The Prevalence of the Risk of Sexual Dysfunction in the First and Third Trimesters of Pregnancy in a Sample of Spanish Women.

Sexuality is a central aspect for all human beings. Research into the prevalence of sexual dysfunction in pregnant Spanish women is scarce. The aim of this work is to examine the prevalence of risk of sexual dysfunctions in pregnant Spanish women and determine in which trimester the greatest difficulties in sexual response occur. The sample consisted of 180 pregnant Spanish women, with an average age of 32.03 years (SD = 4.93). The participants completed a questionnaire for socio-demographic data, as well as the female sexual function index, the state/trait depression inventory, and the dyadic adjustment scale. The results indicate that the percentage of women with a risk of sexual dysfunction was 65% in the first trimester and 81.11% in the third trimester. Likewise, the highest score on the depression questionnaire was in the third trimester, and the couple's relationship also improved in the third trimester. To improve women's sex lives during pregnancy, it is recommended to increase sexual education and information for both pregnant women and their partners.

The first session is the one that counts: An exploratory study of therapeutic alliance.

Background: The controversy about whether psychotherapy outcome is the consequence of the techniques themselves, common factors or both is still current. The importance of common factors has been demonstrated, although it is also known that they alone are insufficient. At the present time, the contextual model grants heavy weight to the therapeutic alliance in the first sessions and seems to predict positive final results. Furthermore, monitoring sessions has demonstrated that this alliance improves. Objectives: To analyze the relationship between the therapeutic alliance and patient's perceived improvement during the first five sessions of therapy, and find out whether the therapeutic alliance is maintained or unstable within that timeframe. Methods: Thirty-four patients at a university psychological care service who had had at least five therapy sessions participated. Of these, 70.46% were women (Mage = 24.24, SD = 6.73). The patients filled out the Outcome Rating Scale and Session Rating Scale the week before each session. Data were analyzed by the Dual STATIS method. Results: The compromise matrix explained 77.36% of the variability. The position of the vectors and the distribution of the position of the patients on the graph show that as their perception increased, therapeutic alliance remained stable. Moreover, the position of the vectors shows that the therapeutic alliance was forged in the first session and remained stable during the following sessions. Conclusion: This exploratory study demonstrated the importance of the first session in establishing the therapeutic alliance, and for it to remain stable, regardless of whether the rest of the therapeutic process has variations or changes. Novel use of the STATIS method for analyzing measurements in the first five sessions, showed that beginning the therapeutic intervention with a strong alliance, produced the favorable, lasting effects necessary for development of the intervention.

Cuestionario de Ansiedad Estado Rasgo (STAI): análisis psicométrico y funcionamiento en una muestra de drogodependientes y controles / State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI): Psychometric Analysis and Functioning in a Sample of Drug Addicts and Controls

Resumen La presente investigación pretende evaluar las propiedades psicométricas del cuestionario STAI en población drogodependiente y comparar sus resultados con población no clínica. Se realizó un muestreo por conglomerados en 28 centros de tratamiento para las adicciones, repartidos en 27 provincias españolas. La muestra final estuvo compuesta por 1054 personas consumidoras de sustancias y 211 no consumidoras. El análisis de la fiabilidad mostró adecuada validez interna. El análisis de los ítems indica la necesidad de revisar dos de los ítems cuando se utiliza en población con historial de consumo de sustancias adictivas. Los resultados muestran que las personas con un historial de drogodependencia obtuvieron una puntuación media superior a las personas no drogodependientes, que las mujeres consiguieron una puntuación media superior a los hombres y que las personas que habían consumido sustancias depresoras lograron una puntuación superior a las que habían consumido sustancias estimulantes. Las diferencias fueron estadísticamente significativas.

Abstract This investigation intends to assess the psychometric properties of the questionnaire STAI in a sample of drug abusers versus a non-clinic sample. It was carried out a sampling for conglomerates in 28 treatment centers for addiction, distributed in 27 Spanish provinces. The sample was composed by 1054 subjects who had a history of substance use and 211 with no history of substance abuse. The analysis of reliability showed an internal appropriate validity. The items analysis shows the necessity to revise two items when the questionnaire is used with drug abusers population. The results show that people with a history of consumption obtained a higher mean score than those who had not used substances, women obtained a higher mean score than males, and that people who had used depressants obtained a score higher than those who had consumed stimulants. The differences were statistically significant.

Sexual pain disorders.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The purpose of this review was to assess recent research (the last 18 months) and its impact on understanding sexual pain disorders relevant to daily clinical practice. RECENT FINDINGS: It has been highlighted that sexual pain is related to the number of tender points, pressure pain threshold, more deliberate fear and less global positive affective associations with sexual stimuli, episiotomy, attachment styles, drug abuse and the influence of ambivalence over emotional expression in couples.The efficacy of a multidisciplinary vulvodynia programme of treatment, another type of therapy based on the fear-avoidance and pain self-efficacy model and a novel cognitive-behavioral couple therapy has been stated. SUMMARY: There is a gradual advance in the knowledge of sexual pain disorder etiology. At the same time different therapeutics strategies have been increasing, but it is necessary to introduce guidelines on the basis of the evidence to approach with efficacy this severe disorder. VIDEO ABSTRACT: http://links.lww.com/YCO/A31.