Objective: This randomized controlled trial examined the efficacy and safety of N-acetylcysteine as an adjunctive treatment for smoking cessation. Methods: Heavy smokers were recruited from smoking cessation treatment for this 12- week randomized controlled trial. Eligible tobacco use disorder outpatients (n=34) were randomized to N-acetylcysteine or placebo plus first-line treatment. Abstinence was verified by exhaled carbon monoxide (COexh). The assessment scales included the Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence, the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale, the Minnesota Nicotine Withdrawal Scale, and the Medication Adherence Rating Scale. We also assessed anthropometrics, blood pressure, lipid profile, and soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor (sTNF-R) levels 1 and 2. Results: First-line treatment for smoking cessation plus adjunctive N-acetylcysteine or placebo significantly reduced COexh (p < 0.01). In the N-acetylcysteine group, no significant changes were found in nicotine withdrawal symptoms, depressive and anxiety symptoms, anthropometric measures, blood pressure, or glucose compared to placebo. However, there was a significant reduction in sTNF-R2 levels between baseline and week 12 in the N-acetylcysteine group. Conclusions: These findings highlight the need to associate N-acetylcysteine with first-line treatment for smoking cessation, since combined treatment may affect inflammation and metabolism components. Clinical trial registration: NCT02420418

OBJETIVO: Analisar a efetividade da hidroginástica, como auxiliar terapêutico à redução do nível de ansiedade, em mulheres diagnosticadas com transtorno de ansiedade. MÉTODOS: Este ensaio clínico teve a participação de pacientes com ansiedade, sendo a depressão a comorbidade existente, do programa de Residência Médica em Psiquiatria do Hospital Universitário de Maringá, todas em tratamento com medicamentos (n = 16: grupo experimental = 8; grupo-controle = 8). O experimento foi realizado na piscina aquecida do Departamento de Educação Física da Universidade Estadual de Maringá. O delineamento do estudo foi elaborado com duas sessões de hidroginástica por semana, durante 12 semanas. Os instrumentos utilizados foram: o Inventário de Ansiedade de Beck (BAI) e o Perfil de Estado de Humor (POMS). Para análise estatística, foram utilizados o teste de Friedman, o Teste de Wilcoxon, o Teste de Mann-Whitney e Comparações Múltiplas, adotando significância em 5%. RESULTADOS: Os escores do transtorno de ansiedade tiveram redução no grupo experimental, após 12 semanas de intervenção (19,12 ± 3,12 para 8,37 ± 4,60 pontos, P = 0,0005*), e no grupo-controle (17,87 ± 14,32 para 12,12 ± 9,58 pontos, P = 0,254). Para o perfil do estado de humor, o grupo experimental evidenciou perfil de saúde mental positiva, enquanto o grupo-controle demonstrou perfil negativo de estado de humor. CONCLUSÕES: Portanto, as pacientes do grupo experimental evidenciaram significativa redução do nível de ansiedade em relação às pacientes do grupo-controle, que utilizaram apenas o tratamento convencional com medicamentos. Para o perfil do estado de humor, foram encontradas alterações no decorrer do estudo; o grupo-controle experimentou alteração negativa de humor durante o ensaio clínico, enquanto os pacientes do grupo experimental evidenciaram perfil positivo de estado de humor com redução da tensão, depressão, raiva, confusão e aumento do vigor.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the effectiveness of hydrogymnastics as a therapeutic method to the reduction of anxiety in females diagnosed with anxiety disorder. METHODS: This clinical survey had as participants, patients with anxiety, being the depression the existent comorbidade, from Psychiatry Media Residence Program of the Academical Hospital of Maringá, all had medical treatment (n = 16: experimental group = 8; control group = 8). The experiment was accomplished in the warm swimming pool of the Department of Physical Education of the State University of Maringá. The design of the study was developed with two hydrogymnastics sessions per week, during 12 weeks. The instruments used in the data collection were: Beck's Anxiety Inventory (BAI) and the Profile of Mood States (POMS). As to statistics analysis the Friedman test, Wilcoxon test, Mann-Whitney test and Multiple Comparisons were used, with a significance of 5%. RESULTS: Results show that anxiety disorder scores decreased in the experimental group after 12 weeks of intervention (19.12 ± 3.12 to 8.37 ± 4.60, P = 0.0005*) and control group (17.87 ± 14.32 to 12.12 ± 9.58, P = 0.254). As for mood state profile experimental group evidenced a positive mental health profile, while control group showed a negative mood state profile. CONCLUSIONS: It may be concluded that patients from experimental group evidenced significant reduction in anxiety level in relation to control group patients whom used only the conventional medicine treatment. For mood state profile changes were found throughout the study, being that control group experimented negative mood changes during the clinical survey while experimental group patients evidenced positive mood state profile with reduction on tension, depression, anger confusion and enhancement on vigor.

