ABSTRACT
People who suffer political violence (PV) are at risk of developing mental illness, chronic noncommunicable diseases, chronic pain, and decreased life expectancy. However, these indicators have been studied primarily in war veterans and refugees. The objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence of chronic musculoskeletal pain (CMP) and central sensitization-related symptoms (CSRS) in Chilean victims of PV during the 1973 to 1990 dictatorship. A cross-sectional observational multicenter study was conducted. Three hundred twenty-five people from six centers of a Ministry of Health of Chile program participated. The presence of CMP was determined by a history of pain ≥3 months, and CSRS was determined using the central sensitization inventory. About 69.23% of the sample had CMP (76.85% of females and 56.56% of males). About 60% of people with CMP showed a high level of CSRS severity (66.67% females and 44.93% males). Females presented significantly higher proportions of CMP (p < .001), and there was an association between CSRS severity and being female (p = .004). Chilean victims of PV during the 1973 to 1990 dictatorship presented a high prevalence of CMP and high-level CSRS severity. Both conditions affected females more than males. Future studies are needed to further delve into these variables' behavior and their influence on the quality of life in this population.
ABSTRACT
[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/frhs.2022.958743.].
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Substantial data from high-income countries support early interventions in the form of evidence-based Coordinated Specialty Care (CSC) for people experiencing First Episode Psychosis (FEP) to ameliorate symptoms and minimize disability. Chile is unique among Latin American countries in providing universal access to FEP services through a national FEP policy that mandates the identification of FEP individuals in primary care and guarantees delivery of community-based FEP treatments within a public health care system. Nonetheless, previous research has documented that FEP services currently provided at mental health clinics do not provide evidence-based approaches. This proposal aims to address this shortfall by first adapting OnTrackNY (OTNY), a CSC program currently being implemented across the USA, into OnTrackChile (OTCH), and then examine its effectiveness and implementation in Chile. METHODS: The Dynamic Adaptation Process will be used first to inform the adaptation and implementation of OTCH to the Chilean context. Then, a Hybrid Type 1 trial design will test its effectiveness and cost and evaluate its implementation using a cluster-randomized controlled trial (RCT) (N = 300 from 21 outpatient clinics). The OTCH program will be offered in half of these outpatient clinics to individuals ages 15-35. Usual care services will continue to be offered at the other clinics. Given the current COVID-19 pandemic, most research and intervention procedures will be conducted remotely. The study will engage participants over the course of 2 years, with assessments administered at enrollment, 12 months, and 24 months. Primary outcomes include implementation (fidelity, acceptability, and uptake) and service outcomes (person-centeredness, adherence, and retention). Secondary outcomes comprise participant-level outcomes such as symptoms, functioning, and recovery orientation. Over the course of the study, interviews and focus groups with stakeholders will be conducted to better understand the implementation of OTCH. DISCUSSION: Findings from this study will help determine the feasibility, effectiveness, and cost for delivering CSC services in Chile. Lessons learned about facilitators and barriers related to the implementation of the model could help inform the approach needed for these services to be further expanded throughout Latin America. TRIAL REGISTRATION: www. CLINICALTRIALS: gov NCT04247711 . Registered 30 January 2020. TRIAL STATUS: The OTCH trial is currently recruiting participants. Recruitment started on March 1, 2021, and is expected to be completed by December 1, 2022. This is the first version of this protocol (5/12/2021).
