The contribution of mindfulness to outpatient substance use disorder treatment in Brazil: a preliminary study

Objective: To explore the contribution of a mindfulness-based intervention as an adjuvant to outpatient substance use disorder treatment. Outcomes included substance use behavior, depression and anxiety symptoms, and anger expression. Methods: This preliminary study for a pragmatic randomized controlled trial with stratified random allocation included three months of follow-up. In two outpatient clinics linked to public universities, a mindfulness-based intervention plus treatment as usual (experimental group n=22) was compared to treatment as usual (control group n=20). The study included data from self-report measurements and the patients' records, which were evaluated according to intention-to-treat analysis through generalized estimating equations and generalized method of moments estimation. Results: The experimental group had lower symptoms of depression (b=-6.82; 95%CI -12.45 to -1.18) and anxiety (b=-0.25; 95%CI -0.42 to -0.09), and anger expression (b=-9.76; 95%CI -18.98 to -0.54) three months after the intervention. We detected no effect on substance use behavior. Conclusion: The mindfulness-based intervention yielded promising results as an adjuvant to outpatient substance use disorder treatment, since it reduced levels of highly prevalent symptoms in this population. However, further studies with longer follow-up periods and larger samples are required.

The contribution of mindfulness to outpatient substance use disorder treatment in Brazil: a preliminary study.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the contribution of a mindfulness-based intervention as an adjuvant to outpatient substance use disorder treatment. Outcomes included substance use behavior, depression and anxiety symptoms, and anger expression. METHODS: This preliminary study for a pragmatic randomized controlled trial with stratified random allocation included three months of follow-up. In two outpatient clinics linked to public universities, a mindfulness-based intervention plus treatment as usual (experimental group n=22) was compared to treatment as usual (control group n=20). The study included data from self-report measurements and the patients' records, which were evaluated according to intention-to-treat analysis through generalized estimating equations and generalized method of moments estimation. RESULTS: The experimental group had lower symptoms of depression (b=-6.82; 95%CI -12.45 to -1.18) and anxiety (b=-0.25; 95%CI -0.42 to -0.09), and anger expression (b=-9.76; 95%CI -18.98 to -0.54) three months after the intervention. We detected no effect on substance use behavior. CONCLUSION: The mindfulness-based intervention yielded promising results as an adjuvant to outpatient substance use disorder treatment, since it reduced levels of highly prevalent symptoms in this population. However, further studies with longer follow-up periods and larger samples are required.

Guidelines of the Brazilian Association of Studies on Alcohol and Other Drugs (ABEAD) for diagnosis and treatment of psychiatric comorbidity with alcohol and other substance and dependence.

In recent years, several studies have been focused on the comorbidity of psychiatric disorders with alcohol and other substance dependence. In this context, the Brazilian Association of Studies on Alcohol and Other Drugs initiated a project to establish Brazilian Guidelines. The aim of this study was to review diagnostic and therapeutic criteria for the most prevalent psychiatric comorbidities. Randomized clinical trials, epidemiological studies, animal testing and other forms of research are reviewed herein. The main psychiatric comorbidities are investigated and data published in the literature are reviewed, based on guidelines adopted by other countries. Epidemiological aspects, diagnostic criteria, integrated treatment and the organization of specialized service, as well as details regarding psychotherapy and pharmacological treatment are discussed. The guidelines of the Brazilian Association of Studies on Alcohol and Other Drugs reinforce the importance of adequate diagnosis and treatment regarding alcoholic and drug dependent patients suffering of comorbid psychiatric disorders.

Body checking and eating cognitions in Brazilian outpatients with eating disorders and non psychiatric controls.

OBJECTIVE: Compare inadequate eating behaviors and their relationship to body checking in three groups: patients with anorexia nervosa (AN), patients with bulimia nervosa (BN) and a control group (C). METHODS: Eighty three outpatients with eating disorders (ED) and 40 controls completed eating attitudes and body checking questionnaires. RESULTS: The overall relationship between the eating attitude and body checking was statistically significant in all three groups. The worse the eating attitude, the greater the body checking behavior. However, when we look at each group individually, the relationship was only statistically significant in the AN group (r=.354, p=0.020). DISCUSSION: The lower the desired weight and the worse the eating attitude, the more people check themselves, although in the presence of an ED the relationship between body checking and food restrictions is greater. In patients displaying the AN subgroup, body checking is also related to continued dietary control.

