Revisão de escopo das publicações sobre transtorno obsessivo-compulsivo (TOC) e a pandemia de Covid-19 entre 2020 e 2022 / Scope review of the publications on obsessive compulsive disorder (TOC) and pandemic between 2020 and 2022

A proposta desta dissertação foi realizar uma revisão de escopo de 96 artigos científicos que analisaram a relação do quadro psicopatológico do Transtorno Obsessivo-Compulsivo (TOC) no contexto da pandemia de Covid-19, disponíveis em revistas indexadas. Tais publicações utilizadas neste mapeamento foram retiradas das bases de dados PubMed, PsyInfo e da biblioteca virtual Scielo. Elas são referentes ao período entre 2020 até março de 2022. A busca e filtragem deste material foi orientada pela metodologia da revisão de escopo. A análise destes artigos indicou a presença de dois objetivos nas pesquisas indicadas: a discussão da trajetória de evolução dos quadros de TOC e a terapêutica do TOC na pandemia. No capítulo a respeito dos quadros clínicos, a análise dos dados foi organizada a partir dos grupos populacionais estudados pelos autores (adultos, profissionais de saúde, gestantes e puérperas e crianças e adolescentes). A partir da divisão em grupos populacionais, as publicações foram agrupadas tendo em vista suas metodologias para o exame de seu desenvolvimento e achados. No capítulo sobre a terapêutica do TOC na Covid-19, os achados foram organizados por metodologias para seu exame. Os dados destes estudos mostraram que a maior parte dos autores se dedicaram a analisar o público adulto ou não especificaram objetivamente a idade das pessoas que avaliaram. Os profissionais de saúde foram a população menos contemplada por esta temática dentro das populações sobre as quais os artigos versaram. Os artigos sobre grávidas e puérperas buscaram discutir a influência das condições de vida para a saúde mental e o TOC destas pessoas, o que destoa das outras pesquisas nesta revisão de escopo. O impacto da pandemia, a explicação deste impacto para indivíduos com TOC, a influência das informações midiáticas sobre a Covid-19 e do grupo familiar sobre pessoas com TOC foram questões contempladas pelos autores mencionados neste capítulo. Os artigos sobre a terapêutica do transtorno em questão na Covid-19 discutiram as limitações originárias da crise sanitária para o tratamento do TOC, e exemplificaram ferramentas tecnológicas que podem ser utilizadas no tratamento das pessoas em questão. Alguns também buscaram traçar perfil de vulnerabilidade para o TOC na pandemia com a majoritariedade dos resultados apontando para a vulnerabilidade feminina. O tratamento da população composta por crianças e adolescentes com o transtorno foi pouco foi contemplado pelos pesquisadores nesta seção. Os determinantes sociais de saúde relacionadas ao gênero feminino, indicado como mais vulnerável ao TOC nos dois capítulos acima mencionados foram discutidos em uma seção própria. Nesta seção, dados de estudos sobre as condições de vida na pandemia da população feminina no Brasil e na América Latina foram utilizados para ilustrar a vulnerabilidade desta população.

