Parental personality traits and emotion regulation: Its relationship with infants' socioemotional development during the perinatal period.

Socioemotional development is central throughout life, and it unfolds in an interpersonal context in which each significant caregiver has an impact, particularly during infancy. However, only a relatively small number of studies have investigated associations between mothers and fathers' personality and emotional characteristics with their infant's socioemotional development during the perinatal period. Therefore, the present article examines the relationship between maternal and paternal personality traits and emotion regulation difficulties during the prenatal period with offspring's socioemotional development. This was a non-experimental and longitudinal study that included a community sample of 55 mother-father-baby triads. Parental assessments were carried out between the second and third trimester of pregnancy, and baby's socio-emotional development was assessed during their 2nd month after birth. Results evidenced differences between maternal and paternal personality traits and emotion regulation difficulties during the perinatal period as well as distinct contributions on infant's socioemotional development.

Strength-based Video-feedback to improve maternal sensitivity in mother-infant dyads with maternal depressive symptoms: Study protocol for a randomized controlled feasibility trial. / Video-retroalimentación Focalizado en los Recursos para mejorar la sensibilidad en díadas madre-infante con síntomas depresivos: protocolo de un ensayo clínico aleatorizado piloto.

Introduction: Maternal sensitivity and mentalization are fundamental for children's mental health development. These skills have been negatively associated with maternal postpartum depressive symptomatology. Moreover, its prevalence increases in low socioeconomic and psychosocial risk contexts, where the access to treatment is scarce. Even though Attachment Based Interventios, such as Video-Feedback has been internationally recognized as an effective intervention. Its cost, as well as the need for language translation and cultural adaptation makes it difficult to implement in Latinamerican countries. Aim: The present study aims to assess the feasibility and acceptability of an online Video-Feedback intervention informed n mentalization aimed at mother-infant dyads with depressive symptomatology who attend Chilean public health centers. Method: This is a pilot randomized clinical trial with two groups of 60 mother-infant dyads between 4 and 12 months of age. Participants will be randomly assigned to control and experimental groups in a 1:1 ratio. Even though both groups will receive usual treatment, the experimental group will also receive the present video-intervention. At the end of the study, feasibility will be assessed based on focus groups aimed at interveners and quantitative outcomes such as recruitment rate, questionnaire completion rate and intervention completeness. Acceptability will be assessed from in-depth interviews with participants. In addition, effect sizes of primary and secondary outcomes will be calculated. Expected results: Results are expected to generate parameters to design a larger-scale clinical trial and to preliminary assess the effect of the reported mentalization-informed intervention on maternal sensitivity. Additionally, it seeks to contribute with a mental health intervention for low-income mother-infant dyads, which can be implemented remotely, at a low cost, and that would be suitable for implementation at a mental health care system policy. The protocol of this trial's design was registered at Clinical Trials (NCT04748731).

Introducción: La sensibilidad y la mentalización materna constituyen competencias fundamentales para el desarrollo de la salud mental infantil. A su vez, dichas habilidades han sido negativamente asociadas con la presencia de sintomatología depresiva postparto, la cual aumenta su prevalencia en contextos de bajo nivel socioeconómico y riesgo psicosocial, en donde el acceso a tratamiento escasea. Paralelamente, si bien internacionalmente el video-retroalimentación constituye una herramienta efectiva en intervenciones basadas en el apego, el costo, idioma y necesidad de adaptación cultural dificultan su implementación en países latinoamericanos. Objetivo: Evaluar la factibilidad y aceptabilidad de una video-intervención informada por la mentalización, dirigida a díadas madre-bebé con sintomatología depresiva, atendidas en centros públicos de atención en salud mental en Chile. Métodos: Ensayo clínico aleatorio piloto con dos grupos de 60 díadas madre-bebé de entre 4 y 12 meses de edad, quienes serán asignados aleatoriamente a grupos control y experimental en una proporción de 1:1. Si bien ambos grupos recibirán el tratamiento habitual, el grupo experimental recibirá también la video-intervención. Al término del estudio se evaluará la factibilidad a partir de grupos focales dirigidos a interventores e indicadores de resultados cuantitativos tales como tasa de reclutamiento, de completación de cuestionarios y finalización de la intervención. La aceptabilidad se evaluará a partir de entrevistas en profundidad a las participantes. Adicionalmente se calculará tamaño del efecto de indicadores de resultados primarios y secundarios. Resultados esperados: Se espera que los resultados del estudio generen parámetros para diseñar un ensayo clínico de mayor escala y evaluar preliminarmente el efecto de la intervención informada en la mentalización en la sensibilidad materna. Se busca además contribuir con una intervención en salud mental basada en la teoría del apego dirigida a díadas madre-bebé de bajos ingresos, que pueda ser implementada de manera remota, a bajo costo y apta para ser escalada a los sistemas de atención en salud mental.

