Evidence of Validity and Reliability for the Spanish Version of the Self-Identified Stage of Recovery.

BACKGROUND: The Self-Identified Stage of Recovery (SISR) () is a scale used to assess both the stage of recovery (SISR-A) and the components of the process of personal recovery (SISR-B). This study aimed to develop the Spanish version of the SISR and obtain evidence of validity and reliability in a sample of 230 users of community mental health services. METHOD: The Spanish version of the SISR was developed following the translation-back translation procedure, with the support of a committee of experienced experts. The SISR was examined in terms of dimensional structure, internal consistency, relationships with other variables (i.e., the Maryland Recovery Assessment Scale [MARS-12] and the Dispositional Hope Scale [DHS]), and temporal stability (n = 66). Differential item functioning (DIF) by gender was analysed. RESULTS: The study confirmed the unidimensionality of the SISR-B and suitable internal consistency of its scores (ω = .83, α = .83). Scores from both SISR-A and SISR-B showed good temporal stability and the SISR-B displayed strong correlations with the MARS-12 (rs = .78) and the DHS (rs = .67). No DIF was found. CONCLUSIONS: This study supports the validity and reliability of the scores of the Spanish version of the SISR.

Patterns of adverse childhood experiences and associations with lower mental well-being among university students.

BACKGROUND: University students report high levels of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), which can lead to severe mental health problems. Understanding how ACEs impact well-being in this population is essential, yet research to date is limited. OBJECTIVE: To explore ACE patterns and their association with lower well-being in university students. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING: 1023 Spanish students (71.6 % female) aged between 18 and 64 years old (M = 20.10, SD = 3.93) completed a self-report questionnaire. METHODS: This study used a cross-sectional design. The ACE International Questionnaire (ACE-IQ) and the Short Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale were used to assess, respectively, childhood adversities and mental well-being. Latent Class Analysis and regression modeling were conducted to analyze the link between ACEs and lower mental well-being, considering the covariates of age, country of origin, sexual orientation, and mental illness. RESULTS: Four ACE classes were identified: Low ACEs (49.5 %), Dysfunctional Household (12.3 %), Household and Peer Abuse (31.0 %), and High ACEs (7.2 %). The regression analysis (F(3, 1007) = 19.2, p < .001, R2adj = 0.054) successfully predicted well-being scores based on ACE classes. When compared with the Low ACE class, all other classes exhibited lower levels of well-being. Age, sexual orientation, and mental illness were also related to lower well-being, with mental illness having the strongest negative effect (ß = -0.635, t(1015) = -6.49, p < .001). CONCLUSIONS: These findings underscore the relationship between childhood adversity and mental health, offering insights for future prevention efforts and enriching our understanding of ACEs and their impact on well-being.

Testing the latent structure, factorial equivalence, and external correlates of the brief self-control scale in a community sample of Spanish adults.

The Brief Self-Control Scale (BSCS) is a 13-item personality measure capturing how people differ in their capacity to exert self-control. Although the BSCS was originally regarded as a one-dimensional scale, subsequent psychometric studies have provided support for the empirical distinction of two and four interrelated but distinct components of self-control. Using a large sample of Spanish adults (n = 1,558; 914 female, 58.7%), we performed a comprehensive data-driven comparison of the most well-established item-level latent structures for the BSCS. Results showed that the differentiation between general self-discipline and impulse control offered a better fit to the observed data than did the unidimensional representation of self-control. This two-dimensional structure for the BSCS scores was also supported in terms of its internal consistency, measurement invariance across gender and age groups, and meaningful correlations with wellbeing-related indicators and Big Five personality traits. Plausible implications of these findings are discussed.

