A New Brief Scale to Measure Optimism.

This research was done to find if using maximum likelihood could reduce the Interactive Optimism Scale-Garcia to a new valid and reliable shorter version. There were 502 adults: 263 women and 239 men (Mage = 34.67, SD = 12.27). It was used in confirmatory factor analysis. A four-item scale is obtained, having excellent goodness of fit: [χ2/df = .609, GFI (Jöreskog and Sörbom's Goodness-of-Fit Index) = .999, NFI (Normed Fit Index) = .999, CFI (Bentler's Comparative Fit Index) = 1.000, RMSEA (Steiger-Lind root mean square error of approximation) = .000 (90% CI = .0001, .077); SRMR (standardized root mean square residual) = .007], as well as factorial invariance across sexes; the scale has good internal consistency (ω = .869, α = .858, ordinal α = .906). Brief Interactive Optimism Scale-G correlates significantly with self-esteem (r = .779, p < . 01, 95% CI [.816, .736]), depression (r = -.810, p < .01, 95% CI [.843, .772]), and psychopathy (r = -.670, p < . 01, 95% CI [.723, .611]). In conclusion, Brief Interactive Optimism Scale-G is a good option for measuring optimism in Mexicans.

Bi-factor Exploratory Structural Equation Modeling Done Right: Using the SLiDapp Application / Aplicando Bi-factor ESEM: Uso de la Aplicación SLiDapp

BACKGROUND: Due to its flexibility and statistical properties, bi-factor Exploratory Structural Equation Modeling (bi-factor ESEM) has become an often-recommended tool in psychometrics. Unfortunately, most recent methods for approximating these structures, such as the SLiD algorithm, are not available in the leading software for performing ESEM (i.e., Mplus). To resolve this issue, we present a novel, user-friendly Shiny application for integrating the SLiD algorithm in bi-factor ESEM estimation in Mplus. Thus, a two-stage framework for conducting SLiD-based bi-factor ESEM in Mplus was developed. METHOD: This approach was presented in a step-by-step guide for applied researchers, showing the utility of the developed SLiDApp application. Using data from the Open-Source Psychometrics Project (N = 2495), we conducted a bi-factor ESEM exploration of the Generic Conspiracist Beliefs Scale. We studied whether bi-factor modelling was appropriate and if both general and group factors were related to each personality trait. RESULTS: The application of the SLiD algorithm provided unique information regarding this factor structure and its ESEM structural parameters. CONCLUSIONS: The results illustrated the usefulness and validity of SLiD-based bi-factor ESEM, and how the proposed Shiny app could make it eaiser for applied researchers to use these methods

ANTECEDENTES: los modelos bi-factoriales de ecuaciones estructurales exploratorias (bi-factor ESEM) se han convertido en una herramienta clave en psicometría. Desafortunadamente, las últimas alternativas para su estimación no se encuentran disponibles en el software principal usado para su aproximación (i.e., Mplus). Para solucionar este problema se presenta una aplicación Shiny (SLiDApp) que permite integrar los resultados del algoritmo SLiD en un modelo bi-factor ESEM estimado en Mplus. Para ello, se diseñó una estrategia de dos pasos para aproximar estos modelos. MÉTODO: este enfoque se ilustró a través de una guía paso por paso de cómo usar la aplicación diseñada y el análisis de un modelo bi-factor ESEM basado en SLiD de la Escala de Creencias Conspirativas Genéricas usando datos del Open-Source Psychometrics Project (N = 2495). Se analizó la relación de los factores generales y de grupo con los cinco factores de personalidad. RESULTADOS: los resultados mostraron cómo el algoritmo SLiD proveía de información única acerca de la estructura factorial y los parámetros estructurales. CONCLUSIONES: este estudio demostró la utilidad tanto de los modelos bi-factoriales ESEM basados en SLiD cómo de la app propuesta. Se espera así que esta aplicación facilite el uso de dichos métodos por parte de investigadores aplicados

Blinded Clinical Ratings of Social Media Data are Correlated with In-Person Clinical Ratings in Participants Diagnosed with Either Depression, Schizophrenia, or Healthy Controls.

