Terapia oromotora: Estudio de un modelo educativo para cuidadores primarios / Oral-motor therapy: Study of a distance learning educational model for primary caregivers / Terapia motora oral: estudo de um modelo de ensino à distância para cuidadores primários

Los trastornos alimentarios y de deglución afectan considerablemente la calidad de vida de niños y niñas con discapacidades neuromotoras. La pandemia de COVID-19 agravó estos desafíos al limitar el acceso a la atención en salud. Este estudio evaluó un modelo educativo de aprendizaje a distancia en terapia oral-motora, dirigido a personas cuidadoras de niños y niñas con discapacidades neuromotoras en Mérida, México. Participaron incialmente treinta personas cuidadoras de niños y niñas entre 2 y 12 años de edad con trastornos alimentarios y de deglución, quienes recibían atención en siete instituciones. 23 participantes completaron el programa. Se usó un diseño cuasiexperimental de prueba pre y post. El programa incluyó sesiones teóricas y prácticas. Los resultados mostraron mejoras significativas en el conocimiento teórico y en las competencias prácticas, con niveles de competencia superiores al 80%. Aun así, se reconocen limitaciones del estudio como el tamaño de la muestra y la ausencia de un grupo de control. Abordar estas limitaciones en investigaciones futuras fortalecerá la evidencia sobre la efectividad de este enfoque innovador centrado en la persona cuidadora, crucial para gestionar trastornos alimentarios y de deglución de manera efectiva y mejorar la calidad de vida de niños y niñas con discapacidades neuromotoras.

Eating and swallowing disorders are prevalent among children with neuromotor disabilities, significantly impacting their overall quality of life. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated the challenges by restricting access to health care, underscoring the necessity for innovative solutions with caregiver involvement. This study investigated the effectiveness of a distance learning educational model in oral-motor therapy for primary caregivers of children with neuromotor impairments in Mérida, Mexico. The quasiexperimental pretest-posttest design included thirty primary caregivers of children aged 2 to 12 with feeding and swallowing disorders from seven institutions. Twenty-three participants completed the program. The program encompassed theoretical sessions on various aspects of oral motor therapy and practical sessions focusing on hands on training. Results revealed substantial enhancements in theoretical knowledge and practical competencies among caregivers, with competence levels exceeding 80% in all evaluated activities. Despite these positive outcomes, the study acknowledges limitations such as a small sample size and the absence of a control group. Addressing these constraints through future research endeavors will bolster the evidence supporting the effectiveness of this innovative caregivercentric approach. Ultimately, integrating caregivers into the care team is imperative for improving the quality of life for children with neuromotor disabilities and effectively managing eating and swallowing disorders.

Os distúrbios da alimentação e da deglutição afetam significativamente a qualidade de vida das crianças com deficiências neuromotoras. A pandemia da COVID-19 exacerbou esses desafios desafios, sendo que limitou o acesso ao atendimento. Este estudo avaliou um modelo educacional de ensino à distância sobre terapia oral-motora, orientado a cuidadores primários de crianças com deficiências neuromotoras em Mérida, México. Trinta cuida- dores de crianças de 2 a 12 anos de idade com distúrbios de alimentação e deglutição de sete instituições participaram, sendo que 23 deles concluíram o programa. Um estudo quase experimental de préteste-pós-teste foi realizado. O programa incluiu sessões teóricas e práticas. Os resultados mostraram melhorias significativas no conhecimento teórico e nas competências práticas, com níveis de competência acima de 80%. Contudo, são reconhecidas algumas limitações do estudo, como o pequeno tamanho da amostra e a falta de um grupo de controle. A abordagem dessas limitações em pesquisas futuras fortalecerá as evidências respeito da eficácia dessa abordagem inovadora centrada no cuidador, crucial para melhorar a qualidade de vida das crianças com deficiências neuromotoras e gerenciar os distúrbios de alimentação e deglutição de forma eficaz.

Anxiety/Depression Predominance in Liaison-Psychiatry Users of a South-East Mexico Tertiary Hospital.

