Varenicline: the risks of over-the-counter sales in Brazil

Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Department of PsychobiologyUNIFESP, Department of PsychobiologySciEL

Cognitive performance of young and elderly subjects on the free word recall memory test: effect of presentation order on recall order

The influence of aging on memory has been extensively studied, but the importance of short-term memory and recall sequence has not. The objective of the current study was to examine the recall order of words presented on lists and to determine if age affects recall sequence. Physically and psychologically healthy male subjects were divided into two groups according to age, i.e., 23 young subjects (20 to 30 years) and 50 elderly subjects (60 to 70 years) submitted to the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Revised and the free word recall test. The order of word presentation significantly affected the 3rd and 4th words recalled (P < 0.01; F = 14.6). In addition, there was interaction between the presentation order and the type of list presented (P < 0.05; F = 9.7). Also, both groups recalled the last words presented from each list (words 13-15) significantly more times 3rd and 4th than words presented in all remaining positions (P < 0.01). The order of word presentation also significantly affected the 5th and 6th words recalled (P = 0.05; F = 7.5) and there was a significant interaction between the order of presentation and the type of list presented (P < 0.01; F = 20.8). The more developed the cognitive functions, resulting mainly from formal education, the greater the cognitive reserve, helping to minimize the effects of aging on the long-term memory (episodic declarative).Associação Fundo de Incentivo à Psicofarmacologia Instituto do SonoUniversidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Departamento de PsicobiologiaUNIFESP, Depto. de PsicobiologiaSciEL

Glutamatergic hyperfunctioning during alcohol withdrawal syndrome: Therapeutic perspective with zinc and magnesium

It is known that the glutamatergic pathways are hyperfunctioning during alcohol withdrawal syndrome. It has been demonstrated that hyperfunctioning of this system causes a great damage to the superior cortical activity, the ability to concentrate and the control of impulses. Recent studies show that the cations zinc and magnesium modulate the glutamatergic function, reducing it to non-toxic levels, yet not reducing it to the point of depriving this neurotransmitter of its normal activity. New perspectives of treatment focus on the modulation of this system, having, as a result, reestablishment of impulse control abilities, damage prevention to the hippocampus and the amygdala and prevention of future relapses. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Psychobiol, BR-04024002 São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Med, BR-04024002 São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Psychobiol, BR-04024002 São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Med, BR-04024002 São Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc

Use and prevention of psychotropic drugs in Brazil

Even though the context related to the use of psychotropic drugs in Brazil is still somewhat unknown, available studies point to alcohol, tobacco and some psychotropic medications as the most used drugs and as responsible for the highest indexes of problems in our population. However, the increasing consumption of cocaine over the years is unquestionable, as well as the increase of a series of associated problems, including violence. As far as possible interventions in this scenario are concerned, the need for complementary preventive measures has been stressed. Although the repressive approach has been highlighted in the last decades, studies have pointed out to the limitations of this kind of intervention. The different levels of psychotropic drugs use prevention are presented in this study, along with comments on the main approaches used and how they have been implemented in Brazil.Embora o contexto relacionado ao consumo de drogas psicotrópicas no Brasil ainda seja pouco conhecido, os estudos disponíveis apontam que o álcool, o tabaco e alguns medicamentos psicotrópicos são as drogas mais consumidas e responsáveis pelos maiores índices de problemas para a nossa população. No entanto, é inegável o crescente consumo de cocaína ao longo dos últimos anos, bem como o aumento de uma série de problemas daí decorrentes, incluindo a violência. No que diz respeito às possíveis intervenções nesse cenário, embora o enfoque repressivo tenha recebido destaque nas últimas décadas, estudos têm apontado as limitações desse tipo de intervenção, enfatizando a necessidade de medidas preventivas complementares. No presente artigo são apresentados os diferentes níveis de prevenção ao uso de drogas psicotrópicas, sendo comentados os principais enfoques utilizados e como os mesmos vêm sendo implementados no Brasil.Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Escola Paulista de Medicina Departamento de PsicobiologiaUNIFESP, EPM, Depto. de PsicobiologiaSciEL