This study investigates clinically valid signals about psychiatric symptoms in social media data, by rating severity of psychiatric symptoms in donated, de-identified Facebook posts and comparing to in-person clinical assessments. Participants with schizophrenia (N=8), depression (N=7), or who were healthy controls (N=8) also consented to the collection of their Facebook activity from three months before the in-person assessments to six weeks after this evaluation. Depressive symptoms were assessed in- person using the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS), psychotic symptoms were assessed using the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS), and global functioning was assessed using the Community Assessment of Psychotic Experiences (CAPE-42). Independent raters (psychiatrists, non-psychiatrist mental health clinicians, and two staff members) rated depression, psychosis, and global functioning symptoms from the social media activity of deidentified participants. The correlations between in-person clinical ratings and blinded ratings based on social media data were evaluated. Significant correlations (and trends for significance in the mixed model controlling for multiple raters) were found for psychotic symptoms, global symptom ratings and depressive symptoms. Results like these, indicating the presence of clinically valid signal in social media, are an important step toward developing computational tools that could assist clinicians by providing additional data outside the context of clinical encounters.

Measurement-Based Care in the Treatment of Adolescent Depression.

Measurement-based care is a helpful adjunct to clinical assessment in improving outcomes in depression in adults and adolescents. Measurement-based care principles are incorporated in current regulatory requirements for use of standardized instruments in efforts to improve care and prevent suicide. Challenges for child and adolescent psychiatrists and other clinicians in implementing measurement-based care include concerns about time and expense involved in administration and interpretation of results from rating scales and other instruments. Implementation can be facilitated by selection of instruments that are brief, easy to administer and score, compatible with electronic health record systems, and available in the public domain.

Relationships Between Depressive Symptoms, Other Psychological Symptoms, and Quality of Life.

Depressive disorders are common, heterogeneous conditions involving physical and psychological symptoms, and substantial impairment in quality of life (QoL). However, relationships between depressive symptoms and QoL are poorly understood, and little research has directly compared relationships between subtypes of depressive symptoms, other psychological symptoms and QoL. This research aimed to examine how symptoms of depression and other mental health conditions are related to QoL. Participants (N=559) completed the World Health Organization Quality of Life - BREF questionnaire, demographic information, the Brief Symptom Inventory, the Beck Depression Inventory II, and the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scales. Relationships between psychological symptoms and QoL were assessed using correlations and linear multiple regressions. QoL was inversely related to all types of psychopathology. Depressive symptoms were the strongest predictors of lower overall QoL. Both somatic and psychological depressive symptoms negatively predicted QoL, with somatic symptoms being stronger predictors. Conclusions: While many types of psychological symptoms were negatively correlated with QoL, depressive symptoms, particularly somatic symptoms, were the strongest predictors of impaired QoL. These findings provide new information about specific relationships between symptom profiles and QoL which may lead to greater understanding of the underlying mechanisms and to improved interventions.

Pharmacotherapy With Attention-Deficit Disorder.

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most commonly diagnosed mental disorder in children and a small proportion retain the disorder into adulthood. The primary feature of ADHD is inattentiveness that contributes to restlessness, and it is considered a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by a 2- to 3-year delay in cortical maturation in children. Neurophysiological studies identify functional connectivity changes in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, insula, and anterior cingulate cortex. The sympathomimetics that act as dopamine agonists are the mainstay in pharmacological treatment. The current article addresses the definition and manifestations of attention-deficit disorder, comorbidities in children and adults, epidemiology, neurophysiology, and pharmacological treatment strategies. [Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, 58(5), 7-14.].

Comparison between the Neurological Disorders Depression Inventory for Epilepsy and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 in patients with epilepsy according to antiepileptic drug load.