Patients at tertiary hospitals may find themselves in need of mental health support due to the distress associated with the illness that may or not lead to a psychiatric condition. Here is an overview of the clinical cases treated by the liaison psychiatry service of a public tertiary hospital from Southeast Mexico during its first years of operation (2008-2018), with the purpose of gathering information about the status and needs of this population. A sample of 304 clinical records of patients treated for the first time by the psychiatry service was reviewed, and the distribution by demographic characteristics, diagnosis of mental illness and medical area of reference was analyzed. Anxiety and depression symptoms were the most frequent. Most patients were women, lived in Merida and returned after the first appointment. The neurology service referred most patients, yet most attended directly. General tertiary hospitals should prioritize integrating ad hoc mental and physical health care. Adult women with a profile of anxiety and/or depression would be the first target group. Some areas of opportunity for further research and improvement of mental health services are: preventive services for anxiety and depression, follow-up of patients, attention to relatives of patients at intensive care units, implementation of telehealth alternatives, training on mental health screening and inter- and intra-institutional collaboration.

Psychoeducation for Patients with Fibromyalgia: A Systematic Review.

This systematic review presents a brief and comprehensive summary of psychoeducational programs that have been designed for and tested in patients with fibromyalgia, with a focus on the features of the interventions and their main results regarding the patients' clinical outcome. A bibliographical search performed in PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Cochrane Library and PsycInfo targeted publications, related to the terms "fibromyalgia" and "psychoeducation." Information regarding the studies' designs, age criterion, sample size, sex distribution and mean age of participants, and assessment time points, was recorded. If applicable, group distributions along with the main results regarding the patients' clinical outcome, and features of the psychoeducational interventions were registered. Initial search eliciting 77 citations reduced to 10 relevant papers. Most of the reports come from two research projects from Spain (n = 6), worked with adult samples (n = 9), and most participants were females (88%-98%). Interventions reported significant improvements in the patients' clinical outcomes in measures of pain intensity, fatigue, sleep quality, depression, anxiety, functional ability cognitive impairment, and quality of life. Results show not only that psychoeducational programs for the treatment of fibromyalgia are feasible, but also that they can be effective for managing physical and emotional symptoms, in particular, pain and depression.

Parenting Styles, Anxiety and Depressive Symptoms in Child/Adolescent.

OBJECTIVE: To analyse the possible direct and interactive associations of sex, age and parenting styles with symptoms of depression and anxiety. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 710 students ranging from 8 to 13 years (mean age 10.8 years [ 0.75]), the most of them males (n = 422, 59.4%), completed three screening instruments: a parenting practices scale and two self-reports for evaluating anxiety and depressive symptoms. Two hierarchical multiple regression analyses were performed. RESULTS: Authoritative (38.6%) and neglectful (38%) parenting styles were predominant. Symptoms of depression -F (3, 706) = 3.12, p = .03- and anxiety -F (3, 706) = 2.83, p = .4- differed by parenting styles. Students with a neglectful parenting style reported significant lower generalized anxiety symptoms than those whose parents used authoritative parenting. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Children ages 8 to 13 years-old with authoritative parenting style should be evaluated for possible presence of generalized anxiety symptoms.

Objetivos: Analizar las posibles asociaciones entre sexo, edad y estilos de crianza con síntomas de depresión y ansiedad. Método: En este estudio transversal participaron 710 estudiantes entre 8 y 13 años (con una edad promedio de 10.8 [DE = 0.75]), la mayoría hombres (n = 422, 59.4%), los cuales respondieron tres instrumentos de cribado: una escala de prácticas parentales y dos autoinformes para evaluar síntomas de ansiedad y de depresión. Se llevaron a cabo dos regresiones múltiples. Resultados: Los estilos parentales predominantes fueron el autoritativo (38.6%) y el negligente (38%). Los síntomas depresivos -F (3, 706) = 3.12, p = .03- y ansiosos -F (3, 706) = 2.83, p = .4- se relacionaron de manera diferente entre los estilos parentales. El estilo parental negligente se asoció con menos ansiedad generalizada que el estilo parental autoritativo. Implicaciones clínicas: Los niños de 8 a 13 años con estilo de crianza autoritario podrían ser evaluados para detectar la posible presencia de síntomas de ansiedad generalizada.

Dietary Strategies by Foods with Antioxidant Effect on Nutritional Management of Dyslipidemias: A Systematic Review.

