Viabilidade, aceitação e eficácia do tratamento familiar para anorexia nervosa em adolescentes: um estudo observacional no Brasil

OBJECTIVE: There is strong evidence that family-based treatment is effective in cases of adolescent anorexia nervosa. Although family-based treatment has been studied in English-speaking countries, there is a need to examine the generalizability of this approach to non-English speaking cultures. This pilot-study aimed to examine the feasibility, acceptability, and effectiveness of family-based treatment in Brazil. METHOD: Observational study of adolescents with anorexia nervosa (excluding menstrual criteria), as determined with the Diagnostic and Well-Being Assessment, referred for treatment at a specialized center in São Paulo, Brazil. The following data were collected at baseline, at the end of treatment, and after six months of follow-up: weight; height; body mass index; menstrual status; Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire score; and Children Global Assessment of Functioning Scale score. RESULTS: Of 11 eligible patients/families, 9 (82%) enrolled in the study, and 7 (78%) completed the treatment. The mean patient age was 14.64 ± 1.63 years (range, 12.33-17.00 years). The Wilcoxon signed rank test showed statistically significant improvement in weight and body mass index at the end of treatment, as well as after six months of follow-up, at which point none of the patients met the diagnostic criteria for any eating disorder. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that family-based treatment is acceptable and feasible for Brazilian families. Outcomes suggest that the approach is effective in this cultural context, leading to improvements similar to those reported in previous studies conducted in other cultures.OBJETIVO: Estudos prévios demonstram fortes evidências de eficácia do Tratamento Familiar para anorexia nervosa em adolescentes. Os estudos disponíveis a respeito do tratamento familiar foram conduzidos em países de língua inglesa. É necessário avaliar a aplicabilidade deste método em países de língua não-inglesa. Este estudo piloto tem como objetivo avaliar a viabilidade, a aceitação e a eficácia do tratamento familiar no Brasil. MÉTODO: Estudo observacional de adolescentes com diagnóstico anorexia nervosa (exceto critério amenorréia) segundo o Levantamento sobre Diagnóstico e Bem-Estar de crianças e adolescentes encaminhadas para tratamento em um centro especializado na cidade de São Paulo, Brasil. Dados coletados no início do estudo, ao final do tratamento e seis meses após o término: peso, estatura, índice de massa corporal, menstruações, Questionário de Exame para Transtornos Alimentares e Escala de Funcionamento Global para Crianças. RESULTADOS: Nove de 11 famílias elegíveis entraram no estudo (82%) e sete (78%) completaram o tratamento. A idade média foi 14,64 anos (DP = 1,63; 12,33-17,00). Teste dos sinais de Wilcoxon demonstrou melhora estatisticamente significativa no peso e índice de massa corporal ao final do tratamento e seis meses após o término. Nenhum dos pacientes preencheu critérios diagnósticos para qualquer transtorno alimentar no seguimento. CONCLUSÃO: Os resultados sugerem que tratamento familiar é aceitável e viável para as famílias brasileiras. A evolução sugere que este método pode ser eficaz nesse contexto cultural com resultados positivos semelhantes a estudos prévios realizados em outras culturas

Epidemiology of childhood conduct problems in Brazil: systematic review and meta-analysis

This study aimed to review evidence on the prevalence of and risk factors for conduct problems in Brazil.We searched electronic databases and contacted Brazilian researchers up to 05/2012. Studies were included in the review if they reported the prevalence of or risk factors for conduct problems, conduct disorder, or oppositional defiant disorder for 100 + Brazilian children aged a parts per thousand currency sign18 years, systematically sampled in schools or the community. Prevalence rates and sex differences were meta-analysed. Risk factor studies were reviewed one by one.The average prevalence of conduct problems in screening questionnaires was 20.8 %, and the average prevalence of conduct disorder/oppositional defiant disorder was 4.1 %. There was systematic variation in the results of screening studies according to methodology: recruitment location, informants, instruments, impairment criterion for case definition, and response rates. Risk factors previously identified in high-income countries were mainly replicated in Brazil, including comorbid mental health problems, educational failure, low religiosity, harsh physical punishment and abuse, parental mental health problems, single parent family, and low socioeconomic status. However, boys did not always have higher risk for conduct problems than girls.Studies using screening questionnaires suggest that Brazilian children have higher rates of conduct problems than children in other countries, but diagnostic studies do not show this difference. Risk factors in Brazil were similar to those in high-income countries, apart from child sex. Future research should investigate developmental patterns of antisocial behaviour, employ a variety of research designs to identify causal risk mechanisms, and examine a broader range of risk factors.Wellcome TrustUniv Cambridge, Dept Psychiat, Cambridge CB2 8AH, EnglandUniv Fed Pelotas, Postgrad Program Epidemiol, Pelotas, BrazilUniv São Paulo, Dept Psychiat, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Psychiat, Pelotas, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Psychiat, Pelotas, BrazilWellcome Trust: 089963/Z/09/ZWeb of Scienc

