Spanish and Chilean Standardizations of the Personality Assessment Inventory: the Influence of Sex.

There is growing interest in the adaptation of psychological questionnaires in different countries, due to the need for cross-cultural research using the same tests adapted to diverse populations. This paper presents the standardization of the Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI; Morey, 1991, 2007) in Spain and Chile (both Spanish-speaking countries). The Spanish sample was made up of 940 people (461 men and 479 women), and the Chilean sample of 569 people (231 men and 338 women). Results revealed that the Chilean means were higher than those of the Spanish sample at confidence level 99.9%, although the associated effect sizes were generally small to moderate (partial eta-square between 0.008 and 0.187). Sex differences in the variables evaluated were commented on, and the importance of cross-cultural research and the influence of sex on personality and psychopathology variables were discussed.

Spanish and Chilean standardizations of the personality assessment inventory: the influence of sex

There is growing interest in the adaptation of psychological questionnaires in different countries, due to the need for cross-cultural research using the same tests adapted to diverse populations. This paper presents the standardization of the Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI; Morey, 1991, 2007) in Spain and Chile (both Spanish-speaking countries). The Spanish sample was made up of 940 people (461 men and 479 women), and the Chilean sample of 569 people (231 men and 338 women). Results revealed that the Chilean means were higher than those of the Spanish sample at confidence level 99.9%, although the associated effect sizes were generally small to moderate (partial etasquare between 0.008 and 0.187). Sex differences in the variables evaluated were commented on, and the importance of cross-cultural research and the influence of sex on personality and psychopathology variables were discussed (AU)

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Positive psychology group intervention for breast cancer patients: a randomised trial.

This study assessed the effects of a psychological group intervention based on positive psychology in women with breast cancer. 175 women were randomly assigned either to an experimental group, receiving the 14-session intervention (n = 87), or to a wait list group (n = 88) that did not receive any type of intervention. For treatment, a group intervention was applied, based on improving psychological strengths and enhancing positive psychology-based styles of coping. Strength-related outcomes, self-esteem, well-being, and happiness were assessed before and after the intervention. The experimental group showed higher scores on all of the study variables after the intervention. Participants reported improved self-esteem, emotional intelligence-related abilities, resilience, and optimism, as well as positive affectivity, well-being, and happiness. The results show a beneficial effect of this psychological intervention based on positive psychology on female breast cancer patients' psychological health.

Cambios emocionales y alteraciones en la Inmunoglobulina A (IgA) tras el tratamiento psicológico en mujeres víctimas de violencia doméstica / Emotional changes and Inmunoglobulin A (IgA) after psychological treatment in women victims of domestic violence

El objetivo de este estudio ha sido determinar, en mujeres víctimas de maltrato, los beneficios de un tratamiento psicológico y evaluar su impacto en la salud psicológica y en el sistema inmune. Las participantes fueron 60 mujeres usuarias del Área de Igualdad del Ayuntamiento de Málaga. Se constituyeron 2 grupos en función de si acudieron o no a la terapia psicológica. Se evaluaron antes y después del tratamiento las variables psicológicas Autoestima, Depresión y Ansiedad, así como el nivel de Inmunoglobulina A en saliva. Los resultados muestran diferencias en las mujeres que recibieron el tratamiento antes y después de éste en todas las variables, mejorando en todos los indicadores. Estas diferencias no se observan en las mujeres que no acudieron a las sesiones de terapia, y en alguna variable, como depresión e Inmunoglobulina A, incluso existe un empeoramiento. Entre ambos grupos existen diferencias en todas las variables después del tratamiento, así, las mujeres que lo recibieron muestran menos indicadores de alteración psicológica y mayor nivel de Inmunoglobulina A; en el pretratamiento en cambio, estas diferencias no se encontraron. Se hace patente la importancia del tratamiento psicológico en esta población, tanto para su salud psicológica como física (AU)

