Open Access
Therapeutic progression in abused women following a drug-addiction treatment program
(SAGE Publications, 2017) Fernández-Montalvo, Javier; López-Goñi, José Javier; Arteaga Olleta, Alfonso; Cacho Fernández, Raúl; Azanza Álvarez, Paula; Psicología y Pedagogía; Psikologia eta Pedagogia
This study explored the prevalence of victims of abuse and the therapeutic progression among women who sought treatment for drug addiction. A sample of 180 addicted Spanish women was assessed. Information was collected on the patients’ lifetime history of abuse (psychological, physical and/or sexual), socio-demographic factors, consumption variables and psychological symptoms. Of the total sample, 74.4% (n = 134) of the addicted women had been victims of abuse. Psychological abuse affected 66.1% (n = 119) of the patients, followed by physical abuse (51.7%; n = 93) and sexual abuse (31.7%; n = 57). Compared with patients who had not been abused, the addicted women with histories of victimisation scored significantly higher on several EuropASI and psychological variables. Specifically, physical abuse and sexual abuse were related to higher levels of severity of addiction. Regarding therapeutic progression, the highest rate of dropout was observed among victims of sexual abuse (63.5%; n = 33), followed by victims of physical abuse (48.9%; n = 23). Multivariate analysis showed that medical and family areas of the EuropASI, as well as violence problems and suicide ideation, were the main variables related to physical and/or sexual abuse. Moreover, women without abuse and with fewer family problems presented the higher probability of treatment completion. The implications of these results for further research and clinical practice are discussed.
Open Access
Violent behaviours in drug addiction: differential profiles of drug-addicted patients with and without violence problems
(SAGE Publications, 2012) Fernández-Montalvo, Javier; López-Goñi, José Javier; Arteaga Olleta, Alfonso; Psicología y Pedagogía; Psikologia eta Pedagogia
This study explored the prevalence of violent behaviours in patients who are addicted to drugs. A sample of 252 addicted patients (203 male and 49 female) who sought outpatient treatment was assessed. Information on violent behaviours, socio-demographic factors, consumption factors (assessed by the EuropAsi), psychopathological factors (assessed by SCL-90-R) and personality variables (assessed by MCMI-II) was collected. Drug-addicted patients who were associated with violent behaviours were compared on all variables to patients who were not associated with violent behaviours. The rate of drug-addicted patients with violent behaviours in this sample was 39.68% (n=100). There were significant differences between the numbers of patients who did and did not demonstrate violence on some variables. Patients with violence problems were younger than those without violence problems and were more likely to report having been a victim of abuse. Moreover, they were significantly more likely to have experienced an overdose and showed a significantly higher score on several EuropAsi, SCL-90-R and MCMI-II variables. According to these results, patients with violence control problems present with both a more severe addiction and several comorbid problems. The implications of these results for further research and clinical practice are discussed.
Open Access
Differential profile of addicted patients depending on violent behaviours and/or criminal acts
(Taylor & Francis, 2015) López-Goñi, José Javier; Fernández-Montalvo, Javier; Arteaga Olleta, Alfonso; Cacho Fernández, Raúl; Psicología y Pedagogía; Psikologia eta Pedagogia
This study explored the prevalence of violent and/or criminal behaviours in drug-addicted patients. A sample of 252 drug-addicted patients who sought treatment was assessed. Information on violent behaviours, criminal acts, socio-demographic factors, consumption factors, psychopathological factors and personality variables was collected. The sample was divided into four groups according to the presence of violence and/or criminal behaviours. There were significant differences between the groups on some variables. In general, patients associated with both violence and criminal behaviours showed a greater severity in drug consumption and maladjustment variables, as well as a higher rate of treatment dropout and re-entry.
