Long-term depressive symptom trajectories and related baseline characteristics in primary care patients: Analysis of the PsicAP clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: There is heterogeneity in the long-term trajectories of depressive symptoms among patients. To date, there has been little effort to inform the long-term trajectory of symptom change and the factors associated with different trajectories. Such knowledge is key to treatment decision-making in primary care, where depression is a common reason for consultation. We aimed to identify distinct long-term trajectories of depressive symptoms and explore pre-treatment characteristics associated with them. METHODS: A total of 483 patients from the PsicAP clinical trial were included. Growth mixture modeling was used to identify long-term distinct trajectories of depressive symptoms, and multinomial logistic regression models to explore associations between pre-treatment characteristics and trajectories. RESULTS: Four trajectories were identified that best explained the observed response patterns: "recovery" (64.18%), "late recovery" (10.15%), "relapse" (13.67%), and "chronicity" (12%). There was a higher likelihood of following the recovery trajectory for patients who had received psychological treatment in addition to the treatment as usual. Chronicity was associated with higher depressive severity, comorbidity (generalized anxiety, panic, and somatic symptoms), taking antidepressants, higher emotional suppression, lower levels on life quality, and being older. Relapse was associated with higher depressive severity, somatic symptoms, and having basic education, and late recovery was associated with higher depressive severity, generalized anxiety symptoms, greater disability, and rumination. CONCLUSIONS: There were different trajectories of depressive course and related prognostic factors among the patients. However, further research is needed before these findings can significantly influence care decisions.

Suicidio más allá del diagnóstico: un enfoque centrado en la persona y su circunstancia / Suicide Beyond Diagnosis: A Person and Their Circumstances-Centered Approach

Existe una pluralidad de enfoques sobre el suicidio. En la literatura científica y en el ámbito sanitario es hegemónico el modelo biomédico. En este trabajo se presen-ta un modelo alternativo, existencial-contextual, de estudio, comprensión, prevención y posvención del suicidio en el ámbito sanitario. El trabajo se divide en dos partes. La primera expone los tres elementos esenciales del modelo existencial-contextual: la no-ción de persona, el concepto de problemas de la vida y la práctica de la relación de cui-dado y acompañamiento. La segunda desarrolla algunas de las diferencias asistenciales más importantes entre el modelo biomédico y el existencial-contextual del suicidio. Se concluye en la necesidad de superar el paradigma suicidológico biomédico tradicional y construir un espacio amplio transdisciplinar de reflexión suicidológica crítica a la altura de nuestro tiempo. Este cambio de paradigma requiere pasar de una lógica que prioriza lo patológico-biológico-farmacológico a otra socio-psico-política del suicidio que integre las aportaciones del modelo biomédico sin reducirse a ellas. (AU)

There is a plurality of understanding approaches to suicide. In the scientific literature and the healthcare field, the biomedical model is hegemonic. This paper pre-sents an alternative existential-contextual model for the study, understanding, preven-tion and postvention of suicide in the healthcare field. The academic paper is divided into two parts. The first part sets out the three essential elements of the existential-contex-tual model: the notion of personhood, the concept of life problems and the practice of caring and supportive relationships. The second one develops some of the most impor-tant differences in care between the biomedical and the existential-contextual models of suicide. It concludes with the need to overcome the traditional biomedical suicidological paradigm and to build a broad transdisciplinary space for critical suicidological reflection that is up to date with our times. This paradigm shift requires moving from a logic that prioritizes the pathological-biological-pharmacological to a socio-psycho-political logic of suicide that integrates the contributions of the biomedical model without being reduced to them. (AU)

A Proxy Approach to Family Involvement and Neurocognitive Function in First Episode of Non-Affective Psychosis: Sex-Related Differences.

Schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSD) often show cognitive deficits (CD) impacting daily life. Family support has been shown to be protective against CD, yet the relationship between these in psychotic patients remains complex and not fully understood. This study investigated the association between a subdomain of family support, namely, family involvement (estimated through a proxy measure), cognitive functioning, and sex in first-episode psychosis (FEP) patients. The sample included 308 patients enrolled in the Program for Early Phases of Psychosis (PAFIP), divided into 4 groups based on their estimated family involvement (eFI) level and sex, and compared on various variables. Women presented lower rates of eFI than men (37.1% and 48.8%). Higher eFI was associated with better cognitive functioning, particularly in verbal memory. This association was stronger in women. The findings suggest that eFI may be an important factor in FEP patients' cognitive functioning. This highlights the importance of including families in treatment plans for psychotic patients to prevent CD. Further research is needed to better understand the complex interplay between family support, sex, and cognitive functioning in psychotic patients and develop effective interventions that target these factors.

Familiality of the Intelligence Quotient in First Episode Psychosis: Is the Degree of Family Resemblance Associated With Different Profiles?

BACKGROUND AND HYPOTHESIS: There is uncertainty about the relationship between the family intelligence quotient (IQ) deviation and the risk for schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSD). This study tested the hypothesis that IQ is familial in first episode psychosis (FEP) patients and that their degree of familial resemblance is associated with different profiles. STUDY DESIGN: The participants of the PAFIP-FAMILIAS project (129 FEP patients, 143 parents, and 97 siblings) completed the same neuropsychological battery. IQ-familiality was estimated through the Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC). For each family, the intra-family resemblance score (IRS) was calculated as an index of familial similarity. The FEP patients were subgrouped and compared according to their IRS and IQ. STUDY RESULTS: IQ-familiality was low-moderate (ICC = 0.259). A total of 44.9% of the FEP patients had a low IRS, indicating discordancy with their family-IQ. Of these patients, those with low IQ had more schizophrenia diagnosis and a trend towards poorer premorbid adjustment in childhood and early adolescence. Whereas FEP patients with low IQ closely resembling their family-IQ were characterized by having the lowest performance in executive functions. CONCLUSIONS: The deviation from the familial cognitive performance may be related to a particular pathological process in SSD. Individuals with low IQ who do not reach their cognitive familial potential show difficulties in adjustment since childhood, probably influenced by environmental factors. Instead, FEP patients with high phenotypic family resemblance might have a more significant genetic burden for the disorder.

Worry, rumination and negative metacognitive beliefs as moderators of outcomes of Transdiagnostic group cognitive-behavioural therapy in emotional disorders.

BACKGROUND: Despite the relevance of cognitive processes such as rumination, worry, negative metacognitive beliefs in emotional disorders, the existing literature about how these cognitive processes moderate the effect of treatment in treatment outcomes is limited. The aim of the present study was to explore the potential moderator effect of baseline cognitive processes-worry, rumination and negative metacognitive beliefs-on the relationship between treatment allocation (transdiagnostic cognitive-behavioural therapy -TD-CBT plus treatment as usual-TAU vs. TAU alone) and treatment outcomes (anxiety and depressive symptoms, quality of life [QoL], and functioning) in primary care patients with emotional disorders. METHODS: A total of 631 participants completed scales to evaluate worry, rumination, negative metacognitive beliefs, QoL, functioning, and anxiety and depressive symptoms. RESULTS: Worry and rumination acted as moderators on the effect of treatment for anxiety (b = -1.25, p = .003; b = -0.98, p = .048 respectively) and depressive symptoms (b = -1.21, p = .017; b = -1.34, p = .024 respectively). Individuals with higher baseline levels of worry and rumination obtained a greater reduction in emotional symptoms from the addition TD-CBT to TAU. Negative metacognitive beliefs were not a significant moderator of any treatment outcome. LIMITATIONS: The study assesses cognitive processes over a relatively short period of time and uses self-reported instruments. In addition, it only includes individuals with mild or moderate anxiety or depressive disorders, which limits generalization to other populations. CONCLUSIONS: These results underscore the generalization of the TD-CBT to individuals with emotional disorders in primary care with different cognitive profiles, especially those with high levels of worry and rumination.

Cost-effectiveness of transdiagnostic group cognitive behavioural therapy versus group relaxation therapy for emotional disorders in primary care (PsicAP-Costs2): Protocol for a multicentre randomised controlled trial.

