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

Resumen: El siguiente artículo utiliza la literatura como mecanismo de reflexión sobre las personas con trastornos mentales. La Madre de Frankenstein es un libro de ficción histórica escrito por Almudena Grandes. La trama del libro se desarrolla en el manicomio Ciempozuelos, donde Aurora Rodríguez Carballeira pasa el resto de sus días después de ser enjuiciada por el asesinato de su hija. Consecuentemente, el artículo busca relacionar el libro La Madre de Frankenstein con la realidad social del Ecuador, en la que las personas con enfermedades mentales sufren debido al estigma de la sociedad, al autoestigma y al estigma familiar. Por un lado, deben vencer el dolor y los síntomas de su enfermedad, y, por otro lado, deben luchar contra las desventajas sociales que crea el rechazo colectivo. Debido a esto, y para generar una conciencia social, es necesario exhibir las adversidades que les rodean a las personas que padecen de una enfermedad mental. El concepto de dignidad ha ido transformándose paulatinamente a lo largo de la historia por lo que tiene un carácter polisémico. A pesar de esto, el concepto es necesario ya que en este se fundamentan los derechos humanos. Aunque el alcance de este término es más amplio en la actualidad, es necesario abordar la relación de este concepto con las personas que padecen enfermedades mentales. Actualmente, se considera que la dignidad es inherente a todo ser humano, empero las personas con trastornos mentales suelen ser tratadas como un medio para alcanzar un fin. La dignidad, que otorga un valor a la persona por el simple hecho de existir, impulsa a que los enfermos mentales busquen mejores condiciones de vida a pesar de que su autonomía -en ciertos casos- esté limitada. La inclusión social, por el reconocimiento de esta dignidad, es necesaria, ya que primero se debe puntualizar que todos los enfermos mentales tienen dignidad, y, al mismo tiempo, se debe propiciar que las personas con trastornos mentales vivan con dignidad su enfermedad, sin privarles de empleos, educación, medicamentos, etc. Aunque los derechos de las personas con trastornos mentales se reconozcan en instrumentos jurídicos, no se puede obviar su invisibilidad en el sistema.  De esta manera, las familias inician teniendo un estigma contra ellos, por lo que suelen evitar su cuidado. El Estado replica esta acción ya que la asignación de recursos financieros es mínima para este sector de la salud. Aunque cada año incrementan las cifras de personas con trastornos mentales, el presupuesto que el Estado destina a este sector disminuye. A pesar de que la dignidad de las personas con trastornos mentales se ha reconocido en instrumentos internacionales, en declaraciones y en constituciones, la realidad nos demuestra que este problema dista de ser visibilizado. Summary: The following article uses literature as a mechanism for reflection on people with mental disorders. La madre de Frankenstein is a historical fiction book written by Almudena Grandes. The plot of the book takes place in the Ciempozuelos madhouse, where Aurora Rodríguez Carballeira spends the rest of her days after being prosecuted for the murder of her daughter. Consequently, the article seeks to relate the book La Madre de Frankenstein to the social reality of Ecuador, in which people with mental illnesses suffer due to the stigma of society, self-stigma and family stigma. On the one hand, they must overcome the pain and symptoms of their disease, and, on the other hand, they must fight against the social disadvantages that collective rejection creates. Due to this, and to generate a social conscience, it is necessary to exhibit the adversities that surround people with mental illness. The concept of dignity has been gradually transformed throughout history, making it polysemic. Even though, the concept is necessary since human rights are based on it. Nowadays, the scope of this term is broader, but it is necessary to address the relationship of this concept with people suffering from mental illness. Currently, dignity is considered to be inherent in every human being, however people with mental disorders are often treated as means to an end. Dignity gives a value to the person for the simple fact of existing. This encourages the mentally ill people to seek better living conditions despite the fact that their autonomy -in certain cases- has a limit. Social inclusion, for the recognition of this dignity, is necessary. It is important to consider that all the mentally ill have dignity, and, at the same time, it must be encouraged that people with mental disorders live their illness with dignity. They cannot be deprived from jobs, education, medicines, etc. Although the rights of people with mental disorders are recognized in legal instruments, their invisibility in the system cannot be ignored. In this way, families start having a stigma against them, so they often avoid their care. The State replicates this action since the allocation of financial resources is minimal for the health sector. Although the number of people with mental disorders increases every year, the budget allocated by the State to this sector decreases. Despite the fact that dignity of people with mental disorders has been recognized in international instruments, in declarations and in constitutions, reality shows us that this problem is far from being visible.

