Biomedical subjects

P R Menezes

Publications and source records attributed to P R Menezes.

16 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Investigation of the possible association between nosocomial candiduria and candidaemia.

This study aimed to determine whether candiduria is associated with the occurrence of nosocomial candidaemia. In the case-control part of the study, 115 cases (nosocomial candidaemia) and 115 controls (nosocomial bacteraemia) were similar in age, severity of condition and time of hospitalisation. There was a significant association of candidaemia with candiduria (OR 9.79; 95% CI 2.14-44.76). In the microbiology part of the study, 23 pairs of Candida-positive urine and blood cultures were obtained from 23 patients. In ten (43%) cases, the urine and blood culture isolates belonged to different species, and molecular typing showed a difference in two of the 13 cases yielding the same species from both specimens. Overall, there was a significant association between candiduria and candidaemia, but the Candida isolates from urine and blood were different for 52% of the patients. Thus, the data indicated that the urinary tract was probably not a source for the candidaemia.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2004

In vitro antioxidant activity of species collected in Paraná.

Hydroalcoholic extracts of 10 medicinally used species collected from the area covered by a reservoir due to a dam built for the Salto Caxias Hydro-electric power plant in the State of Paraná, Southern Brazil, and Casearia sylvestris, were investigated for their potential antioxidant activity against DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) free radicals and by the phosphomolybdenum method. The extract of Bauhinia microstachya was found to be the most potent in both models.

Antioxidants↗

PubMed2003

Postpartum depression: in relation to life events and patterns of coping.

The purpose of this study was to estimate the prevalence of postpartum depression (PPD) and its relationship with life events (LE) and patterns for coping. We performed a cross-sectional study of 113 women, on the 10(th) day of puerperium, at the Obstetric Clinic of the São Paulo University Medical School. The study was based on the following: Pitt (1967) and Stein (1980) Scales, Beck Depression Inventory (1961), Holmes and Rahe Schedule of Recent Events (1967), Folkman and Lazarus Ways of Coping (1985) and questionnaire of social-demographic and obstetric data. Logistic regression was performed to calculate prevalence of PPD and its association with several risk factors. The significance level was defined at 5%. The prevalence of PPD was 15.9% (IC 9.7% to 24.0%). According to the multivariate analyses, the variables of coping with distancing, number of children and ethnic origin were significant. There were no association between PPD and LE. The depressed puerperal women have a low educational level, greater number of children and resort to inadequate coping strategies, such as distancing. This pattern of coping might be an etiological factor of the PPD as well as a reaction to their difficult life environment.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

PubMed2002

Chronic fatigue among bank workers in Brazil.

The present study examines the prevalence of chronic fatigue (CF) among bank workers in Brazil and possible associations with gender and working conditions. The study sample included all 735 workers from the department of data processing of a state bank. CF was assessed using the Chalder Fatigue Scale. Working conditions and socio-demographic, socio-economic and psychosocial factors at work were analysed. Psychiatric symptoms were measured with the SRQ-20. The overall estimate of the prevalence of CF was 8.7% [95% confidence intervals (95% CI) = 6.4-10.9%]: 7.8% (95% CI = 5.5-10.7%) among men and 11.0% (95% CI = 6.7-16.9%) among women. The male-female difference was not statistically significant, even after adjusting for minor psychiatric disorders. The overall prevalence of CF without minor psychiatric disorders was 4.5% (95% CI = 2.7-6.3%): 3.9% (95% CI = 1.9-5.9%) among men and 6.4% (95% CI = 2.0-10.1%) among women. In the final model, risk factors for CF were fast work speed [odds ratio (OR) = 3.5], dissatisfaction at work (OR = 3.1), minor psychiatric disorders (OR = 6.8), and medium (OR = 1.8) and heavy domestic workload (OR = 12.0). CF is common among these bank workers and is associated with psychosocial factors at work. Particularly among women, domestic workload, marital status and the presence of young children were associated with CF in the stratified analysis. Domestic workload may add physical and mental stress, putting employees at risk for CF from overload, or CF may cause workers to perceive domestic work as heavy.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

[Epidemiological research on dementia in developing countries].