Several randomised controlled trials (RCT) have demonstrated the superiority of transdiagnostic group cognitive-behavioural therapy (TD-CBT) to treatment as usual (TAU) for emotional disorders in primary care. To date, however, no RCTs have been conducted to compare TD-CBT to another active intervention in this setting. Our aim is to conduct a single-blind RCT to compare group TD-CBT plus TAU to progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) plus TAU in adults (age 18 to 65 years) with a suspected emotional disorder. We expect that TD-CBT + TAU will be more cost-effective than TAU + PMR, and that these gains will be maintained at the 12-month follow-up. Seven therapy sessions (1.5 hours each) will be offered over a 24-week period. The study will be carried out at four primary care centres in Cantabria, Spain. The study will take a societal perspective. Psychological assessments will be made at three time points: baseline, post-treatment, and at 12-months. The following variables will be evaluated: clinical symptoms (anxiety, depression, and/or somatic); functioning; quality of life (QoL); cognitive-emotional factors (rumination, worry, attentional and interpretative biases, emotion regulation and meta-cognitive beliefs); and satisfaction with treatment. Data on health service use, medications, and sick days will be obtained from electronic medical records. Primary outcome measures will include: incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICER) and incremental cost-utility ratios (ICURs). Secondary outcome measures will include: clinical symptoms, QoL, functioning, and treatment satisfaction. Bootstrap sampling will be used to assess uncertainty of the results. Secondary moderation and mediation analyses will be conducted. Two questionnaires will be administered at sessions 1, 4, and 7 to assess therapeutic alliance and group satisfaction. If this trial is successful, widespread application of this cost-effective treatment could greatly improve access to psychological treatment for emotional disorders in the context of increasing demand for mental healthcare in primary care. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov: Cost-effectiveness of a Transdiagnostic Psychological Treatment for Emotional Disorders in Primary Care (PsicAP). NCT05314920.

Overlap between genetic variants associated with schizophrenia spectrum disorders and intelligence quotient: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: To study whether there is genetic overlap underlying the risk for schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSDs) and low intelligence quotient (IQ), we reviewed and summarized the evidence on genetic variants associated with both traits. METHODS: We performed this review in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) and preregistered it in PROSPERO. We searched the Medline databases via PubMed, PsycInfo, Web of Science and Scopus. We included studies in adults with a diagnosis of SSD that explored genetic variants (single nucleotide polymorphisms [SNPs], copy number variants [CNVs], genomic insertions or genomic deletions), estimated IQ and studied the relationship between genetic variability and both traits (SSD and IQ). We synthesized the results and assessed risk of bias using the Quality of Genetic Association Studies (Q-Genie) tool. RESULTS: Fifty-five studies met the inclusion criteria (45 case-control, 9 cross-sectional, 1 cohort), of which 55% reported significant associations for genetic variants involved in IQ and SSD. The SNPs more frequently explored through candidate gene studies were in COMT, DTNBP1, BDNF and TCF4. Through genome-wide association studies, 2 SNPs in CHD7 and GATAD2A were associated with IQ in patients with SSD. The studies on CNVs suggested significant associations between structural variants and low IQ in patients with SSD. LIMITATIONS: Overall, primary studies used heterogeneous IQ measurement tools and had small samples. Grey literature was not screened. CONCLUSION: Genetic overlap between SSD and IQ supports the neurodevelopmental hypothesis of schizophrenia. Most of the risk polymorphisms identified were in genes relevant to brain development, neural proliferation and differentiation, and synaptic plasticity.

Emotion Regulation as a Moderator of Outcomes of Transdiagnostic Group Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Emotional Disorders.

