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Resumen Introduccion Las ganas de vivir, concepto central en las teorias del bienestar, representa un componente actitudinal positivo hacia la propia vida. Se ha identificado como un mediador entre la autopercepcion del envejecimiento y la longevidad y la salud. El objetivo de este estudio es caracterizar a las personas mayores que tienen elevados niveles de ganas de vivir en las principales dimensiones de la psicologia positiva. Metodo Participaron de forma voluntaria 165 adultos mayores con edades comprendidas entre 54 y 89 anos, usuarios de centros de mayores de la Comunidad de Madrid. Se evaluaron las ganas de vivir y otras dimensiones del bienestar y la salud. Se analizaron las correlaciones entre las distintas dimensiones evaluadas, se establecieron comparaciones entre ellas en funcion de distintos niveles de ganas de vivir, y se analizo que dimensiones contribuyen en mayor medida a las ganas de vivir. Resultados Las correlaciones entre variables han resultado estadisticamente significativas en su mayor parte; se ha observado una disminucion de los coeficientes al controlar el efecto de las ganas de vivir. En las comparaciones de medias, se hallaron diferencias significativas entre los 3 grupos con diferente nivel de ganas de vivir en practicamente todas las dimensiones de la psicologia positiva. Gratitud, afecto positivo y depresion son las dimensiones que mejor predicen las ganas de vivir. Conclusion Los adultos mayores que conforman el grupo con elevadas ganas de vivir se caracterizan por tener mayores niveles de optimismo, gratitud, resiliencia, afecto positivo, sentido de la vida, prosperidad psicologica, felicidad y satisfaccion con la vida y menores niveles de depresion y autopercepcion del envejecimiento negativa. Las implicaciones de estos resultados apuntan hacia la relevancia de las ganas de vivir en el envejecimiento con exito.

Emotional dysregulation is a construct that has drawn substantial attention as a transdi-agnostic contributing factor to the loss of health. Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a term used to describe physical, psychological, or sexual assault of a spouse or sexual partner. The aim of the study was to determine the variability of emotional dysregulation among women with different types of IPV revictimization and post‐traumatic stress. The cross‐sectional survey included 120 women attended by the Integrated Monitoring System of Gender Violence of Madrid, Spain, due to a gender violence complaint. The presence of post‐traumatic stress disorder (DSM 5 criteria), emotional dysregulation (Emotional Processing Scale (EPS)), childhood trauma, and type of revictimi-zation were evaluated. Cluster analysis found three profiles of emotional regulation: Emotionally Regulated, Avoidance/Non‐Impoverished, and Emotional Overwhelm. The results showed that the Emotional Overwhelm group was characterized by a general dysregulation of emotional experi-ences and a greater intensity of post‐traumatic stress symptoms. In addition, women who have suf-fered several episodes of IPV by different partners showed a differential pattern of emotional regulation than the rest of the victims that entailed greater psychopathology. Findings confirm that emotional dysregulation is a critical pathway to the decrease of health among IPV victims, This work has been made possible by a research grant from the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities of Spain (PGC2018-096130-B-I00)

The objective of this study was to explore the relationship between perception of time and indicators of successful ageing. The study evaluated preference in temporal orientation, perception of speed of the passage of time and a wide range of psychosocial well-being and health indicators. The sample consisted of 1,178 people aged over 60 years from the ELES longitudinal study, which was representative of the Spanish population. Results showed that: (a) the majority of people of all ages are oriented to the present, although as they become older there is a shift towards the past; (b) orientation to the present implies higher levels of well-being and health, as opposed to orientation to the past; and (c) a perception of a faster passage of time is associated with well-being. In conclusion, the way in which older people perceive time is an indicator of adaptation, well-being and health.

The aim of this study was to test a model of emotional distress, which incorporates the potential mediator role of positive resources (sense of control, self-esteem, and optimism) in the association of age with emotional distress. The study used a cross-sectional design with intentional sampling and the voluntary participation of 325 adults between 18 and 87 years (M = 46.8 ± 19.10). The results show that emotional distress was negatively associated with age. Psychological resources also varied according to age, with older subjects presenting higher optimism and external control as well as lower internal control. The association between internal control and emotional distress was mediated by optimism and self-esteem. Moreover, the combined association of these 3 personal resources significantly increased the relationship between age and lower emotional distress. The results suggest that optimism and self-esteem are powerful resources in relieving emotional distress. The data provide potentially useful information for the design of psychological interventions aimed at reducing emotional distress. (PsycINFO Database Record

The evidence for an anxiety-related memory bias is contradictory. We compiled 171 articles published until October 2016 including a group with clinical or subclinical anxiety and a control group in tasks involving implicit or explicit memory using threatening stimuli. There was an anxiety-related memory bias in free recall tasks, but it was not observed in another memory task. The between-groups differences showed that the anxious group recalled more threatening stimuli than the control group (d = 0.321). When we compared the group differences (anxious vs. control participants) in the within-groups effect (threatening vs. neutral stimuli), a moderate effect size emerged (dbw = 0.714). This anxiety-related memory bias was observed with shallow processing, that is consistent with attentional biases related to anxiety. There was also evidence that high-anxious persons recall fewer positive stimuli. Future research is needed to investigate whether this result is a memory or encoding bias and explore o...

Cognitive models of anxiety propose that heightened anxiety vulnerability is characterized by a tendency to interpret ambiguous situations as threatening. The presence of such an interpretive bias has been confirmed in younger adults, using assessment measures that bypass the limitations of self-report and objectively assess interpretive processing. A recent pioneering study published in 2015 has sought to determine whether this anxiety-linked interpretive bias also is evident in older adults. However, their evidence supporting this hypothesis comes only from self-report measures and memory measures. The present study was designed to provide a stronger test of the hypothesis by objectively assessing interpretive process in high (n = 48) and low (n = 48) trait anxious older adults, using a text comprehension approach that circumvents reliance on self-report or memory measures. The findings were fully consistent with the hypothesis that older adults with higher levels of trait anxiety, compared to those with lower levels of trait anxiety, impose more threatening meanings on ambiguous information. These findings provide the first evidence, from an assessment approach that overcomes the limitations of self-report and memory measures, that elevated anxiety vulnerability in older adults is characterized by a negative interpretive bias.

