Analysis of Alzheimer’s disease representation in literature and awareness campaigns

La presente tesis doctoral tiene como objetivo profundizar en el estudio de la representación social y cultural de la enfermedad de Alzheimer (EA) y sus implicaciones. Por un lado, trata de analizar las representaciones dirigidas a la población infantil en proceso de socialización. Por otro, valorar la influencia de distintos encuadres de la EA en los receptores de los mensajes relacionados con esta enfermedad. Con tal fin se parte de una perspectiva multidisciplinar y se lleva a cabo una aproximación desde el framing. Para ello se diseñaron cuatro estudios. Los dos primeros exploran, a través del análisis del discurso y de determinados elementos simbólicos, la representación de la EA y su entorno en el género literario del álbum ilustrado dirigido a población infantil. Los resultados constatan que a la vez que se fomentan determinados valores relacionados con la enfermedad, también se emiten encuadres y estereotipos negativos que ayudan a perpetuar el estigma asociado a la EA. El tercer y cuarto estudio utiliza una metodología cuantitativa para analizar la influencia del framing de la EA en las campañas de sensibilización. Se observa cómo los encuadres negativos y los positivos modulan de forma diferente determinadas valoraciones, emociones, actitudes y conductas de la población receptora. Asimismo se pone de relieve la importancia de la personalización de las campañas para afinar en la consecución los objetivos propuestos en su lanzamiento. Con respecto a las conclusiones, destaca el papel desarrollado por distintos medios, entre los que se encuentra la literatura, en la perpetuación del estigma asociado a la EA, más si cabe si hablamos de destinatarios infantiles en pleno proceso de socialización. Consecuentemente, para paliar el estigma vinculado a la EA se hace necesario su reencuadre. Si bien, para lograr tal propósito no basta solo con esto, pues se deben tener en cuenta las características personales de la población receptora de los mensajes emitidos

Rúbrica de Evaluación de Competencias para el Diseño de Intervenciones Psicoeducativas (RECDIP): aplicada a la simulación de casos

Se trata de un instrumento que define criterios y puntuaciones para valorar el nivel de adquisición y desarrollo de competencias para el diseño de intervenciones psicoeducativas (basadas en la simulación de casos) en alumnado universitario

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 pan‐ demic. 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 perpetu‐ ate 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 usu‐ ally 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 calcu‐ late 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

Efficacy of a Combined Acceptance and Commitment Intervention to Improve Psychological Flexibility and Associated Symptoms in Cancer Patients: Study Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Psychological flexibility is a key concept of acceptation and commitment therapy (ACT). This factor has been linked with psychological wellbeing and associated factors, such as quality of life, in cancer patients. These and other positive results of acceptation and commitment therapy in cancer patients found in previous research could be enhanced by using mhealth tools. A three-arm randomized superiority clinical trial, with a pre-post-follow-up repeated measures intergroup design with a 1:1:1 allocation ratio is proposed. A hundred and twenty cancer patients will be randomly assigned to one of the following interventions: (1) face-to-face ACT + mobile application (app), (2) face-to-face ACT, and (3) Waitlist control group. The primary expected outcome is to observe significant improvements in psychological flexibility acceptance and action questionnaire- II (AAQ-II) in the face-to-face ACT + app group, after comparing baseline and post-treatment scores, and the scores will remain stable in the two assessment points, 3 and 6 months after the intervention. Secondary expected outcomes are significant increasing scores in quality of life (EORTC QLQ C-30) and post-traumatic-growth (PTGI-SF), and significant decreasing scores in anxiety and depression (HADS), insomnia (ISI) and fatigue (BFI) at the same assessment points. Also, it is expected that the scores of this group will be higher than the scores of the face-to-face ACT group and the waitlist control group. This study aims to assess the efficacy of a combined intervention (face-to face ACT + app) for psychological flexibility and associated symptoms in cancer patients. The results of this protocol may help to consider the use of acceptation and commitment therapy and mhealth applications in cancer settings as a valid therapeutic choice. [www.ClinicalTrials.gov], identifier [NCT05126823]