The present narrative systematic review aims to estimate the prevalence of depression and anxiety in the Ecuadorian adult population, a field little explored despite the growing global burden of these mental disorders. The importance of this review lies in the need to synthesize scattered evidence on the prevalence of these disorders in Ecuador, where there is no previous systematic review. The methods included an exhaustive search in five electronic databases and complementary sources, selecting 33 observational studies. The results reveal wide variability in prevalence rates, influenced by methodological heterogeneity and the characteristics of the studied populations. Depression figures reported in the included studies ranged from 5.6% to 86.81%, while the prevalence of anxiety showed an even more extreme range, from 0.02% to 77.1%. Consistently higher prevalences are observed in vulnerable groups such as health professionals, hospitalized patients, and university students, which underscores the urgency of standardizing research methodologies and strengthening mental health policies in Ecuador, focusing on early detection and psychosocial interventions.
Adultos
Diseño y validación de un paradigma para evaluar la atención selectiva, utilizando el software de código abierto “PsychoPy”, aplicable a la Resonancia Magnética Funcional. Design and validation of a paradigm to evaluate selective attention, using the open source software “PsychoPy”, applicable to Functional Magnetic Resonance.
Introduction: Selective attention is a neuropsychological function involved in carrying out activities, from the simplest to the most complex, guiding us towards the search for relevant elements for the achievement of proposed tasks and inhibiting other responses.
Objective: Design and validation of the paradigm to evaluate selective attention.
Methodology: Quantitative study, exploratory-descriptive, experimental. The instrument was designed in three stages: 1) elaboration of the paradigm, 2) validation of the construct and content, 3) Field test and data analysis applied to 18 healthy adults, selected in a non-probabilistic way, between 18 and 30 years old. The paradigm was developed virtually in “PsychoPy”, based on the d2 test and adapted for the Magnetic Resonator.
Results: High scores were found in the evaluation of selective attention and the average time of correct answers is adequate in relation to the amount of work. When analyzing the influence of age and sex with the frequency of correct answers, no statistically significant differences were found.
Conclusions: The selective attention paradigm is a complementary prognostic tool, useful to assess this function, because it has construct and content validity; being a safe, free and easy-to-apply instrument.
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Meningoencefalitis Eeosinofílica por Angiostrongylus Cantonensis. A un cuarto de siglo de una enfermedad emergente en las Américas.
Introduction: 25 years ago an emergent disease: eosinophilic meningoencephalitis due to Angiostrongylus cantonensis larvae. was first reported in Cuba and in the western hemisphere.
Objectives: To collect in a summary form the accumulated experience and the findings of the study of this parasitosis during the period.
Results: It has been collected the first evidences, the parasitological and malacological findings, the experimental and molecular studies on immunology and neuroimmunology, the clinical-pathological findings in children and adults with the particularities of this diseases in our environment with special accent in the never-before scientific findings reported.
Conclusions: It has been documented the testimony, the main findings among the malacological studies, the role of IgE and the mechanism involved in the central nervous system, the intrathecal synthesis patterns of immunoglobulins and the clinical elements in children and adults.
