Objective: To assess differences in executive functioning between children and adolescents with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) comorbid or not with bipolar disorder (BD), and to study the neuropsychological profile of subjects with the comorbidity in a clinical sample from a developing country. Method: Case-control study comparing 23 participants with BD + ADHD and 85 ADHD-only subjects aged 6 to 17 years old. Both groups were drug-free. Executive function domains were assessed with the Stroop Test, the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, and the Continuous Performance Test II. Results: The group with juvenile BD + ADHD showed a significantly worse performance on the Stroop task, including time in color (p = 0.002), time in color-word (p < 0.001), interference, number or errors in color and color-word (p = 0.001), and number of errors in word cards (p = 0.028). No between-group differences were found in other tests. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that ADHD-only and ADHD + BD do not show differences in inhibitory control and set-shifting domains. However, children and adolescents with BD and comorbid ADHD show greater impairment in processing speed and interference control. This suggests a potentially higher impairment in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and may be a potential neuropsychological signature of juvenile BD comorbid with ADHD.

Objective: To review the options for acute and maintenance pharmacological treatment of bipolar disorder in children and adolescents, including the treatment of bipolar depression and comorbid attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Methods: Narrative review of randomized clinical trials and open-label studies published from 2000 to 2012. The PubMed and PsycINFO websites were queried. Case series were included when a higher level of evidence was not available. Results: Published data from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in acute mania/hypomania with significant responses are available for lithium, topiramate, risperidone, olanzapine, and aripiprazole. Open trials of lithium and lamotrigine show that these drugs may be effective in the treatment of depressive episodes. No trials of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) have been conducted. In the treatment of comorbid ADHD, there are encouraging findings with mixed amphetamine salts and atomoxetine; conflicting results are observed with methylphenidate. Conclusions: Published RCTs of traditional mood stabilizers are scarce, but the best available evidence (results from meta-analytic regression) suggests that second-generation antipsychotics (SGAs) as a group are more effective in reducing manic symptoms. Risperidone was the only one included in head-to-head comparisons (vs. lithium and divalproex), showing superiority in terms of efficacy, but with more metabolic side effects, which were also more common in most of the SGAs. There are few studies addressing the treatment of ADHD and depression. Brazilian guidelines for the treatment of pediatric bipolar disorder should also include some SGAs (especially risperidone and aripiprazole) as first-line treatment, and these drugs should be provided by the public health services.

O Stressful Life Events Schedule (SLES) é um instrumento que visa investigar a presença e o impacto de eventos de vida estressantes (EVE) ocorridos nos últimos 12 meses. O objetivo deste trabalho é traduzir e adaptar por equivalência semântica os itens da escala para a língua portuguesa. Seis etapas foram realizadas: (1) Tradução; (2) Retrotradução; (3) Revisão técnica e adaptação semântica; (4) Avaliação e validação do conteúdo e do significado geral considerando o contexto da população; (5) Realização de uma medida de confiabilidade em relação ao construto dependência/independência dos EVE; e (6) Produção da versão final do instrumento. O tempo verbal se manteve na maioria dos itens da escala. Algumas alterações foram necessárias como um acréscimo da variação de alguns termos. A versão adaptada demonstrou ser de fácil aplicação, não tendo sido avaliada como extensa e contemplando um número considerável de EVE.

The Stressful Life Events Schedule (SLES) is an instrument to investigate the presence and impact of stressful life events (SLE) occurred during the latest 12 months. The aim of this study is to translate and adapt, through semantic equivalence, the items from the instrument to the Portuguese language. The process had six steps: (1) Translation; (2) Backtranslation; (3) Technical review and semantic adaptation; (4) Assessment and content validation and overall meaning, considering the context of the population; (5) A measure of reliability was conducted in relation to the dependence/ independence construct; and (6) Production of the final version of the instrument. The verbal conjugation was maintained in most of the scale's items. Some changes were required, such as an addition of the variation of some terms. The adapted version proved to be of easy application, not too extensive and contemplating a considerable number of SLE.

El Stressful Life Events Schedule (SLES) es una escala que objetiva investigar la presencia y el impacto de los acontecimientos vitales estresantes (EVE) en los últimos 12 meses. El objetivo del presente estudio es traducir y adaptar por equivalencia semántica los ítems de la escala para la lengua portuguesa. Las seis etapas realizadas fueron: (1) traducción y (2) retraducción, (3) revisión técnica y adaptación semántica, (4) evaluación y validación del contenido y del significado general teniendo en cuenta el contexto de la población, (5) realización de una medida de fiabilidad para el constructo dependencia / independencia de los EVE, y (6) producción de la versión final del instrumento. El tiempo verbal se mantuvo en la mayoría de los ítems de la escala. Algunas modificaciones fueran necesarias, tales como el aumento de la variación de algunos términos. La versión adaptada se mostró de fácil aplicación, no evaluada como extensa y contemplando un número considerable de EVE.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the role of the Val66Met polymorphism at the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene on the performance of children and adolescents with bipolar disorder [juvenile bipolar disorder (JBD)] on the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST). METHODS: Children and adolescents were assessed by the K-SADS-PL and a clinical evaluation for BD and comorbid conditions. Manic and depressive symptoms were assessed with the Young Mania Rating Scale and the Children Depression Rating Scale - Reviewed. The Val66Met polymorphism at the BDNF was genotyped from a blood sample. Patients' IQ and executive functions were assessed by a standard cognitive flexibility test (WCST). RESULTS: Fifty-three subjects were included in the study. No significant difference was observed between the Val/Val and Val/Met+Met/Met groups on any WCST scores in the MANCOVA (F48,5 = .76; p = .59; Perseverative Errors, p = .66; Nonperseverative Errors, p = .58; Categories Completed, p = .34; Attempts to Reach First Category, p=.64; and Percentage of Conceptual Level Responses, p = .99). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings from this sample of children and adolescents with BD do not replicate results from studies of adults and suggest the existence of differences in the neurobiology of this disorder across the life cycle. Investigations of larger samples are necessary to confirm these data.

