Cardiovascular risk factors and major depressive disorder: a cross-sectional study in São Paulo, Brazil

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular risk factors can mediate the association between depression and cardiovascular diseases. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate cardiovascular risk factors in adult individuals with and without histories of major depression in the metropolitan region of São Paulo, Brazil. DESIGN AND SETTING: Cross-sectional study in São Paulo (SP), Brazil. METHODS: This study evaluated 423 individuals without any lifetime diagnosis of major depression and 203 individuals with a previous diagnosis of major depression (n = 626). The participants underwent a psychiatric evaluation using a structured clinical interview (SCID-1), an anthropometric evaluation and a clinical evaluation that included blood pressure measurement and assessment of fasting blood glucose, lipid profile and physical activity levels. RESULTS: Individuals with histories of major depression were more likely to be female (P < 0.0001). Individuals with lifetime diagnoses of major depression were more likely to be current smokers (odds ratio, OR 1.61; 95% confidence interval, CI 1.01-2.59) and to have diabetes (OR 1.79; 95% CI 1.01-3.21); and less likely to be obese (OR 0.58; 95% CI 0.35-0.94). CONCLUSION: Individuals with major depression had higher odds of presenting tobacco smoking and diabetes, and lower odds of being obese. Healthcare professionals need to be aware of this, so as to increase the rates of diagnosis and treatment in this population.

Benzodiazepine use in Sao Paulo, Brazil

OBJECTIVES: To report the prevalence and factors associated with the use of benzodiazepines in the general population and those with a mental health condition in the metropolitan area of São Paulo, Brazil. METHODS: 5,037 individuals from the Sao Paulo Megacity Mental Health Survey data were interviewed using the Composite International Diagnostic Interview, designed to generate DSM-IV diagnoses. Additionally, participants were asked if they had taken any medication in the previous 12 months for the treatment of any mental health condition. RESULTS: The prevalence of benzodiazepine use ranged from 3.6% in the general population to 7.8% among subjects with a mental health condition. Benzodiazepine use was more prevalent in subjects that had been diagnosed with a mood disorder as opposed to an anxiety disorder (14.7% vs. 8.1%, respectively). Subjects that had been diagnosed with a panic disorder (33.7%) or bipolar I/II (23.3%) reported the highest use. Individuals aged ≥50 years (11.1%), those with two or more disorders (11.2%), those with moderate or severe disorders (10%), and those that used psychiatric services (29.8%) also reported higher use. CONCLUSION: These findings give an overview of the use of benzodiazepines in the general population, which will be useful in the public health domain. Benzodiazepine use was higher in those with a mental health condition, with people that had a mood disorder being the most vulnerable. Furthermore, females and the elderly had high benzodiazepine use, so careful management in these groups is required.

Treatment of anxiety disorders in clinical practice: a critical overview of recent systematic evidence

The aim of this study was to review emerging evidence of novel treatments for anxiety disorders. We searched PubMed and EMBASE for evidence-based therapeutic alternatives for anxiety disorders in adults, covering the past five years. Eligible articles were systematic reviews (with or without meta-analysis), which evaluated treatment effectiveness of either nonbiological or biological interventions for anxiety disorders. Retrieved articles were summarized as an overview. We assessed methods, quality of evidence, and risk of bias of the articles. Nineteen systematic reviews provided information on almost 88 thousand participants, distributed across 811 clinical trials. Regarding the interventions, 11 reviews investigated psychological or nonbiological treatments; 5, pharmacological or biological; and 3, more than one type of active intervention. Computer-delivered psychological interventions were helpful for treating anxiety of low-to-moderate intensity, but the therapist-oriented approaches had greater results. Recommendations for regular exercise, mindfulness, yoga, and safety behaviors were applicable to anxiety. Transcranial magnetic stimulation, medication augmentation, and new pharmacological agents (vortioxetine) presented inconclusive benefits in patients with anxiety disorders who presented partial responses or refractoriness to standard treatment. New treatment options for anxiety disorders should only be provided to the community after a thorough examination of their efficacy.

Mental disorders and employment status in the São Paulo Metropolitan Area, Brazil: gender differences and use of health services / Transtornos mentais e situação laboral na Região Metropolitana de São Paulo, Brasil: diferenças de gênero e uso de serviços de saúde / Trastornos mentales y situación laboral en la zona metropolitana de São Paulo, Brasil: diferencias de género y uso de servicios de salud

Abstract: Mental disorders are associated with employment status as significant predictors and as consequences of unemployment and early retirement. This study describes the estimates and associations of 12-month DSM-IV prevalence rates of mental disorders and use of health services with employment status by gender in the São Paulo Metropolitan Area, Brazil. Data from the São Paulo Megacity Mental Health Survey was analyzed (n = 5,037). This is a population-based study assessing the prevalence and determinants of mental disorders among adults, using the Composite International Diagnostic Interview. The associations were estimated by odds ratios obtained through binomial and multinomial logistic regression. This study demonstrates that having mental disorders, especially mood disorders, is associated with being inactive or unemployed among men and inactive among women, but only having a substance use disorder is associated with being unemployed among women. Among those with mental disorders, seeking health care services is less frequent within unemployed.