Body checking and obsessive-compulsive symptoms in Brazilian outpatients with eating disorders.

OBJECTIVE: Compare obsessive-compulsive symptoms in patients with anorexia nervosa (AN) and bulimia nervosa (BN), and assess the association of these symptoms and body checking in each of these groups of patients. METHODS: Eighty-five female outpatients with eating disorders (ED) completed body checking and obsessive-compulsive questionnaires. RESULTS: Body checking was more prevalent in the BN group. Among patients with AN, the highest mean body-checking scores were found in patients with somatic obsessions related to body areas and eating rituals (p = 0.003 and 0.018, respectively). DISCUSSION: Patients with eating disorders are believed to be included in the obsessive-compulsive spectrum, and may experience intrusive thoughts about behavior. The results of our work suggest that obsessive symptoms and body checking should be further investigated and properly managed in patients with ED.

Psychometric evaluation of the Body Checking Cognitions Scale (BCCS) Portuguese version.

The aim of this study is evaluate the psychometric results and validity of the Brazilian Portuguese language version of the Body Checking Cognitions Scale (BCCS). Factor analysis and concurrent validity were checked on assessments from participants with and without eating disorders. The scale had good internal consistency. Factor analysis confirmed four components. Control and Eating Disorders groups were discriminated, and results correlated well with the Eating Attitudes Test and Body Shape Questionnaire. The results for the Portuguese version of the BCCS were similar to the original version, and its use is recommended for evaluation of body-checking cognitions in the Brazilian population with or without eating disorders.

Antropofagia e sustentabilidade: vínculos em mulheres dependentes de substâncias psicoativas / Anthropophagi and sustainability: bonds in women with substance abusedisorders? / Antropofagia y sostenibilidad: enlaces en mujeres dependientes de sustancias

Diferentes autores têm colocado a drogadição entre os quadros clínicos caracterizados por falhas nas bases de constituição da subjetividade, como expressão da falta de capacidade simbólica. Esta ausência de simbolização aparece sob a forma de atuações, nas quais incorporações antropofágicas substituem processos de elaboração. Neste sentido, o grande desafio do tratamento de pessoas dependentes de substâncias psicoativas é dar a possibilidade para o sujeito de formar um discurso que possa mediar, através da simbolização, a relação entre o ele e sua antropofagia. Nesse sentido, é fundamental, criar condições para a construção de vínculos sustentáveis, que permitam a emergência da angústia para o trabalho de elaboração psíquica. O objetivo deste trabalho é refletir sobre as possibilidades e limites encontrados por uma equipe multidisciplinar de um programa ambulatorial específico para mulheres dependentes químicas, que trabalha para construir vínculos que promovam elaboração psíquica. A partir da análise da transferência, questiona-se a natureza dos vínculos e a própria direção do processo terapêutico.(AU)

Different authors have described addiction among clinical casescharacterized byimpairments on the basis of constitution of subjectivity, as an expression of lack of symbolic capacity. This lack of symbolization appears in the form of acting-outs, in which anthropophagicincorporations replace the elaboration process. In this sense, the great challenge of treating people with substance use disorders is giving them the possibility of formation of a discourse that may mediate, through symbolization, the relationship between the person and heranthropophagi. Thus, it is essential to create conditions for building sustainable bonds, enabling the emergence of anguish to the work of psychic elaboration. The aim of this paper is to discuss the possibilities and limits found by a multidisciplinary team in an outpatient women-only substance abuse treatment working to build bonds that promote psychic elaboration. From the analysis of the transference, the question is the nature of the bonds and the actual direction of the therapeutic process.(AU)

