Cet article décrit le cas d’une jeune fille de 10 ans qui a développé un syndrome qui ressemble à celui du stress post-traumatique (SSPT) après avoir regardé un film d’horreur. Six ans plus tard, la patiente présentait toujours les symptômes du SSPT correspondants aux critères du DSM-IV. La littérature scientifique a été examinée à la recherche de cas semblables et treize cas semblables ont été recensés. La présence des critères DSM-IV a été confirmée uniquement dans deux cas. Nous concluons que l’exposition à des films d’horreur peut déclencher un syndrome du type SSPT chez les personnes vulnérables.

We reported a case of a 10-year-old girl who developed a PTSD-like syndrome after watching a horror movie. After 6 years, the now 16-year-old patient still fulfilled the DSM-IV criteria for PTSD, except for the trauma itself. We reviewed the scientific literature for case reports of PTSD-like syndrome induced by horror movies and found 13 cases. In only two was the presence of the DSM criteria confirmed. Watching horror movies may thus trigger PTSD-like syndromes in vulnerable viewers

Dieser Artikel beschreibt den Fall eines 10-jährigen Mädchens, das ein PTBS-ähnliches Syndrom entwickelte, nachdem sie einen Horrorfilm angeschaut hatte. Sechs Jahre später zeigte die nun 16 Jahre alte Patientin nach wie vor PTBS Symptome auf, die den Kriterien des DSM-IV entsprachen. Wir forschten in der wissenschaftlichen Literatur nach Fallberichten des PTBS-ähnlichen Syndroms, die durch Horrorfilme induziert wurden und fanden 13 Fälle. In nur zwei Fällen wurden die DSM-IV-Kriterien bestätigt. Wir kommen zum Schluss, dass bei anfälligen Personen, die sich Horrorfilmen aussetzen, es zu PTBS-ähnlichen Syndromen kommen kann.

O caso de uma menina de 10 anos de idade que desenvolveu síndrome do tipo transtorno de estresse pós-traumático (TEPT) após assistir a filme de terror é relatado. Após seis anos, a paciente ainda preenchia os critérios do DSM-IV para TEPT. Em revisão da literatura, identificamos 13 casos de síndrome TEPT-símile induzida por filmes de terror, mas o diagnóstico baseado em critérios DSM foi feito em dois casos apenas. Filmes de terror podem desencadear síndromes TEPT-símile em pessoas vulneráveis.

Presentamos el caso de una niña de 10 años que desarrolló un síndrome tipo trastorno de estrés postraumático (TEPT) después de ver una película de terror. Al cabo de seis años, la paciente aún cumplía con los criterios del DSM-IV para el TEPT. Durante la revisión de la literatura, identificamos 13 casos de síndromes similares al TEPT, inducidos por películas de terror, pero el diagnóstico basado en los criterios DSM fue hecho solo en dos casos. Películas de terror pueden desencadenar síndromes similares al TEPT en espectadores vulnerables.

Objectives: To evaluate factors related to dangerousness cessation at the end of involuntary commitment based on an analysis of expert reports. In light of the current legal requirement of dangerousness cessation as a pre-requisite for prison or internment release of individuals subjected to the safety measure, we sought elements to reflect on the practice of expert examiners in charge of making this decision. Methods: The authors revised 224 expert psychiatric dangerousness cessation reports released 2011 through 2014 and collected data for a statistical analysis. Results: The following variables were associated with positive risk cessation assessments: no inadequate behavior (according to the assistant professionals), no productive psychotic symptoms, no negative symptoms, presence of insight, presence of a support network, and no psychoactive substance abuse. The following variables were associated with negative dangerousness cessation decisions: early onset of malfunction, lack of insight, negative attitudes, active signs of major mental illness, presence of impulsiveness, poor response to treatment, presence of plans lacking feasibility, exposure to destabilizing factors, lack of personal support, and presence of stress. Conclusions: In this study we were able to identify factors associated with dangerousness in a sample of expert reports. The knowledge of factors linked to a higher risk of recidivism in illegal activities or violent behavior is crucial for decision-making regarding the release of offenders after their legally established period of involuntary commitment.