Nutrition plays a fundamental role in the prevention and treatment of dyslipidemias and its oxidative-related complications. Currently, there is evidence about the beneficial effects of isolated antioxidants or foods enriched or added with antioxidant compounds. However, the application of the natural foods is more integrated than the analysis of a single nutrient. Our aim is compiling scientific literature regarding the nutritional strategies by foods with antioxidant effect in blood lipids, enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants, and oxidative and inflammatory markers of subjects with dyslipidemia. We searched in MEDLINE/PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. From a total of 263 studies screened, 16 were included. Dietary strategies included walnuts, olive oil, raw almonds, G. paraguayase, white sesame, mate tea, Brazil nut flour, red wine, granulated Brazil nuts, grapes, wolfberry fruit, fermented beverage, coffee, orange, and blackberry juices showed significant differences in blood lipids, antioxidant activity, antioxidant enzymes, and oxidative and inflammatory markers. This systematic review compiling scientific studies about dietary strategies using foods with antioxidant effect to improve the antioxidant status in dyslipidemias.

Evaluation of Anthropometric Indices and Lipid Parameters to Predict Metabolic Syndrome Among Adults in Mexico.

BACKGROUND: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a cluster of conditions that increases the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and is related to genetic background, dietary habits, and lifestyle. Anthropometric indices and lipid parameters have been shown to be simple and useful tools in clinical practice for predicting MetS. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the differential magnitudes of anthropometric characteristics (waist circumference and body mass index [BMI]) and lipid parameters, namely, lipid accumulation product (LAP), cardiometabolic index (CMI), and Castelli Risk Index (CRI-I), to estimate MetS, usingappropriate cut-off values, among adults from a public hospital in Yucatan, Mexico. METHODS: A cross-sectional study among 250 adults (77 men, 173 women) was carried out in the Regional High Speciality Hospital of the Yucatan Peninsula (HRAEPY) in Merida, Yucatan. MetS was diagnosed using standard criteria (central obesity, arterial hypertension, hyperglycemia, and dyslipidemia), and derived parameters (LAP, CMI, and CRI-I) were calculated. Binary logistic regression analysis-based receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curves were used to predict MetS. RESULTS: Of the 250 participants, 48% had MetS. High prevalences of overweight (35.2%) and obesity (48.8%) were found in the sample. The CMI and LAP were found to be the best parameters in the prediction of MetS in men and women. The optimal cut-off values of the parameters were higher in men and decreased with advancing age. CONCLUSION: The CMI and LAP were shown to be the most effective indicators to diagnose MetS among adults from Yucatan, Mexico.

Assessment of Executive Function in Patients with Traumatic Brain Injury with the Wisconsin Card-Sorting Test.

This review aimed at providing a brief and comprehensive summary of recent research regarding the use of the Wisconsin Card-Sorting Test (WCST) to assess executive function in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI). A bibliographical search, performed in PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Cochrane Library, and PsycInfo, targeted publications from 2010 to 2020, in English or Spanish. Information regarding the studies' designs, sample features and use of the WCST scores was recorded. An initial search eliciting 387 citations was reduced to 47 relevant papers. The highest proportion of publications came from the United States of America (34.0%) and included adult patients (95.7%). Observational designs were the most frequent (85.1%), the highest proportion being cross-sectional or case series studies. The average time after the occurrence of the TBI ranged from 4 to 62 years in single case studies, and from 6 weeks up to 23.5 years in the studies with more than one patient. Four studies compared groups of patients with TBI according to the severity (mild, moderate and/or severe), and in two cases, the studies compared TBI patients with healthy controls. Randomized control trials were seven in total. The noncomputerized WCST version including 128 cards was the most frequently used (78.7%). Characterization of the clinical profile of participants was the most frequent purpose (34.0%). The WCST is a common measure of executive function in patients with TBI. Although shorter and/or computerized versions are available, the original WCST with 128 cards is still used most often. The WCST is a useful tool for research and clinical purposes, yet a common practice is to report only one or a few of the possible scores, which prevents further valid comparisons across studies. Results might be useful to professionals in the clinical and research fields to guide them in assessment planning and proper interpretation of the WCST scores.

Psychotherapy for Physical Pain in Patients with Fibromyalgia: A Systematic Review.