There is an ongoing debate about the “didactic effects” of therapist´s own psychological process. Besides, there are no definitive conclusions about the effects regarding an improvement of professional skills which will come out of psychotherapy or psychoanalysis processes, nor the ways these processes could lead the subject to an inner transformation. Literature on the subject leaves many questions unanswered, especially the discussion about them being legitimate training spaces for the future practitioner. Therefore, we consider to be necessary to interrogate the relationship between the therapist´s own therapeutic process and the effects it may have on their professional practice, present or future. We consider this discussion to be a condition before establishing it as a condition for accreditation as a psychologist in the different Faculties of Psychology in Ecuador. In order to review possible answers, we have designed a qualitative approach study in which we analyze two main aspects: 1) The effectiveness of the personal therapeutic process, and 2) The impact of this process on the professional practice itself. To do so, we have carried out 45 semi-structures interviews with mental health professionals who have experienced a personal therapeutic process, in order to help us determine if mandatory psychotherapy as a part of College studies in Psychology is justified. Most of the data we obtained pointed out the fact that many professionals seek therapeutic help for themselves as a part of their own ethical system, and not as a result of mandatory therapy for professional accreditation.  

This paper exposes the nature of contemporary conflicts and the challenges that arise for the application of international humanitarian law. Starting from an analysis of the change in the ways of waging in the globalized world, this article explains some key factors to understand how conflicts have developed after the Cold War. Political and economic globalization has brought with it new characteristics in the methods, means and objectives of war, having as a central point the factors of identity. After the Second World War the need to create certain international rules and norms for warfare was raised. Therefore, international humanitarian law was developed as a balancing mechanism between the military demands of States and the humanitarian concerns arising from conflicts. The objective of this work is to analyze the challenges that the new wars currently pose to international humanitarian law. The final argument of this reflection is that the new wars have challenged international humanitarian law, since its principles have failed to contain the slab of intentional and deliberate attacks against the civilian population. Therefore, an update of these principles is necessary, but above all, the correct and uniform application of the law that exists to date. The international community, made up of States, international governmental and non-governmental organizations, have the opportunity to demonstrate their political will to discuss new mechanisms for the protection of civilians and options to reduce the effects in the midst of war.

Desde inicios del presente siglo las tendencias tanto en la lectoría de los medios de soporte impreso de circulación diaria, como en la sintonía de medios de televisión abierta, han variado de modo significativo. La acción combinada del crecimiento de los segmentos poblacionales con nivel medio de consumo, por un lado, y el acceso sostenido a servicios domiciliarios o portables a Internet, por otro, han modificado la estructura de participación en el sector de la comunicación periodística.

In this work the virtue of gratitude is studied according to the thought of L. Polo. It is defended that the human tendency to gratitude is natural, and that the reinforcement of that tendency constitutes virtue, which admits two references: the others and the divine being; to the former, for what we receive from them in the corporeal plane and in the ‘essence’ of man; to the second, for the creation and elevation of our personal ‘act of being’

Las inquietudes que la ciencia experimental plantea acerca de la creación son planteadas desde la perspectiva de un diálogo interdiscplinar entre ciencia, religión y filosofía.

Reseña sobre Éxodo, de Federico Polleri.

Reseña de la obra teatral El sueño de las Aves, de la Compañía Quantum.