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Psychotic Disorders , Adolescent , Adult , Chile , Humans , Psychotic Disorders/diagnosis , Psychotic Disorders/psychology , Psychotic Disorders/therapy , Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic , Young AdultABSTRACT
Background: In 2005, Chile became the first country in Latin America to guarantee universal free access for the diagnosis and treatment of schizophrenia. A cluster randomized control trial utilizing the Dynamic Adaptation Process framework is underway to adapt and test the OnTrack coordinated specialty care model to provide recovery-oriented, person-centered care by a multidisciplinary team for individuals with first episode psychosis (FEP) in Chile. Methods: A qualitative formative research study was conducted to inform the initial adaptation of the OnTrack Chile (OTCH) program. We conducted key informant interviews (n = 17) with various stakeholders (policymakers; directors/managers of community mental health centers; mental health professionals) and focus group discussions (n = 6) with individuals with FEP and caregivers (n = 35 focus group participants total). Data was analyzed using thematic analysis, organized by participants' perspectives on the benefits, barriers, and recommendations for the key principles, multidisciplinary team, psychosocial components, and the training and supervision model of OnTrack. Results: Participants expressed enthusiasm and support for OnTrack's recovery-oriented and person-centered principles of care. While many participants lauded the emphasis on shared decision-making and family involvement, some reported reticence, citing that it is culturally normative for patients and families to adopt a passive role in treatment. Peer specialists, and the family psychoeducation and support and supported education and employment components were perceived as aspects that could encourage the promotion of personhood and autonomy development. However, implementation challenges, including the prevailing biomedical approach, professional hierarchy, and the lack of infrastructure, human, and financial resources necessitate some modifications to these aspects. Some mental health professionals further conveyed reservations regarding the perceived hierarchical structure of the supervision model. Conclusion: OnTrack represents a shift from a biomedical model to a valued, aspirational, person-centered and culturally responsive model that focuses on recovery, shared decision-making and psychosocial care. With the appropriate governmental and agency-level provision of resources and modifications to some of the program components, particularly regarding the shared decision-making framework, peer specialist, family engagement, and the training supervision model, OTCH could be a transformative program for a more comprehensive, evidence-based care for individuals with FEP in Chile.
ABSTRACT
This study explores the beliefs and attitudes about the psychosocial mechanisms of peer support work among users who participated in Critical Time Intervention-Task Shifting (CTI-TS), which tested the acceptability and feasibility of a peer support work model to improve community-based mental health care for individuals with psychosis in Latin America. We conducted a secondary analysis of 15 in-depth interviews with CTI-TS participants in Chile, using the framework method and defined the framework domains based on five major mechanisms of peer support work identified by a recent literature review. The analysis revealed that users' perceptions of peer support work mechanisms were strongly shaped by personal motivations, beliefs about professional hierarchies, familial support, and the Chilean mental health system's incipient recovery orientation. The findings underscore the importance of adopting culturally tailored strategies to promote peer support work, such as involving mental health professionals and fostering equal-powered relationships between PSWs and users.
Subject(s)
Mental Health Services , Psychotic Disorders , Chile , Counseling/methods , Health Personnel , Humans , Qualitative ResearchABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Few studies provide clear rationale for and the reception of adaptations of evidence-based interventions. To address this gap, we describe the context-dependent adaptations in critical time intervention-task shifting (CTI-TS), a manualized recovery program for individuals with psychosis in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and Santiago, Chile. Implications of the adaptations - incorporating a task-shifting approach and modifying the mode of community-based service delivery - are examined from users' perspectives. METHODS: A secondary analysis of in-depth interviews with CTI-TS users (n = 9 in Brazil; n = 15 in Chile) was conducted. Using the framework method, we thematically compared how participants from each site perceived the main adapted components of CTI-TS. RESULTS: Users of both sites appreciated the task-shifting worker pair to provide personalized, flexible, and relatable support. They wanted CTI-TS to be longer and experienced difficulty maintaining intervention benefits in the long-term. In Chile, stigma and a perceived professional hierarchy toward the task-shifting providers were more profound than in Brazil. Engagement with community-based services delivery in homes and neighborhoods (Chile), and at community mental health centers (Brazil) were influenced by various personal, familial, financial, and social factors. Uniquely, community violence was a significant barrier to engagement in Brazil. CONCLUSION: CTI-TS' major adaptations were informed by the distinct mental health systems and social context of Santiago and Rio. Evaluation of user experiences with these adaptations provides insights into implementing and scaling-up task-shifting and community-oriented interventions in the region through the creation of specialized roles for the worker pair, targeting sustained intervention effects, and addressing socio-cultural barriers.
ABSTRACT
Background: Studies on the long-term consequences of torture in survivors in Chile have only addressed the consequences for mental health, leaving aside the physical consequences. Aim: To report the causes of death in the universe of victims of the Chilean civic-military dictatorship recognized by the Reports of the National Commission for Political Prison and Torture (CNPPT) and the Advisory Commission for the qualification of Disappeared Detainees, Politically Executed individuals and Victims of Political Prison and Torture. Material and Methods: The causes of death, age at the time of death, sex, political context of death and opportunity of repair up to June 2016 are described in 38,254 victims of the Chilean civic-military dictatorship. Results: Of the universe of 38,254 victims, 9,152 (23.9%) died until June 2016. The median age at death was 68 years. The main causes of death were malignant tumors in 28%, cardiovascular diseases in 27%, respiratory diseases in 10%, digestive diseases in 9% and external causes in 8%. Conclusions: These results can inform prevention and treatment strategies for victims of the Chilean dictatorship.
