María Frenzi Rabito Alcón

Introduction: Climate-related disasters, such as the catastrophic DANA event in Valencia (October 2024), present significant public health challenges, leading to acute stress, anxiety, and functional impairment. Early intervention is critical to prevent the transition from acute distress to chronic post-traumatic stress disorder. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the Acute Stress Syndrome Stabilization—Group Protocol (ASSYST-G), an EMDR-based intervention rooted in the Adaptive Information Processing model, in reducing subjective distress and traumatic symptoms among survivors. Methods: A community-based, repeated-measures design was conducted with 570 adults directly exposed to the disaster. Participants were offered up to three 45-min sessions of the ASSYST-G protocol, usually distributed over a 1.5-day period. Symptom severity and Subjective Units of Disturbance (SUD) were assessed at five time points: baseline (T0), after each session (T1, T2, T3), and at a 1-week follow-up (T4) using a validated brief version of the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5). Results: Statistical analyses revealed a significant overall decreasing trend in trauma-related symptoms across the ordered assessment occasions ( B = −0.94, p < 0.001). Clinically meaningful improvements were observed in emotional, cognitive, and somatic domains immediately post-intervention, with symptom levels at the 1-week follow-up remaining below baseline levels. The protocol demonstrated high feasibility and tolerability within the high-demand emergency context of the affected municipalities. Discussion: The findings suggest that ASSYST-G may represent a highly effective, scalable, and time-efficient approach for early trauma intervention. The observed reduction in acute distress is consistent with theoretical models proposing that EMDR-based interventions may contribute to the regulation of sympathetic nervous system hyper activation and facilitate adaptive information processing; however, these mechanisms were not directly examined in the present study and should therefore be considered hypothetical. Overall, the findings are consistent with previous evidence supporting the use of EMDR group protocols and highlight their potential public health value as an early intervention strategy to reduce post-traumatic symptoms following mass trauma events. Future research should examine the long-term stability of these outcomes and investigate the underlying mechanisms of action across different disaster contexts.

Obesity is a highly prevalent and complex condition with biomedical, psychological, and social dimensions that pose major challenges for healthcare systems. Beyond its clinical consequences, people living with obesity frequently experience weight-based discrimination in healthcare settings, undermining care quality and equity. This paper examines key mechanisms underlying obesity-related stigma among healthcare professionals, including attribution of excess weight to individual responsibility and the internalization of stigma by patients. Drawing on current evidence, it analyses how negative attitudes of healthcare professionals contribute to suboptimal clinical interactions, inadequate care environments, and reduced patient engagement. These processes may weaken the therapeutic relationship, hinder treatment adherence, and negatively affect physical and mental health outcomes. Addressing obesity stigma requires targeted professional training, adaptation of care environments, and inclusive health policies to ensure equitable and respectful care for this population.

Background and Objectives: Previous research shows that stress can alter eating habits. This study analyzed the impact of COVID-19 confinement on eating behaviors and weight in Spanish adults, as well as related factors. Methods: A total of 2834 adults (69.3% women, Mean age: 41.36) completed an online questionnaire assessing eating habits, weight, and sociodemographic variables. Results: Strict lockdown in Spain was linked to a general worsening of eating habits, particularly increased food intake and weight gain. Risk factors for less healthy eating and weight gain included being female (p < 0.001), under 35 years old (p < 0.001), overweight or obese (p < 0.001), caring for minors (p = 0.002), and experiencing nervousness or anxiety (p < 0.001). Conversely, maintaining pre-confinement eating habits and weight was more common among men (p < 0.001), individuals aged 50 years or older (p < 0.001), those with normal or underweight BMI (p < 0.001), those working outside the home (p < 0.013), and those without minors in their care (p = 0.001). Conclusions: Prolonged lockdowns associated with high stress may negatively influence diet and weight. Prevention strategies should therefore promote healthy eating during such periods, particularly targeting groups at higher risk of worsening habits and weight gain.

Background: Disgust is a central emotion in eating disorders, influencing both their development and maintenance. High sensitivity to disgust has been associated with restrictive and purgative behaviors, as well as with greater severity of eating disorder symptoms. Despite its importance, the different aspects of disgust are rarely examined in depth, limiting the understanding of its role in these disorders. Since the emotion of disgust is more closely linked to the body and food than other emotions, the aim of this paper is to understand its possible role in eating disorders and obesity. Method: In a case–control study, 313 women (155 with eating disorders and obesity in the clinical group and 158 in the control group) were assessed using various questionnaires, including measures of disgust, dissociation, and symptom severity. Results: The results showed that the clinical group reported greater symptom severity, more dissociative symptoms, and higher sensitivity to disgust than the control group. It is noteworthy that there were significant differences between subtypes of the clinical group, particularly in disgust related to hygiene, sexual content and deterioration and disease. Conclusions: These findings highlight the importance of considering disgust in the evaluation and treatment of eating disorders, emphasizing the need for further research on this emotion to develop more effective therapeutic interventions that address this complex emotion in the context of eating disorders and obesity.