Cognitive theories of anxiety propose that selective attention to negative information plays a central role in the development and maintenance of anxiety. The presence of such attentional bias has been confirmed in younger adults. Nevertheless, there are few studies that have explored anxiety-linked attentional bias in older adults, and the available results are inconclusive. Conversely, the socioemotional selectivity theory posits that there are age-related changes in emotional information processing and, consistent with this account, it has been found that older adults preferentially pay more attention to positive stimuli compared with younger adults ("positivity effect"). The present study aimed to explore attentional bias towards negative and positive information in a sample of older adults with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) compared with a control group. The results showed that older adults with GAD displayed an attentional preference for negative information and attentional avoidance for positive information, whereas healthy older adults showed the reverse pattern of attentional deployment. These results suggest that selective attention toward negative information and selective avoidance of positive information may be a relevant factor in clinically anxious older adults.

Will-to-live, a central concept in well-being theories, represents a positive attitudinal component towards one's own life. It has been identified as a mediator between the self-perception of aging and longevity and health. The objective of this study is to characterise elderly people with high levels of will-to-live in the main dimensions of positive psychology.The study included the voluntary participation of 165 adults, aged between 54-89 years, users of senior centres in the Community of Madrid. Will-to-live and other dimensions of well-being and health were evaluated. The correlations between the different evaluated dimensions were analysed, and comparisons made in terms of different levels of will-to-live, as well as an analysis of the dimensions that contribute most to the will-to-live.Correlations among the majority of variables were statistically significant, with a decrease in the coefficients being observed when controlling the effect of the will-to-live. When groups with different levels of will-to-live are compared with well-being and health, there are statistically significant differences in practically all of the dimensions. Gratitude, positive affect, and depression are the dimensions that best predict will-to-live.Older adults that make up the group with high will-to-live are characterised by higher levels of optimism, gratitude, positive affect, sense of life, psychological prosperity, resilience, happiness, and satisfaction with life, as well as lower levels of depression and negative self-perception of aging. The implications of these results point towards the relevance of will-to-live in successful aging.

We analyze the confluence between two paradigms of health from different theoretical backgrounds: successful (or healthy) aging (SA) and positive psychology (PP). In this cross-sectional study, 169 healthy older adults completed several questionnaires to assess central constructs for successful aging and positive psychology frameworks. Participants were recruited from recreational centers for older adults. Confirmatory factor analyses with a two-latent-factor structure (SA and PP) showed an adequate fit between them. An unidimensional solution is clearly supported, implying that PP and SA variables actually share the same latent factor. Latent profile analyses showed that all SA and PP variables shared the same trend: Three classes were identified in which all variables varied on the level of the whole set of variables, without qualitative differences between SA and PP variables. Results of this work provide evidence for the conceptual similarity between successful aging and positive psychology approaches.

Authors posting Accepted Author Manuscript online should later add a citation for the Published Journal Article indicating that the Article was subsequently published, and may mention the journal title provided they add the following text at the beginning of the document: “NOTICE: this is the author’s version of a work that was accepted for publication in Medicina Clínica. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published in Medicina Clínica, 141.12 (2013): 522–526 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.medcli.2012.09.048, Aunque los malos tratos hacia las personas mayores no son un fenómeno nuevo, continúa estando oculto. A pesar de que se han realizado diversos estudios sobre prevalencia en diferentes países, los resultados de estos solo pueden ser utilizados como datos orientativos. El objetivo de este estudio es estimar la prevalencia de malos tratos en personas mayores sin deterioro cognitivo residentes en el ámbito comunitario que acudían a Centros de Atención Primaria o de Servicios Sociales. Pacientes y método: Se realizo´ un estudio transversal en el que participaron 340 personas mayores. Resultados: Se ha encontrado una prevalencia de malos tratos del 12,1%, siendo el tipo más frecuente el psicológico y siendo frecuente la presencia simultánea de diferentes tipos (maltrato psicológico y físico y sexual). Los malos tratos son más frecuentes en mujeres y los responsables son con mayor frecuencia los cónyuges. Conclusiones: Los datos obtenidos permiten avanzar en el conocimiento de los malos tratos hacia personas mayores en España, donde los precedentes de investigación en este área son aislados. No obstante, la cifra estimada de prevalencia de malos tratos no debe caer dentro del alarmismo social ni, por el contrario, en una «dejadez social»., Although elder abuse is not a new phenomenon, it remains hidden. There have been carried out various preliminary studies about the prevalence of elder abuse in different countries. The aim of this study is to estimate the prevalence of suspicion of elder abuse in old persons without cognitive impairment, dwelling in community, who were attended in Primary Health Care or Social Services Centres. Patients and method: We carried out a transverse study in which 340 elders participated. Results: We found a 12.1% prevalence of suspicion of elder abuse. Psychological abuse suspicion was the most frequent type and it was very common the simultaneous presence of different types of abuse (psychological and physical and sexual). The suspicion of elder abuse was more frequent in women and spouses were responsible in a high great frequency. Conclusions: The information obtained allows advancing in the knowledge of elder abuse in Spain, where the research about this issue is poor. However, the prevalence found neither has to be considered as a social alarm nor as a social slackness., Este trabajo ha sido financiado por el Instituto de Mayores y Servicios Sociales (IMSERSO).

