the goal of this study was to identify a valid set of fear-evoking pictures from IAPS images (Lang, Bradley, & Cuthbert, 2008) in a Chilean Sample. To do so, categorical and dimensional ratings of pictures made by our participants were analyzed, considering potential sex differences. We also evaluated potential transcultural differences by comparing our results with the results of Barke, Stahl, & Kröner-Herwig (2012), whose methodology was followed in the present study, but incorporating new statistical criteria for the valid identification of pictures that evoke fear. Sixty Chilean volunteers (30 women) with a mean age of 22.3 years rated 146 pictures of the LAPS regarding to the choice of discrete emotions and the ratings of valence, arousal and dominance. Six pictures were identified that evoked fear significantly more than any other emotion. Compared to the German sample, the Chilean group evaluated images with more arousal and valence.

El objetivo del presente estudio fue identificar, en una muestra chilena, un conjunto válido de imágenes provocadoras de miedo a partir de un conjunto de imágenes del IAPS (Lang, Bradley, & Cuthbert, 2008). Para ello, se analizaron las calificaciones categoriales y dimensionales de las imágenes observadas por 60 participantes, evaluando la existencia de diferencias en función del sexo del examinado. Asimismo, se estudiaron posibles diferencias transculturales, comparando los resultados obtenidos con los hallazgos de Barke, Stahl y Kröner-Herwig (2012), cuya metodología fue similar a la utilizada en este trabajo. Así, 60 voluntarios chilenos (30 mujeres) con una media de 22,3 años, puntuaron 146 imágenes del IAPS respecto a la elección de las emociones y las calificaciones de valencia, excitación y dominio. Se identificaron seis imágenes que provocaron más miedo que cualquier otra emoción. En comparación con la muestra alemana, el grupo chileno evaluó las imágenes con mayor excitación y valencia.

One of the major problems in tertiary education comes from its high students’ dropout rates. The literature on this matter indicates that to stay and succeed in college, students must have developed, prior to enrolling, a set of transversal abilities, which we have named ‘academic preparedness’. The aim of the study was to construct a measuring instrument that would help identifying and measuring the specific array of factors that affect academic preparedness. Participants were 603 volunteer students from secondary and tertiary education. After performing the necessary exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, the definitive scale resulted in 67 items, grouped in 7 factors that explained 59.6% of variance. The availability of the Academic Preparedness Scale for Higher Education (EPAES) will allow the timely assessment of preparedness and the implementation of opportune remedial actions. This will contribute to retain students and therefore, to reduce the current university dropout rates.

Uno de los principales problemas de la educación terciaria es la alta tasa de deserción universitaria. Los antecedentes dan cuenta que para permanecer y tener éxito en la universidad se necesitan habilidades transversales que el estudiante debió desarrollar antes y que hemos denominado preparatividad académica. El objetivo del estudio fue construir un instrumento de medición que permita identificar y medir los factores que subyacen a la preparatividad académica. Los participantes fueron 603 estudiantes de enseñanza secundaria y terciaria. Se realizaron análisis factoriales exploratorios y confirmatorios para identificar y comprobar la estructura factorial de la escala desarrollada, la cual quedó conformada por 67 ítems agrupados en 7 factores que explican el 59,6% de la varianza. La disponibilidad de la propuesta, denominada Escala de Preparatividad Académica para la Educación Superior (EPAES), permitirá la medición oportuna de la preparatividad y la aplicación oportuna de acciones remediales. Esto contribuirá a aumentar la retención de los estudiantes y así disminuir las actuales tasas de deserción universitaria.

Background: The Quality of life Bipolar Disorder (QoL.BD) Questionnaire specifically measures quality of life in patients with bipolar disorder. Aim: To adapt a version translated into Spanish of the questionnaire and assess its validity in Chilean patients. Material and Methods: The QoL. BD was adapted to the Chilean population through the back-translation method and then administered to 32 adult patients with a bipolar disorder and 31 subjects without the disease, both groups with similar socioeconomic status. To confirm the diagnosis, the International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI), Young (YMRS) and Hamilton (HAM-D) scales were applied. Quality of life was assessed using the SF-36v.2 survey. We determined internal consistency, reliability, convergent validity, the cut-off point, and the sensibility and specificity of the scale. Results: The Chilean version of the Questionnaire [QoL. BD-CL] had a high reliability (α = 0.95) and a high validity in reference to external criteria (correlation coefficients with SF-36 ranging from 0.453 and 0.819; p < 0.01). A cut-off point of 170, with sensitivity of 87.9% and specificity of 80% was determined. Conclusions: QoL.BD-CL has adequate psychometric properties, as well as an adequate sensitivity and specificity to distinguish between negative and positive perceptions of life quality in Chilean patients with bipolar disorders.

Within the scope of the program “Habilidades para la Vida” (Skills for Life), we identified and evaluated children deemed as at-risk, who participated in the Program’s preventive activities. We evaluated if they exhibited a difference in the pre-post intervention in the variables attention, concentration, cognitive achievement, acceptance of the authority, level of activity, social contact, emotional maturity and psycho-social dysfunction; according to the level of attendance to the intervention sessions by boys and girls, parents and teachers. In a sample of one thousand three-hundred and thirty-six students of elementary education from low-income areas, we applied a prospective longitudinal ex-post-facto design, with measurements recorded before and after interventions. We computed the ANOVA of repeated measurements, Chi-squared and multiple linear regression. Results showed positive changes in all computed variables post-intervention and in the group where the teacher attended at least one of the workshop sessions. Similarly, the better attendance level of students to the program was associated with better attendance levels of parents and teachers. We discuss and argue about the scope of the intervention and the implications for future research.

