Paz de Corral

Adicción a las nuevas tecnologías y a las redes sociales en jóvenes: un nuevo reto

Internet constituye una tecnologia que ha impactado especialmente a las personas jovenes y les ha proporcionado muchos beneficios. Pero algunas personas llegan a estar obsesionadas con Internet, se muestran incapaces de controlar su uso y pueden poner en peligro su trabajo y sus relaciones. Este articulo aborda el problema del uso inadecuado de estas tecnologias. El uso y abuso de Internet estan relacionados con variables psicosociales, tales como la vulnerabilidad psicologica, los factores estresantes y el apoyo familiar y social. Hay algunos factores de riesgo especificos para el abuso de las redes sociales entre los jovenes. Algunas senales de alarma se disparan antes de que una aficion se convierta en una adiccion. El concepto de �adiccion a Internet� se ha propuesto como una explicacion para comprender la perdida de control y el uso danino de esta tecnologia. Los sintomas de la adiccion a Internet son comparables a los manifestados en otras adicciones. Deben programarse estrategias preventivas tanto en el seno de la familia como en la escuela sobre la base de los factores de riesgo y de las caracteristicas demograficas de los sujetos. El objetivo del tratamiento, a diferencia de otras adicciones, debe ser el uso controlado. El tratamiento psicologico de eleccion es el control de estimulos y la exposicion gradual a Internet, seguido de un programa de prevencion de recaidas. Se requiere mas informacion sobre los programas mas adecuados para los pacientes mas jovenes, asi como estrategias motivacionales para el tratamiento. Se comentan las implicaciones de esta revision para la practica clinica y la investigacion futura en este campo, asi como las limitaciones actualmente existentes.

Psychological treatment of chronic posttraumatic stress disorder in victims of sexual aggression.

The aim of this research was to test the comparative effectiveness of two therapeutic modalities in the treatment of chronic posttraumatic stress disorder in victims of sexual aggression: (a) self-exposure and cognitive restructuring and (b) progressive relaxation training. The sample consisted of 20 patients (victims of rape in adulthood or adult victims of childhood sexual abuse) selected according to DSM-III-Rcriteria. A multigroup experimental design with repeated measures (pretreatment, posttreatment, and 1-, 3-, 6-, and 12-month follow-up) was used. Most treated patients improved, but the success rate was higher in all measures in the exposure and cognitive restructuring group immediately on posttreatment and at follow-up. Implications of this study for clinical practice and future research in this field are commented on.

Treatment of acute posttraumatic stress disorder in rape victims: An experimental study☆

Abstract The aim of this study was to test the comparative effectiveness of two therapeutic modalities of 5 one-hr sessions [(a) cognitive restructuring and specific coping-skills training and (b) progressive relaxation training] in the treatment of acute posttraumatic stress disorder in victims of sexual aggression. The sample consisted of 20 patients selected according to DSM-III-R criteria. A two-group experimental design with repeated measures (pretreatment, posttreatment, and 1-, 3-, 6-, and 12-month follow-up) was used. Most treated patients improved in all measures immediately upon postreatment and in follow-up. There were no differences between the two modalities in the posttreatment. However, in the 12-month follow-up the first group produced superior outcome in PTSD symptoms, but not in other measures. Implications of this study for clinical practice and future research in this field are discussed.

Assessing Risk Markers in Intimate Partner Femicide and Severe Violence A New Assessment Instrument

The aim of this study is to develop a scale to predict intimate partner femicide and severe violence. The sample consists of 1,081 batterer men who were reported to the police station. First, the most significant differences between the severe violence group (n = 269) and the less severe violence group (n = 812) in sociodemographic variables are determined. Both aggressors and victims of the severe violence group have a higher rate of immigration. Second, the proposed 20-item scale is derived from a larger 58-item scale, where only the most discriminative items between severe and nonsevere intimate partner violence are taken into account. Psychometric properties of reliability and validity are rather good. Cutoff scores have been proposed according to sensitivity and specificity. This easy-to-use tool appears to be suitable to the requirements of criminal justice professionals and is intended for use in safety planning. Implications of these results for further research are discussed.

Clinical gender differences among adult pathological gamblers seeking treatment.

