José Ignacio Martín

Investigação e prática em Psicologia positiva

After a decade since the emergence of positive psychology, the present article is drawn on a reflection and synthesis of this crescent movement. We have focused on this subject of study and in methodological issues that have characterised the research in this domain, underlying the strengths, weaknesses and well succeeded innovations. We analyze the practical applications of positive psychology in multiple areas of intervention. We placed positive psychology within the worlds scientific scene by identifying the currently active working groups and we reflected and forecasted a possible future of this movement, based on integrity and complexity.

Montessori Method applied to dementia: literature review

O metodo de Montessori foi aplicado inicialmente as criancas, mas atualmente aplica-se a pessoas com demencia. O objetivo deste trabalho e fazer uma revisao sistematica da investigacao sobre a eficacia desse metodo, utilizando a Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online (Medline) com as palavras-chave demencia e metodo de Montessori . Foram selecionados 10 estudos, onde se verificam melhorias significativas na participacao e no envolvimento construtivo e diminuicao dos afectos negativos e do envolvimento passivo. Nao obstante, as revisoes da literatura acerca desta intervencao nao farmacologica em demencia classificam esse metodo como fraco, em termos de eficacia. Essa aparente discrepância pode explicar-se porque o metodo de Montessori pode ter, de fato, uma influencia pouco significativa em dimensoes como a dos problemas comportamentais ou porque nao existe investigacao acerca desse metodo com elevados niveis de controle como sao a presenca de varios grupos de controle ou o duplo-cego .The Montessori method was initially applied to children, but now it has also been applied to people with dementia. The purpose of this study is to systematically review the research on the effectiveness of this method using Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online (Medline) with the keywords dementia and Montessori method. We selected lo studies, in which there were significant improvements in participation and constructive engagement, and reduction of negative affects and passive engagement. Nevertheless, systematic reviews about this non-pharmacological intervention in dementia rate this method as weak in terms of effectiveness. This apparent discrepancy can be explained because the Montessori method may have, in fact, a small influence on dimensions such as behavioral problems, or because there is no research about this method with high levels of control, such as the presence of several control groups or a double-blind study.

An overview of in-home care for older people in Portugal: an empirical study about the customers.

Background: The Portuguese in-home care services have never been adequately studied or identified. This is because of the lack of classification of variables related to the care receiver and to the demographic and organizational context in which it is inserted. Methods: The 126 organizations in the central region of Portugal were categorized into four groups depending on whether they were located in a rural or urban environment and on whether they were large or small organizations. To obtain information, the In-Home Care Protocol (ProSAD), Elderly Assessment System (EASYcare), and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies–Depression (CES-D) scale were applied to 48 customers (6 randomly chosen customers of in-home care services of each of the 8 randomly selected organizations, 2 per group of variables). Results: The rural context denoted a lack of diversity of services and the number of organizations available is reduced, which implies less time spent with the customers. The more dependent customers at the time of registration (Kruskal–Wallis test [KW] = 12.79; p < .05) in large organizations (Mann–Whitney [U] = 190.5; p < .05) benefit more from the services. Conclusions: In-home care services are underused and are oriented to treat those that have a family caregiver. Overall, in-home care in Portugal still has much to achieve when compared with other European countries.

Research and practice in positive Psychology

After a decade since the emergence of positive psychology, the present article is drawn on a reflection and synthesis of this crescent movement. We have focused on this subject of study and in methodological issues that have characterised the research in this domain, underlying the strengths, weaknesses and well succeeded innovations. We analyze the practical applications of positive psychology in multiple areas of intervention. We placed positive psychology within the worlds scientific scene by identifying the currently active working groups and we reflected and forecasted a possible future of this movement, based on integrity and complexity.

Método de Montessori aplicado à demência: revisão da literatura

O metodo de Montessori foi aplicado inicialmente as criancas, mas atualmente aplica-se a pessoas com demencia. O objetivo deste trabalho e fazer uma revisao sistematica da investigacao sobre a eficacia desse metodo, utilizando a Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online (Medline) com as palavras-chave demencia e metodo de Montessori . Foram selecionados 10 estudos, onde se verificam melhorias significativas na participacao e no envolvimento construtivo e diminuicao dos afectos negativos e do envolvimento passivo. Nao obstante, as revisoes da literatura acerca desta intervencao nao farmacologica em demencia classificam esse metodo como fraco, em termos de eficacia. Essa aparente discrepância pode explicar-se porque o metodo de Montessori pode ter, de fato, uma influencia pouco significativa em dimensoes como a dos problemas comportamentais ou porque nao existe investigacao acerca desse metodo com elevados niveis de controle como sao a presenca de varios grupos de controle ou o duplo-cego .The Montessori method was initially applied to children, but now it has also been applied to people with dementia. The purpose of this study is to systematically review the research on the effectiveness of this method using Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online (Medline) with the keywords dementia and Montessori method. We selected lo studies, in which there were significant improvements in participation and constructive engagement, and reduction of negative affects and passive engagement. Nevertheless, systematic reviews about this non-pharmacological intervention in dementia rate this method as weak in terms of effectiveness. This apparent discrepancy can be explained because the Montessori method may have, in fact, a small influence on dimensions such as behavioral problems, or because there is no research about this method with high levels of control, such as the presence of several control groups or a double-blind study.

