Lucas C. Quarantini

The confusion assessment method for the intensive care unit (CAM-ICU) and intensive care delirium screening checklist (ICDSC) for the diagnosis of delirium: a systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical studies.

IntroductionDelirium is a frequent form of acute brain dysfunction in critically ill patients, and several detection tools for it have been developed for use in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). The objective of this study is to evaluate the current evidence on the accuracy of the Confusion Assessment Method for Intensive Care Unit (CAM-ICU) and the Intensive Care Delirium Screening Checklist (ICDSC) for the diagnosis of delirium in critically ill patients.MethodsA systematic review was conducted to identify articles on the evaluation of the CAM-ICU and the ICDSC in ICU patients. A MEDLINE, SciELO, CINAHL and EMBASE databases search was performed for articles published in the English language, involving adult populations and comparing these diagnostic tools with the gold standard, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) criteria. Results were summarized by meta-analysis. The QUADAS scale was used to assess the quality of the studies.ResultsNine studies evaluating the CAM-ICU (including 969 patients) and four evaluating the ICDSC (n = 361 patients) were included in the final analysis. The pooled sensitivity of the CAM-ICU was 80.0% (95% confidence interval (CI): 77.1 to 82.6%), and the pooled specificity was 95.9% (95% CI: 94.8 to 96.8%). The diagnostic odds ratio was 103.2 (95% CI: 39.6 to 268.8). The pooled area under the summary receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) was 0.97. The pooled sensitivity of the ICDSC was 74% (95% CI: 65.3 to 81.5%), and the pooled specificity was 81.9% (95% CI: 76.7 to 86.4%). The diagnostic odds ratio was 21.5 (95% CI: 8.51 to 54.4). The AUC was 0.89.ConclusionsThe CAM-ICU is an excellent diagnostic tool in critically ill ICU patients, whereas the ICDSC has moderate sensitivity and good specificity. The available data suggest that both CAM-ICU and the ICDSC can be used as a screening tool for the diagnosis of delirium in critically ill patients.

Is cerebellar volume related to bipolar disorder

BACKGROUND Recent data suggest that cerebellum influences emotion modulation in humans. The findings of cerebellar abnormalities in bipolar disorder (BD) are especially intriguing given the link between the cerebellum emotional and behavioral regulation. The purpose of this study was to evaluate cerebellar volume in patients with euthymic BD type I compared to controls. Moreover, we investigated the possible relationship between cerebellar volume and suicidal behavior. METHODS Forty-patients with euthymic BD type I, 20 with and 20 without history of suicide attempt, and 22 healthy controls underwent an MRI scan. The participants were interviewed using the Structured Clinical Interview with the DSM-IV axis I (SCID-I), the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS), the Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS) and the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-11). RESULTS Groups were age, gender and years of schooling-matched. The left cerebellum (p=0.02), right cerebellum (p=0.02) and vermis (p<0.01) were significantly smaller in the BD group; however, there were no volumetric differences between the BD subjects with and without suicidal attempt. There was no correlation between cerebellar measurements and clinical variables. LIMITATIONS The main strength is that our sample consisted of patients with euthymic BD type I without any comorbidities, however, these results cannot establish causality as the cross-sectional nature of the study. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that the reduction in cerebellar volumes observed in BD type I might be a trait-related characteristic of this disorder. Additional studies with larger samples and subtypes of this heterogeneous disorder are warranted to determine the possible specificity of this cerebellar finding.

The impact of comorbid posttraumatic stress disorder on bipolar disorder patients

BACKGROUND Available data regarding posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in bipolar disorder (BD) are scarce and usually from a limited sample size. The present report was carried out using the Brazilian Research Consortium for Bipolar Disorders and aimed to examine whether patients with BD and comorbid PTSD are at an increased risk for worse clinical outcomes. METHODS A consecutive sample of bipolar I outpatients from two teaching hospitals in Brazil was recruited. Patients were assessed using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV, Young Mania Rating Scale, 17-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression, and quality of life instrument WHOQOL-BREF. Participants were divided into three groups: a. bipolar patients with PTSD, b. bipolar patients exposed to trauma without PTSD, and c. bipolar patients with no trauma exposure. RESULTS Of the 405 patients who consented to participate, 87.7% completed the survey. All three groups were similar in terms of demographic parameters. The group with comorbid PTSD reported worse quality of life, more rapid cycling, higher rates of suicide attempts, and a lower likelihood of staying recovered. LIMITATIONS The cross-sectional design excludes the opportunity to examine causal relationships among trauma, PTSD, and BD. CONCLUSIONS The findings indicate that PTSD causes bipolar patients to have a worse outcome, as assessed by their lower likelihood to recover, elevated proportion of rapid cycling periods, increased risk of suicide attempts, and worse quality of life.

