Development and Validation of the Psychotherapeutic Effectiveness Attribution Questionnaire (PEAQ-12) in a Spanish Population.

In recent decades, the study of psychotherapy effectiveness has been one of the pillars of clinical research because of its implication for therapeutic cure. However, although many studies have focused their interest on the patient's perception, there are no instruments oriented to the study of psychotherapists' attributions of effectiveness: to what factors psychotherapists attribute responsibility for the cure of the therapies they provide. The present study aimed to develop and validate an instrument for assessing the attribution of the effectiveness of psychotherapy in a population of 69 psychotherapists of different theoretical orientations. After an initial process of inter-judge content validation, 12 items were selected for validation in the targeted population, adequately fulfilling the quality requirements in the validity-reliability tests, and grouped into four factors after principal component analysis. These factors were as follows: (1) therapeutic alliance enhancers; (2) psychotherapist emotional characteristics; (3) therapy-specific variables; and (4) facilitators of patient engagement with therapy. This four-factor structure also showed a good fit for the fit indices checked in confirmatory factor analysis. In summary, we can conclude that the Psychotherapeutic Effectiveness Attribution Questionnaire (PEAQ-12) developed in our research can be helpful if tested on a larger number of individuals. The results can be replicated in other populations of psychotherapists.

Attributed Contribution of Therapist's Emotional Variables to Psychotherapeutic Effectiveness: A Preliminary Study.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this manuscript is to analyze the degrees of responsibility for healing that psychotherapists attribute to a set of emotional variables of the therapist involved in the therapeutic process. Such variables, framed within the well-known common factors in psychotherapy, have been proven to be essential in making the therapeutic process effective, as has been shown by research in psychotherapy in recent decades. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Based on an extensive literature review, the responses from a sample of 69 psychotherapists to a tool created ad hoc are analyzed to verify whether their attributions are in line with the results of said review. RESULTS: The therapists have doubts about the factors responsible for psychotherapeutic effectiveness, as well as about the value of common variables, including those of an emotional nature, not valuing them above those of a specific type. They also argue against the similar effectiveness of different psychotherapeutic models. CONCLUSION: Discrepancies have thus been found between the conclusions reached by research on therapeutic processes and the statements made by the therapists studied, which could indicate an insufficient impact of psychotherapeutic research on clinical practice. We also propose courses of action such as establishing training programs for the acquisition and development of emotional skills for therapists that could increase the effectiveness of their interventions.

Confinement Situation of the Spanish Population during the Health Crisis of COVID-19: Resilience Mediation Process in the Relationship of Dispositional Optimism and Psychological Well-Being.

The pandemic generated by COVID-19 is one of the most complex challenges humanity has faced in recent years. This study aims to explore the levels of dispositional optimism, resilience and psychological well-being in the sociodemographic and economic situation produced during the state of alarm and to investigate the resilience mediation between optimism and psychological well-being. The sample included 566 volunteers from Spain (73.5% women; M = 40.2 years, SD = 12.8). An ad hoc questionnaire was applied to request socioeconomic data and dispositional optimism (LOT-R). Resilience and psychological well-being were, respectively, evaluated by the Ryff scale and the Wagnild and Young scale. The results show that older and people with higher educational levels are more optimistic and have better psychological well-being. Well-being is also greater in married, divorced and widowed people and in those who have lived in outdoor spaces. However, those with spaced housing were more optimistic. Finally, it was found that the most optimistic people have better psychological well-being and that this is increased by the mediation process exercised by the ability to overcome adversity, provided age and educational level are controlled. It can be concluded that the design of preventive programs focused on improving strengths, positive emotions and skills in the population would be convenient to protect mental health.

Breast Cancer and Resilience: The Controversial Role of Perceived Emotional Intelligence.

