Open Access
Therapeutic difficulties in dealing with suicidal behaviour in treatment addiction programmes
(Springer, 2025-06-16) López-Goñi, José Javier; Leza González, Leire; Sánchez Torres, Ana María; Campos, Lucía; Arteaga Olleta, Alfonso; Fernández-Montalvo, Javier; Ciencias de la Salud; Osasun Zientziak; Universidad Pública de Navarra / Nafarroako Unibertsitate Publikoa; Gobierno de Navarra / Nafarroako Gobernua
Suicidal behaviour is a therapeutic target in the treatment of substance use disorders (SUDs) because of its high prevalence. As such, it is expected that clinicians are confident in addressing suicidal behaviour. However, there is a paucity of research examining clinicians¿ perspectives on suicidal behaviour interventions. The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge, difficulties, and needs perceived by professionals dealing with SUD in the Navarre region. A sample of 47 professionals completed the scales to assess knowledge and attitudes towards suicidal behaviour and perceived difficulties in intervening. The results showed that professionals had a low level of knowledge about suicide, but in general, they did not report prejudiced or stigmatized attitudes towards suicidal behaviour. Most professionals had been in contact with patients who had made one or more lifetime suicide attempts (n = 44, 95.7%), had experienced the suicide of one of their patients (n = 23, 52.3%), or had worked with patients at risk of suicide under their supervision (n = 42, 89.4%). Most clinicians reported that they had received inadequate training in how to address suicidal behaviour (n = 46, 97.9%), and thirty-two (68.1%) expressed a need for specific training on suicide. Among the specific professional difficulties reported by clinicians, technical difficulties were most often perceived as frequent. These results highlight the need for specific training in intervention strategies for understanding and managing suicidal behaviour, considering that clinicians working with patients with SUD have to address suicidal behaviour at some point in their professional practice.
Open Access
Rendimiento neuropsicológico en la adicción a la cocaína: una revisión crítica
(Viguera Editores, 2010) Lorea Conde, Iñaki; Fernández-Montalvo, Javier; Tirapu Ustárroz, Javier; Landa González, Natalia; López-Goñi, José Javier; Psicología y Pedagogía; Psikologia eta Pedagogia
Introducción. El uso crónico de cocaína se ha asociado con un amplio rango de déficits neuropsicológicos que afectan a la atención, la memoria, el aprendizaje o las funciones ejecutivas, aunque no se ha encontrado un perfil único de afectación asociado a la adicción a esta sustancia. Objetivo. Revisar los principales estudios de rendimiento neurocognitivo en adictos a la cocaína, con especial atención al método de investigación empleado. Desarrollo. Existe una gran diversidad metodológica en la investigación del déficit cognitivo asociado a la adicción a la cocaína. Estas diferencias dificultan la comparación de resultados y la obtención de un perfil claro de alteraciones neurocognitivas. Aun así, la mayoría de investigaciones encuentran déficit neuropsicológico, casi siempre de tamaño medio, asociado a la adicción a la cocaína. Este déficit afecta a la atención, memoria verbal y visual, y funciones ejecutivas (memoria de trabajo, flexibilidad mental, fluidez verbal, inhibición y toma de decisiones). Algunos estudios arrojan resultados con un perfil de ejecución cognitiva disociado. Conclusiones. El uso crónico de cocaína se asocia con un peor rendimiento cognitivo. Por lo tanto, la valoración cognitiva de adictos a la cocaína puede mejorar la comprensión de la naturaleza de las dificultades que estos pacientes exhiben en su vida cotidiana y, además, puede servir de referencia para orientar su tratamiento. Es posible que sutiles alteraciones cognitivas conlleven importantes consecuencias en la conducta de estos pacientes. Sin embargo, la evaluación neuropsicológica no forma parte aún de los protocolos habituales de evaluación de este trastorno. Por lo tanto, se propone incluir una evaluación neuropsicológica en los protocolos de evaluación inicial de estos pacientes y adaptar el tratamiento al déficit encontrado.
Open Access
Employment integration after therapeutic community treatment: a case study from Spain
(Wiley, 2011) López-Goñi, José Javier; Fernández-Montalvo, Javier; Menéndez, Juan Carlos; Yudego, Fausto; Rico García, Ángel; Esarte Eseverri, Sonia; Psicología y Pedagogía; Psikologia eta Pedagogia
This article describes the employment evolution from pre- to post-treatment of 112 patients in two therapeutic communities of Proyecto Hombre (Spain). Moreover, an analysis was made using the composite scores of the EuropASI in order to evaluate the secondary outcomes in work status, beyond drug consumption. The results show that nearly half of the patients (46% of the sample) changed their employment status after treatment. Specifically, 78.6 per cent of the men (N=77) and 64.3 per cent of the women (N=9) were working after treatment; there were no statistically significant differences between them. Although the unemployment figures after treatment remained high, the residents were satisfied with their work integration. No statistically significant differences were observed between those who completed the treatment and those who did not. Implications of these results for further research and clinical practice are discussed.
