Personalidad oscura, sexismo y criminalidad

La psicología de la personalidad ha intentado durante mucho tiempo comprender cómo las diferencias individuales contribuyen a la conducta delictiva. Recientemente, la teoría del núcleo de la personalidad oscura o factor D se ha utilizado para comprender las relaciones de tres factores de personalidad socialmente aversivos bautizados como tríada oscura de la personalidad (maquiavelismo, narcisismo y psicopatía; estos dos últimos referenciados a nivel subclínico) y los procesos cognitivos exculpatorios propios de la desconexión moral; para definir un perfil de personalidad caracterizado por el egocentrismo, la manipulación y la frialdad emocional. En muestras comunitarias, se ha comprobado que los individuos con este perfil de personalidad ejercen dominio, control y poder sobre los demás; llegando a comportarse antisocialmente para la obtención de un beneficio individual. Sin embargo, no existen trabajos que hayan estudiado este perfil de personalidad en muestras penitenciarias, impidiendo la generalización de este constructo a otros contextos, como el legal. La presente tesis doctoral tiene por objetivo estudiar la personalidad oscura en población penitenciaria, probar en el contexto legal uno de los instrumentos que miden estas características (i.e., dark triad dirty dozen) y conocer las relaciones de este perfil de personalidad con la delincuencia general y con otras variables psicosociales como el sexismo ambivalente, que pueden actuar como factor de riesgo particular en delitos de violencia de género y agresión sexual

¿Qué se sabe acerca de la intervención con maltratadores de género? Un metaanálisis sobre su efectividad

In this research, a meta-analytic study is proposed with the aim of determining the state of the art of the efficacy of treatment programs for gender aggressors across different variables. Doing so is relevant in view of the inconsistency in the results of previous meta-analyses and the proliferation of new intervention programs for gender aggressors. The results of general meta-analysis show a positive, though not significant, effect of the intervention. The analysis of moderating variables shows a positive, significant, and close-to-moderate effect size for interventions lasting fewer than 16 weeks/sessions (δw = .39) and follow-up periods greater than or equal to 12 months (δw = .38), and a positive, significant and moderate size for interventions using cognitive-behavioral therapy (δw = .57). However, along the same lines, as previous meta-analyses, no definite conclusions can be drawn about the effectiveness of this type of programEn este artículo se propone un estudio metaanalítico con objeto de conocer la situación actual de la eficacia de los programas de tratamiento de agresores de género mediante diferentes variables. El estudio es obligado a tenor de la incongruencia de los resultados de metaanálisis anteriores y la proliferación de nuevos programas de intervención para agresores de género. Los resultados del metaanálisis general muestran un efecto positivo, aunque no significativo, de la intervención. El análisis de las variables moderadoras presenta un tamaño del efecto positivo, significativo y casi moderado para intervenciones de una duración inferior a 16 semanas/sesiones (δw = .39) y períodos de seguimiento de 12 meses o más (δw = .38) y un tamaño positivo, significativo y moderado para las intervenciones que utilizan terapia cognitivo-conductual (δw = .57). No obstante, como en el caso de los metaanálisis previos, no pueden establecerse conclusiones definitivas sobre la efectividad de este tipo de programasS

Associations between Dark Triad and Ambivalent Sexism: Sex Differences among Adolescents

The Dark Triad traits (DT; Machiavellianism, psychopathy, and narcissism) have been repeatedly labeled as a constellation of traits that are characterized by a dishonest and self-focused approach to interpersonal relations. Personality psychologists suggest that these traits make some people more susceptible than others to intergroup bias, threat, and aggression. Thus, in order to delve into a psychological profile prone to accepting and justifying sexist attitudes, the aims of the current study were to analyze the presence of DT and sexist attitudes in a sample of 367 adolescents (Mage = 15.12, SD = 0.88; 50.1% males), find out the relationships that DT has with both hostile and benevolent sexism, and analyze the relevant differences between sexes in these relationships. The results indicated higher scores in DT and Ambivalent sexism for males. The correlations of Machiavellianism with psychopathy, and psychopathy with narcissism revealed significantly higher associations in males than females. The structural equation modeling of the bifactorial model, characterized by a global latent factor that encompasses the common characteristics of DT—along with the three specific factors of Machiavellianism, psychopathy, and narcissism—showed that the global latent factor of DT was related to both hostile and benevolent sexism in males and females. Singularly, narcissism was related to benevolent sexism in males, and psychopathy was related to hostile sexism in females. Finally, this research discusses the implications of these results on the implementation of positive models of interpersonal relationships in adolescence towards dating violence preventionThis research was funded by Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports of Spain under the program “Ayudas para la formación de profesorado universitario” (FPU17/02607)S

