Therapeutic potential of brain stimulation techniques in the treatment of mental, psychiatric, and cognitive disorders.

Treatment for brain diseases has been disappointing because available medications have failed to produce clinical response across all the patients. Many patients either do not respond or show partial and inconsistent effect, and even in patients who respond to the medications have high relapse rates. Brain stimulation has been seen as an alternative and effective remedy. As a result, brain stimulation has become one of the most valuable therapeutic tools for combating against brain diseases. In last decade, studies with the application of brain stimulation techniques not only have grown exponentially but also have expanded to wide range of brain disorders. Brain stimulation involves passing electric currents into the cortical and subcortical area brain cells with the use of noninvasive as well as invasive methods to amend brain functions. Over time, technological advancements have evolved into the development of precise devices; however, at present, most used noninvasive techniques are repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), whereas the most common invasive technique is deep brain stimulation (DBS). In the current review, we will provide an overview of the potential of noninvasive (rTMS and tDCS) and invasive (DBS) brain stimulation techniques focusing on the treatment of mental, psychiatric, and cognitive disorders.

Co-operative learning, psychometric adaptation, and invariability of the academic satisfaction scale in Spanish university students.

It is necessary to understand the measurement of academic satisfaction (AS) in a variety of cross-cultural contexts. The first aim was to evaluate the psychometric properties of AS scale, to explore its structural validity, to assess its differential item function, including gender and age invariance in university students. Study 2 aimed to assess whether AS improved after the application of a teaching instructional approach based on cooperative learning (CL), while a cross-sectional study was performed in several stages. Descriptive, confirmatory, and scale reliability analyses were carried out with indices for goodness-of-fit, such that a new scale was obtained with a single-factor structure. A reduction to 6-items in this sample exhibited better psychometric properties. Configural invariance by gender and age indicated that men and women had a similar understanding of the new scale. Given significant differences between groups, the CL group scored higher in AS.

A Survey of Basic Daily Living Assistance in Dependency Units during the Morning First Period at Nursing Homes with a Healthcare Dysfunction.

(1) Background: It is important to evaluate the attention in the basic activities of daily life in the early hours of the day to evaluate the quality of care and to be able to increase the attention of human resources in case of observing an increase in dependency. The purpose was to improve healthcare quality in nursing homes, correctly identifying the work burden and incidents of daily planning, and completing the work plan by nursing assistant staffing. (2) Methods: The sample is based on 70 elderly people. The analysis used an observational trial every workday over a six-month period. An ad hoc sheet was prepared to collect socio-demographic data on each participant, and the Barthel Index was applied to the study subjects. A daily record of three basic activities of daily living (BADL), such as dressing, bathing, and eating, was kept. (3) Results: Our results showed a significant evolution in both units, but it was in the psychogeriatric unit in which higher compliance with the schedule and higher maintained stability was reached. (4) Conclusions: The use of some BADL registers helped us address situations of imbalance in terms of user assistance and establish an interdisciplinary communication with the nursing team as a way of achieving better organization and compliance with care protocols.

Brain stimulation: a therapeutic approach for the treatment of neurological disorders.

Brain stimulation has become one of the most acceptable therapeutic approaches in recent years and a powerful tool in the remedy against neurological diseases. Brain stimulation is achieved through the application of electric currents using non-invasive as well as invasive techniques. Recent technological advancements have evolved into the development of precise devices with capacity to produce well-controlled and effective brain stimulation. Currently, most used non-invasive techniques are repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), whereas the most common invasive technique is deep brain stimulation (DBS). In last decade, application of these brain stimulation techniques has not only exploded but also expanded to wide variety of neurological disorders. Therefore, in the current review, we will provide an overview of the potential of both non-invasive (rTMS and tDCS) and invasive (DBS) brain stimulation techniques in the treatment of such brain diseases.

Attentional profile of adolescents with ADHD in virtual-reality dual execution tasks: A pilot study.