The aim of this study was to examine the potential moderating effect of baseline emotion regulation skills-cognitive reappraisal and expressive suppression-on the relationship between treatment allocation and treatment outcomes in primary care patients with emotional symptoms. A total of 631 participants completed scales to evaluate emotion regulation, anxiety, depression, functioning, and quality of life (QOL). The moderation analysis was carried out using the SPSS PROCESS macro, version 3.5. Expressive suppression was a significant moderator in the relationship between treatment allocation and treatment outcomes in terms of symptoms of anxiety (b = -0.530, p = .026), depression (b = -0.812, p = .004), and QOL (b = 0.156, p = .048). Cognitive reappraisal acted as a moderator only in terms of QOL (b = 0.217, p = .028). The findings of this study show that participants with higher scores of expressive suppression benefited more from the addition of transdiagnostic cognitive-behavioral therapy to treatment as usual (TAU) in terms of anxiety and depressive symptoms, and QOL. Individuals with higher levels of cognitive reappraisal obtained a greater benefit in terms of QOL from the addition of psychological treatment to TAU. These results underscore the relevant role that emotion regulation skills play in the outcomes of psychological therapy for emotional symptoms.

Cost-effectiveness and cost-utility evaluation of individual vs. group transdiagnostic psychological treatment for emotional disorders in primary care (PsicAP-Costs): a multicentre randomized controlled trial protocol.

BACKGROUND: Emotional disorders are common, and they have become more prevalent since the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to a high attendance burden at the specialized level, most emotional disorders in Spain are treated in primary care, where they are usually misdiagnosed and treated using psychotropic drugs. This contributes to perpetuate their illness and increase health care costs. Following the IAPT programme and the transdiagnostic approach, the PsicAP project developed a brief group transdiagnostic cognitive-behavioural therapy (tCBT) as a cost-effective alternative. However, it is not suitable for everyone; in some cases, one-on-one sessions may be more effective. The objective of the present study is to compare, in cost-benefit terms, group and individual tCBT with the treatment usually administered in Spanish primary care (TAU). METHODS: A randomized, controlled, multicentre, and single-blinded trial will be performed. Adults with mild to moderate emotional disorders will be recruited and placed in one of three arms: group tCBT, individual tCBT, or TAU. Medical data and outcomes regarding emotional symptoms, disability, quality of life, and emotion regulation biases will be collected at baseline, immediately after treatment, and 6 and 12 months later. The data will be used to calculate incremental cost-effectiveness and cost-utility ratios. DISCUSSION: This trial aims to contribute to clinical practice research. The involvement of psychologists in primary care and the implementation of a stepped-care model for mental disorders are recommended. Group therapy and a transdiagnostic approach may help optimize health system resources and unblock waiting lists so that people can spend less time experiencing mental health problems. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04847310; Protocols.io: bx2npqde. (April 19, 2021).

Analysis of the PHQ-15 by individual items: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: The Patient Health Questionnaire-15 (PHQ-15) is among the most commonly used questionnaires to assess somatic symptoms in primary care settings. The aim of our study was to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of the studies that have analysed individual items from the PHQ-15 to determine the influence of differences in sociodemographic and clinical variables. Methods: This systematic review was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA statement. Studies analysing PHQ-15 by individual items were searched in Medline/PubMed, Embase, PsycINFO, Scopus from 1999 to November 2019. Results: Data were extracted from 13 studies. The most frequently reported symptoms were "pain in your arms, legs, or joints", "back pain", "headaches", and "feeling tired or having low energy". In patients with mental health disorders (depression, anxiety disorder, and somatoform disorder), the most commonly reported somatic symptoms were "trouble sleeping", "feeling tired or having low energy", and digestive symptoms. In the meta-analysis, females scored significantly higher than males on 3 of 14 items: "headaches" (odds ratio [OR] 2.16, p<.001), "dizziness" (OR 1.58, p<.001), and "stomach pain" (OR 1.46, p<.02), with a small to moderate effect size for these differences. Conclusions: Gender differences were detected for three items (headaches, dizziness, and stomach pain), although the magnitude of these differences was small. Further research is needed to better understand the relationship between individual items and other sociodemographic variables. In addition, more research is needed to determine measurement invariance across various demographic groups.

