Effectiveness of psychological interventions for reducing depressive symptomatology and overload and improving quality of life in informal caregivers of non-institutionalized dependent elderly: a systematic review.

Introduction: The phenomenon of aging is distinguished by profound life transformations, with the most dependent group being constituted by elderly individuals. The responsibility for their care primarily falls on the figure of the informal caregiver. The scarcity of time, the stress associated with caregiving, the financial, work-related, and personal difficulties it entails, make it a collective with high probabilities of experiencing various psychological disorders. Interventions that have shown the best results are those of multiple components, composed of various techniques that seek to adapt to the reality of the informal caregiver. Method: The purpose of this study is a systematic review of effective interventions on depressive symptoms, emotional wellbeing, burden, or quality of life in informal caregivers of non-institutionalized dependents from 2018 to the present. A search was conducted in November 2023, on Pubmed, Pubmed Central, Proquest, and Scielo. The final review was conducted on 11 articles. Results: The results indicate that multiple component interventions including cognitive behavioral techniques and psychoeducation in combination with stress coping techniques and social support are more effective on depressive symptoms, burden, quality of life, and increasing the social support network. Discussion: Results on web-based programs demonstrate their efficacy and effectiveness, but require a greater number of trials to adjust their methodological quality and content to the idiosyncrasies of the informal caregiver.

Attitudes toward death and burnout syndrome in geriatrics and gerontology healthcare personnel / Actitudes hacia la muerte y síndrome de burnout en el personal sanitario de geriatría y gerontología

Introduction Geriatric and gerontology healthcare workers are associated with a series of psychosocial risks such as death, bereavement and illness, and this implies a significant emotional and work overload, which can lead to negative attitudes toward death. Objective The aims of this study were to assess attitudes toward death, the level of burnout and the relationship between geriatrics and gerontology professionals. Method A correlational, cross-sectional study was conducted, in which the 42 participants in the sample completed an online questionnaire including the Revised Profile of Attitudes to Death (PAM-R) and the Maslach Burnout Inventory-Human Services Survey (MBI-HSS). Results The results obtained show that the predominant attitude toward death in the sample is that of neutral acceptance, and with regard to burnout syndrome, moderate average levels are found in the dimensions of emotional exhaustion and personal accomplishment, but a low level of depersonalisation. Conclusion Healthcare workers with attitudes of greater fear of death or acceptance of escape tend to experience higher levels of emotional exhaustion and depersonalisation, as do those with an attitude of death avoidance, who also have lower personal fulfillment (AU)

Introducción El personal sanitario de geriatría y gerontología se relaciona con una serie de riesgos psicosociales como son la muerte, el duelo y la enfermedad, esto implica una sobrecarga emocional y laboral importante, las cuales pueden derivar en actitudes hacia la muerte negativas.Objetivos Los objetivos de este estudio fueron evaluar las actitudes hacia la muerte, el nivel de burnout y la relación entre profesionales de geriatría y gerontología. Método Se realizó un estudio correlacional y transversal, en el que los 42 participantes de la muestra cumplimentaron un cuestionario online que incluía el Perfil Revisado de Actitudes hacia la Muerte (PAM-R) y el Maslach Burnout Inventory-Human Services Survey (MBI-HSS). Resultados Los resultados obtenidos muestran que la actitud hacia la muerte predominante en la muestra es la de aceptación neutral, y en cuanto al síndrome de burnout, se encuentran niveles medios moderados en las dimensiones de agotamiento emocional y realización personal, pero un nivel bajo de despersonalización. Conclusión Los trabajadores sanitarios con actitudes de mayor miedo a la muerte o de aceptación de la fuga tienden a experimentar mayores niveles de agotamiento emocional y despersonalización, al igual que los que tienen una actitud de evitación de la muerte, que además presentan una menor realización personal (AU)

Attitudes toward death and burnout syndrome in geriatrics and gerontology healthcare personnel.

