Operational criteria application does not change clinicians' opinion on the diagnosis of mental disorder: a pre- and post-intervention validity study.

Objective: Our objective was to check if the ICD-10 operational criteria application changes non-operational, prototype-based diagnoses obtained in a real-life scenario. Methods: Psychiatry residents applied the diagnostic criteria of the ICD-10 as a "diagnostic test" to five outpatient patients they were already following who had a prototype-based diagnosis. Tests were used to ascertain whether changes in opinion were significant and if any of the diagnostic groups were more prone to change than others. The present paper is part of the study with UTN U1111-1260-1212. Results: Seventeen residents reviewed their last five case files, retrieving 85 diagnostic pairs of non-operational-based vs. operational-based diagnoses. The Stuart-Maxwell test did not indicate a significant opinion change (χ2 = 5.25, p = 0.39; power = 0.94) besides 30% of diagnostic changes. Despite not being statistically significant, 20.2% of all evaluations resulted in a change that would affect treatment choices. Using ICD-10 operational criteria slightly increased the number of observed diagnoses, but probably without clinical relevance. None of the non-operational diagnoses have a higher tendency to change with operational criteria application (χ2 = 11.6, p = 0.07). The female gender was associated with a higher diagnostic change tendency. Conclusion: Applying ICD-10 operational criteria as a diagnostic test does not induce a statistically significant diagnostic opinion change in residents and no diagnostic group seems more sensible to diagnostic change. Gender-related differences in diagnostic opinion changes might be evidence of sunk cost bias. Although not statistically significant, using operational criteria after diagnostic elaboration might help to deal with subjects without adequate treatment response.

Non-standard diagnostic assessment reliability in psychiatry: a study in a Brazilian outpatient setting using Kappa.

The use of Structured Diagnostic Assessments (SDAs) is a solution for unreliability in psychiatry and the gold standard for diagnosis. However, except for studies between the 50 s and 70 s, reliability without the use of Non-SDAs (NSDA) is seldom tested, especially in non-Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, and Democratic (WEIRD) countries. We aim to measure reliability between examiners with NSDAs for psychiatric disorders. We compared diagnostic agreement after clinician change, in an outpatient academic setting. We used inter-rater Kappa measuring 8 diagnostic groups: Depression (DD: F32, F33), Anxiety Related Disorders (ARD: F40-F49, F50-F59), Personality Disorders (PD: F60-F69), Bipolar Disorder (BD: F30, F31, F34.0, F38.1), Organic Mental Disorders (Org: F00-F09), Neurodevelopment Disorders (ND: F70-F99) and Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders (SSD: F20-F29). Cohen's Kappa measured agreement between groups, and Baphkar's test assessed if any diagnostic group have a higher tendency to change after a new diagnostic assessment. We analyzed 739 reevaluation pairs, from 99 subjects who attended IPUB's outpatient clinic. Overall inter-rater Kappa was moderate, and none of the groups had a different tendency to change. NSDA evaluation was moderately reliable, but the lack of some prevalent hypothesis inside the pairs raised concerns about NSDA sensitivity to some diagnoses. Diagnostic momentum bias (that is, a tendency to keep the last diagnosis observed) may have inflated the observed agreement. This research was approved by IPUB's ethical committee, registered under the CAAE33603220.1.0000.5263, and the UTN-U1111-1260-1212.

Patients and physician's self-assessment regarding clinical stability in severe mental disorders: a cross-sectional study / Autoavaliação de pacientes e médicos em relação à estabilidade clínica em transtornos mentais graves: um estudo transversal

OBJECTIVE: This study explores the relationship between patients' self-assessment and physicians' evaluation regarding clinical stability. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was carried out at the general outpatient clinic of the Instituto de Psiquiatria da Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (IPUB-UFRJ) in a large sample (1,447) of outpatients, of which 67.9% were patients with severe mental disorders (SMD). We collected information using a structured questionnaire developed for this purpose, filled in by the patient's physician. Clinical stability was assessed by means of five psychiatric instability criteria and by the physician's global clinical impression over the six previous months. The patients' self-assessment was based on a question about how they evaluated their health status: stable/better, worse, does not know. For the analyses, patients' self-evaluation was considered as our standard. RESULTS: The sample was composed of 824 (57%) women with an average age of 49 years. The most prevalent diagnoses within the SMD category corresponded to 937 patients, of whom 846 (90.3%) assessed themselves as stable/better. The physicians' evaluations agreed more with patients with bipolar disorders and less with schizophrenics regarding stability. As for patients with depressive disorder, physicians agreed more with them regarding instability. CONCLUSION: The data analysis confirms our hypothesis that the self- -assessment made by patients with SMD was accurate regarding their health condition, and that the self- -assessment made by patients who considered themselves stable agree with the physicians' evaluation.