Cancer is a chronic disease that causes the most deaths in the world, being a public health problem nowadays. Even though breast cancer affects the daily lives of patients, many women become resilient after the disease, decreasing the impact of the diagnosis. Based on a positive psychology approach, the concept of co-vitality arises understood as a set of socio-emotional competencies that enhance psychological adaptation. In this sense, emotional intelligence is one of the main protective factors associated with resilience. However, it is not always as beneficial as it seems, and can lead to collateral effects on psychological adjustment. Given this controversy, this study aims to find the specific processes through which the dimensions of Perceived Emotional Intelligence (PEI) (Emotional Attention, Emotional Clarity, and Mood Repair) can act as a risk or protective factor in the development of resilience. The total sample was 167 women (Age: M = 43.26; SD = 12.43), 46.7% were breast cancer survivors, and 53.3% were healthy controls. The selection of women with breast cancer carries out randomly, recruited through the Oncology Units. The sample completed measures of resilience and PEI, through Resilience Scale (Wagnild and Young, 1993) and TMMS-24 (Salovey et al., 1995). The results showed that breast cancer survivors showed higher age and greater levels of resilience and mood repair than healthy women. The mediation analysis revealed that breast cancer survival and PEI predicted 28% of the variance of resilience. The direct effects showed that emotional clarity and mood repair increased resilience levels. Although breast cancer did not predict resilience directly, it does through mood repair by an indirect process. Besides, the analysis showed that emotional attention played a role in vulnerability, decreasing mood repair, and resilience. These research support theories that point to a possible dark side of PEI, thus, a great level of emotional attention makes dark the positive effect of mood repair and personal growth if a clear perception of emotions does not complement it. These results provide empirical support concerning the need to work complementary each dimension of PEI to avoid unwanted effects on intrapersonal adjustment.

Facing Anxiety, Growing Up. Trait Emotional Intelligence as a Mediator of the Relationship Between Self-Esteem and University Anxiety.

The current study analyzed how trait emotional intelligence (trait EI) mediates the relationship between self-esteem and state anxiety and trait anxiety. The sample was composed of 153 undergraduate students from the University of Cádiz, Spain (71.9% women and 28.1% men). Students completed measures of self-esteem, state anxiety, trait anxiety, and trait EI. Mediation analyses were completed with three trait EI dimensions (EA, emotional attention; EC, emotional clarity; and MR, mood repair) as mediating variables, self-esteem as the independent variable, and state anxiety and trait anxiety as the dependent ones. Our results confirmed that self-esteem scores explained and predicted both, state and trait anxiety values (13% for state and 21% for trait anxiety). This explanatory capacity is increased by 8% when accounting for all trait EI dimensions. Considering state anxiety, the results of the direct effects showed that a decrease in their levels is predicted through the increases in the levels of both, self-esteem and MR. Regarding trait anxiety, the results of the direct effects showed that a decrease in their levels is predicted, in addition to an increment of self-esteem and MR values, by an increase of EC and a decrease of EA. Conversely, indirect effects revealed that higher levels of self-esteem were associated with worse scores in EA and worse MR, which in turn would enhance both state and trait anxiety levels. Moreover, regarding trait anxiety higher levels of self-esteem were associated with worse scores in EA and worse EC, therefore increasing trait anxiety levels. As shown, the negative association found between self-esteem and EA becomes a key element. The effect of self-esteem on EA and the influence that the latter had on EC and MR exerts an indirect mediated effect with the power to invert the influence that self-esteem wields on both types of anxiety. In this sense, the apparent protective role of self-esteem changed, turning into a risk factor that promotes higher anxiety values.

Emotion Regulation Ability and Resilience in a Sample of Adolescents from a Suburban Area.

Earlier research has identified a remarkable number of related factors to resilience during adolescence. Historically, theoretical treatments of resilience have been focused almost exclusively on psychosocial levels of analysis to derive explanatory models. However, there is insufficient understanding of the role of emotion regulation explaining competent functioning despite the experience of adversity (resilience), especially during adolescence. This study explores the relationship between both, emotional regulation abilities and strategies, and resilience in a sample of adolescents from suburbs high-schools (Jerez de la Frontera, Spain). The study also examines how using different emotional regulation strategies may help the development of resilience levels at this stage. Participants of the study were 164 adolescents ranging from 13 to 16 years old (M = 13.98; SD = 0.66). Emotion regulation was measured using the Cognitive Emotional Regulation Questionnaire (CERQ, Garnefski et al., 2001), and sections D and H of Mayer-Salovey-Caruso Emotional Intelligence Test, a performance test (Emotion Regulation Ability sections, MSCEIT, Spanish version, Mayer et al., 2003). Resilience was evaluated with ERE (Educative Resilience Scale for children and adolescents, Saavedra and Castro, 2009). Verbal Intelligence (Yuste, 1997) and personality traits (Cattell and Cattell, 1986) were assessed as two independent variables. Results supported the idea that emotion regulation ability (MSCEIT, D and H sections, Extremera et al., 2006) is a significant predictor of adolescents' resilience. Moreover, cognitive regulation strategies, such as positive reappraisal, predicted perceived resilience among students. Sociability (A factor of HSPQ, sociability) also correlated with resilience levels. Hence, these results are promising, implying that emotion regulation ability may act as a helpful tool preventing adolescents from irrational risky behaviors, commonly assumed at this developmental stage.

