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
A cross-cultural exploratory study of health behaviors and wellbeing during COVID-19
(Frontiers Media, 2021) Ruiz, Montse C.; Devonport, Tracey; Chen Wilson, Chao-Hwa (Josephine); Nichols, Wendy; Cagas, Jonathan Y.; Fernández-Montalvo, Javier; Choi, Youngjun; Robazza, Claudio; Ciencias de la Salud; Osasun Zientziak
This study explored the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on perceived health behaviors; physical activity, sleep, and diet behaviors, alongside associations with wellbeing. Participants were 1,140 individuals residing in the United Kingdom (n = 230), South Korea (n = 204), Finland (n = 171), Philippines (n = 132), Latin America (n = 124), Spain (n = 112), North America (n = 87), and Italy (n = 80). They completed an online survey reporting possible changes in the targeted behaviors as well as perceived changes in their physical and mental health. Multivariate analyses of covariance (MANCOVA) on the final sample (n = 1,131) revealed significant mean differences regarding perceived physical and mental health “over the last week,” as well as changes in health behaviors during the pandemic by levels of physical activity and country of residence. Follow up analyses indicated that individuals with highest decrease in physical activity reported significantly lower physical and mental health, while those with highest increase in physical activity reported significantly higher increase in sleep and lower weight gain. United Kingdom participants reported lowest levels of physical health and highest increase in weight while Latin American participants reported being most affected by emotional problems. Finnish participants reported significantly higher ratings for physical health. The physical activity by country interaction was significant for wellbeing. MANCOVA also revealed significant differences across physical activity levels and four established age categories. Participants in the oldest category reported being significantly least affected by personal and emotional problems; youngest participants reported significantly more sleep. The age by physical activity interaction was significant for eating. Discussed in light of Hobfoll (1998) conservation of resources theory, findings endorse the policy of advocating physical activity as a means of generating and maintaining resources combative of stress and protective of health.
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
Characteristics and predictors of suicidal ideation severity among callers to a telephone helpline in Spain
(Colegio Oficial de la Psicología de Madrid, 2021) Fernández-Montalvo, Javier; Villanueva, Pedro; Arteaga Olleta, Alfonso; Ciencias de la Salud; Osasun Zientziak
El Teléfono de la Esperanza (TE) es la principal línea telefónica de ayuda en España que brinda apoyo a las personas en situaciones de crisis. Las líneas telefónicas de ayuda pueden facilitar la identificación de personas en riesgo de suicidio. Los objetivos principales de este estudio transversal fueron identificar la ideación suicida grave y explorar las características diferenciales con respecto a la ideación suicida moderada. Se revisaron las llamadas al TE de 26,032 personas y se evaluó una muestra de 544 personas que presentaban ideación suicida a través de ATENSIS, una herramienta diseñada para recopilar información sobre la ideación suicida. Se comparó a las personas con ideación suicida grave y moderada en características sociodemográficas, momento de la llamada, factores de riesgo y variables de suicidio. Sesenta y cuatro (11.8%) de las personas presentaban ideación suicida grave y 480 (88.2%) ideación baja-moderada. Se encontraron diferencias significativas en las distintas variables estudiadas. En el análisis de regresión, las principales variables relacionadas con la presencia de alta gravedad de la ideación suicida fueron la existencia de actos preparatorios, los intentos previos de suicidio, las autolesiones no suicidas, la falta de sentido de la vida, la edad y la desesperanza. Las líneas de ayuda pueden identificar la ideación suicida en las personas que llaman y proporcionar una intervención rápida en situaciones de crisis de acuerdo con el riesgo de suicidio presentado.
Open Access
Prevalence and differential profiles of people with adverse childhood experiences in treatment for substance use disorder
(Cambridge University Press, 2025-04-07) Leza González, Leire; López-Goñi, José Javier; Arteaga Olleta, Alfonso; Fernández-Montalvo, Javier; Ciencias de la Salud; Osasun Zientziak; Universidad Pública de Navarra / Nafarroako Unibertsitate Publikoa
Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are prevalent in people with substance use disorder (SUD). The aims of this study were to determine the prevalence of ACEs in a specific sample of people with SUD and to analyze the specific characteristics of these patients according to gender. The studied sample consisted of 215 people seeking treatment for SUD in two clinical centers in Spain. Descriptive and comparison analyses were carried out, and a logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify the main variables related to ACEs. The prevalence of at least one ACE was 82.3%. Women reported a higher prevalence of family mental health problems (p = .045; d = 0.14) and sexual abuse (p < .001; d = 0.43) than men. The group with ≥3 ACEs showed a higher severity profile for the addiction severity and psychopathological variables than the groups with 0 ACEs and 1–2 ACEs. Logistic regression showed that problems related to the group with ≥3 ACEs in the total sample were psychiatric and legal problems and lifetime suicidal ideation (in men, family/social problems and lifetime suicidal ideation; in women, employment/support problems). This study supports the high prevalence of ACEs in people with SUD and the cumulative effect of ACEs. In addition, gender is a relevant factor. The implementation of assessments and treatment for ACEs is necessary in SUD treatment programs.
