Transgender patient undergoing Rezum therapy: a case report.

Rezum is a relatively new, minimally invasive approach that utilizes vaporized water to ablate prostatic tissue surrounding the proximal urethra in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia. However, of the many notable studies involving Rezum's effectiveness in men, none have documented use of Rezum in the transgender community. With a growing population of transgender patients in the USA, prostate treatments will be offered for transgender women on a more regular basis. To the best of our knowledge, we introduce the first case of Rezum being utilized to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia in a patient self-identifying as a woman.

New Trends in Digital Technology-Based Psychological and Educational Assessment.

BACKGROUND: The emergence of digital technology in the field of psychological and educational measurement and assessment broadens the traditional concept of pencil and paper tests. New assessment models built on the proliferation of smartphones, social networks and software developments are opening up new horizons in the field. METHOD: This study is divided into four sections, each discussing the benefits and limitations of a specific type of technology-based assessment: ambulatory assessment, social networks, gamification and forced-choice testing. RESULTS: The latest developments are clearly relevant in the field of psychological and educational measurement and assessment. Among other benefits, they bring greater ecological validity to the assessment process and eliminate the bias associated with retrospective assessment. CONCLUSIONS: Some of these new approaches point to a multidisciplinary scenario with a tradition which has yet to be created. Psychometrics must secure a place in this new world by contributing sound expertise in the measurement of psychological variables. The challenges and debates facing the field of psychology as it incorporates these new approaches are also discussed.

New Trends in Digital Technology-Based Psychological and EducationalAssessment / Nuevas Tendencias en Evaluación Psicológica y Educativa Apoyada en Tecnologías Digitales

Background: The emergence of digital technology in the field of psychological and educational measurement and assessment broadens the traditional concept of pencil and paper tests. New assessment models built on the proliferation of smartphones, social networks and software developments are opening up new horizons in the field. Method: This study is divided into four sections, each discussing the benefits and limitations of a specific type of technology-based assessment: ambulatory assessment, social networks, gamification and forced-choice testing. Results: The latest developments are clearly relevant in the field of psychological and educational measurement and assessment. Among other benefits, they bring greater ecological validity to the assessment process and eliminate the bias associated with retrospective assessment. Conclusions: Some of these new approaches point to a multidisciplinary scenario with a tradition which has yet to be created. Psychometrics must secure a place in this new world by contributing sound expertise in the measurement of psychological variables. The challenges and debates facing the field of psychology as it incorporates these new approaches are also discussed.(AU)

Antecedentes: La irrupción de la tecnología digital en las áreas de medición y evaluación psicológica y educativa expande el concepto clásico de test de lápiz y papel. Los modelos de evaluación construidos sobre la ubicuidad de los smartphones, las redes sociales o el desarrollo del software abren nuevas posibilidades para la evaluación. Método: El estudio se organiza en cuatro partes en cada una de las cuales se discuten las ventajas y limitaciones de una aplicación de la tecnología a la evaluación: la evaluación ambulatoria, las redes sociales, la gamificación y las pruebas de elección forzosa. Resultados: Los nuevos desarrollos resultan claramente relevantes en el ámbito de la medición y la evaluación psicológica y educativa. Entre otras ventajas, aportan una mayor validez ecológica al proceso evaluativo y eliminan el sesgo relacionado con la evaluación retrospectiva. Conclusiones: Algunas de estas nuevas aproximaciones llevan a un escenario multidisciplinar con una tradición aún por construir. La psicometría está obligada a integrarse en este nuevo espacio aportando una sólida experiencia en la medición de variables psicológicas. Se muestran los temas de debate y retos que ha de abordar el buen quehacer de la psicología en la incorporación de estas nuevas aproximaciones.(AU)

Cuestiones abiertas en el uso de las nuevas tecnologías en la evaluación psicológica / Open questions in the use of new technologies in psychological assessment

