Browsing by Author "Langer, Alvaro I."

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    Effects of a mindfulness intervention in Chilean high schoolers
    (SOC MEDICA SANTIAGO, 2017) Langer, Alvaro I.; Schmidt, Carlos; Manuel Aguilar Parra, Jose; Cid, Cristian; Magni, Antonella
    Background: Mindfulness has been conceptualized as paying attention to present moment experience in a non-judgmental manner, and the practice of developing that skill. Aim: To determine the impact of a mindfulness-based intervention on negative emotional states of anxiety, stress, and depression in Chilean high schoolers. Material and Methods: Eighty-eight teenagers aged 13 +/- 0.6 years (46 females) were randomly assigned to a mindfulness group or a control (41 and 47, respectively). The mindfulness intervention consisted in eight weekly 45-minute sessions. A depression, anxiety, and stress scale (DASS-21) was applied at baseline, after the intervention, and at three and six-month follow-up. Results: There was a significant reduction in anxiety, depression, and general symptomatology in the experimental group compared to the control group. However, these changes were not sustained at follow-up. Conclusions: These preliminary results suggest the feasibility and effectiveness of a mindfulness intervention in Chilean schools as a strategy to reduce negative emotional states and prevent risk factors in adolescent population groups.
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    Interpretation, emotional reactions and daily life implications of hallucination-like experiences in clinical and nonclinical populations
    (2015) Langer, Alvaro I.; Stanghellini, Giovanni; Cangas, Adolfo J.; Lysaker, Paul H.; Nieto-Munoz, Luz; Moriana, Juan A.; Barrigon, Maria L.; Ambrosini, Alessandra
    Background: Research on Hallucination-Like Experiences (HLEs) has not yet explored whether people without psychosis who have HLEs attribute the same level of significance to them. This significance includes whether or not the HLEs elicit similar emotional reactions in people with and without psychosis, or if the HLEs occur in same context between the two groups. The objective of this study was to compare the characteristics of these experiences in a non-clinical group and a clinical group of patients with schizophrenia and schizophrenia spectrum disorders. Method: Both groups were evaluated to determine the prevalence of HLEs. After the evaluation, they were interviewed about the characteristics of these experiences. Results: Both groups sought to actively eliminate the HLEs, could identify the presence of a trigger factor, and experienced little perceived control. However, HLEs elicited more anxiety, discomfort and interference in daily life in the clinical group than in the non-clinical group. Furthermore, the clinical group members defined their hallucinations more negatively and were reported to have experienced them under stressful events. Conclusions: These findings suggest that the two experiences are not entirely equivalent, especially when taking into account the emotional reaction produced by these experiences and the meaning people attach to them.
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    Substance Use, Bullying, and Body Image Disturbances in Adolescents and Young Adults Under the Prism of a 3D Simulation Program: Validation of MySchool4web
    (2016) Langer, Alvaro I.; Manuel Aguilar-Parra, Jose; Ulloa, Valentina G.; Carmona-Torres, Jose A.; Cangas, Adolfo J.
    Background:The use of virtual reality or three-dimensional (3D) simulation programs has been explored in different mental health problems and contexts. One of the applications that showed evidence of a suitable assessment for behavioral and emotional problems in adolescents is the 3D questionnaire called MySchool4web. The aim of this work was to analyze the psychometric properties of a tailored version of MySchool4web.Materials and Methods:A correlational, nonexperimental, cross-sectional study was carried out. The participants were 668 secondary students from schools in Santiago, Chile with a mean age of 15.74 years. Adolescents completed MySchool4web in the informatics classroom of each school.Results:Results indicated that two of the items had to be removed, and a three-factor solution was found representing the dimensions substance use, bullying, and body image. This final model of 10 items showed acceptable internal consistency per factor, and its scores were significantly associated with other related measures in nine items.Conclusions:These outcomes suggest that this version of MySchool4web is a reliable and valid measure of a 3D instrument for the screening of risky behaviors and emotional problems in adolescents and young adults in a school context.