Is There a Bias Towards Males in the Diagnosis of Autism? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Autism is more frequently diagnosed in males, with evidence suggesting that females are more likely to be misdiagnosed or underdiagnosed. Possibly, the male/female ratio imbalance relates to phenotypic and camouflaging differences between genders. Here, we performed a comprehensive approach to phenotypic and camouflaging research in autism addressed in two studies. First (Study 1 - Phenotypic Differences in Autism), we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of gender differences in autism phenotype. The electronic datasets Pubmed, Scopus, Web of Science, and PsychInfo were searched. We included 67 articles that compared females and males in autism core symptoms, and in cognitive, socioemotional, and behavioural phenotypes. Autistic males exhibited more severe symptoms and social interaction difficulties on standard clinical measures than females, who, in turn, exhibited more cognitive and behavioural difficulties. Considering the hypothesis of camouflaging possibly underlying these differences, we then conducted a meta-analysis of gender differences in camouflaging (Study 2 - Camouflaging Differences in Autism). The same datasets as the first study were searched. Ten studies were included. Females used more compensation and masking camouflage strategies than males. The results support the argument of a bias in clinical procedures towards males and the importance of considering a 'female autism phenotype'-potentially involving camouflaging-in the diagnostic process.

Factores de riesgo de caída en la comunidad:basado en auto-reporte de personas mayores / Risk factors for falls in the community: based on self-report of elderly persons

Introduction: Several studies have shown independent risk factors for falling among community older people. However, there is few researches showing the importance of older person's perception of their own fall risk. Aims: The study purpose was to identify independent risk factors for falls and to explore predictive factors related to the occurrence of falls in community-dwelling older people. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted from January to April 2015. All data were based on self-report of older persons. An study-specific questionnaire was used. Univariate and logistic regression analyses were used. Results: The sample comprised 562 men and 760 women. Among the participants, 24.5% reported having had falls in the previous six months, scoring a total of 467 falling events. Of the individuals who had fallen, 36.8% had experienced recurrent falls. The risk of fall was nearly twice as high in women than in men (OR=1.85; 95% CI: 1.40-2.43). Being 75 years old or older was associated with an increased risk of falling compared with being 65-74 years old (OR=2.38; 95% CI:1.82-3.11). The elderly who had fallen reported injuries (48.3%) associated with falls, and 36% required heal-th care. Conclusion: Six independent risk factors for falling into the community dwelling older people were identified, some of which are potentially modifiable

No disponible

El humor como recurso frente al estigma en salud mental / Humor as a resource against stigma in mental healt

Este artículo pretende reflexionar sobre la utilización del humor como estrategia y recurso terapéutico frente al estigma en salud mental. La vivencia del sufrimiento así como el estigma asociado es una de las preocupaciones más importantes para la persona que experimenta un trastorno mental. Consideramos la pertinencia de la utilización de diferentes estrategias para abordar la temática de la enfermedad mental y su importancia, siendo el humor una de las estrategias poco utilizadas pero que merece ser destacada y considerada. Este artículo tiene como objetivo proporcionar una estructura conceptual del humor y su relación con la salud mental. Pretendemos con esta reflexión contribuir a una actitud centrada en el concepto de salud mental positiva, así como en la perspectiva socio poética defendida por Jacques Gauthier y aplicada a la intervención de enfermería. En este artículo reflexionamos sobre esta temática, utilizando varias referencias bibliográficas y cronológicas, buscando respuestas a estas cuestiones: ¿Por qué utilizar el humor como recurso frente al estigma en salud mental? ¿Y por qué no utilizarlo? En este artículo reflexionamos sobre esta temática, utilizando varias referencias bibliográficas y cronológicas, buscando respuestas a estas cuestiones: ¿Por qué utilizar el humor como recurso frente al estigma en salud mental? ¿Y por qué no utilizarlo?