This study aimed to examine the gender-related differences in demographics, gambling measures, psychological functioning, and motivation for therapy in an outpatient sample of pathological gamblers seeking treatment. Participants in this multisite study included 103 adult outpatients (51 women and 52 men) meeting current DSM-IV-TR criteria for PG. Logistic regression was used to examine if gender was related together to categorical and continuous independent variables. Female gamblers were older than men and more likely to be divorced or widowed and to have a lower annual income. Women became more dependent on bingo and men on slot machines. Gambling motivation and the course of illness for both sexes were also different. Female gamblers were more anxious and with a poorer self-esteem than male gamblers and more affected by depressive symptoms; in turn, men were more impulsive and higher sensation seekers than women and more affected by drug/alcohol abuse. The 68.6% of female gamblers reported being victims of intimate partner violence. There were no gender differences about the motivation for treatment. Future research should examine gambling behaviors and psychological functioning and suggest treatment approaches to address specific goals according to these gender-related differences.

Predictors of pathological gambling severity taking gender differences into account.

Background: The current study aims to identify predictors of pathological gambling (PG) severity, taking gender differences into account, in an outpatient sample of pathological gamblers seeking treatment. Methods: The sample for this study consisted of 103 subjects (51 women and 52 men) meeting current DSM-IV-TR criteria for PG. Linear and logistic regression analyses were used to examine different risk factors (gender, age, impulsivity, sensation seeking, self-esteem) and risk markers (depression, anxiety, gambling-related thoughts, substance abuse) as predictors of PG severity. Results: Impulsivity, maladjustment in everyday life and age at gambling onset were the best predictors in the overall sample. When gender differences were taken into account, duration of gambling disorder in women and depression and impulsivity in men predicted PG severity. In turn, a high degree of severity in the South Oaks Gambling Screen score was related to older age and more familiy support in women and to low self-esteem and alcohol abuse in men. Female gamblers were older than male gamblers and started gambling later in life, but became dependent on gambling more quickly than men. Conclusions: Further research should examine these data to tailor treatment to specific patients’ needs according to sex and individual characteristics.

Interactions between self-exposure and Alprazolam in the treatment of agoraphobia without current panic: an exploratory study

The aim of this work was to study the comparative efficacy of four therapeutic modalities (self-exposure, self-exposure & Alprazolam, Alprazolam, and self-exposure & placebo) and also to determine the combined effects of self-exposure with Alprazolam and self-exposure with placebo in the treatment of agoraphobia without current panic.

Pathological Gamblers and a Non-Psychiatric Control Group Taking Gender Differences into Account

The current study aimed to identify personality traits, emotional states and adjustment variables in a sample of pathological gamblers as compared to a non-gambling control group taking gender differences into account. The sample for this study consisted of 206 subjects (103 pathological gamblers and 103 non-psychiatric subjects from the general population matched for age and gender). Pathological gamblers had a lower educational level and a family history of alcohol abuse higher than non-gamblers. In turn, female gamblers were affected by unemployment and a lower socioeconomic status more often than female non-gamblers. Pathological gamblers were more anxious and impulsive and suffered from a poorer self-esteem than non-gamblers. Likewise, pathological gamblers had a greater history of other Axis I psychiatric disorders and were more often affected by anxiety and depression symptoms and showed a more problematic adjustment to everyday life than non-gamblers. Alcohol abuse was not higher in pathological gamblers than in non-gamblers, but, when gender was taken into account, male gamblers were more affected by alcohol abuse than male non-gamblers. Importantly 68.6% of female gamblers versus 9.8% of control group women reported being victims of intimate partner violence. These findings can be used to specifically inform prevention and intervention efforts.

Hombres violentos contra la pareja: trastornos mentales y perfiles tipológicos

The aims of this theoretical paper are to analyze the mental disorders and the most relevant psychological deficits of intimate partner violent men, as well as to identify different types of batterers according to the classifications of Holtzworth-Munroe and Stuart (1994) and of FernandezMontalvo and Echeburua (1997). A review of multiple theoretical and empirical papers has been carried out with this purpose. The main results show that the aggressors usually show psychological deficits –lack of control over anger, difficulty in expressing emotions, cognitive distortions, deficit in communication skills and problem solving, and low self-esteem-, and, not as often, well-established clinical disorders (eg, alcoholism, personality disorders, delusional jealousy). In conclusion, there are different types of violent men –family only, dysphoric/borderline and generally violent/antisocialwho require treatment programs adapted to their specific characteristics and needs. Finally, the future perspectives and the most relevant goals of research are commented on.

Factores de Vulnerabilidad y de Protección del Impacto Emocional en Mujeres Adultas Víctimas de Agresiones Sexuales

Resumen es: El objetivo de este estudio fue describir las reacciones psicopatologicas de las victimas segun las circunstancias de la agresion sexual, la historia pre...