Works presented

Summary
Cannabis is the most used illegal drug in Europe, and, nowadays, the one that has become the most popular among young people. The high prevalence of consumption combined with its multiple potential negative consequences have motivated this paper, the objective of which is to understand psychological interventions which have shown higher effectiveness in the treatment of cannabis-use disorder (CUD), and to explore new proposals with potential to achieve positive results for users. To this end, several published papers were reviewed from the last four years through Psycinfo, Web of Science and Pubmed databases, selecting a total of eighteen studies. These papers address investigations focused on intervention, targeting neural mechanisms that influence consumption behaviour, in programmes based on different therapeutic approaches and the use of new technology as the main or secondary tool in each intervention. The existence of certain limitations when conducting the studies, shows the need for a higher number of investigations to achieve reliable results with a wide potential application. Given the high prevalence of consumption among young people, a group program online is proposed, formed of eight sessions to lower the consumption of cannabis among the participants.

Direction
BECOÑA IGLESIAS, ELISARDO (Tutorships)

Court
VILLAR TORRES, PAULA (Chairman)
LOSADA VAZQUEZ, MARIA CONCEPCION (Secretary)
GUTIERREZ GARCIA, EMILIO (Member)

Summary
Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is a chronic mental health condition characterized by mood changes and impulsivity, which, along with other symptoms, can influence sexual behavior and promote risk-taking behaviors related to the acquisition of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs). The aim of this systematic review is to analyze research performed in past decade regarding this relationship. Utilizing the PRISMA statement, the results indicate that: 1) BPD diagnosis is associated with an increase in sexual risk behaviors, such as lower use of protection and a higher number of sexual partners and temporal relationships, 2) BPD diagnosis correlates with a higher risk of STI acquisition across all age and gender groups, particularly among adolescents and young adults, and 3) variables such as emotional dysregulation and risk perception influence this relationship. In addition to future lines of research focused on the reconceptualization of the disorder, an applied proposal for a prevention program targeting adolescents is presented, which addresses both emotional aspects and sexual practices, with the aim of reducing the impact of STIs in this vulnerable population.

Direction
GUTIERREZ GARCIA, EMILIO (Tutorships)

Court
ROMERO TRIÑANES, ESTRELLA (Chairman)
Vazquez Rodriguez, Maria Isabel (Secretary)
MERINO MADRID, HIPOLITO (Member)

Summary
Suicide is one of the leading causes of death worldwide, and effective intervention strategies are needed to prevent it. Cognitive Behavioural therapy has been proven useful in addressing the cognitions and behaviours of patients at risk of suicide. The aim of this of this research is to analyse the effectiveness of interventions based on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy applied to people at risk of suicide. To this end, a systematic review of randomised clinical trials published in the last 20 years was carried out, following the criteria of the PRISMA statement criteria. An exhaustive search was conducted in which 13 studies were selected from those obtained from the Web of Science, PubMed, PsycInfo and Scopus databases. The results found a positive relationship between interventions based on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and the reduction of future suicide attempts, suicidal ideation, depressive symptoms and hopelessness. It highlights the need for further research in order to be able to corroborate and extrapolate these results. Thus, a proposal is made for an intervention aimed at reducing the risk of suicide in vulnerable university population.

Direction
VAZQUEZ GONZALEZ, FERNANDO LINO (Tutorships)

Court
Castro Bolaño, Maria Cristina (Chairman)
CORRAL VARELA, MARIA MONTSERRAT (Secretary)
Míguez Varela, María del Carmen (Member)

Summary
Drug use is a public health problem. Drug use begins in adolescence, which is why prevention is essential during this period. The aim of the current study was to conduct a systematic review of the efficacy of universal school-based prevention programmes since 2010. For this purpose, a literature review was carried out using the PsycInfo, Scopus, and Web of Science databases, resulting in the selection of 14 articles. Despite the wide range of results, overall, the findings support the efficacy of such programmes in preventing alcohol, tobacco, and illicit drugs use, with the strongest evidence found for alcohol prevention. The majority of the programmes included training in social resistance and competence development skills, and normative education. Based on the analysed evidence, a universal school-based drug use prevention proposal targeting adolescents aged 12-14 was developed, combining elements of information, normative education, and skills training. It is concluded that universal drug use prevention during adolescence seems to be both effective and useful.

