Background: Stereotypes of dangerousness are common predictors of stigmatising attitudes towards Severe Mental Illness (SMI). However less is known about pathogen avoidance mechanisms underlying stigma towards SMI, specially in samples of non-industrialised societies of Latin America and the Caribbean. The primary aim of this study was to examine pathogen-disgust sensitivity and danger appraisal mechanisms in responses of stigma towards SMI. Methods: Cross-sectional design with convenience sampling. Using an online survey, volunteers at the Universidad del Norte in Colombia (N = 271) provided their sociodemographic data and completed the Three-Domain Disgust Scale (TDDS). Participants were randomised to different descriptions of someone with SMI that varied in terms of aggressiveness (with and without danger) and causes of the SMI. Then, following the attribution questionnaire (AQ-27), respondents reported affective and discriminatory responses to the person in the description. Results: Increased disgust sensitivity to pathogen stimuli resulted in stronger reports of anger (β = .14; p = .03), and fear (β = 0.27; p < 0.001). The relationship between disgust sensitivity and discriminatory responses was indirectly mediated by fear towards SMI (Bootstrapped CI =—.04,—.009). Dangerousness attributions in the description of SMI predicted stronger feelings of anger (β = .23; p = 0.001) and fear (β = .40; p < .001), as well increased support for coercion-segregation of SMI (β = .34; p = 0.04), but less intentions to help (β = -.26; p = 0.003). The relationship between dangerousness and support for coercion was mediated by fear (Bootstrapped CI = .72, 1.37) and anger (Bootstrapped CI = .06, .44), whereas pity (Bootstrapped CI = .03, .38) and fear (Bootstrapped CI = -1.39, -.69) mediated responses of support for coercion-segregation of SMI. Attributions about causes and personal responsibility were not significantly linked to stigma towards SMI (p > 0.05). Conclusions: Findings suggested that pathogen avoidance and danger appraisal systems interplay in the generation of discriminatory behaviour towards SMI. Anti-stigma programs and policy makers would benefit from introducing strategies that challenge stereotypes of dangerousness and unpredictability by promoting positive contact with people with SMI.

Disgust specific to sexual stimuli has been thought to be an adaptation that serves purposes of pathogen-avoidance, but also of partner selection and social dominance. While the link between disgust responses and homonegative and transnegative attitudes has been relatively established, it is not yet clear why. In addition, literature using evolutionary psychology perspectives of these phenomena is scarce in areas of the world with substantial LGBT related violence like Colombia. This research aimed to study the interplay of predispositional (e.g., sociodemographic, reported contact), affective (e.g., disgust sensitivity) and cognitive (e.g., Right-Wing Authoritarian or RWA views) variables in homonegative and transnegative attitudes of Colombian adults. Participants (N = 272) had a mean age of 26.38 (SD = 9.47), women comprised 72% of the sample and men 28%. Hierarchical regression analyses showed that increased sexual specific disgust sensitivity and greater RWA predicted stronger homonegativity and transnegativity. The relationship between sexual disgust and prejudice was partially mediated by RWA. Findings suggest that sexual disgust sensitivity adaptations in homonegativity and transnegativity may respond to selection pressures that differ from pathogen-avoidance perspectives, and that are associated with maintaining social hierarchy and social dominance. Anti-prejudice initiatives would benefit from targeting emotional responses of sexual disgust, especially within communities and institutions that have historically endorsed conservative and traditional values (e.g., police, armed forces, health services).

The Moral Disengagement Scale (MDS) is a widely employed tool for assessing moral neutralization strategies in the context of bullying. However, studies conducted globally exhibit inconsistencies in both the factor structure and the number of items comprising the MDS. This study was conducted to assess the reliability and factor structure of the MDS within a sample of Colombian adolescents ( N = 375; M age = 13.3; SD = 1.69) and to compare the use of MD mechanisms across victims, perpetrators, non-involved students, and bystanders of school bullying. To begin, a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) compared the fit indices of theoretical models proposed in the existing literature. The results revealed that all previously suggested models exhibited similar fit indices, indicating that these structures could be equally applicable for evaluating various dimensions of moral disengagement among adolescent populations. In order to identify the most suitable model for our culturally specific sample, an exploratory factor analysis (EFA) pointed towards a more concise 13-item version of the MDS as the optimal solution. Individuals meeting the scores for “bullies” employed more MD mechanisms compared to victims and non-involved students. There were no significant differences in MDS scores between pro-victim bystanders and those remaining passive or supporting aggressors. In light of these findings, targeting cognitive mechanisms that neutralize moral self-sanctions in perpetrators and potential bystanders of bullying may prove to be a valuable strategy in enhancing the effectiveness of anti-bullying interventions.

