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Introduction: Foreclosing and home eviction have been associated with various negative health outcomes, probably due to exposure to such stressful circumstance, but there is no evidence about foreclosure and home eviction to elicit cortisol responses. Methods: Participants who recently had received a court eviction notice were compared to subjects suffering a depressive disorder and to healthy controls in terms of hair cortisol concentrations. Results: Subjects under the stressful circumstance of foreclosure and patients with depression showed comparable concentrations in most of the hair segments while healthy subjects displayed the lowest levels of cortisol. Conclusion: The findings show that foreclosure and home eviction are associated with increased cumulative hair cortisol and with depressive-like symptoms. Foreclosing procedures yielded to maintain high levels of cortisol which may increase the risk to develop major depression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • This is the first psychometric study evaluating an alternative scoring method for the QIDS-SR 16. • Alternative scoring consisted on summing all scorable items (i.e., 14) instead of the 9 symptom domains • Exploratory factor analysis supported the unidimensionality of the scale. • QIDS-SR 16 ’s internal consistency reliability and convergent validity were not compromised. Abstract Exploring depressive symptom severity is progressively shifting from the traditional assessment of symptom domains to detailed examination of individual symptoms. This study aimed at determining whether using an alternative scoring method (i.e., summing all scorable items instead of summing symptom domains) for the Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology-Self Report (QIDS-SR 16) would not compromise the measurement properties. This is a secondary analysis of data collected in a psychometric study of the Spanish version of the QIDS-SR 16. One hundred and sixty-six patients were assessed by means of the QIDS-SR 16 and two interviewer-rated instruments: the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale and the Clinical Global Impression-Severity scale. Factor structure, internal consistency reliability and convergent construct validity of the QIDS-SR 16 scored using the alternative method were examined. Exploratory factor analysis replicated the one-factor structure of the original scoring system. Good to excellent internal consistency and convergent validity were found, which did not differ significantly from the ones of the original scoring method. Using a simplified and easier scoring method, the Spanish QIDS-SR 16 retained the soundness of psychometric characteristics of both the original English version and the Spanish one scored according to the original scoring system, supporting the alternative scoring method as a reliable and valid option. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Perceived dyscognition or fibrofog has been ranked as one major contributor of distress in fibromyalgia (FM). The Multidimensional Inventory of Subjective Cognitive Impairment (MISCI) was devised as a brief and comprehensive self‐report measure of cognitive function in FM. The main objective of the present study was to assess the psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the MISCI. One hundred and twenty patients with FM were included, and dimensionality, reliability, and validity of the MISCI were evaluated. Data from brain imaging (N = 61) were also used in validity analyses. Known‐groups validity was evaluated by including a subset of 45 patients without FM in partial/total remission from depression. Sensitivity to change was assessed after a mindfulness‐based intervention. Spanish version of the MISCI exhibited a one‐factor structure, excellent internal consistency, and good convergent validity with symptomatology and gray matter volumes in anterior and middle cingulate cortices. Significant improvements in MISCI scores after a mindfulness‐based intervention were reported. An additive effect of FM and depression regarding MISCI scores was also observed. Self‐reported depression, anxiety, and problems in balance predicted the 38% of the MISCI variance. The Spanish version of the MISCI is a valuable instrument to include in FM research and clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Psychometrically robust and easy-to-administer scales for depressive symptoms are necessary for research and clinical assessment. This is a psychometric study of the Spanish version of the Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology-Self-Report (QIDS-SR 16 ) in a clinical sample. Method One-hundred and seventy-three patients (65% women) with a psychiatric disorder including depressive symptoms were recruited. Such symptoms were assessed by means of the QIDS-SR 16 and two interviewer-rated instruments: the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS 17 ) and the Clinical Global Impression-Severity (CGI-S) scale. Self-rated measures of health-related quality of life, subjective happiness and perceived social support were also obtained. Dimensionality, internal consistency, construct validity, criterion validity, and responsiveness to change of the QIDS-SR 16 were examined. Results Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses replicated the original one-factor structure. The Spanish version of the QIDS-SR 16 showed good to excellent internal consistency ( α =0.88), convergent validity [HDRS 17 ( r =0.77), CGI-S ( r =0.78)], and divergent validity [EuroQol-5D Visual Analogue Scale ( r =−0.78), Subjective Happiness Scale ( r =−0.72)]. The QIDS-SR 16 was excellent in discriminating clinically significant from non-significant depressive symptomatology (area under ROC curve=0.93). It also showed a high sensitivity to treatment-related changes: patients with greater clinical improvement showed a greater decrease in QIDS-SR 16 scores ( p <0.001). Limitations The study was conducted in a single center, which may limit