Open Access
Gender differences in risk factors related to suicidal ideation among callers to telephone helplines in Spain
(Taylor & Francis, 2018) Villanueva Irure, Pedro; Arteaga Olleta, Alfonso; Fernández-Montalvo, Javier; Ciencias de la Salud; Osasun Zientziak
The main goals of this study were to determine the prevalence rate of suicidal ideation among callers to a Spanish telephone general crisis helpline (Teléfono de la Esperanza) and to identify gender-based characteristics and risk factors related to suicidal ideation. A sample of 10,765 (6,868 men and 3,897 women) callers to this telephone helpline was assessed. ATENSIS, an assessment tool designed to collect information related to suicidal ideation among callers to telephone helplines, was used. Comparisons between men and women with suicidal ideation were carried out in all variables studied: sociodemographics, telephone call timing, risk factors, and suicidality. Of the total sample, 1.87% (n = 201) presented suicidal ideation, with a higher prevalence in women (2.80%) than in men (1.34%). Moreover, significant gender-based differences among callers with suicidal ideations were observed in some variables: women were older than men and showed a greater prevalence of chronic disease with pain; men showed a greater prevalence of depression, alcohol/drug abuse, helplessness, and lack of hope for the future. This study showed that telephone helplines can be used to identify suicidal ideation among callers. Moreover, gender-based differential characteristics among suicide ideators have been found. The implications for further research 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
Tratamiento de agresores contra la pareja en programas de atención a drogodependientes: un reto de futuro
(Sociedad Científica Española de Estudios sobre el Alcohol, el Alcoholismo y las otras Toxicomanías, 2011) Fernández-Montalvo, Javier; López-Goñi, José Javier; Arteaga Olleta, Alfonso; Psicología y Pedagogía; Psikologia eta Pedagogia
Existe una relación muy estrecha entre el consumo de sustancias (alcohol y otras drogas) y la violencia hacia la pareja. Los estudios llevados a cabo con hombres maltratadores y con pacientes adictos muestran una alta comorbilidad entre ambos fenómenos. Sin embargo, hasta la fecha han sido muy escasos los programas de intervención con maltratadores que se han aplicado en el ámbito de las drogodependencias. En este artículo se propone, en primer lugar, la necesidad de detectar los casos de violencia contra la pareja que aparecen camuflados bajo un problema de consumo de drogas. En este sentido, es necesario llevar a cabo estudios que determinen la tasa de prevalencia de agresores contra la pareja entre los usuarios de los programas de tratamiento para el abuso de sustancias, así como conocer las características específicas de este tipo de pacientes. En segundo lugar, una vez detectados los agresores, se podrían desarrollar programas específicos para el tratamiento simultáneo de ambas problemáticas (adicción y violencia hacia la pareja). Se han llevado a cabo algunos estudios con tratamientos conjuntos de la adicción y de la violencia de pareja. Los resultados obtenidos son esperanzadores y muestran que los programas de intervención con adicciones pueden ser un marco útil para aplicar también, en los casos necesarios, un tratamiento específico para aquellos adictos con un problema asociado de violencia contra la pareja. Se comentan las implicaciones de todo ello para la práctica clínica y para las investigaciones futuras.
Open Access
Educational styles, parenting stressors and psychopathological symptoms in parents of adolescents with high-risk behaviours
(Taylor & Francis, 2017) Ituráin Jiménez de Bentrosa, Sonia; López-Goñi, José Javier; Arteaga Olleta, Alfonso; Deusto, Corina; Fernández-Montalvo, Javier; Psicología y Pedagogía; Psikologia eta Pedagogia
Aims: The main goal of this study was to determine the characteristics of parents who sought help from two prevention programmes due to having an adolescent child who presents highrisk behaviours. Methods: The sample was composed of 374 parents (169 fathers and 205 mothers). Information on socio-demographic characteristics, psychopathological symptoms, emotional states, educational styles and maladjustment to everyday life was collected. Findings: The results show statistically differences by gender. Mothers obtained a higher degree of psychopathology symptoms, maladjustment and parental stress relative to fathers. Mothers also used more frequently authoritative and permissive parenting styles. In general, authoritarian and permissive parenting styles and stressful perceptions of the parental role are associated with more psychopathological symptoms and with maladjustment. Finally, the following variables predicted the severity of psychopathological symptoms: secondary education, maladjustment, stressful perceptions of the parental role and authoritarian and permissive parenting styles. Conclusions: This study highlights the need to assess the psychological problems of parents of adolescents with high-risk behaviours and to develop specific intervention programmes.
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
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.