Associations between primary health care strategies and outcomes of mental disorders

Objective: To investigate associations between the percentage and severity of mental disorders (MD) and three different primary health care (PHC) strategies in Brazil: traditional care (TC), the Family Health Strategy (FHS), and FHS with shared mental health care (FHS+SC). Methods: Random samples were selected from three different areas of a Brazilian city. Each area was served by a different PHC strategy (TC, FHS, or FHS+SC). Five mental health professionals, blinded to the type of PHC strategy delivered in each area, conducted interviews using the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) and other specific instruments to assess the prevalence and severity of MD. Results: 530 subjects were interviewed. The TC strategy was significantly associated with a higher percentage of MD when compared to FHS and FHS+SC. These results were not affected by adjustment for sociodemographic variables. The difference in prevalence of MD between the two FHS areas (with and without SC) was not statistically significant. No significant differences in MD severity were observed across the three PHC strategies. Conclusion: Areas covered by FHS showed a lower percentage of MD than those covered by TC. Presence of SC did not influence the prevalence of MD, suggesting that mental-health training of FHS teams may have minimized the influence of SC.

Associations between primary health care strategies and outcomes of mental disorders.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate associations between the percentage and severity of mental disorders (MD) and three different primary health care (PHC) strategies in Brazil: traditional care (TC), the Family Health Strategy (FHS), and FHS with shared mental health care (FHS+SC). METHODS: Random samples were selected from three different areas of a Brazilian city. Each area was served by a different PHC strategy (TC, FHS, or FHS+SC). Five mental health professionals, blinded to the type of PHC strategy delivered in each area, conducted interviews using the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) and other specific instruments to assess the prevalence and severity of MD. RESULTS: 530 subjects were interviewed. The TC strategy was significantly associated with a higher percentage of MD when compared to FHS and FHS+SC. These results were not affected by adjustment for sociodemographic variables. The difference in prevalence of MD between the two FHS areas (with and without SC) was not statistically significant. No significant differences in MD severity were observed across the three PHC strategies. CONCLUSION: Areas covered by FHS showed a lower percentage of MD than those covered by TC. Presence of SC did not influence the prevalence of MD, suggesting that mental-health training of FHS teams may have minimized the influence of SC.

Assessment of the knowledge of Brazilian Community Health Workers regarding prenatal care.

AimTo evaluate prenatal care knowledge of Brazilian community health workers (CHWs). BACKGROUND: Routine prenatal care is critical for reducing health risks in women and their children. One of the responsibilities of primary healthcare providers is the provision of prenatal care. The CHWs, with their frequent contact with populations, work to improve health outreach efforts and therefore may be key role players in prenatal care. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study. A questionnaire was developed to ascertain the degree of knowledge regarding prenatal care of CHWs, including: (1) general responsibilities of CHWs; (2) the initial contact with a pregnant woman; (3) examinations and vaccinations recommended for pregnant women; (4) pregnancy complications and signs of labor; and (5) lifestyle considerations for pregnant women. Responses were categorized into levels for knowledge. Demographic data were also collected. Descriptive analyses were conducted. Proportions of subjects with different levels of knowledge were compared according to each demographic variable, separately for each block of knowledge, using the χ 2 and Fisher's exact tests.FindingsIn total, 194 CHWs were interviewed. Overall, the majority of the CHWs presented high levels of knowledge in blocks 1 (43%), 2 (59%) and 5 (83%). However, in block 3 the proportions of subjects with high levels of knowledge regarding examinations and vaccinations were 35 and 40%, respectively. Only 24% of the participants presented a high level of knowledge in block 4. Stratified data analyses suggest that females were statistically more likely to have high levels of knowledge, whereas no statistically significant differences were found for the other demographic variables. Health services are already routinely using the questionnaire. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that CHWs, especially female CHWs, have an important role in assisting pregnant women in the community. The study indicates the areas of knowledge that require more specific attention from training providers.

Stability of the diagnosis of first-episode psychosis made in an emergency setting.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed at evaluating the stability of the first psychotic episode diagnosis in the emergency context. METHODS: Fifty-nine patients were selected during a 15-month period and were followed for an average of 19.35 +/- 6.12 months. The admission and discharge emergency diagnosis were compared with the longitudinal diagnosis, obtained by the application of Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders--clinical version at the end of the follow-up. Severity rating scales (Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale, Young Mania Rating Scale and Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression) were applied in the emergency assessment. RESULTS: Agreement between admission emergency diagnosis and longitudinal diagnosis was unsatisfactory (k=0.25), whereas that between emergency discharge and longitudinal diagnosis was satisfactory (k=0.57). Brief psychotic disorder diagnosis presented higher sensitivity rates but low specificity, comprising several false positives. Bipolar disorder had the highest rates of specificity. CONCLUSION: Brief psychotic disorder may not be a useful concept in the emergency assessment. A short period of observation can improve emergency psychiatric diagnosis.

Políticas de saúde mental e mudanças na demanda de serviços de emergência / Mental health policies and changes in the emergency services profile

Objetivo: Verificar as mudanças ocorridas em um serviço de emergências psiquiátricas de um hospital universitário de Ribeiräo Preto, SP (EP-RP), em funçäo de mudanças nas políticas de saúde mental da regiäo. Métodos: Os dados sobre os atendimentos foram colhidos em arquivos do EP-RP, no período de 1988 a 1997. Foram estudadas as variáveis sexo, faixa etária, procedência e diagnóstico principal. Os dados sobre as mudanças nas políticas de saúde mental, na regiäo, foram obtidos de documentos das secretarias de saúde do estado e do município. Resultados: O aumento a cada ano do número de atendimentos realizados acompanhou o progressivo envolvimento do EP-RP na rede de serviços de saúde mental. Em 1995, a procura pelo serviço foi 2,3 vezes maior do que em 1988. Nesse período, o atendimento EP-RP deu apoio às mudanças nas políticas de saúde mental na regiäo, que resultaram na reduçäo de 654 leitos psiquiátricos. Em 1996 e 1997, houve uma diminuiçäo do total de atendimentos em cerca de 20 por cento com relaçäo a 1995, acompanhando o aumento do número e da capacidade de atendimento dos serviços extra-hospitalares. A partir de 1990, o serviço passou a atender uma maior proporçäo de pacientes mais velhos, do sexo masculino, com diagnóstico de dependência de substâncias e transtornos psicóticos e uma proporçäo menor de quadros näo psicóticos. Conclusöes: As mudanças observadas no EP-RP correlacionam-se com as das políticas de saúde mental na regiäo de Ribeiräo Preto, como a instalaçäo da Central de Vagas Psiquiátricas, em 1990, a reduçäo de leitos psiquiátricos a partir de 1993 e a criaçäo e/ou ampliaçäo de serviços extra-hospitalares a partir de 1995