Violence in adulthood and mental health: gender and immigrant status.

The aim of this study was to describe perceived abuse in adult Spanish and Ecuadorian women and men and to assess its association with mental health. A population-based survey was conducted in Spain in 2006. Data were taken from a probabilistic sample allowing for an equal number of men and women, Spaniards and Ecuadorians. Mental disorder was measured with the General Health Questionnaire-28. The nine questions on exposure to physical, sexual, and psychological abuse during the previous year were self-administered. Multivariate logistic regression was used to assess the association between exposure to abuse and poor mental health, adjusting for potential confounders. The sample was composed of 1,059 individuals aged 18 to 54, 104 of whom reported physical, psychological, or sexual abuse. Some 6% refused to answer the questions on abuse. Overall, reported abuse ranged from 13% in Ecuadorian women to 5% in Spanish men. Psychological abuse was the most frequent. Half the abused women, both Spanish and Ecuadorian, reported intimate partner violence (IPV), as did 22% of abused men. Poor mental health was found in 61% of abused Spanish women (adjusted Odds Ratio [ORa] = 5.1; 95% CI: 1.8-14.4), and 62% abused Ecuadorian women (ORa = 4; 95% CI: 2-7.9), in 36% of abused Spanish men (ORa = 3; 95% CI: 0.9-10.7) and in 30% abused Ecuadorian men (ORa = 2.8; 95% CI: 1-7.7). Interpersonal violence is frequent in relations with the partner, the family, and outside the family, and it seriously affects the mental health. Ecuadorian women stand out as the most vulnerable group.

Modelos de colaboración para la atención a la salud mental en Andalucía: evaluación tras 9 años de implantación / Collaborative models for mental health care in Andalusia: an assessment after 9 years of implementation

Introducción: En 2002 se inició la implantación del Proceso de Atención Integrado Ansiedad, Depresión, Somatizaciones (PAIADS) en Andalucía (modelo de colaboración asistencial). Se presenta su evaluación después de 9 años. Material y metodos: Análisis cualitativo de un CS urbano1 (entrevistas en profundidad, análisis documental y de registros) que implantó el PAIADS en 2002. Cuestionario telefónico a 380 Centros de Salud (CS) y 76 Unidades de Salud Mental Comunitaria (USMC) (Noviembre 2008-Mayo 2009). Estadística descriptiva de frecuencias y análisis bivariante (paquete SPSS) Resultados: El análisis cualitativo del CS muestra los 4 pilares de la implantación exitosa del PAIADS: comunicación bidireccional entre instituciones y profesionales, organización de consulta conjunta, función de filtro e inclusión de objetivos de salud mental en contrato de gestión. La tasa de respuesta a los cuestionarios fue de 68.9% en CS y 78.9% en USMC. Solamente 2.3% de CS implantaron la totalidad del PAIADS. Sin embargo el 88.2% hace una implantación parcial de alguno de sus elementos: responsable del programa, desplazamiento periódico de especialistas aCS, formación, protocolos, consulta programada de salud mental por los médicos de familia y grupos psicoeducativos en los CS. Los análisis muestran que la satisfacción profesional alta y la menor demora para primeras consultas a atenciónespecializada están asociadas con la implantación del PAIADS (pacientes vistos conjuntamente, formación y protocolos). Adicionalmente encontramos que el mayor numero de derivaciones esta asociado a menor masificación de las consultas, ausencia de oferta de grupos psicoeducativos en los CS y no desplazamiento periódico de especialistas. Conclusiones: El PAIADS tiene capacidad de contención no medicalizadora y gestión de la demanda para estas patologías en los CS y genera satisfacción profesional sin costes añadidos de implantación o mantenimiento. Es necesario realizar investigaciones complementarias sobre su impacto en la salud mental de los pacientes(AU)

Introduction: The implementation of the Integrated Care Process of Anxiety, Depression and Somatization (ICPADS; a collaborative care model) began in Andalusia in 2002.. Data presented correspond to an assessment after 9 years of implementation. Material and methods: Telephone questionnaire were carried out to 380 Health Centers (HC) and 76 Community Mental Health Units (CMHU) from November 2008 to May 2009. This was completed with a qualitative analysis for an urban HC (in depth interviews, document analysis) which introduced the ICPADS in 2002. We used descriptive statistics of frequencies and univariate analysis (SPSS software). Results: Qualitative analysis revealed four stone corners of a successful implementation: a two-way communication between institutions and professionals, an organization of shared consultation, a filter function and an inclusion of mental health objectives in the management contract. Response rate to the questionnaire was 68.9% in HCs and 78.9% in the CMHUs. ICPADS was fully implanted in 2.3% of HCs. However, a partial implantation was observed in 88.2% of the units on specific aspects as the existence of a person in charge of the program, periodic visits from mental health specialists to HCs, continued education, protocols, specific mental health consultation from family physicians and psychoeducational groups offered in the HCs. Analyses revealed that a higher job satisfaction and minor delays for a first specialist visit were associated with the implementation of ICPADS (shared consultation, continued education and protocols). In addition, an increased number of referrals were associated with a less overcrowded consultation and a lack of both psychoeducational groups offer and periodic visits from mental health specialists. Conclusions: The ICPADS showed the capacity to solve and manage mental health demands of these pathologies in the HCs without medicalize them and generates job satisfaction without added costs of implementation or maintenance. However, further research would be desirable in order to assess the benefits of the program on patients' mental health(AU)

