Neural inhibition as implemented by an actor-critic model involves the human dorsal striatum and ventral tegmental area.

Inhibition is implicated across virtually all human experiences. As a trade-off of being very efficient, this executive function is also prone to many errors. Rodent and computational studies show that midbrain regions play crucial roles during errors by sending dopaminergic learning signals to the basal ganglia for behavioural adjustment. However, the parallels between animal and human neural anatomy and function are not determined. We scanned human adults while they performed an fMRI inhibitory task requiring trial-and-error learning. Guided by an actor-critic model, our results implicate the dorsal striatum and the ventral tegmental area as the actor and the critic, respectively. Using a multilevel and dimensional approach, we also demonstrate a link between midbrain and striatum circuit activity, inhibitory performance, and self-reported autistic and obsessive-compulsive subclinical traits.

Ruminative response scale for eating disorders: bifactor model and measurement invariance in a Portuguese community sample.

The Ruminative Response Scale for Eating Disorders (RRS-ED) measures ruminative thought content specifically related to eating disordered themes, assessing two domains of rumination, brooding and reflection. This study aims to examine the factor structure of the RRS-ED in a Portuguese community sample, using correlated two-factor models, unifactorial and bifactor models and test for invariance across sex. A sample of 535 adults (179 male; 356 female) filled out the RRS-ED. A subsample (n=347) answered additional measures of repetitive negative thinking and eating psychopathology. The bifactor model of the RRS-ED provided the best fit, demonstrating a reliable general rumination factor. Also, the bifactor model of the RRS-ED was invariant across sex. RRS-ED showed moderate to strong correlations with negative perseverative thinking and eating psychopathology. Both domain-specific factors of RRS-ED were associated with higher levels of eating psychopathology. Findings indicate that RRS-ED is a reliable and valid measure to assess the ruminative response from the general population in Portugal, showing initial evidence that supports the use of a total score of RRS-ED as an overall measure of rumination, while specific factor scores should be reported with caution. Future studies are needed to replicate the findings and further corroborate the unidimensionality of the RRS-ED.

Online Compassion Focused Therapy for overeating: Feasibility and acceptability pilot study.

OBJECTIVE: This pilot study aims to investigate the feasibility, acceptability, and potential effectiveness of online Compassion Focused Therapy for overeating (CFT-OE). METHOD: Eighteen Portuguese women seeking treatment for overeating were enrolled in this study, and 15 participants completed the CFT-OE. This was a single-arm study. Participants were assessed at pre- and post-intervention and 3-month follow-up. All participants completed measures assessing binge eating, cognitive restraint, uncontrolled eating, emotional eating, general eating psychopathology, general and body shame, self-criticism, self-compassion, and fears of self-compassion. RESULTS: The treatment attrition rate was 16.7%, which is relatively low compared to other similar online interventions. Participants gave positive feedback on the program and indicated they would recommend it to people with similar difficulties. CFT-OE improved self-compassion and reduced eating psychopathology symptoms, general and body shame, self-criticism, and fears of self-compassion. Clinical significance analysis showed that the majority of participants were classified as in recovery in all measures at post-intervention and 3-month follow-up. DISCUSSION: Preliminary results suggest that the online CFT-OE program is an acceptable and feasible intervention. Results also suggest that CFT-OE is beneficial for the treatment of women with difficulties with overeating. A future randomized controlled trial is necessary to establish the effectiveness of the CFT-OE. PUBLIC SIGNIFICANCE: This study indicates that online CFT-OE is a feasible and adequate intervention for women who struggle with overeating. This therapy showed promising results in reducing eating disorder symptoms, shame, and self-criticism and improving self-compassion. As an online intervention, CFT-OE may be more accessible and offer an alternative to in-person therapy.

Attitudes of psychiatrists towards people with mental illness: a cross-sectional, multicentre study of stigma in 32 European countries.

