Early exposure to cannabis and bipolar disorder incidence: Findings from a 22-year birth cohort study in Brazil.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Bipolar disorder is a chronic condition affecting millions of people worldwide. Currently, there is some evidence to suggest that cannabis use during adolescence may be an environmental risk factor for its onset, however inconsistencies have been observed across the literature. Considering this, we aimed to assess whether early lifetime cannabis is associated with subsequent bipolar disorder in young adults between 18 and 22 years of age. METHODS: Using data from the 1993 Pelotas (Brazil) birth cohort (n = 5249), cannabis exposure was examined at age 18 by self-report, and bipolar disorder diagnosis was measured at age 22 using the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI). In order to control the analysis, we considered socioeconomic status index, sex, skin color, physical abuse by parents and lifetime cocaine use. RESULTS: A total of 3781 individuals were evaluated in 2015 aged 22 years, of whom 87 were diagnosed with the bipolar disorder onset after the age of 18. Lifetime cannabis use predicted bipolar disorder onset at 22 years old (OR 1.82, 95% CI [1.10, 2.93]), and the effect remained after adjusting for socioeconomic status, sex, skin color, and physical abuse by parents (OR 2.00, 95% CI [1.20, 3.25]). However, this association was attenuated to statistically non-significant after further adjustment for all available covariates, including lifetime cocaine use (OR 1.79, 95% CI [0.95, 3.19]). We also found similar results for early cocaine use, where the association with bipolar disorder onset did not maintain significance in the multivariate model (OR 1.35, 95% CI [0.62, 2.86]). Otherwise, when we considered cannabis or cocaine lifetime use as a unique feature, our findings showed that the adolescent exposure to cannabis or cocaine increased the odds by 1.95 times of developing bipolar disorder at 22 years age, even when controlling for all other study variables (OR 2.14, 95% CI [1.30, 3.47]). Finally, our models suggest that cocaine use may potentially exert a major influence on the effect of lifetime cannabis use on bipolar disorder onset, and that physical abuse by parents and sex may modify the effect of cannabis use for later bipolar disorder onset. CONCLUSION: Based on our findings, early cannabis exposure predicted bipolar disorder onset in young adults, but this association was confounded by cocaine use. Contrary to schizophrenia, cannabis as a sole exposure was not associated with bipolar disorder onset after adjusting for control variables.

Cross-cultural adaptation and psychometric properties of the Iowa-Netherlands Comparison Orientation Measure for the Brazilian context.

INTRODUCTION: The Iowa-Netherlands Comparison Orientation Measure (INCOM) was developed to measure individual differences in social comparison orientation and has been widely used in research and different contexts. The aim of this study was to adapt the online version of the INCOM and to evaluate its psychometric parameters when applied to a Brazilian population of university students. METHODS: The procedures were divided into two steps: step 1 - cross-cultural adaptation and content validity, and step 2 - assessment of psychometric characteristics. In step 1, the processes of translation, evaluation by expert committee, evaluation by the target population, and the back-translation, were performed. In step 2, 1065 university students participated and factor analysis, analysis of reliability and validity based on external measures were performed. RESULTS: The adaptation process showed satisfactory results, such as good indicators of content validity. Exploratory factor analysis indicated a two-dimensional structure and adequate factor loadings, except for item 11, which was excluded from the final version. Also, the final version of the scale presented adequate fit indices (χ2 = 148.45, df = 26; p < 0.001; RMSEA = 0.06; CFI = 0.99; TLI = 0.98). Evidence of reliability (Cronbach's alpha = 0.83) was found, in addition to positive correlations with negative affect (r =0.36) and negative correlations with positive affect and self-esteem (r = -0.15; r = -0.41, respectively). CONCLUSION: The Brazilian version of the INCOM presents satisfactory psychometric parameters and can thus be used to measure social comparison orientation.

The impact of mindfulness on suicidal behavior: a systematic review.

INTRODUCTION: Mindfulness-based interventions (MBI) have been growing progressively as treatment options in the field of mental health. Aim: To assess the impact of mindfulness-based interventions for reducing suicidal thoughts and behaviors. METHODS: A systematic review was performed in December 2020 using PubMed, PsycINFO, EMBASE, SciELO, Pepsic, and LILACS databases with no year restrictions. The search strategy included the terms ('mindfulness' OR 'mindfulness-based') AND ('suicide' OR 'suicidal' OR 'suicide risk' OR 'suicide attempt' OR 'suicide ideation' OR 'suicide behavior'). The protocol was registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO), CRD42020219514. RESULTS: A total of 14 studies met all inclusion criteria and were included in this review. Most of the studies presented Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy as the MBI assessed (n=10). An emerging and rapidly growing literature on MBI presents promising results in reduction of suicide risk, particularly in patients with MDD. Four studies assessing other MBI treatment protocols (Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction; Daily Mindfulness Meditation Practice; Mind Body Awareness and Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Behavior Therapy) all demonstrated that MBI reduces factors associated with suicide risk. CONCLUSION: MBI might target specific processes and contribute to suicide risk reduction.

The impact of mindfulness on suicidal behavior: a systematic review

Abstract Introduction Mindfulness-based interventions (MBI) have been growing progressively as treatment options in the field of mental health. Aim: To assess the impact of mindfulness-based interventions for reducing suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Methods A systematic review was performed in December 2020 using PubMed, PsycINFO, EMBASE, SciELO, Pepsic, and LILACS databases with no year restrictions. The search strategy included the terms ('mindfulness' OR 'mindfulness-based') AND ('suicide' OR 'suicidal' OR 'suicide risk' OR 'suicide attempt' OR 'suicide ideation' OR 'suicide behavior'). The protocol was registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO), CRD42020219514. Results A total of 14 studies met all inclusion criteria and were included in this review. Most of the studies presented Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy as the MBI assessed (n=10). An emerging and rapidly growing literature on MBI presents promising results in reduction of suicide risk, particularly in patients with MDD. Four studies assessing other MBI treatment protocols (Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction; Daily Mindfulness Meditation Practice; Mind Body Awareness and Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Behavior Therapy) all demonstrated that MBI reduces factors associated with suicide risk. Conclusion MBI might target specific processes and contribute to suicide risk reduction.