Bienestar psicológico, optimismo y resiliencia en mujeres con cáncer de mama / Psychological well-being, optimism and resilience in women with breast cancer

Objetivo: Evaluar la relación existente entre Bienestar Psicológico Percibido, Optimismo y Resiliencia en mujeres supervivientes de cáncer de mama. Método: La muestra la conformaron 30 mujeres diagnosticadas de cáncer de mama que se encontraban en fase de tratamiento adyuvante en las Unidades de Oncología del Hospital General de Jerez de la Frontera y del Hospital Universitario Puerta del Mar (Cádiz). La media de edad fue de 47,47 años (DT = 6,356) y la media de meses desde el diagnóstico de la enfermedad fue 9,93 (DT = 8,541). Se administraron la Escala de Bienestar Psicológico Percibido de Ryff (1989), el Life Orientation Test Revised (LOT-R) de Scheier, Carver y Bridges (1994) y la Escala de Resiliencia de Wagnild y Young (1993) para evaluar el Bienestar Psicológico, el Optimismo disposicional y la Resiliencia respectivamente. Resultados: Los análisis descriptivos muestran que las mujeres diagnosticadas de cáncer de mama presentan niveles de Bienestar Psicológico, Optimismo disposicional y Resiliencia superiores a los valores medios aportados por las escalas. Por otro lado, los análisis de regresión revelaron que sólo algunas de las dimensiones de Resiliencia permitían explicar y predecir algunas dimensiones de Bienestar psicológico, no así el Optimismo disposicional. Conclusiones: Los resultados parecen confirmar la idea de que si se trabaja la capacidad de las mujeres con cáncer de mama de moderar el afecto negativo generado por el propio diagnóstico y las consecuencias derivadas de su tratamiento, así como su capacidad de adaptación a la nueva situación, podremos contribuir al incremento de su Bienestar Psicológico

Objective: To evaluate the relationship between Perceived Psychological well-being, Optimism and Resilience in women survivors of breast cancer. Method: The sample was composed of 30 women diagnosed with breast cancer who were undergoing adjuvant treatment in Oncology Units General Hospital of Jerez de la Frontera and the University Hospital Puerta del Mar (Cadiz). The average age was 47.47 years (SD = 6,356) and the average of months from diagnosis of the disease was 9.93 (SD = 8,541). Scale of Psychological Well-being administered Perceived Ryff (1989), the Life Orientation Test Revised (LOT-R) Scheier, Carver and Bridges (1994) and the Scale of Resilience Wagnild and Young (1993) to assess psychological wellbeing the dispositional optimism and resilience respectively Results: Descriptive analyzes show that women diagnosed with breast cancer have levels of psychological well-being, dispositional optimism and higher than the average values provided by Resilience scales. On the other hand, regression analyses revealed that only some of the dimensions of resilience allowed to explain and predict some dimensions of psychological wellbeing, not dispositional optimism. Conclusions: The results seem to confirm the idea that if the capacity of women with breast moderate negative affect generated by the diagnosis itself and the consequences of their cancer treatment works and to promote their adaptation to the new situation we can contribute to increasing psychological wellbeing

Rectal pre-treatment with ozonized oxygen (O3) aggravates clinic status in septic rats treated with amoxicillin/clavulanate / El pretratamiento rectal con ozono (O3) empeora el estado clínico de ratas sépticas tratadas con amoxicilina/clavulánico

INTRODUCTION: Despite the advanced antibiotic therapies, sepsis continues being a clinical entity with high morbidity and mortality. The ozone/oxygen mixture (O3/O2) has been reported to exhibit positive effects on immunity. The aim of our study was to analyze whether (O3/O2) combined with amoxicillin/clavulanate has any influence on the morbidity and mortality of septic rats. METHODS: We used 48 Sprague-Dawley rats randomly allocated to 6 groups (n = 8): healthy (C), septic (I), healthy+ozone therapy (O3), septic+amoxicillin/clavulanate (AMC), septic+amoxicillin/clavulanate+ ozone therapy (AMC/O3 ) and septic + ozone therapy (I/O3 ). O3 /O2 was administered rectally at increasing O3 concentrations during 10 days prior to the onset of sepsis model (intraperitoneally injection of fecal material) or saline administration in healthy control rats. Later (post-inoculation), 3 days per week, O3 was also administered. Vital signs were recorded, and microbiological, hematological and histopathological studies were performed. RESULTS: The number of surviving animal/total was higher in AMC (8/8) than in AMC/O3 (4/8) p = 0.077. The percentage of surviving animals with pneumonia was higher in AMC/O3 than in AMC (100% vs 37.5%). In dead animals, AMC/O3 rats had a significantly higher percentage of lesions: Cardiac lesions, pulmonary hemorrhages and pleuritis (100%) and serositis/peritonitis (75%). Only Escherichia coli (2 different bio- types) was isolated from blood and/or peritoneal fluid from all infected groups. A significant decrease in the percentage of band neutrophils from the surviviors belonging to AMC/O3 vs AMC was observed (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Rectal pre-treatment with O3/O2 aggravates clinic status in septic rats treated with amoxi- cillin/clavulanate