O reconhecimento do transtorno do humor bipolar (THB) em crianças e adolescentes tem aumentado significativamente nos últimos anos. O THB, nessa faixa etária, parece freqüentemente se apresentar de forma atípica, assim, humor irritável com "tempestades afetivas" são mais freqüentes do que euforia, o curso da doença é mais crônico do que episódico e sintomas mistos com depressão e mania concomitantes são comuns. Alta prevalência de comorbidades, em especial com transtorno do déficit de atenção/hiperatividade, parece ser a regra. Apesar do efeito devastador do THB no desenvolvimento infantil, poucos estudos têm investigado intervenções farmacológicas nesses pacientes. Essa revisão tem como objetivo apresentar uma discussão crítica dos achados provenientes de estudos recentes nessa nova área de pesquisa, a psicofarmacologia do THB em crianças e adolescentes. Para realizar essa tarefa, uma revisão computadorizada e sistemática da literatura foi realizada por meio do PUBMED. Os dados sobre tratamento psicofarmacológico do THB em crianças e adolescentes são apresentados em três seções: 1) a força da evidência científica na área; 2) descrição crítica dos estudos principais; 3) proposição de um algoritmo de decisão. Apenas um estudo randomizado duplo-cego e controlado por placebo foi encontrado. A quase totalidade dos estudos é composta de ensaios prospectivos abertos, séries de casos e análises retrospectivas de prontuários. Os fármacos mais estudados são o lítio e o valproato de sódio. Essa revisão indica uma escassa disponibilidade de evidência científica de qualidade para guiar o clínico na decisão do tratamento farmacológico a ser indicado para o THB em crianças e adolescentes.

Juvenile Bipolar Disorder (JBD) has been recognized more frequently in the last years. The disorder might have an atypical presentation in this age range. Thus, irritability with "affective storms" are more frequent than euphoria, the evolution of the disorder is more chronic than episodic and mixed symptoms are more frequent. High prevalence of comorbid conditions, specially Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, seems to be the rule. Despite the devastating effect of JBD in the child development, few pharmacological investigations were conducted in these patients. This review aims to present a critical discussion of the findings from this emerging new area of research, the psychopharmacology of the JBD. To accomplish this task, a systematic computerized search of the literature was conducted through the PUBMED. Findings are presented in three sections: 1) the strength of the scientific evidence in the field; 2) critical description of the main investigations; 3) proposition of an algorithm to guide treatment options. Only one randomized, double-blind, controlled trial was found in the literature. Almost all studies are open prospective trials, case series, or retrospective analyses of medical records. The most investigated drugs are lithium and valproate sodium. This review suggest that a scarce availability of high quality evidence to guide clinicians in the decision on which pharmacological treatment should be used to address bipolar disorder in children and adolescents.

OBJETIVOS: Avaliar a associação entre retardo mental estimado (RM) e evasão escolar numa amostra de escolares de terceira e quarta séries da rede estadual de Porto Alegre. MÉTODO: Neste estudo caso-controle, estudantes que evadiram da escola (n=44) e um grupo controle que se mantinha na escola (n=44) tiveram o seu quociente de inteligência (QI) determinado através dos sub-testes vocabulário e cubos da Escala de Inteligência de Wescheler <FONT FACE=Symbol>¾</FONT> terceira edição (WISC<FONT FACE=Symbol>¾</FONT>III). Estudantes com QI<70 foram considerados potenciais casos de RM. Outros transtornos mentais prevalentes nesta faixa etária foram avaliados nos dois grupos por meio da aplicação da Entrevista para Transtornos Afetivos e Esquizofrenia na Idade Escolar- Versão Epidemiológica, 4ª versão em português (K-SADS-E). RESULTADOS: O grupo de evadidos apresentou um número significativamente maior de indivíduos com provável RM do que o grupo controle (p<0,001). A razão de chances para evasão escolar manteve-se significativamente maior para os indivíduos com RM estimado, mesmo após ajuste para potenciais variáveis confundidoras (idade, transtorno de conduta, repetência escolar, renda e estrutura familiar) (p<0,01). CONCLUSÃO: Crianças com menor capacidade de inteligência representam um grupo de risco para evasão escolar, necessitando estratégias, em nível escolar, que possibilitem o seu reconhecimento e adequada inclusão no processo de aprendizagem.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the association between estimated Mental Retardation (MR) and school dropout in a sample of students of the third and fourth grades at state schools in Porto Alegre, the capital of the southernmost state of Brazil. METHOD: In this case - control study, students that dropped out from schools (n=44) and a control group who continued attending schools (n=44) had their intelligence quotient (IQ) determined by the vocabulary and cubes subtests of the Wescheler Intelligence Scale <FONT FACE=Symbol>¾</FONT> third edition (WISC<FONT FACE=Symbol>¾</FONT>III). Students with IQ lower than 70 were considered as potential cases of MR. Other prevalent mental disorders in this age range were assessed in both groups using the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School<FONT FACE=Symbol>¾</FONT> Age Children, Epidemiological Version (K-SADS-E). RESULTS: The prevalence of potential MR was significantly higher in the dropped out group than in the control group (p<0.001). Odds ratio for school dropout was significantly higher in the presence of MR even after controlling for potentially confounding factors (age, conduct disorder, grade repetition, family structure and income) (p<0.01). CONCLUSION: Children with IQ lower than 70 (potential MR) were at higher risk for school dropout. These children need to be identified at school and specific educational strategies should be implemented to assure their inclusion in the learning process.