Eficácia de um grupo psicoeducacional com cuidadores de pessoas com demência

CONTEXTO: O uso de intervenções direcionadas ao cuidador objetiva a informação e a criação de estratégias de enfrentamento para o manejo das dificuldades causadas pela demência. OBJETIVOS: Avaliar a relação entre a participação em um grupo psicoeducacional e a diminuição da sobrecarga e dos sintomas depressivos e ansiosos de cuidadores de pessoas com demência. MÉTODOS: Cuidadores (n = 18) avaliados longitudinalmente no momento linha de base e após seis meses de participação em grupo psicoeducacional. Utilizaram-se: Estadiamento Clínico das Demências (CDR), Questionário de Atividades Funcionais de Pfeffer (PFEFFER), Escala Cornell de Depressão na Demência (CORNELL), Escala de Avaliação da Qualidade de Vida na Doença de Alzheimer (QdV-DA), Inventário Neuropsiquiátrico (NPI), Inventário de Sobrecarga de Zarit (ZARIT), Inventário de Depressão de Beck (BDI) e Inventário de Ansiedade de Beck (BAI). RESULTADOS: No momento linha de base foi encontrada correlação entre a sobrecarga e sintomas depressivos dos cuidadores (p = 0,048). A análise das diferenças entre os dois momentos encontrou diminuição dos sintomas depressivos dos cuidadores no segundo momento (p = 0,011). Não foram encontradas diferenças significativas nas demais variáveis. CONCLUSÃO: Os grupos psicoeducacionais podem ser considerados intervenções eficazes na diminuição dos sintomas depressivos de cuidadores de pessoas com demência.BACKGROUND: The use of intervention strategies aimed at dementia caregivers objectives the information and the creation of coping strategies to deal with the difficulties caused by dementia. OBJECTIVES: To assess the correlation between the participation in a psychoeducational group and the decrease of burden, and depressive and anxious symptoms of caregivers of people with dementia. METHODS: Caregivers (n = 18) assessed in a longitudinal study at baseline and after six months of participation in a psychoeducational group. There were used the Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR), Pfeffer Functional Activities Questionnaire (PFAQ), Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia (CSDD), Quality of Life Scale in Alzheimer' Disease (QoL-AD), Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI), Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI). RESULTS: In the baseline, there was correlation between the burden and the caregivers' depressive symptoms (p = 0.048). The analysis of the differences between the baseline and the second moment has shown a decrease in caregivers' depressive symptoms in moment 2 (p = 0.011). There were no significant differences in the other variables. DISCUSSION: Psychoeducational groups can be considered efficient interventions on the decrease of the depression of caregivers of people with dementia

Intervenções de grupo para sobrecarga de cuidadores de pacientes com demência: uma revisão sistemática

