Personality dimensions, resilience, and depression during COVID-19 pandemic: A one-year longitudinal study.

Background: The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic has brought to light a significant surge in depression across diverse populations. While a considerable body of research has linked this upswing to lockdowns and restrictive measures, it is crucial to recognize that lockdowns alone cannot fully elucidate the observed increase in mental health disorders, given the vast array of individual psychological responses.

Objective: This study aims to test e whether personality dimensions (Extroversion, Neuroticism, and Psychoticism) and resilience play a role in shielding individuals from developing depression during the COVID-19 pandemic, as observed in a sample of Brazilian adults.

Serum cytokine variations among inpatients with major depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia healthy controls: a prospective 'true-to-life' study.

Background: There is increasing evidence of the association between chronic low-grade inflammation and severe mental illness (SMI). The objective of our study was to assess serum cytokine levels (SCLs) at admission and discharge in a true-to-life-setting population of inpatients with major depression (MD), bipolar disorder (BD), and schizophrenia (Sz), as well as of healthy controls.

Methods: We considered MD, BD, and Sz to be SMIs.

Structural magnetic resonance imaging findings in severe mental disorders adult inpatients: A systematic review.

In severe presentations, major depressive disorder (MDD), schizophrenia (SZ), and bipolar disorder (BD) can be categorized as severe mental disorders (SMD). Our aim is to evaluate structural magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography findings in adult inpatients diagnosed with SMD and hospitalized at psychiatric wards. PubMed, Embase, PsycInfo, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science were searched up to May 27th, 2021.

Long-term treatment of antipsychotics and combined therapy with other psychotropic medications inducing weight gain in patients with non-affective psychotic disorder: Evidence from GROUP, a longitudinal study.

Introduction: Antipsychotics (APs) can cause weight gain. Little is known about changes in weight when APs are combined with other psychotropics. This study examines the weight change in patients undergoing long-term treatment with APs or with AP combined with other psychotropics.

Positive Association Between Therapeutic Alliance and Quality of Life in Psychodynamic Psychotherapy, Cognitive Behavior Therapy, and Interpersonal Therapy: The Patient's Perspective.

Background: The therapeutic alliance (TA) is considered a common psychotherapeutic factor associated with positive results in psychotherapies. There are no studies relating the TA with quality of life (Qol).

Objectives: Our objective was to evaluate whether there is an association between the TA and Qol across three different psychotherapies.

The Eysenck Personality Questionnaire Revised - Abbreviated (EPQR-A): psychometric properties of the Brazilian Portuguese version.

Introduction: The Eysenck Personality Questionnaire Revised - Abbreviated (EPQR-A) consists of 24 items for assessment of the three fundamental personality traits (psychoticism, extraversion, and neuroticism) and a validity scale (lie scale). Our objectives were to assess the psychometric properties of a version of this instrument culturally adapted for Brazil.

Method: 321 participants were recruited using a non-probabilistic method.

Resilience in severe mental disorders: correlations to clinical measures and quality of life in hospitalized patients with major depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia.

Purpose: To evaluate resilience in severe mental disorders and correlate it with clinical measures and quality of life.

Methods: Resilience (Resilience Scale, RS) and quality of life (WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire) were prospectively evaluated in a sample of 384 hospitalized patients diagnosed with severe mental disorders (depression, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia). Clinical outcomes were measured using the Global Assessment of Functioning Scale (GAF), Clinical Global Impression (CGI), Cumulative Illness Rating Scale (CIRS), Hamilton Scale-Depression (HAM-D), Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS), and Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS).

Mindfulness Training Improves Quality of Life and Reduces Depression and Anxiety Symptoms Among Police Officers: Results From the POLICE Study-A Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial.

Police officers' high-stress levels and its deleterious consequences are raising awareness to an epidemic of mental health problems and quality of life (QoL) impairment. There is a growing evidence that mindfulness-based interventions are efficacious to promote mental health and well-being among high-stress occupations. The POLICE study is a multicenter randomized controlled trial (RCT) with three assessment points (baseline, post-intervention, and 6-month follow-up) where police officers were randomized to mindfulness-based health promotion (MBHP) ( = 88) or a waiting list ( = 82).

Potential predictors of depressive symptoms during the initial stage of the COVID-19 outbreak among Brazilian adults.

Background: In early 2020, Sars-Cov-2 was identified in China as a new coronavirus. Due to its transmission, Sars-Cov-2 has spread rapidly across the world. In the early stage of the disease outbreak, psychiatric symptoms have been reported, including depressive symptoms.

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and inflammatory markers: Perspectives for the management of depression.

Background: Mood disorders, including major depressive disorder, are among the main causes of disability and early mortality and constitute an important public health problem. Despite the search for a neurobiological explanation for these disorders, diagnosis and treatment are still based on subjective symptoms and psychometric assessments. Biomarkers, used as indicators of normal biological and pathological processes or pharmacological responses to a clinical intervention, may be useful in improving the current classification of psychiatric disorders, which can help understand the role of biological information in diagnosis, prognosis, and assessment of responses to intervention.

Psychotic depression in hospitalized patients: Longitudinal outcomes of psychotic vs. nonpsychotic depression among inpatients.

