Open Access
Psychometric properties and factor structure of an Ecuadorian version of the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) in college students
(Public Library of Science, 2019) López, Víctor; Paladines Costa, María Belén; Vaca Gallegos, Silvia; Cacho Fernández, Raúl; Fernández-Montalvo, Javier; Ruisoto Palomera, Pablo; Ciencias de la Salud; Osasun Zientziak
Background: the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) is the gold standard in assessing harmful alcohol intake, which is responsible for substantial morbidity and mortality. Objective: the goal of this study is to evaluate the psychometric properties and factor structure of an Ecuadorian adaptation of a Spanish translation of the AUDIT in a large sample of college students in Ecuador. Methods: a total of 7905 students, including 46.26% males, and 53.75% females, from 11 universities in Ecuador, were surveyed. The questionnaire was tested for two- and three-factor structures, reliability, and correlations with other health related measures. Results: the Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin test for sampling adequacy was satisfactory (.0885), and Bartlett´s test for sphericity was significant (p < .001). Although both models showed a good fit to the data, the two-factor model was preferred based on the high correlations between the factors 2 and 3 within the three-factor model (.86 for the total sample, .77 for females, and .91 for males). The reliability for the two-factor model was good, as indicated by Cronbach´s α = .806 (factor I) and .716 (factor II) for the total sample, .808 (factor I) and .667 (factor II) for females, and .787 (factor I) and .728 (factor II) for males. Additionally, the AUDIT scores positively correlated with several health-related measures: stress, psychological inflexibility, loneliness and depression/anxiety symptomatology. Conclusion: the Ecuadorian adaptation of the Spanish version of the AUDIT has good reliability, and internal consistency and correlates with other health related measures, proving to be a reliable tool that can be used by researchers and clinicians to screen hazardous alcohol intake in college students.
Open Access
Gender differences in transdiagnostic predictors of problematic alcohol consumption in a large sample of college students in Ecuador
(Health Psychology, 2022) Sánchez Puertas, Rafael; Ruisoto Palomera, Pablo; López Núñez, Carla; Vaca Gallegos, Silvia; Ciencias de la Salud; Osasun Zientziak; Universidad Pública de Navarra / Nafarroako Unibertsitate Publikoa
Background: alcohol use is one of the main risk factors that leads to detrimental health effects and support for a transdiagnostic approach to alcohol use disorders is growing. However, the role of transdiagnostic predictors of problematic alcohol consumption in Ecuador are understudied. Objective: the aim of this study was to examine gender differences in psychological stress and inflexibility as transdiagnostic predictors of problematic alcohol consumption in a large sample of college students in Ecuador. Methods: a total of 7,905 college students (21.49years, SD=3.68; 53.75% females) were surveyed using the following standardized scales: alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test, Perceived Stress Scale-14, and Acceptance and Action Questionnaire (AAQ-7). Macro Process for SPSS (models 4 and 7) was used to analyze mediation and moderation effects. Results: reported alcohol consumption was significantly higher in men than women students. On the other hand, women reported significantly higher levels of perceived stress and psychological inflexibility than men students. Gender, age, psychological stress, and inflexibility were significant predictors of alcohol consumption. Moreover, psychological inflexibility mediated the impact of stress on alcohol consumption, particularly in women (for men b=0.065, 95% CI [0.048 to 0.083], for women b=0.070, 95% CI [0.051 to 0.089]). Discussion: results of this study support psychological stress and psychological inflexibility as critical transdiagnostic variables related to increased rates of alcohol consumption among Ecuadorian college students. These conclusions contribute to the development of transdiagnostic comprehensive programs, which encompasses promotive, preventive, and treatment services that allow to alleviate the burden of alcohol, as well as to enrich the growing research on alcohol consumption in this population from a gender perspective.
Open Access
Prevention of alcohol consumption programs for children and youth: a narrative and critical review of recent publications
(Health Psychology, 2022) Sánchez Puertas, Rafael; Vaca Gallegos, Silvia; López Núñez, Carla; Ruisoto Palomera, Pablo; Ciencias de la Salud; Osasun Zientziak; Universidad Pública de Navarra / Nafarroako Unibertsitate Publikoa
Background: youth substance use is a public health problem globally, where alcohol is one of the drugs most consumed by children, and youth prevention is the best intervention for drug abuse. Objective: review the latest evidence of alcohol use prevention programs in empirical research, oriented to all fields of action among children and youth. Methods: a narrative and critical review was carried out within international databases (PsychInfo, Pubmed, Web of Science, and Scopus) in August 2021 and was limited to empirical studies that appeared in the last five years (2017-2021). A flow diagram was used according to the PRISMA statements. Empirical research articles in English with RCTs and quasi-experimental design that included alcohol, children, and young people up to 19 years of age (universal, selective, or indicated programs) were included. The authors examined the results and conceptual frameworks of the Prevention programs by fields of action. Results: twenty-two articles were found from four fields of action: school (16), family (2), community (2), and web-based (2), representing 16 alcohol prevention programs. School-based alcohol prevention programs are clinically relevant [Theory of Planned Behavior, Refuse, Remove, Reasons, Preventure, The GOOD Life, Mantente REAL, Motivational Interviewing (BIMI), Primavera, Fresh Start, Bridges/Puentes], they are effective in increasing attitudes and intentions toward alcohol prevention behavior, while decreasing social norms and acceptance of alcohol, reducing intoxication, and increasing perceptions with regards to the negative consequences of drinking. Discussion: This narrative and critical review provides an updated synthesis of the evidence for prevention programs in the school, family, community, and web-based fields of action, where a more significant number of programs exist that are applied within schools and for which would have greater clinical relevance. However, the prevention programs utilized in the other fields of action require further investigation.