Introducción: El PHQ-15 (Patient Health Questionnaire) es uno de los cuestionarios más utilizados para la valoración de los síntomas somáticos en atención primaria. El objetivo del estudio fue realizar una revisión sistemática y un metaanálisis de los estudios previos que analizaron los ítems individuales del PHQ-15 y determinar su asociación con las variables clínicas y sociodemográficas. Metodología: Esta revisión sistemática se llevó a cabo de acuerdo a la declaración PRISMA. Los estudios que analizaron el PHQ-15 por ítems individuales fueron obtenidos en las bases de datos de Medline / PubMed, Embase, PsycINFO y Scopus; desde el 1999 hasta noviembre de 2019. Resultados: Los datos fueron extraídos de 13 estudios. Los síntomas más frecuentes fueron "dolor en los brazos, piernas o articulaciones", "dolor de espalda", "dolor de cabeza" y "sentirse cansado o con poca energía". Los pacientes con trastornos mentales (depresión, ansiedad y trastorno somatomorfo), presentaron con mayor frecuencia "problemas de sueño", "sentirse cansado o con poca energía" y síntomas gastrointestinales. En el metaanálisis, las mujeres obtuvieron puntuaciones significativamente mayores que los hombres en 3 de los 14 ítems: "dolor de cabeza" (odds ratio [OR] 2.16, p<.001), "mareo" (OR 1.58, p<.001) y "dolor de estómago" (OR 1.46, p<0,02), con un tamaño del efecto de pequeño a moderado. Conclusiones: Se detectaron diferencias entre ambos géneros en tres ítems (cefalea, mareo y dolor de estómago), aunque la magnitud de estas diferencias fue pequeña. Es necesario seguir investigando para lograr una mejor comprensión de la relación entre los ítems individuales y las variables sociodemográficas. Además, es necesario investigar la invarianza de medición en los diferentes grupos demográficos

The role of cognitive factors in differentiating individuals with somatoform disorders with and without depression.

The present study, based on a cross-sectional design, was conducted in the primary care setting with patients presenting somatic symptoms suggestive of somatoform disorders (SFD). The main aim of the study was to determine whether cognitive variables could differentiate between patients with SFD alone and those who also present depressive symptoms suggestive of depression (SFD + depression). All participants (N = 796) completed validated self-report measures to assess somatic, depressive, and/or anxiety symptoms, as well as functional impairment, quality of life (QoL), and cognitive variables (worry, rumination, metacognition, cognitive distortions, and emotion regulation). Univariate and multivariate analyses (controlled for potential sociodemographic and clinical confounders) were performed. On the univariate analysis, significant differences between the SFD and SFD + depression groups were found in sociodemographic and clinical variables, functional impairment, QoL, and cognitive variables. On the multivariate analysis, the only significative variables associated with comorbid SFD + depression were anxiety (ß = 0.27; p < 0.001), physical and psychological QoL (ß = -0.10; p = 0.01; and ß = -0.21; p < 0.001, respectively), and marital status (ß = -65; p < 0.05). Cognitive variables were not significantly related to depressive symptoms in patients with SFD. These findings suggest that patients with SFD - with or without comorbid depression - share common cognitive processes and thus both groups could benefit from transdiagnostic cognitive therapy.

Factors differentiating panic disorder with and without comorbid symptoms of depression.

The aim of this study was to examine the sociodemographic and clinical differences between people with a probable diagnosis of panic disorder (PD) and those with PD and a probable comorbid diagnosis major depressive disorder (PD + MDD). We also sought to explore the potential contribution of cognitive variables to help differentiate between PD and PD + MDD. This was a subgroup analysis of 331 patients with PD symptoms who were included in the PsicAP clinical trial. All participants completed scales to evaluate panic, depression, somatization, cognitive and performance variables. A univariate analysis showed significant differences (p < .01) between the groups (PD vs PD + MDD) in clinical variables. Somatization was the best predictor of comorbid PD + MDD (ß = .346; p < .01). Cognitive variables do not appear to play an essential role in predicting the presence of depressive symptoms in people with a screen positive for PD. These findings appear to support a transdiagnostic treatment approach for PD, which may be useful regardless of whether comorbid depression is present or not. PRACTITIONER POINTS: Somatic symptoms were associated with a higher probability of be in the PD + MDD group. Cognitive variables do not play a relevant role in the differentiation of both groups. A transdiagnostic approach can be useful for the treatment of PD or PD + MDD group.