PURPOSE: We compared the Neurological Disorders Depression Inventory for Epilepsy (NDDI-E) with the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) according to different antiepileptic drug (AED) loads in people with epilepsy (PWE). METHODS: Depression and suicidality were assessed with the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI), the NDDI-E, and the PHQ-9. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used. Sensitivity and specificity of the NDDI-E and PHQ-9 were compared between an AED load <2 and ≥2. RESULTS: Of 213 participants included, 22.5 % were diagnosed with current depression by the MINI, and 9 % had a moderate to severe risk of suicide. Using the cutoff of 9.5 and 13.5 for the PHQ-9 and NDDI-E, respectively, in the total group, the PHQ had a higher sensitivity (91.7 %) but lower specificity (75.8 %) than the NDDI-E (66.7 % and 87.3 %, respectively) (p < 0.001). In a group with an AED load <2, the sensitivity and specificity did not differ between the PHQ-9 and NDDI-E. In a group with an AED load ≥2, however, the PHQ-9 had a higher sensitivity (90.9 %, p < 0.063) but lower specificity (65.2 %, p < 0.001) than the NDDI-E (68.2 % and 81.2 %, respectively). For screening of suicide risk, the sensitivity and specificity were not different between the PHQ-9 and NDDI-E in all tested groups. The negative predictive values of both instruments were above 95 % for suicide risk. CONCLUSION: In patients with a low AED load, the sensitivity and specificity did not differ between the PHQ-9 and NDDI-E. In contrast, in patients with a high AED load, the PHQ-9 had a poor specificity whereas the NDDI-E had a poor sensitivity.

Abbreviated assessment of psychopathology in patients with suspected seizure disorders.

PURPOSE: Psychopathology is common in patients undergoing investigation for seizure-related disorders. Psychometric examination using self-report instruments, such as the Symptom Checklist 90 - Revised (SCL-90-R), can assist diagnosis. The SCL-90-R, however, is a lengthy instrument and might not be tolerated by all patients. We assessed several abbreviated forms of the SCL-90-R in patients undergoing video encephalographic monitoring (VEM). METHOD: Six hundred eighty-seven patients completed the SCL-90-R, and scores were computed for the full SCL-90-R and five abbreviated forms. Correlations and mean differences were computed between different forms. Classification accuracy was assessed via receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, and measurements models were examined using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). RESULTS: All abbreviated forms were strongly correlated with the SCL-90-R for general psychopathology (r = 0.93-0.99), depression (r = 0.89-0.95), anxiety (r = 0.97-0.98), psychosis (r = 0.95-0.99), and obsessive-compulsive symptoms (r = 0.97). Classification performance was similar across forms for depression and anxiety, with high negative predictive values (0.90-0.94) and lower positive predictive values (0.34-0.38). Classification performance for psychotic and obsessive-compulsive disorders was poor. Differences were observed between the full SCL-90-R and its abbreviated forms across most domains (d = 0.00-0.65). The published measurement model was most strongly validated for the SCL-27, SCL-14, and the SCL-K-9. CONCLUSIONS: These five SCL-90-R abbreviated forms show high convergent validity with the full version. In patients undergoing investigation for seizure-related disorders, the Brief Symptom Inventory full form (BSI) or short form (BSI-18) is most appropriate where screening for both depression and anxiety is required. The SCL-K-9 is appropriate when only a single measure of global psychological distress is required. None of the instruments were able to detect psychotic or obsessive-compulsive symptoms with great accuracy. Caution should be exercised when making direct comparisons across the different forms.

Personality and the Expression of Symptomatology in Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder.