Objective: To provide a brief and comprehensive summary of the recent evidence from clinical trials testing psychotherapeutic interventions in patients with fibromyalgia with particular interest in their possible effect on physical pain. Methods: Bibliographical search was performed in PubMed, PsycInfo, Web of Science, Scopus, and Cochrane Library databases. Content of the manuscripts was studied to obtain, if available, the following information: year of publication, location of the research team, design, type of psychotherapeutic intervention tested, pain measures, and a brief description of the psychotherapy, groups, and outcomes regarding physical pain. Results: Initial search eliciting 475 citations got reduced to 13 relevant papers. Most research studies from Spain (n = 8) are randomized control trials (n = 10) and used guided imagery (n = 5) or cognitive behavioral therapy (n = 4). The Visual Analogue Scale (n = 4) and the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (n = 4) were the physical pain measures mostly used. Improvements on physical pain were reported on all studies with published results; nevertheless, only in five cases, differences were significant. Conclusions: Evidence on the effect of psychotherapy on physical pain in patients with FS was divergent; though most studies report a reduction in pain, this was not always lasting and/or significant. Diversity of the results might be due to the selected psychotherapeutic approaches, assessment tools, and other internal (e.g., personality traits, (sub)clinical psychiatric symptoms, and treatment adherence) and external (e.g., family environment and social support) variables worth to be considered in the future research.

Mobile Apps for the Management of Comorbid Overweight/Obesity and Depression/Anxiety: A Systematic Review.

Objective: This review aimed at searching for scientific literature on mobile apps for the management of comorbid overweight/obesity and depression/anxiety and providing a brief and comprehensive summary of their main features, targeted groups, and relevant results. Methods: A bibliographical search was performed in Pubmed, PsycNet, Web of Science, ResearchGate, and Lilacs databases. The terms "obesity" and "overweight" were introduced in combination with "anxiety" and "depression" and "mobile app (application)," "smartphone app (application)," "android app (applicattion)," "iOS app (application)," "mobile health app (application)," and "mHealth app (application)." Results: The initial search eliciting 204 citations was reduced to 7 relevant papers (4 original articles, 1 brief communication, and 2 study protocols). All publications were from the last five years, most were produced by research teams from the United States. All had adult samples, and interventions mostly followed a cognitive behavioral framework. Regarding mobile apps, five studies only used one to monitor weight and physical activity, one study to provide therapy to improve psychological wellness, and one study to monitor cognitions and emotions. No mobile app was found for the simultaneous management of overweight/obesity and depression/anxiety. Conclusions: The prevalence and costs related to overweight/obesity and depression/anxiety are significant and likely to increase. Very often these conditions overlap; thus, it would be recommendable to treat their comorbidity simultaneously. Nevertheless, no mobile app has been designed for this purpose, which would help to reduce service provision costs and make treatment more easily accessible for patients.

Comparison of body mass index range criteria and their association with cognition, functioning and depression: a cross-sectional study in Mexican older adults.

BACKGROUND: World population is living longer, demanding adjustments in public health policies. Body mass index (BMI) is widely known and used as a parameter and predictor of health status although an adapted criterion for older adults is usually overlooked. BMI has been extensively analysed in relation to mortality but fewer studies address its association with cognition, functioning and depression in older adults. The present study aimed at 1) comparing BMI distribution according to the ranges proposed by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United States National Research Council Committee on Diet and Health (CDH), 2) analysing their association with cognitive functioning, physical functioning and depression and 3) analysing a possible, interaction of BMI criteria with sex on the outcome measures. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 395 participants recruited by convenience sampling; 283 (71.6%) women and 112 (24.58%) men. Mean age was 74.68 (SD = 8.50, range: 60-98). Outcome measures included the Short Portable Mental State Questionnaire for cognitive status, the Barthel's Index of Activities of Daily Living for physical functioning, and the Geriatric Depression Scale. RESULTS: WHO criterion classified most cases (65.3%) as overweight, followed by normal weight (32.2%) and underweight (2.5%) whereas CDH criterion considered most (48.1%) as normal weight, and followed by overweight (31.4%) and underweight (20.5%). Analysing cognitive status, independent physical functioning and depression mean scores, significant differences (p ≤ .001) were found when comparing the three weight groups (underweight, normal weight and overweight) using either the WHO- or the CDH criterion. Post-hoc tests revealed that in all comparisons the underweight group scored the lowest in all three outcome measures. According to the CDH criterion, overweight was favourable for females but unfavourable for males regarding cognitive status (interaction F(2,389) = 4.52, p ≤ .01) and independent functioning (interaction F(2,389) = 3.86, p ≤ .05). CONCLUSIONS: BMI and its associations to relevant outcome measures in the older adults must rely on criteria that take into account the particular features of this population, such as the CDH criterion. Underweight was associated with decremented cognition, less independent physical functioning and more depression. Overweight seemed favourable for women but unfavourable for men.