The author may only post his/her version provided acknowledgement is given to the original source of publication and a link is inserted to the published article on Springer's website. The link must be provided by inserting the DOI number of the article in the following sentence: “The final publication is available at Springer via http://dx.doi.org/[insert DOI]”.", The phenomenon of resilience reflects positive adaptation despite contexts of risk, significant adversity, or trauma (Masten and Powell 2003; Luthar 2006). The purpose of this investigation was to propose a mediation model to explain the relation between stress and some psychological and social resources that enhance positive adaptation throughout the entire adult life cycle, and to explore the moderator role of age and country of origin. The indicator of positive adaptation was life satisfaction (LS). The sample comprised 171 Mexicans and 154 Spaniards (N = 325), aged between 18 and 87 years. Mediation was tested by means of various hierarchical regression analyses, which revealed that the positive adaptation process is enhanced by a group of psychological and social resources that mediate the effects of stress on LS. Self-esteem, optimism, internal control, coping aimed at acceptance, and coping aimed at seeking emotional support, as well as social contacts can mediate the negative effects of stress. Finally, it was found that age moderates the internal control but none of the remaining variables whereas the country does not moderate the relation of the variables., This investigation was partially funded by a grant from the Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología [National Council of Science and Technology] (Mexico) awarded to the first author for her doctoral studies, and partially as a research project funded by the Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación [Ministry of Science and Innovation] (Spain) through the project PSI2008-02338/PSIC Emotional Information-Processing in Later Adulthood.

The aim of this study is twofold. First, to assess the level of agreement between radiographic damage and functional disability in older people with osteoarthritis. And second, to assess the role of coping skills and sensory pain parameters as sources of disagreement between these variables. To achieve this objective we assess, in a sample of 104 older people with osteoarthritis, the following variables: functional capacity, radiographic damage, pain coping strategies, pain intensity, pain frequency and pain duration. The results show a non-linear relationship between radiographic damage and functional disability, modified by the levels of the two variables. There was maximum agreement between low levels of radiographic damage and of functional impairment, whilst agreement decreased for moderate and high levels of radiographic damage. Certain coping strategies may help to explain this disparity., El presente trabajo persigue un doble objetivo. Primero, evaluar el grado de concordancia entre el deterioro radiológico y el nivel de capacidad funcional en las personas mayores con artrosis. En segundo lugar, analizar las fuentes de disparidad de tal concordancia, para lo que se estudia el papel de los parámetros sensoriales del dolor y de las estrategias de afrontamiento ante el mismo. Para ello se evaluaron, en una muestra de 104 personas mayores con artrosis, la capacidad funcional, el grado de deterioro físico -afectación radiológica-, las estrategias de afrontamiento al dolor y los parámetros sensoriales del dolor de intensidad, frecuencia y duración. Los resultados mostraron que la relación entre el deterioro radiológico y funcional no varía linealmente, sino que depende de los niveles de ambas variables, existiendo una concordancia máxima entre niveles bajos de deterioro funcional y de deterioro radiológico, mientras que disminuye para niveles moderados o elevados de deterioro radiológico. Ciertas estrategias cognitivas y conductuales de afrontamiento evaluadas parecen ayudar a explicar tal disparidad.

We analyzed the discriminative capacity of several risk factors for elder abuse and neglect, in order to identify what characteristics distinguish between caregivers with a high or low risk of abuse and neglect. Forty-five caregivers of relatives with dementia participated. The combination of caregiving impact, frequency of aggressive behaviors by care-recipients, stress related to provocative and aggressive behaviors, the frequency of provocative behaviors, interpersonal burden, autoefficiency expectations, quantity of help received and depression classify correctly as risk factors in 90.9% of the cases. This study permits us to identify what characteristics distinguish between caregivers with a high or low risk of abuse and neglect and caregivers.

Objectives: This study aims to explore the relationship between knowledge about aging and severity of worry in older adults, and to test the potential mediational role of intolerance of uncertainty. Method: The sample was composed of 120 community-dwelling older adults, with a mean of age of 71.0 years (SD = 6.3). Mediational analyses and structural equation modeling were used to analyze and compare different models. Results: Greater knowledge about aging was negatively related to both intolerance of uncertainty and worry, and its effect on worry was partially mediated by intolerance of uncertainty. The mediational model obtained an excellent fit to the data (i.e. Goodness of fit index (GFI) = 0.995) and clearly had a better fit than alternative models. Conclusion: These results suggest that a good knowledge of the aging process could help decrease aversive uncertainty and thus reduce the level of worry among older adults. Thus, educational programs to increase knowledge about aging could serve as one pre...

Due to the difficulties in recruiting elderly people for psychological studies, a wide range of recruitment methods has been used. The underlying assumption that the recruitment method does not seriously affect the results has to be tested. Results in different worry measures are compared between three samples which were recruited with different strategies: (i) randomization sampling from the census of an urban area (random sample; n = 97); (ii) people involved in leisure activities in senior centers (convenience sample; n = 142); and (iii) people from the close environment of psychology students (snowball sample; n = 60). People from those samples, aged 65 and more, completed the Penn State Worry Questionnaire (trait-worry), and the Worry Scale (contents of worry). Differences were found for several demographic characteristics. There were marked differences between samples in the percentage of individuals endorsing cut-score criteria for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), with a very high percentage for the snowball sample. For all of the worry measures, analyzes of variance revealed significantly higher total scores for the non-randomly selected samples (p < 0.01). Comparing the latter samples, higher trait worry (p < 0.01) and more worrying about health and personal competencies (p < 0.01) was found in the snowball sample. These results suggest that the sample recruitment method can specifically and seriously affect the outcomes of studies with elderly people, thus limiting the generalization of their results.

Depression is commonly associated with chronic pain, and is also a common condition in the elderly. However research in the area of depression and pain is scarce. The aim of the present work was to analyse how cognitive-behavioural and perceptual variables help to explain the presence or absence of depression in older people with chronic pain caused by osteoarthritis.A total of 104 older adults were evaluated using a protocol that measured depression, perceptual characteristics of pain (intensity, frequency and duration), beliefs about pain, self-efficacy beliefs, coping style, coping strategies and pain behaviours.Using Student's t-tests and discriminant analysis, we found that psychological variables such as catastrophizing, passive coping, complaint behaviour, avoidance, coping self-statements, ignoring pain sensations and stability and mystery beliefs help to explain depressive symptomatology.The present study confirms the important role of cognitive-behavioural variables in the discrimination between older adults who suffer pain with and without symptoms of depression. Moreover, certain variables that in young adults had been seen to play a non-adaptive role, such as ignoring pain sensations, were seen to have an adaptive function in the elderly. Also, our results are in support of depression models - such as Abramson's Hopelessness Model - proposing that depression in chronic pain patients, unlike in other groups of depressed people, is characterized by absence of self-blame feelings.

