Executive Functioning and Language in a Pediatric Population with Autism Spectrum Disorders and Epilepsy: A Comparative Study.

In recent years, there has been an increase in the prevalence of comorbidity between ASD and epilepsy in the pediatric population. Children with ASD and epilepsy often exhibit greater impairments in executive functions such as cognitive flexibility, planning, inhibition, and emotional control, as well as in language dimensions such as phonology, semantics, morphosyntax, and pragmatics. These impairments can significantly impact their maturation and development. The aim of this study was to assess and compare the executive functioning and language skills of 150 participants, divided into three groups: one with ASD only, another with epilepsy only, and the third group with both ASD and epilepsy. The study utilized the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF-2) and Neuropsychological Evaluation of Executive Functions in Children (ENFEN) to assess executive functions, and Clinical Evaluation of Language Fundamentals 5 (CELF-5) to evaluate language skills. The results indicated that participants with this comorbidity had lower scores in both executive functioning and language skills compared to children with only ASD or epilepsy. The presence of epilepsy significantly limits the executive and linguistic performance of children with ASD, negatively affecting language acquisition, functionality, and the ability to carry out basic life activities independently.

Organ xenotransplantation acceptance in veterinary students: A multicentric opinion study in Spain.

BACKGROUND: The shortage of available transplant organs has made it necessary to search for alternatives, one of which is xenotransplantation. However, the use of animal organs could face rejection from society and the personnel involved in its implementation. OBJECTIVES: (a) to analyze the attitudes of Veterinary Degree students in six Spanish Universities towards xenotransplantation; and (b) to determine the factors that affect its acceptance. METHODS: Of the 2815 students surveyed in the degree program, 2683 valid surveys were obtained. Attitudes towards organ xenotransplantation were evaluated using a validated questionnaire of organ donation. RESULTS: If xenotransplantation was confirmed as a clinical reality, 93% (n = 2493) of those surveyed would accept a xenotransplanted organ, whilst 7% would not. If the results of xenotransplantation were worse than those obtained with human donors and it entailed more risk, 12% (n = 318) would be in favor. 56% (n = 1497) of the students would accept a xenotransplantation provisionally pending the arrival of a human organ. Attitudes towards xenotransplantation were affected by the academic year in which a student was studying, with more favorable attitudes among students in the last year (88% in first year vs. 95% in fifth year; p < .001). More favorable attitudes are also observed depending on the attitude they have towards organ transplantation, with those students being more in favor of donating their organs when they die (94% vs. 88%; p < .001). CONCLUSION: Veterinary students would have a very favorable attitude toward xenotransplantation if these animal organs functioned as well as human organs. Therefore, these students could play an important role in the future promotion of this technique.

The potential buffering role of self-efficacy and pain acceptance against invalidation in rheumatic diseases.

A substantial amount of people with a rheumatic disease perceive invalidation consisting of lack of understanding and discounting (negative social responses). To get insight into the potential buffering role of self-efficacy and pain acceptance against invalidation, this cross-sectional study examined associations between these variables. Spanish speaking people (N = 1153, 91% female, mean age 45 ± 11 years) with one or multiple rheumatic diseases completed online the Illness Invalidation Inventory, the Chronic Pain Acceptance Questionnaire, and the Chronic Disease Self-Efficacy Scale. Higher self-efficacy (t = - 4.80, p = < 0.001) and pain acceptance (t = - 7.99, p = < 0.001) were additively associated with discounting. Higher self-efficacy (t = - 5.41, p = < 0.001) and pain acceptance (t = - 5.71, p = < 0.001) were also additively associated with lack of understanding. The combined occurrence of high self-efficacy and high acceptance was associated most clearly with lower lack of understanding (interaction: t = - 2.12, p = 0.034). The findings suggest the usefulness of examining whether interventions aimed at increasing self-efficacy and pain acceptance can help people with rheumatic diseases for whom invalidation is a considerable burden.