Effect of fish oil and coconut fat supplementation on depressive-type behavior and corticosterone levels of prenatally stressed male rats

Prenatal stress (PNS) during critical periods of brain development has been associated with numerous behavioral and/or mood disorders in later life. These outcomes may result from changes in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activity, which, in turn, can be modulated by environmental factors, such as nutritional status. in this study, the adult male offspring of dams exposed to restraint stress during the last semester of pregnancy and fed different diets were evaluated for depressive-like behavior in the forced swimming test and for the corticosterone response to the test. Female Wistar rats were allocated to one of three groups: regular diet, diet supplemented with coconut fat or with fish oil, offered during pregnancy and lactation. When pregnancy was confirmed, they were distributed into control or stress groups. Stress consisted of restraint and bright light for 45 min, three times per day, in the last week of pregnancy. the body weight of the adult offspring submitted to PNS was lower than that of controls. in the forced swimming test, time of immobility was reduced and swimming was increased in PNS rats fed fish oil and plasma corticosterone levels immediately after the forced swimming test were lower in PNS rats fed regular diet than their control counterparts; this response was reduced in control rats whose mothers were fed fish oil and coconut fat. the present results indicate that coconut fat and fish oil influenced behavioral and hormonal responses to the forced swimming test in both control and PNS adult male rats. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.Associacao Fundo de Incentivo a Psicofarmacologia (AFIP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Psychobiol, BR-04024002 São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Psychobiol, BR-04024002 São Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc

Psychoactive drug advertising: analysis of scientific information

OBJECTIVE: According to the World Health Organization, medicinal drug promotion should be reliable, accurate, truthful, informative, balanced, up-to-date and capable of substantiation. The objective of the present study was to review psychoactive drug advertisements to physicians as for information consistency with the related references and accessibility of the cited references. METHODS: Data was collected in the city of Araraquara, Southeastern Brazil, in 2005. There were collected and reviewed 152 drug advertisements, a total of 304 references. References were requested directly from pharmaceutical companies' customer services and searched in UNESP (Ibict, Athenas) and BIREME (SciELO, PubMed, free-access indexed journals) library network and CAPES journals. Advertisement statements were checked against references using content analysis. RESULTS: Of all references cited in the advertisements studied, 66.7% were accessed. Of 639 promotional statements identified, 346 (54%) were analyzed. The analysis showed that 67.7% of promotional statements in the advertisements were consistent with their references, while the remaining was either partially consistent or inconsistent. Of the material analyzed, an average 2.5 (1-28) references was cited per advertisement. In the text body, there were identified 639 pieces of information clearly associated with at least one cited reference (average 3.5 pieces of information per advertisement). CONCLUSIONS: The study results evidenced difficult access to the references. Messages on efficacy, safety and cost, among others, are not always supported by scientific studies. There is a need for regulation changes and effective monitoring of drug promotional materials.OBJETIVO: Segundo a Organização Mundial da Saúde, as propagandas de medicamentos devem ser fidedignas, exatas, verdadeiras, informativas, equilibradas, atualizadas e passíveis de comprovação. O objetivo do estudo foi avaliar as propagandas de medicamentos psicoativos divulgadas a médicos, em relação à concordância das informações contidas nas peças publicitárias com as suas respectivas referências bibliográficas e à acessibilidade dessas referências citadas. MÉTODOS: A coleta de dados foi realizada durante o ano de 2005, em Araraquara, SP. Foram coletadas e analisadas propagandas de 152 medicamentos, num total de 304 referências. As referências bibliográficas foram solicitadas aos serviços de atendimento ao cliente dos laboratórios e consultadas nas bibliotecas da rede UNESP (Ibict, Athenas), BIREME (SciELO, PubMed, periódicos catalogados de acesso livre) e periódicos CAPES. As afirmações das propagandas foram conferidas com as das referências por meio da técnica de análise de conteúdo. RESULTADOS: Das referências citadas nas propagandas, 66,7% foram acessadas. De 639 afirmações identificadas, foi possível analisar 346 (54%). Verificou-se que 67,7% das afirmações das propagandas conferiam com suas referências e as demais não conferiam ou conferiam parcialmente. Entre as propagandas analisadas, foi observada média de 2,5 (1-28) referências citadas por propaganda. No corpo das propagandas, foram identificadas 639 informações que estavam explicitamente associadas à pelo menos uma das referências citadas (média de 3,5 informações por propaganda). CONCLUSÕES: Os resultados evidenciaram a dificuldade de acesso às referências. As mensagens de eficácia, segurança, custos, entre outras, nem sempre estão respaldadas por estudos científicos. São necessárias mudanças nas exigências legais e fiscalização efetiva das promoções de medicamentos.Universidade Estadual Paulista Júlio Mesquita Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas. Departamento de Fármacos e MedicamentosUniversidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Escola Paulista de Medicina Departamento de PsicobiologiaUNIFESP, EPM, Depto. de PsicobiologiaSciEL

