Validity of the brazilian-portuguese version of moorehead-ardelt quality of life questionnaire ii among patients with severe obesity / Validade da versão em português-brasileiro do questionário moorehead-ardelt quality of life-ii em pacientes com obesidade grave

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Patients with obesity present multiple comorbid psychiatric conditions and experience impairments in health-related quality of life. Reliable and valid tools that evaluate health-related quality of life are essential for clinical practice. AIMS: This study aimed to investigate the reliability and validity of the six-item Moorehead-Ardelt Quality of Life Questionnaire II among Brazilian patients with severe obesity. METHODS: We assessed 387 patients (mean age 43 years, 78.8% women, mean body mass index of 46.5 kg/m²) on the waiting list of a bariatric surgery center. Trained research assistants concurrently applied the Moorehead-Ardelt Quality of Life-II, the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale, and the Global Assessment of Functioning for assessing health-related quality of life, comorbid depressive symptoms, and patient functioning level, respectively. RESULTS: The internal consistency of the Moorehead-Ardelt Quality of Life-II was considered acceptable. The total score was correlated with the severity of depressive symptoms and functioning level. The more body mass index increases, the more health-related quality of life worsens. The Moorehead-Ardelt Quality of Life-II presented a unidimensional structure. CONCLUSIONS: The unidimensional Moorehead-Ardelt Quality of Life-II is a reliable and valid measure for evaluating health-related quality of life in Brazilian patients with severe obesity. The questionnaire allows to quickly assess the health-related quality of life of patients in different bariatric contexts, considering depression and functional level.

RESUMO RACIONAL: Pacientes com obesidade apresentam múltiplas condições psiquiátricas comórbidas e experienciam prejuízos na qualidade de vida relacionada à saúde. Ferramentas confiáveis e válidas que avaliam a qualidade de vida relacionada à saúde são essenciais para a prática clínica. OBJETIVOS: Este estudo teve como objetivo investigar a confiabilidade e validade do Moorehead-Ardelt Quality of Life-II de seis itens entre pacientes com obesidade grave. MÉTODOS: Foram avaliados 387 pacientes (idade média de 43 anos, 78,8% mulheres, índice de massa corporal (IMC) médio de 46,5 kg/m², na lista de espera de um centro cirurgia bariátrica. Assistentes de pesquisa treinados aplicaram simultaneamente o Moorehead-Ardelt Quality of Life-II, a Escala de Depressão de Montgomery-Åsberg e a Avaliação Global do Funcionamento para avaliar, respectivamente, a qualidade de vida relacionada à saúde, os sintomas depressivos comórbidos e o nível funcional do paciente. RESULTADOS: A consistência interna do Moorehead-Ardelt Quality of Life-II foi considerada aceitável. A pontuação total do Moorehead-Ardelt Quality of Life-II foi correlacionada com a gravidade dos sintomas depressivos e nível funcional. Quanto maior o IMC, menor a qualidade de vida relacionada à saúde. O Moorehead-Ardelt Quality of Life-II apresentou uma estrutura unidimensional. CONCLUSÕES: O questionário Moorehead-Ardelt Quality of Life-II unidimensional é confiável e válido na avaliação da qualidade de vida relacionada à saúde em pacientes brasileiros com obesidade grave. O questionário permite avaliar rapidamente a qualidade de vida relacionada à saúde dos pacientes em diferentes contextos, considerando depressão e nível funcional.

Cardiovascular risk factors and major depressive disorder: a cross-sectional study in São Paulo, Brazil

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular risk factors can mediate the association between depression and cardiovascular diseases. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate cardiovascular risk factors in adult individuals with and without histories of major depression in the metropolitan region of São Paulo, Brazil. DESIGN AND SETTING: Cross-sectional study in São Paulo (SP), Brazil. METHODS: This study evaluated 423 individuals without any lifetime diagnosis of major depression and 203 individuals with a previous diagnosis of major depression (n = 626). The participants underwent a psychiatric evaluation using a structured clinical interview (SCID-1), an anthropometric evaluation and a clinical evaluation that included blood pressure measurement and assessment of fasting blood glucose, lipid profile and physical activity levels. RESULTS: Individuals with histories of major depression were more likely to be female (P < 0.0001). Individuals with lifetime diagnoses of major depression were more likely to be current smokers (odds ratio, OR 1.61; 95% confidence interval, CI 1.01-2.59) and to have diabetes (OR 1.79; 95% CI 1.01-3.21); and less likely to be obese (OR 0.58; 95% CI 0.35-0.94). CONCLUSION: Individuals with major depression had higher odds of presenting tobacco smoking and diabetes, and lower odds of being obese. Healthcare professionals need to be aware of this, so as to increase the rates of diagnosis and treatment in this population.

