Awake and Sleep Bruxism Prevalence and Their Associated Psychological Factors in First-Year University Students: A Pre-Mid-Post COVID-19 Pandemic Comparison.

There is a broad consensus accepting that psychological variables such as stress, anxiety, or depression play an important role in bruxism. The COVID-19 pandemic has led to an increase in stress, anxiety, and depression levels. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on possible awake and sleep bruxism prevalence and on the psychological factors associated with bruxism, comparing pre-pandemic, pandemic/lockdown, and post-pandemic samples of first-year students. A total of 274 dentistry students from the Complutense University of Madrid participated in the study: 92 from 2018/2019 (pre-pandemic), 90 from 2020/2021 (pandemic), and 92 students from 2021/2022 (post-pandemic) academic years. The participants filled out a thorough battery of validated questionnaires evaluating bruxism and different psychological characteristics, such as anxiety, depression, somatization, personality, and stress coping styles. While sleep bruxism prevalence was significantly higher for the pandemic group, awake bruxism was smaller in comparison to pre-pandemic and post-pandemic groups. The post-pandemic group also presented higher levels of neuroticism and agreeableness personality traits, and positive reappraisal than the pre-pandemic group, with the pandemic group somewhere in between. Additionally, both the pandemic and post-pandemic group showed higher levels of depression and acceptance/resignation coping styles than the pre-pandemic group. Thus, among the three groups of students, the post-pandemic group was the one that showed a larger effect of the pandemic situation in their psychological variables, presenting higher levels of anxiety (state and trait), depression, acceptation/resignation coping style, higher neuroticism (emotional instability trait), and lower agreeableness trait. Nonetheless, the increase of positive reappraisal in the post-pandemic group (an adaptive coping stress style) might be also a sign of recovery. The higher sleep bruxism for the pandemic group might be related to the pandemic situation and lockdown, passively suffered, possibly promoting feelings of impotency, increased levels of depression and acceptance/resignation (normally considered a passive/maladaptive coping style), while acute stressful situations derived from daily personal social interactions might have increased anxiety levels and induced higher levels of awake bruxism observed in both the pre-pandemic and post-pandemic groups. However, further research, including larger and more representative samples, is needed to confirm this possible relationship.

Psychological and Behavioral Factors Involved in Temporomandibular Myalgia and Migraine: Common but Differentiated Profiles.

BACKGROUND: Many studies have revealed high comorbidity and a clear association between temporomandibular disorders (TMD) and migraine. Furthermore, evidence points out that common psychological and behavioral factors might be related to the observed TMD and migraine association. However, this association and the underlying psychological factors are poorly understood. OBJECTIVE: The main goal of this study was to describe the psychological and behavioral factors involved in TMD myalgia and migraine. METHODS: A sample of 142 participants were recruited to form 4 groups: migraine patients (ICHD-III criteria), painful-TMD patients (Myalgia DC/TMD criteria), patients suffering from both pathologies according to the same criteria, and control patients. After a dental and neurological examination, the patients filled several psychological questionnaires validated for the Spanish population to assess anxiety (STAI), depression (DEP), stress coping (CRI), and somatic, anxiety, and depression symptoms (BSI-18). RESULTS: The TMD myalgia patients, in general, showed a state of elevated anxiety, somatization, and reduced coping strategies, while the patients with migraine presented greater anxiety symptoms, depression (dysthymia trait and state), and somatization. CONCLUSIONS: According to the data of the present study, situational anxiety (transient emotional state), together with the lack of coping strategies, could be more associated with TMD myalgia, while anxiety, as a more stable and long-lasting emotional state, together with depression, might be more related to migraine. Further longitudinal studies are needed to unravel whether these differentiated profiles are a consequence or possible risk factors for migraine and TMD.

Altered electromyographic responses to emotional and pain information in awake bruxers: case-control study.

