Correlations between childhood maltreatment, anxiety and depressive symptoms, and risk behaviors in adolescent schoolchildren.

OBJECTIVE: Childhood maltreatment is extremely harmful to health, especially in relation to development of the psychiatric disorders throughout life. The objective of this study was to describe the prevalence and types of maltreatment in a sample of adolescent schoolchildren and to investigate associations between maltreatment types and anxiety and depressive symptoms, sociodemographic variables, and risk behaviors. The study also identified which variables were the greatest predictors of anxiety and depressive symptoms. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study with a sample of 654 school students aged 11 to 17 years. We collected sociodemographic data and administered the Revised Child Anxiety and Depression Scale (RCADS-47) to measure anxiety and depressive symptoms as well as the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ) to evaluate maltreatment and adverse experiences such as abuse and negligence during childhood and adolescence. Statistical analyses were conducted to estimate correlations between sociodemographic data, anxiety, depression, and types of maltreatment. A regression analysis was also conducted to identify maltreatment types that predict psychological symptoms. RESULTS: Emotional abuse and emotional neglect were the most prevalent types of maltreatment. Statistically, emotional abuse was the maltreatment type most strongly correlated with depression and anxiety and tended to co-occur with other types of maltreatment. Additionally, emotional and sexual abuse were the greatest predictors of anxiety and depression in adolescents. CONCLUSION: The above results reinforce the findings of previous studies in terms of understanding the effects of maltreatment. They identify emotional abuse as the main predictor of depressive and anxiety symptoms.

Correlations between childhood maltreatment, anxiety and depressive symptoms, and risk behaviors in adolescent schoolchildren

Abstract Objective Childhood maltreatment is extremely harmful to health, especially in relation to development of the psychiatric disorders throughout life. The objective of this study was to describe the prevalence and types of maltreatment in a sample of adolescent schoolchildren and to investigate associations between maltreatment types and anxiety and depressive symptoms, sociodemographic variables, and risk behaviors. The study also identified which variables were the greatest predictors of anxiety and depressive symptoms. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study with a sample of 654 school students aged 11 to 17 years. We collected sociodemographic data and administered the Revised Child Anxiety and Depression Scale (RCADS-47) to measure anxiety and depressive symptoms as well as the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ) to evaluate maltreatment and adverse experiences such as abuse and negligence during childhood and adolescence. Statistical analyses were conducted to estimate correlations between sociodemographic data, anxiety, depression, and types of maltreatment. A regression analysis was also conducted to identify maltreatment types that predict psychological symptoms. Results Emotional abuse and emotional neglect were the most prevalent types of maltreatment. Statistically, emotional abuse was the maltreatment type most strongly correlated with depression and anxiety and tended to co-occur with other types of maltreatment. Additionally, emotional and sexual abuse were the greatest predictors of anxiety and depression in adolescents. Conclusion The above results reinforce the findings of previous studies in terms of understanding the effects of maltreatment. They identify emotional abuse as the main predictor of depressive and anxiety symptoms.

Development and psychometric properties of the Cognitive Distortions Questionnaire for Adolescents (CD-Quest-T).

INTRODUCTION: The Cognitive Distortions Questionnaire (CD-Quest) is an instrument that identifies logical errors or cognitive distortions and is used in trial-based cognitive therapy (TBCT). However, it had previously only been available for adults. OBJECTIVES: To develop and validate a version of the CD-Quest for teens (CD-Quest-T) aged 11 to 17 years and test its psychometric properties. METHOD: A total of 299 schoolchildren participated in the investigation. After content validity was assessed, the language was adapted for the target age group, and the length of the instrument was reduced to eight items (from the initial 15). Five cognitive therapists analyzed the content and structure of the items. Finally, to investigate the construct validity of the CD-Quest-T, the instrument was divided into a full scale and two subscales, which measure the frequency of the distortions and the intensity attributed to them, respectively. RESULTS: The overall internal consistency of the scale was α = 0.77, whereas subscale indices were α = 0.75 for the frequency scale and α = 0.73 for the intensity scale. Results from exploratory factor analysis and concurrent validity analysis indicated that the CD-Quest-T items have good psychometric properties and generate scores reliably. CONCLUSION: The psychometric properties of the CD-Quest-T demonstrate its adequacy for measurement of cognitive distortions in adolescents.