Direction
CUTRIN MOSTEIRO, OLALLA (Tutorships)

Court
SANTIAGO MARIÑO, MARIA JOSE (Chairman)
López Durán, Ana (Secretary)
RODRIGUEZ GONZALEZ, MARIA SOLEDAD (Member)

Summary
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is an infection that, over the decades, has been turned from a mortal illness into a chronic disease by the development of treatments, in particular antiretroviral therapy and triple therapy. It is a disease associated with a lot of stigmatization, and has important psychological repercussions for those infected, such as a deterioration of mood and self-esteem, and feelings of shame and guilt associated with the infection. In the European Union, migrants account for a large proportion of HIV-infected patients, and people originating from sub-Saharan Africa are particularly vulnerable to HIV infection. In order to identify the specific psychological difficulties faced by HIV-positive people originally from sub-Saharan Africa living in the European Union and the United Kingdom, and how these influence adherence to antiretroviral treatment, a systematic review was conducted using the Medline, Psycinfo and Word Of Sciences databases. The results show that people living with HIV experience significant stigmatisation by their community, that their self-esteem and mood are affected by HIV, and that they have little social support to help them face the disease. On the other hand, cultural differences make these patients not always feel understood by the medical team, mistrust Western medicine and sometimes prefer to resort to traditional medicines. All these factors have a negative impact on adherence to antiretroviral treatment. An intervention approach has been developed with the aim of reducing the psychological difficulties experienced by HIV-positive patients from sub-Saharan Africa living in the European Union and the United Kingdom, and improving adherence to antiretroviral treatment. It is a three-dimensional intervention approach, which includes a patient-directed intervention as well as shorter intervention sessions aimed at the African community and health professionals caring for HIV-positive patients from sub-Saharan Africa.

Direction
Castro Bolaño, Maria Cristina (Tutorships)

Court
SANTIAGO MARIÑO, MARIA JOSE (Chairman)
López Durán, Ana (Secretary)
RODRIGUEZ GONZALEZ, MARIA SOLEDAD (Member)

Summary
Adolescents in residential therapeutic care have a specific profile and problems that must be addressed directly. This population shows both externalising and internalising problems, which evidences the presence of therapeutic needs that motivate their internment. These adolescents have a long history in the child welfare system and more severe clinical profiles. As explanatory variables for this, instability or rupture in foster care and bonding issues with reference figures, polyvictimization and potentially traumatic experiences, among others, stand out. Thus, it is essential to develop interventions particularly focused on the variables specific to this population. In this sense, this paper proposes an intervention programme for minors in a residential therapeutic resource, specifically “Centro de menores de “Montealegre”, focused on the processing of traumatic experiences through the construction of a cohesive life narrative and the promotion of a secure bond. To this end, work is carried out for 3 months in sessions, both individual and in groups, in parallel and later together with the children and their main caregivers.

Direction
LOPEZ ROMERO, MARÍA LAURA (Tutorships)

Court
SANTIAGO MARIÑO, MARIA JOSE (Chairman)
López Durán, Ana (Secretary)
RODRIGUEZ GONZALEZ, MARIA SOLEDAD (Member)

Summary
Suicide is a global public health problem. Despite the efforts in identification and prevention, a decrease in prevalence is not observed. There are currently new procedures for identifying people at risk of suicide using Machine Learning models, which can use different sources of data, such as social networks. The aim of this work was to carry out a systematic review of the scientific literature to characterize the Machine Learning models used in the identification of suicidal risk in social networks, examining the linguistic and metadata patterns that differentiate users at suicidal risk from the rest and analyzing their quality predictive. A systematic review of the last five years was carried out according to the PRISMA criteria. The search was carried out in the PsychInfo, Web of Science and Medline databases. A total of 18 studies were included, and their risk of bias was analyzed. It has been found that Machine Learning algorithms can be a useful support tool for healthcare professionals because they enable automated monitoring of suicidal risk in virtual contexts. Most studies presented a high risk of bias. Finally, a cognitive-behavioral intervention program is proposed for people detected by the application who present suicidal ideation.

