Sociodemographic and clinical profile of crack cocaine treatment-seeking individuals living in "Crackland", Brazil / Perfil sociodemográfico e clínico de indivíduos em busca de tratamento para o uso de crack que vivem na "Cracolândia"

OBJECTIVE: São Paulo's Crackland is the biggest and oldest open drug use scene in Brazil, yet little is known about the profile of crack cocaine treatment-seeking individuals living in this region. The aim of this crossectional study was to describe the demographics and clinical characteristics of treatment-seeking crack users living in the Crackland region. METHODS: A sample of nighty eight individuals were screened for DSM-V substance use disorders, including substance use, impulsiveness, and psychiatric symptoms. Recent crack cocaine use was also tested using biologic specimens. RESULTS: Results indicated severe social vulnerability, as participants experienced high rates of homelessness (46.9%), unstable housing (50%), unemployment (60.4%) and early school drop-out (27.5%). The average age of crack use onset was 20 years (SD = 6.9) and the mean duration of continuous crack use was 15 years (SD = 9.7). Most participants presented with concomitant mental health disorders, particularly alcohol use disorder (87.8%), as well high rates of psychiatric symptomatology and impulsiveness. More than half of the sample reported at least one previous inpatient (73.5%) and outpatient (65.3%) addiction treatment attempt. CONCLUSION: This population profile should inform mental healthcare services, promoting the provision of tailored assistance by targeting specific demands at all levels of treatment.

OBJETIVO: Localizada em São Paulo, a Cracolândia é o maior e mais antigo cenário aberto de uso de drogas do Brasil. Ainda assim, pouco se sabe sobre o perfil dos indivíduos que vivem nessa região e buscam tratamento para crack. O objetivo deste estudo transversal foi descrever características demográficas e clínicas de usuários de crack vivendo na região da Cracolândia que estão em busca de tratamento. MÉTODOS: Noventa e oito indivíduos foram avaliados para transtornos por uso de substâncias do DSM-V, padrão de uso de substâncias, impulsividade e sintomatologia psiquiátrica. O uso recente de crack também foi determinado por meio de coleta de amostras toxicológicas. RESULTADOS: Os resultados indicaram grave vulnerabilidade social, com significativas prevalências de falta de moradia (46,9%), moradia instável (50%), desemprego (60,4%) e abandono escolar precoce (27,5%). A idade média de início do uso de crack foi de 20 anos (DP = 6,9) e a duração média do uso contínuo do crack foi de 15 anos (DP = 9,7). A maioria dos participantes apresentou alguma comorbidade psiquiátrica, particularmente transtorno por uso de álcool (87,8%), bem como altas taxas de sintomatologia psiquiátrica e impulsividade. Mais da metade da amostra relatou pelo menos uma tentativa anterior de tratamento por internação (73,5%) e ambulatorial (65,3%). CONCLUSÃO: Os achados desse estudo permitem um maior entendimento do perfil e das necessidades de usuários de crack vivendo na região da Cracolândia e podem ajudar serviços de saúde especializados em dependência química a promoverem uma assistência mais direcionada às demandas específicas dessa população.

Do adolescents exposed to peer aggression at school consider themselves to be victims of bullying? The influence of sex and age

Abstract Introduction Exposure to peer aggression (PA) and bullying victimization (BV) are both expressions of peer victimization. Objectives In four age-sex groups, (1) Can exposure to PA and BV be considered distinct experiences? (2) To what extent do adolescents exposed to PA consider themselves bullying victims? and (3) What is the effect on BV of the number of PA events experienced? Methods This cross-sectional study evaluated a probabilistic community-based sample of 669 adolescents (11-15 years, 51.7% girls). A three-stage probabilistic sampling plan involved random selection of census units, eligible households, and one target child per household selected. A 15-item scale investigated exposure to PA events (physical aggression, verbal harassment, social manipulation) occurring more than once in the past six months. BV occurring more than once a week or most days in the past six months was investigated after presenting respondents with a BV definition that required them to feel harmed by their victimization experiences. Results Adolescents exposed to PA and/or BV reported PA only (76.2%), BV only (4.7%), and both (19.1%). Rates of BV among those exposed to PA were as follows: 11-to-12-year-old boys (22.7%), 13-to-15-year-old boys (9.7%), 11-to-12-year-old girls (46.5%), and 13-to-15-year-old girls (13.2%). Multiple logistic regression analysis (outcome = BV) found a significant interaction between PA, age, and sex. PA events had a significant effect on BV for all except older girls. Conclusion Exposure to PA and BV are different constructs; few older boys exposed to PA consider themselves bullying victims; and older girls are less affected by PA when it comes to BV.

