Fuensanta Aroca

Protocolo breve de evaluación del suicidio, fiabilidad interexaminadores

INTRODUCTION Inter-rater agreement is a crucial aspect in the planning and performance of a clinical trial in which the main assessment tool is the clinical interview. The main objectives of this study are to study the inter-rater agreement of a tool for the assessment of suicidal behavior (Brief Suicide Questionnaire) and to examine whether the inter-examiner agreement when multiple ratings are made on a single subject is an efficient method to assess the reliability of an instrument. METHOD In the context of designing a multicenter clinical trial, 32 psychiatrists assessed a videotaped clinical interview of a patient with suicidal behavior. In order to identify those items in which a greater level of discordance existed and detect the examiners whose ratings differed significantly from the average ratings, we used the DOMENIC method (Detecion of Multiple Examiners Not in Consensus). RESULTS Inter-rater agreement was between poor (<70%) to excelent (90-100%. Inter-rater agreement in Brughas list of threatening experiences ranged from 75.5 and 100%; in the Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) Scale was 82.58%; in the Becks Suicidal Intent Scale, ranged from 67.5 and 97%; in the Becks Scale for Suicide Ideation, ranged from 63.5 and 100%; and in the Lethality Rating Scale was 88.39%. On the whole, the level of agreement among raters, both in general scores and in particular items, was appropriate. CONCLUSION The proposed design allows the assessment of the inter-rater agreement in an efficient way (only in one session). In addition, regarding the Brief Suicide Questionnaire, inter-raters agreement was appropriate.

Puiseux parametric equations of analytic sets

We prove the existence of local Puiseux-type parameterizations of complex analytic sets via Laurent series convergent on wedges. We describe the wedges in terms of the Newton polyhedron of a function vanishing on the discriminant locus of a projection. The existence of a local parameterization of quasi-ordinary singularities of complex analytic sets of any codimension will come as a consequence of our main result.

PUISEUX POWER SERIES SOLUTIONS FOR SYSTEMS OF EQUATIONS

We give an algorithm to compute term-by-term multivariate Puiseux series expansions of series arising as local parametrizations of zeroes of systems of algebraic equations at singular points. The algorithm is an extension of Newtons method for plane algebraic curves, replacing the Newton polygon by the tropical variety of the ideal generated by the system. As a corollary we deduce a property of tropical varieties of quasi-ordinary singularities.

User profiles of an electronic mental health tool for ecological momentary assessment: MEmind

Ecological momentary assessment (EMA) is gaining importance in psychiatry. This article assesses the characteristics of patients who used a new electronic EMA tool: the MEmind Wellness Tracker. Over one year, 13811 adult outpatients in our Psychiatry Department were asked to use MEmind. We collected information about socio‐demographic data, psychiatric diagnoses, illness severity, stressful life events and suicidal thoughts/behavior. We compared active users (N = 2838) and non‐active users (N = 10,973) of MEmind and performed a Random Forest analysis to assess which variables could predict its use. Univariate analyses revealed that MEmind‐users were younger (42.2 ± 13.5 years versus 48.5 ± 16.3 years; χ2 = 18.85; P < 0.001) and more frequently diagnosed with anxiety related disorders (57.9% versus 46.7%; χ2 = 105.92; P = 0.000) than non‐active users. They were more likely to report thoughts about death and suicide (up to 24% of active users expressed wish for death) and had experienced more stressful life events than non‐active users (57% versus 48.5%; χ2 = 64.65; P < 0.001). In the Random Forest analysis, 31 variables showed mean decrease accuracy values higher than zero with a 95% confidence interval (CI), including sex, age, suicidal thoughts, life threatening events and several diagnoses. In the light of these results, strategies to improve EMA and e‐Mental Health adherence are discussed.

A Family of Algebraically Closed Fields Containing Polynomials in Several Variables

We introduce a family of fields of series with support in strongly convex rational cones. All these fields contain polynomials in several variables. We prove that they are algebraically closed with a construction that is analogous to the Newton polygon for algebraic curves. As a corollary, we show the existence of fractional power solutions with support in cones for systems of equations.

Puiseux Parametric Equations via the Amoeba of the Discriminant

Given an algebraic variety we get Puiseux-type parametrizations on suitable Reinhardt domains. These domains are defined using the amoeba of hypersurfaces containing the discriminant locus of a finite projection of the variety.

Estudio comparativo de los formatos en lápiz y papel y electrónicos de los cuestionarios GHQ-12, WHO-5 y PHQ-9

INTRODUCTION The increase in telemedicine in the mental health field has led to psychometric instruments changing from paper-and-pencil administration to an electronic format. A study is performed to determine if both formats are equivalent for well-known questionnaires such as GHQ-12, WHO-5, and PHQ-9. MATERIAL AND METHODS Forty-seven volunteers completed GHQ-12, WHO-5 and PHQ-9 questionnaires in paper-and-pencil format, and in the following 24h they completed their electronic versions via the web site www.memind.net. An electronic-Likert format was used by 24 participants, and 23 used an electronic-slider format. Internal consistency was measured by α-Cronbach index and omega coefficient, and test-retest was measured by the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Agreement between individual items was compared using Weighted Kappa coefficients, and dimensional structure between formats using the Comparative Fit Index (CFI). RESULTS Internal consistency was higher than 0.8 for GHQ-12 and WHO-5. The ICC ranged between 0.655 for PHQ-9 paper-and-pencil/electronic-slider and 0.901 for GHQ-12 paper-and-pencil/electronic- slider. Agreement for individual items in paper-and-pencil and electronic-Likert versions was variable, ranging from low agreement in PHQ-1 (weighted κ=0.143; P=.384) to high agreement in PHQ-5 (weighted κ=0.769; P=.000). The CFI results showed an adequate equivalence between formats. CONCLUSIONS Except for the PHQ-9 electronic-Likert, questionnaires keep their structure in electronic formats. Discrepancies were found in items agreement. This study supports previous works indicating that the change from paper-and-pencil to electronic formats is not an immediate process, and needs a proper adaptation.

The fundamental theorem of tropical differential algebraic geometry

Let

Support of Laurent series algebraic over the field of formal power series: SUPPORT OF ALGEBRAIC LAURENT SERIES

I

WHODAS 2.0 as a Measure of Severity of Illness: Results of a FLDA Analysis

be an ideal of the ring of Laurent polynomials