Diferentes autores han ubicado la adicción entre los cuadros clínicos caracterizados por fracasos en la base de la constitución de la subjetividad como expresión de la falta de capacidad simbólica. Esta falta de simbolización aparece en forma de actuaciones, en que las incorporaciones antropofágicas sustituyen procesos de elaboración. En este sentido, el acto de tratar a las personas con trastornos por consumo de sustancias es brindar la posibilidad al sujeto de articular un discurso que puede mediar, a través de la simbolización, la relación entre el yo y su antropofagia. Por lo tanto, es fundamental crear las condiciones para la construcción de vínculos sostenibles, lo que permite la aparición de la angustia para el trabajo de la elaboración psíquica. El objetivo de este trabajo es discutir las posibilidades y limitaciones encontradas por un programa ambulatorio multidisciplinario específico para mujeres con dependencia química, que trabaja para crear vínculos que promuevan la elaboración psíquica. A partir del análisis de la transferencia, se pone en juego la cuestión de la naturaleza de los vínculos y la propia dirección del proceso terapéutico.(AU)

Antropofagia e sustentabilidade: vínculos em mulheres dependentes de substâncias psicoativas / Anthropophagi and sustainability: bonds in women with substance abusedisorders? / Antropofagia y sostenibilidad: enlaces en mujeres dependientes de sustancias

Diferentes autores têm colocado a drogadição entre os quadros clínicos caracterizados por falhas nas bases de constituição da subjetividade, como expressão da falta de capacidade simbólica. Esta ausência de simbolização aparece sob a forma de atuações, nas quais incorporações antropofágicas substituem processos de elaboração. Neste sentido, o grande desafio do tratamento de pessoas dependentes de substâncias psicoativas é dar a possibilidade para o sujeito de formar um discurso que possa mediar, através da simbolização, a relação entre o ele e sua antropofagia. Nesse sentido, é fundamental, criar condições para a construção de vínculos sustentáveis, que permitam a emergência da angústia para o trabalho de elaboração psíquica. O objetivo deste trabalho é refletir sobre as possibilidades e limites encontrados por uma equipe multidisciplinar de um programa ambulatorial específico para mulheres dependentes químicas, que trabalha para construir vínculos que promovam elaboração psíquica. A partir da análise da transferência, questiona-se a natureza dos vínculos e a própria direção do processo terapêutico...

Different authors have described addiction among clinical casescharacterized byimpairments on the basis of constitution of subjectivity, as an expression of lack of symbolic capacity. This lack of symbolization appears in the form of acting-outs, in which anthropophagicincorporations replace the elaboration process. In this sense, the great challenge of treating people with substance use disorders is giving them the possibility of formation of a discourse that may mediate, through symbolization, the relationship between the person and heranthropophagi. Thus, it is essential to create conditions for building sustainable bonds, enabling the emergence of anguish to the work of psychic elaboration. The aim of this paper is to discuss the possibilities and limits found by a multidisciplinary team in an outpatient women-only substance abuse treatment working to build bonds that promote psychic elaboration. From the analysis of the transference, the question is the nature of the bonds and the actual direction of the therapeutic process...

Diferentes autores han ubicado la adicción entre los cuadros clínicos caracterizados por fracasos en la base de la constitución de la subjetividad como expresión de la falta de capacidad simbólica. Esta falta de simbolización aparece en forma de actuaciones, en que las incorporaciones antropofágicas sustituyen procesos de elaboración. En este sentido, el acto de tratar a las personas con trastornos por consumo de sustancias es brindar la posibilidad al sujeto de articular un discurso que puede mediar, a través de la simbolización, la relación entre el yo y su antropofagia. Por lo tanto, es fundamental crear las condiciones para la construcción de vínculos sostenibles, lo que permite la aparición de la angustia para el trabajo de la elaboración psíquica. El objetivo de este trabajo es discutir las posibilidades y limitaciones encontradas por un programa ambulatorio multidisciplinario específico para mujeres con dependencia química, que trabaja para crear vínculos que promuevan la elaboración psíquica. A partir del análisis de la transferencia, se pone en juego la cuestión de la naturaleza de los vínculos y la propia dirección del proceso terapéutico...

Body checking and associated cognitions among Brazilian outpatients with eating disorders and nonpsychiatric controls.

This work aims to compare in patients with anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and control subjects: (a) body checking types, frequency, and parts; (b) prevalence of body avoidance and the most checked body parts; (c) body checking cognitions. Eighty-five outpatients with eating disorders (ED) and 40 controls filled out validated body checking and cognition questionnaires. ED patients, especially bulimia nervosa, check their bodies more than do the control subjects. The most checked area was the belly. The most frequent means of body checking was mirror checking, while the most avoided was weighing. The reasons that participants in the various study groups check their bodies seem to differ. Given the importance of body checking in the etiology and maintenance of EDs, it is important that clinicians consider this behavior, as well as the factors that lead to checking/avoidance in the different eating disorder subtypes, so that treatment may be more specific.

