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Diferentes estudios ponen de manifiesto la relación entre psicopatía subclínica y las estrategias de distanciamiento y evitación que impiden la formación de vínculos emocionales estables y duraderos en la pareja. El estudio analiza la psicopatía subclínica y el estilo de relación/tipo de amor en una muestra de 1289 universitarios, para determinar su frecuencia, así como la relación entre la psicopatía y el estilo de relación del alumnado universitario. Se utilizó el “Cuestionario de psicopatía integrada/subclínica” (CUPIS) y la “Escala triangular del amor” (TLS). Se encontró que un importante porcentaje de universitarios presentan rasgos que caracterizan a la psicopatía subclínica. Además, a mayor puntuación en psicopatía menor es la intimidad, la pasión y el compromiso en la relación de pareja del alumnado universitario. Asimismo, constatamos que la psicopatía subclínica predice en mayor medida la falta de intimidad y compromiso en las relaciones íntimas. En conclusión, destacamos que en psicopatía subclínica se presentan bajos patrones de intimidad y compromiso en las relaciones, por lo que es probable que estas no sean estables en el tiempo.

Different studies show the relationship between subclinical psychopathy and the strategies of distancing and avoidance that prevent the formation of stable and lasting emotional bonds in the couple. The study analyses subclinical psychopathy and the relationship style/love type in a sample of 1289 university students to determine its frequency, as well as the relationship between psychopathy and the relationship style/love type. The Integrated/Subclinical Psychopathy Questionnaire (CUPIS) and the Triangle of Love Scale (TLS) were used. It was found that a significant percentage of these students presents features that characterise subclinical psychopathy. In addition, it was found that the higher the score in psychopathy, the lower the intimacy, passion and commitment in their relationships. Furthermore, subclinical psychopathy was found to be a greater predictor of a lack of intimacy and commitment in intimate relationships between couples. In conclusion, we highlight that, in subclinical psychopathy, there are low patterns of intimacy and commitment in relationships; so these are unlikely to remain stable over time.

El uso de psicofármacos es frecuente en adultos con discapacidad intelectual, a menudo por conductas desafiantes en ausencia de diagnóstico de trastorno mental. Investigaciones previas cuestionan la eficacia de estos tratamientos a falta de una enfermedad psiquiátrica, y destacan sus efectos secundarios. El objetivo de esta investigación es analizar el uso de psicofármacos en función del diagnóstico de enfermedad mental y conducta desafiante, así como la distribución de la población según el uso de psicofármacos en 569 adultos con discapacidad intelectual que presentan enfermedad mental o conductas desafiantes. Los datos acerca de la elevada prescripción de psicofármacos y, especialmente, de antipsicóticos alertan sobre la necesidad de una profunda revisión de la práctica clínica que permita reducir el uso de esta medicación en el tratamiento de la conducta y los trastornos mentales en esta población, para garantizar una atención de calidad y el respeto de los derechos de estas personas. The use of psychotropic drugs in adults with an intellectual disability is frequent, often for defiant conduct due to the lack of a diagnosis of a mental disorder. Previous research has questioned the efficacy of such treatments in the absence of a psychiatric illness, and the stress has been on the side effects. The objective of this research is to analyze the use of psychotropic drugs based on the diagnosis of mental illness and behavioral disorders, as well as the distribution of the sample according to the use of psychotropic drugs in 569 adults with an intellectual disability who also suffer a mental illness and/or defiant conduct. Our data about the high prescription of psychotropic drugs and especially antipsychotics, warns of the need for a profound review of the clinical practice that would allow a reduction in the use of psychotropic drugs in the treatment of mental disorders and behaviour in the said collective, so as to guarantee quality mental health care for these persons and respect for their rights.

This paper is the first up-to-date review of the various EEG-neurofeedback treatments for fibromyalgia patients and their psychological, physiological and general health consequences. Searches were made of the PubMed, PsycNet, Google Scholar and Scopus databases according to PRISMA guidelines for empirical peer-reviewed articles on EEG-neurofeedback treatment of fibromyalgia, yielding a final selection of 17 studies that met the inclusion criteria: (1) published articles and doctoral theses; (2) conducted between 2000 and 2022; (3) reporting empirical and quantitative data. These articles show that there is a wide range of protocols with different designs and procedures to treat fibromyalgia using EEG-neurofeedback techniques. The main symptoms that showed improvement were anxiety, depression, pain, general health and symptom severity, whilst the most commonly used method was traditional EEG neurofeedback based on a sensorimotor rhythm protocol. It may be concluded from the review that the lack of consistency and uniqueness of the protocols makes it very difficult to generalise results, despite the individual improvements identified. This review provides instructions and information that could guide future research and clinical practise, with the data extracted helping to gain a deeper understanding of the state of the art and the needs of the technique for this population group.