Open Access
Psychophysiological and psychosocial profile of patients attending drug addiction centers
(Springer, 2021) Clemente Suárez, Vicente Javier; Ruisoto Palomera, Pablo; Isorna-Folgar, Manuel; Cancelo-Martínez, Jesús; Beltrán Velasco, Ana Isabel; Tornero Aguilera, José Francisco; Ciencias de la Salud; Osasun Zientziak
Drug treatment centres provide the highest level of rehab services for patients diagnosed with drug addictions. Most inpatient drug rehab programs focus on medical detox and mental health interventions. However, how to optimize the later remains a challenge. The aim of this study was to examine the psychophysiological and psychosocial profile of patients attending drug addiction centres in comparation with the general population. A total of 105 inpatient drug rehab patients and 50 participants from the general population were compared based on standardized psychophysiological and psychosocial measures. Results of this study suggest that patients attending drug addiction centers differ from general population in several different psychophysiological and psychosocial factors. Patients reported significantly lower levels of physical activity and increased sympathetic responsiveness, and significantly higher levels in loneliness, psychologically inflexibility and neuroticism. The results of this study highlight the importance of address healthy lifestyle behaviors such as sport practice and psychological variables such as loneliness, psychological (in)flexibility and neuroticism to improve current programs aim to prevent or reduce problematic drug consumptions.
Open Access
Modification in psychophysiological stress parameters of soldiers after an integral operative training prior to a real mission
(MDPI, 2022) Bellido-Esteban, Alberto; Ruisoto Palomera, Pablo; Tornero Aguilera, José Francisco; Clemente Suárez, Vicente Javier; Ciencias de la Salud; Osasun Zientziak; Universidad Pública de Navarra / Nafarroako Unibertsitate Publikoa
Background. Military personel could be defined as 'Tactical Athletes'. However, experimental evidence about the effects of new HIIT trainings in comparison with traditional training schedules is lacking. The aim of this study was to experimentally analyze the modifications on psychophysiological and performance response of soldiers after completing experimental integral operative training. Methods. A total of 43 male subjects of a special unit force of the Spanish armed forces were randomly selected and assigned into the experimental and control groups assessed after training and after deploying in a real operation area. The experimental group underwent an integral operative pre-mission 6-week training (IOT), and the control group, the 6-week traditional training. Results. HIIT-based integral operative training significantly improved combat performance (melee combat score) and the psychophysiological stress response, as measured by heart rate variability indexes. (4) Conclusion. This study provides experimental evidence supporting a new integral operative effective for improved autonomic regulation, reduced perceived stress, melee and close-quarter combat techniques, in addition to aerobic and anaerobic performance and lower body strength in comparison with the traditional training.
Open Access
Anatomy of educational innovations based on learning by discovery in higher education
(Consejo General de la Psicología de España, 2024) Ruisoto Palomera, Pablo; Contador Castillo, Israel; Quintero, Esperanza; López-García, Juan Carlos; Álvarez-Díaz, Beatriz; Cacho Fernández, Raúl; Fernández-Calvo, Bernardino; Ciencias de la Salud; Osasun Zientziak; Institute for Advanced Social Research - ICOMMUNITAS
El objetivo de este trabajo es examinar las innovaciones docentes derivadas del Plan Bolonia, centrando la atención en el aprendizaje basado en problemas y la gamificación, que resaltan la importancia del aprendizaje por descubrimiento o autónomo. Se analizan metaanálisis y artículos prominentes en ¿Education¿ and ¿Educational Research¿ de los últimos 5 años. Utilizando un símil biomédico, se identifican los principios activos de las innovaciones basadas en aprendizaje por descubrimiento, destacando la subordinación de contenidos teóricos a competencias prácticas y la ruptura del binomio docente-estudiante. Se señalan efectos adversos como la devaluación de clases magistrales, desacreditación de la autoridad docente y la infantilización de estudiantes. Diferentes estudios indican que la eficacia del aprendizaje por descubrimiento en la educación superior es débil e inconsistente. Por tanto, se aboga por la prudencia en su implementación y la preservación de la función social universitaria para transmitir conocimiento a niveles superiores.
