Wenceslao Peñate Castro

Cognitive-behavioral treatment and antidepressants combined with virtual reality exposure for patients with chronic agoraphobia

In this study we compared the efficacy of virtual reality exposure combined with cognitive-behavioral therapy (VRET) to that of traditional cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) alone in reducing phobic symptoms in a sample of patients with long-term agoraphobia. The study was a between-subject design with three experimental conditions (VRET group, N = 30; CBT group, N = 30; and medication only group, N = 20) and repeated measures (pre-treatment, post-treatment, and six-month follow-up). All patients were receiving antidepressant medication. Results showed that all therapies were statistically effective both at post-treatment and six-month follow-up. The VRET group showed clinical improvement in most variables measured at follow-up. The CBT group showed the highest dropout rates. These results are discussed pointing out that VRET probably serves as an intermediate procedure for an efficient exposure to phobic stimuli. Besides describing the advantages of VRET for the treatment of agoraphobia symptoms in cost-benefit terms, the study also considered issues related to higher treatment adherence and motivation.

Prevalencia de los trastornos mentales en la isla de Tenerife

Se pretende con este estudio llevar a cabo una estimacion de la prevalencia de los trastornos mentales agrupados tanto en categorias generales como en categorias diagnosticas especificas. Se utilizo un diseno por conglomerados bietapico, llevando a cabo una seleccion aleatoria de la muestra en dos fases. La muestra en 1a fase estuvo constituida por 800 personas, mayores de 18 anos. En 2a fase se trabajo con 114 personas. Como instrumentos de evaluacion se administraron el GHQ-28 y la entrevista estructurada CIDI. Los resultados indican una prevalencia estimada del 18,42% para el total de la muestra. Se obtiene una mayor prevalencia de trastornos en las mujeres. Por categorias especificas, los trastornos de ansiedad son los mas prevalentes, seguidos por los trastornos relacionados con sustancias y de los trastornos del estado de animo. Se destaca que los trastornos relacionados con el uso de sustancias ocupan un segundo lugar, desplazando a los trastornos del estado de animo, lo que concuerda con otros estudios realizados con metodologia similar.

LOS NUEVOS DESARROLLOS TECNOLÓGICOS APLICADOS AL TRATAMIENTO PSICOLÓGICO

The impact of new technologies has reached almost all human development. In the case of clinical psychology, has meant new advances in the understanding, assessment and treatment of various psychological problems and disorders. In this paper, four developments that have had a major expansion are reviewed: Internet-based psychological treatment, the use of virtual reality, neurofeedback, and transcranial magnetic stimulation. First, each technique or procedure is briefly presented. Then, its application to specific problems, its advantages and disadvantages are described. Finally, the development of these resources and the need to continue providing knowledge is discussed. These advances will improve their effectiveness and efficiency, according to types of patients, specific disorders, and to avoid side-effects.The impact of new technologies has reached almost all human development. In the case of clinical psychology, has meant new advances in the understanding, assessment and treatment of various psychological problems and disorders. In this paper, four developments that have had a major expansion are reviewed: Internet-based psychological treatment, the use of virtual reality, neurofeedback, and transcranial magnetic stimulation. First, each technique or procedure is briefly presented. Then, its application to specific problems, its advantages and disadvantages are described. Finally, the development of these resources and the need to continue providing knowledge is discussed. These advances will improve their effectiveness and efficiency, according to types of patients, specific disorders, and to avoid side-effects.

Deterioration rates in Virtual Reality Therapy: An individual patient data level meta-analysis