Researchers and clinicians have begun using dimensions rather than categories to classify psychopathology with a reliance on personality questionnaires to tap traits that can inform dimensional characterizations. A neglected concern is whether in severe psychopathology questionnaire-based assessments of personality reflect a lifetime propensity toward a diagnosis, as some personality-psychopathology models posit, or reflect the transient effects of current symptoms, as a complication model of personality-psychopathology would suggest. Accurate characterization of psychopathology is necessary to understand etiology and prescribe clinical care. We studied 127 adults with schizophrenia, schizoaffective, or bipolar disorder who completed well-validated measures of personality, current symptomatology, and lifetime psychopathology. We found that normative personality traits were related to current symptoms but unrelated to lifetime symptomatology, whereas the schizotypal trait of cognitive-perceptual distortions predicted lifetime psychosis severity. Questionnaire-based assessments of normative personality are likely affected by current symptom states and may fail to yield a stable characterization of psychopathology.

Brief Report: Replication and Validation of the Brief Autism Detection in Early Childhood (BADEC) in a Clinical Sample.

We investigated the clinical validity of the BADEC, an abbreviated, five-item version of the Autism Detection in Early Childhood, level-2 screening tool for autism. Initially developed by Nah et al. (2019) using a research sample, the present study replicated Nah et al. (2019) procedures in a clinical population. Using a cutoff score of five, five items were identified as most effective in discriminating children who later received an ASD diagnosis by an interdisciplinary team. This algorithm had improved validity compared to the original research algorithm. Results supported the efficacy of a very brief, easy to administer ASD screening tool in identifying children under three who are likely to have ASD.

Validation of the Recovery Style Questionnaire in Outpatients With Affective Disorders.

Considering how patients recover from mental illness is crucial to offer appropriate therapeutic interventions. This study was designed to determine the psychometric characteristics of the Recovery Style Questionnaire (RSQ) in a sample of outpatients recruited among the referrals to a crisis intervention center presenting with mood or anxiety disorders. Assessments completed at intake and at discharge examined the recovery styles with the RSQ, psychiatric symptoms with the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale version 4.0, and the Symptom Checklist-Revised; defense mechanisms with the Defense Style Questionnaire 40 items; and global functioning with the Global Assessment Functioning. The RSQ has acceptable reliability, divergent validity, and sensitivity to change after treatment. These findings suggest that the RSQ is a valid and reliable instrument to assess recovery style. They also offer evidence of the usefulness of the RSQ in various clinical settings, such as in crisis intervention centers.

Relationship of Suicidal Ideation With Demoralization, Depression, and Anxiety: A Study of Cancer Patients in Mainland China.

Demoralization is a form of psychological distress that may cause suicidal ideation. Demoralization syndrome is common among cancer patients, but there has been little empirical study on the association of suicidal ideation with demoralization, depression, and anxiety in this population. This study aims to investigate the prevalence of high demoralization among cancer patients in mainland China and the contribution of high demoralization to suicidal ideation beyond the impact of self-report depression and anxiety. In this cross-sectional study, 303 patients with cancer were invited to complete questionnaires. In total, 14.5% participants reported suicidal ideation and 49.50% high demoralization. Logistic regression analysis identified high demoralization as an independent risk factor for suicidal ideation. Only depression (odds ratio [OR], 6.68) had a stronger influence on suicidal ideation than demoralization (OR, 5.85), and patients with both depression and high demoralization were most likely to experience suicidal ideation. These findings suggest that measures of demoralization can help identify cancer patients at high suicide risk and that such patients require further attention and measures targeting demoralization for suicide prevention.

Psychometric evaluation of a screening question for persistent depressive disorder.

