Profile of non-suicidal self-injury in adolescents: interface with impulsiveness and loneliness

Abstract Objective: Comprehend the profile and prevalence of non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) in adolescents and its association with impulsiveness and loneliness. Methods: Cross-sectional study carried out in 2017 in Maceió-Alagoas, Northeast Brazil, in the households of 505 adolescents aged 12-17 years, using a sample stratified and randomized by gender and neighborhood. The following instruments were used: a sociodemographic questionnaire, Brazilian version of Functional Assessment of Self-Mutilation (FASM), the Brazilian Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-11), and the Brazilian Loneliness Scale (UCLA-BR). Results: A prevalence of 6.53% was found for non-suicidal self-injury disorder (DSM-5). Significant differences ( p ≤ 0.05) were observed regarding: the most frequently used forms of NSSI were the items "cut oneself" and "scratch oneself"; engaging in three or more different forms of self-injurious behavior (66.67%) and, reporting as reasons, "to relieve feelings of emptiness or indifference" and "to stop bad feelings/sensations." Significance was also related to the sociodemographic profile: 72.73% were females and 63.54% had family income below one minimum wage. Individuals with self-injurious behavior also had higher impulsiveness and loneliness scores (p ≤ 0.05). Conclusions: The study identified a direct association between NSSI and impulsiveness and loneliness among adolescents, being more prevalent in females and in young individuals with socioeconomic vulnerability. The data provide support for improving public health policies, aimed at education, prevention, and treatment of adolescents with NSSI.

Meningitis bacteriana: características clínicas y valor diagnóstico de los signos de irritación meníngea / Bacterial meningitis: clinical characteristic and diagnodtic value of the signs of meningeal irrigation

Se estudiaron retrospectivamente las características clínicas de mayor frecuencia en un grupo de 67 pacientes adulto con meningitis bacteriana a su ingreso, con el objeto de conocer los signos y síntomas claves que permitan realizar un diagnóstico más rápido y preciso que garantice un mejor pronóstico. Se encontró que los signos y síntomas más frecuentes fueron: Cefalea, fiebre, rigidez de nuca, náuseas y vómitos, alteración del estado de conciencia, signos de Kernig y Brudzinski y cambios de conducta. Igualmente se procedió a determinar la sensibilidad (SE) y especificidad (ES) de los signos de irritación meníngea. Rigidez de nuca (SE= 60,74 por ciento/Es= 55,73 por ciento), signo de Kernig (SE= 34,21 por ciento/ES= 91,80 por ciento) y signo de Brudzinski (SE= 38,16/ES= 91,80 por ciento) para conocer objetivamente su verdadera utilidad clínica en el diagnóstico de meningitis bacteriana