The Eysenck Personality Questionnaire Revised - Abbreviated (EPQR-A): psychometric properties of the Brazilian Portuguese version.

INTRODUCTION: The Eysenck Personality Questionnaire Revised - Abbreviated (EPQR-A) consists of 24 items for assessment of the three fundamental personality traits (psychoticism, extraversion, and neuroticism) and a validity scale (lie scale). Our objectives were to assess the psychometric properties of a version of this instrument culturally adapted for Brazil. METHOD: 321 participants were recruited using a non-probabilistic method. RESULTS: Internal consistencies ranged from minimally acceptable to respectable, except for the psychoticism domain. Higher neuroticism scores were associated with higher depression and anxiety scores, higher extraversion scores were associated with lower levels of depression symptoms, and higher psychoticism scores were associated with higher levels of depression symptoms. CONCLUSION: Our findings describe sustainable psychometric properties for the Brazilian Portuguese version of EPQR-A.

The Eysenck Personality Questionnaire Revised - Abbreviated (EPQR-A): psychometric properties of the Brazilian Portuguese version

Abstract Introduction The Eysenck Personality Questionnaire Revised - Abbreviated (EPQR-A) consists of 24 items for assessment of the three fundamental personality traits (psychoticism, extraversion, and neuroticism) and a validity scale (lie scale). Our objectives were to assess the psychometric properties of a version of this instrument culturally adapted for Brazil. Method 321 participants were recruited using a non-probabilistic method. Results Internal consistencies ranged from minimally acceptable to respectable, except for the psychoticism domain. Higher neuroticism scores were associated with higher depression and anxiety scores, higher extraversion scores were associated with lower levels of depression symptoms, and higher psychoticism scores were associated with higher levels of depression symptoms. Conclusion Our findings describe sustainable psychometric properties for the Brazilian Portuguese version of EPQR-A.

Protective factors against depressive symptoms among Brazilian healthcare workers during the initial stages of the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to assess the prevalence of depressive symptoms among healthcare workers and possible factors associated with this outcome (resilience, spirituality, social support, quality of life, among other individual variables). Our hypothesis is that some of these factors can have a protective effect on depressive symptoms. DESIGN: Web-based cross-sectional survey. SETTING: Participants were recruited online from 16 April to 23 April 2020. PARTICIPANTS: 1043 healthcare workers, predominantly Brazilians, aged 18 years or older. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: Depression was the primary outcome, measured using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Possible protective factors were measured in the following ways: social support was assessed by the modified Medical Outcomes Study Social Support Survey (mMOS-SS); spirituality, religiousness and personal beliefs (SRPB) were evaluated using the 9-item SRPB module of the brief WHO Quality of Life instrument (WHOQoL-SRPB-bref); quality of life was assessed using the brief EUROHIS instrument for Quality of Life (EUROHIS-QoL 8-item); resilience was assessed using the 10-item Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC 10). RESULTS: 23% met the criteria for depression according to the PHQ-9 scale. Quality of life (B=-3.87 (-4.30 to -3.43), ß=-0.37, p<0.001), social support (B=-0.32 (-0.59 to -0.05), ß=-0.04, p=0.022), resilience (B=-0.19 (-0.23 to -0.15), ß=-0.20, p<0.001), SRPB (B=-0.03 (-0.05 to -0.02), ß=-0.01, p<0.001) and physical exercise (B=-0.95 (-1.40 to -0.51), ß=-0.08, p<0.001) demonstrated protective effects against depression. CONCLUSION: Healthcare workers have a high risk of developing depressive symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially those working in the front line. However, there are factors that seem to work as protective mechanisms against depression, notably perceived quality of life.

Structural magnetic resonance imaging findings in severe mental disorders adult inpatients: A systematic review.