Reflexiones en torno a la sensibilización de medios de comunicación sobre el estigma de la enfermedad mental / Reflections on the media awareness about the stigma of mental illness

Se revisan las acciones que se llevan a cabo para sensibilizar a los medios en diversas estrategias internacionales contra el estigma. De la experiencia de la estrategia contra el estigma de Andalucía «1 de cada 4», iniciada en 2005, se exponen una serie de aspectos que deberían considerarse cuando se trabaja para mejorar la imagen de la enfermedad mental que se proyecta en los medios de comunicación (AU)

Different international strategies and actions to tackle stigma are reviewed. From the experience of the Andalusian strategy «1 in 4», which started in 2005, the authors state several aspects which should be taken into account when working to improve the social image of the mental illness that appears in the media (AU)

[Methodology and fieldwork logistics of a multilevel research study on the influence of neigbourdhood's characteristics on natives and Ecuadorian's mental health in Spain]. / Metodología y logística de campo de un estudio multinivel sobre la influencia en España de las características medioambientales en la salud mental de población autóctona y ecuatoriana inmigrante.

The methodological design, characteristics and fieldwork stage of a multilevel research study on the impact of the environmental characteristics on mental health in an autochthonous and immigrant population are described in this paper. Individual data were obtained using a core questionnaire 40 minutes length from home interviews of Spanish and Ecuadorian adults from September 2006 to January 2007. A random sample of 1186 people aged 18-55, with equal distribution of gender and nationality was obtained from Civil Registers of 33 areas (municipalities or neighbourhoods) of Madrid, Alicante, Almeria and Murcia, chosen by ethnic density and socioeconomic criteria. Previously, a pilot study was carried out. Socioeconomic indicators of neighbourhoods and selected communities were obtained from Municipal Registers and other secondary sources. Finally, 1144 people were interviewed (96%). Each person was contacted at home at two different times. The global response rate was 61%, higher among Ecuadorians (69%), who presented more problems of localisation (34%). Analyzing methods and fieldwork process the conclusion is that sample strategies for this type of population studies should be evaluated using feasibility criteria given time and money constraints, against the need to obtain representative samples of the target populations. There were serious shortcomings in the availability of social integration indicators at the neighbourhood level.

Metodología y logística de campo de un estudio multinivel sobre la influencia en España de las características medioambientales en la salud mental de población autóctona y ecuatoriana inmigrante / Methodology and fieldwork logistics of a multilevel research study on the influence of neigbourdhood’s characteristics on natives and ecuadorian’s mental health in Spain

Se realizó una investigación multinivel sobre el impacto de lascaracterísticas ambientales de la zona de residencia en la salud mentalde población autóctona e inmigrante. El objetivo de este artículo esdescribir el planteamiento metodológico de la investigación, el trabajode campo, las tasas de respuesta correspondientes y discutir el diseñometodológico y las dificultades derivadas de su puesta en práctica.Los datos individuales se obtuvieron aplicando un cuestionarioestructurado de aproximadamente 40 minutos, mediante entrevistadomiciliaria a personas españolas y ecuatorianas de 18 a 55 años. Eltrabajo se realizó de septiembre de 2006 a enero de 2007 en una muestraestimada de 1.186 personas equiparada por sexo y nacionalidad,obtenida aleatoriamente de los Padrones Municipales de 33 áreas(municipios o barrios) de Madrid, Alicante, Almería y Murcia, seleccionadassegún criterios de densidad étnica y socioeconómicos. Previamentese realizó un estudio piloto (n=113)Los indicadores sociodemográficosde las áreas se obtuvieron a partir de fuentes secundarias. Seentrevistó a 1.144 personas (96%). La tasa de respuesta global fue del61%, superior entre ecuatorianos (69%), colectivo que presentó másproblemas de localización (34%). Las negativas a colaborar fueron másaltas entre españoles (21%).Se concluye que en este tipo de estudios sería conveniente revisarlas estrategias de muestreo para combinar criterios de eficiencia con lanecesidad de obtener una muestra representativa de la población diana.Se constata la dificultad de obtener datos inframunicipales de integraciónsocial(AU)

The methodological design, characteristics and fieldwork stage ofa multilevel research study on the impact of the environmentalcharacteristics on mental health in an autochthonous and immigrantpopulation are described in this paper.Individual data were obtained using a core questionnaire 40minutes length from home interviews of Spanish and Ecuadorianadults from September 2006 to January 2007. A random sample of1186 people aged 18-55, with equal distribution of gender andnationality was obtained from Civil Registers of 33 areas(municipalities or neighbourhoods) of Madrid, Alicante, Almeria andMurcia, chosen by ethnic density and socioeconomic criteria.Previously, a pilot study was carried out. Socioeconomic indicators ofneighbourhoods and selected communities were obtained fromMunicipal Registers and other secondary sources.Finally, 1144 people were interviewed (96%). Each person wascontacted at home at two different times. The global response rate was61%, higher among Ecuadorians (69%), who presented more problemsof localisation (34%).Analyzing methods and fieldwork process the conclusion is thatsample strategies for this type of population studies should beevaluated using feasibility criteria given time and money constraints,against the need to obtain representative samples of the targetpopulations. There were serious shortcomings in the availability ofsocial integration indicators at the neighbourhood level(AU)