Video-retroalimentación focalizado en los recursos para mejorar la sensibilidad en díadas madre-infante con síntomas depresivos: protocolo de un ensayo clínico aleatorizado piloto / Strength-based video-feedback to improve maternal sensitivity in mother-infant dyads with maternal depressive symptoms: study protocol for a randomized controlled feasibility trial

INTRODUCTION: Maternal sensitivity and mentalization are fundamental for children's mental health development. These skills have been negatively associated with maternal postpartum depressive symptomatology. Moreover, its prevalence increases in low socioeconomic and psychosocial risk contexts, where the access to treatment is scarce. Even though Attachment Based Interventios, such as Video-Feedback has been internationally recognized as an effective intervention. Its cost, as well as the need for language translation and cultural adaptation makes it difficult to implement in Latinamerican countries. AIM: The present study aims to assess the feasibility and acceptability of an online Video-Feedback intervention informed n mentalization aimed at mother-infant dyads with depressive symptomatology who attend Chilean public health centers. METHOD: This is a pilot randomized clinical trial with two groups of 60 mother-infant dyads between 4 and 12 months of age. Participants will be randomly assigned to control and experimental groups in a 1:1 ratio. Even though both groups will receive usual treatment, the experimental group will also receive the present video-intervention. At the end of the study, feasibility will be assessed based on focus groups aimed at interveners and quantitative outcomes such as recruitment rate, questionnaire completion rate and intervention completeness. Acceptability will be assessed from in-depth interviews with participants. In addition, effect sizes of primary and secondary outcomes will be calculated. EXPECTED RESULTS: Results are expected to generate parameters to design a larger-scale clinical trial and to preliminary assess the effect of the reported mentalization-informed intervention on maternal sensitivity. Additionally, it seeks to contribute with a mental health intervention for low-income mother-infant dyads, which can be implemented remotely, at a low cost, and that would be suitable for implementation at a mental health care system policy. The protocol of this trial's design was registered at Clinical Trials (NCT04748731).

INTRODUCCIÓN: La sensibilidad y la mentalización materna constituyen competencias fundamentales para el desarrollo de la salud mental infantil. A su vez, dichas habilidades han sido negativamente asociadas con la presencia de sintomatología depresiva postparto, la cual aumenta su prevalencia en contextos de bajo nivel socioeconómico y riesgo psicosocial, en donde el acceso a tratamiento escasea. Paralelamente, si bien internacionalmente el video-retroalimentación constituye una herramienta efectiva en intervenciones basadas en el apego, el costo, idioma y necesidad de adaptación cultural dificultan su implementación en países latinoamericanos. OBJETIVO: Evaluar la factibilidad y aceptabilidad de una video-intervención informada por la mentalización, dirigida a díadas madre-bebé con sintomatología depresiva, atendidas en centros públicos de atención en salud mental en Chile. MÉTODOS: Ensayo clínico aleatorio piloto con dos grupos de 60 díadas madre-bebé de entre 4 y 12 meses de edad, quienes serán asignados aleatoriamente a grupos control y experimental en una proporción de 1:1. Si bien ambos grupos recibirán el tratamiento habitual, el grupo experimental recibirá también la video-intervención. Al término del estudio se evaluará la factibilidad a partir de grupos focales dirigidos a interventores e indicadores de resultados cuantitativos tales como tasa de reclutamiento, de completación de cuestionarios y finalización de la intervención. La aceptabilidad se evaluará a partir de entrevistas en profundidad a las participantes. Adicionalmente se calculará tamaño del efecto de indicadores de resultados primarios y secundarios. RESULTADOS ESPERADOS: Se espera que los resultados del estudio generen parámetros para diseñar un ensayo clínico de mayor escala y evaluar preliminarmente el efecto de la intervención informada en la mentalización en la sensibilidad materna. Se busca además contribuir con una intervención en salud mental basada en la teoría del apego dirigida a díadas madre-bebé de bajos ingresos, que pueda ser implementada de manera remota, a bajo costo y apta para ser escalada a los sistemas de atención en salud mental.

