Not only does integrating movies into the college classroom represent an opportunity for promoting knowledge, it also increases students’ interest in daily lessons. However, little is known regarding the type of academic movie tasks which might help establish relevant concepts in Psychobiology. Hence, the main objectives of this study were: 1) to analyse whether using commer-cial movies to answer a set of questions would have a positive impact on the acquisition of new concepts; 2) to evaluate whether watching movies presents specific advantages in student perfor-mance when compared to reading books or comic-books by answering the same questions and evaluating student perception regarding satisfaction, commitment, difficulty, and usefulness. Par-ticipants included in our study (n=163) were randomly assigned to either mandatory or voluntary groups. After indicating whether they preferred watching movies or reading books or comic-books they answered specific questions. The total score of both tasks (assessed by two independent reviewers) was collected. In addition, an online survey gathered students’ hobbies and habits before starting the tasks, as well as their perceptions regarding the tasks after completing them. Our study revealed that students preferred watching movies to complete their tasks, which had a positive impact on the students’ learning. Nonetheless, there were no differences between the groups’ (type of stimulus or mandatory character) performance or students’ perception of both tasks. Our study highlights which type of academic tasks could be employed in Psychobiology for consolidating knowledge. Moreover, it reinforces the notion that students’ preferences do not necessarily corre-spond with their performance.

Violence and offending pose significant public health concerns, and understanding the factors associated with these behaviors is crucial for effective intervention and prevention programs. While extensive research has focused on risk factors, the role of protective factors, such as empathy and self-compassion, has received less attention. This study examines the predictive value of cognitive and affective empathy on aggression and explores the mediating role of self-compassion in the relationship between personal distress and aggression within an offender population. A sample of 120 offenders (90 men and 30 women) completed self-report measures of aggression (Aggression Questionnaire), empathy (Interpersonal Reactivity Index) and self-compassion (Self-compassion scale - Short Form). Additionally, a semi-structured interview was conducted to collect sociodemographic information and criminal history. Results showed a negative association between perspective-taking (a cognitive empathy component) and aggression, while personal distress (an affective empathy component) positively predicted aggression. Self-compassion partially mediated the relationship between personal distress and aggression, indicating its potential role in reducing violent tendencies. These findings highlight the importance of considering empathy and self-compassion in understanding and addressing aggression in offenders. Specifically, a deeper understanding of the affective empathy construct and considering self-compassion as a complementary tool could enhance gender-inclusive prevention and intervention programs, potentially reducing recidivism rates.

1 Generally, in Western countries (UK, Canada and USA), the experience of surrogacy is psychologically positive for the surrogate mother, the intended parents and the children. 2 In addition to legal regulations that ensure the integrity of those involved, the altruistic motivation of the surrogate mother, a quality relationship and a stable bond between the participants promote the well-being of all. 3 Children born by surrogacy need, like the rest, to know their origins and history, as this will have an impact on their identity. They usually understand the process perfectly and are grateful.

Abstract Recent studies have highlighted the dysregulation of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activity and its end products, cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), in women with a history of intimate partner violence (IPV) victimization. These studies analyzed several coping styles, but they neglected to examine the use of violent strategies to confront IPV and the way these strategies affect HPA functioning. This latter proposal would be based on the gender symmetry model of IPV, which sustains that IPV is generally symmetrical, but that women’s violence tends to be a reaction to male violence. Hence, the main objective of the present study was to examine whether women’s violent reactions to IPV would significantly predict salivary cortisol and DHEA levels, as well as the cortisol/DHEA ratio (assessed through two saliva samples per day on four consecutive work days), controlling for the women’s prior IPV abuse, psychopathology, and demographic variables. Our data demonstrated that, specifically, psychological confrontation strategies predicted vespertine cortisol levels (adj R2 = .18, β = .447, p < .01) and the cortisol/DHEA ratio (adj R2 = .08, β = .322, p < .05), even after controlling several confounding variables, whereas physical and total confrontation in response to IPV did not predict these hormonal parameters.

A 5-year-old pug presented with a soft tissue swelling on the ventral neck and moderate stridor with associated respiratory effort. This patient received hypofractionated radiotherapy for metastatic upper lip mast cell tumour and to the submandibular lymph nodes 6 months before presentation. Oral examination showed moderate elongation of the soft palate, stage III laryngeal collapse with only the right laryngeal saccule mildly everted and exuberant pale epiglottal and left pharyngeal mucosa. Staphylectomy, resection of the epiglottal mucosa and left arytenoid lateralisation were performed. One day after surgery, temporary tracheostomy was performed after respiratory distress due to the severe laryngeal and pharyngeal oedema. A third oral exam showed pale and redundant caudal pharyngeal mucosa obstructing the rima glottis, soft and collapsible arytenoid cartilage with pale mucosa and bilateral everted laryngeal saccules. Permanent tracheostomy was elected and laryngeal cartilage biopsies were taken. Histologic diagnosis showed cartilage necrosis and abundant tissue oedema. The patient was euthanased 1 week later.

