Mindfulness-based and mindfulness-informed interventions in bipolar disorder: A meta-analysis based on Becker's method.

Bipolar disorder is a highly disruptive and debilitating problem. Mindfulness-based and mindfulness-informed interventions have exponentially emerged as third-generation therapies, applied to a wide spectrum of disorders, including bipolar disorder. However, the reviews and meta-analyses published to date are limited in their conclusions, as they are based on single-group pretest-posttest cohort designs and mostly focused on mindfulness-based interventions. The present review and meta-analysis try to address these limitations, including studies on informed mindfulness, controlled and single-group designs. It used a specific meta-analytical procedure that allows an imputation procedure in those designs lacking a comparison group, by means of separate omnibus tests for the experimental and control group. A total of 13 studies (N = 331) were selected. The results showed an absence of effects on depression (g = 0.21) and mania (g = -0.13), but significant moderate effect on anxiety (g = 0.53). In conclusion, both mindfulness interventions showed robust evidence on anxiety symptoms in pretest-posttest periods compared to control groups. Few studies and lack of evidence of follow-up periods were the main limitations found.

Attachment, body appreciation, and body image quality of life in adolescents with eating disorders.

The aim of the current study was to determine the link between parental attachment style and body appreciation in adolescents with and without eating disorders, and to explore the association between attachment, positive aspects of body image and body image quality of life. The sample comprised 260 adolescents (M age = 15.35, SD age = 1.461): 129 non-clinical participants and 131 adolescents with eating disorders who received treatment in five Eating Disorders Units located in different regions in Spain. They were assessed via the Inventory of Parent and Peer Attachment (IPPA), Body Appreciation Scale (BAS), and Body Image Quality of Life Inventory (BIQLI). There was a significant relation between secure attachment and body appreciation in both groups, and body appreciation was positively related to body image quality of life. Patients with eating disorders had higher body image quality of life when they perceived better communication and trust with their father, which was mediated by the body appreciation they showed. Adolescents without eating disorders showed this same relationship form with their mother. This study aims to highlight the influence of parental attachment on a positive body image in adolescence.

Attachment to parents and friends and body dissatisfaction in adolescents with eating disorders.

The study of attachment is a valuable theoretical framework to understand the influence of parents and friends on the evolution and development of adolescents. This study aimed to determine parents' and peers' attachment style, the relationship between parents' and peers' attachment and body dissatisfaction in adolescents with eating disorders (ED), and to compare it with a control group. The sample consisted of 260 adolescents (Mage = 15.35, SDage = 1.461): a control group consisting of 129 non-clinical subjects and an ED group composed by 131 adolescents diagnosed with ED who attended five ED units located in different regions of Spain. They completed the Body Shape Questionnaire (BSQ-34) and the Inventory of Parent and Peer Attachment (IPPA). Adolescents with ED have less trust with their parents, worse communication with their parents and peers, and greater alienation with fathers and peers. The results showed a statistically significant relationship between parents' attachment and body dissatisfaction in both groups. In ED group, peers' alienation was positively correlated to body dissatisfaction. Parental attachment and alienation feelings with peers could influence body dissatisfaction in ED adolescents.

Google Searches and Suicide Rates in Spain, 2004-2013: Correlation Study.

BACKGROUND: Different studies have suggested that web search data are useful in forecasting several phenomena from the field of economics to epidemiology or health issues. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to (1) evaluate the correlation between suicide rates released by the Spanish National Statistics Institute (INE) and internet search trends in Spain reported by Google Trends (GT) for 57 suicide-related terms representing major known risks of suicide and an analysis of these results using a linear regression model and (2) study the differential association between male and female suicide rates published by the INE and internet searches of these 57 terms. METHODS: The study period was from 2004 to 2013. In this study, suicide data were collected from (1) Spain's INE and (2) local internet search data from GT, both from January 2004 to December 2013. We investigated and validated 57 suicide-related terms already tested in scientific studies before 2015 that would be the best predictors of new suicide cases. We then evaluated the nowcasting effects of a GT search through a cross-correlation analysis and by linear regression of the suicide incidence data with the GT data. RESULTS: Suicide rates in Spain in the study period were positively associated (r<-0.2) for the general population with the search volume for 7 terms and negatively for 1 from the 57 terms used in previous studies. Suicide rates for men were found to be significantly different than those of women. The search term, "allergy," demonstrated a lead effect for new suicide cases (r=0.513; P=.001). The next significant correlating terms for those 57 studied were "antidepressant," "alcohol abstinence," "relationship breakup" (r=0.295, P=.001; r=0.295, P=.001; and r=0.268, P=.002, respectively). Significantly different results were obtained for men and women. Search terms that correlate with suicide rates of women are consistent with previous studies, showing that the incidence of depression is higher in women than in men, and showing different gender searching patterns. CONCLUSIONS: A better understanding of internet search behavior of both men and women in relation to suicide and related topics may help design effective suicide prevention programs based on information provided by search robots and other big data sources.

