Metacognitive interpersonal group therapy for adolescents with avoidant personality disorder: The case of Sofia.

INTRODUCTION: Early intervention studies for adolescents and early adults are required to explore the acceptability and effectiveness of psychological therapies across the full range of personality disorders (PDs) beyond just borderline PD. The main aim of the current paper was to describe a Metacognitive Interpersonal Therapy group adaptation for adolescents (MIT-GA) presenting with PDs featuring overcontrol and social inhibition, and in particular Avoidant PD characteristics. METHODS: We report findings from a single case of a female adolescent diagnosed with Avoidant PD providing preliminary data on feasibility and the possible effectiveness of MIT-GA. RESULTS: Evidence of acceptability and meaningful clinical gains are described. CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that MIT-GA could be a powerful treatment option in patients with generalized social avoidance who do not currently receive gold-standard psychotherapeutic treatments. This intervention also appears to be effective and cost-effective in initiating significant clinical changes in profiles of young patients with non-borderline PD symptoms.

Psychotic-like experiences and cannabis use in adolescents from the general population. / Experiencias psicóticas atenuadas y consumo de cannabis en adolescentes de la población general.

The purpose of this study was to analyze the relationship between psychotic-like experiences and cannabis use in a representative sample of adolescents from the general population. A total of 1,588 students (M=16.13 years, SD = 1.36), 739 men (46.5%), selected by stratified random sampling by conglomerates from 98 classes in 34 schools participated in the survey. The instruments used were the Prodromal Questionnaire-Brief, the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, the Modified Substance Use Questionnaire, the Penn Matrix Reasoning Test, the Family Affluence Scale-II, and the Oviedo Infrequency Scale. Results showed that a percentage of adolescents reported psychotic-like experiences and/or cannabis use. Prior to controlling for multiple confounders (gender, age, socio-economic level, alcohol use, smoking, emotional and behavioral problems, and IQ), cannabis use was associated with psychotic-like experiences. After adjustment for confounders, psychotic-like experiences were not seen to be associated with cannabis use. Mediational analyses showed that emotional and behavioral problems mediate the relationship between cannabis use and risk of psychosis. It seems that once the effect of multiple confounding variables is controlled for, the use of cannabis increases the risk of comorbid psychopathology and this in turn increases the risk of psychosis. These results suggest that the relationships established between psychotic experiences and cannabis are complex and mediated by relevant variables. Further studies should examine this relationship in follow-up studies and gene-environmental designs.

El propósito de este estudio fue analizar la relación entre las experiencias psicóticas atenuadas y el consumo de cannabis en una muestra representativa de adolescentes de la población general. Un total de 1,588 estudiantes (M=16,13 años; DT = 1,36), 739 eran hombres (46,5%), pertenecientes a 34 escuelas y 98 aulas, seleccionados mediante muestreo aleatorio estratificado por conglomerados, fueron encuestados. Los instrumentos administrados fueron el Cuestionario de Pródromos de Psicosis-Breve, el Cuestionario de Capacidades y Dificultades, el Cuestionario de Consumo de Sustancias Modificado, el Penn Matrix Reasoning Test (PMRT), la Family Affluence Scale-II y la Escala Oviedo de Infrecuencia de Respuesta. Los resultados mostraron que un porcentaje de adolescentes informaron de experiencias psicóticas atenuadas y/o consumo de cannabis. Antes de controlar el efecto de múltiples covariables (género, edad, nivel socio-económico, consumo de tabaco, problemas emocionales y CI), los jóvenes consumidores de cannabis informaron de un mayor riesgo teórico de psicosis. Cuando se controló el efecto de las covariables, las experiencias psicóticas no se asociaron con el consumo de cannabis. El análisis mediacional indicó que los problemas en el ajuste emocional y comportamental mediaban en la relación entre consumo de cannabis y experiencias psicotiformes. Parece ser que, una vez controlado el efecto de las múltiples variables de confundido, el uso de cannabis aumenta el riesgo de psicopatología comórbida y esta a su vez el riesgo de psicosis (mayor frecuencia de experiencias psicóticas). Estos resultados sugieren que la relación que se establece entre las experiencias psicóticas y el cannabis es compleja y se encuentra mediada por variables relevantes. Futuros estudios deberán examinar las interacciones Gen x Ambiente en estudios longitudinales.

