[Impact of care for victims of gender violence on the health professionals]. / Impacto de la atención a las víctimas de violencia de género en los y las profesionales de la salud.

Professionals who work with women victims of gender violence face difficult emotional situations, and it is important to be aware of the emotions and feelings that the attitudes and behaviour of victims and aggressors generate in them. These emotions can become barriers to communication and seriously affect the professional's relationship with victims. Furthermore, they can generate situations of sustained stress, lead to emotional exhaustion, and affect their health, life, and work performance. We describe the consequences, risk factors and warning signs, as well as protective or resilience factors, that are important to know, and we list the current challenges and some recommendations for professionals and management in order to help prevent such effects and improve professional performance without health risks.

[The necessary response of health services to gender violence. Comprehensive care and provision of integrated services]. / La respuesta necesaria de los servicios de salud ante la violencia de género. Atención integral y prestación de servicios integrados.

Gender violence has multiple and serious consequences for the health of victims and their families, hence the reason for the important role that the health system plays in addressing it. Health professionals have a key role in the response, which must include early detection, care, and follow-up; actions in which primary care, because of its privileged position in the system, can play a fundamental part. This article establishes the necessary characteristics for the intervention to be effective: comprehensive care, multidisciplinary approach, intersectoral coordination, and integrated service provision; all of it community-oriented, person-centered, and adapted to its context (social factors and vulnerabilities) with an intersectional approach. The woman, her sons and daughters, and other cohabitants, as well as the perpetrator, are considered the object of intervention in the response, and specific guidelines for action are provided for detection, care, and follow-up. Reorientation of interventions, with emphasis on a community approach, is also proposed.

Total error in lymphocyte subpopulations by flow cytometry-based in state of the art using Spanish EQAS data.

OBJECTIVES: Flow cytometry analyses of lymphocyte subpopulations (T, B, NK) are crucial for enhancing clinical algorithms and research workflows. Estimating the total error (TE) values for the percentage and absolute number of lymphocyte subpopulations using the state-of-the-art (SOTA) approach with real data from an external proficiency testing (EPT) scheme was performed. A comparison with previously published Biological Variability (BV)-based specifications was carried out. METHODS: A total of 44,998 results from 86 laboratories over 10 years were analysed and divided into two five-year periods (2012-2016) and (2017-2021). Data come from the IC-1 Lymphocytes scheme of the Spanish External Quality Assurance System (EQAS) GECLID Program. This quantitative scheme includes percentages and absolute numbers of CD3+, CD3+CD4+, CD3+CD8+, CD19+, and CD3-CD56+CD16+ NK cells. The percentage of TE was calculated as: |reported value - robust mean|*100/robust mean for each laboratory and parameter. The cut-off for TE is set at 80 % best results of the laboratories. RESULTS: A significant reduction in the SOTA-based TE for all lymphocyte subpopulations in 2017-2021 was observed compared to 2012-2016. The SOTA-based TE fulfils the minimum BV-based TE for percentages of lymphocyte subpopulations. The parameter with the best analytical performance calculated with SOTA (2017-2021 period)-based TE was the percentage of CD3+ (TE=3.65 %). CONCLUSIONS: The values of SOTA-based specifications from external quality assurance program data are consistent and can be used to develop technical specifications. The technological improvement, quality commitment, standardization, and training, reduce TE. An update of TE every five years is therefore recommended. TE assessment in lymphocyte subsets is a helpful and reliable tool to improve laboratory performance and data-based decision-making trust.

Afectaciones de la salud mental relacionadas con la COVID-19 / Mental Health Conditions Related to COVID-19