Revisiting the concept of severe mental illness: severity indicators and healthcare spending in psychotic, depressive and dissociative disorders.

Background: The concept of severe mental illness (SMI) has been related to bipolar or psychotic diagnosis, or to some cases of depressive disorders. Other mental health problems such as personality disorders or posttraumatic dissociative conditions, which can sometimes lead to relevant functional impairments, remain separate from the SMI construct.Aims: This study aimed to evaluate the clinical severity as well as healthcare spending on dissociative disorders (DDs). This diagnostic group was compared with two other groups usually considered as causing severe impairment and high healthcare spending: bipolar and psychotic disorders, and unipolar depression.Methods: From a random sample of 200 psychiatric outpatients, 108 with unipolar depression (N = 45), psychotic/bipolar (N = 31) or DDs (N = 32) were selected for this study. The three groups were compared by the severity of their disorder and healthcare indicators.Results: Of the three groups, those with a DD were more prone to and showed higher indices of suicide, self-injury, emergency consultations, as well as psychotropic drug use. This group ranked just below psychotic/bipolar patients in the amount of psychiatric hospitalisations.Conclusions: Despite a certain intra-professional stigma regarding DDs, these data supported the severity of these posttraumatic conditions, and their inclusion in the construct of SMI.

The influence of the aesthetic body shape model on adolescents with eating disorders.

INTRODUCTION: the relevance of sociocultural factors with respect to etiology, development and treatment of eating disorders has been supported by many studies. OBJECTIVES: the aims of this study were: a) to analyze the different effects of the aesthetic body shape model on adolescents with anorexia nervosa (AN) vs bulimia nervosa (BN); b) to analyze possible differences, regarding that body shape model, between patients with purging behaviors vs non purging types of patients; and c) to explore the relationship between the influence of the aesthetic body shape model and other clinically relevant variables such as body dissatisfaction, eating attitudes and personality traits. METHODS: the sample comprised 104 adolescents suffering from AN and BN. The Questionnaire of Influences on the Aesthetic Body Shape Model (CIMEC-40), the Body Shape Questionnaire (BSQ), the Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-40) and the Millon Adolescent Clinical Inventory (MACI) were applied. RESULTS: the aesthetic body shape model of thinness influenced 77.9% of this sample, this influence being higher in the case of BN patients. In addition, that influence was stronger in the purging-type patients than in the non-purging type. Moreover, there was a significant and positive correlation among the influence of the aesthetic body shape model, body dissatisfaction and severity of eating symptoms. Finally, there seems to exist some personality traits more vulnerable to be affected by sociocultural factors. CONCLUSIONS: in view of these results, it is necessary that psychotherapeutic approaches take into account the influence of sociocultural factors and body dissatisfaction mainly in the case of adolescents with BN.

The influence of the aesthetic body shape model on adolescents with eating disorders / La influencia del modelo estético corporal en los trastornos de conducta alimentaria en la adolescencia

Introduction: the relevance of sociocultural factors with respect to etiology, development and treatment of eating disorders has been supported by many studies. Objectives: the aims of this study were: a) to analyze the different effects of the aesthetic body shape model on adolescents with anorexia nervosa (AN) vs bulimia nervosa (BN); b) to analyze possible differences, regarding that body shape model, between patients with purging behaviors vs non purging types of patients; and c) to explore the relationship between the influence of the aesthetic body shape model and other clinically relevant variables such as body dissatisfaction, eating attitudes and personality traits. Methods: the sample comprised 104 adolescents suffering from AN and BN. The Questionnaire of Influences on the Aesthetic Body Shape Model (CIMEC-40), the Body Shape Questionnaire (BSQ), the Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-40) and the Millon Adolescent Clinical Inventory (MACI) were applied. Results: the aesthetic body shape model of thinness influenced 77.9% of this sample, this influence being higher in the case of BN patients. In addition, that influence was stronger in the purging-type patients than in the non-purging type. Moreover, there was a significant and positive correlation among the influence of the aesthetic body shape model, body dissatisfaction and severity of eating symptoms. Finally, there seems to exist some personality traits more vulnerable to be affected by sociocultural factors. Conclusions: in view of these results, it is necessary that psychotherapeutic approaches take into account the influence of sociocultural factors and body dissatisfaction mainly in the case of adolescents with BN