Resumo: Os transtornos mentais estão associados à situação laboral enquanto preditores significativos e consequências do desemprego e da aposentadoria precoce. Este estudo estima as taxas de prevalência de transtornos mentais nos últimos 12 meses de acordo com o DSM-IV, além do uso de serviços de saúde e as associações com situação laboral de acordo com gênero na Região Metropolitana de São Paulo, Brasil. Foram analisados dados do São Paulo Megacity Mental Health Survey (n = 5.037), um estudo populacional que avalia a prevalência e determinantes dos transtornos mentais entre adultos, usando a Composite International Diagnostic Interview. As associações foram estimadas através de razões de prevalência, obtidas por regressão logística binomial e multinomial. O estudo mostra que os transtornos mentais, especialmente transtornos de humor estão associados à inatividade ou ao desemprego entre os homens e à inatividade entre as mulheres, com exceção aos transtornos devido ao uso de substâncias psicoativas que também estão associados ao desemprego em as mulheres. Entre os portadores de transtornos mentais, a busca de serviços de saúde é menos frequente entre os desempregados.

Resumen: Los trastornos mentales están asociados a la situación laboral, como predictores significativos por las consecuencias que provocan el desempleo y la jubilación precoz. Este estudio estima las tasas de prevalencia de trastornos mentales en 12 meses, de acuerdo con el DSM-IV, además del uso de servicios de salud y las asociaciones existentes con la situación laboral, de acuerdo con el género en el área metropolitana de São Paulo, Brasil. Se analizaron los datos del São Paulo Megacity Mental Health Survey (n = 5.037), un estudio poblacional que evalúa la prevalencia y determinantes de los trastornos mentales entre adultos, usando la Composite International Diagnostic Interview. Las asociaciones se estimaron con razones de prevalencia, obtenidas por la regresión logística binomial y multinomial. El estudio muestra que los trastornos mentales, especialmente los trastornos de humor, están asociados a la inactividad o al desempleo en hombres y a la inactividad en mujeres, pero que sólo el trastorno de consumo de sustancias está asociado al desempleo en mujeres. Entre los portadores de trastornos mentales, la búsqueda de servicios de salud es menos frecuente entre los desempleados.

Prevalence and clinical profile of chronic pain and its association with mental disorders

ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE To identify the prevalence of 12-month self-reported pain and chronic pain in a general population and to describe their clinical profile to assess if chronic pain is associated with 12-month mental disorders. METHODS The data used comes from the São Paulo Megacity Mental Health Survey, a population-based study assessing adult (≥ 18 years) residents of the São Paulo metropolitan area, Brazil. We have assessed the respondents (n = 5,037) using the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI 3.0), with a global response rate of 81.3%. Descriptive analyses have been performed, and crude and adjusted odds ratios (OR) have been calculated with logistic and multinomial regression and presented with respective 95% confidence intervals (95%CI). RESULTS The prevalence of pain and chronic pain in the past 12 months were 52.6% (95%CI 50.3-54.8) and 31.0% (95%CI 29.2-32.7), respectively. Joints (16.5%, 95%CI 15.4-17.5) and back or neck (15.5%, 95%CI 14.2-16.9) were the most frequently reported anatomical sites of chronic pain. On a 10-point analogue scale, the mean intensity of the worst pain was 7.7 (95%CI 7.4-7.8), and the mean average pain was 5.5 (95%CI 5.2-5.6); the mean treatment response was 6.3 (95%CI 6.0-6.6). Mean pain duration was 16.1 (95%CI 15.6-17.0) days a month and 132 (95%CI 126-144) minutes a day. Chronic pain was associated with 12-month DSM-IV mental disorders (OR = 2.7, 95%CI 2.3-3.3), anxiety disorders (OR = 2.1, 95%CI 1.9-3.0), and mood disorders (OR = 3.3, 95%CI 2.4-4.1). CONCLUSIONS A high prevalence of chronic pain in multiple sites is observed among the general adult population, and associations between chronic pain and mental disorders are frequent.

Determinants of the use of health care services: multilevel analysis in the Metropolitan Region of Sao Paulo / Determinantes do uso de serviços de saúde: análise multinível da Região Metropolitana de São Paulo

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the individual and contextual determinants of the use of health care services in the metropolitan region of Sao Paulo. METHODS Data from the Sao Paulo Megacity study – the Brazilian version of the World Mental Health Survey multicenter study – were used. A total of 3,588 adults living in 69 neighborhoods in the metropolitan region of Sao Paulo, SP, Southeastern Brazil, including 38 municipalities and 31 neighboring districts, were selected using multistratified sampling of the non-institutionalized population. Multilevel Bayesian logistic models were adjusted to identify the individual and contextual determinants of the use of health care services in the past 12 months and presence of a regular physician for routine care. RESULTS The contextual characteristics of the place of residence (income inequality, violence, and median income) showed no significant correlation (p > 0.05) with the use of health care services or with the presence of a regular physician for routine care. The only exception was the negative correlation between living in areas with high income inequality and presence of a regular physician (OR: 0.77; 95%CI 0.60;0.99) after controlling for individual characteristics. The study revealed a strong and consistent correlation between individual characteristics (mainly education and possession of health insurance), use of health care services, and presence of a regular physician. Presence of chronic and mental illnesses was strongly correlated with the use of health care services in the past year (regardless of the individual characteristics) but not with the presence of a regular physician. CONCLUSIONS Individual characteristics including higher education and possession of health insurance were important determinants of the use of health care services in the metropolitan area of Sao Paulo. A better understanding of these determinants is essential for the development of public policies ...