Psychological Intervention in Traumatic Brain Injury Patients.

OBJECTIVE: To provide a brief and comprehensive summary of recent research regarding psychological interventions for patients surviving a traumatic brain injury. METHODS: A bibliographical search was performed in PubMed, Cochrane Library, PsycNET, Scopus, ResearchGate, and Google Scholar online databases. Analysis included distribution by year of publication, age stage of participants (paediatric, adult), location of the research team, study design, type of intervention, and main outcome variables. RESULTS: The initial search eliciting 1541 citations was reduced to 62 relevant papers. Most publications had adult samples (88.7%). The United States outstands as the country with more research (58.1%); Latin America countries provided no results. Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) was the most widely used approach for treatment of (sub)clinical mental disturbances (41.9%). Neuropsychological interventions were scarce (4.8%). Outcome measures included psychiatric disorders (e.g., posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and anxiety) (37.1%), postconcussive symptoms (16.1%), cognitive and functional deficits (48.1%), and social and psychological dimensions (62.9%). CONCLUSIONS: CBT outstands as the preferred therapeutic approach for treating behavioural and emotional disturbances. Also, other related therapies such as dialectical behaviour, mindfulness, and acceptance and commitment therapies have been proposed, and probably in the years to come, more literature regarding their effectiveness will be available. On the other hand, evidence showed that interventions from the field of neuropsychology are minimal if compared with its contribution to assessment. Future research should be aimed at performing studies on more diverse populations (e.g., nonmilitary communities and paediatric and Latin American populations) and at controlling designs to examine the therapeutic efficacy of psychotherapeutic and neurocognitive rehabilitation interventions and compare amelioration by injury severity, age of patients, and clinical profile, in the hopes of creating better guidelines for practitioners.

Psychometric properties of two adolescent depression scales in a colombian community sample: ADRS and RCADS -major depression / Propiedades psicométricas de dos escalas de depresión para adolescentes en una muestra comunitaria colombiana: ADRS y RCADS -depresión mayor

Abstract Depression can occur at all ages; however, when it begins early in life, prognosis is less favorable. Early identification and treatment provision need valid and reliable tools to assess depression in children and adolescents. The present study aimed at analyzing, in a Colombian community sample, the psychometric properties of two brief depression scales, using Classical Test Theory methods: The Adolescent Depression Rating Scale (ADRS) self-report version and the Revised Child Anxiety and Depression Scale (RCADS) - Major Depression Subscale. Analyses of both scales showed most item-scale and item-item correlations to be moderate and significant. Internal consistency was significant and adequate for both, ADRS (.67) and RCADS- Major Depression (.71). For ADRS, a two-factor solution explained 37.39% of variance while a one-single factor explained 25.99%. For RCADS-Major Depression, a two-factor solution explained 41.81% of variance while a one-single factor explained 29.14%. Construct validity was satisfactory, as both scales showed moderate and significant correlations with the convergent (RCADS-Generalized Anxiety) and the discriminant (KADS-11) criteria; yet, correlations with the former were stronger. Results provide further evidence in favor of the ADRS and the RCADS-Major Depression as effective tools to assess depressive symptoms in children and adolescents.