La aplicación de las nuevas tecnologías (NNTT) a la evaluación psicológica puede ampliar enormemente la capacidad de los profesionales para evaluar de forma más precisa y exhaustiva y agilizar los procesos de recogida y análisis de información. Para poder acceder a estas ventajas hay que considerar también los costes, desafíos y amenazas potenciales derivados de la implantación de estos nuevos sistemas de evaluación. Con este objetivo, en este trabajo se abordará en primer lugar en qué grado los profesionales de la psicología, los usuarios y las organizaciones están preparados para adoptar el uso de las NNTT. A continuación, se comentará el impacto que la aplicación de la tecnología está teniendo en los propios instrumentos y en el papel que los profesionales desempeñan. Tras este punto, se cuestionará en qué grado puede darse una cierta fascinación por las NNTT que ciega el análisis de los criterios psicométricos esenciales para cualquier medida. Finalmente, se apuntarán algunos desafíos que los creadores y editores de test deben afrontar durante el desarrollo de instrumentos basados en NNTT.(AU)

The application of new technologies to the field of psychological assessment can greatly enhance the ability of professionals to carry out assessments more accurately and comprehensively and to streamline the processes of collecting and analyzing information. In order to access these benefits, the costs, challenges, and potential threats associated with the implementation of new assessment systems must also be considered. To this end, this paper will first address the extent to which psychology professionals, users, and organizations are prepared to adopt the use of new technologies. Then, we will discuss the impact that the application of technology is having on the instruments themselves and on the role that professionals play during the process. After this, we will question the extent to which a certain fascination with technology can blind the analysis of the essential psychometric criteria for any measurement. Finally, we will identify some of the challenges that test developers and publishers must face during the development of instruments based on new technologies.(AU)

Symptom and Performance Validity Assessment in European Countries: an Update.

In 2013, a special issue of the Spanish journal Clínica y Salud published a review on symptom and performance validity assessment in European countries (Merten et al. in Clínica y Salud, 24(3), 129-138, 2013). At that time, developments were judged to be in their infancy in many countries, with major publication activities stemming from only four countries: Spain, The Netherlands, Great Britain, and Germany. As an introduction to a special issue of Psychological Injury and Law, this is an updated report of developments during the last 10 years. In that period of time, research activities have reached a level where it is difficult to follow all developments; some validity measures were newly developed, others were adapted for European languages, and validity assessment has found a much stronger place in real-world evaluation contexts. Next to an update from the four nations mentioned above, reports are now given from Austria, Italy, and Switzerland, too.

Directrices para la Redacción de Estudios de Caso en Psicología Clínica: PHYSCHOCARE Guidelines / Guidelines for writing of case studies in clinical psychology: PSYCHOCARE guidelines

La publicación continua de estudios de casos en la literatura psicológica pone de relieve la utilidad de esta alternativa para comunicar resultados entre investigadores y profesionales. Este artículo contiene recomendaciones de buenas prácticas para escribir estudios de casos clínicos, series de casos y estudios de diseños experimentales de caso único en psicología clínica, con el fin de mejorar la transparencia en la comunicación de los resultados y aumentar su posibilidad de publicación. Estas pautas sintetizan las recomendaciones de la psicología basada en la evidencia y los estudios de casos sistemáticos, así como las tendencias actuales en el análisis estadístico para este tipo de diseños. Se indican las secciones a incluir, una breve descripción del contenido a desarrollar en cada una de ellas y los aspectos éticos a tener en cuenta en la preparación de estos manuscritos

Continuous publication of case studies in the psychological literature highlights the usefulness of this alternative for communicating results between researchers and practitioners. This article covers recommendations of good practices for writing clinical case studies, case series, and single-case experimental design in clinical psychology in order to improve transparency in the communication of results and increase their odds of being published. These guidelines summarize recommendations from evidence-based psychology and systematic case studies, as well as from current trends in statistical analysis for these types of designs. Sections to be covered, a brief description of the content to be developed in each of them, and the ethical aspects to be taken into account in manuscript preparation are pointed out

[Validation of Q-PAD: Questionnaire for the assessment of psychopathology in adolescent colombian sample]. / Validación del Q-PAD: cuestionario para la evaluación de psicopatología en adolescentes.

