Ana Cecília Petta Roselli Marques

O adolescente e o uso de drogas

Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo (UNIFESP) Departamento de Psicobiologia Unidade de Dependencia de Drogas

Diretrizes da Associação Brasileira de Estudos do Álcool e outras Drogas (ABEAD) para o diagnóstico e tratamento de comorbidades psiquiátricas e dependência de álcool e outras substâncias

Recently, several studies have focused on comorbity psychiatric disorders with alcohol and other substance dependence. The Brazilian Association of Studies on Alcohol and Other Drugs proposed the Brazilian Guidelines project. This study review diagnostic and therapeutic criteria to the most prevalent psychiatric comorbidities. Randomized clinical trials, epidemiological, animal studies and other forms of research are reviewed. The main psychiatric comorbidities are studied based on guidelines adopted by other countries and the literature data resumed. Epidemiological aspects, diagnoses, integrated treatment and service organization, as well as specific psychotherapic and pharmacological treatment are discussed. The Brazilian Association of Studies on Alcohol and Other Drugs Guidelines reassures the importance of adequate diagnoses and treatment regarding alcoholic and drug dependent patients suffering of comorbid psychiatric disorders.

Consenso sobre a Síndrome de Abstinência do Álcool (SAA) e o seu tratamento

O corpo do conhecimento médico vem crescendo exponencialmente ao longo das últimas décadas, o que torna a boa prática da medicina um exercício cada vez mais difícil devido à constante necessidade de avaliar o que vale a pena continuar fazendo para o bem de nossos pacientes. Várias novas idéias surgiram com o objetivo de ajudar a organizar o conhecimento médico: “medicina baseada em evidências”, “revisão sistemática da literatura”, “educação médica continuada”. Além disso, os meios eletrônicos facilitaram muito o acesso à informação, criando a sensação de que existe um mundo de novas informações e que o médico não tem tempo para atualizar-se. No entanto, nenhum profissional isoladamente consegue fazer uma revisão consistente da literatura de todos os assuntos da sua prática clínica devido à dificuldade de tempo e muitas vezes de conhecimento. Nesse sentido, as associações médicas têm um papel fundamental em auxiliar seus afiliados com revisões sistemáticas da literatura que auxiliem o clínico a organizar-se frente a essa avalanche de informações. Nos últimos anos temos vistos vários consensos surgirem na literatura internacional. No nosso meio, recentemente a Associação Médica Brasileira (AMB) considerou a criação de consensos como uma das suas mais importantes metas para a nova gestão. O Departamento de Dependência Química da Associação Brasileira de Psiquiatria optou por começar pela Síndrome de Abstinência do Álcool, pois considerou-se que é um assunto no qual na prática clínica ainda não existe uma homogeneidade de procedimentos aqui no Brasil, muito embora a literatura internacional aponte para uma quase unanimidade sobre o que fazer e principalmente sobre o que não fazer. Devido à falta de experiência sobre esse tipo de atividades tentamos ser o mais cuidadosos possível e para tanto adotamos a seguinte estratégia: em primeiro lugar foram identificados os profissionais com maior experiência clínica e científica em dependência química. Tentou-se buscar a melhor distribuição possível entre as diferentes regiões do Brasil. Foi feita uma revisão da literatura por meio da Medline e pedido para que alguns dos participantes fizessem um resumo crítico de algumas partes do consenso. Durante um final de semana inteiro esses profissionais reuniram-se e discutiram a melhor forma de produzir o consenso. Após extensa discussão foi formada uma comissão encarregada de fazer o texto final. Esse texto foi enviado para cada um dos participantes para a aprovação final. O objetivo agora, após a publicação na Revista Brasileira de Psiquiatria, é divulgar esse consenso o máximo possível. Temos a intenção de que esse texto possa estar a disposição de todos os clínicos brasileiros que tenham a possibilidade de tratar alguém com a síndrome de abstinência do álcool.

Perfil clínico e demográfico de médicos com dependência química

The misuse of alcohol and drugs among physicians is a common cause of malpractice, absenteeism and complaints to the Medical Councils. This problem demands more attention, because it entails risks to the population and to the physicians themselves. AIMS: To describe the clinical and demographic profile of a sample of physicians in treatment for alcohol and drug dependence also to evaluate psychiatric comorbidity and consumption-related consequences. METHODS: Data was collected from a sample of 198 physicians attending outpatient treatment by a questionnaire specifically designed for this study. RESULTS: Most of the subjects were men (87.8%), married (60.1%), with a mean age of 39.4 years (S.D. =10.7). Sixty-six per cent had already been in inpatient treatment for alcohol and drug misuse. Sixty-nine per cent were specialists practicing mainly: internal medicine, anaesthesiology and surgery. Psychiatric comorbidity was diagnosed in 27.7% for DSM-IV Axis I and in 6% for DSM-V Axis II. With regard to drugs the most frequent pattern was use of alcohol and drugs (36.8%), followed by exclusive use of alcohol (34.3%) and exclusive use of drugs (28.3%). It was observed that the mean interval between the identification of misuse of substances and the seeking of treatment was of 3.7 years. Thirty per cent tried to achieve treatment by themselves. The social and legal problems observed were: unemployment in the previous year (1/3 of the sample), marital problems and divorce (52%), car accidents (42%), legal problems (19%). 84.8% presented professional problems and 8.5% had problems within the Medical Councils. CONCLUSION: The researchers suggest supportive and preventive attitudes for this matter.

