Resumo O artigo teve como objetivo desenvolver uma reflexão argumentativa sobre como os posicionamentos do ex-presidente brasileiro, Jair Bolsonaro, podem ter tido efeitos negativos na vida de mulheres expostas à violência e ao risco de feminicídio, principalmente considerando o período de pandemia. Primeiramente, são descritos os avanços das últimas décadas em termos de legislação e programas de proteção às mulheres vítimas de violência no Brasil. Em seguida, discute-se como as políticas de Bolsonaro, como a defesa do armamento da população, agravaram o cenário e representaram um retrocesso em termos de políticas públicas voltadas aos direitos das mulheres, principalmente pelas experiências advindas do período de isolamento social. Mesmo com esse contexto, na última parte, apresentam-se algumas iniciativas, da sociedade civil e de outros segmentos, que têm resistido e enfrentado os índices alarmantes que têm surgido no país, especialmente nos casos de feminicídio. A análise futura dessas experiências pode trazer lições sobre como intervir em casos em que as vítimas permanecem por longos períodos na presença do agressor, assim como podem nos trazer lições importantes sobre o poder de uma sociedade e de grupos que se opõem fortemente aos discursos de uma política de liderança em relação aos direitos fundamentais das mulheres.

Abstract The article aimed to develop an argumentative reflection on how the positions of the former Brazilian president, Jair Bolsonaro, may have had negative effects on the lives of women exposed to violence and the risk of femicide, especially considering the pandemic period. First, advances in recent decades in terms of legislation and programs to protect women victims of violence in Brazil are described. Next, we discuss how Bolsonaro’s policies, such as the defense of the population’s armament, aggravate the scenario and represent a setback in terms of public policies aimed at women’s rights, mainly due to the experiences arising from the period of social isolation. Even with this context, in the last part, we present some initiatives, from civil society and other segments, which have resisted and faced the alarming rates that have emerged in the country, especially in cases of femicide. The future analysis of these experiences can bring lessons on how to intervene in cases where victims remain for long periods in the presence of the aggressor, as well as they can bring us important lessons about the power of a society and groups that strongly oppose the speeches of a leader policy concerning women’s fundamental rights.

BACKGROUND: Anxiety disorders are the most prevalent class of lifetime mental disorders according to South African research. However, little is known about the prevalence of factors that might complicate treatment among adults in a psychiatric outpatient setting. AIM: To explore the psychiatric comorbidities and psychosocial stressors among a population of adults treated for anxiety disorders at the outpatient unit of a tertiary psychiatric facility in Bloemfontein. METHODS: In this retrospective cross-sectional study, clinical files of all mental healthcare users receiving treatment were reviewed to identify those with a current or previous diagnosis of one or more of the following anxiety disorders: generalised anxiety disorder (GAD), panic disorder, social anxiety disorder (SAD) and agoraphobia. RESULTS: Of the 650 available records, 103 (15.8%) included at least one anxiety disorder. Of those, 65.1% had GAD, 34.0% had panic disorder and 29.1% had SAD. Agoraphobia was diagnosed in 14.6% of patients almost exclusively as comorbid with panic disorder. Additional psychiatric disorders were present for 98.1% of patients and 36.9% had multiple anxiety disorders. The patients had a history of relational problems (64.1%), educational and occupational stressors (55.3%), abuse and neglect (28.2%), other problems related to the social environment (24.3%) and self-harm (23.3%). CONCLUSION: Clinical practice should take the high rates of comorbidity into account and the importance of integrated substance-related interventions in mental healthcare settings is clear. Diagnostic practices regarding agoraphobia without panic, and the comorbidity of anxiety and personality disorders should receive further attention. Clinicians should be aware of the potential impact of the frequently reported psychosocial stressors.