Background: Mental health-related stigma occurs among the public and professionals alike. The lived experience of mental illness has been linked to less stigmatising attitudes. However, data on psychiatrists and the relationship between stigmatising attitudes and psychotherapeutic activity or case discussion groups remains scarce. Methods: A cross-sectional multicentre study was performed in 32 European countries to investigate the lived experiences and attitudes of psychiatrists toward patients with mental illness as well as the relationship between stigma, psychosocial and professional factors. The self-reported, anonymous, internet-based Opening Minds Stigma Scale for Health Care Providers was used to measure the stigmatising attitudes. The survey was translated into the local language of each participating country. All participants were practising specialists and trainees in general adult or child and adolescent psychiatry. The study took place between 2nd October, 2019 and 9th July, 2021 and was preregistered at ClinicalTrial.gov (NCT04644978). Findings: A total of 4245 psychiatrists completed the survey. The majority, 2797 (66%), had completed training in psychiatry, and 3320 (78%) worked in adult psychiatry. The final regression model showed that across European countries more favourable attitudes toward people with mental illness were statistically significantly associated with the lived experience of participants (including seeking help for their own mental health conditions (d = -0.92, 95% confidence interval (CI) = -1.68 to -0.15, p = 0.019), receiving medical treatment for a mental illness (d = -0.88, 95% CI = -1.71 to -0.04, p = 0.040), as well as having a friend or a family member similarly affected (d = -0.68, 95% CI = -1.14 to -0.22, p = 0.004)), being surrounded by colleagues who are less stigmatising (d = -0.98, 95% CI = -1.26 to -0.70, p < 0.001), providing psychotherapy to patients (d = -1.14, 95% CI = -1.63 to -0.65 p < 0.001), and being open to (d = -1.69, 95% CI = -2.53 to -0.85, p < 0.001) and actively participating in (d = -0.94, 95% CI = -1.45 to -0.42, p < 0.001) case discussion, supervision, or Balint groups. Interpretation: Our study highlights the importance of psychotherapy training, supervision, case discussions and Balint groups in reducing the stigmatising attitudes of psychiatrists toward patients. As the findings represent cross-national predictors, Europe-wide policy interventions, national psychiatric education systems and the management of psychiatric institutions should take these findings into consideration. Funding: National Youth Talent Award (Ministry of Human Resources, Hungary, (NTP-NFTÖ-20-B-0134). All authors received no funding for their contribution.

Psychometric properties of the Opening Minds Stigma Scale for Health Care Providers in 32 European countries - A bifactor ESEM representation.

Aims: To measure the stigma of healthcare providers toward people suffering from mental illness, the Opening Minds Stigma Scale for Health Care Providers (OMS-HC) is a commonly applied instrument. However, this scale has not been thoroughly validated in many European countries, its psychometric properties are still unknown and data on practicing psychiatrists is lacking. Therefore, this multicenter study aimed to assess the psychometric characteristics of the 15-item OMS-HC in trainees and specialists in adult and child psychiatry in 32 countries across Europe. Materials and methods: The OMS-HC was conducted as an anonymous online survey and sent via Email to European adult and child psychiatrists. Parallel analysis was used to estimate the number of OMS-HC dimensions. Separate for each country, the bifactor ESEM, a bifactor exploratory structural equation modeling approach, was applied to investigate the factor structure of the scale. Cross-cultural validation was done based on multigroup confirmatory factor analyses and reliability measures. Results: A total of 4,245 practitioners were included, 2,826 (67%) female, 1,389 (33%) male. The majority (66%) of participants were specialists, with 78% working in adult psychiatry. When country data were analyzed separately, the bifactor model (higher-order factor solution with a general factor and three specific factors) showed the best model fit (for the total sample χ2/df = 9.760, RMSEA = 0.045 (0.042-0.049), CFI = 0.981; TLI = 0.960, WRMR = 1.200). The average proportion of variance explained by the general factor was high (ECV = 0.682). This suggests that the aspects of 'attitude,' 'disclosure and help-seeking,' and 'social distance' could be treated as a single dimension of stigma. Among the specific factors, the 'disclosure and help-seeking' factor explained a considerable unique proportion of variance in the observed scores. Conclusion: This international study has led to cross-cultural analysis of the OMS-HC on a large sample of practicing psychiatrists. The bifactor structure displayed the best overall model fit in each country. Rather than using the subscales, we recommend the total score to quantify the overall stigmatizing attitudes. Further studies are required to strengthen our findings in countries where the proposed model was found to be weak.

The Postpartum Obsessive-Compulsive Scale: Psychometric, Operative and Epidemiologic Study in a Portuguese Sample.