The proposition of this dissertation was to make a scope review of 96 scientific articles that analyzed the relation of the psychopathological board of obssessive compulsive disorder (OCD) in the context of covid-19 pandemics, available in indexed magazines. Such publications utilized in this mapping were taken from the databases PubMed, PsyInfo and from the Scielo virtual library. They refer to the year of 2020 up to March 2022. The research and filtering of this material were oriented by the scope review methodology. The analysis of these articles pointed to the presence of two objectives in the referred researches: the discussion about the evolutionary trajectory of OCD cases and the therapeutics of OCD in the pandemic. In the chapter about the clinical cases, the data analysis was organized by the populational groups studied by the authors (adults, health professionals, pregnant and puerperal women, children and adolescents). By dividing the populational groups, the publications were arranged considering their methodologies for examining the developments and findings. In the chapter about the therapeutics of OCD during Covid-19, the findings were organised by the methodologies for their examination. The data from these studies show that the majority of authors have either dedicated themselves to analyze the adult public or didn´t speciffy objectively the age of the population evaluated. Health professionals were the population less considered by this thematics. The articles about pregnant and puerperal women focused on discussing the influence of the living conditions to mental health and the OCD of these people, wich differs from the other researches in this scope review. The impact of the pandemic, the explanation of this impact to individuals with OCD, the influence of media informations about Covid-19 and the family group about people with OCD were points contemplated by the authors mentioned in this chapter. The articles about the therapeutics of the disorder in question, during Covid-19, argued about the limitations that came from the sanitary crisis for the treatment of OCD, and exemplified technological tools that can be used on the treatment of such people. Some also tried to trace the profile of vulnerability to OCD in the pandemic, with the majority of the results pointing to female vulnerability. The treatment of the population composed by children and adolescents with the disorder was mentioned little by the researches in this section. The social determiners of health related to the female gender, pointed as the most vulnerable to OCD in the two chapters mentioned before, were discussed in a chapter of their own. In this chapter, data from studies about the life conditions, in the pandemic, of the feminine population in Brazil and Latin America were used to illustrate the vulnerability of this population.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder reinforcement during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract The COVID-19 pandemic is unquestionably impacting on the mental health of the population worldwide. Fear of contamination can both increase levels of stress in healthy individuals and intensify psychiatric symptoms in patients with pre-existing conditions, especially obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). During the COVID-19 pandemic, the imminent risk of contamination creates a logical need for self-surveillance and hygiene habits. However, this kind of information can have drastic implications for subjects with OCD, since cognitive distortions and compensatory strategies (cleansing rituals) are no longer irrational or oversized - rather, these ideas become legitimate and socially accepted, generating plausible validation for the intensification of compulsive cleaning rituals. Patients who presented remission of OCD symptoms would be more likely to have a relapse, and subclinical patients may scale up and ultimately be diagnosed with OCD due to the reinforcement of their habits, emotions and thoughts.

Gestalt contact styles in OCD patients: a controlled study

Abstract Background Obsessive-compulsive disorder is a challenging disease in terms of remission rates and treatment approaches. All theoretical approaches are needed for a better understanding. Compared to other theories, it has not been examined sufficiently from the perspective of gestalt theory in the literature. Objective To examine and compare the Gestalt Contact Styles of patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and the Control Group and to examine the relationship between Gestalt Contact Styles and OCD symptoms. Methods 50 OCD patients were compared with the healthy control group. All patients were evaluated with the Yale Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS), the Padua Inventory (PI), and the Gestalt Contact Styles Scale-Revised Form (GCSS-RF). For the control group, GCSS-RF was applied. Results The scores of the OCD patients for GCSS-RF "Retroflection" and "Deflection" subscales were significantly higher than the Control Group. Statistically significant high scores were found between the subscales of Padua Inventory "contamination obsessions and washing compulsions", "obsessional thoughts", "obsessional impulses" and "checking compulsions" subtypes and Gestalt contact styles in the Patient Group in a symptomatological examined manner. With these findings, in terms of Gestalt Contact Styles, it is seen that the difference between Patient and Control Groups is significantly different. There was no significant relationship between the Yale-Brown total score of the Patient Group and the GCSS-RF subscales. Discussion In conclusion, the findings of the study showed significant differences in terms of Gestalt Contact Styles (Retroflection, Contact, Deflection, Desensitization, Confluence) in Patient and Control Groups and OCD symptoms. These results are important to Gestalt Therapists in terms of shedding light on the therapeutic intervention to be done for an OCD patient and contributing to the literature.

Development and psychometric evaluation of the Mandarin Chinese version of the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale - Second Edition

Objective: To examine the psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale - Second Edition (Y-BOCS-II). Method: A total of 86 adults with a primary diagnosis of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), ranging in age from 15 to 78 years, participated in the study. Participants were administered the Y-BOCS-II by a trained clinician who also rated overall illness severity on two additional measures. Patients completed the Obsessive Compulsive Inventory-Revised and Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21. Results: Results indicated high internal consistency and fair 1-week test retest reliability. The Y-BOCS-II scales correlated strongly with clinician-rated obsessive-compulsive severity and modestly with self-reported obsessive-compulsive symptom frequency and distress. The relationship between Y-BOCS-II total score and depressive and anxiety symptoms was strong, which may reflect high rates of comorbid conditions in this sample or the linkage between obsessive-compulsive symptom severity and distress. Factor analysis demonstrated a two-factor structure consisting of obsession and compulsion factors, with interference due to obsessions cross-loading. Conclusions: Overall, these results support the use of the Y-BOCS-II among individuals from China. Future study by an independent group is necessary to replicate these findings, as well as investigate interrater reliability and treatment sensitivity.