A Estratégia Saúde da Família como indicador para o enfrentamento da COVID-19 em Santa Catarina, Brasil / The Family Health Strategy as an indicator for coping with COVID-19 in Santa Catarina, Brazil

Objetivo: analisar relação entre a cobertura pela Estratégia de Saúde da Família e a disponibilidade de respiradores com a taxa de contágio e mortalidade da COVID-19 no Estado de Santa Catarina, Brasil. Materiais e métodos: trata-se de um estudo ecológico, que utiliza modelos computacionais de análise geoespacial sobre o avanço do COVID-19 nos 295 municípios de Santa Catarina. Resultados: o Estado apresentou casos em todos os municípios, e uma taxa de infecção por Covid-19 de 1,63%. No modelo de regressão realizado, a cobertura pela Estratégia de Saúde da Família apresentou correlação com a mortalidade e a taxa de infecção pela Covid-19. A quantidade de respiradores apresentou correlação com a mortalidade. Conclusão: em Santa Catarina a Estratégia de Saúde da Família e a compra de novos respiradores, apresentam-se como aliados no enfrentamento à COVID 19..Au

Objective: to relate the coverage by the FHS and the availability of respirators with the transmission and mortality rate of COVID-19 in the state of Santa Catarina, Brazil. Materials and methods: this is an ecological study, which uses computational models of geospatial analysis on the progress of COVID-19 to the 295 cities in Santa Catarina. The correlation between the FHS coverage and the number of respirators grouped in the mesoregions was calculated with the COVID-19 transmission and mortality rates. Results: the state had low infection rates of 0.07% and mortality of 1.72%, when compared to Brazil. There was an increase in cases in smaller municipalities, indicating the interiorization of the pandemic. There was no correlation between FHS coverage with infection and mortality. However, respirators are associated with lower mortality. Conclusion: regional disparity was found in the presence of respirators in the state's micro-regions, suggesting an imbalance in the quality of care for critically ill patients during the pandemic..Au

Benzodiazepine use in Sao Paulo, Brazil

OBJECTIVES: To report the prevalence and factors associated with the use of benzodiazepines in the general population and those with a mental health condition in the metropolitan area of São Paulo, Brazil. METHODS: 5,037 individuals from the Sao Paulo Megacity Mental Health Survey data were interviewed using the Composite International Diagnostic Interview, designed to generate DSM-IV diagnoses. Additionally, participants were asked if they had taken any medication in the previous 12 months for the treatment of any mental health condition. RESULTS: The prevalence of benzodiazepine use ranged from 3.6% in the general population to 7.8% among subjects with a mental health condition. Benzodiazepine use was more prevalent in subjects that had been diagnosed with a mood disorder as opposed to an anxiety disorder (14.7% vs. 8.1%, respectively). Subjects that had been diagnosed with a panic disorder (33.7%) or bipolar I/II (23.3%) reported the highest use. Individuals aged ≥50 years (11.1%), those with two or more disorders (11.2%), those with moderate or severe disorders (10%), and those that used psychiatric services (29.8%) also reported higher use. CONCLUSION: These findings give an overview of the use of benzodiazepines in the general population, which will be useful in the public health domain. Benzodiazepine use was higher in those with a mental health condition, with people that had a mood disorder being the most vulnerable. Furthermore, females and the elderly had high benzodiazepine use, so careful management in these groups is required.