The main objective of this study is to analyze well-being at work, considering burnout and engagement distributed in profiles, and to observe how they relate to well-being outside work. The data came from a representative sample of workers (n = 565) at the University of Extremadura (Spain), both teaching and research academic staff (TRAS) and service and administrative staff (SAS). We performed the data analysis by using latent profile analysis, and the results show evidence that workers from both groups were distributed across four profiles. As expected, we verified that workers in the profile with high burnout and low engagement had lower well-being outside work than workers in the profile with high engagement and low burnout. We also observed that engagement mitigated the negative effects of burnout on workers in profiles with moderate levels of burnout, who showed better well-being outside work when they had higher engagement. These differences are discussed, and their practical implications and suggestions for future research are provided.

This research analyses the internalizing and externalizing symptoms and the coping strategies of young victims of abuse. These young people are in residential care under protective measures due to abuse. The participants were 61 youths (32 male and 29 female) between 12 and 17 years of age. Different works of research stress the need for an early identification of the psychopathological symptomatology that these adolescents may present in order to provide an adequate psycho-educational intervention. The relationship between the adolescents’ psychopathological symptomatology and the coping strategies and styles they use to resolve problems is studied. It is also analyzed whether internalizing and externalizing problems predict the style and coping strategies of adolescents. Two tests were used: 1. Child and Adolescent Evaluation System (SENA); 2. Adolescent Coping Scales (ACS). The results indicate that young victims of abuse have internalizing and externalizing symptoms. These adolescents are characterized by an unproductive coping style, as well as by the use of coping strategies that are not very functional and ineffective for resolving conflicts. The psychopathological symptomatology is related to and predicts an unproductive coping style, badly adapted to solving daily problems (worrying, blaming oneself, not coping, ignoring the problem, or keeping it to oneself). This research has allowed us to identify the presence of several areas of vulnerability in these young persons which could be playing an important role in their psychosocial maladjustment. The research suggests the design of intervention strategies, for both groups and individuals, aimed at mitigating and modifying the sources of the problems in victims of child abuse.

Recent advances in sexual equality and diversity have not been able to mitigate the serious problem of discrimination suffered by sexual minorities. The most serious cases involve violence and physical or psychological aggression towards sexual orientations that differ from the heterosexual norm. This research analyses the dimensions of the personality and the moral disengagement mechanisms related to homophobia and the predictive value they have for hostile attitudes towards sexual diversity. The sample was made up of 849 university students between 18 and 24 years of age. The instruments used were the Modern Homophobia Scale (MHS), the Mechanisms of Moral Disengagement Scale (MMDS), and the reduced version of the Neo Personality Inventory—Reduced Version (NEO-FFI). The results show the involvement of moral disengagement in homophobia. It highlights evidence of subtle intimidatory behaviour patterns of rejection towards homosexuality. Furthermore, the low levels in the dimensions of a friendly personality and openness to experiences can be seen to predict homophobic behaviour. Thus, young people fall back on diverse mechanisms of moral disengagement to justify harmful attitudes towards the LGTBI collective. The results of the research are particularly relevant and useful for setting up programmes aimed at preventing and mitigating this serious problem of sexual discrimination.

This work analyzes the ambivalent sexist attitudes and distorted thoughts about women and the use of violence in a sample of Spanish aggressors found guilty of intimate partner violence. We have studied the relationship between the aggressors’ ambivalent sexist attitudes and their cognitive distortions, as well as the predictive capacity of their distorted thoughts concerning women and violence with respect to sexist attitudes. Similarly, we have analyzed the presence of significant differences between ambivalent sexist attitudes and distorted thoughts with respect to several personal and psychological characteristics of the condemned aggressors. The instruments applied were the Ambivalent Sexism Inventory (ASI), the Inventory of Distorted Thoughts about Women and the use of Violence (IDTWV) and the Social Desirability Scale (SDS). Likewise was realized a general structured interview to discover their personal, family and penitentiary situation. The study concludes that aggressors use violence as a resource to resolve conflicts with their intimate partner, even though they do not show a hostile sexist attitudes towards women in general. We demonstrate that distorted thoughts concerning women and violence predict a greater prevalence of ambivalent sexist attitudes in aggressors, and we have found a low level of education and the existence of jealousy in the relationship are related with a greater presence of sexist attitudes. However, the existence of episodes of family violence in childhood, concretely having been the victim of emotional abuse, does not necessarily lead to greater sexism in aggressors. We discuss the implications of the results of this work for prison environment.