A neurose obsessiva: da teoria à clínica / The obsessive neurosis: from the clinic to theory

RESUMO: Este artigo aborda a neurose obsessiva a partir dos fundamentos teórico-clínicos de Freud e Lacan. A clínica psicanalítica nos permite formular questões pertinentes ao estudo desenvolvido, possibilitando, assim, a articulação entre teoria e prática clínica. Este estudo convoca o leitor ao debate sobre os impasses da clínica e a direção do tratamento, e desvela que a clínica da neurose obsessiva muito pode ensinar sobre os fundamentos da psicanálise, sobre o complexo de Édipo, sobre como o sujeito se posiciona diante do desejo e suas estratégias de gozo.

Abstract: This article approaches obsessional neurosis from the theoretical-clinical foundations of Freud and Lacan. The psychoanalytic clinic allows us to formulate pertinent questions to the developed study, thus allowing the articulation between theory and clinical practice. This study summons the reader to the debate about the impasses of the clinic and the direction of the treatment, and reveals that the clinic of obsessional neurosis can teach much about the foundations of psychoanalysis, about the Oedipus complex, about how the subject stands before the desire and their strategies of "jouissance".

Obsessive-compulsive symptoms in children with first degree relatives diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder

Objective: A first-degree relative affected by obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and obsessive-compulsive symptoms (OCS) in childhood is an important risk factor for developing the disorder in adulthood. The relationship between a family history of OCD and the presence of OCS and its correlates in childhood is not well established. Methods: A total of 66 children whose parents or siblings have been diagnosed with OCD were assessed for the presence of OCS and clinical correlates. Results: Three children (4.5%) were reported to have received an OCD diagnosis and another 26 (39.4%) were identified as having OCS. Children with OCS had higher rates of coercive behavior and came from families with lower socioeconomic status. Contamination/cleaning dimension symptoms in the proband were associated with OCS in the assessed children. Conclusion: OCS are frequent among family members of individuals with OCD and are associated with socioeconomic status, coercive behaviors and proband contamination/cleaning symptoms. Future longitudinal studies should test the risk of developing OCD in association with these characteristics.

Familial misophonia or selective sound sensitivity syndrome: evidence for autosomal dominant inheritance? / Misofonia familiar ou síndrome da sensibilidade seletiva a sons: evidência de herança autossômica dominante?

Abstract Introduction: Misophonia is a recently described, poorly understood and neglected condition. It is characterized by strong negative reactions of hatred, anger or fear when subjects have to face some selective and low level repetitive sounds. The most common ones that trigger such aversive reactions are those elicited by the mouth (chewing gum or food, popping lips) or the nose (breathing, sniffing, and blowing) or by the fingers (typing, kneading paper, clicking pen, drumming on the table). Previous articles have cited that such individuals usually know at least one close relative with similar symptoms, suggesting a possible hereditary component. Objective: We found and described a family with 15 members having misophonia, detailing their common characteristics and the pattern of sounds that trigger such strong discomfort. Methods: All 15 members agreed to give us their epidemiological data, and 12 agreed to answer a specific questionnaire which investigated the symptoms, specific trigger sounds, main feelings evoked and attitudes adopted by each participant. Results: The 15 members belong to three generations of the family. Their age ranged from 9 to 73 years (mean 38.3 years; median 41 years) and 10 were females. Analysis of the 12 questionnaires showed that 10 subjects (83.3%) developed the first symptoms during childhood or adolescence. The mean annoyance score on the Visual Analog Scale from 0 to 10 was 7.3 (median 7.5). Individuals reported hatred/anger, irritability and anxiety in response to sounds, and faced the situation asking to stop the sound, leaving/avoiding the place and even fighting. The self-reported associated symptoms were anxiety (91.3%), tinnitus (50%), obsessive-compulsive disorder (41.6%), depression (33.3%), and hypersensitivity to sounds (25%). Conclusion: The high incidence of misophonia in this particular familial distribution suggests that it might be more common than expected and raises the possibility of having a hereditary etiology.

