Towards a comprehensive approach to mentalization-based treatment for children with autism: integrating attachment, neurosciences, and mentalizing.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is diagnosed based on socio-communicative difficulties, which are believed to result from deficits in mentalizing, mainly evidenced by alterations in recognizing and responding to the mental states of others. In recent years, efforts have been made to develop mentalization-based treatment (MBT) models for this population. These models focus on enhancing individuals' ability to understand and reflect on their own mental states, as well as those of others. However, MBT approaches for people with ASD are limited by their existing theoretical background, which lacks a strong foundation grounded in neuroscience-based evidence properly integrated with attachment, and mentalizing. These are crucial aspects for understanding psychological processes in autism, and as such, they play a pivotal role in shaping the development of tailored and effective therapeutic strategies for this specific population. In this paper we review evidence related to the neurobiological, interpersonal, and psychological dimensions of autism and their implications for mentalizing processes. We also review previous mentalization-based frameworks on the psychosis continuum to provide a comprehensive understanding of attachment, neurobiology, and mentalization domains in therapeutic approaches for autism. After presenting a synthesis of the literature, we offer a set of clinical strategies for the work with children with autism. Finally, we provide recommendations to advance the field towards more robust models that can serve as a basis for evidence-based therapeutic strategies.

Digital adaptation of group activities in an outpatient center of a children´s hospital: Adolescent participants' experiences. / Adaptación telemática de las actividades grupales de un hospital de día infanto-juvenil: experiencias de participantes adolescentes.

Introduction: Outpatient centers offer specialized care to users with severe psychiatric disorders. The usual group activities of outpatient centers have been shown to be effective in the child and adolescent population. There are significant access limitations to these services and one way to expand coverage is through digital care. However, there are no studies on digital outpatient care services in Chile. The present study is part of the preparatory phase of a future randomized clinical trial to investigate the effectiveness of digital adaptation of outpatient centers interventions. Objectives: To explore the experience and subjective perception of the pilot intervention participants by identifying central themes, and to evaluate the participant's satisfaction regarding the intervention. Methods: Of the 13 users of the digital group activities, 10 participated in this study. Semi-structured interviews and satisfaction surveys were conducted between August 2020 and January 2021. The interviews were evaluated using content analysis and the surveys were conducted using descriptive statistics. Conclusions and Results: Participants were particularly appreciative of positive social interactions (with peers and therapists). There is a general perception of having improved socioemotional skills and mood. The digital implementation was satisfactory for most participants, who suggested adding activities that promote deeper interactions with their peers. The core elements of this intervention would be the perception of social support (a possible therapeutic mechanism), along with the feeling of improved social skills and mood (possible main outcome).

Introducción: Los hospitales de día ofrecen atención especializada a usuarios con patologías psiquiátricas graves. Las actividades grupales habituales del hospital de día han demostrado efectividad en población infanto-juvenil. Existen importantes limitaciones de acceso a estos servicios y una forma de ampliar la cobertura es a través de la atención telemática. Sin embargo, no existen estudios sobre atención telemática de hospital de día en Chile. El presente estudio es parte de la fase preparatoria de un futuro ensayo clínico aleatorizado para investigar la efectividad de la adaptación telemática de las intervenciones de un hospital de día. Objetivos: Explorar la percepción y experiencia subjetiva de los participantes de la versión piloto de dicha intervención identificando temáticas centrales, y evaluar la satisfacción de los participantes con la intervención. Métodos: De los 13 usuarios de las actividades grupales telemáticas, 10 participaron en este estudio. Se realizaron entrevistas semi-estructuradas y encuestas de satisfacción entre agosto de 2020 y enero de 2021. Las entrevistas fueron evaluadas utilizando análisis de contenido y las encuestas se realizaron con estadísticas descriptivas. Resultados: Se aprecia una especial valoración de los participantes por las interacciones sociales positivas (con pares y terapeutas). Aparece una percepción general de haber mejorado en habilidades socioemocionales y estado de ánimo. La implementación telemática resultó satisfactoria para la mayoría de los participantes, quienes proponen agregar actividades que promuevan interacciones más profundas con sus pares. Conclusiones: Los elementos centrales de esta intervención serían la percepción de apoyo social (posible mecanismo terapéutico), junto con la sensación de mejorar las habilidades sociales y el estado de ánimo (posible resultado principal).