The main objective of this study was to contribute to the validation of the Questionnaire for the Evaluation of Psychopathology in Adolescents (Q-PAD) in a nonclinical sample of Colombian adolescents. The sample consisted of 559 students of a center of public secondary education. Correlations between 9 Q-PAD subscales were significant and positive, except for the self-esteem subscale. The internal structure of each scale showed an essentially unidimensional structure, except for the Psychosocial Risk subscale. The internal consistency for the subscales ranged between 0.78 and 0.91 (McDonald's omega). The exploratory factor analysis yielded a solution of 6 factors. A good external validity between the Q-PAD Family Problems subscale and the three subscales of Interpersonal Relations Scale (ERI) was observed. The results indicate that scores of Q-PAD have an appropriate psychometric support and this instrument would allow screening for psychosocial and mental health problems in Colombian adolescents in an efficient, easy, fast and non-invasive way.

Spanish and Chilean Standardizations of the Personality Assessment Inventory: the Influence of Sex.

There is growing interest in the adaptation of psychological questionnaires in different countries, due to the need for cross-cultural research using the same tests adapted to diverse populations. This paper presents the standardization of the Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI; Morey, 1991, 2007) in Spain and Chile (both Spanish-speaking countries). The Spanish sample was made up of 940 people (461 men and 479 women), and the Chilean sample of 569 people (231 men and 338 women). Results revealed that the Chilean means were higher than those of the Spanish sample at confidence level 99.9%, although the associated effect sizes were generally small to moderate (partial eta-square between 0.008 and 0.187). Sex differences in the variables evaluated were commented on, and the importance of cross-cultural research and the influence of sex on personality and psychopathology variables were discussed.

Spanish and Chilean standardizations of the personality assessment inventory: the influence of sex

There is growing interest in the adaptation of psychological questionnaires in different countries, due to the need for cross-cultural research using the same tests adapted to diverse populations. This paper presents the standardization of the Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI; Morey, 1991, 2007) in Spain and Chile (both Spanish-speaking countries). The Spanish sample was made up of 940 people (461 men and 479 women), and the Chilean sample of 569 people (231 men and 338 women). Results revealed that the Chilean means were higher than those of the Spanish sample at confidence level 99.9%, although the associated effect sizes were generally small to moderate (partial etasquare between 0.008 and 0.187). Sex differences in the variables evaluated were commented on, and the importance of cross-cultural research and the influence of sex on personality and psychopathology variables were discussed (AU)

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Symptom validity assessment in European countries: Development and state of the art / Evaluación de la validez de los síntomas en Europa: evolución y situación actual

In the past, the practice of symptom validity assessment (SVA) in European countries was considerably lagging behind developments in North America, with the topic of malingering being largely taboo for psychological and medical professionals. This was being changed in the course of the past decade with a growing interest in methods for the assessment of negative response bias. European estimates of suboptimal test performance in civil and social forensic contexts point at base rates similar to those obtained in North America. Symptom over-reporting and underperformance in neuropsychological examinations appear to occur in a sizable proportion of patients. Although there is considerable progress in establishing SVA as an integral and indispensable part of psychological and neuropsychological assessment in some countries, others appear to lag behind. In some countries there is still enormous resistance against SVA from part of the neuropsychological and psychiatric communities (AU)