Tradução, adaptação transcultural para o português (Brasil) e validação de conteúdo da Body Checking Cognitions Scale (BCCS) / Portuguese (Brazil) translation, cross-cultural adaptation and content validity of Body Checking Cognitions Scale - BCCS

CONTEXTO: A Body Checking Cognitions Scale (BCCS) avalia cognições relacionadas à checagem do peso, comportamento comum e de importância clínica em pacientes com transtornos alimentares (TA). OBJETIVO: Tradução, adaptação transcultural da BCCS para o idioma português, validação de conteúdo e análise da consistência interna. MÉTODOS: Envolveu cinco etapas: (1) tradução; (2) retrotradução; (3) revisão técnica e avaliação das equivalências semântica e conceitual (4) validação de conteúdo por profissionais da área - juízes; (5) avaliação do instrumento por uma amostra de estudantes do sexo feminino. RESULTADOS: O instrumento foi traduzido e adaptado para o idioma português. Foram realizadas algumas adaptações de palavras, expressões e conjugação verbal. Demonstrou ser de fácil compreensão (valores médios superiores a 4,22 - valor máximo 5,0) e excelente concordância (alfa de Cronbach: 0,80 a 0,95). Os construtos verificação objetiva, segurança sobre o corpo, consequências de não checar e controle da dieta e do peso foram identificados pelos especialistas, e o nível de concordância correspondeu a 48,6 por cento. CONCLUSÃO: A escala encontra-se traduzida e adaptada para o idioma português, demonstrando resultados satisfatórios no processo de tradução, adaptação transcultural e análise de consistência interna. São necessárias ainda análises de validade externa, equivalência de mensuração e reprodutibilidade.

BACKGROUND: The Body Checking Cognitions Scale (BCCS) measures cognitions associated with weight checking, which is a medically relevant common behavior among patients with eating disorders (ED). OBJECTIVE: To translate and cross-culturally adapt BCCS into Brazilian Portuguese, to validate its content and analyze it for internal consistency. METHODS: The study included five steps: (1) translation; (2) back translation; (3) technical review and assessment of semantic and conceptual equivalences; (4) content validation by experts - arbiters; and (5) instrument evaluation in a sample of female students. RESULTS: The instrument was translated and adapted into Brazilian Portuguese. Some adjustments were made of words, phrases and verb conjugation. The version was found to be easily understandable (mean values higher than 4.22; maximum value: 5.0) and showed excellent concordance (Cronbach's a: 0.80 to 0.95). The constructs (objective verification, reassurance, safety beliefs and body control) were identified by experts and the level of agreement was 48.6 percent. DISCUSSION: BCCS was translated and adapted into Brazilian Portuguese and showed adequate translation, cross-cultural adaptation, and internal consistency. BCCS external validation, measurement equivalence and reproducibility analyses are still required.

Aspectos familiares de meninas adolescentes dependentes de álcool e drogas: [revisão] / Family aspects of alcohol and drug-dependent adolescent girls: [review]

CONTEXTO: O consumo de drogas entre adolescentes tem sido alvo de várias pesquisas nos últimos anos. Sabe-se que a família pode ser um fator tanto de proteção quanto de risco para o uso de substâncias nessa fase. OBJETIVO: O presente artigo é uma revisão da literatura sobre o tema família de adolescentes abusadoras e/ou dependentes de substâncias psicoativas, a fim de levantar quais dados a literatura já dispõe sobre esse assunto com o intuito de capacitar profissionais da área da saúde na atuação clínica bem como na prevenção desta síndrome. MÉTODOS:Revisão bibliográfica no sistema MedLine (Index Medicus), ScieLO, PubMed, a partir das seguintes palavras-chave: adição, abuso de drogas, meninas, adolescência e família. RESULTADOS:Observou-se que essas famílias em sua maioria possuem características disfuncionais como laços familiares conflitivos, pouca proximidade entre os membros, falta de uma hierarquia bem definida e pais que não dão exemplo positivo quanto ao uso de drogas. Diferenças entre gêneros também são apontadas: meninas necessitam maior apoio familiar que os meninos como fator protetor do envolvimento com grupo de pares desviantes. As meninas também são tão sensíveis ao abuso psicológico quanto ao físico, diferentemente dos meninos que consideram pior o abuso físico. Destaca-se ainda que a presença de relações de apoio com irmãs mais velhas é fator protetor para o abuso de substâncias em meninas. Outros temas, como transmissão transgeracional e estilo parental, também são abordados. CONCLUSÕES:Conclui-se que este tema é pouco explorado na literatura, principalmente no que se refere a estudos que abordem isoladamente a relação entre meninas e dependência.