Método Montessori aplicado a la demencia: revisión de la literatura

O metodo de Montessori foi aplicado inicialmente as criancas, mas atualmente aplica-se a pessoas com demencia. O objetivo deste trabalho e fazer uma revisao sistematica da investigacao sobre a eficacia desse metodo, utilizando a Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online (Medline) com as palavras-chave demencia e metodo de Montessori . Foram selecionados 10 estudos, onde se verificam melhorias significativas na participacao e no envolvimento construtivo e diminuicao dos afectos negativos e do envolvimento passivo. Nao obstante, as revisoes da literatura acerca desta intervencao nao farmacologica em demencia classificam esse metodo como fraco, em termos de eficacia. Essa aparente discrepância pode explicar-se porque o metodo de Montessori pode ter, de fato, uma influencia pouco significativa em dimensoes como a dos problemas comportamentais ou porque nao existe investigacao acerca desse metodo com elevados niveis de controle como sao a presenca de varios grupos de controle ou o duplo-cego .The Montessori method was initially applied to children, but now it has also been applied to people with dementia. The purpose of this study is to systematically review the research on the effectiveness of this method using Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online (Medline) with the keywords dementia and Montessori method. We selected lo studies, in which there were significant improvements in participation and constructive engagement, and reduction of negative affects and passive engagement. Nevertheless, systematic reviews about this non-pharmacological intervention in dementia rate this method as weak in terms of effectiveness. This apparent discrepancy can be explained because the Montessori method may have, in fact, a small influence on dimensions such as behavioral problems, or because there is no research about this method with high levels of control, such as the presence of several control groups or a double-blind study.

Investigación y práctica en Psicología positiva

After a decade since the emergence of positive psychology, the present article is drawn on a reflection and synthesis of this crescent movement. We have focused on this subject of study and in methodological issues that have characterised the research in this domain, underlying the strengths, weaknesses and well succeeded innovations. We analyze the practical applications of positive psychology in multiple areas of intervention. We placed positive psychology within the worlds scientific scene by identifying the currently active working groups and we reflected and forecasted a possible future of this movement, based on integrity and complexity.

A token economy program applied to chronic psychiatric inpatients with cognitive deterioration

This article describes a Token Economy group intervention in a long-term psychiatric inpatients unit. The document offers a detailed account about the intervention conception and methodology adapted to 10 participants with several diagnoses. A general evaluation shows positive results concerning appropriate behaviour and a decrease of inadequate behaviour. This intervention was particularly efficient concerning the improvement in the facial and verbal behavior of the participants. We conclude that, in this study, the Token Economy was efficient towards the bizarre behaviours, even considering the high cognitive deterioration deficits in most participants. The majority of these studies were implemented more than forty years ago. The comparison of new studies with previous ones, however, is important, due to the changes in hospital settings as well as in pharmacological therapies.

Un programa de economía de fichas aplicado a enfermos psiquiátricos crónicos con deterioro cognitivo

This article describes a Token Economy group intervention in a long-term psychiatric inpatients unit. The document offers a detailed account about the intervention conception and methodology adapted to 10 participants with several diagnoses. A general evaluation shows positive results concerning appropriate behaviour and a decrease of inadequate behaviour. This intervention was particularly efficient concerning the improvement in the facial and verbal behavior of the participants. We conclude that, in this study, the Token Economy was efficient towards the bizarre behaviours, even considering the high cognitive deterioration deficits in most participants. The majority of these studies were implemented more than forty years ago. The comparison of new studies with previous ones, however, is important, due to the changes in hospital settings as well as in pharmacological therapies.

Um programa de economia de fichas aplicado a doentes psiquiátricos crónicos com deterioração cognitiva

This article describes a Token Economy group intervention in a long-term psychiatric inpatients unit. The document offers a detailed account about the intervention conception and methodology adapted to 10 participants with several diagnoses. A general evaluation shows positive results concerning appropriate behaviour and a decrease of inadequate behaviour. This intervention was particularly efficient concerning the improvement in the facial and verbal behavior of the participants. We conclude that, in this study, the Token Economy was efficient towards the bizarre behaviours, even considering the high cognitive deterioration deficits in most participants. The majority of these studies were implemented more than forty years ago. The comparison of new studies with previous ones, however, is important, due to the changes in hospital settings as well as in pharmacological therapies.