Evidence of Validity and Reliability for the Spanish Version of the Self-Identified Stage of Recovery / Evidencia de la Validez y Fiabilidad de la Versión en Español de la Etapa deRecuperación Autoidentificada

Background: The Self-Identified Stage of Recovery (SISR) (Andresen, 2007) is a scale used to assess both the stage of recovery (SISR-A) and the components of the process of personal recovery (SISR-B). This study aimed to develop the Spanish version of the SISR and obtain evidence of validity and reliability in a sample of 230 users of community mental health services. Method: The Spanish version of the SISR was developed following the translation–back translation procedure, with the support of a committee of experienced experts. The SISR was examined in terms of dimensional structure, internal consistency, relationships with other variables (i.e., the Maryland Recovery Assessment Scale [MARS-12] and the Dispositional Hope Scale [DHS]), and temporal stability (n = 66). Differential item functioning (DIF) by gender was analysed. Results: The study confirmed the unidimensionality of the SISR-B and suitable internal consistency of its scores (ω = .83, α = .83). Scores from both SISR-A and SISR-B showed good temporal stability and the SISR-B displayed strong correlations with the MARS-12 (rs = .78) and the DHS (rs = .67). No DIF was found. Conclusions: This study supports the validity and reliability of the scores of the Spanish version of the SISR.(AU)

Antecedentes: La Self-Identified Stage of Recovery (SISR) (Andresen, 2007) es una escala que evalúa tanto la etapa de recuperación (SISR-A) como los componentes del proceso de recuperación personal (SISR-B). El objetivo del estudio fue desarrollar la versión en español de la SISR y obtener evidencias de validez y fiabilidad en una muestra de 230 usuarios de servicios comunitarios de salud mental. Método: La versión en español se desarrolló siguiendo el procedimiento de traducción-retrotraducción, con el apoyo de un comité de expertos por experiencia. Se examinó la estructura dimensional, consistencia interna, relaciones con otras variables (Escala de Evaluación de la Recuperación de Maryland [MARS-12] y Escala de Esperanza Disposicional [DHS]) y estabilidad temporal (n = 66). Se analizó el funcionamiento diferencial del ítem (DIF) por género. Resultados: El estudio confirmó la unidimensionalidad de la SISR-B y una adecuada consistencia interna de sus puntuaciones (ω = .83, α = .83). Las puntuaciones de la SISR-A y la SISR-B presentaron estabilidad temporal y la SISR-B mostró correlaciones elevadas con la MARS-12 (rs = .78) y la DHS (rs = .67). No se encontró DIF. Conclusiones: Este estudio apoya la validez y fiabilidad de las puntuaciones de la versión española de la SISR.(AU)

Development and Validation of the Brief Math Anxiety Scale (BMAS) in University Students.

BACKGROUND: This study developed the Brief Math Anxiety Scale (BMAS), a brief version of the Shortened Math Anxiety Rating Scale (sMARS), maintaining its original three-factor structure, by applying item response theory. METHOD: The sMARS was administered to 1,349 undergraduates, along with other questionnaires to measure their math ability, trait and test anxieties, and attitudes toward mathematics. RESULTS: Results showed that the original scale could be reduced to nine items (three for each subscale). We provided evidence of good psychometric properties: strong internal consistency, adequate 7-week test-retest reliability, and good convergent/discriminant validity. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, the BMAS provides valid interpretations and reliable scores for assessing math anxiety in university students, and is especially useful in situations with time constraints where the longer form is impractical.

RECAPACITA PROJECT: Impact of the New York Convention on capacity modification judgments in persons with severe mental disorders: A comparative study using mixed methodology.