Resumo Introdução: A misofonia é uma condição recentemente descrita, mal compreendida e negligenciada. É caracterizada por fortes reações negativas de ódio, raiva ou medo quando os indivíduos precisam enfrentar alguns sons repetitivos seletivos e de baixa intensidade. Os mais comuns que desencadeiam tais reações aversivas são aqueles provocados pela boca (mascar goma ou mastigar comida, estalar os lábios) ou nariz (respirando, cheirando e soprando) ou pelos dedos (digitando, amassando papel, clicando a caneta, tamborilando na mesa). Artigos anteriores citam que esses indivíduos geralmente conhecem pelo menos um parente próximo com sintomas semelhantes, sugerindo um possível componente hereditário. Objetivo: Encontramos e descrevemos uma família com 15 membros com misofonia, detalhando suas características comuns e o padrão de sons que desencadeiam um desconforto tão forte. Método: Todos os 15 membros concordaram em nos fornecer seus dados epidemiológicos e 12 concordaram em responder a um questionário específico que investigou os sintomas, sons de gatilho específicos, principais sentimentos evocados e atitudes adotadas por cada participante. Resultados: Os 15 membros pertencem a três gerações da família. A idade variou de 9 a 73 anos (média de 38,3 anos, mediana de 41 anos) e 10 eram mulheres. A análise dos 12 questionários mostrou que 10 indivíduos (83,3%) desenvolveram os primeiros sintomas durante a infância ou a adolescência. A média do escore de irritação na Escala Visual Analógica de 0 a 10 foi de 7,3 (mediana 7,5). Os indivíduos relataram sentimentos de ódio/raiva, irritabilidade e ansiedade em resposta a sons, e enfrentaram a situação pedindo para interromper o som, deixando/evitando o lugar e até mesmo discutindo. Os sintomas associados auto-relatados foram ansiedade (91,3%), zumbido (50%), transtorno obsessivo-compulsivo (41,6%), depressão (33,3%) e hipersensibilidade aos sons (25%). Conclusão: A alta incidência de misofonia nessa distribuição familiar em particular sugere que possa ser mais comum do que o esperado e suscita a possibilidade de haver uma etiologia hereditária.

Intermittent theta-burst transcranial magnetic stimulation for autism spectrum disorder: an open-label pilot study

Objective: Theta-burst stimulation (TBS) modulates synaptic plasticity more efficiently than standard repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation delivery and may be a promising modality for neuropsychiatric disorders such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD). At present there are few effective interventions for prefrontal cortex dysfunction in ASD. We report on an open-label, pilot study of intermittent TBS (iTBS) to target executive function deficits and restricted, repetitive behaviors in male children and adolescents with ASD. Methods: Ten right-handed, male participants, aged 9-17 years with ASD were enrolled in an open-label trial of iTBS treatment. Fifteen sessions of neuronavigated iTBS at 100% motor threshold targeting the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex were delivered over 3 weeks. Results: Parent report scores on the Repetitive Behavior Scale Revised and the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale demonstrated improvements with iTBS treatment. Participants demonstrated improvements in perseverative errors on the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test and total time for the Stroop test. The iTBS treatments were well tolerated with no serious adverse effects. Conclusion: These preliminary results suggest that further controlled interventional studies of iTBS for ASD are warranted.

