Brazilian Psychiatric Association guidelines on the integration of spirituality into mental health clinical practice: Part 1. Spiritual history and differential diagnosis

Objectives: To present evidence-based guidelines for clinical practice regarding religiosity and spirituality in mental health care in Brazil. Methods: A systematic review was conducted to identify potentially eligible articles indexed in the PubMed, PsycINFO, SciELO, LILACS, and Cochrane databases. A summary of recommendations and their levels of evidence was produced in accordance with Oxford Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine guidelines. Results: The systematic review identified 6,609 articles, 41 of which satisfied all inclusion criteria. Taking a spiritual history was found to be an essential part of a compassionate and culturally sensitive approach to care. It represents a way of obtaining relevant information about the patient's religiosity/spirituality, potential conflicts that could impact treatment adherence, and improve patient satisfaction. Consistent evidence shows that reported perceptual experiences are unreliable for differentiating between anomalous experiences and psychopathology. Negative symptoms, cognitive and behavioral disorganization, and functional impairment are more helpful for distinguishing pathological and non-pathological anomalous experiences. Conclusion: Considering the importance of religiosity/spirituality for many patients, a spiritual history should be routinely included in mental health care. Anomalous experiences are highly prevalent, requiring a sensitive and evidence-based approach to differential diagnosis.

Implementation of Group Interpersonal Psychotherapy in primary care

ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE To show the implementation process of IPT-G in primary care, including facilitating and obstructing factors, implementation strategies, and training and supervision of primary care professionals. METHODS Quantitative (cross-sectional and longitudinal) analysis of pre and post-knowledge tests; qualitative analyses of the training courses; patient recruitment; conduction of IPT-G sessions; supervision of IPT-G therapists; application of a semi-structured questionnaire to assess, investigate, and develop strategies against the identified barriers. RESULTS About 120 clinicians answered the pre-test; 84 completed the post-test. Pre- and post-test scores of IPT-G knowledge were significantly different. Twenty initially trained clinicians completed additional supervision in IPT-G. Qualitative analysis identified twelve barriers and six facilitators to IPT-G implementation in individual, organizational, and systemic contexts. CONCLUSIONS Implementation of IPT-G in primary care is a complex process with several steps. In the first step, health professionals were successfully trained in IPT-G. However, subsequent steps were more complex. Therefore, careful planning of IPT-G implementation is essential to maximize the success of this innovation.

Depression and suicide risk during the Covid-19 pandemic at a Brazilian public health psychosocial addiction care center: a preliminary report

Abstract Objective To evaluate the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on depressive symptoms and suicide risk among patients receiving treatment at a Public Health Psychosocial Addiction Care Center (CAPS AD III) in Porto Alegre, Brazil. Methods Questions from the Coronavirus Health Impact Survey (CRISIS) translated into Brazilian Portuguese were used to evaluate 70 patients' perceptions of and behaviors during the Covid-19 pandemic. Validated Brazilian versions of the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and the General Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) were used to evaluate the severity of depressive symptoms, suicide risk, and anxiety symptoms. A multiple logistic regression model was used to evaluate predictors of suicide risk in the sample. Results Around 70% of patients reported moderate depressive symptoms and 30% reported severe depressive symptoms, 17% of patients reported having thoughts of suicide or death on more than half of days and 10% reported having them daily. The logistic regression model identified history of alcohol use as the main predictor of suicide risk in (OR 13.0, p = 0.03). Conclusions Individuals with a history of alcohol consumption had significantly higher suicide risk scores at a psychosocial public health care center in Brazil during the Covid-19 pandemic. This result may be important for devising better strategies and interventions to support this specific population profile.