The aim of this study was to determine the benefits of a psychological treatment in women victims of mistreatments in psychological health and in the immune system. The participants in this study were 60 women users of the Equality Area of the City Council of Malaga. We set two groups of women up in relation of whether the women attended or not to the given therapy. Psychological variables (self-esteem, depression and anxiety) and levels of Inmunoglobulin A were evaluated before and after the treatment. The results showed differences between all the variables before and after the treatment, with better valuation after the treatment. These differences were not shown in women that did not assist to the therapeutic sessions, and even, the values of depression and immunoglobulin A levels were worse. We found also differences in the values of these variables when the two groups were compared. Women that received the treatment showed fewer indicators of psychological alterations and higher levels of immunoglobulin A than the women that did not assist to the sessions; in the pre-treatment these differences were not shown. This study enhances the significance of the psychological treatment for psychological and physic health in women victims of abuses (AU)

Personality, emotions and coping styles: predictive value for the evolution of cancer patients.

This study had a twofold goal: to define differences in psychological aspects between cancer patients and a control group and to explore the predictive value of such aspects for the evolution of the disease two years later. Firstly, personality, anxiety, anger and depression were assessed in both groups. Results of t-analyses revealed significant group differences. In personality, cancer patients had higher levels of neuroticism and lower levels of extraversion, agreeableness and conscientiousness than the control group. In emotional variables, cancer patients had higher levels of anxiety and some aspects of anger, but there were no group differences in depression levels. Secondly, applying a quasi-prospective design, the predictive value of personality, emotions and coping styles for the evolution of cancer (favourable or unfavourable) was explored using generalized linear models and logistic regression. A four-predictor logistic model was fitted: Anger Expression-In, Resignation, Self-blame and Conscientiousness, indicating that the higher Anger Expression-in, Resignation, and Self-blame scores together with a lower Conscientiousness score, the more likely it is for patients' cancer to evolve unfavourably. These results indicate the crucial role of psychological aspects for the evolution of the disease and the need to include such aspects in the design of clinical interventions.

Personality, emotions and coping styles: predictive value for the evolution of cancer patients

This study had a twofold goal: to define differences in psychological aspects between cancer patients and a control group and to explore the predictive value of such aspects for the evolution of the disease two years later. Firstly, personality, anxiety, anger and depression were assessed in both groups. Results of t-analyses revealed significant group differences. In personality, cancer patients had higher levels of neuroticism and lower levels of extraversion, agreeableness and conscientiousness than the control group. In emotional variables, cancer patients had higher levels of anxiety and some aspects of anger, but there were no group differences in depression levels. Secondly, applying a quasi-prospective design, the predictive value of personality, emotions and coping styles for the evolution of cancer (favourable or unfavourable) was explored using generalized linear models and logistic regression. A four-predictor logistic model was fitted: Anger Expression-In, Resignation, Self-blame and Conscientiousness, indicating that the higher Anger Expression-in, Resignation, and Self-blame scores together with a lower Conscientiousness score, the more likely it is for patients’ cancer to evolve unfavourably. These results indicate the crucial role of psychological aspects for the evolution of the disease and the need to include such aspects in the design of clinical interventions (AU)

Este estudio tiene un doble objetivo: describir las diferencias en los aspectos psicológicos entre los pacientes con cáncer y un grupo control, y explorar el posible valor predictivo de estos aspectos en la evolución de la enfermedad dos años más tarde. En primer lugar, se evaluaron en ambos grupos variables de personalidad, ansiedad, ira y depresión. Los resultados de los análisis t mostraron diferencias significativas entre los dos grupos. En personalidad, los pacientes con cáncer mostraron niveles más altos de neuroticismo y niveles más bajos de extraversión, afabilidad y concienciación que el grupo control. En variables emocionales, los pacientes con cáncer presentaron puntuaciones más elevadas en ansiedad y en algunos aspectos de la ira, pero no hubo diferencias entre los grupos en los niveles de depresión. En segundo lugar, aplicando un diseño cuasi-prospectivo, se analizó el valor predictivo de la personalidad, las emociones y los estilos de afrontamiento en la evolución del cáncer (favorable o desfavorable), mediante modelos lineales generalizados y de regresión logística. Se ajustó un modelo logístico de cuatro predictores: Ira interna, Resignación, Autoculpación y Concienciación, indicando que altas puntuaciones en Ira interna, Resignación, Autoculpación, junto con puntuaciones bajas en Concienciación, presentaban mayor probabilidad de relacionarse con una evolución desfavorable del cáncer. Estos resultados apoyan el papel crucial de los aspectos psicológicos en la evolución de la enfermedad y la necesidad de incluirlos en el diseño de las intervenciones clínicas (AU)

