Trastornos de la alimentación en pacientes hospitalizados en un Servicio de Salud Mental Pediátrico / Eating behavior disorders in patients hospitalized in a Mental Health Service

INTRODUCTION: Los trastornos de la alimentación e ingesta (TAI) tienen una elevada prevalencia durante la adolescencia, asociándose a alta morbimortalidad. En nuestro país no existen datos que caractericen a los adolescentes con TAI que requieren hospitalización. OBJETIVO: Describir y analizar las hospitaliza ciones debidas a TAI en niños y adolescentes en un Servicio de Salud Mental Pediátrico (SSMP). PACIENTES Y MÉTODO: Se recolectaron los datos de los registros clínicos de pacientes con TAI hospitalizados en el SSMP del Hospital Roberto del Río entre 2005-2015. Se estudiaron las variables de ingreso: motivo de hospitalización, tipo de TAI, estado nutricional, repercusión sistémica y variables sicosociales (comorbilidades siquiátricas, funcionamiento de la familia, abuso e ideación/intento suicida). Para la comparación de variables cuantitativas entre grupos se utilizó el test t-Student y para variables categóricas chi-cuadrado o Test Fisher. RESULTADOS: Se incluyeron 93 pacientes, me diana de edad 14,6 años, 84% género femenino. El diagnóstico más frecuente fue anorexia nerviosa (AN) (71%) y la causa más frecuente de hospitalización fue el fracaso del tratamiento ambulatorio, seguido por ideación/intento suicida. Al ingreso, 40% de los pacientes presentaban déficit nutricio nal, 96% comorbilidad psiquiátrica y 88% disfunción familiar. CONCLUSIÓN: La AN fue el TAI más frecuente dentro de los pacientes hospitalizados y el fracaso del tratamiento ambulatorio el principal motivo de ingreso. Esto último podría ser explicado, en parte, por la alta prevalencia de disfunción familiar y comorbilidad psiquiátrica de los pacientes y su familia, que estaría complicando el trata miento ambulatorio.

INTRODUCTION: Eating disorders (ED) have a high prevalence during adolescence, associated with high morbidity and mortality. In our country, there are no data that characterize adolescent inpatients with ED. OBJECTIVE: To describe and analyze hospitalizations of children and adolescents due to ED admitted in a Pediatric Mental Health Service (PMHS). PATIENTS AND METHOD: Data were collected from the clinical record of patients with ED hospitalized in the PMHS of the Hospital Roberto del Río during 2005-2015. The following admission variables were studied: cause for hospitalization, ED type, nu tritional status, systemic involvement, and psychosocial variables (psychiatric comorbidities, family functioning, abuse, and suicide ideation/attempt). The t-Student test was used for quantitative varia bles and the chi-square or Fisher Test for qualitative variables for the comparison between groups. RESULTS: 93 patients were included, with an average age of 14.6 years, 84% of them were women. The most frequent diagnosis was anorexia nervosa (AN) (71%) and the most frequent cause for hospita lization was the failure of outpatient treatment, followed by suicide ideation/attempt. At admission, 40% of the patients had malnutrition, 96% psychiatric comorbidity, and 88% family dysfunction. CONCLUSION: AN was the most frequent ED among inpatients and the failure of outpatient treatment was the main cause for hospitalization. The latter could be explained, in part, by the high prevalence of family dysfunction and psychiatric comorbidity of patients and their families which would com plicate outpatient treatment.

Servicios hospitalarios amigables desde el punto de vista de los adolescentes / Friendly hospital services from the adolescents point of view

Se realizó una investigación descriptiva y transversal de 1 630 adolescentes ingresados en el Hospital Infantil Docente Sur Dr Antonio María Béguez César de Santiago de Cuba, de enero a diciembre del 2015, con vistas a identificar sus expectativas respecto a una atención amigable en los servicios hospitalarios, determinar la preparación de médicos y enfermeros y describir la estructura y las condiciones organizacionales de las salas de hospitalización. A tal efecto se aplicaron encuestas a los adolescentes y un cuestionario a los médicos para comprobar sus conocimientos; además se evaluó el desempeño de los facultativos y del personal de enfermería mediante una guía de observación. Entre los aspectos analizados de la serie, la amabilidad del personal sanitario (83,5 por ciento) y la privacidad en los cubículos (60,8 por ciento) resultaron muy importantes para los adolescentes. Igualmente, se observó que la mayoría de los médicos poseían conocimientos adecuados (86,6 por ciento) para la atención a estos pacientes y que todos ellos se desempeñaban de manera aceptable; sin embargo, se detectaron dificultades en la estructura y las condiciones organizacionales de las salas, lo cual condujo a concluir que la institución hospitalaria no reunía las condiciones para ser calificada de amigable