Autoeficacia para el afrontamiento del estrés en una muestra adulta española / Coping with stress self-efficacy in a Spanish adult sample

Se presenta en este trabajo el constructor de “autoeficacia específica para el afrontamiento del estrés”, así como los resultados descriptivos obtenidos en población adulta con la Escala de Autoeficacia para el Afrontamiento del Estrés (EAEAE). Ochocientos doce adultos de 18 a 64 años (M=26.46; dt= 9.93; 62.6% mujeres) procedentes de diferentes contextos contestatron la EAEAE en una única administración. Se presentan los resultados descriptivos obtenidos con la muestra completa así como las diferencias encontradas entre subgrupos de la muestra, hombre y mujeres y grupos de edad. Los resultados señalan que la muestra presenta una moderada autoeficacia para el afrontamiento del estrés, siendo ligera pero significativamente superiores sus puntuaciones en el componente de expectativas de resultado, y siendo significativamente superiores las puntuaciones en hombre que en mujeres y en los participantes de más edad en comparación con los más jóvenes. En comparación con la población general, las personas sometidas a un elevado estrés cotidiano (laboral) que les exige constantes esfuerzos de resolución y autosuperación muestran significativamente mayores niveles en estas variables, mientras que las personas sometidas a situaciones de estrés mantenidas, incontrolables y debilitantes (enfermos con dolor crónicos) presentan puntuaciones significativamente inferiores. Se confirma de esta manera la idoneidad de la escala EAEAE como instrumento para la evaluación e investigación sobre la autoeficacia específica para el afrontamiento del estrés en contextos de investigación y clínicos

This paper presents the theoretical construct of “doping with stress specific self-efficacy” along with descriptive results obtained from an adult sample with the Escala de Auroeficacia para el Afrontamiento del Estrés (EAEAE) [Coping with Stress Self-efficacy Scale]. Eight hundred and twelve individuals, aged 18 to 64 years old (M= 26.46; sd-9.93; 62.6% females), recruited from different settings, completed the EAEAE in a unique administration. Descriptive results obtained from the entire sample are presented, as well as differences found between subsamples, males and females and age groups. Results indicate that participants possessed moderate self-efficacy for coping with stress. Their scores in the efficacy expectations component were slightly but significantly higher than their scores in the outcome expectations component. Total and subtotal scores were significantly higher for males than for females as well as for older participants than for younger participants. Compared to the general population, individuals, who are exposed to elevated levels of daily stress which demand continuous problem-solving and self-improvement efforts (work-related stress) demonstrated significantly higher levels of coping with stress self-efficacy. On the other hand, individuals who are exposed to maintained, uncontrollable and self-weakening stressful situations (chronic pain) scored significantly lower on self-efficacy for coping with stress. The results confirm the appropriateness of the EAEAE scale for the assessment and investigation on coping with stress self-efficacy in research as well as clinical context

Gender differences in pressure pain threshold in a repeated measures assessment.

The objective of this study was to evaluate gender differences in the pain threshold, considering the type of pressure point, its location and the repetition of the assessment. The pressure pain threshold was evaluated in 30 healthy volunteers (12 men and 18 women) in three assessment sessions separated by 15 min and 7 days, respectively. Each assessment session was in turn composed of two trials in each of which 24 different pressure points (symmetrically located), representing the 18 tender points for the diagnosis of fibromyalgia and six control points, were assessed. Gender differences were found in the pain threshold for all of the points and the measures taken, women showing a lower pain threshold in comparison to men and being these differences more pronounced for control points than for tender points, the former reaching statistical significance in all cases. The analysis of the influence of repeated measures on gender differences in the pain threshold showed a distinct pattern of recuperation in men than in women, although only one difference in pain threshold was significant. The utility of the tender point concept to study gender differences in pain threshold and the mechanisms that may explain different patterns of recuperation between genders are discussed.