Cirurgia bariátrica e transtorno de compulsão alimentar: os cirurgiões devem se preocupar com isso? Uma revisão da literatura sobre a prevalência e os métodos de diagnóstico / Bariatric surgery and binge eating disorder: should surgeons care about it? a literature review of prevalence and assessment tools

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Eating pathologies among bariatric surgery candidates are common and associated with adverse surgical outcomes, including weight regain and low quality of life. However, their assessment is made difficult by the great variety and inconsistent use of standardized measures. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this review was to synthesize current knowledge on the prevalence of binge eating disorder (BED) in presurgical patients and to make a critical appraisal of assessment tools for BED. METHODS: A search was conducted on PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases from January 1994 to March 2017. Data were extracted, tabulated and summarized using a narrative approach. RESULTS: A total of 21 observational studies were reviewed for data extraction and analysis. Prevalence of BED in bariatric populations ranged from 2% to 53%. Considerable variation in patient characteristics and in BED assessment measures was evident among the studies. In addition, several methodological weaknesses were recognized in most of the studies. Ten different psychometric instruments were used to assess BED. Clinical interviews were used in only 12 studies, though this is the preferred tool to diagnose BED. CONCLUSION: Study heterogeneity accounted for the variability of the results from different centers and methodological flaws such as insufficient sample size and selection bias impaired the evidence on the magnitude of BED in surgical settings. For the sake of comparability and generalizability of the findings in future studies, researchers must recruit representative samples of treatment-seeking candidates for bariatric surgery and systematically apply standard instruments for the assessment of BED.

RESUMO CONTEXTO: Os transtornos alimentares entre os candidatos à cirurgia bariátrica são comuns e estão associados a resultados cirúrgicos adversos, incluindo recuperação de peso e baixa qualidade de vida. No entanto, sua avaliação é difícil pela grande variedade e uso inconsistente de métodos de avaliação padronizados. OBJETIVO: O objetivo desta revisão foi sintetizar o conhecimento atual sobre a prevalência do transtorno de compulsão alimentar (TCA) em pacientes pré-cirúrgicos e fazer uma avaliação crítica dos instrumentos de avaliação para TCA. MÉTODOS: A busca foi realizada nas bases de dados PubMed, Scopus e Web of Science de janeiro de 1994 a março de 2017. Os dados foram extraídos, tabulados e resumidos usando uma abordagem narrativa. RESULTADOS: Um total de 21 estudos observacionais foram revisados para extração e análise de dados. A prevalência de TCA nas populações bariátricas variou de 2% a 53%. Variações consideráveis nas características dos pacientes e nas medidas de avaliação do TCA foram evidentes entre os estudos. Além disso, várias fragilidades metodológicas na maioria dos estudos foram reconhecidas. Estudos utilizaram 10 diferentes instrumentos psicométricos para avaliar a TCA. Entrevistas clínicas foram utilizadas em 12 estudos, embora seja a ferramenta preferencial para diagnosticar o TCA. CONCLUSÃO: A heterogeneidade dos estudos foi responsável pela variabilidade dos resultados nos diferentes centros e falhas metodológicas, como tamanho insuficiente da amostra e viés de seleção, prejudicaram a estimativa da magnitude do TCA em cenários cirúrgicos. Para fins de comparabilidade e generalização dos achados em estudos futuros, os pesquisadores devem recrutar amostras representativas de candidatos à cirurgia bariátrica e fazer a aplicação sistemática de instrumentos padronizados para a avaliação do TCA.

Treatment of anxiety disorders in clinical practice: a critical overview of recent systematic evidence

The aim of this study was to review emerging evidence of novel treatments for anxiety disorders. We searched PubMed and EMBASE for evidence-based therapeutic alternatives for anxiety disorders in adults, covering the past five years. Eligible articles were systematic reviews (with or without meta-analysis), which evaluated treatment effectiveness of either nonbiological or biological interventions for anxiety disorders. Retrieved articles were summarized as an overview. We assessed methods, quality of evidence, and risk of bias of the articles. Nineteen systematic reviews provided information on almost 88 thousand participants, distributed across 811 clinical trials. Regarding the interventions, 11 reviews investigated psychological or nonbiological treatments; 5, pharmacological or biological; and 3, more than one type of active intervention. Computer-delivered psychological interventions were helpful for treating anxiety of low-to-moderate intensity, but the therapist-oriented approaches had greater results. Recommendations for regular exercise, mindfulness, yoga, and safety behaviors were applicable to anxiety. Transcranial magnetic stimulation, medication augmentation, and new pharmacological agents (vortioxetine) presented inconclusive benefits in patients with anxiety disorders who presented partial responses or refractoriness to standard treatment. New treatment options for anxiety disorders should only be provided to the community after a thorough examination of their efficacy.

