[Psychometric performance of the 6th version of the Addiction Severity Index in Spanish (ASI-6)]. / Rendimiento psicométrico de la sexta versión del Addiction Severity Index en español (ASI-6).

This work analysed the psychometric properties of the 6th version of the Addiction Severity Index (ASI-6) translated and adapted to the Spanish language. A multicentre, observational and prospective design was used. A total of 258 participants were included, 217 were patients (35 stable patients and 182 unstable patients), and 41 were controls. The results show satisfactory psychometric performance of the ASI-6. The degree of the internal consistency of the standardized objective scores ranged between .47 and .95. As for test-retest reliability, the values were acceptable, varying from .36 to 1. The study of the internal structure revealed a good fit to a unidimensional solution for all scales taken independently. Regarding convergent-discriminant validity, the correlations between the primary and secondary scales of the ASI-6 and the Clinic Global Impression score were low, with values from .01 to .26. Likewise, 8 of the 15 scales differentiated between controls and unstable patients. The psychometric properties of the ASI-6 Spanish version seem to be acceptable, though it is necessary to carry out new studies to test metric quality with independent samples of patients.

Association study between obsessive-compulsive disorder and serotonergic candidate genes.

BACKGROUND: To date, research examining the relationship between serotonergic genes and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) has yielded conflicting results. The purpose of this study is to investigate the association between four serotonergic polymorphisms (STin2 VNTR and 5-HTTLPR of the SLC6A4 gene, and A-1438G (rs6311) and T102C (rs6313) of the HTR2A gene) and OCD. METHODS: 99 OCD patients, 456 non-OCD psychiatric patients, and 420 healthy controls from a homogeneous Spanish Caucasian population were genotyped using standard methods. RESULTS: All groups showed Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium for the analyzed genetic variability. A-1438G and T102C polymorphisms were in complete linkage disequilibrium. OCD patients showed an excess of STin2.12 carriers (12/12, 12/10, and 12/9 genotypes) compared with healthy controls (chi(2) (1)=7.21, corrected p=0.021; OR=3.38, 95% CI=1.32-8.62) and non-OCD psychiatric patients (chi(2) (1)=6.70, corrected p=0.030; OR=3.24, 95% CI=1.27-8.26). However, no differences were found between non-OCD patients and healthy controls (chi(2) (1)=0.05, corrected p>1; OR=1.04, 95% CI=0.72-1.51). No significant differences were found with respect to A-1438G and 5-HTTLPR polymorphisms. CONCLUSIONS: Our data provide supporting evidence of an association between the STin2 VNTR polymorphism of the SLC6A4 gene and OCD.

Differential role of serotonergic polymorphisms in alcohol and heroin dependence.

BACKGROUND: Twin studies suggest that genetic factors account for 40-60% of the variance in alcohol dependence. It has been stated that different drug dependencies may have unique genetic influences. Alterations in serotonin availability and function can affect drinking behaviour. This study aimed to investigate whether three serotonergic polymorphisms (HTR2A A-1438G (rs6311), and SCL6A4 5-HTTLPR and STin2 VNTR) were associated with alcohol dependence, and, whether the serotonergic polymorphisms played a similar role in conferring vulnerability in alcohol and heroin dependence. METHODS: 165 alcohol dependent patients, 113 heroin dependent patients, and 420 healthy controls from a homogeneous Spanish Caucasian population were genotyped using standard methods. RESULTS: Genotypic frequencies of the A-1438G, 5-HTTLPR, and STin2 VNTR polymorphisms did not differ significantly across the three groups. None of the three polymorphisms contributed to distinguishing alcoholic patients from healthy controls. There was an excess of -1438G and 5-HTTLPR L carriers in alcoholic patients in comparison to the heroin dependent group (OR (95% CI)=1.98 (1.13-3.45) and 1.92 (1.07-3.44), respectively). The A-1438G and 5-HTTLPR polymorphisms also interacted in distinguishing alcohol from heroin dependent patients (Wald (df)=10.21 (4), p=0.037). The association of -1438A/G with alcohol dependence was especially pronounced in the presence of 5-HTTLPR S/S, less evident with 5-HTTLPR L/S and not present with 5-HTTLPR L/L. SCL6A4 polymorphism haplotypes were similarly distributed in all three groups. CONCLUSIONS: Our data do not support a role of serotonergic polymorphisms in alcohol dependence but suggest a differential genetic background to alcohol and heroin dependence.