Factors associated with adherence to sports and exercise among outpatients with major depressive disorder

Abstract Introduction Individuals with major depressive disorder (MDD) face more barriers to engagement in sports and exercise interventions. Evaluating clinical and demographic factors associated with adherence to sports and exercise among MDD outpatients could support development of new options and strategies to increase their participation. Methods In a cross-sectional study, 268 depressed outpatients were evaluated (83.51% females; mean age = 50.74 [standard deviation {SD} = 10.39]). Sports and exercise participation were assessed using a question about participation frequency during the previous month. Clinical and demographic factors were evaluated. Linear regression was used to identify predictors of participation in sports and exercise. Results MDD patients with mild symptoms of depression (odds ratio [OR] = 2.42; 95% confidence interval [95%CI] 1.00, 5.88; p = 0.04) and patients with mild to moderate symptoms (OR = 3.96; 95%CI 1.41, 11.15; p = 0.009) were more likely to engage regularly in sports and exercise than patients with more severe depression. Moreover, smoking (OR = 0.23; 95%CI 0.67, 0.80; p = 0.007) and being divorced (OR = 0.22; 95%CI 0.57, 0.86; p = 0.03) were associated with lower rates of engagement in sports and exercise. Conclusion Our findings indicate a significant association between clinical and demographic factors and participation in sports and exercise among MDD outpatients.

Sydney Melancholia Prototype Index (SMPI): translation and cross-cultural adaptation to Brazilian Portuguese

Abstract Introduction Depression is possibly not a single syndrome but rather comprises several subtypes. DSM-5 proposes a melancholia specifier with phenotypic characteristics that could be associated with clinical progression, biological markers or therapeutic response. The Sydney Melancholia Prototype Index (SMPI) is a prototypic scale aimed to improve the diagnosis of melancholia. So far, there is only an English version of the instrument available. The aim of this study is to describe the translation and adaptation of the English version of the SMPI into Brazilian Portuguese. Methods Translation and cross-cultural adaptation of the self-report (SMPI-SR) and clinician-rated (SMPI-CR) versions into Brazilian Portuguese were done following recommendations of the International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research (ISPOR). This guideline includes the following steps: preparation, forward translation, reconciliation, back translation, back translation review, harmonization, cognitive debriefing, debriefing results review, proofreading and final report. Results The Brazilian Portuguese versions of the SMPI were well-accepted by respondents. Changes in about two-thirds of the items were considered necessary to obtain the final Brazilian Portuguese version of the SMPI. Conclusions Both versions of the SMPI are now available in Brazilian Portuguese. The instrument could become an important option to enhance studies on melancholia in Portuguese-speaking samples.

Espiritualidade e resiliência na atenção domiciliar / Spirituality and resilience in home care / Espiritualidad y resiliencia en la atención domiciliaria

Introdução: A atenção domiciliar (AD) caracteriza-se por práticas de cuidado que realizam abordagem integral do paciente em seu contexto familiar, socioeconômico e cultural. Religiosidade e espiritualidade atuam como mecanismos de fortalecimento da resiliência. Objetivo: Avaliar a relação entre religiosidade e espiritualidade com resiliência em pacientes em AD de Unidades de Saúde de Atenção Primária à Saúde (US-APS) de Porto Alegre (RS), Brasil. Métodos: estudo quantitativo transversal e descritivo, incluindo 44 adultos de quatro US-APS em AD por condições crônicas e problemas de saúde controlados/compensados com alguma dependência para atividades da vida diária. Foram utilizadas escalas de religiosidade (DUREL), espiritualidade (ARES), resiliência (RS-14), funcionalidade (Katz), sintomas depressivos (PHQ-2), suporte social (mMOS-SS), classificação econômica (ABEP 2016) e grau de severidade das condições clínicas (CIRS-G). Resultados: Pacientes avaliados são majoritariamente de sexo feminino (72,7 %), idosas (média 74 anos), viúvas, brancas, de baixo estrato socioeconômico, baixa escolaridade, aposentadas, com tempo médio de 7,5 anos de restrição domiciliar e grau moderado de resiliência. Os entrevistados apresentam altos índices de religiosidade e espiritualidade, sendo que 90,9% apresentam alta religiosidade intrínseca e 79,6% realizam práticas religiosas privadas uma ou mais vezes ao dia. A maioria (88,6%) considera importante que sua religiosidade e espiritualidade seja abordada em seus atendimentos de saúde, mas somente 20,5% já foram questionados sobre tal temática. Resiliência associou-se à maior espiritualidade (B=0,44; p=0,02), controlando-se este efeito para suporte social e sintomas depressivos; e à maior idade (B=0,18; p=0,02). Conclusão: O estudo corrobora a relevância da dimensão de religiosidade e espiritualidade e indica seu papel na promoção de resiliência nesta população em AD. Recomenda-se a abordagem da religiosidade e espiritualidade com esses indivíduos, fortalecendo o cuidado integral preconizado pela APS.

