Measuring the subjective: revisiting the psychometric properties of three rating scales that assess the acute effects of hallucinogens.

OBJECTIVE: In the present study we explored the psychometric properties of three widely used questionnaires to assess the subjective effects of hallucinogens: the Hallucinogen Rating Scale (HRS), the Mystical Experience Questionnaire (MEQ), and the Addiction Research Center Inventory (ARCI). METHODS: These three questionnaires were administered to a sample of 158 subjects (100 men) after taking ayahuasca, a hallucinogen whose main active component is N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT). A confirmatory factorial study was conducted to check the adjustment of previous data obtained via theoretical proposals. When this was not possible, we used an exploratory factor analysis without restrictions, based on tetrachoric and polychoric matrices and correlations. RESULTS: Our results sparsely match the theoretical proposals of the authors, perhaps because previous studies have not always employed psychometric methods appropriate to the data obtained. However, these data should be considered preliminary, pending larger samples to confirm or reject the proposed structures obtained. CONCLUSIONS: It is crucial that instruments of sufficiently precise measurement are utilized to make sense of the information obtained in the study of the subjective effects of psychedelic drugs. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

[Evaluation of occupational performance in everyday life in addicted population. Development of a measuring instrument: the ADO]. / Evaluación del desempeño ocupacional en la vida cotidiana en adictos. Creación de un instrumento de medida: el ADO.

Addiction is a complex disorder of brain function, which involves primarily the frontal cortex as a structure responsible for the organization of intentional behavior. The performance of everyday life activity is one of the key factors in assessing the impact of cognitive impairment. There are no validated instruments in Spanish applicable to addicts for assessing self-perceived efficacy in the performance of everyday activities. Based on the Occupational Self-Assessment, a questionnaire was developed for the exploration of: perceived level of performance quality, evaluation of competences and the influence of environment on performance. For the study, a sample of 425 non-clinical participants and 300 patients treated for substance addiction was used. The Occupational Performance Self- Report (ADO) has 37 items and showed adequate internal consistency (Alpha = 0.93, 0.75 and 0.87 for the subscales) and a stable structure in confirmatory factor analysis. The self-assessment of performance showed consistent correlation with dysexecutive symptoms in daily life (-0.54 < r < -0.66). The ADO emerges as a reliable and valid instrument for the exploration of self-perceived level of performance in the everyday lives of individuals with substance addiction, and may be useful for establishing treatment goals in conditions of high ecological validity.

[Personality differences between alcohol abusers and matched controls: Relation to frontal symptoms and subtypes of addicts]. / Diferencias de personalidad entre adictos al alcohol y controles emparejados: relación con sintomatología frontal y subtipos de adictos.

Epidemiological studies usually show a link between personality disorders and addictions. Dimensional models of personality, such as that of Cloninger, are able to diagnose and discriminate between transient dysfunctional behavior styles and relatively more stable traits. Certain brain areas have been proposed, as trait locations, based on their activation. This paper explores differences in personality traits among a sample of alcohol abusers (N= 95) and a control group of non-clinical population (N= 95), matched in sociodemographic variables, using the TCI-R-67 and the FrSBe-Sp. It is hypothesized that such differences are associated with frontal symptomatology. The existence of different subgroups of addicts based on certain combinations of traits is also analyzed. Results showed significant differences in two temperament traits (Novelty Seeking and Harm Avoidance) and a characterial trait (Self-Direction). We also found a correlation with a large effect size between these traits and frontal symptomatology. Cluster analysis classified the participants into several subtypes with different combinations of traits that matched diverse frontal symptomatology. Possible neurobiological explanations of these differences and their importance in the clinical practice are discussed.

[Spanish version of the Dysexecutive Questionnaire (DEX-Sp): psychometric properties in addicts and non-clinical sample]. / Versión española del Cuestionario Disejecutivo (DEX-Sp): propiedades psicométricas en adictos y población no clínica.