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that is highly prevalent in children and adolescents, with estimated prevalence ranges from 5.9 to 7.1% globally and 1 to 6.8% in Spain. This has commonly been associated with deficits in attention threads and executive functions. This paper aims to study the cognitive-executive performance of adolescents between the ages of 17 and 23 with an ADHD diagnosis, relative to a control group. The total sample consisted of 120 male participants who were given the Nesplora Aquarium test. Dual execution tasks assessed attention, response speed, and inhibition capability. When comparing the experimental and control groups, statistically significant differences were detected in processing speed, selective attention, and cognitive inhibition [general execution (T_correct_n) (p = 0.008), attention arousal (T_omission_n) (p = 0.008), and processing speed (T_correctreactime_mean) (p = 0.008)]. We demonstrate that a new virtual reality tool, designed to measure attention in people over the age of 16 years, is effective at measuring attention and working memory. In addition, item difficulty and discrimination values were also acceptable.

Adaptation and Psychometric Properties in Spanish of the Herth Hope Index in People Who have Attempted Suicide.

Suicide is a major global public health problem. The most predictive behavior of completed suicide is prior suicide attempt. However, studies focused on risk factors have to date proved unsuccessful in reducing death by suicide rates. To adapt a hope assessment tool to a Spanish clinical population having carried out a suicide attempt, to evaluate whether hope modulates the resilience level following discharge from the emergency department. The sample comprised 682 people (62.4% female) aged between 18 and 77 years (M = 39; SD = 19.1) with previous suicide attempts who were administered the Herth Hope Index, the Beck Hopelessness Scale, and the 14-item Resilience Scale. The HHI in Spanish (IEH) showed a high internal consistency (α = .97), a two-dimensional structure that explains 73% of the variance with high goodness-of-fit indices (GFI = .91; CFI = .89; RMSEA = .08), and divergent validity of -.77 with hopelessness. Significant hope-related differences by resilience level were also observed. Hope modulates resilience to suicide attempts and a new scale adapted to the Spanish clinical population is offered. This short tool is easy to use in emergency department settings and predicts the level of potential vulnerability to more serious future repeated attempts.

The Relationship Between Depression and Cognitive Deterioration in Elderly Persons / A Relação Entre Depressão e Comprometimento Cognitivo em Idosos Institucionalizados / La Relación Entre Depresión y Deterioro Cognitivo en Personas Mayores Institucionalizadas en Residencias Españolas

Abstract The objective of this research is to describe the relationship between depressive disorder and cognitive deterioration in residentialized elderly people. This is a descriptive and correlational study with 70 elderly. The variables have been assessed with a Psychosocial Variables Questionnaire, CAMCOG and GDS. Depression was significantly correlated with cognitive level in the non-assisted elderly sample (r=0.471, p=0.004). Participants' age is negatively associated with the score obtained in the CAMCOG of non-assisted sample (r=-0.352, p=0.038). Depression is more frequent in institutions that care for older people when they are more dependent.

Resumo O objetivo deste trabalho é determinar a relação entre transtorno depressivo e comprometimento cognitivo na população idosa institucionalizada. Foi realizado um estudo descritivo e correlacional com 70 idosos espanhóis. Para a medição das variáveis, foi utilizado um Questionário de Variáveis Psicossociais, o CAMCOG do CAMDEX e GDS. A depressão se correlaciona significativamente com o nível cognitivo na maioria dos adultos não dependentes (r=−0,471; p=0.004). A idade está significativamente associada e inversamente para a pontuação obtido no CAMCOG na faixa dependente (r=−0,352; p=−0,038). A depressão está ligada às instituições que atendem prefeitos quando são muito dependentes.

Resumen El objetivo del presente trabajo es determinar la relación entre el trastorno depresivo y el deterioro cognitivo en una población mayor institucionalizada. Se ha realizado un estudio descriptivo y correlacional con 70 mayores españoles. Para la medida de las variables se ha usado un Cuestionario de Variables Psicosociales propio, el CAMCOG del CAMDEX y la GDS. La depresión se correlaciona significativamente con el nivel cognitivo en la muestra de mayores no dependientes (r=−0.471; p=0.004). La edad se asocia elocuentemente y de forma inversa con la puntuación obtenida en el CAMCOG en la muestra de dependientes (r=−0.352; p=−0.038). La depresión está vinculada a las instituciones que atienden a mayores cuando éstos son más dependientes.