INTRODUCCIÓN: A pesar de los avances en terapia antibiótica, la sepsis sigue siendo una entidad clínica con alta morbimortalidad. Se ha publicado que la mezcla ozono/oxígeno (O3/O2) presenta efectos beneficiosos sobre el sistema inmunológico. El objetivo de este estudio es analizar si (O3 /O2 ) combinado con amoxicilina/clavulánico tiene efectos en la morbimortalidad de ratas sépticas. MÉTODOS: Utilizamos 48 ratas Sprague-Dawley distribuidas aleatoriamente en 6 grupos (n = 8): sanas (C), sépticas (I), sanas+ozonoterapia (O3), sépticas+amoxicilina/clavulánico (AMC), sépticas+amoxicilina/ clavulánico + ozonoterapia (AMC/O3 ) y sépticas + ozonoterapia (I/O3 ). (O3 /O2 ) se administró por vía rectal a concentraciones crecientes de O3 los 10 días previos a la instauración del modelo de sepsis (inyección intraperitoneal de material fecal) o de la administración de solución salina, en las ratas control. Posteriormente (postinoculación) se continuó administrando (O3 /O2 ), 3 días por semana. Registramos los signos vitales y realizamos estudios microbiológicos, histopatológicos y hematológicos. RESULTADOS: El número de supervivientes/total fue mayor en AMC (8/8) que en AMC/O3 (4/8), p = 0,077. El porcentaje de supervivientes con neumonía fue mayor en AMC/O3 que en AMC (100% vs 37,5%). Entre los fallecidos, AMC/O3 tenía un porcentaje mayor de lesiones: cardiacas, hemorragias pulmonares y pleuritis (100%) y serositis/peritonitis (75%). A partir de la sangre y/o líquido peritoneal de los grupos infectados se aislaron exclusivamente Escherichia coli (2 biotipos diferentes). Observamos una disminución significativa en el porcentaje de neutrófilos en banda en las supervivientes pertenecientes a AMC/O3 vs AMC (p < 0,05). CONCLUSIÓN: El tratamiento rectal previo con (O3 /O2 ) agrava el estado clínico en ratas sépticas tratadas con amoxicilina/clavulánico

Rectal pre-treatment with ozonized oxygen (O3) aggravates clinic status in septic rats treated with amoxicillin/clavulanate.

INTRODUCTION: Despite the advanced antibiotic therapies, sepsis continues being a clinical entity with high morbidity and mortality. The ozone/oxygen mixture (O3/O2) has been reported to exhibit positive effects on immunity. The aim of our study was to analyze whether (O3/O2) combined with amoxicillin/clavulanate has any influence on the morbidity and mortality of septic rats. METHODS: We used 48 Sprague-Dawley rats randomly allocated to 6 groups (n=8): healthy (C), septic (I), healthy+ozone therapy (O3), septic+amoxicillin/clavulanate (AMC), septic+amoxicillin/clavulanate+ozone therapy (AMC/O3) and septic+ozone therapy (I/O3). O3/O2 was administered rectally at increasing O3 concentrations during 10 days prior to the onset of sepsis model (intraperitoneally injection of fecal material) or saline administration in healthy control rats. Later (post-inoculation), 3 days per week, O3 was also administered. Vital signs were recorded, and microbiological, hematological and histopathological studies were performed. RESULTS: The number of surviving animal/total was higher in AMC (8/8) than in AMC/O3 (4/8) p=0.077. The percentage of surviving animals with pneumonia was higher in AMC/O3 than in AMC (100% vs 37.5%). In dead animals, AMC/O3 rats had a significantly higher percentage of lesions: Cardiac lesions, pulmonary hemorrhages and pleuritis (100%) and serositis/peritonitis (75%). Only Escherichia coli (2 different biotypes) was isolated from blood and/or peritoneal fluid from all infected groups. A significant decrease in the percentage of band neutrophils from the surviviors belonging to AMC/O3vs AMC was observed (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Rectal pre-treatment with O3/O2 aggravates clinic status in septic rats treated with amoxicillin/clavulanate.