Beyond the outcomes: generic change indicators in a video-feedback intervention with a depressed mother and her baby: a single case study.

Child and dyadic psychotherapy have been scarcely investigated from the psychotherapy process research perspective. Thus, content and mechanisms related to therapeutic change have been overlooked by research. This study aimed at testing the applicability of the generic change indicators (GCI) model to identify moments of change in the parent during dyadic interventions, as well as to explore, describe and illustrate the therapeutic process through a brief mentalization-informed intervention with a depressive mother and her baby, using video-feedback as its main strategy, which has ample evidence about its effectiveness. We conducted a single case qualitative study using the GCI model. The mother's ongoing change was determined by identifying episodes of change (EC) and moments of change (MC). Each MC was then labelled with one of the 19 GCIs. GCIs were observed from the intervention's start. GCI's hierarchical levels were increasing over the intervention, in association with the video-feedback situation. Our findings suggest that the GCI model is feasible to observe and understand dyadic interventions, contributing to the growing body of evidence supporting psychotherapists' training and supervision.

The impact of COVID-19 on experiences of pregnancy and/or early parenting in Chile.

The unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic has impacted families' mental health around the globe. In June 2020, 1163 parents of high (43%), middle (47%), and low socioeconomic status (SES) (10%) participated in an online survey developed to explore how daily life changes and restrictions that came with COVID-19 affected the experiences of pregnancy and/or parenting children under the age of 5 in Chile. The survey's design had an exploratory and descriptive scope, with a mix of qualitative and quantitative questions. With the aim of exploring differences before and after COVID-19, two time periods were established, and the 47-item questionnaire covered participants' sociodemographic information, support networks, health concerns, mood changes, self-regulation, adult and children's perceived well-being, parental competencies and parents' perceptions of the unborn baby and/or their children's needs. The results relative to retrospective reporting of pre-pandemic levels, showed an increase in children's crying and tantrums as well as in parental irritability and sadness. Additionally, decreases in the ability to calm down and sleep quality in both parents and children were identified. Finally, at a qualitative level, COVID-19 stands out both as an opportunity to get to know their children better and as a stressor related to parental burn-out and discomfort.

La sin precedentes pandemia del COVID-19 ha tenido un impacto en la salud mental de las familias alrededor del mundo. En junio de 2020, 1,163 progenitores de condiciones socioeconómicas (SES) altas (43%), medias (47%) y bajas (10%) participaron en una encuesta por computadora desarrollada para explorar cómo los cambios en la vida diaria y las restricciones que surgieron con el COVID-19 afectaron las experiencias de embarazo y/o crianza de niños bajo la edad de 5 años en Chile. El diseño de la encuesta tenía un alcance exploratorio y descriptivo, con una mezcla de preguntas cualitativas y cuantitativas. Con el propósito de explorar las diferencias antes y después del COVID-19, se establecieron dos períodos de tiempo, y el cuestionario de 47 puntos cubría la información sociodemográfica de los participantes, las redes de apoyo, las preocupaciones relacionadas con la salud, los cambios en el estado de ánimo, la autorregulación, la percepción del bienestar de adultos y niños, las competencias de los padres y las percepciones de los padres acerca del bebé no nacido y/o las necesidades de sus niños. Los resultados relativos al reporte retrospectivo de niveles previos a la pandemia mostraron un incremento en el llanto y las rabietas de los niños como también en la irritabilidad y estado de tristeza de los padres. Adicionalmente, se identificó una disminución en la habilidad de calmar y la calidad del sueño tanto en padres como en niños. Finalmente, al nivel cualitativo, el COVID-19 se presenta tanto como una oportunidad de llegar a conocer mejor a sus niños y como un factor de estrés relacionado con la fatiga y la incomodidad de los padres.

