O alcoolismo, suas causas e tratemento nas representacoes sociais de profissionais de Saude da Familia = Alcoholism, its causes and treatment in the social representations constructed by Brazilian Family Health professionals

Health sciences define alcoholism as a multifaceted syndrome. Guidelines for treatment include adoption of the harm reduction paradigm and the essential role of Primary Health Care (PHC) towards the wide range of alcohol problems. This research aimed at understanding the social representations of alcoholism constructed by Brazilian PHC professionals, working at Family Health Centers (FHC). We conducted semi-structured interviews with 40 graduated health professionals who worked in 11 different FHC located in a municipality in southeast Brazil. Data were treated with thematic content analysis. We highlight the following results: professionals objectified the alcoholic as a patient who did not search for treatment and/or who threatened the normal functioning of the FHC; professionals considered social and psychological factors as the main causes of alcoholism; they did not mention the concept of harm reduction, nor well-defined treatment protocols. The causal attribution and the representational field inherent to the social representations contributed to anchor alcoholism as a "plague" of poverty. The FHC were perceived simultaneously as important and impotent towards alcoholism. We conclude that the implementation of alcohol-related care strategies must consider the intergroup relations between professionals and patients

The Internationalization of Psychology Journals in Brazil: A Bibliometric Examination Based on Four Indices

Abstract: There is considerable variability among psychology journals in Brazil, in terms of presence on the international stage. However, research as to why is very scarce. This study empirically examined the relationship between several indices of internationalization and real-world internationalization, among these journals. 661 articles from the top-17 psychology journals in Brazil were coded for: English-language text, editorial board makeup, lead author institution, and article type. Analyses revealed that successful internationalization was associated with: (i) lead author institution from a native English-speaking country; (ii) empirical articles; and (iii) editorial board members from a native English-speaking country. Use of English-language text was not associated with successful internationalization. These findings suggest that the path to internationalization for psychology journals in Brazil may depend on increased publishing of findings from English-speaking countries; or at the very least: increased collaboration between Brazilian and native English-speaking scholars

Saude mental na estrategia saude da familia : revisao da literatura brasileira = Mental health in the Family Health Strategy : a review of Brazilian literature

The Family Health Strategy establishes the principles of the Brazilian Primary Health Care and shares important goals with the Psychiatric Reform. The principles of territory-centered care and longitudinal care should enhance innovative actions of mental health promotion, prevention and rehabilitation. The aim of this review was to analyze the main themes approached by the Brazilian scientific literature concerning mental health in the Family Health Strategy. We read the titles of 267 articles published between 1999 and 2009. We followed specific criteria to select 38 articles for thematic analysis. The main themes were the demands in mental health, the perceptions and practices of health personnel and the role of the psychologist in Primary Care. The publications identified several problems: stereotypical views about mental disorders, the dominance of the hospitalization rationale, and the absence of clinical reports, strategies, qualified support to families and integrated health actions. The qualitative meta-analysis indicated questions that may strengthen the debate on the topic, the reflection on further research and on professional practice in the interface between Mental Health and Family Health

A produção de conhecimento sobre juventude(s), vulnerabilidades e violências: uma análise da pós-graduação brasileira nas áreas de Psicologia e Saúde (1998-2008)

Estudiosos de diferentes campos do saber têm alertado para aspectos recorrentes e problemáticos da produção de conhecimento em relação ao jovem e suas condições sociais. As pesquisas apontam que, ao tratar do tema, estes estudos o fazem quase sempre a partir dos "problemas" que a juventude apresenta, desconsiderando a compreensão dos modos de vida e das experiências cotidianas que a atravessam. O objetivo deste artigo é refletir sobre como as pesquisas acadêmicas brasileiras têm pensado o jovem na atualidade, num diálogo com outros estados da arte já realizados acerca deste tema. Optamos por levantar teses de doutorado e dissertações de mestrado em duas áreas de conhecimento - Psicologia e Saúde - no período de 1998 a 2008. Apresentamos, inicialmente, as razões de tal escolha e os procedimentos adotados para este levantamento; em seguida, expomos algumas características do contexto de produção dos textos analisados e de suas tematizações mais gerais, prosseguindo com a discussão mais específica daqueles que focalizam as violências e vulnerabilidades. Este levantamento revelou alguns dos embates e/ou forças políticas que se conectam e se materializam na produção de um sujeito jovem no contemporâneo, ora fixando-o em uma categoria conceitual, ora objetivando-o a partir dos territórios de vulnerabilizações e violências que os envolvem. Assumir outros modos de pensar as juventudes, acompanhando suas derivações, seus processos de desterritorialização/territorizalização contribui para identificarmos diferentes lógicas, produzir novos conhecimentos, refletir sobre distintas estratégias de ação que dialoguem com as experiências e singularidades deste jovem