Psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the Chalder Fatigue Scale in clinical and general populations / Propiedades psicométricas de la versión española de la Escala de Fatiga de Chalder en población clínica y general

Objetivo: La Escala de Fatiga de Chalder (CFS) es una escala breve para evaluar fatiga que se utiliza en España, pero que no ha sido validada en su población. El objetivo del estudio fue adaptar y evaluar las propiedades psicométricas de la versión española de la CFS (Sp-CFS). Método: La muestra la conformaron 3,671 participantes (3.190 de la población general y 481 pacientes), con edades entre 18 y 86 años (M = 28.43; DT = 12.71), siendo el 67.6% mujeres. Las propiedades psicométricas de la escala se probaron en un diseño transversal utilizando validación cruzada (análisis factorial exploratorio y confirmatorio) y estimación de la invarianza (sexo y condición clínica). Resultados: Un modelo de cuatro factores (baja energía, problemas de sueño, problemas de concentración y disfunción cognitiva subjetiva) en lugar de un modelo original de dos factores (fatiga física y mental) proporcionó mejores índices de bondad de ajuste a los datos. La consistencia interna y la estabilidad de la escala fueron excelentes. Su validez convergente se apoyó en su asociación significativa con la ansiedad, la depresión, el estrés y los síntomas positivos y negativos del espectro de la psicosis. El instrumento no mostró diferencias significativas entre sexos ni condiciones clínicas, y discriminó entre la población general y los pacientes, obteniendo estos últimos puntajes significativamente mayores. Conclusiones: Sp-CFS es una escala fiable y válida para medir la fatiga en población general y clínica española.(AU)

Objective:The Chalder Fatigue Scale (CFS) is a brief self-report screening scale for fatigue that is used in Spain but has not been validated for the Spanish population. The aim of this study was to adapt and evalu-ate the psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the CFS (Sp-CFS). Method:The sample consisted of 3,671 participants (3,190 from the general population and 481 patients), aged 18 to 86 years (M=28.43; DT=12.71), 67.6% of whom were women. Psychometric properties of the scale were tested in a cross-sectional design using cross-validation (explora-tory and confirmatory factor analysis) and estimation of invariance (sex and clinical condition). Results:A four-factor model (low energy, sleep problems, concentration problems and subjective cognitive dysfunction) rather than an original two-factor model (physical and mental fatigue) pro-vided better indices of goodness of fit to the data. The internal consistencyand stability of the scale were excellent. Its convergent validity was sup-ported by its significant association with anxiety, depression, stress, and the positive and negative symptoms of the psychosis spectrum. The instru-ment did not show significant differences between sexes or clinical condi-tions, and it discriminated between the general population and the patients, with the latter obtaining significantly greater scores. Conclusions: Sp-CFS is a reliable and valid scale for measuring a transdiagnostic construct such as fatigue in Spanish general and clinical populations.(AU)

Psychometric properties of the Pride in Eating Pathology Scale in a Spanish population.

BACKGROUND: In its relation to eating disorders, pride is one of the self-conscious emotions least analyzed, and requires valid and reliable instruments for its measurement. This study aimed to examine the factor structure and the psychometric properties of the Pride in Eating Pathology Scale (PEP-S), in the Spanish general population, as well as between-sex differences in PEP-S scores. METHODS: Of the 1483 participants aged 18 to 34 (M = 21.99; SD = 3.09), 954 were women (65.2%) and the majority were university students (78.8%). Psychometric properties of the scale were tested in a cross-sectional design using cross-validation, i.e., exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis, and estimation of invariance (sex). RESULTS: The four-factor structure found was similar to the original scale with invariance across sex and internal consistency (ordinal alpha .99) and stability (.85). Evidence of convergent validity and differences between sexes were found. Specifically, women scored higher on all the factors, including the healthier sense of pride. CONCLUSIONS: The PEP-S scale is an instrument with evidence of validity and reliability in the Spanish population. Although it still has to be tested in a clinical population, it constitutes a promising instrument for the evaluation of the self-conscious emotion, pride.

