The Brazilian version of the 25-Item National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire: translation, reliability and validity.

PURPOSE: To develop and investigate the reliability and validity of a Brazilian version of the 25-Item National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire. METHODS: A Brazilian version of the questionnaire was developed and applied to patients with chronic eye diseases and healthy controls. Reliability was assessed by Cronbach's alpha coefficient, intraclass correlation coefficient and interrater reliability coefficient. Participants were submitted to the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36 Questionnaire. Validity was estimated by the correlation between the questionnaires and among the 12 subscales of the questionnaire, subscales scores and visual acuity, patients' and controls' subscales scores, and the factor analysis. Responsiveness of the questionnaire was assessed in a group of patients before and following cataract surgery. RESULTS: Cronbach's alpha, intraclass correlation and interrater reliability coefficients were highly significant. Validity was well established in all tests. In patients who underwent cataract surgery, a better vision-related quality of life was observed following surgery. CONCLUSION: The Brazilian version of the 25-Item National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire has valid and reliable psychometric properties and can be applied to vision-related quality of life research.

The Brazilian version of the 25-Item National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire: translation, reliability and validity / Versão brasileira do questionário de função visual de 25 itens do questionário do National Eye Institute: tradução, confiabilidade e validação

PURPOSE: To develop and investigate the reliability and validity of a Brazilian version of the 25-Item National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire. METHODS: A Brazilian version of the questionnaire was developed and applied to patients with chronic eye diseases and healthy controls. Reliability was assessed by Cronbach's alpha coefficient, intraclass correlation coefficient and interrater reliability coefficient. Participants were submitted to the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36 Questionnaire. Validity was estimated by the correlation between the questionnaires and among the 12 subscales of the questionnaire, subscales scores and visual acuity, patients' and controls' subscales scores, and the factor analysis. Responsiveness of the questionnaire was assessed in a group of patients before and following cataract surgery. RESULTS: Cronbach's alpha, intraclass correlation and interrater reliability coefficients were highly significant. Validity was well established in all tests. In patients who underwent cataract surgery, a better vision-related quality of life was observed following surgery. CONCLUSION: The Brazilian version of the 25-Item National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire has valid and reliable psychometric properties and can be applied to vision-related quality of life research.

OBJETIVO: Desenvolver e investigar a confiabilidade e a validade da versão brasileira do Questionário de Função Visual de 25 Itens do National Eye Institute. MÉTODOS: A versão brasileira do questionário foi desenvolvida e aplicada em pacientes com doenças oculares crônicas e controles sadios. A confiabilidade foi calculada pelo coeficiente alfa de Cronbach de correlação intraclasse e de confiabilidade entre examinadores. Foi usado o questionário "The Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36". A validade foi calculada pela correlação entre as escalas dos questionários e entre as 12 subescalas do questionário, a pontuação das subescalas e a acuidade visual, a pontuação das subescalas de pacientes e controles e a análise fatorial. A validação do questionário foi calculada em grupo de pacientes antes e após cirurgia de catarata. RESULTADOS: O coeficiente de alfa de Cronbach, de correlação intraclasse e de variação entre entrevistadores, e os testes de validade da versão brasileira foram significantes. A responsividade foi confirmada pela melhora na qualidade de vida visual no grupo submetido à cirurgia de catarata. CONCLUSÃO: A versão brasileira do Questionário de Função Visual de 25 Itens apresenta propriedades psicométricas válidas e confiáveis e pode ser aplicado em pesquisa de qualidade de vida visual.

Bipolar disorder and multiple sclerosis

Bipolar disorder may be overrepresented in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. Although research in this area is limited, studies assessing the nature of this association have focused on genetic aspects, adverse reaction to drugs and brain demyelinating lesions. Herein we report three patients with MS that also presented bipolar disorder. The coexistence of neurological and psychiatric symptoms in most MS relapses highlights the relevance of biological factors in the emergence of mood disorders in these patients.

O transtorno bipolar do humor parece estar super-representado em pacientes com esclerose múltipla (EM). Apesar de a pesquisa nessa área ser limitada, estudos acerca da natureza dessa associação têm se concentrado em aspectos genéticos, reações adversas a drogas e lesões desmielinizantes no sistema nervoso central. Relatamos, aqui, três casos de pacientes com EM que também apresentaram transtorno bipolar do humor. A coexistência de sintomas neurológicos e psiquiátricos em grande parte das recaídas de EM reforça a importância de fatores biológicos na gênese dos sintomas afetivos nesses pacientes.

Bipolar disorder and multiple sclerosis.

Bipolar disorder may be overrepresented in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. Although research in this area is limited, studies assessing the nature of this association have focused on genetic aspects, adverse reaction to drugs and brain demyelinating lesions. Herein we report three patients with MS that also presented bipolar disorder. The coexistence of neurological and psychiatric symptoms in most MS relapses highlights the relevance of biological factors in the emergence of mood disorders in these patients.