“Acute kidney injury in critically ill patients with COVID–19: The AKICOV multicenter study in Catalonia”

Acute kidney injury; COVID-19; CataloniaLesión renal aguda; COVID-19; CataluñaLesió renal aguda; COVID-19; CatalunyaThis study describes the incidence, evolution and prognosis of acute kidney injury (AKI) in critical COVID-19 during the first pandemic wave. We performed a prospective, observational, multicenter study of confirmed COVID-19 patients admitted to 19 intensive care units (ICUs) in Catalonia (Spain). Data regarding demographics, comorbidities, drug and medical treatment, physiological and laboratory results, AKI development, need for renal replacement therapy (RRT) and clinical outcomes were collected. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression analysis for AKI development and mortality were used. A total of 1,642 patients were enrolled (mean age 63 (15.95) years, 67.5% male). Mechanical ventilation (MV) was required for 80.8% and 64.4% of these patients, who were in prone position, while 67.7% received vasopressors. AKI at ICU admission was 28.4% and increased to 40.1% during ICU stay. A total of 172 (10.9%) patients required RRT, which represents 27.8% of the patients who developed AKI. AKI was more frequent in severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) ARDS patients (68% vs 53.6%, p<0.001) and in MV patients (91.9% vs 77.7%, p<0.001), who required the prone position more frequently (74.8 vs 61%, p<0.001) and developed more infections. ICU and hospital mortality were increased in AKI patients (48.2% vs 17.7% and 51.1% vs 19%, p <0.001) respectively). AKI was an independent factor associated with mortality (IC 1.587–3.190). Mortality was higher in AKI patients who required RRT (55.8% vs 48.2%, p <0.04). Conclusions There is a high incidence of AKI in critically ill patients with COVID-19 disease and it is associated with higher mortality, increased organ failure, nosocomial infections and prolonged ICU stay

Neuronal and astrocytic tetraploidy is increased in drug-resistant epilepsy

Aims: Epilepsy is one of the most prevalent neurological diseases. A third of patients with epilepsy remain drug-resistant. The exact aetiology of drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) is still unknown. Neuronal tetraploidy has been associated with neuropathology. The aim of this study was to assess the presence of tetraploid neurons and astrocytes in DRE. Methods. For that purpose, cortex, hippocampus and amygdala samples were obtained from patients subjected to surgical resection of the epileptogenic zone. Post-mortem brain tissue of subjects without previous records of neurological, neurodegenerative or psychiatric diseases was used as control. Results: The percentage of tetraploid cells was measured by immunostaining of neurons (NeuN) or astrocytes (S100β) followed by flow cytometry analysis. The results were confirmed by image cytometry (ImageStream X Amnis System Cytometer) and with an alternative astrocyte biomarker (NDRG2). Statistical comparison was performed using univariate tests. A total of 22 patients and 10 controls were included. Tetraploid neurons and astrocytes were found both in healthy individuals and DRE patients in the three brain areas analysed: cortex, hippocampus and amygdala. DRE patients presented a higher number of tetraploid neurons (p = 0.020) and astrocytes (p = 0.002) in the hippocampus than controls. These results were validated by image cytometry. Conclusions: We demonstrated the presence of both tetraploid neurons and astrocytes in healthy subjects as well as increased levels of both cell populations in DRE patients. Herein, we describe for the first time the presence of tetraploid astrocytes in healthy subjects. Furthermore, these results provide new insights into epilepsy, opening new avenues for future treatment

La regulación de la inclusión educativa del alumnado con discapacidad intelectual: una reforma pendiente

