Challenges and technology in the cognitive psychotherapy of childhood ADHD: one-year follow-up of monozygotic twins

The authors describe the follow-up of monozigotic twins treated with cognitive therapy for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.A escolha do caso deve-se a quatro principais motivos: (1) a alta complexidade do caso dificulta o diagnóstico, a abordagem psicofarmacológica e psicoterápica; (2) as dificuldades logísticas comuns aos profissionais e pacientes do Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS), como dificuldades econômicas e assistenciais, que dificultam o tratamento; (3) a importância da combinação tecnológica de diferentes modelos de terapias cognitivas na abordagem do TDAH, fundamental para alguns casos; (4) e a importância da viabilização proporcionada pelo Programa de Residência quando permite a busca por auxílio externo, em termos de supervisão, o que potencializa a capacitação do residente

DÉFICITS NA MEMÓRIA DE TRABALHO EM IDOSOS COM DEPRESSÃO MAIOR:: UMA REVISÃO SISTEMÁTICA

Geriatric depression is related with cognitive impairments, but how this is connected to specific Working Memory deficits is still unknown. Hence, the aim of this study is to systematically review the literature about the associations between Working Memory impairments and major depression in the elderly. Thus we performed a systematic review, considering published articles in major international databases between 2000 and 2011. After exclusion criteria, 17 articles were fully reviewed. There is evidence that there is indeed an association between depression in elderly and Working Memory impairments. In addition, some articles found that such deficits are sustained even after mood symptoms remission.Alguns estudos observaram declínio neuropsicológico em idosos deprimidos, todavia nem todos os aspectos da cognição estariam envolvidos. Particularmente a Memória de Trabalho (MT) seria uma das funções mais afetadas. Portanto o objetivo deste artigo é apresentar quais são as evidências sobre prejuízos na MT em idosos portadores de depressão maior. Através de uma revisão sistemática de artigos publicados entre 2000-2011 nas bases de dados Medline, PsycINFO, Cochrane, Scielo, Lilacs e Web of Science (ISI), publicados em inglês, português e espanhol, buscou-se as seguintes palavras chaves: working memory, depression and elderly or elder or aginig or aged or ageing. Após análise, seguindo critérios de inclusão e exclusão, foram analisados 17 artigos. A maioria destes evidenciando prejuízos significativos da MT em participantes depressivos. Prejuízos que parecem permanecer mesmo após a remissão dos sintomas.&nbsp

Corticotropin releasing factor in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis in socially defeated and non-stressed mice with a history of chronic alcohol intake

Stress exposure has been identified as one risk factor for alcohol abuse that may facilitate the transition from social or regulated use to the development of alcohol dependence. Preclinical studies have shown that dysregulation of the corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) neurotransmission has been implicated in stressrelated psychopathologies such as depression and anxiety, and may affect alcohol consumption. The bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST) contains CRF-producing neurons which seem to be sensitive to stress. In this study, adult male C57BL/6 mice previously defeated in resident-intruder confrontations were evaluated in the elevated plus-maze and tail suspension test. Mice were also tested for sweet solution intake before and after social stress. After having had continuous access to ethanol (20% weight/volume) for 4 weeks, control and stressed mice had CRF type 1 (CRFR1) or type 2 (CRFR2) receptor antagonists infused into the BNST and then had access to ethanol for 24 h. In separate cohorts of control and stressed mice, we assessed mRNA levels of BNST CRF, CRFR1 and CRFR2 Stressed mice increased their intake of sweet solution after ten sessions of social defeat and showed reduced activity in the open arms of the elevated plus-maze. When tested for ethanol consumption, stressed mice persistently drank significantly more than controls during the 4 weeks of access. Also, social stress induced higher BNST CRF mRNA levels. The selective blockade of BNST CRFR1 with CP376,395 effectively reduced alcohol drinking in non-stressed mice, whereas the selective CRFR2 antagonist astressin2B produced a dose-dependent increase in ethanol consumption in both non-stressed controls and stressed mice. The 10-day episodic defeat stress used here elicited anxiety- but not depressive-like behaviors, and promoted an increase in ethanol drinking. CRF-CRFR1 signaling in the BNST seems to underlie ethanol intake in non-stressed mice, whereas CRFR2 modulates alcohol consumption in both socially defeated and non-stressed mice with a history of chronic intake

A influência dos traços de personalidade nas habilidades de coping de indivíduos com transtorno de humor bipolar