The controversy concerning the validity and reliability of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) appears to be particularly relevant in the elderly, since physical symptoms associated with GAD can readily be considered as the consequences of normal aging. This study aims to analyze the structure invariance of a questionnaire assessing the DSM-IV diagnostic criteria across samples of older adults and college students. Ninety-seven adults aged 65 or over and 130 college students completed the Worry and Anxiety Questionnaire (WAQ). The results revealed that factorial invariance could be assumed and, in addition, that scores for severity of GAD symptoms were higher in younger subjects than in older ones. The results support the applicability of DSM-IV criteria for GAD in elderly people, as the factorial structure of the WAQ was the same for this age group as for younger adults. A higher degree of GAD severity was found in the younger sample.

The magnitude and impact of mental disorders does not correspond to the resources devoted to research and attention. Although we have made significant progress in their understanding and the efficacy of the psychological treatments, we are still far from an optimal situation. This paper focuses on one of the major issues which we consider fundamental challenges and needs in this area, the increase in research focusing on psychopathology, especially on the mechanisms and processes that explain and maintain mental disorders, as a key point for the design and development of new psychological interventions for the prevention, treatment, and promotion of mental health. The aim is to promote discussion among all stakeholders and debate on those lines we think as a priority. La magnitud y el impacto que suponen los trastornos mentales no se corresponden con los recursos que se dedican a su investigación y atención. Aunque hemos avanzado notablemente en su comprensión y en la eficacia de los tratamientos psicológicos que intentan paliarlos, estamos aún lejos de la situación óptima. Este trabajo se centra en uno de los retos y una de las necesidades que consideramos fundamentales, el incremento de la investigación focalizada en psicopatología, especialmente sobre los mecanismos y procesos que explican y mantienen estos problemas, como eje básico para el desarrollo de nuevas intervenciones psicológicas, tanto para la prevención como para el tratamiento y promoción de la salud mental. El objetivo es promover la discusión entre los agentes implicados y reflexionar sobre las líneas de trabajo que creemos prioritarias. Este trabajo ha sido financiado por el Ministerio Español de Economía y Competitividad (MINECO), a través de la Red de Excelencia PROMOSAM financiada por el MINECO (PSI2014-56303-REDT).

Reconocimiento-NoComercial-NoDerivada, The aim of this study was to show the efficacy of a pilot program based on positive psychology to enhance the well-being of the elderly. The experimental design included intervention and control groups. The sample consisted of 67 adults aged 60-89. The program included nine 1.5 hour weekly sessions. The program topics included character strengths, positive emotions, and emotional regulation. The variables assessed were affection, happiness level, concern level, optimism, and blood pressure. The results show that participants in the program significantly increased the happiness level and decreased the concern level, and systolic blood pressure. Increasing the level of happiness in the elderly favours the construction of personal resources and involvement with goals and projects that bring them to active and healthy aging. Results and limitations are discussed on the basis of the positive psychology and ageing psychology, El objetivo de este trabajo fue probar la eficacia de un programa piloto basado en la psicología positiva y destinado a incrementar el bienestar emocional de las personas mayores. El diseno˜ de investigación fue experimental, con grupos de intervención y control. La muestra estuvo compuesta por 67 adultos de 60 a 89 anos ˜ de edad. El programa consistió en nueve sesiones de 1.5horas de duración y frecuencia semanal. Los temas incluyeron fortalezas de carácter, emociones positivas y regulación emocional. Se evaluó el afecto, el nivel de felicidad, el nivel de preocupación, el optimismo y la presión arterial. Los resultados indicaron que los participantes del programa incrementaron significativamente su nivel de felicidad y disminuyeron el nivel de preocupación y la presión arterial sistólica. El incremento del nivel de felicidad en personas mayores favorece la construcción de recursos personales y la implicación con objetivos y proyectos que les acercan al envejecimiento activo y saludable. Los resultados, limitaciones y mejoras de este trabajo son discutidos en el contexto de la psicología positiva y la psicología de la vejez, Este estudio se realizó gracias a la ayuda concedida por el Plan Nacional de Investigación Científica, Desarrollo e Innovación Tecnológica, del Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad, con el número de ref. PSI2012-36546/PSIC. La investigación se enmarca en la Red de Excelencia PSI2014-56303-REDT: PROMOSAM: investigación en procesos, mecanismos y tratamientos psicológicos para la promoción de la salud mental, financiada por el Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad

Resumen Introduccion La Escala de Depresion Geriatrica (GDS) ha sido ampliamente utilizada como instrumento de cribado para detectar depresion en personas mayores. Debido a su longitud (30 items), se han propuesto versiones reducidas. El objetivo de este trabajo es comparar la capacidad diagnostica de 3 versiones de la GDS (GDS-30, GDS-1 5 y GDS-5) para identificar la presencia de depresion en personas mayores. Material y metodos La muestra estuvo compuesta por 246 personas reclutadas en centros de dia y hogares para personas mayores. La edad media ± desviacion estandar fue de 74,1 ± 9,5 anos; el 68,7% eran mujeres. La presencia de depresion (20,2%) se establecio utilizando una entrevista diagnostica semiestructurada basada en los criterios del DSM-IV. Resultados La GDS-30 demostro altas sensibilidad (95,7%) y especificidad (92,4%) para un punto de corte de 1 3. La capacidad diagnostica de la GDS-15 disminuyo; presento una sensibilidad del 95,7% y una especificidad del 84,3% para un punto de corte del 5. Finalmente, para la GDS-5 la sensibilidad obtenida fue del 78,7% y la especificidad del 77,3% para un punto de corte de 2. Conclusiones La version original (GDS-30) parece ser una buena medida de cribado para detectar depresion en personas mayores, aunque la capacidad de diagnostico disminuye cuando se reduce la longitud de la escala. Se sugiere que la GDS deberia revisarse con el objetivo de desarrollar nuevas versiones reducidas que no pierdan capacidad diagnostica.