BACKGROUND: Drug use among adolescents has been investigated in several recent studies. Family is recognizably both a protective and a risk factor for substance use during adolescence. OBJECTIVE:This present article is a literature review on family aspects of female adolescents who are drug abusers and/or psychoactive drug dependents to gather information available on this issue for capacitating heath providers in clinical care and prevention of this syndrome. METHODS:A literature review was conducted in MedLine (Index Medicus), SciELO, PubMed using the following key words: addiction, drug abuse, girls, adolescence and family. RESULTS:The families of these adolescents were found to be mostly dysfunctional characterized by conflictive family relationships, poor family cohesion, ill-defined hierarchy, and negative parental role modeling for drug use. Gender differences were also remarkable: girls need more family support than boys to protect them against deviant peer group involvement; they are also more vulnerable to psychological rather than physical abuse while boys suffer more from physical abuse. Notably, support from older female siblings is a protective factor against substance abuse in girls. Transgenerational transmission and parental style are also addressed. DISCUSSION: Drug abuse in girls has been little investigated and there have been few studies specifically focusing on the association between dependence and girls.

O impacto do consumo alcoólico no ganho de peso / The impact of alcohol consumption on weight gain

CONTEXTO: Considerando-se que o álcool possui um valor energético, ele tem a habilidade de suprimir as necessidades calóricas diárias de um indivíduo, e/ou levá-lo ao sobrepeso, dependendo da quantidade, freqüência e modo de consumo. OBJETIVOS: Revisar o efeito do álcool no metabolismo energético e suas conseqüências no peso corporal. MÉTODOS: Revisão bibliográfica realizada no sistema MEDLINE (Index Medicus) cruzando os descritores "alcohol" e "weight gain". RESULTADOS: O álcool tem prioridade no metabolismo alterando outras vias metabólicas, incluindo a oxidação lipídica, o que favorece o estoque de gorduras no organismo. Dependendo da forma que ele é metabolizado, sua participação como fonte calórica é diferente. CONCLUSÕES: O valor energético dos alimentos adicionados ao consumo alcoólico e o patamar de consumo devem ser observados na relação de ganho de peso. Respostas ao consumo de álcool são diferentes de um indivíduo para o outro e são determinadas por fatores individuais e por possíveis fatores genéticos desconhecidos.

BACKGROUND: Due to alcoholÆs energy content, its intake can meet an individualÆs daily energy requirements, and/or lead to an individual becoming overweight based on amount, frequency, and pattern of consumption. OBJECTIVES:To review alcoholÆs effect on energy metabolism and its consequences for body weight. METHODS: A review of literature was conducted in MEDLINE (Index Medicus), searching with the keywords "alcohol" and "weight gain". RESULTS: Alcohol takes priority in metabolism and affects other metabolic pathways, including lipid oxidation, which facilitates fat accumulation in the body. Depending on the metabolic pathway activated, alcohol can play a different role as an energy source. CONCLUSIONS: The energy content of foods consumed together with alcohol and the level of consumption should be monitored to prevent weight gain. Individuals have varying responses to alcohol consumption which are determined by their specific characteristics and possibly by other unknown genetic factors as well.

Aleitamento materno: quando o álcool pode influenciar na saúde do bebê? / Breast-feeding to which extent alcohol can affect the baby's health?

Objetivos: rever literatura científica acerca da teratogenicidade do álcool sobre o bebê durante o aleitamento materno. Fontes pesquisadas: revisão bibliográfica realizada no Sistema MEDLINE (Index Medicus) cruzando os descritores álcool e aleitamento materno...