Introducción: la relevancia de los factores socioculturales en la etiología, el desarrollo y el tratamiento de los trastornos de la conducta alimentaria ha sido apoyada por varios estudios. Objetivos: los objetivos del presente estudio fueron evaluar las diferencias en la influencia del modelo estético corporal en adolescentes diagnosticadas de anorexia nerviosa (AN) y bulimia nerviosa (BN), y explorar la relación existente entre la influencia del modelo estético corporal y otras variables clínicamente relevantes, como la insatisfacción corporal, la presencia de conductas purgativas, las actitudes hacia la comida y los rasgos de personalidad. Método: la muestra se compuso de 104 adolescentes con diagnostico de AN y BN. Los instrumentos de evaluación utilizados fueron el Cuestionario de Influencias sobre el Modelo Estético Corporal (CIMEC-40), el Body Shape Questionnaire (BSQ), el Test de Actitudes Alimentarias (EAT-40) y el Inventario Clínico para Adolescentes de Millón (MACI). Resultados: los resultados obtenidos indican que la mayoría de la muestra esta influenciada por el modelo estético corporal de delgadez. En cambio, las pacientes con BN están significativamente mas influenciadas por el modelo estético que las pacientes con AN, provocando en las pacientes con BN una mayor insatisfacción corporal y propiciando la aparición de síntomas bulímicos, sobre todo de tipo purgativo. Por otro lado, parecen existir rasgos de personalidad mas susceptibles a la influencia de los factores socioculturales, que pueden mediar entre la influencia del modelo estético, la insatisfacción y la aparición de síntomas. Conclusiones: a la vista de los resultados, se requiere que las medidas de intervención psicoterapéuticas se adapten a la mayor influencia de los factores socioculturales y de insatisfacción corporal en la BN durante la adolescencia

Body dissatisfaction in adolescents with eating disorders.

PURPOSE: This study aims to analyze and compare the level of body dissatisfaction (BD) in different eating disorders (ED) subtypes. Also, the relationship between BD and certain aesthetic body shape model influence and psychological variables was analyzed. METHODS: The sample consisted of 204 adolescent patients, who were attending in an ED Unit in Zaragoza (Spain). The following instruments were applied: the Spanish Children's Depression Questionnaire (CEDI-II), the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES), the Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-40), the Body Shape Questionnaire (BSQ-34) and the Questionnaire of Influences of Aesthetic Body shape Model (CIMEC-40). RESULTS: The group of Bulimia Nervosa (BN) showed the greatest BD. Those patients who showed higher levels of BD had lower self-esteem, more depressive symptoms, a greater presence of disordered eating attitudes, and more influence of the aesthetic body shape model. CONCLUSIONS: This study contributes to highlight the idea of implementing effective prevention programs and specific interventions related to BD in the treatment of ED.

Eating disorders during the adolescence: personality characteristics associated with anorexia and bulimia nervosa.

INTRODUCTION: Previous studies provide relevant information about the relationship between personality and eating disorders (ED). The involvement of personality factors in the etiology and maintenance of ED indicates the need of emphasizing the study of the adolescent's personality when diagnosed of ED. OBJECTIVES: The aims of this study were to analyze the adolescent's personality profiles that differ significantly in anorexia nervosa (AN) and bulimia nervosa (BN), and to explore the most common profiles and their associations with those subtypes of eating disorders (ED). METHODS: A total of 104 patients with AN and BN were studied by means of the Millon Adolescent Clinical Inventory (MACI). RESULTS: The personality profiles that differ significantly in both AN and BN were submissive, egotistic, unruly, forceful, conforming, oppositional, self-demeaning and borderline. The most frequent profiles in AN were conforming (33.33%), egotistic (22.72%) and dramatizing (18.18%) while in the case of BN those profiles were unruly (18.42%), submissive (18.42%) and borderline (15.78%). We did not find any associations between the diagnostic subgroup (AN, BN) and the fact of having personality profiles that could become dysfunctional. CONCLUSIONS: Bearing in mind these results, it may be concluded that there are relevant differences between personality profiles associated with AN and BN during adolescence, so tailoring therapeutic interventions for this specific population would be important.