Disability in children and adolescents: the extent of the impact on psychiatric disorders and educational deficits

Abstract Introduction Most children/adolescents with disability live in low and middle-income countries and, worldwide, they are more likely to have mental health problems and achieve worse academic performance compared to those with typical development. Objective To assess whether Brazilian children/adolescents with four types of disabilities are more likely to have psychiatric disorders and educational deficits than children/adolescents with typical development. Method A multicenter cross-sectional study involving a school-based probabilistic sample of second to sixth graders (N = 1,674) from public schools in four Brazilian regions. The four types of disabilities (intellectual, visual, hearing, and motor) were assessed using the Ten Questions Questionnaire. Psychiatric disorders were measured with the Schedule for Affective Disorders/Schizophrenia for School-Age Children (K-SADS-PL), and academic performance was evaluated using the Teste de Desempenho Acadêmico - TDE (the academic performance test). Results A logistic regression model with cluster-robust errors identified the following statistically significant associations with three of the four types of disability (the exception was hearing). Intellectual disability was associated with anxiety (p < 0.01), depression (p < 0.01), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) (p < 0.001), school failure (p < 0.01), and poor academic performance (p < 0.01). Visual disability was associated with depression (p < 0.01). Motor disability was marginally associated with ADHD (p = 0.08). Conclusions Presence of disabilities (intellectual, visual, and motor) in children/adolescents was associated with psychiatric disorders, school failure, and academic performance. It is therefore important to identify presence of disabilities and plan and deliver specific interventions and specialized educational care for the needs presented by these children/adolescents. This is particularly important in low and middle-income countries, where these disabilities are frequent among children/adolescents.

Latin American and Spanish-speaking perspectives on the challenges of global psychiatry

The multi-faceted phenomenon known as globalization has a particular impact on the conceptual and practical development of mental health disciplines in general, and psychiatry in particular, across different world regions. To be theoretically and functionally effective, global psychiatry requires an integration of its different components. To such objective, and after a brief review of continental European and Anglo-Saxon contributions, this article examines the history, characteristics, and contributions of Latin/Iberian American and Spanish-speaking psychiatry, in order to substantiate its role in world psychiatry. The Latin American proper (including Portuguese-speaking Brazil), Spain, and U.S.-based Hispanic components are described, revealing an identity that is based on a humanistic tradition, a value-based, culturally-determined clinical approach to patient care, and a pragmatic adaptation of different treatment resources and techniques. These may constitute supportive elements of an instrumental inter-regional bond in the present and future of our discipline.

Evaluation of NDEL1 oligopeptidase activity in blood and brain in an animal model of schizophrenia: effects of psychostimulants and antipsychotics

Nuclear distribution element-like 1 (NDEL1) enzyme activity is important for neuritogenesis, neuronal migration, and neurodevelopment. We reported previously lower NDEL1 enzyme activity in blood of treated first episode psychosis and chronic schizophrenia (SCZ) compared to healthy control subjects, with even lower activity in treatment resistant chronic SCZ patients, implicating NDEL1 activity in SCZ. Herein, higher NDEL1 activity was observed in the blood and several brain regions of a validated animal model for SCZ at baseline. In addition, long-term treatment with typical or atypical antipsychotics, under conditions in which SCZ-like phenotypes were reported to be reversed in this animal model for SCZ, showed a significant NDEL1 activity reduction in blood and brain regions which is in line with clinical data. Importantly, these results support measuring NDEL1 enzyme activity in the peripheral blood to predict changes in NDEL1 activity in the CNS. Also, acute administration of psychostimulants, at levels reported to induce SCZ-like phenotype in normal rat strains, increased NDEL1 enzyme activity in blood. Therefore, alterations in NDEL1 activity after treatment with antipsychotics or psychostimulants may suggest a possible modulation of NDEL1 activity secondary to neurotransmission homeostasis and provide new insights into the role of NDEL1 in SCZ pathophysiology.

