Analysis of the association between anxiety, depression and obesity in individuals with metabolic syndrome.

The aim of this study was to verify the association between anxiety, depression, and obesity in metabolic syndrome (MetS) patients. It is a retrospective study with 142 volunteers with MetS of both genders and age ≥20 years. Every subject responded to the hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS).

Self-injurious behavior and related mortality in children under 10 years of age: a retrospective health record study in Brazil.

Objective: To describe and analyze data on self-injurious behavior (SIB) and related mortality in children under 10 years old in Brazil.

Methods: A descriptive study was performed using secondary public health care data extracted from the Hospital Information System (Sistema de Informações Hospitalares, SIH) and Mortality Information System (Sistema de Informações sobre Mortalidade, SIM) in Brazil. The databases are available for online access at http://datasus.

Personality disorders in euthymic bipolar patients: a systematic review.

Objective: To identify, by means of a systematic review, the frequency with which comorbid personality disorders (PDs) have been assessed in studies of euthymic bipolar patients.

Methods: PubMed, ciELO and PsychINFO databases were searched for eligible articles published between 1997 and 2013. After screening 1,249 empirical papers, two independent reviewers identified three articles evaluating the frequency of PDs in patients with bipolar disorders assessed in a state of euthymia.

Serotonin-1A receptor CC genotype is associated with persistent depression related to interferon-alpha in hepatitis C patients.

Objective: The aim of this study is to investigate the development of depression during interferon-alpha (IFN-α) therapy and the variations in the expression of the serotonin receptor (5-HTR) and transporter (5-HTT) in hepatitis C patients.

Method: Hepatitis C patients (n=277) were given the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview at the end of IFN-α therapy. Three polymorphisms were genotyped: the serotonin transporter repeat length polymorphic region [5-HTT gene-linked polymorphic region (5-HTTLPR)], as well as SNPs rs25531 and rs6295, located within the 5-HTTLPR and the transcriptional control region of the 5-HTR1A gene, respectively.

The impacts of cognitive-behavioral therapy on the treatment of phobic disorders measured by functional neuroimaging techniques: a systematic review.

Objective: Functional neuroimaging techniques represent fundamental tools in the context of translational research integrating neurobiology, psychopathology, neuropsychology, and therapeutics. In addition, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) has proven its efficacy in the treatment of anxiety disorders and may be useful in phobias. The literature has shown that feelings and behaviors are mediated by specific brain circuits, and changes in patterns of interaction should be associated with cerebral alterations.

Changing core beliefs with trial-based cognitive therapy may improve quality of life in social phobia: a randomized study.

Objective: To determine whether there are differences in quality of life (QoL) improvement after treatment with the trial-based thought record (TBTR) versus conventional cognitive therapy (CCT) in patients with social anxiety disorder (SAD).

Method: A randomized trial comparing TBTR with a set of CCT techniques, which included the standard 7-column dysfunctional thought record (DTR) and the positive data log (PDL) in patients with SAD, generalized type.

Results: Repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed a significant time effect in the general health, vitality, social functioning, and mental health domains of the Short Form 36.

The involvement of the orbitofrontal cortex in psychiatric disorders: an update of neuroimaging findings.

Objective: To report structural and functional neuroimaging studies exploring the potential role of the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) in the pathophysiology of the most prevalent psychiatric disorders (PD).

Method: A non-systematic literature review was conducted by means of MEDLINE using the following terms as parameters: "orbitofrontal cortex", "schizophrenia", "bipolar disorder", "major depression", "anxiety disorders", "personality disorders" and "drug addiction". The electronic search was done up to July 2011.

Lack of association of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase polymorphisms with interferon-alpha-related depression in hepatitis C.

Background: Major depression is a frequent adverse effect of interferon-alpha (IFN-α) therapy. Although the indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) enzyme seems to be involved in the pathophysiology of IFN-α-induced depression, no pharmacogenetic study has investigated whether variation in the IDO gene modifies vulnerability to this adverse effect.

Methods: A cross-sectional study assessing 277 hepatitis C patients recruited in two specialized outpatient clinics of Brazil.