A descriptive and cross-sectional investigation of 1 630 adolescents admitted to Dr Antonio María Béguez César Southern Teaching Children Hospital was carried out in Santiago de Cuba, from January to December, 2015, aimed at identifying their expectations regarding a friendly care in hospital services, determining the preparation of doctors and nurses and describing the structure and organizational conditions of hospitalization wards. To such an effect surveys to adolescents and a questionnaire to doctors were applied to check their knowledge; the performance of doctors and nurses staff was also evaluated by means of an observation guide. Among the analyzed aspects of the series, the sanitary staff kindness (83.5 percent) and wards privacy (60.8 percent) were very important for adolescents. Likewise, it was observed that most of the doctors possessed appropriate knowledge (86.6 percent) to care these patients and that all of them had an acceptable performance; however, some difficulties in the structure and organizational conditions of the wards were detected, so it was concluded that the hospital institution didn't fulfill the necessary conditions to be qualified as friendly

Características familiares y trastornos de la conducta alimentaria en una muestra de mujeres adolescentes internadas en un hospital psiquiátrico / Family characteristics and eating disorders in a sample of female adolescent inpatients in a psychiatric hospital

Background From the first descriptions of the eating disorders, researchers have found that the families of patients with anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa present high levels of family dysfunction. These families tend to differ from the control families, mainly because they present a greater frequency of conflicts and disorganization, less adaptability and cohesion, poor care of the parents towards their children, presence of overprotection, less orientation towards recreational activities and less emotional support. Several authors have suggested that a family adverse environment might represent an important etiologic factor for the development of an eating disorder. Nevertheless, the symptoms more related to degree of dysfunction or to quality of family environment in such patients have not been identified. Objective To describe the frequency of the eating disorders as well as eating disorder not otherwise specified in a sample of inpatient female adolescents; and to establish the relationship that functioning and quality of the family environment hold with the severity and/or characteristics of the eating psychopathology. Subjects and methods The study included a group of 36 female adolescents hospitalized due to any type of psychopathology in the Children's Psychiatric Hospital Dr. Juan N. Navarro. The study sample consisted of all the patients who wanted to be included and who fulfilled the inclusion criteria. A written informed consent was obtained from parents as approved by the Department of Research of the Children's Psychiatric Hospital Dr. Juan N. Navarro. Diagnostic categories in the sample, including eating disorders, were based on the Mini-International Neuropsychiatrie Interview -Kid (MINI-Kid). Those that presented an eating disorder not otherwise specified were diagnosed with a clinical interview based on DSM-IV criteria. In addition, the patients answered a series of self reports: the Eating Disorder Inventory, the General Functioning Subscale of the McMaster Family Assessment Device and the Child Figure Rating Scale. The body dissatisfaction was considered if the patient had negative scores (she wanted to be thinner) in the Child Figure Rating Scale. The score on the Global Family Environment Scale was obtained through a non-structured interview concerning the quality of the family environment (assessed in retrospect) and this information was complemented with that contained in each patient's medical chart. Results From the 36 patients included, 39% presented an eating disorder (17% a specific disorder and 22% an eating disorder not otherwise specified), 42% presented only body dissatisfaction and 19% of the sample was free of eating psychopathology. The average of the body mass index was within the normal range (23.2 kg/m²); nevertheless the average score of the Eating Disorder Inventory (58.22) was higher than what some authors have suggested as cut point score for anorexia nervosa. The average score of the General Functioning Subscale of the McMaster