Browsing by Author "Hernández Contreras, Cristóbal Eduardo"

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    Emotion regulation strategies on depression through a problematic use of technology : toward an explanation of the association between depressive symptomatology and internet addiction.
    (2019) Hernández Contreras, Cristóbal Eduardo; Rivera, Diana; Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. Escuela de Psicología
    Depression has been reliably associated in the past with uncontrolled use of the Internet regardless of its consequences, a phenomenon commonly referred to as Internet addiction. However, less attention has been afforded to explaining this association. The present study aims to provide a potential explanation based on current theoretical accounts of emotion regulation and the problematic use of the Internet. To achieve this goal, this dissertation comprises three articles. The first discusses a transcultural adaptation of the most psychometrically evaluated measure of Internet addiction and a test of its psychometric properties on an adult sample from Chile. Next, using a sample of Chilean high school students, a cross-sectional test of two potential mechanisms linking depressive symptomatology and Internet addiction investigates the possibility of being cognitively absorbed on the Internet (referred to as flow experiences online) and using the Internet to postpone unpleasant tasks (referred to as Internet procrastination). The final article analyzed data from the follow-up measurements of the adolescent sample to provide a longitudinal explanation of the association between depressive symptomatology and Internet addiction for those using the Internet to disconnect from life situations, that is, using the Internet as a proxy for an attentional deployment emotion regulation strategy. Taken together, results suggest that the inflexible use of the Internet to regulate emotional experiences may influence the development of Internet addiction based on a negative affective state such as the presence of depressive symptomatology. A possible vicious circle is theoretically discussed, together with the study limitations and potential implications for both clinical practice and future research efforts. It is hoped that the present study sheds light on the mechanisms linking the technologically mediated context with adolescent affective processes.
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    Mental Health Information Reporting Assistant (MHIRA)-an open-source software facilitating evidence-based assessment for clinical services
    (2023) Zimmermann, Ronan; Konjufca, Jon; Sakejo, Peter; Kilonzo, Mrema; Quevedo Labbé, Iván Yamil; Blum, Kathrin; Biba, Edison; Mosha, Tumaini; Cottin Arredondo, Marianne; Hernández Contreras, Cristóbal Eduardo; Kaaya, Sylvia; Arenliu, Aliriza; Behn Berliner, Alex Joseph
    Evidence-based assessment (EBA) in mental health is a critical aspect of improving patient outcomes and addressing the gaps in mental health care. EBA involves the use of psychometric instruments to gather data that can inform clinical decision-making, inform policymakers, and serve as a basis for research and quality management. Despite its potential, EBA is often hindered by barriers such as workload and cost, leading to its underutilization. Regarding low- and middle-income countries (LMIC), the implementation of EBA is recognized as a key strategy to address and close the prevalent mental health treatment gap.To simplify the application of EBA including in LMIC, an international team of researchers and practitioners from Tanzania, Kosovo, Chile, and Switzerland developed the Mental Health Information Reporting Assistant (MHIRA). MHIRA is an open-source electronic health record that streamlines EBA by digitising psychometric instruments and organising patient data in a user-friendly manner. It provides immediate and convenient reports to inform clinical decision-making.The current article provides a comprehensive overview of the features and technical details of MHIRA, as well as insights from four implementation scenarios. The experience gained during the implementations as well as the user-feedback suggests that MHIRA has the potential to be successfully implemented in a variety of clinical contexts and simplify the use of EBA. However, further research is necessary to establish its potential to sustainably transform healthcare services and impact patient outcomes.In conclusion, MHIRA represents an important step in promoting the widespread adoption of EBA in mental health. It offers a promising solution to the barriers that have limited the use of EBA in the past and holds the potential to improve patient outcomes and support the ongoing efforts to address gaps in mental health care.