A relação entre psicopatologias não neuróticas, neurose obsessiva e pulsão de morte / La relación entre psicopatologías no neurótica, neurosis obsesiva y pulsión de muerte / The relationship between non-neurotic psychopathologies, obsessive neurosis and death drive

RESUMO. As psicopatologias não neuróticas, categoria descrita por André Green, são caracterizadas por problemas na constituição do eu, envolvendo basicamente uma fragilidade narcísica, falhas nos processos de simbolização, além da tendência à atuação e à compulsão, sem o recurso da elaboração psíquica, e a predominância de uma economia do trauma relacionada ao gozo e ao excesso pulsional. São manifestações dessa psicopatologia as somatizações, a síndrome do pânico, as adições, os transtornos alimentares, os estados-limítrofes e a depressão. Green considera que a pulsão de morte, compreendida a partir do processo de desinvestimento dos objetos ou função desobjetalizante, seria um conceito fundamental para a compreensão das não neuroses. A partir da teoria freudiana é possível estabelecer uma relação entre a não neurose e a neurose obsessiva, tendo em vista a utilização de mecanismos defensivos semelhantes e o papel marcante da pulsão de morte, garantindo ainda o lugar da sexualidade infantil inconsciente como fator etiológico predominante.

RESUMEN. Las psicopatologías no neuróticas, categoría descrita por André Green, se caracterizan por problemas en la constitución del yo, básicamente, implica una fragilidad narcisista, el fracaso en los procesos de simbolización, y la tendencia a la acción y la compulsión, sin el uso de La elaboración psíquica, y predominio de una economía del trauma relacionado con el gozo y el exceso pulsional. Son manifestaciones de esta psicopatología la somatización, trastorno de pánico, adiciones, trastornos de la alimentación, los estados fronterizos y la depresión. Green cree que la pulsión de muerte, entendida a partir del proceso de desinversión de los objetos o función desobjetalizante, sería un concepto clave para entender la no neurosis. A partir de la teoría freudiana es posible establecer una relación entre la no neurosis y la neurosis obsesiva, en vista de la utilización de mecanismos de defensa similares y el papel notable de la pulsión de muerte, asegurando todavía el lugar de la sexualidad infantil inconsciente como el factor etiológico predominante.

ABSTRACT. The non-neurotic psychopathologies, category described by André Green, are characterized by problems in the constitution of the self, basically involving a narcissistic frailty, failures on symbolization processes, and the tendency to acting out and to compulsion, without the use of psychic elaboration, and predominance of an economy of trauma related to the jouissance(2) and drive excess. The manifestations of those psychopathologies are somatizations, panic disorder, addictions, eating disorders, borderline states, and depression. Green believes that the death drive, understood from the process of disinvestment of objects or deobjectifying function, would be a fundamental concept for understanding non-neurosis. From the Freudian theory, it is possible to establish a relationship between non-neurosis and obsessive neurosis, considering the use of similar defensive mechanisms and the remarkable role of the death drive, still assuring the importance of unconscious infantile sexuality as the predominant etiologic factor.

Clinical and familial profile of bipolar disorder with and without obsessive-compulsive disorder: an Indian study / Perfil clínico e familiar do transtorno bipolar com e sem transtorno obsessivo-compulsivo: estudo indiano

Abstract Introduction Comorbid obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is common in bipolar disorder (BD). Clinical characteristics, functionality and familial pattern of this comorbidity are largely understudied. Objective To assess clinical profile, familial loading of psychiatric disorders and level of functioning in remitted BD patients who have comorbid OCD and to compare results with those of remitted BD patients without OCD. Methods Remitted BD-I subjects were assessed using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders, Global Assessment of Functioning Scale (GAF), Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS), Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS), Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS) and Family Interview for Genetic Studies (FIGS). BD patients with and without OCD were compared. Group differences were analyzed using the chi-square test and the independent samples t test. Values <0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results Of the 90 remitted BD-I patients, 35.5% (n=32) had obsessive-compulsive symptoms/OCD. The BD-OCD group showed significantly lower GAF scores, higher rates of suicidal attempts, hospitalizations, manic and depressive episodes compared to the group with BD only (p<0.05). In addition, first and second-degree relatives had higher rates of BD-OCD and OCD, but not of BD. Conclusions BD-OCD is characterized by more severe BD, more dysfunction and higher familial loading of BD-OCD and OCD. Larger studies involving relatives of probands will help to confirm our findings and to delineate nosological status of BD-OCD comorbidity.