Objectives: to review the scientific literature about the teratogenicity of alcohol on the baby during breast-feeding. Researched sources: bibliographic review carried out in the MED_LINE (Index Medicus) System, crossing the descriptors alcohol and breast-feeding...

[Guidelines of the Brazilian Association of Studies on Alcohol and Other Drugs (ABEAD) for diagnoses and treatment of psychiatric comorbidity with alcohol and other drugs dependence]. / Diretrizes da Associação Brasileira de Estudos do Alcool e outras Drogas (ABEAD) para o diagnóstico e tratamento de comorbidades psiquiátricas e dependência de álcool e outras substâncias.

Recently, several studies have focused on comorbity psychiatric disorders with alcohol and other substance dependence. The Brazilian Association of Studies on Alcohol and Other Drugs proposed the Brazilian Guidelines project. This study review diagnostic and therapeutic criteria to the most prevalent psychiatric comorbidities. Randomized clinical trials, epidemiological, animal studies and other forms of research are reviewed. The main psychiatric comorbidities are studied based on guidelines adopted by other countries and the literature data resumed. Epidemiological aspects, diagnoses, integrated treatment and service organization, as well as specific psychotherapic and pharmacological treatment are discussed. The Brazilian Association of Studies on Alcohol and Other Drugs Guidelines reassures the importance of adequate diagnoses and treatment regarding alcoholic and drug dependent patients suffering of comorbid psychiatric disorders.

Diretrizes da Associação Brasileira de Estudos do Alcool e outras Drogas (ABEAD) para o diagnóstico e tratamento de comorbidades psiquiátricas e dependência de álcool e outras substâncias / Guidelines of the Brazilian Association of Studies on Alcohol and Other Drugs (ABEAD) for diagnoses and treatment of psychiatric comorbidity with alcohol and other drugs dependence

O diagnóstico e tratamento de comorbidade psiquiátrica e dependência de álcool e outras substâncias tem sido objeto de inúmeros estudos nos últimos anos. A Associação Brasileira de Estudos do Alcool e Outras Drogas desenvolveu o projeto Diretrizes. Este trabalho visa o desenvolvimento de critérios diagnósticos e terapêuticos atualizados para as comorbidades psiquiátricas mais prevalentes. Ensaios clínicos randomizados, estudos epidemiológicos, com animais e outros estudos são revisados. As principais comorbidades psiquiátricas são estudadas e os dados de literatura resumidos, tendo como referência diretrizes adotadas em outros países. São abordados aspectos epidemiológicos, critérios diagnósticos, tratamento integrado e organização de serviço especializado, assim como especificidades do tratamento psicoterápico e farmacológico. As Diretrizes da Associação Brasileira de Estudos do Alcool e Outras Drogas reforçam a importância da abordagem adequada do dependente químico portador de comorbidade psiquiátrica.

A influência da comorbidade com transtornos alimentares na apresentação de mulheres dependentes de substâncias psicoativas / The impact of eating disorders as a comorbidity on psychoactive drug-dependent women seeking care

A associação entre transtornos alimentares e dependência de substâncias é freqüente na prática clínica. Apesar de já existirem dados sugestivos de que essa associação possa sinalizar maior severidade nos distúrbios psiquiátricos e clínicos das pacientes, poucas pesquisas avaliaram sua influência no tratamento. Oitenta mulheres dependentes de álcool e drogas que procuraram tratamento em um programa exclusivo para mulheres foram avaliadas por meio da Entrevista Clínica Estruturada para o DSM-IV (SCID), do ASI, e de um questionário padronizado para a coleta de dados sociodemográficos e relativos ao uso de substâncias psicoativas. As 27 (33,75 por cento) pacientes que tinham transtornos alimentares presentes (grupo com TA) foram comparadas com as 53 (66,25 por cento) que não tinham essa comorbidade (grupo sem TA). Os resultados mostraram que o grupo com TA teve problemas com drogas de maneira mais precoce, era significativamente mais jovem e tinha maior severidade no uso destas que o grupo sem TA. As diferenças encontradas, bem como a alta prevalência dos transtornos alimentares não formais, enfatizam a importância de uma avaliação detalhada dos transtornos alimentares em pacientes dependentes de substâncias psicoativas que buscam tratamento. A fim de planejar abordagens terapêuticas efetivas, essas diferenças e, principalmente, a influência da comorbidade entre transtornos alimentares e dependência de substâncias psicoativas no tratamento da dependência química precisam ser investigadas no futuro.

