Abstract Objective To evaluate the impacts of a nutritional education intervention for patients with multiple chronic conditions during smoking cessation. Methods The non-probabilistic sample comprised 18 adults and seniors of both sexes recruited from a smoking cessation treatment group. At the beginning of treatment, smoking history, degree of dependence, and stage of motivation were assessed. Degree of craving was evaluated weekly for the 1st month. Anthropometric and biochemical assessments were conducted at baseline, at 1 month, and at 3 months. Dietary intake was assessed with the “How is your diet?” questionnaire. The nutritional intervention was delivered in three sessions. The themes covered were energy balance and physical activity, healthy eating, and the importance of fruit and vegetables in the diet. Statistical analysis was conducted with the Shapiro Wilk test of normality, the paired t test, and the Wilcoxon or Mann-Whitney U tests (significance ≤ 0.05). Results Most people (55.6%) in the intervention group had a high degree of smoking dependence, while the frequency in the control group was 22.2%. Degree of craving decreased significantly after 1 month of treatment (p = 0.017). After 3 months, both groups had a positive variation in mean body weight, although below 3%. In both groups, the average percentage of weight gain was less than 3%, suggesting that delivery of the nutritional education sessions and the nutritionist’s use of the protocol proposed by the Instituto Nacional de Câncer (INCA) helped to control weight gain. Blood glucose and homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) both increased significantly in the intervention group (p = 0.15 and p = 0.50, respectively). Conclusion Greater proximity and more frequent intervention by a nutritionist assists and encourages healthy eating practices during the smoking cessation process, which can benefit individuals’ control of chronic diseases over the long term.

Abstract Objective This study aimed at investigating a set of peripheral cytokines in elderly female patients with MDD, comparing them to controls, and assessing the potential influence of clinical comorbidities on inflammatory markers. Methods Twenty-five elderly female patients diagnosed with MDD and 19 age-matched female controls were enrolled on this study. Plasma levels of interleukin (IL)-4, IL-6, IL-10, interferon (IFN)-γ and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α were evaluated with commercially-available assays. Results Elderly female patients with MDD exhibited higher plasma IL-6 and IL-4 levels when compared to controls. In a logistic regression model taking cytokine levels, comorbidities, and age into account, only type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2) remained associated with MDD. Conclusion Diabetes influences the association between MDD and higher levels of cytokines in elderly female patients. Future studies should take this evidence into account in order to mitigate confounding factors.

Abstract Objective Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a serious and extremely prevalent mental disorder. Early diagnosis is vital for treatment. However, there are no specific screening instruments validated for Brazilian Portuguese. This study aimed to adapt the McLean Screening Instrument for Borderline Personality Disorder (MSI-BPD) to the Brazilian context. The MSI-BPD is a self-report instrument based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition (DSM-5), that enables fast and reliable assessment of BPD, with measures of sensitivity (SN) and specificity (SP) similar to the diagnostic interview for the DSM-5 (Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-V Axis II Disorders [SCID-II]), taken as the gold standard. Methods Two independent translations, a synthesis version, back-translation, and analysis by experts were employed to create the final version of the instrument in Brazilian Portuguese. The translated instrument was administered to 1,702 adults aged 18-59 years to verify evidence of validity relating to content, internal structure, relationship with other variables, and reliability. Results The exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses show that the one-factor structure is adequate. The scale showed satisfactory internal consistency (Kuder-Richardson coefficient [KR-20] of Cronbach’s alpha = 0.691) and good test-retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC] = 0.802). Logistic regression analysis using the Personality Inventory for the DSM-5-Brief Form (PID-5-BF) (DSM-5) as reference established an ideal cut-off point of eight symptoms, with adequate SN (0.79) and SP (0.75), similar to the original instrument. The area under the curve (AUC) was 0.830 (95% confidence interval: 0.802-0.858), with a positive predictive value of 89.2%. Conclusion The Brazilian version of the MSI-BPD has adequate psychometric properties for use as a BPD screening tool by clinicians.