Resumo Introdução Transtorno obsessivo-compulsivo (TOC) comórbido é comum no transtorno bipolar (TB). Características clínicas, funcionalidade e história familiar dessa comorbidade são pouco estudadas. Objetivo Avaliar o perfil clínico, a carga familiar de transtornos psiquiátricos e o nível de funcionalidade em pacientes com TB em remissão que apresentam TOC comórbido e comparar os resultados com aqueles obtidos em pacientes com TB em remissão sem TOC. Métodos Indivíduos com TB-I em remissão foram avaliados usando a Entrevista Clínica Estruturada para o DSM-IV- Transtornos do Eixo I, Escala de Avaliação Global do Funcionamento, Escala de Depressão de Hamilton, Escala de Mania de Young, Escala Obsessivo-Compulsiva de Yale-Brown e Entrevista Familiar para Estudos Genéticos. Pacientes com TB com e sem TOC foram comparados. Diferenças entre os grupos foram analisadas usando o teste do qui-quadrado e o teste t para amostras independentes. Valores <0,05 foram considerados estatisticamente significativos. Resultados Dos 90 pacientes com TB-I em remissão, 35,5% (n=32) tinham sintomas obsessivo-compulsivos/TOC. O grupo com TB-TOC mostrou escores significativamente mais baixos na Escala de Avaliação Global do Funcionamento, maiores taxas de tentativas de suicídio, hospitalizações, episódios maníacos e depressivos quando comparado ao grupo com apenas TB (p<0,05). Além disso, familiares de primeiro e segundo grau mostraram maiores níveis de TB-TOC e TOC, mas não de TB. Conclusões TB-TOC se caracteriza por TB de maior gravidade, mais disfunção e maior carga familiar de TB-TOC e TOC. Estudos maiores envolvendo familiares de probandos ajudarão a confirmar nossos achados e a delinear o status nosológico de TB-TOC comórbidos.

Qualidade de vida no Transtorno Obsessivo-Compulsivo: um estudo com usuários da Atenção Básica / Quality of life with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: a study among Primary Care users

Resumo A qualidade de vida (QV) pode ser afetada pela presença de transtornos mentais, como o Transtorno Obsessivo-Compulsivo (TOC). Assim, a avaliação e o acompanhamento dos índices de QV em pacientes com transtornos mentais permite a identificação de suas prioridades, sendo possível a implementação de ações para a melhora desses índices nos usuários do sistema de saúde. O objetivo deste artigo é avaliar a QV em portadores de TOC usuários da atenção primária à saúde. Estudo transversal com amostragem por conveniência, incluindo todos os usuários de três Unidades Básicas de Saúde de Pelotas, RS. Para avaliar a QV foi utilizada a WHOQOL-Bref, e o TOC foi avaliado através da M.I.N.I. Foram avaliados 1081 indivíduos. A prevalência de TOC foi de 3,9%. Portadores de TOC apresentaram médias inferiores em todos os domínios da QV quando comparados aos indivíduos sem TOC (p < 0,001). Os achados deste estudo enfatizam a importância de utilizar a QV como instrumento de monitoramento da melhora do transtorno no âmbito da atenção básica à saúde.

Abstract Quality of life (QOL) can be affected by the presence of mental disorders, like Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). Thus, the evaluation and monitoring of QOL in patients with mental disorders enables the identification of priorities, making it possible to implement actions to improve QOL among health system users. The scope of this article is to measure QOL in OCD patients in primary health care. It involves a cross-sectional study with a convenience sample including all users of three Basic Health Units of Pelotas in the State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The quality of life was measured with the WHOQOL-Bref and the OCD was assessed using the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview (M.I.N.I.) This study included 1081 individuals. The prevalence of OCD was 3.9%. OCD patients had a lower average in all domains of QOL when compared to individuals without OCD (p < 0.001). The findings of this study emphasize the importance of using QOL as a monitoring tool of the disorder in basic health care.