A pilot study on feasibility, acceptance and effectiveness of metacognitive-oriented social skills training in schizophrenia.

BACKGROUND: In preparation for a randomized controlled trial, a pilot study was conducted to investigate the feasibility, acceptability and effectiveness of a psychotherapy group based on metacognitive-oriented social skills training (MOSST). METHODS: Twelve outpatients with schizophrenia were offered 16 group-sessions of MOSST. Effect sizes were calculated for changes from baseline to treatment end for both psychosocial functioning and metacognitive abilities measured by the Personal and Social Performance Scale (PSP) and the Metacognition Assessment Scale-Abbreviated (MAS-A) respectively. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Ten patients finished the full treatment protocol and nonsignificant moderate effect sizes were obtained on PSP and MAS-A scores. To date, this is the first study in Spain to suggest that outpatients with schizophrenia will accept metacognitive therapy for social skills training and evidence improvements in psychosocial functioning and metacognition. CONCLUSION: Despite limitations inherent in a pilot study, including a small sample size and the absence of a control group, sufficient evidence of effectiveness was found to warrant further investigation. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ISRCTN10917911 . Retrospectively registered 30 November 2016.

New approaches on the study of the psychometric properties of the STAI.

INTRODUCTION: The main purpose of this study was to analyze the psychometric properties of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI1). Previous studies have indicated different factor solutions. Nevertheless, there is still a lack of consensus about the best dimensional model of STAI scores. METHOD: The sample consisted of 417 participants, composed of 387 (29.71% male) healthy participants (comparison group: M=35.5 years; SD=8.40), and 30 (36.66% male) patient (clinical group M=35.8 years; SD=12.94). RESULTS: The internal consistency evaluated through Ordinal Alpha was good, 0.98 and 0.94 in the non-clinical and the clinical samples, respectively. Test-retest reliability (two weeks) for Total Score was 0.81 for the non-clinical subsample, and 0.93 for the clinical subsample. Confirmatory factor analyses supported both a four factor model and bifactor model. Also, STAI scores showed statistically significant correlations with Burns Anxiety Inventory (Burns-A) scores. Furthermore, results showed statistically significant differences in the mean scores of the STAI between the clinical and the non-clinical subsamples. CONCLUSIONS: The psychometric properties of the STAI were adequate. The present study contributes to better understand the STAI structure through the comparison of new approaches in the study of the STAI internal structure. The results found may contribute in the efforts to improve the evaluation and identification of anxiety symptoms and disorders.

Metacognitive abilities in adults with substance abuse treated in therapeutic community. / Habilidades metacognitivas en adultos con abuso de sustancias bajo tratamiento en comunidad terapéutica.

BACKGROUND: The term metacognition reflects a spectrum of psychological activities that allows people to form and integrate representations about their own mental states and those of others. The main goal of this study was to examine whether people with substance abuse disorders (SUDs), and treated in therapeutic community regime, displayed specific patterns of metacognitive deficits on Self-reflectivity, Understanding others’ mind, Decentration, and Mastery, comparing their scores with two clinical groups of patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSDs) and anxiety disorders. METHOD: A mixed-methods (qualitative-quantitative) study was designed. Two hundred and sixteen adults aged 18-65 with principal diagnoses of SUDs (n = 52), SSDs (n = 49), and anxiety disorders (n = 115) were recruited. Qualitative data were obtained with the Metacognition Assessment Interview, which was then rated using a quantitative scale, the Metacognition Assessment Scale-Abbreviated (MAS-A). RESULTS: The anxiety disorders group had significantly higher MAS-A total scores than the SUDs group, and the SUDs group obtained significantly higher MAS-A total scores than the SSDs group. Concerning the MAS-A subscale scores, the SUDs group displayed significantly lower scores only on the Mastery subscale compared to the anxiety disorders group, with the SUDs and SSDs groups obtaining equivalent Mastery scores. CONCLUSIONS: According to these findings, current interventions for addiction should focus more specifically on improving metacognitive Mastery.