Adhesio interthalamica alterations in schizophrenia spectrum disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies have reported a variety of brain abnormalities in association with schizophrenia. These include a higher prevalence of an absent adhesio interthalamica (AI; also known massa intermedia), a gray matter junction that is present between the two thalami in approximately 80% of healthy subjects. In this meta-analytic review, we describe and discuss the main AI MRI findings in schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSDs) to date.

Are cavum septum pellucidum abnormalities more common in schizophrenia spectrum disorders? A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies have reported a variety of brain abnormalities in association with schizophrenia. These include a higher incidence of cavum septum pellucidum (CSP), which is consistent with a neurodevelopmental model for this disorder. In this meta-analytic review, we describe and discuss the main CSP MRI findings in schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSDs) to date.

Is the interferon-α-triggered depressive episode a self-limited kind of depression? Four cases of persistent affective symptoms after antiviral treatment in HCV-infected individuals.

Objectives: To discuss relevant aspects in a series of cases in which interferon-α-triggered depressive symptoms persisted up to 4 years after therapy cessation in HCV-infected patients.

Methods: Two experienced psychiatrists (AGA and LCQ) identified these four cases in a systematic evaluation program of HCV patients in the Hepatology Unit of the Teaching Hospital at the Federal University of Bahia, Brazil. Lifetime psychiatric diagnoses were confirmed by the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI Plus), and a questionnaire was submitted in order to gather clinical and sociodemographic characteristics.

Can antidepressants prevent interferon-alpha-induced depression? A review of the literature.

Objective: To review the literature about the efficacy of antidepressant prophylaxis during interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) therapy.

Method: We have performed a database search in PUBMED and ISI Web of Knowledge (1980-August 2009) for the available literature. The keywords "prevention" or "prophylaxis", and "depression", and "interferon", and "antidepressant" or "antidepressive agents" were used.

The impact of comorbid posttraumatic stress disorder on bipolar disorder patients.

Background: Available data regarding posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in bipolar disorder (BD) are scarce and usually from a limited sample size. The present report was carried out using the Brazilian Research Consortium for Bipolar Disorders and aimed to examine whether patients with BD and comorbid PTSD are at an increased risk for worse clinical outcomes.

Methods: A consecutive sample of bipolar I outpatients from two teaching hospitals in Brazil was recruited.

Impact of psychiatric disorders on the quality of life of brazilian HCV-infected patients.

The aim of our study was to determine the impact of psychiatric comorbidities on the health-related quality of life of HCV-infected patients. Assessment of clinical, socio-demographic and quality of life data of the patients followed up at a Hepatology unit was performed by using a standard questionnaire and the SF-36 instrument. Psychiatric diagnoses were confirmed by using the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview, Brazilian version 5.

Lower rates of comorbidities in euthymic bipolar patients.

Objective: This study assessed the frequency of axis I psychiatric comorbidities in euthymic bipolar patients and the clinical differences between patients with and without comorbidities.

Method: In this study, 62 euthymic bipolar outpatients assessed using a clinical questionnaire underwent a structured diagnostic interview (SCID/CV-DSM-IV) as well as a symptoms evaluation (YMRS and HAM-D-17).

Results: The lifetime frequency of patients with comorbidities was 27.

The effect of early virological response in health-related quality of life in HCV-infected patients.

Twenty-nine HCV-infected patients were treated with pegylated interferon alpha. Diagnosis was based on serum HCV RNA-PCR positive results and liver biopsy. All patients had elevated serum levels of alanine aminotransferase at the time of the study, but liver disease was compensated.

High frequency of unrecognized mental disorders in HCV-infected patients.

Objective: This study indexed the frequency of psychiatric disorders among hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected patients.

Method: HCV-infected patients treated at a university hospital in the northeastern region of Brazil were evaluated in a cross-sectional study using the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview.

Results: Ninety HCV-infected outpatients were included in the study and 44 (49%) had at least one psychiatric diagnosis.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder: an open-label pilot trial of escitalopram.

Introduction: Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are considered the most effective and well-established pharmacotherapy for the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), a chronic and disabling condition. However, approximately 40% of patients do not have a significant improvement, suggesting that new medications are needed. This study was designed to investigate the treatment response to escitalopram in OCD patients.