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.
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
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
Gender differences in unidirectional and bidirectional intimate partner violence in addictions
(Taylor & Francis, 2019) Fernández-Montalvo, Javier; López-Goñi, José Javier; Arteaga Olleta, Alfonso; Haro Escribano, Begoña; Ciencias de la Salud; Osasun Zientziak
Background: Few studies have analyzed the specific characteristics related to uni/bidirectional intimate partner violence (IPV) in patients with addiction problems. Knowing the specific profiles of these patients would allow the development of effective tailored interventions. Objective: This study assessed gender differences in unidirectional and bidirectional IPV among patients undergoing drug addiction treatment. Method: We sampled 122 patients (91 male and 31 female) who sought treatment in an addiction treatment center, and collected cross-sectional self-reported data on violent behaviors (physical, sexual and psychological violence), sociodemographic factors, distorted thoughts about women and violence, impulsiveness, and anger. Results: Ninety-one percent of participants reported experience of IPV (any type and any direction). Sixty-three percent of participants reported bidirectional violence, which was more common among women (83.9%) than men (56.1%). Unidirectional (perpetration only) IPV was reported in 28.7% of participants, and it was more common among men (34.1%) than women (12.9%). No one reported unidirectional (victimization-only) IPV. When only physical and/or sexual violence was considered, bidirectional violence affected 32.0% of the sample; 23.8% were only victims, and 3.3% were only perpetrators (all of them men). Participants who reported bidirectional violence had higher scores for impulsiveness, anger, and distorted thoughts. Conclusions: Bidirectional IPV is commonly reported among patients seeking treatment for addiction, particularly among women, and should be considered in future research and clinical practice.
Open Access
Treatment effectiveness of intimate partner violence perpetration among patients in a drug-addiction programme
(American Psychological Association, 2019) Fernández-Montalvo, Javier; Arteaga Olleta, Alfonso; López-Goñi, José Javier; Ciencias de la Salud; Osasun Zientziak
Objective: This article evaluates the treatment effectiveness of an integrated intervention compared to addiction treatment as usual (TAU) in reducing intimate partner violence perpetration (IPV-P) among patients in a drug-addiction intervention programme. Method: A parallel, randomized, controlled trial was carried out with repeated measures of assessment (pre-treatment, post-treatment and 6-month follow-up). A sample of 227 consecutive patients was assessed, and 70 patients with IPV-P were selected to participate in the study and then divided into two groups: treatment (n = 34) and control (n = 36). The treatment group participated in an integrated intervention programme for addiction and IPV-P, and the control group received the TAU without intervention for IPV-P. Treatment success was defined as the complete absence of IPV-P episodes, both physical and psychological. Results: At the follow-up, the patients in the treatment group showed an IPV-P success rate (60.7%) that was significantly higher (X2 = 3.85; p < .05) than that of the patients in the control group (31.6%). Moreover, both groups achieved statistically significant improvements in associated variables. Conclusions: The presence of IPV-P should be assessed in drug addiction treatment programmes. The combined treatment for addiction and IPV-P seems to be effective.
Open Access
Differential profiles of drug-addicted patients according to gender and the perpetration of intimate partner violence
(Elsevier, 2015) Arteaga Olleta, Alfonso; López-Goñi, José Javier; Fernández-Montalvo, Javier; Psicología y Pedagogía; Psikologia eta Pedagogia
This study explored the differential profiles of drug-addicted patients according to gender and the perpetration of intimate partner violence (IPV). Methods: The study assessed a sample of 127 drug-addicted patients (84 male and 43 female) who sought treatment. Information about socio-demographic and consumption characteristics, IPV, psychopathological symptoms, personality characteristics and maladjustment variables was obtained. Four groups were created according to gender and the presence or absence of the perpetration of IPV: a) men with IPV (n = 41), b) women with IPV (n = 29), c) men without IPV (n = 43), and d) women without IPV (n = 14). The four groups were compared in terms of all of studied variables. Results: There were significant differences between the groups in the severity of the addiction and personality characteristics. In general, the drug-addicted patients with associated IPV perpetration exhibited greater scores for nearly all of the studied variables, independent of gender. Moreover, the differences among groups were more strongly related to perpetration of IPV than to the gender of the patients. Conclusions: According to the results obtained, treatment programs for drug addiction are a suitable context for identifying the presence of IPV, but IPV is typically unnoticed in addiction treatment programs. The implications of these results for future research and clinical practice are discussed.
Open Access
Gender differences in treatment progress of drug-addicted patients
(Taylor & Francis, 2017) Fernández-Montalvo, Javier; López-Goñi, José Javier; Azanza Álvarez, Paula; Arteaga Olleta, Alfonso; Cacho Fernández, Raúl; Psicología y Pedagogía; Psikologia eta Pedagogia; Gobierno de Navarra / Nafarroako Gobernua
This study explored the differences in treatment progress between men and women who were addicted to drugs. The differential rate of completion of/dropout from treatment in men and women with substance dependence was established. Moreover, comparisons between completers and dropouts, accounting for gender, were carried out for several variables related to treatment progress and clinical profile. A sample of 183 addicted patients (96 male and 87 female) who sought outpatient treatment between 2002 and 2006 was assessed. Information on socio-demographic, consumption and associated characteristics was collected. A detailed tracking of each patient's progress was maintained for a minimum period of eight years to assess treatment progression. The treatment dropout rate in the whole sample was 38.8%, with statistically significant differences between women (47.1%) and men (31.3%). Women who dropped out of treatment presented a more severe profile in most of the psychopathologic variables than women who completed it. Moreover, women who dropped out from treatment presented a more severe profile than men who dropped out. According to these results, drug-addicted women showed worse therapeutic progress than men with similar histories. Thus, women must be provided with additional targeted intervention to promote better treatment outcomes.
Open Access
Guía docente para la promoción de la salud en la universidad: módulo 4. Competencias para la vida y promoción de la salud mental
(Universidad Pública de Navarra, 2019) Aliende Urtasun, Ana; Ansa Ascunce, Ana; Aristu Ruiz, Marta; Arteaga Olleta, Alfonso; Gabari Gambarte, María Inés; González Eransus, Raquel; Regalado Fernández, Estefanía; Sáenz Mendía, Raquel; Ciencias de la Salud; Osasun Zientziak; Ciencias humanas y de la educación; Giza eta Hezkuntza Zientziak; Sociología y Trabajo Social; Soziologia eta Gizarte Lana
El desafío de las universidades en el siglo XXI es formar al alumnado con las competencias profesionales que demandan las actuales “sociedades del conocimiento” (Castells, 1996). Las competencias profesionales son específicas de un ámbito del saber y, al mismo tiempo, son competencias genéricas que comprenden relaciones interpersonales, del aprendizaje y de los valores sociales. Los contenidos de este módulo son: Unidad 1. Cómo estoy y cómo estamos. Bienestar y salud mental positiva. Unidad 2. Comunicación asertiva. Unidad 3. Autoindagación y gestión emocional. Unidad 4. Toma de decisiones ética y pensamiento creativo. Unidad 5. El trabajo en equipo.
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
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.