BACKGROUND: Besides receiving general orientations about how to deal with a patient with dementia, the caregiver needs support to cope with the progress of the disease and to alleviate his burden, as well as his depressive and anxious symptoms. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the theoretical and methodological models used, as well as the effect of the group interventions on the burden of caregivers of people with dementia. METHOD: Search of articles at ISI, PubMed/Medline, SciELO and Lilacs about the efficacy of non pharmacological interventions with caregivers of patients with dementia, from January 1999 to August 2010, using the keywords: "dementia", "caregiver", "burden", "non pharmacological interventions", and "group/groups". The studies found were organized in two categories: psychoeducational or psychosocial interventions and psychotherapeutic interventions. RESULTS: Thirty seven articles were selected, 31 psychoeducational or psychosocial interventions and 6 psychoterapeutic ones, with statistically significant results related to the efficacy of group interventions on the burden of caregivers of people with dementia in 33 cases. There was an improvement especially on the scores of caregivers' depression and stress. DISCUSSION: In spite of efficacy, the group interventions for caregivers of people with dementia still need randomized studies aimed at the solution of important methodological problems of this kind of treatment, like the lack of standardized educational approaches, the number of participants or the duration of the group.CONTEXTO: Além de orientações gerais sobre como lidar com o paciente, o cuidador familiar do sujeito com demência deve receber apoio para enfrentar as dificuldades do progresso da doença e aliviar a sua sobrecarga, seus sintomas depressivos e ansiosos. OBJETIVOS: Avaliar os modelos teóricos e metodológicos utilizados, assim como o efeito das intervenções de grupo na sobrecarga de cuidadores de pessoas com demência. MÉTODO: Busca nas bases de dados ISI, PubMed/Medline, SciELO e Lilacs de artigos sobre a eficácia de intervenções não farmacológicas com cuidadores de pessoas com demência, entre janeiro de 1999 e agosto de 2010, utilizando as palavras-chave: "demência", "cuidador", "sobrecarga", "intervenções não farmacológicas" e grupo/grupos". Os estudos encontrados foram organizados em duas categorias: intervenções psicoeducacionais ou psicossociais e psicoterapêuticas. RESULTADOS: Foram selecionados 37 artigos, sendo 31 de abordagem psicoeducacional ou psicossocial e 6, psicoterapêutica, com resultados estatisticamente significativos relacionados à eficácia das intervenções em grupo para a sobrecarga de cuidadores de pacientes com demência. Em 33 casos, houve melhora principalmente nos escores de depressão e estresse dos cuidadores. CONCLUSÃO: Apesar de apresentarem índices de eficácia, as intervenções em grupo para cuidadores de pessoas com demência ainda necessitam de estudos randomizados que visem à solução de problemas metodológicos importantes desse tipo de tratamento, como a falta de padronização das abordagens educacionais, o número de participantes ou o período de duração do grupo

Consciência da doença na doença de Alzheimer: resultados preliminares de um estudo longitudinal

BACKGROUND: The presence of cognitive deficits and behavioral and psychological symptoms in dementia makes the phenomenon of awareness of disease a rather complex object of study. This phenomenon has been most studied in cross-sectional studies than in longitudinal studies. OBJECTIVE: To compare awareness of disease in Alzheimer's patients over six months. METHODS: Early-stage Alzheimer's disease patients (n = 18) were evaluated over six months using Scale of Psychosocial Impact of the Diagnosis of Dementia (ASPIDD), Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE), Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR), Cornell Depression Scale in Dementia (Cornell), Quality of Life in Alzheimer's Disease (QoL-AD - patient's version) and Pfeffer Functional Activities Questionnaire (PFAQ) and caregivers were assessed using Zarit Burden Interview (Zarit) and QoL-AD - caregiver's version. RESULTS: At six months' observation, there was a decline in the degree of awareness of disease (p = 0,02), in cognitive status (p < 0.01), in functional activities (p < 0.01), in clinical staging of the dementia (p < 0.01) and an increase in depressive symptoms (p < 0.01). DISCUSSION: As the severity of dementia increases, there is also impaired awareness of disease, together with cognitive and functional deficits.CONTEXTO: A presença de déficits cognitivos e dos sintomas psicológicos e do comportamento nas demências torna o fenômeno da consciência da doença um objeto de estudo bastante complexo. Esse fenômeno tem sido mais investigado em estudos de corte transversal do que em estudos de corte longitudinal. OBJETIVO: Comparar o comprometimento da consciência da doença na doença de Alzheimer (DA) ao longo de seis meses. MÉTODO: Ao longo de seis meses, 18 pacientes com DA leve foram avaliados por meio da Escala de Avaliação do Impacto Psicossocial da Demência (AIPD), do Miniexame do Estado Mental (MEEM), do Estadiamento Clínico da Demência (CDR), da Escala Cornell para Depressão na Demência (Cornell), da Escala Qualidade de Vida na Doença de Alzheimer (QdV-DA) - versão paciente e do Questionário de Atividades Funcionais (Pfeffer). Os cuidadores foram avaliados com a Escala Zarit Burden Interview (Zarit) e a QdV-DA - versão cuidador. RESULTADOS: Ao final de seis meses, houve declínio no grau de consciência da doença (p = 0,02), no estado cognitivo (p < 0,01), nas atividades funcionais (p < 0,01) e no estadiamento clínico da doença (p < 0,01) e aumento dos sintomas depressivos (p < 0,01). CONCLUSÃO: Há comprometimento da consciência da doença e déficits cognitivos e funcionais à medida que a gravidade da demência aumenta

