The Eysenck Personality Questionnaire Revised - Abbreviated (EPQR-A): psychometric properties of the Brazilian Portuguese version

Abstract Introduction The Eysenck Personality Questionnaire Revised - Abbreviated (EPQR-A) consists of 24 items for assessment of the three fundamental personality traits (psychoticism, extraversion, and neuroticism) and a validity scale (lie scale). Our objectives were to assess the psychometric properties of a version of this instrument culturally adapted for Brazil. Method 321 participants were recruited using a non-probabilistic method. Results Internal consistencies ranged from minimally acceptable to respectable, except for the psychoticism domain. Higher neuroticism scores were associated with higher depression and anxiety scores, higher extraversion scores were associated with lower levels of depression symptoms, and higher psychoticism scores were associated with higher levels of depression symptoms. Conclusion Our findings describe sustainable psychometric properties for the Brazilian Portuguese version of EPQR-A.

Novas perspectivas nas psicoterapias em gays e lésbicas / New perspectives on psychotherapies with gays and lesbians

INTRODUÇÃO: O estigma que gays e lésbicas sofrem configura uma questão de saúde pública. Frequentemente, a procura de psicoterapia por esses pacientes é motivada por fatores relacionados a dificuldades de relacionamento com o meio. Dessa forma, a psicoterapia é uma ferramenta valiosa para mitigar os efeitos deletérios do estresse de minorias e dos novos impactos psicossociais advindos da pandemia. MÉTODO: Foi realizada uma revisão narrativa da literatura indexada em bases de dados utilizando palavras-chaves obtidas a partir de vocabulários controlados e sinônimos. A amostragem foi por conveniência. RESULTADOS: Diferentes modelos de psicoterapias foram adaptados às necessidades das minorias sexuais, como protocolos baseados nas terapias interpessoal, psicodinâmica e cognitivo-comportamental. Os modelos atuais da identidade sexual incorporam conceitos como homonegatividade internalizada e estresse de minorias, com conflitos que podem ser descritos em estágios passíveis de intervenções psicoterápicas específicas. Adicionalmente, a pandemia de COVID-19 pareceu trazer à tona uma série de novos possíveis estressores para indivíduos pertencentes a minorias sexuais, como o isolamento social e o aumento no consumo de álcool. DISCUSSÃO: Diversos modelos de psicoterapia mostram resultados satisfatórios em gays e lésbicas. Os principais fatores relacionados ao êxito terapêutico são a adoção de uma postura não julgadora e em uma aliança terapêutica sólida. CONCLUSÃO: A psicoterapia apresenta-se como um tratamento de notável valor ao atenuar o possível sofrimento psíquico de gays e lésbicas, principalmente diante da intensificação do estresse de minorias durante a pandemia de COVID-19.

INTRODUCTION: The stigma suffered by gays and lesbians is a public health issue. Frequently, the demand of psychotherapy by these patients is motivated by factors related to relationship difficulties with the environment, which makes psychotherapy a valuable instrument to reduce the deleterious effects of minority stress and the new psychosocial impacts resulting from the pandemic. METHOD: A narrative review of literature indexed in databases was conducted using keywords obtained from controlled vocabularies and synonyms. The sampling was by convenience. RESULTS: Different models of psychotherapies have been adapted to the needs of sexual minorities, such as protocols based on interpersonal, psychodynamic and cognitive-behavioral therapies. Current models of sexual identity include concepts such as internalized homonegativity and minority stressors, with conflicts that can be described in stages amenable to specific psychotherapeutic interventions. The pandemic of COVID-19 seemed to bring out a number of new potential stressors for individuals belonging to sexual minorities, for exemple social isolation and increased alcohol consumption. DISCUSSION: Several models of psychotherapy demonstrate satisfactory results in gays and lesbians. The main factors related to therapeutic success are the adoption of a non-judgmental stance and in a solid therapeutic alliance. Minority stress, intensified during the COVID-19 pandemic, contributes to negative mental health outcomes. CONCLUSION: Psychotherapy presents itself as a treatment of notable value in alleviating the psychological suffering of gays and lesbians, especially in the face of intensified minority stress during the COVID-19 pandemic.

INTRODUCCIÓN: El estigma que sufren gays y lesbianas es un problema de salud pública. A menudo, la demanda de psicoterapia por parte de estos pacientes está motivada por factores relacionados con las dificultades de relación con el entorno, lo que convierte a la psicoterapia en un valioso instrumento para reducir los efectos deletéreos del estrés minoritario y los nuevos impactos psicosociales derivados de la pandemia. MÉTODO: Se realizó una revisión narrativa de la literatura indexada en bases de datos utilizando palabras clave obtenidas de vocabularios controlados y sinónimos. El muestreo fue por conveniencia. RESULTADOS: Se han adaptado diferentes modelos de psicoterapias a las necesidades de las minorías sexuales, como protocolos basados en terapias interpersonales, psicodinámicas y cognitivo-conductuales. Así, la psicoterapia afirmativa emerge como un modelo transteórico asociado a mejores resultados en salud mental que auxilia en la expresión de la identidad sexual de los individuos, aunque no se ajuste a la norma social. La pandemia de COVID-19 pareció generar una serie de nuevos factores estresantes para las personas pertenecientes a minorías sexuales. DISCUSIÓN: Varios modelos de psicoterapia demuestran resultados satisfactorios en gays y lesbianas. Los principales factores relacionados con el éxito terapéutico son la adopción de una postura libre de juicios y en una sólida alianza terapéutica. El estrés de las minorías, intensificado durante la pandemia de COVID-19, contribuye a los resultados negativos de salud mental. CONCLUSIÓN: La psicoterapia se presenta como un tratamiento de notable valor para aliviar el sufrimiento psicológico de gays y lesbianas, especialmente ante el estrés de las minorías intensificado durante la pandemia de COVID-19.

Time series analysis of suicide from a monthly perspective in the south of Brazil: an ecological study

Abstract Introduction: Suicide is the cause of death of almost 800 thousand people worldwide every year. In Brazil, Rio Grande do Sul is one of the states with the highest suicide rates. This study aimed to assess whether there is a significant monthly time pattern of suicide in Rio Grande do Sul, by gender and age ranges, and whether suicide characteristics in the state are coherent with findings from previous studies. Methods: All data were collected from official secondary sources maintained by the national Brazilian and Rio Grande do Sul governments, covering a period from 2015 to 2019. Data included suicide deaths and population, divided by gender and age range. Sum totals, frequencies, odds ratios, and time series analyses were performed. Results: From 2015 to 2019, 6,287 people committed suicide in Rio Grande do Sul. Most of them were men and the most prevalent age band was from 50 to 59 years old. Men had higher suicide rates then women in all age ranges (p < 0.001) and in all months of the year, with an approximately 4-fold higher risk of committing suicide when compared to women. Men had a trending peak of suicide in January and December (p < 0.001), whereas women's suicide rates peaked in March and December (p = 0.001). Conclusion: There are monthly time trends and seasonal patterns of suicide rates in Rio Grande do Sul, varying by gender and age range. Gender differences occurred mainly in the first three months of the year, and the age pattern was more evident among individuals aged 60 years or older.