Open Access
The impact of the covid-19 pandemic on mental disorders. A critical review
(MDPI, 2021) Clemente Suárez, Vicente Javier; Martínez-González, Marina Begoña; Benítez Agudelo, Juan Camilo; Navarro Jiménez, Eduardo; Beltrán Velasco, Ana Isabel; Ruisoto Palomera, Pablo; Díaz Arroyo, Esperanza; Laborde Cárdenas, Carmen Cecilia; Tornero Aguilera, José Francisco; Ciencias de la Salud; Osasun Zientziak
The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the lives of the worldwide population. Citizens suffer the social, economic, physiological, and psychological effects of this pandemic. Primary sources, scientific articles, and secondary bibliographic indexes, databases, and web pages were used for a consensus critical review. The method was a narrative review of the available literature to summarize the existing literature addressing mental health concerns and stressors related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The main search engines used in the present research were PubMed, SciELO, and Google Scholar. We found the pandemic has had a direct impact on psychopathologies such as anxiety, increasing its ratios, and depression. Other syndromes such as burnout and post-traumatic stress disorder have increased with the pandemic, showing a larger incidence among medical personnel. Moreover, eating disorders and violence have also increased. Public authorities must prepare healthcare systems for increasing incidences of mental pathologies. Mental health apps are one of the tools that can be used to reach the general population.
Open Access
Performance of fuzzy multi-criteria decision analysis of emergency system in COVID-19 pandemic. An extensive narrative review
(MDPI, 2021) Clemente Suárez, Vicente Javier; Navarro Jiménez, Eduardo; Ruisoto Palomera, Pablo; Dalamitros, Athanasios A.; Beltrán Velasco, Ana Isabel; Hormeno-Holgado, Alberto Joaquín; Laborde Cárdenas, Carmen Cecilia; Tornero Aguilera, José Francisco; Ciencias de la Salud; Osasun Zientziak
The actual coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has led to the limit of emergency systems worldwide, leading to the collapse of health systems, police, first responders, as well as other areas. Various ways of dealing with this world crisis have been proposed from many aspects, with fuzzy multi-criteria decision analysis being a method that can be applied to a wide range of emergency systems and professional groups, aiming to confront several associated issues and challenges. The purpose of this critical review was to discuss the basic principles, present current applications during the first pandemic wave, and propose future implications of this methodology. For this purpose, both primary sources, such as scientific articles, and secondary ones, such as bibliographic indexes, web pages, and databases, were used. The main search engines were PubMed, SciELO, and Google Scholar. The method was a systematic literature review of the available literature regarding the performance of the fuzzy multi-criteria decision analysis of emergency systems in the COVID-19 pandemic. The results of this study highlight the importance of the fuzzy multi-criteria decision analysis method as a beneficial tool for healthcare workers and first responders' emergency professionals to face this pandemic as well as to manage the created uncertainty and its related risks.
Open Access
Análisis del efecto de la exposición a información, del sexo y de la edad sobre las preferencias de tratamiento en depresión leve a moderada
(Colegio Oficial de Psicólogía de Andalucía Occidental, 2018) Peral Cabrera, Blanca; Ruisoto Palomera, Pablo; Ciencias de la Salud; Osasun Zientziak
Estudios previos han encontrado que la atención a las preferencias de los pacientes acorta la duración del tratamiento en depresión. Sin embargo, no se conocen las variables que influyen en las preferencias por cada modalidad de tratamiento (psicofarmacológica/psicoterapéutica/combinada). El objetivo del presente estudio es analizar el efecto de la exposición a información mínima sobre eficacia terapéutica, el sexo y la edad de los participantes en sus preferencias de tratamiento. A través de redes sociales, se encuestó a 335 personas sobre preferencias de tratamiento en depresión. La exposición a información no influyó en el grado de preferencia por una u otra. La preferencia por el tratamiento farmacológico fue inferior al psicoterapéutico en mujeres y jóvenes. Los principales motivos expresados fueron la confianza en la terapia combinada y en la psicoterapia. Se discuten las implicaciones para el abordaje del tratamiento de depresión.
Open Access
Understanding major depression in a digital environment
(Australian Computer Society, 2013) Ruisoto Palomera, Pablo; Juanes Méndez, Juan A.; Velasco Marcos, María A.; Contador Castillo, Israel; Prats Galino, Alberto; Ciencias de la Salud; Osasun Zientziak
The most recent neuroimaging studies off er new possibilities to learn the neurobiological basis of depressive disorders. This paper illustrates an interactive visual tool, based on Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), to study the morphological and metabolic changes of brain structures in a patient with unipolar depression. In particular, this application provides a comprehensive representation of structures and neurotransmission changes involved in the pharmacological treatment of major depressive disorders. The ICT tool may be helpful to learn complex brain changes associated with depression. Some advantages of this approach in relation to conventional techniques are discussed.