Priming moral self-ambivalence heightens deliberative behaviour in self-ambivalent individuals

Background: Recent work on cognitive-behavioural models of obsessive-compulsive disorder has focused on the roles played by various aspects of self-perception. In particular, moral self-ambivalence has been found to be associated with obsessive-compulsive phenomena. Aims: In this study we used an experimental task to investigate whether artificially priming moral self-ambivalence would increase participants' deliberation on ethical problems, an index that might be analogous to obsessive-compulsive behaviour. Method: Non-clinical participants completed two online tasks designed to prime either moral self-ambivalence, general uncertainty, or neither. All participants then completed a task requiring them to consider solutions to moral dilemmas. We recorded the time participants took to respond to the dilemmas and the length of their responses; we then combined these variables to create a measure of deliberation. Results: Priming moral self-ambivalence led to increases in deliberation, but this was only significant among those participants who scored highly on a baseline measure of moral self-ambivalence. Priming general uncertainty had no significant effect upon deliberation. Conclusions: The results suggest that moral self-ambivalence may play a role in the maintenance of obsessive-compulsive behaviour. We propose that individuals who are morally self-ambivalent might respond to situations in which this ambivalence is made salient by exhibiting behaviour with obsessive-compulsive characteristics. These findings have implications for the incorporation of ideas about self-concept into theories of obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Personality profile of male adolescents with Tourette syndrome:a controlled study

Tourette syndrome is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by multiple tics and commonly associated with behavioral problems, especially obsessive-compulsive disorder and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The presence of specific personality traits has been documented in adult clinical populations with Tourette syndrome but has been underresearched in younger patients. We assessed the personality profiles of 17 male adolescents with Tourette syndrome and 51 age- and gender-matched healthy controls using the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-Adolescent version, along with a standardized psychometric battery. All participants scored within the normal range across all Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-Adolescent version scales. Patients with Tourette syndrome scored significantly higher than healthy controls on the Obsessiveness Content Scale only (P = .046). Our findings indicate that younger male patients with Tourette syndrome do not report abnormal personality traits and have similar personality profiles to healthy peers, with the exception of obsessionality traits, which are likely to be related to the presence of comorbid obsessive compulsive symptoms rather than tics.

Group cognitive -behavioral therapy for heterogeneous anxiety disorders in children and adolescents: A multiple baseline study

This study investigated the efficacy of Group Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (GCBT) in the treatment of heterogeneous anxiety disorders in children. A partially nonconcurrent multiple baseline across groups design was used to assess the effects of the treatment on 12 clinically referred children and adolescents between 6 and 16 years of age who met DSM-IV criteria for an anxiety disorder. Targeted diagnoses included Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Simple Phobia, Separation Anxiety Disorder, Social Phobia, and Generalized Anxiety Disorder, with three of the children also presenting with school refusal behavior. Duration of baseline for each of the three groups varied and ran for one, two, or three weeks. Dependent measures included diagnostic status, child and parent-completed reports, and daily child and parent ratings of child anxiety severity. Results indicated that GCBT was efficacious in reducing anxious symptoms in children and adolescents treated in diagnostically heterogeneous groups, and that gains were generally maintained at 6 and 12 month follow-ups. Findings are discussed in terms of their theoretical and practical implications for the efficient treatment of children and adolescents with anxiety disorders. ^

Personalidade e sua relação com transtornos de ansiedade e de humor: Uma análise da produção científica brasileira na abordagem cognitivo-comportamental

Personality is one of the most controversial and intriguing theme in Psychology. In a general way, it could be understood as a set of rigid patters of feelings, thoughts, and behaviors from an individual. The aim of this investigation was describe how Brazilian researches in Psychology that use cognitive, behavioral, and cognitive-behavioral therapy referential have been approaching the subject Personality in their work. We also intended to determine the frequency of publications on Personality Disorders to compare this data with the bibliographical production on Anxiety and Mood Disorders. Moreover, we tried to describe how the Personality construct - and even Personality Disorders construct - has been addressed in the work on the Anxiety and Mood Disorders chosen for this review. The PePSIC Periódicos Eletrônicos em Psicologia - e SciELO.ORG - Scientific Electronic Library Online - databases were used for research. We investigated 53 journals, including two specific Cognitive Therapies and Behavioral-Cognitive Therapy (TCC) periodicals. Within each journal, we undertook a systematic survey on publications on the themes: Personality, Personality Disorder, Panic Disorder, Social Phobia, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Major Depression, Dysthymia and Bipolar Disorder. A preliminary research has resulted in 218 articles. A second filter has obtained 81 articles in which we the focused on this review. There were found thirty-eight articles on Anxiety Disorders, twenty-five on Mood Disorders and eighteen on Personality Disorders. It was found that 90% of the papers on Anxiety Disorders make no reference to the term Personality or make it in a discrete way. This number rises to 96% to Personality Disorder group. Analyzing the specific journals on TCC we verified that 97% of the articles on Anxiety and Humor disorders do not cite the term Personality or cite but not explore it. This results point to the low rate of studies addressing the Personality and personality disturbs. Then, we can suggest that the difficulty on treating this Axis II disturbs has been worsened by lack of knowledge produced on the subject, either for lack of interest among researchers or because of the methodological obstacles found on this field.