Research assessing the effectiveness of intervention programs for intimate partner violence (IPV) perpetrators has increased considerably in recent years. However, most of it has been focused on the analysis of psychological domains, neglecting neuropsychological variables and the effects of alcohol consumption on these variables. This study evaluated potential neuropsychological changes (emotional decoding, perspective taking, emotional empathy and cognitive flexibility) and their relationship with alcohol consumption in a mandatory intervention program for IPV perpetrators, as well as how these variables affect the risk of IPV recidivism. The sample was composed of 116 individuals with high alcohol (n = 55; HA) and low alcohol (n = 61; LA) consumption according to self-report screening measures who received treatment in a IPV perpetrator intervention program developed in Valencia (Spain). IPV perpetrators with HA consumption were less accurate in decoding emotional facial signals and adopting others' perspective, and less cognitively flexible than those with LA consumption before the IPV intervention. Further, the effectiveness of the intervention program was demonstrated, with increases being observed in cognitive empathy (emotional decoding and perspective taking) and in cognitive flexibility. Nevertheless, the HA group showed a smaller improvement in these skills and higher risk of IPV recidivism than the LA group. Moreover, improvement in these skills was related to a lower risk of IPV recidivism. The study provides guidance on the targeting of cognitive domains, which are key factors for reducing IPV recidivism.

BACKGROUND:The chronic consequences of intimate partner violence (IPV) on HPA activation are a topic of debate. The current study investigated hair cortisol concentrations in female victims of IPV and their children. METHODS:A total of 52 mother-child dyads were divided into two groups depending on exposure to IPV: IPV group (n=27 dyads) and control group (n=25 dyads). Hair cortisol concentration was measured in 1-cm-long hair strands, representing 30days of exposure before assessment. PTSD and depression symptoms were assessed in the mother and child. RESULTS:Women reporting IPV presented with higher hair cortisol levels, depression and PTSD symptoms severity in comparison to control women. Children who witnessed IPV reported more severe PTSD symptoms, but depressive symptoms and hair cortisol were not statistically different than those in control children. Correlation analyses revealed a positive association between the number of injury events and the level of hair cortisol in children. No associations between the hair cortisol levels in mothers and those in their children were found. CONCLUSION:Higher hair cortisol levels detected in women exposed to IPV reflected long-lasting changes in HPA axis functioning associated with chronic stress exposure. Children whose parents recurrently engage in violent conflicts with intimate partners may often feel threatened and consequently reporting more PTSD-related symptoms. Given that experiencing and witnessing violence during childhood and adolescence are predictive of intimate partner violence in adulthood, the need of early interventions is crucial.

North American Editor of the ISRA Bulletin: Eric F. Dubow, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH USA 43403, edubow@bgsu.edu European Editor of the ISRA Bulletin: Manuela Martinez, University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, SPAIN, manuela.martinez@uv.es ISRA home page: http://www.israsociety.com ISRA on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ISRASociety Follow us: @ISRASociety Webmaster: Brian Anderson, Center for the Study of Violence, Iowa State University, csv@iastate.edu

Intimate male partner violence against women has been recognized as an important public health problem, with a high impact on women’s mental health, including depressive and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. However, fathers who have been involved in intimate partner violence (IPV) have an increased probability of being violent toward their children. The aim of this study was to assess the relation between the mental health status of abused women, their partner’s violence toward the children, and their maternal behavior.

Objectives: To analyse the individual differences in the impact that intimate male partner violence (IPV) has on a woman's depressive and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptomatology, and to determine the association of the different profiles of mental dysfunction with cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) basal saliva levels as well as physical health symptoms. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out in which IPV victims (n=73) and control non-abused (n=31) women participated. Information was obtained through structured interviews and saliva samples were collected for hormonal assays under baseline conditions. Results: There were three profiles of mental symptoms in IPV subjects: no symptoms (n=19); with depressive symptoms (n=36), and depressive/PTSD symptom (n=18). None of the non-abused women had depressive or PTSD symptoms. The stress hormone response differed between groups. Only the IPV-depressive group had higher evening cortisol, and both morning and evening DHEA, but lower morning cortisol/DHEA ratio than non-abused women. Furthermore, there were differences between the IPV groups. The IPV-depressive group had lower morning cortisol and morning cortisol/DHEA ratio than the IPV-no symptoms and lower morning cortisol/DHEA ratio than the IPV-depressive/PTSD group. With respect to the physical symptoms there was an association between the mean of symptoms and the profile of mental health, the incidence being higher in the depressive/PTSD group than in the other groups. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that there are individual differences in the impact that IPV has on the stress response and health status in women victims.

Background: Several cross-sectional studies have demonstrated the negative impact that intimate partner violence (IPV) has on the physical health of women. However, longitudinal studies are needed to establish the time course of this effect. This study assessed the physical health course of female IPV victims and established the factors that enhance or impede their recovery.Methods: Women (n = 91) who participated in a previous cross-sectional study (T-1) and were either victims of physical/psychological IPV (n = 33) or psychological IPV (n = 23) were evaluated 3 years later (T-2). A control group of women (n = 35) was included for comparison. Structured interviews provided information regarding IPV characteristics, physical health, and lifestyle.Findings: Physical symptoms decreased over time for both groups of abused women. Factors that contributed to this improvement were perception of social support and the cessation of physical IPV. Factors that impaired recovery included cohabitation with the aggressor, victimization experiences at T-2, negative perceptions of life events, and continuing psychological IPV.Conclusions: This study shows that physical health improvement is possible in female victims of IPV, but that continuing psychological IPV hinders recovery. Additional longitudinal studies are needed to investigate the factors that best predict health recovery in female IPV victims to design effective intervention programs. Copyright (C) 2012 by the Jacobs Institute of Women's Health. Published by Elsevier Inc.