OBJETIVO: Analisar a efetividade do exercício físico como complemento terapêutico no tratamento da depressão. MÉTODOS: Este ensaio clínico teve a participação de pacientes mulheres atendidas pelo SUS no Hospital Universitário de Maringá em tratamento com antidepressivos (n = 18: GC = 9; GE = 9). O delineamento do estudo foi elaborado com duas sessões de hidroginástica/semana, durante 12 semanas. O instrumento utilizado foi a Escala de Hamilton para Depressão, aplicado ao início, após 12 semanas de intervenção e após 6 meses de finalização do ensaio clínico. Para análise estatística, utilizaram-se os Testes de Wilcoxon e de Mann-Whitney. RESULTADOS: Os escores de depressão reduziram-se no grupo experimental após 12 semanas (32,66 ± 3,12 para 24,88 ± 2,13 pontos, p = 0,007*) e não ocorreu diferença estatisticamente significativa no grupo controle (31,11 ± 3,51 para 30,22 ± 3,04 pontos, p = 0,059). Após 6 meses, não houve diferenças estatisticamente significativas para o grupo controle (31,11 ± 3,51 para 30,22 ± 2,81 pontos, p = 0,201). No entanto, o grupo experimental regressou aos níveis iniciais de depressão (32,66 ± 3,12 para 29,66 ± 1,22 ponto, p = 0,027*). CONCLUSÃO: Neste estudo preliminar, as pacientes submetidas à prática de exercícios físicos associada ao tratamento convencional para depressão evidenciaram melhora significativa em relação àquelas que não praticaram exercícios físicos. Os efeitos dos exercícios físicos sobre os sintomas depressivos desapareceram com a interrupção dos exercícios físicos na avaliação do seguimento de 6 meses.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the effective of the physical exercise as therapeutical complement in the depression’s treatment. METHODS: This clinical assay had the participation of women’s patient taken care of for the SUS in the Maringá’s University Hospital in treatment with antidepressants (n = 18: GC = 9; GE = 9). The research design was elaborated with two sessions of water exercise/week, during 12 weeks. The instrument used was Hamilton’s Scale for Depression, applied to the beginning and after 12 weeks of the clinical assay. For statistics analysis the tests of Wilcoxon and Mann-Whitney were used. RESULTS: The depression level reduced in the experimental group after 12 weeks (32.66 ± 3.12 to 24.88 ± 2.13 points, p = 0.007*) and no differences were found in control group (31.11 ± 3.51 to 30.22 ± 3.04 points, p = 0.059). After 6 months, it haven’t significant statistical differences for the control group (31.11 ± 3.51 for 30.22 ± 2.81 points, p = 0.201). However, the experimental group returned next to the initiates levels of depression (32.66 ± 3.12 for 29.66 ± 1.22 point, p = 0.027*). CONCLUSION: In this preliminary study the patients submitted to the physical exercises pratice associated to the conventional treatment to depression had evidenced a significant improvement to that they hadn't pratice physical exercises. The physical effects of the exercises on the depressive symptoms disapeared with the interruption of the physical exercise in the evaluation follow up of 6 months.