Brazilian Psychiatric Association Consensus on the physical structure and ideal team for psychiatric emergencies services.

INTRODUCTION: An integral part of Brazil's public health system, the psychiatric emergency service (PES) has been instrumental in improving qualified support for crisis situations of mental disorders, equitable, universally accessible, and humanized. The purpose of this article is to present a systematic review and consensus about the physical area and facilities, and ideal team qualified for psychiatric emergencies services on both Brazilian settings. METHODS: The authors conducted a literature search using electronic databases such as MEDLINE (PubMed), Scielo, the Cochrane Database, and documents from the WHO, the Brazilian Ministry of Health, and others deemed relevant by experts. A total of 6839 manuscripts were found, but only 46 were selected. The analysis of article content summarizes consensus statements using the Delphi method and a series of interactive versions to provide a final report. RESULTS: Changes to PES are evaluated considering various experiences and models. The authors highlighted that The Emergency Care Network (ECN) must be coordinated with qualified management, effective implementation of integration of all health equipment's and units. PES must have adequate infrastructure; qualified staff, including a psychiatrist; sufficient consultation and observational spaces; tools and resources for differential diagnosis; training for all staff members; and communication with the health care network to facilitate referrals following patient discharge are all necessary. CONCLUSION: These standardized models need to be available to public health managers so that they can guide the installation of new services and adjust the existing ones, always looking for improvement. The authors propose requirements for PES as a model to be passed over.

Depression and suicidality severity among TRD patients after 1-year under standard of care: Findings from the TRAL study, a multicenter, multinational, observational study in Latin America.

INTRODUCTION: Treatment resistant depression (TRD) is one of the most pressing issues in mental healthcare in LatAm. However, clinical data and outcomes of standard of care (SOC) are scarce. The present study reported on the Treatment-Resistant Depression in America Latina (TRAL) project 1-year follow-up of patients under SOC assessing clinical presentation and outcomes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 420 patients with clinical diagnoses of TRD from Argentina, Brazil, Colombia and Mexico were included in a 1-year follow-up to assess clinical outcomes of depression (MADRS) and suicidality (C-SSRS), as well as evolution of clinical symptoms of depression. Patients were assessed every 3 months and longitudinal comparison was performed based on change from baseline to each visit and end of study (12 months). Socio demographic characterization was also performed. RESULTS: Most patients were female (80.9%), married (42.5%) or single (34.4%), with at least 10 years of formal education (71%). MDD diagnosis was set at 37.29 (SD=14.00) years, and MDD duration was 11.11 years (SD=10.34). After 1-year of SOC, 79.1% of the patients were still symptomatic, and 40% of the patients displayed moderate/severe depression. Only 44.1% of the patients achieved a response (≥50% improvement in MADRS), and 60% of the sample failed to achieve remission. Suicidal ideation was reported by more than half of the patients at the end of study. CONCLUSIONS: Depression and suicidality symptoms after a 1-year of SOC is of great concern. Better therapeutic options are needed to tackle this debilitating and burdensome disease.

The Management of Psychiatric Emergencies in Situations of Public Calamity.

The prevalence of mental health problems in the general population during a public calamity is high. In calamities, the number of patients who present with mental disorder outbreaks or crises may increase, but the necessary support systems to help them may be impaired if they have not been planned for. Although there are several models for addressing psychiatric emergencies, the general rules are the same, especially when it comes to making these services easily available to the affected population. In this article, we seek to review and present recommendations for the management of psychiatric emergencies in situations of public calamity, including disasters, physical and medical catastrophes, epidemics, and pandemics.

Depressão / Depression

Doenças depressivas representam um severo problema de saúde pública. A prevalência da depressão na população é alta e sem impacto na morbidade, mortalidade e qualidade de vida é importante. Dificuldades diagnósticas como reconhecimento de bipolaridade e dificuldades na relação médico paciente precisam ser avaliadas durante a prática clínica. Informações sobre diagnóstico e tratamento precisam ser oferecidas nos programas médicos educacionais.

[Psychiatric emergency services and their relationships with mental health network in Brazil]. / Serviços de emergência psiquiátrica e suas relações com a rede de saúde mental brasileira.