Even though psychotic depression is related to worse outcomes than nonpsychotic depression, there is increasing evidence that this greater severity is not solely explained by the depressive symptoms. We evaluated the socio-demographic and clinical characteristics, as well as the differences in clinical outcomes of psychiatric hospitalization between psychotic and non-psychotic depression. Two-hundred-eighty-eight depressive inpatients were assessed within 72 h after hospitalization and 24 h before discharge.

The Effects of Individual Psychotherapy in BDNF Levels of Patients With Mental Disorders: A Systematic Review.

Background: Brain-derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) is considered the main cerebral neurotrophin and is produced in the central neural system and peripherals. Its levels are reduced in patients with several psychiatric disorders, but it is unclear if the response to psychotherapy can alter its concentration.

Objective: To carry out a systematic review evaluating the effects of individual psychotherapy in BDNF levels in patients with mental disorders.

Increased Levels of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Are Associated With High Intrinsic Religiosity Among Depressed Inpatients.

Recognition of the importance of religion and spirituality in psychiatry is increasing, and several studies have shown a predominantly inverse relationship between religiosity and depression. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a widely studied brain neurotrophin responsible for synaptic plasticity, dendritic and neuronal fiber growth, and neuronal survival. The objective of the present study was to evaluate BDNF levels across high and low intrinsic religiosity (IR) in depressed inpatients.

Longitudinal Investigation of Psychotherapy Outcomes (LIPO): Description of the Study Protocol.

Despite extensive research in the field of psychotherapies, few studies have compared the primary psychotherapies of naturalistic design, which represents real-life situations. The objectives of this study were to evaluate three modalities of evidence-based psychotherapy for clinical, psychosocial, and biological outcomes and to identify the mediators and confounders of this process. Our primary hypothesis is that all psychotherapies will improve clinical and psychosocial outcomes and will increase BDNF levels.

Psychometric properties of the WHOQOL-SRPB BREF, Brazilian Portuguese version.

Objective: To test the reliability and the discriminant and convergent validity of the abbreviated Brazilian Portuguese World Health Organization's Quality of Life Instrument - Spirituality, Religion, and Personal Beliefs module (WHOQOL-SRPB BREF).

Methods: In a sample of 404 individuals, we applied a general questionnaire, the WHOQOL-BREF, the long-form SRPB, the Brief Religious-Spiritual Coping Scale (RCOPE), and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Priority was given to the 9-item SRPB assessment: its unidimensionality was tested through confirmatory factor analysis and Rasch analysis.

Can Religious Coping and Depressive Symptoms Predict Clinical Outcome and Quality of Life in Panic Disorder? A Brazilian Longitudinal Study.

Few studies have investigated the relationship between spiritual/religious coping (S/R coping) and panic disorder (PD). This Brazilian longitudinal study evaluated if S/R coping and depressive symptoms can predict PD remission and improved quality of life (QoL). There were 101 outpatients with PD who were followed up for 12 to 16 weeks.

Study protocol of a multicenter randomized controlled trial of mindfulness training to reduce burnout and promote quality of life in police officers: the POLICE study.

Background: Police officers experience a high degree of chronic stress. Policing ranks among the highest professions in terms of disease and accident rates. Mental health is particularly impacted, evidenced by elevated rates of burnout, anxiety and depression, and poorer quality of life than the general public.

Psychometric properties of the EUROHIS-QOL 8-item index (WHOQOL-8) in a Brazilian sample.

Objective: To test the psychometric properties of the EUROHIS-QOL 8-item index in a Brazilian sample.

Methods: The sample consisted of 151 patients and 174 healthy controls (n=325). Several psychometric properties were tested.

Health-related quality of life of children and adolescents with osteogenesis imperfecta: a cross-sectional study using PedsQL™.

Background: Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is a disorder of bone formation leading to low mineral density and fractures. Children and adolescents with OI require periodic medical follow up, corrective surgery, drug therapy and physical therapy, as well as specific daily care practices. In addition, they have an increased incidence of fractures, which require immobilization and cause severe discomfort and short-term disability.

Readmission in psychiatry inpatients within a year of discharge: The role of symptoms at discharge and post-discharge care in a Brazilian sample.

Introduction: Readmission into inpatient psychiatric beds is a useful outcome for patients, care providers, and policymakers. This study aims to investigate the role of level of symptoms at discharge and type of post-discharge care in determining readmissions after a year before a psychiatric admission.

Methods: We performed a prospective and observational study in a general hospital psychiatric facility.

Spiritual Health and Life-Orientation Measure: Psychometric properties of the Brazilian Portuguese version.

This study aimed to translate into Brazilian Portuguese and evaluate the main psychometric properties from Spiritual Health and Life-Orientation Measure in a sample of 487 students aged 9-15 years in Southern Brazil. Spiritual Health and Life-Orientation Measure is divided into Ideals and Lived Experience sections and showed high internal consistency reliability (Cronbach's  = 0.94).

Predictors of length of stay in an acute psychiatric inpatient facility in a general hospital: a prospective study.

Objective: There have been significant reductions in numbers of psychiatric beds and length of stay (LOS) worldwide, making LOS in psychiatric beds an interesting outcome. The objective of this study was to find factors measurable on admission that would predict LOS in the acute psychiatric setting.

Methods: This was a prospective, observational study.