A 10-year ecological study of the methods of suicide used by Brazilian adolescents / Estudo ecológico de 10 anos sobre os métodos de suicídio usados por adolescentes brasileiros / Estudio ecológico abarcando 10 años sobre los métodos de suicidio practicados por adolescentes brasileños

Abstract: Suicide among adolescents has become a major public health problem worldwide. Our study sought to describe the most commonly used methods of suicide among adolescents aged 10 to 19 years in Brazil between 2006 and 2015. Complete data were obtained from the Brazilian Health Informatics Department (DATASUS) and coded into seven categories of suicide methods. The following statistical analyzes were performed: chi-square (χ2) tests to examine the association between the frequency of each suicide method and the year; odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) compared the relative chances of each suicide method occurring between boys and girls. In total, 8,026 suicides among Brazilian adolescents were registered over the analyzed period. The most commonly used method of suicide by both sexes was hanging (2015 = 70.3%), and the most significant increase was observed in girls (2015 = 65.82%). The proportional use of arms (2006 = 14.2%; 2015 = 9.1%) and poisoning (2006 = 13.3%; 2015 = 9.2%) decreased over the period. The increase in hanging is worrisome, mostly due to difficulties to impose access barriers and to its high lethality. In such context, a comprehensive understanding of suicide behaviors among adolescents in Brazil should be drawn to inform general prevention measures and, more specifically, the reasons for the increase in hanging need to be further investigated.

Resumo: O suicídio entre adolescentes é um importante problema de saúde pública em nível global. O estudo teve como principal objetivo descrever os métodos de suicídio mais usados por adolescentes brasileiros entre 10 e 19 anos de idade, de 2006 a 2015. Foram obtidos dados completos do Departamento de Informática do SUS (DATASUS), codificados em sete categorias de métodos de suicídio. As seguintes análises estatísticas foram realizadas: testes de qui-quadrado (χ2) para examinar a associação entre a frequência de cada método de suicídio e o ano do óbito. As razões de chances (OR) e intervalos de 95% de confiança (IC95%) compararam as chances relativas entre homens e mulheres para cada método de suicídio. Durante o período analisado, houve 8.026 suicídios entre adolescentes. O enforcamento foi o método de suicídio mais usado em ambos os sexos eram (2015 = 70,3%), com um aumento mais agudo em mulheres (2015 = 65,82%). O uso proporcional de armas (2006 = 14,2%; 2015 = 9,1%) e envenenamento (2006 = 13,3%; 2015 = 9,2%) diminuiu ao longo do período. O aumento dos enforcamentos é preocupante, suscitando questões com dificuldades na imposição de barreiras de acesso e a alta letalidade desse método. Nesse contexto, precisa haver uma compreensão mais abrangente dos comportamentos suicidas entre os adolescentes brasileiros para informar as medidas preventivas em geral e, mais especificamente, para elucidar os motivos para o aumento dos suicídios por enforcamento.

Resumen: El suicidio entre adolescentes se ha convertido en un importante problema de salud pública en todo el mundo. El objetivo de este estudio fue describir los métodos de suicido usados más comúnmente entre adolescentes, con edades comprendidas entre los 10 y 19 años, en Brasil desde 2006 hasta 2015. Los datos completos se obtuvieron del Departamento de Informática del Sistema Único de Salud (DATASUS) y se codificaron en siete categorías de métodos de suicidio. Se realizaron análisis estadísticos: tests chi-cuadrado (χ2) para examinar la asociación entre la frecuencia de cada método de suicidio y año. Odds ratios (OR) y los intervalos del 95% de confianza (IC95%) compararon las oportunidades relativas de cada método suicidio que se produce entre hombres y mujeres. Se registraron 8.026 suicidios entre adolescentes brasileños durante el período analizado. El método de suicidio más comúnmente usado por ambos sexos fue ahorcamiento (2015 = 70,3%), se observó un aumento más pronunciado en mujeres (2015 = 65,82%). El uso proporcional de armas (2006 = 14,2%; 2015 = 9,1%) y envenenamiento (2006 = 13,3%; 2015 = 9,2%) descendió durante este período. El incremento por ahorcamiento es preocupante, principalmente, en lo que se refiere a las dificultades para imponer barreras de acceso, así como por su alta letalidad. En este contexto, se deberían describir más los comportamientos suicidas entre adolescentes en Brasil para comprenderlos mejor, con el fin de que se tomen medidas de prevención general y, más específicamente, se profundice en las razones del incremento de ahorcamientos.

