Since the inclusion of the Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) in the Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.) (DSM-5), the Internet Gaming Disorder Scale-Short Form (IGDS9-SF), a short nine items test, has become one of the most used standardized instruments for its psychometric evaluation. This study presents a validation and psychometric evaluation of the Spanish version of the IGDS9-SF. A sample of 2173 videogame players between 12 and 22 years old, comprising both genders, was employed, achieved with a randomized selection process from educational institutions in the city of Madrid. Participants completed the adapted version of the IGDS9-SF, the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) and a negative cognitions scale associated with videogame use, as well as sociodemographic data and frequency of videogame play. A unifactorial structure with sufficient reliability and internal consistency was found through exploratory and confirmatory analyses. In addition, the instrument was found to have good construct validity; the scoring of the IGDS9-SF were found to show a positive association with gaming frequency, with general health problems, and to a greater extent, with problematic cognitions with regard to videogames. Factorial invariance was found concerning the age of participants. However, even though the factorial structure was consistent across genders, neither metric nor scalar invariance were found; for this reason, we present a scale for the whole sample and a different one for gender. These results suggest that this Spanish version of the IGDS9-SF is a reliable and valid instrument, useful to evaluate the severity of IGD in Spanish students, and we provide a scoring scale for measurement purposes.

The objectives of this study are to describe the most common characteristics of patients receiving psychological treatment and the treatments administered. We analyzed a sample of 856 patients at the University Psychology Clinic of the Complutense University of Madrid. Five diagnostic categories accounted for 78.4% of demand: anxiety disorders (31.9%), no diagnosis (15.4%), other problems requiring clinical attention (14.2%), mood disorders (9.5%) and adaptive disorders (7.4%). A total of 17.7% presented a comorbid diagnosis and 49.3% had received treatment previously. The mean of assessment and treatment sessions was 3.5 and 12.7, respectively. The most commonly applied techniques included psychoeducation (95.1%), cognitive restructuring (74.8%), relaxation (74.4%), and control of internal dialogue (68.1%). Of the patients that had finished contact with the clinic, 68.3% were a therapeutic success. We discuss the generalization of the results and the implications for the profession and clinical practice.

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Los posibles efectos negativos de la publicidad de juegos de azar (JdA), sobre todo en Adolescentes y Jóvenes (AyJ), generan alarma social. Se realizó una revisión sistemática de las investigaciones sobre publicidad y juego en AyJ, en los últimos 10 años, siguiendo las directrices PRISMA, seleccionándose 31 trabajos. Los resultados destacan que AyJ, en contra de la legislación, participan con frecuencia en JdA, presentando problemas de juego. La publicidad de JdA es variada e intensa en especial en TV, eventos deportivos y redes sociales, estando dirigida a JyA, aunque suelen ser críticos con ella. Afecta más a varones jóvenes y con conductas de juego inadecuadas, consolidándolas. Los contenidos principales tratan de normalizar el juego y resaltar ganancias (sociales o económicas). El nivel de recuerdo y las actitudes sobre la publicidad del juego se asocian a incrementos en la intención de jugar, comportamientos de juego, y problemas de juego. Los incentivos más eficaces para jugar incluyen promociones económicas. La publicidad parece tener efecto, aunque reducido, para mejorar la actitud hacia los JdA e incrementar la participación en éstos, pero es difícil identificar sus efectos a medio y largo plazo. Son necesarios más estudios sobre JdA y publicidad, en especial en España. The possible negative effects of Gambling Advertising (GA), especially in Adolescents and Youth (A&Y), generate social alarm. A systematic review of the research on advertising and gaming at A&Y in the last 10 years was carried out, following the PRISMA guidelines, including 31 studies. The results highlight that A&Y, against the law, frequently participate in gambling, with some having gambling problems. The GA is varied and intense, especially on TV, sporting events and social networks, also targeting A&Y, although they are often critical of it. It affects more young men and people with inappropriate gambling behaviors, consolidating those behaviors. The main contents try to normalize gambling and highlight profits (social or economic). The levels of recall as well as the attitudes about the GA are associated with increases in gambling intentions, behaviors, and problems. The most effective incentives to gamble include economic promotions. Publicity seems to have an effect, albeit reduced, to improve the attitude towards gambling and increase participation in it, but it is difficult to identify its effects in the medium and long term. More studies on gambling and advertising are necessary, especially in Spain.

In order to characterize a typical clinical context, as opposed to an academic or research context, this article will analyze the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of patients who turn to a psychology clinic in need of professional help. This study was conducted using an initial sample of 1,305 patients at the Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM) Clínica Universitaria de Psicología. Of the sociodemographic characteristics studied, it is noteworthy that the majority of patients were women (65%) and relatively young (the average age is 29.7 years-old). The disorders for which psychological help was most often needed were anxiety and mood disorders and relationship problems, which together made up 50% of cases. In 17.70% of cases, patients had at least one comorbid disorder in addition to the one that brought them to the clinic. The generalizability and implications of the results are discussed.