The study of eating disorders emphasizes the role of certain emotions, such as pride, for example, in achieving a low weight or controlling eating behavior. We propose the Spanish validation of the Pride in Eating Pathology Scale (PEP-S), developed by Faija et al. (2017), to measure this type of complex or self-conscious emotions. This article confirms the usefulness of the PEP-S in the context of the general population, different from the context of the clinical population in which it was validated, which implies a generalization of its possibilities. In addition, as a novelty, it includes male participants, who are also subjected to the social pressure on body and appearance. This validation of the PEP-S was carried out in a large sample of men and women aged 18 to 34, a time of life when concerns about the body and eating behavior acquire importance. It is worth special mention that the results of its designers were confirmed, with psychometric indicators guaranteeing that the instrument can be used with consistency of measurement (reliability) and usefulness (validity) in the general population. Men and women respond to the instrument the same, that is, they understand the scale the same way. The scores of women on the PEP-S are higher in terms of pride about the body and eating behavior. Future studies should test these promising results in a clinical population.

¿Vulnerabilidad cognitiva a la depresión o sobreestimación de los síntomas disfóricos premenstruales? / Cognitive vulnerability to depression or overestimation of premenstrual dysphoric symptoms?

Es difícil estimar la verdadera presencia del trastorno disfórico premenstrual (TDPM). Las expectativas de las mujeres influyen en los síntomas del TDPM, lo que podría aumentar su vulnerabilidad a la depresión. Este estudio pretendió estimar la presencia de TDPM en un grupo de mujeres comparando su autodiagnóstico con la evaluación clínica; diferenciar los síntomas y su intensidad entre TDPM y su forma subsindrómica, así como determinar sus consecuencias sociolaborales y relacionales. Se analizan las diferencias entre TDPM y trastorno depresivo mayor (TDM) identificando una posible vulnerabilidad cognitiva a la depresión. En un diseño ex-post facto, participaron 105 mujeres, 85 de la población general (Medad= 23,60; DT 3,05) y 20 mujeres con TDM, (Medad= 25,15; DT 3,51). Para el autodiagnóstico, completaron varios autoinformes y los indicadores de criterios TDPM A, B, C (APA) y D (por autor). El diagnóstico clínico se realizó mediante entrevista semiestructurada siguiendo los criterios del DSM-5. El TDPM se sobreestimó cuando fue autoinformado (51,76%) contrastando con la evaluación clínica (5,88%). La vulnerabilidad cognitiva a la depresión para el TDPM no fue apoyada. (AU)

True premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) is hard to diagnose. It has been suggested that women’s expectations influence the symptoms of this disorder, which could increase their vulnerability to depression. This study aimed to estimate PMDD in a group of women by comparing their self-diagnosis with clinical evaluation; differentiate between PMDD symptoms and their intensity and its subthreshold form, determining its social-employment and relational consequences, finding differences in symptoms and vulnerability to depression; and identifying possible cognitive vulnerability to depression in PMDD. 105 women participated, 85 from the general population and 20 women with Major Depressive Disorder were selected. For the self-diagnosis, they filled out several self-reports and PMDD Criteria Indicators A, B, C (APA) and D (by author). The clinical diagnosis was made using a semi-structured interview following DSM-5 criteria. PMDD was overestimated when it was self-reported (51,76%) compared to clinical evaluation (5,88%). Therefore, retrospective and self-reported evaluation could bias what they remember and overestimate the indicators of the disorder and their severity. Cognitive vulnerability to depression for PMDD was not supported. (AU)

Schizotypy: the way ahead / Esquizotipia: el Camino a Seguir

BACKGROUND: Empirical evidence suggests that schizotypy is a useful construct for analyzing and understanding psychotic disorders. However, several issues remain to be resolved. METHOD: This selective, critical review, addresses some questions and limitations, and discusses future directions of work. RESULTS: First, we present a conceptual outline and discuss the evidence from translational and interdisciplinary studies on schizotypy. Next, we examine and discuss newer analytical and methodological approaches, including network and machine learning approaches. We also discuss newer psychometric identification approaches, such as those using biobehavioral and ambulatory assessment. Next, we review recent cross-cultural studies in schizotypy research. Finally, we identify new challenges and directions and draw conclusions. CONCLUSIONS: This selective, critical review suggests that new methods can contribute to the construction of a solid scientific model of schizotypy as a risk construct