Subject(s)
Humans , Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic , Torture , Political Systems , Prisons , Chile/epidemiology , SurvivorsABSTRACT
Adolescent suicide is a pressing problem in Chile that has not yet been sufficiently addressed, as suicide rates have stagnated in recent years. One possible explanation could be linked to the adult-centered paradigm that continues to prevail in relation to adolescent health initiatives. In light of this, programs that seek to promote youth mental health should consider incorporating adolescents in the design process using participatory methodologies, to ensure that these initiatives are well-suited for the population. In line with this recommendation, a group of seven adolescents, 13 to 20 years of age, were incorporated into a research team to actively guide the design, development, and validation of a technology-based intervention, known as Project Clan, which was piloted to reduce adolescent suicide in schools in Chile. This group was known as the "Group of Experts," in acknowledgment of their role as experts by experience on adolescence. A qualitative case study was conducted to explore their lived experiences, through semistructured individual in-depth interviews with six members of the group. Results showed that the adolescents had a high level of interest in mental health and had experienced problems of their own or accompanied friends who were struggling, which motivated their participation in the study. They had a critical view of the previous interventions they had received through educational institutions and valued their role in the promotion of their peers' mental health through the Group of Experts. They also highlighted the importance of creating tools that complement their daily lives and provide an alternative to existing social networks, by respecting their anonymity, providing a secure place for divulgation and self-expression, and facilitating access to professional support. We conclude that programs that address issues that affect adolescents should incorporate adolescents in the decision-making and design processes to ensure the acceptability and effectivity of their interventions.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Studies on the long-term consequences of torture in survivors in Chile have only addressed the consequences for mental health, leaving aside the physical consequences. AIM: To report the causes of death in the universe of victims of the Chilean civic-military dictatorship recognized by the Reports of the National Commission for Political Prison and Torture (CNPPT) and the Advisory Commission for the qualification of Disappeared Detainees, Politically Executed individuals and Victims of Political Prison and Torture. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The causes of death, age at the time of death, sex, political context of death and opportunity of repair up to June 2016 are described in 38,254 victims of the Chilean civic-military dictatorship. RESULTS: Of the universe of 38,254 victims, 9,152 (23.9%) died until June 2016. The median age at death was 68 years. The main causes of death were malignant tumors in 28%, cardiovascular diseases in 27%, respiratory diseases in 10%, digestive diseases in 9% and external causes in 8%. CONCLUSIONS: These results can inform prevention and treatment strategies for victims of the Chilean dictatorship.
Subject(s)
Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic , Torture , Chile/epidemiology , Humans , Political Systems , Prisons , SurvivorsABSTRACT
Several Latin American countries have made remarkable strides towards offering community mental health care for people with psychoses. Nonetheless, mental health clinics generally have a very limited outreach in the community, tending to have weaker links to primary health care; rarely engaging patients in providing care; and usually not providing recovery-oriented services. This paper describes a pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) of Critical Time Intervention-Task Shifting (CTI-TS) aimed at addressing such limitations. The pilot RCT was conducted in Santiago (Chile) and Rio de Janeiro (Brazil). We included 110 people with psychosis in the study, who were recruited at the time of entry into community mental health clinics. Trial participants were randomly divided into CTI-TS intervention and usual care. Those allocated to the intervention group received usual care and, in addition, CTI-TS services over a 9-month period. Primary outcomes include quality of life (WHO Quality of Life Scale - Brief Version) and unmet needs (Camberwell Assessment of Needs) at the 18-month follow-up. Primary outcomes at 18 months will be analyzed by Generalized Estimating Equations (GEE), with observations clustered within sites. We will use three-level multilevel models to examine time trends on the primary outcomes. Similar procedures will be used for analyzing secondary outcomes. Our hope is that this trial provides a foundation for planning a large-scale multi-site RCT to establish the efficacy of recovery-oriented interventions such as CTI-TS in Latin America.
