Depression is an important target of psychological assessment in patients with end-stage renal disease because it predicts their morbidity, mortality, and quality of life. We assessed the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral therapy in chronic hemodialysis patients diagnosed with major depression by the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI). In a randomized trial conducted in Brazil, an intervention group of 41 patients was given 12 weekly sessions of cognitive-behavioral group therapy led by a trained psychologist over 3 months while a control group of 44 patients received the usual treatment offered in the dialysis unit. In both groups, the Beck Depression Inventory, the MINI, and the Kidney Disease and Quality of Life-Short Form questionnaires were administered at baseline, after 3 months of intervention or usual treatment, and after 9 months of follow-up. The intervention group had significant improvements, compared to the control group, in the average scores of the Beck Depression Inventory overall scale, MINI scores, and in quality-of-life dimensions that included the burden of renal disease, sleep, quality of social interaction, overall health, and the mental component summary. We conclude that cognitive-behavioral group therapy is an effective treatment of depression in chronic hemodialysis patients.

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Background: We carried out a qualitative synthesis of international literature to provide insight into the patient’s experience as a means to help clinicians recognize symptoms of anorexia nervosa. Method: International publications from 1990 to 2005 were searched for relevant qualitative investigations, and meta-ethnography was employed to identify common themes across studies. Databases included were PubMed, ISI, PsycINFO, EMBASE, LILACS and SciELO. Results: 24 studies were included from a total of 3,415 papers. The second-order interpretation process using reciprocal translation allowed the identification of two concepts: (1) symptom identification (disease representation, self-concept, development of anorexia) and (2) disease interpretation (positive aspects, negative aspects, areas of life affected). Third-order constructs emerged revealing the disease as connected with identity and control. Conclusion: Knowledge of patients’ efforts to interpret the illness as a part of their own identity and sense of control have a key role in physician understanding of the disorder by allowing physicians to bring structure to the patients’ lives generally and to their help-seeking behavior specifically. The study has some limitations. Most of the results come from B-grade studies (as classified by the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme) that used qualitative methodology, implying the need for caution in data interpretation. Moreover, study populations were almost exclusively female, and no comparison was attempted concerning the severity of the condition between studies.

A validity study of the Brazilian version of the 15-item Short Psychiatric Evaluation Schedule (SPES), included in the mental health assessment of Older Americans Resources and Services (OARS), designed to detect psychiatric disorders in the elderly, against the "caseness" criterion suggested by Cooper and Schwarz was carried out with a community sample, as part of a survey to study health and living conditions of the elderly in a large urban center of a developing country, São Paulo, Brazil. The screening questionnaire was completed by 292 subjects, and 91 were selected for the psychiatric interview. The validity coefficients were as follows: sensitivity 61%, specificity 89%, positive predictive value 66%, negative predictive value 87% and misclassification rate 18%. A discriminant analysis using a stepwise procedure was then applied to select the best item discriminators of the screening questionnaire. The best set of discrimination comprised six items leading to the following validity coefficients: sensitivity 82%, specificity 77%, positive predictive value 58%, negative predictive value 92% and misclassification rate 21%. The possible factors related to false positive and false negative responses on the screening are discussed.

ObjectiveTo determine the prevalence of psychiatric disorders in the prison population in the State of São Paulo, Brazil.MethodsThrough stratified random sampling, 1.192 men and 617 women prisoners were evaluated for the presence of psychiatric disorders by the Composite International Diagnostic Interview, 2.1 version, according to definitions and criteria of International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10). The prevalence estimates of mental disorders and their respective 95% confidence intervals were calculated and adjusted for sample design through complex sample analysis.ResultsLifetime and 12-month prevalence rates differed between genders. Lifetime and 12-month prevalence of any mental disorder was, respectively, 68.9% and 39.2% among women, and 56.1% and 22.1% among men. Lifetime and 12-month prevalence of anxious-phobic disorders was, respectively, 50% and 27.7% among women and 35.3% and 13.6% among men, of affective disorders was 40% and 21% among women and 20.8% and 9.9% among men, and of drug-related disorders was 25.2% and 1.6% among women and 26.5% and 1.3% among men. For severe mental disorders (psychotic, bipolar disorders, and severe depression), the lifetime and 12-month prevalence rates were, respectively, 25.8% and 14.7% among women, and 12.3% and 6.3% among men.ConclusionsThis is the first large-scale epidemiological study performed with the prison population in Brazil, revealed high rates of psychiatric disorders among men and women. Many similarities, as well as some differences, were found between our results and those of studies conducted in other countries. The differences observed are more likely due to the peculiarities of the prison systems in each country than to the diagnostic criteria adopted in the studies. This fact reinforces the importance of conducting such studies as part of planning and development of appropriate policies for the particular mental health needs of specific prison populations.

BackgroundCurrent information on the epidemiology of physical inactivity among older adults is lacking, making it difficult to target the inactive and to plan for interventions to ameliorate adverse effects.ObjectivesTo present statewide representative findings on the prevalence of physical inactivity among older community residents, its correlates and associated health service use.MethodsA representative non-institutionalized random sample of 6963 individuals in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, aged ≥60 years, was interviewed face-to-face. Information was obtained on demographic characteristics, social resources, health conditions and behaviors, health service use, and physical inactivity. Controlled logistic regression was used to determine the association of physical inactivity with these characteristics.ResultsOverall, 62% reported no regular physical activity. Physical inactivity was significantly more prevalent among women, older persons, those with lower education and income, Afro-Brazilians (73%; White: 61%; “other”: 64%), those no longer married, and was associated with multiple individual health conditions and impaired activities of daily living (ADL). In adjusted analyses, associations remained for sociodemographic characteristics, social participation, impaired self-rated health, ADL, vision, and depression (odds ratios (OR) 1.2–1.7). Physically inactive respondents were less likely to report outpatient visits (OR 0.81), but more likely to be hospitalized (OR 1.41).ConclusionsPhysical inactivity is highly prevalent, particularly among Afro -Brazilians. It is associated with adverse sociodemographic characteristics; lack of social interaction; and poor self-rated health, ADL, vision, and depression; although not with other health conditions. Self-care may be neglected, resulting in hospitalization.

BackgroundThe association between depression, anxiety, and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is still unclear. Therefore, a systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to assess the rates of comorbid psychiatric disorders among women with PCOS compared to women without it.MethodsPubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, and Web of Science databases were searched from inception to November 27, 2015. Studies were eligible for inclusion if they were original reports in which the rates of mood (bipolar disorder, dysthymia, or major depressive disorder), obsessive–compulsive spectrum disorders, trauma- and stressor-related disorders, anxiety disorders or psychotic disorders, somatic symptom and related disorders, or eating disorders had been investigated among women with an established diagnosis of PCOS and compared with women without PCOS. Psychiatric diagnosis should have been established by means of a structured diagnostic interview or through a validated screening tool. Data were extracted and pooled using random effects models.ResultsSix studies were included in the meta-analysis; of these, five reported the rates of anxiety and six provided data on the rates of depression. The rate of subjects with anxiety symptoms was higher in patients with PCOS compared to women without PCOS (odds ratio (OR) =2.76; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.26 to 6.02; Log OR =1.013; P=0.011). The rate of subjects with depressive symptoms was higher in patients with PCOS compared to women without PCOS (OR =3.51; 95% CI 1.97 to 6.24; Log OR =1.255; P<0.001).ConclusionAnxiety and depression symptoms are more prevalent in patients with PCOS.