Introducción: La pandemia de COVID-19 ha creado una situación de crisis que requiere un enfrentamiento a los efectos directos del virus y otros problemas de salud relacionados por el temor al contagio, y a las medidas de confinamiento que repercuten en la salud mental. Objetivo: Describir afectaciones de la salud mental relacionadas con la COVID-19. Métodos: Se efectuó una revisión bibliográfica documental, mediante búsquedas electrónicas en las bases de datos científicas MEDLINE, Pubmed, EBsCO y Scielo. Se utilizaron como palabras clave: pandemia COVID-19; salud mental y COVID; cuarentena; impacto psicológico de la COVID-19 y su equivalente en inglés. Se consideraron comunicaciones oficiales de organismos internacionales, regionales y nacionales. Como resultado de la búsqueda se analizaron 44 artículos científicos que cumplieron los criterios de inclusión. El período de estudio estuvo comprendido entre septiembre del 2020 y febrero del 2021, en La Habana, Cuba. Conclusiones: La pandemia COVID-19 ha provocado un impacto negativo en la salud mental. Los síntomas más frecuentes desde el punto de vista de la salud mental han sido: depresión, ansiedad irritabilidad, insomnio, ira, agotamiento emocional y pánico. Se observó trastorno de estrés postraumático. El análisis y conocimiento de los resultados expuestos en esta revisión pueden ser útiles para la valoración de medidas que contribuyan a mitigar los trastornos emocionales en la población y prestarles atención especial a las afectaciones en la salud mental en grupos vulnerables, particularmente al personal de salud(AU)

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has created a crisis situation that requires coping with the direct effects of the virus and other related health problems due to fear of contagion, and confinement measures that impact mental health. Objective: To describe mental health effects related to COVID-19. Methods: A documentary literature review was carried out by means of electronic searches in the scientific databases MEDLINE, PubMed, Ebsco and SciELO. Key words used were: COVID-19 pandemic; mental health and COVID; quarantine; psychological impact of COVID-19 and its English equivalent. Official communications from international, regional and national agencies were considered. As a result of the search, 44 scientific articles that met the inclusion criteria were analyzed. The study period was between September 2020 and February 2021, in Havana, Cuba. Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic has had a negative impact on mental health. The most frequent symptoms from the mental health point of view have been: depression, anxiety, irritability, insomnia, anger, emotional exhaustion and panic. Post-traumatic stress disorder was observed. The analysis and knowledge of the results presented in this review may be useful for the assessment of measures that contribute to mitigate emotional disorders in the population and pay special attention to mental health effects in vulnerable groups, particularly health personnel(AU)

Extended reality as a training method for medical first responders in mass casualty incidents: A protocol for a systematic review.

INTRODUCTION/BACKGROUND: Mass-casualty incidents (MCIs) and disasters require an organised and effective response from medical first responders (MFRs). As such, novel training methods have emerged to prepare and adequately train MFRs for these challenging situations. Particular focus should be placed on extended reality (XR), which encompasses virtual, augmented and mixed reality (VR, AR, and MR, respectively), and allows participants to develop high-quality skills in realistic and immersive environments. Given the rapid evolution of high-fidelity simulation technology and its advantages, XR simulation has become a promising tool for emergency medicine. Accordingly, this systematic review aims to: 1) evaluate the effectiveness of XR training methods and 2) explore the experience of MFRs undergoing such training. METHODS: A comprehensive search strategy will encompass four distinct themes: MFRs, disasters/MCIs, education and simulation, and XR. Four databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL and LILACs) will be searched along with an in-depth examination of the grey literature and reference lists of relevant articles. MetaQAT will be used as a study quality assessment tool and integrated into Covidence as part of the data extraction form. Given the predicted high heterogeneity between studies, it may not be possible to standardise data for quantitative comparison and meta-analysis. Thus, data will be synthesised in a narrative, semi-quantitative manner. DISCUSSION: This review will examine the existing literature on the effectiveness of XR simulation as a tool to train MFRs for MCIs, which could ultimately improve preparedness and response to disasters. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Protocol registration: PROSPERO CRD42021275692.

Práctica investigativa en docentes de las ciencias médicas en Cuba

Introducción: La práctica investigativa corresponde a un ejercicio sistemático que conlleva el planteamiento propio y original de un problema de investigación contextuado, relevante disciplinar y socialmente, con soporte teórico y cuyo desarrollo se ajusta metodológicamente a la naturaleza del fenómeno en estudio. Se realizó una búsqueda de la práctica investigativa en revistas científicas de las bases de datos: Scielo, PubMed, Scopus, Redalyc y el repositorio de tesis doctorales de Infomed de los últimos 10 años, así como normativas vigentes para la educación superior en el curso 2022. Las palabras clave utilizadas fueron: educación, investigación, docencia universitaria, educación médica y sus equivalentes en inglés. Inicialmente fueron seleccionados 102 artículos. Luego se obtuvieron 34 artículos que cumplían los criterios de inclusión. Objetivo: Valorar las características de la práctica investigativa en docentes de las ciencias médicas en Cuba. Desarrollo: Se han vislumbrado deficiencias evidentes referentes a la producción científica de docentes; así como escasas acciones que favorezcan su incremento. Se reflejaron variables relacionadas de forma positiva con estas tareas, como el número de proyectos de investigación realizados y años trabajados en la universidad. Conclusiones: Se valoran insuficiencias en la práctica investigativa de docentes en el ámbito de las ciencias médicas en Cuba, así como factores involucrados a tener en cuenta para la elaboración e implementación de estrategias y modelos en el campo de las ciencias médicas que contribuyan a impulsar la investigación en los educadores, conforme a las exigencias del país.