ANTECEDENTES: la evidencia empírica ha demostrado que la esquizotipia es un constructo útil para analizar y comprender los trastornos psicóticos. Sin embargo, todavía quedan por resolver varias cuestiones. MÉTODO: en esta revisión selectiva y crítica se abordan algunas limitaciones, se discuten interrogantes y se comentan direcciones futuras de trabajo. RESULTADOS: en primer lugar, se presenta una delimitación conceptual y se comenta la evidencia acumulada en diferentes estudios y niveles de análisis en el campo de la esquizotipia. A continuación, se examinan nuevos modelos psicopatológicos, como el modelo de red, y se presentan las diferentes herramientas desarrolladas y validadas para su evaluación. Seguidamente, se abordan algunas inquietudes metodológicas de fondo y se presentan nuevas técnicas y procedimientos psicométricos, como la evaluación ambulatoria y bioconductual. También se analizan algunos de los problemas inherentes en la investigación entre países y culturas. Finalmente, se establecen las conclusiones y se abordan nuevos desafíos y direcciones futuras de investigación. CONCLUSIONES: esta revisión selectiva y crítica plantea que es necesario continuar trabajando en la construcción de un modelo científico sólido y refutable e incorporar nuevas pruebas científicas en el campo de la esquizotipia

Beyond Clinical High-Risk State for Psychosis: The Network Structure of Multidimensional Psychosis Liability in Adolescents.

OBJECTIVES: The main goal of the present study was to analyze the network structure of schizotypy dimensions in a representative sample of adolescents from the general population. Moreover, the network structure between schizotypy, mental health difficulties, subjective well-being, bipolar-like experiences, suicide ideation and behavior, psychotic-like experiences, positive and negative affect, prosocial behavior, and IQ was analyzed. METHOD: The study was conducted in a sample of 1,506 students selected by stratified random cluster sampling. The Oviedo Schizotypy Assessment Questionnaire, the Personal Wellbeing Index-School Children, the Paykel Suicide Scale, the Mood Disorder Questionnaire, the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, the Prodromal Questionnaire-Brief, the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule for Children Shortened Version, and the Matrix Reasoning Test were used. RESULTS: The estimated schizotypy network was interconnected. The most central nodes in terms of standardized Expected Influence (EI) were 'unusual perceptual experiences' and 'paranoid ideation'. Predictability ranged from 8.7% ('physical anhedonia') to 52.7% ('unusual perceptual experiences'). The average predictability was 36.27%, implying that substantial variability remained unexplained. For the multidimensional psychosis liability network predictability values ranged from 9% (estimated IQ) to 74.90% ('psychotic-like experiences'). The average predictability was 43.46%. The results of the stability and accuracy analysis indicated that all networks were accurately estimated. CONCLUSIONS: The present paper points to the value of conceptualizing psychosis liability as a dynamic complex system of interacting cognitive, emotional, behavioral, and affective characteristics. In addition, provide new insights into the nature of the relationships between schizotypy, as index of psychosis liability, and the role played by risk and protective factors.

Childhood memories of threatening experiences and submissiveness and its relationship to hallucination proneness and ideas of reference: The mediating role of dissociation.

Recent studies have emphasized the importance of childhood memories of threatening experiences and submissiveness in a diversity of psychological disorders. The purpose of this work was to study their specific relationship with hallucination proneness and ideas of reference in healthy subjects. The ELES scale for measuring memory of adverse childhood experiences, the DES-II scale for measuring dissociation, the LSHS-R scale for measuring hallucination proneness, and the REF for ideas of reference were applied to a sample of 472 subjects. A positive association was found between childhood memories of adverse experiences and hallucination proneness and ideas of reference, on one hand, and dissociation on the other. A mediation analysis showed that dissociation was a mediator between the memory of adverse childhood experiences and hallucination proneness on one hand, and ideas of reference on the other. When the role of mediator of the types of dissociative experiences was studied, it was found that absorption and depersonalization mediated between adverse experiences and hallucination proneness. However, this mediating effect was not found between adverse experiences and ideas of reference. The relationship between these last two variables was direct. The results suggest that childhood memories of adverse experiences are a relevant factor in understanding hallucination proneness and ideas of reference. Similarly, dissociation is a specific mediator between adverse childhood experiences and hallucination proneness.

Estudio Trasversal: Evaluación del Estrés Académico en Estudiantes de Medicina y su Asociación con la Depresión / Cross - Sectional Research: Evaluation of Academic Stress in Medical Students and Association with Depression