Sexual satisfaction in dementia

CONTEXTO: A demência pode resultar em comprometimento da intimidade e sexualidade de casais idosos. OBJETIVOS: Avaliar alterações na atividade sexual, bem como os fatores de satisfação e/ou insatisfação sexual de casais nos quais um dos parceiros possua demência. MÉTODO: Busca nas bases de dados ISI, PubMed/Medline e SciELO de artigos sobre sexualidade na demência, entre janeiro de 1990 e março de 2012, utilizando as palavras-chave: "demência", "satisfação sexual", "intimidade" e "sexualidade". RESULTADOS: Foram encontrados 12 artigos. A sobrecarga de cuidados e a alteração de papéis na relação conjugal foram consideradas as principais causas para o declínio da atividade sexual. A disfunção erétil em pacientes e cônjuges, a capacidade decisória para o consentimento da relação sexual por parte do paciente demenciado e os problemas referentes à idade e à saúde (física e emocional) do cônjuge e/ou paciente foram os fatores associados à insatisfação sexual. CONCLUSÃO: A intimidade e a atividade sexual dos casais em que um dos parceiros é portador de demência são influenciadas negativamente pela relação de cuidados decorrente da doença e pela sobrecarga dos cônjuges. Por outro lado, a atividade sexual pode ser positivamente substituída por demonstrações de carinho e empatia entre os cônjuges.BACKGROUND: Dementia may result on impairment in intimacy and sexuality of elderly couples. OBJECTIVES: Evaluate changes in sexual activity, as well as the factors which cause sexual satisfaction and/or dissatisfaction in couples in which one of the partners has dementia. METHOD: A search at ISI, PubMed/Medline and SciELO was made for articles about sexuality in dementia, from January 1990 to March 2012, using the keywords: "dementia", "sexual satisfaction", "intimacy" and "sexuality". RESULTS: Twelve articles were selected. The burden of care and the change of roles in couples' relationship were the main reasons for decrease of sexual activity. Erectile dysfunction in patients and spouses, the decision-making capacity for sexual relationship from the patient who has dementia and the problems related to age and health (physical and emotional) of spouses and/or patients were considered as reasons associated with sexual dissatisfaction. DISCUSSION: When one partner has dementia, the couples' intimacy and sexual activity are negatively influenced by the relationship of care related to the disease and by the spouse's burden. On the other hand, sexual activity may be positively replaced by displays of affection and empathy between the couple