Subject(s)
Community Mental Health Services , Psychotic Disorders/rehabilitation , Adult , Aged , Brazil , Chile , Clinical Protocols , Humans , Middle Aged , Pilot Projects , Quality of Life , Young AdultABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Latin America, and Chile in particular, has a rich tradition of community mental health services and programs. However, in vivo community-based psychosocial interventions, especially those with a recovery-oriented approach, remain scarce in the region. Between 2014 and 2015, a Critical Time Intervention-Task Shifting project (CTI-TS) was implemented in Santiago, Chile, as part of a larger pilot randomized control trial. CTI is a time-limited intervention delivered at a critical-time to users, is organized by phases, focuses on specific objectives and decreases in intensity over time. CTI-TS, which combines both the task-shifting strategy and the use of peers, introduces a novel approach to community mental health care that has not yet been tried in Chile. AIMS: We aim to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability and applicability of such a community-based psychosocial intervention in urban settings in Latin America - specifically, in Santiago (Chile) from a user perspective. METHOD: We analyzed 15 in-depth interviews ( n = 15) with service users who participated in the intervention about their perceptions and experiences with CTI-TS through thematic analysis. RESULTS: Three themes were revealed. The first was related to the structural characteristics of CTI-TS, especially regarding the timing, duration and phasic nature of the intervention. The second pertained to the acceptability of the in vivo community-based approach. The third theme dealt with the task-shifting aspect, that is, users' perceptions of the peer support workers and the community mental health workers. CONCLUSIONS: CTI-TS was generally acceptable in this Latin American context. Users' perspectives pointed to the need to make adjustments to some of the structural characteristics of the CTI model and to combine this type of intervention with others that can address stigma. Thus, future adaptations of CTI-TS or similar psychosocial interventions in Latin American contexts are feasible and can enhance community mental health in the region.
Subject(s)
Psychotherapy/methods , Psychotic Disorders/psychology , Self Concept , Social Stigma , Adult , Chile , Community Mental Health Centers , Female , Humans , Interviews as Topic , Male , Mental Health Services , Middle Aged , Psychotic Disorders/prevention & control , Qualitative Research , Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic , Young AdultABSTRACT
Several Latin American countries have made remarkable strides towards offering community mental health care for people with psychoses. Nonetheless, mental health clinics generally have a very limited outreach in the community, tending to have weaker links to primary health care; rarely engaging patients in providing care; and usually not providing recovery-oriented services. This paper describes a pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) of Critical Time Intervention-Task Shifting (CTI-TS) aimed at addressing such limitations. The pilot RCT was conducted in Santiago (Chile) and Rio de Janeiro (Brazil). We included 110 people with psychosis in the study, who were recruited at the time of entry into community mental health clinics. Trial participants were randomly divided into CTI-TS intervention and usual care. Those allocated to the intervention group received usual care and, in addition, CTI-TS services over a 9-month period. Primary outcomes include quality of life (WHO Quality of Life Scale - Brief Version) and unmet needs (Camberwell Assessment of Needs) at the 18-month follow-up. Primary outcomes at 18 months will be analyzed by Generalized Estimating Equations (GEE), with observations clustered within sites. We will use three-level multilevel models to examine time trends on the primary outcomes. Similar procedures will be used for analyzing secondary outcomes. Our hope is that this trial provides a foundation for planning a large-scale multi-site RCT to establish the efficacy of recovery-oriented interventions such as CTI-TS in Latin America.
Diversos países latino-americanos já alcançaram avanços notáveis na oferta de assistência em saúde mental para pessoas com psicoses. No entanto, as clínicas de saúde mental geralmente realizam atividades de extensão muito limitadas dentro das comunidades, tendem a ter vínculos fracos com a assistência primária, raramente envolvem os próprios pacientes nos cuidados e poucas vezes prestam serviços orientados para a recuperação. O artigo descreve um estudo piloto randomizado e controlado sobre a Critical Time Intervention-Task Shifting (CTI-TS), que teve como objetivo analisar essas limitações. O estudo piloto foi realizado em Santiago (Chile) e no Rio de Janeiro (Brasil). Teve como meta a inclusão de 110 pessoas com psicose, recrutadas no momento da entrada em clínicas comunitárias de saúde mental. Os participantes foram randomizados para o CTI-TS ou para os cuidados usuais. Aqueles alocados ao grupo da intervenção receberam os cuidados usuais e os serviços de CTI-TS ao longo de 9 meses. Os desfechos primários incluíram a qualidade de vida (WHO Quality of Life Scale - Brief Version) e as necessidades não atendidas (Camberwell Assessment of Needs) no acompanhamento aos 18 meses. Os desfechos primários aos 18 meses serão analisados com a técnica de Equações de Estimação Generalizadas (GEE), com as observações agrupadas dentro dos locais do estudo. Serão utilizados modelos em três níveis para examinar as tendências temporais nos desfechos primários. Procedimentos semelhantes serão utilizados para analisar os resultados secundários. Espera-se que o estudo forneça uma base para planejar um estudo randomizado e controlado em grande escala e em múltiplos locais para estabelecer a eficácia da intervenção orientada para a recuperação, a exemplo da CTI-TS, na América Latina.