Open Access
Suicidal ideation and attempts among patients with lifetime physical and/or sexual abuse in treatment for substance use disorders
(Taylor & Francis, 2019) Fernández-Montalvo, Javier; López-Goñi, José Javier; Arteaga Olleta, Alfonso; Haro Escribano, Begoña; Ciencias de la Salud; Osasun Zientziak
Background: Several studies indicate that lifetime abuse is a relevant risk factor for suicidal ideation and/or attempts. However, little is known about this phenomenon in patients seeking treatment for substance use disorder. The prevalence rate of suicidal ideation and/or suicide attempts was explored among lifetime physically and/or sexually abused patients receiving treatment for drug addiction. The differential characteristics between these patients and those without suicidal behaviours were studied. Method: Three hundred and seventy-five patients were assessed. Socio-demographic characteristics, addiction severity, lifetime abuse, suicidal ideation and attempts, and psychopathological symptoms were explored. Results: Eighty-two patients (21.9%) presented with a history of lifetime abuse and were included in the study (37 men and 45 women). Sixty-two per cent of them presented with lifetime suicidal ideation (12.2% in the last month), and 30.5% with suicide attempts (1.2% in the last month). Patients with suicidal ideation or attempts showed a more severe addiction profile (assessed by the EuropASI) and more psychopathological symptoms (assessed by the SCL-90-R). Conclusion: This study highlights the relationship between previous traumatic experiences and suicidal behaviours. According to these results, systematic screening of suicidal risk in patients seeking treatment in addiction centres with histories of abuse is recommended.
Open Access
Suicidal behaviours in people seeking treatment for substance use disorder
(Elsevier, 2025-03-13) Leza González, Leire; López-Goñi, José Javier; Arteaga Olleta, Alfonso; Sánchez Torres, Ana María; Fernández-Montalvo, Javier; Ciencias de la Salud; Osasun Zientziak; Gobierno de Navarra / Nafarroako Gobernua
Little is known about the specific characteristics of suicidal behaviour in people receiving treatment for substance use disorder (SUD). The aim of this study was to describe the number and types of suicide attempts and the methods used by 215 patients with SUD, according to sex. A face to face interview (Columbia Scale Severity Rate) was conducted. Lifetime suicidal ideation was reported by 48.8 % (n = 105) of the patients, and lifetime suicide attempts by 28.4 % (n = 61). Forty-five patients reported actual suicide attempts (20.9 %), and overdose was the most common method used (52.5 %; n = 32). Women had more aborted attempts than men did. Most of the participants who attempted suicide made only one attempt (n = 34; 55.7 %). The projection of these figures is alarming. These results justify the need to integrate suicide prevention interventions into addiction treatment programmes.
Open Access
Prevalencia del juego patológico en el alcoholismo: un estudio exploratorio
(Asociación Española de Psicología Clínica y Psicopatología, 2005) Fernández-Montalvo, Javier; López-Goñi, José Javier; Landa González, Natalia; Psicología y Pedagogía; Psikologia eta Pedagogia
En este estudio se lleva a cabo un análisis de la prevalencia del juego patológico en 50 alcohólicos que acuden en busca de tratamiento. Para ello, se utilizaron los criterios diagnósticos del DSM-IV-TR para el juego patológico y el Cuestionario de Juego Patológico de South Oaks (SOGS). Los resultados obtenidos mostraron que el 20% de los alcohólicos de la muestra presentaba un diagnóstico comórbido de ludopatía. Además, un 12% adicional obtenía una puntuación en el SOGS indicadora de juego problemático. En suma, el 32% de la muestra presentaba síntomas de juego clínicamente significativos. La comparación entre los alcohólicos con y sin ludopatía asociada mostró diferencias significativas en las variables relacionadas con el consumo de alcohol, que eran más altas en la submuestra de alcohólicos ludópatas, pero no en la sintomatología psicopatológica evaluada con el SCL-90-R. Se comentan las implicaciones de este estudio para la práctica clínica y la investigación futura.
Open Access
Assessing risk markers in intimate partner femicide and severe violence. A new assessment instrument
(SAGE Publications, 2009) Echeburúa, Enrique; Fernández-Montalvo, Javier; Corral, Paz de; López-Goñi, José Javier; Psicología y Pedagogía; Psikologia eta Pedagogia
The aim of this study was to develop a new assessment tool to predict intimate partner femicide and severe violence. The sample for this study consisted of 1,081 men who were reported to the police station (Basque Country, Spain), because of having committed intimate partner violence. First, the most significant differences between the severe violence group (n=269) and the less severe violence group (n=812) in sociodemographic variables were determined. Results showed that both the perpetrators and the victims of the severe violence group had a higher rate of immigration. Second, the proposed 20-item scale derived from a larger 58-item scale, where only the most discriminative items between severe and non-severe intimate partner violence were taken into account. Psychometric properties of reliability and validity were rather good. Cut-off scores have been proposed according to sensitivity and specificity. This structured professional judgment (an easy-to-use tool) appears to be suitable to the requirements of criminal justice professionals and is intended for use as the basis of safety planning. Implications of these results for further research are commented upon.
