Research

Qualitative study of the impact and implementation process of a psychosocial intervention for people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) who are part of the LGBTIQ+ community in Ecuador.

Project ID: 17380

Type of Project: Scientific Research

Status: In progress.

Principal Investigator: Emilia Zamora

Co-Investigators: Valeria Troya, Nicolás Alvarez Frank, Juan Francisco Camacho, Bernarda Herrera, Alexia Jimenez

Evaluate the impact and the implementation process of a psychosocial intervention in the form of support groups with mindfulness components; aimed at people living with HIV (PLWHA) who are part of the LGTBIQ+ community in Ecuador. The intervention will be directed by peers and professionals. The intervention will be evaluated with qualitative research methods, Thematic Analysis will be carried out. Through this study, it is expected to contribute to the existing evidence in Ecuador on the impact and implementation of psychosocial support programs for this population. The intervention is also expected to have a positive impact on the quality of life and psychosocial well-being of support group users.

Trans-ancestral genomic analysis of obsessive-compulsive disorder

Project ID: 17470

Type of Project: Scientific Research

Status: In progress.

Principal Investigator: Mariel Paz y Miño

Co-investigators: Andrea Gonzalez, Mariana Garcia

Research assistants: Sebastián Velasco, Doménica Gutierrez

The main objective of this research is to understand how genes influence the risk of developing obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) in Latin American individuals. The aim is to diversify the GWAS sample (observational study of a set of genetic variants throughout the genome of different individuals) to see if any variant is associated with an OCD trait. Through the collection of saliva and the phenotyping of 5,000 Latin American OCD cases with a minimum of 50 cases in Ecuador and a maximum of 100, it is expected to find some genetic marker that is related to OCD in Latin American individuals.

The USFQ Mental Health Clinic participates as part of a Latin American Consortium led by Baylor College of Medicine and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Risk of Prevalence in depression and/or anxiety in adolescents from 12 to 18 years old in a rural public High school in Yaruqui, Ecuador during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2022.

Project ID: 17205

Type of Project: Scientific Research

Status: In progress.

Principal Investigator: Monserrate Vásconez

Co-investigators: Iván Palacios, Mariel Paz and Miño

Research Assistant: Gustavo Muñoz

This study aims to identify the prevalence of risk in the presentation of depression and/or anxiety in adolescents aged 12 to 18, who attend a public school in Yaruquí, Quito, during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2022. The study design will be an observational, cross-sectional study that will evaluate the number of cases that are at risk of presenting depression and/or anxiety disorders during the 2022 COVID-19 pandemic in adolescents aged 12 to 18 who attend the secondary school "Yaruqui Fiscal Technical School"

Psychological factors that affect the routine of households during forced social isolation due to the health emergency by COVID 19

Project ID: 16997

Type of Project: Scientific Research

Status: In progress.

Principal Investigator: Franklin Velasco

Co-investigators: Mariel Paz and Miño. Cyntia Lanchimba, Juan Pablo Diaz-Sanchez.

Identify the socio-economic factors that affect the well-being of people and their families during the forced social isolation that is occurring due to the COVID-19 health emergency.

COVID-19 Innovations in Telemedicine-Telepsychiatric Service and Delivery through a Global Health Partnership in a rural health clinics in districts D1708 and D1709 of Metropolitan District of Quito, Ecuador

Project ID: 17267

Type of Project: Scientific Research

Status: In progress.

Principal Investigator: Iván Palacios

Co-investigators: Mariel Paz y Miño, Monserrate Vasconez

The study design will be an exploratory mixed study that will evaluate the type of mental health service provided by our program. It is intended to recruit patients from districts D1708 and D1709 of the Metropolitan District of Quito, Ecuador who attend health clinics during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021, who benefit from a psychiatric consultation. The project is coordinated with the professional in charge of the psychology department of the health center, members of the psychiatry department of the Northwell School of Medicine and the Global Health program of both the Northwell School of Medicine and the University of San Francisco de Quito and a professor from the Clinic USFQ Mental Health.