In severe presentations, major depressive disorder (MDD), schizophrenia (SZ), and bipolar disorder (BD) can be categorized as severe mental disorders (SMD). Our aim is to evaluate structural magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography findings in adult inpatients diagnosed with SMD and hospitalized at psychiatric wards. PubMed, Embase, PsycInfo, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science were searched up to May 27th, 2021. Articles were screened and extracted by two independent groups, with third-party raters for discrepancies. Quality of evidence was evaluated with the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Synthesis was made by qualitative analysis. This study was registered on PROSPERO (CRD42020171718) and followed the PRISMA protocol. 35 studies were included, of which none was considered to likely introduce bias in our analyses. Overlapping areas in MDD, SZ, and Affective Psychosis (AP) patients, that include BD and MDD with psychotic features, are presented in the inferior temporal and cingulate gyri. MDD and SZ had commonly affected areas in the inferior and middle frontal gyri, transverse temporal gyrus, insula, and hippocampus. SZ and AP had commonly affected areas in the temporal pole. Overlapping affected areas among SMD patients are reported, but the heterogeneity of studies' designs and findings are still a limitation for clinically relevant guidelines.

Time series analysis of suicide from a monthly perspective in the south of Brazil: an ecological study.

INTRODUCTION: Suicide is the cause of death of almost 800 thousand people worldwide every year. In Brazil, Rio Grande do Sul is one of the states with the highest suicide rates. This study aimed to assess whether there is a significant monthly time pattern of suicide in Rio Grande do Sul, by gender and age ranges, and whether suicide characteristics in the state are coherent with findings from previous studies. METHODS: All data were collected from official secondary sources maintained by the national Brazilian and Rio Grande do Sul governments, covering a period from 2015 to 2019. Data included suicide deaths and population, divided by gender and age range. Sum totals, frequencies, odds ratios, and time series analyses were performed. RESULTS: From 2015 to 2019, 6,287 people committed suicide in Rio Grande do Sul. Most of them were men and the most prevalent age band was from 50 to 59 years old. Men had higher suicide rates then women in all age ranges (p < 0.001) and in all months of the year, with an approximately 4-fold higher risk of committing suicide when compared to women. Men had a trending peak of suicide in January and December (p < 0.001), whereas women's suicide rates peaked in March and December (p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: There are monthly time trends and seasonal patterns of suicide rates in Rio Grande do Sul, varying by gender and age range. Gender differences occurred mainly in the first three months of the year, and the age pattern was more evident among individuals aged 60 years or older.

Time series analysis of suicide from a monthly perspective in the south of Brazil: an ecological study

Abstract Introduction: Suicide is the cause of death of almost 800 thousand people worldwide every year. In Brazil, Rio Grande do Sul is one of the states with the highest suicide rates. This study aimed to assess whether there is a significant monthly time pattern of suicide in Rio Grande do Sul, by gender and age ranges, and whether suicide characteristics in the state are coherent with findings from previous studies. Methods: All data were collected from official secondary sources maintained by the national Brazilian and Rio Grande do Sul governments, covering a period from 2015 to 2019. Data included suicide deaths and population, divided by gender and age range. Sum totals, frequencies, odds ratios, and time series analyses were performed. Results: From 2015 to 2019, 6,287 people committed suicide in Rio Grande do Sul. Most of them were men and the most prevalent age band was from 50 to 59 years old. Men had higher suicide rates then women in all age ranges (p < 0.001) and in all months of the year, with an approximately 4-fold higher risk of committing suicide when compared to women. Men had a trending peak of suicide in January and December (p < 0.001), whereas women's suicide rates peaked in March and December (p = 0.001). Conclusion: There are monthly time trends and seasonal patterns of suicide rates in Rio Grande do Sul, varying by gender and age range. Gender differences occurred mainly in the first three months of the year, and the age pattern was more evident among individuals aged 60 years or older.

Abnormal eye movements in parkinsonism: a historical view.

Parkinson's disease (PD), known since ancient times as paralysis agitans, was studied and described by James Parkinson in 1817 in his work "An Essay on the Shaking Palsy". Fifty years later, Charcot and his students delved into the disease, naming it as we know it today, as well as defining the classic disease and its variants. One of these students, Arthur Dutil, addressed patients' abnormal eye movements. Nowadays, it is known that the differential diagnosis of PD is relevant for prognosis, treatment and research, and, despite the advances in the area, it remains largely clinical. The relevance of the eye movement exam has grown along with the history of PD and it has proved to be an excellent tool for the differential diagnosis of parkinsonism. Additionally, it can become a support to identify different types of genetic PD and be useful for improving early recognition of cognitive decline in patients with PD.

