ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: The Brown Attention-Deficit Disorder Scale (BADDS) was developed as a self-report assessment that was designed to screen for presence of symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The objective here was to translate and validate the adult self-report BADDS for use in Brazil. DESIGN AND SETTING: Cross-cultural validation study conducted in an addiction unit at a public university hospital. METHODS: This study included a control group (n = 100) and a drug-user group (n = 100). Both groups included subjects aged 18 to 60 years old. The control group had no prior diagnosis of drug addiction and the drug-user group included participants with a diagnosis of addiction. Each participant answered Brazilian Portuguese translations of both the BADDS and the Adult Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Self-Report Scale (ASRS) questionnaires, in paper-and-pencil format. RESULTS: The drug-user group scored higher than the control group on both scales. The mean scores on ASRS were 27.26 (standard deviation, SD: 11.99) and 25.85 (SD: 8.65) respectively (P > 0.05). The mean scores on BADDS were 79.56 (SD: 29.61) and 79.31 (SD: 18.09), respectively (P > 0.05). Cronbach’s alpha for BADDS was 0.95. BADDS presented fair sensitivity (72% accuracy) and fair specificity (88% accuracy). CONCLUSION: This study provides discriminative validity evidence for use of BADDS among Brazilian adults with substance-use disorders.

Resumo Este estudo objetivou compreender como as mulheres reportam seus comportamentos em relação ao uso de drogas durante a gravidez e a amamentação. Trata-se de um estudo qualitativo, realizado na região metropolitana de Santos. Doze mulheres usuárias de crack foram entrevistadas por meio de entrevista semiestruturada. As entrevistas foram analisadas a partir da análise de conteúdo. Os dados indicam que a gravidez é um momento crítico para sensibilizar essas mulheres e tentar diminuir danos e riscos associados ao consumo de crack entre elas.

Abstract This study aimed to understand how women report their behaviors concerning drug use during pregnancy and breastfeeding. This is a qualitative study, conducted in the metropolitan area of Santos. Twelve women who have used crack were interviewed through a semistructured interview. The interviews were analyzed from the perspective of content analysis. Our data indicate that pregnancy is a critical time to sensitize these women and try to lessen the damage and the risks associated with the use of crack among them.

Resumo Introdução: o Personal Experience Screening Questionnaire (PESQ) é um instrumento destinado ao rastreamento de problemas relacionados ao uso de drogas entre adolescentes. Entretanto, suas propriedades psicométricas não foram avaliadas em populações de adolescentes de outros países além dos Estados Unidos. Objetivo: avaliar a confiabilidade e a validade da versão brasileira do PESQ. Método: foi feito um estudo transversal envolvendo 84 adolescentes de uma amostra clínica e de uma amostra não clínica. Todos responderam ao PESQ. Resultados: entre os adolescentes da população geral, o índice de severidade de problema da PESQ, que pode variar de 18 a 72, foi de 26,48±9,28. Por outro lado, a população clínica teve pontuação de 42,89±10,02 (p<0,001). O alfa de Cronbach foi de 0,91. A análise fatorial resultou em uma solução de quatro fatores. Além disso, ambas as populações apresentaram pontuações significativamente diferentes em outras subescalas do PESQ. Conclusão: as evidências sustentam a validade e a confiabilidade da versão brasileira do PESQ.

Summary Introduction: The Personal Experience Screening Questionnaire (PESQ) is an instrument devised for assessing the magnitude of drug misuse among adolescents. However, its psychometric properties have not been evaluated in adolescent samples outside the United States. Objective: To assess the internal reliability and validity of the Brazilian version of the PESQ. Method: A cross-sectional study was carried out with 84 adolescents from a clinical sample and a community-based sample. All of them answered the PESQ. Results: Among adolescents from the community, the PESQ problem severity index, which can vary from 18 to 72, was 26.48±9.28, whereas the clinical sample scored 42.89±10.02 (p<0.001). Cronbach's alpha was 0.91. Factor analysis resulted in a four-factor solution. Furthermore, both samples also had different mean scores for the other distinct content areas measured by the instrument. Conclusion: Evidence to support the reliability and validity of the Brazilian version of the Personal Experience Questionnaire was found.

OBJETIVO: Avaliar as impressões e as opiniões de médicos de áreas clínicas acerca do uso de drogas entre médicos e, mais especificamente, em ambiente cirúrgico. MÉTODOS: Foram sorteados 100 médicos não-residentes de áreas clínicas, selecionados ao acaso entre os profissionais com vínculo em um hospital público de São Paulo. Destes, 83 concluíram o estudo, respondendo perguntas sobre o uso de drogas entre médicos. RESULTADOS: Declararam conhecer algum colega com problemas relacionados ao uso de substâncias 67,5% dos médicos. Esse índice foi de 41,0% quando a pergunta era acerca de drogas disponíveis em ambiente cirúrgico, visto que 68,6% julgam ser fácil o desvio de psicotrópicos desse local. Além disso, 60,2% acreditam que os médicos são mais suscetíveis ao uso abusivo de psicotrópicos quando comparados à população geral. No entanto, 88,0% do total consideram difícil a procura por ajuda especializada. A porcentagem é de 56,6% dos que não conhecem serviço de atendimento direcionado exclusivamente para esses profissionais, algo que, na opinião de 83,1%, facilitaria a busca por tratamento. Dos participantes, 96,4% declararam não apresentar problemas relacionados ao uso de substâncias, ainda que 16,9% admita já ter feito uso de psicotrópicos sem prescrição. CONCLUSÃO: A freqüência de uso de psicotrópicos sem prescrição foi elevada. No entanto, parcela considerável não considera isso problema. A maioria dos profissionais não conhece serviços de atendimento específico para médicos.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the opinions and attitudes about substance use among clinical physicians. METHOD: A hundred physicians of clinical areas were selected in a public hospital of São Paulo. All of them were asked to answer a questionnaire with some questions about drug use. 83% completed the research protocol properly. RESULTS: 60.2% of the interviewed clinicians think that physicians are more likely to develop substance use disorders than general population. 67.5% of them stated they knew a colleague presenting a substance use disorder and in that in 41.0% of the cases the abused substance was a psychotropic available on the surgery facilities. However, 96.4% of the participants denied they could have a substance use problem, although 16.9% declared they had already used non prescribed psychotropics. Benzodiazepines were the most frequently used substances. In addition, 88.0% of them consider it was difficult to search for medical help. They added that a service exclusive for physicians would make this search easier. Nevertheless, 56.6% are not aware of the existence of such a service. CONCLUSION: Non-prescribed psychotropic use was high. However, most part of the clinicians does not consider this a problem. Most of the professionals do not know programs on substance use disorders specific for physicians, what would be a very positive initiative according to great part of them.