In 2013, Spain aligned its capacity modification processes (CM) legislation with the UN Convention on the rights of persons with disabilities, specifically for individuals with severe mental disorders (SMD). The reforms replaced incapacity verdicts with support provision and introduced the term "CM". However, the social impact of these changes remains uncertain. The RECAPACITA project was initiated to generate knowledge on SMD and CM, and this study aims to investigate modifications in CM sentences and associated terminology. Using a qualitative-quantitative methodology, content analysis was conducted on 56 sentences from individuals with SMD. Terminology analysis utilized 19 sentences to achieve information saturation. A comparison was made between sentences prior to 2013 and those spanning 2014 to 2023, analyzing the data through ANOVA and Bonferroni tests (significance level: 0.05). The analysis revealed that psychiatric illness, its evolution, lack of self-governance, and economic management were frequently mentioned aspects in the sentences. However, no significant correlations were found. Qualitatively, mentions of self-governance were more prevalent in sentences before 2013. Conversely, after 2013, there was an increased focus on substances use, lack of insight and medical adherence, and the need for support in daily life. The term "incapable person" appeared in 100% of the sentences, indicating no differences in terminology. The study suggests that current CM sentences provide increasingly individualized information, addressing the specific support needs of individuals. To enhance future legal proceedings, incorporating neuroscience in studying SMD individuals and reconsidering terminology based on Convention guidelines is recommended.

[Prevalence of adverse and victimization experiences in adult people with severe mental illness in Barcelona]. / Prevalencia de experiencias adversas y victimización en personas adultas con trastorno mental grave en Barcelona.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the extension of the adverse experiences, including victimization, lived in childhood and adulthood in a sample of people with severe mental illness residing in Barcelona, Spain. METHOD: Descriptive, quantitative and cross-sectional study. Adverse and victimization experiences were assessed using 26 items from the Adverse Childhood Experiences Questionnaire (ACE-IQ). Items were included obtain information regarding victimization during adulthood. Seventy-four people with severe mental illness were interviewed (median age: 42.03 years; standard deviation: 9.60). RESULTS: All participants reported at least two victimization experiences throughout their lifetime. The most frequent experiences were conventional crimes (87.8%) and victimization by caregivers (86.5%). Before age 18, half of the participants reported having experienced physical violence by their caregivers (52.7%) and almost one out of three reported to have been victim of sexual abuse (32.4%). Women were almost 13 times more likely to experience sexual victimization than men throughout their lifetime (odds ratio: 12.75; 95% confidence interval: 4.19-38.71). CONCLUSIONS: Victimization experienced by people with severe mental illness is a widespread problem that has received little attention. The results of this study are consistent with those obtained in previous investigations and underscore the need to translate this knowledge into medical practice into medical practice, considering them in order to develop treatments with a comprehensive approach to mental health.

Symptoms and functioning: a content analysis of the PANSS under the ICF framework.

PURPOSE: The study aimed to compare the content of the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) with that of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF) and to examine the extent to which PANSS items are represented in the ICF Core Sets (ICF-CS) for schizophrenia. METHODS: The 30 items of the PANSS were linked to the ICF using established rules by two health professionals experienced in applying the ICF conceptual framework. RESULTS: PANSS items were linked to 42 unique ICF categories, corresponding mainly to the Body functions component; categories b160 Thought functions and b152 Emotional functions from this component were the most frequently linked. Regarding the Activities and participation component, the second-level category d720 Complex interpersonal interactions was the most frequently linked to PANSS items. Overall, PANSS items covered 18% and 40% of the categories included, respectively, in the Comprehensive and Brief versions of the ICF-CSs for schizophrenia. No PANSS items were linked to categories from the Body structures or Environmental factors components. CONCLUSIONS: The PANSS broadly covers the content of the ICF, especially as regards mental and movement-related functions, although it also covers some aspects of interpersonal relationships.

The RECAPACITA project: Description of the clinical, neuropsychological and functional profile of a sample of people with severe mental disorder and legal capacity modification in Spain.

