[The Short Nicotine Dependence Syndrome Scale (NDSS-S) in Spanish smokers]. / La escala breve de evaluación del Síndrome de Dependencia de la Nicotina (NDSS-S) en fumadores españoles.

We present a brief scale derived from the Nicotine Dependence Syndrome Scale (NDSS). We used a sample of 1.061 daily smokers, which was obtained from five Primary Care Health Centers, a Unit of Alcoholism, and a Smoking Cessation Unit. All smokers were evaluated with the NDSS and the SCID to assess nicotine dependence according to DSM-IV criteria. The results indicate the existence of a general factor of nicotine dependence according to the NDSS. We selected the items with a higher factor loading (>.50), obtaining a short scale of 6 items. With this brief scale, we obtained results similar to those of the total scale in the diverse variables (sociodemographic and smoking) of the study. Scale reliability is satisfactory (a= .79), the correlation between the short and the total scale is very high (r=.95, p<.001) and the short scale discriminates the smokers in terms of cigarette consumption and nicotine dependence, as assessed with the SCID. The operation under the ROC curve is excellent (area under the curve .84). The data indicate the usefulness of this brief scale (NDSS-S) to assess nicotine dependence in smokers.

[Motivational interviewing in smoking treatment: a review]. / La entrevista motivacional en el tratamiento del tabaquismo: una revisión.

Motivational Interviewing (MI) has proved to be effective with a wide range of addictive behaviors. However, in the case of tobacco smoking it is more difficult to demonstrate its effectiveness. MI provides specific motivational strategies for each stage of change. The aim of this paper is to review studies investigating the use of MI in the treatment of smoking in order to provide an update on its effectiveness. To this end, we reviewed the most important research published internationally and in Spain. A review of 33 selected studies leads us to conclude that it is very difficult to assess and compare the results of the studies in view of their variability and heterogeneity. Hence, it is in this area that we see the most contradictory results on its effectiveness. We therefore need more research in order to determine its reliability and possible explanations for the discrepant findings observed in studies of smoking cessation. Finally, we strongly suggest the need to know which treatment location is best, how MI functions in treatment programs and which conditions may affect its effectiveness.

La atención psicoterapéutica en la unidad de rehabilitación cardíaca. Una experiencia psiquiátrica de enlace / The psychotherapeutic in the cardiac rehabilitation unid. An experience psychiatric of liaison

El presente reporte describe el trabajo psicoterapéutico llevado a cabo en la unidad de rehabilitación cardíaca del Hospital Militar de Caracas Dr. Carlos Arvelo, como parte de un proyecto asistencial-investigativo en donde concluyen especialistas de diferentes áreas, con la finalidad de mejorar de manera integral la calidad de vida del paciente cardiópata