Gender-related dimensions of childhood adversities in the general population

Objective: Childhood adversities (CAs) comprise a group of negative experiences individuals may suffer in their lifetimes. The goal of the present study was to investigate the cluster discrimination of CAs through psychometric determination of the common attributes of such experiences for men and women. Methods: Parental mental illness, substance misuse, criminality, death, divorce, other parental loss, family violence, physical abuse, sexual abuse, neglect, physical illness, and economic adversity were assessed in a general-population sample (n=5,037). Exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis determined gender-related dimensions of CA. The contribution of each individual adversity was explored through Rasch analysis. Results: Adversities were reported by 53.6% of the sample. A three-factor model of CA dimensions fit the data better for men, and a two-factor model for women. For both genders, the dimension of family maladjustment - encompassing physical abuse, neglect, parental mental disorders, and family violence - was the core cluster of CAs. Women endorsed more CAs than men. Rasch analysis found that sexual abuse, physical illness, parental criminal behavior, parental divorce, and economic adversity were difficult to report in face-to-face interviews. Conclusion: CAs embrace sensitive personal information, clustering of which differed by gender. Acknowledging CAs may have an impact on medical and psychiatric outcomes in adulthood.

Determinants of the use of health care services: multilevel analysis in the Metropolitan Region of Sao Paulo / Determinantes do uso de serviços de saúde: análise multinível da Região Metropolitana de São Paulo

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the individual and contextual determinants of the use of health care services in the metropolitan region of Sao Paulo. METHODS Data from the Sao Paulo Megacity study – the Brazilian version of the World Mental Health Survey multicenter study – were used. A total of 3,588 adults living in 69 neighborhoods in the metropolitan region of Sao Paulo, SP, Southeastern Brazil, including 38 municipalities and 31 neighboring districts, were selected using multistratified sampling of the non-institutionalized population. Multilevel Bayesian logistic models were adjusted to identify the individual and contextual determinants of the use of health care services in the past 12 months and presence of a regular physician for routine care. RESULTS The contextual characteristics of the place of residence (income inequality, violence, and median income) showed no significant correlation (p > 0.05) with the use of health care services or with the presence of a regular physician for routine care. The only exception was the negative correlation between living in areas with high income inequality and presence of a regular physician (OR: 0.77; 95%CI 0.60;0.99) after controlling for individual characteristics. The study revealed a strong and consistent correlation between individual characteristics (mainly education and possession of health insurance), use of health care services, and presence of a regular physician. Presence of chronic and mental illnesses was strongly correlated with the use of health care services in the past year (regardless of the individual characteristics) but not with the presence of a regular physician. CONCLUSIONS Individual characteristics including higher education and possession of health insurance were important determinants of the use of health care services in the metropolitan area of Sao Paulo. A better understanding of these determinants is essential for the development of public policies ...

OBJETIVO Analisar os determinantes individuais e contextuais do uso de serviços de saúde na Região Metropolitana de São Paulo. MÉTODOS Foram utilizados os dados do estudo São Paulo Megacity, a versão brasileira da pesquisa multicêntrica World Mental Health Survey. Foram analisados 3.588 indivíduos adultos residentes em 69 áreas da Região Metropolitana de São Paulo, SP (38 municípios adjacentes e 31 subprefeituras do município de São Paulo), selecionados por meio de amostragem multiestratificada da população não institucionalizada. Foram ajustados modelos multinível logísticos Bayesianos para identificar os determinantes individuais e contextuais do uso de serviços de saúde nos últimos 12 meses e a presença de médico de referência para cuidados de rotina. RESULTADOS As características contextuais do local de residência (desigualdade de renda, violência e renda mediana) não apresentaram associação significativa (p > 0,05) com o uso de serviços ou com a presença de médico de referência para cuidados de rotina. A única exceção foi a associação negativa entre residir em uma área com alta desigualdade de renda e a presença de médico de referência (OR 0,77; IC95% 0,60;0,99) após controle das características individuais. O estudo apontou uma forte e consistente associação entre algumas características individuais (principalmente escolaridade e presença de plano de saúde) com o uso de serviços de saúde e ter médico de referência. A presença de doenças crônicas e mentais associou-se fortemente com o uso de serviços no último ano (independentemente de características individuais), mas não com a presença de médico de referência. CONCLUSÕES Características individuais como maior escolaridade e ter plano de saúde foram determinantes importantes do uso de serviços de saúde na Região Metropolitana de São Paulo. A melhor compreensão desses determinantes é necessária para o desenvolvimento de políticas públicas que permitam o uso equitativo dos serviços ...