Several studies have shown that anxiety is associated with a better memory of negative events. However, this anxiety-related memory bias has not been studied in the elderly, in which there is a preferential processing of positive information.To study the effect of anxiety in a recognition task and an autobiographical memory task in 102 older adults with high and low levels of trait anxiety.Negative, positive and neutral pictures were used in the recognition task. In the autobiographical memory task, memories of the participants' lives were recorded, how they felt when thinking about them, and the personal relevance of these memories.In the recognition task, no anxiety-related bias was found toward negative information. Individuals with high trait anxiety were found to remember less positive pictures than those with low trait anxiety. In the autobiographical memory task, both groups remembered negative and positive events equally. However, people with high trait anxiety remembered life experiences with more negative emotions, especially when remembering negative events. Individuals with low trait anxiety tended to feel more positive emotions when remembering their life experiences and most of these referred to feeling positive emotions when remembering negative events.Older adults with anxiety tend to recognize less positive information and to present more negative emotions when remembering life events; while individuals without anxiety have a more positive experience of negative memories.

Resumen Introduccion este trabajo se dirige a analizar el papel del nivel de conocimientos sobre el envejecimiento en la prediccion del grado de preocupacion-rasgo en una muestra de personas mayores. El conocimiento de los procesos normales de envejecimiento puede facilitar la percepcion de control sobre los sucesos estresantes de la vejez y ser un factor protector para el desarrollo de problemas emocionales generados por los sucesos estresantes asociados al incremento de la edad. Este trabajo analiza si este posible efecto se produce, incluso tras controlar el efecto de la frecuencia de las preocupaciones sobre varios contenidos especificos de la edad avanzada. Material y metodo la muestra estuvo compuesta por 111 personas no institucionalizadas, con edades entre 55 y 88 anos. El conocimiento sobre la vejez se evaluo con una version del cuestionario Facts on Aging Quiz, y el grado de preocupacion con una adaptacion de la version abreviada del Inventario de Preocupacion de Pensilvania. Resultados en un analisis de regresion con pasos forzados, el grado de conocimiento sobre la vejez explico un porcentaje de variancia adicional significativo (incremento en R2 de 5,1%) sobre el grado de preocupacion-rasgo, al explicado por la frecuencia de preocupacion sobre varios contenidos caracteristicos de la vejez, apoyando la hipotesis de partida (R2 final = 0,651). Este efecto se mantuvo cuando distintas variables demograficas fueron controladas. Conclusiones estos resultados recalcan la importancia del grado de conocimientos sobre el envejecimiento y su potencial valor explicativo y preventivo sobre los trastornos emocionales en la edad avanzada.

Resumen El deterioro cognitivo grave supone una entidad diferenciada dentro de la evolucion de las demencias, que hasta la fecha ha recibido relativamente poca atencion tanto desde el punto de vista de su estudio, conceptualizacion y evaluacion, como desde las intervenciones especificamente desarrolladas para estos pacientes, tanto farmacologicas como no farmacologicas. Este articulo ofrece una revision de las intervenciones encontradas que se han realizado para este colectivo y unas reflexiones de como se debe avanzar en este campo.

Resumen Objetivo el miedo a las caidas es la complicacion mas comun entre las personas mayores que han presentado una caida de la que no se ha derivado lesion fisica importante. Material y metodo se presentan los resultados de una intervencion conductual llevada a cabo con una mujer de 69 anos que, durante un periodo de 1 ano, habia presentado diversas caidas sin causa fisica que, segun informe medico, las justificara. Esta persona habia reducido drasticamente su actividad, y se desplazaba tan solo apoyada en muebles o en otra persona. La intervencion consistio en una fase educativa acerca del problema y la explicacion de este en terminos conductuales; el aprendizaje de estrategias para minimizar la ansiedad ante la realizacion de actividades y reanudar de forma gradual las actividades temidas (exposicion en vivo, respiracion profunda, autoinstrucciones, parada de pensamiento y asercion encubierta), asi como correciones ambientales y eliminacion de factores de riesgo. Resultados y discusion los resultados del programa, tras 8 sesiones de intervencion, evaluados con distintas tecnicas de autoinforme y tests situacionales, indican que se ha reducido de una forma notable la ansiedad global para andar y mantenerse de pie, asi como que ha aumentado significativamente el numero de conductas de movilidad en solitario —especialmente, en el ambito del hogar— y de actividades de la vida diaria realizadas de forma independiente, cuya realizacion se habia suprimido desde la primera caida.

Resumen Introduccion el objetivo de este estudio es analizar el fenomeno del maltrato y el descuido de las personas mayores con demencia por parte de cuidadores informales en relacion con las caracteristicas del cuidador (p. ej., ira u hostilidad), de la persona cuidada (p. ej., presencia de comportamientos problematicos) o de la situacion propia de cuidado (p. ej., ayuda recibida). Material y metodo 45 cuidadores de familiares con demencia (34 mujeres y 11 varones) reclutados desde diferentes centros de servicios sociales. Se evaluo el riesgo de maltrato (CASE), la depresion (CES-D), la frecuencia de conductas agresivas y provocadoras y el estres asociado a dichas conductas y por la dependencia de la persona mayor, la carga de cuidado (ZBI), la ira y la hostilidad (STAXI-2), el estado funcional, la cantidad de ayuda recibida y la calidad de la relacion. Resultados un 60% de la muestra presenta elevado riesgo de maltrato. Estos cuidadores presentan mas sintomas de depresion, mas estres asociado a las conductas agresivas y provocadoras y por la dependencia de la persona cuidada, mas frecuencia de conductas agresivas y provocadoras, mas carga percibida y mas expresion interna de la ira y reciben menos ayuda formal e informal que los cuidadores con bajo riesgo de maltrato. Conclusion en resumen, existe un perfil diferenciado entre situaciones de bajo y alto riesgo de maltrato en funcion de las caracteristicas del cuidador, de la persona cuidada y del contexto de la situacion.