Serial murder is a specific type of violent crime that falls into the crime category of multicide. According to the nomenclature of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Violent Crime Classification Manual and Academic Researchers for the Classification of Violent Crimes, most serial killers are adults. However, serial murder is also committed by young people, although to a lesser extent. Young serial killers are a topic of relevance in areas such as psychology, criminology, and the justice system. Given that the study of the variables that could be the basis of such multicide criminality is not conclusive, the need for further research is evident. The homicides perpetrated by children and young people point to a social panorama that is alarming due to their young age. This issue is prevalent enough to conduct a review. The performed review concludes the importance of psychosocial factors to better understand the process by which children and young people commit crimes as serious as serial murders. The scope of the problem of serial murders perpetrated by minors is controversial because it often depends on how the number of real cases is counted. Although official statistics indicate the low prevalence of juvenile serial killers, childhood is a period in which antisocial behaviour can have its beginning. Some authors consider that it is not uncommon for the first murder of this type to occur in adolescence. It is important to consider psychopathy as an influential factor in the various forms of serial criminal conduct committed by children and young people. The research works consulted provide evidence of the special relevance of psychopathy in the generation of serious juvenile delinquency.

This work studies the emotional and behavioural difficulties and the personal wellbeing of adolescents under protective measures. The sample is made up of 151 adolescents in residential care between 11 and 17 years of age. The instruments used were the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) and the Personal Wellbeing Index (PWI). The results indicate that a high percentage of adolescents have emotional and behavioural difficulties. We found a greater presence of behavioural rather than emotional problems in the adolescents. Similarly, we also found that females showed more emotional difficulties than the males. As for personal wellbeing, the results indicate that the adolescents are dissatisfied in several areas of their life, they feel insecure and have a pessimistic view of their future and of their achievements. Furthermore, those adolescents who were admitted to residential care due to something other than child abuse have a greater prosocial behaviour. It can be concluded that the more difficulties the adolescents experience (emotional, behavioural and with their peers), the lower the perception of their personal wellbeing will be. This study allows us to design interventions aimed at promoting psychological wellbeing among these adolescents.

This research studies the executive processes of youths under protective measures between 13 and 18years of age, as well as the emotional problems they have and the presence of behavioural problems, such as difficulties to control and direct attention, to control one’s own behaviour and inhibit inadequate or ineffective responses (hyperactivity-impulsiveness) and problems related to emotional regulation. In addition, we study the presence of significant differences according to the sex of the youths. We also analyse to what extent the difficulties in the executive processes are related to and can predict the emotional and behavioural problems. The instruments used were Stroop’s Colour and Word Test (Stroop), the Paths Test (TESen), and the System of Evaluation for Children and Adolescents (SENA). The results indicated that the youths had difficulties in such executive processes as execution, speed, and accuracy in carrying out tasks. Furthermore, they had emotion problems, amongst which the symptoms of anxiety are worthy of note; whilst attention deficit, hyperactivity-impulsiveness, and problems related to emotional regulation could also be observed. The data indicated greater difficulties in the executive processes for males than for females. There was a greater emotional symptomatology in the females, whilst there were greater deficits in attention and hyperactivity/impulsiveness in the males. Similarly, the deficits in the executive processes were related to and predicted emotional and behavioural problems. This research suggests the design of a structured programme focused on systematic training in real, daily situations, recommending the use of restorative techniques to work on the affected cognitive skills and techniques aimed at improving the youths’ emotion regulation.