Open Access
Gender differences in patients with substance use disorder and physical/sexual abuse: a preliminary study
(Colegio Oficial de la Psicología de Madrid (COPM), 2023) Haro Escribano, Begoña; Fernández-Montalvo, Javier; Arteaga Olleta, Alfonso; López-Goñi, José Javier; Ciencias de la Salud; Osasun Zientziak
Objetivo: Explorar las diferencias de género en distintas variables (sociodemográficas, gravedad del consumo, sintomatología psicopatológica, inadaptación a la vida cotidiana, características del trauma y sintomatología de estrés postraumático) en pacientes que acuden a tratamiento por trastorno por consumo de sustancias (TCS) y han sufrido abuso físico y/o sexual. Método: La muestra estuvo compuesta por 26 mujeres y 31 hombres que habían sufrido abuso físico y/o sexual y buscaban tratamiento para TCS. Resultados: Las mujeres habían sido víctimas de abuso sexual en un porcentaje significativamente mayor que los hombres. Además presentaban una frecuencia significativamente mayor de revictimización a otro evento traumático y una presencia significativamente mayor de síntomas de evitación que los hombres. Conclusiones: El estudio confirma la existencia de un perfil más grave en las mujeres que en los hombres con TCS que han sufrido abuso físico y/o sexual a lo largo de la vida. En consecuencia, se debe promover la atención informada sobre el trauma con perspectiva de género en los programas de tratamiento del TCS. Dada la naturaleza preliminar de este estudio, se necesita más investigación en este campo.
Open Access
Is psychological treatment equally effective for intimate partner violence perpetrators with and without childhood family violence?
(Wiley, 2020) Fernández-Montalvo, Javier; Echauri, José Antonio; Siria Mendaza, Sandra; López-Goñi, José Javier; Azcárate, Juana M.; Martínez, María; Ciencias de la Salud; Osasun Zientziak
Objetivo: Este estudio evaluó la eficacia diferencial a largo plazo de un programa de tratamiento para agresores de violencia hacia la pareja (IPV),) dependiendo de haber sufrido o no violencia familiar infantil (CFV). Método: Se incluyó una muestra de 1.008 agresores masculinos en el estudio. En la evaluación pretratamiento se realizaron comparaciones entre maltratadores con CFV (n= 339) y sin CFV (n= 669) sobre características sociodemográficas y variables psicopatológicas. La eficacia diferencial del tratamiento se evaluó en el post-tratamiento, y en el seguimiento a un año. Resultados: La evaluación previa al tratamiento mostró que los agresores con CFV tenían un nivel de educación más bajo, tasas más altas de antecedentes psiquiátricos previos y el acceso voluntario al tratamiento. Además, iniciaron el programa de tratamiento con más síntomas psicopatológicos, evaluados a través del SCL-90-R y el STAXI-2. En cuanto a los resultados del tratamiento, las tasas no alcanzaron diferencias significativas entre los grupos. Las medidas repetidas ANOVA evidenciaron una mejora estadísticamente significativa en los síntomas psicopatológicos en la mayoría de las variables para ambos grupos. Sin embargo, las comparaciones entre grupos sobre síntomas psicopatológicos mostraron que los agresores con CFV se vieron afectados en un grado significativamente mayor en muchas variables en el post-tratamiento y en el seguimiento, aunque no se encontraron diferencias en las tasas globales de resultados del tratamiento. Discusión: Esta investigación pone de relieve la heterogeneidad de los agresores masculinos de la IPV y la progresión diferencial a lo largo de los programas de tratamiento de acuerdo con la presencia de CFV.