Direction
VAZQUEZ GONZALEZ, FERNANDO LINO (Tutorships)

Court
SANTIAGO MARIÑO, MARIA JOSE (Chairman)
López Durán, Ana (Secretary)
RODRIGUEZ GONZALEZ, MARIA SOLEDAD (Member)

Summary
In this Final Master Document a bibliographic revision of cognitive conductual rehabilitation is realized in people with Borderline Personality Disorder. Results demonstarte that there is a relation between BPD and cognitive deterioration. This way, attention, memory and hability for planning (specially related to the level of impulsivity shown) is affected. Because of these, a proposal of a cognitive intervention of a cognitive conductual type is done. This consists on improving the levels of attention, memory and cognitive flexibility, to improve this capabilities and the global symptoms of BPD.

Direction
OTERO LOPEZ, JOSE MANUEL (Tutorships)

Court
Castro Bolaño, Maria Cristina (Chairman)
CORRAL VARELA, MARIA MONTSERRAT (Secretary)
Míguez Varela, María del Carmen (Member)

Summary
ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects approximately 8.4% of children and 2.5% of adults worldwide. To address the needs of this population, various interventions are available at psychological, social, academic, and pharmacological levels, the latter being the most commonly used treatment. One of the primary concerns regarding pharmacological treatment in this group has been the risk of a possible substance use disorder, given that among adults with ADHD, the prevalence of this disorder is 45%. However, the effect that pharmacotherapy may have on this relationship remains unclear. The aim of this systematic review is to explore the potential protective effect of stimulant medication, which is commonly used in ADHD treatment, on the relationship between ADHD and substance use. To achieve this, a bibliographic search was conducted, leading to the selection of 15 observational studies that examined this effect. The results of the systematic review showed that stimulant medication is associated with a reduction in the likelihood of developing a substance use disorder (SUD) in ADHD in 73.33% of the studies, especially when treatment begins in childhood. These findings highlight the importance of medication adherence in these populations, particularly when dealing with high-risk substance use individuals.

Direction
LOSADA VAZQUEZ, MARIA CONCEPCION (Tutorships)

Court
BECOÑA IGLESIAS, ELISARDO (Chairman)
AMENEDO LOSADA, MARIA ELENA (Secretary)
OTERO LOPEZ, JOSE MANUEL (Member)

Summary
Conduct problems develop during childhood across different trajectories, some of which are associated with more severe consequences, and it is therefore necessary to know their development in depth in order to prevent them and tailor interventions. Aiming to clarify these trajectories, the present study follows a longitudinal design that consists of five data collection waves (T1, T2, T3, T4, T5) in a sample of 333 school-aged children (45.3% girls; Mage = 10.37; SD = 0.9). A predictive model of conduct problems is analyzed, encompassing physiological variables of emotional processing measured through reactivity in electrodermal activity, and through which the effects of temperament, parenting, callous-unemotional traits, and empathy are studied, as well as possible mediation effects. The results confirm developmental pathways of conduct problems through low fear, parental inconsistency, and callous-unemotional traits, and suggest a marginal effect of affective empathy in fear reactivity. Finally, the limitations and practical implications of the findings, as well as possible future directions, are discussed.

Direction
LOPEZ ROMERO, MARÍA LAURA (Tutorships)

Court
ROMERO TRIÑANES, ESTRELLA (Chairman)
Vazquez Rodriguez, Maria Isabel (Secretary)
MERINO MADRID, HIPOLITO (Member)

Summary
Although the prevalence of smoking has decreased in recent years, smoking remains the leading cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide. Among the various interventions proposed to quit smoking, there is evidence of the potential that physical activity can have in aiding smoking cessation. To explore this issue, a bibliographic review was conducted with the goal of both understanding the effectiveness of interventions that use physical activity to quit smoking and the structure of these interventions in order to develop an intervention proposal. After reviewing a total of 30 randomized controlled trials, contradictory results were found, although most of the evidence suggests that there is no effect of physical activity on tobacco abstinence.. However, no solid conclusions can be drawn from this review due to the methodological limitations of the studies reviewed, indicating that further research in this area is required. Finally, a proposal for a smoking cessation intervention with a physical activity component is presented, focusing on addressing some of the limitations identified in the reviewed interventions.