Eating disorders during the adolescence: personality characteristics associated with anorexia and bulimia nervosa / Trastornos de la conducta alimentaria durante la adolescencia: perfiles de personalidad asociados a la anorexia y a la bulimia nerviosa

Introduction: Previous studies provide relevant information about the relationship between personality and eating disorders (ED). The involvement of personality factors in the etiology and maintenance of ED indicates the need of emphasizing the study of the adolescent's personality when diagnosed of ED. Objectives: The aims of this study were to analyze the adolescent's personality profiles that differ significantly in anorexia nervosa (AN) and bulimia nervosa (BN), and to explore the most common profiles and their associations with those subtypes of eating disorders (ED). Methods: A total of 104 patients with AN and BN were studied by means of the Millon Adolescent Clinical Inventory (MACI). Results: The personality profiles that differ significantly in both AN and BN were submissive, egotistic, unruly, forceful, conforming, oppositional, self-demeaning and borderline. The most frequent profiles in AN were conforming (33.33%), egotistic (22.72%) and dramatizing (18.18%) while in the case of BN those profiles were unruly (18.42%), submissive (18.42%) and borderline (15.78%). We did not find any associations between the diagnostic subgroup (AN, BN) and the fact of having personality profiles that could become dysfunctional. Conclusions: Bearing in mind these results, it may be concluded that there are relevant differences between personality profiles associated with AN and BN during adolescence, so tailoring therapeutic interventions for this specific population would be important (AU)

Introducción: estudios previos aportan información relevante sobre la relación entre la personalidad y los trastornos de conducta alimentaria (TCA). La implicación de los factores de personalidad en la etiología y el mantenimiento de los TCA indica la necesidad de enfatizar el estudio de la personalidad del adolescente cuando se diagnostique un TCA. Objetivos: los objetivos del presente estudio fueron explorar los perfiles de personalidad más frecuentes asociados a la anorexia nerviosa (AN) y a la bulimia nerviosa (BN) en adolescentes y analizar aquellos perfiles de personalidad que diferencian de manera significativa a ambos subtipos de TCA. Métodos: un total de 104 pacientes con diagnóstico de AN y BN fueron estudiados mediante el Inventario Clínico para Adolescentes de Millon (MACI). Resultados: los perfiles de personalidad que difieren significativamente entre AN y BN fueron los perfiles sumiso, egocéntrico, rebelde, rudo, conformista, oposicionista, autopunitivo y tendencia límite. Los perfiles de personalidad más frecuentes en la AN fueron el conformista (33,33%), el egocéntrico (22,72%) y el histriónico (18,18%), mientras que en la BN los más prevalentes fueron el rebelde (18,42%), el sumiso (18,42%) y el límite (15,78%). No encontramos ninguna asociación entre el subgrupo diagnóstico (AN, BN) y el hecho de tener perfiles de personalidad que podrían llegar a ser disfuncionales. Conclusiones: existen diferencias relevantes entre los perfiles de personalidad asociados a la AN y la BN durante la adolescencia, por lo que sería importante adaptar las intervenciones terapéuticas para esta población específica (AU)

Validaty and reliability of the Spanish version of the Somatoform Dissociation Questionnaire (SDQ-20) / Validez y fiabilidad de la versión española del Somatoform Dissociation Questionnaire (SDQ-20)

BACKGROUND: The Somatoform Dissociation Questionnaire (SDQ-20) is a self-reported questionnaire measuring somatoform dissociation. The aim of this study is to analyze the psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the SDQ-20 and its short version (SDQ-5). METHODS: Validity and reliability were examined in a sample of 360 psychiatric outpatients: 38 dissociative (conversion) disorders, 30 dissociative (psychoform) disorders, and 292 patients suffering from other disorders. Dissociative disorders were diagnosed using the SCID-D and a specific interview for conversion disorders. RESULTS: Subjects meeting criteria for any dissociative or conversion disorder scored significantly higher in the SDQ-20 (criterion validity). Somatoform dissociation, psychoform dissociation and early trauma were significantly correlated (construct validity). An alpha coefficient of .866 (reliability) and a test-retest correlation of 0.91 were obtained. The cut-off score maximizing sensitivity and specificity was 27.5 for psychoform dissociative disorders (sensitivity of 81.6% and specificity of 71.0%) and 29.5 for conversion disorders (81.6% and 71.0%). For the SDQ-5, the coefficient alpha was 0.561 and the selected cut-off score was 5.5 (sensitivity of 73.33% and specificity of 70.41%). CONCLUSIONS: The Spanish version of the SDQ-20 presents good psychometric properties while the SDQ-5 shows worse characteristics and its use with Spanish samples is not recommended