resumen está disponible en el texto completo
Subject(s)
Humans , Adult , Middle Aged , Aged , Young Adult , Psychotic Disorders/rehabilitation , Community Mental Health Services , Quality of Life , Brazil , Chile , Pilot Projects , Clinical ProtocolsABSTRACT
The necessity of providing individuals experiencing first episode psychosis with early, comprehensive, and effective treatment, in order to improve their long-term prognosis, has been widely recognized. However, despite the important role of psychosocial interventions in treatment, only a portion of patients receive this type of care, and it is often of poor quality, especially in countries with limited resources. The Critical Time Intervention (CTI) model has been shown to effectively improve clinical and social outcomes of individuals with a history of psychosis, while also being cost-effective. It is a time-limited, community-based intervention, carried out by technical community workers who are specifically trained and continuously supervised by professionals. Therefore, CTI is a promising psychosocial intervention model for individuals experiencing a first psychotic episode, in countries with limited mental health service resources.
Subject(s)
Psychotic Disorders/therapy , Early Diagnosis , Humans , Mental Health Services , Prognosis , Secondary Prevention , Time FactorsABSTRACT
Este trabajo explora el contexto histórico en el cual se origina la Escuela de Salud Pública de la Universidad de Chile (ESP). Se estudia un periodo de tiempo comprendido entre fines del siglo XIX y mediados del siglo XX. En primer lugar, se analizan las posiciones de cuatro actores claves (la élite, los médicos y profesionales de la salud, las capas populares, y el Estado) y sus conflictos. En segundo lugar, se estudia el cambio de paradigma en el rol del Estado frente a los problemas de salud, desde una posición de Estado subsidiario y gendarme a una de Estado asistencial de compromiso. La ESP surge como producto de estos procesos históricos, para cubrir la necesidad de formar especialistas en el campo de la salud pública, obteniendo un apoyo externo de la Fundación Rockefeller que se resulta fundamental en su inicio. Desde sus inicios tiene un fuerte involucramiento en la vida pública del país, asumiendo la salud de la población como un derecho social.
The historical context in which the School of Public Health of the University of Chile was born is explored in this work. The period studied goes from the end of the 19th century to middle of the 20th Century. In the first place, the position of the four key actors - the elite, doctors and health professionals, popular layers, and the State - and their conflicts are analyzed. In the second place, the change of paradigm in the role of the State regarding health problems, from a position of Subsidiary Gendarme State to a new position of Welfare Committed State is studied. The School of Public Health was born as a result of these historical processes, to cover the need to train specialists in the field of public health, getting external support from the Rockefeller Foundation which was essential in its beginnings. Since its origin it has been greatly involved in the country´s public life, understanding people´s health as a social right.
Este trabalho analisa o contexto histórico no qual teve origem a Escola de Saúde Pública da Universidade do Chile (ESP). Estuda-se um período de tempo que varia entre finais do século XIX e meados do século XX. Em primeiro lugar, são analisadas as posições dos quatro jogadores-chave (a elite, os médicos e profissionais de saúde, os setores populares, e o Estado) e seus conflitos. Em segundo lugar, analisa-se a mudança de paradigma no papel do Estado a partir dos problemas de saúde, a partir de uma conceição de Estado subsidiário e gendarme para uma de Estado assistencial de compromisso A ESP surge como resultado desses processos históricos, para atender a necessidade de formação de especialistas no domínio da saúde pública, obtendo um apoio externo da Fundação Rockefeller, que é essencial no início. Desde a sua criação tem uma forte participação na vida pública do país, assumindo a saúde da população como um direito social.
