Comorbidity of psychiatric and dermatologic disorders with skin picking disorder and validation of the Skin Picking Scale Revised for Brazilian Portuguese

Objective: Skin picking disorder (SPD) affects up to 5.4% of the population. Less than half of patients are correctly diagnosed and treated. Developing tools to recognize SPD can help professionals and patients alike. This trial aimed to validate the Skin Picking Scale-Revised (SPS-R) for the Brazilian population and assess the psychiatric and dermatological comorbidities of patients with SPD. Methods: Brazilians with a primary diagnosis of SPD, 18 years or older, were recruited from a community sample by media advertising and evaluated by a dermatologist and a psychiatrist. Self-report instruments were used: SPS-R, Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI), General Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was performed to evaluate the SPS-R, and Pearson correlation (r) was used to assess the relationship between instruments. Results: Overall, 124 patients were included. The SPS-R demonstrated good internal consistency (Cronbach's coefficient = 0.84). CFA found a good fit to the model according to all indices (χ2 = 29.67; degrees of freedom [df] = 19; p = 0.056; root mean square error of approximation [RMSEA] = 0.067; comparative fit index [CFI] = 0.969; non-normed fit index [NNFI] = 0.954). SPS-R correlated with DLQI (r = 0.73), GAD-7 (r = 0.51), and PHQ-9 (r = 0.43). The sample had a high prevalence of psychiatric disorders, mainly generalized anxiety disorder (62.1%) and current (32.3%) and past (37.1%) depressive episodes. Conclusion: The Brazilian version of the SPS-R presents good psychometric properties. The severity of SPD is related to severity of depression, anxiety, and impairment in quality of life. Clinical trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04731389

Skin picking treatment with the Rothbaum cognitive behavioral therapy protocol: a randomized clinical trial

Introduction: Although behavioral therapies can effectively treat skin picking disorder (SPD), there is no standardized treatment for improving SPD and its comorbidities and there is no group intervention option. This trial aimed to adapt the Rothbaum trichotillomania protocol to SPD (Study 1) and test its efficacy for treating SPD and comorbidities in individual and group formats (Study 2). Methods: The adapted protocol was applied to 16 SPD patients, who were allocated to group or individual treatment (Study 1). Afterwards, 54 patients were randomly allocated to treatment in an individual (n=27) or group format (n=27) (Study 2). In both studies, assessments of SPD severity, anxiety, depression, clinical status and skin lesion severity were performed at baseline and the endpoint. Results: The adapted protocol was feasible in both treatment modalities (Study 1) and led to high SPD remission rates (individual 63%; group 52%), with no significant difference between intervention types (p = 0.4) (Study 2). SPD, anxiety, and depression symptoms and objective patient lesion measures improved after treatment. There was large effect size for SPD symptom improvement in both treatment types (Cohen's d: group = 0.88; individual = 1.15) (Study 2). Conclusion: The adapted Rothbaum protocol was effective for SPD remission, comorbidities, and skin lesions, both in individual and group formats. Clinical trial registration: NCT03182478

Improved quality of life and reduced depressive symptoms in medical students after a single-session intervention

Objective: Anxiety and depression are prevalent among medical students. Brazilian medical students have higher levels of depression and lower quality of life than their U.S. counterparts, and no preventive intervention exists for this risk group in Brazil. The Unified Protocol for Transdiagnostic Treatment of Emotional Disorders (UP), a cognitive-behavioral treatment protocol for neuroticism, was recently adapted into a single-session, preventive intervention. This study tested the impact of this protocol on psychiatric symptoms and quality of life in Brazilian medical students. Methods: In this open trial, the intervention protocol was translated and adapted to Brazilian Portuguese. Medical students over 18 years of age without psychotic symptoms, severe depressive episodes, or acute psychiatric risk were included, undergoing a psychiatric clinical interview (Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview [MINI]) and evaluation at baseline and at 7 and 30 days after a single-session UP that included experimental avoidance, quality of life, self-esteem, empathy, and anxiety symptom scales. A new evaluation was performed 90 days after the intervention. Results: Sixty-two students participated. Ninety days after the intervention, there were significant reductions in the number of students who met the criteria for social anxiety disorder (p = 0.013) or panic disorder (p = 0.001). There were also significant improvements in depressive symptoms (Beck Depression Inventory, p < 0.001) and quality of life (Quality of Life Enjoyment and Satisfaction Questionnaire, p < 0.001). Conclusion: UP improved anxiety and depressive symptoms in medical students. The single-session group format could reduce costs and facilitate application. Future placebo-controlled studies are necessary to confirm these findings.