BACKGROUND: Although obsessive-compulsive (OC) symptoms are common in the perinatal period, measures to comprehensively assess their presence, frequency, interference and severity are lacking. The Perinatal Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (POCS) is the only self-report questionnaire with context-specific items. It includes items to assess perinatal-specific obsessions and compulsions, a severity scale and an interference scale. OBJECTIVES: (1) to analyze the validity and reliability of the Portuguese version of the POCS; (2) to find Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) prevalence in postpartum and determine the POCS cut-off scores and its accuracy (sensitivity, specificity and predictive values) in screening for OCD according to DSM-5 criteria; (3) to describe the prevalence, content, severity, interference and onset of OC symptoms in the postpartum. METHODS: 212 women in postpartum filled in a booklet, including the POCS Portuguese preliminary version, the Perinatal Anxiety Screening Scale and the Postpartum Depression Screening Scale; they were interviewed with the Diagnostic Interview for Psychological Distress-Postpartum. RESULTS: Confirmatory Factor Analysis revealed that POCS presented acceptable fit indexes (χ2/df = 2.2971; CFI= 0.9319; GFI = 0.8574; TLI = 0.9127; RMSEA = 0.860, p < 0.001). The Cronbach's alphas were all > 0.800. The POCS cut-off point that maximized the Youden Index (J = 0.86, 95% CI [0.94-0.99]) was 20, corresponding to an Area Under the Curve of 0.970 (p < 0.001; Standard Error = 0.031; 95% CI: 0.937 to 0.988). The prevalence of postpartum OCD was 3.30%. The severity of thoughts and behaviors was moderate to severe for approximately 15% of women. For thirty-five percent of women, the onset of symptoms was in the first three months postpartum. CONCLUSIONS: The Portuguese version of POCS has good validity, reliability and accuracy and may be considered ready for use in both clinic and research fields. POCS provides specific information regarding symptoms and individual patterns experienced by each woman, which allows normalization, destigmatization and personalized intervention.

The Impact of COVID-19 on Anxious and Depressive Symptomatology in the Postpartum Period.

Background: Women in the postpartum period may be particularly vulnerable to the psychological effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim of our study was to evaluate the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on postpartum depression and anxiety levels and the role of the fear of COVID-19 in its development. Methods: Women who delivered at the Bissaya Barreto Maternity Hospital, between 16 March and 16 June 2020 (Group 1: Birth in COVID-19 period, n = 207), recruited in the postpartum period, filled in a set of self-reported validated questionnaires: Perinatal Depression Screening Scale, Perinatal Anxiety Screening Scale, Profile of Mood States, Perseverative Thinking Questionnaire, Dysfunctional Beliefs Towards Maternity Scale, and the Fear of COVID-19 Scale. Levels of depressive and anxious symptomatology, negative affect, negative repetitive thinking, and the dysfunctional beliefs towards motherhood of these women were compared with data from samples of previous studies that included women whose delivery had occurred at the same Maternity Hospital before the COVID-19 pandemic period (Group 2: Birth before the COVID-19 period, n = 212). Results: Based on the cutoff points of the screening scales, the prevalence of clinically relevant depressive and anxious symptoms in Group 1 was 40.1% and 36.2%, respectively. Women in Group 1 had significantly higher levels of anxious and depressive symptoms, negative affect, negative repetitive thinking, and dysfunctional beliefs towards motherhood than women in Group 2 (p < 0.05). Fear of COVID-19 in the postpartum period was a predictor of depressive (ß = 0.262) and anxious (ß = 0.371) symptoms, explaining 6.9% and 13.7% of their variability, respectively (p < 0.001). Conclusion: During the COVID-19 pandemic, women in the postpartum period present greater depressive and anxious symptomatology, as well as increased risk factors.

Portuguese Version of the Stigma Scale: Preliminary Psychometric Characteristics.

INTRODUCTION: Stigma is associated with poor prognosis of illness and reduced help-seeking behavior, self-esteem and treatment compliance. The aims of this study were to study the reliability and construct validity of the King's et al Stigma Scale, and its association with Illness and Help-Seeking Behaviors scale (IHSBS) scores. MATERIAL AND METHODS: One hundred and forty mental health patients filled out the Stigma scale and the Illness and Help-Seeking Behaviors scale. The exploratory factor analysis of the stigma scale was performed, and its reliability studied. The correlation analysis was used and mean differences in Stigma Scale scores among IHSBS groups were explored. RESULTS: The exploratory factor analysis indicated four factors (F): F1-Disclosure, F2-Discrimination, F3-Acceptance and F4-Personal Growth, which showed acceptable/good internal consistency (α from 0.70 to 0.91). Help-seeking behaviors were not associated with stigma. The levels of Discrimination were high in the group with global high-IHSB and in patients with medium/high illness behavior (IB) and health-related worries (HW). Additionally, Disclosure and overall stigma levels were higher in groups with high-HW and with medium-IB scores (when compared with the group with low-IB). The group with low-IB also had lower levels of Acceptance and Personal Growth when compared with the groups with medium-IB and high-IB, respectively. CONCLUSION: The Stigma Scale (27 items) is a valid, reliable instrument and useful tool to assess stigma in mental health patients.