As the world population is ageing, dementia becomes an important public health problem, particularly in developing countries. Epidemiological research in these settings is scarce and present additional methodological difficulties, mainly regarding the socio-cultural adequacy of instruments used to identify cases of dementia. As a result of these concerns the 10/66 Dementia Research Group was founded to fill this gap. This is an international network of investigators, mostly from developing countries, and the group's name was based on the paradox that less than 10% of the population-based studies on dementia are directed to 2/3 or more cases of people with dementia living in developing countries. The aim of the paper is to update data in the literature regarding the differences in dementia prevalence and incidence seen in developed and developing countries.

Dementia↗

PubMed2001

Perception of negative emotions in close relatives by patients with schizophrenia.

OBJECTIVES: The perception of negative emotions in close relatives may play an important role in explaining how external stressors can affect vulnerable individuals with schizophrenia. However, there is considerable debate about the ability of people with schizophrenia to perceive emotions in others. The present study aimed to examine the reliability of patients' perception of relatives' criticism. Secondly, it aimed to investigate whether patients' judgement about relatives' criticism agreed with an independent assessment of relatives' criticism towards patients. METHOD: Forty-three patients with a DSM-III-R diagnosis of schizophrenia and their relatives were assessed soon after patients' admission to a psychiatric hospital and again 9 months after their discharge from hospital. Test-retest reliability of patients' answers to a question about patients' perception of relatives' criticism towards them was carried out. The association between patients' perception of relatives' criticism and the expressed emotion (EE) measure of relatives' criticism was examined at inclusion and follow-up. Patients' symptomatology was examined at both assessments. RESULTS: Reliability of the measurement of patients' perception of relatives' criticism was moderate to good. Patients' judgement of relatives' criticism towards them was associated with the number of critical comments and presence of hostility at inclusion. At follow-up, this association became weaker. CONCLUSION: The ability to judge and describe reliably negative emotions in close relationships may help to explain how perception of the external environment may act as a stressor in people who are vulnerable to schizophrenia.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2001

A randomized controlled trial comparing moclobemide and moclobemide plus interpersonal psychotherapy in the treatment of dysthymic disorder.

The authors compared the outcomes of 35 outpatients with dysthymic disorder randomized to receive either treatment with moclobemide and interpersonal therapy (IPT) or moclobemide and routine clinical management. Diagnosis was based on the ICD-10 symptom checklist. Patients were evaluated by trained raters using the 17-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (Ham-D), Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS), Global Assessment of Functioning, and Quality of Life and Satisfaction Questionnaire at baseline, 12, 24, and 48 weeks. Patients in both treatment groups showed statistically significant improvement in all measures across time. There was a nonsignificant trend toward lower scores on Ham-D and MADRS for patients in the moclobemide plus IPT group. Longer, better-powered trials should be carried out to study the efficacy of IPT plus antidepressant medication in the treatment of dysthymic disorder.

Adult↗

PubMed2000

Household crowding and compliance with outpatient treatment in patients with non-affective functional psychoses in São Paulo, Brazil.

BACKGROUND: Compliance with outpatient treatment can reduce the use of psychiatric inpatient services by people with severe mental disorders. In developing countries, socio-economic factors may be associated with compliance with outpatient treatment. METHODS: A 2-year prospective cohort study was conducted of 99 patients with non-affective functional psychoses who were discharged from hospital. Standardized assessments were used for psychopathology, social functioning and use of psychiatric services. RESULTS: Forty-two patients (42.4%) missed all outpatient appointments for at least 2 consecutive months. Household crowding was the only variable associated with poor compliance, patients living in very crowded homes being more than twice as likely to show poor compliance as those living in less crowded homes. CONCLUSIONS: In large urban centres in developing countries, strategies to improve compliance with outpatient treatment targeted towards those living in overcrowded households may reduce use of psychiatric beds.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2000