OBJETIVO Analisar os determinantes individuais e contextuais do uso de serviços de saúde na Região Metropolitana de São Paulo. MÉTODOS Foram utilizados os dados do estudo São Paulo Megacity, a versão brasileira da pesquisa multicêntrica World Mental Health Survey. Foram analisados 3.588 indivíduos adultos residentes em 69 áreas da Região Metropolitana de São Paulo, SP (38 municípios adjacentes e 31 subprefeituras do município de São Paulo), selecionados por meio de amostragem multiestratificada da população não institucionalizada. Foram ajustados modelos multinível logísticos Bayesianos para identificar os determinantes individuais e contextuais do uso de serviços de saúde nos últimos 12 meses e a presença de médico de referência para cuidados de rotina. RESULTADOS As características contextuais do local de residência (desigualdade de renda, violência e renda mediana) não apresentaram associação significativa (p > 0,05) com o uso de serviços ou com a presença de médico de referência para cuidados de rotina. A única exceção foi a associação negativa entre residir em uma área com alta desigualdade de renda e a presença de médico de referência (OR 0,77; IC95% 0,60;0,99) após controle das características individuais. O estudo apontou uma forte e consistente associação entre algumas características individuais (principalmente escolaridade e presença de plano de saúde) com o uso de serviços de saúde e ter médico de referência. A presença de doenças crônicas e mentais associou-se fortemente com o uso de serviços no último ano (independentemente de características individuais), mas não com a presença de médico de referência. CONCLUSÕES Características individuais como maior escolaridade e ter plano de saúde foram determinantes importantes do uso de serviços de saúde na Região Metropolitana de São Paulo. A melhor compreensão desses determinantes é necessária para o desenvolvimento de políticas públicas que permitam o uso equitativo dos serviços ...

Days out-of-role due to common physical and mental health problems: Results from the Sao Paulo Megacity Mental Health Survey, Brazil

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the relative importance of common physical and mental disorders with regard to the number of days out-of-role (DOR; number of days for which a person is completely unable to work or carry out normal activities because of health problems) in a population-based sample of adults in the São Paulo Metropolitan Area, Brazil. METHODS: The São Paulo Megacity Mental Health Survey was administered during face-to-face interviews with 2,942 adult household residents. The presence of 8 chronic physical disorders and 3 classes of mental disorders (mood, anxiety, and substance use disorders) was assessed for the previous year along with the number of days in the previous month for which each respondent was completely unable to work or carry out normal daily activities due to health problems. Using multiple regression analysis, we examined the associations of the disorders and their comorbidities with the number of days out-of-role while controlling for socio-demographic variables. Both individual-level and population-level associations were assessed. RESULTS: A total of 13.1% of the respondents reported 1 or more days out-of-role in the previous month, with an annual median of 41.4 days out-of-role. The disorders considered in this study accounted for 71.7% of all DOR; the disorders that caused the greatest number of DOR at the individual-level were digestive (22.6), mood (19.9), substance use (15.0), chronic pain (16.5), and anxiety (14.0) disorders. The disorders associated with the highest population-attributable DOR were chronic pain (35.2%), mood (16.5%), and anxiety (15.0%) disorders. CONCLUSIONS: Because pain, anxiety, and mood disorders have high effects at both the individual and societal levels, targeted interventions to reduce the impairments associated with these disorders have the highest potential to reduce the societal burdens of chronic illness in the São Paulo Metropolitan Area. .

Validation of the Brazilian Portuguese version of the Beck Depression Inventory-II in a community sample / Validação da versão brasileira em português do Inventário de Depressão de Beck-II numa amostra da comunidade

BACKGROUND: The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) is used worldwide for detecting depressive symptoms. This questionnaire has been revised (1996) to match the DSM-IV criteria for a major depressive episode. We assessed the reliability and the validity of the Brazilian Portuguese version of the BDI-II for non-clinical adults. METHODS: The questionnaire was applied to 60 college students on two occasions. Afterwards, 182 community-dwelling adults completed the BDI-II, the Self-Report Questionnaire, and the K10 Scale. Trained psychiatrists performed face-to-face interviews with the respondents using the Structured Clinical Interview (SCID-I), the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Scale, and the Hamilton Anxiety Scale. Descriptive analysis, signal detection analysis (Receiver Operating Characteristics), correlation analysis, and discriminant function analysis were performed to investigate the psychometric properties of the BDI-II. RESULTS: The intraclass correlation coefficient of the BDI-II was 0.89, and the Cronbach's alpha coefficient of internal consistency was 0.93. Taking the SCID as the gold standard, the cut-off point of 10/11 was the best threshold for detecting depression, yielding a sensitivity of 70% and a specificity of 87%. The concurrent validity (a correlation of 0.63-0.93 with scales applied simultaneously) and the predictive ability of the severity level (over 65% correct classification) were acceptable. CONCLUSION: The BDI-II is reliable and valid for measuring depressive symptomatology among Portuguese-speaking Brazilian non-clinical populations.