INTRODUCCIÓN: La presencia de agotamiento psicológico, despersonalización y deterioro del desarrollo personal, es conocido como estrés académico. Esta sintomatología produce la activación fisiológica, psicológica, cognitiva y conductual pudiendo ser un factor de riesgo para desarrollar depresión. El objetivo es evaluar el estrés académico en estudiantes de medicina y establecer la relación con la depresión. MÉTODO: Estudio analítico de corte transversal, que incluyó estudiantes de medicina de la Universidad Católica de Cuenca-Ecuador, durante el ciclo académico de septiembre 2016 a febrero 2017. La muestra fue probabilística, con aleatorización simple de los participantes. Se evaluó el estrés académico y su relación con la depresión, a través de un formulario conformado por variables sociodemográficas, el inventario SISCO y la escala de Hamilton. RESULTADOS: Participaron 159 estudiantes de primero a noveno ciclo. Cursaban los ciclos de fundamentación teórica (66.7 %). El género mayoritario fue el femenino (58.5 %). El grupo de edad predominante fueron los adultos jóvenes (67.9 %). La residencia urbana fue del (76.7 %). La mayoría registraron ser solteros (97.5 %). Se autoidentificaron como mestizos el (89.9 %). Los estudiantes que presentaron estrés académico fue del (95 %). Registraron depresión el (57.9 %), como factor de riesgo para presentar estrés académico según (RP 1.02) (IC 95% 0.94-1.09). Esta asociación no fue estadísticamente significativa (p = 0.644). Elestadístico de contraste de hipótesis fue el Chi2. CONCLUSIONES: Existieron diferencias significativas al establecer la prevalencia de estrés académico en estudiantes de medicina, sin embargo, no se demostró la relación con la depresión, a pesar de ser un factor de riesgo.

BACKGROUND: The presence of psychological exhaustion, depersonalization and deterioration of personal development, is known as academic stress. This symptomatology produces the physiological, psychological, cognitive and behavioral activation, being able to be a risk factor to develop depression. The aim was to evaluated academic stress in medical students and establishes the relationship with depression. METHODS: It was a Cross-sectional study, which included medical students from the Catholic University of Cuenca - Ecuador, during the academic cycle from September 2016 to February 2017. The sample was probabilistic, with the simple random assignment of participants. Academic stress and it was relations to depression were evaluated through a form composed of sociodemographic variables,the SISCO inventory and theHamilton scale. RESULTS: Participated 159 students from the first to the ninth cycle, who studied theoretical cycles (66.7%). The majority sex was female (58.5%). The predominant age group was young adults (67.9%). The urban residence was (76.7%). According to the marital status,the majority were single (97.5%), self-identified asmestizos (89.9%). The students who presented academic stresswere(95%),registereddepression(57.9%),asarisk factorforpresentingacademic stress according to (PR 1.02) (95% CI: 0.94-1.09) . This association was not statistically significant(p = 0.644). The hypothesis test statistic was Chi2. CONCLUSIONS: Itwas existed a significant difference to establishing the prevalence of academic stress in medical students, however, was not demonstrated the relationship with depression, despite being a risk factor.

Spanish adaptation of the Varieties of Inner Speech Questionnaire (VISQ). Study of the relationship between inner speech, dissociation, and hallucination proneness / Adaptación al español del Varieties of Inner Speech Questionnaire (VIQS). Estudio de la relación entre diálogo interno, disociación y propensión a las alucinaciones

Inner speech is a familiar experience for us but, in general, few systematic studies have been done on the subject. Recent studies have included this phenomenon in the development of auditory hallucinations. The purpose of this article is to propose and validate the Spanish version of the Varieties of Inner Speech Questionnaire (VISQ), to which we have added a new factor called Dialogues with Self-Positions in Inner Speech. It is further intended to test the relationship between this scale, dissociation, and proneness to hallucinations. For this purpose, 318 students completed the VISQ, plus a dissociation scale and another one for hallucination proneness. The results show the scale's good psychometric reliability and validity. Dissociation was found to mediate between the VISQ scale and hallucination proneness. The implications for hallucination models and future lines of research are discussed

El habla interna [inner speech] es una experiencia familiar para nosotros pero que ha sido en general poco estudiada de manera sistemática. Recientes estudios han incluido este fenómeno en el desarrollo de las alucinaciones auditivas. En el presente artículo se pretende revisar y validar la escala Varieties of Inner Speech Questionnaire (VISQ) en castellano, añadiendo además una quinta escala denominada Posiciones del Yo en el Lenguaje Interno. Además, se pretende comprobar la relación entre las diferentes escalas, la disociación y la propensión a las alucinaciones verbales. Para ello 318 estudiantes completaron la VISQ-R más una medida de disociación y otra de propensión a las alucinaciones. Los resultados muestran unas buenas propiedades psicométricas de fiabilidad y validez en la escala VISQ-R. Los modelos de mediación, por su parte, indican un papel de mediación de las medidas de disociación entre todas las escalas del VISQ-R menos el lenguaje interno dialógico y la propensión a las alucinaciones verbales. Se discuten las implicaciones para los modelos de las alucinaciones verbales y futuras líneas de investigación

Relationship between inner dialog and ideas of reference and the mediating role of dissociation.