Randomized trial of the efficacy of trial-based cognitive therapy for obsessive-compulsive disorder: preliminary findings.

INTRODUCTION: Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is the fourth most prevalent mental disorder and is a disabling condition. OCD is associated with anatomical and functional changes in the brain, in addition to dysfunctional cognitions. The treatments of choice are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), and exposure and response prevention (ERP). Trial-based cognitive therapy (TBCT) is a recent and empirically validated psychotherapy with a focus on restructuring dysfunctional negative core beliefs (CBs). The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of TBCT relative to ERP for treatment of OCD. METHOD: A randomized, single-blind clinical trial was conducted, randomizing 26 patients for individual treatment with TBCT (n = 12) or ERP (n = 14). The groups were evaluated at baseline, at the end of 3 months (12 sessions), and at 3, 6, and 12-month follow-ups. RESULTS: Both approaches reduced the severity of symptoms with large effect sizes. These results were maintained at the 12-month follow-up assessment. CONCLUSION: TBCT may be a valid and promising treatment for this disorder.

Randomized trial of the efficacy of trial-based cognitive therapy for obsessive-compulsive disorder: preliminary findings

Abstract Introduction Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is the fourth most prevalent mental disorder and is a disabling condition. OCD is associated with anatomical and functional changes in the brain, in addition to dysfunctional cognitions. The treatments of choice are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), and exposure and response prevention (ERP). Trial-based cognitive therapy (TBCT) is a recent and empirically validated psychotherapy with a focus on restructuring dysfunctional negative core beliefs (CBs). The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of TBCT relative to ERP for treatment of OCD. Methods A randomized, single-blind clinical trial was conducted, randomizing 26 patients for individual treatment with TBCT (n = 12) or ERP (n = 14). The groups were evaluated at baseline, at the end of 3 months (12 sessions), and at 3, 6, and 12-month follow-ups. Results Both approaches reduced the severity of symptoms with large effect sizes. These results were maintained at the 12-month follow-up assessment. Conclusion TBCT may be a valid and promising treatment for this disorder.

Development and psychometric properties of the Cognitive Distortions Questionnaire for Adolescents (CD-Quest-T)

Abstract Introduction The Cognitive Distortions Questionnaire (CD-Quest) is an instrument that identifies logical errors or cognitive distortions and is used in trial-based cognitive therapy (TBCT). However, it had previously only been available for adults. Objectives To develop and validate a version of the CD-Quest for teens (CD-Quest-T) aged 11 to 17 years and test its psychometric properties. Method A total of 299 schoolchildren participated in the investigation. After content validity was assessed, the language was adapted for the target age group, and the length of the instrument was reduced to eight items (from the initial 15). Five cognitive therapists analyzed the content and structure of the items. Finally, to investigate the construct validity of the CD-Quest-T, the instrument was divided into a full scale and two subscales, which measure the frequency of the distortions and the intensity attributed to them, respectively. Results The overall internal consistency of the scale was α = 0.77, whereas subscale indices were α = 0.75 for the frequency scale and α = 0.73 for the intensity scale. Results from exploratory factor analysis and concurrent validity analysis indicated that the CD-Quest-T items have good psychometric properties and generate scores reliably. Conclusion The psychometric properties of the CD-Quest-T demonstrate its adequacy for measurement of cognitive distortions in adolescents.

Optimized short-forms of the Cognitive Distortions Questionnaire.

