Sistema Regional de Información
en línea para Revistas Científicas de América Latina,
el Caribe, España y Portugal

Introduction: impulsivity and psychological inflexibility characterize relapses in nicotine dependent subjects. Furthermore, psychopathology symptoms (depression, anxiety, hostility and somatization) are also related to the tobacco consumption. Objective: to evaluate the correlation of impulsivity with psychological inflexibility, and symptoms of psychopathology in nicotine dependent subjects. Method: An observational study was carried out, the universe of which was the patients who attended the smoking clinic of the State Center for Mental Health for the first time (January-March 2020). The sample were 24 patients to whom a series of valid and reliable instruments were applied: the Fagerstr.m test to measure nicotine dependence, the Barratt impulsivity scale, the Acceptance and Action questionnaire to measure the inflexibility score and the SCL-90 symptom list, to identify psychopathology symptoms. Correlations were made with the Spearman test. Results: No correlation was found between impulsivity and psychological inflexibility. There was a correlation of impulsivity with anxiety (r= 0,467, p < 0,05), somatization (r=0,451, p<0,05) and hostility (r= 0,426, p < 0,05). None of the psychopathology symptoms correlated with psychological inflexibility. The comparison between high and low impulsivity and psychological inflexibility showed that the high impulsivity and low inflexibility groups had high scores for psychopathology symptoms. Only the anxiety scale marked significant differences according to the level of impulsivity. Conclusions: impulsivity and psychological inflexibility did not correlate. Impulsivity correlated with symptoms of anxiety and somatization. The inflexibility did not correlate with any symptoms of psychopathology.

Introduction: the COVID-19 pandemic is associated with mental health symptoms. Objective: to screen mental health symptoms by validating the factor structure of the screening test related to sociodemographic variables during the COVID-19 pandemic. Method: we worked with 36,811 Mexican (M = 34 years; SD = 11.68), 61.8% (22,743) women, 15.3% (5,643) losing loved ones, 12.7% (4,683) having a COVID-19 condition, and 8.22% (3,027) sought remote psychological care. We required participants to answer the Posttraumatic Stress Checklist (PCL-C), Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ), Goldberg’s Generalized Anxiety Questionnaire, Health Anxiety, and Somatization tests in a WebApp. Results: the Confirmatory Factor Analysis indicated good factor structures and measurement invariances of the scales because of participants´ sociodemographic characteristics and their structural equation model. Discussion: therefore, Women showed re-experimentation, numbing, anxiety, and somatization symptoms. Grieving or suffering a COVID-19 condition associated with generalized anxiety. People seeking psychological care reported somatization symptoms. Also, avoidance predicted symptoms of re-experimentation, and re-experimentation predicted health anxiety. Health anxiety predicted somatization, depression, and generalized anxiety, denoted by hyperarousal symptoms. Depression predicted numbing and hyperarousal symptoms. Conclusions: there are mental health risks in women, people with loved-one losses, those with a COVID-19 condition, or people seeking psychological care. Future research will show how early interventions interrupt mental health risks associated with the pandemic.

Introduction: Compassionate Mindfulness (APC, according to the term in Spanish) is defined as the awareness that arises through paying attention to the present moment, without judging experiences and generating actions motivated by the aspiration to free oneself and others from suffering. Currently the effectiveness of this type of treatment has gained relevance in the context of nicotine addiction treatment. Objective: to evaluate the efficacy of an intervention based on APC as a treatment for smoking cessation in the Mexican population. Method: a randomized clinical trial was implemented involving 62 people recruited from a specialized smoking cessation clinic in Mexico City. These people were randomly assigned to one of two treatment conditions: the control group received the treatment provided regularly at the clinic, while the experimental group received an APC-based treatment. Results: at the end of the treatment, participants who received the APC-based treatment were more likely to quit smoking (OR = 4.33, p .025, IC 95% 1.2-15) and they also displayed greater benefits to their mental health in some of the variables evaluated. Discussion and conclusion: APC is an effective intervention for smoking cessation in Mexican patients, since it has important benefits to the patient’s general mental health, and it is important to continue exploring its effects on both the maintenance of abstinence and relapse of tobacco consumption.