The co-occurrence of eating disorders and substance use disorders is frequent in clinical settings. Although there are some data suggesting that this co-occurrence may signal greater psychiatric disturbances and greater medical risks, few studies have evaluated its impact on treatment course. Eighty drug dependent women who had sought treatment in a substance use gender-responsive program were assessed with the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Disorders, The Addiction Severity Index and a standardized questionnaire for demographics and psychoactive substance use variables. The 27 (33.75 percent) patients who had current eating disorders (ED group) were compared to the 53 (66.25 percent) patients who did not have such comorbidity (WED group). Results showed that the ED group had drug related problems earlier in life, was significantly younger and had higher drug related severity than the WED group. The differences observed between the groups and the higher prevalence of eating disorders not otherwise specified underscore the importance of a through evaluation of eating disorders in patients with substance use disorders seeking treatment. In order to plan effective therapeutic approaches these differences and moreover the comorbidity between eating disorders and substance use disorders in the course of substance abuse treatment need to be further investigated.

[Women's Mental Health in Brazil: clinical challenges and perspectives in research]. / Saúde mental da mulher no Brasil: desafios clínicos e perspectivas em pesquisa.

Women's Mental Health in Brazil remains underserved due to the lack of specialized clinical centers and poor research training or productivity. Nonetheless, there have been some promising initiatives over the last two decades to integrate gynecologic and mental health services and provide more multidisciplinary clinical care. This paper reviews such initiatives and discusses their strengths and pitfalls.

Gender differences in treatment-seeking Brazilian drug-dependent individuals.

The authors compared 66 women and 66 men entering an outpatient treatment for drug dependence, focussing on demographics, progression of dependence, and other associated clinical features. Most of the subjects were dependent on cocaine (75%). Women, as compared with men, had a higher level of education, were more likely to have migrated from other places to the city of Sao Paulo, to report past suicide attempts, and to have first-degree relatives with alcohol problems. There were no gender differences regarding the total time of drug use, baseline severity of dependence, and rates of concurrent psychiatric comorbidity. Clinicians working with drug-dependent women should note the high rates of suicidal behavior in this population, and should explore, besides psychiatric status, risk factors such as impulsive temperament traits. It should also be noted that higher rates of alcohol problems in women's family background pose challenges for the development of effective preventive and treatment strategies.

Mulheres e homens com dependência de drogas: comparaçao clínica e demogr fica em tratamento ambulatorial / Women and men with drug dependence: clinical and demographic comparison in an outpatient treatment

O estudo das mulheres dependentes de drogas encontra-se em fase inicial em nosso país. No entanto, tem-se notado aumento da procura por tratamento desta subpopulaçäo de dependentes. Este trabalho objetiva estudar as características sociodemogr ficas e clínicas de pacientes que procuram tratamento em um hospital público universit rio, bem como sua evoluçäo e aderência em um tratamento ambulatorial. Foram estudadas 40 mulheres dependentes de drogas de acordo com o DSM-III-R, excluindo casos de dependência de lcool. Para comparaçäo, foram selecionados 40 homens diagnosticados através dos mesmos critérios, pareados com a amostra de mulheres segundo a data de admissäo. Os resultados mostraram maior grau de instruçäo, idade de início e de aumento de consumo de drogas e procura por tratamento mais tardia entre as mulheres. As mulheres apresentaram, também, significativamente mais tentativas de suicídio do que os homens. Näo houve diferenças entre as amostras masculina e feminina em relaçäo à aderência após seis meses de tratamento, com taxas igualmente altas de abandono. Em relaçäo à evoluçäo, observou-se melhora importante dos indicadores estudados (consumo de drogas/via de uso, ocupaçäo/ fonte de renda, relaçöes familiares e lazer) para os pacientes que permaneceram em tratamento, sem diferenças significativas entre as amostras feminina e masculina, com exceçäo das "relaçöes familiares". Estas estavam significativamente melhores entre as mulheres após seis meses de tratamento, quando comparadas com os homens