Direction
BECOÑA IGLESIAS, ELISARDO (Tutorships)

Court
VILLAR TORRES, PAULA (Chairman)
LOSADA VAZQUEZ, MARIA CONCEPCION (Secretary)
GUTIERREZ GARCIA, EMILIO (Member)

Summary
Suicidal ideation is a phenomenon influenced by multiple factors. This systematic review examined risk factors in individuals aged 40 and older, with special attention to sociodemographic variables such as place of residence (rural or urban), gender, and age, as well as psychological factors. A search was conducted in the PubMed and PsycInfo databases, including 25 studies published in the last 30 years. The results showed that: (1) among sociodemographic variables, rather than the rural or urban environment itself, suicidal ideation was determined by social isolation and barriers to accessing mental health services in rural areas, and by stress and social disconnection in urban areas; (2) depression was the main psychological risk factor; (3) females showed greater vulnerability due to their association with affective disorders, and age increased the risk as it was linked to physical deterioration and dependence; (4) lack of social support and the perception of loneliness were key factors, especially when coexisting with mental disorders or stressful events. The findings highlight the need to adopt preventive strategies tailored to sociodemographic and psychosocial factors.

Direction
Míguez Varela, María del Carmen (Tutorships)

Court
BECOÑA IGLESIAS, ELISARDO (Chairman)
AMENEDO LOSADA, MARIA ELENA (Secretary)
OTERO LOPEZ, JOSE MANUEL (Member)

Summary
Natural disasters such as earthquakes, forest fires, hurricanes or floods are unpredictable and have a devastating impact on the mental health of the population that suffers them, especially children and adolescents, as they are a more vulnerable group. This paper reviews the effectiveness of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR) in this population in crisis and emergency contexts. The objectives are, therefore, to analyze the effectiveness of the EMDR protocol and the modifications necessary to work with children and adolescents, as well as to design an intervention program adapted to their needs. 18 studies with a total of 1,387 participants were selected through the Scopus, PubMed and PsycInfo databases. The results show that EMDR is effective in reducing symptoms associated with the traumatic event, such as post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety and depression, standing out for its efficiency in terms of time compared to other trauma-focused therapies. The applied proposal is a group intervention program based on the EMDR protocol, designed to address the needs of children and adolescents affected by a recent natural disaster, the DANA in Valencia.

Direction
SANTIAGO MARIÑO, MARIA JOSE (Tutorships)

Court
VILLAR TORRES, PAULA (Chairman)
LOSADA VAZQUEZ, MARIA CONCEPCION (Secretary)
GUTIERREZ GARCIA, EMILIO (Member)

Summary
Obesity is a growing health problem, especially prevalent in people with schizophrenia, due to the side effects of medication, sedentary lifestyles and unhealthy diets. This condition has detrimental consequences for the physical and mental health of those who suffer from it, affecting their quality of life and reducing their life expectancy. The current approach to address this problem focuses on a posteriori intervention, presenting difficulties in maintaining the results in the long term. Given that the greatest weight gain occurs in the first months after the start of treatment, this period is ideal for implementing preventive interventions. The aim of the present work is to design an overweight and obesity prevention program aimed at people with schizophrenia starting pharmacological treatment. We will seek to overcome the limitations of previous studies by extending the duration of the intervention, including a follow- up phase to ensure the maintenance of results, and using motivational techniques to avoid dropout. Although this program has the potential to improve the physical and mental health of the participants, it would be necessary to implement it in order to evaluate its long-term effectiveness and optimize its resources.

Direction
López Durán, Ana (Tutorships)

Court
Castro Bolaño, Maria Cristina (Chairman)
CORRAL VARELA, MARIA MONTSERRAT (Secretary)
Míguez Varela, María del Carmen (Member)

Summary
Frontal Lobe Epilepsy (FLE) is the second most common type of focal epilepsy, drug-resistant, and often requires epilepsy surgery. In addition to its symptoms, FLE has significant neuropsychological consequences. Despite its impact, the understanding of its cognitive deficits and the development of specific protocols for its assessment remains a challenge due to the complexity of the frontal lobe and the influence of others factors. Therefore, the main objective of this work was to develop a proposal for an evaluation protocol based on the synthesis of available evidence on the neuropsychological consequences of FLE. Furthermore, studies that included a group of adults with Temporal Lobe Epilepsy (TLE) were added to attempt to differentiate between both focal epilepsies. The systematic review showed that patients with FLE exhibited cognitive impairments in social cognition, autobiographical and working memory and executive functions compared to healthy people, so these were the cognitive domains assessed in the protocol. However, differentiating it from the TLE proved challenging due to the functional interconnection between the areas. In conclusion, although this work has allowed progress in the evaluation and understanding of FLE, additional research is still needed to provide more evidence.