Family Assessment Device (2.16) was in the low normal limit and the Global Family Environment Scale showed an average (62.8) that would correspond to a moderately unsatisfactory family environment. The total sample was divided in two subgroups; the first included the patients who fulfilled the criteria for eating disorder (including an eating disorder not otherwise specified) and the second subgroup included the rest of the patients. There were not significant differences in the type or number of comorbid disorders. The mean scores of the Eating Disorder Inventory were higher in the subgroup with eating disorder with a statistically significant difference (p<0.01). In a similar way, the dissatisfaction with the weight and the current figure as well as the dissatisfaction to future showed statistically significant differences (p<0.01). The score in the scales of functioning and quality of the family environment did not show statistically significant differences. We also divided the whole sample in two subgroups, one with family dysfunction (as determined by the General Functioning Subscale of the McMaster Family Assessment Device ≥2.17), and the other without family dysfunction (scored <2.17). The group with family dysfunction presented a higher frequency of major depressive disorder and social phobia with a statistically significant difference (p<0.05). In a similar fashion, we divided the sample in two subgroups, one with high to moderate quality family environment (score in the Global Family Environment Scale >70) and a second one with low quality family environment (score <70). Nevertheless, these subgroups did not show statistically significant differences concerning psychopathological disorders. We found a positive correlation (r=0.34) among the total score of the Eating Disorder Inventory and the score of the General Functioning Subscale of the McMaster Family Assessment Device (p<0.05). The subscale of the Eating Disorder Inventory that had higher correlation was bulimic symptomatology (r=0.51) followed by ineffectiveness (r=0.43), both statistically significant (p<0.01). On the other hand, the Global Family Environment Scale did not show significant correlations with the Eating Disorder Inventory. Conclusions Eating disorders represent an important cause of morbidity in adolescent female inpatients; likewise, the patients were more frequently diagnosed with an eating disorders not otherwise specified than with anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa (in the sample recruited for the present study, we found that the eating disorders not otherwise specified represented 56% of the total of eating disorders), making the early detection necessary for the beginning of treatments directed to avoid the evolution to severe forms. We need to pay attention to «atypical¼ conditions that do not fulfill the full diagnostic criteria for anorexia or bulimia, as they may be in fact associated with important levels of dysfunction and comorbidity. The dissatisfaction with the weight and figure was shown by the majority of the patients who were hospitalized in a psychiatric unit. Adolescence can be accompanied by great dissatisfaction with self appearance; nevertheless, to determine the relevance of this phenomenon as a risk factor for the development of an eating disorder, follow-up studies with bigger samples are needed. Family dysfunction is a variable that relates to the severity of the eating disorders, mainly the bulimic symptoms. From this perspective these findings seem to support the psychodynamic interpretation of bulimia nervosa, where bingeing symbolizes the marked dependence to significant figures, and vomiting the desire to expel an evil introjected object. Nevertheless, given the impossibility to do inferences beyond a simple association among variables, another explanation could be that the aforementioned symptoms were damaging the family functioning, creating in this way a vicious circle. This finding may be important to determine which group of symptoms could be expected to improve after a family intervention directed to treat an eating disorder. The lack of correlations between the Global Family Environment Scale and the Eating Disorder Inventory could be explained by the fact that the Global Family Environment Scale evaluates functioning during the worst year of the patients' life, which could be during their first five years, thus its effect⁄impact on current psychopathology could not be established.