Resumen La depresión puede presentarse a cualquier edad; sin embargo, cuando ocurre en etapas tempranas de la vida el pronóstico es menos favorable. La identificación y el tratamiento tempranos necesitan herramientas válidas y confiables para evaluar la depresión en niños y adolescentes. El presente estudio analizó, en una muestra comunitaria colombiana, las propiedades psicométricas de dos escalas breves de depresión, utilizando métodos de la Teoría Clásica de los Test: Escala de Valoración de Depresión Adolescente (ADRS) versión de auto-reporte y la Escala de Ansiedad y Depresión Infantil Revisada (RCADS)- Subescala de Depresión Mayor. El análisis de las dos escalas mostró correlaciones ítem-ítem e ítemescala, moderadas y significativas. La consistencia interna fue significativa y adecuada para ambas escalas, ADRS (0.67) y RCADS-Depresión Mayor (0.71). Para ADRS, dos factores explicaron 37.39% de la varianza, mientras que la solución de un solo factor explicó 25.99% de la varianza. Para RCADS-Depresión Mayor, dos factores explicaron el 41.81% de varianza y un factor único explicó 29.14%. La validez de constructo fue satisfactoria, ambas escalas mostraron correlaciones moderadas y significativas con el criterio convergente (KADS-11) y el criterio discriminante (RCADS-Ansiedad Generalizada); aunque más fuertes en el primer caso. Los resultados evidencian que ADRS y RCADS-Depresión Mayor son herramientas efectivas para la valoración de síntomas depresivos en niños y adolescentes.

Open Access Scientific Evidence of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Patients with Fibromyalgia

Objective: To provide a summary of scientific open access resources Cognitive Behavioral Therapy interventions in patients with fibromyalgia. Method: Bibliographical search performed in Pubmed and PsycInfo, Latindex, Scielo and Redalyc online databases. No year of publication criterion was applied. Results: 377 citations were reduced to a list of 59 relevant publications, from 1993 to 2016. Most studies were performed in adult samples, in Spain or the United States, with pre-post quantitative design. Only 15 publications were open access. Conclusions: Empirical evidence is ample, yet mostly restricted. Open access material might promote interest in and encourage the design, implementation and evaluation of CBT interventions in the benefit of fibromyalgia patients, the health system and science.

Objetivo: Proveer un resumen de la evidencia científica de accesos abierto sobre intervenciones con Terapia Cognitivo Conductual en pacientes con fibromialgia. Método: Se realizó una búsqueda bibliográfica en las bases en línea de Pubmed y PsycInfo, Latindex, Scielo y Redalyc. No aplicó criterio por año de publicación. Resultados: Las primeras 377 citas obtenidas se redujeron a una lista de 59 publicaciones relevantes, publicadas entre 1993 y 2016. La mayoría de los estudios se realizaron en muestras de pacientes adultos, en España o Estados Unidos, con un diseño cuantitativo de tipo pre - post. Únicamente 15 publicaciones fueron de acceso abierto. Conclusiones: La evidencia empírica es amplia; sin embargo, el acceso a la misma es generalmente restringido. El material de acceso abierto puede promover el interés en las intervenciones con Terapia Cognitivo Conductual y estimular su diseño, implementación y evaluación, todo esto en beneficio de los pacientes con fibromialgia, los sistemas de salud y la ciencia.

Symptoms and Etiological Attribution: A Cross-Sectional Study in Mexican Outpatients with Psychosis and Their Relatives.

This cross-sectional study aimed at identifying the most common attributions of their mental disorder in a Mexican patients who have experienced psychosis and their relatives and exploring how having experienced or not characteristic psychotic symptoms and their present clinical status might affect their etiological attributions. Past and current symptom profiles of 66 patients were as assessed with the SCID-I (Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders) and the PANSS (Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale), respectively. The etiological attribution of psychosis of patients (n = 62) and the relatives (n = 65) was assessed with the Angermeyer and Klusmann scale comprising 30 items into five categories: biology, personality, family, society, and esoteric. Patients and relatives attribute psychosis mainly to social factors. Relatives' attributions were not influenced by clinical profile of patients, whereas in the case of patients it was only current clinical status that showed a difference, with those in nonremission scoring higher personality and family factors. Acknowledging patients' and relatives' beliefs about mental disorders at onset and later on is particularly important in psychosis, a mental condition with severe and/or persistent symptoms, in order to promote better involvement in treatment and in consequence efficacy and recovery.

Psychometric properties of the Seville quality of life questionnaire in Mexican patients with psychosis.