The association between adolescent suicide rates and socioeconomic indicators in Brazil: a 10-year retrospective ecological study

Objective: To examine suicide rates among adolescents from six large cities in Brazil and to analyze the relationship between adolescent suicide rates and socioeconomic indicators between 2006 and 2015. Methods: Generalized estimating equation models were used to assess the impact of socioeconomic factors - including social inequality and unemployment rates - on adolescent suicide rates. Results: The rate of adolescent suicide increased by 24% over the course of the study period. Social inequality (assessed using the Gini index), was positively associated with overall adolescent suicide rates (β = 10.68; 95%CI = 2.32-19.05; p ≤ 0.012). After disaggregating the findings by age (10-14 and 15-19 years), social inequality was associated with suicide rate only for adolescents aged 15-19 years (β = 9.63; 95%CI = 2.31-16.96; p ≤ 0.005). Disaggregating these findings by sex, the association with economic variables became significant only among females. Males had a higher overall suicide rate than females, and the highest rate was observed in male adolescents aged 15-19 years. Higher levels of unemployment were associated with higher suicide rates. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that socioeconomic indicators, particularly unemployment and social inequality, are relevant social determinants of suicide in adolescence.

Studying ICD-11 Primary Health Care bodily stress syndrome in Brazil: do many functional disorders represent just one syndrome?

Objective: Disorders characterized by "distressing unexplained somatic symptoms" are challenging. In the ICD-11 Primary Health Care (PHC) Guidelines for Diagnosis and Management of Mental Disorders (ICD-11 PHC), a new category, bodily stress syndrome (BSS), was included to diagnose patients presenting unexplained somatic symptoms. The present study investigated the association of BSS with anxiety, depression, and four subgroups of physical symptoms in a Brazilian primary health care (PHC) sample. Methodology: As part of the international ICD-11 PHC study, 338 patients were evaluated by their primary care physicians, followed by testing with Clinical Interview Schedule (CIS-R) and World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule, Version 2.0 (WHODAS 2.0). BSS was diagnosed in the presence of at least three somatic symptoms associated with incapacity. The association between anxiety, depression, and four subgroups of physical symptoms with being a BSS case was analyzed. Results: The number of somatic symptoms was high in the overall sample of 338 patients (mean = 8.4), but even higher in the 131 BSS patients (10.2; p < 0.001). Most BSS patients (57.3%) had at least three symptoms from two, three, or four subgroups, and these were associated with anxiety and depression in 80.9% of these patients. The symptom subgroup most strongly associated with "being a BSS" case was the non-specific group (OR = 6.51; 95%CI 1.65-24.34), followed by musculoskeletal (OR = 2,31; 95%CI 1.19-4.72). Conclusion: Somatic symptoms were frequent in a sample of PHC patients in Brazil. In the present sample, one third were BSS cases and met the criteria for at least two symptom subgroups, supporting the hypothesis that different functional symptoms are related to each other.

Prevalence, clinical correlates and maternal psychopathology of deliberate self-harm in children and early adolescents: results from a large community study