Influência da legislação sobre as propagandas de medicamentos psicoativos no Brasil

OBJECTIVE: The regulations on the advertisement of medications aim to encourage and promote an improved health care and the rational use of medications. The objective of this paper is to evaluate the influence of three regulations on the advertisement of medications: the Export act, published in the United States in 1986; the WHO's Criteria, published in 1988, and the Resolution 102/2000 of the Collegiate Board of Directors of the ANVISA (Agência Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária- Brazilian Sanitary Surveillance Agency), on the advertisement of psychoactive medications. METHOD: We collected advertisements that were published in Brazilian psychiatric journals before and after the regulations were established. The contents of the advertisements were analyzed according to a program created based on the regulation's demands. RESULTS: In the 118 analyzed issues there were 199 different advertisements on 85 psychotropic drugs. We observed that, regardless the studied medication, the information about restrictions of use, such as adverse drug reactions, interactions, contraindications, warnings and precautions, does not appear very often, and when it does, its print sizes were smaller than that of the information favoring the use, such as indication, presentation and dosage. After the publication of the regulations, only 38.2% of the advertisements had all the essential technical information, and 35.3% were irregular in some way. CONCLUSION: The data suggest that there was very little influence of the regulations on the advertisement of psychotropic drugs in Brazil. Consequently, other control measures are necessary in addition to the regulations.OBJETIVO: Os regulamentos sobre propaganda de medicamentos visam apoiar e fomentar a melhoria da atenção à saúde e o uso racional de medicamentos. O objetivo deste trabalho é avaliar a influência de três regulamentos sobre propaganda de medicamentos: Export act, publicado em 1986 nos Estados Unidos; os Critérios da OMS, em 1988 e a Resolução da Diretoria Colegiada n&deg; 102 de 2000 da ANVISA (Agência Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária), sobre os anúncios de medicamentos psicoativos. MÉTODO: Foram coletados anúncios em periódicos de psiquiatria nacionais, publicados antes e após cada regulamento. O conteúdo dos anúncios foi analisado de acordo com um roteiro de análise de conteúdo elaborado segundo as exigências dos regulamentos. RESULTADOS: Dos 118 fascículos analisados, foram obtidos 199 anúncios diferentes de 85 medicamentos psicoativos. Observou-se que, independentemente do regulamento estudado, as informações que restringem o uso, como reações adversas ao medicamento (RAM), interações, contra-indicações, advertências e precauções estão presentes em menor freqüência e num tamanho de letra menor do que as informações que favorecem o uso, como indicação, apresentação e posologia. Depois de todos os atos publicados apenas 38,2% dos anúncios continham todas as informações técnicas imprescindíveis, e 35,3% dos anúncios apresentavam alguma irregularidade. CONCLUSÃO: Os dados sugerem que houve pouca influência dos regulamentos sobre os anúncios de medicamentos psicoativos no Brasil, portanto, faz-se necessário adotar outras medidas de controle além de regulamentos.Federal University of São Paulo Paulista Medical School Department of PsychobiologyUniversity of São Paulo Paulista Medical School Department of PsychobiologyUNIFESP, EPM, Department of PsychobiologySciEL