Mental Disorders in Megacities: Findings from the São Paulo Megacity Mental Health Survey, Brazil

Background: World population growth is projected to be concentrated in megacities, with increases in social inequality and urbanization-associated stress. São Paulo Metropolitan Area (SPMA) provides a forewarning of the burden of mental disorders in urban settings in developing world. The aim of this study is to estimate prevalence, severity, and treatment of recently active DSM-IV mental disorders. We examined socio-demographic correlates, aspects of urban living such as internal migration, exposure to violence, and neighborhood-level social deprivation with 12-month mental disorders. Methods and Results: A representative cross-sectional household sample of 5,037 adults was interviewed face-to-face using the WHO Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI), to generate diagnoses of DSM-IV mental disorders within 12 months of interview, disorder severity, and treatment. Administrative data on neighborhood social deprivation were gathered. Multiple logistic regression was used to evaluate individual and contextual correlates of disorders, severity, and treatment. Around thirty percent of respondents reported a 12-month disorder, with an even distribution across severity levels. Anxiety disorders were the most common disorders (affecting 19.9%), followed by mood (11%), impulse-control (4.3%), and substance use (3.6%) disorders. Exposure to crime was associated with all four types of disorder. Migrants had low prevalence of all four types compared to stable residents. High urbanicity was associated with impulse-control disorders and high social deprivation with substance use disorders. Vulnerable subgroups were observed: women and migrant men living in most deprived areas. Only one-third of serious cases had received treatment in the previous year. Discussion: Adults living in São Paulo megacity had prevalence of mental disorders at greater levels than similar surveys conducted in other areas of the world. Integration of mental health promotion and care into the rapidly expanding Brazilian primary health system should be strengthened. This strategy might become a model for poorly resourced and highly populated developing countries

Epidemiology of subtypes of depression: latent class analysis of depressive symptoms in a population-based sample of São Paulo Metropolitan Area