La pandémie sans précédent du COVID-19 a impacté la santé mentale des familles dans le monde entier. En juin 2020 1163 parents issus d'un milieu socioéconomique élevé (43%), moyen (47%) et peu élevé (10%) ont participé à un questionnaire en ligne afin d'explorer comment les changements de la vie de tous les jours et les restrictions qui ont accompagné le COVID-19 ont affecté les expériences de grossesse et/ou le parentage d'enfants sous l'âge de 5 ans au Chili. La conception de l'enquête avait une portée exploratoire et descriptive, avec un mélange de questions qualitatives et quantitatives. Avec le but d'explorer les différences entre l'avant et l'après COVID-19, deux périodes de temps ont été établies, et le questionnaire de 47 éléments a couvert les renseignements sociodémographiques des participants, leurs réseaux de soutien, leurs inquiétudes relatives à la santé, les changements d'humeurs, l'auto-régulation, le bien-être perçu des adultes et des enfants, les compétences parentales et les perceptions des parents du bébé à naître et/ou des besoins de leurs enfants. Les résultats relatifs aux états de fait rétrospectifs de niveaux pré pandémiques ont montré une augmentation des pleurs des enfants et des crises des enfants ainsi qu'une augmentation de l'irritabilité et de la tristesse parentale. De plus des baisses dans la capacité à se calmer t dans la qualité de sommeil des deux parents et des enfants ont été identifiées. Finalement, au niveau qualitatif, le COVID-19 se distingue à la fois en tant qu'une chance de mieux connaître leurs enfants et en tant que facteur de stress lié au burn-out et au malaise parental.

Video Intervention Therapy for primary caregivers in a child psychiatry unit: a randomized feasibility trial.

BACKGROUND: During child psychiatry hospitalization, working with the families or attachment figures is a challenge, most of the children who are admitted to these units come from multi-problem families, with limited research in this area. Video feedback (VF) interventions have proved to be a powerful resource to promote parental and child well-being in small children and has been used with parents with a psychiatric condition. Parental Reflective Functioning (PRF) is one of the parental abilities that can be improved with VF and could be especially important in coping with conflict and negative emotions in older children. The aim of this study is to implement Video Intervention Therapy (VIT) to enhance PRF in primary caregivers of inpatient psychiatric children. As there is no published research using VF with parents of children with severe psychopathology in a hospitalized context. This report, then, becomes a much needed pilot study providing evidence for a larger randomized control trial (RCT). METHODS: The study is a single-center, two-arm feasibility randomized control trial with a qualitative component. Block randomization was done to generate a 2:1 allocation, leaving more participants in the intervention group. The intervention comprises four modules; every module has both one video-recorded play session and one VIT session (in a group setting) per week. Evaluation of the caregivers included assessments of PRF and well-being, and child assessment included parent-ratings and clinician-ratings of symptomatology and general functioning. RESULTS: Thirty participants were randomized; eligibility and recruitment rate were 70.6% and 83.3%, respectively. The compliance-to-intervention rate was 85% in the VIT group and 90% in the control group. All participants completed entry evaluation and 90% at the 3-month follow-up. The intervention was acceptable to participants and feasible for therapists to deliver. Outcome data must be treated with caution due to the small numbers involved, yet indicate that the VIT may have a positive effect in improving parental and child mental health outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: VIT for primary caregivers of child inpatient children was feasible to deliver and acceptable for participants, therapist, and the staff unit involved; there is sufficient evidence to undertake a full-scale effectiveness RCT. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03374904 . Registered on 14 December 2017.

Is it possible to improve early childhood development with a video-feedback intervention directed at the mother-father-child triad?

Relationships with primary caregivers provide the context for early childhood development, and evaluating those relationships during the early years can detect difficulties that may influence future mental health. Video feedback is a valuable intervention tool in early childhood, both for family relationships and child development. An intervention was implemented using this technique, focused on mother-father-child triads that were experiencing difficulties in social-emotional development. Participants were 80 mother-fatherinfant triads (experimental group, EG=40, control group, CG=40), with children between 1 and 3 years old. Socio-emotional difficulties decreased significantly in the children who received the intervention (Wilks λ=0.930, F (1, 78)=5.907; P=.017). There was also an increase in psychomotor development in communication (Wilks λ=0.948, F (1, 78) =4.284; P=.042) and fine motor skills (Wilks λ=0.875, F (1, 78)=11.185; P=.001) in children in the EG compared with children in the CG.

Daño a niños y sus familias por el consumo de alcohol: resultados de una encuesta poblacional / Alcohol's impact on children and families: A population survey

Introducción Entre los adultos jóvenes el uso de alcohol es frecuente. Este consumo puede afectar negativamente a los menores que conviven con ellos, lo que constituye el objetivo de este estudio, que forma parte de un estudio colaborativo internacional financiado por Thai Health y la OMS. Sujetos y método Se describen los efectos negativos en niños, mediante un muestreo multietápico, aplicando una entrevista adaptada por los coinvestigadores a 1.500 chilenos de más de 18 años. Resultados Un total de 408 encuestados (27,2%) convivían con niños en el hogar. De ese total, el 10,5% estimó que el uso de alcohol de algún miembro de la familia había afectado negativamente a un niño. Los efectos más comunes fueron la violencia verbal (29,7%), presenciar violencia en el hogar (23,1%), ausencia de supervisión (18,7%), falta de dinero para proveer necesidades básicas (14,3%) y violencia física (7,7%). Casi en la mitad de los casos (46,3%) el bebedor era el padre o la madre, el padrastro/madrastra, o la pareja de la madre/padre, luego venían otros parientes (24,4%), un hermano/a del niño (4,9%) o un tutor del niño (2,4%). Conclusión Estos datos corroboran la observación clínica de que el consumo de alcohol es frecuente en los hogares. El consumo excesivo daña la salud física y mental no solo del bebedor sino también de quienes lo rodean. La violencia verbal y ser testigo de violencia grave en el hogar son frecuentes, así como los problemas económicos al no poder proveer sus necesidades básicas.

Introduction Alcohol is widely used among young families, and leisure time is frequently family time. Heavy alcohol consumption can adversely affect children. The objective of this work is to measure the harm to others in Chile. Subjects and method This descriptive and probabilistic study forms part of a collaborative research funded by Thai Health and WHO. The survey was adapted by co-researchers and applied to a nationally representative sample of 1500 Chileans over 18 years of age. Results A total of 408 respondents (27.2%) lived with children at home. Of this total, 10.5% felt that the use of alcohol by any member of the family had adversely affected a child. The most common adverse effects were verbal violence (29.7%), domestic violence (23.1%), unsupervised homes (18.7%), lack of money to provide basic needs of the child (14.3%), and physical violence (7.7%). Furthermore, in 6.6% of the cases child or family services agencies became involved. In almost half of the cases (46.3%), the drinker was the father, mother or step-parents. This was followed by other relatives (24.4%) and brothers (4.9%), or guardian of the child (2.4%). Conclusion These data support the clinical observation that alcohol is common in Chilean homes. Its consumption not only damages the physical and mental health of the drinker but also those around him. Verbal violence and witnessing serious physical violence are frequent issues, as well as economic problems that end up with the inability to provide the child with its basic needs.

[Alcohol's impact on children and families. A population survey]. / Daño a niños y sus familias por el consumo de alcohol: resultados de una encuesta poblacional.

INTRODUCTION: Alcohol is widely used among young families, and leisure time is frequently family time. Heavy alcohol consumption can adversely affect children. The objective of this work is to measure the harm to others in Chile. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: This descriptive and probabilistic study forms part of a collaborative research funded by Thai Health and WHO. The survey was adapted by co-researchers and applied to a nationally representative sample of 1500 Chileans over 18years of age. RESULTS: A total of 408 respondents (27.2%) lived with children at home. Of this total, 10.5% felt that the use of alcohol by any member of the family had adversely affected a child. The most common adverse effects were verbal violence (29.7%), domestic violence (23.1%), unsupervised homes (18.7%), lack of money to provide basic needs of the child (14.3%), and physical violence (7.7%). Furthermore, in 6.6% of the cases child or family services agencies became involved. In almost half of the cases (46.3%), the drinker was the father, mother or step-parents. This was followed by other relatives (24.4%) and brothers (4.9%), or guardian of the child (2.4%). CONCLUSION: These data support the clinical observation that alcohol is common in Chilean homes. Its consumption not only damages the physical and mental health of the drinker but also those around him. Verbal violence and witnessing serious physical violence are frequent issues, as well as economic problems that end up with the inability to provide the child with its basic needs.

[The harm to others from drinking: A population study]. / Daño a terceros producido por el alcohol: resultados de un estudio poblacional en Chile.

BACKGROUND: Alcohol can harm both drinkers and their human environment. Most of research in Chile has focused on the drinker. This work focuses on the damage to others. Governmental expenditures due to drinking are estimated to quadruple the income earned through taxation. AIM: To report the results of a population survey conducted in Chile in 2013 to assess the harm done to others from drinking by a known or unknown drinker. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A household survey of a sample of 1500 subjects living in urban areas, predominantly over 50.000 inhabitants, was conducted by trained interviewers. RESULTS: A significant number of respondents reported that the effect of alcohol consumption by third parties was somewhat (18.7%) or very negative (14.8%). The most frequent negative effects were verbal abuse (37.4%), being bullied (17.4%), feeling fearful at home or in a private meeting (19.6%) and family problems (16.9%). CONCLUSIONS: About one third of Chileans surveyed have suffered negative effects due to alcohol consumption of a known or unknown drinker. This finding signals the need of designing public policies addressed to minimize or prevent collateral effects of drinking.