OBJETIVO: Este estudo explora a relação entre a autoavaliação dos pacientes e a avaliação dos médicos quanto à estabilidade clínica. MÉTODOS: Trata-se de um estudo transversal realizado no ambulatório do Instituto de Psiquiatria da Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (IPUB-UFRJ) em uma ampla amostra de pacientes (1.447), dos quais 67,9% eram portadores de transtornos mentais graves (TMG). Coletamos informações por meio de um questionário estruturado desenvolvido para esse fim, preenchido pelo médico assistente. A estabilidade clínica foi avaliada por meio de cinco critérios de instabilidade psiquiátrica e pela impressão clínica global do médico, nos seis meses anteriores. A autoavaliação dos pacientes baseou-se em uma pergunta sobre como eles avaliavam seu estado de saúde: estável/melhor, pior, não sabe. Para as análises, a autoavaliação dos pacientes foi considerada como nosso padrão. RESULTADOS: A amostra foi composta por 824 (57%) mulheres, com idade média de 49 anos. Os diagnósticos mais prevalentes na categoria TMG corresponderam a 937 pacientes, dos quais 846 (90,3%) se avaliaram como estáveis/melhores. As avaliações dos médicos concordaram mais com pacientes portadores de transtorno bipolar e menos com esquizofrênicos em relação à estabilidade. Quanto aos pacientes com transtorno depressivo, os médicos concordaram mais com eles em relação à instabilidade. CONCLUSÃO: A análise dos dados confirma nossa hipótese de que a autoavaliação feita por pacientes com TMG foi precisa quanto à sua condição de saúde e que a autoavaliação feita por pacientes que se consideravam estáveis concorda com a avaliação dos médicos.

Intra-rater Kappa Accuracy of Prototype and ICD-10 Operational Criteria-Based Diagnoses for Mental Disorders: A Brief Report of a Cross-Sectional Study in an Outpatient Setting.

Background and Objectives: The use of "operational criteria" is a solution for low reliability, contrasting with a prototypical classification that is used in clinics. We aim to measure the reliability of prototypical and ICD-10 diagnoses. Methods: This is a retrospective study, with a convenience sample of subjects treated in a university clinic. Residents reviewed their diagnosis using ICD-10 criteria, and Cohen's kappa statistic was performed on operational and prototype diagnoses. Results: Three out of 30 residents participated, reviewing 146 subjects under their care. Diagnoses were grouped in eight classes: organic (diagnoses from F00 to F09), substance disorders (F10-F19), schizophrenia spectrum disorders (F20-F29), bipolar affective disorder (F30, F31, F34.0, F38.1), depression (F32, F33), anxiety-related disorders (F40-F49), personality disorders (F60-F69), and neurodevelopmental disorders (F70-F99). Overall, agreement was high [K = 0.77, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.69-0.85], with a lower agreement related to personality disorders (K = 0.58, 95% CI = 0.38-0.76) and higher with schizophrenia spectrum disorders (K = 0.91, 95% CI = 0.82-0.99). Discussion: Use of ICD-10 criteria did not significantly increase the number of diagnoses. It changed few diagnoses, implying that operational criteria were irrelevant to clinical opinion. This suggests that reliability among interviewers is more related to information gathering than diagnostic definitions. Also, it suggests an incorporation of diagnostic criteria according to training, which then became part of the clinician's prototypes. Residents should be trained in the use of diagnostic categories, but presence/absence checking is not needed to achieve operational compatible diagnoses.

How to define today a medical disorder? Biological and psychosocial disadvantages as the paramount criteria.

BACKGROUND: The 20th century has seen great developments in the concept of disease. Marked by the biopsychosocial paradigm, several strategies for disease definition were added to previous descriptive organic views, but a final concept is still out of reach. METHOD: A critical review was carried out on thorough analysis of articles and textbooks to describe the main concepts and definitions of disease. RESULTS: The concept 'disease' is a pragmatic construct, not a natural kind. Three main ways to define disease were identified, and characterized: Biological (disease as a lesion, disadvantage/deviation from normal and dysfunction), Psychosocial (distress and disability, existential potentials, descriptive prototype, and prototype typification), and values-based definition. CONCLUSION: All the paradigms have advantages and flaws, but progressive use of all criteria in disease definition adds validity and reliability to diagnostic constructs. Such constructs must be, above all, useful for practice and research. Biological paradigm is relevant, but fails to cover all the complexity that involves human illness and the treatment process. An emphasis on distress, dysfunction, and carefully selected value-laden characteristics might be the right direction for useful diagnostic construct conceptions.