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to investigate how emotional information and pain-related information affect the activity of the masticatory muscles in participants with awake bruxism and controls. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Different videos and texts, with positive, negative, and neutral valence or related to pain, were presented to a sample of university students, while their electromyographic (EMG) activity around the masseter muscle and their skin conductance were recorded. Two groups were selected, with 24 subjects each: one group of subjects with definitive awake bruxism (confirmed by posterior EMG activity) who also suffered from moderate jaw discomfort, and another group of subjects without bruxism. RESULTS: The results demonstrated that the subjects with definitive awake bruxism displayed greater muscular activity when presented videos and texts with negative valence, especially when related to pain, than the non-bruxist group. CONCLUSIONS: This study supports the idea that persons with bruxism who also suffer moderate levels of jaw discomfort present greater bruxism activity when watching pain-related stimuli, and to a lesser extent when watching negative stimuli. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The increased muscular activity induced by negative and pain-related information might contribute to pain exacerbation and perpetuation in persons with bruxism who suffer from discomfort.

Sexo y género: una mirada interdisciplinar desde la psicología y la clínica / Sex and gender: an interdisciplinary vision from psychology and the clinical practice

En un tema tan prolífico en artículos científicos, filosóficos, artísticos, como es la dialéctica entre el sexo y el género, un propósito didáctico guía este trabajo. Parte de un encuadre que sitúa algunas piezas básicas del vocabulario en el tablero de discusión. Repasa algunos hitos relevantes de la historia de este debate y resalta las principales controversias. Al encuadre de las perspectivas (biologicistas, constructivistas, sociales) que polarizan las diversas posiciones le sigue una exposición de las opciones que cabe encontrar, tanto identitarias como en cuanto a la orientación del deseo y a la definición de la subjetividad. Concluye con una visión prospectiva sobre el rumbo posible que aguarda a quienes nos enfrentaremos desde las disciplinas biopsicosociales a las personas que recorran este proceso de búsqueda de su forma de situarse en el mundo desde el cuerpo biológico sexuado hasta su configuración relacional (íntima o pública, interpersonal o social) mucho más versátil. (AU)

This work, guided by a didactic purpose, deals with a very prolific topic in scientific, philosophical, and artistic articles, which is the dialectics between sex and gender. The paper starts from a setting that places some basic pieces of vocabulary on the discussion table. It reviews some relevant milestones of the history of this debate and highlights the main controversies. The outlining of perspectives (biological, constructivist, social) that polarizes the various positions is followed by a summary of the options to be found, concerning both identity and the orientation of desire and the definition of subjectivity. The work concludes with a forward-looking vision on the possible direction that awaits us, as we will treat, from the biopsychosocial disciplines, individuals who will go through this process of finding their place in the world from the sexed biological body to its much more versatile relational configuration (intimate or public, interpersonal or social). (AU)

Adaptive Stress Coping in Awake Bruxism.

Numerous studies have analyzed the relationship between psychological factors and bruxism. However, the data are often obscured by the lack of precise diagnostic criteria and the variety of the psychological questionnaires used. The purpose of this study is to determine the association between awake bruxism and psychological factors (anxiety, depression, sociability, stress coping, and personality traits). With this aim, 68 participants (13 males) completed a battery of psychological questionnaires, a self-reported bruxism questionnaire, and a clinical examination. Based on their scores on the bruxism questionnaire and the clinical examination, subjects were divided into two groups. Subjects who met the criteria for "probable awake bruxism" were assigned to the case group (n = 29, five males). The control group (n = 39, nine males) was composed of subjects who showed no signs or symptoms of bruxism in the examination nor in the questionnaire. The probable awake bruxism group presented significantly higher levels of trait and state anxiety, symptoms of somatization, and neuroticism than the control group. Despite this, and when their problem coping strategies were considered, awake bruxers showed higher levels in Positive Reappraisal (p < 0.05), a strategy generally considered as adaptive. In conclusion, although awake bruxers in our study showed larger levels of anxiety, somatization, and neuroticism, they also displayed more adapted coping strategies, while according to previous data TMD patients (which generally also present high levels of anxiety, somatization and neuroticism) might tend to present less adaptive coping styles. Thus, awake bruxism may play a positive role in stress coping, which would be compatible with the hypothesis of mastication as a means of relieving psychological tension. This finding should be further confirmed by future research comparing TMD patients with definitive awake bruxers and controls and using larger and more representative samples.