Adaptación telemática de las actividades grupales de un hospital de día infanto-juvenil: experiencias de participantes adolescentes / Digital adaptation of group activities in an outpatient center of a children´s hospital: Adolescent participants' experiences

Introducción Los hospitales de día ofrecen atención especializada a usuarios con patologías psiquiátricas graves. Las actividades grupales habituales del hospital de día han demostrado efectividad en población infanto-juvenil. Existen importantes limitaciones de acceso a estos servicios y una forma de ampliar la cobertura es a través de la atención telemática. Sin embargo, no existen estudios sobre atención telemática de hospital de día en Chile. El presente estudio es parte de la fase preparatoria de un futuro ensayo clínico aleatorizado para investigar la efectividad de la adaptación telemática de las intervenciones de un hospital de día. Objetivos Explorar la percepción y experiencia subjetiva de los participantes de la versión piloto de dicha intervención identificando temáticas centrales, y evaluar la satisfacción de los participantes con la intervención. Métodos De los 13 usuarios de las actividades grupales telemáticas, 10 participaron en este estudio. Se realizaron entrevistas semi-estructuradas y encuestas de satisfacción entre agosto de 2020 y enero de 2021. Las entrevistas fueron evaluadas utilizando análisis de contenido y las encuestas se realizaron con estadísticas descriptivas. Resultados Se aprecia una especial valoración de los participantes por las interacciones sociales positivas (con pares y terapeutas). Aparece una percepción general de haber mejorado en habilidades socioemocionales y estado de ánimo. La implementación telemática resultó satisfactoria para la mayoría de los participantes, quienes proponen agregar actividades que promuevan interacciones más profundas con sus pares. Conclusiones Los elementos centrales de esta intervención serían la percepción de apoyo social (posible mecanismo terapéutico), junto con la sensación de mejorar las habilidades sociales y el estado de ánimo (posible resultado principal).

Introduction Outpatient centers offer specialized care to users with severe psychiatric disorders. The usual group activities of outpatient centers have been shown to be effective in the child and adolescent population. There are significant access limitations to these services and one way to expand coverage is through digital care. However, there are no studies on digital outpatient care services in Chile. The present study is part of the preparatory phase of a future randomized clinical trial to investigate the effectiveness of digital adaptation of outpatient centers interventions. Objectives To explore the experience and subjective perception of the pilot intervention participants by identifying central themes, and to evaluate the participant's satisfaction regarding the intervention. Methods Of the 13 users of the digital group activities, 10 participated in this study. Semi-structured interviews and satisfaction surveys were conducted between August 2020 and January 2021. The interviews were evaluated using content analysis and the surveys were conducted using descriptive statistics. Conclusions Results Participants were particularly appreciative of positive social interactions (with peers and therapists). There is a general perception of having improved socioemotional skills and mood. The digital implementation was satisfactory for most participants, who suggested adding activities that promote deeper interactions with their peers. The core elements of this intervention would be the perception of social support (a possible therapeutic mechanism), along with the feeling of improved social skills and mood (possible main outcome).

Strength-based Video-feedback to improve maternal sensitivity in mother-infant dyads with maternal depressive symptoms: Study protocol for a randomized controlled feasibility trial. / Video-retroalimentación Focalizado en los Recursos para mejorar la sensibilidad en díadas madre-infante con síntomas depresivos: protocolo de un ensayo clínico aleatorizado piloto.