Introduction: indiscriminate use of opioids has increased dependency disorder and has been linked to half a million deaths worldwide in the last year. This justifies the exploration of alternative therapies for the treatment of addiction and overdose emergencies. Specific monoclonal antibodies have been produced for morphine and its metabolites for use in analytical identification tests in biological fluids from the experimental development of vaccines against these drugs. Objective: review scientific publications on monoclonal antibodies that identify morphine and its metabolites, to know its properties and the scope of its implementation in diagnostic tests. Method: systematic research of scientific literature in PubMed, ScienceDirect, SciELO and LILACS databases, published until September 2021, including articles on generation of monoclonal antibodies for morphine and its metabolites, and excluding those specialized only in molecular structure, point mutations and computational molecular dynamics. Results: 18 articles were identified where the production of 61 specific monoclonal antibodies for morphine and/or its metabolites was reported, and in which they characterized the specificity, sensitivity and/or detection range of the antibodies by evaluating 46 different substances, coupled to diagnostic tests. Discussion and conclusions: The production of monoclonal antibodies with high sensitivity and recognition for morphine and its metabolites has allowed their use in the development of sensitive analytical tests at affordable cost, which can be implemented in the clinical diagnosis and the surveillance of the use of these substances in the population.

Introduction: the prevalence and probability of being a risk alcohol consumer changes in relation to certain sociodemographic variables, for instance: sex, living in an urban or rural context, and belonging to an indigenous ethnic group. In addition, there is evidence that alcohol consumption is a trigger for general aggression and sexual disinhibition in young people. It is relevant, then, to carry out a study on alcohol consumption in this age group. Objective: to determine the amount of alcohol consumption and the amount of dating violence, as well as the correlation between both elements in university students belonging to native people. Method: quantitative, correlational, cross-sectional study. 477 students from the Intercultural University of the State of Puebla participated: 76.3% women and 23.7% men. Results: the correlation between alcohol consumption and dating violence was significant; however, the correlation between alcohol consumption and cyberbullying, harassment, surveillance and domination was low. Discussion and conclusions: it is confirmed that there is a correlation between alcohol consumption and dating violence. It is also concluded that other variables, such as parenting styles and economic factors potentiate dating violence related with the socio-culture of university students can be added.

Introduction: illicit drug use is a public health problem associated with high rates of school, work, and social disability. The population with the highest rate of increase in illicit drug use are adolescents, due to their age and biological immaturity. Studies in Latin America mainly identify personal, biological, psychological, and sociocultural risk factors for illicit drug use. Objective: to analyze the scientific evidence on the risk and protective factors of illicit drug use in adolescents in Latin America. Method: the literature search was carried out in: Web of Science, CINAHL, PubMed, MEDLINE, LILACS, SCIELO. Results: in the initial search, a total of 1181 reports were obtained. For the full text evaluation, 147 potentially relevant articles were retrieved, selecting a total of 17 publications that met the inclusion criteria. The findings were grouped into two thematic categories: 1) Risk factors: biological, family, individual, socio-environmental, psychological, and socio-educational; 2) Protection factors: family, religious, psychological and socio-environmental. Discussion and conclusions: the findings of the scope review reveal that there are numerous investigations on the various risk and protective factors of illicit drug use in school adolescents. In addition, it was confirmed that united families and religiosity are protective factors for illicit drug use.

