Predictors of response to group cognitive-behavioral therapy in the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder.

PURPOSE: To identify the presence of factors associated with treatment outcome in patients under group cognitive-behavioral therapy (GCBT) for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). SUBJECTS AND METHODS: This study evaluated 181 patients with OCD that attended a 12-session weekly GCBT program. Response criteria were: >/=35% reduction in Y-BOCS scores and global improvement score of the Clinical Global Impression (CGI)

Brazilian Version of the Protocole Montréal d’Évaluation de la Communication (Protocole MEC): Normative and Reliability Data

The lack of standardized instruments to evaluate communication disorders related to the right hemisphere was verified.A new evaluation tool was developed: Protocole Montréal d’Évaluation de la Communication - Protocole MEC, adapted to Brazilian Portuguese - Bateria Montreal de Avaliação da Comunicação - Bateria MAC (Montreal Evaluation of Communication Battery). The purpose was to present stratified normative data by age and educational level, and to verify the reliability parameters of the MEC Battery. 300 individuals, between the ages of 19 and 75 years, and levels of formal education between 2 and 35 years, participated in this study. They were divided equally into six normative groups, according to three age categories (young adults, intermediary age, and seniors) and two educational levels (low and high). Two procedures were used to check reliability: Cronbach alpha and reliability between evaluators. Results were established at the 10th percentile, and an alert point per task for each normative group. Cronbach's alpha was, in general, between .70 and .90 and the average rate of agreement between evaluators varied from .62 to.94. Standards of age and education were established. The reliability of this instrument was verified. The psychometric legitimization of the MEC Battery will contribute to the diagnostic process for communicative disorders (AU)

Se verificó la falta de instrumentos estandarizados para evaluar los trastornos de comunicación relacionados con el hemisferio derecho. Se desarrolló una herramienta de evaluación nueva: el Protocole Montréal d'Évaluation de la Communication - Protocolo MEC, adaptado al portugués brasileño - Bateria Montreal de Avaliação da Comunicação - Batería MAC (Batería de Evaluación de la Comunicación de Montreal). El objetivo fue presentar datos normativos estratificados por edad y nivel académico, y verificar los parámetros de fiabilidad de la batería MEC. 300 individuos, de edades entre los 19 y los 75 años y con 2 a 35 años de educación formal, participaron en este estudio. Se dividieron en seis grupos normativos, en función de tres categorías de edad (adultos jóvenes, edad mediana y mayores) y dos niveles educacionales (bajo y alto). Se emplearon dos procedimientos para confirmar la fiabilidad: alfa de Cronbach y fiabilidad inter-jueces. Se establecieron los resultados en el percentil 10 con un punto de alerta por tarea para cada grupo normativo. Los valores de alfa de Cronbach eran, en general, entre 0.70 y 0.90 y el grado de acuerdo entre los evaluadores variaba entre 0.62 y 0.94. Se establecieron normas de edad y educación. Se verificó la fiabilidad de este instrumento. La legitimación psicométrica de la Batería MEC contribuirá al proceso diagnóstico de los trastornos de comunicación (AU)

Reproductive risk factors related to socioeconomic status in pregnant women in southern Brazil.

To evaluate patterns of drug use during pregnancy and other potential reproductive risks in pregnant women, we applied a standard questionnaire to 412 pregnant women classified as low socioeconomic status (SES) or as middle/high SES, in two cities of South Brazil. 77% of the women used at least one medication during pregnancy. We observed significant differences, when comparing low SES and middle/high SES groups, for the following variables: teenage pregnancies (28.4 vs. 12.4%); self-medication (21.8 vs. 13.1%); smoking habits (21.5 vs. 5.1%); unplanned pregnancies (69.5 vs. 51.8%); unwanted pregnancies (31.3 vs. 10.9%), and abortion attempts (13.1 vs. 5.8%). The average number of drugs consumed, however, was not different between low SES and middle/high SES. We believe that better education and conditions for family planning are key points to improve this scenario.