INTRODUCTION: The Cognitive Distortions Questionnaire (CD-Quest) is a self-report questionnaire that assesses common cognitive distortions. Although the CD-Quest has excellent psychometric properties, its length may limit its use. METHODS: We attempted to develop short-forms of the CD-Quest using RiskSLIM - a machine learning method to build short-form scales that can be scored by hand. Each short-form was fit to maximize concordance with the total CD-Quest score for a specified number of items based on an objective function, in this case R2, by selecting an optimal subset of items and an optimal set of small integer weights. The models were trained in a sample of US undergraduate students (N = 906). We then validated each short-form on five independent samples: two samples of undergraduate students in Brazil (Ns = 182, 183); patients with depression in Brazil (N = 62); patients with social anxiety disorder in the US (N = 198); and psychiatric outpatients in Turkey (N = 269). RESULTS: A 9-item short-form with integer scoring was created that reproduced the total 15-item CD-Quest score in all validation samples with excellent accuracy (R2 = 90.4-93.6%). A 5-item ultra-short-form had good accuracy (R2 = 78.2-85.5%). DISCUSSION: A 9-item short-form and a 5-item ultra-short-form of the CD-Quest both reproduced full CD-Quest scores with excellent to good accuracy. These shorter versions of the full CD-Quest could facilitate measurement of cognitive distortions for users with limited time and resources.

Construction and Validation of Social Anxiety Disorder Exposure and Evaluation Scale ­ SADEE

In the cases of Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD), treatment dropout is a frequent problem, which demands the development of instruments that enable treatment compliance. The present paper deals with the construction and validation of the Social Anxiety Disorder Exposure and Evaluation Scale (SADEE). The number of participants in the study was N = 407 responders of both genders. The process of content validity first led to the modification of problematic items. The construct validity was investigated by both exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis, with the objective of estimating a unidimensional measure. The final adjustment obtained was that CFI = .99; TLI = .98; RMSEA = .04; SRMR = .07; χ2 /gl = 1.70. SADEE presented high correlation with the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale and high reliability. The conclusion was that SADEE showed satisfactory evidence of construct and concurrent validity, internal consistency and test-retest reliability.

Family Aggression Screening Tool (FAST): Factor structure and psychometric properties of subscales.

BACKGROUND: The Family Aggression Screening Tool (FAST) is an instrument to screen for experiences of maltreatment using primarily pictorial representations, including direct victimisation and exposure to intimate partner violence. The initial psychometric properties of the FAST were reported in the original research in the United Kingdom. OBJECTIVE: This research aimed to replicate and to extend the evaluation of the psychometric properties of FAST in Brazil. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING: Data consisted of 648 youth aged 11 to 17 years from public schools in Brazil. METHOD: We employed confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and exploratory graphical analysis (EGA). Concurrent validity was supported by strong correlations between the FAST's emotional and physical victimisation subscales and Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ) emotional and physical abuse subscales. RESULTS: CFA resulted in a solution including second and first order factors, resembling the original structure. FAST's reliability was assessed both through internal consistency and test-retest, showing favorable coefficients. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that FAST has good psychometric properties for the Brazilian population with respect to both its validity and reliability.

A Randomized Clinical Trial to Assess the Efficacy of Online-Treatment with Trial-Based Cognitive Therapy, Mindfulness-Based Health Promotion and Positive Psychotherapy for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Study Protocol.

BACKGROUND: Research suggests the use of different forms of therapy as a way of decreasing dropout rates in the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The psychotherapies to be assessed in this study are trial-based cognitive therapy (TBCT), mindfulness-based health promotion (MBHP) and positive psychotherapy (PPT). OBJECTIVES: (1) to assess the online efficacy of TBCT compared to MBHP and PPT to reduce the symptoms of PTSD in the context of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic; (2) to compare the efficacy of these psychotherapies in improving anxiety, depression, guilt and in promoting well-being; and (3) to describe how professionals perceive online treatment. METHODS: A randomized, multicenter, single-blind clinical trial will be conducted, with three separate arms. An estimated sample of 135 patients will receive either TBCT, MBHP or PPT and will be treated through online, individual, weekly visits, totaling 14 sessions. The primary outcome will be CAPS-5 and secondary outcomes will be HADS and WHO-5. The variables used to mediate these outcomes will be the Trauma-Related Guilt Inventory (TRGI), Negative Core Beliefs Inventory (NCBI) and the California Psychotherapy Alliance Scale (CALPAS-P). EXPECTED RESULTS: PTSD symptoms are expected to be reduced after TBCT, MBHP and PPT. No statistical difference is expected to be found among the three. DISCUSSION: The present study will evaluate and contribute towards the development of new psychotherapeutic options for patients with PTSD. The results of this study will allow the dissemination of new effective and adaptable interventions for patients with PTSD.

