Eduardo Keegan

PERFECCIONISMO Y DESEMPEÑO ACADÉMICO EN ESTUDIANTES UNIVERSITARIOS DE LA CIUDAD AUTÓNOMA DE BUENOS AIRES

The aim of this article is to analyze the relationship between perfectionism and academic performance of university graduate students in the City of Buenos Aires. 465 university undergraduates participated in this study: Psychology students (52.2%), Engineering students (26.2%) and Medicine students (21.6%). The resulting scores used to set the different perfectionism profiles (adaptative perfectionists- AP, maladaptive perfectionists- MP, and non perfectionists- NP), are similar to those expected according to current theory and to our previous studies. Regarding the relationship between the different student

Rumiación: consideraciones teórico-clínicas

espanolEl objetivo de este articulo de revision es presentar a la rumiacion como un mecanismo cognitivo de regulacion emocional desadaptativo. Se expone brevemente el desarrollo conceptual del constructo en la psicopatologia y la psicoterapia cognitivo-conductual. Asimismo, se exploran las implicancias clinicas negativas que la rumiacion tiene, tanto intra como interpersonalmente, en el mantenimiento y el agravamiento de diferentes trastornos mentales, especialmente en el trastorno depresivo mayor. Por ultimo, el articulo examina el manejo psicoterapeutico de este mecanismo cognitivo. EnglishThe aim of this review paper is to present rumination as a maladaptive emotion regulation strategy. The conceptual development of the construct in cognitive-behavior therapy and psychopathology is briefly described. Also, the paper explores the negative clinical implications (both intra- and interpersonal) that rumination has in the maintenance and aggravation of various mental disorders, especially major depression. Finally, this paper examines the psychotherapeutic management of this maladaptive cognitive mechanism.

A Brief Cognitive Behavioural Intervention for Maladaptive Perfectionism in Students: A Pilot Study

BACKGROUND Researchers focused on developing therapeutic strategies for perfectionism given its well-established link to the onset and maintenance of several mental disorders. Meta-analytical findings provided support for the efficacy of cognitive behavioural (CB) approaches. However, most studies have focused on the efficacy of interventions, without analysing their efficiency. AIMS To explore the feasibility of a brief (five weekly sessions) CB group intervention focused on reducing perfectionistic concerns in Argentine students. We also aimed to identify participants who benefited from the intervention and to explore their differences with non-respondents. A third aim was to explore the potential merits of the intervention in a different cultural context as this is the first attempt to adapt an English-spoken protocol to the Spanish language. METHOD A quasi-experimental design with two time points was used. Twenty-four out of 84 participants (mean age = 27.75 years, SD = 8.3) were classified as maladaptive perfectionists. RESULTS Paired t-tests and reliable change index comparisons revealed that most students (75%) statistically and clinically reduced their levels of perfectionistic concerns as well as their perfectionistic strivings. General distress, operationalized as anxious and depressive symptoms, was also decreased. Students who completed and responded to the intervention were more dysfunctional in academic and psychological measures at baseline than non-completers and non-improvers. CONCLUSIONS Findings support the feasibility, preliminary efficacy and efficiency of this five weekly session intervention when applied to a sample of Argentine university students.

The Gap in Knowledge of Clinical Practice Guidelines by Mental Health Residents in Buenos Aires (Argentina)

The aim of this pilot study was to evaluate if the residents of psychiatry and clinical psychology from the city of Buenos Aires knew any of the existing mental health Clinical Practice and Treatment Guidelines (CPTGs). We asked residents their opinion about CPTGs and, also, if they followed their recommendations in clinical practice. We asked 59 mental health residents (28 physicians and 29 psychologists) with different years of clinical training to fill a questionnaire to know their opinion about CPTGs and also if they follow the CPTG recommendations in their clinical practice. We found that 79.31% of residents did not know any CPTG. Eighty percent of the residents who did know any CPTG have a positive opinion about CPTGs. Finally, the American Psychiatric Association Guidelines were the most known CPTGs. The authors emphasize the need for a clinical guidelines diffusion policy in Buenos Aires city and particularly as a clinical and training resource for mental health residents.