Introduction: Home Care (HC) is characterized by practices that perform integral approach of the patient in their family, socioeconomic and cultural context. Religiosity and spirituality as mechanisms for strengthening resilience. Objective: To evaluate the relationship between religiosity and spirituality with resilience in HC patients from Primary Health Care Units (PHC-U) of Porto Alegre (RS), Brazil. Methods: Cross-sectional and descriptive quantitative study including 44 adults from four PHC-U in HC due to chronic conditions and controlled/compensated health problems with some dependence on activities of daily living. We used religiousness (DUREL), spirituality (ARES), resilience (RS-14), functionality (Katz), depressive symptoms (PHQ-2), social support (mMOS-SS), economic classification (ABEP 2016) and severity of clinical conditions (CIRS-G) scales. Results: Most of the evaluated patients were female (72.7%), elderly (average 74 years), widows, white, low socioeconomic status, low education, retired, with an average time of 7.5 years of home restriction and with moderated degree of resilience. Respondents have high religiosity and spirituality rates, with 90.9% presenting high intrinsic religiosity and 79.6% performing private religious practices one or more times a day. Most (88.6%) consider important that their religiosity and spirituality is addressed in their health care, but only 20.5% have been asked about it. Resilience was associated with higher spirituality (B=0,44; p=0,02), controlling this effect for social support and depressive symptoms; and older age (B=0,18; p=0,02). Conclusion: The study corroborates the relevance of the religiosity and spirituality dimension and indicates its role in promoting resilience in this population in HC. The approach to religiosity and spirituality with these individuals is recommended, strengthening the integral care recommended by PHC.

Introducción: la atención domiciliaria (AD) se caracteriza por prácticas de atención que realizan un enfoque integral del paciente en su contexto familiar, socioeconómico y cultural. La religiosidad y la espiritualidad actúan como mecanismos para fortalecer la resiliencia. Objetivo: evaluar la relación entre la religiosidad y la espiritualidad con resiliencia en pacientes en AD de las Unidades de Salud de la Atención Primaria a la Salud (US-APS) de Porto Alegre (RS), Brasil. Métodos: estudio cuantitativo descriptivo y transversal que incluyó a 44 adultos de cuatro US-APS en AD debido a afecciones crónicas y problemas de salud controlados/compensados con cierta dependencia de las actividades de la vida diaria. Utilizamos escalas de religiosidad (DUREL), espiritualidad (ARES), resiliencia (RS-14), funcionalidad (Katz), síntomas depresivos (PHQ-2), apoyo social (mMOS-SS), clasificación económica (ABEP 2016) y gravedad de las condiciones clínicas (CIRS - G). Resultados: la mayoría de los pacientes evaluados eran mujeres (72.7%), ancianas (edad promedio 74 años), viudas, blancas, de bajo nivel socioeconómico, baja educación, jubiladas, con un tiempo promedio de 7.5 años de restricción domiciliaria y grado moderado de resiliencia. Los encuestados tienen altas tasas de la religiosidad y la espiritualidad, 90.9% tienen una alta religiosidad intrínseca y 79.6% realizan prácticas religiosas privadas una o más veces al día. La mayoría (88,6%) considera importante que su la religiosidad y la espiritualidad se aborde en su atención médica, pero solo al 20,5% se les ha preguntado al respecto. La resiliencia se asoció con una mayor espiritualidad (B=0,44; p=0,02), controlando este efecto para apoyo social y los síntomas depresivos, y la edad avanzada (B=0,18; p=0,02). Conclusión: el estudio corrobora la relevancia de la dimensión religiosa y espiritual e indica su papel en la promoción de la resiliencia en esta población en AD. Se recomienda el enfoque de la religiosidad y la espiritualidad con estas personas, fortaleciendo la atención integral recomendada por la APS.