Validity of the spanish version of the Herth Hope Index and The Beck Hopelessness Scale in people who have attempted suicide.

INTRODUCTION: Suicide risk assessment remains a handicap for public health policies. Suicide is a major global public health problem. The most predictive behavior of completed suicide is prior suicide attempt. However, studies focused on risk factors have to date proved unsuccessful in reducing death by suicide rates. AIM: To adapt the Herth Hope Index and the Beck Hopelessness Scale as assessment tools for assessing hope and hopelessness to a Spanish clinical population having carried out a suicide attempt, and assess its structural validity and divergent validity. METHODS: The sample comprised 682 people (62.4% female) aged between 18 and 77 years (M=39; SD=19.1) with previous suicide attempts who were administered the Herth Hope Index (HHI), the Beck Hopelessness Scale, and the CDRISC- 10 Resilience Scale. RESULTS: The findings showed that the HHI had a two-dimensional structure that explains 71.2% of the variance, a high internal consistency (α=.97), and adequate divergent validity with hopelessness of -.77. And there are also important differences in hope according to the resilience level of the participants. CONCLUSION: The suicide risk should be assessed by preventive and clinical approaches. Hope modulates resilience to suicide attempts and a new short scale adapted to the Spanish clinical population is offered. This short tool is easy to use in emergency department settings and predicts the level of potential vulnerability to more serious future repeated attempts.

Validez de la versión española del Herth Hope Index y la Beck Hopelessness Scale en personas que han realizado una tentativa de suicidio / Validity of the spanish version of the Herth Hope Index and The Beck Hopelessness Scale in people who have attempted suicide

INTRODUCCIÓN: La evaluación del riesgo suicida sigue siendo un hándicap para políticas públicas sanitarias. La conducta más predictiva del suicidio consumado es la tentativa suicida previa. Sin embargo, los estudios centrados en factores de riesgo, hasta la fecha, no han disminuido las tasas de muertes por suicidio. OBJETIVO: El objetivo de este estudio sería adaptar el Herth Hope Index (HHI) y la Beck Hopelessness Scale como instrumentos de evaluación de la esperanza y desesperanza en población clínica española que ha realizado una tentativa de suicidio y valorar su validez estructural y validez divergente. METODOLOGÍA: La muestra estuvo constituida por N=682 personas (62,4% mujeres), con edades comprendidas entre 18 y 77 años (M = 39; DT=19,1) con tentativas suicidas previas a los que se les aplicó la Herth Hope Index (HHI), la Beck Hopelessness Scale y la Escala de Resiliencia CD-RISC-10. RESULTADOS: Los resultados muestran que la HHI presenta una estructura bididimensional que explica el 71,2% de la varianza, una alta consistencia interna (alpha = 0,97), y adecua-da validez divergente con desesperanza de -0,77. Y además existen importantes diferencias en esperanza según el nivel de resiliencia de los participantes. CONCLUSIONES: El riesgo de suicidio debe evaluarse mediante enfoques preventivos y clínicos. La esperanza modula la resiliencia ante tentativas de suicidio y se ofrece una nueva escala breve adaptada a población clínica española y fácil de aplicar en urgencias hospitalarias que predice el nivel de vulnerabilidad futura al reintento de suicidio futuro más grave

INTRODUCTION: Suicide risk assessment remains a handicap for public health policies. Suicide is a major global public health problem. The most predictive behavior of completed suicide is prior suicide attempt. However, studies focused on risk factors have to date proved unsuccessful in reducing death by suicide rates. AIM: To adapt the Herth Hope Index and the Beck Hope-lessness Scale as assessment tools for assessing hope and hopelessness to a Spanish clinical population having carried out a suicide attempt, and assess its structural validity and divergent validity. METHODS: The sample comprised 682 people (62.4% female) aged between 18 and 77 years (M = 39; SD =19.1) with previous suicide attempts who were administered the Herth Hope Index (HHI), the Beck Hopelessness Scale, and the CD-RISC-10 Resilience Scale. RESULTS: The findings showed that the HHI had a two-dimensional structure that explains 71.2% of the variance, a high internal consistency (alpha = .97), and adequate divergent validity with hopelessness of -.77. And there are also important differences in hope according to the resilience level of the participants. CONCLUSION: The suicide risk should be assessed by preventive and clinical approaches. Hope modulates resilience to suicide attempts and a new short scale adapted to the Spanish clinical population is offered. This short tool is easy to use in emergency department settings and predicts the level of potential vulnerability to more serious future re-peated attempts