Open Access
Efectividad del tratamiento de la violencia contra la pareja en pacientes drogodependientes
(Colegio Profesional de Psicólogos de Costa Rica, 2014) Fernández-Montalvo, Javier; Arteaga Olleta, Alfonso; López-Goñi, José Javier; Psicología y Pedagogía; Psikologia eta Pedagogia
En este artículo se analiza la efectividad de los programas de tratamiento psicológico para drogodependientes, que presentan conductas violentas contra la pareja. Para ello, se revisan, en primer lugar, los estudios que valoran la influencia del tratamiento habitual sobre las adicciones y la reducción de las conductas violentas contra la pareja. En segundo lugar, se analizan los resultados de los programas de intervención conjunta que se han desarrollado hasta la fecha, en el ámbito internacional, en los centros de tratamiento para la adicción con drogodependientes que ejercen, además, violencia contra la pareja. Los resultados muestran, por una parte, que la intervención con pacientes adictos produce una disminución importante en la tasa de violencia contra la pareja asociada a la adicción. Por otra parte, los programas de intervención con adicciones constituyen un marco de gran utilidad para aplicar, de forma conjunta, tratamientos específicos para aquellos adictos con un problema asociado de violencia contra la pareja. Los resultados de estos programas de intervención muestran los mejores datos en la reducción de la tasa de violencia contra la pareja de los pacientes adictos. Se comentan las implicaciones de todo ello para la práctica clínica y para las investigaciones futuras.
Open Access
Are there gender‐based effects for an educational program for parents of adolescents with risk behaviors?
(Wiley, 2019) Fernández-Montalvo, Javier; Arteaga Olleta, Alfonso; López-Goñi, José Javier; Ituráin Jiménez de Bentrosa, Sonia; Ciencias de la Salud; Osasun Zientziak
The goals of this study were to evaluate the gender-based effectiveness of the parental intervention of the Suspertu (“recovery” in English) prevention program for adolescents with risk behaviors in Spain. The sample included 229 parents (105 fathers and 124 mothers). One open-label trial with repeated measures was used. Parents received a family therapy and a group education. The intervention improved parents’ authoritative parenting style, decreasing the degree of parental stress and reducing parent’s psychopathological symptoms and maladjustment. Improvement in both groups (fathers and mothers) was mainly observed from pre- to post-intervention assessment. According to the results, prevention programs for adolescents with risk behaviors may be a suitable context both to teach parents to deal appropriately with their children’s risk behaviors, and to improve parent’s psychological state.
Open Access
Suicidal attempts among patients with substance use disorders who present with suicidal ideation
(Elsevier, 2019) López-Goñi, José Javier; Fernández-Montalvo, Javier; Arteaga Olleta, Alfonso; Haro Escribano, Begoña; Ciencias de la Salud; Osasun Zientziak
Background and aims: Patients with addictions have a great risk of suicidal ideation and attempts. Suicidal behaviour is a continuum that begins with ideation and may continue with planning, attempts and suicide completion. Investigating the speciﬁc risk characteristics for suicidal attempts in patients with addiction pro- blems who present with suicidal ideation is crucial for developing prevention strategies. The main aims of this study were to determine the prevalence rate of suicide attempts among patients with lifetime suicidal ideation receiving treatment for addiction, and o explore the diﬀerential characteristics for suicide ideators with and without suicide attempts. Methods: A sample of 149 patients with suicidal ideation (110 male and 39 female) who sought treatment for addiction in a Spanish clinical centre was assessed. Measurements: Information concerning socio-demographic characteristics, addiction severity, and psycho- pathological symptoms was obtained. Results: In total, 39.6% of the patients had attempted suicide (95% Conﬁdence Interval: 32.1%–47.6%). Although all patients with suicidal behaviours presented a high severity in their addiction, patients with both suicidal ideation and suicide attempts showed a more severe addiction proﬁle and more maladjustment to ev- eryday life than patients with only suicidal ideation. Speciﬁcally, three psychopathological variables were re- lated to suicide attempts: worse psychiatric state, previous hospitalization for psychological problems, and history of delirium. Conclusions: According to the results, a systematic screening of suicidal risk in patients seeking treatment for addiction problems is recommended. Addiction treatment centres should develop treatment strategies to prevent suicidal ideators from attempting suicide, mainly in those cases with a worse lifetime psychiatric condition.