Introduction: Maternal sensitivity and mentalization are fundamental for children's mental health development. These skills have been negatively associated with maternal postpartum depressive symptomatology. Moreover, its prevalence increases in low socioeconomic and psychosocial risk contexts, where the access to treatment is scarce. Even though Attachment Based Interventios, such as Video-Feedback has been internationally recognized as an effective intervention. Its cost, as well as the need for language translation and cultural adaptation makes it difficult to implement in Latinamerican countries. Aim: The present study aims to assess the feasibility and acceptability of an online Video-Feedback intervention informed n mentalization aimed at mother-infant dyads with depressive symptomatology who attend Chilean public health centers. Method: This is a pilot randomized clinical trial with two groups of 60 mother-infant dyads between 4 and 12 months of age. Participants will be randomly assigned to control and experimental groups in a 1:1 ratio. Even though both groups will receive usual treatment, the experimental group will also receive the present video-intervention. At the end of the study, feasibility will be assessed based on focus groups aimed at interveners and quantitative outcomes such as recruitment rate, questionnaire completion rate and intervention completeness. Acceptability will be assessed from in-depth interviews with participants. In addition, effect sizes of primary and secondary outcomes will be calculated. Expected results: Results are expected to generate parameters to design a larger-scale clinical trial and to preliminary assess the effect of the reported mentalization-informed intervention on maternal sensitivity. Additionally, it seeks to contribute with a mental health intervention for low-income mother-infant dyads, which can be implemented remotely, at a low cost, and that would be suitable for implementation at a mental health care system policy. The protocol of this trial's design was registered at Clinical Trials (NCT04748731).

Introducción: La sensibilidad y la mentalización materna constituyen competencias fundamentales para el desarrollo de la salud mental infantil. A su vez, dichas habilidades han sido negativamente asociadas con la presencia de sintomatología depresiva postparto, la cual aumenta su prevalencia en contextos de bajo nivel socioeconómico y riesgo psicosocial, en donde el acceso a tratamiento escasea. Paralelamente, si bien internacionalmente el video-retroalimentación constituye una herramienta efectiva en intervenciones basadas en el apego, el costo, idioma y necesidad de adaptación cultural dificultan su implementación en países latinoamericanos. Objetivo: Evaluar la factibilidad y aceptabilidad de una video-intervención informada por la mentalización, dirigida a díadas madre-bebé con sintomatología depresiva, atendidas en centros públicos de atención en salud mental en Chile. Métodos: Ensayo clínico aleatorio piloto con dos grupos de 60 díadas madre-bebé de entre 4 y 12 meses de edad, quienes serán asignados aleatoriamente a grupos control y experimental en una proporción de 1:1. Si bien ambos grupos recibirán el tratamiento habitual, el grupo experimental recibirá también la video-intervención. Al término del estudio se evaluará la factibilidad a partir de grupos focales dirigidos a interventores e indicadores de resultados cuantitativos tales como tasa de reclutamiento, de completación de cuestionarios y finalización de la intervención. La aceptabilidad se evaluará a partir de entrevistas en profundidad a las participantes. Adicionalmente se calculará tamaño del efecto de indicadores de resultados primarios y secundarios. Resultados esperados: Se espera que los resultados del estudio generen parámetros para diseñar un ensayo clínico de mayor escala y evaluar preliminarmente el efecto de la intervención informada en la mentalización en la sensibilidad materna. Se busca además contribuir con una intervención en salud mental basada en la teoría del apego dirigida a díadas madre-bebé de bajos ingresos, que pueda ser implementada de manera remota, a bajo costo y apta para ser escalada a los sistemas de atención en salud mental.

Video-retroalimentación Focalizado en los Recursos para mejorar la sensibilidad en díadas madre-infante con síntomas depresivos: protocolo de un ensayo clínico aleatorizado piloto / Strength-based Video-feedback to improve maternal sensitivity in mother-infant dyads with maternal depressive symptoms: Study protocol for a randomized controlled feasibility trial