BACKGROUND: About one in five patients with depression experiences a chronic course. Despite the great burden associated with this disease, there is no current screening instrument for Persistent Depressive Disorder (PDD). In the present study, we examine a short screening test, the persistent depression screener (PDS), that we developed for DSM-5 PDD. The PDS is comprised of one question that is administered following an initial self-assessment for depression. METHODS: Ninety patients from an inpatient clinic/day clinic specialized in treating depression completed the PDS. They were also assessed using a structured clinical interview covering the DSM-5 criteria for PDD. Retest reliability was examined after two weeks (n = 69, 77%). RESULTS: In this sample, the prevalence of PDD was 64%. Sensitivity of the PDS was 85% with a positive predictive value of 80%. Specificity was 63%. Positive and negative likelihood ratios were 2.3 and .24, respectively. Agreement between the PDS results and the outcome of the clinical interview was moderate (Cohen's Kappa κ = .48 ([95%-CI .28, .68], p < .001, SE = 0.10)). Prevalence-adjusted bias-adjusted Kappa was PABAK = .53. Retest reliability of the PDS was moderate (Cohen's Kappa κ = .52 ([95%-CI .3, .74], p < .001, SE = 0.11)). CONCLUSIONS: The present study shows that the PDS - when applied following a self-rating depression scale - might be a valid and reliable way to detect PDD. However, the results of the PDS must be confirmed by a diagnostic interview.

Association between miscellaneous symptoms and primary symptom dimensions among chinese adults with obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Obsessive compulsive-disorder (OCD) is a common mental illness characterized by the presence of obsessions and/or compulsions. Symptom presence and severity is typically evaluated through the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS). However, miscellaneous symptoms embedded within the Y-BOCS Symptom Checklist have often been overlooked despite being associated with certain dimensions. In this study, we used exploratory factor analysis and logistic regression to explore the relationship between various miscellaneous symptoms and OCD symptom dimensions among 123 Chinese adults with OCD. A four-dimensional model was factorially derived: Obsessions, Symmetry/Ritual, Contamination/Cleaning and Contamination/Cleaning. In general, 11 out of 17 miscellaneous symptoms were associated with one or more of the symptom dimensions. Among them, the Obsessions dimension was significantly associated with seven miscellaneous symptoms: "Fear of not saying just the right thing," "Intrusive (non-violent) images," "Intrusive nonsense sounds, words", etc. The Symmetry/Ritual dimension was significantly associated with "Need to tell, ask, or confess." The Contamination/Cleaning dimension was related to "Need to know or remember". The Hoarding/Religion dimension was related to "Fear of losing things," and "Superstitious fears". Results contribute to the clinical assessment, diagnosis and treatment of Chinese patients with OCD by understanding the extent to which certain miscellaneous symptoms are associated with primary symptom dimensions.

Measurement properties and implications of the Brief Resilience Scale in healthy workers.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to study measurement properties of the Dutch Language Version of the Brief Resilience Scale (BRS-DLV) in blue and white collar workers employed at multiple companies and to compare the validity and factor structure to other language versions. METHODS: Workers (n = 1023) were assessed during a cross-sectional health surveillance. Construct validity was tested with exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses (EFA and CFA) and hypothesis testing. Reliability was tested with Cronbach's alpha. RESULTS: A two-factor structure of the BRS-DLV had good model fit in both EFA and CFA, which could be explained by difficulties of workers with reversed order items. After excluding these inconsistent answering patterns, a one-factor structure showed good model fit resembling the original BRS (χ2  = 16.5; CFI & TLI = 0.99; SRMR = 0.02;RMSEA = 0.04). Internal consistency is sufficient (Cronbach's α = 0.78). All five hypotheses were confirmed, suggesting construct validity. CONCLUSIONS: Reliability of the BRS-DLV is sufficient and there is evidence of construct validity. Inconsistent answering, however, caused problems in interpretation and factor structure of the BRS-DLV. This can be easily detected and handled because item 2, 4 and 6 are in reversed order. Other language versions differ in factor structure, most likely because systematic errors are not corrected for. To collect valid data, it is advised to be aware of inconsistent answering of respondents.

A concise self-report scale can identify high expressed emotions and predict higher relapse risk in schizophrenia.

