This study assessed the effects of a psychological group intervention based on positive psychology in women with breast cancer. 175 women were randomly assigned either to an experimental group, receiving the 14-session intervention (n = 87), or to a wait list group (n = 88) that did not receive any type of intervention. For treatment, a group intervention was applied, based on improving psychological strengths and enhancing positive psychology-based styles of coping. Strength-related outcomes, self-esteem, well-being, and happiness were assessed before and after the intervention. The experimental group showed higher scores on all of the study variables after the intervention. Participants reported improved self-esteem, emotional intelligence-related abilities, resilience, and optimism, as well as positive affectivity, well-being, and happiness. The results show a beneficial effect of this psychological intervention based on positive psychology on female breast cancer patients' psychological health.

Se han realizado dos estudios sobre autoconcepto en adolescentes con la escala de Piers-Harris (PH). Se examinaron las relaciones que las distintas subescalas de PH presentan con otras variables, en primer lugar, con la imagen y aprecio que los adolescentes tienen respecto a su propio cuerpo y asimismo con circunstancias objetivas como sus logros académicos y el nivel socioeconómico de la familia a que pertenecen, y, finalmente, con variables personales ligadas a una decisión de los sujetos: su nivel de aspiración y su disposición a un comportamiento de ayuda. Los resultados confirman las asociaciones previstas aunque sólo en parte. En el caso de la variable de conducta de ayuda no sólo no las confirman, sino que van en opuesta dirección: esa conducta aparece asociada negativamente con la autoestima. En consecuencia, será oportuno investigar en esa otra dirección o quizá trabajar con otros instrumentos de medición de la conducta de ayuda.

This study had a twofold goal: to define differences in psychological aspects between cancer patients and a control group and to explore the predictive value of such aspects for the evolution of the disease two years later. Firstly, personality, anxiety, anger and depression were assessed in both groups. Results of t-analyses revealed significant group differences. In personality, cancer patients had higher levels of neuroticism and lower levels of extraversion, agreeableness and conscientiousness than the control group. In emotional variables, cancer patients had higher levels of anxiety and some aspects of anger, but there were no group differences in depression levels. Secondly, applying a quasi-prospective design, the predictive value of personality, emotions and coping styles for the evolution of cancer (favourable or unfavourable) was explored using generalized linear models and logistic regression. A four-predictor logistic model was fitted: Anger Expression-In, Resignation, Self-blame and Conscientiousness, indicating that the higher Anger Expression-in, Resignation, and Self-blame scores together with a lower Conscientiousness score, the more likely it is for patients' cancer to evolve unfavourably. These results indicate the crucial role of psychological aspects for the evolution of the disease and the need to include such aspects in the design of clinical interventions.Este estudio tiene un doble objetivo: describir las diferencias en los aspectos psicológicos entre los pacientes con cáncer y un grupo control, y explorar el posible valor predictivo de estos aspectos en la evolución de la enfermedad dos años más tarde. En primer lugar, se evaluaron en ambos grupos variables de personalidad, ansiedad, ira y depresión. Los resultados de los análisis t mostraron diferencias significativas entre los dos grupos. En personalidad, los pacientes con cáncer mostraron niveles más altos de neuroticismo y niveles más bajos de extraversión, afabilidad y concienciación que el grupo control. En variables emocionales, los pacientes con cáncer presentaron puntuaciones más elevadas en ansiedad y en algunos aspectos de la ira, pero no hubo diferencias entre los grupos en los niveles de depresión. En segundo lugar, aplicando un diseño cuasi-prospectivo, se analizó el valor predictivo de la personalidad, las emociones y los estilos de afrontamiento en la evolución del cáncer (favorable o desfavorable), mediante modelos lineales generalizados y de regresión logística. Se ajustó un modelo logístico de cuatro predictores: Ira interna, Resignación, Autoculpación y Concienciación, indicando que altas puntuaciones en Ira interna, Resignación, Autoculpación, junto con puntuaciones bajas en Concienciación, presentaban mayor probabilidad de relacionarse con una evolución desfavorable del cáncer. Estos resultados apoyan el papel crucial de los aspectos psicológicos en la evolución de la enfermedad y la necesidad de incluirlos en el diseño de las intervenciones clínicas. Palabras clave: personalidad, emociones, estilos de afrontamient...