Propiedades psicométrica de la versión española del Cuestionario de modelos implícitos de enfermedad. (Implicit Models of Illness Questionnaire) para enfermedades físicas y mentales / Psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the Implicit Models of Illness Questionnaire for physical and mental diseases

El objetivo de este estudio fue comprobar las propiedades psicométricas de la versión española del Implicit Models of Illness Questionnaire (Turk et al., 1986), el Cuestionario de Creencias sobre la Enfermedad (CCSE; Van der Hofstadt y Rodríguez-Marín, 1997), para cinco enfermedades físicas y mentales: depresión, esquizofrenia, cáncer, hipertensión y gripe. 348 personas (62,6% mujeres) con distinta experiencia con estas enfermedades (haber padecido o no la enfermedad, haber convivido o no con una persona diagnosticada de esta enfermedad) respondieron el CCSE para dichas enfermedades. Se encontró que las propiedades psicométricas de la escala son apropiadas. Las dimensiones (factores) identificadas son: Identidad, controlabilidad personal, síntomas, consecuencias y cura/evolución. La fiabilidad de la escala y sus subescalas es apropiada. La escala muestra una buena validez de constructo, al obtenerse resultados muy similares para las cinco enfermedades. Todo ello se muestra en consonancia con los resultados informados previamente por Turk et al. (1986), y no tanto con los encontrados por van der Hofstadt y Rodríguez- Marín (1997). Sin embargo, algunos ítems podrían ser revisado o eliminados con el fin de mejorar las características del instrumento. Como conclusión, siendo tan importante como es que los profesionales de la salud conozcan las creencias personales de sus pacientes y de los individuos sanos respectos a la salud y la enfermedad para adecuar sus actuaciones promotoras, preventivas o clínicas (tratamiento/rehabilitación), los resultados de este estudio señalan que esta escala puede ayudarles a tal fin, tanto en el caso de enfermedades físicas como mentales

The goal of this study was to establish the psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the Implicit Models of Illness Questionnaire (Turk et al., 1986), the Cuestionario de Creencias sobre la Enfermedad (CCSE; van der Hofstandt an Rodríguez-Marín, 1997), for five physical and mental disease: depression, schizophrenia, cancer, hypertension, and influenza. 348 individuals (62,6% women) with different experience with these diseases (having/not having suffered form the disease, having/not having lived with someone with such diagnosis ) answered the CCSE for those illnesses. Psychometric properties of the scale were found to be appropriate. The obtained dimensions (factors) are: identity, personal control, symptoms, consequences and cure/time-line. The scale and subscales reliability is appropriate. The scale shows suitable construct validity, since similar results have been obtained for the diseases included. Our results are consonant with those informed by Turk et al. (1986), differing with those obtained by van der Hofstadt and Rodríguez- Marín (1997). Nevertheless, some items might be revised or eliminated in order to improve the properties of the scale. Since the knowledge of patients´ and healthy people´s personal beliefs may result so valuable for health professionals, in order to adequate their promotion and prevention strategies and clinical (treatment/rehabilitation) interventions, the results of this study show that this scale may help them for this purpose, in the case of both physical and mental diseases

Contents of lay illness models dimensions for physical and mental diseases and implications for health professionals.

OBJECTIVE: The main aim of this study was to establish the contents of the lay illness models on depression, cancer, hypertension, schizophrenia and influenza in healthy and ill people suffering from these diseases who have/have not coexisted with people with these health alterations. METHODS: Dimensions of lay illness models for depression, schizophrenia, cancer, hypertension and influenza were assessed in 348 people (62.6% women) aged 13-50 (M=20.72; S.D.=5.96) with different personal experience with the studied diseases. RESULTS: Lay illness beliefs are usually close to medical knowledge, but in some relevant cases they are very divergent from this. Experience with the disease (to have suffered from it or to have coexisted with an ill relative) seems to have a great influence in the contents of lay illness models. CONCLUSION: People's representations on illnesses are not complete or correct at all, and this will have, as the Common Sense Model establishes, relevant repercussions on individuals' behaviors in relation to health and illness and on the outcomes of diseases. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: To know the personal illness models for physical and mental health threats of healthy and ill people with different personal experience with the disease has important implications for health professionals' promotion and prevention strategies and clinical (treatment/rehabilitation) actuations.