Behavioural activation and trial-based cognitive therapy may be beneficial to reduce suicidal ideation in major depressive disorder: A post hoc study from a clinical trial.

WHAT IS KNOWN AND OBJECTIVE: The suicidality spectrum is a clinical challenge because of the difficulty of its management and its association with mortality. Few studies have investigated psychotherapies for reducing the components of suicidality. In this study, we compared the effect of behavioural activation (BA), trial-based cognitive therapy (TBCT) - both added to antidepressant (AD) treatment - and treatment as usual (TAU) in mitigating suicidal ideation in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). METHODS: A post hoc study was conducted with data from a randomized clinical trial. Secondary analyses compared the treatments using scores from the items that evaluated suicidal ideation with the HAM-D (HAM-D-3) and BDI (BDI-9). A composite measurement was constructed by summing the scores from the two items (HAM-D-3 plus BDI-9). RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Seventy-six patients were analysed (BA + AD = 24; TBCT + AD = 26 and TAU = 26). In HAM-D-3, the BA + AD group showed a statistically greater reduction than the TAU group. In BDI-9, the three groups did not show significant differences. In the HAM-D-3 plus BDI-9, TBCT + AD reduced ideations more than the TAU group. There were no differences among the psychotherapies in any of the measures. Sensitivity analyses showed improvement in suicidal ideation in both psychotherapies compared to TAU. WHAT IS NEW AND CONCLUSION: This is one of the few studies that evaluated the effect of BA and TBCT in lowering suicidal ideation. Adding these therapies to ADs seems to decrease suicidal ideation. We suggest the possible beneficial effects of BA and TBCT in the management of suicidal ideation in patients with recurrent MDD. Our findings need further studies to confirm these results.

Presença de sintomas de fobia social, transtorno do pânico e ansiedade de separação em estudantes de 11 a 17 anos, em uma escola da rede pública de ensino de Salvador / Presence of symptoms of social phobia, panic and separation anxiety in students aged 11 to 17 years from a school of th public system of Salvador

Introdução: crianças e adolescentes, não raro, apresentam sintomas de fobia social, transtorno do pânico e ansiedade de separação, que podem causar comprometimento nas habilidades sociais e dificultar as relações de forma incapacitante. Objetivo: Este estudo tem como objetivo verificar a presença de sintomas fóbicos sociais, transtorno de pânico e ansiedade de separação em adolescentes, com idade entre 11 e 17 anos, de uma escola pública da cidade de Salvador. Metodologia: este é um estudo observacional, transversal, que integra outro mais amplo, realizado em escola pública de Salvador, entre março e dezembro de 2015. A escala Revised Children's Anxiety and Depression foi aplicada em uma amostra de 674 alunos. Resultados: os alunos apresentaram sintomas de fobia social, transtorno do pânico e ansiedade de separação, em escala crescente, de acordo com a idade.

Introduction:children and adolescents often present symptoms of social phobia, panic disorder and separation anxiety disorder, which can cause social impairments and hinder relationships in a disabling way. Objective: this study aims to investigate the presence of social phobia, panic disorder and separation anxiety symptoms in adolescents aged between 11 and 17 years from a public school in the city of Salvador. Methodology: the present study is an observational cross-sectional research, which is part of a broader study conducted in a public school in Salvador, between March and December 2015. The Revised Children's Anxiety and Depression Scale (RCADS) was used in a sample of 674 students. Results: the students presented symptoms of social phobia, panic disorder and separation anxiety on an increasing scale proportional to age.