BACKGROUND: The Seville Quality of Life Questionnaire (CSCV) was designed to assess quality of life in patients with schizophrenia taking into account those facets particularly important in this disorder. The study aimed at applying the CSCV to a sample of Mexican patients with psychosis in an effort further substantiates the psychometric properties of the CSCV. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 61 patients (56 % female) with psychosis. Item-scale and item-factor correlations were analyzed, as well as scale-factor correlations. Cronbach's Alpha and principal component analysis with varimax rotation were used to assess internal consistency and construct validity, respectively. RESULTS: Analyses of both, disfavorable and favorable dimensions, showed a stronger item-scale than item-factor correlation, in most cases significant, though. Internal consistency was significant and adequate; higher for scales than for factors. For the disfavorable and the favorable scales 11 and 2 factors were obtained, respectively; explained variance was low. CONCLUSIONS: In this sample of Mexican patients it was replicated that the CSCV is a valid and reliable instrument to assess quality of life in people with psychosis; the use of scale scores is recommended.

Quality of life in Mexican patients with primary neurological or musculoskeletal disabilities.

BACKGROUND: As the population with a disability increases both in number and life expectancy, so does its demand for health services. Very little original research has been done in Mexican populations regarding the effect of disability on quality of life. OBJECTIVES: 1) Assessing the subjective quality of life of patients with neuromusculoskeletal and movement-related function disabilities and, 2) Analyzing the possible effect of the medical condition (diseases of the nervous system vs. diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue) and its interaction with sex and age. METHODS: In a cross-sectional design 330 participants were recruited from a public institution in Mexico providing specialized outpatient rehabilitation. After signing informed consent they responded a brief sociodemographic questionnaire and the WHOQOL-BREF scale. RESULTS: In general quality of life levels were satisfactory. Female and elderly patients with diseases of the nervous system were particularly affected in the physical and psychological dimensions. Women with diseases of the nervous system also showed a negatively affected social quality of life. Elderly with diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue scored the lowest in general health perception. CONCLUSIONS: Even though most patients were quite satisfied with their quality of life, not all aspects or cases have such positive perceptions; both the physical and psychological dimensions were particularly negative in female and elderly patients with nervous system diseases. Clinicians would do well to thoughtfully assess patients in these groups and adjust treatment to achieve the greatest possible rehabilitation.

Insight and illness perception in Mexican patients with psychosis.

BACKGROUND: Insight and illness perception are two concepts of interest in the study of factors related to clinical outcome in patients with psychosis. Insight implies a risk of emotional distress for the patient. Illness perceptions, regardless of their accuracy, might be favorable or not to illness. Literature provides evidence of significant correlates of these factors with clinical outcome, but they are rarely included in a single study. OBJECTIVES: 1) assessing insight and illness perception in a sample of Mexican patients who have experienced psychosis and, 2) analyzing how insight and illness perception relate to each other and how they relate to clinical status (i.e., positive, negative, and general psychopathology, depression, and anxiety). METHODS: Sixty-one participants (55.7% females) were recruited from a public psychiatric hospital; insight and illness perceptions were assessed with the SUMD and the Brief-IPQ, respectively. Clinical status was assessed with the PANSS, CDS and BAI scales. RESULTS: Participants showed good insight, favorable illness perceptions for the cognitive and comprehension dimensions, but unfavorable for the emotional dimension. Clinical status of sample was characterized by mild symptoms. Poor insight related to positive symptoms and general psychopathology. Cognitive and emotional perceptions of illness were significantly associated to most clinical status parameters, whereas comprehension showed no significant results. CONCLUSIONS: The study not only replicates the significant association on insight and illness perception with clinical outcome, but shows how their patterns of interactions are different, reinforcing the idea that they are two distinct factors worthy of being habitually acknowledged in research and clinical practice.

Illness course and quality of life in Mexican patients with psychosis.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the differences in the quality of life of patients with psychosis according to the course of the illness. METHOD: Clinical records and SCID-I interviews were used to establish the course of the illness and to categorize it according to 3 criteria: a) relapses, b) residual symptoms, and c) clinical diagnosis. Subjective quality of life was assessed with the Seville Questionnaire. RESULTS: Sixty one patients (56% women) participated, reporting a mostly adequate quality of life. An illness course characterized by the presence of residual symptoms, rather than by the occurrence of any relapse or the progression of a first-episode psychosis into schizophrenia, showed a negative effect on the perceived quality of life of patients. CONCLUSIONS: The clinical services provided to patients with psychosis should focus not only on symptoms remission and relapse prevention, but also achieving a recovery with a satisfactory quality of life. Having identified residual symptoms as a crucial factor negatively affecting quality of life, clinicians must carefully assess them and treat them, in order to achieve the best possible recovery.