factorial confirmatorio se comprobó que un modelo bifactorial se ajustaba relativamente bien a los datos: enunciados negativos (PRCS-MR) y enunciados positivos (PRCS-MR). La consistencia interna obtenida fue elevada (a= 0,89). El PRCS-M correlacionó con ambas subescalas de las “Autoverbalizaciones durante la situación de hablar en público” (SSPS-P r= -0,50; SSPS-N r= 0,55), la “Escala de evitación y malestar social” (r= 0,31) y el “Miedo a la evaluación negativa versión breve” (r= 0,35). Finalmente, se observaron diferencias significativas (F[2, 115]= 7,72, p< 0,005) en el PRCS-M entre los tres subtipos de fobia social (Heimberg, Holt, Schneier, Spitzer y Liebowitz, 1993) (AU)

The goal of this paper was to explore the psychometric properties of the PRCS-M (Personal Report of Confidence as Speaker-Modified; Bados, 1986) in a social phobic sample (N= 120). The 84.17% of the participants were women, with ages ranging from 17 to 48 (M= 24.06, SD= 5.16). Confirmatory factor analysis was calculated and we found that a bifactorial model adjusted quite well to data: positive statements (PRCS-MS) and negative statement (PRCS-MR). The internal consistency obtained was high (a= .89). The PRCS-M correlated with both SSPS subscales (Self-Statements During Public Speaking) (SSPS-P r= -.50; SSPS-N r= .55), the SAD (Social Avoidance and Distress Scale) (r= .31), and the BFNE (Brief version of the Fear of Negative Evaluation Scale) (r= .35). Finally, there were significant differences (F [2, 115]= 7.72, p< .005) in the PRCS-M amongst the three social phobia subtypes (Heimberg, Holt, Schneier, Spitzer, & Liebowitz, 1993)

Un tratamiento autoadministrado vía Internet para el miedo a hablar en público: un estudio de caso único / A self-help treatment via the Internet for fear of public speaking: a single case study

En este trabajo presentamos la aplicación de un tratamiento autoadministrado vía Internet para el miedo a hablar en público [MHP] en un estudio de caso único con fobia social. La paciente es una mujer de 21 años con un diagnóstico de fobia social generalizada según los criterios del DSM-IV-TR (APA, 2000). El protocolo de evaluación, el procedimiento y el tratamiento cognitivo-conductual se describen en este trabajo. Las medidas utilizadas se han clasificado en: conductas objetivo, medidas de fobia social, test de evitación conductual, medidas de ansiedad y depresión, y funcionamiento global. También fueron evaluadas las expectativas de cambio y la satisfacción con el tratamiento. Los resultados mostraron una reducción importante en todas las medidas clínicas relevantes después del tratamiento. Además, la paciente se mostró satisfecha y confiada en el tratamiento. Finalmente, en los seguimientos a los 3, 6 y 12 meses se vio que los logros terapéuticos se mantuvieron a largo plazo (AU)

In this work is presented a clinical example of the use of an Internet-based self-applied intervention for fear of public speaking in a single case study with social phobia. The patient is a 21-year-old woman who met DSM-IV-TR diagnostic criteria for generalized social phobia (APA, 2000). The assessment protocol and procedure, and the cognitive-behavioral treatment program are described. The measures were classified into: target behaviors, social phobia measures, behavioral avoidance test, anxiety and depression, and global functioning. The patient’s expectations and satisfaction with regard to the Internet-Based self-applied treatment were also assessed. The results showed an important reduction in all relevant clinical measures after the treatment. Besides, the patient reported a good acceptance and confidence in the program. Three, six, and twelve-month follow-up assessments were conducted and the therapeutic gains were maintained at long-term