Browsing by Author "Langer, Álvaro I."
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- ItemEffects of socioeconomic status in cognition of people with schizophrenia: Results from a Latin American collaboration network with 1175 subjects(2021) Sanguinetti Czepielewski, Letícia; Alliende Serra, Luz María; Castañeda, Carmen Paz; Castro, Mariana; Guinjoan, Salvador M.; Massuda, Raffael; Berberian, Arthur A.; Fonseca, Ana Olivia; González-Valderrama A.; Gadelha, Ary; Bressan, Rodrigo; Crivelaro, Marisa; Louzã, Mario; Undurraga, Juan; González-Valderrama, Alfonso; López-Jaramillo, Carlos; Nieto, Rodrigo R.; Montes, Cristián; Silva, Henán; Langer, Álvaro I.; Valencia-Echeverry, Johanna; López-Jaramillo, Carlos; Solís-Vivanco, Rodolfo; Reyes-Madrigal, Francisco; Fuente-Sandoval, Camilo de la; Crossley, Nicolás A.; Gama, Clarissa S.Background Cognition heavily relies on social determinants and genetic background. Latin America comprises approximately 8% of the global population and faces unique challenges, many derived from specific demographic and socioeconomic variables, such as violence and inequality. While such factors have been described to influence mental health outcomes, no large-scale studies with Latin American population have been carried out. Therefore, we aim to describe the cognitive performance of a representative sample of Latin American individuals with schizophrenia and its relationship to clinical factors. Additionally, we aim to investigate how socioeconomic status (SES) relates to cognitive performance in patients and controls. Methods We included 1175 participants from five Latin American countries (Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, and Mexico): 864 individuals with schizophrenia and 311 unaffected subjects. All participants were part of projects that included cognitive evaluation with MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery and clinical assessments. Results Patients showed worse cognitive performance than controls across all domains. Age and diagnosis were independent predictors, indicating similar trajectories of cognitive aging for both patients and controls. The SES factors of education, parental education, and income were more related to cognition in patients than in controls. Cognition was also influenced by symptomatology. Conclusions Patients did not show evidence of accelerated cognitive aging; however, they were most impacted by a lower SES suggestive of deprived environment than controls. These findings highlight the vulnerability of cognitive capacity in individuals with psychosis in face of demographic and socioeconomic factors in low- and middle-income countries.
- ItemMindfulness-based interventions in secondary education : a qualitative systematic review(2015) Langer, Álvaro I.; Ulloa, Valentina G.; Cangas, Adolfo J.; Rojas Castillo, María Graciela; Krause Jacob, Mariane
- ItemThe effect of a mindfulness-based intervention in cognitive functions and psychological well-being applied as an early intervention in schizophrenia and high-risk mental state in a Chilean sample: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial(2017) Langer, Álvaro I.; Schmidt, Carlos.; Mayol, Rocío.; Díaz, Marcela.; Lecaros, Javiera.; Krogh, Edwin.; Pardow, Aída.; Vergara, Carolina.; Vergara, Guillermo.; Pérez-Herrera, Bernardita.Abstract Background According to the projections of the World Health Organization, 15% of all disabilities will be associated with mental illnesses by 2020. One of the mental disorders with the largest social impacts due to high personal and family costs is psychosis. Among the most effective psychological approaches to treat schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders at the world level is cognitive behavioral therapy. Recently, cognitive behavioral therapy has introduced several tools and strategies that promote psychological processes based on acceptance and mindfulness. A large number of studies support the effectiveness of mindfulness in dealing with various mental health problems, including psychosis. This study is aimed at determining the efficiency of a mindfulness-based program in increasing cognitive function and psychological well-being in patients with a first episode of schizophrenia and a high risk mental state (those at risk of developing an episode of psychosis). Methods and design This is an experimentally designed, multi-center randomized controlled trial, with a 3-month follow-up period. The study participants will be 48 patients diagnosed with schizophrenia (first episode) and 48 with a high-risk mental state, from Santiago, Chile, aged between 15 and 35 years. Participants will be submitted to a mindfulness-based intervention (MBI), which will involve taking part in eight mindfulness workshops adapted for people with psychosis. Workshops will last approximately 1.5 hours and take place once a week, over 8 weeks. The primary outcome will be the cognitive function through Measurement and Treatment Research to Improve Cognition in Schizophrenia (MATRICS) and the secondary outcome will be psychological well-being measured by self-reporting questionnaires. Discussion The outcomes of this trial will add empirical evidence to the benefits and feasibility of MBIs for the psychotherapeutic treatment of patients with schizophrenia and high-risk mental states in reducing cognitive impairment in attention, working memory, and social cognition, as well as increasing the psychological well-being by empowering the patients’ personal resources in the management of their own symptoms and psychotic experiences. Trial registration ISRCTN registration number ISRCTN24327446 . Registered on 12 September 2016.