Utilización de terapias herbales por parte de practicantes de terapias complementarias y alternativas en Bogotá / Use of herbal therapies by complementary and alternative therapies practitioners in Bogotá

Antecedentes. Dentro de las Medicinas Complementarias y Alternativas, las terapias herbales son de las más utilizadas. Es escasa la evidencia sobre el tipo de terapias herbales usadas en Colombia para el tratamiento de trastornos psiquiátricos. Objetivo. Explorar, en un grupo de practicantes de MCA cómo se da el uso de terapias herbales para el tratamiento de los síndromes psiquiátricos más frecuentes (depresión, ansiedad, psicosis, manía). Materiales y métodos. Se efectuó una búsqueda de practicantes de MCA en anuncios de publicidad, internet y referencias de pacientes. De 130 terapeutas ubicados, solo 25 aceptaron participar. A cada terapeuta se le realizó una entrevista en profundidad en la que se exploró el uso de estas terapias con la ayuda de viñetas que ilustraban casos representativos. Resultados. Se identificaron 17 productos herbales diferentes para tratar trastornos psiquiátricos. En los casos correspondientes a psicosis, depresión y ansiedad, se utilizaron 8, 10 y 7 productos diferentes, respectivamente; en el caso de la manía solo se reportó el uso de un producto. Se utilizan combinaciones de terapias herbales y de diferentes tipos de terapias complementarias y alternativas. La mayoría de productos han sido estudiados en investigaciones científicas para evaluar su utilidad terapéutica. Conclusiones. Los psiquiatras deben reconocer que el uso de terapias herbales es una práctica frecuente entre sus pacientes. El desconocimiento sobre su uso puede estar limitando la disponibilidad de nuevas modalidades terapéuticas, afectando la relación médico paciente y poniendo en riesgo a los pacientes ante la posibilidad de interacciones medicamentosas graves.

Background. In Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM), herbal therapies are the most frequent modality used. There is scarce evidence of the types of herbal therapies used in Colombia for the treatment of psychiatric disorders. Objective. To explore how herbal therapies are used by traditional medicine practitioners for the treatment of the most frequent psychiatric disorders (depression, anxiety, mania, psychosis). Materials and methods. Traditional medicine practitioners were located searching newspapers, internet, radio commercials, printed advertising and patient's references. Out of 130 practitioners only 25 accepted to participate. An in-depth interview was conducted to explore how these therapies were used, using vignettes that served to illustrate representative clinical syndromes. Results. 17 herbal products have been used by CAM practitioners to treat psychiatric disorders. For treating psychosis, depression and mania 8, 10 and 7 different products were used respectively. Only one product was used to treat mania. Combination of different herbal products and diverse CAM systems is a frequent practice. Most of these products have been scientifically studied for treating health conditions. Conclusions. For psychiatrists an understanding of patient's use of CAM is important in order to improve the therapeutic alliance, to prevent unexpected complications related to herb-drug interactions and to explore potential new treatments.

Results of treatment with azacitidine in patients aged ≥ 75 years included in the Spanish Registry of Myelodysplastic Syndromes.

The tolerability of azacitidine (AZA) allows its administration in elderly patients. The objective of this study was to analyze the clinical and biological characteristics, transfusion independence (TI), overall survival (OS) and toxicity in a series of 107 patients ≥ 75 years of age from the Spanish Registry of Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS) treated with AZA. The median age (range) was 78 (75-90) years. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) classification, 86/102 (84%) had MDS, 10/102 (10%) had mixed myeloproferative/myelodysplastic disorder and 6/102 (6%) had acute myeloblastic leukemia. Regarding MDS by the International Prognostic Scoring System on initiation of AZA, 38/84 (45%) were low-intermediate-1 risk and 46/84 (55%) were intermediate-2-high risk. Ninety-five patients (89%) were red blood cell or platelet transfusion dependent. The AZA schedule was 5-0-0 in 39/106 (37%) patients, 5-2-2 in 36/106 (34%) patients and 7 consecutive days in 31/106 (29%) patients. The median number of cycles administered was 8 (range, 1-30). Thirty-eight out of 94 (40%) patients achieved TI. Median OS (95% confidence interval [CI]) was significantly better in patients achieving TI (n = 38) compared to patients who did not (n = 56) (22 [20.1-23.9] months vs. 11.1 [4.8-17.5] months, p = 0.001). No significant differences were observed in TI rate and OS among the three different schedules. With a median follow-up of 14 (min-max, 1-50) months, the median OS (95% CI) of the 107 patients was 18 (12-23) months and the probability of OS (95% CI) at 2 years was 34% (22-46%). Cycles were delayed in 31/106 (29%) patients and 47/101 patients (47%) were hospitalized for infection. These results show that treatment with AZA was feasible and effective in this elderly population, with 40% achieving TI, having a better OS than patients not achieving it. The schedule of AZA administration did not affect efficacy and toxicity.