ANTECEDENTES: SDQ-20 (Somatoform Dissociation Questionnaire) es un autoinforme que mide la presencia de disociación somatomorfa. Se analizan las propiedades psicométricas de la versión española de la SDQ-20 y su versión abreviada (SDQ-5). MÉTODO: su validez y fiabilidad han sido examinadas en una muestra de 360 pacientes: 38 trastorno disociativo (de conversión), 30 trastorno disociativo (psicomorfo) y 292 diagnosticados de otros trastornos. El diagnóstico de trastorno disociativo se realizó mediante la SCID-D-TR y una entrevista específica para los trastornos conversivos. RESULTADOS: los sujetos que cumplieron criterios de trastorno disociativo o conversivo puntuaron significativamente más alto en la SDQ-20 (criterio de validez). La disociación psicomorfa y somatomorfa y el trauma temprano se correlacionaron significativamente (validez del constructo). Se obtuvieron un coeficiente alpha de 0.866 (fiabilidad) y una correlación test-retest de 0,91. El punto de corte para los trastornos disociativos fue 27,5 (sensibilidad 81,6% y especificidad 71%) y 29,5 para los trastornos conversivos (81,6% y 71%). En la SDQ-5 se obtuvo un coeficiente alpha de 0,561 y un punto de corte de 5,5 (sensibilidad 73,33% y especificidad 70,41%). CONCLUSIONES: la versión española de la SDQ-20 presenta buenas propiedades psicométricas. La SDQ-5 muestra peores características y su uso en muestras españolas no se recomienda

La amenorrea como criterio diagnóstico de la anorexia nerviosa / Amenorrhea as a Diagnostic Criterion for Anorexia Nervosa

La amenorrea es un criterio para el diagnostico de la anorexia nerviosa (AN) según el DSM-IV-TR. Sin embargo, al comparar grupos de pacientes que cumplen todos los criterios de este manual para la AN con grupos de mujeres que los presentan todos salvo la amenorrea, algunos estudios no han encontrado diferencias significativas en la psicopatología típicamente asociadas con la AN. El propósito de nuestro estudio ha sido comparar variables demográficas, antropométricas, psicológicas y psicopatológicas, en ambos grupos. No se observaron diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre ambos grupos en las variables evaluadas, pero el grupo con amenorrea tenía un índice de masa corporal significativamente más bajo. Nuestros datos apoyan la hipótesis de que la amenorrea podría no ser un criterio diagnóstico útil para la AN.

Amenorrhea is a current criterion for the diagnosis of anorexia nervosa (AN) according to the DSM-IV-TR. Nevertheless, when comparing groups of patients who fulfill all the criteria of this manual for AN and groups of women who show them all but amenorrhea, some studies did not find significant differences in the psychopathology typically associated with AN. The purpose of our study was to compare both groups in demographic, anthropometric, psychological and psychopathological variables. There were no statistically significant differences between both groups in the analyzed variables, but the group with amenorrhea had a significantly lower body mass index. Our data support the hypothesis that amenorrhea could not be a useful criterion for AN.

Adaptación española de la Escala Multiaxial de Afrontamiento Estratégico (SACS) de Hobfoll / Spanish adaptation of Hobfoll’s Strategic Approach to Coping Scale (SACS)

