This paper introduces the validation of the Spanish adaptation of the White Bear Suppression Inventory (WBSI) by Wegner and Zanakos (1994). A sample of 833 people from the general population completed the WBSI along with other questionnaires. The exploratory factor analysis and the confirmatory factor analysis supported a two-factor solution accounting for 51.8% of the cumulative variance. This structure is comprised of the two following factors: unwanted intrusive thoughts (α = .87, r = .70) and actions of distraction and suppression of thoughts (α = .80, r = .60). Both internal consistency reliability (α = .89) and test-retest reliability (r = .71) showed adequate homogeneity, sound consistency, and stability over time. The results are discussed bearing in mind both isolated factors and the possible relationships of the suppression factor with automatic negative thoughts and insomnia.

This paper presents the Nursing Motives for Helping Scale (N-MHS), an instrument designed for the evaluation of three of the four motives for helping derived from Batson's helping pathway theory. Dimensionality was analyzed by means of principal component analysis (n = 113), followed by confirmatory factor analysis. A 3-factor structure (corresponding to Batson's differentiation among altruistic motivation, reward-seeking motivation, and punishment-avoidance motivation, respectively), with 9 items distributed in three latent variables, revealed an acceptable fit to the data. Alpha values (.60 - .74) showed that internal consistency was acceptable for a newly developed subscale with a small number of items. Convergence validity was evaluated with correlations between N-MHS subscales scores and scores on the Professional Expectations Scale (Garrosa, Moreno-Jiménez, Rodríguez-Carvajal, & Morante, 2005). The three resulting subscales are a promising instrument for the evaluation of three nursing motives for helping that can contribute to reduce the potential risks and to improve the potential benefits both for the nurse and the patient.

The aim of the present study was to examine the internal reliability, content validity, construct validity, and concurrent validity of the Persian translation/Farsi version of the Oxford Happiness Inventory. The Oxford Happiness Inventory and Fordyce Happiness Inventory were completed by a sample of 727 Iranian university students. Findings confirmed the internal reliability, construct, and concurrent validity of the Oxford Happiness Inventory. Thus, it can be recommended for use as a trait-measure of happiness among Iranian samples.

This is the first study that provides normative, reliability, factor validity and discriminant validity data of the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI; Beck, Epstein, Brown, & Steer, 1988) in the Spanish general population. Sanz and Navarro's (2003) Spanish version of the BAI was administered to 249 adults. Factor analyses suggested that the BAI taps a general anxiety dimension comprising two related factors (somatic and affective-cognitive symptoms), but these factors hardly explained any additional variance and, therefore, little information is lost in considering only full-scale scores. Internal consistency estimate for the BAI was high (α = .93). The BAI was correlated .63 with the BDI-II and .32 with the Trait-Anger scale of the STAXI 2, but a factor analysis of their items revealed three factors, suggesting that the correlations between the instruments may be better accounted for by relationships between anxiety, depression, and anger, than by problems of discriminant validity. The mean BAI total score and the distribution of BAI scores were similar to those found in other countries. BAI norm scores for the community sample were provided from the total sample and from the male and female subsamples, as females scored higher than males. The utility of these scores for assessing clinical significance of treatment outcomes for anxiety is discussed.

Anhedonia, a central dimension within the schizotypy construct, has been considered to be a promising vulnerability marker for schizophrenia-spectrum disorders. The Revised Physical Anhedonia Scale (RPhA) and Revised Social Anhedonia Scale (RSAS) are two self-reports widely used in the assessment of anhedonia; however, they psychometric characteristics have been scarcely investigated in Spanish population. The objective of the current work was to study the psychometric properties of the Revised Physical and Social Anhedonia Scales in non-clinical young adults. The sample was composed of 728 college students with a mean age of 20.1 years (SD=2.5. The data indicated that the scales showed adequate psychometric characteristics. The Cronbach alpha was 0.95 (RSAS) and 0.92 (RPhA) respectively. The confirmatory factor analysis carried out on the matrix of tetrachoric correlations showed that both scales presented an essentially unidimensional solution. The Revised Physical and Social Anhedonia Scales seem to be adequate for psychosis-risk assessment in non-clinical populations. Future research should further investigate the construct validity in other populations and cultures as well as study its relation to emotional aspects and cognitive endophenotypes.

Although studies in several populations have provided support for Penn State Worry Questionnaire (PSQW) reliability and validity, factor analysis studies carried out on different populations show divergent results. The aim of this article is to contribute with the cross-cultural literature on PSWQ. This report describes two studies examining the psychometric characteristics of a revised Argentinean version of the PSWQ. In the first study, items of original PSWQ were translated into Spanish and then back-translated into English. Then, in order to examine its reliability and factorial structure, the instrument was completed by 400 community participants. The second study included two groups of participants as follows: patients with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), and patients with other anxiety disorders (AC). Results revealed appropriated test-retest reliability over a four-week period, high internal consistency, and good convergent and discriminant validity for PSWQ. In concordance with some results reported in previous studies, a single factorial structure was confirmed for the Argentinean version of PSWQ. By the other hand, a receiver operating characteristic analysis was made to evaluate the ability of PSWQ to discriminate GAD from individuals with others anxiety disorders. A total score of 63 simultaneously optimized sensitivity and specificity in discriminating GAD patients from patients with others anxiety disorders.