OBJECTIVE: To review the literature concerning the role and the inclusion of emergency psychiatric services in mental health networks. METHOD: We performed a search in online databases (PubMed and SciELO) of empirical articles and reviews about emergency psychiatric services and networks of mental health services. RESULTS: Emergency psychiatric services are a core unit for a proper functioning of mental health networks, by both the management of emergencies itself, and the regulation of the network where it belongs. The emergency psychiatric services relate to all inpatient and outpatient services, allowing the organization of the flow of admissions and avoiding the overload of the network of mental health.The functions of emergency psychiatric services are broad and go beyond the simple referral for hospitalization, since clinical stabilization and psychosocial support can be reached in well structured emergency psychiatric services. In Brazil, these functions were expanded after the mental health reform and the burden of mental health network caused by difficulties and limitations of inpatient and outpatient services. CONCLUSION: Emergency psychiatric services should be recovered and expanded; especially those located in general hospitals. It is suggested that investment in psychiatric emergencies should be a priority of the Brazilian public health policies for improving the mental health care.

Serviços de emergência psiquiátrica e suas relações com a rede de saúde mental Brasileira / Psychiatric emergency services and their relationships with mental health network in Brazil

OBJETIVO: Revisão de dados da literatura relativos ao papel e à inserção de serviços de emergências psiquiátricas em redes de saúde mental. MÉTODO: Foi realizada uma busca em banco de dados (PubMed e SciELO) de artigos empíricos e revisões sobre serviços de emergências psiquiátricas e rede de serviços de saúde mental. RESULTADOS: Serviços de emergências psiquiátricas constituem unidade central para o funcionamento adequado de redes de saúde mental, tanto pelo manejo de situações de emergências, como pela regulação da rede em que se insere. Os serviços de emergências psiquiátricas relacionam-se com todos os serviços hospitalares e extra-hospitalares, possibilitando a organização do fluxo das internações e evitando sobrecarga da rede de saúde mental. As funções dos serviços de emergências psiquiátricas são amplas e extrapolam o simples encaminhamento para internação integral, pois estabilização clínica e suporte psicossocial podem ser alcançados em serviços de emergências psiquiátricas bem estruturados. No Brasil, estas funções foram ampliadas após a Reforma da Assistência à Saúde Mental e a sobrecarga das redes de saúde mental provocadas pelas dificuldades e limitações dos serviços hospitalares e extra-hospitalares. CONCLUSÃO: Serviços de emergências psiquiátricas devem ser valorizados e ampliados, principalmente aqueles localizados em hospitais gerais. Recomenda-se que o investimento em emergências psiquiátricas seja prioridade das políticas de saúde pública brasileiras para o aprimoramento da atenção na saúde mental.

OBJECTIVE: To review the literature concerning the role and the inclusion of emergency psychiatric services in mental health networks. METHOD: We performed a search in online databases (PubMed and SciELO) of empirical articles and reviews about emergency psychiatric services and networks of mental health services. RESULTS: Emergency psychiatric services are a core unit for a proper functioning of mental health networks, by both the management of emergencies itself, and the regulation of the network where it belongs. The emergency psychiatric services relate to all inpatient and outpatient services, allowing the organization of the flow of admissions and avoiding the overload of the network of mental health.The functions of emergency psychiatric services are broad and go beyond the simple referral for hospitalization, since clinical stabilization and psychosocial support can be reached in well structured emergency psychiatric services. In Brazil, these functions were expanded after the mental health reform and the burden of mental health network caused by difficulties and limitations of inpatient and outpatient services. CONCLUSION: Emergency psychiatric services should be recovered and expanded; especially those located in general hospitals. It is suggested that investment in psychiatric emergencies should be a priority of the Brazilian public health policies for improving the mental health care.

Vitamin D-resistant rickets type II-A, basal ganglia calcification, and catatonia: a casual or causal relationship?

BACKGROUND: Vitamin D-resistant rickets type-IIA (VDRR-IIA) is a rare, congenital, metabolic disorder characterized by hypocalcemia, rickets, and alopecia. There are reports correlating calcium-metabolic disorders with basal ganglia calcification (BGC) and neuropsychiatric symptoms. OBJECTIVE: The authors document and discuss the relationships of these phenomena. METHOD: The authors describe a patient born with VDRR-IIA who subsequently developed BGC at age 15, and catatonic symptoms of progressive severity at age 16. RESULTS: There appeared to be a positive correlation between the severity of BGC and neuropsychiatric symptoms. DISCUSSION: This is the first time VDRR-IIA, BGC, and catatonia have been reported in a patient, and the authors discuss the relationship among the conditions.