Perfil de pacientes com diagnóstico de transtorno de estresse pós-traumático atendidos em um ambulatório de ansiedade e trauma / Profile of patients diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder treated at an anxiety and trauma outpatient clinic

Introdução: o transtorno de estresse pós-traumático se caracteriza pela ação de ansiedade extrema a um evento externo, o que coloca a vida da pessoa em risco, sob a forma de ameaça direta ou testemunho do evento traumático. Objetivo: descrever o perfil sociodemográfico e clínico de pacientes com transtorno de estresse pós-traumático, atendidos em um ensaio clínico no Programa de Ansiedade, da Faculdade de Medicina, da Universidade de São Paulo. Metodologia: noventa e cinco pacientes com idade entre 18 e 65 anos, que apresentavam o diagnóstico desse transtorno, foram avaliados individualmente por psiquiatras, no período de janeiro de 2014 a março de 2015. As variáveis estudadas foram: sexo, idade, nível educacional, religião, tempo com o transtorno, uso de medicação, comorbidades psiquiátricas e tipo de evento traumático. Resultados ­ A média de idade dos pacientes foi de 41,7 anos, sendo 80% do sexo feminino, 53,7% solteiros ou divorciados, 43% católicos e 87,4% usavam algum tipo de medicação antes do diagnóstico. Conclusão: destaca-se que o transtorno de estresse pós-traumático é mais comum no sexo feminino e que a presença de comorbidades é frequente, sendo recorrente o transtorno de ansiedade generalizada, o transtorno depressivo maior e a agorafobia, o que piora o prognóstico. Dados relevantes da literatura foram discutidos.

Introduction: Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is characterized by the reaction of extreme anxiety to an external event that puts the person's life at risk in the form of a direct threat or testimony to the traumatic event. Objective: describing the socio-demographic and clinical profile of patients with PTSD treated in a clinical trial in the Anxiety Program of the Medical School of the University of São Paulo. Methodology: ninety-five patients aged between 18 and 65 years, who had a diagnosis of PTSD assessed individually by psychiatrists, from January 2014 to March 2015. The variables studied were: sex, age, educational level and religion, time with the disorder, medication use, psychiatric comorbidities and type of traumatic event. Results: mean age was 41.7 years, 80% female, 53.7% were single or divorced, 43% Catholic and 87.4% of patients used some type of medication prior to diagnosis. Conclusion: it is noteworthy that PTSD is more common in females and that the presence of comorbidities is frequent, with generalized anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder and agoraphobia being common, which worsens the prognosis. Relevant data from the literature were discussed.

Ocorrência de sintomas de transtorno de ansiedade generalizada (TAG) e transtorno obsessivo-compulsivo (TOC) em estudantes de 11 a 18 anos de uma escola pública de Salvador / Occurrence of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) in students aged 11 to 18 years from a public school in Salvador

Introdução: o objetivo deste estudo é descrever a ocorrência de sintomas de TAG e TOC em adolescentes, com idade entre 11 e 18 anos, procedentes de escola pública da cidade do Salvador. Metodologia: estudo observacional e transversal, com 674 adolescentes de uma escola pública, que responderam a uma escala para avaliação de sintomas de TAG e TOC, aplicada entre o período de março e dezembro de 2015. Resultados: os escores da RCADS para TAG e TOC foram, em média, superiores aos pontos de corte estabelecidos pela escala, sugerindo aumento da presença desses sintomas na população estudada, com prevalência maior entre as alunas nos ois grupos de sintomas estudados. Conclusão: os dados apontam para a presença de sintomas de ansiedade generalizada e de TOC entre escolares, sugerindo uma maior necessidade de estudos para a compreensão do papel desses sintomas na qualidade de vida dessa população, como também sua importância como fatores de risco para o adoecimento mental. Medidas de prevenção devem direcionar os esforços para estudos metodologicamente mais robustos na área.

