Beatriz Caparrós

Feelings of hopelessness in a Spanish University population - descriptive analysis and its relationship to adapting to university, depressive symptomatology and suicidal ideation

Abstract.Background:The feeling of hopelessness is one of the main risk factors in suicidal behaviour, a clinical symptom of depression and a factor of great etiological relevance in hopelessness depression. With the aim of contributing data relative to the levels of hopelessness in the general population, this study has been made with three objectives in mind: to determine the levels of hopelessness in a university population, to analyse the relationship of hopelessness with the process of adapting to university and, finally, to analyse the relationships between hopelessness, depression, psychopathology and suicidal ideation.Method:A total of 1277 first- and second-year students, from different faculties and degree courses, participated voluntarily in this investigation.Results:The results obtained indicate that 13.9% of the students present moderate or severe levels of hopelessness. The students with greater levels of hopelessness are dissatisfied with different aspects of university life, spend less time on extracurricular educational activities and are less likely to go to examinations. Also, the relationship between hopelessness, depression and suicidal ideation is once again clearly seen.Conclusion:The results suggest the need to develop some type of programme or service for the university community which could influence the mood of students and modify their expectations with the aim of preventing suicidal behaviour and improving their adaptation to university life and, consequently, their academic performance.

Developmental instability and schizotypy

INTRODUCTION It has been suggested that evidence of developmental disturbance of cognition and lateralisation in schizophrenia can be best understood from the perspective of developmental stability (DS), an indicator of the extent to which an individual develops according to a specified ontogenic programme in the presence of environmental noise. Higher levels of fluctuating asymmetry (FA; the difference between right and left side of a quantitative morphological trait such as dermatoglyphics) are thought to reflect less DS. We examined this issue for dimensions of schizotypy. METHODS Associations between FA, measures of laterality and cognitive function on the one hand, and negative and positive dimensions of schizotypy on the other, were examined in a sample of 260 healthy adolescents aged 11.9-15.6years. FA was measured as a-b ridge count right-left differences. Neuropsychological measures yielded a general cognitive ability score and a frontal function score. Laterality was assessed with the Annett scale. RESULTS Measures of psychosis proneness were normally distributed. Negative schizotypy was associated with more FA and lower general cognitive ability in a dose-response fashion. The association with FA was more apparent in boys. No associations existed with laterality or frontal function. CONCLUSION The negative dimension of schizotypy may be associated with early developmental instability, resembling the pattern seen in the negative symptom dimension of schizophrenia. Measures of fluctuating asymmetry may be more sensitive with regard to the schizotypy phenotype than measures of laterality.

Is complicated grief a risk factor for substance use? A comparison of substance-users and normative grievers

Abstract Background: There are no studies to date which have examined complicated grief (CG) symptomatology in substance use disorder (SUD) populations specifically. This study aimed to determine if the presence of symptoms of CG is more frequent among drug dependent patients than a control group and identify which variables could be associated with the symptomatology of CG. Method: Sociodemographic variables, drug and bereavement related characteristics, CG symptomatology and perceived social support were examined in a sample of 196 bereaved SUD patients (78.1% men). The control group was formed by 100 bereaved non-addicted participants (73% men). A multiple linear regression analysis was conducted to identify which variables were associated with symptoms of CG. Results: The presence of symptoms of CG among SUD patients was 34.2%, in comparison to 5% in the control group. Respondents with a higher CG symptomatology include: those being widowed (β= 0.165), those who had lost a sibling (β = 0.253), those who had experienced a traumatic death (β = 0.158), those without working status (β= 0.005). By contrast, being from the control group (β= −0.157), reporting secondary education (β = −0.201) and perceived social support (β = −0.146) were found to be protective factors. Conclusions: These findings highlight the importance of diagnosing and treating those bereaved individuals with SUD who appear to be particularly vulnerable to develop CG symptomatology.

Millon clinical multiaxial inventory III (MCMI-III) and communication styles in a sample of university students.

Despite the controversy generated by the conceptualization of personality disorders, it is well established that the inflexibility of coping styles and dysfunctional behaviors associated with them can lead to a considerable impairment in interpersonal relationships. Although communication is one of the most important processes in relating to others, few empirical studies have been undertaken on the influence of dysfunctional personality patterns on communication styles, which is the main objective of the present cross-sectional study. A total of 529 Spanish university students were assessed using the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory III (MCMI-III), Millon, Davis, and Millon, 1997, and the Communicator Style Measure (Norton, 1978). Results show statistically significant relationships between different personality patterns and styles of communication and suggest that narcissistic, histrionic and compulsive patterns are related to positive communication styles in a non-clinical sample. The implications of this study are discussed.

Which Psychopathological Syndromes Could Be Associated with the Risk of Suicide among Substance Users

Background: Research has shown that suicide is a highly present phenomenon among the drug dependent population. Moreover, individuals with substance use disorder (SUD) present high psychopathological comorbidity. This study aimed to describe which clinical syndromes are linked to the presence of risk of suicide. Methods: The study was based on a consecutive non-probabilistic convenience sample of 196 patients who attended the Public Addiction Center in Girona (Spain). Sociodemographic data, as well as suicide risk and drug related characteristics, were recorded. The risk of suicide was assessed with the Spanish version of “risk of suicide”. Complicated grief was assessed with the Spanish version of the Inventory of Complicated Grief. Clinical syndromes were measured with the Spanish version of MCMI-III. Results: The syndromes most frequently associated with the presence of risk of suicide were complicated grief, major depression and thought disorder. Conclusions: Different psychopathological syndromes were identified in relation to risk of suicide among patients with SUD. The present results highlight the importance of accurately diagnosing those individuals.