Validación de la escala Schizophrenia Quality Of Life Scale (SQLS) para medir la calidad de vida en pacientes con diagnóstico de esquizofrenia en Colombia / Validation of the Schizophrenia Quality Of Life Scale (SQLS) to Measure Quality of Life in Patients Diagnosed With Schizophrenia in Colombia

Objetivo: Validar la escala SQLS para medir la calidad de vida de los pacientes con diagnóstico de esquizofrenia en Colombia. Métodos: Se aplicó a 251 pacientes la escala autoaplicable SQLS. La aplicación se repitió a los 2 días a 28 pacientes y a los 30 días a 38 pacientes para evaluar la confiabilidad test-retest y la sensibilidad al cambio respectivamente; 50 pacientes cumplimentaron además la escala SF-12 para determinar la validez concurrente. Resultados: Se encontraron tres dominios para la escala SQLS en Colombia: para los tres dominios se encontraron coeficientes alfa de Cronbach > 0,7. El modelo con tres factores no mostró un ajuste adecuado. En la evaluación test-retest, se encontraron valores de correlación adecuados (> 0,86). No se encontró una diferencia significativa en las mediciones de la sensibilidad al cambio. La validez concurrente mostró valores de correlación aceptables sólo con los dominios de la SF-12, relacionados con salud y funcionamiento mental. Conclusiones: Aunque la escala SQLS muestra una estructura factorial consistente con la propuesta original, buena consistencia interna y estabilidad en el tiempo, se requiere un estudio más detallado del funcionamiento de algunos ítems que pueden no estar midiendo el constructo adecuadamente.

Abstract Objective: To validate the SQLS scale in Colombian patients diagnosed with schizophrenia. Method: The self-report scale was applied to 251 patients. Measures of test-retest reliability, internal consistency and correlation inter-scales with the SF-12 were made by applying the scale 2 days later in 28 patients, and 30 days later in 38; 50 patients filled-out the SF-12 scale to determine the concurrent validity. Results: Three domains were found with all of them having Cronbach's alphas >0.7. The three factors model did not show adequate fit indexes.Test-retest evaluation showed satisfactory correlation values (>0.86). Sensitivity to change did not shown significant differences between the repeated measures. As regards concurrent validity, acceptable correlation values were found only in SF-12 domains related to mental health and functioning. Conclusions: The SQLS has a factorial structure consistent with previous reports, adequate internal consistency and temporal stability. However, a more detailed examination of some of these items is required, considering that the measurement of the construct does not appear to be adequate.

[Validation of the Schizophrenia Quality Of Life Scale (SQLS) to Measure Quality of Life in Patients Diagnosed With Schizophrenia in Colombia]. / Validación de la escala Schizophrenia Quality Of Life Scale (SQLS) para medir la calidad de vida en pacientes con diagnóstico de esquizofrenia en Colombia.

OBJECTIVE: To validate the SQLS scale in Colombian patients diagnosed with schizophrenia. METHOD: The self-report scale was applied to 251 patients. Measures of test-retest reliability, internal consistency and correlation inter-scales with the SF-12 were made by applying the scale 2 days later in 28 patients, and 30 days later in 38; 50 patients filled-out the SF-12 scale to determine the concurrent validity. RESULTS: Three domains were found with all of them having Cronbach's alphas >0.7. The three factors model did not show adequate fit indexes. Test-retest evaluation showed satisfactory correlation values (>0.86). Sensitivity to change did not shown significant differences between the repeated measures. As regards concurrent validity, acceptable correlation values were found only in SF-12 domains related to mental health and functioning. CONCLUSIONS: The SQLS has a factorial structure consistent with previous reports, adequate internal consistency and temporal stability. However, a more detailed examination of some of these items is required, considering that the measurement of the construct does not appear to be adequate.