Introduction Maternal sensitivity and mentalization are fundamental for children's mental health development. These skills have been negatively associated with maternal postpartum depressive symptomatology. Moreover, its prevalence increases in low socioeconomic and psychosocial risk contexts, where the access to treatment is scarce. Even though Attachment Based Interventios, such as Video-Feedback has been internationally recognized as an effective intervention. Its cost, as well as the need for language translation and cultural adaptation makes it difficult to implement in Latinamerican countries. Aim The present study aims to assess the feasibility and acceptability of an online Video-Feedback intervention informed n mentalization aimed at mother-infant dyads with depressive symptomatology who attend Chilean public health centers. Method This is a pilot randomized clinical trial with two groups of 60 mother-infant dyads between 4 and 12 months of age. Participants will be randomly assigned to control and experimental groups in a 1:1 ratio. Even though both groups will receive usual treatment, the experimental group will also receive the present video-intervention. At the end of the study, feasibility will be assessed based on focus groups aimed at interveners and quantitative outcomes such as recruitment rate, questionnaire completion rate and intervention completeness. Acceptability will be assessed from in-depth interviews with participants. In addition, effect sizes of primary and secondary outcomes will be calculated. Expected results Results are expected to generate parameters to design a larger-scale clinical trial and to preliminary assess the effect of the reported mentalization-informed intervention on maternal sensitivity. Additionally, it seeks to contribute with a mental health intervention for low-income mother-infant dyads, which can be implemented remotely, at a low cost, and that would be suitable for implementation at a mental health care system policy. The protocol of this trial's design was registered at Clinical Trials (NCT04748731).

Introducción La sensibilidad y la mentalización materna constituyen competencias fundamentales para el desarrollo de la salud mental infantil. A su vez, dichas habilidades han sido negativamente asociadas con la presencia de sintomatología depresiva postparto, la cual aumenta su prevalencia en contextos de bajo nivel socioeconómico y riesgo psicosocial, en donde el acceso a tratamiento escasea. Paralelamente, si bien internacionalmente el video-retroalimentación constituye una herramienta efectiva en intervenciones basadas en el apego, el costo, idioma y necesidad de adaptación cultural dificultan su implementación en países latinoamericanos. Objetivo Evaluar la factibilidad y aceptabilidad de una video-intervención informada por la mentalización, dirigida a díadas madre-bebé con sintomatología depresiva, atendidas en centros públicos de atención en salud mental en Chile. Métodos Ensayo clínico aleatorio piloto con dos grupos de 60 díadas madre-bebé de entre 4 y 12 meses de edad, quienes serán asignados aleatoriamente a grupos control y experimental en una proporción de 1:1. Si bien ambos grupos recibirán el tratamiento habitual, el grupo experimental recibirá también la video-intervención. Al término del estudio se evaluará la factibilidad a partir de grupos focales dirigidos a interventores e indicadores de resultados cuantitativos tales como tasa de reclutamiento, de completación de cuestionarios y finalización de la intervención. La aceptabilidad se evaluará a partir de entrevistas en profundidad a las participantes. Adicionalmente se calculará tamaño del efecto de indicadores de resultados primarios y secundarios. Resultados esperados Se espera que los resultados del estudio generen parámetros para diseñar un ensayo clínico de mayor escala y evaluar preliminarmente el efecto de la intervención informada en la mentalización en la sensibilidad materna. Se busca además contribuir con una intervención en salud mental basada en la teoría del apego dirigida a díadas madre-bebé de bajos ingresos, que pueda ser implementada de manera remota, a bajo costo y apta para ser escalada a los sistemas de atención en salud mental.

Domesticating the condition: Design lessons gained from a marathon on how to cope with barriers imposed by type 1 diabetes.

Through analytical autoethnographic analysis of marathon preparation, this study examines challenges faced by people with Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) who engage in high-performance sports. Autoethnographer and second-person perspectives (T1D runners, family members, and health providers) were collected through introspective activities (autoethnographic diary and in-depth interviews) to understand the T1D runner's coping experience. Six insights involved in T1D self-management were identified and analyzed with reference to related design tools (prototyping, archetyping and journey mapping). Finally, we conclude with a discussion of how endurance physical activity (PA) such as running helps to "domesticate" T1D, a term coined to reflect the difficulties that T1D presents for PA accomplishment and how T1D runners' experiences give them an opportunity to overcome PA barriers promoting physical culture and enriching further health psychology studies.

Internet-based peer support interventions for people living with HIV: A scoping review.