Severe mental disorder (SMD) includes people with long-term mental disorders, disability and social dysfunction. The mental capacity evaluation of the people has been a key aspect in legislative systems around the world and different proposals have been made. In countries like Spain, until 2021, the mental capacity of individuals was assessed by means of legal proceedings. In the last years, there has been a notable increase in the number of claims for legal incapacity, but no data are available on the total number of persons with CM, neither on the specific pathologies, or clinical and cognitive profiles. In view of the total absence of data on the profile of people with SMD and modification of capacity, the RECAPACITA study was born. This study includes patients with SMD and CM, as well as those without CM, with the aim to describe exhaustively their clinical, neuropsychological and functional profile of people with SMD and CM, as well as obtaining a basic description of the social environment. OBJECTIVES: To describe CM in SMD, to identify clinical diagnoses, clinical severity and neuropsychological deterioration. METHODS: Cross-sectional descriptive study. 77 adult patients with SMD and CM, inpatients from the mental health sector of the Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu (Spain), outpatients linked to the community rehabilitation services (CRS), and penitentiary inmates. CM, sociodemographic, clinical, functional and neuropsychological data are collected. RESULTS: In the sample, 59.5% present total CM. 74.7% are men (mean: 52.5 years). 87,0% have a diagnosis of schizophrenia. The estimated premorbid IQ is 91.4. The Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) had a mean of 50.5, the "Clinical Global Impression Scale" (CGI) was 4.6 and Scale Unawareness of Mental Disorders (SUMD) was 9.28. The cognitive results shows a profile with slow proceeding speed (mean scale score: 6.6), good working memory (mean SC: 8.3) and adequate verbal comprehension (mean SC: 7.3). In memory, coding is altered (Pz: -1.9), and long-term spontaneous recall (Pz: -2.3). In abstract reasoning, a slight alteration is obtained (Mean SC: 6), as well as in semantic fluency (Mean SC: 6.3), phonological (Mean SC: 5.9), and inhibitory capacity (Mean SC: 5.7). CONCLUSIONS: Most of the sample are men with schizophrenia, with a total MC assumed by a tutelary foundation. They show a moderate alteration in global functioning and clinical global impression, with partial awareness of the disease. They present dysexecutive mild cognitive impairment, with poor memory coding and free retrieval capacity, and a normal IQ, adequate verbal comprehension and working memory. This study is the first to present objective data on the psychiatric, functional and cognitive status of a group of patients with CM. Such research could be a good starting point to address a topic of great interest from the health, social and legal point of view of the CM processes of people with SMD.

Spanish validation of the pure procrastination scale: dimensional structure, internal consistency, temporal stability, gender invariance, and relationships with personality and satisfaction with life.

The objective of the current study was to adapt and validate the pure procrastination scale (PPS) for the Spanish adult population. Procrastination can have numerous consequences in daily life, making it essential to have reliable and valid instruments for measuring procrastination. Thus, this study was conducted to address this need. The sample consisted of 596 adults aged 18-83 years (M = 35.25, SD = 13.75). In addition to the PPS, participants completed two procrastination measures, namely the irrational procrastination scale and the decisional procrastination questionnaire, alongside the Big Five inventory and the satisfaction with life scale. The results of the confirmatory factor analysis revealed a three-factor structure of the PPS. The examination of the reliability of scores in terms of internal consistency and temporal stability showed satisfactory results for the PPS scores. Moreover, gender invariance was observed at the scalar level. Finally, the PPS scores correlated with other measures of procrastination, personality traits, and satisfaction with life in the expected direction and magnitude. In conclusion, the Spanish PPS offers valid and reliable scores when administered to adult population.

Development and Validation of the Brief Math Anxiety Scale (BMAS) in University Students / Desarrollo y Validación de la Brief Math Anxiety Scale (BMAS) en Estudiantes Universitarios

Background: This study developed the Brief Math Anxiety Scale (BMAS), a brief version of the Shortened Math Anxiety Rating Scale (sMARS), maintaining its original three-factor structure, by applying item response theory. Method: The sMARS was administered to 1,349 undergraduates, along with other questionnaires to measure their math ability, trait and test anxieties, and attitudes toward mathematics. Results: Results showed that the original scale could be reduced to nine items (three for each subscale). We provided evidence of good psychometric properties: strong internal consistency, adequate 7-week test-retest reliability, and good convergent/discriminant validity. Conclusions: In conclusion, the BMAS provides valid interpretations and reliable scores for assessing math anxiety in university students, and is especially useful in situations with time constraints where the longer form is impractical.(AU)