Objective: Peritraumatic reactions feature prominently among the main predictors for development of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Peritraumatic tonic immobility (PTI), a less investigated but equally important type of peritraumatic response, has been recently attracting the attention of researchers and clinicians for its close association with traumatic reactions and PTSD. Our objective was to investigate the role of PTI, peritraumatic panic, and dissociation as predictors of PTSD symptoms in a cohort of police recruits (n=132). Methods: Participants were asked to complete the following questionnaires during academy training and after the first year of work: Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist - Civilian Version (PCL-C), Physical Reactions Subscale (PRS), Peritraumatic Dissociative Experiences Questionnaire (PDEQ), Tonic Immobility Scale (TIS), and Critical Incident History Questionnaire. Results: Employing a zero-inflated negative binomial regression model, we found that each additional point in the TIS was associated with a 9% increment in PCL-C mean scores (RM = 1.09), whereas for PRS, the increment was 7% (RM = 1.07). As the severity of peritraumatic dissociation increased one point in the PDEQ, the chance of having at least one symptom in the PCL-C increased 22% (OR = 1.22). Conclusions: Our findings highlight the need to expand investigation on the incidence and impact of PTI on the mental health of police officers.

OBJETIVO: A imobilidade tônica é uma resposta defensiva que ocorre sob ameaça extrema à vida. Pacientes com transtorno de estresse pós-traumático (TEPT) que relatam imobilidade tônica peritraumática são os que apresentam os sintomas mais graves e a pior resposta ao tratamento. Este estudo investigou o valor preditivo da imobilidade tônica para os sintomas de TEPT em uma amostra não clínica. MÉTODOS: Os participantes da pesquisa foram 198 estudantes universitários expostos a traumas diversos. A versão brasileira do Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist Civilian Version (PCL-C) e questões referentes à imobilidade tônica foram empregadas. Modelos de regressão linear foram utilizados para investigar a associação dos sintomas de estresse pós-traumático com a imobilidade tônica peritraumática. Foram consideradas como variáveis de confusão a dissociação peritraumática, as reações físicas de pânico peritraumática, o traço de afeto negativo, o gênero, o tipo de trauma e o tempo de trauma. RESULTADOS: Encontrou-se uma associação significativa entre a imobilidade tônica peritraumática e os sintomas de TEPT em uma amostra não clínica exposta a traumas diversos mesmo quando controlada por variáveis de confusão (β = 1,99; p = 0,017). CONCLUSÕES: Esta reação defensiva que ocorre sob intensa ameaça, apesar de adaptativa para a defesa, pode ter consequências patológicas como sugere sua associação aos sintomas de TEPT.

OBJECTIVE: Tonic immobility is a defensive reaction occurring under extreme life threats. Patients with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) reporting peritraumatic tonic immobility show the most severe symptoms and a poorer response to treatment. This study investigated the predictive falue of tonic immobility for posttraumatic stress symptoms in a non-clinical sample. METHODS: One hundred and ninety-eight college students exposed to various life threatening events were selected to participate. The Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist - Civilian Version (PCL-C) and tonic immobility questions were used. Linear regression models were fitted to investigate the association between peritraumatic tonic immobility and PCL-C scores. Peritraumatic dissociation, peritraumatic panic reactions, negative affect, gender, type of trauma, and time since trauma were considered as confounding variables. RESULTS: We found significant association between peritraumatic tonic immobility and PTSD symptoms in a non-clinical sample exposed to various traumas, even after regression controlled for confounding variables (β = 1.99, p = 0.017). CONCLUSIONS: This automatic reaction under extreme life threatening stress, although adaptive for defense, may have pathological consequences as implied by its association with PTSD symptoms.

INTRODUÇÃO: A exposição a eventos traumáticos é uma condição necessária, porém não única, para o desenvolvimento de transtorno de estresse pós-traumático (TEPT). Fatores individuais pré, peri e pós-trauma exercem impacto sobre a gravidade dos sintomas. O objetivo do presente estudo é determinar os fatores de risco para o desenvolvimento de sintomas de TEPT em policiais brasileiros. MÉTODO: Uma amostra transversal de policiais em atividade (n = 212) foi convidada a responder um questionário sóciodemográfico e escalas autoaplicáveis sobre afeto positivo e negativo, frequência de incidentes críticos, sofrimento e dissociação peritraumáticos, sintomas de TEPT e apoio social. Regressão linear hierárquica foi utilizada para avaliar fatores de risco. RESULTADOS: Afeto negativo, tempo de trabalho, frequência de exposição a eventos traumáticos, dissociação peritraumática e apoio social diminuído permaneceram no modelo final e explicaram 55% das variações dos sintomas de TEPT. Foi observado efeito sinérgico entre dissociação peritraumática e afeto negativo. CONCLUSÃO: Baseados nos achados os autores discutem estratégias de prevenção que visam diminuir o impacto da exposição a eventos traumáticos em policiais ao longo de suas carreiras.