Antecedentes: El término de metacognición hace referencia al conjunto de procesos psicológicos que permiten a los individuos desarrollar e integrar representaciones sobre los estados mentales propios y de los demás. El objetivo principal de este estudio fue examinar si los pacientes bajo tratamiento por consumo de sustancias, en régimen de comunidad terapéutica, presentan un perfil específico de déficits metacognitivos en las áreas de Autorreflexividad, Diferenciación, Descentramiento y Dominio, comparando sus puntuaciones con las obtenidas por dos muestras clínicas de pacientes con trastornos del espectro esquizofrénico y trastornos de ansiedad. Método: Se diseñó un estudio con metodología mixta (cualitativa-cuantitativa). Se seleccionaron un total de 216 participantes con diagnósticos principales por consumo de sustancias (n = 52), espectro esquizofrénico (n = 49) y trastornos de ansiedad (n = 115). Los datos cualitativos se obtuvieron con la Entrevista de Evaluación de la Metacognición (MAI) y, posteriormente, estos fueron cuantificados con la Escala Abreviada de Evaluación de la Metacognición (MAS-A). Resultados: Las puntuaciones totales en la MAS­A del grupo con trastornos de ansiedad fueron estadísticamente superiores a las del grupo con trastornos por consumo de sustancias (TCS), y éstas, a su vez, fueron significativamente superiores a las del grupo con trastornos del espectro esquizofrénico. Por subescalas de la MAS-A, sólo hubo diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre las puntuaciones de Dominio del grupo con ansiedad y TCS, obteniendo el grupo con TCS puntuaciones estadísticamente equivalentes a las del grupo con trastornos del espectro esquizofrénico. Conclusiones: De acuerdo con estos resultados, los programas actuales de intervención en drogadicción deberían orientarse más específicamente a mejorar las habilidades metacognitivas de Dominio.

Investigating the relationship between negative symptoms and metacognitive functioning in psychosis: An individual participant data meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: Negative symptoms are a persistent, yet under-explored problem in psychosis. Disturbances in metacognition are a potential causal factor in negative symptom development and maintenance. This meta-analysis uses individual participant data (IPD) from existing research to assess the relationship between negative symptoms and metacognition treated as summed scores and domains. METHODS: Data sets containing individuals with negative symptoms and metacognition data, aged 16+ with psychosis, were identified according to pre-specific parameters. IPD integrity and completeness were checked and data were synthesized in two-stage meta-analyses of each negative symptoms cluster compared with metacognition in seemingly unrelated regression using restricted maximum likelihood estimation. Planned and exploratory sensitivity analyses were also conducted. RESULTS: Thirty-three eligible data sets were identified with 21 with sufficient similarity and availability to be included in meta-analyses, corresponding to 1301 participants. The strongest relationships observed were between summed scores of negative symptoms and metacognition. Metacognitive domains of self-reflectivity and understanding others' minds, and expressive negative symptoms emerged as significant in some meta-analyses. The uncertainty of several effect estimates increased significantly when controlling for covariates. CONCLUSIONS: This robust meta-analysis highlights the impact of using summed versus domain-specific scores of metacognition and negative symptoms, and relationships are not as clear-cut as once believed. Findings support arguments for further differentiation of negative symptom profiles and continued granular exploration of the relationship between metacognition and negative symptoms.

Investigating the relationship between specific negative symptoms and metacognitive functioning in psychosis: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Disrupted metacognition is implicated in development and maintenance of negative symptoms, but more fine-grained analyses would inform precise treatment targeting for individual negative symptoms. AIMS: This systematic review identifies and examines datasets that test whether specific metacognitive capacities distinctly influence negative symptoms. MATERIALS & METHODS: PsycINFO, EMBASE, Medline and Cochrane Library databases plus hand searching of relevant articles, journals and grey literature identified quantitative research investigating negative symptoms and metacognition in adults aged 16+ with psychosis. Authors of included articles were contacted to identify unique datasets and missing information. Data were extracted for a risk of bias assessment using the Quality in Prognostic Studies tool. RESULTS: 85 published reports met criteria and are estimated to reflect 32 distinct datasets and 1623 unique participants. The data indicated uncertainty about the relationship between summed scores of negative symptoms and domains of metacognition, with significant findings indicating correlation coefficients from 0.88 to -0.23. Only eight studies investigated the relationship between metacognition and individual negative symptoms, with mixed findings. Studies were mostly moderate-to-low risk of bias. DISCUSSION: The relationship between negative symptoms and metacognition is rarely the focus of studies reviewed here, and negative symptom scores are often summed. This approach may obscure relationships between metacognitive domains and individual negative symptoms which may be important for understanding how negative symptoms are developed and maintained. CONLCLUSION: Methodological challenges around overlapping participants, variation in aggregation of negative symptom items and types of analyses used, make a strong case for use of Individual Participant Data Meta-Analysis to further elucidate these relationships.