This work analyses sexist attitudes, cognitive strategies and social attitudes in young people between 12 and 16 years of age, attending secondary education. The objective is to identify the psychological inertia that hinders a change in the behaviour patterns of young people who discriminate against women. We explore the presence of significant differences in the variables under study according to gender; we analyze the relationship between sexist attitudes and cognitive and social strategies; and we explore whether the variable, “gender”, can predict cognitive and social strategies and attitudes that impede the shift towards a more egalitarian treatment of women. We analyze sexist attitudes and cognitive and social strategies that encourage the inertia of psychological inaction in 1034 high school students. Two instruments were used to evaluate the variables under study: 1. ISA-Adolescents. Inventory of Ambivalent Sexism for Adolescents; 2. AECS. Questionnaire on Social Cognitive Strategies and Attitudes. The results show that these young people do not present cognitive and social strategies that make such change difficult. We verify that men do have sexist attitudes to a greater extent than women, and we show that gender can predict the psychological inertia that makes the change in sexist behaviour patterns more difficult. In the same way, we have observed significant correlations between the variables under study. This work stresses the need to incorporate educational measures that favour an egalitarian, cognitive and socio-emotional development in both regulated education and alternative educational programmes.

This bibliographic review analyses the utility for psychologists of using neuroimaging tests and psychological or neuropsychological tests at the same time for studying the functioning of the brain in male abusers condemned for intimate partner violence against women (IPVAW). So as to be able to find an answer, we reviewed the available studies that investigated the structure or functioning of the brain. The results of these reviewed works of research show the benefits of using neuroimaging applied to male abusers, together with the use, either simultaneously or not, of other types of psychological, neuropsychological, or observational tests to complement and/or amplify the results of the neuroimaging techniques, as this can help us to advance in the knowledge of neuroscience as concerns the mind of the male abuser.

Psychopaths are portrayed as deceitful, manipulative, domineering and narcissistic; the result of an irregular and irresponsible interpersonal style that harms both the psychopath him/herself and others. Furthermore, psychopathy is frequently associated with both violent and antisocial conduct. However, subclinical psychopaths are known for manifesting this type of profile without committing crimes. The objective of this study is to examine the differences that exist in subclinical psychopathy concerning gender, the number of intimate relationships and the age of the university student. The number of university students participating was 1289. They were given the Integrated/Subclinical Psychopathy Questionnaire (CUPIS). The results show that, in subclinical psychopathy, men present higher scores than women and younger persons have higher scores than older persons. In addition, the scores in psychopathy are higher for students who have had a larger number of intimate relationships. The contributions of this study allow us to determine the profile associated with subclinical psychopathy.

The objective of this work is to study the quality of working life associated to psychosocial factors and risks, burnout syndrome and emotional intelligence, as well as being able to detect predictors of the said syndrome. The sample consisted of 311 professionals working in direct contact with an intellectual disability from 15 associations of Extremadura (Spain). The Spanish version of the CESQT questionnaire was administered to evaluate burnout syndrome, the Wong &amp, Law Emotional Intelligence Scale (WLEIS) was used to evaluate emotional intelligence, while the UNIPSICO Battery was used to evaluate the psychosocial factors of demands (work&ndash, family conflict and psychosomatic problems) and resources, such as social support and work satisfaction. The results indicate average values of burnout, revealing that work satisfaction, emotional intelligence, and social support are related to burnout syndrome. In addition, there are also positive correlations between psychosomatic symptoms and work&ndash, family conflict. Satisfaction at work, social support, and emotional intelligence (intrapersonal and interpersonal perception, use and regulation of emotions) predict burnout syndrome. What is more, the psychosomatic symptoms and work&ndash, family conflict explain, respectively, 17% and 17.9% of their variance. Thus, there is a need to develop intervention programs that encourage social support and the conciliation of family life, as well as training skills related to emotional intelligence, such as communication and conflict resolution.

This research analyses the emotional and behavioural problems, as well as the problems in the executive functions, of children in residential care under protective measures, between 8 and 12 years of age. We analyse the relationship between the problems with their executive functions and their emotional and behavioural problems, as well as the predictive value of the executive functions for the said emotional and behavioural problems. The instruments used were as follows: five digits test (FDT), behavioural assessment of the dysexecutive syndrome in children (BADS-C) and the system of evaluation for children and adolescents (SENA). The results indicate that the children have difficulties in their executive functions, with such problems as in attention control and regulation, impulsiveness, mental rigidity, behavioural organisation and planning and resolving problems. They also have internalising and externalising problems, as well as difficulties in controlling their emotional reactions and understanding the emotions of others. It becomes evident that the difficulties in their executive functions are related to and predict their emotional and behavioural problems. The research demonstrates the need to intervene in the problems detected through the design of therapeutic programmes and interventions in the residential context.