[Evidence-Based Psychological Treatments for Adults: A Selective Review]

Evidence-Based Psychological Treatments for Adults: A Selective Review. BACKGROUND: Psychological treatments have shown their efficacy, effectiveness, and efficiency in dealing with mental disorders. However, considering the scientific knowledge generated in recent years, in the Spanish context, there are no updating studies about empirically supported psychological treatments. The main goal was to carry out a selective review of the main empirically supported psychological treatments for mental disorders in adults. METHOD: Levels of evidence and degrees of recommendation were collected based on the criteria proposed by the Spanish National Health System (Clinical Practice Guidelines) for different psychological disorders. RESULTS: The results indicate that psychological treatments have empirical support for the approach to a wide range of psychological disorders. These levels of empirical evidence gathered range from low to high depending on the psychological disorder analysed. The review indicates the existence of certain fields of intervention that need further investigation. CONCLUSIONS: Based on this selective review, psychology professionals will be able to have rigorous, up-to-date information that allows them to make informed decisions when implementing empirically based psychotherapeutic procedures based on the characteristics of the people who require help.

Suicidio y trastorno mental: una crítica necesaria / Suicide and mental disorder: a necessary critique

Este artículo analiza desde una perspectiva crítica y reflexiva la asociación entre suicidio y trastorno mental. Se debate el dato de la Organización Mundial de la Salud que dice que el 90% de los suicidios se deben a un trastorno mental. Se concluye que la asunción acrítica de este dato conlleva: 1) una confusión entre un factor de riesgo y una causalidad psiquiátrica, 2) una idea reduccionista del suicidio y la conducta suicida vistos como un "síntoma", una evolución "natural" o incluso como un trastorno mental en sí mismo, y 3) finalmente, supone una anulación del núcleo íntimo del fenómeno suicida que es la capacidad de decisión-acción de una persona-en-un-contexto. Estas conclusiones ayudarían a pensar el suicidio más allá del enfoque biomédico y del factor diagnóstico

This article analyzes, from a critical and reflexive approach, the relationship between suicide and mental disorder. The World Health Organization figure reporting that 90% of suicides are due to a mental disorder is debated. It is concluded that an uncritical assumption of this figure implies: 1) a confusion between a risk factor and a psychiatric causality, 2) a reductionist idea of suicide and suicidal behavior seen as a "symptom", a "natural" evolution, or even as a mental disorder in itself, and 3) finally, it involves the cancellation of the intimate nucleus of the suicidal phenomenon that is the decision-action capacity of a person-in-a-context. These conclusions help us to think about suicide in a way that goes beyond the biomedical approach and the diagnostic factor

¿Qué es suicidio? Problemas clínicos y conceptuales / What is suicide? Clinical and conceptual issues

El suicidio es uno de los principales problemas de salud pública a nivel mundial. El objetivo de este artículo es pensar y discutir el concepto de suicidio. Se analiza su definición y se presenta la diferencia entre suicidio e intentos de suicidio como dos grupos sociales y clínicos diferenciados. Se analizan las implicaciones conceptuales, en la comprensión clínica, y prácticas, en la cuantificación, la investigación y la prevención del fenómeno suicida. Se concluye en la necesidad de incorporar un enfoque contextual-fenomenológico del suicidio

Suicide is one of the main public health problems worldwide. The aim of this article is to think and discuss about the concept of suicide. It discusses its definition and presents the difference between suicide and suicide attempts as two distinct social and clinical groups. The conceptual implications, in the clinical understanding, and the practical implications, in the quantification, research and prevention of the suicidal phenomenon are analyzed. It concludes with the need to incorporate a contextual-phenomenological approach to suicide

Figuras de la vida dañada: modalidades de conducta suicida / Figures of damaged life: Patterns of suicidal behavior

El suicidio es uno de los principales problemas de salud pública a nivel mundial. Asumiendo que el suicidio es un fenómeno plural y diverso, el objetivo de este artículo es presentar y analizar diferentes figuras o modalidades de la conducta suicida según se manifiestan en la clínica y se recogen en la literatura

Suicide is one of the main public health problems worldwide. Assuming that suicide is a plural and diverse phenomenon, the objective of this article is to present and to analyze different figures or modalities of suicidal behavior as manifested in the clinical practice and reflected in the literature