Body Dysmorphic Symptoms Scale for patients seeking esthetic surgery: cross-cultural validation study / Escala de Sintomas da Dismorfia Corporal para pacientes que buscam a cirurgia plástica: estudo de validação cultural

ABSTRACT: CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE: Rhinoplasty is one of the most sought-after esthetic operations among individuals with body dysmorphic disorder. The aim of this study was to cross-culturally adapt and validate the Body Dysmorphic Symptoms Scale. DESIGN AND SETTING: Cross-cultural validation study conducted in a plastic surgery outpatient clinic of a public university hospital. METHODS: Between February 2014 and March 2015, 80 consecutive patients of both sexes seeking rhinoplasty were selected. Thirty of them participated in the phase of cultural adaptation of the instrument. Reproducibility was tested on 20 patients and construct validity was assessed on 50 patients, with correlation against the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale for Body Dysmorphic Disorder. RESULTS: The Brazilian version of the instrument showed Cronbach's alpha of 0.805 and excellent inter-rater reproducibility (intraclass correlation coefficient, ICC = 0.873; P < 0.001) and intra-rater reproducibility (ICC = 0.939; P < 0.001). Significant differences in total scores were found between patients with and without symptoms (P < 0.001). A strong correlation (r = 0.841; P < 0.001) was observed between the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale for Body Dysmorphic Disorder and the Body Dysmorphic Symptoms Scale. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.981, thus showing good accuracy for discriminating between presence and absence of symptoms of body dysmorphic disorder. Forty-six percent of the patients had body dysmorphic symptoms and 54% had moderate to severe appearance-related obsessive-compulsive symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: The Brazilian version of the Body Dysmorphic Symptoms Scale is a reproducible instrument that presents face, content and construct validity.

RESUMO CONTEXTO E OBJETIVO: Rinoplastia é uma das operações mais procuradas por indivíduos com o transtorno dismórfico corporal. O objetivo deste estudo foi adaptar culturalmente e validar a Body Dysmorphic Symptoms Scale. DESENHO E LOCAL: Estudo de validação cultural desenvolvido no ambulatório de cirurgia plástica de um hospital universitário público. MÉTODOS: Oitenta pacientes consecutivos de ambos os gêneros que desejavam submeter-se à rinoplastia foram selecionados entre fevereiro de 2014 e março de 2015. Trinta pacientes participaram da fase de adaptação cultural do instrumento. A reprodutibilidade foi testada em 20 pacientes e a validade de construto em 50 pacientes, correlacionando-se a escala com a Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale para transtorno dismórfico corporal. RESULTADOS: A versão brasileira do instrumento mostrou alfa de Cronbach de 0,805 e excelente reprodutibilidade interobservador (coeficiente de correlação intraclasse, CCI = 0,873; P < 0,001) e intraobservador (CCI = 0,939; P < 0,001). Houve diferença significante entre os escores totais de pacientes com e sem sintomas (P < 0,001). Observou-se forte correlação (r = 0,841; P < 0,001) entre a Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale para transtorno dismórfico corporal e a Body Dysmorphic Symptoms Scale. A área sob a curva característica de operação do receptor (ROC) foi de 0,981, revelando boa acurácia para discriminar a presença de sintomas para transtorno dismórfico corporal; 46% dos pacientes apresentaram sintomas do transtorno dismórfico corporal e 54% dos pacientes apresentaram sintomas obsessivo-compulsivos moderados a graves relacionados com a aparência. CONCLUSÃO: A versão brasileira da Body Dysmorphic Symptoms Scale é um instrumento reprodutível que apresenta validade de face, conteúdo e construto.

The putative catalytic role of higher serotonin bioavailability in the clinical response to exposure and response prevention in obsessive-compulsive disorder

Objective: Exposure and response prevention (ERP) is effective to treat obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), but the lack of tolerance to the aversion nature of exposure techniques results in a high drop-out rate. There have been reports of a generic stress endurance effect of serotonin (5-HT) in the central nervous system (CNS) which might be explained by suppression of defensive fixed action patterns. Previous studies have proposed that higher baseline 5-HT concentration and slow decrease in concentration during drug treatment of OCD were predictors of good clinical response to 5-HT reuptake inhibitors. The objective of this study was to investigate whether pre-treatment platelet rich plasma (PRP) 5-HT concentration is associated with latency of treatment response and final response to an ERP protocol for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Methods: Thirty adult and treatment-free OCD patients were included in an 8-week, 16-session ERP protocol. 5-HT concentration was determined at baseline and after treatment. Patients with a reduction ≥30% on the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS) at the end of ERP were defined as responders. Results: A positive correlation between baseline 5-HT concentration and reduction of symptoms on the Y-BOCS was observed after 4 weeks. Baseline 5-HT concentration was not correlated with clinical response after 8 weeks of ERP, possibly due to the similar though delayed clinical response of patients with lower (compared to those with higher) baseline 5-HT concentration. Patients with higher 5-HT baseline concentration also showed more improvement in depressive symptoms with treatment. Conclusion: The present results partially support the hypothesis of a stress endurance effect of 5-HT in OCD patients. According to the literature, fast onset responders possibly have more or larger 5-HT containing neurons, higher endogenous 5-HT synthesis or lower monoamine oxidase activity; all these hypotheses remain to be investigated.

