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Conversion disorder is closely related to dissociative disorders. These results support the ICD-10 categorization of conversion disorder among dissociative disorders and the hypothesis of analogous psychopathological processes in conversion and dissociative disorders versus somatization disorder.

Objective: To compile data on Tourette's syndrome (TS), tics and associated disorders. Methods: A systematic review of the literature was conducted using the 5S levels of organization of healthcare research evidence (systems, summaries, synopses, syntheses, studies), based on the model described by Haynes. The search keywords were Tourette, tics and comorbidity, which were cross-referenced. Studies provided by publishers and articles being processed on July 31, 2013, were also included. Results: Of all studies retrieved during the search, 64 were selected because they analyzed the epidemiology, clinical features and etiopathogenesis of TS and its comorbidities. TS is classified as a hyperkinetic movement disorder, and at least 90% of the patients have neuropsychiatric comorbidities, of which attention deficit hyperactivity and obsessive-compulsive disorders are the most common. The syndrome is clinically heterogeneous and has been associated with a dysfunction of cortico-striatal-thalamic-cortical circuits involving various neurotransmitters. Although its genetic etiology has been widely studied, other factors may be important to understand this syndrome and its associated disorders. Conclusions: TS is a neurodevelopmental disorder that results from the impact of stress factors on a vulnerable biological substrate during the critical periods of neurodevelopment. The study of TS and its comorbidities may contribute, at different levels, to the understanding of several neuropsychiatric disorders of clinical and therapeutic relevance. Keywords: Attention deficit disorder with hyperactivity, comorbidity, obsessive-compulsive disorder, tics, Tourette's syndrome. ResumoObjetivo: Compilar o conhecimento existente sobre a síndrome de Tourette (ST), tiques e patologias associadas. Metodologia: Foi realizada uma revisão sistemática da literatura usando os níveis 5S (sistemas, sumários, sinopses, sínteses e estudos) de organização de evidência de pesquisa em saúde, com base no modelo proposto por Haynes. Os termos de busca foram Tourette, tiques e comorbidades, completados por pesquisa por referência cruzada. Os artigos fornecidos pelos editores e aqueles a serem processados para publicação em 31 de julho de 2013 também foram incluídos. Resultados: De todos os artigos encontrados durante a pesquisa, 64 foram selecionados porque analisavam a epidemiologia, as características clínicas e a etiopatogenia da ST. A ST define-se como um distúrbio hipercinético do movimento, e pelo menos 90% dos pacientes apresentam comorbidades neuropsiquiátricas, das quais as mais comuns são a perturbação de déficit de atenção com hiperatividade e a perturbação obsessivo--compulsiva. Esta síndrome é clinicamente heterogênea e tem sido relacionada com a disfunção dos circuitos córtico-estriado--tálamo-corticais envolvendo vários neurotransmissores. Apesar de sua etiologia genética ter sido amplamente estudada, outros fatores podem ser importantes para entender esta síndrome e as perturbações relacionadas. Conclusões: A ST resulta de uma p...

Despite the large amount of research on panic attacks according to DSM criteria, there are some inconsistencies between this and reports from clinical settings. Some naturalistic and non‐standard studies are needed. The authors of the present study submitted a list of 24 bodily symptoms to 65 panic patients who had sought medical help. The results of principal‐component analysis revealed five factors, four of which represent the forms described in clinical and epidemiological contexts: cephalo‐vertiginous, cervico‐respiratory, thoraco‐cardiac and abdomino‐digestive. Each of these factors is differentially related to some specific fearful anticipations, which may organize the symptoms in a body‐related topographical way.

Introduction: Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) are neurodevelopmental disorders that affect people across their lifespan. Among those without an intelectual disability, the disorder may not become apparent until adulthood, when it usually presents with comorbidities. Objectives/Aims: As ASD symptoms are poorly recognized and assessed in adulthood, and the diagnosis is made easier by the application of appropriate evaluation scales, we intend to identify and describe all tools available for screening or diagnosing ASD in adults without intellectual disabilities, and report their psychometric properties. Methods: Pubmed, PsycINFO and Embase database search up until September/2014, using 'highfunctioning autism" or 'Asperger" and 'adult", combined with 'questionnaire", 'assessment", 'instrument" or 'scale" as search terms.