Traducción y adpptación de la escala sqls para edir calidad de vida en pacienttes con esquizofrenia en Colombia / Translation and adaptation of the scale SQLS to measure quality of life in patients with schizophrenia in Colombia

Antecedentes. La traducción y adaptación cultural de instrumentos de medición es un proceso que se aplica en las fases iniciales dentro de las etapas de validación. La escala SQLS (Schizophrenia quality of life scale) es un instrumento para medir la calidad de vida en pacientes con esquizofrenia que no ha sido validado en Colombia. Objetivos. Traducir y adaptar transculturalmente al Castellano en Colombia la escala SQLS. Material y métodos. Para estos procesos se utilizaron las recomendaciones de ISPOR y del grupo de calidad de vida de EORTC. Resultados. Dos ítems de la escala fueron modificados: en uno de ellos (pregunta seis) se cambió la presentación original de una frase negativa a una positiva. En otro (pregunta 25) se modificó el término de la traducción literal y se introdujo otro con equivalencia transcultural. La escala puede responderse en un tiempo aproximado de 10 minutos. Conclusión. Se dispone de un insumo para generar una versión validada de la escala para poder ser usada en pacientes colombianos.

Background. Translation and cultural adaptation of measurement instruments in health is a first step in validating a scale. The SQLS (Schizophrenia quality of life scale) is an instrument that has not been validated for use with patients in Colombia. Objective. Translation and cultural adaptation to Spanish in Colombia of the SQLS. Materials and methods. The process has followed the steps recommended by ISPOR and the quality of life group of the EORTC (Spanish translation using a forward and backward approach, a pilot group of patients for cultural adaptation). Results. Two items were modified: The original presentation of item 6 was changed using a positive phrase instead of a negative one. The literal translation of item 25 was modified to one having cultural equivalence. The scale can be responded in about 10 minutes. Conclusion. As a result of this work, a preliminary version of this scale is available to generate a validated version of this instrument in order to be applied in Colombian patients.

¿Es el reflejo glabelar un componente del parkinsonismo nducido por neurolépticos? / Is the glabellar reflex a component of neuroleptic-induced parkinsonism?

Introducción. La evidencia disponible sugiere que algunos signos neurológicos atribuidos al uso de neurolépticos son realmente manifestaciones secundarias de trastornos psicóticos. Objetivo. Se efectuó el presente estudio con el objetivo de evaluar el papel del signo glabelar como componente clínico del parkinsonismo secundario inducido por neurolépticos. Materiales y métodos. Se evaluó un grupo de pacientes con parkinsonismo secundario inducido por neurolépticos, utilizando la escala de Simpson y Angus para efectos colaterales extrapiramidales. La contribución del signo glabelar en el síndrome global se evaluó mediante técnicas de análisis factorial. Resultados. Se evaluaron 103 pacientes, de los cuales, 52 por ciento correspondía a mujeres, con parkinsonismo secundario inducido por neurolépticos. La mayoría de pacientes recibieron haloperidol como tratamiento antipsicótico. Los diagnósticos más frecuentes fueron los trastornos afectivos y los esquizofrénicos. El ítem correspondiente al reflejo glabelar mostró el promedio de covarianza interítem más alto y el mayor valor de unicidad. Los puntajes de alfa de Cronbach de la escala aumentaron al retirar de ésta el ítem correspondiente al signo glabelar. Conclusión. Nuestros hallazgos sugieren que el signo glabelar mide una condición diferente del parkinsonismo secundario inducido por neurolépticos. Sugerimos que este hallazgo clínico no sea utilizado para medir la evolución de la respuesta neurológica a los antipsicóticos

[Is the glabellar reflex a component of neuroleptic-induced Parkinsonism?]. / Es el reflejo glabelar un componente del parkinsonismo inducido por neurolépticos?

INTRODUCTION: Some neurological findings have been attributed to neuroleptics as secondary manifestations of psychotic disorders. OBJECTIVE: In the current study, the role of the glabelar sign was evaluated as a clinical component of the secondary parkinsonism induced by neuroleptics. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients with psychosis having secondary parkinsonism induced by neuroleptics were evaluated with the Simpson-Angus Rating Scale for extrapyramidal side effects. The contribution of the glabelar syndrome in the overall syndrome was evaluated using factor analysis methods. RESULTS: One hundred three patients having secondary parkinsonism induced by neuroleptics were evaluated. The sample had nearly equal gender representation: with 52.4% women. A majority of patients had received haloperidol as antipsychotic treatment. Bipolar disorders and schizophrenia were the most frequent diagnostic groups. The item corresponding to glabelar sign showed the lower average inter item covariance and the higher uniqueness score. Cronbach alpha scores increased when the item corresponding to glabelar sign was retired from the scale. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggested that glabelar sign measures a condition different from secondary parkinsonism induced by neuroleptics. This clinical finding is not recommended for evaluating the evolution of neurological response to neuroleptics, however.