Estudo Comparado entre Alcoólicos e Não Alcoólicos: sintomas psicopatológicos: amostra brasileira

Os sintomas psicológicos nos indivíduos consumidores de álcool é o tema investigado neste trabalho, que se dedicou a analisar as diferenças entre grupos de indivíduos alcoólicos e não alcoólicos homens e mulheres. A oportunidade desta investigação se originou no trabalho de psicologia clínica com pacientes alcoólicos e, principalmente, frente às carências bibliográficas no mercado sobre o assunto. O presente trabalho, buscou, portanto, investigar-se, a partir das hipóteses, a intensidade de problemas psicológicos e sintomas psicopatológicos em sujeitos alcoólicos de ambos os sexos. Para tal, foram realizadas entrevistas orientadas para a aplicação do instrumento. O instrumento utilizado na pesquisa foi o SCL 90-R (Symptom Check List 90 - Revised) (DEROGATIS, 1983) que se propõe a medir a intensidade dos sintomas, especificamente em casos de alcoolismo, sendo este instrumento validado no Brasil (LALONI, 2001). Os sintomas psicológicos avaliados foram: Psicose, Relações Interpessoais, Ansiedade, Ideação Paranóide, Hostilidade, Depressão, Fobia e Obsessivo Compulsivo. A população investigada abrangeu pessoas não consumidoras de álcool da comunidade e pessoas alcoólicas pertencentes aos AA (Alcoólicos Anônimos). Os dois grupos pertencem à Região Metropolitana de Porto Alegre no Estado do Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil. A comparação foi abrangente em relação aos aspectos de gênero, pois além de comparar o grupo de alcoólicos e não alcoólicos verificou as relações de gênero, analisando as diferenças entre o grupo de homens e mulheres alcoólicos e não alcoólicos. Os resultados encontrados demonstram que os alcoólicos são mais sintomáticos que os não alcoólicos e as mulheres apresentam-se em relação aos sintomas avaliados com médias mais altas que os homens. Os alcoólicos homens e mulheres não diferem de forma estatisticamente significativa em seus sintomas psicológicos. Da mesma forma homens e mulheres não alcoólicos não diferem em seus sintomas psicológicos. / The subject of this research concerns about psychological symptoms on alcohol consuming individuals, analyzing the differences between groups of alcoholic and non alcoholic individuals, men and women. This investigation arose from the psychological clinic work with alcoholic patients in face of the lack of literature about this subject. Based on the hypothesis we investigated the intensity of psychological problems and psychopathological symptoms in alcoholic individuals of both sexes. We also evaluated the presence and intensity of psychological problems and psychopathological symptoms in non alcoholic individuals of both sexes. For this research we performed interviews oriented to the application of the instrument. The instrument employed in the research was SCL 90-R (Symptom Check List 90 - Revised) (DEROGATIS, 1983) which measures the intensity of the symptoms. The instrument was validated in Brazil (LALONI, 2001) and is specific to evaluate symptoms in case of alcoholism. The psychological symptoms we evaluated were: Psychosis, Interpersonal Relations, Anxiety, Paranoid Ideation, Hostility, Depression, Phobia, and Obsessive Compulsive. The population investigated is formed by non alcohol consuming people and alcoholics belonging to the Anonymous Alcoholics (AA). Both groups are from the Metropolitan Region of Porto Alegre in the southern sate of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The comparison was comprehensive regarding the aspects of gender, since besides comparing the group of alcoholics and non alcoholics, it compared alcoholic men and women among themselves, and non alcoholic men and women as well. The results that were found demonstrate that alcoholics are more symptomatic than non alcoholics and women, regarding the evaluated symptoms, present themselves with higher averages than men. Alcoholic men and women do not expressively differ in their psychological symptoms, as non alcoholic men and women do not expressively differ in their psychological symptoms as well.

Tourette's syndrome and associated disorders: a systematic review

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.