Improving skin picking diagnosis among Brazilians: validation of the Skin Picking Impact Scale and development of a photographic instrument

Abstract Background Skin picking disorder is a prevalent disorder frequently comorbid with depression and anxiety, which is underdiagnosed mainly by dermatologists. Assessment of skin picking disorder is based on instruments influenced by the awareness about skin picking disorder and comorbid symptoms. To date, there is no validated instrument for Brazilian individuals nor an instrument to evaluate the severity of skin lesions in an objective way. Objectives Validate the Skin Picking Impact Scale for Brazilian Portuguese and create a photographic measurement to assess skin lesions. Methods The sample was assessed through the Skin Picking Impact Scale translated into Brazilian Portuguese, the Hamilton Anxiety Scale, the Beck Depression Inventory, and the Clinical Global Impression Scale. The patients' skin lesions were photographed. Photos were evaluated regarding active excoriation, crust/bleeding, exulceration, and linear lesions. Results There were 63 patients included. The Skin Picking Impact Scale translated into Brazilian Portuguese had good internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.88), which tests of goodness-of-fit, showing a suitable model. The reliability of photographic measurement was 0.66, with a high internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.87). Photographic measurement was not correlated with the Skin Picking Impact Scale, the Clinical Global Impression Scale, or comorbid symptoms. Study limitations Lack of a previously validated instrument to evaluate dermatillomania in the Brazilian population for comparison. Conclusion The Skin Picking Impact Scale validated in Brazilian Portuguese is a good instrument to evaluate skin picking disorder. Photographic measurement is a consistent way of assessing skin lesions, but it does not reflect the impact of skin picking disorder on the individual's life.

Hypertension is the main determinant behind the association between metabolic syndrome and chronic kidney disease in subjects with different degrees of glucose tolerance / A hipertensão é o principal determinante da associação entre síndrome metabólica e doença renal crônica em indivíduos com diferentes graus de tolerância à glicose

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a significant public health problem. It is still controversial if the metabolicsyndrome (MS) is associated with CKD.Methods: Cross-sectional study of individuals at high risk of developing diabetes at the endocrine outpatient clinic of Hospitalde Clínicas de Porto Alegre. Fasting and 2h-plasma glucose levels, A1c, insulin, cholesterol, triglycerides, creatinine, andurinary albumin excretion were measured. MS was defined as the presence of three out of five of the following factors: hypertension,low HDL-cholesterol, high triglyceride levels, elevated plasma glucose, and high waist circumference. Glomerularfiltration rate (GFR) was estimated by the Modified Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) equation and insulin resistance wasmeasure using the Homeostasis Model of Assessment - Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR). Correlation analyses were performedbetween each MS components and the GFR.Results: CKD was present in 20.9% of the subjects. GFR was lower in subjects with MS compared with those without MS(P =0.019). Estimated GFR decreased with the increasing number of MS criteria (mean ± SD; zero or one criterion103.09±9.5 vs. two criteria 99.14±21.2 vs. three criteria 90.9±21.1 vs. four criteria 91.0±19.4 vs. five criteria 80.9±23.5mL/min per 1.73m2; P =0.053). Only systolic arterial blood pressure was related to eGFR (r = 0.280; P =0.003).Discussion: According to our data, the previously described association between MS and decreased renal function wasconfirmed, mostly determined by the hypertension criterion.Conclusion: These data suggest that the relationship between MS and CKD is driven mostly by abnormalities in blood pressurehomeostasis.

Introdução: A Doença Renal Crônica (DRC) é um problema de saúde pública. Ainda é controversa a existência de associa-ção entre a presença de Síndrome Metabólica (SM) e DRC.Métodos: Indivíduos com risco aumentado para o desenvolvimento de diabete melito acompanhados no ambulatório deEndocrinologia do Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre foram analisados em um estudo transversal. Pacientes foram submetidosao Teste de Tolerância Oral à Glicose, e hemoglobina glicada (A1c), insulina, colesterol, triglicerídeos, creatinina eexcreção urinária de albumina foram medidos. A presença de SM era baseada na presença de três entre os cinco critérios aseguir: hipertensão, níveis séricos de colesterol HDL diminuídos, níveis aumentados de triglicerídeos, hiperglicemia e circunferênciaabdominal aumentada. A taxa de filtração glomerular (TFG) foi calculada pela equação do Modified Diet in RenalDisease (MDRD) e a resistência insulínica, pelo Homeostasis Model of Assessment – Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR).Análises de correlação foram feitas entre cada componente da SM e a TFG.Resultados: DRC esteve presente em 20,9% dos indivíduos. Níveis diminuídos de TFG foram observados em pacientescom SM comparados com aqueles sem SM (P=0,019). TFG diminuiu com o aumento no número de critérios para SM (mé-dia±DP; 0 e 1 critério 103,09±9,5; vs. 2 critérios 99,14±21,2; vs. 3 critérios 90,9±21,1; vs. 4 critérios 91,0±19,4; vs. 5 crité-rios 80,9±23,3 ml/min; P=0,053). Apenas pressão arterial sistólica mostrou-se relacionada com a TFG (r=0,280; P=0,003).Discussão: Nosso trabalho confirmou a associação entre a presença de Síndrome Metabólica e TFG diminuída descritapreviamente por outros estudos, tendo, neste presente estudo, a hipertensão como o principal determinante desta relação.Conclusão: Nossos achados sugerem que a relação existente entre a presença de SM e o desenvolvimento de DRC é determinadaprincipalmente por anormalidades na homeostase pressórica.