OBJETIVOS: O Inventário de Depressão de Beck (IDB) é utilizado mundialmente para detectar sintomas depressivos. Este questionário foi revisado (1996) para se adequar aos critérios do DSM-IV para episódio depressivo maior. Avaliamos a confiabilidade e validade da versão I em português-brasileiro do IDB-I em uma amostra não clínica de adultos. MÉTODOS: O questionário foi aplicado em duas ocasiões para 60 estudantes universitários. Em seguida, 182 adultos residentes na comunidade preencheram IDB-II, Questionário de Auto-Resposta e escala K10. Psiquiatras treinados entrevistaram pessoalmente os respondentes através da Entrevista Clínica Estruturada (SCID-I), a escala de depressão de Montgomery-Åsberg e de ansiedade de Hamilton. Análise descritiva, detecção de sinal (Receiver Operating Characteristics), correlação e função discriminante foram realizadas para investigar as propriedades psicométricas do IBD-II. RESULTADOS: O coeficiente de correlação intraclasse do IDB-II foi de 0,89 e o coeficiente alfa de consistência interna foi de 0,93. Adotando a SCID como padrão-ouro, o ponto de corte de 10/11 foi o melhor limiar para detectar depressão, alcançando sensibilidade de 70% e especificidade de 87%. A validade concorrente (correlação de 0,63-0,93 com escalas aplicadas simultaneamente) e a capacidade preditiva de gravidade (mais de 65% de classificação correta de indivíduos deprimidos) foram aceitáveis. CONCLUSÃO: O IDB-II é fidedigno e válido para mensurar sintomatologia depressiva na população brasileira não clínica falante do português.

Lifetime Prevalence, age and gender distribution and age-of-onset of psychiatric disorders in the São Paulo Metropolitan Area, Brazil: results from the São Paulo Megacity Mental Health Survey / Prevalência em toda a vida, distribuição por idade e sexo e idade de início de transtornos psiquiátricos na área metropolitana de São Paulo, Brasil: resultados do Estudo Epidemiológico de Transtornos Mentais São Paulo Megacity

OBJECTIVES: To estimate prevalence, age-of-onset, gender distribution and identify correlates of lifetime psychiatric disorders in the São Paulo Metropolitan Area (SPMA). METHODS: The São Paulo Megacity Mental Health Survey assessed psychiatric disorders on a probabilistic sample of 5,037 adult residents in the SPMA, using the World Mental Health Survey Version of the Composite International Diagnostic Interview. Response rate was 81.3%. RESULTS: Lifetime prevalence for any disorder was 44.8%; estimated risk at age 75 was 57.7%; comorbidity was frequent. Major depression, specific phobias and alcohol abuse were the most prevalent across disorders; anxiety disorders were the most frequent class. Early age-of-onset for phobic and impulse-control disorders and later age-of-onset for mood disorders were observed. Women were more likely to have anxiety and mood disorders, whereas men, substance use disorders. Apart from conduct disorders, more frequent in men, there were no gender differences in impulse-control disorders. There was a consistent trend of higher prevalence in the youngest cohorts. Low education level was associated to substance use disorders. CONCLUSIONS: Psychiatric disorders are highly prevalent among the general adult population in the SPMA, with frequent comorbidity, early age-of-onset for most disorders, and younger cohorts presenting higher rates of morbidity. Such scenario calls for vigorous public health action.

OBJETIVOS: Estimar a prevalência, idade de início, distribuição por sexo e idade e identifica fatores correlacionados à morbidade psiquiátrica na Região Metropolitana de São Paulo (RMSP). MÉTODOS: O Estudo Epidemiológico de Transtornos Mentais São Paulo Megacity avaliou transtornos psiquiátricos em uma amostra probabilística composta por 5.037 adultos (18+) residentes na RMSP, utilizando o Composite International Diagnostic Interview, versão World Mental Health Survey. A taxa global de resposta foi de 81,3%. RESULTADOS: A prevalência de pelo menos um transtorno mental ao longo da vida foi de 44,8% e o risco estimado aos 75 anos de idade foi de 57,7%; comorbidade ocorreu com frequência. Depressão maior, fobias específicas e abuso de álcool foram os transtornos mais prevalentes; transtornos de ansiedade foi a classe de transtornos mais frequente. Fobias específicas e transtornos do controle de impulsos tiveram idade de início precoce, enquanto transtornos do humor tiveram início mais tardiamente. Mulheres apresentaram maior risco para transtornos do humor e de ansiedade, e homens para transtornos decorrentes do uso de álcool e drogas. Com exceção de transtornos da conduta, que foram mais frequentes em homens, não se observou diferenças de gênero na distribuição de transtornos do controle de impulso. Observou-se uma tendência consistente entre os diferentes transtornos de maiores taxas de morbidade nas coortes mais jovens. Baixa escolaridade mostrou-se associada a transtornos decorrentes do uso de álcool e drogas. CONCLUSÃO: Transtornos psiquiátricos na população geral adulta da RMSP são altamente prevalentes, com comorbidade frequente, idade de início precoce na maior parte dos transtornos avaliados, e taxas mais elevadas nas coortes mais jovens. Tal cenário suscita ações vigorosas de saúde pública.

Gender differences in drinking patterns and alcohol-related problems in a community sample in São Paulo, Brazil

OBJECTIVE: To investigate drinking patterns and gender differences in alcohol-related problems in a Brazilian population, with an emphasis on the frequency of heavy drinking. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted with a probability adult household sample (n = 1,464) in the city of São Paulo, Brazil. Alcohol intake and ICD-10 psychopathology diagnoses were assessed with the Composite International Diagnostic Interview 1.1. The analyses focused on the prevalence and determinants of 12-month nonheavy drinking, heavy episodic drinking (4-5 drinks per occasion), and heavy and frequent drinking (heavy drinking at least 3 times/week), as well as associated alcohol-related problems according to drinking patterns and gender. RESULTS: Nearly 22% (32.4% women, 8.7% men) of the subjects were lifetime abstainers, 60.3% were non-heavy drinkers, and 17.5% reported heavy drinking in a 12-month period (26.3% men, 10.9% women). Subjects with the highest frequency of heavy drinking reported the most problems. Among subjects who did not engage in heavy drinking, men reported more problems than did women. A gender convergence in the amount of problems was observed when considering heavy drinking patterns. Heavy and frequent drinkers were twice as likely as abstainers to present lifetime depressive disorders. Lifetime nicotine dependence was associated with all drinking patterns. Heavy and frequent drinking was not restricted to young ages. CONCLUSIONS: Heavy and frequent episodic drinking was strongly associated with problems in a community sample from the largest city in Latin America. Prevention policies should target this drinking pattern, independent of age or gender. These findings warrant continued research on risky drinking behavior, particularly among persistent heavy drinkers at the non-dependent level.