Introduction: The investigative practice corresponds to a systematic exercise that entails the proper and original approach of a contextualized research problem, disciplinary and socially relevant, with theoretical support and whose development is methodologically adjusted to the nature of the phenomenon under study. A search of the investigative practice was carried out in scientific journals of the databases: Scielo, PubMed, Scopus, Redalyc and the Infomed doctoral theses repository of the last 10 years, as well as current regulations for higher education in the course 2022 The keywords used were: education, research, university teaching, medical education and their equivalents in English. Initially, 102 articles were selected. Then, 34 articles that met the inclusion criteria were obtained. Objective: To assess the characteristics of the investigative practice in teachers of medical sciences in Cuba. Development: Obvious deficiencies regarding the scientific production of teachers have been glimpsed; as well as a few actions that favor its increase. Variables positively related to these tasks were reflected, such as the number of research projects carried out and years worked at the university. Conclusions: Insufficiencies in the investigative practice of teachers in the field of medical sciences in Cuba are valued, as well as factors involved to take into account for the elaboration and implementation of strategies and models in the field of medical sciences that contribute to promote the research on educators, according to the demands of the country.

[Prevention of mental health disorders in primary care: Pregnancy in adolescence]. / Prevención de los trastornos de la salud mental. Embarazo en la adolescencia.

Adolescent pregnancy is generally an unwanted pregnancy, a situation that involves significant biological, psychological and social overloads, with repercussions on the health of the mother and the child. But the psychosocially important fact is that an unwanted pregnancy in its entirety gives rise to the birth of an ambivalently wanted child, a high-risk child. Those born in Spain in 2020 to women under 20 years of age were 8,305, which corresponds to 1.97% of all births. This review presents measures and recommendations for the protection and prevention of the mental health of the mother and child when pregnancy takes place in adolescence.

Toxic epidermal necrolysis-like acute graft-versus-host disease in pediatric bone marrow transplant patients: Case series and review of the literature.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Complications of hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) include acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD). Severe cutaneous aGVHD can present with generalized erythroderma, desquamation, and bullae which can mimic toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN). TEN occurs in response to a culprit medication. Transplant patients are often on many medications, making it difficult to distinguish between the two conditions. Given that TEN-like aGVHD is rare, we describe a case series of pediatric patients and review the literature. METHODS: This is a multi-institutional case series of children who developed TEN-like aGVHD following bone marrow transplantation. Demographic, clinical, and treatment information was collected. RESULTS: Ten patients were identified. Median age at transplantation was 8.5 years (range 0.12-17 years). Median time from transplant to first skin symptoms was 35 days (range 6-110 days) and to first TEN-like symptoms was 40 days (range 16-116 days). 7/10 had other organ GVHD involvement. All patients were on concurrent medications at time of first skin symptoms including immunosuppression for GVHD prophylaxis, infection prophylaxis or treatment, and pain medication. Treatments for TEN-like aGVHD included immunosuppression. CONCLUSIONS: We observe that patients with > or equal to 50% BSA involvement of their skin with TEN-like aGVHD, extracutaneous GVHD, and lack of reepithelization tend to have poor outcomes. Given the rarity of this condition, multidisciplinary care of these patients is important for accurate and timely diagnosis and treatment.

