COMVC-19: A Program to protect healthcare workers' mental health during the COVID-19 Pandemic. What we have learned

OBJECTIVE: In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic brought a work and stress overload to healthcare workers, increasing their vulnerability to mental health impairments. In response, the authors created the COMVC-19 program. The program offered preventive actions and mental health treatment for the 22,000 workers of The Hospital das Clinicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (HCFMUSP). This paper aims to describe its implementation and share what we have learned from this experience. METHODS: Workers were able to easily access the program through a 24/7 hotline. Additionally, a mobile phone app that screened for signs and symptoms of emotional distress and offered psychoeducation and/or referral to treatment was made available. Data from both these sources as well as any subsequent psychiatric evaluations were collected. RESULTS: The first 20 weeks of our project revealed that most participants were female, and part of the nursing staff working directly with COVID-19 patients. The most frequently reported symptoms were: anxiety, depression and sleep disturbances. The most common diagnoses were Adjustment, Anxiety, and Mood disorders. CONCLUSIONS: Implementing a mental health program in a multimodal intervention was feasible in a major quaternary public hospital. Our data also suggests that preventive actions should primarily be aimed at anxiety and depression symptoms, with a particular focus on the nursing staff.

Application of BAROS' questionnaire in obese patients undergoing bariatric surgery with 2 years of evolution / Aplicação do questionário BAROS em pacientes obesos submetidos à cirurgia bariátrica com 2 anos de evolução

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND -In recent decades, the high prevalence of obesity in the general population has brought serious concerns in terms of public health. Contrarily to conventional treatment involving dieting and physical exercising, often ineffective in generating long term results, bariatric opera­tions have been an effective method for sustained weight loss in morbidly obese individuals. The Bariatric Analysis and Reporting Outcome System (BAROS) is an objective and recognized system in the overall evaluation of results after bariatric surgery. OBJECTIVE To investigate results concerning a casuistic of morbidly obese patients undergoing bariatric surgery over a 2-year follow-up in terms of weight loss, related medical conditions, safety and changes in quality of life. METHODS A total of 120 obese (17 male and 103 female) patients, who underwent bariatric surgery, were assessed and investigated using the BAROS system after a 2- year follow-up. RESULTS Patients obtained a mean excess weight loss of 74.6 (±15.9) % and mean body mass index reduction of 15.6 (±4.4) Kg/m2. Pre-surgical comorbidities were present in 71 (59%) subjects and they were totally (86%) or partially (14%) resolved. Complications resulting specifically from the surgical procedure were observed in 4.2% of cases (two bowel obstructions requiring re-operation, and three stomal stenosis treated with endoscopic dilation). Sixteen subjects (13% of total number of patients) presented minor clinical complications managed through outpatient care. The final scores for the BAROS questionnaire showcased excellent to good results in 99% of cases (excellent 44%, very good 38%, good 23%, acceptable 1%). CONCLUSION According to the BAROS questionnaire, bariatric surgery is a safe and effective method for managing obesity and associated clinical comorbidities, allowing for satisfactory results after a 2-year follow-up. Future studies should address other clinical and psychosocial variables that impact outcome as well as allow for longer follow-ups.

RESUMO CONTEXTO Nas últimas décadas, a alta prevalência de obesidade na população geral trouxe grandes preocupações para a saúde pública. Contrariamente ao tratamento convencional envolvendo dieta e atividade física, quase sempre inefetivo em gerar resultados a longo prazo, a cirurgia bariátrica vem se mostrando um método efetivo de perda de peso mantida em indivíduos com obesidade mórbida. O Bariatric Analysis and Reporting Outcome System (BAROS) é um sistema reconhecido e objetivo para a avaliação global de resultados depois de cirurgia bariátrica. OBJETIVO Investigar os resultados referentes à casuística de pacientes obesos mórbidos submetidos à cirurgia bariátrica em um período de 2 anos em termos de perda de peso, condições clínicas relacionadas, segurança e qualidade de vida. MÉTODOS Um total de 120 pacientes obesos (17 masculinos e 103 femininos) admitidos consecutivamente durante período de 4 meses para cirurgia bariátrica foram avaliados e investigados usando o sistema BAROS após 2 anos de evolução. RESULTADOS Os pacientes apresentaram redução média percentual de excesso de peso de 74,6 (±15,9) % e redução média de índice de massa corporal de 15,6 (±4,4) Kg/m2. Comorbidades pré-cirúrgicas estavam presentes em 71 (59%) pacientes e em todos eles foram total (86%) ou parcialmente (14%) resolvidas. Complicações resultantes especificamente do procedimento cirúrgico foram observadas em 4,2% dos casos (duas obstruções intestinais exigindo reoperação e três estenoses anastomóticas resolvidas com dilatação endoscópica). Dezesseis (13%) pacientes apresentaram complicações clínicas menores resolvidas com manejo clínico ambulatorial. Os escores totais do BAROS classificaram os resultados como excelente até bom em 99% dos casos (44% excelente, 38% muito bom e 23% bom) e aceitável em 1% dos casos. CONCLUSÃO De acordo com o questionário BAROS, a cirurgia bariátrica se mostrou segura e efetiva no controle da obesidade e de comorbidades clínicas associadas, permitindo satisfação geral dos pacientes após 2 anos de seguimento. Estudos futuros deverão também investigar outras variáveis clínicas e psicossociais de possível impacto na evolução e por períodos de seguimento mais longos.

Classificacao das psicoses endogenas de Karl Leonhard / Karl Leonhard's classification of endogenous psychoses

O artigo apresenta uma sintese dos subtipos nosologicos descritos por Karl Leonhard na sua classificacao das psicoses endogenas, comumente arrolados sob o diagnostico de esquizofrenia ou transtorno esquizofrenico nos sistemas diagnosticos internacionais (DSM e CID). Leonhard subdivide as doencas do espectro esquizofrenico em ....

Achados neurobiologicos, geneticos e psicofarmacologicos nos subtipos diagnosticos da classificacao de Leonhard / Neurobiological, genetic, and psychopharmacological findings in the diagnostic subtypes of Leonhard's classification

A classificacao das psicoses endogenas de Leonhard permite a constituicao de subpopulacoes amostrais mais homogeneas sob o ponto de vista clinico e prognostico. O presente artigo constitui uma revisao sintetica dos principais...

Estudos de neuroimagem na classificacao de Leonhard / Neuroimaging studies in the Leonhard's classification

Os autores discutem os principais achados de neuroimagem envolvendo diagnosticos das psicose endogenas de Karl Leonhard, enfatizando a hipotese de que os aspectos clinicos e nosologicos possam oferecer subtipo mais homogeneos a investigacao neurofisiologica. Os estudos com...