The Palace of Knossos Case Study and Material Characterization

The funding from the European Union Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme H2020-DRS-2015 GA nr. 700395 (HERACLES project).The study and characterization of mortars is generally related to the knowledge of the properties of the material, which guarantee or improve its performance and durability. When we consider the study of historical mortars, the main objective is to understand the characteristics of the material and how it has reached the present day, considering that, often, the time of its preparation and application is separated from the present by a long period of time, perhaps centuries, and is thus difficult to specify. This type of study may give indications on historical issues relevant to the understanding of a particular site or monument and, in addition, can assist in actions related to its preservation. Mortars can be used with different functions, ranging from structural function, protection, or finish, which requires distinct properties that are suitable for this functionality. It is necessary to consider that the desired characteristics, after drying the mortar, will depend on a set of factors, including the selection and quality of the raw material, the proportion between the main components, the way they are prepared and applied, and the environmental conditions they will be subjected to over time. Furthermore, the larger the monument is, the greater the chances of changes, reconstructions or interventions, including materials prepared in different periods with different raw materials and techniques. This is precisely the case of the Palace of Knossos, located near the Heraklion in Crete. It is estimated that the first palace was built in 2000 B.C.; however, it was destroyed and rebuilt more majestically in 1700 B.C. The definitive abandonment of the palace would have occurred around 1450 B.C., but the site where it was built maintained its importance for many centuries. Excavated at the beginning of the 20th century, the Palace of Knossos is one of the most important archaeological sites in Europe, both for its size and the complexity of its plant, with architectural solutions worthy of a well-developed civilization, as well as for the many reclaimed materials and frescos found. In addition to all of the material wealth found in its excavation, the palace has undergone peculiar historical conservation including the reconstruction of many of its structures, even as late as the early 20th century, all considered of great importance for the history of the monument. For this study, samples of mortars were collected at different points of the Palace of Knossos, both from areas of archaeological remains as well as from reconstructed areas. For the characterization, we opted for a multi-analyses approach which involved optical microscopy observation, X-ray fluorescence, X-ray diffraction, FTIR, -Raman, simultaneous thermogravimetry and differential thermal analysis. The results obtained indicated that the samples were mostly lime mortars with different hydraulicity indexes produced from local raw materials. The results also indicated that the samples presented considerable differences depending on the area in which they were collected, showing the variety and complexity of the materials produced in different periods, even when used for the same function.publishersversionpublishe

Zika Brazilian Cohorts (ZBC) Consortium: Protocol for an Individual Participant Data Meta-Analysis of Congenital Zika Syndrome after Maternal Exposure during Pregnancy.

Despite great advances in our knowledge of the consequences of Zika virus to human health, many questions remain unanswered, and results are often inconsistent. The small sample size of individual studies has limited inference about the spectrum of congenital Zika manifestations and the prognosis of affected children. The Brazilian Zika Cohorts Consortium addresses these limitations by bringing together and harmonizing epidemiological data from a series of prospective cohort studies of pregnant women with rash and of children with microcephaly and/or other manifestations of congenital Zika. The objective is to estimate the absolute risk of congenital Zika manifestations and to characterize the full spectrum and natural history of the manifestations of congenital Zika in children with and without microcephaly. This protocol describes the assembly of the Consortium and protocol for the Individual Participant Data Meta-analyses (IPD Meta-analyses). The findings will address knowledge gaps and inform public policies related to Zika virus. The large harmonized dataset and joint analyses will facilitate more precise estimates of the absolute risk of congenital Zika manifestations among Zika virus-infected pregnancies and more complete descriptions of its full spectrum, including rare manifestations. It will enable sensitivity analyses using different definitions of exposure and outcomes, and the investigation of the sources of heterogeneity between studies and regions

Pervasive gaps in Amazonian ecological research

Biodiversity loss is one of the main challenges of our time,1,2 and attempts to address it require a clear un derstanding of how ecological communities respond to environmental change across time and space.3,4 While the increasing availability of global databases on ecological communities has advanced our knowledge of biodiversity sensitivity to environmental changes,5–7 vast areas of the tropics remain understudied.8–11 In the American tropics, Amazonia stands out as the world’s most diverse rainforest and the primary source of Neotropical biodiversity,12 but it remains among the least known forests in America and is often underrepre sented in biodiversity databases.13–15 To worsen this situation, human-induced modifications16,17 may elim inate pieces of the Amazon’s biodiversity puzzle before we can use them to understand how ecological com munities are responding. To increase generalization and applicability of biodiversity knowledge,18,19 it is thus crucial to reduce biases in ecological research, particularly in regions projected to face the most pronounced environmental changes. We integrate ecological community metadata of 7,694 sampling sites for multiple or ganism groups in a machine learning model framework to map the research probability across the Brazilian Amazonia, while identifying the region’s vulnerability to environmental change. 15%–18% of the most ne glected areas in ecological research are expected to experience severe climate or land use changes by 2050. This means that unless we take immediate action, we will not be able to establish their current status, much less monitor how it is changing and what is being lostinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio