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).

Are adolescents more likely to have antenatal anxiety disorders than adult women? A comparison between two samples.

Background: The literature reports that teenage pregnancy is considered a risk factor for anxiety disorders (ADs). However, research on this topic is limited. This study aimed to investigate if pregnant adolescents presented a greater likelihood of having ADs by comparing two samples of pregnant women in a southern city of Brazil.

Immature defense mechanisms predict poor response to psychotherapy in major depressive patients with comorbid cluster B personality disorder.

Objective: To evaluate the impact of defense mechanisms at baseline on depressive symptoms after brief psychotherapies and after 6-months of follow-up among depressed patients with and without cluster B personality disorders (PDs).

Methods: This 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. The Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory-III was applied to assess PD, the Defense Style Questionnaire 40 was used to analyze defense mechanisms, and the Beck Depression Inventory was used to measure the severity of depressive symptoms.

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.

Family perception of the symptoms of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder patient and the family accommodation.

Background: Family members tend to modify their routine by assisting or participating in the patient's rituals. These behaviors have been identified as family accommodation (FA).

Aims: The aim of this study was to describe the relationship between family accommodation of relatives of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) patients and their perceptions about the obsessions and compulsions of the patient.

Long-term effectiveness of two models of brief psychotherapy for depression: A three-year follow-up randomized clinical trial.

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a disease that severely impairs psychosocial functioning and decreases the subject's quality of life. Patients who received psychotherapy have a better long-term therapeutic response than those who have only been treated with antidepressants or have not been treated. There are few studies in the literature that follow the outcomes of psychotherapeutic treatments for depression for more than two years.

Emotional and behavioral problems: a school-based study in southern Brazil.

Introduction: Mental health assessment in childhood needs to be carried out within a broader context that includes different factors.

Objective: To assess the prevalence of emotional and behavioral problems in schoolchildren and associated factors.

Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted with a school-based sample at 20 schools selected by systematic random sampling.

Biological rhythm and emotional and behavioral problems among schoolchildren in Southern Brazil.

Emotional and behavioral problems have been considered an indicative of mental disorder in children. Mental health problems affect 10-20% of children and adolescents living in low-income and middle-income countries. Evidence suggests that disruptions in the biological rhythm may be a primary cause of emotional and behavioral changes, which affects several psychological functions and moods.

Comparison of Clinical Significance of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy and Psychodynamic Therapy for Major Depressive Disorder: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of two brief psychotherapy models for major depressive disorder (MDD). This is a randomized clinical trial with 247 individuals diagnosed with MDD. Supportive-expressive dynamic psychotherapy (SEDP) (18 sessions) and cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) (16 sessions) were the two models used in this study.

The perception of parental bonding in pregnant adolescents and its association with generalized anxiety disorder.

Background: The parental bonding is influenced by two dimensions: care and control or protection over the child of both parents. The lack of care during childhood may make the individual more susceptible to the onset of psychiatric disorders when adult. These psychiatric disorders when present during pregnancy may have a negative impact on the health of pregnant women and children.

Effects of cognitive-behavioral therapy on neurotrophic factors in patients with major depressive disorder.

Objective: To correlate neurotrophic factors - brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), and beta-nerve growth factor (beta-NGF) - and severity of depressive symptoms in patients diagnosed with major depressive disorder (MDD) undergoing cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT).

Methods: In this quasi-experimental study, participants were selected by convenience and received 16 sessions of CBT. The outcomes of interest were severity of depressive symptoms and changes in neurotrophic factor levels after CBT.

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.

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.

Personality traits in the differentiation of major depressive disorder and bipolar disorder during a depressive episode.

The aim of this study was to determine the differences in personality traits between individuals with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and Bipolar Disorder (BD) during a depressive episode, when it can be hard to differentiate them. Data on personality traits (NEO-FFI), mental disorders (Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview Plus) and socioeconomic variables were collected from 245 respondents who were in a depressive episode. Individuals with MDD (183) and BD (62) diagnosis were compared concerning personality traits, clinical aspects and socioeconomic variables through bivariate analyses (chi-square and ANOVA) and multivariate analysis (logistic regression).