PURPOSE: Although high expressed emotions (EE) is one of the most significant predictors for schizophrenic relapse, the assessment of EE is often impeded by the demanding Camberwell Family Interview (CFI) that is required to be conducted by specifically trained staff. To enable a more efficient assessment of EE, we developed the 12-item Concise Chinese Level of Expressed Emotion Scale (CCLEES) and reported its predictive and concurrent validity in this study. METHODS: A one-year prospective study design was adopted. Totally 101 participants diagnosed with schizophrenia were recruited from the department of psychiatry of a major acute hospital in Hong Kong. CCLEES was administered and subsequent relapse information was collected from all participants. At baseline, 10 family members of the participants were also administered CFI. RESULTS: Participants who scored above the optimal cut-off point (Score 13 on Criticism, and/or 13 on Hostility, and/or 15 on Emotional Over-involvement) showed a 6.3 times elevated 12-month schizophrenic relapse rate compared to those who scored below cut-off. The CCLEES also demonstrated excellent correspondence with CFI, the widely-recognized golden benchmark of EE assessment. CONCLUSIONS: The results support the CCLEES as a brief and psychometrically sound self-report measurement for EE in Chinese people with schizophrenia.

The development and evaluation of a brief form of the Normative Male Alexithymia Scale (NMAS-BF).

The current study extended prior work on the Normative Male Alexithymia Scale (NMAS), a unidimensional measure of some men's limitations in expressing emotion that results from gender-based socialization informed by the masculine norm of restrictive emotionality (RE). Data (N = 505 men) were from Amazon Mechanical Turk participants. First, dimensionality was reassessed using exploratory factor analysis, which supported the unidimensional structure. Second, based on these results, three 6-item models of the NMAS-Brief Form (NMAS-BF) were developed, based on classical test theory (CTT), CTT optimized to avoid item redundancy, and item response theory (IRT). Third, the relative fits of these versions were assessed using confirmatory factor analysis on a separate part of the sample, finding that the IRT version was the best fitting model. Fourth, evidence for reliability for the NMAS-BF items (α = .80) and validity was found. Convergent evidence for validity was supported by a significant, moderate, positive correlation between the latent constructs of the NMAS-BF and Toronto Alexithymia Scale-20 (TAS-20), which measures clinical alexithymia. Concurrent evidence for validity of the latent factor of the NMAS-BF was assessed in a structural regression model which found that the NMAS-BF uniquely predicted RE scores when TAS-20 scores were included in the model. Finally, incremental evidence for validity was examined using hierarchical multiple regression, finding that NMAS-BF scores significantly predicted variance in RE scores above and beyond that predicted by TAS-20 scores. The results are discussed in relation to prior literature, future research directions, applications to counseling practice, and limitations. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).

Rasch analysis of the Brief Symptom Inventory-18 with African American and White students.

Although the United States offers some of the most advanced psychological services in the world, not everyone in the country shares these services equally, resulting in health disparities. Health disparities persist when assessments do not appropriately measure different populations' mental health problems. To address this assessment issue, we conducted principal axis factoring, confirmatory factor analysis, and Rasch analyses to assess the psychometric characteristics of the Brief Symptom Inventory-18 (BSI-18) to evaluate whether the BSI is culturally appropriate for assessing African American students' psychological distress. The dimensional structure of the BSI was first identified and held up under cross-validation with a second sample and a white sample. The measure was unidimensional among African American and white students. Our results suggested BSI in our samples presented characteristics such as low person separation, stability across samples, and little differential item functioning. Most African American and white students identified themselves on the low end of the categories in a 0-4 rating scale, indicating their low endorsement of the items on the BSI. Rasch analyses were completed with the original scale but also collapsing the scale to three points, with some increase in separation and reliability for the collapsed scale. As anticipated, differences in mean BSI scores were found for mental health-related variables. Implications for theory and research on multicultural health scales are discussed as are effects of item skewness on analyses. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2018 APA, all rights reserved).