Introdução: O estigma está associado a pior prognóstico de doença e redução da procura de ajuda, autoestima e adesão ao tratamento. Os objetivos deste estudo foram estudar a fidedignidade a validade de construto da Escala de Estigma de King et al e a sua associação com as pontuações da Escala de Comportamento de Procura de Ajuda e de Doença (ECPAD). Material e Métodos: Cento e quarenta doentes psiquiátricos preencheram a Escala de Estigma e a ECPAD. Foi realizada a análise fatorial exploratória da escala de estigma e a sua fidelidade estudada. Foram realizadas análises de correlação e exploradas as diferenças nas médias das pontuações da escala de estigma nos grupos de ECPAD. Resultados: A análise fatorial exploratória indicou quatro fatores (F): F1-Divulgação, F2-Discriminação, F3-Aceitação e F4-Crescimento Pessoal (α de 0.70 a 0.91). Os comportamentos de procura de ajuda não se associaram ao estigma. Os níveis de Discriminação foram altos no grupo com CPAD total-elevado e nos grupos com comportamentos de doença (CD) e com preocupações com a saúde (PS) médios/elevados. Adicionalmente, os níveis de Divulgação e Estigma total foram superiores no grupo com PS-elevado e no grupo com CD-médio (quando comparado com o grupo CD-baixo). O grupo com CD-baixo também revelou níveis inferiores de Aceitação e Crescimento Pessoal em comparação com os grupos com CD-médio e CD-elevado, respectivamente. Conclusão: A escala de estigma (27 itens) é um instrumento válido, fidedigno e útil para avaliar o estigma em doentes psiquiátricos.

The Protective Role of Self-Compassion in the Relationship between Perfectionism and Burnout in Portuguese Medicine and Dentistry Students.

Recent studies have documented the high prevalence of burnout among medicine and dentistry students, with potentially catastrophic consequences for both students and patients. Both environmental and personality factors play a part in burnout; perfectionism, a common trait in medicine students' personalities, has been linked to psychological distress and increasing students' vulnerability to burnout. Self-compassion, i.e., treating oneself kindly through hardship, has recently emerged as a buffer between perfectionism and psychological distress. While using a novel three-factor conceptualization of perfectionism (BIG3), this study aims to analyze if self-compassion has a protective role in the relationship between perfectionism and burnout, in a sample of medicine and dentistry students, through mediation analysis. We found that self-compassion significantly mediated the relationship between all three forms of perfectionism and burnout: as a partial mediator in self-critical and rigid perfectionism, as well as a full mediator in narcissistic perfectionism. Our findings underline self-compassion's relevance in burnout prevention and management, supporting its use as an intervention target in burnout reduction programs and strategies.

A versão brasileira do Questionário sobre a Experiência de Parto - CEQ-2BR: adaptação, validação e confiabilidade / The Brazilian version of Childbirth Experience Questionnaire - CEQ-2BR: adaptation, validation and reliability / La versión brasileña del Cuestionario sobre la Experiencia en el Parto - CEQ-2BR: adaptación, validación y confiabilidad

INTRODUÇÃO: A avaliação sistemática das experiências das mulheres durante o parto representa uma importante estratégia para viabilizar melhorias na atenção à saúde materna e neonatal. OBJETIVOS: Adaptar o Childbirth Experience Questionnaire (CEQ) para o contexto brasileiro e determinar as propriedades psicométricas da versão em português (do Brasil), denominada CEQ-2BR. MÉTODOS: Estudo transversal com 225 puérperas recrutadas através das redes sociais. Após o consentimento informado, as participantes preencheram um formulário eletrônico, que incluía a versão preliminar da CEQ-2BR. O tratamento dos dados foi realizado através dos pacotes estatísticos SPSS e AMOS 26. A confiabilidade do CEQ-2BR foi avaliada usando o coeficiente alfa de Cronbach. Para medidas paramétricas utilizou-se o Qui-quadrado de Pearson e o T de Student e, nas medidas não-paramétricas, U de Mann Whitney. A magnitude dos coeficientes de correlação foi classificada segundo os critérios de Cohen. RESULTADOS: O CEQ-2BR demonstrou boa consistência interna para "autocapacidade", "suporte profissional", "segurança percebida" e "participação", tendo sido verificado que a avaliação negativa da experiência de parto aumenta em 1,9% e 2,1%, a sintomatologia ansiosa e depressiva pós-parto, respectivamente. CONCLUSÃO: O CEQ-2BR é uma medida válida e confiável sobre experiência de parto na população brasileira, apresenta propriedades psicométricas satisfatórias, sendo recomendado inclusive para multíparas. Houve correlação entre níveis altos de ansiedade pré-natal com experiência negativa de parto. A experiência negativa de parto explica parte das sintomatologias de ansiedade e depressão pós-parto.

