Los estudios superiores representan el punto culminante del estrés académico, proceso multifactorial complejo, con alta carga de trabajo. El inventario SISCO del estrés académico posee buenas propiedades psicométricas para sus subescalas de Estresores, Sintomatología y para la puntuación media total, no así para la subescala de Afrontamiento. El objetivo de este artículo es corroborar lo reportado previamente en base a un análisis psicométrico completo. En 1126 estudiantes universitarios, se obtuvieron buenas propiedades psicométricas para las subescalas de Estresores y Sintomatología, con un buen ajuste en el análisis factorial confirmatorio, en base a una estructura de cuatro factores. La subescala de Sintomatología quedó conformada por las subescalas Reacciones físicas y psicológicas y por Reacciones del comportamiento social. La subescala de Afrontamiento mantiene propiedades psicométricas deficientes. La puntuación para el total de los ítems del instrumento muestra buenas propiedades psicométricas (alfa de Cronbach y omega de 0.820 y 0.860, respectivamente). Se corrobora lo reportado previamente, avalándose la necesidad de más estudios, y la modificación del instrumento, en especial la subescala de Afrontamiento.

Introduction: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is essential for brain physiological processes influencing memory and learning. BDNF levels can be affected by many factors, including stress. Stress increase serum and salivary cortisol levels. Academic stress is of the chronic type. BDNF levels can be measure from serum, plasma or platelets, and there is still no standard methodology, which is relevant to ensure reproducibility and comparability between studies. Hypothesis: (i) BDNF concentrations in serum show greater variability than in plasma. (ii) In college students with academic stress, peripheral BDNF decreases and salivary cortisol increases. General objective: To standardize plasma and serum collection for BDNF levels and to determine whether academic stress affects peripheral BDNF and salivary cortisol levels. Design: Quantitative research, with a non-experimental cross-sectional descriptive design. Participants: Student volunteers. Under convenience sampling, 20 individuals will be included for standardization of plasma and serum collection and between 70 and 80 individuals to determine the effect of academic stress on BDNF and salivary cortisol. Peripheral blood and salivary cortisol sampling, measurements: 12 mL of peripheral blood (with and without anticoagulant) will be drawn per participant, separated from plasma or serum and cryopreserved at -80°C. Additionally, they will be instructed in the collection of 1 mL of saliva samples, which will be centrifuged. Val66Met polymorphism will be performed by allele-specific PCR, while BDNF and salivary cortisol levels will be determined by ELISA. Statistical analysis: (i) descriptive analysis of the variables, through measures of central tendency and dispersion, and the categorical variables through their frequency and percentage. (ii) Then a bivariate analysis will be performed comparing groups using each variable separately. Expected results: We expect to (i) determine the analytical factors that allow a better reproducibility in the measurement of peripheral BDNF, and (ii) the effect of academic stress on BDNF and salivary cortisol levels.

Post-traumatic stress (PTSD) disorder is a mental health condition that can occur after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. The 27-F earthquake that struck Chile in 2010 was one such event that had a significant impact on the mental health of the population. A study was conducted to investigate the prevalence of PTSD and its associated factors among survivors of this earthquake. The study was a longitudinal design, involving a sample of 913 patients aged 18 to 75 years who attended 10 Primary Care Centers in Concepción, Chile. The Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) was used to assess both depressive episodes (DE) and PTSD before and after the earthquake. The study also involved genotyping studies using saliva samples from the participants, specifically focusing on the Val66Met and 5-HTTLPR polymorphisms. Statistical analysis was performed to examine the association between different variables and the presence of PTSD. These variables included demographic factors, family history of psychiatric disorders, DE, childhood maltreatment experiences, and critical traumatic events related to the earthquake. The results showed that the incidence of post-earthquake PTSD was 11.06%. No significant differences were found between the groups of participants who developed post-earthquake PTSD regarding the Val66Met or 5-HTTLPR polymorphisms. However, a significant association was found between the concomitant diagnosis of DE and the development of post-earthquake PTSD. The presence of DE doubled the risk of developing post-earthquake PTSD. The number of traumatic events experienced also had a statistically significant association with an increased risk of developing post-earthquake PTSD. The study’s limitations include the potential interference of different DE subtypes, the complexity of quantifying the degree of earthquake exposure experienced by each individual, and events entailing social disruption, such as looting, that can profoundly influence distress. In conclusion, the study found that PTSD following the 27-F earthquake in Chile was associated with a concomitant diagnosis of DE and the number of traumatic events experienced. The study did not find a significant association between PTSD and the Val66Met or 5-HTTLPR polymorphisms. The researchers recommend that mental health professionals should prioritize the detection and treatment of concomitant depressive episodes and exposure to critical traumatic events in survivors of disasters. They also suggest that further research is needed to better understand the relationship between genetic factors and post-disaster PTSD.