Introducción Desde las primeras descripciones de los trastornos alimentarios, los investigadores han encontrado que las familias de las pacientes con anorexia nerviosa o bulimia nerviosa presentan un alto nivel de disfunción familiar. Sin embargo, aún no se ha establecido qué síntomas se encuentran más relacionados con el grado de disfunción o con la calidad del ambiente familiar en este tipo de pacientes. Objetivo Describir la frecuencia de los trastornos de la conducta alimentaria, incluyendo los trastornos de la conducta alimentaria no especificados, en una muestra de pacientes adolescentes hospitalizadas por diversos tipos de psicopatología; y establecer el tipo de relación existente entre el funcionamiento-calidad del ambiente familiar y la gravedad y características de la psicopatología alimentaria. Material y métodos El estudio incluyó a un grupo de 36 pacientes mujeres adolescentes hospitalizadas debido a cualquier tipo de psicopatología en el Hospital Psiquiátrico Infantil Dr. Juan N. Navarro. Se realizó la entrevista Mini-Kid para determinar las categorías diagnósticas presentes en la muestra (los trastornos de la conducta alimentaria no especificados fueron diagnosticados a través de una entrevista no estructurada basada en los criterios del DSM-IV). Además, se aplicó el Eating Disorder Inventory, la Subescala de Funcionamiento General de la Familia, la Escala del Ambiente Familiar Global y la Escala de Figuras de Niños. Resultados El 39% de la muestra presentó un trastorno alimentario (17% un trastorno específico y 22% un trastorno no especificado), el 42% presentaba únicamente insatisfacción corporal y sólo el 19% de la muestra se encontraba libre de psicopatología alimentaria. El grupo con disfunción familiar (puntuación en la Subescala de Funcionamiento General de la Familia ≥2.17) presentó una mayor tendencia a cursar con episodio depresivo mayor y fobia social en contraste con el grupo sin disfunción familiar, con una diferencia estadísticamente significativa (p<0.05). El grupo de pacientes con alta-moderada calidad del ambiente familiar (puntuación en la Escala del Ambiente Familiar Global ≥70) no mostró diferencias estadísticamente significativas con el grupo de baja calidad del ambiente familiar en cuanto a los trastornos de la conducta alimentaria y el resto de las categorías diagnósticas obtenidas por el Mini-Kid. Se encontró una correlación positiva (r=0.34) entre la puntuación total del Eating Disorder Inventory y la puntuación de la Subescala de Funcionamiento General de la Familia (p<0.05). La subescala del Eating Disorder Inventory que tuvo mayor correlación fue la de sintomatología bulímica (r=0.51), seguida por la de inefectividad y baja autoestima (r=0.43), ambas estadísticamente significativas (p<0.01). Conclusiones Los trastornos de la conducta alimentaria representan una importante causa de morbilidad en las poblaciones clínicas de mujeres adolescentes; asimismo, los trastornos de la conducta alimentaria no especificados superan en prevalencia a la anorexia nerviosa y la bulimia nerviosa. La disfunción familiar es una variable que se relaciona con la gravedad de los trastornos de la conducta alimentaria, principalmente los síntomas bulímicos y la baja autoestima. Este hallazgo resulta relevante ante el hecho de poder determinar qué grupo de síntomas podrían mejorar inicialmente con una intervención familiar encaminada a tratar un trastorno alimentario. Al parecer, la calidad del ambiente familiar medido de forma retrospectiva no tiene un impacto específico en la presencia de un trastorno alimentario, lo que puede quizá solamente propiciar la presencia de variables mediadoras que se relacionen con la generación de psicopatología.

Protocolo de atendimento e acompanhamento nutricional pediátrico por níveis assistenciais / Pediatric nutritional protocol assessment by nutritional care level

Objetivo: Descrever um protocolo de atendimento e acompanhamento nutricional através de níveis assistenciais em pediatria, para sistematizar e otimizar a assistência nutricional das crianças e adolescentes hospitalizados. Métodos: Foram padronizadas a avaliação antropométrica e a classificação do estado nutricional, bem como definidos os fatores de risco para desnutrição nas crianças e adolescentes hospitalizados. Foram estabelecidas três categorias de níveis assistenciais, que determinaram o tipo de atendimento e frequência do acompanhamento nutricional. Os critérios de avaliação, acompanhamento e reavaliação foram definidos conforme o nível assistencial. Para crianças em situações especiais foram criados protocolos específicos e para as desnutridas, critérios para reabilitação nutricional. Foi elaborada uma ficha de atendimento com acompanhamento nutricional pediátrico (FAANP), para ser preenchida a partir da admissão hospitalar. Conclusão: A utilização de um protocolo de atendimento por níveis assistenciais em pediatria proporcionou a padronização de procedimentos de avaliação nutricional e a otimização do acompanhamento de crianças e adolescentes, permitindo uma intervenção nutricional mais efetiva.

Aim: To describe a protocol of pediatric nutritional attendance by nutritional care level (NCL), and to optimize nutritional assistance. Methods: The anthropometric assessment and the classification of nutritional status were standardized, and risk factors were defined for undernourished children and adolescents during hospitalization. We established three categories of NCL which determined the kind and frequency of nutritional assistance. The evaluation criteria, attendance and reevaluation were defined in agreement to the assistance level. For children with special needs we created different protocols including nutritional rehabilitation criteria of the undernourished children. We elaborated records of pediatric nutritional attendance to be filled during the hospital admission. Conclusion: The use of a protocol of pediatric nutritional attendance by level of nutritional care provided the standardization of nutritional procedures assistance and improved the assistance of pediatric patients allowing a more effective nutritional intervention.