Somatização na América Latina: uma revisão sobre a classificação de transtornos somatoformes, síndromes funcionais e sintomas sem explicação médica / Somatization in Latin America: a review of the classification of somatoform disorders, functional syndromes and medically unexplained symptoms

OBJETIVO: Os sintomas sem explicação médica são frequentes e estão associados a sofrimento mental em vários contextos. Estudos prévios apontam que as populações latino-americanas são propensas à somatização. Diante da reformulação da Classificação Internacional de Doenças para sua 11ª edição, as particularidades dos nativos desta região do mundo devem ser levadas em consideração. O objetivo deste estudo é prover informações sobre somatização na população latino-americana para a tomada de decisões quanto às categorias diagnósticas ligadas a sintomas sem explicação médica na Classificação Internacional de Doenças-11ª edição. MÉTODO: Revisão extensa da produção de 1995 a 2011 sobre somatização em populações de origem latino-americana. RESULTADOS: A análise dos 106 estudos incluídos nesta revisão foi dividida em 15 categorias: revisões sistemáticas, revisões conceituais, prevalências, atenção primária, depressão e ansiedade, fatores de risco, violência, quadros orgânicos, relacionamento com profissionais e o sistema de saúde, etnia, síndromes ligadas à cultura, síndrome da fadiga crônica, fibromialgia, transtorno dismórfico corporal, e conversão e dissociação. CONCLUSÃO: Os estudos latino-americanos confirmam a dificuldade na definição categorial de quadros com sintomas sem explicação médica. O suposto "traço somatizador" das culturas latinas pode estar associado mais à expressão cultural e linguística do que a um caráter de natureza étnica, e tais particularidades devem estar na agenda na nova classificação destes fenômenos na Classificação Internacional de Doenças-11ª edição.

OBJECTIVE: medically unexplained symptoms are common and associated with mental illness in various contexts. Previous studies show that Latin American populations are prone to somatization. Given the reformulation of the International Classification of Diseases towards its 11th edition the peculiarities of the population from this region of the world shall be taken into consideration. The objective of this study is to provide information on somatization in Latin American populations to help the decision making about medically unexplained symptoms diagnostic categories in the 11th edition of the International Classification of Diseases. METHOD: Extensive review of the academic production from 1995 to 2011 on somatization in populations of Latin American origin. RESULTS: The analysis of 106 studies included in this review was divided into 15 categories: systematic reviews, conceptual reviews, prevalence, primary care, depression and anxiety, risk factors, violence, organic conditions, relationship with health care, ethnicity, culture-bound syndromes, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, body dysmorphic disorder, and conversion and dissociation. CONCLUSION: The Latin American studies confirm the difficulty in defining medically unexplained symptoms categories. The supposed "somatizing trace" of Latin cultures may be linked more to cultural and linguistic expression than to an ethnic nature, and these peculiarities must be on the agenda for the new classification of these phenomena in the Classification of Diseases-11th edition.

Psychiatry: life events and social support in late life depression

OBJECTIVES: To examine the association of life events and social support in the broadly defined category of depression in late life. INTRODUCTION: Negative life events and lack of social support are associated with depression in the elderly. Currently, there are limited studies examining the association between life events, social support and late-life depression in Brazil. METHODS: We estimated the frequency of late-life depression within a household community sample of 367 subjects aged 60 years or greater with associated factors. ''Old age symptomatic depression'' was defined using the Composite International Diagnostic Interview 1.1 tool. This diagnostic category included only late-life symptoms and consisted of the diagnoses of depression and dysthymia as well as a subsyndromal definition of depression, termed ''late subthreshold depression''. Social support and life events were assessed using the Comprehensive Assessment and Referral Evaluation (SHORT-CARE) inventory. RESULTS: ''Old age symptomatic depression'' occurred in 18.8 percent of the patients in the tested sample. In univariate analyses, this condition was associated with female gender, lifetime anxiety disorder and living alone. In multivariate models, ''old age symptomatic depression'' was associated with a perceived lack of social support in men and life events in women. DISCUSSION: Social support and life events were determined to be associated with late-life depression, but it is important to keep in mind the differences between genders. Also, further exploration of the role of lifetime anxiety disorder in late-life depression may be of future importance. CONCLUSIONS: We believe that this study helps to provide insight into the role of psychosocial factors in late-life depression.

