Investigation of the Mesencephalic Astrocyte Derived Neurotrophic Factor-Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress Pathway in Mood Disorders.

Background: Bipolar disorder (BD) has been associated with impaired cellular resilience. Recent studies have shown abnormalities in the unfolded protein response (UPR) in BD. The UPR is the cellular response to endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress.

Ego-defense mechanisms and brief psychotherapies for the management of major depressive disorder in adults: A longitudinal and quasi-experimental study.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of psychotherapies on ego defense mechanisms and the reduction of depressive symptoms in a 12-month follow-up period.

Methods: This longitudinal and quasi-experimental study nested within a randomized clinical trial included a clinical sample of adults (18-60 years) diagnosed with major depressive disorder using the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview. Two models of psychotherapy were used: Supportive Expressive Dynamic Psychotherapy (SEDP) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT).

Investigating biological rhythms disruptions across the menstrual cycle in women with comorbid bipolar disorder and premenstrual dysphoric disorder.

We investigated whether women diagnosed with comorbid bipolar disorder (BD) and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) experience higher disruptions in biological rhythms in two independent study samples. The first study has a population-based sample of 727 women, including 104 women with PMDD only, 43 women with BD only, 24 women with comorbid PMDD and BD, and 556 women without BD or PMDD (controls). Biological rhythm disruptions were cross-sectionally evaluated using the Biological Rhythms Interview of Assessment in Neuropsychiatry (BRIAN).

Dropout in brief psychotherapy for major depressive disorder: Randomized clinical trial.

The aim of this paper is to analyse the factors associated with the dropout from brief psychotherapy for adults with major depressive disorder (MDD) treated at a mental health outpatient clinic. This is a randomized clinical trial with two models of psychotherapy: cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and supportive expressive dynamic psychotherapy (SEDP). MDD and anxiety disorders were evaluated through the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview-Plus.

Lifetime cocaine use is a potential predictor for conversion from major depressive disorder to bipolar disorder: A prospective study.

Aim: We aimed to identify whether lifetime cocaine use is a risk factor for conversion from major depressive disorder (MDD) to bipolar disorder (BD) in an outpatient sample of adults.

Methods: This prospective cohort study included 585 subjects aged 18 to 60 years who had been diagnosed with MDD as assessed by the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI-Plus) at baseline (2012-2015). Subjects were reassessed a mean of 3 years later (2017-2018) for potential conversion to BD as assessed by the MINI-Plus.

Serum level of nerve growth factor is a potential biomarker of conversion to bipolar disorder in women with major depressive disorder.

Aim: The aim of this study was to identify biomarkers associated with major depressive disorder (MDD) and conversion from MDD to bipolar disorder (BD) in an outpatient sample of women.

Methods: This was a longitudinal study including women diagnosed with MDD and aged 18 to 60 years. The follow-up was 3 years.

Psychoactive substance abuse and dependence and its association with anxiety disorders: a population-based study of young adults in Brazil.

Objective: To evaluate the association between abuse of and dependence on different psychoactive substances and the presence of anxiety disorders in a sample of young adults from a city in southern Brazil.

Methods: Between 2007 and 2009, we carried out a cross-sectional, population-based study of individuals aged 18-24 years who lived in Pelotas, a city in southern Brazil. We evaluated anxiety disorders using the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview 5.

Inflammatory cytokines and functional impairment in drug-free subjects with mood disorder.

Objective: To assess the association between peripheral levels of inflammatory cytokines and functional impairment in subjects with Bipolar Disorder (BD), Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and population controls.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study with a matched sample of drug-free young adults with BD (n=48), MDD (n=48) and population controls (n=48). Mood disorder was confirmed by a certified psychologist using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV (SCID-I).

Mental disorders, functional impairment, and nerve growth factor.

Nerve growth factor (NGF) is an important member of the neurotrophin family and its alteration has been associated with psychiatric disorders. Functionality consists of the activities that an individual can perform, as well as their social participation, which is an important factor in analyzing the carrier living conditions of subjects with psychiatric suffering. Several studies have evaluated functionality in bipolar disorder; however, no studies have evaluated the functionality in other mental disorders.

Circadian preferences, oxidative stress and inflammatory cytokines in bipolar disorder: A community study.

Objective: To assess circadian preference among a community sample of people with bipolar disorder, major depression and without any mood disorders. Secondly, we investigated the association of circadian preference with cytokines interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-10 (IL-10) and, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and oxidative stress assessed by thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), uric acid and Protein Carbonyl Content (PCC).

Method: A cross-sectional study nested in a population-based sample.

Risk Factors for the Incidence of Perceived Voice Disorders in Elementary and Middle School Teachers.

Objective/hypothesis: This study aimed to identify risk factors for the incidence of perceived voice disorders in teachers, specifically related to the influence of common mental disorders.

Design: This is a longitudinal quantitative study conducted in municipal schools.

Method: We performed a data analysis of 469 teachers, reassessed 3 years after an initial study.

Neuron-specific enolase levels in drug-naïve young adults with major depressive disorder.

The aim of this study is to assess neuron-specific enolase (NSE) levels and clinical features in subjects with major depressive disorder (MDD). This is a cross-sectional study with drug-naïve young adults with MDD (aged 18-29 years). Serum levels of NSE were assessed using the electrochemiluminescence method.

Six-session caregiver psychoeducation on bipolar disorder: Does it bring benefits to caregivers?

Aim: To evaluate the impact of psychoeducational intervention on the levels of burden, of self-esteem and quality of life in caregivers of patients diagnosed with Bipolar Disorders.

Method: In this randomized clinical trial, changes in degree of burden, levels of self-esteem and quality of life were evaluated. Caregivers could participate in the group of psychoeducation (six sessions) or usual treatment (without psychoeducation following a manual).

Practice of leisure-time physical activities and episodes of mood alteration amongst men and women.

Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of leisure-time physical activity and episodes of mood alteration in a population-based sample of adults, and its relation with gender.

Method: This is a cross-sectional population-based study with young adults aged between 18 and 35 years old. Sample selection was performed by clusters.

The impact of anxious symptoms in the remission of depressive symptoms in a clinical trial for depression: follow-up of six months.

Background: Studies show high comorbidity between anxiety disorder and depression. Little is known regarding how anxiety symptoms affect prognosis in depression treatment, suggesting the importance of studying the impact of anxiety symptoms in the treatment of depression. We evaluated the impact of anxiety symptoms in the remission of depressive symptoms after brief psychotherapies for depression.

The influence of psychoeducation on regulating biological rhythm in a sample of patients with bipolar II disorder: a randomized clinical trial.

Introduction: Changes in biological rhythm are among the various characteristics of bipolar disorder, and have long been associated with the functional impairment of the disease. There are only a few viable options of psychosocial interventions that deal with this specific topic; one of them is psychoeducation, a model that, although it has been used by practitioners for some time, only recently have studies shown its efficacy in clinical practice.

Aim: To assess if patients undergoing psychosocial intervention in addition to a pharmacological treatment have better regulation of their biological rhythm than those only using medication.