Peer support interventions for people living with HIV and AIDS (PLWHA) are effective, but their associated time and material costs for the recipient and the health system make them reachable for only a small proportion of PLWHA. Internet-based interventions are an effective alternative for delivering psychosocial interventions for PLWHA as they are more accessible. Currently, no reviews are focusing on internet-based interventions with peer support components. This scoping review aims to map the existing literature on psychosocial interventions for PLWHA based on peer support and delivered through the internet. We conducted a systematic scoping review of academic literature following methodological guidelines for scoping reviews, and 28 articles met our criteria. We summarized the main characteristics of the digital peer support interventions for PLWHA and how they implemented peer support in a virtual environment. Overall the reported outcomes appeared promising, but more robust evidence is needed.

Social Support and Depressive Symptoms in the Context of COVID-19 Lockdown: The Moderating Role of Attachment Styles.

Objectives: COVID-19 sanitary measures (social distancing, school closures) have deeply impacted social life, support networks, and their protective role in mental health. The present study aims to understand how attachment styles influence the way individuals experience social support. Particularly, investigating its moderating role in the relationship between social support and depression. Methods: An online survey was designed to clarify the role of adult attachment styles (ECR-S) in the perceived social support (MOSS) and self-reported depressive symptoms (BDI-SF) in the COVID-19 context. Results: Positive social interactions was the most important dimension of social support for lower depression symptoms. Individuals attachment strategies have a moderating role in the relation between of social support and depression. Crucially, insecure attachment style wanes the positive impact of social support in depression. Conclusion: Aligned with the existing literature, attachment security is an essential factor in our current understanding of relationships and mental health. Exploring specific and indivual attachment strategies might be a powerful tool to protect population's mental healt.

Characteristics of psychosocial interventions to improve ART adherence in people living with HIV: A systematic review.

The HIV/AIDS pandemic continues to be a significant global public health crisis. The main HIV/AIDS treatment is the antiretroviral therapy (ART), which is highly effective but depends on the patient's adherence to be successful. However, the adherence to antiretroviral therapy remains unsatisfactory across different populations, which raises considerable difficulties at both individual and collective levels. Suboptimal adherence to ART can be overcome through multidisciplinary management that includes evidence-based psychosocial interventions. Existing reviews on these interventions have focused mainly on studies with experimental designs, overlooking valuable interventions whose evidence comes from different study designs. Here, we aimed to carry out a comprehensive review of the current research on psychosocial interventions for ART adherence and their characteristics including studies with different designs. We conducted a systematic review following PRISMA guidelines. We searched five databases (Pubmed, EBSCO, LILACS, WoS and SCIELO) for articles reporting a psychosocial intervention to improve treatment adherence for people living with HIV (adults). The quality of each study was analyzed with standardized tools, and data were summarized using a narrative synthesis method. Twenty-three articles were identified for inclusion, and they demonstrated good to fair quality. Individual counseling was the most frequent intervention, followed by SMS reminders, education, and group support. Most interventions combined different strategies and self-efficacy was the most common underlying theoretical framework. This review provides insight into the main characteristics of current psychosocial interventions designed to improve ART treatment adherence. PROSPERO number: CRD42021252449.

Coaching para el tratamiento de la obesidad y sobrepeso: una revisión sistemática

Coaching is increasingly used to treat obesity or overweight. We conducted a systematic review to explore the intervention's characteristics, effectivity, and quality of the published studies. The search was carried out on Pubmed, Scielo and Scopus databases. We considered studies published in peer-reviewed journals between 2014 and 2019 in English and Spanish. Following PRISMA guidelines, we selected and analyzed 22 articles, 46% of which were randomized controlled trials. Most of the studies had moderate quality, according to the risk of bias assessment carried out by three independent researchers based on the Study Quality Assessment Tool. Seventy seven percent of interventions targeted adults, and their duration ranged between two and 19 months. They were delivered in both private and public contexts, with face-to-face or remote interventions and combined techniques, mainly from the United States (82%). The interventions showed a 51% effectiveness in reducing weight, increasing physical activity, and changing eating habits. We conclude that coaching might be an effective therapeutic strategy for obesity and overweight.