This article aims to reflect on the use of humor as a strategy and therapeutic resource against stigma in mental health. Experiencing the suffering of mental illness as well as the associated stigma is one of the most important concerns for the person experiencing a mental disorder. We consider the relevance of the use of different strategies to address the issue of mental illness and its importance, with humor being one of the strategies rarely used but that deserves to be highlighted and considered. This article aims to provide a conceptual framework of humor and its relationship with mental health. We intend with this reflection to contribute to an attitude centered on the concept of positive mental health, as well as on the sociopoetic perspective defended by Jacques Gauthier and applied to nursing intervention. In this article we reflect on this topic, using several bibliographical and chronological references, looking for answers to these questions: Why use humor as a resource against stigma in mental health? And why not use it?

Elderly people with limited mobility: their families and the implications of their dependency

Introduction and objectives: The family has suffered several changes throughout the times, leading to many elderly people living alone or with other elderly. In a family the situation of the elderly that depended on others can compromise the family's relationships, which leads to little availability to motivate them to mobilization. The objective of the study was to understand the way the family functions in view of to the dependence of the elderly with limited mobility in a community context. Methodology: Descriptive study, exploratory of a quantitive character. The data was gathered through a questionnaire, including the Lawton & Brody (1969) scales, the lifestyle profile (Nahas, 2013) and the familiar APGAR (Smilkstein, 1978). Non-probabilistic sample, composed by 1298 elderly with limited mobility, from 26 civil parishes from the municipality of Vila Nova de Famalicão. Results and discussion: Most of the people polled considered that his own family was a functional one (64.8%) and 49.6% were moderately dependent. By analysing the physical activity lifestyle profile and the familiar functionality one could con-clude that 65.2% had a positive profile, presenting typical behaviours of an active lifestyle. We think that the fact that 73.1% are inserted in functional families had something to do with it. We have verified a perfect association (p = 0.000) between dependency, lifestyle physical activity and familiar functionality - APGAR. Conclusions: The results show that the family determines the lifestyle physical acti-vity and the elderly's dependency. A functional family influences a positive physical activity profile, even in the elderly with limited mobility

No disponible

Depresión, apoyo social y pensamientos suicidas en estudiantes de Enfermería / Depression, suicidal thoughts and social supporting in nursing students

Este estudio tiene como objetivo analizar la relación entre la depresión, los factores sociodemográficos, el riesgo de suicidio y la satisfacción con el apoyo social en estudiantes de Enfermería de una escuela pública del norte de Portugal. Metodología. estudio exploratorio, cuantitativo, transversal y correlacional. Muestra no probabilística intencional constituida por 420 estudiantes (30 % población). Procedimientos. La recogida de datos se efectuó en línea entre octubre y diciembre de 2015. La participación fue voluntaria, respetando todos los principios éticos. Resultados. La muestra resultó ser mayoritariamente del sexo femenino (88.5 %), con una edad media de 22.4 años (DP = 4 años), de los cuales el 28.6 % ya ha recibido o está recibiendo apoyo psicológico o psiquiátrico. La sintomatología depresiva está presente en una media de 9.87 (DP = 8.79) de los estudiantes, lo cual está muy próximo de los valores considerados clínicamente relevantes. El 32.4 % presenta síntomas de depresión ligera, el 7.6 % de depresión moderada y el 2.6 % de depresión severa. Discusión. Estos resultados apuntan a la necesidad de definir Depresión, apoyo social y pensamientos suicidas en estudiantes de Enfermería estrategias adaptadas a este contexto para hacer frente a este problema. La tasa de depresión encontrada es alta en comparación con otros estudiantes de Enfermería y muy alto en relación con muestras comunitarias. Conclusiones. Los resultados apuntan a la necesidad de desarrollar programas de promoción de salud mental en esta población, así como de prevenir situaciones de riesgo mediante la identificación precoz de síntomas depresivos y la creación de estructuras o equipos profesionales que brinden apoyo terapéutico a los estudiantes