Tourette's syndrome and associated disorders: a systematic review

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.

Para uma compreensão dos comportamentos de automutilação

Dissertação de Mestrado apresentada no Instituto Superior de Psicologia Aplicada para obtenção do grau de Mestre na especialidade de Psicologia Clínica

EVIDENCE OF VALIDITY OF THE LSB-50: CROSS-VALIDATION, FACTORIAL INVARIANCE AND EXTERNAL CRITERION ANALYSIS

The aim of this paper was to obtain evidence of the validity of the LSB-50 (de Rivera & Abuín, 2012), a screening measure of psychopathology, in Argentinean adolescents. The sample consisted of 1002 individuals (49.7% male; 50.3% female) between 12 and 18 years-old (M = 14.98; SD = 1.99). A cross-validation study and factorial invariance studies were performed in samples divided by sex and age to test if a seven-factor structure that corresponds to seven clinical scales (Hypersensitivity, Obsessive-Compulsive, Anxiety, Hostility, Somatization, Depression, and Sleep disturbance) was adequate for the LSB-50. The seven-factor structure proved to be suitable for all the subsamples. Next, the fit of the seven-factor structure was studied simultaneously? in the aforementioned subsamples through hierarchical models that imposed different constrains of equivalency?. Results indicated the invariance of the seven clinical dimensions of the LSB-50. Ordinal alphas showed good internal consistency for all the scales. Finally, the correlations with a diagnostic measure of psychopathology (PAI-A) indicated moderate convergence. It is concluded that the analyses performed provide robust evidence of construct validity for the LSB-50

Intervenção psicomotora em saúde mental em contexto sócio ocupacional : intervenção com adultos com perturbações da saúde mental no Fórum Sócio Ocupacional do Grupo de Ação Comunitária

O presente relatório apresenta e descreve o percurso efetuado nas atividades de estágio no âmbito do 2º ano do Mestrado em Reabilitação Psicomotora na Faculdade de Motricidade Humana – Universidade de Lisboa. O relatório de estágio que se apresenta envolve uma contextualização das perturbações observadas bem como a descrição da intervenção psicomotora efetuada no Fórum Sócio Ocupacional do Grupo de Ação Comunitária, no âmbito da Saúde Mental Comunitária. As atividades desenvolvidas visaram estimular as capacidades de planeamento, avaliação e intervenção psicomotoras por parte da aluna, no contexto de intervenção onde se inseria, visando também a coordenação do seu trabalho com outros profissionais e com a comunidade. Ao longo do estágio foram desenvolvidas sessões de Psicomotricidade em grupo e individuais, bem como outras atividades relacionadas com a psicomotricidade fora das sessões. Durante o estágio foram ainda realizados dois estudos de caso e elaboradas sessões tendo em vista avaliações inicial e final efetuadas. Conclui-se no final deste relatório que a intervenção em Psicomotricidade em saúde mental em contexto comunitário é pertinente tendo em conta os resultados da avaliação efetuada.

Compulsive features in behavioural addictions: the case of pathological gambling

Aims To describe, in the context of DSM-V, how a focus on addiction and compulsion is emerging in the consideration of pathological gambling (PG). Methods A systematic literature review of evidence for the proposed re-classification of PG as an addiction. Results Findings include: (i) phenomenological models of addiction highlighting a motivational shift from impulsivity to compulsivity associated with a protracted withdrawal syndrome and blurring of the ego-syntonic/ego-dystonic dichotomy; (ii) common neurotransmitter (dopamine, serotonin) contributions to PG and substance use disorders (SUDs); (iii) neuroimaging support for shared neurocircuitries between behavioural and substance addictions and differences between obsessivecompulsive disorder (OCD), impulse control disorders (ICDs) and SUDs; (iv) genetic findings more closely related to endophenotypic constructs such as compulsivity and impulsivity than to psychiatric disorders; (v) psychological measures such as harm avoidance identifying a closer association between SUDs and PG than with OCD; (vi) community and pharmacotherapeutic trials data supporting a closer association between SUDs and PG than with OCD. Adapted behavioural therapies, such as exposure therapy, appear applicable to OCD, PG or SUDs, suggesting some commonalities across disorders. Conclusions PG shares more similarities with SUDs than with OCD. Similar to the investigation of impulsivity, studies of compulsivity hold promising insights concerning the course, differential diagnosis and treatment of PG, SUDs, and OCD.

Evaluation Of Characteristic-to-total Spectrum Ratio: Comparison Between Experimental And A Semi-empirical Model.