Introduction: the aim of this study is to describe the occurrence of symptoms of GAD and OCD in adolescents, aged between 11 to 18 years old, from a public school in the city of Salvador. Methodology: observational and cross-sectional study with 674 adolescents from a public school, who responded to a scale for assessing symptoms of GAD and OCD applied from March to December 2015. Results: the RCADS scores for GAD and OCD were on average higher than the cutoff points established by the scale, suggesting an increased presence of these symptoms in the studied population, with a higher prevalence among girls in the two groups of symptoms studied. Conclusion: data point to the presence of symptoms of generalized anxiety and OCD among schoolchildren, suggesting a greater need for studies to understand the role of these symptoms in the quality of life of this population, as well as their importance as risk factors for mental illness. Prevention measures should direct efforts towards more methodologically robust studies in the area.

Prefrontal gray matter volume in adults bipolar I outpatients is associated with history of suicide attempts?

ABSTRACT Background: Patients with Bipolar Disorder (BD) have the highest lifetime risk for suicidal behavior (SB) compared to other psychiatric disorders. Neuroimaging research provides evidence of some structural and functional abnormalities in the brain of BD suicide attempters (SA), but interpretation of these findings may represent a number of features. Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the volume of the prefrontal cortex in euthymic BD type I outpatients, with and without history of SA. Methods: 36 euthymic BD I outpatients (18 with and 18 without suicide attempt history) were underwent structural MRI and total and regional gray matter volumes were assessed and compared with 22 healthy controls (HC). Results: We did not found any differences in all areas between suicidal and non-suicidal BD I patients and BD patients as a group compared to HC as well. Discussion: our findings suggest that can be a different subgroups of patients in relation to prefrontal cortex volumes according to some clinical and socio-demographic caractheristics, such as number of previous episodes and continuous use of medical psychotropic drugs that may induce neuroplasticity phenomena, which restore cerebral volume and possibly can lead to long-term euthymia state.

Life satisfaction mediates the association between childhood maltreatment and depressive symptoms: a study in a sample of Brazilian adolescents

Objective: To evaluate the interrelationships between childhood maltreatment, life satisfaction (LS), and depressive symptoms, and to investigate LS as a mediating factor in the association between childhood maltreatment and depressive symptoms. Methods: The sample consisted of 342 adolescents, aged 11 to 17 years (mean = 13.3, SD = 1.52 years), recruited from a public school in Salvador, Brazil. Participants filled out instruments for the collection of sociodemographic data and evaluation of childhood maltreatment, LS, and depressive symptoms. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to evaluate the mediating effect of LS. Results: We detected significant negative correlations between childhood maltreatment and LS and between LS and depressive symptoms. We observed a significant positive correlation between childhood maltreatment and depressive symptoms. LS partially mediated the association between childhood maltreatment and depressive symptoms, mitigating the impact of maltreatment. Conclusion: LS played an important mediating role in the association between childhood maltreatment and depressive symptoms. Longitudinal studies are recommended to fully elucidate these associations, reinforcing the need for attention and care of this vulnerable population.

Life satisfaction mediates the association between childhood maltreatment and depressive symptoms: a study in a sample of Brazilian adolescents.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the interrelationships between childhood maltreatment, life satisfaction (LS), and depressive symptoms, and to investigate LS as a mediating factor in the association between childhood maltreatment and depressive symptoms. METHODS: The sample consisted of 342 adolescents, aged 11 to 17 years (mean = 13.3, SD = 1.52 years), recruited from a public school in Salvador, Brazil. Participants filled out instruments for the collection of sociodemographic data and evaluation of childhood maltreatment, LS, and depressive symptoms. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to evaluate the mediating effect of LS. RESULTS: We detected significant negative correlations between childhood maltreatment and LS and between LS and depressive symptoms. We observed a significant positive correlation between childhood maltreatment and depressive symptoms. LS partially mediated the association between childhood maltreatment and depressive symptoms, mitigating the impact of maltreatment. CONCLUSION: LS played an important mediating role in the association between childhood maltreatment and depressive symptoms. Longitudinal studies are recommended to fully elucidate these associations, reinforcing the need for attention and care of this vulnerable population.

