Association of Cohort and Individual Substance Use With Risk of Transitioning to Drug Use, Drug Use Disorder, and Remission From Disorder: Findings From the World Mental Health Surveys.

Importance: Limited empirical research has examined the extent to which cohort-level prevalence of substance use is associated with the onset of drug use and transitioning into greater involvement with drug use. Objective: To use cross-national data to examine time-space variation in cohort-level drug use to assess its associations with onset and transitions across stages of drug use, abuse, dependence, and remission. Design, Setting, and Participants: The World Health Organization World Mental Health Surveys carried out cross-sectional general population surveys in 25 countries using a consistent research protocol and assessment instrument. Adults from representative household samples were interviewed face-to-face in the community in relation to drug use disorders. The surveys were conducted between 2001 and 2015. Data analysis was performed from July 2017 to July 2018. Main Outcomes and Measures: Data on timing of onset of lifetime drug use, DSM-IV drug use disorders, and remission from these disorders was assessed using the Composite International Diagnostic Interview. Associations of cohort-level alcohol prevalence and drug use prevalence were examined as factors associated with these transitions. Results: Among the 90 027 respondents (48.1% [SE, 0.2%] men; mean [SE] age, 42.1 [0.1] years), 1 in 4 (24.8% [SE, 0.2%]) reported either illicit drug use or extramedical use of prescription drugs at some point in their lifetime, but with substantial time-space variation in this prevalence. Among users, 9.1% (SE, 0.2%) met lifetime criteria for abuse, and 5.0% (SE, 0.2%) met criteria for dependence. Individuals who used 2 or more drugs had an increased risk of both abuse (odds ratio, 5.17 [95% CI, 4.66-5.73]; P < .001) and dependence (odds ratio, 5.99 [95% CI, 5.02-7.16]; P < .001) and reduced probability of remission from abuse (odds ratio, 0.86 [95% CI, 0.76-0.98]; P = .02). Birth cohort prevalence of drug use was also significantly associated with both initiation and illicit drug use transitions; for example, after controlling for individuals' experience of substance use and demographics, for each additional 10% of an individual's cohort using alcohol, a person's odds of initiating drug use increased by 28% (odds ratio, 1.28 [95% CI, 1.26-1.31]). Each 10% increase in a cohort's use of drug increased individual risk by 12% (1.12 [95% CI, 1.11-1.14]). Conclusions and Relevance: Birth cohort substance use is associated with drug use involvement beyond the outcomes of individual histories of alcohol and other drug use. This has important implications for understanding pathways into and out of problematic drug use.

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.

Investigating the dimensional diagnosis of ICD-11 nicotine dependence.

We investigated the dimensionality and possible measurement bias of ICD-11 Nicotine Dependence (ND) criteria in a sample of smokers from a middle-income country. Data are from the São Paulo Megacity Project (part of World Mental Health Surveys) collected between 2005 and 2007 (n = 5,037). The current analyses were restricted to the 1,388 participants who smoked at least once a week for 2 months in their lifetime. Item response theory (IRT) was used to investigate the severity and discrimination properties of 8 selected criteria. Additionally, differential criteria functioning (DCF) with sociodemographic characteristics (income, gender, age, employment status, marital status, and education) was investigated. All analyses were performed in Mplus software taking into account complex survey design features. IRT results indicated that the criterion Given Up had the lowest probability of endorsement (highest severity). The criterion Larger/Longer had the highest probability of endorsement (lowest severity), but the highest value of discrimination. Physical Withdrawal had the lowest discrimination property. No DCF was found both at criterion- and disorder-level, which would tear measurement bias. The absence of measurement bias in all sociodemographic, psychiatric, and medical subgroups gives psychometrical support to this set of criteria for ICD-11 ND diagnosis. (PsycINFO Database Record

The latent trait of ICD-11 nicotine dependence criteria: Dimensional and categorical phenotypes.

We aimed to identify phenotypes of DSM-ICD nicotine dependence among a representative sample of lifetime weekly smokers in the largest metropolitan area in South America. Data came from 1,387 lifetime weekly smokers in the São Paulo Megacity Mental Health Survey. We used exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and latent class analysis (LCA) on ICD-11 nicotine dependence proposed criteria to explore dimensionality and phenotypes profiles, followed by logistic regression models to examine the association between latent classes and socio-demographic, psychiatric and chronic medical conditions. Analyses were performed using Mplus taking into account the complex survey design features. An unidimensional model had the best EFA fit with high loadings on all criteria. Response patterns detected by LCA indicated class differences based on severity continuum: a "non-symptomatic class" (32.0%), a "low-moderate symptomatic class" (34.9%)-with high probability of the criterion "use in larger amounts", and a "high-moderate symptomatic class" (33.1%). We found an association between high-income and the intermediate class that differs from findings in high-income countries, and high likelihood of psychiatric comorbidity among the most symptomatic smokers. The best dimensional model that pulled together nicotine dependence criteria supported a single factor, in concordance with the changes proposed for ICD-11.