Drawing upon Lawton's ecological model of adaptation and old age, this study analyses the implications of the degree of adjustment (congruence) between the self-assessed functional capacity of 33 community-dwelling elderly care receivers and their functional capacity as assessed by their respective family caregivers (N=33), for the adaptation of the elderly and for their caregivers' feelings of burden, defined as their perception of how the caregiving activity is affecting their physical, psychological and social well-being. Three groups were set up on the basis of the level of congruence between caregivers' and care receivers' reports: high capacity attribution, coincidental capacity attribution, and low capacity attribution groups. No group differences were found in the care receivers' level of functional independence as perceived by their caregivers and as assessed by the Katz Index and the Instrumental Activities of Daily Living scale. However, the results showed differences between the three groups in relation to both the care receivers' adaptation when viewed in terms of their psychological well-being and self-efficacy. Differences between the caregivers' perceived sense of burden and their perception of their relatives' independence were also found. As proposed by the Lawton model, the results support the psychological benefits, both for the caregiver and the care receiver, of an appropriate balance between the socio-environmental demands (caregivers' expectations regarding care receivers' competence) and the capacity of the individual.

Wells (Behav. Cogn. Psychother. 23 (1995) 301) proposed a cognitive model, which distinguishes between two kinds of worry: type I worry (focused on external things) and type II worry or metaworry (worry about one's own thoughts and worry). Wells' model assigns a central role to metaworry in the development of excessive worry, and Wells and Carter (Behav. Res. Ther. 37 (1999) 585) found in a college sample that metaworry predicted the level of trait worry after controlling for trait anxiety and type I worry. The present study replicated their investigation with a Spanish elderly sample and supported Wells' predictions that metaworry plays a significant role in the prediction of trait worry in contrast to type I worries, even when trait anxiety or perceived uncontrollability over worry are controlled.

Resumen Introduccion Los profesionales de la salud de atencion primaria y los de los servicios sociales son los principales canalizadores de la atencion a las personas mayores dependientes y sus familias, colectivo cuyo rapido incremento esta planteando una seria necesidad de ajustes en el sistema sociosanitario. Objetivo Analizar el grado en que estos profesionales valoran su grado de capacitacion y formacion para atender a las demandas y necesidades de los cuidadores. Procedimiento Se envio por correo a todos los centros de servicios sociales de la Comunidad de Madrid y a una muestra aleatoria de profesionales de los centros de salud (Area XI de Salud de Madrid) el Cuestionario para la identificacion de necesidades de los cuidadores familiares de personas mayores dependientes. El porcentaje de participacion fue del 12,5%, sobre un total de 590 cuestionarios remitidos. Se presentan los datos correspondientes a 38 profesionales de la salud y a 29 profesionales de los servicios sociales. Resultados Mientras que tres de cada 4 profesionales de la salud se sienten competentes para atender demandas relacionadas con las tareas cotidianas del cuidado, solo 5,5 de cada 10 se sienten competentes para asesorar sobre comportamientos problematicos y situaciones dificiles asociadas al cuidado, y unicamente tres de cada 10 se sienten capacitados para orientar sobre consecuencias del cuidado. Entre los trabajadores sociales, estos apenas se sienten capacitados para orientar sobre tareas cotidianas, escasamente para manejar situaciones dificiles y moderadamente sobre consecuencias del cuidado. Ambos tipos de profesionales perciben una muy elevada necesidad de formacion en este ambito (solo uno de cada 4 la ha recibido). Conclusion La optimizacion de la atencion sociosanitaria a los cuidadores debe contemplar la formacion especifica de los profesionales.

Resumen En este trabajo se presenta una revision de la situacion actual de la terapia cognitivo-conductual (TCC) de la depresion en las personas mayores. La TCC se enmarca en una perspectiva biopsicosocial y, usualmente, consiste en una integracion de los modelos cognitivo y conductual en una terapia de tiempo limitado, altamente estructurada, de corte psicoeducativo, centrada en los problemas del «aqui y ahora», identificables y mensurables y basada en una fuerte alianza de trabajo. Tambien se repasan los modelos empleados de forma habitual para afrontar clinicamente la depresion, asi como su aplicacion en la poblacion mayor. Ademas, se discute la eficacia diferencial de la TCC en la vejez respecto a otras alternativas, como la terapia farmacologica. En este sentido, la evidencia empirica existente, aunque limitada, apunta a que la TCC es igual de eficaz con personas mayores que con personas mas jovenes y, al menos, igual de eficaz en las personas mayores que otro tipo de terapias (p. ej., la de tipo farmacologico). Ademas, se senalan las ventajas especificas que puede tener el empleo de la TCC para la depresion en la vejez respecto a otro tipo de terapias: filosofia optimista, estilo psicoeducativo y colaborativo, y el respeto y el reconocimiento de la experiencia y el conocimiento acumulados por la persona mayor. Finalmente, se sugieren algunas modificaciones que podrian ser pertinentes en la aplicacion de la TCC a la poblacion mayor, para adaptarse a los cambios sensoriales y cognitivos que acompanan frecuentemente al envejecimiento normal.

El objetivo del presente trabajo fue analizar los factores que promueven la experiencia subjetiva de recuperación en personas con diagnóstico de esquizofrenia, y su relación con los indicadores de recuperación objetiva. Para ello, tras revisar la literatura existente, se evalúo el valor predictivo de diferentes variables psicosociales y clínicas sobre la recuperación subjetiva en una muestra de 43 personas con esquizofrenia. El análisis de regresión múltiple reveló que el uso de estrategias adaptativas de afrontamiento, un bajo estigma internalizado y una elevada autoestima predijeron un 55% de la variable recuperación subjetiva (F = 12,5; p < 0,0001). Los síntomas negativos y el funcionamiento social no predijeron recuperación subjetiva, pese a la presencia de correlaciones significativas. Se discuten los resultados en relación con la superior predicción de los indicadores subjetivos de recuperación, y se refl exiona sobre las implicaciones de estos resultados en el tratamiento y la promoción de mejores expectativas de recuperación en esta población, The aim of the present study was to analyze factors that promote the experience of subjective recovery in people with a diagnosis of schizophrenia, and their relationship with objective recovery indicators. To do so, and after reviewing the existing literature, the predictive value of a set of different clinical and psychosocial variables on subjective recovery was evaluated of a sample of 43 adults with schizophrenia. Multiple regression analysis revealed that using adaptive coping strategies, low internalized stigma, and high self-esteem predicted 55% of the variance of subjective recovery (F = 12.5; p < 0.0001). Negative symptoms and social functioning did not predict subjective recovery, in spite of significant correlations. Both the lack of predictive value of objective compared to subjective recovery measures, and the implications of the present fi ndings for the treatment and promotion of increased recovery expectancies in this population are discussed