África y la cooperación para el desarrollo: una reflexión desde la ética global / África e a cooperação para o desenvolvimento: uma reflexão a partir da ética global / Africa and foreign aid for development: a reflection from the perspective of global ethics

Tras la Segunda Guerra Mundial se planteó que, para reducir la pobreza, se necesitaba modernización económica, es decir, las sociedades menos desarrolladas debían seguir el camino de los países industrializados, para lo cual solo se requería de una ayuda que permitiese la evolución y prosperidad en todo el mundo. Sin embargo, este paradigma será cuestionado luego del fin de la Guerra Fría, particularmente al momento de evaluar el impacto en África de la cooperación para el desarrollo. El objetivo de este artículo es, primero, analizar cómo el sistema internacional ha determinado las estrategias políticas y económicas de los países africanos; segundo, abordar el debate ético suscitado en torno a la cooperación para el desarrollo, y tercero estimar el impacto de ésta en las estrategias africanas de superación de la pobreza.

After World War II it was suggested that in order to reduce poverty it was needed economic modernization, that is, less developed countries should follow the path of the industrialized countries, for which only it was required aid to allow evolution and prosperity around the world. However, this paradigm was questioned after the end of Cold War, particularly when evaluating the impact on Africa of foreign aid for development. In this sense, the aims of this paper are to analyze how the international system has determined the political and economic strategies of African countries; to address the ethical debate raised on foreign aid for development; and to estimate the impact in African strategies to overcome poverty.

Após a Segunda Guerra Mundial se propôs que, para reduzir a pobreza era necessária a modernização econômica, ou seja, as sociedades menos desenvolvidas deveriam seguir o caminho dos países industrializados, para o qual somente era requerida uma ajuda que permitisse a evolução e a prosperidade em todo o mundo. Entretanto, este paradigma será questionado logo após o fim da Guerra Fria, particularmente no momento de avaliar o impacto da cooperação para o desenvolvimento na África. O objetivo deste artigo é, primeiro, analisar como o sistema internacional determinou as estratégias políticas e econômicas dos países africanos; segundo, abordar o debate ético suscitado em torno da cooperação para o desenvolvimento e, terceiro, estimar o impacto desta cooperação nas estratégias africanas de superação da pobreza.

Rendimiento psicométrico de la sexta versión del Addiction Severity Indez en español (ASI-6) / Psychometric performance of the 6th version of the Addiction Severity Index in Spanish (ASI-6)

El presente estudio examinó las propiedades psicométricas del Addiction Severity Index-6 (ASI-6) en su versión traducida y adaptada al español. Se realizó un estudio multicéntrico, observacional y prospectivo donde participaron un total de 258 sujetos, siendo 217 pacientes (35 estables y 182 inestables) y 41 controles. Los resultados muestran que el ASI-6 presentó un buen comportamiento psicométrico. Los niveles de consistencia interna de las puntuaciones objetivas estandarizadas de las escalas del ASI-6 oscilaron entre 0,47 y 0,95. Por su parte, los valores de fiabilidad test-retest fueron aceptables, oscilando entre 0,36 y 1. El estudio de la estructura interna del ASI-6 informó que todas las escalas, considerándolas de forma independiente, se ajustaron a una solución esencialmente unidimensional. En cuanto a la obtención de evidencias de validez convergente-discriminante, las correlaciones entre las escalas primarias y secundarias del ASI-6 y las puntuaciones en la Impresión Clínica Global de Gravedad fueron bajas, oscilando entre 0,01 y 0,26. Asimismo, ocho de las quince escalas del ASI-6 lograron diferenciar entre controles y pacientes inestables. La versión española del ASI-6 presenta propiedades psicométricas que pueden ser consideradas aceptables, aunque sería necesario llevar a cabo nuevos estudios que continúen examinando su calidad métrica en muestras independientes de pacientes(AU)

This work analysed the psychometric properties of the 6th version of the Addiction Severity Index (ASI-6) translated and adapted to the Spanish language. A multicentre, observational and prospective design was used. A total of 258 participants were included, 217 were patients (35 stable patients and 182 unstable patients), and 41 were controls. The results show satisfactory psychometric performance of the ASI-6. The degree of the internal consistency of the standardized objective scores ranged between .47 and .95. As for test-retest reliability, the values were acceptable, varying from .36 to 1. The study of the internal structure revealed a good fit to a unidimensional solution for all scales taken independently. Regarding convergent-discriminant validity, the correlations between the primary and secondary scales of the ASI-6 and the Clinic Global Impression score were low, with values from .01 to .26. Likewise, 8 of the 15 scales differentiated between controls and unstable patients. The psychometric properties of the ASI-6 Spanish version seem to be acceptable, though it is necessary to carry out new studies to test metric quality with independent samples of patients(AU)