Resilience: A Protective Factor from Depression and Anxiety in Mexican Dialysis Patients.

Depression and anxiety are highly prevalent psychological disorders in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) that have a negative clinical impact. The purpose of our study was to identify factors associated with the presence of depression and anxiety, in a sample of ESRD patients treated with hemodialysis. We included 187 patients from two dialysis facilities, age 18-65 years. Beck's depression and anxiety inventories, KDQOL36 questionnaire, the cognitive distortion scale and the Mexican scale of resilience were used. Socio-demographic and clinical information was obtained from medical records. Depression was present in 143 (76.4%) patients. Patient with depression were older (33 (26-52) years vs. 30 (24.43) years, p = 0.025), had a lower education level (36% vs. 9%, p = 0.001), used more medications (67% vs. 36%, p = 0.001), had a comorbidity (75% vs. 41%, p = 0.001), and a higher proportion were waiting for a kidney transplant. Anxiety was present in 112 (59.8%) cases. By multivariate analysis, depression was independently associated with lower education, absence of previous kidney transplant, anxiety, higher cognitive distortion, lower psychological resilience, and lower quality of life scores. In conclusion, lower psychological resilience, lower education level, and higher cognitive distortions are factors associated with depression and anxiety in ESRD patients.

Validación del "Índice de calidad de vida, versión en español" (QLISp) en una muestra mexicana / Validation of the Quality of Life Index, Spanish Version (QLI-Sp) in a Mexican sample

El objetivo de este estudio fue la validación del "Índice de calidad de vida, versión en español" (QLI-Sp), con una muestra no aleatoria de 3384 estudiantes del nivel técnico y universitario que informaron estar sanos, además, se recogieron datos de 386 estudiantes que informaron tener hipertensión. Se utilizó una batería de pruebas psicológicas que median calidad de vida, bienestar psicológico, satisfacción con la vida y estrés académico. Los análisis factoriales exploratorio y confirmatorio ratificaron la naturaleza unifactorial del QLI-Sp apoyando su uso para medir percepción de calidad de vida en estudiantes universitarios. La fiabilidad fue adecuada (alfa= 0.93). Para explorar más la validez del QLI-Sp, se examinaron los datos de 396 estudiantes que informaron hipertensión. El grupo relativamente sano tuvo puntuaciones más altas en todos los ítems del QLI-Sp en comparación con el grupo hipertenso. El modelo final indicó que la calidad de vida se relaciona de manera positiva con el bienestar psicológico (autopercepción, autonomía, dominio del entorno, propósito en la vida) y la satisfacción con la vida, y de manera negativa con el estrés académico

The objective of this study was the validation of the Spanish version of the Quality of Life Index. A non-random sample of 3384 technical and university level healthy students was selected, in addition, data were collected from 386 students who reported being hypertensive. A battery of psychological tests that mediate quality of life, psychological well-being and life satisfaction as well as a measure of academic stress were included. The exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis confirmed the unifactorial nature of the QLI-Sp and support its use to measure perception of quality of life in university students. The reliability was adequate ( alpha=0.93). To further explore the validity of the QLI-Sp, data from 396 students who reported being hypertensive were examined. The relatively healthy group had higher scores on all QLI-Sp items relative to the hypertensive group. In the final model, positive correlations were found between the QLI-Sp items with psychological well-being (self-perception, autonomy, mastery of the environment, purpose in life), with satisfaction with life and negative correlation with academic stress

Disease Activity Score on 28 Joints and Polypharmacy Are Independent Predictors for Health-Related Quality of Life Evaluated by INCAVISA in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the main factors associated to a diminished health-related quality of life (HRQoL) evaluated by INCAVISA (Health-Related Quality of Life Inventory for Latin American Patients) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: Female, 18 years or older, RA (American College of Rheumatology 1987 criteria and American College of Rheumatology/European League against Rheumatism 2010 criteria) patients who attended the outpatient rheumatology department of the Hospital Civil "Dr. Juan I. Menchaca," Guadalajara, Mexico, matched with healthy controls were included. Patients with any known comorbidities or treatment with antidepressive drugs were excluded. Trained physicians performed the RA clinical evaluation and INCAVISA. All data were analyzed using SPSS 21.0 software (SPSS Inc, Chicago, IL); P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: Patients with polypharmacy (≥3 drugs) had a lower HRQoL by INCAVISA. The number of drugs, total comorbidities, and DAS-28 (Disease Activity Score on 28 Joints) were negatively correlated with total INCAVISA. In multivariate analysis, DAS-28 and polypharmacy were independent predictors for a negative perception of HRQoL evaluated by INCAVISA in RA patients. CONCLUSIONS: Disease activity and disability secondary to RA have a negative impact in the HRQoL. Other factors such as the number of drugs prescribed to these patients have been shown to be important for the negative perception of their HRQoL evaluated by INCAVISA.