Antecedentes: En este estudio se presenta el desarrollo de la Brief Math Anxiety Scale (BMAS), una versión breve de la Shortened Math Anxiety Rating Scale (sMARS) manteniendo su estructura original de tres factores, aplicando la teoría de respuesta al ítem. Método: La sMARS, así como otros cuestionarios para medir su capacidad matemática, la ansiedad rasgo y frente a los exámenes y las actitudes hacia las matemáticas, se administraron a 1.349 estudiantes universitarios. Resultados: Los resultados mostraron que la escala original podía reducirse a nueve ítems (tres para cada subescala). Proporcionamos evidencia de sus buenas propiedades psicométricas: consistencia interna excelente, adecuada fiabilidad test-retest a las 7 semanas y buena validez convergente/discriminante. Conclusiones: En conclusión, la BMAS proporciona interpretaciones válidas y puntuaciones fiables para evaluar la ansiedad matemática en estudiantes universitarios y es especialmente útil en situaciones con disponibilidad de tiempo limitado, donde la forma más larga no es aplicable.(AU)

Experiencias de victimización electrónica en adolescentes españoles de la población general y contextos de riesgo / Experiences of electronic victimization in Spanish adolescents from the general population and risk contexts

El presente trabajo pretende mostrar las diferencias de ocurrencia de victimización electrónica en el último año, entre cuatro muestras diferentes de adolescentes españoles. Asimismo, busca estudiar si existe relación entre haber sufrido victimización electrónica y otras formas de victimización y si las cibervíctimas muestran diferencias según sexo y grupo de edad. Se entrevistaron 1.105 adolescentes de educación secundaria, 149 de salud mental infantojuvenil, 129 del sistema de protección, y 101 del sistema de justicia juvenil. Las experiencias de victimización se evaluaron mediante el “Cuestionario de victimización juvenil” (Finkelhor et al., 2005). La victimización electrónica osciló entre 8,9% en la muestra escolar, 16,8% en salud mental, 25,7% en el sistema de justicia juvenil y 27,1% en el de protección. Se encontró una relación positiva entre victimización electrónica y otras formas de victimización en centros educativos, de protección y de justicia. Por otra parte, las chicas tuvieron mayor probabilidad de sufrir victimización electrónica en las muestras de salud mental y centros escolares. En conclusión, la victimización electrónica se distribuye de manera diferencial según la procedencia de los adolescentes. (AU)

The present work aims to show the differences in the prevalence of electronic victimization in the last year, between four different samples of Spanish adolescents. Likewise, it seeks to study whether there is a relationship between having suffered electronic victimization and other forms of victimization and whether cyber-victims show differences according to sex and age group. 1,105 adolescents from secondary education centers, 149 from child and adolescent mental health centers, 129 from the protection system, and 101 from the juvenile justice system were interviewed. Victimization experiences were assessed using the Juvenile Victimization Questionnaire (Finkelhor et al., 2005). Electronic victimization ranged from 8.9% in the school sample, 16.8% in mental health, 25.7% in the juvenile justice system and 27.1% in the protection system. A positive relationship was found between electronic victimization and other forms of victimization in educational, protection and justice centers. Besides, girls were more likely to experience electronic victimization in the mental health and school samples. In conclusion, electronic victimization is distributed differentially according to the adolescents’ provenance group. (AU)

Prevalencia de experiencias adversas y victimización en personas adultas con trastorno mental grave en Barcelona / Prevalence of adverse and victimization experiences in adult people with severe mental illness in Barcelona

