Mind the brain gap: The worldwide distribution of neuroimaging research on adolescent depression.

Adolescents comprise one fourth of the world's population, with about 90% of them living in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The incidence of depression markedly increases during adolescence, making the disorder a leading cause of disease-related disability in this age group. However, most research on adolescent depression has been performed in high-income countries (HICs). To ascertain the extent to which this disparity operates in neuroimaging research, a systematic review of the literature was performed. A total of 148 studies were identified, with neuroimaging data available for 4,729 adolescents with depression. When stratified by income group, 122 (82%) studies originated from HICs, while 26 (18%) were conducted in LMICs, for a total of 3,705 and 1,024 adolescents with depression respectively. A positive Spearman rank correlation was observed between country per capita income and sample size (rs=0.673, p = 0.023). Our results support the previous reports showing a large disparity between the number of studies and the adolescent population per world region. Future research comparing neuroimaging findings across populations from HICs and LMICs may provide unique insights to enhance our understanding of the neurobiological processes underlying the development of depression.

The Link between Estradiol and Neuroplasticity in Transgender Women after Gender-Affirming Surgery: A Bimodal Hypothesis.

For transgender individuals, gender-affirming surgery (GAS) and cross-sex hormone therapy (CSHT) are part of the gender transition process. Scientific evidence supporting the maintenance of CSHT after GAS-related gonadectomy is accumulating. However, few data are available on the impact of CSHT on the brain structure following hypogonadism. Thus, we aimed to investigate links between estradiol and brain cortical thickness (CTh) and cognition in 18 post-gonadectomy transgender women using a longitudinal design. For this purpose, the participants underwent a voluntary period of CSHT washout of at least 30 days, followed by estradiol re-institution for 60 days. High-resolution T1-weighted brain images, hormonal measures, working and verbal memory were collected at 2 time points: on the last day of the washout (t1) and on the last day of the 2-month CSHT period (t2). Between these 2 time points, CTh increased within the left precentral gyrus and right precuneus but decreased within the right lateral occipital cortex. However, these findings did not survive corrections of multiple comparisons. Nevertheless, there was a significant negative correlation between changes in estradiol levels and changes in CTh. This effect was evident in the left superior frontal gyrus, the left middle temporal gyrus, the right precuneus, the right superior temporal gyrus, and the right pars opercularis. Although there was an improvement in verbal memory following hypogonadism correction, we did not observe a significant relationship between changes in memory scores and CTh. Altogether, these findings suggest that there is a link between estradiol and CTh.

Effects of Estradiol Therapy on Resting-State Functional Connectivity of Transgender Women After Gender-Affirming Related Gonadectomy.

An extreme incongruence between sex and gender identity leads individuals with gender dysphoria (GD) to seek cross-sex hormone therapy (CSHT), and gender-affirming surgery (GAS). Although few studies have investigated the effects of CSHT on the brain prior to GAS, no studies in the extant literature have evaluated its impact during hypogonadism in post-GAS individuals. Here, we aimed to evaluate the effects of estradiol on resting-state functional connectivity (rs-FC) of the sensorimotor cortex (SMC) and basal ganglia following surgical hypogonadism. Eighteen post-GAS (male-to-female) participants underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and neuropsychiatric and hormonal assessment at two time points (t1, hormonal washout; t2, CSHT reintroduction). Based on the literature, the thalamus was selected as a seed, while the SMC and the dorsolateral striatum were targets for seed-based functional connectivity (sbFC). A second sbFC investigation consisted of a whole-brain voxel exploratory analysis again using the thalamus as a seed. A final complementary data-driven approach using multivoxel pattern analysis (MVPA) was conducted to identify a potential seed for further sbFC analyses. An increase in the rs-FC between the left thalamus and the left SCM/putamen followed CSHT. MVPA identified a cluster within the subcallosal cortex (SubCalC) representing the highest variation in peak activation between time points. Setting the SubCalC as a seed, whole-brain analysis showed a decoupling between the SubCalC and the medial frontal cortex during CSHT. These results indicate that CSHT with estradiol post-GAS, modulates rs-FC in regions engaged in cognitive, emotional, and sensorimotor processes.