the generalizability of the findings. Conclusions The Spanish version of the QIDS-SR 16 retains the soundness of metric characteristics of the original version which makes the scale an invaluable instrument to assess depressive symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background: Psychometrically sound and time-efficient scales that measure depressive symptoms are essential for research and clinical practice. This study was aimed at exploring the psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the Clinically Useful Depression Outcome Scale (CUDOS) in a clinical sample. Method: Participants were 162 patients (72% women) with a mood disorder (86% diagnosed as major depressive disorder). Depressive symptoms were assessed by means of the CUDOS, the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and two interviewer-rated instruments: the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS17) and the Clinical Global Impression-Severity (CGI-S) scale. Dimensionality, internal consistency, test–retest reliability, construct validity, criterion validity, and responsiveness to change of the CUDOS were explored. Results: The CUDOS exhibited a one-factor structure which accounted for 55.7% of the variance, and excellent results for internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha=0.93), for test–retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient=0.84) and for convergent validity [HDRS17 (r=0.77), CGI-S (r=0.73) and BDI (r=0.89)]. The ability of the CUDOS to identify patients in remission was high (area under ROC curve=0.96). Its responsiveness to change was also highly satisfactory: patients with greater clinical improvement showed a greater decrease in CUDOS scores (p<0.001). Limitations: Diagnoses, even though made by expert clinicians, were established as part of routine clinical practice. Generalizability of the findings beyond the study sample is unknown. Conclusions: The findings suggest that the Spanish version of the CUDOS is valuable as a brief and psychometrically sound self-report instrument to assess depressive symptoms in research and in clinical practice. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Introduction and Aims. Drug craving is considered to be an essential component of substance dependence. We aimed to characterise drug-dependent inpatients reporting continuous absence of subjective spontaneous drug craving. Design and Methods. This is a 3 year chart-review study designed to compare drug-dependent inpatients who did not report craving everyday (non-cravers) and their counterparts who did (cravers). All participants were recruited consecutively and completed a 14 day detoxification treatment. Craving was defined as a desire to use the main detoxification substance. This substance was chosen by patients, who completed a craving visual analogue scale, the Beck Depression Inventory and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory daily. The Temperament and Character Inventory and the Addiction Severity Index were also used. Results. Of the 195 patients who completed the detoxification treatment, 45 (23.1%) were non-cravers and 32 (16.4%) were cravers. The main detoxification substances were alcohol, benzodiazepines, cannabis, cocaine, heroin and methadone. Non-cravers named methadone as the main detoxification substance more frequently than cravers, and benzoylecgonine was less frequently present in their urine at treatment entry. A decreased score on the Temperament and Character Inventory dimension of harm avoidance (i.e. trait anxiety) was the only independent predictor of absence of craving (odds ratio = 1.16, 95% confidence interval = 1.03-1.31). During admission, non-cravers had lower Beck Depression Inventory and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory scores than cravers. These differences were not accounted for by pharmacological treatment. Discussion and Conclusions. Drug -dependent inpatients who report absence of craving are characterised by relatively low levels of depression and anxiety throughout detoxification treatment, and relatively low levels of trait anxiety.[Pérez de los Cobos J, Siñol N, Trujols J, Bañuls E, Batlle F, Tejero A. Drug-dependent inpatients reporting continuous absence of spontaneous drug craving for the main substance throughout detoxification treatment. Drug Alcohol Rev 2011;30:403-410] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Given the limitation of pharmacological treatments to treat cognitive symptoms in patients with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), cognitive remediation programs has been proposed as a possible procognitive intervention but findings are not conclusive. This study investigates the efficacy of an INtegral Cognitive REMediation (INCREM) that includes a combination of a Functional Remediation (FR) strategy plus a Computerized Cognitive Training (CCT) in order to improve not only cognitive performance but also the psychosocial functioning and the quality of life. Methods: A single blind randomized controlled clinical trial in 81 patients with a diagnosis of MDD in clinical remission or in partial remission. Participants will be randomized to one of three conditions: INCREM (FR + CCT), Psychoeducation plus online games and Treatment As Usual (TAU). Intervention will consist in 12 group sessions, of approximately 110 min once a week. The primary outcome measure will be % of change in psychosocial functioning after treatment measured by the Functional Assessment Short Test (FAST); additionally, number of sick leaves and daily activities will also be recorded as pragmatic outcomes. Discussion: To our knowledge, this is the first randomized controlled clinical trial using a combination of two different approaches (FR + CCT) to treat the present cognitive deficits and to promote their improvements into a better psychosocial functioning. Trial registration: Clinical Trials NCT03624621. Date registered 10th of August 2018 and last updated 24th August 2018. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]