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Chile , Right to Health , Schools, Public Health/statistics & numerical data , Schools, Public Health/history , Schools, Public Health/legislation & jurisprudence , Schools, Public Health/organization & administration , Schools, Public Health/trendsABSTRACT
Background: The Eating Disorders Diagnostic Scale (EDDS) is a self-administered low cost psychometric instrument with excellent levels of temporal reliability and validity. Aim: To adapt and validate the EDDS in Chile. Material and Methods: Thefactorial structure, internal consistency and test-retest reliability ofthe Spanish-language version of the EDDS was analyzed in a sample of1964 university and high school students. The concurrent validity was tested in a sample of 50 primary care patients with ED and 59 controls, comparing its results with those of a structured psychiatric interview (CIDI). Results: The EDDS showed a high internal consistency, moderate test-retest reliability, an appropriate factorial structure (in women) and an excellent convergent validity. Also, the diagnosis of ED obtained with the EDDS is moderately consistent with the structured psychiatric interview. Conclusions: The Spanish-language version of the EDDS showed a satisfactory psychometric behavior and a good capacity for detecting ED, according to the DSM criterion.
Subject(s)
Adolescent , Female , Humans , Male , Feeding and Eating Disorders/diagnosis , Language , Surveys and Questionnaires/standards , Chile , Factor Analysis, Statistical , Reproducibility of ResultsABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The Eating Disorders Diagnostic Scale (EDDS) is a self-administered low cost psychometric instrument with excellent levels of temporal reliability and validity. AIM: To adapt and validate the EDDS in Chile. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The factorial structure, internal consistency and test-retest reliability of the Spanish-language version of the EDDS was analyzed in a sample of 1964 university and high school students. The concurrent validity was tested in a sample of 50 primary care patients with ED and 59 controls, comparing its results with those of a structured psychiatric interview (CIDI). RESULTS: The EDDS showed a high internal consistency, moderate test-retest reliability, an appropriate factorial structure (in women) and an excellent convergent validity. Also, the diagnosis of ED obtained with the EDDS is moderately consistent with the structured psychiatric interview. CONCLUSIONS: The Spanish-language version of the EDDS showed a satisfactory psychometric behavior and a good capacity for detecting ED, according to the DSM criterion.
Subject(s)
Feeding and Eating Disorders/diagnosis , Language , Surveys and Questionnaires/standards , Adolescent , Chile , Factor Analysis, Statistical , Female , Humans , Male , Reproducibility of ResultsABSTRACT
Objetivo: Evaluar la presencia de indicadores de psicopatología en adultos que fueron prisioneros políticos en infancia y/o adolescencia durante la dictadura militar chilena. Material y método: Estudio de casos y controles en que se compararon indicadores de trastornos mentales en tres grupos: A) adultos con antecedente de tortura en infancia y/o adolescencia sin reparación psicosocial, B) adultos con antecedentes de tortura con reparación psicosocial y C) adultos que han vivido su infancia y/o adolescencia durante la dictadura, sin antecedentes de tortura. Se utilizo una muestra no aleatoria de 60 personas. Se midieron indicadores de depresión, ansiedad (estado/rasgo), trastorno de estrés postraumático (TEPT) y trastorno de personalidad con escala especificas. Resultados: Existen diferencias significativas en los indicadores de trastornos mentales estudiados entre aquellos adultos que tienen antecedentes de tortura y los que no. Sin embargo, no existen diferencias significativas entre aquellos que no han recibido reparación psicosocial de los que sí la han recibido. Conclusiones: Existe asociación entre trauma extremo en infancia y/o adolescencia y psicopatología adulta y la posibilidad de cronificarse depende de las variables sociales interactuantes.
Objective: Evaluate the presence of psychopathology indicators in adults who were political prisoners during childhood and/or adolescence, during the Chilean military dictatorship. Materials and methods: Case studies and controls, in which indicators of mental disorders were compared in three groups: A) adults who suffered torture and have not received psychosocial treatment, B) adults who suffered torture who did receive psychosocial treatment, and C) adults whose adolescence and/or childhood took place during the dictatorship, who did not suffer torture. A nonrandom sample of 60 people was used. Indicators of depression, anxiety (state/trait), post traumatic stress syndrome (PTSD) and personality disorder were measured with specific scales. Results: There are significant differences in the indicators of mental disorder studied, between those adults who suffered torture and those that did not. Nevertheless, there are not significant differences between those that received psychosocial treatment and those that did not. Conclusions: There is an association between external trauma in childhood and/or adolescence, and psychopathology in adults, and that the possibility of disorders becoming chronic or not depends on interacting social variables.