Introdução. A depressão é uma síndrome clínica heterogênea caracterizada por perfis sintomatológicos distintos. Contudo, raros são os estudos que investigaram subtipos depressivos na comunidade e seus correlatos sociodemográficos e clínicos, diferenciando-os quanto à apresentação de acordo com o gênero. Métodos. Utilizou-se o banco de dados do Estudo São Paulo Megacity. Entraram na análise 1.212 sujeitos (869 mulheres e 343 homens) que responderam sobre a presença ou ausência dos sintomas constantes no módulo de depressão do questionário WMH-CIDI. Foi usado o método de análise de classes latentes (ACL). Critérios estatísticos (como o Critério de Informação Bayesiano [BIC] e a entropia) foram empregados para a determinação do número de classes que melhor classificava os sujeitos. Após a obtenção dos modelos mais adequados, as classes foram validadas por correlatos sociodemográficos e clínicos, utilizando-se regressão logística multinomial. Posteriormente, examinou-se a associação entre os subtipos depressivos e a utilização dos serviços de saúde ao longo da vida. Todas as análises foram realizadas no programa Mplus 6.12. Resultados. O melhor modelo de ACL para a amostra geral foi o de 3 classes denominadas Melancólica (37,8%), Atípica (17,83%) e Leve (44,37%). Os sujeitos da classe Atípica apresentaram elevada probabilidade de irritabilidade (81,8%) e ansiedade (90,7%). No modelo final ajustado, pertencer à classe Melancólica associou-se significativamente com: transtorno do espectro bipolar; transtorno de ansiedade; dependência de álcool e drogas; maior incapacitação; e maior escolaridade. Mulheres na classe Atípica foram mais propensas a ter maior escolaridade e comorbidade com transtorno do espectro bipolar e transtorno de ansiedade. Na análise da subamostra de mulheres, o melhor modelo de ACL foi o de 3 classes, semelhantes ao modelo da amostra total: Melancólica (39,34%), Atípica (19,53%) e Leve (41,13%). No modelo final ajustado para o sexo feminino, a classe Melancólica associou-se significativamente com: transtorno do espectro bipolar; transtorno de ansiedade; dependência de álcool e drogas; transtorno disfórico pré-menstrual; e maior incapacitação. Mulheres desta classe, comparadas com às das outras classes, foram mais propensas a ter maior escolaridade e estarem separadas, divorciadas ou viúvas. A classe Atípica associou-se significativamente com: transtorno do espectro bipolar; transtorno de ansiedade; dependência de álcool e drogas; e maior escolaridade. Para o sexo masculino, o melhor modelo de ACL foi também o de 3 classes: Melancólica (40,37%), Agitada (19,56%) e Leve (40,07%). Praticamente todos os homens pertencentes à classe Agitada apresentaram agitação e ansiedade, e uma grande proporção (ao redor de 84%), irritabilidade. Ainda, os sujeitos desta classe apresentaram as maiores proporções de pensamento acelerado (43,9%), aumento de energia (10,6%) e tentativa de suicídio (10,5%), em um perfil de sintomas semelhante aos estados mistos. A classe Agitada associou-se significativamente com os transtornos do espectro bipolar, embora esta associação não tenha permanecido no modelo ajustado. A classe Melancólica entre os homens associou-se com transtorno de ansiedade e dependência de nicotina. Mesmo os sujeitos das classes mais sintomáticas relataram baixo uso de serviços ao longo da vida. Conclusões. Nosso estudo confirma que subtipos depressivos, como melancólico, atípico e agitado podem ser identificados em amostras da população geral, corroborando a heterogeneidade sintomatológica do construto de depressão das classificações atuais. Tanto os perfis sintomatológicos, como as comorbidades com outros transtornos psiquiátricos, como espectro bipolar, ansiedade e dependência de substâncias, têm implicações na escolha do tratamento. Estes resultados podem também contribuir para a determinação de melhores critérios e especificadores dos subtipos depressivos nas próximas edições do DSM e da CIDIntroduction. Depression is a heterogeneous clinical syndrome characterized by distinct symptom profiles. However, few studies have investigated depressive subtypes in the community and their sociodemographic and clinical correlates, differentiating them on the presentation according to gender. Methods. Data comes from the São Paulo Megacity Mental Health Survey. One thousand two hundred and twelve subjects (869 women and 343 men) entered in the analysis and responded to the presence or absence of symptoms of the depression module of the WMH-CIDI questionnaire. Latent class analysis (LCA) was used. Statistical criteria (such as the Bayesian Information Criteria [BIC] and entropy) were applied to the determination of the number of classes that best classified the subjects. After obtaining the most suitable models, the classes were validated by clinical and sociodemographic correlates, using multinomial logistic regression. We also later examined the association between depressive subtypes and lifetime health service utilization. All analyses were performed in the program Mplus 6.12. Results. The best LCA model for the overall sample was a 3-class model, which were named Melancholic (37.8%), Atypical (17.83%) and Mild (44.37%). Those in the Atypical class had a high probability of irritability (81.8%) and anxiety (90.7%). In the final adjusted model, being in the Melancholic class was significantly associated with: having a bipolar spectrum disorder; an anxiety disorder; alcohol and drug dependence; greater disability; and higher education. Women in the Atypical class were more likely to have higher education and comorbidity with bipolar spectrum disorder and anxiety disorder. In the analysis of the subsample of women, the best LCA model was a 3-class model, with classes similar to the model of the overall sample: Melancholic (39.34%), Atypical (19.53%) and Mild (41.13%). In the final adjusted model for females, the Melancholic class was significantly associated with: bipolar spectrum disorder; anxiety disorder; alcohol and drug dependence; premenstrual dysphoric disorder; and greater disability. Women in this class, as compared to those in other classes, were more likely to have higher education and be separated, divorced or widowed. The Atypical class was significantly associated with: bipolar spectrum disorder; anxiety disorder; alcohol and drug dependence; and higher education. For males, the best LCA model was also a 3-class model: Melancholic (40.37%), Agitated (19.56%) and Mild (40.07%). Virtually all men belonging to Agitated class endorsed agitation and anxiety, and a large proportion (around 84%), irritability. In addition, respondents belonging to this class presented the highest proportions of racing thought (43.9%), increased energy (10.6%), and suicide attempt (10.5%), in a symptom profile similar to mixed states. The Agitated class was significantly associated with bipolar spectrum disorders, although this association did not remain in the adjusted model. The Melancholic class among men was associated with anxiety disorder and nicotine dependence. Even subjects of more symptomatic classes reported low lifetime use of services. Conclusions. Our study confirms that depressive subtypes such as melancholic, atypical and agitated can be identified in samples from the general population, corroborating the symptomatologic heterogeneity of the construct of depression of current classifications. Both symptom profiles and comorbidity with other psychiatric disorders, such as bipolar spectrum, anxiety and substance dependence, have implications for the choice of treatment. These results may also contribute to establishing better criteria and specifiers of depressive subtypes in future editions of DSM and IC