INTRODUCTION: The systematic evaluation of women's experiences during childbirth represents an important strategy for implementing improvements in maternal and newborn health care. OBJECTIVE: To adapt the Childbirth Experience Questionnaire (CEQ) for the Brazilian context and to determine the psychometric properties of the Portuguese version (from Brazil), called CEQ-2BR. METHODS: Cross-sectional study with 226 postpartum women recruited from social media. After informed consent, participants completed an electronic form, which included the preliminary Portuguese version of the CEQ-2BR questionnaire. Data processing was performed using statistical packages SPSS and AMOS 26. The CEQ-2BR reliability was evaluated using the Cronbach's alpha coefficient. For parametric measurements Pearson's and Student T's chi-square were used, and Mann Whitney U was used for non-parametric measurements. The magnitude of the correlation coefficients was classified according to Cohen's criteria. RESULTS: The CEQ2BR internal consistence was assured for "Own capacity", "Professional support", "Perceived safety" and "Participation". A negative assessment of the childbirth experience was found to increase postpartum anxious and depressive symptoms by 1.9% and 2.1%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The CEQ-2BR is a valid and reliable measure of childbirth experience in the Brazilian population, has satisfactory psychometric properties and can be recommended even for multiparous women. There was a significant correlation between high levels of prenatal anxiety and negative childbirth experience. The negative experience of childbirth explains part of the symptoms of postpartum anxiety and depression.

INTRODUCCIÓN: La evaluación sistemática de las experiencias de las mujeres durante el parto representa una estrategia importante para implementar mejoras en la atención de la salud materna y neonatal. OBJETIVO: Adaptar el Childbirth Experience Questionnaire (CEQ) para el contexto brasileño y determinar las propiedades psicométricas de la versión portuguesa (de Brasil), denominada CEQ-2BR. MÉTODOS: Estudio transversal con 226 puérperas captadas de redes sociales. Después del consentimiento informado, las participantes completaron un formulario electrónico, que incluía la versión preliminar en portugués del cuestionario CEQ-2BR. El procesamiento de datos se realizó mediante los paquetes estadísticos SPSS y AMOS 26. La confiabilidad del CEQ-2BR se evaluó mediante el coeficiente alfa de Cronbach. Para las mediciones paramétricas se utilizó el chi-cuadrado de Pearson y Student T, y la U de Mann Whitney para las mediciones no paramétricas. La magnitud de los coeficientes de correlación se clasificó según el criterio de Cohen. RESULTADOS: El CEQ-2BR tiene buena consistencia interna para "Auto capacidad", "Apoyo profesional", "Seguridad percibida" y "Participación. Se encontró que una evaluación negativa de la experiencia del parto aumenta los síntomas de ansiedad y depresión posparto en un 1,9 % y un 2,1 %, respectivamente. CONCLUSIÓN: El CEQ-2BR es una medida válida y confiable de la experiencia del parto en la población brasileña, tiene propiedades psicométricas satisfactorias y puede recomendarse incluso para mujeres multíparas. Hubo una correlación significativa entre los altos niveles de ansiedad prenatal y la experiencia de parto negativa. La experiencia negativa del parto explica parte de los síntomas de ansiedad y depresión posparto.

COVID-19 psychological impact: The role of perfectionism.

Psychological reactions to pandemics and their constraints depend heavily on personality. Although perfectionism is consistently associated to depression, anxiety and stress, its role in the pandemics' psychological impact has not been yet empirically studied. Our aim was to analyze the role of perfectionism in psychological distress during the pandemic of COVID-19, testing whether it is mediated by fear of COVID-19 and repetitive negative thinking/RNT. Participants (N = 413 adults; 269.2% women) were recruited from September until December 2020, via social networks. They completed self-report validated questionnaires to evaluate perfectionism dimensions (self-critical, rigid and narcissistic perfectionism), fear of COVID-19, RNT and psychological distress (sum of anxiety, depression and stress symptoms). As women had significantly higher levels of self-critical perfectionism, RNT, fear of COVID-19 and psychological distress, gender was controlled in mediation analysis. The three perfectionism dimensions correlated with RNT, fear of COVID-19 and psychological distress. The effect of self-critical perfectionism on psychological distress was partially mediated by fear of COVID-19 and RNT whereas the effect of rigid and narcissistic perfectionism was fully mediated. Perfectionism influences emotional and cognitive responses to the COVID-19 and therefore should be considered both in the prevention and psychological consequences of the pandemic.

Association between premenstrual dysphoric disorder and perinatal depression: a systematic review.

Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) affects 1.2 to 5% of women of reproductive age. Besides significant suffering and social, occupational, and interpersonal impairment, it has been suggested that this syndrome is associated with other affective disorders, in different reproductive phases, such as pregnancy and the postpartum period. However, the literature on this association is scarce and presents great variability in terms of adopted methodology and mixed results. To analyze the relationship between PMDD and other affective disorders, aiming to contribute to the clarification of whether PMDD can be considered a risk factor for perinatal depression (PND). Following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, we conducted a comprehensive literature search in PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsycINFO databases. Seven original studies were included. Only one study linked PMDD with depression during pregnancy, with evidence of a positive association between PMDD and PND. This and five other studies show a positive relationship between PMDD and postpartum depression (PPD), assessed in periods ranging from 2 to 4 days to 1 year after birth. Only one study found no significant association between PMDD and PPD, assessed at 4 weeks postpartum. There seems to be a positive and significant association between PMDD and the development of perinatal depression, particularly postpartum depression. This review supports the relevance of health professionals systematically evaluating the presence of premenstrual dysphoric disorder, when monitoring women throughout the perinatal period.

Communication skills preparedness for practice: Is there a key ingredient in undergraduate curricula design?

OBJECTIVE: To characterize medical interns' experience regarding communication skills education and to explore potential associations with preparedness for practice. METHODS: Two hundred sixty-six medical interns answered an original questionnaire specifically developed to explore how well they feel their undergraduate training had prepared them in key aspects of medical communication. Instrument's psychometric properties were tested. Medical schools' curricula were considered and associations explored using non-parametric tests. RESULTS: The questionnaire reliability was high, with Cronbach's alphas ranging from 0.89 to 0.94 on all the factors. Core communication skills were highly rated. Perceived preparedness was lower in aspects concerning dealing with emotion, breaking bad news and communicating with speech impaired patients. Better preparedness was associated with a longitudinal integration of communication skills throughout the curriculum, simulation with standardized patients and real patient interviewing with feedback on communication skills. CONCLUSIONS: Integrated programs, standing on a strong experimental component, particularly combining patient-simulation strategies with continuous supervision and learner centred feedback, were associated with higher preparedness. These results support the expansion of an educational model based on simulation strategies and structured longitudinally throughout the undergraduate medical curriculum. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: This study intends to inform educational background and to support further development of communication skills curricula.

COVID-19 fear scale - translation and validation into Brazilian portuguese / Escala de medo da COVID-19 - tradução e validação para a versão brasileira

INTRODUCTION: fear is one of the main factors associated with psychopathological disorders evidenced in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. OBJECTIVE: translate and validate Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S) into Portuguese Brazilian version, named Covid-19 Fear Scale (EMC-19). METHODS: cross-sectional study with 364 individuals recruited through social networks, considering as inclusion criteria: being over 18 years old and fluent in Portuguese. After participant consentment an electronic form was completed, which included the preliminary Portuguese version and EMC-19, in addition to sociodemographic variables. Data processing was performed using the SPSS 26 version. For parametric measures, Pearson's coefficient and Student's T were used, and for non-parametric measures the U of Mann Whitney. The magnitude of the correlation coefficients was classified according to Cohen's criteria and the confirmatory factor analysis using AMOS 26.0. For internal consistency, Cronbach's alpha. RESULTS: mean age of 33.11 years (±10,047), most of them female (n=332; 91,2%), with higher education (n=286; 78,6%), married (n=225, 61,8 %) and with children (n=300, 82,4%). Exploratory factorial analysis/EFA and confirmatory factor analysis/CFA made. Only one component emerged from the CFA, with an explained variance of 55,49%, resulting in a one-dimensional model with satisfactory adjustment indexes (X2/gl=2,135; RMSEA=0,061; CFI, TLI, GFI<0,095). Cronbach's alpha coefficient is 876. CONCLUSIONS: the construct validity of the one-dimensional structure of the EMC-19 was demonstrated, as well as its good internal consistency.

INTRODUÇÃO: o medo é um dos principais fatores associados aos transtornos psicopatológicos evidenciados no contexto da pandemia da COVID-19. OBJETIVO: traduzir e validar a Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S) na versão portuguesa (do Brasil), denominada como Escala de Medo da COVID-19 (EMC-19). MÉTODO: estudo transversal com 364 indivíduos recrutados de maneira virtual através das redes sociais, considerando-se como critérios de inclusão na pesquisa: ter mais de 18 anos de idade e ser fluente em português. Após o consentimento informado, os participantes preencheram um formulário eletrônico, que incluía a versão portuguesa preliminar da EMC-19, além de variáveis sociodemográficas. O tratamento dos dados foi realizado através do pacote estatístico do SPSS versão 26. Para medidas paramétricas, utilizou-se o coeficiente de Pearson e o T de Student e nas medidas não-paramétricas U de Mann Whitney. A magnitude dos coeficientes de correlação foi classificada segundo os critérios de Cohen e a análise fatorial confirmatória por meio do AMOS 26.0. Para consistência interna, o alfa de Cronbach. RESULTADOS: os participantes tinham idade média de 33,11 anos (±10.047), a maioria do sexo feminino (n=332; 91,2%), com escolaridade superior (n=286; 78,6%), casados (n=225, 61,8%) e com filhos (n=300, 82,4%). Da análise fatorial exploratória/AFE e da análise factorial confirmatória/AFC emergiu apenas um componente, com variância explicada de 55,49%, resultando num modelo unidimensional com índices de ajustamento satisfatórios (X2/gl=2.135; RMSEA=0,061; CFI, TLI, GFI<0,095). O coeficiente alpha de Cronbach foi de de 0,876. CONCLUSÃO: foi demonstrada validade de construto da estrutura unidimensional da EMC-19, bem como sua boa consistência interna