Antecedentes: los alumnos con discapacidad intelectual precisan de buenas prácticas de evaluación e intervención desde enfoques holísticos para garantizar su derecho a la educación inclusiva. Estas prácticas se ordenan por la legislación educativa estatal que se concreta en la normativa de cada comunidad autónoma. La variedad de regulaciones existentes demanda su revisión crítica individualizada para valorar si ofrecen marcos científicamente avalados que respalden las decisiones que se toman. Método: se ha analizado la legislación educativa estatal y las concreciones normativas vigentes que regulan la atención a la diversidad en cada comunidad empleando una lista de comprobación que recoge las variables que definen cada fase de atención a la diversidad y los procedimientos de evaluación e intervención en discapacidad intelectual. Resultados: la atención a la diversidad pone el foco de evaluación e intervención en aspectos organizativos-curriculares descuidándose la evaluación e intervención en autodeterminación y calidad de vida, esenciales en el desarrollo e inclusión de los alumnos con discapacidad intelectual. Conclusiones: las necesidades educativas especiales como las entiende la normativa vigente y la falta de desarrollos vinculados a la Convención de la ONU sobre los Derechos de las Personas con Discapacidad son barreras a las prácticas inclusivas de los alumnos con discapacidad intelectual, siendo necesario adoptar modelos científicos de evaluación-intervención en los que se apoye el desarrollo de marcos legales que garanticen la inclusión y se orienten al máximo desarrollo posible y mejora de la calidad de vida de este alumnado

The regulation of inclusive education of students with intellectual disability: a pending reform

Background: Students with intellectual disability need good practices under holistic approaches regarding assessment and intervention for guaranteeing their right for inclusive education. These practices are settled in Spain by the state-level educational policies which are specified via the regulations developed by each autonomous community. The variety of regulations existing, demands its individualized and critic review with the aim of knowing if regulations offer scientifically-updated frameworks that support the decision making-process. Method: state-level educational policies and their developments in the regulations-in-force in each autonomous community that regulate attention to diversity have been analyzed using a checklist that includes the variables that define each stage of attention to diversity process and also the research-based models for assessment and intervention within the field of intellectual disability. Results: the attention to diversity aims assessment and intervention at organizational and curricular aspects and there is a lack of strategies regarding assessment and intervention in self-determination and quality of life, which are transcendental in the inclusion of students with intellectual disability. Conclusions: understanding of special educational needs in the regulations and the lack of developments related to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities are barriers for inclusive practices regarding students with intellectual disability, being necessary adopting scientifically-based models of assessment and intervention in the development of legal frameworks that guarantee the inclusion and are aimed at the full development and improvement of quality of life of students with intellectual disability.Antecedentes: los alumnos con discapacidad intelectual precisan de buenas prácticas de evaluación e intervención desde enfoques holísticos para garantizar su derecho a la educación inclusiva. Estas prácticas se ordenan por la legislación educativa estatal que se concreta en la normativa de cada comunidad autónoma. La variedad de regulaciones existentes demanda su revisión crítica individualizada para valorar si ofrecen marcos científicamente avalados que respalden las decisiones que se toman. Método: se ha analizado la legislación educativa estatal y las concreciones normativas vigentes que regulan la atención a la diversidad en cada comunidad empleando una lista de comprobación que recoge las variables que definen cada fase de atención a la diversidad y los procedimientos de evaluación e intervención en discapacidad intelectual. Resultados: la atención a la diversidad pone el foco de evaluación e intervención en aspectos organizativos-curriculares descuidándose la evaluación e intervención en autodeterminación y calidad de vida, esenciales en el desarrollo e inclusión de los alumnos con discapacidad intelectual. Conclusiones: las necesidades educativas especiales como las entiende la normativa vigente y la falta de desarrollos vinculados a la Convención de la ONU sobre los Derechos de las Personas con Discapacidad son barreras a las prácticas inclusivas de los alumnos con discapacidad intelectual, siendo necesario adoptar modelos científicos de evaluación-intervención en los que se apoye el desarrollo de marcos legales que garanticen la inclusión y se orienten al máximo desarrollo posible y mejora de la calidad de vida de este alumnado

Effectiveness of the mantente REAL program for preventing alcohol use in spanish adolescents