Hasta no hace mucho tiempo la evaluación de la validez de los síntomas en Europa, tanto en su vertiente científico-académica como en la práctica profesional, estaba muy por detrás de los avances que se producían en Norteamérica y particularmente la simulación se consideraba un tema tabú entre los profesionales de la Psicología y la Medicina. En la última década las cosas parecen haber cambiado, observándose un incremento en el interés por la evaluación del sesgo de respuesta negativo. Las tasas base de prevalencia obtenidas utilizando pruebas de rendimiento subóptimo en contextos civiles y forenses son similares a las obtenidas en Norteamérica. Los fenómenos de exageración de síntomas en autoinformes y rendimiento insuficiente en pruebas neuropsicológicas parecen ocurrir en semejante proporción de pacientes. Aunque se han producido avances notables en el establecimiento de la evaluación de la validez de los síntomas como una parte integral e indispensable de la evaluación psicológica y neuropsicológica en algunos países europeos, en otros sin embargo la situación es mucho más incipiente. De hecho, en algunos países sigue existiendo una gran resistencia a la evaluación de la validez de los síntomas proveniente de algunos profesionales de la psiquiatría y la neuropsicología (AU)

Prevalencia de simulación en incapacidad temporal: percepción de los profesionales de la salud / Health professionals´ perceptions of prevalence of malingering in temporary disability in Spain

A pesar de su relevancia económica y social, apenas existen estudios en España que aborden la prevalencia de la simulación en la incapacidad temporal. El objetivo de este estudio ha sido abordar esta cuestión indagando en qué patologías se percibe que hay mayor presencia de simulación en el contexto médico-legal por parte de los profesionales que trabajan en su determinación. Para ello se ha dispuesto de una muestra incidental de 161 médicos (56% mujeres) procedentes de 26 provincias distintas, con edades comprendidas entre los 30 y los 59 años (M = 43.6, DT = 6.5) y con un promedio de 17 años de ejercicio profesional (DT = 6.3). Mediante un breve cuestionario se les pidió que indicaran qué patologías eran más simuladas, cuál creían que era el porcentaje de simulación en las mismas, cuál era el perfil sociodemográfico (edad, nivel de ingresos, profesión, etc.) y qué datos consideraban indicativos de sospecha. Los resultados mostraron que los profesionales percibían como con mayores tasas de simulación los trastornos por dolor crónico (esguince cervical, lumbalgia, cervicalgia, fibromialgia) y los afectivos y emocionales (ansiedad y depresión). El perfil sociodemográfico prototípico era el de personas de mediana edad, con trabajos poco estimulantes y bajos o moderados ingresos, que comienzan sufriendo originalmente algún tipo de lesión o trastorno y deciden prolongarlo en el tiempo para mantener los beneficios obtenidos. Estos resultados se presentan encuadrados dentro del modelo adaptativo de simulación y se asocian a la necesidad de desarrollar protocolos específicos de simulación que minimicen los posibles falsos positivos y falsos negativos en el proceso de evaluación (AU)

In spite of the economic and social relevance of the prevalence of malingering in temporary incapacity, there are very few studies in Spain dealing with this problem. The aim of the present paper is to address this matter by looking into those pathologies that according to professionals show the highest rates of malingering in the medico-legal context. For this purpose, we used an incidental sample of 161 doctors (56% of them were women) from 26 different Spanish provinces, with an age range of 30 to 59 (M = 43.6, SD = 6.5) and an average seniority on the job of 17 years (SD = 6.3). They were asked to complete a brief questionnaire indicating those pathologies in which they thought malingering was more frequent, what percentage of these conditions they thought was simulated, the sociodemographic profile of malingerers (age, income, occupation, etc.), and what data they considered to be an indication for suspicion. The results showed that the doctors perceived the highest rates of malingering to be associated with chronic pain conditions (cervical sprain, lumbago, neck and shoulder pain, fibromyalgia) and affective/emotional conditions (anxiety and depression). The prototypical sociodemographic profile was a middle-aged person, with an unstimulating job and a low or moderate income, and who once had an injury or disorder and decided to prolong it over time in order to maintain the benefits obtained. These results are presented within the frame of the adaptive malingering model and linked to the need to develop specific malingering protocols which minimize the risk of false positives and false negatives in the assessment process (AU)

Fibromialgia: ¿exageración o simulación? / Fibromyalgia: Exaggeration or malingering?

