Evaluación y modificación de sesgos atencionales en depresión: un enfoque desde la psicopatología experimental

Utilizando un paradigma de registro de movimientos oculares, en el presente trabajo se ha evaluado la atención selectiva hacia expresiones faciales emocionales (alegría, ira, tristeza) de una muestra de pacientes clínicamente deprimidos. Los resultados revelan que las personas con depresión se caracterizan por un doble sesgo atencional; por una parte una preferencia hacia la información negativa (i.e., expresiones emocionales de tristeza), y por otro la evitación o menor procesamiento de la información positiva (i.e., expresiones emocionales de alegría). Este procesamiento sesgado a su vez se ha encontrado que se relaciona directamente con otras variables como el optimismo y la satisfacción vital. En cuanto a la modificación de los sesgos atencionales, el objetivo del segundo estudio fue entrenar un patrón atencional más adaptativo (i.e., un mayor procesamiento de la información positiva) en una muestra de estudiantes con síntomas subclínicos de depresión. El entrenamiento se llevó a cabo dentro del conjunto de técnicas denominadas Cognitive Bias Modification haciendo uso de una tarea dot-probe. La evaluación de los patrones atencionales se llevó a cabo con un paradigma eye-tracking similar al del primer estudio. Los resultados mostraron que el entrenamiento no resultó eficaz en la modificación de los patrones atencionales y que tampoco tuvo ningún efecto sobre los síntomas depresivos y otras variables emocionales

Perinatal Mental Health during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Longitudinal Study.

Few studies have shown the psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on new mothers’ health, but the long-term consequences of the crisis are yet unknown. This study aimed at evaluating the changes experienced in perinatal mental health 6 months after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in Spain. Women (n = 176, average age = 33.80) were recruited during the pandemic. Participants completed the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, the Satisfaction With Life Scale and Positive, and the Negative Affect Schedule. Results showed a decrease in depressive symptoms, t(174) = 2.58, p = .01, d = 0.02, whereas anxiety symptoms remained high, t(174) = 1.31, p = .19. In terms of psychological well-being, the results showed a decrease in life satisfaction, t(175) = 2.58, p = .011, d = 0.16, and negative affect, t(175) = 3.15, p = .002, d = 0.26, and an increase in positive affect, t(175) = -4.45, p < .001, d = 0.35. This study is expected to shed light on the design of future interventions aimed at the prevention of symptoms and to enhance life satisfaction during the perinatal stage.post-print267 K

CBT and positive psychology interventions for clinical depression promote healthy attentional biases: an eye-tracking study.

Background: Although there is a growing interest in the role of attentional biases in depression, there are no studies assessing changes in these biases after psychotherapeutic interventions. Methods: We used a validated eye-tracking procedure to assess pre–post therapy changes in attentional biases toward emotional information (i.e., happy, sad, and angry faces) when presented with neutral information (i.e., neutral faces). The sample consisted of 75 participants with major depression or dysthymia. Participants were blindly assigned to one of two 10 weekly sessions of group therapy: a cognitive behavior therapy intervention (N = 41) and a positive psychology intervention (N = 34). Results: Both treatments were equally efficacious in improving depressive symptoms (p = .0001, �2 = .68). A significant change in attentional performance after therapy was observed irrespective of the intervention modality. Comparison of pre–post attentional measures revealed a significant reduction in the total time of fixations (TTF) looking at negative information (i.e., sad and angry faces) and a significant increase in the TTF looking at positive information (i.e., happy faces)—all p < .02. Conclusions: Findings reveal for the first time that psychotherapeutic interventions are associated with a significant change in attentional biases as assessed by a direct measure of attention. Furthermore, these changes seem to operate in the same direction typically found in healthy populations (i.e., a bias away from negative information and a parallel bias toward positive information). These findings illustrate the importance of considering attentional biases as clinical markers of depression and suggest the viability of modifying these biases as a potential tool for clinical change.pre-print591 K

Perinatal depression in the Spanish context: consensus report from the general council of psychology of Spain