Service use and costs of people with dual diagnosis in South London.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the service use and costs of individuals who have a dual diagnosis of psychosis and substance abuse with those who have a diagnosis of psychosis but no substance abuse. METHOD: Patients with psychosis were identified and a representative sample were interviewed. Six-month service use was measured and costs calculated. Regression models were developed to predict costs from background characteristics and dual diagnosis status. RESULTS: A greater proportion of the patients with dual diagnosis used community psychiatric nurses, in-patient care and the emergency clinic. The regression analysis revealed that dual diagnosis patients had significantly higher 'core' psychiatric service costs (a difference of pound sterling 1362) and non-accommodation service costs (pound sterling 1360) than non-dual-diagnosis patients. The difference when all services were analysed was pound sterling 1046, but this was not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Specific interventions for dual diagnosis patients should be introduced and assessed in terms of individual outcomes, service use and costs.

Adult↗

PubMed1997

Predictors of clinical and social outcomes after hospitalization in schizophrenia.

A prospective cohort study of schizophrenia was carried out in Sao Paulo, Brazil, in order to investigate clinical and social outcomes in schizophrenia and related psychoses after hospitalization. A sample of 124 individuals who were living in a defined catchment area and had been consecutively admitted to psychiatric hospitals in that area with clinical diagnoses of non-affective functional psychoses was followed up for 2 years. Assessments of clinical status and social adjustment at inclusion and at 2-year follow-up were carried out by means of standardized instruments, the PSE and the DAS. At the end of the follow-up period, 120 subjects (96.8%) were traced, and 103 (83.1%) were re-assessed. At the second assessment, the proportion of subjects with a nuclear syndrome of schizophrenia had halved (from 68.3% to 32.7%), 23.8% were symptom free and 60.2% showed at least one psychotic symptom. Presence of psychotic symptoms at follow-up was best predicted by educational level (less than 4 years of formal education) and an initial DSM-III-R diagnosis of schizophrenia. The distribution of global social adjustment levels at 2-year follow-up was similar to that observed at the outset, with approximately one third of subjects showing good, one third showing intermediate and one third showing poor global social adjustment. Social disability was best predicted by longer duration of illness, worse social adjustment levels at inclusion and lower educational level.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1996

Drug and alcohol problems among individuals with severe mental illness in south London.

BACKGROUND: High rates of comorbid alcohol and drug disorders have previously been found among individuals with severe mental illnesses such as schizophrenia and bipolar affective disorders. Clinical and social outcomes have been reported to be worse in this group and service costs greater than in individuals with severe mental illness only. These 'dual diagnosis' patients have mainly been investigated in the USA, and there has been very little research in Europe, where patterns of substance abuse may be different. METHOD: All patients with psychotic illnesses who had any contact with the mental health services in a geographically defined sector in South London over a specified period were studied. Individuals with problems related to alcohol or drugs were identified using standardised interviews with subjects and their keyworkers. Data on psychiatric service use during the previous 2 years were also obtained. RESULTS: One hundred and seventy-one subjects with psychotic illnesses were interviewed (response rate: 78.4%). The one-year prevalence rate for any substance problem was 36.3% (95% CI = 29.1-43.5), for alcohol problems it was 31.6% (95% CI = 24.6-38.5), and for drug problems 15.8% (95% CI = 10.3-21.3). Young male subjects were at higher risk of having substance problems. Patients with substance problems had spent almost twice as many days in hospital as those without such problems over the previous two years (difference = 26.3 days, 95% CI = 3.8-48.7). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of substance problems among people suffering from severe mental disorders is high, and seems to be associated with greater use of in-patient services. This is a significant clinical problem, with cost implications. Further investigation is needed for adequate service provision.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1996

Mortality among patients with non-affective functional psychoses in a metropolitan area of south-eastern Brazil.