Trastornos parafílicos: caracterización clínica y tratamiento

Introducción: Los trastornos parafílicos son comportamientos sexuales no tradicionales como la actividad sexual con niñas/os, exhibir los genitales a una persona desprevenida u otros. Objetivo: Sistematizar los referentes teóricos que sustentan la caracterización clínica y el tratamiento de los trastornos parafílicos en el mundo y en Cuba. Métodos: La búsqueda bibliográfica se efectuó en las bases de datos PubMed/Medline y ClinicalKey, además, se utilizaron investigaciones cubanas. Resultados: Parafilias es cualquier interés sexual intenso y persistente que no sea el interés en la estimulación genital o caricias preparatorias con parejas humanas fenotípicamente normales, físicamente maduras, con consentimiento; son trastornos parafílicos cuando las parafilias causan distress o deterioro en lo social, laboral u otros. Características clínicas relevantes: predominan en el sexo masculino, existen distorsiones cognitivas, comorbilidad con trastornos por uso de sustancias, trastornos de personalidad y otras. El tratamiento farmacológico abarca inhibidores selectivos de la recaptación de serotonina, en Cuba se usa la sertralina (100-200 mg/día); análogos de la hormona liberadora de hormona gonadotrópica y antiandrógenos, en el país existe el Androcur (50-100 mg/día). Técnicas de psicoterapia cognitivo-conductual útiles: sensibilización cubierta, desarrollo de empatía hacia las víctimas y reestructuración cognitiva. Conclusiones: Clínicamente es imprescindible diferenciar parafilias de trastornos parafílicos, considerados enfermedades mentales, que tienen un curso por lo general crónico, distorsiones cognitivas, cada paciente habitualmente tiene varios tipos de trastornos parafílicos y otras comorbilidades psiquiátricas. En Cuba, para su tratamiento se usa sertralina o androcur y técnicas de la psicoterapia cognitivo-conductual.

Introduction: Paraphilic disorder are non tradicional sexual behaviors like the sexual activity with the boys/girls, to exhibit the genital to an unaware person or others. Objective: To systematize the theoretical bases that sustain the clinical characterization and the treatment of the paraphilic disorder in the world and in Cuba. Methods: The bibliographical search was made in the electronic databases ClinicalKey and PubMed, Cuban investigations were used. Results: Paraphilia is any intense and persistent sexual interest that is not the interest in the genital stimulation or preparatory caresses with a human normal, mature physically, with consenting persons; they are paraphilics disorders when the paraphilia causes distress or deterioration in the social, labor or others. Excellent clinical characteristics: they prevail in the masculine sex, cognitive distortions exist, comorbidities among different types of paraphilics disorders, dysfunctions for use of substances and disorders personality. The pharmacological treatment embraces the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, in Cuba the Sertraline is used (100-200 mg/day); analogues of the hormone Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Agonists and antiandrogens used in the country Androcur (50-100 mg/day). Technical of cognitive and behavioral psychotherapy: covered sensitization, empathy development toward the victims and cognitive restructuring. Conclusions: Clinically it is indispensable to differentiate the paraphilia of the paraphilics disorders, considered mental illnesses, with generally chronic course and generally comorbid psychiatric. In Cuba, for their treatment it is used the Sertraline or Androcur and technical of cognitive and behavioral psychotherapy.

Immune Response of Senegalese Sole against Betanodavirus Mutants with Modified Virulence.

Nervous necrosis virus (NNV), genus Betanodavirus, the etiological agent of the viral encephalopathy and retinopathy (VER), presents a genome with two positive-sense single-stranded RNA segments. Striped jack nervous necrosis virus (SJNNV) and red-spotted grouper nervous necrosis virus (RGNNV), together with reassortants RGNNV/SJNNV, are the betanodaviruses predominantly isolated in Southern Europe. An RGNNV/SJNNV reassortant isolated from Senegalese sole (wt160) causes high mortalities in this fish species. This virus presents differences in the sequence of the 3' non-coding region (NCR) of both segments compared to RGNNV and SJNNV reference strains. Previously, it has been reported that the reversion of two of these differences (nucleotides 1408 and 1412) in the RNA2 3'NCR to the SJNNV-type (recombinant r1408-1412) resulted in a decrease in sole mortality. In the present study, we have applied an OpenArray® to analyse the involvement of sole immune response in the virulence of several recombinants: the r1408-1412 and two recombinants, developed in the present study, harbouring mutations at positions 3073 and 3093 of RNA1 3'NCR to revert them to RGNNV-type. According to the correlation values and to the number of expressed genes, the infection with the RNA2-mutant provoked the most different immune response compared to the immune response triggered after the infection with the rest of the viruses, and the exclusive and high upregulation of genes related to the complement system. The infection with the RNA1-mutants also provoked a decrease in mortality and their replication was delayed at least 24 h compared to the wt160 replication, which could provoke the lag observed in the immune response. Furthermore, the infection with the RNA1-mutants provoked the exclusive expression of pkr and the downregulation of il17rc.