Introduction: research on game transfer phenomena (GTP) is focused on understanding the impact of video game features and experiences on sensory perception, thoughts, and behaviors rather than on excessive/uncontrollable playing regardless of negative consequences. However, studies have shown a relationship between GTP and gaming disorder, and there is a resemblance between some forms of GTP and the perceptual disturbances that result as side effects of hallucinogens. Video game players have reported experiencing sensory perception changes (e.g., perceptual distortions of objects or environments and visual, auditory, or tactile hallucinations from games), intrusive thoughts, involuntary actions, and behaviors (e.g., the movement of fingers when interacting with game elements or a keyboard) . Objective: first, to adapt and validate the Game Transfer Phenomena Scale (GTPS) in Spanish with a Mexican sample. Second, to examine the adequacy of the frequency rating scale used in the GTPS. Method: cross-sectional survey with 607 players; most were males between 18 and 27 years old. Results: the higher-order factor model showed acceptable results. The prevalence of GTP was 96%. The number of game genres played and session length was correlated with all GTPS subscales, confirming the criterion validity. The examination of the frequency rating scale via the item response theory showed that selecting the second level of the scale “once” should be treated with caution. Discussion and conclusions: confirmatory factor analysis showed that the GTPS adapted into Spanish and tested in the Mexican sample was valid and reliable. Experiencing GTP more than once may be more meaningful for establishing the prevalence of GTP. Key words: Game Transfer Phenomena, Mexicans, Spanish language, video games, video game effects.

Introduction: the rate of death by suicide has increased in Mexico, representing a significant public health problem. To prevent and treat this phenomenon, it is crucial to identify reliable suicide risk factors among Mexicans. The Interpersonal Theory of Suicide has demonstrated empirical support for the role of thwarted belongingness, perceived burdensomeness, and acquired capability in the development of suicidal desire and behaviors. The measure of the theory’s constructs—the Interpersonal Needs Questionnaire (INQ) and the Acquired Capability for Suicide Scale (ACSS)—has also shown good psychometric qualities. Objective: translate, culturally adapt and validate these instruments. Method: 495 university students from Mexico City participated in two independent samples (n = 239; n = 256). For the INQ, the available version in Spanish was used. For the ACSS, the most current version in English was used. Based on the results from the first sample, items were modified, eliminated, or added for the second sample. Results: the INQ demonstrated good fit (RMSEA = .054, TLI = .97, IFI = .97, NFI = .95) with an internal consistency of .77 and .87 for thwarted belongingness and perceived burdensomeness, respectively. The ACSS obtained similar results (RMSEA = .011, CFI = .99, TLI = .99, IFI = .99, NFI = .91); the internal consistency was .77. Discussion and conclusions: the Spanish version of the instruments display good psychometric properties and can be used to measure the constructs of the interpersonal theory of suicide. However, further replication is needed to support generalizability in other Spanish-speaking populations.

Introduction: the SARS-CoV-2 virus pandemic has caused a crisis in the health sector due to the lack of medical and pharmacological resources to treat the COVID-19 disease. Recent findings have shown that some compounds isolated from cannabis can reduce the entry of the SARS-CoV-2 virus into host cells, and prevent the proinflammatory cytokine storm, which is why they are considered drugs with potential for the treatment of COVID-19. On the other hand, frequent or chronic recreational use of cannabis may facilitate SARS-CoV-2 infection by depressing the immune system but also promote proinflammatory cytokine storm, worsening the disease. Objective: to discuss the proposed mechanisms of action of cannabinoids in the treatment of COVID-19 and the difference between the immunological effects produced by the chronic recreational use of marijuana and the pharmacological use of the isolated and purified compounds of cannabis for the treatment of this disease. Method: the most recent scientific articles published in PubMed were browsed, in which the effects of cannabinoids in relation to the SARS-CoV-2 virus were studied, as well as articles about the effects of chronic cannabis use on the immune system. Discussion and conclusions: high and frequent use of marijuana could worsen the disease caused by SARS-CoV-2, while the use of isolated and purified compounds can attenuate COVID-19 disease.

The use of telehealth has increased during the last few years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, since all the health systems were forced to limit the services offered to those who sought help, which significantly affected the treatment of every illness that was not related to said sickness (Doraiswamyet al., 2020). This also affected the services provided to people who live with HIV (PVVIH, according to term in Spanish) and it started the use of telehealth in several healthcare offers, which is understood as the remote healthcare services provided through telecommunications technology in order to help patients (Health Resources and Services Administration, 2022). The services that telehealth encases are psychoeducation, remote monitoring of medical conditions, psychological and psychiatric services, medical examinations through videoconferences and the review of medical records, among other activities that clinical personnel might be able to cover with the use of technology.