Dissociative disorders and other psychopathological groups: exploring the differences through the Somatoform Dissociation Questionnaire Perturbações dissociativas e outros grupos psicopatológicos: explorando as diferenças através do Somatoform Dissociation Questionnaire (SDQ-20)A b s t r a c t Objective: The Somatoform Dissociation Questionnaire is a self-report questionnaire that has proven to be a reliable and valid instrument. The objectives of this study were to validate the Portuguese version and to determine its capability to distinguish patients with dissociative disorders from others with psychopathological disorders. Method: 234 patients answered the translated version of Somatoform Dissociation Questionnaire. The Portuguese Dissociative Disorders Interview Schedule was used to validate clinical diagnosis. Patients with dissociative disorder (n = 113) were compared to a control group of 121 patients with various anxiety and depression disorders. Results: Reliability measured by Cronbach's α was 0.88. The best performance of the Portuguese form was at a cut-off point of 35, which distinguishes between dissociative disorder and neurotic disorders with a good diagnostic efficacy (sensitivity = 0.73). The somatoform dissociation was significantly more frequent in dissociative disorder patients, conversion disorder patients and post-traumatic stress disorder patients. Conclusions: These findings suggest that dissociative disorders can be differentiated from other psychiatric disorders through somatoform dissociation. The Portuguese version of the Somatoform Dissociation Questionnaire has fine psychometric features that sustain its cross-cultural validity. Descriptors: Somatoform disorders; Dissociative disorders; Psychiatric disorders; Hysteria; Validation studiesResumo Objetivo: O objetivo deste estudo foi adaptar, validar e determinar a confiabilidade da versão portuguesa do Somatoform Dissociation Questionnaire e determinar a sua capacidade de discriminar doentes que dissociam de outros doentes. Método: O Somatoform Dissociation Questionnaire foi traduzido para o português e retrovertido para o inglês de forma a garantir a sua base conceitual. Os sujeitos responderam também à versão portuguesa do Dissociative Disorders Interview Schedule de forma a validar o seu diagnóstico clínico. O estudo incluiu 234 sujeitos divididos entre 113 doentes com patologias dissociativas e 121 doentes com outras patologias do foro ansioso e depressivo. Resultados: O Somatoform Dissociation Questionnaire versão portuguesa mostrou o seu melhor desempenho no ponto de corte 35, apresentando uma sensibilidade de 0,73. O alfa de Cronbach revelou uma consistência interna de 0,88. A dissociação somatoforme foi significativamente mais freqüente nos doentes com patologias dissociativas, patologias conversivas e distúrbio de stress pós-traumático. Conclusões: A versão portuguesa do Somatoform Dissociation Questionnaire mostrou-se um instrumento útil para discriminar doentes com patologia de foro dissociativo de outros doentes.

Pruritus is a key symptom in allergology and dermatology, contributing to the global and huge impact on quality of life related to skin disorders, both those which are not related to a primary dermatosis (illness) and those which are linked with primary skin lesions (disease). This is particularly evident within psychophysiological dermatoses, a group of psychodermatological diseases where there is a primary dermatosis, where psychological stress plays a role, and where pruritus may represent a major and shared symptom. The etiopathogenesis of pruritus in those disorders sheds light on the link among psychopathological features, psychological stress and the subtle interface between allergic and autoimmune mechanisms, where mast cells play a pivotal role. Allergy has long been recognised as an altered reactivity to exogenous antigens (allergens), defined as an immediate hypersensitivity mediated by immunoglobulin E (IgE). In turn, the immunological understanding of atopy is related to an immediate hypersensitivity reaction to environmental antigens involving T-helper 2 (Th2) responses and the IgE production. Mast cells are major cells in the early phase of allergy, releasing the mediators involved in the symptoms associated with the allergic disease, including pruritus, when the allergen cross-links with IgE, whose mechanisms can be observed in acute urticaria and atopy. Some allergic reactions may persist and allergy may eventually lead to autoimmunity, with the development of a T-helper 1 (Th1) and then IgE-independent inflammation. For instance, in chronic spontaneous urticaria, the mast cell activation may include autoimmune mechanisms, where autoantibodies against the extracellular α subunit of the high-affinity IgE receptor (FcεRIα) and to IgE are observed, with the involvement of Th1 lymphocytes and the production of interferon-γ (INF-γ). The role of autoimmunity is also suggested in the etiopathogenesis of other psychophysiological dermatoses, namely psoriasis, atopic dermatitis and alopecia areata. In the latter, for example, mast cells were reported to be linked with the loss of immune privilege and they are the key cells involved in the experience of pruritus, whose intensity was reported to precede and be correlated with the onset of the hair loss. Furthermore, considering that the role of hair and skin is wide, from psychosocial aspects (communication and social interaction) to vital functions (such as, temperature control), it is straightforward that they are central in our interactions and synchronization with others and the world; thereby, we may admit that the psychophysiological dermatoses could represent a loss of such synchronization. Furthermore, they are often linked with psychopathology which strongly connects with the concept of desynchronization, namely, sleep disorders and depressive symptoms, the clinical expression of a dysfunction in the interplay among mast cells, pineal gland and melatonin, thus the circadian rhythm, as well as their connection with the hypothalamic corticotrophin-releasing hormone (CRH), well-known for its key role in stress response. Moreover, increasing evidence has supported the existence of cutaneous equivalents for these mechanisms, connecting with those central pathways. Thereby, taking all these concepts into consideration, this review intends to look into the updated evidence on the shared biological mechanisms between allergy and autoimmunity, underlining pruritus as a core element, then revisiting the key role of mast cells and discussing the connection with melatonin and immune-inflammatory pathways in the physiopathology of psychophysiological dermatoses, thus paving the way for the understanding of their psychosomatic correlates and a comprehensive psychodermatological approach.