Background: Bipolar disorder is marked by alterations in coping skills which in turn impacts the disease course. Personality traits are associated with coping skills and for this reason it has been suggested that personality traits of patients with BD may have influence over their coping skills. Objective: To investigate possible associations between coping skills and personality in individuals with bipolar disorder (BD). Method: Thirty-five euthymic subjects with BD were compared with 40 healthy controls. Coping skills were evaluated using Ways of Coping Checklist Revised and Brief-COPE. Personality traits were assessed by Neo Personality Inventory. MANCOVA was used for between groups comparison. Result: Regarding coping, individuals with BD reported more frequent use of emotion-focused strategies than problem-focused strategies, and high levels of neuroticism and low levels of extroversion and conscientiousness on personality measures. Neuroticism influenced negatively the use of problem-focused strategies, and positively emotion-focused coping. Conscientiousness influenced the use of problem-focused strategies in both groups. There was a significant difference between emotion focused coping and personality traits between BD and control groups. Discussion: Personality traits seem to modulate coping skills and strategies in BD which may be took into account for further interventions.Contexto: O transtorno de humor bipolar (THB) é marcado por estratégias de enfrentamento, ou coping, que determinam comportamentos que podem influenciar negativamente o curso da doença. Traços de personalidade são altamente associados com estratégias de coping, portanto se faz a hipótese de que traços de personalidade influenciem as estratégias de coping de portadores de THB. Objetivo: Este estudo buscou investigar associações entre traços de personalidade e estratégias de coping em pacientes com THB. Método: Trinta e cinco participantes eutímicos diagnosticados com THB e 40 controles saudáveis participaram deste estudo. Estratégias de coping foram avaliadas com a Ways of Coping Checklist Revised and Brief – COPE – e traços de personalidade foram avaliados com o Neo Personality Inventory. Resultado: Participantes com THB possuíram padrão de estratégias de coping significativamente mais baseados na emoção. Em termos de traços de personalidade, participantes com THB tiveram significativamente mais características de neuroticismo e reduzidas características de extroversão e consciência. Foram encontradas associações positivas entre índices de neuroticismo e estratégias de coping baseadas em emoções e associações negativas com estratégias baseadas no problema. Conclusão: Traços de personalidade são fundamentais para as estratégias de coping de pacientes com THB, portanto traços de personalidade devem ser considerados alvos terapêuticos para a psicopatologia.Universidade de São Paulo Medical School Institute and Department of PsychiatryPontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do SulUniversidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Department of PsychiatryUNIFESP, Department of PsychiatrySciEL

Influence of personality traits in coping skills in individuals with bipolar disorder

Background : Bipolar disorder is marked by alterations in coping skills which in turn impacts the disease course. Personality traits are associated with coping skills and for this reason it has been suggested that personality traits of patients with BD may have influence over their coping skills. Objective : To investigate possible associations between coping skills and personality in individuals with bipolar disorder (BD). Methods : Thirty-five euthymic subjects with BD were compared with 40 healthy controls. Coping skills were evaluated using Ways of Coping Checklist Revised and Brief-COPE. Personality traits were assessed by Neo Personality Inventory. MANCOVA was used for between groups comparison. Results : Regarding coping, individuals with BD reported more frequent use of emotion-focused strategies than problem-focused strategies, and high levels of neuroticism and low levels of extroversion and conscientiousness on personality measures. Neuroticism influenced negatively the use of problem-focused strategies, and positively emotion-focused coping. Conscientiousness influenced the use of problem-focused strategies in both groups. There was a significant difference between emotion focused coping and personality traits between BD and control groups. Discussion : Personality traits seem to modulate coping skills and strategies in BD which may be took into account for further interventions.Contexto : O transtorno de humor bipolar (THB) é marcado por estratégias de enfrentamento, ou coping, que determinam comportamentos que podem influenciar negativamente o curso da doença. Traços de personalidade são altamente associados com estratégias de coping, portanto se faz a hipótese de que traços de personalidade influenciem as estratégias de coping de portadores de THB. Objetivo : Este estudo buscou investigar associações entre traços de personalidade e estratégias de coping em pacientes com THB. Métodos : Trinta e cinco participantes eutímicos diagnosticados com THB e 40 controles saudáveis participaram deste estudo. Estratégias de coping foram avaliadas com a Ways of Coping Checklist Revised and Brief – COPE – e traços de personalidade foram avaliados com o Neo Personality Inventory. Resultados : Participantes com THB possuíram padrão de estratégias de coping significativamente mais baseados na emoção. Em termos de traços de personalidade, participantes com THB tiveram significativamente mais características de neuroticismo e reduzidas características de extroversão e consciência. Foram encontradas associações positivas entre índices de neuroticismo e estratégias de coping baseadas em emoções e associações negativas com estratégias baseadas no problema. Conclusão : Traços de personalidade são fundamentais para as estratégias de coping de pacientes com THB, portanto traços de personalidade devem ser considerados alvos terapêuticos para a psicopatologia

Exposure to maltreatment and urban violence in children working on the streets in São Paulo, Brazil: factors associated with street work

Objective: To quantitatively study the exposure to childhood maltreatment and urban violence in children from families with at least one child working on the streets and to investigate the relationship between these factors and street work. Methods: Families who participated in a nongovernmental organization (NGO) program to eliminate child labor were included. Data concerning sociodemographic characteristics, punishment methods used in the family environment against the children, five types of abuse and neglect perpetrated by the caregivers, urban violence exposure and family functioning were collected. Results: The sample included 126 children who were working on the streets and 65 siblings who were not working on the streets. Caregivers reported high levels of severe physical punishment. The children reported high levels of abuse and neglect, and high levels of urban violence exposure. The families showed a predominance of dysfunctional and unsatisfactory relationships. A multiple logistic regression model showed that age older than 12 years and severe physical punishment at home were associated with street work. Conclusion: Interventions to decrease the risk of child street work should be family-focused and should aim to reduce violence in the family environment.Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Department of PsychiatryUniversidade Estadual de São Paulo (UNESP) Mathematics and Statistics InstituteUniversidade Presbiteriana Mackenzie Graduate Program in Developmental DisordersPontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS) Graduate Department of PsychologyRUKHA Institute and Center for Studies and Research in Neuropsychoanalysis (CEINP)UNIFESP, Department of PsychiatrySciEL

The brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene Val66Met polymorphism affects memory performance in older adults

Objective: Memory impairment is an important contributor to the reduction in quality of life experienced by older adults, and genetic risk factors seem to contribute to variance in age-related cognitive decline. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is an important nerve growth factor linked with development and neural plasticity. The Val66Met polymorphism in the BDNF gene has been associated with impaired episodic memory in adults, but whether this functional variant plays a role in cognitive aging remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of the BDNF Val66Met polymorphism on memory performance in a sample of elderly adults. Methods: Eighty-seven subjects aged 4 55 years were recruited using a community-based convenience sampling strategy in Porto Alegre, Brazil. The logical memory subset of the Wechsler Memory Scale-Revised was used to assess immediate verbal recall (IVR), delayed verbal recall (DVR), and memory retention rate. Results: BDNF Met allele carriers had lower DVR scores (p = 0.004) and a decline in memory retention (p = 0.017) when compared to Val/Val homozygotes. However, we found no significant differences in IVR between the two groups (p = 0.088). Conclusion: These results support the hypothesis of the BDNF Val66Met polymorphism as a risk factor associated with cognitive impairment, corroborating previous findings in young and older adults

Protocol for evaluating the in vitro effect of violet light-emitting diodes (LEDs) 410 nm ± 10 nm on yeast cultures

BACKGROUND: Candida spp and Malassezia spp cause superficial infections that may be resistant to conventional treatments. Violet light-emitting diodes (LEDs) therapy is a therapeutic alternative. PURPOSE: To describe the protocol for evaluating the antifungal effect of violet LEDs 410 nm ± 10 nm on Candida spp and Malassezia spp in vitro. PROTOCOL: LEDs 410 nm ± 10 nm are applied to a fungal suspension at fluences of 61.13 J/cm2, 91.70 J/cm2, and 183.39 J/cm2. The isolates are cultured for 48 to 72 hours. Colony forming units (CFUs) are quantified by visual counting and percent culture plate occupancy by digital analysis. Morphology is assessed by light microscopy and Gram staining, and yeast metabolism/function by transmission electron microscopy, assessment of reactive oxygen species, and DNA fragmentation. DATA ANALYSIS: the percentage of LEDs inhibition is calculated considering the growth of the negative control condition and the percentage of plate occupancy by yeasts by dividing the number of pixels classified as colonies by the total number of pixels on the plate. The morphological and functional aspects are described for the intervention and negative control. The ANOVA test is used to compare the mean percentages of growth inhibition and plate occupancy between the three fluences of LEDs 410 nm ± 10 nm and the negative control. ESTIMATED RESULTS: We intend to determine the antifungal effect of the different fluences of LEDs 410 nm ± 10 nm on Candida spp and Malassezia spp. The evaluation of other fungal species by this protocol should be investigated

Performance of CMS muon reconstruction in pp collision events at sqrt(s) = 7 TeV

The performance of muon reconstruction, identification, and triggering in CMS has been studied using 40 inverse picobarns of data collected in pp collisions at sqrt(s) = 7 TeV at the LHC in 2010. A few benchmark sets of selection criteria covering a wide range of physics analysis needs have been examined. For all considered selections, the efficiency to reconstruct and identify a muon with a transverse momentum pT larger than a few GeV is above 95% over the whole region of pseudorapidity covered by the CMS muon system, abs(eta) < 2.4, while the probability to misidentify a hadron as a muon is well below 1%. The efficiency to trigger on single muons with pT above a few GeV is higher than 90% over the full eta range, and typically substantially better. The overall momentum scale is measured to a precision of 0.2% with muons from Z decays. The transverse momentum resolution varies from 1% to 6% depending on pseudorapidity for muons with pT below 100 GeV and, using cosmic rays, it is shown to be better than 10% in the central region up to pT = 1 TeV. Observed distributions of all quantities are well reproduced by the Monte Carlo simulation.Comment: Replaced with published version. Added journal reference and DO

Search for the standard model Higgs boson in the H to ZZ to 2l 2nu channel in pp collisions at sqrt(s) = 7 TeV

A search for the standard model Higgs boson in the H to ZZ to 2l 2nu decay channel, where l = e or mu, in pp collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 7 TeV is presented. The data were collected at the LHC, with the CMS detector, and correspond to an integrated luminosity of 4.6 inverse femtobarns. No significant excess is observed above the background expectation, and upper limits are set on the Higgs boson production cross section. The presence of the standard model Higgs boson with a mass in the 270-440 GeV range is excluded at 95% confidence level.Comment: Submitted to JHE