The influence of the comorbidity between depression and alcohol use disorder on suicidal behaviors in the São Paulo Epidemiologic Catchment Area Study, Brazil / Influência da comorbidade entre depressão e transtornos por uso de álcool nos comportamentos suicidas no Estudo de Área de Captação de São Paulo, Brasil

OBJECTIVE: To investigate in a community sample the association of suicide-related cognitions and behaviors ("thoughts of death", "desire for death", "suicidal thoughts", and "suicidal attempts") with the comorbidity of depressive disorders (major depressive episode or dysthymia) and alcohol or substance use disorders. METHOD: The sample was 1464 subjects interviewed in their homes using the Composite International Diagnostic Interview to generate DSM-III-R diagnosis. Descriptive statistics depicted the prevalence of suicide-related cognitions and behaviors by socio-demographic variables and diagnoses considered (major depressive episode, dysthymia, alcohol or substance use disorders). We performed a multivariate logistic regression analysis to estimate the effect of comorbid major depressive episode/dysthymia and alcohol or substance use disorders on each of the suicide-related cognitions and behaviors. RESULTS: The presence of major depressive episode and dysthymia was significantly associated with suicide-related cognitions and behaviors. In the regression models, suicide-related cognitions and behaviors were predicted by major depressive episode (OR = range 2.3-9.2) and dysthymia (OR = range 5.1-32.6), even in the presence of alcohol use disorders (OR = range 2.3-4.0) or alcohol or substance use disorders (OR = range 2.7-2.8). The interaction effect was observed between major depressive episode and alcohol use disorders, as well as between dysthymia and gender. Substance use disorders were excluded from most of the models. CONCLUSION: Presence of major depressive episode and dysthymia influences suicide-related cognitions and behaviors, independently of the presence of alcohol or substance use disorders. However, alcohol use disorders and gender interact with depressive disorders, displaying a differential effect on suicide-related cognitions and behaviors.

OBJETIVO: Investigar, numa amostra comunitária, a associação entre cognições e comportamentos relacionados ao suicídio ("pensamentos de morte", "desejo de morte", "pensamentos suicidas", e "tentativas de suicídio") e a comorbidade entre transtornos depressivos (episódio depressivo maior ou distimia) e transtornos por uso de álcool ou substâncias. MÉTODO: 1.464 sujeitos foram entrevistados em seus domicílios com o CIDI para gerar diagnósticos DSM-III-R. Estatística descritiva demonstrou a prevalência de cognições e comportamentos relacionados ao suicídio pelas variáveis sociodemográficas e diagnósticos considerados (episódio depressivo maior, distimia, transtornos por uso de álcool ou substâncias). Realizamos também análises de regressão logística multivariada para estimar o efeito da comorbidade entre episódio depressivo maior/distimia e transtornos por uso de álcool ou substâncias em cognições e comportamentos relacionados ao suicídio. RESULTADOS: A presença de episódio depressivo maior e distimia foi significativamente associada a cognições e comportamentos relacionados ao suicídio. Em modelos de regressão multivariada, os preditores de cognições e comportamentos relacionados ao suicídio foram episódio depressivo maior (OR range = 2,3-9,2) e distimia (OR range = 5,1-32,6) mesmo na presença de transtornos por uso de álcool (OR range = 2,3-4,0) ou transtornos por uso de substâncias (OR range = 2,7-2,8). O efeito de interação foi observado entre episódio depressivo maior e transtornos por uso de álcool, bem como entre gênero e distimia. Transtornos por uso de álcool foi excluído da maioria dos modelos. CONCLUSÃO: A presença de episódio depressivo maior e distimia influencia os CCS, independentemente da presença de transtornos por uso de álcool ou substâncias. Contudo, transtornos por uso de álcool e gênero interagem com os transtornos depressivos, demonstrando um efeito diferencial em cognições e comportamentos relacionados ao suicídio.

Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder symptoms in indigenous children from the Brazilian Amazon / Sintomas do transtorno de déficit de atenção e hiperatividade em crianças indígenas da Amazônia brasileira

The clinical constructs of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have been described in several cultures worldwide. Yet this symptomatic presentation still remains to be assessed in remote population groups. OBJECTIVE: To explore the possibility of the existence of ADHD symptoms among settlement-dwelling indigenous children of the Karajá ethnic group in the Brazilian Amazon and to estimate the rate of ADHD symptoms among 7-16-year-olds. METHOD: All parents/caretakers of 7-16-year olds from all (N=5) most populated indigenous groups were invited to participate, if they were worried about their children emotional/behavioural problems. Fifty three parents spontaneously came for a psychiatric interview (DSM-IV criteria applied), individually conducted at the settlement's health post by a child psychiatrist. RESULTS: The estimated rate of ADHD symptoms in problematic indigenous children aged 7-16 years was 24.5 percent (95 percent CI: 13.6-35.4) since 13 out of 53 parents/caretakers reported the classical triad of ADHD symptoms (inattentiveness, hyperactivity, impulsiveness). CONCLUSION: ADHD is a clinically relevant construct in the Karajá indigenous population, representing a major concern among parents/caretakers of children and adolescents from this ethnic group.

Os construtos clínicos do transtorno de déficit de atenção/hiperatividade (TDAH) têm sido descritos em várias culturas ao redor do mundo, entretanto esta apresentação sintomatológica ainda tem sido pouco investigada em grupos populacionais mais isolados. OBJETIVO: Explorar a possibilidade da existência de sintomas do TDAH entre crianças índias da etnia Karajá na Amazônia Legal Brasileira e estimar a prevalência dos sintomas do TDAH entre aquelas com 7-16 anos de idade. MÉTODO: Todos os pais-cuidadores das crianças entre os 7-16 anos de idade, das cinco aldeias mais populosas foram convidados a participar se houvesse qualquer preocupação acerca de problemas de comportamento e emocionais com suas crianças. Cinqüenta e três pais compareceram espontaneamente para a entrevista psiquiátrica (aplicando-se os critérios do DSM-IV), individualmente conduzida no posto de saúde da aldeia por um psiquiatra infantil. RESULTADOS: A taxa de prevalência estimada dos sintomas do TDAH nas crianças entre os 7-16 anos de idade, naquelas que apresentaram problemas foi de 24,5 por cento (IC 95 por cento 13,6-35,4), desde que 13 dos 53 pais-cuidadores referiram a tríade sintomatológica clássica do TDAH (desatenção, hiperatividade e impulsividade). CONCLUSÃO: O TDAH é um construto clinicamente relevante na população indígena Karajá, representando uma grande preocupação entre os pais ou cuidadores das crianças e adolescentes desse grupo étnico.