Abnormal eye movements in parkinsonism: a historical view / Movimentos oculares anormais em parkinsonismo: uma visão histórica

ABSTRACT Parkinson's disease (PD), known since ancient times as paralysis agitans, was studied and described by James Parkinson in 1817 in his work "An Essay on the Shaking Palsy". Fifty years later, Charcot and his students delved into the disease, naming it as we know it today, as well as defining the classic disease and its variants. One of these students, Arthur Dutil, addressed patients' abnormal eye movements. Nowadays, it is known that the differential diagnosis of PD is relevant for prognosis, treatment and research, and, despite the advances in the area, it remains largely clinical. The relevance of the eye movement exam has grown along with the history of PD and it has proved to be an excellent tool for the differential diagnosis of parkinsonism. Additionally, it can become a support to identify different types of genetic PD and be useful for improving early recognition of cognitive decline in patients with PD.

RESUMO A doença de Parkinson (DP), conhecida desde a antiguidade como paralysis agitans, foi estudada e descrita por James Parkinson em 1817 em seu trabalho An Essay on the Shaking Palsy. Cinquenta anos depois, Charcot e seus alunos aprofundaram os estudos na doença, nomeando-a como a conhecemos atualmente, bem como definindo a doença clássica e suas variantes. Um desses estudantes, Arthur Dutil, investigou os movimentos oculares anormais nos pacientes. Hoje, sabe-se que o diagnóstico diferencial da DP é relevante para o prognóstico, tratamento e pesquisa, e, apesar dos grandes avanços na área, ainda permanece amplamente clínico. A relevância do exame de movimentação ocular cresceu com a história da DP e este se mostrou uma excelente ferramenta para o diagnóstico diferencial do parkinsonismo. Além disso, pode se tornar um auxílio para identificar diferentes formas de DP genética e útil para melhorar o reconhecimento precoce do declínio cognitivo em pacientes com DP.

Potential predictors of depressive symptoms during the initial stage of the COVID-19 outbreak among Brazilian adults.

BACKGROUND: In early 2020, Sars-Cov-2 was identified in China as a new coronavirus. Due to its transmission, Sars-Cov-2 has spread rapidly across the world. In the early stage of the disease outbreak, psychiatric symptoms have been reported, including depressive symptoms. In this study, we assessed the prevalence of depressive symptoms in quarantine and its association with sociodemographic variables and known protective factors for depression, such as spirituality, social support, resilience, and quality of life. METHODS: A cross-sectional web-based questionnaire was distributed via social media. The instruments consisted of the 8-item EUROHIS-QOL, PHQ-9, Social Support Questionnaire, WHOQoL-SRPB, and CD-RISC. RESULTS: A total of 3,274 participants were included in this study. 23.67% of the participants met the criteria for a depressive episode. Higher age, spirituality, social support, resiliency, and quality of life were associated with less depressive symptoms. Quarantine length; mental health treatment; chronic disease; age; sex; lower levels of spirituality, social support, resilience, quality of life, physical exercise, and education; and unpaid occupation were found to be predictors of depressive symptoms during COVID-19 quarantine. LIMITATIONS: The data are limited to the pandemic initial period, the sample isn't random and the use of self-reported questionnaires are some limitations of our study. CONCLUSIONS: During the initial phase of the COVID-19 outbreak in Brazil, quarantine time, treatment for mental health, chronic illness, lower levels of education, and unpaid occupation were positively associated with depressive symptoms. Age, sex, spirituality, social support, resilience, quality of life, and physical exercise showed a negative relationship with depressive symptoms.

Complex presentation of anterior chest wall chondrosarcoma

Chondrosarcoma is the third most common primary bone malignancy, but its thoracic presentation is unusual compared to the pelvis and extremities. Chest wall chondrosarcomas are difficult to be surgically resected due to their proximity to neurovascular structures. We report the case of a 48-year-old man presenting with a history of chest bulging. Computed tomography showed a lesion of approximately 12 cm in the sagittal axis adjacent to the upper lobe of the left lung, compressing the upper lobar bronchus and causing parenchymal atelectasis. Biopsy revealed chondrosarcoma. The lesion extrinsically compressed the left pectoralis major muscle and invaded the left pectoralis minor muscle. After complete surgical resection, the patient was discharged on postoperative day 20. (AU)