Abstract Objectives Medical training negatively impacts the quality of life of students. Assessing the well-being of medical students could guide academic policies and future research for improving the mental and physical health status of the population at risk. This study aimed to identify the influence of medical training on the quality of life of Brazilian medical students. Methods A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted according to the Cochrane criteria and reported in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses protocol (PRISMA). The search was performed by two independent investigators using a predefined protocol registered on the PROSPERO database (CRD42021237926). Data were extracted from PubMed, Embase, and Biblioteca Virtual de Saúde (BVS). For quantitative synthesis, a meta-analysis was conducted to assess the mean difference in the quality of life between medical students at different stages in the academic cycle, stratified by sex. All data were analyzed using the random-effects model, with a confidence interval of 95% (95%CI). Results After evaluating the eligibility criteria, five studies were included in the meta-analysis. The data revealed that students in the pre-clinical cycle of the course exhibited higher quality of life scores in the physical (3.05 [1.48-4.62], p < 0.0001) and psychological (3.05 [0.80-5.30], p < 0.0001) domains than students in the clerkship cycle. No statistically significant differences were observed in the environmental (0.78 [-2.92-4.49], p = 0.68) or social domains (1.41 [-0.52-3.34], p = 0.15). Conclusion Our analysis revealed that the medical course is associated with decreased quality of life of medical students in the physical and psychological domains. This finding was observed in both men and women. However, these findings should be interpreted with caution given the study limitations. Registration number PROSPERO, CRD42021237926.

Abstract Background Teaching is very stressful and demanding and it intensifies psychological and related disorders compared to other occupations. Most teachers in Nigeria are battling emotional distress, burnout, depression, and anxiety due to excess workload, which has affected their psychological well-being. This study assessed the sociodemographic and psychological well-being of primary school teachers in Enugu State, Nigeria. Methods This is a study with a cross-sectional design. The psychological well-being of 254 primary school teachers was assessed using a psychological well-being scale and a sociodemographic information inventory was also used to ascertain their personal information. The data collected were analyzed using chi-square, mean, standard deviation, and bivariate correlation statistics. Results The results showed that the majority of primary school teachers experience unhealthy psychological well-being irrespective of age, gender, working status, qualification, and years of teaching experience. These teachers’ sociodemographic variables are significantly correlated with psychological well-being. Only location is not significantly correlated with psychological well-being. Conclusion Therefore, this study concluded that primary school teachers’ psychological well-being is not positive or healthy and is significantly related to their sociodemographic characteristics.

Abstract Objective Grazing is a disturbed eating pattern that has been associated with eating disorders and obesity. One of the new measures to investigate this eating behavior is the Short Inventory of Grazing (SIG), a two-item questionnaire that assesses grazing in general and grazing associated with the feeling of loss of control over eating (LOC grazing). However, the psychometric properties of the SIG have not been assessed in the Brazilian population. The present study aimed to cross-culturally adapt and validate a Brazilian version of the SIG. Methods The SIG was adapted to the Brazilian context following international guidelines. Then, 90 undergraduate students completed an online survey including questions from the SIG, the Binge Eating Scale (BES), the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ9), the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD7), and a question related to self-reported health status. The internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and convergent validity of the questionnaire were assessed. Results The prevalence rates of at least one weekly episode of grazing in general and LOC grazing were 71.1 and 54.5%, respectively. The internal consistence of the SIG was acceptable (0.81). In addition, SIG scores on both items were positively and significantly associated with BES, GAD7, and PHQ9 scores, and with poorer self-rated health. However, SIG test and retest scores differed significantly. Conclusion Overall, the Brazilian version of the SIG demonstrated adequate psychometric properties. The instrument had adequate internal consistency, with both items exhibiting good convergent validity with related measures.