Introduction. The study aims to analyse the relationship between depression, socio-demographic factors, suicide risk, and satisfaction with social support of nursing students attending a public school in the North of Portugal. Methods. A quantitative, exploratory, transversal and correlational study was performed. The non-probabilistic intentional sample comprised 420 students (30 % of the overall population). Data collection was carried out online between October and December 2015. The voluntary participation complied with all ethical guidelines. Results. The majority of participants were female (88.5 %), with an average age of 22.4 years (SD =4 years). Out of this total, 28.6 % had already received or were receiving psychological or psychiatric support. Depressive symptoms were found in an average of 9.87 (SD = 8.79) students, a figure which is very close to clinically relevant indicators. 32.4 % showed slight depression, 7.6 % moderate depression and 2.6 % severe depression. Discussion. These findings suggest the importance of designing targeted interventions in order to cope with such complex problem. The rates of depression are high when compared to other nursing students and very high when compared with community samples. Conclusions. The results emphasize the need to develop mental health promotion programmes among this population, together with risk prevention mechanisms through early detection of depressive symptoms and the implementation of structures or professional teams able to provide students with therapeutic support

Families with twins - a systematic review / La familia en la perspectiva gemelar - una revisión sistemática / A família na vivência da gemelaridade - revisão sistemática

Parenthood is among the developmental transitions that set major challenges for contemporary families. When there is a twin pregnancy, those challenges increase. Our aims in this study are understanding the parental experience in families with twins and identifying the factors which condition parental experience in such families. It is a literature review focusing on studies published between 2000 and 2012 based on reference data. The articles were analyzed considering the aims, participants, phases of data collection, tools used; and results achieved regarding the dimensions involved in parenting experiences faced by parents of twins. In the 19 studies identified, maternity was the main focus of research. Women with twin children showed lower scores on well-being, higher stress risks, exhaustion and depression. The experience of these families was different, more demanding and complex than singletons' parents. Understanding of this matter becomes crucial to contributing to better health for families.

La paternidad es una de las transiciones del desarrollo que plantea más desafíos a la familia contemporánea. En un embarazo gemelar estos retos son engrandecidos. Los objetivos del estudio fueron conocer la experiencia de la paternidad en familias con gemelos y analizar los factores que influyen en sus experiencias de paternidad. Para este propósito se analizaron artículos publicados entre 2000-2012 en bases de datos referencia. Los artículos fueron analizados teniendo en cuenta: objetivos, participantes, tiempo de recolección de datos, instrumentos utilizados y los resultados, atendiendo las variables que integran la experiencia de paternidad gemelar. En los 19 estudios identificados, la maternidad era el foco central de investigación. Las mujeres con gemelos han tenido resultados más bajos de bienestar, aumentando el riesgo de estrés, agotamiento y depresión. La experiencia de las familias fue diferente, más exigente y compleja que para otros padres. Comprender el tema es fundamental para maximizar la salud de la familia.

A parentalidade é uma das transições desenvolvimentais que mais desafios colocam à família contemporânea. Quando ocorre uma gravidez gemelar, esses desafios são exponenciados. Foi nosso propósito conhecer a experiência parental de famílias com gêmeos e identificar os factores que condicionam as suas experiências parentais. Para o efeito, procedemos à análise de artigos publicados entre 2000-2012 em bases de dados referenciais. Os artigos foram analisados tendo em conta: objetivos, participantes, momentos de recolha de dados, instrumentos e resultados obtidos, considerando as variáveis que integram a vivência da parentalidade em pais de gêmeos. Nos 19 estudos identificados, a maternidade foi o foco central das pesquisas. As mulheres com filhos gêmeos obtiveram scores mais baixos de bem-estar, aumentando o risco de estresse, exaustão e depressão. A experiência destas famílias foi diferente, mais exigente e complexa que nos pais com filhos singulares. Compreender esta problemática torna-se fundamental para potenciar ganhos em saúde na família.