Special Issue on Mental Health and Well-Being in Adolescence: Environment and Behavior.

Psychological problems in children and adolescent populations range from 10% to 20% [...].

[Empirically Supported Psychological Treatments for Children and Adolescents: State of the Art].

Empirically Supported Psychological Treatments for Children and Adolescents: State of the Art. BACKGROUND: The empirical evidence accumulated on the efficacy, effectiveness, and efficiency of psychotherapeutic treatments in children and adolescents calls for an update. The main goal of this paper objective was to carry out a selective review of empirically supported psychological treatments for a variety of common psychological disorders and problems in childhood and adolescence. METHOD: A review was carried out of the psychological treatments for different psychological disorders and problems in social-emotional or behavioral adjustment in the child-adolescent population according to the Spanish National Health System (Clinical Practice Guidelines) levels of evidence and degrees of recommendation. RESULTS: The findings suggest that psychological treatments have empirical support for addressing a wide range of psychological problems in these developmental stages. The degree of empirical support ranges from low to high depending on the phenomenon analyzed. The review suggests unequal progress in the different fields of intervention. CONCLUSIONS: From this update, psychologists will be able to make informed decisions when implementing those empirically supported treatments to address the problems that occur in childhood and adolescence.

[Evidence-Based Psychological Treatments for Adults: A Selective Review]

Evidence-Based Psychological Treatments for Adults: A Selective Review. BACKGROUND: Psychological treatments have shown their efficacy, effectiveness, and efficiency in dealing with mental disorders. However, considering the scientific knowledge generated in recent years, in the Spanish context, there are no updating studies about empirically supported psychological treatments. The main goal was to carry out a selective review of the main empirically supported psychological treatments for mental disorders in adults. METHOD: Levels of evidence and degrees of recommendation were collected based on the criteria proposed by the Spanish National Health System (Clinical Practice Guidelines) for different psychological disorders. RESULTS: The results indicate that psychological treatments have empirical support for the approach to a wide range of psychological disorders. These levels of empirical evidence gathered range from low to high depending on the psychological disorder analysed. The review indicates the existence of certain fields of intervention that need further investigation. CONCLUSIONS: Based on this selective review, psychology professionals will be able to have rigorous, up-to-date information that allows them to make informed decisions when implementing empirically based psychotherapeutic procedures based on the characteristics of the people who require help.

Psychological Intervention and COVID-19: What We Know So Far and What We Can Do.

The coronavirus COVID-19 and the global pandemic has already had a substantial disruptive impact on society, posing major challenges to the provision of mental health services in a time of crisis, and carrying the spectre of an increased burden to mental health, both in terms of existing psychiatric disorder, and emerging psychological distress from the pandemic. In this paper we provide a framework for understanding the key challenges for psychologically informed mental health care during and beyond the pandemic. We identify three groups that can benefit from psychological approaches to mental health, and/or interventions relating to COVID-19. These are (i) healthcare workers engaged in frontline response to the pandemic and their patients; (ii) individuals who will experience the emergence of new mental health distress as a function of being diagnosed with COVID-19, or losing family and loved ones to the illness, or the psychological effects of prolonged social distancing; and (iii) individuals with existing mental health conditions who are either diagnosed with COVID-19 or whose experience of social distancing exacerbates existing vulnerabilities. Drawing on existing literature and our own experience of adapting treatments to the crisis we suggest a number of salient points to consider in identifying risks and offering support to all three groups. We also offer a number of practical and technical considerations for working psychotherapeutically with existing patients where COVID-19 restrictions have forced a move to online or technologically mediated delivery of psychological interventions.

Suicidal behaviour in adolescents: A network analysis. / Conducta suicida en adolescentes: un análisis de redes.