Competencia y compartimiento emocional en usuarios de cocaína: Psicometría y relación con variables sociodemográficas y clínicas / Emotional competence and magazine in cocaine users: Psychometrics and relationship with sociodemographic and clinical variables

INTRODUCCIÓN: Existe evidencia de relación entre factores emocionales y el consumo de drogas. Sin embargo, al menos la competencia emocional y el compartimiento social de las emociones en usuarios de cocaína no han sido estudiados con anterioridad, en parte debido a la reciente generación de las herramientas para su medición. OBJETIVO: Evaluar las características psicométricas de la Escala de Alexitimia de Toronto (EAT), el Cuestionario de Competencias Emocionales (CEMO), y el Cuestionario de Creencias sobre los efectos de Compartimiento Social de Emociones (CCSE) en pacientes mexicanos usuarios de cocaína, así como establecer su relación con variables socio-demográficas y clínicas. MÉTODO: Los instrumentos fueron completados junto con las Escalas de Afectividad Positiva (AP) y Negativa (AN) en dos ocasiones por 158 pacientes usuarios de cocaína. RESULTADOS: Las tres escalas mostraron coeficientes alpha superiores a .70. La EAT y el CEMO presentaron alta estabilidad temporal a quince días. La AN se asoció positivamente con la EAT y negativamente con el CEMO. La AP se correlacionó negativamente con la EAT y positivamente con el CEMO y el CCSE. El 50.9% de los pacientes presentaron una dificultad relevante en la identificación y la expresión de sus emociones, que se relacionó de forma negativa con la escolaridad. DISCUSIÓN Y CONCLUSIÓN: Se sugiere necesaria la sistematización de la evaluación y el tratamiento de las dificultades en la expresión emocional de usuarios de cocaína. Las versiones en español de las escalas evaluadas en este estudio resultaron válidas y confiables para su uso clínico y de investigación en pacientes mexicanos usuarios de cocaína.

INTRODUCTION: Current evidence suggests a relationship between emotional factors and drugs consumption, although at least both emotional competence and social magazine of emotions have not been studied in cocaine users, in part due to the recent generation of tools for their measure. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the psychometric properties of the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS), Emotional Competence Questionnaire (ECQ), and the Questionnaire about Beliefs in the effects of the Social Magazine of Emotions (QSME) in Mexican cocaine users, and to establish its relationship with socio-demographic and clinical variables. METHOD: All instruments, as well as the Positive Affectivity (PA) and Negative Affectivity (NA) Scales, were completed twice by 158 cocaine users. RESULTS: All scales showed alpha coefficients greater than .70. The TAS and ECQ presented high temporal stability. NA was positively associated with TAS, and negatively with ESQ. PA showed a negative correlation with TAS, and a positive relation with ECQ and QSME. 50.9% of the patients had a relevant difficulty in identifying and expressing their emotions, which was negatively correlated with schooling. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: A systematic evaluation and treatment of difficulties in the expression of emotions in cocaine users seems to be necessary. The Spanish versions of the scales are valid and reliable for their use with clinical and research purposes in Mexican cocaine users.

Propiedades psicométricas del "Cuestionario de cinco facetas de la conciencia plena" (Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire, FFMQ-M) en México / Psychometric properties of the Five Facets Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ-M) in Mexico

Este trabajo pretende analizar las propiedades psicometricas del "Cuestionario de cinco facetas de la conciencia plena" (FFMQ-M) en Mexico respondiendo a limitaciones metodologicas previas. Participaron 1210 estudiantes mexicanos y se realizaron analisis factoriales confirmatorios multigrupos. El analisis factorial en la muestra de calibracion (n1= 620) mostro como mejormodelo cuatro factores de primer orden (Ausencia de reaccion, Ausencia de juicio, Actuacion consciente y Descripcion), sin la dimension de Observacion, agrupados en un factor de segundo orden (conciencia plena) con un total de 19 items. El analisis factorial con la muestra de validacion (n2= 590) replico el buen ajuste de este modelo y el analisis de invarianza indico invarianza estricta. Finalmente, se analizo la validez concurrente de la conciencia plena con medidas de autoinforme de calidad y satisfaccion con la vida, afecto positivo y depresivo y la percepcion de situaciones/estimulos estresantes academicos. Estos resultados informan sobre los componentes de la conciencia plena en personas nomeditadoras y su relacion con diferentes indicadores de salud y bienestar

The aim of the present study was to analyze the psychometric properties of the Five Facets Mindfulness Questionnaire in Mexico (FFMQ-M) solving previous methodological limitations. A transversal study was carried out with 1210 Mexican students and a multigroup confirmatory factor analysis was performed in Mplus 7.0. A confirmatory factor analysis in the calibration sample (n1= 620) indicated as best model a total of 19 items structured into four first order factors (Nonreacting against internal experiences, Nonjudging internal experiences, Acting with awareness, Describing own experiences), without Observing dimension, loading in a second order factor (mindfulness). This model also exhibited good model fit in a second confirmatory factor analysis in the validation sample (n2= 590). The invariance test indicated the existence of strict invariance. Finally, the concurrent validity between the indicators of mindfulness and the self-reported measures of life quality, life satisfaction, positive and depressive affect and the perception academic stressors was analyzed. These results provide information about the components of mindfulness and their relationship with health

Combining two teaching techniques for young children on Aedes aegypti control: effects on entomological indices in western Mexico.

A study of the effect of educating four- to six-year-old children in mosquito control was recently conducted in a city in the state of Jalisco, western Mexico. Four neighborhood districts were selected. Children attending one kindergarten in each of two experimental districts were taught mosquito control with a video from the American Mosquito Control Association (AMCA), joined to the use of the AMCA Touch Table Technique. The entomological indices monitored in the study decreased significantly (P<0.05) in houses in the experimental districts, apparently because parents acted on the comments and suggestions of the children and eliminated or monitored containers used as oviposition sites by mosquitoes. Based on these results, combining both techniques for teaching children mosquito control is a potentially useful tool for control efforts in Mexico and other places in Latin America.