Psychometric properties of the Beck Depression Inventory-II: a comprehensive review

Objective: To review the psychometric properties of the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) as a self-report measure of depression in a variety of settings and populations. Methods: Relevant studies of the BDI-II were retrieved through a search of electronic databases, a hand search, and contact with authors. Retained studies (k = 118) were allocated into three groups: non-clinical, psychiatric/institutionalized, and medical samples. Results: The internal consistency was described as around 0.9 and the retest reliability ranged from 0.73 to 0.96. The correlation between BDI-II and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-I) was high and substantial overlap with measures of depression and anxiety was reported. The criterion-based validity showed good sensitivity and specificity for detecting depression in comparison to the adopted gold standard. However, the cutoff score to screen for depression varied according to the type of sample. Factor analysis showed a robust dimension of general depression composed by two constructs: cognitive-affective and somatic-vegetative. Conclusions: The BDI-II is a relevant psychometric instrument, showing high reliability, capacity to discriminate between depressed and non-depressed subjects, and improved concurrent, content, and structural validity. Based on available psychometric evidence, the BDI-II can be viewed as a cost-effective questionnaire for measuring the severity of depression, with broad applicability for research and clinical practice worldwide. .

Days out-of-role due to common physical and mental health problems: Results from the Sao Paulo Megacity Mental Health Survey, Brazil

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the relative importance of common physical and mental disorders with regard to the number of days out-of-role (DOR; number of days for which a person is completely unable to work or carry out normal activities because of health problems) in a population-based sample of adults in the São Paulo Metropolitan Area, Brazil. METHODS: The São Paulo Megacity Mental Health Survey was administered during face-to-face interviews with 2,942 adult household residents. The presence of 8 chronic physical disorders and 3 classes of mental disorders (mood, anxiety, and substance use disorders) was assessed for the previous year along with the number of days in the previous month for which each respondent was completely unable to work or carry out normal daily activities due to health problems. Using multiple regression analysis, we examined the associations of the disorders and their comorbidities with the number of days out-of-role while controlling for socio-demographic variables. Both individual-level and population-level associations were assessed. RESULTS: A total of 13.1% of the respondents reported 1 or more days out-of-role in the previous month, with an annual median of 41.4 days out-of-role. The disorders considered in this study accounted for 71.7% of all DOR; the disorders that caused the greatest number of DOR at the individual-level were digestive (22.6), mood (19.9), substance use (15.0), chronic pain (16.5), and anxiety (14.0) disorders. The disorders associated with the highest population-attributable DOR were chronic pain (35.2%), mood (16.5%), and anxiety (15.0%) disorders. CONCLUSIONS: Because pain, anxiety, and mood disorders have high effects at both the individual and societal levels, targeted interventions to reduce the impairments associated with these disorders have the highest potential to reduce the societal burdens of chronic illness in the São Paulo Metropolitan Area. .

Assessment of depression in medical patients: A systematic review of the utility of the Beck Depression Inventory-II

To perform a systematic review of the utility of the Beck Depression Inventory for detecting depression in medical settings, this article focuses on the revised version of the scale (Beck Depression Inventory-II), which was reformulated according to the DSM-IV criteria for major depression. We examined relevant investigations with the Beck Depression Inventory-II for measuring depression in medical settings to provide guidelines for practicing clinicians. Considering the inclusion and exclusion criteria seventy articles were retained. Validation studies of the Beck Depression Inventory-II, in both primary care and hospital settings, were found for clinics of cardiology, neurology, obstetrics, brain injury, nephrology, chronic pain, chronic fatigue, oncology, and infectious disease. The Beck Depression Inventory-II showed high reliability and good correlation with measures of depression and anxiety. Its threshold for detecting depression varied according to the type of patients, suggesting the need for adjusted cut-off points. The somatic and cognitive-affective dimension described the latent structure of the instrument. The Beck Depression Inventory-II can be easily adapted in most clinical conditions for detecting major depression and recommending an appropriate intervention. Although this scale represents a sound path for detecting depression in patients with medical conditions, the clinician should seek evidence for how to interpret the score before using the Beck Depression Inventory-II to make clinical decisions.

