Resumo em Inglês:

Background There are several parameters that must be included in the evaluation psychosocial rehabilitation. Objectives To describe and correlate the degree of stress of family members who live with schizophrenic and bipolar disorder patients, their satisfaction with mental health services and the level of daily living skills of the patient. Method Cross-sectional and correlational study, from 2012 to 2013, with a sample of 100 caregivers. The Family Satisfaction with Mental Health Services Rating Scale (SATIS-BR), the Independent Living Skills Survey (ILSS-BR), and the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) were used. Data were analyzed using SPSS v.21, with the Mann-Whitney test, Jonckheere-Terpstra test, and Pearson’s, Spearman’s and Partial correlations, and a significance level α = 0.05. Results The score for the SATIS-BR scale was 4.28, 1.59 for the ILSS, and 7.39 for the GHQ-12. The value of the Pearson correlation coefficient between the SATIS-BR and ILSS was r = -0.27, and r = -0.23 between the GHQ-12 and SATIS-BR. The Spearman’s correlation coefficient between Education and the GHQ-12 was r = -0.24 and there was a negative linear trend between stress and the level of education (JT = -2.54, p < 0:01). Discussion The caregivers presented a very high level of psychological distress, therefore, it is critical that mental health services perform more effective psychosocial rehabilitation actions.

Resumo em Inglês:

Background The impact that communication has on adherence, considering outcomes such as patient satisfaction and recall of the content of encounters with health care providers, has been extensively reported on in the literature. The South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG) developed a specific communication intervention program, which was implemented in a local public sector setting. Objective To investigate the attendance and medication adherence of patients at the specialist psychiatric outpatient clinic of the Helen Joseph Hospital in Johannesburg, before and after the pilot implementation of this program. Methods Included quantitative and qualitative methodologies. The retrospective component included a review of participants’ demographic and clinical profile and medication adherence. The prospective, qualitative component included structured pre- and post-questionnaires. Results The typical participant was female (76%), older than 40 years (58.2%) and unemployed (74.2%). Comparing the study and control groups, the communication program resulted in a higher post-intervention booking ratio for the Study group, while the diagnostic category of participants were associated with their understanding of their medication. Discussion Being mindful of the noted limitations of this pilot project, the SADAG program or similar communication intervention strategy, should be a standard operational procedure in local South African state sector clinics.

Resumo em Inglês:

Background The potentially harmful consequences of alcohol use among undergraduates have become a growing concern in recent years. Objectives This study aimed to determine the prevalence of hazardous use of alcohol in this population and to identify demographic and psychosocial factors associated with this pattern of consumption. Methods This was a cross-sectional study using an anonymous and self-completed questionnaire in the classroom. The questionnaire was administered to 1,290 enrolled male and female students, which comprised a proportional sample of the main areas of knowledge at University of Campinas. The questionnaire produced sociodemographic and psychosocial profiles and the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test was used to detect hazardous use of alcohol. Results The prevalence of hazardous use of alcohol among the study participants was 24%. Male gender, subjective perceived social support in case of difficulties, being sexually active, not dating, having smoked tobacco cigarettes or marijuana, and having used other illicit psychoactive substances were associated with hazardous use of alcohol. Discussion Variables related to gender, sexuality, affective partnerships, and consumption of other psychoactive substances were associated with hazardous use of alcohol, which was identified in a quarter of the evaluated students, and indicate the need for strategies to prevent and to treat problems.

Resumo em Inglês:

Background The relationship between insight and suicidal behavior among psychotic patients is poorly studied and possibly mediated by clinical variables. Objectives Our goal was to investigate clinical differences in suicidal and non-suicidal delusional disorder (DD) patients, and to evaluate the relationship between insight, psychotic and depressive symptoms. Methods Cross-sectional study in 64 consecutive DD patients. For assessment, we used the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD-17), the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS), the Personal and Social Performance Scale (PSP), and the first three items of the SUMD scale for insight. The sample was divided according to the presence of suicide attempts. To investigate psychopathological associations, bivariate correlation coefficients were used. Age at onset served as covariate in subsequent analyses. Results Suicidal DD patients had higher depressive symptoms and were more frequently admitted than non-suicidal patients. A logistic regression model confirmed that insight, depressive symptoms and age at onset were predictors of suicidal behavior. Unawareness of the effects of medication was negatively related to depressive symptoms. After adjustment, depressive symptoms were weakly correlated to better insight into the effects of medication. No other statistically significant correlations were found. Discussion Depressive symptoms, insight and age at onset of disease may be potential predictors of suicidal behavior in DD patients.