Expresión de emociones y bienestar en un grupo de mujeres con cáncer de mama: una intervención psicológica / Emotional expression and personal well-being in a group of women with breast cancer: a psychological intervention

Se realizó una evaluación psicológica a un grupo de 40 mujeres con cáncer de mama y posteriormente se diseñó y efectuó una intervención psicológica grupal voluntaria a 20 de ellas. La evaluación consistió en una entrevista estructurada y en la aplicación del Inventario Clínico Multiaxial de Millon (MCMI-III), encontrándose rasgos de personalidad que indican dificultades en la expresión emocional y síndromes clínicos que afectan al bienestar. Se diseñó y realizó, siguiendo a Millon, una psicoterapia integradora que incluyó técnicas de diversos enfoques, seleccionadas por su contribución global al procedimiento terapéutico, las sesiones se llevaron a cabo durante 12 semanas. Para comprobar la eficacia de ésta, se administraron antes y después de la terapia, la escala de Inteligencia Emocional, TMMS-24, y las Escalas de Bienestar Personal de Diener, Emmons, Larsen y Griffin, y de Mroczek y Kolarz. Los resultados muestran que las mujeres que participaron en la terapia mejoraron en la regulación de sus emociones negativas y en su bienestar personal, mientras que no se presentaron diferencias en estas variables en el grupo de mujeres de comparación.

After having realized a psychological evaluation to a group of 40 women with breast cancer, a psychological group intervention has been designed and applied to 20 of them, who participated voluntarily. This evaluation consisted ina structured interview and an application of Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory-III (MCMI-III), finding personality traits related to difficulties in emotional expression and clinical syndromes that damage personal well-being. Following Millon's theory an integrative psychotherapy is designed and put into practice, and it was provided to 20 women during 12 sessions. In order to check the efficacy of the applied intervention, the scale of emotional intelligence Traid Meta Mood Scale 24, TMMS-24; and two scales of personal well-being, the Diener, Emmons, Larsen y Griffin Scale, ant the Mroczek y Kolarz affect scale, were administrated before and after this intervention. Results showed that women who received the intervention have improved in the regulation of their negative emotionsand their personal well-being, while the group of control showed no difference in these variables.

Life stressors, emotional avoidance and breast cancer.

Two groups of women were assessed in psychological aspects considered by some authors of interest for personal well-being. The sample consisted of 118 women, 58 diagnosed with breast cancer and 60 healthy women, of similar ages and personal circumstances. The purpose of the study was: (a) to explore the existence of stressful life events in the women's history and their degree of subjective distress and (b) to determine whether or not there is an emotional avoidance style in the group of women with breast cancer. The following assessment instruments were employed: the "Cuestionario de Formas de Afrontamiento" (CEA), the Five-Factor Inventory NEO-PI-R, and the State-Trait Anger Inventory (STAXI). The results revealed more stressful vital events in the last two years in the group of women with breast cancer and significant differences in the degree of current distress. They also obtained higher scores in current anger, resignation, and neuroticism.