Pseudoidentidad masculina y pseudointimidad perversa: fagocitación y expropiación del objeto-mujer / Pseudo-identité masculine et pseudo-intimité perverse: phagocytisation et expropriation de l’objet-femm / Male pseudoidentity and perverse pseudointimacy: phagocytization and expropiation of the objetified woman

En este trabajo se presentan varias viñetas de la historia clínica de un proyecto fallido de psicoterapia psicoanalítica que destapó –bajo la superficie de una depresión reactiva– una estructura perversa en una personalidad como si. Tanto la identidad masculina (¿qué significa ser hombre?) como la imposible intimidad con los objetos poseen, en los fragmentos clínicos presentados, un relieve importante, aportando muy brevemente hipótesis psicodinámicas para su comprensión. El objetivo que me guía es ofrecer una serie de vislumbres de un caso clínico complejo en el que la sexualidad cobra un valor simbólico y real en la estructuración de entramados relacionales muy alienantes para las mujeres. En segundo lugar, presento hipótesis interpretativas que plasman el desenlace de la intimidad perverso-narcisista creada desde un falso self. Pretendo evidenciar una ligazón indiscutible: los procesos que articulan la identidad son los mismos que tejen la intimidad: imposibilitada esta, no puede erigirse aquella. (AU)

In this paper several samples of a clinical history of a failed project on psychoanalytic psychotherapy are set out. The clinical history uncovered, under the surface of a reactive depression, a perverse structure in a personality itself. Both the masculine identity (what does it mean to be a man?) as the impossible intimacy with objects are highly accentuated in the presented clinical fragments, providing very briefly psychodynamic theories to facilitate comprehension. With this paper I aim to offer some glimpses of a complex clinical case in which sexuality has a symbolic and real value in the creation of relational connections that are very alienating for women. Secondly, I present interpretative hypotheses that articulate the outcome of the perverse-narcissistic intimacy created from a false self. I attempt to demonstrate an undeniable connection: the processes that articulate identity are the same as those that forge intimacy: if the former is prevented, the latter cannot prosper. (AU)

Dans ce travail je présente plusieurs vignettes de l’histoire clinique d’un projet avorté de psychothérapie psychanalytique qui a dévoilé -sous l’apparence d’une dépression réactive- une structure perverse dans une personnalité comme si. Aussi bien l’identité masculine (que veut dire être un homme?) que l’intimité impossible avec les objets ont, dans les fragments cliniques présentés, un relief important, apportant très brièvement des hypothèses psychodynamiques pour leur compréhension. L’objectif qui me guide est d’offrir une série d’aperçus d’un cas clinique complexe dans lequel la sexualité possède une valeur symbolique et réelle dans la structuration de trames relationnelles très aliénantes pour les femmes. Deuxièmement, je présente des hypothèses interprétatives qui montrent le dénouement de l’intimité perverse-narcissique créée à partir d’un faux self. Je prétends mettre en évidence un lien indiscutable : les processus qui articulent l’identité sont les mêmes qui tissent l’intimité : si la première n’est pas possible, la deuxième ne peut pas se construire. (AU)

Procedimientos autocalmantes y prementalización en las autolesiones reflejadas en Instrumental de James Rhodes / Self soothing procedures and prementalizing in James Rhodes self-harm, reflected in «Instrumental» / Procediments autocalmants i prementalització en les autolesions reflectides a Instrumental, de James Rhodes

James Rhodes, afamado concertista de piano británico, publicó en 2015 una escabrosa autobiografía en la que informaba con minucia y profundidad los episodios de violaciones y abusos sexuales que padeció en su infancia. Las consecuencias psicopatológicas que ello acarreó son expuestas con un testimonio doloroso. A partir de este material, se propone una lectura psicológica en clave de la teoría de la mentalización (Fonagy) y de la de los mecanismos autocalmantes (Smadja, Szwec) para comprender alguno de los síntomas más frecuentes y peligrosos que el músico presentó durante años: las autolesiones. El carácter de trauma acumulativo (Khan) y el de trauma desorganizador (Marty) son valorados como perspectivas útiles para entender las conductas de autolesión deliberada y otras manifestaciones autolíticas