Mood changes in the course of preparation for the Brazilian university admission exam - a longitudinal study / Alterações de humor ao longo da preparação para o vestibular - um estudo longitudinal

OBJECTIVE: Academic examinations are an important source of stress for students. This study is intended to assess senior high school students' mood changes during the preparation for a very important academic examination, the Brazilian university admission examination. METHOD: Positive and Negative Affect Schedule - Expanded Form was used to assess the students three times in the course of the months preceding the examination. RESULTS: ANOVA for repeated measures showed that Negative Affect increased as the examination approached, and that this increment was already present months before the examinationtookplace. Asingle conditionallyindependent random effect model showed that time spent studying was associated with fluctuations in mood. CONCLUSION: Teenagers, in preparation for a very important examination, may present mood disturbances associated with both the proximity of the examination and their study load months before the examination actually takes place. Other stressing factors may play a role in these findings and should be further investigated.

OBJETIVO: Exames acadêmicos são uma fonte importante de estresse para estudantes. Este estudo teve como objetivo avaliar alterações de humor em estudantes de terceiro ano do Ensino Médio ao longo da preparação para um exame acadêmico de grande importância, o vestibular. MÉTODO: Positive and Negative Affect Schedule - Expanded Form foi utilizado para avaliar os estudantes três vezes ao longo dos meses antecedendo o exame. RESULTADOS: ANOVA para medidas repetidas mostrou que o afeto negativo aumentou com a aproximação do exame e que esse aumento já estava presente meses antes dele acontecer. Um modelo de efeitos aleatórios com independência condicional mostrou que o tempo de estudo estava associado às flutuações de humor. CONCLUSÃO: Adolescentes em preparação para exames muito importantes podem apresentar um distúrbio de humor associado à proximidade do exame e à quantidade de estudo meses antes que ele ocorra. Outros estressores podem estar associados a esses achados e devem ser investigados.

São Paulo Megacity Mental Health Survey - a population-based epidemiological study of psychiatric morbidity in the São Paulo metropolitan area: aims, design and field implementation / São Paulo megacity - um estudo epidemiológico de base populacional avaliando a morbidade psiquiátrica na região metropolitana de São Paulo: objetivos, desenho e implementação do trabalho de campo

The São Paulo Megacity Mental Health Survey is a population-based cross-sectional survey of psychiatric morbidity, assessing a probabilistic sample of household residents in the São Paulo Metropolitan Area, aged 18 years and over. Respondents were selected from a stratified multistage clustered area probability sample of households, covering all 39 municipalities, without replacement. Respondents were assessed using the World Mental Health Survey version of the World Health Organization Composite International Diagnostic Interview (WMH-CIDI), which was translated and adapted into the Brazilian-Portuguese language. Data was collected between May 2005 and April 2007 by trained lay interviewers. The World Mental Health Survey version of the Composite International Diagnostic Interview comprises clinical and non-clinical sections, arranged as Part I and Part II, producing diagnoses according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders - Fourth Edition, and the International Classification of Diseases - 10th Revision. Mood, anxiety, impulse-control and substance use disorders, and suicide-related behavior, considered core disorders, as well as socio-demographic information, were assessed in all respondents. Non-clinical modules and non-core clinical sections (obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, gambling, eating disorders, neurasthenia, pre-menstrual disorders, psychotic symptoms and personality traits) were assessed in a sub-sample (2,942 respondents), composed by all respondents with at least one core disorder and a 25 percent random sample of those who were non-cases. A total of 5,037 individuals were interviewed, with a global response rate of 81.3 percent. Saliva samples were collected from 1,801 respondents, with DNA extracted stored pending further investigations.

O Estudo Epidemiológico dos Transtornos Mentais São Paulo Megacity é um estudo de corte transversal de base populacional avaliando a morbidade psiquiátrica em uma amostra probabilística da população geral residente na Região Metropolitana de São Paulo, com 18 anos ou mais. Respondentes foram selecionados através de um processo probabilístico multiestratificado de domicílios, cobrindo os 39 municípios, sem substituição. Respondentes foram avaliados usando a versão desenvolvida para o Estudo Mundial de Saúde Mental (World Mental Health Survey) do Composite International Diagnostic Interview da Organização Mundial da Saúde, que foi traduzido e adaptado para o Português vigente no Brasil. A coleta de dados ocorreu entre maio/2005 e abril/2007, por entrevistadores treinados. O WMH-CIDI é composto por seções clínicas e não-clínicas, dispostas em duas partes, gerando diagnósticos de acordo com o Manual Diagnóstico e Estatísticos de Doenças Mentais - Quarta Edição e a Classificação Internacional de Doenças - 10ª Revisão. Todos os respondentes receberam os módulos de avaliação de transtornos do humor, de ansiedade, do controle de impulsos, decorrentes do uso de substâncias psicoativas e comportamento suicida, considerados transtornos nucleares, assim como foram coletados dados sociodemográficos. Módulos não-clínicos e clínicos complementares (transtornos obsessivo-compulsivos, estresse pós-traumático, jogo patológico, alimentares, pré-menstruais, neurastenia, sintomas psicóticos e rastreio de personalidade) foram aplicados àqueles que tiveram pelo menos um dos transtornos nucleares e a uma amostra aleatória de 25 por cento dos negativos (2.942 respondentes). Um total de 5.037 indivíduos foi entrevistado, com uma taxa global de resposta de 81,3 por cento. Amostras de saliva foram coletadas de 1.801 respondentes, com extração de DNA e armazenamento para investigação futura.