Life Stressors, Emotional Avoidance and Breast Cancer

Two groups of women were assessed in psychological aspects considered by some authors of interest for personal well-being. The sample consisted of 118 women, 58 diagnosed with breast cancer and 60 healthy women, of similar ages and personal circumstances. The purpose of the study was: (a) to explore the existence of stressful life events in the women’s history and their degree of subjective distress and (b) to determine whether or not there is an emotional avoidance style in the group of women with breast cancer. The following assessment instruments were employed: the «Cuestionario de Formas de Afrontamiento» (CEA), the Five-Factor Inventory NEOPI-R, and the State-Trait Anger Inventory (STAXI). The results revealed more stressful vital events in the last two years in the group of women with breast cancer and significant differences in the degree of current distress. They also obtained higher scores in current anger, resignation, and neuroticism (AU)

Se ha realizado una evaluación de aspectos psicológicos a un grupo de 118 mujeres; 58 diagnosticadas de cáncer de mama y 60 mujeres sanas, de edades y situación personal similares. El estudio tiene como objetivos evaluar en la historia de las mujeres con cáncer de mama y comparar con el grupo de mujeres sanas: (a) la existencia de estresores vitales y su grado de malestar subjetivo y (b) rasgos de personalidad considerados característicos de un estilo de evitación emocional. Los instrumentos de evaluación utilizados son: el Cuestionario de Formas de Afrontamiento (CEA), el Inventario de CincoFactores NEO-PI-R, y el Inventario Rasgo-Estado de Ira (STAXI). Los resultados encuentran, en el grupo de mujeres con cáncer de mama, mayor proporción de situaciones vitales estresantes durante los dos últimos años y diferencias significativas en el grado de malestar actual. También puntuaron más alto en las variables ira actual, resignación y neuroticismo (AU)

Multiaxial evaluation of violent criminals.

A multiaxial assessment and personality evaluation was performed on a group of 70 people (65 men and 5 women) who were recently incarcerated in Málaga, Spain for having committed violent crimes, such as murder and sex-based violence. Analysis of scores on the MCMI indicated that there were chiefly two clearly differentiated personality profiles related to two personality disorders present in the group, the antisocial and the dependent personality disorder with compulsive traits. The "antisocial-psychotic group" presented a clear relation with clinical syndromes, specifically alcohol and drug abuse with delusional disorder, and they had committed a higher proportion of murders. On the Big Five Questionnaire, the "dependent-compulsive group" scored higher than average on Emotional Stability and Agreeableness, whereas the antisocial-psychotic group scored lower than average on Emotional Stability. These findings are in accord with those of Megargee, who concluded that violent criminals can be divided into two categories, the undercontrolled (antisocial) and the overcontrolled (dependent).

Los trastornos de personalidad según el modelo de Millon: una propuesta integradora / Personality disorders according to millon´s personality model: an integrative approach

Se presentan en este artículo las líneas fundamentales que guían el modelo de estilos de personalidad y de trastornos de personalidad de Theodore Millon: la utilización de una perspectiva teórica integradora, su insistencia en el continuo "normalidad/patología" y la incorporación de los principios de la Teoría de la Evolución. Se analiza también su propuesta multiaxial en la que cobra relieve la dinámica interactiva que se establece entre los distintos ejes, con especial atención al papel preponderante del Eje II, de Trastornos de personalidad, en la génesis, determinación o al menos precipitación de los síndromes clínicos del Eje I, más transitorios y transversales. Se completa esta breve exposición con las características del instrumento de evaluación MCMI-III (Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory) del que disponemos de adaptación española a cargo de las autoras, así como de algunas de las orientaciones principales para el tratamiento psicológico (AU)

In this paper, we present the main lines driving Theodore Millon´s model of personality styles and personality disorders –an integrative theoretical perspective, the author´s insistence on the continuum normality –pathology and the incorporation of the principles of the Theory of Evolution. His multi-axial proposal is also analysed, in which the interactive dynamics established between the diverse axes are underscored with special attention to the outstanding role of Axis II, Personality Disorders, in the genesis, determination, or at least precipitation of Axis I clinical syndromes –of a more transient and cross nature. This brief account is completed with a description of the characteristics of the instrument –the MCMI-II (Millon Clinical Multi-Axial Inventory). The Spanish adaptation by the authors is available as well as a number of relevant guidelines for psychological treatment (AU)