Day hospital during COVID-19 pandemic: adolescents experiences of telematic group interventions / Hospital de día en contexto de pandemia por COVID-19: experiencias de adolescentes asistiendo a intervenciones grupales telemáticas

Objective: To explore the experience of adolescent users of the day hospital who were part of the telematic adaptation of the usual group interventions of the day hospital. Background: Day Hospitals are specialized outpatient facilities whose objective is to stabilize the user through intensive treatment while remaining in their family or community. In Chile, there are not enough day hospitals. One way of expanding the coverage is telematic care, which also is adapted to the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions.  However, there are no studies on telematic day hospital services in Chile. Material and Methods: ten users participated in the study (out of 13 users of the intervention). We conducted semi-structured interviews and self-administered surveys between August 2020 and January 2021. Content Analysis was used to analyze the interviews, and the surveys were analyzed with descriptive statistics. Results: Positive social interactions were particularly valued by the participants (with both peers and therapists). There is a general perception of having improved socioemotional skills and mood. Telematic implementation was considered satisfactory by most participants, and they proposed incorporating more activities to promote deeper interactions with their peers. Conclusion: The core elements of this intervention would be the perception of social support (a possible therapeutic mechanism) and the feeling of having improved social skills and mood (possible primary outcome).

Objetivo: explorar la experiencia de adolescentes usuarios del hospital de día que fueron parte de la adaptación telemática de las intervenciones grupales habituales de dicho hospital. Antecedente teóricos: los Hospitales de Día (HDD) son puntos de atención de hospitalización diurna y especializada cuyo objetivo es alcanzar la estabilización del usuario/a por medio de un tratamiento intensivo permaneciendo en su familia o comunidad. Los HDD en Chile son insuficientes. Una forma de ampliar la cobertura es la atención telemática, la que además se adapta a las limitaciones impuestas por la pandemia por COVID-19.  Sin embargo, no existen estudios sobre atención telemática de HDD en Chile. Material y Métodos: de los 13 usuarios de la intervención, 10 participaron en este estudio. Se realizaron entrevistas semi-estructuradas y encuestas autoaplicadas entre agosto 2020 y enero 2021.  Las entrevistas fueron analizadas utilizando Análisis de Contenido y las encuestas se analizaron con estadísticas descriptivas. Resultados: se aprecia una especial valoración de los/las participantes por las interacciones sociales positivas (con pares y terapeutas). Aparece una percepción general de haber mejorado en habilidades socioemocionales y estado de ánimo. La implementación telemática resultó satisfactoria para la mayoría de los participantes quienes proponen agregar actividades que promuevan interacciones más profundas con sus pares. Conclusión: los elementos centrales de esta intervención serían la percepción de apoyo social (posible mecanismo terapéutico) y la sensación de mejorar las habilidades sociales y el estado de ánimo (posible resultado principal).

Social Support and Cognition: A Systematic Review.

Although the influence of social support in health is a widely acknowledged factor, there is a significant gap in the understanding of its role on cognition. The purpose of this systematic review was, therefore, to determine the state-of-the-art on the literature testing the association between social support and cognition. Using six databases (WoS, PubMed, ProQuest, PsycINFO, Scopus and EBSCOhost), we identified 22 articles published between 1999 and 2019 involving an empirical quantitative focus which meet the inclusion criteria. Data extraction was performed following PRISMA recommendations. To summarize the extracted data, we used a narrative synthesis approach. Despite limitations, there is overall preliminary evidence of a relevant positive association between social support and cognition. Our results demonstrate there is enough information for an outbreak of experimental research in the area and an expansion of this body of knowledge. We argue that the present evidence lays the foundations for a more comprehensive theoretical model, one that corresponds with the complexity of the topic and possibly considers models derived from social interaction and active inference theories.

[Coaching for the treatment of obesity and overweight: a systematic review]. / Coaching para el tratamiento de la obesidad y sobrepeso: una revisión sistemática.

Coaching is increasingly used to treat obesity or overweight. We conducted a systematic review to explore the intervention's characteristics, effectivity, and quality of the published studies. The search was carried out on Pubmed, Scielo and Scopus databases. We considered studies published in peer-reviewed journals between 2014 and 2019 in English and Spanish. Following PRISMA guidelines, we selected and analyzed 22 articles, 46% of which were randomized controlled trials. Most of the studies had moderate quality, according to the risk of bias assessment carried out by three independent researchers based on the Study Quality Assessment Tool. Seventy seven percent of interventions targeted adults, and their duration ranged between two and 19 months. They were delivered in both private and public contexts, with face-to-face or remote interventions and combined techniques, mainly from the United States (82%). The interventions showed a 51% effectiveness in reducing weight, increasing physical activity, and changing eating habits. We conclude that coaching might be an effective therapeutic strategy for obesity and overweight.

