Self-Reported ICD-11 Personality Disorder Severity in Peruvian Adolescents: Structure, Validity, and Tentative Cutoffs.

Personality disorder (PD) is particularly common in adolescents, which underscores the significance of early screening, diagnosis, and intervention. To date, the definition of PD in the new ICD-11 has not yet been investigated in adolescents. This study therefore aimed to investigate the unidimensionality and criterion validity of self-reported ICD-11 PD features in Peruvian adolescents using the Personality Disorder Severity ICD-11 (PDS-ICD-11) scale. A total of 1,073 students (63% female; age range 12-16 years) were administered the PDS-ICD-11 scale along with criterion measures of personality pathology and symptom distress. The PDS-ICD-11 score showed adequate unidimensionality and conceptually meaningful associations with external criterion variables. The findings indicate that ICD-11 PD features, as measured with the PDS-ICD-11 scale, are structurally and conceptually sound when employed with adolescents. Norm-based cutoffs derived from the present study may be used for clinical interpretation. The PDS-ICD-11 may be employed as an efficient screening tool for personality dysfunction in adolescents.

Internal consistency and temporal stability of the Community Assessment of Psychic Experiences (CAPE): A reliability generalization meta-analysis.

Psychotic experiences (PE) are prevalent in general and clinical populations and can increase the risk for mental disorders in young people. The Community Assessment of Psychic Experiences (CAPE) is a widely used measure to assess PE in different populations and settings. However, the current knowledge on their overall reliability is limited. We examined the reliability of the CAPE-42 and later versions, testing the role of age, sex, test scores, and clinical status as moderators. A systematic search was conducted on the Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, EBSCOhost, ProQuest, and GoogleScholar databases. Internal consistency and temporal stability indices were examined through reliability generalization meta-analysis (RGMA). Moderators were tested through meta-regression analysis. From a pool of 1,015 records, 90 independent samples were extracted from 71 studies. Four versions showed quantitative evidence for inclusion: CAPE-42, CAPE-20, CAPE-P15, and CAPE-P8. Internal consistency indices were good (α/ω≈.725-0.917). Temporal stability was only analyzed for the CAPE-P15, yielding a moderate but not-significant effect (r=0.672). The evidence for temporal stability is scant due to the limited literature, and definitive conclusions cannot be drawn. Further evidence on other potential moderators such as adverse experiences or psychosocial functioning is required.

The Beck Hopelessness Scale's psychometric features: A new short form based on item response theory.

BACKGROUND: The assessment of hopelessness plays a significant role in preventing various psychological disorders and major life events within the general population. However, the psychometric properties of the Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS) have been a subject of controversy, primarily studied in clinical groups. The aim of the present study was to gain new psychometric insights and propose a new short version of the BHS for the general population using the Item Response Theory (IRT) approach. METHODS: A total of 2164 Argentinean individuals completed the BHS alongside the Inventory of Suicide Orientation-30. We compared IRT models with two and three parameters for the original BHS version, exploring the removal of redundant and less informative items. Convergent and discriminant validity was also examined. RESULTS: Our results support the 2PL model for the BHS-19. In addition, the BHS-10 short version adequately depicted the same range of the measured trait as the original version, showing reasonable measurement accuracy in the middle-high levels of the trait (marginal reliability = 0.70, Cronbach's α = 0.86). Notably, a positive correlation was found between the factorial score of BHS-10, BHS-19, and suicide orientation. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, our findings support the use of a simplified version as a practical and valuable tool for both research and clinical practice in the future.

Beyond frequency: Evaluating the validity of assessing the context, duration, ability, and botherment of depression and anxiety symptoms in South Brazil.

Assessment tools for depression and anxiety usually inquire about the frequency of symptoms. However, evidence suggests that different question framings might trigger different responses. Our aim is to test if asking about symptom's context, ability, duration, and botherment adds validity to Patient Health Questionnaire-9, General Anxiety Disorder-7, and Patient-Related Outcome Measurement Information Systems depression and anxiety. Participants came from two cross-sectional convenience-sampled surveys (N = 1,871) of adults (66% females, aged 33.4 ± 13.2), weighted to approximate with the state-level population. We examined measurement invariance across the different question frames, estimated whether framing affected mean scores, and tested their independent validity using covariate-adjusted and sample-weighted structural equation models. Validity was tested using tools assessing general disability, alcohol use, loneliness, well-being, grit, and frequency-based questions from depression and anxiety questionnaires. A bifactor model was applied to test the internal consistency of the question frames under the presence of a general factor (i.e., depression or anxiety). Measurement invariance was supported across the different frames. Framing questions as ability (i.e., "How easily …") produced a higher score, compared with framing by context (i.e., "In which daily situations …"). Construct and criterion validity analysis demonstrate that variance explained using multiple question frames was similar to using only one. We detected a strong overarching factor for each instrument, with little variances left to be explained by the question frame. Therefore, it is unlikely that using different adverbial phrasings can help clinicians and researchers to improve their ability to detect depression or anxiety. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Understanding symptom profiles of depression with the PHQ-9 in a community sample using network analysis.

BACKGROUND: Depression is one of the most prevalent mental health conditions in the world. However, the heterogeneity of depression has presented obstacles for research concerning disease mechanisms, treatment indication, and personalization. The current study used network analysis to analyze and compare profiles of depressive symptoms present in community samples, considering the relationship between symptoms. METHODS: Cross-sectional measures of depression using the Patient Health Questionnaire - 9 items (PHQ-9) were collected from community samples using data from participants scoring above a clinical threshold of ≥10 points (N = 2,023; 73.9% female; mean age 49.87, SD = 17.40). Data analysis followed three steps. First, a profiling algorithm was implemented to identify all possible symptom profiles by dichotomizing each PHQ-9 item. Second, the most prevalent symptom profiles were identified in the sample. Third, network analysis for the most prevalent symptom profiles was carried out to identify the centrality and covariance of symptoms. RESULTS: Of 382 theoretically possible depression profiles, only 167 were present in the sample. Furthermore, 55.6% of the symptom profiles present in the sample were represented by only eight profiles. Network analysis showed that the network and symptoms' relationship varied across the profiles. CONCLUSIONS: Findings indicate that the vast number of theoretical possible ways to meet the criteria for major depressive disorder (MDD) is significantly reduced in empirical samples and that the most common profiles of symptoms have different networks and connectivity patterns. Scientific and clinical consequences of these findings are discussed in the context of the limitations of this study.

The Brazilian version of the Inventory of Depression and Anxiety Symptoms-Expanded Version: Internal structure, invariance by sex and race, and associations with pathological personality traits.

The Inventory of Depression and Anxiety Symptoms-Expanded version (IDAS-II) is one of the few tools designed to assess internalizing symptoms based on dimensional models. We conducted two studies, the first testing internal validity aspects of the IDAS-II and the second testing the external validity of the scales. In the first study we adapted the IDAS-II to Brazilian Portuguese and tested its internal structure, including a higher order factorial solution coherent with the internalizing spectrum, the stability of the factor structure, and its measurement invariance for sex and racial groups. Participants were 2,379 Brazilian adults. In the second study, we investigated the IDAS-II scales' associations with broad pathological personality traits in Brazilian (N = 245) and North American (N = 402) samples. The results of the first study indicated that the IDAS-II scales are grouped into three first-order factors (Distress, Obsessions/Fear, and Positive Mood), replicating Wester et al. (2022) and Petre et al. (2023). Our results also suggested the plausibility of an internalizing second-order factor for the IDAS-II Brazilian version. The multigroup confirmatory factor analysis shows that this scale is invariant for males and females and for White and Black/Brown people. In the second study, the IDAS-II scales demonstrated mostly coherent associations with broad domains of pathological personality traits. Besides the internal validity of the Brazilian IDAS-II, our results also provide information about its external validity and expand its nomological network, as it is the first study reporting its associations with broad domains of pathological personality traits. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Mental health during ecological crisis: translating and validating the Hogg Eco-anxiety Scale for Argentinian and Spanish populations.

BACKGROUND: Eco-anxiety is increasingly recognized as a shared experience by many people internationally, encompassing fear of environmental catastrophe and anxiety about ecological crises. Despite its importance in the context of the changing climate, measures for this construct are still being developed in languages other than English. METHODS: To contribute to global eco-anxiety research, we translated the Hogg Eco-Anxiety Scale (HEAS) into Spanish, creating the HEAS-SP. We validated this measure in samples from both Argentina (n = 990) and Spain (n = 548), performing measurement invariance and confirmatory factor analyses. Internal consistency of the scale and score stability over time were investigated through reliability analyses. Differences in eco-anxiety across sociodemographic variables were explored through Student's t-tests and Pearson's r tests. RESULTS: The four-factor model of the HEAS-SP comprising affective and behavioural symptoms, rumination, and anxiety about personal impact demonstrated excellent model fit. We found good internal consistency for each subscale, and established measurement invariance between Spanish and Argentine samples, as well as across genders and participants' age. Spanish participants reported higher scores on the affective symptoms and personal impact anxiety factors compared to the Argentinian sample. Also, men reported lower levels than women on the subscales of affective symptoms, rumination, and personal impact anxiety. It was found that the relationship between both age and personal impact anxiety and age and affective symptoms varies significantly depending on the gender of the individuals. Younger participants tended to report higher scores on most dimensions of eco-anxiety. CONCLUSIONS: These findings enhance the global initiative to investigate, explore and therefore comprehend eco-anxiety by introducing the first valid and reliable Spanish-language version of this psychometric instrument for its use within Spanish and Argentinian populations. This study augments the body of evidence supporting the robust psychometric properties of the HEAS, as demonstrated in prior validations for Australian, Turkish, Portuguese, German, French, and Italian populations.