Recent lines of research have begun to concentrate on internal dialogue and its relationship to a diversity of psychopathological phenomena present in psychotic disorders. This study was intended as a preliminary exploration of the relationship of internal dialogue, dissociation and ideas of reference. To do this, a sample of 318 students filled in an internal dialogue scale (the VISQ, McCarthy-Jones & Fernyhough), one for dissociation (DES-II, Carlson & Putnam) and another for ideas of reference (REF, Lenzenweger, Bennett & Lilenfeld). The results confirm the hypothesis posed in the sense that internal dialogue was positively associated with dissociation and with ideas of reference. A partial mediation effect of dissociation was also found between inner speech and ideas of reference. Lines of future research this study opens and its possible integration in a model on ideas of reference are discussed.

Apego preocupado, pensamiento rumiativo y pensamiento referencial en candidatos a cirugía bariátrica / No disponible

La cirugía bariátrica se ha erigido como la técnica más potente en el tratamiento de la obesidad mórbida. El objetivo de este estudio era estudiar las diferencias existentes entre un grupo de candidatos a cirugía bariátrica y una muestra control en las variables apego, pensamiento rumiativo y referencial. El diseño del estudio es ex post facto prospectivo. De los 285 sujetos que participaron en el estudio, 162 eran pacientes candidatos a cirugía bariátrica. Los 123 participantes restantes eran individuos de la población general seleccionados por conveniencia. Se emplearon: Cuestionario de Apego Adulto, Escala de Pensamiento Referencial y Escala de Respuestas Rumiativas. A partir de los resultados del estudio, se concluye que existe una mayor prevalencia de apego preocupado en el grupo no apto para la cirugía bariátrica, al igual que mayor presencia, tanto de pensamiento referencial como pensamiento rumiativo en ese mismo grupo conforme a los otros dos grupos de comparación

Bariatric surgery has become the most efficient technique in the treatment of morbid obesity. The goal of this study was to analyze the differences between a bariatric surgery candidates group and a control sample in the variables attachment, rumination, and referential thinking. The design of this study is ex post facto prospective. From the 285 subjects who participated in the study, 162 were bariatric surgery candidates. The other 123 participants were individuals from the general population selected by convenience. For data collection was used the Cuestionario de Apego Adulto (Adult Attachment Questionnaire), the Escala de Pensamiento Referencial (Referential Thinking Scale) and the Escala de Respuestas Rumiativas (Ruminative Responses Scale). We conclude there is a larger prevalence of concerned attachment in the group of candidates not suitable for bariatric surgery, as well as a greater presence of both referential and ruminative thinking in the same group comparing to the other two groups

The relationship of depersonalization and absorption to hallucinations in psychotic and non-clinical participants.

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between dissociative variables and hallucinations, or predisposition to hallucinations, respectively, in patients with psychoses and non-clinical participants, controlling for any possible effect of emotional variables and age. Three groups were formed for this purpose: patients diagnosed with schizophrenia with auditory hallucinations at the time of study, healthy participants prone to hallucinations, and healthy participants not prone to hallucinations. The final sample was 318 participants with a mean age of 21.41 years (SD: 5.78) and a male-to-female ratio of 67:251. All participants were given the Tellegen Absorption Scale, the Cambridge Depersonalization Scale and the Metacognitions Questionnaire. The results showed that patients with psychosis had higher levels of depersonalization than participants prone and not prone to hallucinations. Prone participants showed higher levels of absorption than patients with psychosis and healthy participants with no proneness to hallucinations. Finally, a multinomial logistic regression analysis showed that depersonalization increased the probability of belonging to the group of patients with psychosis and auditory hallucinations, and absorption in the group prone to hallucinations. The conclusions discuss the importance of dissociative variables in understanding the etiology of hallucinations and consider the possibility that different psychological processes may occur in healthy participants prone to hallucinations and in hallucinations in persons with psychoses.