Datos normativos de una escala de agotamiento emocional académico en estudiantes universitarios de psicología de Lima (Perú) / Normative data of an emotional exhaustion scale in psychology college students from Lima (Perú)

OBJETIVO: El objetivo del presente trabajo fue obtener datos normativos de la Escala de Cansancio Emocional en estudiantes de psicología de 3 universidades privadas de Lima. MATERIALES Y MÉTODOS: Esta investigación se llevó a cabo con una muestra de 1.102 estudiantes de psicología (77% mujeres) de entre 16 y 56 años (M = 21,09; DE = 4,570). Fueron utilizadas la Escala de Cansancio Emocional, la Escala de Autoeficacia Percibida Específica de Situaciones Académicas, el Patient Health Questionnarie-2 y la Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale-2. Fue implementado un análisis factorial de grupo múltiple para el análisis de invarianza, el cálculo de percentiles para la elaboración de los baremos y los análisis comparativos fueron ejecutados con la t de Student y ANOVA, acompañados con medidas de magnitud del efecto. RESULTADOS: La invarianza de medición recibió evidencia favorable y los indicadores de confiabilidad (alfa, omega y eta) fueron adecuados. Las puntuaciones de la Escala de Cansancio Emocional no se aproximan a la normalidad, y por ello los baremos se elaboraron con base en percentiles. Los puntos de corte poseen una confiabilidad elevada, y las categorías obtenidas tienen una buena capacidad discriminativa en contraste con criterios externos (autoeficacia académica, ansiedad y depresión). Finalmente, la diferencia hallada entre varones y mujeres carece de significación práctica. CONCLUSIONES: Con base en la evidencia presentada, los baremos elaborados son útiles para estudios relacionados con la prevalencia del agotamiento emocional, y pueden ser utilizados tanto en varones como en mujeres

OBJECTIVE: The main objective of the present study was to obtain normative data from the Emotional Exhaustion Scale in psychology students from three private universities in Lima. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This research study was carried out with a sample of 1,102 psychology students (77% females) age ranged between 16 and 56 years (M = 21.09; SD = 4.570). The instruments used to measure the constructs were: the Emotional Exhaustion Scale, the Scale of Specific Perceived Self-Efficacy of Academic Situations, the Patient Health Questionnaire-2, and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale-2. In order to test measurement invariance a multi-group confirmatory factor analyses was conducted, likewise, the computation of percentiles, effect size and comparative analyses by means of T-Test and ANOVA were performed. RESULTS: There was evidence of measurement invariance and the reliability coefficients (alpha, Omega and Eta) were adequate. The Emotional Exhaustion Scale scores are non-normal distributed, and so the scale was elaborated on the basis of percentiles. Cut-off points have high reliability, and the categories obtained have good discriminative capacity in association with external criteria (academic self-efficacy, anxiety and depression). Finally, we did not find any practical significance among men and women. CONCLUSION: Based on the evidence presented, the elaborated scales are useful for studies related to the prevalence of emotional exhaustion, and can be used in both men and women

Could schizotypy protect against the negative outcomes of borderline traits on alcohol consumption? A cluster analytic study.

Schizotypal and borderline personality traits seem to be differently associated to alcohol use in young adult. However, no study has explored co-occurring schizotypal and borderline traits in their link with alcohol consumption. Participants were 1572 students from different French universities who completed self-report questionnaires assessing these three dimensions. A cluster analysis based on the borderline and schizotypal traits scores yielded four distinct groups characterized by low schizotypal and borderline traits (LT), high borderline traits (HB), high schizotypal and borderline traits (HT) and high schizotypal traits (HS). The HS cluster had significantly lower alcohol use than the other three groups. LT and HT clusters did not differ significantly in their alcohol use. Comparison between clusters suggests that schizotypal traits may be protective against the negative impact of borderline traits on alcohol consumption. In the context of a co-occurrence between borderline and schizotypal traits, this study provides important information about their link with alcohol consumption.