Temporal Stability of Dissociative Symptoms in the General Population.

ABSTRACT: The most widely used measure to quantify dissociative symptoms is the Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES). However, little information is available concerning its temporal stability. The purpose of this study was to assess the stability of DES scores after 4 years. A total of 316 respondents recruited from a general population in Brazil took part in baseline and follow-up (70.57% were men; mean age = 32.97, SD = 10.95, minimum = 22, maximum = 74). Temporal stability was assessed through test-retest correlations and mean-level stability analyses. We found that the DES total and subscale scores revealed moderate test-retest correlations, with small variations among the DES factors. No significant difference (p > 0.05) was found between average scores for times 1 and 2. Overall, DES scores are significantly stable over time. Future studies would benefit from an investigation of the correlates and predictors of dissociation at different time points.

The use of biofeedback intervention in the improvement of depression levels: a randomised trial.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the use of biofeedback intervention in the levels of depression. The main hypothesis tested if the use of biofeedback improves depression levels compared to the control group. METHODS: A randomised clinical trial. The final sample was composed of 36 participants (18 in the experimental group, receiving 6 training, once a week, with biofeedback; and 18 in the control group, who received conventional treatment in the service).Outcome measures were assessed in two stages: pre-test and post-test. The research used the following instruments: demographic survey data, Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview 5.0.0 and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). The factors and variables were presented in terms of descriptive and inferential statistics. Fisher's exact test (p < 0.05) was used to verify the existence of an association between the counting variables. The multinomial logistic regression model was adopted, and the Logit link function was used, as the software RStudio version 3.6.2. RESULTS: The factors that remained in the final model were group, sex, partner, atypical antidepressant, benzodiazepines, mood stabiliser, antiepileptic and antihistamine, according to the levels of depression based on the BDI. The group that did not receive biofeedback intervention had 16 times more chances of increasing the depression levels compared to participants in the experimental group. CONCLUSION: The use of biofeedback reduces depression, thus, representing a complementary alternative for the treatment of moderate and severe depression, and dysthymia.

Psychometric Properties of the Compulsive Internet Use Scale in Spain, Colombia, and Mexico.

Information and communication technologies provide a new context for interpersonal relationships, learning and professional activities. Nevertheless, there are several risks related to technology use, including compulsive Internet use. Even though compulsive Internet use has been identified as an important problem behavior in young people, there are still gaps in knowledge regarding its measurement in Spanish-speaking countries. Thus, the objective of this study was to validate the Compulsive Internet Use Scale (CIUS) in Spain, Colombia, and Mexico using a sample of 2,090 15-30 year olds. Results showed that the questionnaire has excellent psychometric properties and confirmed its original unidimensional factor structure. Inter-item polychoric correlations showed optimum values that indicated consistency and high quality of the construct. A confirmatory factor analysis showed an excellent model fit for all the subsamples, including Spain, Colombia, and Mexico. A multigroup analysis showed measurement invariance across the studied countries. Given that the CIUS is one of the most popular instruments used to measure excessive Internet use around the world, it can now be used in crossnational comparative studies, including Spain, Colombia, and Mexico, together with other countries. It can also be used to evaluate intervention programs in the studied countries.

The Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15): Validation in Mexico and Disorder in the State of Knowledge.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the reliability and validity of the Geriatric Depression Scale in its 15-item version (GDS-15) in Mexican older adults. Participants included 1178 older adults between the ages of 60 and 94 (M = 69.16, SD = 7.69); 53.9% were women and 55.8% were married or with a partner. They completed the GDS-15, a subjective well-being scale, and a quality-of-life questionnaire. A Kuder-Richardson coefficient of .80 was obtained, which indicates an acceptable internal consistency of the GDS-15, as well as evidence of divergent validity with significant correlations of -.783 with subjective well-being and -.569 with quality of life, in addition to concurrent validity when discriminating between participants with low scores from those with high scores of depressive symptoms. The need for a simple screening tool such as the GDS-15 that helps in the identification of depressive symptoms in Mexican older adults is underlined.

The Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire for Children (SPQ-C): Factor Structure, Child Abuse, and Family History of Schizotypy.

There is a relative dearth of research on features of schizotypal personality in children, in part due to lack of instrumentation. This study tests 5 competing models of the factor structure of the self-report Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire for Children (SPQ-C) and examines its relationship with a family history of schizotypal personality disorder (SPD), child abuse, and stability over time. Hypotheses were tested on 454 11- to 12-year-old schoolchildren and their caregivers. Confirmatory factor analyses supported a 3-factor structure of the SPQ-C (cognitive-perceptual, interpersonal, and disorganized). Test-retest stability was relatively robust over 3 months (r = .67), 6 months (r = .64), and 12 months (r = .55), with acceptable internal reliabilities (r = .84 to .91). Regarding construct validity, children with a biological family history of SPD had higher scores on all 3 factors (d =.51). Abused children had higher schizotypy scores (d = .55). A genetic × environment interaction was observed, with schizotypy highest in those with both a family history of schizotypy and also child abuse. Findings are the first in the child schizotypy field to document a gene × environment interaction and the independence of child abuse from confounding genetic influences. Results support the utility of the SPQ-C in future family and clinical studies of schizotypal personality and provide an avenue for much-needed and neglected research into the early antecedents of child schizotypal personality.

Psychometric properties of the Benzodiazepine Dependence Self-Report Questionnaire - Portuguese Version (BENDEP-SRQ-PV).

OBJECTIVE: To assess psychometric properties of the Benzodiazepine Dependence Self-Report Questionnaire - Portuguese Version (BENDEP-SRQ-PV) in a sample of Brazilian chronic hypnotic users. METHODS: One hundred and seventy-nine chronic hypnotic users (benzodiazepines and Z-drugs) were recruited, attended a psychiatric evaluation, and answered the BENDEP-SRQ-PV. Factor structure, reliability, and influence of covariates (dependence diagnosis and type of drug consumed) were assessed in a structural equation modelling environment. Discrimination was assessed with receiver operating characteristic (ROC) plots and stability with the test-retest method. RESULTS: Participants, mostly women (91.6%), aged 51 to 64 years old, had been using hypnotics for an average of 34.8 months, with a mean defined daily dose of 0.72. Psychometric analysis demonstrated construct and criterion validity, reliability, and response stability. The factor structure was maintained as originally proposed: problematic use (ω = 0.73), preoccupation (ω = 0.74), lack of compliance (ω = 0.74), and withdrawal (ω = 0.93). CONCLUSION: The BENDEP-SRQ-PV is an adequate measure of hypnotic dependence in the Brazilian population of chronic users. Our results support using the scale for follow-up in clinical and research applications and in correlational studies.

A dimensional measure of schizotypy: cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the Oxford-Liverpool Inventory of Feelings and Experiences short version for Brazilian Portuguese (O-LIFE-S)

Abstract Introduction The Oxford-Liverpool Inventory of Feelings and Experiences (O-LIFE) is a widely-used scale, and the first to include a dimensional approach to understanding schizotypy. Objective To adapt the short version of the O-LIFE (O-LIFE-S) into Brazilian Portuguese. Method a) Two independent bilingual professionals translated the original instrument into Brazilian Portuguese; b) a third bilingual professional summarized the two translations; c) a fourth bilingual expert translated the Portuguese version back into English; d) this back-translation was adjusted by a committee of psychology experts; e) a pilot study was conducted with 10 participants from the general population. Results O-LIFE-S was considered ready to be used in a formal validation study in Brazil. Conclusion The scale appears to cover the dimensional approach to schizotypy. However, a future validation study needs to be conducted to determine the internal consistency and reliability of the Brazilian Portuguese version of the O-LIFE-S .

Translation and cultural adaptation of the DSM-5 Personality Inventory - Brief Form (PID-5-BF)

Abstract Introduction The Personality Inventory for the DSM-5 - Brief Form (PID-5-BF) - is an instrument for assessment of the five pathological personality traits from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition (DSM-5) alternative model of personality disorders. Objectives To determine the psychometric properties of the version of the PID-5-BF translated and adapted to Brazilian Portuguese. Methods The process of translating and cross-culturally adapting the text was carried out by independent translators and the resulting version was administered to 176 patients in two hospitals in Rio Grande do Sul. The internal structure was tested by means of confirmatory factor analysis. Evidence of reliability was tested by examining the internal consistency of the scales and their convergent and concurrent validity with other methods of psychopathology. Results The five factors were replicated in the present sample with adequate indicators of fit of the data to the model. Appropriate reliability coefficients for the scales and evidence of validity were observed, indicating the clinical usefulness of the PID-5-BF in the Brazilian context. Conclusion The psychometric properties of PID-5-BF proved satisfactory in an initial sample of Brazilians.