Colombia hosts the largest number of refugees and migrants fleeing the humanitarian emergency in Venezuela, many of whom experience high levels of displacement-related trauma and adversity. Yet, Colombian mental health services do not meet the needs of this population. Scalable, task-sharing interventions, such as Group Problem Management Plus (Group PM+), have the potential to bridge this gap by utilizing lay workers to provide the intervention. However, the current literature lacks a comprehensive understanding of how and for whom Group PM+ is most effective. This mixed methods study utilized data from a randomized effectiveness-implementation trial to examine the mediators and moderators of Group PM+ on mental health outcomes. One hundred twenty-eight migrant and refugee women in northern Colombia participated in Group PM+ delivered by trained community members. Patterns in moderation effects showed that participants in more stable, less marginalized positions improved the most. Results from linear regression models showed that Group PM+-related skill acquisition was not a significant mediator of the association between session attendance and mental health outcomes. Participants and facilitators reported additional possible mediators and community-level moderators that warrant future research. Further studies are needed to examine mediators and moderators contributing to the effectiveness of task-shared, scalable, psychological interventions in diverse contexts.

Chronic skin conditions such as acne and Atopic Dermatitis (AD) can affect psychological wellbeing; however, not all individuals with these conditions develop depression or anxiety. Psychological adjustment appears to depend on an interplay of dispositional, cognitive, and affective factors, yet the role of self-disgust in this context remains underexplored, particularly in underrepresented populations from Latin America. This study examined psychosocial and affective predictors of depression and anxiety in a sample of Colombian young adults with acne or AD. Using a cross-sectional design, 220 participants (Mage = 21.89, SD = 3.55) completed online measures of optimism, perceived social support, Fear of Negative Evaluation (FNE), Body Image (BI), self-disgust, and anxiety and depression. Hierarchical regression analyses showed that higher optimism and more positive BI were associated with lower depression scores, while anxiety was primarily associated with greater FNE. Self-disgust significantly predicted both depression and anxiety. Mediation analyses further revealed that self-disgust mediated the relationships between BI and depression, and between FNE and anxiety. The final models explained 36% and 34% of the variance in depression and anxiety, respectively. These findings highlight the importance of affective and cognitive factors in the psychological adjustment to chronic skin conditions. Interventions targeting cognitive distortions and affect regulation, especially those addressing self-disgust, may help reduce psychological distress in this population. Future studies employing longitudinal designs are necessary to clarify the causal pathways.

Suicide has increased close to 60% in the last four decades worldwide. In Colombia, during the year 2019, 10,9% of violent deaths were due to suicide. This study aimed to identify risk factors predicting repeated suicide attempts. It also aimed to describe the management of suicidal behaviour within an emergency department of Northern Colombia. Dataset comprised 336 medical records of individuals seeking medical assistance for intentional selfharm between 2008-2019; 136 medical records were associated with previously reported suicide attempts. Results from a multivariate logistic regression showed that suicide ideation and having a history of psychiatric disorders significantly predicted repeated suicide attempts. Furthermore, repeated attempts were more likely in underaged individuals and young adults. Management of patients engaging in suicidal behaviour involved hospitalization and outpatient mental health services. However, a few patients were sent home with recommendations or were noncompliant. Findings from this study highlight the importance to develop evidence-based screening and monitoring protocols that prevent repeated suicide attempts. How to cite this article: Aristizabal-Diazgranados, E. T., Chamorro-Coneo, A. M., & Rodriguez-Acosta, S. (2021). Repeated Suicide Attempts Among Service Users of An Emergency Service in Northern Colombia: Characteristics, Associated Factors, And Management. Revista Colombiana de Psicología, 30(2), 41-54. https://doi.org/10.15446/rcp.v30n2.88942