OBJECTIVE: Suicidal behaviour has not yet been analysed from a network approach in adolescent samples. It is imperative to incorporate new psychological models to understand suicidal behaviour from a different perspective. The main objective of this work was twofold: a) to examine suicidal behaviour through network analysis and b) to estimate the psychological network between suicidal behaviour and protective and risk factors in school-age adolescents. METHOD: Participants were 443 students (M = 14.3 years; SD = 0.53; 51.2% female) selected incidentally from different schools. Different instruments were administered to assess suicidal behaviour, emotional and behavioural difficulties, prosocial behaviour, subjective well-being, emotional intelligence, self-esteem, depressive symptomatology, empathy, positive and negative affect, and emotional regulation. RESULTS: The resulting network of suicidal behaviour was strongly interconnected. The most central node in terms of strength and expected influence was «Consider taking your own life¼. In the estimated psychological network of suicidal behaviour and risk and protective factors, the nodes with the highest strength were depressive symptomatology, positive affect, and empathic concern. The most influential nodes were those related to emotional intelligence abilities. Suicidal behaviour was positively connected to depression symptoms and negative affect, and negatively connected to self-esteem and positive affect. The results of the stability analysis indicated that the networks were accurately estimated. CONCLUSIONS: Suicidal behaviour can be conceptualized as a dynamic, complex system of cognitive, emotional, and affective characteristics. The new psychopathological and psychometric models allow us to analyse and understand human behaviour and mental health problems from a new perspective, suggesting new forms of conceptualization, evaluation, intervention, and prevention.

Beyond Clinical High-Risk State for Psychosis: The Network Structure of Multidimensional Psychosis Liability in Adolescents.

OBJECTIVES: The main goal of the present study was to analyze the network structure of schizotypy dimensions in a representative sample of adolescents from the general population. Moreover, the network structure between schizotypy, mental health difficulties, subjective well-being, bipolar-like experiences, suicide ideation and behavior, psychotic-like experiences, positive and negative affect, prosocial behavior, and IQ was analyzed. METHOD: The study was conducted in a sample of 1,506 students selected by stratified random cluster sampling. The Oviedo Schizotypy Assessment Questionnaire, the Personal Wellbeing Index-School Children, the Paykel Suicide Scale, the Mood Disorder Questionnaire, the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, the Prodromal Questionnaire-Brief, the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule for Children Shortened Version, and the Matrix Reasoning Test were used. RESULTS: The estimated schizotypy network was interconnected. The most central nodes in terms of standardized Expected Influence (EI) were 'unusual perceptual experiences' and 'paranoid ideation'. Predictability ranged from 8.7% ('physical anhedonia') to 52.7% ('unusual perceptual experiences'). The average predictability was 36.27%, implying that substantial variability remained unexplained. For the multidimensional psychosis liability network predictability values ranged from 9% (estimated IQ) to 74.90% ('psychotic-like experiences'). The average predictability was 43.46%. The results of the stability and accuracy analysis indicated that all networks were accurately estimated. CONCLUSIONS: The present paper points to the value of conceptualizing psychosis liability as a dynamic complex system of interacting cognitive, emotional, behavioral, and affective characteristics. In addition, provide new insights into the nature of the relationships between schizotypy, as index of psychosis liability, and the role played by risk and protective factors.

Validation of the Prodromal Questionnaire-Brief in a representative sample of adolescents: Internal structure, norms, reliability, and links with psychopathology.

OBJECTIVES: The main purpose of the present study was twofold: to validate the Prodromal Questionnaire-Brief (PQ-B) in a community-derived sample of adolescents and to examine the links between psychotic-like experiences and emotional and behavioral problems, prosocial behavior, suicidal ideation, and bipolar-like experiences. METHOD: One thousand five hundred eighty-eight students selected by random sampling participated in a cross-sectional survey. The PQ-B, Paykel Suicide Scale, Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, Mood Disorder Questionnaire, Penn Matrix Reasoning Test, Family Affluence Scale-II, and Oviedo Infrequency Scale were used. RESULTS: The unidimensional factorial structure of the PQ-B items showed adequate goodness of fit index. This model also showed configural and strong invariance across gender. The internal consistency of the PQ-B total frequency score was 0.92. A high degree of overlap was found between psychotic-like experiences and emotional and behavioral problems, suicidal ideation, and bipolar-like experiences. CONCLUSION: The PQ-B is a brief, easy, and reliable tool for screening psychotic-like experiences in adolescents from the general population. The assessment of risk for psychosis and its relationship with other psychopathological risk factors in a close-in strategy or two-stage process model may help us to enhance the early identification for youths at heightened risk for serious mental disorders.