The mediating role of emotinal symptomatology between anticipatory fatigue ad the perception of fatigue / El papel mediador de la sintomatología emocional entre la fatiga anticipatoria y la percepción de la fatiga

BACKGROUND: Clinical research stresses the importance of cognitive variables for predisposition, onset, and especially, perpetuation of perceived fatigue. The aim was to analyze the mediating effects of emotional symptomatology (somatic, depressive and anxiety) between anticipatory fatigue and perception of physical and cognitive fatigue. METHODS: The sample was composed of 317 participants (29% from a clinical population) aged 18 to 76. Anticipatory fatigue and perception of fatigue were measured by fatigue scales. Emotional symptoms were assessed by the General Health Questionnaire, GHQ-28. RESULTS: Depressive symptomatology mediated the relationship between anticipatory fatigue and cognitive fatigue in both groups, and also somatic symptoms/somatization in patients. The indirect effect of physical fatigue was observed only in the clinical group, with depressive symptoms partially mediating the anticipatory fatigue and cognitive fatigue relationship. CONCLUSIONS: Anticipatory fatigue has a partial indirect effect on total physical fatigue, and full indirect effect on cognitive fatigue, mediated by depressive and somatic symptoms. Anticipatory fatigue is a relevant cognitive factor in the design of psychological intervention for improvement of cognitive and physical fatigue

ANTECEDENTES: la investigación clínica resalta la importancia de variables cognitivas en la predisposición, inicio y mantenimiento de la fatiga percibida. Se analizan los efectos de mediación de la sintomatología emocional entre la fatiga anticipatoria y la percepción de la fatiga física y cognitiva. MÉTODOS: la muestra se compone de 317 participantes (29% de población clínica) de 18 a 76 años. La fatiga anticipatoria y la percepción de la fatiga se midieron a través de escalas de fatiga y los síntomas emocionales a través del Cuestionario GHQ-28. RESULTADOS: la sintomatología depresiva media la relación entre fatiga anticipatoria y la fatiga cognitiva en ambos grupos, y también para el grupo de pacientes cuando además los síntomas son somáticos. En el caso de la fatiga física, el efecto indirecto se da solo para el grupo clínico, siendo la sintomatología depresiva la variable que media parcialmente la relación. CONCLUSIONES: la fatiga anticipatoria tiene un efecto indirecto parcial sobre la fatiga física e indirecto total sobre la fatiga cognitiva, mediado por los síntomas depresivos y somáticos. Este factor cognitivo es relevante en el diseño de la intervención psicológica para la disminución de la fatiga cognitiva y física

Trait- and state-dependent cortical inhibitory deficits in bipolar disorder.

OBJECTIVES: Euthymic patients with bipolar disorder (BD) have deficits in cortical inhibition. However, whether cortical inhibitory deficits are trait- or state-dependent impairments is not yet known and their relationship with psychiatric symptoms is not yet understood. In the present study, we examined trait- and state-dependent cortical inhibitory deficits and evaluated the potential clinical significance of these deficits. METHODS: Nineteen patients with bipolar I disorder were evaluated using the paired-pulse transcranial stimulation protocol, which assessed cortical inhibition during an acute manic episode. Cortical inhibition measures were compared with those obtained in 28 demographically matched healthy controls. A follow-up assessment was performed in 15 of these patients three months later, when there was remission from their mood and psychotic symptoms. The association between cortical inhibitory measures and severity of psychiatric symptoms was also studied. RESULTS: During mania, patients showed decreased short-interval intracortical and transcallosal inhibition, as well as a normal cortical silent period and long-interval cortical inhibition. These findings were the same during euthymia. Symptoms associated with motor hyperactivity were correlated negatively with the degree of cortical inhibition. These correlations were not significant when a Bonferroni correction was applied. CONCLUSIONS: The present longitudinal study showed cortical inhibitory deficits in patients with BD, and supports the hypothesis that cortical inhibitory deficits in BD are trait dependent. Further research is necessary to confirm the clinical significance of these deficits.

Selección de palabras de contenido referencial. Una propuesta metodológica / Selection procedure for referential content words. A methodological proposal

En la investigación en Psicología, es habitual recurrir a listas de palabras que tienen contenido emocional específico. La literatura sobre este tema muestra disparidad de criterios y prácticas para construir y utilizar las listas. Este trabajo propone un procedimiento concreto orientado a facilitar la creación de conjuntos de palabras de contenido emocional. Con este objetivo, se realiza una revisión del estado de la cuestión y se articula un procedimiento en tres fases: (1) construcción inicial de una lista, que siga los criterios de especificidad, activación variable, consideración de constructos de control, diversidad formal y cantidad pertinente; (2) cribado experto, siguiendo las etapas de selección inicial de expertos, selección final, recogida de datos cuantitativos, y análisis mediante el índice It y (3) selección final de elementos mediante muestreo de participantes. El procedimiento se ejemplifica sintéticamente y paso a paso, mediante un estudio empírico sobre pensamiento referencial (AU)