Epidemiologia do beber pesado e beber pesado episódico no Brasil: uma revisão sistemática da literatura / Epidemiology of heavy drinking and heavy episodic drinking in Brazil: a systematic review of literature

CONTEXTO: O beber pesado episódico (BPE) tem sido fortemente associado a danos e a uma carga social consideráveis. OBJETIVOS: Este estudo tem como finalidade avaliar o panorama brasileiro a partir de aspectos sociodemográficos, fatores individuais e sociais relacionados ao beber pesado. MÉTODOS: A busca de artigos científicos foi realizada com base em um programa de computador nos principais bancos de dados científicos. RESULTADOS: Os homens beberam pesado mais freqüentemente que as mulheres. O beber pesado episódico foi mais prevalente em adolescentes e adultos jovens, e a prevalência tende a diminuir com o aumento da idade. As condições socioeconômicas parecem ter um efeito sobre o beber pesado. O início precoce do beber pesado esteve associado com história de dependência do álcool na vida adulta. O beber pesado episódico esteve associado ao uso concomitante de outras substâncias psicoativas. Os fatores de risco para BPE incluíram atividades sociais e disponibilidade de dinheiro. A pressão dos pares mostrou influenciar mais do que o suporte parental especialmente no final de adolescência. O BP também variou de acordo com a cultura, com mais episódios de BP no Sul em comparação com o Norte do País. CONCLUSÕES: Uma variedade de aspectos sociodemográficos e individuais associados ao beber pesado foi identificada. Porém, o conhecimento nessa área ainda é muito limitado. Mais pesquisas no Brasil são urgentemente necessárias visto que os resultados provenientes de outras culturas não podem ser generalizados.

BACKGROUND: Heavy episodic drinking has been shown to be closely associated with considerable damage to and burden on society. OBJECTIVES: This review aims to give an overview of the Brazilian reality based on socio-demographic aspects, considering individual and social factors related to heavy drinking. METHODS: A computer-assisted search of relevant articles was conducted in the foremost scientific databases. RESULTS: Males tended to heavy drinking more frequently than females. Heavy episodic drinking was most prevalent among adolescents and young adults, though this prevalence tended to level off as they age. Socioeconomic conditions appear to have an effect on heavy drinking. The early onset of heavy drinking has been associated with a history of alcohol dependency in the adult phase. Heavy episodic drinking coincided with other psychoactive substance usage. Motives for heavy drinking included both social activities as well as the availability of money. Peer pressure was one of the strongest influencing factors in binge drinking and seemed to outweigh parental influence, particularly from late adolescence onward. Heavy drinking also varied according to both the predominant adult and adolescent drinking culture, with more binge drinking in the southern areas of Brazil as compared with the northern and central regions. CONCLUSIONS: A myriad of socio-demographical, individual, and social characteristics associated with heavy drinking have been identified. However, knowledge in these areas remain limited, as most research has been conducted on specific groups and situations, in particular, that of North American college students. More research in Brazil is urgently needed, as results from other cultural contexts should not be generalized.

Epidemiologia dos transtornos psiquiátricos na mulher / Epidemiology of women's psychiatric disorders

A conscientização de que os transtornos mentais representam um sério problema de saúde pública é relativamente recente, ocorrendo a partir da publicação do estudo The Global Burden of Disease pela Organização Mundial da Saúde. Diferenças de gênero na incidência, prevalência e curso de transtornos mentais, assim como na apresentação clínica e na resposta terapêutica, têm sido extensivamente demonstradas por estudos epidemiológicos.

The awareness that mental disorders present a serious public health problem is relatively new, occurring after the publication of The Global Burden of Disease by the World Health Organization. Gender differences in the incidence, prevalence, and course of mental disorders, as well as in their clinical features and response to treatment; have been extensively demonstrated in epidemiological studies.

Physical activity and mental health: the association between exercise and mood

A atividade física é, por seus efeitos no tratamento e na prevenção de várias patologias, um importante instrumento de saúde pública, sendo útil, inclusive, no tratamento de doenças psiquiátricas como transtornos depressivos e ansiosos. Todavia, além dos benefícios, a atividade física também está associada a prejuízos para a saúde mental, aparecendo ligada a quadros como "exercício excessivo" e "síndrome de 'overtraining'", segundo alguns estudos. Trabalhos sobre os efeitos de atividade física na saúde mental vêm se tornando mais comuns, no entanto ainda não permitem um conhecimento maior sobre os mecanismos implicados nos benefícios e malefícios associados a este tipo de atividade. Este artigo procura revisar os conhecimentos disponíveis sobre as relações entre atividade física e saúde mental, principalmente no que se refere à ligação existente entre exercício e humor.