Two systems for empathy in obsessive-compulsive disorder: mentalizing and experience sharing

Objective: To investigate empathic abilities in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) compared to control subjects. OCD is characterized by persistent obsessions and compulsions. Previous studies have proposed specific emotion recognition deficits in patients with OCD. The ability to recognize emotion is part of the broad construct of empathy that incorporates mentalizing and experience-sharing dimensions. Methods: Twenty-four subjects with a diagnosis of OCD and 23 control subjects underwent empathic measures. Results: Patients with OCD compared to control subjects showed deficits in all mentalizing measures. They were incapable of understanding the mental and emotional states of other people. On the other hand, in the sharing experience measures, the OCD group was able to empathize with the emotional experience of other people when they expressed emotions with positive valence, but were not able to do when the emotional valence was negative. Conclusion: Our results suggest that patients with OCD show a difficulty in mentalizing ability, whereas the deficit in sharing ability is specific for the negative emotional valence.

Personality disorders in euthymic bipolar patients: a systematic review

Objective: To identify, by means of a systematic review, the frequency with which comorbid personality disorders (PDs) have been assessed in studies of euthymic bipolar patients. Methods: PubMed, ciELO and PsychINFO databases were searched for eligible articles published between 1997 and 2013. After screening 1,249 empirical papers, two independent reviewers identified three articles evaluating the frequency of PDs in patients with bipolar disorders assessed in a state of euthymia. Results: The total sample comprised 376 euthymic bipolar patients, of whom 155 (41.2%) had at least one comorbid PD. Among them, we found 87 (23.1%) in cluster B, 55 (14.6%) in cluster C, and 25 (6.6%) in cluster A. The frequencies of PD subtypes were: borderline, 38 (10.1%); histrionic, 29 (7.7%); obsessive-compulsive, 28 (7.4%); dependent, 19 (5%); narcissistic, 17 (4.5%); schizoid, schizotypal, and avoidant, 11 patients each (2.95%); paranoid, five (1.3%); and antisocial, three (0.79%). Conclusion: The frequency of comorbid PD was high across the spectrum of euthymic bipolar patients. In this population, the most common PDs were those in cluster B, and the most frequent PD subtype was borderline, followed by histrionic and obsessive-compulsive. .

Neuropsychological dysfunction in adults with early-onset obsessive-compulsive disorder: the search for a cognitive endophenotype

Objective: Evidence suggests that early-onset obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is an etiologically distinct subtype of OCD. The objective of the present work was to search for neurocognitive endophenotypes of early-onset OCD based on assessments of attention, memory, and executive function in patients with the disorder and their unaffected siblings. Methods: We compared the performance of 40 adult patients with early-onset OCD, 40 of their unaffected siblings, and 40 unrelated healthy controls on a neuropsychological battery designed for this study. We searched for associations among test performance, demographic variables (age, sex and years of education) and clinical symptoms of early-onset OCD. Results: Patients performed significantly worse than healthy controls on the Tower of Hanoi, and the Stroop and Wisconsin tests, indicating impairments in planning, mental flexibility and inhibitory control. The performance of the unaffected first-degree siblings of patients with early-onset OCD on the Stroop and Wisconsin tests also differed from that of healthy controls. Symptom severity in early-onset OCD was strongly correlated with performance on the Tower of Hanoi. Conclusions: Our findings support the existence of specific executive function deficits in patients with early-onset OCD. Relatives presented an intermediate phenotype between patients and controls, suggesting that executive functions such as mental flexibility and response inhibition may be considered candidate endophenotypes of early-onset OCD. .