BACKGROUND: Exposure to traumatic events is a necessary but not a sufficient condition for the development of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Pretrauma, peritrauma and posttrauma factors interact to impact on symptom severity. The aim of the present study is to determine risk factors for PTSD symptoms in Brazilian police officers. METHOD: In a cross-sectional sample of active duty officers (n = 212), participants were asked to complete a socio-demographic questionnaire and self-report scales on affective traits, cumulative critical incident exposure, peritraumatic distress and dissociation, PTSD symptoms, and social support. Hierarchical linear regression analysis was conducted to examine predictors of PTSD symptoms. RESULTS: Variables related to negative affect, job duration, frequency of critical incident exposure, peritraumatic dissociation, and lack of social support remained significant in the final model and explained 55% of the variance in PTSD symptoms. When interaction terms were evaluated, a synergistic effect between negative affect and peritraumatic dissociation was found. CONCLUSIONS: The risk factors found in this study provide clues on how to elaborate primary prevention strategies regarding PTSD symptoms in police officers. Such initiatives may lessen the impact of repeated exposure to traumatic events on police officers over the course of their careers.

Neste artigo, apresentamos relato de uma perícia de um caso de simulação de transtorno de estresse pós-traumático. Nosso objetivo era apresentar o leitor às dificuldades que o perito pode encontrar diante desses casos e demonstrar como um exame atento, combinado com conhecimento das peculiaridades dessa doença, pode contribuir poderosamente para o diagnóstico correto.

In this article, we present the report of the forensic examination of a case of malingered post-traumatic stress disorder. Our goal was to introduce the reader to the hurdles forensic psychiatric have to face while dealing with similar cases and to demonstrate that a careful examination combined with a good knowledge about this disorder is critical to reach the correct diagnosis.

OBJETIVO: Atualizar os clínicos sobre a existência de um possível subtipo do transtorno obsessivo-compulsivo caracterizado por pouco insight. MÉTODO: Revisão opinativa baseada em estudos indexados na base de dados PubMed e PsychINFO, identificados por meio dos unitermos "obsessive-compulsive disorder" e "insight" ou "ego-dystonic" e publicados entre 1966 e outubro de 2009. Os resultados foram examinados de acordo com a estratégia utilizada para abordar o insight, i.e. categórica vs. dimensional. RESULTADOS: Análise dos estudos nos permitiu identificar pontos que colocam em dúvida a existência de um subtipo do transtorno obsessivo-compulsivo bem delimitado caracterizado por pouco insight. Estes pontos incluem 1) prevalência extremamente variável do transtorno obsessivo-compulsivo com insight reduzido encontrada em estudos categóricos, 2) homogeneidade dos achados fenotípicos (i.e. maior gravidade) associados a baixo insight em estudos categóricos e dimensionais e 3) ausência de estudos que investigam "zonas de raridade" entre as formas de transtorno obsessivo-compulsivo com pouco e bom insight. CONCLUSÃO: Embora uma abordagem categórica do insight no transtorno obsessivo-compulsivo seja importante em ambientes clínicos, uma vez que neles existem demandas prementes para tomada de decisões, a abordagem dimensional do insight parece refletir de forma mais fidedigna o fenômeno apresentado pelos pacientes em tela.

OBJECTIVE: To update clinicians regarding the existence of a putative subtype of obsessive-compulsive disorder based on poor insight. METHOD: Opinionative review based on studies indexed in the PubMed and PsychINFO databases, identified by means of the keywords "obsessive-compulsive disorder" AND "insight" OR "ego-syntonic", and published between 1966 and October 2009. The results were analyzed according to the approach adopted, i.e. a categorical or dimensional view of insight in obsessive-compulsive disorder. RESULTS: The review of recent studies led us to identify some issues that cast doubts over the existence of a clear-cut poor insight subtype of obsessive-compulsive disorder. These issues include 1) an extremely variable prevalence of poor insight obsessive-compulsive disorder in categorical studies, 2) a significant degree of homogeneity in the phenotypical findings (i.e. greater severity) associated with lower levels of insight in obsessive-compulsive disorder in both categorical and dimensional studies and, 3) a lack of studies investigating zones of rarity between poor and good insight obsessive-compulsive disorder. CONCLUSION: Although a categorical approach to the insight issue in obsessive-compulsive disorder is still important in clinical settings, where decision-making is often a critical issue, a dimensional approach seems to reflect levels of impairment in these patients more reliably.