Hypotension caused by therapeutic doses of venlafaxine: case report and proposed pathophysiological mechanisms

Although venlafaxine is usually associated with modest increases in blood pressure and not so often clinical hypertension, there are a few reported cases of hypotension related to overdoses of this specific antidepressant. The case study of a young female patient with a history of Major Depressive Disorder who initiated treatment with venlafaxine 75 mg/day and developed hypotension when the dosage was titrated up to 225 mg/day is described. The patient did not present comorbid diseases nor use other medication. A temporal association and a dose-dependent relationship between the hypotension and the use of venlafaxine is shown. To the best of the knowledge of the authors, this is the first case report that specifically associates regular doses of venlafaxine with the presence of hypotension. A pathophysiological mechanism is proposed, involving the participation of presynaptic alpha2-adrenergic receptors and the presence of a possible genetic polymorphism of cytochrome P4502D6, which is associated with lower drug metabolization, to explain the relationship between venlafaxine in regular dosage and development of hypotension

Does ragging play a role in medical student depression - Cause or effect?

Background: Medical students experience a lot of stress what may contribute to symptoms of depression. In this study we set out to look at the environmental factors which may be contributing in one medical school in Brazil. Methods: We assessed depressive symptoms using Beck's Depression Inventory in 465 and 267 medical students in 2001 and 2006 respectively. We explored possible social and environmental causes using qualitative data. Results: Nearly 15% scored above the cut off for depression in both the samples. Males in the pre-clinical stage in 2006 showed an increase in depressive symptoms than males in the same cycle in 2001 (aOR = 7.36 [95% CI = 0.85-63.5] p = 0.07). Qualitative data confirmed that factors such as ragging and low social involvement were correlated with depressive symptoms in pre-clinical stage males. Limitations: The sample size was small both for quantitative and qualitative aspects of the study. Conclusions: It appears that ragging plays an important role in the genesis of depressive symptoms in medical students. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) [DA020667, DA023434]National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)National Institute of Child and Human Development (NICHD) grant, USA [HD060072]National Institute of Child and Human Development (NICHD) grant, US

Associations of exposure to crime-related^§ traumatic events with 12-month DSM-IV/WMH-CIDI disorders and disorder severity.

<p>Data from the Part 2 sample (n = 2,942).</p>§<p>Kidnapped, threatened with a weapon, stalked, other tortured, other killed, atrocities, quicknapped.</p>†<p>Based on multivariate logistic regression analysis controlling for gender, age, and neighborhood social deprivation.</p>††<p>Standard Error.</p>*<p>Significantly different from the prevalence in the 2 or 3 or more sub-samples at .05 level, two-sided test.</p

Estimated Twelve-Month Prevalence and Severity of DSM-IV/WMH-CIDI disorders: results from the São Paulo Megacity Mental Health Survey (SPMHS).

<p>Percentages in the three severity columns are repeated as proportions of all cases and sum to 100% cross each row.</p><p>Part 1 Total Sample Size = 5037, Part 2 Total Sample Size = 2942.</p>a<p>Severity calculated using Part 1 weights.</p>b<p>Part1 sample, prevalence calculated using Part 1 weights.</p>c<p>Part2 sample, prevalence calculated using Part 2 weights.</p

Associations (odds-ratio) of lifetime exposure of urbanicity, neighborhood social deprivation level, and migration status with 12-month DSM-IV/WMH-CIDI disorders.

<p>Data from the Part 2 sample (n = 2,942).</p>*<p>p = 0.04.</p><p>NS: non-significant.</p>†<p>Based on multivariate logistic regression analysis controlling for gender, age, income, marital status, and education.</p

Socio-demographic correlates of summary categories of 12-month DSM-IV/WMH-CIDI disorders, and severity.

a<p>p<0.05, two-sided test.</p