There is growing interest in the adaptation of psychological questionnaires in different countries, due to the need for cross-cultural research using the same tests adapted to diverse populations. This paper presents the standardization of the Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI; Morey, 1991, 2007) in Spain and Chile (both Spanish-speaking countries). The Spanish sample was made up of 940 people (461 men and 479 women), and the Chilean sample of 569 people (231 men and 338 women). Results revealed that the Chilean means were higher than those of the Spanish sample at confidence level 99.9%, although the associated effect sizes were generally small to moderate (partial eta-square between 0.008 and 0.187). Sex differences in the variables evaluated were commented on, and the importance of cross-cultural research and the influence of sex on personality and psychopathology variables were discussed.

Resumen: Este trabajo presenta una investigación con 7011 pacientes a los que se les ha aplicado el Inventario Clínico Multiaxial de Millon (MCMI-III) en España. Se estudia la prevalencia y porcentajes de los rasgos clínicos de personalidad y de síndromes clínicos encontrándose mayor frecuencia de rasgos de personalidad compulsiva, narcisista e histriónica y, como síndromes clínicos, del síndrome de ansiedad. Se analiza la prevalencia según el sexo, hallando (a) mayor frecuencia de hombres en los rasgos/síndromes narcisista, paranoide, antisocial, esquizoide, trastorno del pensamiento, abuso de sustancias y abuso de alcohol; y (b) mayor frecuencia de mujeres en las personalidades depresiva, dependiente, evitativa, límite, negativista, y agresivo-sádica, y en los trastornos distímico, somatomorfo, y trastorno de estrés postraumático. Además, se presentan los coefi cientes de correlación entre las escalas del Eje II y las del Eje I, controlando el efecto de la variable sexo. Todas las escalas de personalidad correlacionaron con los síndromes clínicos de manera signifi cativa (las escalas compulsiva, narcisista e histriónica correlacionaban en sentido negativo). Palabras clave: Prevalencia; trastornos de personalidad; síndromes clínicos; MCMI-III. Personality and clinical syndromes: A study with the MCMI-III in a Spanish sampleAbstract: This work presents a research carried out in Spain with 7011 patients who completed the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory (MCMI-III). Prevalence and percentages of clinical personality traits and clinical syndromes were studied, fi nding a higher prevalence of compulsive, narcissistic, and histrionic personality traits, and of the clinical anxiety syndrome. Also, we found (a) higher ratings in men than in women for traits/syndromes narcissistic, paranoid, antisocial, schizoid, thought disorder, substance abuse and alcohol abuse scales; and (b) higher ratings in women than in men for traits/syndromes depressive, dependent, avoidant, borderline, negativistic, aggressivesadistic, dysthymic, somatoform, and posttraumatic stress disorder. Correlations between the personality scales and the clinical syndromes (i.e., Axis II and Axis I variables), controlling for the effect of sex, were statistically signifi cant (the compulsive, narcissistic, and histrionic scales correlated negatively).

Two groups of women were assessed in psychological aspects considered by some authors of interest for personal well-being. The sample consisted of 118 women, 58 diagnosed with breast cancer and 60 healthy women, of similar ages and personal circumstances. The purpose of the study was: (a) to explore the existence of stressful life events in the women's history and their degree of subjective distress and (b) to determine whether or not there is an emotional avoidance style in the group of women with breast cancer. The following assessment instruments were employed: the “Cuestionario de Formas de Afrontamiento” (CEA), the Five-Factor Inventory NEO-PI-R, and the State-Trait Anger Inventory (STAXI). The results revealed more stressful vital events in the last two years in the group of women with breast cancer and significant differences in the degree of current distress. They also obtained higher scores in current anger, resignation, and neuroticism.

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A multiaxial assessment and personality evaluation was performed on a group of 70 people (65 men and 5 women) who were recently incarcerated in Málaga, Spain for having committed violent crimes, such as murder and sex-based violence. Analysis of scores on the MCMI indicated that there were chiefly two clearly differentiated personality profiles related to two personality disorders present in the group, the antisocial and the dependent personality disorder with compulsive traits. The "antisocial-psychotic group" presented a clear relation with clinical syndromes, specifically alcohol and drug abuse with delusional disorder, and they had committed a higher proportion of murders. On the Big Five Questionnaire, the "dependent-compulsive group" scored higher than average on Emotional Stability and Agreeableness, whereas the antisocial-psychotic group scored lower than average on Emotional Stability. These findings are in accord with those of Megargee, who concluded that violent criminals can be divided into two categories, the undercontrolled (antisocial) and the overcontrolled (dependent).