Anatomical study, rooted in tradition spanning centuries, has historically been based on the methodology of dissections and the use of book illustrations. Currently, various teaching methodologies have emerged for the training of health sciences students, among which 3D applications of anatomical models stand out. This study aims to investigate which 3D anatomy apps are most used by health science students and their perception of the usefulness of these apps for studying anatomy—specifically, to what extent they believe these apps contribute to the acquisition of academic, cognitive, and interaction competencies related to the anatomy course. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in which 88 students from the fields of Medicine and other Health Sciences at several Spanish universities completed a survey that included questions about the use of 3D anatomy apps and the competencies outlined in the official anatomy course syllabus at Spanish universities. The results show that 3D anatomy apps are commonly used (74.2% of participants) and positively affect the students’ anatomical study, as most participants (84.95%) found these apps useful both in their learning process and for increasing their academic motivation. These apps seem to contribute much or very much to the acquisition of competencies related to the understanding of anatomical structure and morphology (81.82% and 78.79%, respectively), although their contribution to the study of anatomical function is less significant (21.21%). Remarkable results were also obtained in relation to the perceived contribution of other cognitive and interaction skills linked to the study of anatomy. For the first time, this study collected data on the use of 3D apps by Health Science students from Spanish universities. Furthermore, this study provides insight into which specific competencies are most benefited by the use of 3D anatomy apps, suggesting future improvements to these apps to enhance the acquisition of certain competencies, which will ultimately improve the teaching–learning process of anatomy through these applications.

Background/aim: Although suicide is a multidimensional problem, depression has been established as one of the risk factors. In addition, it has also been shown that suicide risk and depression share common factors, among which rumination stands out. This study aims to explore how the relationship between depressive symptoms and suicidal risk is mediated by rumination and moderated by social support, considering sex as a control variable. Method: The sample included 1002 participants (34.13 % men) aged 18-75 years (M = 34.7, SD = 13.61). A moderated mediation analysis was carried out for depressive symptomatology as an independent variable, the rumination as a mediator, the social support as moderator and the risk of suicide, as a dependent variable (dependent variable). Sex was entered as a covariate. Results: Analyses revealed that the relationship between depression and suicidal risk is mediated by rumination and moderated by high levels of social support. Conclusions: It is essential to design preventive interventions against suicide that include social support networks and emotional regulation strategies focused on rumination management.

Obesity bias is one of the main psychosocial consequences experienced by people who are overweight and people with obesity. Therefore, its study, especially during childhood, has become an emerging objective. The aim of this study is to examine obesity bias in children in the school setting. In total, 171 primary school students (Mean age: 10.68; SD: 0.63) from a school in Madrid (Spain) filled out a survey in which they indicated whether they would choose a classmate with obesity with whom they would carry out academic, social, and leisure activities. The rejection ratios of peers with obesity and other personal characteristics such as gender, nationality, or ethnicity were compared. The results indicate that more than half of the participants would not choose a partner with obesity to carry out any of the three activities suggested, and that obesity was the personal characteristic that elicited the highest rate of rejection, especially among females. The possible explanations for these findings are discussed, as well as why the school setting should be a nonaggressive but protective environment for children with obesity.

Introduction: The treatment of anorexia nervosa remains a matter of much debate. Though cognitive behavioural therapy would seem to offer good results, there is still no resounding evidence pointing to a single treatment of choice. The case presented in this paper examines the treatment with CBT of a patient presenting anorexia nervosa. Evaluation/diagnosis: An adolescent girl, 17 years of age, voluntarily attends psychological therapy to address eating behaviour problems. After administering the EAT-26, EDI-2, and BSQ standardised screening tests, as well as a clinical interview for assessment, a psychopathological profile is obtained, providing a diagnosis of anorexia nervosa, restricting subtype. Therapeutic goals: The therapeutic goals set were to reach a healthy weight for the patient’s age and height (specified as a minimum BMI of 18.5) and change the structure of thoughts, feelings, and behaviour that was justifying and maintaining the disorder. Treatment: Treatment lasted for 33 sessions and used cognitive behavioural techniques, such as cognitive restructuring, response cost, and positive reinforcement, in addition to family intervention techniques. Nutrition therapy was also carried out in parallel to the treatment sessions. Results: Following eight months of weekly sessions, the patient reached the target weight and changed attitudes towards food and body image, replacing them with healthy thoughts and behaviours. Follow-up made one and two years after the end of the treatment saw that these results were maintained. Discussion and conclusions: In this case, CBT proved effective in achieving the patient’s physical and psychological recovery. Therefore, this case contributes to the evidence of the efficacy of this therapeutic approach in certain cases of ED.

Background: Many people with eating disorders often report having suffered some kind of childhood trauma. For this reason, many studies have attempted to explore the mediating factors between traumatic experiences and the development of eating disorders. The aim of our study is to conduct a systematic review of published works on the mediating factors between childhood trauma and the development of eating disorders. Method: This review was carried out up to 5 December, 2020, using the databases PsycInfo and PubMed, combining the keywords, and applying a set of inclusion and exclusion criteria. Results: A total of 18 articles were retrieved. After the articles were analyzed, a set of mediating factors between childhood trauma and the development of eating disorders was established, including pathological dissociation, difficulty with emotion self-regulation, body dissatisfaction, negative affect/depression, anxiety, general distress, self-criticism, and alexithymia, among others. Conclusions: In addition to evaluating trauma in eating disorders, these results highlight the importance of paying special attention to the presence of various possible mediating factors, which must be taken into account in the planning of therapeutic treatment. Identifying symptoms of trauma or eating disorders early on could prevent onset of more severe psychopathology during adulthood.