[Evaluation of the functionality and subjective well-being of bipolar patients with the Functioning Assessment Short Test (FAST) and the World Health Organization - Five Well- Being Index (WHO-5)]. / Evaluación de la funcionalidad y el bienestar subjetivo de pacientes bipolares con el Functioning Assessment Short Test (FAST) y el World Health Organization - Five Well-Being Index (WHO-5).

INTRODUCTION: Bipolar Disorders (BD) are a mood disorders group charactered by recurrent manic or hypomanic episodes, alternating with depressive episodes. Its prevalence is 4%, and several studies have shown that they generate disability. There are effective therapeutic options for acute episodes. However, the ultimate goal is to achieve functional recovery and adequate well-being. MATERIAL AND METHODS: There was done in Buenos Aires, Argentina a cross-sectional study comparing psychosocial functioning, with the Functioning Assessment Short Test (FAST) and subjective well-being with the Five Well-Being Index (WHO-5), among a sample of stabilized BD patients undergoing treatment at the Center of Medical Education and Clinical Research (Centro de Educación Médica e Investigaciones Clínicas) and the Bipolar Foundation (Fundación Bipolares de Argentina), with a control group. RESULTS: A total of 102 BD patients and 52 controls where included. The FAST mean for patients and controls was 20.71 and 9.73 respectively (P=0.0000). The WHO-5 mean for patients was 59.11 and 69.76 for controls (P=0.0011). More than 70% of the patients presented functional alteration (FAST ≥12), and almost 35% presented inadequate subjective well-being (WHO-5 ≤52). Depressive symptoms conditioned worse scores on both scales. FAST scores were better among those who participated in mutual aid groups (P=0.026). While patients who underwent psychoeducation and those who received anticonvulsant drugs, presented better WHO-5 scores (P = 0.028 and P=0.048 respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with BD showed poor Functionality and poor Well-being despite being stabilized. There is direct relationship between both conditions. Depressive symptoms generated worst scores on the scales.

The peripartum period involvement in the development of post-partum depression. A prospective cohort study.

PURPOSE: This study explores postpartum depression (PPD) in women who screened negative in mid-pregnancy to assess the impact of the peripartum period on the development of depressive symptoms. METHODS: A prospective cohort study was carried out in two facilities in Argentina. The Edinburgh postnatal depression scale (EPDS) scale was applied to pregnant women between weeks 20-24 gestation, and those screening negative (<10) were included in the cohort. Participants were followed up until the 4th week postpartum, when the EPDS was repeated. If positive, a semi-structured clinical interview was applied (MINI) to define the diagnosis. RESULTS: A total of 112 pregnant women were eligible for the follow-up. At the 4th week postpartum, 14 women (12.5%, CI 95% 7.0; 20.1) screened positive using a cutoff point of 10 or more in the EPDS. Of those screened positive in the EPDS, two participants (1.8%, CI 95% 0.2-6.3) had a Major Depressive Disorder. Newborn admission to the Intensive Care Unit, hospitalization of the newborn after discharge, abuse during childbirth, and lack of company during labor were identified as peripartum risk factors. CONCLUSIONS: This study reinforces the relevance of women and newborn mental health care during the hospitalization process surrounding peripartum. The women and newborn hospitalization process should be better explored to understand the contribution to PPD and design and test strategies to alleviate the impact of maternal depression.

[QUICK INVENTORY OF DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOMATOLOGY SELF-REPORT IN THE CLINICAL PRACTICE OF DEPRESSIVE PATIENTS]. / Cuestionario breve de sintomatolog!a depresiva autoadministrado en la práctica clinica de pacientes depresivos.

INTRODUCTION: To determine the intensity of depressive disorder is helpful to make treatment decisions. The purpose of this study is to establish the correlation between the Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology Self-Report (QIDS-SR16) and Montgomery Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS), in order to measure the depression intensity in outpatients from two urban areas in Argentina. METHOD: Over an 18-month period, 67 outpatients from the current clinical practice were included in the study. They first presented with a diagnosis of nonpsychotic major depressive disorder, according to the DSM-IV-TR criteria. Both the QIDS-SR16 and MADRS were administered. RESULTS: The internal consistency of the QIDS-SR16 was acceptable, with the Cronbach's alpha being 0.74. Criterion validity was estimated through the correlation between both scales and was 0.84 (p<0.0001), while gamma statistics for the ordinal comparison of categories was 0.95, thus showing a high correlation. CONCLUSION: The study findings show that the correlation between the two analyzed questionnaires allows determining depression intensity in patients from our setting. These findings further allow analyzing the usefulness of the scale for several depressive subtypes. As far as training and administration, the QIDS-SR16 is less time-consuming.

[Screening for symptoms of depression during postpartum and the long term follow up: temporal stability and associated factors]. / Detección de síntomas depresivos durante el postparto inmediato y el seguimiento a largo plazo: estabilidad temporal y factores asociados.

AIMS: To describe the frequency of depressive symptoms compatible with a postpartum depression diagnosis, the associated factors and the temporal stability. METHODS: During 2006-2007 398 hospitalized puerperal women who attended CEMIC were interviewed 5 days after childbirth using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale and a socio-demographic questionnaire. A logistic regression analysis was performed to identify associated factors with a positive screening. During the following 6-12 months a follow up was carried with two groups of similar characteristics. RESULTS: The frequency of depressive symptoms at post partum was 17.8% (cut off = 10). Depressive history and neonatal intensive care were significantly related to a positive screening. From the 110 interviewed women, 24 were positive in the follow-up. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of risk for postpartum depression in the sample of patients surveyed is within the parameters reported in international literature. At the 6 month follow up, 6 previously asymptomatic women during the first screening turned on positive. It is theorize the existence of potential postpartum depression cases that can manifest up to a year after childbirth.