Objectives: Little is known about the prevalence and correlates of deliberate self-harm (DSH) in children from low- and middle-income countries. We investigated the prevalence of DSH and its clinical and maternal psychopathological associations in Brazilian children (n=2,508, ages 6-14y) in a community-based study. Methods: Participants of the High Risk Cohort Study for the Development of Childhood Psychiatric Disorders (HRC) and their mothers were assessed in structured interviews. Current (last month) and lifetime DSH were estimated, including analysis stratified by age groups. Logistic regressions were performed to investigate the role of the children's clinical diagnoses and maternal psychopathology on DSH prevalence estimates, adjusting for potential confounding factors. Results: The prevalence of current DSH was 0.8% (children 0.6%, adolescents 1%) and lifetime DSH was 1.6% (1.8% and 1.5%, respectively). Current and lifetime DSH were more frequent in children with depression, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and oppositional defiant disorder (ODD), even in multiple models accounting for demographic variables and co-occurring psychiatric disorders. Maternal anxiety disorder was strongly associated with current and lifetime DSH in offspring; whereas current DSH, specifically in young children, was associated with maternal mood disorder. Conclusion: Diagnoses of depression, ADHD and ODD were consistently associated with DSH, as was having a mother with anxiety disorder.

Barriers to early identification of autism in Brazil

Objective: Parents of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) seem to perceive that their child's development is not following the normal pattern as early as the first year of life. However, ASD children may not receive a diagnosis until they are of preschool age, especially in low- and middle-income countries. The objective of this study was to evaluate the pathway between initial parental concerns about atypical child development and ASD diagnosis in Brazil. Methods: Nineteen mothers whose children had been diagnosed with ASD participated and were interviewed. The ASD group consisted of two girls and 17 boys, with a mean age of 93.0 months (SD 48.4 months; range 39-197 months). Results: Mothers had their first concerns regarding ASD when children were 23.6±11.6 months old, but formal diagnosis occurred at a mean ± SD age of 59.6±40.5 months, corresponding to a 3-year delay. Most mothers felt discouraged to address their concerns due to negative experiences with health professionals. Conclusion: In Brazil, mothers perceived the first signs of ASD in their children at an age similar to that reported in other countries, but the diagnosis of ASD seemed to be delayed. Consistent with the literature, mothers reported negative experiences with health professionals during the pathway to achieving ASD diagnosis.

Measuring child maltreatment using multi-informant survey data: a higher-order confirmatory factor analysis / Dados de levantamento com múltiplos informantes para a mensuração de maus-tratos na infância: uma análise fatorial confirmatória de segunda ordem

Objective To investigate the validity and reliability of a multi-informant approach to measuring child maltreatment (CM) comprising seven questions assessing CM administered to children and their parents in a large community sample. Methods Our sample comprised 2,512 children aged 6 to 12 years and their parents. Child maltreatment (CM) was assessed with three questions answered by the children and four answered by their parents, covering physical abuse, physical neglect, emotional abuse and sexual abuse. Confirmatory factor analysis was used to compare the fit indices of different models. Convergent and divergent validity were tested using parent-report and teacher-report scores on the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. Discriminant validity was investigated using the Development and Well-Being Assessment to divide subjects into five diagnostic groups: typically developing controls (n = 1,880), fear disorders (n = 108), distress disorders (n = 76), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (n = 143) and oppositional defiant disorder/conduct disorder (n = 56). Results A higher-order model with one higher-order factor (child maltreatment) encompassing two lower-order factors (child report and parent report) exhibited the best fit to the data and this model's reliability results were acceptable. As expected, child maltreatment was positively associated with measures of psychopathology and negatively associated with prosocial measures. All diagnostic category groups had higher levels of overall child maltreatment than typically developing children. Conclusions We found evidence for the validity and reliability of this brief measure of child maltreatment using data from a large survey combining information from parents and their children.