Cocaína e crack: dos fundamentos ao tratamento

Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo (UNIFESP) Departamento de Psicobsiologia Unidade de Dependencia de Drogas

Validação psicométrica do Cocaine Craving Questionnaire-Brief - Versão Brasileira Adaptada para o Crack para dependentes hospitalizados

Background: The craving is a very important factor in the treatment of drug addiction. Objective: Validate the Cocaine Craving Questionnaire-Brief - Brazilian Crack Adapted Version. Method: Subjects enrolled in this experimental study were randomized into groups: experimental for this group was shown an image of a subject using crack (G1) and control (G2) for this group no pictures were shown. The sample was composed of 109 subjects (G1 = 50 and G2 = 59), males, crack/cocaine dependent inpatients. The assessment instruments were: Clinical Interview with social and demographic data, CCQ-B - Crack Adapted Version; Visual Analogic Scale for Craving, Anxiety and Depression Beck and Inventories Visual Cue to elicit craving. Results: On the factorial analysis two factors were found: Factor 1, related to craving itself, and Factor 2, the perceived lack of control of crack use. The two-factor factorial analysis presented a total variation of 68.84%, and the correlation between these factors was significant and of low intensity (r = 0.204; p = 0.041). A Cronbach’s alpha value from total of points of scale was 0.85. We observed a correlation between the scale total score and the Visual Analogic Scale (r = 0.515; p < 0.01). Conclusion: The Cocaine Craving Questionnaire-Brief - Brazilian Crack Adapted Version proved to be an adequate psychometric instrument for use in research and in clinical settings.

How smokers may react to cigarette taxes and price increases in Brazil: data from a national survey

BackgroundDespite being the third largest tobacco producer in the world, Brazil has developed a comprehensive tobacco control policy that includes a broad restriction on both advertising and smoking in indoor public places, compulsory pictorial warning labels, and a menthol cigarette ban. However, tax and pricing policies have been developed slowly and only very recently were stronger measures implemented. This study investigated the expected responses of smokers to hypothetical price increases in Brazil.MethodsWe analyzed smokers’ responses to hypothetical future price increases according to sociodemographic characteristics and smoking conditions in a multistage sample of Brazilian current cigarette smokers aged ≥14 years (n = 500). Logistic regression analysis was used to examine the relationship between possible responses and different predictors.ResultsIn most subgroups investigated, smokers most frequently said they would react to a hypothetical price increase by taking up alternatives that might have a positive impact on health, i.e., they would “try to stop smoking” (52.3%) or “smoke fewer cigarettes” (46.8%). However, a considerable percentage responded that they would use alternatives that would reduce the effect of price increases, such as the same brand with lower cost (48.1%). After controlling for sex age group (14–19, 20–39, 40–59, and ≥60 years), schooling level (≥9 versus ≤9 years), number of cigarettes per day (>20 versus ≤20), and stage of change for smoking cessation (precontemplation, contemplation, and preparation), lower levels of dependence were positively associated with the response “I would try to stop smoking” (odds ratio [OR], 2.19). Young age was associated with “I would decrease the number of cigarettes” (OR, 3.44). A low schooling level was strongly associated with all responses.ConclusionsTaxes and prices increases have great potential to stimulate cessation or reduction of cigarette consumption further among two important vulnerable populations of smokers in Brazil: young smokers and those of low educational level. The results from the present study also suggest that seeking illegal products may reduce the impact of increased taxes, but does not eliminate it.

Guidelines of the Brazilian Association of Studies on Alcohol and Other Drugs (ABEAD) for diagnosis and treatment of psychiatric comorbidity with alcohol and other substance and dependence

Abstract In recent years, several studies have been focused on the comorbidity of psychiatric disorders with alcohol and other substance dependence. In this context, the Brazilian Association of Studies on Alcohol and Other Drugs initiated a project to establish Brazilian Guidelines. The aim of this study was to review diagnostic and therapeutic criteria for the most prevalent psychiatric comorbidities. Randomized clinical trials, epidemiological studies, animal testing and other forms of research are reviewed herein. The main psychiatric comorbidities are investigated and data published in the literature are reviewed, based on guidelines adopted by other countries. Epidemiological aspects, diagnostic criteria, integrated treatment and the organization of specialized service, as well as details regarding psychotherapy and pharmacological treatment are discussed. The guidelines of the Brazilian Association of Studies on Alcohol and Other Drugs reinforce the importance of adequate diagnosis and treatment regarding alcoholic and drug dependent patients suffering of comorbid psychiatric disorders.

Induction and comparison of craving for tobacco, marijuana and crack

Background The literature findings report that use of multiple substances can produce adverse clinical and behavioral effects, which may affect craving and the results of drug treatment. Also, the understanding of craving construct and its interaction in the use of smoked substances is underexplored. Objectives To induce and compare craving for tobacco, marijuana and crack-cocaine on hospitalized dependents whose drug of choice is crack-cocaine. Methods Quasi-experimental study with a convenience sample consisting of 210 males divided into 3 equal groups (Group-1: craving induced by crack; Group-2: craving induced by tobacco; and Group-3: craving induced by marijuana). All participants met ICD-10 dependence criteria for cocaine/crack, marijuana and tobacco, were aged between 18 and 65 and had used these substances for at least one year. Photos were used to induce craving and self-report instruments to evaluate possible alterations. Results This study showed that craving for tobacco was more intense than for marijuana and crack, when the groups were compared by VAS. Using specific scales, both craving for tobacco and craving for marijuana were more intense than craving for crack. Discussion These results would imply interventions at the initial stages of abstinence with cognitive-behavioural techniques and pharmacotherapy in order to reduce craving.

Update on abuse and dependence: crack

a. Hair analysis can help in the monitoring of abstinence. b. Neuroimaging is useful in the diagnosis of dependence. c. The measurement of cocaine metabolites in urine identifies use within the last ten days. d. The diagnosis of use within the last six months can be performed through body fluids.