Objetivo: Conocer la extensión y las características de las experiencias adversas y de victimización en una muestra de personas adultas con un trastorno mental grave residentes en la ciudad de Barcelona. Método: Estudio descriptivo, cuantitativo y transversal. Las experiencias adversas y de victimización se evaluaron a partir de 26 ítems del Adverse Childhood Experiences Questionnaire (ACE-IQ), el cual se amplió para incluir experiencias acontecidas en la edad adulta. Se entrevistó a 74 personas con trastorno mental grave (edad media: 42,03 años; desviación estándar: 9,60). Resultados: Todas las personas entrevistadas reportaron haber vivido como mínimo dos victimizaciones a lo largo de su vida. Las más frecuentes fueron los delitos comunes (87,8%) y la victimización por parte de los cuidadores principales (86,5%). Las mujeres presentaban casi 13 veces más probabilidades de sufrir victimización sexual que los hombres a lo largo de la vida (odds ratio: 12,75; intervalo de confianza del 95%: 4,19-38,71). Antes de los 18 años destaca la alta prevalencia de violencia física por parte de los cuidadores principales (52,7%) y el abuso sexual infantil (32,4%). Conclusiones: La victimización sufrida por las personas con un trastorno mental grave es un problema extendido que ha recibido muy poca atención. Los resultados de este estudio son coherentes con los obtenidos en investigaciones previas y ponen de manifiesto la necesidad de trasladar estos conocimientos a la práctica médica, teniéndolos en cuenta para desarrollar tratamientos con un abordaje integral de la salud mental.(AU)

Objective: To describe the extension of the adverse experiences, including victimization, lived in childhood and adulthood in a sample of people with severe mental illness residing in Barcelona, Spain. Method: Descriptive, quantitative and cross-sectional study. Adverse and victimization experiences were assessed using 26 items from the Adverse Childhood Experiences Questionnaire (ACE-IQ). Items were included obtain information regarding victimization during adulthood. Seventy-four people with severe mental illness were interviewed (median age: 42.03 years; standard deviation: 9.60). Results: All participants reported at least two victimization experiences throughout their lifetime. The most frequent experiences were conventional crimes (87.8%) and victimization by caregivers (86.5%). Before age 18, half of the participants reported having experienced physical violence by their caregivers (52.7%) and almost one out of three reported to have been victim of sexual abuse (32.4%). Women were almost 13 times more likely to experience sexual victimization than men throughout their lifetime (odds ratio: 12.75; 95% confidence interval: 4.19–38.71). Conclusions: Victimization experienced by people with severe mental illness is a widespread problem that has received little attention. The results of this study are consistent with those obtained in previous investigations and underscore the need to translate this knowledge into medical practice into medical practice, considering them in order to develop treatments with a comprehensive approach to mental health.(AU)

Effectiveness of a recovery workshop implemented in community mental health services in Catalonia (Spain): study protocol for a non-randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Many countries today are undergoing a paradigm shift in mental health policies towards a recovery-oriented and rights-based approach. From this perspective, self-determination and self-management are fundamental factors for recovery. Despite this shift, there is still a lack of evidence on the effectiveness of training programmes aimed at promoting self-determination and self-management in recovery processes implemented in southern European or Spanish-speaking countries. The aim of this paper is to present a study protocol that evaluates the effectiveness of a 12-session recovery workshop implemented in community mental health services in Catalonia (Spain). METHODS/DESIGN: This is a 12-week follow-up multi-centre non-randomized controlled trial design. At least 160 users will be recruited from 13 Community Rehabilitation Services (CRS) in Catalonia. Eligible participants are adult (≥ 18 years old) users of a CRS, who sign a written consent to participate. The experimental group participates in a recovery workshop, in which people learn to develop and implement their own plan of personal recovery, which includes a Wellness Toolbox, a Maintenance Toolkit, a Personal Growth Plan, a Mirror of Relapses, a Crisis Plan, and a Learning Agenda. The control group participates in the usual activities of the CRS. Data is collected using a questionnaire of sociodemographic characteristics, personal recovery, empowerment, hope and perceived social support. The users' measurements are taken at the baseline and one week after the end of the workshop. The primary outcome measures include the Self-Identified Stage of Recovery and the Maryland Assessment of Recovery in Serious Mental Illness Scale (short version). The secondary outcome measures include the Netherlands Empowerment List, Dispositional Hope Scale, and Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support. Descriptive statistics for characterizing the sample size will be performed. Multivariate analyses for repeated measures designs will be used to evaluate the primary and secondary outcomes. Between-group and within-subject comparisons will be conducted. DISCUSSION: The results of the study will provide information on the usefulness of recovery workshops in a Mediterranean cultural context. Additionally, if this workshop is effective, it will be proposed for inclusion within the portfolio of community mental health services in Catalonia. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ISRCTN11695542 (Registration date: 5 July 2022).