High mortality rates among those suffering from schizophrenia and related psychoses have been consistently described in developed societies. However, to date there is a lack of data on this matter in Brazil. In order to examine this issue, a prospective 2-year follow-up study was carried out in S. Paulo. The sample consisted of 120 consecutive admissions to psychiatric hospitals in a defined catchment area, aged 18 to 44 years old, with clinical diagnoses of non-affective functional psychoses according to the ICD-9. After 2 years, 116 (96.7%) subjects were traced. During the study period there were 7 deaths (6.0% of those traced), 5 (4.3%) due to suicide. All but one of the suicides occurred in the first year after discharge from hospital. Age and sex Standardised Mortality Ratios (relative to rates for the population of the city of Sao Paulo) were 8.4 for overall mortality (95% confidence interval: 4.0-15.9) and 317.9 for deaths due to suicide (95% confidence interval: 125.2-668.3). These results are in agreement with previous studies, and show that in Brazil non-affective functional psychoses are life-threatening illnesses, which need adequate care, particularly when patients go back to live in the community after hospital discharge.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1993

Characteristics of hospital-treated schizophrenia in São Paulo, Brazil.

This paper reports a study on the prevalence of hospital-treated schizophrenia in a large urban centre in Brazil. A sample of 124 individuals from a defined catchment area of São Paulo consecutively admitted to psychiatric hospitals due to acute episodes of non-affective psychoses were assessed by standardized instruments for mental state and social adjustment. The sample was predominantly white (72.6%), single (65.2%), Catholic (61.3%) and not born in that city (58.9%). Eighty-six subjects fulfilled DSM-III-R criteria for schizophrenia (69.3%), 15 were classified as schizophreniform psychosis (12.1%), and 7 as schizoaffective (5.6%). Almost two-thirds showed Schneider's 'first rank' symptoms. Social adjustment before admission was poor or very poor in nearly half the sample. Mean age at onset was 3.2 years earlier in men than in women (P = 0.007). No gender differences in mental state or social adjustment were observed. Individuals born outside São Paulo State had significantly more florid symptoms than those born in that state. These findings suggest that the features of schizophrenia in a large urban centre of Brazil are consistent with the patterns of schizophrenia described in Western developed countries.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1993

The social adjustment of patients with schizophrenia: implications to the mental health policy in Brazil.

A sample (n = 124) of schizophrenic patients from a defined catchment area of the city os S. Paulo, Brazil, who had been consecutively admitted to hospital, was assessed for psychopathological status and social adjustment levels. Sociodemographic, socio-economic and occupational characteristics were recorded: almost 30% of the subjects had no occupation and received no social benefit, more than two-thirds had a monthly per capita income of US$ 100.00 or less. Sixty-five percent presented with Schneiderian first rank symptoms. Nearly half the sample showed poor or very poor social adjustment in the month prior to admission. The most affected areas of social functioning were participation in the household activities, work and social withdrawal. The current mental health policy of promoting extra-mural care as an alternative to the previous hospital-based model will then mean the investment in a network of new community-based services, that give effective treatment and support to patients and their families. The need of further research into the current picture of mental disorders in the country is stressed.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Relationship between obsessive-compulsive disorders and diseases affecting primarily the basal ganglia.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) has been reported in association with some neurological diseases that affect the basal ganglia such as Tourette's syndrome, Sydenham's chorea, Parkinson's disease, and Huntington's disease. Furthermore, studies such as neuroimaging, suggest a role of the basal ganglia in the pathophysiology of OCD. The aim of this paper is to describe the association of OCD and several neurologic disorders affecting the basal ganglia, report the existing evidences of the role of the basal ganglia in the pathophysiology of OCD, and analyze the mechanisms probably involved in this pathophysiology.

Basal Ganglia↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Computerized psychiatric interviews: can they help to improve medical care?

Studies on psychiatric disorders in Brazil have shown high prevalence rates, both in the community and in primary care centers. However, psychiatric assessments carried out by interviewers have some inherent problems which influence inter-observer reliability. There is great potential for the use of computerized interviews. This article discusses some advantages of this kind of assessment, and indicates a need for investigation into its applicability to Brazilian health care settings.

Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted↗