In this study, we tested in older and younger adults the efficacy of two well-known procedures to experimentally induce anxiety: a) Velten self-statements combined with music; b) film scenes. We extended the pre- vious findings in this field to the understudied area of mood induction in older adults. Fifty-seven older adults and 94 college students were random- ly assigned to one of the experimental conditions or to a control group. Results indicated that both procedures were effective, according to a series of ANOVAs for several self-report, physiological, and behavioral measures. Likewise, the highest effect sizes were observed for the Velten procedure (g = .81 vs. g = .71), and the effects were significantly higher in younger (g = 1.0 in the Velten condition) than in older adults (g = .62), Q = 4.25, 2(1), p = .0392. Both procedures were effective to induce inducting anxiety in both age groups, especially the Velten procedure in younger adults. Therefore, Velten self-statements combined with music may be very useful anxiety induction procedure for further research in controlled situa- tions of emotions across the life-span.

People with progressive dementia evolve into a state where traditional neuropsychological tests are not effective. Severe Impairment Battery (SIB) and short form (SIB-s) were developed for evaluating the cognitive status in patients with severe dementia.To evaluate the psychometric attributes of the SIB-s in patients with severe dementia.127 institutionalized patients (female: 86.6%; mean age: 82.6 ± 7.5 years-old) with dementia were assessed with the SIB-s, the Global Deterioration Scale (GDS), Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Severe Mini-Mental State Examination (sMMSE), Barthel Index and FAST.SIB-s acceptability, reliability, validity and precision were analyzed. The mean total score for scale was 19.1 ± 15.34 (range: 0-48). Floor effect was 18.1%, only marginally higher than the desirable 15%. Factor analysis identified a single factor explaining 68% of the total variance of the scale. Cronbach's alpha coefficient was 0.96 and the item-total corrected correlation ranged from 0.27 to 0.83. The item homogeneity value was 0.43. Test-retest and inter-rater reliability for the total score was satisfactory (ICC: 0.96 and 0.95, respectively). The SIB-s showed moderate correlation with functional dependency scales (Barthel Index: 0.48, FAST: -0.74). Standard error of measurement was 3.07 for the total score.The SIB-s is a reliable and valid instrument for evaluating patients with severe dementia in the Spanish population of relatively brief instruments.Fiabilidad y validez de la bateria de evaluacion del deterioro grave, version abreviada (SIB-s), en pacientes con demencia en España.Introduccion. Las personas con demencia progresiva evolucionan hacia un estado donde los tests neuropsicologicos tradicionales dejan de ser eficaces. La bateria de evaluacion del deterioro grave, en su forma completa (SIB) y abreviada (SIB-s), se desarrollo para evaluar el estado cognitivo de pacientes con demencia avanzada. Objetivo. Evaluar los atributos psicometricos de la SIB-s en poblacion española. Pacientes y metodos. Estudio transversal de 127 pacientes con demencia (86,6%, mujeres; edad media: 82,6 ± 7,5 años) evaluados con la SIB-s y las siguientes medidas: escala de deterioro global, miniexamen cognitivo (MEC), miniexamen del estado mental grave (sMMSE), indice de Barthel y escala del estado funcional. Resultados. La puntuacion media total de la SIB-s fue de 19,1 ± 15,34 (rango: 0-48). Efectos suelo y techo20%. El analisis factorial identifico un unico factor que explica el 68% de la varianza total de la escala. La consistencia interna fue alta (alfa de Cronbach: 0,96). La correlacion item-total corregida oscilo entre 0,27 y 0,83, y la homogeneidad de los items fue de 0,43. La fiabilidad test-retest e interevaluador fue satisfactoria (coeficiente de correlacion intraclase: 0,96 y 0,95, respectivamente), asi como la validez de constructo convergente con otras medidas cognitivas (MEC: 0,83; sMMSE: 0,9). La SIB-s mostro una correlacion moderada con escalas cognitivas de dependencia funcional (indice de Barthel: 0,48; FAST: –0,74). El error estandar de la medida fue de 3,07 para el total de la escala. Conclusiones. La SIB-s es un instrumento fiable y valido, relativamente breve, para evaluar a pacientes con demencia avanzada en la poblacion española.

There is strong empirical evidence to support the influence of environmental and social factors in health and behavior among the institutionalized elderly. In order to assess personal and environmental relationships, 32 residential centers for the elderly and 1403 of their inhabitants were assessed using the Sistema de Evaluación de Residencias de Ancianos (SERA). Our principal findings were as follows: (1) relationships between individual variables (e.g. objective and subjective health, depression) and subjective variables (e.g. satisfaction); (2) the predictive power of the environment characteristics (e.g. policy choice) on the subjects functioning (e.g. level of activity); (3) residential satisfaction is the product of several personal variables (e.g. objective and perceived health), as well as of social environmental factors (e.g. physical comfort); and (4) very weak relationships were found between social climate dimensions and other environmental factors.