Academic stress (AS) is a multidimensional process expressed through emotional, cognitive, physiological, and behavioral responses to academic demands. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the digitalization of higher education and restricted in-person social interaction, increasing the salience of socioeconomic constraints, home-based learning conditions, and interactional disruptions. These changes exposed measurement gaps in widely used AS instruments, particularly in their coverage of contextual stressors and in the psychometric consistency of coping-related content. To address this gap, we developed and provided initial psychometric validation for the BASE-66 (Broad Academic Stress Evaluation), an inventory designed to assess AS through an integrated framework that includes both academic and non-academic sources of strain. We used an instrumental psychometric design implemented in three phases: item development, main administration, and post-test evaluation. BASE-66 was adapted from the SISCO-II-AS framework through qualitative focus groups conducted during emergency remote teaching, followed by pilot testing and iterative item refinement. The main administration included 501 university students (71.7% women; mean age 22.19 years, SD=3.13) recruited from three universities in Concepción, Chile. Factor structure was examined with exploratory factor analyses (EFA) based on polychoric correlations using WLSMV estimation in a stratified split sample (EFA n=254; CFA n=247). Confirmatory factor analysis tested the full retained solution. Reliability was assessed with Cronbach’s alpha and McDonald’s omega in the full sample, and temporal stability was evaluated via test–retest correlations in a follow-up subsample (n=85). Stressor items supported a five-factor structure: Academic Workload Stressors, Academic Performance Stressors, Stressors associated with General Social Interaction, Socioeconomic Stressors, and Stressors associated with Classroom Interaction. Reaction items were best represented by a bifactor model with a dominant General Reaction factor and three specific domains capturing residual variance: Emotional–Cognitive Reactions, Physical Exhaustion Reactions, and Social Conflict Reactions. Coping items suggested two factors (Restorative Coping and Distraction–Reappraisal Coping), but their loadings and reliability were comparatively weaker, supporting a cautious interpretation. The confirmatory model showed acceptable fit (χ²/df=1.28; RMSEA=0.037; SRMR=0.077; CFI=0.93). Internal consistency was adequate to excellent across stressor and reaction domains, and test–retest correlations indicated solid stability for several scales, with lower stability for social and classroom interaction stressors consistent with higher contextual sensitivity. Women scored higher on multiple stressor and reaction domains, whereas classroom interaction stressors and several coping indices did not show gender differences. In conclusion, BASE-66 provides a context-sensitive instrument for comprehensive AS assessment in Chilean university students, capturing academic, socioeconomic, and interactional stressor domains alongside differentiated reaction profiles. Future work should evaluate measurement invariance, strengthen coping measurement, and incorporate longitudinal and multi-method validation designs.

Background/Objectives: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a complex condition influenced by both genetic and environmental factors. This longitudinal study aimed to explore the connection between two specific genetic polymorphisms, Val66Met and 5-HTTLPR, and the lifetime prevalence of PTSD in patients from primary care settings. We also examined the role of sociodemographic and psychosocial factors to provide a more comprehensive view of PTSD risk. Methods: We recruited a cohort of primary care patients and diagnosed PTSD using a standardized diagnostic interview. Genetic analyses focused on Val66Met and 5-HTTLPR polymorphisms. We applied logistic regression to assess the association between these genetic markers and PTSD, considering factors such as gender, family history of depression, and experiences of childhood maltreatment. Results: Our findings show that women, individuals with a family history of depression, and those exposed to childhood maltreatment have a higher risk of developing PTSD. While the Val66Met polymorphism was not significantly associated with PTSD, the 5-HTTLPR polymorphism showed a marginal relationship. No significant interaction was found between the two polymorphisms in relation to PTSD. Conclusions: This study underscores the multifactorial nature of PTSD, influenced by both genetic and environmental factors. The findings point to the importance of further research on genetic predispositions and highlight the value of early interventions for high-risk populations in primary care settings.