COVID-19 Fear Scale - Validation and adaptation for the perinatal period / Escala de Medo da COVID-19 - Validação e adaptação para o Período Perinatal

INTRODUCTION: The comprehensive effects on the mental health of the population due to the rapid global spread of COVID-19 are even more harmful to specific groups of individuals, including pregnant women. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the psychometric properties of the COVID-19 Fear Scale for Perinatal Period (EMC19-9) METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study with 204 pregnant women. Participants were recruited online through social networks. The criteria for participation in the research were: pregnant and aged 18 years or older. An electronic form was filled out, which included the preliminary Portuguese version of the COVID-19 Fear Scale (EMC19), containing the seven items in the original version and the two additional items related to pregnancy and baby, socio-demographic, psychosocial and related to pregnancy, as well as the validated Brazilian versions of the Perinatal Depression Screening Scale and the Perinatal Anxiety Screening Scale. The SPSS version 26 statistical package was used. For parametric measures, Pearson's coefficient and Student's T and non-parametric - Mann Whitney's U. And the magnitude of the correlation coefficients with perinatal anxiety and depression symptoms, Cohen's criteria. AMOS 26.0 was used for confirmatory factor analysis. For internal consistency, Cronbach's alpha. RESULTS: The results indicate that EMC-19-9 is a one-dimensional construct, has robust psychometric qualities, very good internal consistency of the questionnaire and shows convergent validity, has a moderate and significant correlation with perinatal anxiety and a significant, albeit slight, correlation with perinatal depression. CONCLUSION: the Covid-19 Fear Scale for the Perinatal Period (EMC-19-9) has robust psychometric qualities and convergent validity. EMC-19-9 is a reliable and valid tool to assess the severity of fear of COVID-19 among women in the perinatal period in Brazil.

INTRODUÇÃO: Os efeitos abrangentes sobre a saúde mental da população em razão da rápida disseminação global da COVID-19 são ainda mais perniciosos para grupos específicos de indivíduos, incluindo as gestantes. OBJETIVO: Analisar as propriedades psicométricas da Escala de Medo da COVID-19 no Período Perinatal (EMC19-9). MÉTODO: Trata-se de estudo transversal com de 204 gestantes. As participantes foram recrutadas online por meio das redes sociais. Os critérios para participação na pesquisa foram: grávidas e com idade de 18 anos ou superior. Houve o preenchimento de formulário eletrônico, que incluía a versão portuguesa preliminar da Escala de Medo da COVID-19 (EMC-19), contendo os sete itens da versão original e os dois adicionais relacionados com a gravidez e bebé, variáveis socio-demográficas, psicossociais e relacionadas com a gravidez, bem como as versões brasileiras validadas da Escala de Rastreio da Depressão Perinatal e da Escala de Rastreio da Ansiedade Perinatal. Utilizou-se pacote estatístico do SPSS versão 26. Para medidas paramétricas, o coeficiente de Pearson e o T de Student e não-paramétrica - U de Mann Whitney. E a magnitude dos coeficientes de correlação com sintomatologia ansiosa e depressiva perinatais, os critérios de Cohen. Usou-se o AMOS 26.0, para a análise fatorial confirmatória. Para consistência interna, o alfa de Cronbach. RESULTADOS: Os resultados indicam que a EMC-19-9 é um construto unidimensional, possui qualidades psicométricas robustas, consistência interna do questionário muito boa e mostra ter validade convergente, apresenta correlação moderada e significativa com a ansiedade perinatal e correlação significativa, apesar de ligeira, com a depressão perinatal. CONCLUSÃO: A Escala do Medo do Covid-19 para o Período Perinatal (EMC-19-9) possui qualidades psicométricas robustas e validade convergente. A EMC-19-9 é uma ferramenta confiável e válida para avaliar a gravidade do medo de COVID-19 entre mulheres em período perinatal no Brasil.

Are shame and self-criticism the path to the pervasive effect of social stress reactivity on social functioning in psychosis?