The Effects of Metacognition-Oriented Social Skills Training on Psychosocial Outcome in Schizophrenia-Spectrum Disorders: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

A pilot study of the effects of metacognition-oriented social skills training (MOSST) on social functioning in patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSDs) reported promising results. The main purpose of the current trial was to compare the effectiveness and potential benefits of MOSST vs conventional social skills training (SST). Single-blind randomized controlled trial with 2 groups of patients aged 18-65 with SSDs on partial hospitalization. Participants were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive 16 group sessions with MOSST or conventional SST, both in addition to standard care, over 4 months, with a 6-month follow-up. Psychosocial functioning, metacognition, and symptom outcomes were measured by blind assessors. Statistical analyses used mixed models to estimate treatment effects in each postrandomization time point. Thirty-six patients were randomly assigned to the MOSST group and 33 patients to the conventional SST group. Between-group differences were significant in favor of MOSST on Social and Occupational Functioning Assessment Scale (SOFAS) and Personal and Social Performance Scale (PSP) total scores at post-treatment and follow-up. Concerning PSP subscales, there were significant between-group differences in favor of MOSST at follow-up on socially useful activities, personal and social relationships, and disturbing and aggressive behaviors. Metacognition only improved following MOSST group. For people with SDDs, MOSST appears to have short- and long-term beneficial effects on social functioning and symptoms. Further studies are required to replicate the current results in other samples.

Suicidal ideation in a community-derived sample of Spanish adolescents. / Ideación suicida en una muestra representativa de adolescentes españoles.

INTRODUCTION: Suicide is a current public health problem and among the main causes of mortality in adolescents and young adults. The main goal of this study was to analyse suicidal ideation in a representative sample of Spanish adolescents. Specifically, the prevalence rates of suicide ideation, the psychometric properties of the Paykel Suicide Scale (PSS) scores, and the socio-emotional adjustment of adolescents at risk for suicide were analysed. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The sample consisted of 1,664 participants (M=16.12 years, SD=1.36, range 14-19 years), selected by stratified sampling by clusters. The instruments used were the PSS, the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, the Personal Wellbeing Index-School Children, and the Oviedo Infrequency Scale. RESULTS: The results showed that 4.1% of the sample indicated that they had tried to commit suicide in the previous year. Statistically significant differences were found according to gender but not according to age in the PSS mean scores. The analysis of the internal structure of the PSS showed that the one-dimensional model presented excellent goodness of fit indexes. This model showed measurement invariance across gender. The reliability of the scores, estimated with ordinal alpha, was 0.93. Participants who reported suicide ideation showed poorer mental health status and lower life satisfaction compared to the non-suicide ideation group. CONCLUSIONS: Suicidal ideation is present during adolescence and is associated with poor subjective well-being and increased emotional and behavioural problems. PSS seems to show adequate psychometric behaviour to assess suicidal ideation in adolescents. These findings have clear implications, both in health and education systems, to improve the promotion of emotional well-being and prevention of psychological and psychiatric problems in this sector of the population.

The Network Structure of Schizotypal Personality Traits.

Elucidating schizotypal traits is important if we are to understand the various manifestations of psychosis spectrum liability and to reliably identify individuals at high risk for psychosis. The present study examined the network structures of (1) 9 schizotypal personality domains and (2) 74 individual schizotypal items, and (3) explored whether networks differed across gender and culture (North America vs China). The study was conducted in a sample of 27001 participants from 12 countries and 21 sites (M age = 22.12; SD = 6.28; 37.5% males). The Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire (SPQ) was used to assess 74 self-report items aggregated in 9 domains. We used network models to estimate conditional dependence relations among variables. In the domain-level network, schizotypal traits were strongly interconnected. Predictability (explained variance of each node) ranged from 31% (odd/magical beliefs) to 55% (constricted affect), with a mean of 43.7%. In the item-level network, variables showed relations both within and across domains, although within-domain associations were generally stronger. The average predictability of SPQ items was 27.8%. The network structures of men and women were similar (r = .74), node centrality was similar across networks (r = .90), as was connectivity (195.59 and 199.70, respectively). North American and Chinese participants networks showed lower similarity in terms of structure (r = 0.44), node centrality (r = 0.56), and connectivity (180.35 and 153.97, respectively). In sum, the present article points to the value of conceptualizing schizotypal personality as a complex system of interacting cognitive, emotional, and affective characteristics.