Disfunción tiroidea y diabetes mellitus tipo 1 / Thyroid dysfunction and type 1 diabetes mellitus

Introducción: La diabetes mellitus tipo 1 es una enfermedad autoinmunitaria que se relaciona con alteraciones tiroideas. Objetivo: Describir la relación que existe entre diabetes mellitus tipo 1 y enfermedad tiroidea autoinmune. Métodos: Se realizó una revisión de la literatura nacional e internacional de los últimos 15 años en bases de datos, en español y en inglés. Se utilizaron las siguientes palabras clave: diabetes mellitus tipo 1, autoinmunidad, enfermad tiroidea autoinmune, disfunción tiroidea y anticuerpos antitiroideos. Análisis e integración de la información: La alteración más frecuente es el hipotiroidismo subclínico y se presenta con mayor frecuencia en el sexo femenino, por lo que se sugiere realizar periódicamente el perfil tiroideo a estos pacientes. Conclusiones: Se debe tener en cuenta en la práctica clínica estas implicaciones para brindar un tratamiento oportuno, mejorar complicaciones derivadas como las enfermedades cardiovasculares y disminuir las cifras de morbilidad y mortalidad(AU)

Introduction: Type 1 diabetes mellitus is an autoimmune disease that is related to thyroid abnormalities. Objective: Describe the relationship between type 1 diabetes mellitus and autoimmune thyroid disease. Methods: A review of the national and international literature of the last 15 years was carried out in databases, in Spanish and in English. The following keywords were used: type 1 diabetes mellitus, autoimmune, autoimmune thyroid disease, thyroid dysfunction and antithyroid antibodies. Analysis and integration of information: The most common alteration is subclinical hypothyroidism and it occurs most often in the female sex, so it is suggested to periodically perform the thyroid profile to these patients. Conclusions: These implications should be taken into account in clinical practice to provide timely treatment, improve complications such as cardiovascular disease and reduce morbidity and mortality figures(AU)

Estrategias preventivas en los componentes de la triada ecológica ante la COVID-19 / Preventive strategies in the components of the ecological triad against COVID-19

Introducción: Cada enfermedad transmisible, acorde con su mecanismo principal de transmisión, se controla mediante determinadas medidas dirigidas a los elementos de la tríada ecológica: eliminación del reservorio, interrupción del modo de transmisión y protección al organismo susceptible. Objetivo: Examinar algunas estrategias preventivas en los componentes de la triada ecológica ante la COVID-19. Métodos: Revisión bibliográfica de artículos científicos en inglés y español, disponibles en las bases de datos PubMed, Scopus, Medline, SciELO, y en el motor de búsqueda Google Académico, además se exploraron páginas web de ministerios de salud, OMS, OPS, Infomed, otras nacionales e internacionales.. Se analizó la calidad, fiabilidad y validez de los artículos seleccionados. Se estudiaron 71 artículos, de los cuales 53 fueron referenciados. Resultados: Se describen los principales elementos que integran las medidas de prevención y control de la COVID-19 dirigidas a los elementos de la tríada ecológica, entre la multitud de información disponible en el enfrentamiento a este problema de salud. Consideraciones finales: El conocimiento profundo de las relaciones entre el huésped, el patógeno y el medio ambiente junto con su ecología es crucial para contrarrestar los patógenos infecciosos, donde la prevención juega un papel fundamental y primordial. El cumplimiento de las medidas de control en cada uno de los eslabones de la triada ecológica es vital para evitar la diseminación de esta enfermedad(AU)

Introduction: Each communicable disease, in accordance with its main transmission mechanism, is controlled by certain measures directed to the elements of the ecological triad: elimination of the reservoir, interruption of the mode of transmission and protection of the susceptible organism. Objective: Examine some preventive strategies in the components of the ecological triad against COVID-19. Methods: Bibliographic review of scientific articles in English and Spanish, available in databases like PubMed, Scopus, Medline, SciELO, and in the Google Scholar search engine, in addition to exploring websites of ministries of health, WHO, PAHO, Infomed, and other national and international sources. The quality, reliability and validity of the selected items were analyzed. 71 articles were studied, of which 52 were referenced. Results: The main elements that make up COVID-19 prevention and control measures directed to the elements of the ecological triad are described, among the multitude of available information in the confrontation with this health problem. Final considerations: In-depth knowledge of the relationships between the host, the pathogen and the environment jointly with its ecology is crucial to counteract infectious pathogens, where prevention plays a fundamental and primary role. Compliance with control measures at each link in the ecological triad is vital to prevent the spread of this disease(AU)

[COVID-19 pandemic and mental health: Initial considerations from spanish primary health care]. / Pandemia de la COVID-19 y salud mental: reflexiones iniciales desde la atención primaria de salud española.