Validation of the Brazilian Portuguese version of the Beck Depression Inventory-II in a community sample / Validação da versão brasileira em português do Inventário de Depressão de Beck-II numa amostra da comunidade

BACKGROUND: The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) is used worldwide for detecting depressive symptoms. This questionnaire has been revised (1996) to match the DSM-IV criteria for a major depressive episode. We assessed the reliability and the validity of the Brazilian Portuguese version of the BDI-II for non-clinical adults. METHODS: The questionnaire was applied to 60 college students on two occasions. Afterwards, 182 community-dwelling adults completed the BDI-II, the Self-Report Questionnaire, and the K10 Scale. Trained psychiatrists performed face-to-face interviews with the respondents using the Structured Clinical Interview (SCID-I), the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Scale, and the Hamilton Anxiety Scale. Descriptive analysis, signal detection analysis (Receiver Operating Characteristics), correlation analysis, and discriminant function analysis were performed to investigate the psychometric properties of the BDI-II. RESULTS: The intraclass correlation coefficient of the BDI-II was 0.89, and the Cronbach's alpha coefficient of internal consistency was 0.93. Taking the SCID as the gold standard, the cut-off point of 10/11 was the best threshold for detecting depression, yielding a sensitivity of 70% and a specificity of 87%. The concurrent validity (a correlation of 0.63-0.93 with scales applied simultaneously) and the predictive ability of the severity level (over 65% correct classification) were acceptable. CONCLUSION: The BDI-II is reliable and valid for measuring depressive symptomatology among Portuguese-speaking Brazilian non-clinical populations.

OBJETIVOS: O Inventário de Depressão de Beck (IDB) é utilizado mundialmente para detectar sintomas depressivos. Este questionário foi revisado (1996) para se adequar aos critérios do DSM-IV para episódio depressivo maior. Avaliamos a confiabilidade e validade da versão I em português-brasileiro do IDB-I em uma amostra não clínica de adultos. MÉTODOS: O questionário foi aplicado em duas ocasiões para 60 estudantes universitários. Em seguida, 182 adultos residentes na comunidade preencheram IDB-II, Questionário de Auto-Resposta e escala K10. Psiquiatras treinados entrevistaram pessoalmente os respondentes através da Entrevista Clínica Estruturada (SCID-I), a escala de depressão de Montgomery-Åsberg e de ansiedade de Hamilton. Análise descritiva, detecção de sinal (Receiver Operating Characteristics), correlação e função discriminante foram realizadas para investigar as propriedades psicométricas do IBD-II. RESULTADOS: O coeficiente de correlação intraclasse do IDB-II foi de 0,89 e o coeficiente alfa de consistência interna foi de 0,93. Adotando a SCID como padrão-ouro, o ponto de corte de 10/11 foi o melhor limiar para detectar depressão, alcançando sensibilidade de 70% e especificidade de 87%. A validade concorrente (correlação de 0,63-0,93 com escalas aplicadas simultaneamente) e a capacidade preditiva de gravidade (mais de 65% de classificação correta de indivíduos deprimidos) foram aceitáveis. CONCLUSÃO: O IDB-II é fidedigno e válido para mensurar sintomatologia depressiva na população brasileira não clínica falante do português.