As a result of continued child sexual abuse. James Rhodes, the famous British pianist, published in 2015 an explicit autobiography in which he reported the episodes of rape and sexual abuse he suffered during his childhood in great depth and minute detail. The psychopathological consequences of the abuse are exposed with painful testimony. A psychological reading of this material is offered, using mentalization theory (Fonagy) and the theory of self-soothing mechanisms (Smadja, Szwec) to come to an understanding of one of the most prevalent and most dangerous symptoms the musician exhibited over the years: self-harm. The concepts of cumulative trauma (Khan) and disorganizing trauma (Marty) are valued as useful insights for understanding the behavior of deliberate self-harm and other autolytic manifestations

James Rodhes, famós concertista de piano británic, publicá el 2015 una escabrosa autobiografia en la qual informava amb detall I profunditat dels episodis I abusos sexuals que va patir durant la seva infantesa. Les conseqüéncies psicopatològiques que alló va comportar són exposades amb un testimoni dolorós. A partir d'aquest material, es proposa una lectura psicológica en clau de la teoria de la mentalització (Fonagy) I de la dels mecanismes autocalmants (Smadja, Szwec) per comprendre algun dels símp­tomes més freqüents I perillosos que el músic presentá durant anys: les autolesions. El carácter de trauma acumulatiu (Khan) I de trauma desorganitzador (Marty) són valorats com a perspectives útils per entendre les conductes d'autolesió deliberada I altres manifestacions autolítiques

Efectos psíquicos de la mastectomía (preventiva y terapéutica). Cambios en la percepción de las mujeres con cáncer de mama / No disponible

¿Qué sentido puede tener escribir un trabajo más -dada la abundante literatura específica sobre ello-, que analice las consecuencias de la mastectomía en mujeres que o bien han sido diagnosticadas previamente de un cáncer de mama o bien tienen un fundado temor genético a desarrollarlo en un futuro indeterminado a tenor de los antecedentes familiares que poseen? Repasaremos algunos trabajos destacados sobre el impacto en el psiquismo de la mastectomía (sea ésta como forma de prevención secundaria frente al cáncer o sea profiláctica) en comparación con la llamada "cirugía conservadora" (lumpectomía, tumorectomía), a fin de valorar el consenso o el disenso entre los investigadores. Nuestra hipótesis de trabajo es que se ha producido en las pacientes con cáncer de mama un cambio de tendencia en su perspectiva de la mastectomía coincidente con el cambio de siglo (y milenio), tal vez debido a la generalización de la cirugía reconstructiva mamaria tras la resección, lo que mitiga el alcance traumático (imaginario, simbólico y físico) de la amputación sin reconstrucción

Considering the abundant literature specifically on the subject, what point can there be in writing yet another study that analyses the consequences of the mastectomy in women who have either been diagnosed with breast cancer previously or have a well-founded, genetics based fear of developing it at some point in the future due to the precedents in their family? In this paper, we review some notable studies on the psychological impact of the mastectomy (whether as a form of secondary prevention against cancer or as a prophylactic measure) compared to what is known as "conservative surgery" (lumpectomy), in order to value the consensus or the dissent among the researchers. Our hypothesis is that a change of tendency has taken place in the patients with breast cancer in their perspective of the mastectomy, coinciding with the turn of the century (and the millennium), perhaps due to the widespread practice of mammary reconstructive surgery after the resection, which mitigates the trauma (imaginary, symbolic and physical) of the amputation without reconstruction

Envidia, carcoma del alma: escorzo psico-literario / Envy, soul woodworm: A psycho-literary foreshortening

Desde Aristóteles hasta Castilla del Pino, desde Covarrubias hasta María Zambrano, desde el clasicismo grecolatino a la modernidad de los Simposiums de Psicología y Psicoanálisis, el tema de la envidia ha sido objeto de análisis. Tan sutiles matices provienen de la filosofía como de la psicología, de la literatura como de la clínica. La envidia es sometida a la mirada benevolente que exige su rango de emoción universal humana, derivada de la alteridad, la comparación y la autovaloración negativa, así como de la deficiente instalación narcisística y el anhelo de suplantación del otro idealizado. La envidia es antesala del odio y de un cortejo de expresiones interpersonales y sociales muy variadas y sibilinas. Anida, incluso, tras el choque de civilizaciones generador de los más atroces y destructivos episodios de fanatismo terrorista recientemente padecidos en nuestro mundo (AU)