Daño a terceros producido por el alcohol: resultados de un estudio poblacional en Chile / The harm to others from drinking: A population study

Background: Alcohol can harm both drinkers and their human environment. Most of research in Chile has focused on the drinker. This work focuses on the damage to others. Governmental expenditures due to drinking are estimated to quadruple the income earned through taxation. Aim: To report the results of a population survey conducted in Chile in 2013 to assess the harm done to others from drinking by a known or unknown drinker. Material and Methods: A household survey of a sample of 1500 subjects living in urban areas, predominantly over 50.000 inhabitants, was conducted by trained interviewers. Results: A significant number of respondents reported that the effect of alcohol consumption by third parties was somewhat (18.7%) or very negative (14.8%). The most frequent negative effects were verbal abuse (37.4%), being bullied (17.4%), feeling fearful at home or in a private meeting (19.6%) and family problems (16.9%). Conclusions: About one third of Chileans surveyed have suffered negative effects due to alcohol consumption of a known or unknown drinker. This finding signals the need of designing public policies addressed to minimize or prevent collateral effects of drinking.

Terapia de interacción guiada en díadas madre-bebé con sintomatología depresiva materna en el embarazo: un estudio piloto / Guided interaction therapy in mother-infant dyads with maternal depressive symptoms in pregnancy: a pilot study

La depresión perinatal constituye un trastorno del ánimo de alta frecuencia, que afecta negativamente a la madre y al bebé, y requiere una intervención dirigida a ambos miembros de esta díada. Esta investigación evalúa la aplicabilidad y resultados de una intervención piloto dirigida a fortalecer el vínculo y a reducir la depresión en díadas con esta problemática. Se estudian tres díadas madre-hijo/a, con sintomatología depresiva materna y se desarrolla una intervención psicoterapéutica breve utilizando el modelo de Interacciones Guiadas. Los resultados muestran una reducción en la sintomatología depresiva y un aumento en sensibilidad materna, cooperatividad infantil y calidad vincular. La intervención realizada resulta eficaz en las variables estudiadas, requiriéndose nuevas aplicaciones en muestras de mayor tamaño para confirmar estos hallazgos.

Perinatal depression is a high frequency mood disorder which negatively affects mother and baby, and requires an intervention addressing both members of the dyad. This paper evaluates the applicability and results of a pilot intervention to strengthen this bond and reduce depression in dyads with this problem. Three mother-child dyads, with maternal depressive symptoms and a brief psychotherapeutic intervention using the model of Guided Interactions were studied. The results showed a reduction in depressive symptoms and an increase in maternal sensitivity, child cooperativeness and relationship quality. The intervention turned out to be effective in the variables under study. Nevertheless, new applications over larger sample sizes are required to confirm these findings.

Suicidal risk, depression, and religiosity: a study of women in a general hospital in Santiago de Chile.

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of the present study is to compare the role of spiritual and religious beliefs in the prevention of suicidal risk among depressive women with suicidal ideation or attempts, treated in the psychiatric unit of a general hospital in Santiago de Chile (Servicio de Psiquiatría del Hospital del Salvador) between 2010 and 2011. METHOD: The relationship among severity of depression, suicidal risk, and religiosity is explored in women treated in Servicio de Psiquiatría del Hospital del Salvador. The sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of believers (n = 121) and nonbelievers (n = 22) were compared, and their global mental health was assessed, as well as their rating in scales for depression, anxiety, aggressivity, and impulsivity. RESULTS: Most of the patients self-reported to belong to Catholic or other Christian churches. There were few statistically significant differences between them and nonbelievers, who were younger, had more years of education, were more frequently employed, and lived alone or with their parents. When comparing the least religious and the most religious quartiles, there were no differences in the type of affective disorder, attendance to temples, or self-appraisal of religiosity. Nonbelievers had more history of previous suicidal attempts and had more relatives committing suicide. DISCUSSION: In a country where most of the population is believer, self-reported religiosity seems to have a nonsignificant association with suicidality and severity of depression. Our results could be biased given the small number of nonbelievers in the sample.