The aim of this work was to update the validation of the Social Anxiety Screening Scale (SASS/EDAS) in a sample of Spanish adolescents. To achieve this, one study with a sample of 1489 students in secondary education, of ages 14 to 17 years, were carried out. The psychometric properties of EDAS were examined through confirmatory factor analysis, reliability (Cronbach's alpha), temporal stability (test-retest), and concurrent criterion validity. The results supported the three-independent-factor structure (avoidance, distress and interference), that showed best fit indices compared to alternative models. They also showed that the scores of participants on EDAS scales were reliable in terms of internal consistency (α > .80) and moderately reliable concerning temporal stability (r = .48-.60) over a five-week period. The correlations between the EDAS factors and other social anxiety measures were positive and significant. Data provide empirical evidence of the estimation of reliability and validity of this scale. Future work should extend the validation of the EDAS in clinical samples.

The purpose of this study was to analyze the psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the Parenting Stress Index-Short Form in a sample of 115 fathers of infants aged between ten and thirty-nine months old. The exploratory factor analysis revealed three reasonably distinct factors, as in the original version of the instrument. The three extracted factors: Parental Distress, Parent-Child Dysfunctional Interaction and Difficult Child accounted for 47.48 % of the variance. The internal consistency coefficients were high in each factor or subscale. These results provided empirical evidence in favour of the reliability and validity of the Parenting Stress Index-Short Form in Spanish fathers, and can be useful to elucidate the mechanisms through which stress impacts parenting and permitting to develop more targeted interventions for infants and their families.

The following study will present findings on the validity of the adaptation of the Burger and Cooper's Desirability of Control Scale into Spanish. Two samples are present: the first involving 1,999 people to study their psychometric properties. In the second sample, 111 people were included to estimate test/ retest reliability. Cultural adaptation was performed using the translation & back-translation method. Item analysis, internal consistency and test/re-test reliability were assessed, then evidence of the validity of the internal structure was determined by using exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis. Subject recruitment was performed to gather the 1,999 subjects stratified by age, gender quotas as designed in the sampling plan. Of the subjects, 51% were female, average age of 45 years old (SD = 17.5). All items from the original scale were understood correctly, while five items presented ceiling effect. Cronbach's alpha = .736 and a test-retest correlation r = .713 were obtained. The factor structure indicated the presence of four dimensions: forecast, autonomy, power and influence and reactance which were reassured in the confirmatory analysis (x2/df = 4.805, CFI =.932, TLI =.954, RMSEA = .062). The basic dimensions of the scale have shown to be stable and well-defined, though not perfect. The scope, possible applications of the scale and further research are later proposed and discussed.

The aim of this work was to develop an instrument (Coping Strategies for Skin Problems Questionnaire) suitable for identifying the coping strategies people use for general skin problems. We analyzed its psychometric properties when applied to a sample of 299 individuals. Factor analysis shows a 6-factor structure referring to the wish to change, problem-solving strategies, the search for information and asking for social support, the ability to distance oneself from the problem and to see the positive aspects of the situation. These factors explain 60.77% of the variance and show an internal consistency higher than 0.67. We analyse the validity of the questionnaire and identify different coping profiles depending on the degree of skin damage as assessed by the participants and their search for health services. According to the psychometric properties obtained, we conclude that our instrument is valid and reliable for use with people presenting skin problems.

Este estudio comparó la capacidad del Cuestionario Árabe de Salud General (AGHQ) y el Cuestionario de Autoinforme (SRQ-20) para detectar selectivamente trastornos psiquiátricos de la CIE-10 en una comunidad árabe en Al Ain, Emiratos Árabes Unidos. Se llevaron a cabo evaluaciones psiquiátricas estandarizadas de los sujetos utilizando la Entrevista Diagnóstica Internacional Compuesta (CIDI). Se utilizó el análisis Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) para determinar índices de validez para el AGHQ y el SRQ-20. Para el AGHQ, la sensibilidad, la especificidad y el área bajo la curva (ABC) fueron 86, 85 y 93%, respectivamente, mientras que para el SRQ-20, fueron 83, 83 y 90%, respectivamente. Las cualida-des globales del AGHQ fueron significativamente mejores que el del SRQ-20, especialmente en varones y menores de 30 años de edad. Concluimos que ambos cuestionarios son instramentos válidos de detección selectiva en una comunidad árabe en los Emiratos Árabes Unidos.