Violence and post-traumatic stress disorder in Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: the protocol for an epidemiological and genetic survey

Backgroundviolence is a public health major concern, and it is associated with post-traumatic stress disorder and other psychiatric outcomes. Brazil is one of the most violent countries in the world, and has an extreme social inequality. Research on the association between violence and mental health may support public health policy and thus reduce the burden of disease attributable to violence. The main objectives of this project were: to study the association between violence and mental disorders in the Brazilian population; to estimate the prevalence rates of exposure to violence, post-traumatic stress disorder, common metal disorder, and alcohol hazardous use and dependence: and to identify contextual and individual factors, including genetic factors, associated with the outcomes.Methods/designone phase cross-sectional survey carried out in Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. A multistage probability to size sampling scheme was performed in order to select the participants (3000 and 1500 respectively). The cities were stratified according to homicide rates, and in Sao Paulo the three most violent strata were oversampled. The measurements included exposure to traumatic events, psychiatric diagnoses (CIDI 2.1), contextual (homicide rates and social indicators), and individual factors, such as demographics, social capital, resilience, help seeking behaviours. The interviews were carried between June/2007 February/2008, by a team of lay interviewers. The statistical analyses will be weight-adjusted in order to take account of the design effects. Standardization will be used in order to compare the results between the two centres. Whole genome association analysis will be performed on the 1 million SNP (single nucleotide polymorphism) arrays, and additional association analysis will be performed on additional phenotypes. The Ethical Committee of the Federal University of Sao Paulo approved the study, and participants who matched diagnostic criteria have been offered a referral to outpatient clinics at the Federal University of Sao Paulo and Federal University of Rio de Janeiro.

Hippocampal volume in borderline personality disorder with and without comorbid posttraumatic stress disorder: A meta-analysis

BACKGROUND Several studies have found a reduction in hippocampal volume in borderline personality disorder (BPD) patients. METHODS In order to investigate the degree to which comorbid posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) could account for reduction in hippocampal volume in these patients, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies that compared hippocampal volume in BPD patients with and without PTSD relative to healthy controls. RESULTS Seven articles, involving 124 patients and 147 controls, were included. We found a statistically significant reduction for the left and right hippocampus. Data from the four studies that discriminated BPD patients with and without PTSD indicate that hippocampal volumes were reduced bilaterally in BPD patients with PTSD, relative to healthy controls, but that results were mixed for BPD patients without PTSD, relative to healthy controls. CONCLUSIONS Results from this meta-analysis suggest that hippocampal volumes are reduced in patients with BPD, relative to healthy controls, but particularly in cases in which patients are diagnosed with comorbid PTSD.

Validade da escala hospitalar de ansiedade e depressão em pacientes com dor crônica

JUSTIFICATIVA E OBJETIVOS: Diversos estudos sugerem forte associacao entre a ansiedade e a depressao com dor cronica, o que pode ser evidenciado pela utilizacao de escalas padronizadas para a deteccao desses sintomas. O objetivo deste estudo foi estimar a sensibilidade e a especificidade da Escala Hospitalar de Ansiedade e Depressao (HAD), em pacientes portadores de sindromes dolorosas cronicas acompanhados no Centro de Dor do Hospital Universitario Professor Edgard Santos. METODO: Foi realizado um estudo descritivo transversal em pacientes que procuraram o Centro de Dor entre marco de 2002 e julho de 2003, que constou de entrevistas utilizando a Escala HAD e o M.I.N.I. International Neuropsychiatric Interview Brazilian Version 5.0.0 (M.I.N.I. PLUS). RESULTADOS: Foram avaliados 91 pacientes. A utilizacao da HAD evidenciou que 61 pacientes (67%) apresentaram ansiedade e 42 pacientes (46,2%) apresentaram depressao. Os resultados da HAD mostraram que dos pacientes deprimidos, 38 (90,5%) eram tambem ansiosos; enquanto dos ansiosos, 38 (62,3%) tambem estavam deprimidos, sendo esta uma associacao considerada como significativa pela analise estatistica (p < 0,001). O M.I.N.I. PLUS revelou 40,7% de transtorno do humor atual e 47,3% de transtorno de ansiedade. Quanto a sensibilidade e a especificidade da HAD foram encontrados os seguintes resultados: sensibilidade 73,3% para depressao e 91,7% para ansiedade. Especificidade 67,2% para depressao e 41,8% para ansiedade. CONCLUSOES: A escala HAD mostrou boa sensibilidade para avaliar sintomas de ansiedade e depressao, porem nao evidenciou boa especificidade para diagnosticos de depressao e ansiedade.BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Several studies suggest a strong association between anxiety and depression with chronic pain. That can be demonstrated using standard scales to detect these symptoms. The objective of this study was to determine sensibility and specificity of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HAD) in patients with chronic pain syndromes followed at the Pain Center of the Hospital Universitário Professor Edgard Santos. METHODS A transversal, descriptive study was conducted with patients who sought to the Pain Center between March 2002 and July 2003. It was composed of interviews using the HAD Scale and the M.I.N.I. International Neuropsychiatric Interview Brazilian Version 5.0.0 (M.I.N.I. PLUS). RESULTS Ninety-one patients were evaluated. The HAD demonstrated that 61 patients (67%) presented anxiety, while 42 patients (46.2%) presented depression. HAD results showed that among patients with depression, 38 (90.5%) also had anxiety; while among those with anxiety, 38 (62.3%) also had depression. Statistical analysis showed that this association was statistically significant (p < 0.001). M.I.N.I. PLUS revealed an incidence of 40.7% in current mood changes and 47.3% of anxiety. As for HADs sensibility and specificity, we found the following results: sensibility of 73.3% for depression and 91.7% for anxiety, and a specificity of 67.2% for depression and 41.8% for anxiety. CONCLUSIONS The HAD scale showed good sensibility to evaluate anxiety and depression symptoms, but did not demonstrate good specificity for the diagnosis of depression and anxiety.