From Aristotle to Castilla del Pino, from Covarrubias to María Zambrano, from Greco-Latin classicism to modern psychology and psychoanalysis symposia, envy issues have been subject to analysis. Such subtle nuances come both from philosophy and psychology, from literature and clinical practice. Envy is kindly gazed at according to its position as universal human emotion derived from alterity, comparison and negative self-appreciation along with a defective narcissistic settlement and the craving for replacing the idealized other. Envy is the anteroom both of hatred and a parade of assorted and sibylline interpersonal and social expressions. Envy remains, even after the civilization clash that is causing the most atrocious and destructive actions committed by terrorist fanaticism hitting our world nowadays (AU)

Paradojas existencias y emocionales de las personalidades fanáticas / Existential and emotional paradoxes in fanatic people

El fanatismo es una plaga social del siglo XXI que germina en todo tipo de ambientes culturales, religiosos, deportivos y mediáticos. Recorremos aquí los factores psicosociales presentes en las actitudes fanáticas. El intolerante deviene en lo intolerable para la sociedad que lo ha oscuramente alimentado. Puro conglomerado y reactivo de paradojas emocionales y existenciales que se albergan en un útero ideológico insatisfecho y sin respuestas. Algunas de estas antinomias son: a mayor invisibilidad, mayor morbilidad; la idiotez moral correlaciona con la contundencia razonadora de los argumentos justificativos; su despersonalización le convierte en instrumento, pero no en actor responsable y culpable de su acción; se viven como víctimas pese a actuar como verdugos; su muerte o inmolación es un acto nihilista de exaltación de la vida distorsionada en su valor; el fanático se siente más plenamente realizado cuanto más alienado está. Todo este conjunto de paradojas permiten un acercamiento dinámico del que pueden desprenderse líneas de acción psicoterapéutica (AU)

Fanaticism is a 21st century social scourge that breaks out in any culture, religion, sport or media environment. This paper reviews psychosocial factors involved in fanatic attitudes. Intolerant people become intolerable for a society that surreptitiously boosts intolerance. A sheer conglomerate and reagent of emotional and existential paradoxes, sheltered in an ideological unhappy womb, without any reply . Among these antinomies there are the following : the higher the visibility, the higher the morbidity; moral idiocy relates to severity of explaining reasons; their depersonalization turns them into instruments, but not into responsible and guilty agents; they live like victims although they behave as executioners; their death or sacrifice is a nihilistic event extolling their value-distorted life; the more they are alienated, the more they feel realized. This set of paradoxes gives rise to a dynamic approach from which therapeutic action lines may stem (AU)

Padres dimisionarios y cesión de los hijos: contextos desencadenantes y efectos emocionales / Parents who resign and cede their children: unleashing environments and emotional effects

Se analiza en este artículo un fenómeno sociológico, extendido aunque trivializado, la cesión de los hijos por parte de los padres biológicos a otros miembros del grupo familiar para que desempeñen en relación con ellos las funciones parentales que le son propias, pero de las que abierta o encubiertamente dimiten por diversos motivos. Pese a la diversidad de la casuística, el solapamiento o complicidad intrafamiliar, a la cesión de los hijos apenas ha sido investigada por psicólogos clínicos, los sociólogos o los psicoanalistas. Por ello, en este trabajo se delimita entre la cesión y la adopción, se exploran las situaciones más frecuentes que conducen a delegar el cuidado de un hijo en otros parientes u hogares sustitutos. Se describe el trasfondo emocional y psicológico de los padres "dimisionarios", así como las consecuencias psicopatológicas más comunes entre los cedidos. Finalmente, se hace hincapié en que la cesión puede ser benigna o maligna para el cedido, dependiendo de la presencia o no de ciertos criterios discriminatorios (AU)

Sensibilidad in vitro de Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Sensibility in vitro of Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Al someter 148 cepas de Pseudomonas aeruginosa a agentes antimicrobianos de uso común, se determinó la concentración mínima inhibitoria. La mayor actividad sobre las cepas sometidas fue la de polimixina, sulfato de amikacina y tobramicina. El índice más alto de resistencia a tratamiento con ampicilina, cloramfenicol, nitrofurazona y estreptomicina correspondió a cepas aisladas de pacientes quemados