Psychometric properties of the Benzodiazepine Dependence Self-Report Questionnaire - Portuguese Version (BENDEP-SRQ-PV)

Abstract Objective To assess psychometric properties of the Benzodiazepine Dependence Self-Report Questionnaire - Portuguese Version (BENDEP-SRQ-PV) in a sample of Brazilian chronic hypnotic users. Methods One hundred and seventy-nine chronic hypnotic users (benzodiazepines and Z-drugs) were recruited, attended a psychiatric evaluation, and answered the BENDEP-SRQ-PV. Factor structure, reliability, and influence of covariates (dependence diagnosis and type of drug consumed) were assessed in a structural equation modelling environment. Discrimination was assessed with receiver operating characteristic (ROC) plots and stability with the test-retest method. Results Participants, mostly women (91.6%), aged 51 to 64 years old, had been using hypnotics for an average of 34.8 months, with a mean defined daily dose of 0.72. Psychometric analysis demonstrated construct and criterion validity, reliability, and response stability. The factor structure was maintained as originally proposed: problematic use (ω = 0.73), preoccupation (ω = 0.74), lack of compliance (ω = 0.74), and withdrawal (ω = 0.93). Conclusion The BENDEP-SRQ-PV is an adequate measure of hypnotic dependence in the Brazilian population of chronic users. Our results support using the scale for follow-up in clinical and research applications and in correlational studies.

A dimensional measure of schizotypy: cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the Oxford-Liverpool Inventory of Feelings and Experiences short version for Brazilian Portuguese (O-LIFE-S).

INTRODUCTION: The Oxford-Liverpool Inventory of Feelings and Experiences (O-LIFE) is a widely-used scale, and the first to include a dimensional approach to understanding schizotypy. OBJECTIVE: To adapt the short version of the O-LIFE (O-LIFE-S) into Brazilian Portuguese. METHOD: a) Two independent bilingual professionals translated the original instrument into Brazilian Portuguese; b) a third bilingual professional summarized the two translations; c) a fourth bilingual expert translated the Portuguese version back into English; d) this back-translation was adjusted by a committee of psychology experts; e) a pilot study was conducted with 10 participants from the general population. RESULTS: O-LIFE-S was considered ready to be used in a formal validation study in Brazil. CONCLUSION: The scale appears to cover the dimensional approach to schizotypy. However, a future validation study needs to be conducted to determine the internal consistency and reliability of the Brazilian Portuguese version of the O-LIFE-S .

Instruments to assess suicide risk: a systematic review.

INTRODUCTION: Suicide is an issue of great severity in public health worldwide. This study aimed to investigate which instruments are most frequently used by healthcare professionals to assess suicide risk and how accessible such instruments are, as well as to determine the scope of suicide phenomena. METHOD: A systematic review was performed using the following Boolean searches: "scale AND suicide," "evaluation AND suicide," "questionnaire AND suicide." The articles retrieved were read and selected by two independent researchers - any discrepancies were addressed by a third researcher. RESULTS: From a total number of 206 articles, 20 instruments were identified as being currently used to assess suicide risk. The two most common were the Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation (BSI) and The Columbia - Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS). CONCLUSION: Even though the two scales (BSI and C-SSRS) are the most frequently mentioned and used by healthcare professionals to assess suicide risk, both instruments present breaches in their structure and there is not yet a single instrument considered to be the gold standard. As a future perspective, there is the urgency of developing a new tool that can widely and completely assess all psychopathological aspects of suicidality.

Instruments to assess suicide risk: a systematic review

Abstract Introduction Suicide is an issue of great severity in public health worldwide. This study aimed to investigate which instruments are most frequently used by healthcare professionals to assess suicide risk and how accessible such instruments are, as well as to determine the scope of suicide phenomena. Method A systematic review was performed using the following Boolean searches: "scale AND suicide," "evaluation AND suicide," "questionnaire AND suicide." The articles retrieved were read and selected by two independent researchers - any discrepancies were addressed by a third researcher. Results From a total number of 206 articles, 20 instruments were identified as being currently used to assess suicide risk. The two most common were the Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation (BSI) and The Columbia - Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS). Conclusion Even though the two scales (BSI and C-SSRS) are the most frequently mentioned and used by healthcare professionals to assess suicide risk, both instruments present breaches in their structure and there is not yet a single instrument considered to be the gold standard. As a future perspective, there is the urgency of developing a new tool that can widely and completely assess all psychopathological aspects of suicidality.