Psychosis risk screening: Validation of the youth psychosis at-risk questionnaire - brief in a community-derived sample of adolescents.

There have been several attempts to identify individuals potentially at high risk for psychotic-spectrum disorders using brief screening measures. However, relatively few studies have tested the psychometric properties of the psychosis screening measures in representative samples of adolescents. The main purpose of the present study was to analyse the prevalence, factorial structure, measurement invariance across gender, and reliability of the Youth Psychosis At-Risk Questionnaire - Brief (YPARQ-B) in a community-derived sample of adolescents. Additionally, the relationship between YPARQ-B, depressive symptoms, psychopathology, stress manifestations, and prosocial skills was analysed. One thousand and twenty students from high schools participated in a cross-sectional survey. The YPARQ-B, the Reynolds Adolescent Depression Scale, the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, and the Student Stress Inventory - Stress Manifestations were used. A total of 85.1% of the total sample self-reported at least one subclinical psychotic experience. We observed a total of 10.9% of adolescents with a cutoff score of ≥11 or 6.8% with a cutoff score of ≥13. The analysis of internal structure of the YPARQ-B yielded an essentially unidimensional structure. The YPARQ-B scores showed measurement invariance across gender. The internal consistency of the YPARQ-B total score was 0.94. Furthermore, self-reported subclinical psychotic experiences were associated with depressive symptoms, emotional and behavioural problems, poor prosocial skills, and stress manifestations. These results would appear to indicate that YPARQ-B is a brief and easy tool to assess self-reported subclinical psychotic experiences in adolescents from the general population. The assessment of these experiences in community settings, and its associations with psychopathology, may help us to enhance the possibility of an early identification of adolescents potentially at risk for psychosis and mental health problems.

Screening for depressive symptoms in adolescents at school: New validity evidences on the short form of the Reynolds Depression Scale.

The main purpose of the present study was to assess the depressive symptomatology and to gather new validity evidences of the Reynolds Depression Scale-Short form (RADS-SF) in a representative sample of youths. The sample consisted of 2914 adolescents with a mean age of 15.85 years (SD = 1.68). We calculated the descriptive statistics and internal consistency of the RADS-SF scores. Also, confirmatory factor analyses (CFAs) at the item level and successive multigroup CFAs to test measurement invariance, were conducted. Latent mean differences across gender and educational level groups were estimated, and finally, we studied the sources of validity evidences with other external variables. The level of internal consistency of the RADS-SF Total score by means of Ordinal alpha was .89. Results from CFAs showed that the one-dimensional model displayed appropriate goodness of-fit indices with CFI value over .95, and RMSEA value under .08. In addition, the results support the strong measurement invariance of the RADS-SF scores across gender and age. When latent means were compared, statistically significant differences were found by gender and age. Females scored 0.347 over than males in Depression latent variable, whereas older adolescents scored 0.111 higher than the younger group. In addition, the RADS-SF score was associated with the RADS scores. The results suggest that the RADS-SF could be used as an efficient screening test to assess self-reported depressive symptoms in adolescents from the general population.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder and its relationship with disgust vulnerability and conscientiousness.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to analyze the relationship between Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) symptoms, disgust vulnerability, and the Five Factor Model (FFM) of personality. METHOD: The sample consisted of 100 adult patients with OCD as a primary diagnosis and 246 with other anxiety disorders (OADs), who responded to OCD, disgust vulnerability, anxiety, depression and personality questionnaires. To perform parametric statistical calculations, all questionnaire scores were transformed from raw ordinal-scale scores to Rasch measures, with interval properties. RESULTS: OCD patients scored significantly higher than OAD patients on DPSS-R Disgust Sensitivity and DPSS-R Disgust Propensity, with a large effect size observed on Disgust Propensity. Furthermore, strong correlations were observed between DPSS-R Propensity to Disgust model scores and DOCS Contamination model scores. Finally, NEO FFI Conscientiousness trait was significantly higher in OCD patients.