Gender differences in drinking patterns and alcohol-related problems in a community sample in São Paulo, Brazil

OBJECTIVE: To investigate drinking patterns and gender differences in alcohol-related problems in a Brazilian population, with an emphasis on the frequency of heavy drinking. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted with a probability adult household sample (n = 1,464) in the city of São Paulo, Brazil. Alcohol intake and ICD-10 psychopathology diagnoses were assessed with the Composite International Diagnostic Interview 1.1. The analyses focused on the prevalence and determinants of 12-month nonheavy drinking, heavy episodic drinking (4-5 drinks per occasion), and heavy and frequent drinking (heavy drinking at least 3 times/week), as well as associated alcohol-related problems according to drinking patterns and gender. RESULTS: Nearly 22% (32.4% women, 8.7% men) of the subjects were lifetime abstainers, 60.3% were non-heavy drinkers, and 17.5% reported heavy drinking in a 12-month period (26.3% men, 10.9% women). Subjects with the highest frequency of heavy drinking reported the most problems. Among subjects who did not engage in heavy drinking, men reported more problems than did women. A gender convergence in the amount of problems was observed when considering heavy drinking patterns. Heavy and frequent drinkers were twice as likely as abstainers to present lifetime depressive disorders. Lifetime nicotine dependence was associated with all drinking patterns. Heavy and frequent drinking was not restricted to young ages. CONCLUSIONS: Heavy and frequent episodic drinking was strongly associated with problems in a community sample from the largest city in Latin America. Prevention policies should target this drinking pattern, independent of age or gender. These findings warrant continued research on risky drinking behavior, particularly among persistent heavy drinkers at the non-dependent level.

Atitudes de profissionais de saúde mental em relação a indivíduos com esquizofrenia: uma comparação transcultural entre Suíça e Brasil / Attitudes of mental health professionals towards persons with schizophrenia: a transcultural comparison between Switzerland and Brazil

CONTEXTO: A estigmatização é uma questão importante no tratamento e no curso da esquizofrenia. A manutenção de atitudes estigmatizantes pode estar relacionada a fatores socioculturais. OBJETIVOS: Comparar atitudes estigmatizantes de profissionais de saúde mental em países culturalmente diversos: Brasil e Suíça. MÉTODOS: Foram analisados dados de duas grandes pesquisas sobre o estigma na Suíça e no Brasil, focando-se no desejo de distância social em relação a indivíduos com esquizofrenia e atitudes de profissionais de saúde mental em relação à aceitação de efeitos colaterais do tratamento psicofarmacológico. RESULTADOS: Profissionais de saúde mental suíços apresentaram níveis significativamente mais elevados de distância social do que suas contrapartes brasileiras. Houve também um efeito fraco de idade, bem como um efeito da interação entre a origem e a idade. Com relação à aceitação de efeitos colaterais, a influência da origem foi bastante fraca. Com exceção do risco de dependência dos psicotrópicos, a aceitação dos profissionais suíços a efeitos colaterais de longa duração foi significativamente maior do que a de seus colegas no Brasil. CONCLUSÕES: A forte associação entre origem e distância social pode estar relacionada à formação sociocultural dos profissionais de saúde mental; em comparação com a Suíça, o Brasil é muito heterogêneo em termos de estrutura étnica e socioeconômica. A aceitação de efeitos colaterais pode também estar relacionada com os medicamentos mais sofisticados (ou seja, drogas antipsicóticas de nova geração) comumente usados na Suíça.

BACKGROUND: Stigmatization is an important issue in the treatment and course of schizophrenia. The maintenance of stigmatizing attitudes may be related to socio-cultural factors. OBJECTIVES: To compare stigmatizing attitudes of mental health professionals in the culturally diverse countries Brazil and Switzerland. METHODS: We analyzed data of two broad stigmatization surveys from Switzerland and Brazil by focusing on the social distance and attitudes of mental health professionals towards the acceptance of side effects of psychopharmacological treatment. RESULTS: Swiss mental health professionals showed significantly higher levels of social distance than their Brazilian counterparts. There was also a weak effect of age as well as an interaction effect between origin and age. With respect to the acceptance of side effects, the effect of origin was rather weak. With the exception of drug dependence, Swiss professionals' acceptance of long-lasting side effects was significantly higher than for their counterparts in Brazil. DISCUSSION: The strong association between origin and social distance may be related to the socio-cultural background of the mental health professionals. In comparison with Switzerland, Brazil is very heterogeneous in terms of ethnicity and socio-economic structure. The distinct acceptance of side effects may additionally be related to the more sophisticated medicaments (i.e. new generation of antipsychotic drugs) commonly used in Switzerland.