Proposing Necessary but Not Sufficient Conditions Analysis as a Complement of Traditional Effect Size Measures with an Illustrative Example.

Even though classic effect size measures (e.g., Pearson's r, Cohen's d) are widely applied in social sciences, the threshold used to interpret them is somewhat arbitrary. This study proposes necessary condition analysis (NCA) to complement traditional methods. We explain NCA in light of the current limitations of classical techniques, highlighting the advantages in terms of interpretation and translation into practical terms and recognizing its weaknesses. To do so, we provide an example by testing the link between three independent variables with a relevant outcome in a sample of 235 subjects. The traditional Pearson's coefficient was obtained, and NCA was used to test if any of the predictors were necessary but not sufficient conditions. Our study also obtains outcome and condition inefficiency as well as NCA bottlenecks. Comparison and interpretation of the traditional and NCA results were made considering recommendations. We suggest that NCA can complement correlation analyses by adding valuable and applicable information, such as if a variable is needed to achieve a certain outcome level and to what degree.

Network Analysis of the Brief ICF Core Set for Schizophrenia.

Background: The International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health Core Sets (ICF-CSs) for schizophrenia are a set of categories for assessing functioning in persons with this health condition. This study aimed to: a) estimate the network structure of the Brief ICF-CS for schizophrenia, b) examine the community structure (categories strongly clustered together) underlying this network, and c) identify the most central categories within this network. Methods: A total of 638 health professionals from different backgrounds and with a significant role in the treatment of individuals with schizophrenia participated in a series of Delphi studies. Based on their responses we used the Ising model to estimate the network structure of the 25-category Brief ICF-CS, and then estimated the degree of centrality for all categories. Finally, the community structure was detected using the walktrap algorithm. Results: The resulting network revealed strong associations between individual categories within components of the ICF (i.e., Body functions, Activities and participation, and Environmental factors). The results also showed three distinct clusters of categories corresponding to the same three components. The categories e410 Individual attitudes of immediate family members, e450 Individual attitudes of health professionals, d910 Community life, and d175 Solving problems were among the most central categories in the Brief ICF-CS network. Conclusion: These results demonstrate the utility of a network approach for estimating the structure of the ICF-CSs. Implications of these results for clinical interventions and development of new instruments are discussed.

Disordered gaming in esports: Comparing professional and non-professional gamers.

INTRODUCTION: The American Psychiatric Association (APA) proposed 'Internet Gaming Disorder' (IGD) as a tentative disorder (APA framework) in 2013 and in 2019 the World Health Organization (WHO) has fully recognized 'Gaming Disorder' (GD) as a mental health disorder (WHO framework). These two frameworks have not yet been jointly investigated in the context of esports. The present study aims to investigate the feasibility of the APA and WHO frameworks for disordered gaming among professional and non-professional gamers and to ascertain the suitability of existing psychometric tools for use in esports. METHODS: A sample of 5,734 gamers (Mage = 21.47 years, SD = 6.69 years; 6.94% female) recruited through an online survey prior to the COVID-19 pandemic that included an age and gender matched group of professional (n = 2,867) and non-professional gamers (n = 2,867) was investigated. Pairwise comparisons, measurement invariance (MI), and latent mean difference tests were conducted to distinguish the two groups of gamers. RESULTS: Overall, professional gamers showed greater time spent gaming and prevalence of disordered gaming than non-professional gamers. Additionally, MI was supported and both disordered gaming levels and latent means were significantly higher among professional gamers when compared to non-professional gamers across both APA and WHO frameworks. CONCLUSIONS: Esports is cross-sectionally associated with greater disordered gaming vulnerability through increased time spent gaming and disordered gaming prevalence rates. Furthermore, the APA and WHO frameworks are viable in the context of esports gaming with existing assessment tools being effective in the assessment of disordered gaming in esports. The results and implications are further discussed in light of the extant literature.