INTRODUCTION: Geriatric and gerontology healthcare workers are associated with a series of psychosocial risks such as death, bereavement and illness, and this implies a significant emotional and work overload, which can lead to negative attitudes toward death. OBJECTIVE: The aims of this study were to assess attitudes toward death, the level of burnout and the relationship between geriatrics and gerontology professionals. METHOD: A correlational, cross-sectional study was conducted, in which the 42 participants in the sample completed an online questionnaire including the Revised Profile of Attitudes to Death (PAM-R) and the Maslach Burnout Inventory-Human Services Survey (MBI-HSS). RESULTS: The results obtained show that the predominant attitude toward death in the sample is that of neutral acceptance, and with regard to burnout syndrome, moderate average levels are found in the dimensions of emotional exhaustion and personal accomplishment, but a low level of depersonalisation. CONCLUSION: Healthcare workers with attitudes of greater fear of death or acceptance of escape tend to experience higher levels of emotional exhaustion and depersonalisation, as do those with an attitude of death avoidance, who also have lower personal fulfillment.

Utilidad de la terapia de aceptación y compromiso en pacientes oncológicos: revisión sistemática / Utility of acceptance and commitment Tterapy with cancer patients: Systematic Review

Utility of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy in cancer patients: Systematic Review. Cancer patients have multiple alternatives in psychotherapy to address the emotional difficulties that accompany this disease. Within these alternatives, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy is being provided due to its functionality in this population. It is necessary to review the results of the scientific literature regarding the efficacy of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy on psychological difficulties in cancer patients. Databases of MedLine, PubMed, Cochrane, and Google Scholar were reviewed to access information in English and Spanish related to this therapy in the last 15 years. From the articles found, we selected 16 that take into account dimensions such as experiential avoidance or psychological flexibility; limitations were also analyzed. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy is observed as one of the most successful therapy in Psycho-oncology to improve depressive and anxiety symptoms due to the increase in psychological flexibility and decrease in the avoidance of cognitions and emotions related to cancer (AU)

Predictors of Health Satisfaction in Spanish Physically Active Older Adults: A Cross-Sectional Observational Study.

Studies that analyze the predictors of satisfaction with the health of the elderly are scarce. That is the reason why the objective of this study is to analyze whether the physical-psychological state, sports practice, and the use of socio-health resources are factors that predict satisfaction with health status in physically active elderly people. The Physical Activity and Quality of Life questionnaires were applied to a sample of 397 elderly people in this cross-sectional observational study. The data have been analyzed using Student's t-test chi-square test, Cohen's d, Phi Coefficient and Cramer's V. The results have shown that the lack of physical illnesses (OR = 3.920; p < 0.001) and psychological problems (OR = 1.940; p = 0.032), practicing a high level of physical activity (OR = 2.049; p = 0.001), having high scores in functional skills (OR = 8.059; p < 0.001) and using little social and health services (OR = 2.595; p < 0.001) are all predictors of being highly satisfied with one's health. In conclusion, predictors associated with high health satisfaction of active older people have been found, such as functional abilities, the existence of physical illness, psychological problems, level of physical activity, frequency of use of health and social services and satisfaction with health and social services; but it is not associated with gender or age of participants.

Bereaved Families: A Qualitative Study of Therapeutic Intervention.

Background: A child's death is the most stressful event and the most complex grief that families face. The process of psychological adaptation to the illness and death of a child is difficult due to a variety of emotional reactions. Parental grief had received the attention of researchers only in recent years when it became clear that this reality differs substantially from the general grief process. Objective: This work aims to highlight the needs of bereaved parents; increase the specificity and effectiveness of the therapeutic approach to prevent complications in the process of loss-making; and find the recurrent thematic nuclei in the development of bereavement present in a therapeutic group of parents who have lost their child to an onco-hematological disease. Method: Between 2011 and 2016, five therapeutic groups for the grief elaboration were made. The sample included a total of 50 parents of children who died from cancer between the ages of 0 and 21 years.Content analysis was carried out as a qualitative analysis method. The SAS® Text Miner software (SAS Institute Inc, 2004) was used to read, interpret, classify and integrate the data from numerous sources. Results: The development and consecutive interpretation of the 5 clusters have been carried out to analyze the related topics using the node "Topic Analysis" and requesting the subdivision into five topics. Four topics have been well defined. Clear topics are reducible to categories of emotional relief, tools, legacy, and unfinished business. The topic analysis provides interesting indications about the different interpretive journeys of the bereavement situation and offers ideas regarding the different types of social responses. Conclusions: After reviewing the existing bibliography, we have confirmed the lack of specific literature on the problem of grief in parents whose children have died from cancer. Much research has shown that parents who lose a child to cancer want support, and there are still few studies on the most effective interventions for this group.