Objetivo Investigar a validade e confiabilidade de uma abordagem de múltiplos informantes para a mensuração de maus-tratos na infância, composta por sete questões avaliando maus-tratos na infância respondidas pelas crianças e seus pais em uma ampla amostra comunitária. Métodos A amostra foi composta por 2.512 crianças com idades entre 6 e 12 anos e seus pais. Maus-tratos na infância foram avaliados com três questões respondidas pelas crianças e quatro respondidas pelos seus pais, investigando violência física, negligência física, violência emocional e violência sexual. Análises fatoriais confirmatórias foram utilizadas para comparar os índices de ajuste de diferentes modelos. Validade convergente e divergente foi testada utilizando escores de relato parental e de relato dos professores no Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. Validade discriminante foi investigada utilizando a entrevista Development and Well-Being Assessment para dividir os participantes em cinco grupos diagnósticos: controles com desenvolvimento típico (n = 1.880), transtornos do medo (n = 108), transtornos do estresse (n = 76), transtorno de déficit de atenção-hiperatividade (n = 143) e transtorno opositivo-desafiador/conduta (n = 56). Resultados Um modelo de segunda ordem com um fator de segunda ordem (maus-tratos na infância) englobando dois fatores de primeira ordem (relato da criança e relato parental) demonstrou o melhor ajuste aos dados, e os resultados de confiabilidade desse modelo foram aceitáveis. Como esperado, maus-tratos na infância estiveram positivamente associados a medidas de psicopatologia e negativamente associados a medidas pró-sociais. Todos os grupos de categorias diagnósticas tiveram níveis mais altos de maus-tratos na infância do que as crianças com desenvolvimento típico. Conclusões Foram encontradas evidências de validade e confiabilidade dessa medida breve de maus-tratos na infância utilizando dados de um grande levantamento combinando o relato de pais e seus filhos.

Exposure to maltreatment and urban violence in children working on the streets in São Paulo, Brazil: factors associated with street work

Objective: To quantitatively study the exposure to childhood maltreatment and urban violence in children from families with at least one child working on the streets and to investigate the relationship between these factors and street work. Methods: Families who participated in a nongovernmental organization (NGO) program to eliminate child labor were included. Data concerning sociodemographic characteristics, punishment methods used in the family environment against the children, five types of abuse and neglect perpetrated by the caregivers, urban violence exposure and family functioning were collected. Results: The sample included 126 children who were working on the streets and 65 siblings who were not working on the streets. Caregivers reported high levels of severe physical punishment. The children reported high levels of abuse and neglect, and high levels of urban violence exposure. The families showed a predominance of dysfunctional and unsatisfactory relationships. A multiple logistic regression model showed that age older than 12 years and severe physical punishment at home were associated with street work. Conclusion: Interventions to decrease the risk of child street work should be family-focused and should aim to reduce violence in the family environment. .

Adaptação transcultural e consistência interna do Early Trauma Inventory (ETI) / Early Trauma Inventory (ETI): cross-cultural adaptation and internal consistency

As experiências traumáticas precoces são um fator de risco preditivo de problemas psicopatológicos futuros. O Early Trauma Inventory (ETI) é um instrumento que avalia em indivíduos adultos experiências traumáticas ocorridas antes dos 18 anos de idade. Tal instrumento foi traduzido, transculturalmente adaptado e sua consistência interna foi avaliada. Vítimas de violência que preencheram os critérios de inclusão e exclusão foram submetidas a uma entrevista diagnóstica (SCID-I) e ao ETI. Foram incluídos 91 pacientes com o transtorno do estresse pós-traumático (TEPT). O alfa de Cronbach nos diferentes domínios variou de 0,595-0,793, e o escore total foi de 0,878. A maior parte dos itens nos vários domínios, com exceção do abuso emocional, apresentou índices de correlação interitem entre 0,51-0,99. A versão adaptada foi útil tanto na clínica quanto na pesquisa. Apresentou boa consistência interna e na correlação interitem. O ETI é um instrumento válido, com boa consistência para se avaliar a presença de história de traumas precoces em indivíduos adultos.

Early life stress is a strong predictor of future psychopathology during adulthood. The Early Trauma Inventory (ETI) was developed to detect the presence and impact of traumatic experiences that occurred up to 18 years of age. The ETI was translated and cross-culturally adapted and had its consistency evaluated. Victims of violence that met the inclusion and exclusion criteria were submitted to SCID-I and ETI. Ninety-one patients with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) were included. Cronbach's alpha in the different domains varied from 0.595 to 0.793, and the total score was 0.878. Except for emotional abuse, most of the various domains displayed inter-item correlation rates of 0.51 to 0.99. The adapted version was useful for clinical and research purposes and showed good internal consistency and inter-item correlation. The ETI is a valid instrument with good consistency for evaluating history of childhood and adolescent trauma in adults.