Why Do School Staff Sometimes Fail to Report Potential Victimization Cases? A Mixed-methods Study.

Schools are in a position to connect children and adolescents suspected of being victims of violence with an external source of support by making referrals to external agencies. However, several studies have identified obstacles that hinder early reporting among school staff members. Very few studies have applied a mixed-method approach to try to understand this sensitive issue. The current study used this approach to analyze to what extent the students suspected of being victimized match the ones reported by active school staff members in Spain (n = 453, 83.5% females, age: M = 42.23, SD = 9.46). We classified the reasons given for not reporting the potential victimization cases encountered and made comparisons to determine whether there were differences in the level of knowledge, or in the sociodemographic characteristics, of respondents who gave different reasons for not reporting. Although 73.5% of school staff members had detected at least one potential case, 40.8% of them referred it to an external agency. The most common reasons for lack of reporting included deciding not to do so once concerns had been shared within the school and believing that one must be certain or that only serious violence should be reported. The findings of this study may help to further understand the decisions not to report certain suspicions of potential victimization cases to external agencies by school staff. There is an urgent need to raise awareness about the duty to report these concerns to external agencies, even in the absence of agreement from the school management team. Members of school staff need to be strongly encouraged to become familiar with the existing protocols.

Lifetime Victimization and Poly-Victimization in a Sample of Adults With Intellectual Disabilities.

People with intellectual disabilities appear to be more vulnerable to victimization. However, few studies have assessed victimization in these groups and those that do exist are highly heterogeneous and tend to focus only on specific forms of violence. This study attempts to shed light on the phenomenon of victimization among adults with intellectual disabilities by assessing victimization and poly-victimization throughout their life course. The sample consisted of 260 adults (154 men and 106 women) with an intellectual disability diagnosis, recruited from the Catalan Federation for People with Intellectual Disabilities (DINCAT) in Spain. They ranged in age from 20 to 71 years (M = 41.69, SD = 12.05). Victimization experiences were assessed by means of an adaptation of the retrospective version of the Juvenile Victimization Questionnaire (JVQ). The results showed that 96.9% of the participants had suffered some kind of victimization throughout their lives. With respect to the types of victimization, the most frequent were common victimization (87.7%), witnessing and indirect victimization (67.3%), victimization by caregivers (59.2%), sexual victimization (35%), and electronic victimization (23.5%). Women and early adults tended to experience higher rates of victimization. The poly-victimized group experienced 13 or more incidents of victimization throughout their lives. This study highlights the elevated rates of lifetime victimization among people with intellectual disabilities. It adds to previous evidence that special protection programs are required to address this issue and emphasizes the need for prevention and intervention measures in this particularly vulnerable group.

Differential Item Functioning in the WHODAS 2.0 Scale in Schizophrenia: An Application of the Rasch Trees Method Based on Demographic and Clinical Covariates.

Identifying disability score differences in people with schizophrenia according to sociodemographic and clinical variables can help design better rehabilitation or care programs, but in order to compare the scores, it is necessary to confirm the measurement invariance. This study analyses differential item functioning (DIF) in the WHODAS 2.0 (WHO Disability Assessment Schedule) by applying two procedures based on Rasch trees (TREE-PCM and PCM-IFT). A total of 352 patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorder aged between 18 and 55 years took part. Sociodemographic (gender, age, marital status, and education) and clinical (depressive symptomatology, and presence of positive and negative symptoms) covariates were analysed in each of the WHODAS 2.0 domains. The TREE-PCM did not detect DIF, while with PCM-IFT an item with DIF was detected for the age variable. Although the findings suggest that only one item presents DIF, this refers to important issues when assessing functioning in patients with schizophrenia and should be reviewed.