Self-inflicted injuries in adolescents and young adults: a longitudinal approach / Lesiones autoinfligidas en adolescentes y jóvenes: un enfoque longitudinal

BACKGROUND: Suicide has become a major global public health problem in some clinical subpopulations. Adolescents and young adults with self-inflicted injuries or non-suicidal self-harm appear to have been understudied. The aim of this study is to assess which socio-demographic and prior co-morbid psychopathology condition variables in adolescents and young adults with self-inflicted lesions are likely to be more predictive of future self-injury after 12 months. METHOD: The eligible participants were 176 people (99 women and 77 men) aged 15-25 (mean = 20.3; SD = 4.56) who were subsequently divided into two groups (those who had been admitted again for self-inflicted injuries or non-suicidal self-harm (104; 59.1%), and those who had not (72; 40.9%) during the following 12 months. RESULTS: The results obtained offer (I) a specific socio-demographic profile in which women (OR [CI95%] = 6.22[6.03-7.11]) aged 21-22 (OR [CI95%] = 4.71[4.29- 5.73]) who are students (OR [CI95%] = 2.99 [1.58-6.01]) are likely to inflict a new self-injury on themselves after 12 months, and (II) a clear clinical profile where several afflictions are predictors of a new self-injury after 12 months. CONCLUSIONS: We discuss the urgent need to develop specific health protocols and improve public health alert measures for certain subpopulations

ANTECEDENTES: el suicidio se ha convertido en un verdadero problema de salud pública mundial en algunas subpoblaciones clínicas. Los adolescentes y adultos jóvenes con lesiones autoinfligidas o autolesiones no suicidas parecen haber sido poco estudiados. El objetivo de este estudio es evaluar qué variables sociodemográficas y comorbilidad psicopatológica previa en adolescentes y adultos jóvenes con lesiones autoinfligidas son más propensas a predecir una autolesión futura después de 12 meses. MÉTODO: 176 personas (99 mujeres y 77 hombres) de entre 15 y 25 años (media = 20.3; DE = 4.56) divididos en dos grupos: los ingresados nuevamente por lesiones autoinfligidas o autolesiones no suicidas (104; 59,1%) y aquellos que no lo hicieron (72; 40,9%) durante los siguientes 12 meses. RESULTADOS: los resultados ofrecen (I) un perfil sociodemográfico específico caracterizado por mujeres (OR [CI95%] = 6.22 [6.03-7.11]) de 21 a 22 años (OR [CI95%] = 4.71 [4.29-5.73]) y estudiantes (OR [CI95%] = 2.99 [1.58-6.01]) que pueden autoinfligirse una nueva autolesión después de 12 meses, y (II) un perfil de comorbilidades psicopatológicas previas claras donde varios trastornos son predictores de una nueva autolesión después de 12 meses. CONCLUSIONES: discutimos la urgencia de desarrollar protocolos de salud específicos y mejorar las medidas de alerta de salud pública para ciertas subpoblaciones

Depression and Cognitive Impairment in Institutionalized Older Adults.