Mental health in primary care: ways to reach an integral care

A great challenge for the primary healthcare system, implemented by the strategy called the Family Health Program, is to incorporate actions for facing situations of violence and mental health problems. This study analyzed the care delivered to 411 children between five and eleven years of age in a primary care unit in the city of São Paulo. The clinical findings were compared to a standard inventory of symptoms (CBCL). In addition, semi-structured interviews were held with pediatricians. The study shows low capacity of the pediatricians to recognize mental health problems in children. This is mainly due to deficiencies in their training and lack of possibilities for concrete intervention to face a complaint or diagnostic hypothesis. The reorganization process of primary care will need to provide specific technical support in mental health, incorporating more appropriate technologies for intervention such as a humanized approach and qualified listening. The inclusion of psychosocial aspects in the everyday practice of primary care will make it possible to broaden the concept of health and open way for an integrated approach to situations of violence related to children assisted by the primary care network of the Brazilian Health System.A atenção básica de saúde, impulsionada pela estratégia da saúde da família, tem o grande desafio de incorporar de ações de enfrentamento às situações de violência e problemas de saúde mental. O trabalho analisou a atenção prestada a 411 crianças de cinco a onze anos em uma UBS na cidade de São Paulo. Os dados clínicos foram comparados com um inventário de sintomas padronizados Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL). Entrevistas semi-estruturadas foram aplicadas complementarmente em pediatras. O trabalho mostra que os pediatras têm baixa capacidade de reconhecer problemas de saúde mental em crianças. Os principais fatores relacionados a este baixo desempenho foram: deficiência na formação, carência de possibilidade de atuação concreta frente à queixa ou hipótese diagnóstica. O processo de reorganização do trabalho na atenção básica deveria contemplar a oferta de apoio técnico específico em saúde mental, propiciando a incorporação de tecnologias de intervenção mais apropriadas, como acolhimento e escuta qualificada. A incorporação dos aspectos psicossociais na prática cotidiana da atenção básica possibilitará a ampliação do conceito saúde-doença e abrirá caminho para a abordagem das situações de violência às crianças atendidas na rede básica de serviços de saúde do SUS

Criança, violência e saúde: desafios e questões atuais

This paper examines challenges and current issues involved in measuring exposure to different types of violence which are associated mental health problems in children and adolescents. Standardized measures suitable for epidemiological studies, selected based on their relevance in the current literature, are briefly described and commented. The assessment of child's exposure to violence may focus on a specific event (e.g., kidnapping), a specific context (e.g., war) or even of a certain type of exposure (e.g., intrafamilial physical violence). The assessment of child mental health after exposure to violence has traditionally focused on posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) - most frequently measured through non-diagnostic scales. However, other mental health reactions may be present and screening as well as diagnostic instruments which may be used to assess these reactions are also described. Two issues of emerging importance - the assessment of impairment and of traumatic grief in children - are also presented. Availability of culturally appropriate instruments is a crucial step towards proper identification of child mental health problems after exposure to violence.Este artigo examina os desafios e perspectivas atuais envolvidos na mensuração da exposição a diferentes tipos de violência e problemas de saúde mental em crianças e adolescentes. Instrumentos padronizados apropriados para estudos epidemiológicos, selecionados com base em sua relevância na literatura, são brevemente descritos e comentados. A avaliação de exposição à violência em crianças pode dizer respeito a um evento específico (como sequestro) ou um contexto específico (como guerra) ou mesmo um determinado tipo de exposição (como violência física intrafamiliar). A avaliação da saúde mental infantil após a exposição à violência tradicionalmente concentrou-se na avaliação do transtorno de estresse pós-traumático (TEPT) - freqüentemente avaliado através de escalas não-diagnósticas. Porém, outras reações psicológicas podem ocorrer e instrumentos que podem ser usados para avaliar estas reações também são descritos neste artigo. Dois tópicos de importância emergente - a avaliação de prejuízo funcional e do pesar traumático em crianças - são também apresentados. Instrumentos culturalmente apropriados são essenciais para a identificação de problemas de saúde mental em crianças após a exposição à violência.Division of Child and Adolescent PsychiatryUniversidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), Escola Paulista de Medicina (EPM) Departamento de PsiquiatriaUNIFESP, EPM, Depto. de PsiquiatriaSciEL

