Relato de caso: avaliação do risco de suicídio no transtorno depressivo maior grave com sintomas psicóticos / Case report: evaluation of suicide risk in severe major depressive disorder with psychotic symptoms

Para além de sua sintomatologia clássica, o Transtorno Depressivo Maior (TDM) pode cursar com episódios únicos ou recorrentes de quadros psicóticos, marcados pela presença de delírios e alucinações cujos conteúdos associam-se frequentemente a ideias negativas e depressivas de morte, ruína, culpa e punição merecida. Esta condição está fortemente conectada a alto risco suicida, motivo pelo qual deve-se diagnosticar e intervir de maneira positiva o mais precocemente possível, a fim de que a vida, o sentido e a qualidade de viver do indivíduo possam ser restaurados e preservados. O caso relatado refere-se a uma paciente com diagnóstico atual de TDM grave e recorrente com sintomas psicóticos e alta intencionalidade suicida. Apresenta o humor constantemente deprimido, choro fácil e frequente, hipobulia, distúrbios do sono e sentimentos de menos-valia. Ademais, seu quadro cursa com sonhos e sensações estranhas relacionados a entidades malignas, assim como com alucinações visuais persistentes e delírios religiosos de pecado, culpa exagerada e punição divina. Frente à resistência dos sintomas ao tratamento farmacológico inicial, foram discutidas outras possibilidades de abordagem, conduta e diagnósticos diferenciais paralelamente à avaliação constante do risco de suicídio. [au]

In addition to its classic symptomatology, Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) may go through single or recurring episodes of psychotic events marked by the presence of delusions and hallucinations, with contents which are frequently associated to negative and depressive ideas about death, ruin, guilt and deserved punishment. This condition is strongly linked to high suicide risks, constituting the main reason why it is necessary to diagnose and positively intervene as soon as possible in order to restore and preserve the person's life, meaning and quality of life. The case reported herein refers to a female patient with a current diagnosis of severe and recurrent MDD with psychotic episodes and high suicidal tendencies. This patient constantly presents depressed mood, frequent and easy crying, hypobulia, sleep disorders and devaluation of herself. Furthermore, her case occurs with strange dreams and sensations related to evil entities, along with persistent visual hallucinations and religious delusions of sin, excessive guilt and divine punishment. Due to the symptoms resistance to the initial pharmacological treatment, other possibilities of approach, conduct and differential diagnoses were discussed in parallel to a continual evaluation of the suicide risk. [au]

Revisión crítica de la propuesta del DMS-5: el "síndrome de síntomas psicóticos atenuados" / Critical revision of the proposed DSM-5

Se considera la propuesta del Grupo de Trabajo en Psicosis del DSM‑5 de incluir el ®síndrome de síntomas psicóticos atenuados¼ (previamente: ®riesgo de psicosis¼) como categoría diagnóstica. Es un paso necesario, ya que el DSM‑IV no posibilita diagnosticar formas psicóticas menores o en fase inicial, pero el intento evidencia que la nosología actual no permite hacerlo. Los criterios diagnósticos propuestos son semejantes a los criterios nucleares de los trastornos psicóticos del DSM‑IV, con dos variantes: a) que los síntomas son atenuados y con prueba de realidad conservada y b) que la sumatoria propuesta es dimensional y no categorial (estructural), como lo es la sumatoria algorítmica y disyuntiva del DSM‑IV. Para que la construcción de la categoría diagnóstica exprese la realidad clínica que fundamenta la propuesta son necesarios principios psicopatológicos diferentes a los que organizan el proyecto del DSM‑5.