Ample evidence supports the use of Virtual Reality (VR) for anxiety disorders. Nonetheless, currently there is no evidence about moderators or potential negative effects of VR treatment strategies. An Individual Patient Data (IPD) approach was employed with 15 retrieved datasets. The current study sample was composed of 810 patients. Randomized control trials (RCTs) for each primary outcome measure were performed, in addition to moderator analyses of the socio-demographic variables. Deterioration rates were 14 patients (4.0%) in VR, 8 (2.8%) in active control conditions, and 27 (15%) in the WL condition. With regard to receiving treatment, patients in a waiting list control condition had greater odds of deteriorating than in the two active conditions, odds ratios (ORs) 4.87, 95% confidence interval (CI) [0.05, 0.67]. In the case of the socio-demographic variables, none of them were associated with higher or lower odds of deterioration, with the exception of marital status in the WL condition; married people presented a significantly lower probability of deterioration, OR 0.19, 95% CI [0.05, 0.67]. Finally, when comparing pooled effects of VR versus all control conditions, the OR was 0.61 (95% CI 0.31-1.23) in favor of VR, although this result was not statistically significant. This study provides evidence about the deterioration rates of a therapeutic VR approach, showing that the number of deteriorated patients coincides with other therapeutic approaches, and that deterioration is less likely to occur, compared to patients in WL control groups.

Cocaína durante la gestación y conducta materna postparto en ratones

Maternal cocaine abuse during pregnancy is associated to neglect, abuse, and mother-child bond disruption, which directly affects infant development; therefore, various neurobehavioral problems of children of drug-dependent parents could be attributed to inadequate maternal behavior or prenatal exposure to drugs. Thus, the aim of this research was to analyze the effects of chronic cocaine administration during pregnancy on postpartum maternal behavior. To do this, 21 CD1 pregnant female mice were randomly assigned for administration of saline solution and cocaine (25 mg/kg/day and 50 mg/kg/day), from day 8 to 21 of gestation. After delivery, for 15 minutes a day, during 20 days, the frequency of occurrence of 16 behavioral patterns of maternal behavior was individually recorded, using an ethogram. Cocaine slightly affected maternal behavior frequency, although it may have affected other parameters, such as latency, duration, and sequence of this behavior.

OS NOVOS DESENVOLVIMENTOS TECNOLÓGICOS APLICADOS AO TRATAMENTO PSICOLÓGICO

The impact of new technologies has reached almost all human development. In the case of clinical psychology, has meant new advances in the understanding, assessment and treatment of various psychological problems and disorders. In this paper, four developments that have had a major expansion are reviewed: Internet-based psychological treatment, the use of virtual reality, neurofeedback, and transcranial magnetic stimulation. First, each technique or procedure is briefly presented. Then, its application to specific problems, its advantages and disadvantages are described. Finally, the development of these resources and the need to continue providing knowledge is discussed. These advances will improve their effectiveness and efficiency, according to types of patients, specific disorders, and to avoid side-effects.The impact of new technologies has reached almost all human development. In the case of clinical psychology, has meant new advances in the understanding, assessment and treatment of various psychological problems and disorders. In this paper, four developments that have had a major expansion are reviewed: Internet-based psychological treatment, the use of virtual reality, neurofeedback, and transcranial magnetic stimulation. First, each technique or procedure is briefly presented. Then, its application to specific problems, its advantages and disadvantages are described. Finally, the development of these resources and the need to continue providing knowledge is discussed. These advances will improve their effectiveness and efficiency, according to types of patients, specific disorders, and to avoid side-effects.

NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS APPLIED TO PSYCHOLOGICAL TREATMENT

The impact of new technologies has reached almost all human development. In the case of clinical psychology, has meant new advances in the understanding, assessment and treatment of various psychological problems and disorders. In this paper, four developments that have had a major expansion are reviewed: Internet-based psychological treatment, the use of virtual reality, neurofeedback, and transcranial magnetic stimulation. First, each technique or procedure is briefly presented. Then, its application to specific problems, its advantages and disadvantages are described. Finally, the development of these resources and the need to continue providing knowledge is discussed. These advances will improve their effectiveness and efficiency, according to types of patients, specific disorders, and to avoid side-effects.The impact of new technologies has reached almost all human development. In the case of clinical psychology, has meant new advances in the understanding, assessment and treatment of various psychological problems and disorders. In this paper, four developments that have had a major expansion are reviewed: Internet-based psychological treatment, the use of virtual reality, neurofeedback, and transcranial magnetic stimulation. First, each technique or procedure is briefly presented. Then, its application to specific problems, its advantages and disadvantages are described. Finally, the development of these resources and the need to continue providing knowledge is discussed. These advances will improve their effectiveness and efficiency, according to types of patients, specific disorders, and to avoid side-effects.