Open Access
A cross-national study of predrinking motives in Spain and the UK: cross-sectional associations with risk-taking and alcohol consumption
(Elsevier, 2023) Lowe, Robert D.; Monk, Rebecca L.; Qureshi, Adam W.; Fernández-Montalvo, Javier; Heim, Derek; Ciencias de la Salud; Osasun Zientziak
This study contrasts young people's predrinking in two European cultural contexts: Spain and the UK. Whilst UK predrinking typically occurs amongst small groups of individuals who already know one another, the distinctive Spanish context of the Botellón details a far larger gathering in which participants may be less likely to know each other. As such, predrinking motives which drive consumption and risk-taking may be expected to vary between these cultures. An online questionnaire (N = 397; UK = 167, Spain= 230) was used to examine a variety of drinking behaviours and associated beliefs/motivations including predrinking motivations, drinking behaviour, and risk taking. Path analysis was used to analyse both direct and indirect relationships between the measures with the aim of predicting problem alcohol consumption with the most parsimonious model. Varying (in)direct paths were observed between predrinking motives and alcohol consumption between the cultures. Most notably and pointing towards inconsistency in the drivers of young adults' drinking, fun predrinking motives featured prominently among Spanish respondents and predicted their reported consumption (not so in the UK), while conviviality was a more prevalent predrinking motive in the UK sample and associated with alcohol consumption (not the case in Spain). Further, (personal) risky behaviour and risk-taking predicted consumption in both samples, suggesting the importance of group norms and behaviours in predrinking activity, irrespective of alcohol consumption. These findings highlight the potential importance of the environment in which young people predrink. Given their importance in shaping alcohol consumption and risk taking in young people, cultural differences in predrinking contexts and motives warrant further investigation.
Open Access
Relationship between family mental health problems and substance use disorders: a gender perspective analysis
(Taylor and Francis Group, 2023) López-Goñi, José Javier; Fernández-Montalvo, Javier; Arteaga Olleta, Alfonso; Leza González, Leire; Ciencias de la Salud; Osasun Zientziak; Universidad Pública de Navarra / Nafarroako Unibertsitate Publikoa
Background: Little is known about family mental illness and substance use disorder (SUD). This casecontrol study explored the relationship between family (parents and/or siblings) mental health problems (FMHP) and lifetime substance use disorder (SUD), considering a gender perspective. Methods: A sample of 387 patients (n = 306 men, 79.1%; n = 81 women, 20.9%) was recruited from the Proyecto Hombre Navarra (Spain) addiction treatment program. Patients with (80 men; 24 women) and without (226 men; 57 women) FMHP were compared, taking sex into account. Results: The prevalence of FMHP was 26.9%, without significant differences between men (n = 80; 26.1%) and women (n = 24; 29.6%). Men with FMHP reported higher severity in family/social and psychiatric areas than those without FMHP. Women with FMHP reported a higher severity in the psychiatric area and a higher prevalence of anxiety problems, suicidal attempts, previous psychopharmacological treatments, and physical abuse than women without FMHP. Conclusions: FMHP is highly prevalent in patients with SUD. They are associated with lifetime psychopathological problems, mainly in men. Further specific research is needed to evaluate this issue to develop specific treatments tailored to the needs of patients with FMHP.
Open Access
What differentiates batterer men with and without histories of childhood family violence?
(SAGE, 2020) Fernández-Montalvo, Javier; Echauri, José Antonio; Azcárate, Juana M.; Martínez, María; Siria Mendaza, Sandra; López-Goñi, José Javier; Ciencias de la Salud; Osasun Zientziak
Aims: The goals of this study were to explore the prevalence of childhood family violence (CFV) (both suffered and witnessed) among male batterers in treatment, and to analyse the specific psychological profile of these perpetrators with CFV. Method: A sample of 1421 men recruited from a specialized batterer treatment programme was assessed. A description of the sociodemographic, violence and psychopathological characteristics of the sample was carried out. Moreover, a comparison of all the variables studied between batterer men with and those without CFV was conducted. Findings: The results showed that 35.2% (n = 500) of the sample reported having been victims of CFV (67.2% of them directly suffered abuse, and 32.8% witnessed violence between their parents, mainly from father to mother). Batterers with CFV presented with more irrational beliefs both about women and about violence as a strategy to cope with everyday difficulties. Moreover, they had significantly higher scores than batterers without CFV on all psychopathological symptoms as assessed by the SCL-90-R, as well as on most of the STAXI-2 subscales. In the logistic regression analysis, the main variables related to having a history of CFV were low education level, voluntary access to the programme, having a previous psychiatric history, being an immigrant, having children, and presenting a greater number of psychopathological symptoms. Major implications: According to these results, batterers with CFV showed a higher severity in most of the variables studied than those without CFV. Consequently, these findings highlight the importance of tailoring batterer treatment programmes to their specific characteristics, particularly those regarding childhood victimization.