The Weekly Study Meeting in Psychiatry of the Institute of Psychiatry - Federal University of Rio de Janeiro: 70-years of culture and scientific dissemination / O Encontro Semanal do Centro de Estudos do Instituto de Psiquiatria da Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro: 70 anos de divulgação cultural e científica

OBJECTIVE: To describe the history of creation, development, and topics covered by the Study Center of the Institute of Psychiatry of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (CE ­ IPUB/UFRJ) over its 70 years. METHODS: Research in newspapers of the Hemeroteca Brasileira Digital, internal documents of IPUB/UFRJ, and interviews with eyewitnesses of the functioning of the CE. RESULTS: The Study Center has been operating on an uninterrupted basis for 70 years, every week. 472 events have been identified since the founding of the CE, but numerous other meetings have taken place. The findings were described in three major groups: 1. Academic meetings in the first half of the 20th century and insertion of the CE in the history of IPUB; 2. Topics discussed and presentations; 3. Changes in periodicity and format. CONCLUSIONS: The CE produces cultural and scientific dissemination continuously since its foundation. The type and format of events have changed over time, adapting to the needs of their community, but always serving as an important beacon for the training of specialists in mental health, dissemination of research, and tendencies about psychiatry worldwide, Latin America, and Brazil.

OBJETIVO: Descrever a história da criação e do desenvolvimento e os temas abordados pelo Centro de Estudos do Instituto de Psiquiatria da Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (CE ­ IPUB/UFRJ) ao longo de seus 70 anos. MÉTODOS: Pesquisa em jornais da Hemeroteca Brasileira Digital, documentos internos do IPUB/UFRJ e entrevistas com testemunhas oculares do funcionamento do CE. RESULTADOS: O Centro de Estudos funciona de maneira ininterrupta há 70 anos, semanalmente. Desde sua fundação, 472 eventos foram identificados, mas outros inúmeros encontros ocorreram. Os achados foram divididos e descritos em três grandes grupos: 1. Encontros acadêmicos na primeira metade do século XX e inserção do CE na história do IPUB; 2. Temas debatidos e apresentações; 3. Mudanças de periodicidade e formato. CONCLUSÕES: O CE produz divulgação cultural e científica continuamente desde sua fundação. O tipo e o formato dos eventos mudaram ao longo do tempo, adaptando-se às necessidades de sua comunidade, mas sempre servindo como um importante farol para a formação de especialistas em saúde mental e divulgação de pesquisas, apresentando as tendências da psiquiatria mundial, latino-americana e brasileira.

Student's confidence in mental health practice before and after psychiatry rotation: a follow up study / Autoconfiança dos alunos para a prática em saúde mental antes e depois do internato em psiquiatria: um estudo de seguimento

ABSTRACT Objectives The primary objective was to measure the effect of psychiatry rotation in students self-confidence (SC) for managing mental health (MH) issues. Methods An eighteen questions version of "Preparation for Hospital Practice Questionnaire" (PHPQ) adapted for MH was applied before, after and six months later the psychiatry rotation. Sociodemographic and experience with mental illness was measured as confounding factors. Results Hundred and ten students were recruited and four factors were identified: "Diagnosis elaboration and basic care" (F1), "Crisis management and prevention" (F2), "External sickness determinants" (F3) and "Personal distress with clinics" (F4). Cronbach Alpha ranged from 0.71 to 0.90. Previous MH training were not frequent (9.09%), and associated with better SC in F2 (after p < 0.05, 6m p = 0.03). Previous mental disorder was frequent (42.16%), and associated with more SC on F2 (p < 0.01) and F3 (p = 0.03) before course, but only on F3 after (p < 0.01) and not 6 months later. Male gender had more SC in F4 (p < 0.01) before course, but after course and 6m later female gender became more SC in F1 (after p = 0.02, 6m p = 0.01) and equivalent in F4. All factors had higher scores after and 6 months later (p < 0.001). The class considered that an interview script is very important for their SC, and improves assistance (mean > 9.0/10.0). Conclusion Obligatory rotation in MH improved SC in students. Previous training and gender were related with long lasting effects in SC.

RESUMO Objetivos Avaliar os efeitos de empoderamento do internato em saúde mental (SM) na autoconfiança (AC) dos alunos de Medicina. Métodos Uma versão adaptada para a saúde mental do "Questionário de Preparação para Prática Hospitalar" foi aplicada antes, depois e seis meses após o internato. Resultados Cento e dez alunos participaram e quatro fatores foram extraídos: "Elaboração diagnóstica e cuidados básicos" (F1), "Gestão e prevenção de crise" (F2), "Determinantes externos de adoecimento" (F3) e "Sofrimento pessoal com a clínica" (F4). Treinamento prévio em SM é incomum (9,09%), mas foi associado com pontuações mais altas em F2 (p = 0,05 e 6m p = 0,03). Tratamento prévio em SM (42,16% dos alunos) foi associado a valores mais altos em F2 (p < 0,01) e F3 (p = 0,03) antes, mas apenas em F3 (p < 0,01) após o curso. O gênero masculino apresentou valores mais positivos que o feminino em F4 (p < 0,01) antes, mas não após o curso, quando apresentaram valores mais baixos em F1 (após p = 0,02, 6m p = 0,01). Todos os fatores apresentaram valores mais altos após o curso (p < 0,001). Os alunos consideraram o uso de uma entrevista estruturada muito importante para sua autoconfiança e qualidade da assistência (média > 9,0/10,0). Conclusão O internato em SM aumentou a AC nos alunos. Treinamento prévio e gênero estiveram associados com efeitos duradouros na AC.