Efectividad de la Realidad Virtual (RV) en la disminución del distrés de niños y adolescentes con cáncer: Revisión sistemática / Effectiveness of Virtual Reality (VR) in reducing distress in children and adolescents with cancer: A systematic review

Introducción: Aunque se han publicado muchos estudios que han intentado demostrar la eficacia de diferentes tratamientos psicológicos en pacientes con cáncer; hasta la fecha no se ha revisado la evidencia disponible sobre la eficacia de la Realidad Virtual (RV) para disminuir el distrés en niños y adolescentes con cáncer. Objetivo:El objetivo principal es evaluar la efectividad de la intervención con Realidad virtual en la disminución del distrés que padecen los niños y adolescentes con cáncer ante los procedimientos médicos, la hospitalización, o la propia enfermedad. Resultados:De los 22 artículos encontrados, se han seleccionado para la revisión un total de 8, que seguían un diseño experimental o cuasiexperimental en pacientes niños y jóvenes diagnosticados de cáncer tratados con RV. Conclusiones: Los resultados, aunque heterogéneos, sugieren mejorías a medio–largo plazo en las variables de ansiedad, depresión, aceptación, calidad de vida, distrés y flexibilidad psicológica. Además, la RV ha resultado ser más eficaz que otras técnicas. De este modo, a pesar de las limitaciones encontradas en este estudio, se han obtenido resultados prometedores para futuras revisiones y/ o metaanálisis (AU)

Introduction: Although many studies have been published that have attempted to demonstrate the efficacy of different psychological treatments in cancer patients, to date there has been no review of the available evidence on the efficacy of Virtual Reality (VR) in reducing distress in children and adolescents with cancer. Objective: The main aim is to evaluate the effectiveness of virtual reality intervention in reducing the distress suffered by children and adolescents with cancer in the face of medical procedures, hospitalization, or the disease itself. Results: Of the 22 articles found, a total of 8 were selected for the review, which followed an experimental or quasi-experimental design in children and young people diagnosed with cancer treated with VR. Conclusions: The results, although heterogeneous, suggest medium to long-term improvements in the variables of anxiety, depression, acceptance, quality of life, distress, and psychological flexibility. Moreover, VR has proved to be more effective than other techniques. Thus, despite the limitations found in this study, promising results have been obtained for future reviews and/or meta-analysis (AU)

Spanish validation of the short-form of the Avoidance and Fusion Questionnaire (AFQ-Y8) with children and adolescents.

The Avoidance and Fusion Questionnaire for Youth-Short Form (AFQ-Y8) was designed to measure psychological inflexibility in children and adolescents. However, it has not yet been validated to the Spanish population. The present study examines the factorial structure, internal consistency, convergent and incremental validity, and measurement invariance between children and adolescents, male and female, and male and female across age of the AFQ-Y8 with 982 students from Spain (children = 459, adolescents = 523). The results confirmed, in both children and adolescents, a unifactorial structure of general psychological inflexibility. AFQ-Y8 was positively related to negative psychological health outcomes, and negatively related to positive psychological health outcomes and acceptance-related skills, such as mindfulness. In addition, psychological inflexibility showed incremental validity in the explanation of negative psychological health over mindfulness. Measurement invariance across age and gender groups was supported, suggesting that the scores in the AFQ-Y8 are comparable between children and adolescents, and between males and females. In conclusion, results show that the Spanish version of the AFQ-Y8 is a reliable and valid measure of psychological inflexibility in children and adolescents. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).