Mentalizing in mothers and children with type 1 diabetes.

Studies suggest that the relationship between psychosocial well-being and type 1 diabetes (T1D) is bidirectional, with T1D typically having a negative influence on psychological functioning, which in turn negatively affects the course of T1D. Here, we investigate the potential role of the capacity for mentalizing, or reflective functioning, in children and their mothers in diabetes control. We tested differences in mentalizing as assessed by the Reflective Functioning Scale in two groups of mother-son dyads with good (GDC) versus poor (PDC) diabetes control. Fifty-five boys (8-12 years old) and their mothers were recruited from the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation in Santiago, Chile. The mothers were interviewed with the Parental Development Interview and the children with the Child Attachment Interview, and both were scored for reflective functioning by using the Reflective Functioning Scale. Self-report measures of stress and diabetes outcomes were completed by the mothers and children, and levels of glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) were assessed as an index of diabetes control. The results showed that both maternal and child reflective functioning were higher in the GDC than the PDC group and were negatively correlated with HbA1c in the total sample. Our findings suggest an important role for mentalizing in diabetes outcomes, but further prospective research is needed.

Attachment and stress in children with type 1 Diabetes and their mothers. / Apego y estrés en niños con Diabetes tipo 1 y sus madres.

OBJECTIVE: To understand the relationship between attachment and diabetes and the role of stress mediators in children with type 1 diabetes (T1D) and their mothers. MATERIAL AND METHOD: The following assessment instruments were applied as self-report measures: Attachment Scale (ECR- R), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), Security Scale (SS), and the Stress in Children (SiC) questionnaire, which were completed by children and their mothers. We analyzed demographic variables, diabetes onset time, and the average of the last three glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) measurements as a parameter of metabolic control in the last year. RESULTS: Attachment strategies of both mother and child, as well as maternal stress, showed a significant association with the child's diabetes outcomes, although with important gender differences. CONCLUSIONS: Both mother and child attachment strate gies are relevant aspects of the T1D course.

Apego y estrés en niños con Diabetes tipo 1 y sus madres / Attachment and stress in children with type 1 Diabetes and their mothers

Resumen: Objetivo: Comprender la relación entre apego y diabetes y el rol mediador del estrés en niños con diabetes mellitus tipo 1 (DM1) y sus madres. Material y Método: Se aplicaron Instrumentos de evaluación correspondientes a Escalas de Apego (ECR-R), Estrés percibido (PSS), Seguridad (SS) y Estrés en niños (SiC), como medidas de autoreporte completadas por niños(as) y sus madres. Se analizaron variables demográficas, tiempo de inicio de diabetes, y el promedio de las ultimas 3 medi ciones de Hemoglobina glicosilada HbA1c como parámetro del control metabólico del último año. Resultados: Las estrategias de apego maternas e infantiles y el estrés materno mostraron una asocia ción significativa con los resultados de la diabetes del niño(a), aunque con importantes diferencias de género. Conclusiones: Las estrategias de apego, infantiles y maternas, son relevantes en el curso de la diabetes.

Abstract: Objective: To understand the relationship between attachment and diabetes and the role of stress mediators in children with type 1 diabetes (T1D) and their mothers. Material and Method: The following assessment instruments were applied as self-report measures: Attachment Scale (ECR- R), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), Security Scale (SS), and the Stress in Children (SiC) questionnaire, which were completed by children and their mothers. We analyzed demographic variables, diabetes onset time, and the average of the last three glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) measurements as a parameter of metabolic control in the last year. Results: Attachment strategies of both mother and child, as well as maternal stress, showed a significant association with the child's diabetes outcomes, although with important gender differences. Conclusions: Both mother and child attachment strate gies are relevant aspects of the T1D course.