El presente trabajo estudia la adaptación española de la Escala Multiaxial de Afrontamiento Estratégico (Strategic Approach to Coping Scale; SACS), desarrollada por Hobfoll y su equipo. Se trata de un instrumento derivado de la Teoría de la Conservación de los Recursos de Hobfoll, que enfatiza la contribución de factores sociales al proceso de afrontamiento. El cuestionario evalúa la preferencia por estrategias de afrontamiento, a partir de 9 escalas que se organizan en tres dimensiones: orientación al problema (activo/pasivo), uso de recursos sociales (prosocial/antisocial) y orientación a otros implicados (directo/indirecto). La adaptación española se administró a una muestra de población no-clínica (N= 767) y encontró una estructura de 7 subescalas, estructuradas en las dimensiones prosocial/antisocial, activo/pasivo y reflexivo/intuitivo, con adecuada fiabilidad y validez de constructo. En conclusión, la Escala Multiaxial de Afrontamiento Estratégico parece un instrumento potencialmente útil y fiable para la clínica y la investigación, principalmente en ámbitos donde es necesario prestar atención a los componentes sociales del problema (AU)

The present research adapted the Strategic Approach to Coping Scale (SACS), developed by Hobfoll and colleagues, to the Spanish population. SACS is an instrument derived from Hobfoll’s Conservation of Resources Theory, which emphasises the contribution of social factors to coping processes. This instrument assesses coping strategies in 9-subscales, organised in three dimensions: orientation to the problem (active/ passive), use of social resources (prosocial/antisocial), and orientation to others involved (direct/ indirect). The Spanish version, administered to a non-clinical sample (N= 767), found 7-subscales structured in prosocial/antisocial, active/passive and reflexive/intuitive dimensions, with adequate reliability and construct validity. To conclude, the Spanish SACS is a potentially useful and reliable instrument for research and clinical purposes, mainly in areas in which social components need to be explicitly considered (AU)

Tratamiento del trastorno por déficit de atención / Treatment of attention deficit disorder

No disponible

No disponible

Programa de control de peso en personas con enfermedad mental grave del espectro psicótico / Cognitive behavioral weight-loss program for individuals with psychotic mental diseases

El aumento de peso asociado a la esquizofrenia a partir del incremento del uso de los nuevos antipsicóticos es un problema en aumento. Por ello, en este trabajo, nuestro objetivo es poner en marcha un programa cognitivo-conductual de forma ambulatoria para el control de peso en personas con enfermedad mental grave del espectro psicótico, atendidos en un Centro de Rehabilitación Psicosocial (C.R.P.S.), y comparar los resultados con un grupo control. Para ello contamos con un grupo de intervención compuesto por 3 varones y 4 mujeres, y un grupo control con 4 varones y 4 mujeres. La intervención duró doce sesiones a lo largo de tres meses. También se realizó un seguimiento a los tres meses de finalizada la intervención en ambos grupos. Nuestros datos indican la eficacia de la intervención cognitivo-conductual en estas personas: se consiguió reducir el peso de los participantes y modificar sus hábitos de alimentación y de ejercicio físico

Overweight derived from the intake of new antipsychotic medication in order to treat schizophrenia is a growing problem. The main purpose of this study is to launch a cognitive behavioural program in outpatients. It is focused on the weight control of patients with chronic mental diseases, especially those diagnosed as psychotic, and who are under treatment in a Psychosocial Rehabilitation Centre. In this study, the results of an experimental group and a control group were compared. The experimental group was made up of 7 individuals, 3 males and 4 females, and the control group comprised 4 males and 4 females. The program had a duration of twelve sessions administered over a period of three months. Three months after concluding the program, both groups were followed up. The data obtained indicate the efficiency of the cognitive-behavioural treatment in the patients. The achievements of this project were, on the one hand, to significantly reduce the patients’ weight and, on the other, to modify their nutritional and physical exercise habits

[Cognitive behavioral weight-loss program for individuals with psychotic mental diseases]. / Programa de control de peso en personas con enfermedad mental grave del espectro psicótico.

Overweight derived from the intake of new antipsychotic medication in order to treat schizophrenia is a growing problem. The main purpose of this study is to launch a cognitive behavioural program in outpatients. It is focused on the weight control of patients with chronic mental diseases, especially those diagnosed as psychotic, and who are under treatment in a Psychosocial Rehabilitation Centre. In this study, the results of an experimental group and a control group were compared. The experimental group was made up of 7 individuals, 3 males and 4 females, and the control group comprised 4 males and 4 females. The program had a duration of twelve sessions administered over a period of three months. Three months after concluding the program, both groups were followed up. The data obtained indicate the efficiency of the cognitive-behavioural treatment in the patients. The achievements of this project were, on the one hand, to significantly reduce the patients' weight and, on the other, to modify their nutritional and physical exercise habits.