Analysis of Effectiveness of Individual and Group Trauma-Focused Interventions for Female Victims of Intimate Partner Violence.

Group psychological programs for intimate partner violence (IPV) survivors would seem particularly useful since they contribute to interrupting women's isolation and have cost-effectiveness advantage. This study aims to analyze whether the effectiveness of group interventions for female survivors of IPV is equivalent to that of the individual format. A cognitive-behavioral trauma-focused intervention program was applied in eight weekly sessions in Madrid (Spain) to IPV female survivors with significant posttraumatic symptoms that were randomly assigned to the individual (n = 25) or group (n = 28) intervention format. Measures of posttraumatic stress (Severity of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms Scale), depression (Beck Depression Inventory), anxiety (Beck Anxiety Inventory), self-esteem (Rosenberg's Scale) and social support were analyzed at pre-treatment, post-treatment, and 1-, 3-, 6- and 12-months follow-ups. A total of 28.3% of women dropped out, without significant format differences. Intervention (both formats) had significant improvements with large effect sizes in posttraumatic stress (η2p = 0.56), depression (η2p = 0.45), anxiety (η2p = 0.41) and self-esteem (η2p = 0.26) that maintained in follow-ups (p < 0.001), without significant differences between formats. Both intervention formats had different evolutions for depression and anxiety (p < 0.05), with better effects in the individual format at the first post-test measurements, but the differences tended to disappear over time. Intervention was effective in improving social support, with no significant differences between formats. All in all, both formats showed similar effectiveness. The group format could be an alternative when applying psychological interventions for female IPV survivors, since it would maintain good cost-effectiveness balance, mainly in the long-term.

Alcohol and psychotropic substance use in female spanish victims of intimate partnet violence / Consumo de alcohol y sustancias psicotrópicas en mujeres españolas víctimas de violencia de género en la pareja

BACKGROUND: Studies show high use of alcohol among American women who are victims of intimate partner violence (IPV), but not in Spanish victims. This study examines hazardous drinking, use of psychotropic substances, and the relationship with psychopathological symptoms in Spanish women who are victims of IPV. METHOD: 50 battered women and 50 control women from general population were assessed. RESULTS: Hazardous drinking in women victims of IPV (18.4% and 24.5%) was higher than in previous Spanish studies, and lower than in controls (no significant difference). Women victims of IPV showed a significantly higher use of psychotropic medication than controls (40% vs. 20%). For women victims of IPV, psychopathological symptoms were not related to use of alcohol, but use of psychotropic medication was related to post-traumatic arousal. CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that Spanish women victims of IPV may resort to psychotropic medication rather than alcohol to cope with their symptoms

ANTECEDENTES: los estudios muestran un alto consumo de alcohol en las mujeres maltratadas americanas, pero no en las españolas. Este estudio examina en mujeres maltratadas españolas: el consumo de riesgo de alcohol, el consumo de sustancias psicotrópicas y la relación con los síntomas psicopatológicos. MÉTODO: 50 mujeres maltratadas y 50 mujeres controles de la población general fueron evaluadas. RESULTADOS: el consumo de riesgo de alcohol en mujeres maltratadas (18,4% y 24,5%) fue superior al encontrado en los estudios españoles previos, e inferior a los controles (sin diferencias significativas). Las mujeres maltratadas mostraban un consumo de psicofármacos significativamente mayor que las controles (40% vs. 20%). En las mujeres maltratadas, los síntomas psicopatológicos no estaban relacionados con el consumo de alcohol, sin embargo el consumo de psicofármacos se relacionaba con la activación postraumática. CONCLUSIONES: los resultados sugieren que las mujeres maltratadas españolas pueden recurrir a los psicofármacos en lugar de al alcohol para hacer frente a sus síntomas

Alcohol and psychotropic substance use in female Spanish victims of intimate partner violence.