Background: Perinatal depression is a major public health problem, with an estimated prevalence of approximately 15% during the first postpartum year. Despite the high prevalence of postpartum depression, there is no consensus regarding assessment and treatment in the Spanish context. The General Council of Psychology of Spain convened a working group of experts in the field, including both academics and healthcare professionals, to review and propose recommendations based on evidence and best practices that could be applied in the Spanish context. Method: A literature search was completed in various databases (e.g., Medline, PsychInfo) including a combination of terms related to peripartum depression (PPD) assessment and diagnosis, prevention, treatment, and cost-effectiveness. A narrative synthesis of the literature has been conducted together with a critical overview of PPD with a special focus on the Spanish context. Results: In this consensus report, developing questions including prevalence and assessment tools, comparative effectiveness of preventive and treatment interventions, and cost-effectiveness of PPD management have been analyzed. Conclusions: The General Council of Psychology of Spain network advocates the establishment of compulsory screening protocols in all the autonomous regions. Also, it is necessary to promote the inclusion in maternal education of programs for the promotion of mental well-being and selective/indicated prevention carried out by a psychology professional with specialized training in the area. This consensus document also promotes the presence of a psychology professional with specialized training in the area. Antecedentes. La depresión perinatal es un importante problema de salud pública, con una prevalencia estimada de aproximadamente el 15% durante el primer año posparto. A pesar de la gran prevalencia de depresión posparto (DPP), no existe consenso sobre la evaluación y el tratamiento en el contexto español. El Consejo General de Psicología de España convocó a un grupo de trabajo de expertos en la materia, tanto académicos como profesionales sanitarios, para revisar y proponer recomendaciones basadas en evidencias y mejores prácticas que puedan aplicarse en el contexto español. Método. Se realizó una búsqueda bibliográfica en varias bases de datos (p. ej., Medline, PsychInfo) que incluía una combinación de términos relacionados con la evaluación y el diagnóstico de la DPP, prevención, tratamiento y coste-eficacia. Se ha realizado una síntesis narrativa de la literatura junto con una visión crítica de la DPP con un enfoque especial en el contexto español. Resultados. Las preguntas de desarrollo que incluyen prevalencia y herramientas de evaluación, la eficacia comparativa de las intervenciones preventivas y de tratamiento y la relación coste-efectividad de la gestión de la PPD se han analizado en este informe de consenso. Conclusiones. La red del Consejo General de Psicología de España aboga por el establecimiento de protocolos obligatorios de cribado en todas las Comunidades Autónomas. Asimismo, es necesario promover la inclusión en la educación materna de programas de promoción del bienestar mental y la prevención selectiva indicada llevadas a cabo por un profesional de la psicología con formación especializada en el área

Clonal chromosomal mosaicism and loss of chromosome Y in elderly men increase vulnerability for SARS-CoV-2

The pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19) had an estimated overall case fatality ratio of 1.38% (pre-vaccination), being 53% higher in males and increasing exponentially with age. Among 9578 individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 in the SCOURGE study, we found 133 cases (1.42%) with detectable clonal mosaicism for chromosome alterations (mCA) and 226 males (5.08%) with acquired loss of chromosome Y (LOY). Individuals with clonal mosaic events (mCA and/or LOY) showed a 54% increase in the risk of COVID-19 lethality. LOY is associated with transcriptomic biomarkers of immune dysfunction, pro-coagulation activity and cardiovascular risk. Interferon-induced genes involved in the initial immune response to SARS-CoV-2 are also down-regulated in LOY. Thus, mCA and LOY underlie at least part of the sex-biased severity and mortality of COVID-19 in aging patients. Given its potential therapeutic and prognostic relevance, evaluation of clonal mosaicism should be implemented as biomarker of COVID-19 severity in elderly people. Among 9578 individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 in the SCOURGE study, individuals with clonal mosaic events (clonal mosaicism for chromosome alterations and/or loss of chromosome Y) showed an increased risk of COVID-19 lethality

Implicaciones clínicas del uso del tamaño pupilar como indicador de actividad psicológica: una breve revisión

ResumenDesde los años 60 la reactividad pupilar ha sido utilizada en Psicología como un indicador psicofisiológico del procesamiento cognitivo y emocional. Con el objetivo de mostrar su utilidad en la investigación psicológica, en este artículo ofrecemos un breve recorrido histórico desde los primeros y controvertidos trabajos que se centraron en estudiar el efecto que tenían diferentes tipos de estímulos en el tamaño de la pupila hasta las últimas investigaciones que han utilizado este índice como medida de procesamiento afectivo en diversos trastornos psicológicos. También se revisan los estudios que relacionan la actividad mental o carga cognitiva con procesos de dilatación pupilar y se discuten las implicaciones clínicas del uso de este sencillo indicadorAbstractSince the 60's, pupil reactivity has been used in Psychology as a psychophysiological index of cognitive and emotional processing. In this paper, we provide a brief review from early and controversial studies focused on studying the effect of different types of stimuli on pupil size to the latest research that has used this index as a measure of affective processing in different psychological disorders. We also review studies that link mental activity or cognitive load with pupil dilations. We discuss the clinical implications of the use of this simple psychophysiological index

Satisfaction with Life Scale in a Representative Sample of Spanish Adults: Validation and Normative Data

AbstractThe Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) is a measure widely used to assess life satisfaction. This paper aims to test its psychometric properties, factor structure, and distribution scores across age, gender, education, and employment status. For this purpose, a representative sample of the Spanish population (N = 2,964) was used. Although analyses showed no significant differences across age or gender, participants with higher education level and those who held an occupation were more satisfied with their lives. Confirmatory factor analysis revealed a unifactorial structure with significant correlations between the SWLS, and subjective happiness and social support. The internal consistency of the scale was .88. Thus, our results indicate that the Spanish version of the SWLS is a valid and reliable measure of life satisfaction within the Spanish context.</jats:p