Feasibility, acceptability, and effectiveness of family- based treatment for adolescent anorexia nervosa: an observational study conducted in Brazil Viabilidade, aceitação e eficácia do tratamento familiar para anorexia nervosa em adolescentes: um estudo

Abstract Objective: There is strong evidence that family-based treatment is effective in cases of adolescent anorexia nervosa. Although family-based treatment has been studied in English-speaking countries, there is a need to examine the generalizability of this approach to non-English speaking cultures. This pilot-study aimed to examine the feasibility, acceptability, and effectiveness of family-based treatment in Brazil. Method: Observational study of adolescents with anorexia nervosa (excluding menstrual criteria), as determined with the Diagnostic and Well-Being Assessment, referred for treatment at a specialized center in São Paulo, Brazil. The following data were collected at baseline, at the end of treatment, and after six months of follow-up: weight; height; body mass index; menstrual status; Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire score; and Children Global Assessment of Functioning Scale score. Results: Of 11 eligible patients/families, 9 (82%) enrolled in the study, and 7 (78%) completed the treatment. The mean patient age was 14.64 ± 1.63 years (range, 12.33-17.00 years). The Wilcoxon signed rank test showed statistically significant improvement in weight and body mass index at the end of treatment, as well as after six months of follow-up, at which point none of the patients met the diagnostic criteria for any eating disorder. Conclusion: The results suggest that family-based treatment is acceptable and feasible for Brazilian families. Outcomes suggest that the approach is effective in this cultural context, leading to improvements similar to those reported in previous studies conducted in other cultures. (DP = 1,63; Descriptors Introduction Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a serious psychiatric disorder with a prevalence rate of 0.3% in adolescent females. 1 AN is associated with a high mortality rate and is often complicated by psychiatric and medical comorbidity. The accumulated evidence supports the hypothesis that outcomes are better when adolescent patients and their parents are treated together. Studies suggest that family-based treatment (FBT), a method developed and described in a manual written specifically for AN by Lock (J.L.), is an effective treatment for AN. 2-4 However, those studies were all conducted in Englishspeaking countries. The purpose of the current study is to examine the feasibility, acceptability, and effectiveness of this approach in Brazil. To date, there have been no studies examining FBT for AN in Brazil. Specialized clinical treatment for adolescent AN in Brazil in public care is limited to a multidisciplinary program either as an inpatient or outpatient in the hospital where this study was conducted and other outpatient programs in university hospitals. The alternative is treatment at private clinics, which are not accessible for most of the population. There is a need to examine treatment alternatives for AN in Brazil because of high costs, long waiting lists, and limited public resources. For example, the estimated average waiting time for treatment in a specialized center has been shown to be 22 months per patient. 2 Therefore, FBT might be a cost-effective alternative for the outpatient treatment of Brazilian adolescents with AN

Child, family, school and community risk factors for poor mental health in Brazilian schoolchildren.

OBJECTIVE: To identify risk factors for poor child mental health in the southeastern Brazilian municipality of Taubaté. METHOD: In 2001 we carried out a representative school-based survey of Brazilian schoolchildren ages 7 to 14 years (response rate, 83%). We collected extensive data on child mental health and on potential risk and protective factors at baseline (N = 1,112) and collected follow-up information on mental health outcome after 3 years (N = 760). We used the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire as a dimensional measure of mental health at both time points and the Development and Well-Being Assessment to diagnose psychiatric disorder at baseline. RESULTS: Cross-sectionally, both dimensional and diagnostic measures of child psychopathology were associated with dangerous area, nontraditional family, parental stress, harsh physical punishment, poor general health, low IQ, repeating a year at school, and male gender. There were different cross-sectional associations with different types of psychopathology. Psychological difficulties were moderately persistent across time. Younger age, lower maternal education, and lower child's IQ predicted a worse prognosis even after adjusting for initial psychopathology. CONCLUSIONS: The multiple factors associated with Brazilian child mental health are broadly in line with previous findings elsewhere. Public health programs to foster child mental health need multiple targets, but may benefit a wide range of the population

Peculiaridades do tratamento da anorexia e da bulimia nervosa na adolescência: a experiência do PROTAD

Os transtornos alimentares são patologias severas, tendo aspectos especiais na adolescência. Este artigo objetiva apresentar a rotina de atendimento e as abordagens empregadas em um serviço de assistência brasileiro especializado no tratamento de transtornos alimentares nessa população.The particular aspects of eating disordes in adolescents are reviwed. This article presents the multidisciplinary approach used in this population