Se presenta un estudio multidimensional de la exageración de síntomas en pacientes con fibromialgia. El objetivo principal es detectar patrones discriminantes de simulación de discapacidad relacionada con el dolor con el fin de desarrollar un protocolo detallado para la evaluación de sospecha de simulación en los casos con síntomas físicos o psicológicos falsos o exagerados motivados por incentivos externos. La muestra total (N = 113) estuvo compuesta por cuatro grupos: pacientes con fibromialgia no litigantes (n = 36), pacientes con fibromialgia en situación de litigancia (n = 26), participantes análogos (n = 21) y grupo control (n = 30). Se administraron diferentes pruebas médicas y psicológicas a los participantes, incluyendo pruebas médicas complementarias, la adaptación española de la Escala de Auto–Eficacia (Baessler y Schwarzer, 1996), la Escala de Satisfacción Personal Vital (González Ordi, Santamaría y Casado Morales, 2012), la adaptación española del Cuestionario de Impacto de Fibromialgia (FIQ, Monterde, Salvat, Montull y Fernández-Ballart, 2004), la versión española de la Encuesta de Salud SF-36 (Alonso, Prieto y Antó, 1995), la adaptación española del Inventario Estructurado de Simulación de Síntomas (SIMS, González Ordi y Santamaría, 2009) y la adaptación española del Inventario de Personalidad de Minnesota- 2- Formulario Reestructurado (MMPI-2-RF, Ben-Porath y Tellegen, 2008a). Se presentan datos sobre las diferencias entre grupos y la precisión de predicción de los instrumentos utilizados. También se aborda un protocolo para la detección de la simulación en base a los resultados del perfil diferencial entre la fibromialgia no litigante y litigantes (AU)

A multidimensional study on symptom exaggeration in fibromyalgia patients is presented. The main aim is to detect discriminant patterns of malingered pain-related disability in order to develop a detailed protocol for the assessment of suspected malingering in cases of false or grossly exaggerated physical or psychological symptoms motivated by external incentives. Overall sample (N = 113) consisted of four groups: fibromyalgia patients not involved in litigation (n = 36), fibromyalgia patients involved in litigation (n = 26), analogue fibromyalgia-instructed participants (n = 21), and control group (n = 30). Several medical and psychological tests were administered to participants, including medical complementary tests, the Spanish adaptation of the General Self-Efficacy Scale (Baessler & Schwarzer, 1996), the Life Personal Self-Report Scale (González-Ordi, Santamaría, & Casado-Morales, 2012), the Spanish adaptation of the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnarie (FIQ, Monterde, Salvat, Montull, & Fernández-Ballart, 2004), the Spanish version of the SF-36 Health Survey (Alonso, Prieto, & Antó, 1995), the Spanish adaptation of the Structured Inventory of Malingered Symptomatology (SIMS, González-Ordi & Santamaría, 2009), and the Spanish adaptation of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2-Restructured Form (MMPI-2-RF, Ben-Porath & Tellegen, 2008a). Data on mean group differences and predictive accuracy of the instruments used are presented. A protocol for the detection of malingering based on the differential profile scores between fibromyalgia non-litigants and litigants are also addressed (AU)

[Production and implementation of predictive biological models]. / Modélisation intégrative prédictive et biologie expérimentale: un processus synergique remarquablement efficace au service de la recherche médicale.

The production and implementation of methodologies allowing the construction of coherent, precise and trustworthy predictive biological models has become an inescapable necessity. The financial stakes -attached to this reality are very high indeed, be it in the public or the private domains (health, research, pharma and foodstuffs industries, environment, etc.). Modelling biological systems is widely presented as a problem in computational sciences. While certainly very true for low complexity, practically continuous systems, this view cannot be upheld in the case of discontinuous, hyper-complex systems such as living entities. In these domains, modelling becomes a problem in biology assisted by computational sciences and certainly not the obverse. The following article will attempt to demonstrate why it is so, using concrete examples.