Psicodiagnóstico na internação psiquiátrica da infância e adolescência: panorama do triênio 2015-2016-2017 / Psychological assessment in a child and adolescent inpatient psychiatric unit: 2015-2016-2017 triennial overview

Introdução: A internação psiquiátrica é um recurso terapêutico utilizado para a estabilização dos sintomas, contenção de riscos, elucidação diagnóstica e planejamento terapêutico. O psicodiagnóstico permite acesso a questões emocionais e cognitivas do indivíduo. Objetiva-se apresentar um panorama referente à realização de psicodiagnósticos em leitos da especialidade da Psiquiatria Infância e Adolescência de um hospital geral nos anos 2015, 2016 e 2017. Métodos: Trata-se de um estudo transversal, em que foram obtidas informações a partir do prontuário eletrônico de pacientes internados em leitos da especialidade. Os dados analisados foram sexo, idade, naturalidade, realização de psicodiagnóstico, motivo e tempo de internação. Resultados: Durante o triênio estudado, houve realização de psicodiagnóstico em 65,1% das internações. Entretanto, constatou-se diminuição estatisticamente significativamente (p = 0,006) no número de psicodiagnósticos em relação ao número de internações: 82% em 2015; 63% em 2016; e 53% em 2017. Conclusão: Esta diminuição no número de psicodiagnósticos realizados durante a internação indica que houve uma mudança nesse processo, onde se passou de um período em que a grande maioria das crianças e adolescentes (82%) realizava a avaliação, para um panorama onde metade dos pacientes (53%) realiza o psicodiagnóstico. Esse resultado sugere que estratégias de psicoeducação, voltadas para equipes assistentes, tendo por objetivo otimizar custo-efetividade e qualidade da assistência, levaram esses profissionais a refletirem sobre relevância, riscos e benefícios da realização do psicodiagnóstico durante a internação psiquiátrica de crianças e adolescentes. (AU)

Introduction: Inpatient psychiatry is a therapeutic resource for symptom stabilization, risk management, diagnostic clarification and/or treatment planning. Psychological assessment provides information on emotional and cognitive functioning. This study aims to provide an overview of psychological assessment in a child and adolescent inpatient psychiatric unit at a general hospital in southern Brazil in 2015, 2016 and 2017. Methods: This cross-sectional retrospective study obtained information from electronic medical records of patients admitted to the hospital psychiatric unit. Data for analysis were sex, age, place of birth, psychological assessment, reason and length of stay. Results: In those three years, psychological assessments were requested in 65.1% of all unit admissions. However, there was a statistically significant decrease (p = 0.006) in the number of psychological assessments in relation to the number of admissions: 82% in 2015; 63% in 2016; and 53% in 2017. Conclusion: The decrease in the number of psychological assessments performed in the inpatient unit indicates that there was some changes in the process, as first most children and adolescents (82%) underwent the assessment and then the rate reduced to half of all patients (53%). This can be explained by the implementation of strategies to educate the health care team about psychological assessment, with the purpose of improving costeffectiveness and quality of care. This led to greater reflection on relevance, risks and benefits of psychological assessment in a child and adolescent inpatient psychiatric unit. (AU)

O psicodiagnóstico no trabalho em equipe multiprofissional em unidade de internação psiquiátrica de crianças e adolescentes em hospital geral / Psychological assessment: its role in the multidisciplinary team in a Children's and Adolescents' Psychiatric Unit of a general hospital

O psicodiagnóstico, ferramenta de uso exclusivo do psicólogo, possibilita o acesso a características emocionais e aspectos cognitivos do paciente de forma relativamente breve e consistente. Mostra-se um recurso importante para auxílio diagnóstico e planejamento terapêutico no hospital geral. Diante disso, realizou-se um levantamento de psicodiagnósticos executados pelo Serviço de Psicologia no ano de 2015, solicitados pela equipe da Psiquiatria da Infância e Adolescência de um hospital geral universitário, a fim de descrever a demanda da psicologia frente à equipe multiprofissional e suscitar questões sobre esse processo. Os resultados apontam para heterogeneidade de transtornos específicos e escassez de instrumentos de avaliação de personalidade validados para essa população. Conclui-se sobre a importância do psicodiagnóstico para auxílio na elaboração do Plano de Tratamento Singular e para acompanhamento sistemático de doenças que tendem a ser crônicas.

Through psychological assessment, psychologists are able to evaluate emotional and cognitive features in a relative small amount of time. It is a valuable tool to help multidisciplinary assistant team in formulating a diagnosis and planning treatment. This article reveals the demand of the Psychology Service of a university general hospital considering the needs of the Children and Adolescents Psychiatric Unit. The results show a variety of diagnosis and the shortage of psychological tools and tests for this specific age. The conclusion highlights the importance of the psychological assessment as a tool for writing the Individualized Treatment Plan as well as to keep track of illnesses that tend to be chronic.