Efficacy of trial-based cognitive therapy, behavioral activation and treatment as usual in the treatment of major depressive disorder: preliminary findings from a randomized clinical trial.

INTRODUCTION: Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a prevalent, debilitating and disabling disorder, and its prevalence is increasing. Antidepressants (AD), cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and behavioral activation (BA) are the main treatments for MDD. Trial-based cognitive therapy (TBCT) addresses and restructures dysfunctional negative core beliefs (CBs) and is a novel and promising approach. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of TBCT, BA and treatment as usual (TAU) in the treatment of MDD. METHODS: A total of 76 patients with MDD were randomized into 1 of 3 groups and evaluated at baseline, after 6 weeks and at week 12 (final evaluation). The primary outcome was changing in HAM-D scores, and the secondary outcomes included scores on the BDI, CD-Quest, Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS) and WHOQOL. RESULTS: Both TBCT and BA (which also included AD) were different from TAU (which included antidepressants alone) in reducing the HAM-D and BDI scores and other measures. TBCT and BA were different from TAU in the reduction of disability in SDS and WHOQOL physical domain scores. Besides limited by a small sample size, the dropout rate in the TAU arm was higher, and only 10 patients completed the 3 evaluations. CONCLUSION: This trial provides evidence that TBCT and BA combined with antidepressants were more efficacious than the TAU (drug alone) in reducing the severity of depressive symptoms and disability, showing that this combination can be useful for clinical practice.

Stages of Change Readiness and Treatment Eagerness Scale in Overweight and Obesity's Psychometric Properties (SOCRATES-OO).

The present study investigated the psychometric properties of the Stages of Change Readiness and Treatment Eagerness Scale (SOCRATES) in the context of overweight and obesity. The instrument was investigated in a non-probabilistic sample of 177 individuals who were overweight or obese. A confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was performed in order to provide evidence based on the internal consistency of the SOCRATES-OO scale with three correlated factors and two correlated factors. In addition, the University of Rhode Island Change Assessment (URICA) raw score was used to provide evidence in terms of convergent validity by its correlation with the domains of the best SOCRATES-OO solution. According to CFA, the theoretical solution with two correlated factors provided a better statistical fit. The psychometric evaluation of the 19 items of SOCRATES-OO presented a good fit under the two-factor model and satisfactory internal consistency by Omega of AMREC (Ambivalence + Recognition) 0.924 and Action 0.942.

Comparative study of impulsiveness and risk behaviors among infected individuals with hepatitis C virus and human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) and human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) infections have chronic courses. HCV is primarily transmitted via the hematogenous route, whereas HTLV-1 is primarily transmitted sexually, although it can also be transmitted by blood. Individuals chronically infected with either HTLV-1 or HCV can differ in terms of behavioral characteristics and personality traits. This study compared the occurrence of risk behaviors and impulsivity aspects between HCV and HTLV-1 carriers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Observational, comparative and cross-sectional study that involved a sample of outpatients who had HCV or HLTV-1, by way of a sociodemographic and behavioral questionnaire and the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale - BIS-11. 143 individuals with HCV and 113 individuals with HTLV-1 were evaluated. RESULTS: There was a difference with regards to gender among patients, with mostly males affected in the HCV group. Risk behaviors commonly mediated by impulsiveness were significantly more frequent in the HCV group. Similarly, overall impulsiveness and domain nonplanning were higher in the HCV group. Multivariate analysis showed that increased age, male gender, higher nonplanning scores and HCV infection were independent factors for the occurrence of risk behaviors. Both groups presented high rates of other sexually transmitted diseases and a low rate of condom use in sexual relations. CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms the higher rate of risk behaviors and the levels of impulsiveness commonly observed in patients with HCV, along with comparisons to patients with HTLV-1.