The proposal of the DSM‑5’s Psychosis Work Group to include “attenuated psychotic symp‑toms syndrome” (previously: “psychosis risksyndrome”) as a diagnostic category is consi‑dered. To identify the first phase of psychosisis a necessary step, taking into account thatthe DSM‑IV does not allow to diagnose neitherminor psychotic forms, nor initial phase forms. However, the attempt makes evident that the current nosology does not enable to do so. The suggested diagnostic criteria are similar to the nuclear criteriafor Psychotic Disorders of theDSM‑IV, but with two variants: a) that the symptoms are “in attenuated form with intact reality testing” and b) that the proposed summationis dimensional and not categorical (structural),as well as the algorithmic and disjunctive sum‑mation of the DSM‑IV. In order to build the diagnostic category expressing the clinical reality underlying the proposal of the Psychosis WorkGroup, different psychopathological principlesthan those that organize the draft of the DSM‑5are required.

Rasgos de personalidad en pacientes con esquizofrenia / Personality traits in patients with schizophrenia

In recent years, research on the comorbidity of personality disorders and other clinical conditions has increased. Nevertheless, it is quite surprising that very little research has been done in terms of personality and its disorders in patients with schizophrenia. Most of the studies related to the binomial construct of personality disorders and schizophrenia are limited to the study of premorbid personality, which emphasizes the importance of the interaction between trait-personality disorder-schizophrenia symptoms. The study of personality in patients with schizophrenia suggests several issues that must be considered, including the trait-state interactions and the role of personality in the course of schizophrenia. The conceptual definition of trait emerges from the dimensional classification of models of personality. In this way, knowing that some personality features are present in all individuals, we can assume that their deviation in a quantitative level results in abnormal personality features that constitute personality disorders or even can be expressed as a specific expression of some schizophrenia symptoms. Although there is growing evidence in the knowledge of schizophrenia, there are very few models that include the scientific neurobio-logical evidence of the disease and personality features. An inclusive model may promote our understanding of the relationship between schizophrenia symptoms and the personality features of the patient who suffers the disease. So far, we are still far from reaching scientific consensus to be unanimously shared by all researchers with respect to both issues. Nevertheless, the importance of personality in schizophrenia is undeniable, so future longitudinal that assess personality characteristics since illness onset should be warranted. These studies may be extremely useful to determine personality stability during the course of the illness and may help to determine the prognosis and treatment implications of personality in schizophrenia.

En los últimos años han proliferado las investigaciones y publicaciones sobre la comorbilidad de los trastornos de personalidad con otras entidades clínicas. En este marco sorprende la escasez de estudios que se centren en la personalidad y sus trastornos en los pacientes con esquizofrenia. Las investigaciones llevadas a cabo en el binomio trastorno de personalidad-esquizofrenia se han limitado al estudio de la personalidad premórbida, las cuales se orientan hacia la importancia de la interacción rasgo-trastorno de personalidad-síntomas en la esquizofrenia. El estudio de la personalidad en la esquizofrenia sugiere varias cuestiones que deben ser consideradas, incluyendo las interacciones rasgo-estado y la función de la personalidad en la esquizofrenia. El concepto de rasgo surge en los modelos dimensionales de clasificación de la personalidad. Si consideramos que los rasgos de la personalidad están presentes en todos los individuos, cabría decir que una desviación en el nivel cuantitativo de los mismos caracteriza los rasgos anormales que constituirán los trastornos de personalidad o en una expresión específica de los síntomas de la esquizofrenia. A pesar de los avances crecientes en el conocimiento de la esquizofrenia, existen pocos modelos que integren los avances neurobiológicos con la personalidad, lo cual permitiría un mayor entendimiento de la relación entre los síntomas de la esquizofrenia y la personalidad del individuo que la padece. Hasta el momento, aún nos encontramos lejos de poder alcanzar acuerdos científicos que sean compartidos unánimemente por todos los investigadores con respecto a ambas cuestiones. Sin embargo, la importancia de la personalidad en la esquizofrenia es innegable, lo que hace necesario la realización de estudios longitudinales que evalúen de forma específica las características de la personalidad desde el inicio de la esquizofrenia para poder determinar su estabilidad o variabilidad de acuerdo al curso del padecimiento y sus implicaciones pronósticas y de tratamiento.