ResumenEl presente trabajo estudia la relacion entre las imagenes que los cuidadores informales mantienen sobre el grupo de personas mayores en general y sobre el familiar mayor a quien cuidan en particular. Para ello se diseno un instrumento basado en las tecnicas de asociacion. Una muestra de 95 sujetos agrupo 30 adjetivos segun un criterio espontaneo de similaridad. Estos adjetivos habian sido obtenidos a partir de los utilizados por otra muestra de 100 sujetos para describir a personas con distintas caracteristicas. Mediante el escalamiento multidimensional de la matriz de proximidades, se obtuvo una solucion tridimensional que diferencio los adjetivos en cuatro agrupamientos: bienestar funcional, bienestar afectivo, afecto negativo aceptable y afecto negativo rechazable. Posteriormente, una muestra de 62 cuidadores seleccionaron, de entre los 30 adjetivos, aquellos que eran “aplicables” a una persona mayor en general y aquellos que eran “aplicables” a su familiar mayor. Los resultados muestran que mi...

Las personas con demencia progresiva evolucionan hacia un estado donde los tests neuropsicológicos tradicionales dejan de ser eficaces. La batería de evaluación del deterioro grave, en su forma completa (SIB) y abreviada (SIB-s), se desarrolló para evaluar el estado cognitivo de pacientes con demencia avanzada. Objetivo. Evaluar los atributos psicométricos de la SIB-s en población española. Pacientes y métodos. Estudio transversal de 127 pacientes con demencia (86,6%, mujeres; edad media: 82,6 ± 7,5 años) evaluados con la SIB-s y las siguientes medidas: escala de deterioro global, miniexamen cognitivo (MEC), miniexamen del estado mental grave (sMMSE), índice de Barthel y escala del estado funcional. Resultados. La puntuación media total de la SIB-s fue de 19,1 ± 15,34 (rango: 0-48). Efectos suelo y techo < 20%. El análisis factorial identificó un único factor que explica el 68% de la varianza total de la escala. La consistencia interna fue alta (α de Cronbach: 0,96). La correlación ítem-total corregida osciló entre 0,27 y 0,83, y la homogeneidad de los ítems fue de 0,43. La fiabilidad test-retest e interevaluador fue satisfactoria (coeficiente de correlación intraclase: 0,96 y 0,95, respectivamente), así como la validez de constructo convergente con otras medidas cognitivas (MEC: 0,83; sMMSE: 0,9). La SIB-s mostró una correlación moderada con escalas cognitivas de dependencia funcional (índice de Barthel: 0,48; FAST: –0,74). El error estándar de la medida fue de 3,07 para el total de la escala. Conclusiones. La SIB-s es un instrumento fiable y válido, relativamente breve, para evaluar a pacientes con demencia avanzada en la población española., People with progressive dementia evolve into a state where traditional neuropsychological tests are not effective. Severe Impairment Battery (SIB) and short form (SIB-s) were developed for evaluating the cognitive status in patients with severe dementia. Aim. To evaluate the psychometric attributes of the SIB-s in patients with severe dementia. Patients and methods. 127 institutionalized patients (female: 86.6%; mean age: 82.6 ± 7.5 years-old) with dementia were assessed with the SIB-s, the Global Deterioration Scale (GDS), Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Severe MiniMental State Examination (sMMSE), Barthel Index and FAST. Results. SIB-s acceptability, reliability, validity and precision were analyzed. The mean total score for scale was 19.1 ± 15.34 (range: 0-48). Floor effect was 18.1%, only marginally higher than the desirable 15%. Factor analysis identified a single factor explaining 68% of the total variance of the scale. Cronbach’s α coefficient was 0.96 and the item-total corrected correlation ranged from 0.27 to 0.83. The item homogeneity value was 0.43. Test-retest and inter-rater reliability for the total score was satisfactory (ICC: 0.96 and 0.95, respectively). The SIB-s showed moderate correlation with functional dependency scales (Barthel Index: 0.48, FAST: –0.74). Standard error of measurement was 3.07 for the total score. Conclusions. The SIB-s is a reliable and valid instrument for evaluating patients with severe dementia in the Spanish population of relatively brief instruments.

[Background] The aim of this paper is to ascertain if the subjective perception of the economic situation of a household is associated with the prevalence of disability in old age, net of education level. Subjective economic perception is less non-response biased. Knowing if the self-perceived economic situation is related to disability over and above education level has important implications both for understanding the mechanisms that lead to disability and for selecting policies to reduce it., [Methods] This is a transversal study based on the pilot of the ELES survey, which is a representative survey of non-institutionalised Spaniards aged 50 and over. Only individuals whose job income levels were fixed before becoming disabled were selected to avoid the main source of reverse causality. Disability was defined as having difficulty in carrying out any of 12 activities of daily living. Education level, difficulty in making ends meet, self-perceived relative economic position of the household, age, gender, psychological disposition, and alcohol and tobacco consumption were introduced as independent variables in binary logistic models., [Results] The working sample is made up of 704 individuals of aged 60 and over. The subjective household economic situation, measured in two different ways, is strongly and consistently related with the prevalence of disability net of age, gender, education level and psychological disposition. After adjusting for age and gender, education level is no longer associated with disability. However, having economic difficulties has the same effect on disability prevalence as being 10 years older, or being a woman instead of a man., [Conclusions] As the economic situation of the elderly is much easier to improve than their formal education, our findings support feasible interventions which could lead to a reduction in the prevalence of disability., The production of this paper was endorsed by a grant from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (National R&D&I Plan: ref. CSO2011-30210-C02-01)

This article reviews the significance of the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) to practitioners and researchers in clinical gerontology, more than 10 years after the scale was introduced to the scientific community. This report summarizes findings from the most relevant validation studies in which this self-report for assessing depression in elderly people has been tested. Included is discussion of the use of the GDS with specific populations (elderly medical inpatients, nursing home residents, and dementia populations), with description of the scale's psychometric properties and its utility when used with them. This article also provides data on the use of the GDS from more recent studies, including additional information on psychometric properties, influence of source bias, and the international dissemination of the GDS. We conclude that the GDS is a relevant self-report for the assessment of depression in the elderly, given its advantage over other self-reports that are not as easily administered to this age group, its utility in the detection of depression, and its adequate psychometric properties. However, the GDS does not maintain its validity in demented populations because it fails to identify depression in persons with mild to moderate dementia. Finally, some suggestions for future research are made.