Mantente REAL is a school-based universal program to prevent drug use and other problematic behaviors specifically designed to be implemented in schools at the beginning of adolescence. This program, which is a culturally adapted version of the Keepin’ it REAL intervention, focuses on skills training for resisting social pressure to use drugs and improving psychosocial development. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of Mantente REAL on alcohol use in the Spanish context. The sample was composed of 755 adolescents from 12 state secondary schools in Spain, aged 11 to 15 (M = 12.24, SD = 0.56), 47.1% females. The 12 schools were randomly assigned to control and experimental groups, six to each condition. Pre-test and post-test questionnaires data were collected to evaluate the effectiveness of the program. The results indicated that a culturally adapted version of Mantente REAL was effective in preventing alcohol use among youth from northern and southern Spain. Students participating in the program demonstrated changes in the desired direction on alcohol frequency and intoxication episodes. Implications of these results regarding intervention programs aimed at preventing substance use in adolescence are discussed“Mantente REAL” es un programa universal que utiliza la escuela para prevenir el consumo de drogas y otras conductas problemáticas diseñado específicamente para ser implementado en las escuelas al comienzo de la adolescencia. Este programa, que es una versión culturalmente adaptada de la intervención Keepin’ it REAL, se centra en el entrenamiento de habilidades para resistir la presión social para consumir drogas y mejorar el desarrollo psicosocial. Este estudio tiene como objetivo evaluar la eficacia de “Mantente REAL” en el consumo de alcohol en el contexto español. La muestra estuvo compuesta por 755 adolescentes de 12 escuelas secundarias públicas en España, de 11 a 15 años (M = 12.24, DT = 0.56), el 47.1% mujeres. Las 12 escuelas fueron asignadas aleatoriamente a grupo control y experimental, seis en cada condición. Los datos se recopilaron a través de cuestionarios antes y después de la intervención para evaluar la eficacia del programa. Los resultados indicaron que la versión culturalmente adaptada de “Mantente REAL” fue eficaz para prevenir el consumo de alcohol entre los jóvenes del norte y sur de España. Los estudiantes que participaron en el programa demostraron cambios en la dirección deseada en la frecuencia del alcohol y los episodios de intoxicación. Se discuten las implicaciones de estos resultados con respecto a los programas de intervención destinados a prevenir el consumo de sustancias en la adolescenciaThis study was funded by the Global Center for Applied Health Research (Arizona State University) and supported by the Programa de Axudas á etapa posdoutoral da Xunta de Galicia (Consellería de Cultura, Educación e Ordenación Universitaria) and by FEDER/Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades – Agencia Estatal de Investigación (Grant PSI2015-65766-R) – under the Axuda para a consolidación e estruturación de unidades de investigación competitivas e outras accións de fomento nas universidades do SUG (GRC, 2018)S

Puesta en marcha de un grupo de apoyo entre profesores de psicología para la creación de materiales y estrategias de docencia síncrona y asíncrona

Memoria ID-034 Ayudas de la Universidad de Salamanca para la innovación docente, curso 2020-2021

Characteristics and outcome of Streptococcus pneumoniae endocarditis in the XXI Century: a systematic review of 111 cases (2000-2013)

Streptococcus pneumoniae is an infrequent cause of severe infectious endocarditis (IE). The aim of our study was to describe the epidemiology, clinical and microbiological characteristics, and outcome of a series of cases of S. pneumoniae IE diagnosed in Spain and in a series of cases published since 2000 in the medical literature. We prospectively collected all cases of IE diagnosed in a multicenter cohort of patients from 27 Spanish hospitals (n = 2539). We also performed a systematic review of the literature since 2000 and retrieved all cases with complete clinical data using a pre-established protocol. Predictors of mortality were identified using a logistic regression model. We collected 111 cases of pneumococcal IE: 24 patients from the Spanish cohort and 87 cases from the literature review. Median age was 51 years, and 23 patients (20.7%) were under 15 years. Men accounted for 64% of patients, and infection was community-acquired in 96.4% of cases. The most important underlying conditions were liver disease (27.9%) and immunosuppression (10.8%). A predisposing heart condition was present in only 18 patients (16.2%). Pneumococcal IE affected a native valve in 93.7% of patients. Left-sided endocarditis predominated (aortic valve 53.2% and mitral valve 40.5%). The microbiological diagnosis was obtained from blood cultures in 84.7% of cases. In the Spanish cohort, nonsusceptibility to penicillin was detected in 4.2%. The most common clinical manifestations included fever (71.2%), a new heart murmur (55%), pneumonia (45.9%), meningitis (40.5%), and Austrian syndrome (26.1%). Cardiac surgery was performed in 47.7% of patients. The in-hospital mortality rate was 20.7%. The multivariate analysis revealed the independent risk factors for mortality to be meningitis (OR, 4.3; 95% CI, 1.4-12.9; P < 0.01). Valve surgery was protective (OR, 0.1; 95% CI, 0.04-0.4; P < 0.01). Streptococcus pneumoniae IE is a community-acquired disease that mainly affects native aortic valves. Half of the cases in the present study had concomitant pneumonia, and a considerable number developed meningitis. Mortality was high, mainly in patients with central nervous system (CNS) involvement. Surgery was protective