Este artículo describe el desarrollo y la validación de un cuestionario que evalúa las opiniones de los familiares de los pacientes con esquizofrenia sobre las causas y las consecuencias sociales del trastorno. La versión final del cuestionario incluye 28 elementos, agrupados en cuatro subescalas (restricciones sociales, distancia social, utilidad de los tratamientos, causas biopsicosociales de la esquizofrenia), cuya fiabilidad intra-evaluador va de 0,36 a 0,84. El coeficiente alfa de Cronbach, que examina la validez de contenido de las subescalas, va de 0,56 a 0,66. El análisis factorial identifica dos factores (las opiniones sobre las consecuencias sociales y la utilidad de los tratamientos y las creencias sobre las causas de la esquizofrenia), que explican el 73% de la varianza total. Este cuestionario puede ser particularmente útil para evaluar las creencias de los familiares sobre la esquizofrenia y para llevar a cabo intervenciones psicosociales en las familias de los pacientes con esquizofrenia.

Aunque algunos estudios recientes parecen revelar una relación familiar más específica para la distimia además de una relación familiar conocida de antes con los trastomos del estado de ánimo, y aunque los resultados con respecto a la relación entre la distimia y la personalidad depresiva así como la búsqueda de posibles correlates biológicos y psicológicos apoyan la validez nosológica de la distimia, los estudios de comorbilidad plantean preguntas difíciles. Los estudios de comorbilidad tanto con trastomos del eje I como con trastomos del eje II ponen en tela de juicio la validez de la distimia, pero también ponen en duda el modelo de categoráas actualmente en uso, más que la validez de una categoría determinada. Sin embargo, existen ahora datos suficientes, que confirman algunas hipótesis implicadas por el constructo nosológico de la distimia dentro de este modelo, para no descartar esta categoría. Por ejemplo, la distimia claramente no es un trastorno de la personalidad, y parece distinta también de la depresión mayor. El problema de la compleja naturaleza de la relación entre la distimia y la depresión mayor sigue todavía sin resolver.

La distimia es la última etiqueta diagnóstica introducida después de una serie de precursores para describir un trastorno cuya posición nosológica ha sido dudosa durante mucho tiempo. Los resultados de los estudios epidemiológicos, así como de los trabajos clínicos publicados sobre su presentación, curso y evolución apoyan en parte la validez de este constructo, aunque su interpretación està limitada por dificultades metodológicas: la igualdad de la prevalencia en muchos lugares en el mundo, siempre inferior a la de la depresión, y un patrón clínico, curso y evolución un tanto específicos.

Se presenta la validación de la versión francesa de la Escala de Depresión Postnatal de Edimburgo (EPDS), realizada sobre una muestra de 87 mujeres en los 4 primeros meses de post- parto. El estudio de la sensibilidad, la especificidad y los valores predictivos frente a los Criterios para el estudio diagnóstico (RDC) proporcionan la puntuación de corte de 10,5 como la mejor (sensibilidad: 0,80; especificidad: 0,92). La EPDS tuvo también una buena validez de criterio como índice de la gravedad de la depresión postnatal, en comparación con la evaluación del psiquiatra. El análisis factorial muestra que la estructura interna de la EPDS se compone de dos subescalas que subrayan una descripción más precisa de la depresión postnatal. El estudio de la fiabilidad confirma la buena consistencia interna de la escala global (alfa de Cronbach: 0,76) y su buena fiabilidad test-retest a corto plazo (0,98).

Se necesita información válida sobre el curso temprano de la esquizofrenia para fines clínicos y de investigación, por ejemplo, para determinar el comienzo del trastorno. Puesto que los informes proporcionados por los pacientes psicóticos son cuestionables, a menudo se pide a los familiares que comuniquen sus observaciones. Para comprobar la calidad de estos informes, se evaluaron sistemáticamente las informaciones sobre la aparición de síntomas de 30 pacientes esquizofrénicos postpsicóticos cuya enfermedad había comenzado hace poco y de 69 informantes (sobre todo, sus familiares próximos) por medio de la Entrevista para la Evaluación Retrospectiva del Comienzo de la Esquizofrenia (IRAOS). Se compararon las tasas de acuerdo paciente-informante, como el coeficiente kappa, entre los familiares de cada caso individual. Análisis de regresión múltiple demostraron que la personalidad y los factores atribucionales, en particular las atribuciones causales y la imagen que el o la informante tiene sobre sí mismo y sobre el paciente, determinan la calidad de sus informes. Los familiares que describieron al paciente como “dominante” y a sí mismos como “reservados”, y que atribuyeron la enfermedad al estres psicosocial actual, por ejemplo, alcanzaron los coeficientes kappas más altos en todos los síntomas. El contacto prolongado y estrecho con el paciente tiende a deteriorar la calidad de los informes.