The associations between psychotic experiences and substance use and substance use disorders: findings from the World Health Organization World Mental Health surveys.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Prior research has found bidirectional associations between psychotic experiences (PEs) and selected substance use disorders. We aimed to extend this research by examining the bidirectional association between PEs and various types of substance use (SU) and substance use disorders (SUDs), and the influence of antecedent mental disorders on these associations. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS AND MEASUREMENTS: We used data from the World Health Organization World Mental Health surveys. A total of 30 902 adult respondents across 18 countries were assessed for (a) six types of life-time PEs, (b) a range of types of SU and DSM-IV SUDs and (c) mental disorders using the Composite International Diagnostic Interview. Discrete-time survival analyses based on retrospective age-at-onset reports examined the bidirectional associations between PEs and SU/SUDs controlling for antecedent mental disorders. FINDINGS: After adjusting for demographics, comorbid SU/SUDs and antecedent mental disorders, those with prior alcohol use disorders [odds ratio (OR) = 1.6, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.2-2.0], extra-medical prescription drug use (OR = 1.5, 95% CI = 1.1-1.9), alcohol use (OR = 1.4, 95% CI = 1.1-1.7) and tobacco use (OR = 1.3, 95% CI = 1.0-1.8) had increased odds of subsequent first onset of PEs. In contrast, those with temporally prior PEs had increased odds of subsequent onset of tobacco use (OR = 1.5, 95% CI = 1.2-1.9), alcohol use (OR = 1.3, 95% CI = 1.1-1.6) or cannabis use (OR = 1.3, 95% CI = 1.0-1.5) as well as of all substance use disorders (ORs ranged between 1.4 and 1.5). There was a dose response relationship between both count and frequency of PEs and increased subsequent odds of selected SU/SUDs. CONCLUSIONS: Associations between psychotic experiences (PEs) and substance use/substance use disorders (SU/SUDs) are often bidirectional, but not all types of SU/SUDs are associated with PEs. These findings suggest that it is important to be aware of the presence of PEs within those with SUDs or at risk of SUDs, given the plausibility that they may each impact upon the other.

Family burden related to mental and physical disorders in the world: results from the WHO World Mental Health (WMH) surveys

Objective: To assess prevalence and correlates of family caregiver burdens associated with mental and physical conditions worldwide. Methods: Cross-sectional community surveys asked 43,732 adults residing in 19 countries of the WHO World Mental Health (WMH) Surveys about chronic physical and mental health conditions of first-degree relatives and associated objective (time, financial) and subjective (distress, embarrassment) burdens. Magnitudes and associations of burden are examined by kinship status and family health problem; population-level estimates are provided. Results: Among the 18.9-40.3% of respondents in high, upper-middle, and low/lower-middle income countries with first-degree relatives having serious health problems, 39.0-39.6% reported burden. Among those, 22.9-31.1% devoted time, 10.6-18.8% had financial burden, 23.3-27.1% reported psychological distress, and 6.0-17.2% embarrassment. Mean caregiving hours/week was 12.9-16.5 (83.7-147.9 hours/week/100 people aged 18+). Mean financial burden was 15.1% of median family income in high, 32.2% in upper-middle, and 44.1% in low/lower-middle income countries. A higher burden was reported by women than men, and for care of parents, spouses, and children than siblings. Conclusions: The uncompensated labor of family caregivers is associated with substantial objective and subjective burden worldwide. Given the growing public health importance of the family caregiving system, it is vital to develop effective interventions that support family caregivers. .

O processo diagnóstico nos transtornos ansiosos / The diagnostic process in anxiety disorders

A eficácia de entrevistas rápidas na correta avaliação de pacientes com transtornos de ansiedade foi avaliada em 95 atendimentos iniciais feitos por um grupo especializado no tratamento de transtornos ansiosos. As impressões diagnósticas assim obtidas foram comparadas com entrevistas longas e cuidadosas realizadas até 30 dias após a avaliação inicial. Transtorno de pânico com ou sem agorafobia foi o diagnóstico mais frequente, realizado de forma segura em 53 pacientes já na primeira entrevista. A entrevista breve, no entanto, mostrou-se ineficaz na identificação correta de sintomas depressivos, que apareceram com grande frequência na segunda consulta, sugerindo que, mesmo que o diagnóstico de transtorno ansioso pareça claro num primeiro contato rápido com o paciente, sintomas depressivos sejam especificamente explorados, mesmo que isto demande maior tempo de entrevista

PSE: traduçäo, treinamento e limitaçöes ao seu uso no Brasil / PSE: tradution, training and limitations to its use in Brazil

É feito um breve histórico do sistema PSE. A seguir säo apontados os principais problemas encontrados na traduçäo da entrevista, seu glossário e lista de síndromes para o português. Essa traduçäo, iniciada em 1974, somente foi publicada em 1983 devido a falta de suporte financeiro e falta de perspectivas de utilizaçäo imediata em nosso meio. Foram encontradas dificuldades específicas para traduçäo de alguns termos alemäes e ingleses sem correspondente em nossa língua e para a adaptaçäo das perguntas ao nível sócio-cultural da maioria de nossos pacientes. A traduçäo näo foi vertida e comparada com os originais ingleses, mas aparentemente näo existem maiores problemas quanto à sua fidedignidade. Säo propostos passos para o treinamento de pessoal compatíveis com nossa realidade e que incluem: familiarizaçäo com a entrevista, observaçäo de entrevistas gravadas e ao vivo, e testes de confiabilidade com supervisores previamente treinados. As principais limitaçöes para o uso do sistema PSE no Brasil säo a falta de centros de treinamento com alta confiabilidade e de um centro de computaçäo e estatística capaz de analisar os resultados através do CATEGO e outros programas. É sugerida a criaçäo de um centro de referência de diagnóstico da OMS para língua portuguesa no Brasil