Em busca da eficiência: visibilidade internacional da produção científica dos programas brasileiros de pós-graduação em saúde infantil e do adolescente entre 1998 e 2003 / Pursuing efficiency: international visibility of the scientific production of Brazilian graduate programs in child and adolescent health from 1998 through 2003

OBJETIVO:Avaliar a tendência do número de publicações oriundos dos programas de pós-graduação brasileiros em saúde da criança e do adolescente e a proporção de citações desses artigos no MEDLINE e no Journal Citation Reports (JCR), utilizando a primeira base de dados como medida de eficiência e a última como indicador de visibilidade. MÉTODOS: Avaliamos 14 programas de pós-graduação quanto ao número de teses, dissertações e artigos citados no MEDLINE e JCR, através de dados secundários das duas últimas avaliações trienais realizadas pela Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES), de 1998 até 2000 e de 2001 até 2003. RESULTADOS:O número de artigos publicados aumentou (de 1.520 para 1.917), bem como o número mediano de artigos citados tanto no MEDLINE (de 32,5 para 45) como no JCR (de 24,5 para 27). O número mediano de dissertações aumentou de 19,5 para 26,5; o número mediano de teses cresceu de 12 para 13,5. O número mediano de orientadores diminuiu (de 21,5 para 18,4). CONCLUSÃO: Os programas de pós-graduação em saúde infantil e do adolescente tornaram-se mais eficientes quanto à produção de conhecimento através da publicação de mais artigos com maior visibilidade internacional. Tal tendência foi acompanhada contraditoriamente pela redução no número de orientadores.

OBJECTIVE:To assess the trend in the number of published articles by Brazilian graduate programs in child and adolescent health and the proportion of such publications cited in MEDLINE and Thomson Scientific's Journal Citation Reports (JCR), using the former database as a proxy for efficiency and the latter as an indicator of visibility. METHODS: We assessed the trends of 14 graduate programs concerning the number of theses, dissertations, and articles cited in MEDLINE and JCR, through secondary data from the latest two triennial evaluations carried out by the Brazilian Federal Agency for the Improvement of Higher Education (Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior, CAPES) between 1998 and 2000 and between 2001 and 2003). RESULTS:The number of published articles increased (1,520 to 1,917), as did the median number of articles cited both in MEDLINE (32.5 to 45) and in JCR (24.5 to 27). The median number of dissertations rose from 19.5 to 26.5; the median number of theses went up from 12 to 13.5. The median number of faculty advisors decreased (21.5 to 18.4). CONCLUSION: Graduate programs in child and adolescent health became more efficient in producing knowledge through the publication of more articles with broader international visibility. Such trend was contradictorily accompanied by a diminishing number of advisors.

Cost of schizophrenia: direct costs and use of resources in the State of São Paulo

OBJETIVO: Estimar o custo direto da esquizofrenia para o setor público. MÉTODOS: O estudo foi realizado no Estado de São Paulo, no ano de 1998. Utilizaram-se dados da literatura e de institutos governamentais de pesquisa para estimar o número total de pacientes com esquizofrenia no Estado sob cobertura do Sistema Unico de Saúde. Foi construída uma árvore de decisão mostrando a distribuição desses pacientes quanto ao nível de tratamento. Por meio de pesquisa em prontuários de alguns hospitais públicos e serviços ambulatoriais, documentou-se a utilização de recursos por esses pacientes no período de um ano. Foram atribuídos valores em Reais para esses recursos a fim de se calcular o custo direto total médico-hospitalar. RESULTADOS: Do total de pacientes, 81,5 por cento estão sob cobertura do SUS e encontram-se assim distribuídos: 6,0 por cento internados, 23,0 por cento em tratamento ambulatorial e 71,0 por cento sem tratamento regular. O custo direto total da esquizofrenia foi de R$222 milhões (US$191,781,327) (2,2 por cento do total de gastos em saúde do Estado), sendo 11 por cento destinados ao tratamento ambulatorial e 79,2 por cento às internações psiquiátricas. CONCLUSÕES: A maior parte dos pacientes com esquizofrenia no Estado está sem tratamento regular. Os achados apontam para a necessidade de se investir em pesquisas que possam orientar uma melhor alocação de recursos no tratamento dos transtornos mentais no País.