The validity and reliability of the portuguese versions of three tools used to diagnose delirium in critically ill patients

OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this study are to compare the sensitivity and specificity of three diagnostic tools for delirium (the Intensive Care Delirium Screening Checklist, the Confusion Assessment Method for Intensive Care Units and the Confusion Assessment Method for Intensive Care Units Flowsheet) in a mixed population of critically ill patients, and to validate the Brazilian Portuguese Confusion Assessment Method for Intensive Care Units. METHODS: The study was conducted in four intensive care units in Brazil. Patients were screened for delirium by a psychiatrist or neurologist using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Patients were subsequently screened by an intensivist using Portuguese translations of the three tools. RESULTS: One hundred and nineteen patients were evaluated and 38.6% were diagnosed with delirium by the reference rater. The Confusion Assessment Method for Intensive Care Units had a sensitivity of 72.5% and a specificity of 96.2%; the Confusion Assessment Method for Intensive Care Units Flowsheet had a sensitivity of 72.5% and a specificity of 96.2%; the Intensive Care Delirium Screening Checklist had a sensitivity of 96.0% and a specificity of 72.4%. There was strong agreement between the Confusion Assessment Method for Intensive Care Units and the Confusion Assessment Method for Intensive Care Units Flowsheet (kappa coefficient = 0.96). CONCLUSION: All three instruments are effective diagnostic tools in critically ill intensive care unit patients. In addition, the Brazilian Portuguese version of the Confusion Assessment Method for Intensive Care Units is a valid and reliable instrument for the assessment of delirium among critically ill patients.

Comorbid major depression in obsessive-compulsive disorder patients

Although major depressive disorder (MDD) has been consistently considered the most frequent complication of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), little is known about the clinical characteristics of patients with both disorders. This study assessed 815 Brazilian OCD patients using a comprehensive psychiatric evaluation. Clinical and demographic variables, including OCD symptom dimensions, were compared among OCD patients with and without MDD. Our findings showed that prevalence rates of current MDD (32%) and lifetime MDD (67.5%) were similar for both sexes in this study. In addition, patients with comorbid MDD had higher severity scores of OCD symptoms. There was no preferential association of MDD with any particular OCD symptom dimension. This study supports the notion that depressed OCD patients present more severe general psychopathology.

Incidence of psychiatric side effects during pegylated interferon- α retreatment in nonresponder hepatitis C virus-infected patients

Objective: Evaluate the incidence of mental disorders using pegylated interferon plus ribavirin retreatment in nonresponder hepatitis C virus‐infected patients.

High frequency of unrecognized mental disorders in HCV-infected patients

OBJECTIVE This study indexed the frequency of psychiatric disorders among hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected patients. METHOD HCV-infected patients treated at a university hospital in the northeastern region of Brazil were evaluated in a cross-sectional study using the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview. RESULTS Ninety HCV-infected outpatients were included in the study and 44 (49%) had at least one psychiatric diagnosis. Among the 26 patients (59.1%) with a current psychiatric morbidity, 22 (84.6%) had gone undiagnosed. CONCLUSIONS HCV-infected patients have a high frequency of unrecognized psychiatric comorbidity.