In Psychology research, it is common to use lists of words that have specific emotional content. The literature on this subject shows disparity of views and practices to make lists and use them. This work proposes a specific procedure designed to facilitate the creation of sets of emotional words. To this end we have made a review of the status of the matter and we designed a selection process divided in three phases: (1) drawing up an initial list which follows the criteria of specificity, variable activation level, control concepts, formal diversity and relevant number; (2) experts ratings of initial list, final selection, quantitative data collection and analysis using It index; and (3) final selection of items using the assessment made by a sample of participants. The procedure is illustrated synthetically and step by step, through an empirical study on referential thinking (AU)

Relationship between self-focused attention and mindfulness in people with and without hallucination proneness

The purpose of this work was to study the relationship between self-focused attention and mindfulness in participants prone to hallucinations and others who were not. A sample of 318 healthy participants, students at the universities of Sevilla and Almería, was given the Launay-Slade Hallucinations Scale-revised (LSHS-R, Bentall & Slade, 1985). Based on this sample, two groups were formed: participants with high (n = 55) and low proneness (n = 28) to hallucinations. Participants with a score higher than a standard deviation from the mean in the LSHS-R were included in the high proneness group, participants with a score lower than a standard deviation from the mean in the LSHR-R were included in the second one. All participants were also given the Self-Absorption Scale (SAS, McKenzie & Hoyle, 2008) and the Southampton Mindfulness Questionnaire (SMQ, Chadwick et al., 2008). The results showed that participants with high hallucination proneness had significantly higher levels of public (t(80) = 6.81, p < .001) and private (t(77) = 7.39, p < .001) self-focused attention and lower levels of mindfulness (t(81) = -4.56, p < .001) than participants in the group with low hallucination proneness. A correlational analysis showed a negative association between self-focused attention (private and public) and mindfulness (r = -0.23, p < .001; r = -0.38, p < .001 respectively). Finally, mindfulness was found to partly mediate between self-focused attention and hallucination proneness. The importance of self-focused attention and mindfulness in understanding the etiology of hallucinations discussed and suggest some approaches to their treatment (AU)

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Relationship between self-focused attention and mindfulness in people with and without hallucination proneness.

The purpose of this work was to study the relationship between self-focused attention and mindfulness in participants prone to hallucinations and others who were not. A sample of 318 healthy participants, students at the universities of Sevilla and Almería, was given the Launay-Slade Hallucinations Scale-revised (LSHS-R, Bentall & Slade, 1985). Based on this sample, two groups were formed: participants with high (n = 55) and low proneness (n = 28) to hallucinations. Participants with a score higher than a standard deviation from the mean in the LSHS-R were included in the high proneness group, participants with a score lower than a standard deviation from the mean in the LSHR-R were included in the second one. All participants were also given the Self-Absorption Scale (SAS, McKenzie & Hoyle, 2008) and the Southampton Mindfulness Questionnaire (SMQ, Chadwick et al., 2008). The results showed that participants with high hallucination proneness had significantly higher levels of public (t(80) = 6.81, p < .001) and private (t(77) = 7.39, p < .001) self-focused attention and lower levels of mindfulness (t(81) = -4.56, p < .001) than participants in the group with low hallucination proneness. A correlational analysis showed a negative association between self-focused attention (private and public) and mindfulness (r = -0.23, p < .001; r = -0.38, p < .001 respectively). Finally, mindfulness was found to partly mediate between self-focused attention and hallucination proneness. The importance of self-focused attention and mindfulness in understanding the etiology of hallucinations discussed and suggest some approaches to their treatment.

Relationship between childhood trauma, mindfulness, and dissociation in subjects with and without hallucination proneness.