Escala Breve de Resiliencia frente a los Problemas de Comportamiento de los hijos (EBR-PC) / Brief Resilience Scale in front children’s Behavior Problems (BRS-BP)

Dado que la resiliencia puede variar dependiendo del tipo de adversidad con la que las personas se enfrentan, parece adecuado desarrollar una escala específica para personas que se enfrentan a los problemas de comportamiento de sus hijos. Con este fin se ha desarrollado una nueva escala semejante a la Brief Resilience Scale (Smith et al. 2008), pero contextualizada respecto a los problemas de comportamiento de los hijos (BRS-PC). En este estudio participaron 615 padres y madres. Se realizó un análisis factorial confirmatorio y otro de validación cruzada para estudiar la validez estructural, se analizó la fiabilidad y se realizó un análisis de correlaciones para estudiar la validez convergente. Los resultados indicaron que la BRS-PC posee una adecuada validez estructural, la fiabilidad de sus puntuaciones fue buena y mostraron unas alta correlaciones con la BRS original, siendo evidencia de validez convergente. La BRS-PC ha mostrado ser una herramienta fiable y válida para evaluar la resiliencia de los padres ante los problemas de comportamiento de los hijos

Given the fact that resilience varies depending on the kind of adversity people face, it is crucial to develop a specific scale for parents dealing with their children’s behavioral problems. Therefore, we developed a new scale similar to the Brief Resilience Scale (Smith et al., 2008) focused on children’s behavioral problems (BRS-PC). 615 parents took part in our study. We studied the structural validity of the scale through a confirmatory factorial analysis and a cross-validation analysis. We analyzed the scale reliability and we performed a correlation analysis to study its convergent validity. We provide evidence that the BRS-PC structural validity was adequate, its scores reliability was good and we confirmed its convergent validity through its high correlations with the original BRS. The BRS-PC is a reliable and valid tool useful for assessing the resilience of parents with regards to their children’s behavioral problems

Brief questionnaire of parental response to disruptive behavior (PRDB-Q): Parental perspective / Cuestionario breve de respuesta parental ante el comportamiento disruptivo (RPCD): Perspectiva de los padres

The aim of this study is to develop and validate the questionnaire of parental response to disruptive behavior (PRDB). Parents can act proactively towards problems and their emotional repercussions, focusing on how to handle them positively, or can focus their attention on the emotional response generated by behavior problems, being overburdened by them. In order to assess the prevalent personal orientation to cope with disruption, to guide parents and to assess the effect of psychological interventions, a questionnaire such as the one proposed here is required. A total of 420 parents and their children participated in the study. The structural validity of the questionnaire was tested using confirmatory factor analysis first to compare a multifactorial model (five specific factors) with a multifactorial hierarchical model (with two second-order factors), and second, to study the cross validity of both models. The predictive validity was tested analyzing the relationship between parents' and children' perceptions of family climate. Children's perceptions were assessed with the "Questionnaire of Behavior Management Climate perceived by children". Results showed that both models had good and similar fit indices that were almost identical in the two subsamples. Besides, the correlation analysis showed that although in general the relationship between perceptions of parents and their children is in the expected direction, this does not always happen (AU)

El objetivo de este estudio es desarrollar y validar el Cuestionario de respuesta parental ante el comportamiento disruptivo (RPCD)’. Los padres pueden actuar frente a los problemas y sus repercusiones emocionales de forma proactiva, buscando cómo manejarlos positivamente, o pueden centrar su atención en la respuesta emocional que genera el comportamiento disruptivo, dejándose llevar por la misma. Para evaluar el tipo de orientación personal prevalente frente a la disrupción, orientar a los padres y valorar el efecto de la intervención se requiere un tipo de cuestionario como el que se propone. Participaron en el estudio 420 padres y sus hijos. Se estudió la validez estructural del cuestionario comparando mediante Análisis factorial confirmatorio un modelo multifactorial (cinco factores específicos) y otro multifactorial-jerárquico (5.2), la validez cruzada de ambos modelos, y la validez predictiva, analizando la relación entre la percepción de los padres y las percepciones de los hijos evaluadas mediante el "Cuestionario de clima de gestión del comportamiento percibido por los hijos". Los resultados pusieron de manifiesto que los dos modelos presentaban índices de ajuste buenos y prácticamente idénticos, y semejantes en las dos submuestras. A su vez, el análisis de correlaciones puso de manifiesto que, aunque en general la relación entre las percepciones de los padres y las de sus hijos va en la dirección esperada, esto no ocurre siempre (AU)