An approach is made to the psychological and psychosocial characteristics that the COVID-19 pandemic is acquiring in the countries of our socio-cultural environment. The scarcity of research in this regard and the necessary acceptance of uncertainty to face the situation, both socially, as well as health and psychological, are discussed. Consequently, a series of reflections and recommendations are proposed for the psychological care of the population, health workers and social organization based on: 1) The existence of psychological and psychosocial research into connected fields and 2) In the new neuroscientific perspectives on emotions and their elaboration in crisis situations.

Factores involucrados en la calidad de vida laboral para el ejercicio de la enfermería / Factors involved in the quality of work life for nursing practice

Introducción: El personal de enfermería representa un grupo de trabajo crucial para el funcionamiento de un centro de salud y de forma particular en la asistencia hospitalaria. Es necesario considerar los factores que pudieran afectar la calidad de vida laboral de ese personal e influir en la deserción. Se llevó a cabo una revisión temática basada en la bibliografía especializada, especialmente publicada en los últimos 5 años. La búsqueda se efectuó en las bases de datos: Pubmed y Medline mediante el uso de descriptores en español e inglés. Objetivos: Realizar un análisis de factores involucrados en la calidad de vida laboral para el ejercicio de la enfermería. Desarrollo: Se encontraron investigaciones acerca de la calidad de vida laboral del personal de enfermería a nivel internacional, regional y de Cuba. Entre los factores de riesgo psicosocial relacionados con la labor de enfermería se hallaron: inadecuada organización del trabajo, pérdida de identidad y autonomía en este, multiempleo y flexibilización laboral, horario nocturno y sobrecarga de trabajo. Conclusión: Se determinó que estaban involucrados en la calidad de vida para el ejercicio de la enfermería, factores individuales vinculados a la autoestima y vulnerabilidad, así como relaciones interpersonales ligadas a riesgos físicos y con el clima organizacional(AU)

Introduction: Nursing personnel represent a crucial working group for the operation of a health center and particularly in hospital care. It is necessary to consider the factors that could affect the quality of work life of these personnel and influence attrition. A thematic review was carried out based on the specialized bibliography, especially published in the last 5 years. The search was carried out in the databases: Pubmed and Medline through the use of descriptors in Spanish and English. Objectives: To carry out an analysis of factors involved in the quality of work life for the practice of nursing. Development: Research papers were found about quality of work life of nursing staff at the international, regional and Cuban levels. Among the psychosocial risk factors related to nursing work were: inadequate organization of work, loss of identity and autonomy in this, multi-employment and labor flexibility, time-night work and work overload. Conclusion: It was determined that were involved in the quality of life for the practice of nursing, individual factors linked to self-esteem and vulnerability, as well as interpersonal relationships linked to physical risks and the organizational climate(AU)

[Mental health in epidemics: A perspective from the Spanish Primary Health Care]. / Salud mental en epidemias: una perspectiva desde la Atención Primaria de Salud española.

The pandemic of the disease known as COVID-19 (acronym for coronavirus disease-2019), which was first detected in the Chinese city of Wuhan in December 2019, has led to an international public health emergency. This due to several reasons (threat to the lives of many people, unprecedented health and socioeconomic crisis, cessation of school and work activities, or the need to adopt extraordinary measures, including quarantining entire cities or countries). The PAPPS Mental Health Group has considered it important to observe, reflect and investigate the phenomena that are occurring, and will occur, in what has possibly been one of the most extensive and radical public health interventions in recent history. This work makes an approach to the psychological and psychosocial characteristics that the COVID-19 pandemic is acquiring in the countries of our socio-cultural environment, and proposes a series of reflections and recommendations for the psychological care of the population, health workers, and social organisation.