It is widely known that stress reactivity and social functioning impairment are important difficulties in people with psychosis. However, the specific impact of stress reactivity on social functioning and its underlying mechanisms are still less explored. Social rank variables, such as shame and self-criticism, have been pointed out as relevant in the development, maintenance of several types of psychosocial suffering and, specifically, in psychotic disorders. This study's aim was to explore the associations between external shame, self-criticism, social stress reactivity, and social functioning difficulties and understand the mediator role of shame and self-criticism in the relationship between social stress reactivity and social functioning. Seventy-seven participants with a psychotic disorder filled in self-reported measures of stress reactivity, shame, and self-criticism and were clinically evaluated for social functioning. To study the associations between variables in the study, Spearman correlation coefficients were used. The PROCESS macro was used to test the sequential mediation analyses. All variables under study were associated with each other, and social stress reactivity predicted social functioning difficulties through external shame, whereas self-criticism was not a significant mediator. The present study highlights the role of external shame in the pathway from stress reactivity to social impairment. These results inform recovery-oriented interventions and reinforce the relevance of considering social competitive mentality when working with people with psychosis. Further research is needed to clarify the role of self-to-self relationship in social impairment and to identify other mechanisms aimed at dealing with shame used by people with psychosis.

The Clinical Interview for Psychotic Disorders (CIPD): Preliminary results on interrater agreement, reliability and qualitative feedback.

Given the recent treatment paradigm shift in psychosis, focusing on the recovery process, new assessment tools are needed. The Clinical Interview for Psychotic Disorders (CIPD) is an integrative and comprehensive assessment tool for psychotic disorders. CIPD encompasses the evaluation of diagnosis, psychosocial correlates and most relevant comorbidities. The study's aims were to examine CIPD inter-rater reliability, the relationships between CIPD and other instruments assessing positive and negative symptoms and functionality, and to explore participants' qualitative feedback. The sample included 30 individuals with psychotic disorders, aged between 18 and 62 years old. Two experts in clinical psychology conducted the interviews and independently rated other assessment tools (PANSS, GAF and PSP) to determine severity of psychotic symptoms and levels of functionality. Results indicated high inter-rater reliability for the majority of CIPD items and agreement regarding diagnosis was between 73% and 93%. Moreover, positive and moderate to strong correlations were found between CIPD, PANSS, GAF and PSP. From the qualitative analysis five themes emerged, namely: CIPD applicability and utility, comparison with previous interviews, interviewer aspects, negative and positive aspects. Overall, these preliminary results suggest that CIPD is a reliable and valid assessment instrument that seems to be well suited for people with psychosis.

Assessing beliefs and attitudes towards antipsychotic medication from a recovery-based perspective: Psychometric properties of a new scale.

Antipsychotic medication non-adherence is a complex and multifaceted problem that may hinder recovery in psychosis-spectrum disorders. Therefore, it warrants an early and comprehensive assessment. Current self-report measures focus entirely on behavioral and attitudinal barriers to adherence, failing to provide insight about key psychosocial drivers such as shame and stigma that may also account for non-adherence. This study's main goals were to develop a brief scale for measuring antipsychotic (non)-adherence and associated intra and interpersonal barriers (Antipsychotic Medication Beliefs and Attitudes Scale - AMBAS), and explore its psychometric properties. One hundred and seventy participants with a psychosis-spectrum disorder were recruited and filled in a battery of self-report measures. Exploratory factor analysis supported a two-factor solution, with one factor tapping the influence of different barriers to medication adherence and other factor encompassing perceived positive effects of medication. The scale presented good reliability and convergent validity as evidenced by significant moderate associations with the Medication Adherence Rating Scale. Although in need for further study, AMBAS seems a valid and reliable measure to assess antipsychotic (non)-adherence and underlying behavioral and psychosocial drivers. With replication, AMBAS might be a useful measure that could be used in different clinical and research settings.

Negative affect and eating psychopathology: the moderator effect of gender.

PURPOSE: This study examined the moderator role of gender in the relationship between negative affect and eating psychopathology as well as gender differences in these variables. METHODS: A community sample of 285 students (61.8% females), aged 13-25, was recruited in middle and high schools and universities. They filled instruments that assess negative affect and eating disordered symptoms (restraint, eating concern, shape concern, weight concern, and global scale). RESULTS: Females scored higher both in all subscales and the global scale of eating psychopathology. The restraint subscale was the only subscale showing non-significant differences between females and males. Controlling for BMI, moderation analyses revealed that gender moderated the relationship between negative affect and eating psychopathology, except for restraint behavior. CONCLUSIONS: To deal with negative affect, females engage in more cognitive symptoms associated with disordered eating than males, but both endorse equally in eating restraint. These findings suggest that interventions focused on emotion regulation could help to reduce eating disordered symptoms among females and males. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level V, cross-sectional descriptive study.