Direction
DOALLO PESADO, SONIA (Tutorships)

Court
VILLAR TORRES, PAULA (Chairman)
LOSADA VAZQUEZ, MARIA CONCEPCION (Secretary)
GUTIERREZ GARCIA, EMILIO (Member)

Summary
Alcohol is the most widely consumed psychoactive substance worldwide despite its physical and psychological consequences, making it a significant public health issue. This study aims to review scientific literature on the effectiveness of psychological interventions in addressing alcohol-related problems in adults, based on 21 studies. The results have been analyzed according to the psychological techniques used and the delivery format: in-person or online. Positive outcomes have been observed with interventions based on cognitive-behavioral techniques, brief motivational intervention, and third-generation therapies in various formats. Cue exposure through virtual reality and expressive writing appear to be promising techniques, whereas neurofeedback, personalized cognitive-behavioral therapy, and attentional bias modification did not demonstrate effectiveness, except when the latter was adapted to an imaginative approach. A cognitive behavioral therapy-based intervention is proposed, delivered via video call and supported by a website, targeting the metropolitan area of Vigo's population at risk of alcohol consumption.

Direction
López Durán, Ana (Tutorships)

Court
ROMERO TRIÑANES, ESTRELLA (Chairman)
Vazquez Rodriguez, Maria Isabel (Secretary)
MERINO MADRID, HIPOLITO (Member)

Summary
Theory of Mind refers to the ability to atribuye mental states to others. Many conditions present severe déficits in this ability and it has been related with difficulties in social functioning, including temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) and frontal lobe epilepsy (FLE). However, there is no protocol to assess ToM in TLE and FLE, so this paper aims to conduct a literature review examining the most appropriate tests to measure ToM and to make a proposal for a protocol. The review showed that adults with TLE and FLE present severe ToM deficits despite the heterogeneity of the tests. These deficits are usually unrelated to epilepsy variables and are independent of other cognitive functions. The most appropriate tests to measure ToM are the Faux Pas Test (FPT) and the Movie for the Assessment of Social Cognition (MASC), so the proposed protocol includes these two tests. However, the development of suitable tests with more than one form is needed to measure dynamic changes in ToM.

Direction
DOALLO PESADO, SONIA (Tutorships)

Court
BECOÑA IGLESIAS, ELISARDO (Chairman)
AMENEDO LOSADA, MARIA ELENA (Secretary)
OTERO LOPEZ, JOSE MANUEL (Member)

Summary
Child Maltreatment (CM) refers to any form of abuse or neglect that affects a child or adolescent under the age of 18 and is classified into four main types: sexual, emotional, and physical abuse, as well as neglect. This traumatic experience leads to numerous adverse effects across cognitive, physical, behavioral, emotional, and social domains, with suicidal behaviors being one of the most severe consequences of CM. The present study conducted a literature review with a dual objective: to analyze the relationship between CM and suicidal behaviors and to identify the potential mediating variables in this association. The findings indicated that the connection between CM and suicidal behaviors is significant; however, in some cases, this relationship is fully or partially explained by different mediating variables. In this regard, the literature has identified various variables that can be categorized into risk and protective factors, which in turn can be further classified as either personal or psychosocial. Finally, based on the principles of Dialectical Behavior Therapy for Adolescents (DBT-A) and considering the relevant variables identified in the review, an intervention proposal was developed with the aim of reducing both suicidal behaviors and the impact of trauma resulting from CM.

Direction
SANTIAGO MARIÑO, MARIA JOSE (Tutorships)

Court
Castro Bolaño, Maria Cristina (Chairman)
CORRAL VARELA, MARIA MONTSERRAT (Secretary)
Míguez Varela, María del Carmen (Member)