BACKGROUND: Studies show high use of alcohol among American women who are victims of intimate partner violence (IPV), but not in Spanish victims. This study examines hazardous drinking, use of psychotropic substances, and the relationship with psychopathological symptoms in Spanish women who are victims of IPV. METHOD: 50 battered women and 50 control women from general population were assessed. RESULTS: Hazardous drinking in women victims of IPV (18.4% and 24.5%) was higher than in previous Spanish studies, and lower than in controls (no significant difference). Women victims of IPV showed a significantly higher use of psychotropic medication than controls (40% vs. 20%). For women victims of IPV, psychopathological symptoms were not related to use of alcohol, but use of psychotropic medication was related to post-traumatic arousal. CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that Spanish women victims of IPV may resort to psychotropic medication rather than alcohol to cope with their symptoms.

Dimensional structure of DSM-5 posttraumatic stress symptoms in Spanish trauma victims.

BACKGROUND: Confirmatory factor analytic studies have shown that posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms included in the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual Disorders (DSM-5) may be better explained by two 6-factor models (the Externalizing Behaviours model and the Anhedonia model) and a 7-factor Hybrid model. The latter model comprises the symptom clusters of intrusion, avoidance, negative affect, anhedonia, externalizing behaviours, and anxious and dysphoric arousal. This model has received empirical support mainly in American samples. Of note, there have been a limited number of studies conducted on samples from other countries. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to examine the underlying dimensionality of DSM-5 PTSD symptoms in a Spanish clinical sample exposed to a range of traumatic events. METHOD: Participants included 165 adults (78.8% females) seeking treatment in trauma services in the Madrid area (Spain). PTSD was assessed using the Global Assessment of Posttraumatic Stress Scale 5, a Spanish self-report instrument assessing posttraumatic symptoms according to the DSM-5 criteria. Confirmatory factor analyses were conducted in Mplus. RESULTS: Both the 7-factor Hybrid model and the 6-factor Anhedonia model demonstrated good and equivalent fit to the data. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study replicate and extend previous research by providing support for both the 7-factor Hybrid model and the 6-factor Anhedonia model in a clinical sample of Spanish trauma survivors. Given equivalent fit for these two models and the fewer number of latent factors in the Anhedonia model, it was selected as optimal in a traumatized Spanish sample. Implications and future research directions are discussed.

Adaptación española de la "Escala de resiliencia de Connor-Davidson" (CD-RISC) en situaciones de estrés crónico / Spanish version of the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC) for chronic stress situations

El objetivo del estudio fue evaluar las propiedades psicométricas de la adaptación española de la "Escala de resiliencia de Connor-Davidson" (CD-RISC) en situaciones de estrés crónico, con 111 cuidadores familiares de personas mayores dependientes. Al calcular la fiabilidad de la escala y la correlación ítemescala se encontró que cuatro ítems afectaban negativamente su fiabilidad y fueron eliminados. La versión reducida de 21 ítems mostró una elevada fiabilidad (alfa= 0,90). El análisis factorial exploratorio arrojó cuatro factores (55,31% varianza explicada): afrontamiento y persistencia ante situaciones de estrés; capacidad de superación y logro de objetivos; valoración positiva y confianza. Los tres primeros factores mostraron una adecuada fiabilidad (alfa = 0,75-0,86); no así el cuarto, compuesto sólo por dos ítems. Respecto a la validez convergente y divergente, las puntuaciones globales de la CD-RISC mostraron correlaciones directas y significativas con medidas de autoestima y de percepción de autoeficacia del cuidador e inversas y significativas con depresión, ansiedad y carga del cuidador. En conclusión, esta nueva versión de la CD-RISC posee una fiabilidad y validez que permite su utilización en cuidadores

The aim of this study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Spanish adaptation of the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC) in chronic stress situations. The scale was administered to 111 non-professional caregivers of elderly dependent relatives. When calculating the reliability of the scale and the correlation item-scale, it was found that four items were affecting its reliability negatively and were removed. The reduced 21-item version showed good reliability (alfa = .90). Exploratory factor analysis yielded four factors (55.31% explained variance): coping and persistence in stress situations; strengthening effect of stress and orientation to targets; positive appraisal; and confidence. Factors 1-3, but not factor 4 (with only 2 items) showed adequate reliability (alfa = .75-.86). Regarding convergent and divergent validity, CD-RISC global scorings showed significant, direct correlations with self-esteem and perceived self-efficacy as caregiver measurements; and significant, inverse correlations with depression, anxiety and caregiver’s burden. In conclusion, this new CD-RISC version offers a reliability and validity that enables its use in caregivers