Primary X-ray spectra were measured in the range of 80-150kV in order to validate a computer program based on a semiempirical model. The ratio between the characteristic and total air Kerma was considered to compare computed results and experimental data. Results show that the experimental spectra have higher first HVL and mean energy than the calculated ones. The ratios between the characteristic and total air Kerma for calculated spectra are in good agreement with experimental results for all filtrations used.

Validity and reliability of the Structured Clinical Interview for Mood Spectrum: Brazilian version (SCIMOODS-VB)

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to translate the Structured Clinical Interview for Mood Spectrum into Brazilian Portuguese, measuring its reliability, validity, and defining scores for bipolar disorders. METHOD: Questionnaire was translated (into Brazilian Portuguese) and back-translated into English. Sample consisted of 47 subjects with bipolar disorder, 47 with major depressive disorder, 18 with schizophrenia and 22 controls. Inter-rater reliability was tested in 20 subjects with bipolar disorder and MDD. Internal consistency was measured using the Kuder Richardson formula. Forward stepwise discriminant analysis was performed. Scores were compared between groups; manic (M), depressive (D) and total (T) threshold scores were calculated through receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. RESULTS: Kuder Richardson coefficients were between 0.86 and 0.94. Intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.96 (CI 95 % 0.93-0.97). Subjects with bipolar disorder had higher M and T, and similar D scores, when compared to major depressive disorder (ANOVA, p < 0.001). The sub-domains that best discriminated unipolar and bipolar subjects were manic energy and manic mood. M had the best area under the curve (0.909), and values of M equal to or greater than 30 yielded 91.5% sensitivity and 74.5% specificity. CONCLUSION: Structured Clinical Interview for Mood Spectrum has good reliability and validity. Cut-off of 30 best differentiates subjects with bipolar disorder vs. unipolar depression. A cutoff score of 30 or higher in the mania sub-domain is appropriate to help make a distinction between subjects with bipolar disorder and those with unipolar depression.

Transtornos psiquiátricos no pós-parto

OBJETIVO: O pós-parto é um período de alterações biológicas, psicológicas e sociais. Essa é considerada a época mais vulnerável para a ocorrência de transtornos psiquiátricos. A disforia puerperal, a depressão pós-parto e a psicose pós-parto têm sido classicamente relacionadas ao pós-parto. Atualmente, tem sido observado que os transtornos ansiosos também estão associados a esse período. MÉTODO: Neste artigo é feita uma revisão da bibliografia acerca de transtornos psiquiátricos no pós-parto a partir de artigos encontrados no PubMed e no SciELO entre os anos de 2000 e 2009. Livros, teses e outros artigos considerados relevantes citados no material consultado também foram incluídos. RESULTADOS: A disforia puerperal ocorre em 50% a 85% das mulheres, o quadro é leve e transitório e não requer tratamento. A depressão pós-parto tem prevalência em torno de 13%, pode causar repercussões negativas na interação mãe-bebê e em outros aspectos da vida da mulher e deve ser tratada. A psicose pós-parto é rara, aparecendo em cerca de 0,2% das puérperas. Tem quadro grave que envolve sintomas psicóticos e afetivos, havendo risco de suicídio e infanticídio e geralmente requerendo internação hospitalar. Os transtornos ansiosos podem ser exacerbados ou precipitados no pós-parto, especialmente o transtorno de ansiedade generalizada, o transtorno de estresse pós-traumático e o transtorno obsessivo-compulsivo. CONCLUSÃO: Apesar de não serem reconhecidos como entidades diagnósticas pelos sistemas classificatórios atuais, os transtornos mentais no puerpério apresentam peculiaridades clínicas que merecem atenção por parte de clínicos e pesquisadores.

Emergence of Klebsiella pneumoniae carrying the novel extended-spectrum 'beta'-lactamase gene variants 'bla IND. SHV-40', 'bla IND. TEM-116' and the class I integron-associated 'bla IND. GES-7' in Brazil

A clinical Klebsiella pneumoniae isolate carrying the extended-spectrum beta-lactamase gene variants bla(SHV-40), bla(TEM-116) and bla(GES-7) was recovered. Cefoxitin and ceftazidime activity was most affected by the presence of these genes and an additional resistance to trimethoprim-sulphamethoxazole was observed. The bla(GES-7) gene was found to be inserted into a class 1 integron. These results show the emergence of novel bla(TEM) and bla(SHV) genes in Brazil. Moreover, the presence of class 1 integrons suggests a great potential for dissemination of bla(GES) genes into diverse nosocomial pathogens. Indeed, the bla(GES-7) gene was originally discovered in Enterobacter cloacae in Greece and, to our knowledge, has not been reported elsewhere