Factores de personalidad y delitos violentos / Personality factors in relation to violent crimes

Se ha realizado una evaluación de la personalidad al total de personas que han ingresado en la prisión de Málaga por haber cometido delitos violentos durante un período de dos años. La muestra es de 54 personas (51 varones y 3 mujeres) que se ha comparado con un grupo normativo. El estudio tiene dos objetivos: 1) evaluar factores básicos de personalidad como los «cinco grandes» y dimensiones de personalidad -bienestar personal y adaptación social- que se postulan definir a una persona psicológicamente sana y compararla con un grupo normativo, y 2) conocer si existe algún perfil clínico en el grupo de sujetos que han cometido delitos violentos atendiendo a estilos/trastornos de personalidad y síndromes clínicos. Los resultados muestran que, aunque no es posible postular un perfil básico de personalidad de los delincuentes violentos atendiendo a los factores considerados como los «cinco grandes», sí se encuentran que siguiendo el modelo de Millon (1990) se darían dos patrones habituales de comportamiento y formas de afrontar la vida que denominaríamos «dependiente-compulsivo» y con «tendencias psicópatas» y que están relacionados con indicadores de salud mental

The personalities of a group of 54 persons (51 men and 3 women), imprisoned for the perpetration of violent crimes, were evaluated. The results were then compared to a normative group. This study considers personality factors and dimensions on three levels: (a) Basic factors: the «Big Five», (b) Personality disorders and clinical syndromes, (c) Personality dimensions related to personal wellbeing and social adaptation said to define a psychologically healthy individual. The results of the study show that it is not possible to define a basic personality profile for this group of violent delinquents based on the «Big Five» factors. It is, however, possible to find two habitual patterns of behaviour if the Millon Model (1990) is applied. These two behaviour patterns and attitudes towards life situations will be named «Dependent with compulsive traits» and «Psychopath tendencies». Both relate to indicators of mental health

[Personality factors in relation to violent crimes]. / Factores de personalidad y delitos violentos.

The personalities of a group of 54 persons (51 men and 3 women), imprisoned for the perpetration of violent crimes, were evaluated. The results were then compared to a normative group. This study considers personality factors and dimensions on three levels: (a) Basic factors: the "Big Five", (b) Personality disorders and clinical syndromes, (c) Personality dimensions related to personal wellbeing and social adaptation said to define a psychologically healthy individual. The results of the study show that it is not possible to define a basic personality profile for this group of violent delinquents based on the "Big Five" factors. It is, however, possible to find two habitual patterns of behaviour if the Millon Model (1990) is applied. These two behaviour patterns and attitudes towards life situations will be named "Dependent with compulsive traits" and "Psychopath tendencies". Both relate to indicators of mental health.

Perfil psicológico de delincuentes sexuales. Un estudio clínico con el MCMI-II (Millon, 1999) / Psychological profile of sexual delinquents. A clinical study with the MCMI-II (Millon, 1999)

Se realiza una evaluación del estilo de personalidad y síndromes clínicos a un total de 90 varones penados ingresados en prisión y divididos en tres grupos en función del delito cometido, con objeto de comparar sus perfiles psicológicos. Los grupos están formados por personas que han cometido tres tipos de delitos: delitos sexuales contra víctimas adultas, delitos sexuales contra menores y delitos no sexuales.A todos ellos se les ha administrado el Inventario Clínico Multiaxial de Millon-II (MCMI-II) obteniendo así un perfil psicológico y comparando sus puntuaciones.Los resultados indican que los delincuentes sexuales de menores presentan menos alteraciones estables de la personalidad y rasgos de personalidad de menor gravedad que los delincuentes sexuales de adultos y los que han cometido delitos no sexuales. (AU)