The suicide rate in the police force (Fuerzas y Cuerpos de Seguridad-FFCCSS) is estimated to be greater than that of the general population. The objectives of this paper are to detect mental health problems, in particular depression and anxiety, and to analyze the moderating effect of coping strategies on the relation between mental health and suicide ideation in police officers. The Suicidal Behavior Questionnaire (SBQ-R), Beck’s Depression Inventory (BDI), the Anxiety Inventory (STAI), and the Brief Cope have all been used in the study. The sample consists of 98 Spanish police officers, of whom 91.8% were male. The results indicate that depression and anxiety can predict suicidal ideation. Nevertheless, it must be said that coping strategies do not have a moderating effect in the relation between mental health and suicidal ideation in this professional group.

This work analyzes how the assumption of responsibility by aggressors convicted for gender-based violence is related to sexist attitudes, self-esteem and perceived functional social support. Similarly, the predictive capacity of these variables is studied with respect to the aggressors’ minimization of the harm done and a lack of attributing responsibility to themselves. The participants in the research were males condemned to prison sentences for crimes related with gender-based violence in Spain. The instruments applied were the Attribution of Responsibility and Minimization of Harm Scale, the Ambivalent Sexism Inventory (ASI), the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSE), the Functional Social Support Questionnaire (FSSQ), and the Social Desirability Scale (SDS). The study concludes that sexist attitudes are related with a greater lack of attribution of responsibility, as well as with a greater tendency to minimize the harm done by the aggression. In addition, the aggressors with low self-esteem use self-defense as a strategy to justify the violence. Similarly, the presence of an adequate social support network for the aggressor increases the attribution of responsibility on the part of those convicted for gender-based violence.

La presente investigación analiza la atribución de responsabilidad y las actitudes sexistas de 129 agresores condenados por violencia de género. Se aplicó la Escala de Atribución de Responsabilidad y Minimización y el Inventario de Sexismo Ambivalente (ASI). Los resultados señalan que un porcentaje elevado de agresores tiende a asumir la responsabilidad por la violencia ejercida y no justifica la agresión. Asimismo, se ha constatado que los condenados no presentan un número elevado de actitudes sexistas. No obstante, las actitudes sexistas permiten predecir la minimización del daño por parte de los agresores. Las conclusiones redundan en la importancia de intervención con esta población, dada la eficacia de los programas en la asunción de responsabilidad y en la disminución de actitudes sexistas.

espanolLa psicopatia ha venido siendo frecuentemente relacionada con los trastornos de la personalidad, sobre todo con el subtipo antisocial por las caracteristicas delictivas que este en ocasiones conlleva. A pesar de esta asociacion, y sin obviar los matices diferenciales, es importante recordar que los trastornos de la personalidad son diagnosticos clinicos que vienen amparados por las nosologias psiquiatricas y recogidos en sus manuales de trastornos mentales, y es en este sentido en el que no se debe englobar a la psicopatia como un trastorno mental, ni de la personalidad ni de cualquier otra indole psicopatologica. Si bien la psicopatia incorpora algunos rasgos aislados tambien caracteristicos de varios trastornos de la personalidad, los perfiles diferenciales entre estos y la psicopatia son necesarios establecerlos con exactitud, ya que los multiples matices al respecto podran ayudar a establecer el necesario diagnostico diferencial y a evitar equiparar psicopatia y psicopatologias de la personalidad. EnglishPsychopathy has been frequently associated with personality disorders, particularly with the antisocial subtype due to the criminal features that it sometimes entails. Despite this link, and without ignoring the differential nuances, it is important to remember that personality disorders are clinical diagnoses, which are supported by psychiatric nosology and included in manuals of mental disorders. Therefore, psychopathy should not be understood as a mental disorder, neither of personality nor of any other psychopathological nature. Even though psychopathy incorporates some isolated features, also characteristic of several personality disorders, it is necessary to accurately establish the differential profiles between them and psychopathy, since there are multiple nuances that may help to establish the necessary differential diagnosis and to avoid equating psychopathy with personality psychopathologies.