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between childhood traumas, mindfulness, and dissociation (more specifically, absorption and depersonalization) in healthy subjects with and without hallucination proneness. A sample of 318 subjects was given the Launay-Slade Hallucination Scale-Revised (R. P. Bentall & P. Slade, 1985). From this sample, 2 groups were formed: one with high and the other with low hallucination proneness. Furthermore, all participants were given the Tellegen Absorption Scale (A. Tellegen & G. Atkinson, 1974), the Cambridge Depersonalization Scale (M. Sierra & G. E. Berrios, 2000), the Southampton Mindfulness Questionnaire (P. D. J. Chadwick et al., 2008), and the Trauma Questionnaire (J. R. E. Davidson, D. Hughes, & D. G. Blazer, 1990). The results showed that in the group with high hallucination proneness, there were significantly more subjects with traumatic experiences than in the group with low predisposition, although no significant difference in the mean number of traumatic experiences undergone in childhood was found between the 2 groups, although there was a trend toward significance. A correlation analysis showed a significant negative association between mindfulness on the one hand and absorption and depersonalization on the other. A positive relationship was also found between childhood traumas and absorption and depersonalization. Finally, multiple mediation analysis showed that the absorption and depersonalization variables acted as mediators between childhood traumas and hallucination proneness. We discuss the importance of the relationship between the variables studied and hallucination proneness and suggest some approaches for their treatment.

Relationship of absorption, depersonalisation, and self-focused attention in subjects with and without hallucination proneness.

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this work was to study the relationship of absorption, depersonalisation, and self-focused attention in subjects prone to hallucination. METHODS: A sample of 218 healthy subjects was given the LSHS-R Hallucination Scale (Bentall & Slade, 1985). Three groups, subjects with high, medium, and low hallucination proneness, were formed from this sample. The Tellegen Absorption Scale (TAS; Tellegen & Atkinson, 1974), Cambridge Depersonalisation Scale (CDS; Sierra & Berrios, 2000), and Self-Absorption Scale (SAS; McKenzie & Hoyle, 2008) were also given to all the participants. The Metacognitions Questionnaire (MCQ-30; Wells & Cartwright-Hatton, 2004) was used as a covariant to control for the effects of emotional vulnerability on the dependent variables studied. RESULTS: The results showed that subjects highly prone to hallucinations had significantly higher absorption, depersonalisation, and self-focused attention than the subjects in the other two groups. A hierarchical regression analysis showed that absorption and depersonalisation predict hallucination proneness. CONCLUSIONS: The importance of the absorption, depersonalisation, and self-focused attention variables for understanding the aetiology of hallucinations is discussed in the Conclusions, where some approaches to its treatment are also suggested.

Conductas autoestimulatorias: aplicación de sobrecorrección y reforzamiento en un caso de deficiencia mental / No disponible

La sobrecorrección (práctica positiva o combinación de instrucciones verbales y guía física), resultó efectiva sobre una conducta autoestimulatoria en un sujeto con deficiencia mental. En este trabajo, también se analiza la efectividad del reforzamiento positivo para reducir la conducta alterada, administrado tras cumplir un criterio temporal sin emisión de la misma. El tratamiento fue progresivamente efectivo requiriendo en principio una guía física total, luego parcial y al final bastando con la instrucción verbal. Por último, el apoyo terapéutico de un coterapeuta, auxiliar de un aula, demostró la facilidad de aplicación del tratamiento, sus buenos resultados y las interesantes posibilidades con vista a la terapia aplicada en la escuela (AU)

Over-correction (positive practice or combination of verbal instructions and physical guide) proved to be an effective method for the modification of a mentally handicapped person's behaviour. In this paper, the effectiveness of positive reinforcement for the reduction of the behavioural disorder is also analyzed. Reinforcement was administered after a time criterion without behaviour was reached. Treatment was progressively efective, having required initially a complete physical guide, that was replaced by a partial guide and, finally, by verbal instructions. The therapeutical help of a classroom assistant acting as cotherapist during the final phases demonstrated the easiness of treatment implementation, good results and interesting possibilities in relation to its applications at school (AU)

Brief-time-series analysis of depressive symptomatology in older people.

This research shows the utility of systematic data-gathering from older people and of a statistical analysis procedure for interpreting the data. Four cases of institutionalized older people are presented, and their scores of depressive symptomatology over a period of one to two years is analyzed. Time-series analysis showed a significant positive trend of depression symptomatology in two of the cases, perhaps too subtle for detection in routine clinical check-up, but statistically verifiable. In one of these cases, none of the factors of the scale stands out, despite the fact that the general index shows a statistically significant change over the 36 observations made, so that the results obtained are related to the syndrome of depletion or exhaustion. In the second of the cases, we detect a significant change in the depressive mood factor, which may indicate a subclinical depressive form in its initial stages. Continuous registers can reveal valuable information about situations and progress in the evolution of an older person's mood, with regard to natural development, the prelude to a mood disorder, or follow-up in clinical cases.