OBJECTIVE: Several studies have shown evidence of executive function impairment associated with substance abuse. This suggests the potential usefulness of a baseline assessment measure to screen for dysexecutive impairments in individuals beginning treatment. The Dysexecutive Questionnaire (DEX) is a test widely used to estimate executive dysfunction. The main objective of this work is to study the psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the Dysexecutive Questionnaire (DEX-Sp). A complementary goal is to study its potential utility for initial screening in addicted individuals seeking treatment. METHOD: A sample of 131 non-clinical and 127 clinical individuals meeting the DSM-IV-TR substance abuse or dependence criteria were recruited. RESULTS: Internal consistency of the questionnaire was assessed (Cronbach's Alfa=0.91), as well as other reliability indicators. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis offers four- and five-factor solutions. Also tested were the dimensionality and structural model and its convergent and discriminant validity with other instruments. Differences between clinical and non-clinical individuals and total scores were also analyzed. CONCLUSIONS: The data suggest that the Spanish version of the DEX is a useful measure for assessing general symptoms of dysexecutive syndrome, and a valid, reliable and adequate screening test for estimating cognitive impairment associated with substance abuse.

[Personality disorder dimensions of MCMI-II in treated substance addicts]. / Dimensiones de los trastornos de personalidad en el MCMI-II en adictos a ustancias en tratamiento.

OBJECTIVE: To know the underlying dimensional structure of personality disorders in the MCMI-II through factor analysis. METHOD: A sample of 749 patients who start a treatment by substance abuse or dependence, according to DSM-IV criteria, compliment the MCMI-II, once free of the direct influences (intoxication, withdrawal) of abuse drugs. Their answers in the MCMI-II were studied, through first and second order factorial analysis. RESULTS: An initial factorial solution of 46 components is obtained. The first of them refers to changes experienced in last years, explaining 25.51% of the variance. A second order factor analysis groups the former factors in 7 components. The first of them reunites symptoms of Axis I around the components of change in two last years and in the last months and weeks (14.17% of the total variance). The other components reflect those dimensions usually found in some other factor studies of personality. DISCUSSION: Results show that a wide proportion of the variance in the MCMI-II is better explained by recent changes than stable traits and their extreme combinations. As these results are obtained in substance addict population, it is suggested part of which the MCMI-II measures can be referred to changes in personality. These changes may be associated to inadequate answers to stressful environmental factors. They can be also associated to changes in brain functions due to direct or indirect influences of substances on brain locations.

[Social values and addiction: applicability and psychometric properties of VAL-89 questionnaire]. / Valores sociales y adiccion: aplicabilidad y propiedades psicometricas del cuestionario VAL-89.

OBJECTIVE: To study the psychometric properties of the VAL-89 questionnaire and its possible use in addict individuals who ask for treatment. METHOD: Analysis of the psychometric properties of the questionnaire and its factorial structure, applying it to 792 individuals. 365 of them were substance users seeking treatment and 427 were general population. RESULTS: Reliability of the questionnaire is confirmed, although its factorial structure appears to be different from the original. In our study appear 12 factors, instead of the original 10. These factors are named: Power, Stimulation, Submission, Tradition, Spirituality, Self-Sufficience, Hedonism, Sociability, Universality, Convencionalism, Idealism and Self-Realization. These factors are distributed through several dimensions represented by four axis: individual-social, dominance-equality, tradition-pleasure and great values-anomie. CONCLUSIONS: The VAL-89 questionnaire seems to be a useful tool to explore which are the more appreciated social values, being of special interest to know which are specially selected by addict individuals.

[Personality differences between substance addicts and general population. Study of clinical cases with matched controls using Cloninger's TCI-R.] / Diferencias de personalidad entre adictos a sustancias y poblacion general. Estudio con el TCI-R de casos clinicos con controles emparejados.

Objective: This article explores differences in personality traits between subjects with substance addiction in treatment and subjects from the general population matched in the variables sex, age and educational level. Material and method: Consecutive sampling was used to obtain a sample of participants undergoing treatment for addictive disorders at a public centre (CAD 4). A sample of the general population was obtained by means of the snowball technique. Only pairs (one participant from each sample) with the same age, sex and educational level were considered. In this way, 55 pairs were obtained. Cloninger's TCI-R was used and the global results were compared, crossing all variables. Results: Significant and consistent differences were found in just two traits: Novelty-Seeking, greater in addicts, and Self- Directedness, greater in general population. Conclusions: Data strongly suggest that observed differences are not previous, but consecutive to the addiction, it being apparent that the effects of the substances and the psychosocial conditions associated with their consumption are what exacerbates or blocks development of the traits. Findings are related to studies linking these variables with neuropsychological functions, and the inclusion of this neuropsychological perspective is strongly proposed for application to the assessment and treatment of addictive disorders.