En el marco del programa Habilidades para la Vida se identificaron y evaluaron a aquellos niños y niñas pesquisados en riesgo y que participaron en las actividades preventivas del Programa. Se evaluó si presentaban una diferencia pre-post intervención en las variables atención concentración, logros cognitivos, aceptación de la autoridad, nivel de actividad, contacto social, madurez emocional y disfunción psicosocial; esto según intensidad de asistencia a la intervención de niños y niñas, de los padres y de los profesores. En una muestra de 1.336 escolares de educación básica pertenecientes a sectores de bajos ingresos, se aplicó un diseño ex-post-facto longitudinal prospectivo, con mediciones antes y después. Se realizaron ANOVA de medidas repetidas, Chi cuadrado y regresión lineal múltiple. Los resultados mostraron cambios favorables en todas las variables evaluadas post-intervención y en aquel grupo cuyo profesor asistió al menos a una sesión del taller. Igualmente, una mayor asistencia de los estudiantes al programa se asoció a mayor asistencia de los padres y profesores. Se discute y concluye acerca de los alcances de la intervención y las implicancias futuras investigaciones.

RESUMO Objetivo: Analisar as propriedades psicométricas e utilitário de diagnóstico da versão chilena do rastreio frontal INECO (IFS-Ch) em uma amostra de pacientes com demência e controles. Métodos: Após a adaptação do instrumento para o contexto chileno e obtenção de evidências de validade de conteúdo, o IFS-Ch foi administrado a 31 pacientes com demência e 30 indivíduos do grupo controle, além de outros testes de eficiência cognitiva global e executiva. Cuidadores de pacientes com demência e informantes de indivíduos controles foram entrevistados com instrumentos de medidas de sintomas disexecutivos, gravidade da demência e estado funcional nas atividades da vida diária. Validade convergente e discriminante, consistência interna, pontos de corte, sensibilidade e especificidade para o IFS-Ch foram estimados. Resultados: A evidência de validade de conteúdo foi obtida através de consulta a um especialista. Evidências de validade convergente foram encontrados, bem como, descritas correlações significativas entre o IFS-Ch e outros instrumentos de medidas: de funções executivas (FAB, r=0,935; categorias alcançadas no MCST, r=0,791; erros perseverativos na MCST, r= -0,617; fluência verbal animais, r=0,728; "A" de fluência verbal, r=0,681; gravidade de demência e fluência verbal de "P", r=0,783), sintomas disexecutivos na vida diária (DEX, r= -0,494), (CDR, r= -0,75) e estado funcional nas atividades da vida diária (T-ADLQ, r= -0,745; AIVD, r=0,717). Quanto à confiabilidade, coeficiente alfa de Cronbach de 0,905 foi obtido. Quanto a utilidade de diagnóstico, um ponto de corte de 18 pontos (sensibilidade=0,903, especificidade=0,867) e uma área sob a curva de 0,951 foi estimada para distinguir entre pacientes com demência e sujeitos controles. Discussão: O IFS-Ch mostra propriedades psicométricas aceitáveis, apoiadas por evidências de validade e confiabilidade para sua utilização como medida de funções executivas em pacientes com demência. Sua utilidade diagnóstica para detectar pacientes com demência também é considerada aceitável.

ABSTRACT Objective: This study sought to analyze the psychometric properties and diagnostic accuracy of the Chilean version of the INECO Frontal Screening (IFS-Ch) in a sample of dementia patients and control Methods: After adapting the instrument to the Chilean context and obtaining content validity evidence through expert consultation, the IFS-Ch was administered to 31 dementia patients and 30 control subjects together with other executive assessments (Frontal Assessment Battery [FAB], Modified version of the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test [MCST], phonemic verbal fluencies [letters A and P] and semantic verbal fluency [animals]) and global cognitive efficiency tests (Mini mental State Examination [MMSE] and Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination-Revised [ACE-R]). Caregivers of dementia patients and proxies of control subjects were interviewed with instruments measuring dysexecutive symptoms (Dysexecutive Questionnaire [DEX]), dementia severity (Clinical Dementia Rating Scale [CDR]) and functional status in activities of daily living (Activities of Daily Living Scale [IADL] and Technology-Activities of Daily Living Questionnaire [T-ADLQ]). Convergent and discriminant validity, internal consistency reliability, cut-off points, sensitivity and specificity for the IFS-Ch were estimated. Results: Evidence of content validity was obtained. Evidence of convergent validity was also found showing significant correlations (p<0.05) between the IFS-Ch and the other instruments measuring: executive functions (FAB, r=0.935; categories achieved in the MCST, r=0.791; perseverative errors in the MCST, r= -0.617; animal verbal fluency, r=0.728; A verbal fluency, r=0.681; and P verbal fluency, r=0.783), dysexecutive symptoms in daily living (DEX, r= -0.494), dementia severity (CDR, r= -0.75) and functional status in activities of daily living (T-ADLQ, r= -0.745; IADL, r=0.717). Regarding reliability, a Cronbach's alpha coefficient of 0.905 was obtained. For diagnostic accuracy, a cut-off point of 18 points (sensitivity=0.903; specificity=0.867) and an area under curve of 0.951 were estimated to distinguish between patients with dementia and control subjects. Discussion: The IFS-Ch showed acceptable psychometric properties, supported by evidence of validity and reliability for its use in the measurement of executive functions in patients with dementia. The diagnostic accuracy of the IFS-Ch for detecting dementia patients was also considered acceptable.