BACKGROUND: In the last three decades, the relationship between depression and cognition in geriatric patients has been a popular topic among researchers and clinicians. Clinical and epidemiological research has focused on the identification of risk factors that could be modified in pre-dementia syndromes, at a preclinical and early clinical stage of dementia disorders, with specific attention to the role of depression. The objective of this work was to determine the relationship between depressive disorder and cognitive deterioration in institutionalized older adults. METHODS: In this descriptive, correlational study, data were gathered from two nursing homes in the province of Jaen (Spain), from a random sample of 140 older adults (70 nondependent and 70 dependent). The variables were measured using comprehensive geriatric assessment, the Cambridge Cognitive Test (CAMCOG), and the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS). RESULTS: Depression was correlated with cognitive level in the nondependent older adult sample (r = -0.471, p = 0.004). Age was inversely associated with the score obtained in the CAMCOG of the nondependent older adult sample (r = -0.352, p = 0.038). The functional capacity in several activities of daily living was correlated with the score obtained in the CAMCOG in each of the two groups. Depression was more prevalent in the dependent than in the nondependent older adults (82.85 vs. 57.14%). No association was observed between institutionalization time and the score obtained on the cognitive and affective scales (GDS and CAMCOG) in both groups (GDS-nondependent, r = -0.209, p = 0.234; CAMCOG-nondependent, r = 0.007, p = 0.967; GDS-dependent, r = 0.251, p = 0.152; CAMCOG-dependent, r = -0.021, p = 0.907). CONCLUSION: Depressive symptomatology is associated with cognitive deterioration. Depression is prevalent in institutions that care for older, more dependent adults.

Assessment of emotional intelligence in adults with down syndrome: Psychometric properties of the Emotional Quotient Inventory.

INTRODUCTION: The Emotional Quotient Inventory: Youth version-EQ-i:YV was developed by Bar-On & Parker in 2000 and later translated and adapted for the general Spanish adolescent population by Ferrandiz et al. in 2012. The Spanish scale presents similar psychometric properties to the original version (54 items and five subdimensions). The Emotional Quotient Inventory assesses a set of personal, emotional, and social skills that influence adaptation to and coping with environmental demands and pressures. These factors can influence an adolescent's success later in life, health, and psychological well-being. Traditionally, research in Down syndrome (DS) has focused on identifying cognitive deficits, relatively little is known about emotional intelligence (EI) and there are no scales that measure EI in people with DS adults. OBJECTIVES: To validate and analyze the psychometric properties of the scale in the clinical population, specifically in Spanish adults with DS (EQ-i: SVDS). METHODS: A cross-sectional investigation was carried out in several stages. Descriptive, exploratory factorial (n = 345), confirmatory (n = 397), and scale reliability analyses were performed with better goodness-of-adjustment indices. RESULTS: A new scale named Emotional Quotient Inventory: Short Version for DS adults was obtained with a structure of four factors called mood, stress management, interpersonal, and intrapersonal. This new scale was reduced to 25 items. Goodness-of-fit indices were excellent (RMSEA [95% CI] = 02[.01; .03]; CFI = .99; TLI = .98; GFI = .87; AGFI = .89). The internal consistency of the four dimensions and the calculated total score (α = .91, ω = .93 and divided halves = .90) yielded high values in this clinical sample. DISCUSSION: The results recommend the use of the revised EQ-i: YV, the EQ-i: SVDS, to assess EI in adults with DS. The psychometric properties of this study are satisfactory but have four factors. The findings are discussed in terms of future research and practical implication to gain a more thorough understanding of how this population behaves on both a general and preventive level in order to teach EI properly. CONCLUSIONS: This new version is a valid and reliable tool to evaluate emotional intelligence in people with intellectual disabilities and specifically in Spanish adults with DS.

The phenomenology of pain in Parkinson's disease.

BACKGROUND: Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that is the second most common disorder after Alzheimer's disease. PD includes both "motor" and "non-motor" symptoms, one of which is pain. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical characteristics of pain in patients with PD. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 250 patients diagnosed with PD, 70% of which had mild to moderate PD (stages 2/3 of Hoehn and Yahr scale). The average age was 67.4 years, and the average duration since PD diagnosis was 7.1 years. Relevant data collected from PD patients were obtained from their personal medical history. RESULTS: The prevalence of pain was found to be high (82%), with most patients (79.2%) relating their pain to PD. Disease duration was correlated with the frequency of intense pain (R: 0.393; P < 0.05). PD pain is most frequently perceived as an electrical current (64%), and two pain varieties were most prevalent (2.60 ± 0.63). Our findings confirm links between pain, its evolution over time, its multi-modal character, the wide variety of symptoms of PD, and the female sex. CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrated that the pain felt by PD patients is mainly felt as an electrical current, which contrasts with other studies where the pain is described as burning and itching. Our classification is innovative because it is based on anatomy, whereas those of other authors were based on syndromes.