Abstract Objective Childhood maltreatment is extremely harmful to health, especially in relation to development of the psychiatric disorders throughout life. The objective of this study was to describe the prevalence and types of maltreatment in a sample of adolescent schoolchildren and to investigate associations between maltreatment types and anxiety and depressive symptoms, sociodemographic variables, and risk behaviors. The study also identified which variables were the greatest predictors of anxiety and depressive symptoms. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study with a sample of 654 school students aged 11 to 17 years. We collected sociodemographic data and administered the Revised Child Anxiety and Depression Scale (RCADS-47) to measure anxiety and depressive symptoms as well as the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ) to evaluate maltreatment and adverse experiences such as abuse and negligence during childhood and adolescence. Statistical analyses were conducted to estimate correlations between sociodemographic data, anxiety, depression, and types of maltreatment. A regression analysis was also conducted to identify maltreatment types that predict psychological symptoms. Results Emotional abuse and emotional neglect were the most prevalent types of maltreatment. Statistically, emotional abuse was the maltreatment type most strongly correlated with depression and anxiety and tended to co-occur with other types of maltreatment. Additionally, emotional and sexual abuse were the greatest predictors of anxiety and depression in adolescents. Conclusion The above results reinforce the findings of previous studies in terms of understanding the effects of maltreatment. They identify emotional abuse as the main predictor of depressive and anxiety symptoms.

Abstract Objective This systematic review aims to describe the relationship between psychological resilience and mood disorders. Methods This is a systematic review and meta-analysis. The following databases were searched on November 6, 2020: PubMed, PsycINFO, and Embase. Results Twenty-three articles were included and the majority of the studies included (95.7%) showed that psychological resilience has a positive impact in mood disorders. Our meta-analysis showed that individuals with bipolar disorder presented significantly lower levels of psychological resilience compared to controls (standardized mean difference [SDM]: -0.99 [95% confidence interval {95%CI}: -1.13 to -0.85], p < 0.001). In addition, individuals with depression had significantly lower levels of psychological resilience compared to controls (SDM: -0.71 [95%CI -0.81 to -0.61], p < 0.001). Conclusion Our results showed that individuals with mood disorders are less resilient than individuals without mood disorders. Our findings reinforce the importance of investigating interventions that may help to improve psychological resilience considering its positive impact in the context of mood disorders.

Abstract Objective Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is characterized by persistent deficits in social communication and social interaction and by restricted and repetitive patterns of behavior. Some studies have shown that substances derived from Cannabis sativa improve the quality of life of children with ASD without causing serious adverse effects, thus providing an alternative therapeutic option. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a cannabis extract rich in cannabidiol (CBD) in children with ASD. Methods In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial, 60 children, aged from 5 to 11 years, were selected and divided into two groups: the treatment group, which received the CBD-rich cannabis extract, and the control group, which received the placebo. They both used their respective products for a period of 12 weeks. Statistical analysis was done by two-factor mixed analysis of variance (two-way ANOVA). Results Significant results were found for social interaction (F1,116 = 14.13, p = 0.0002), anxiety (F1,116 = 5.99, p = 0.016), psychomotor agitation (F1,116 = 9.22, p = 0.003), number of meals a day (F1,116 = 4.11, p = 0.04), and concentration (F1,48 = 6.75, p = 0.01), the last of which was only significant in mild ASD cases. Regarding safety, it was found that only three children in the treatment group (9.7%) had adverse effects, namely dizziness, insomnia, colic, and weight gain. Conclusion CBD-rich cannabis extract was found to improve one of the diagnostic criteria for ASD (social interaction), as well as features that often co-exist with ASD, and to have few serious adverse effects.

Abstract Objectives The emergence of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and subsequent lockdowns and social distancing measures adopted worldwide raised questions about the possible health effects of human social isolation. Methods We conducted a systematic review on PubMed, Scopus, and Embase electronic databases using terms related to human social isolation – defined as the isolation of an individual from regular routines and usual social contact – and psychological stress, searching for simulated or naturalistic isolation environments. We present the main results, as well as the validity and limitations of each model. PROSPERO registry number: CRD42021241880. Results Despite the diversity of contexts reviewed, some outcomes almost ubiquitously relate to psychological stress, i.e., longer periods, expectation of a longer period, confinement, lack of social interaction, and support. Based on the results, and considering that most studies were not designed for the purpose of understanding isolation itself, we propose a group of recommendations for future experimental or naturalistic research on the topic. Conclusion Evidence on the impact of different situations in which individuals are subjected to social isolation can assist in development of directed preventive strategies to support people under similar circumstances. Such strategies might increase the general public’s compliance with social distancing as a non-pharmacological intervention for emerging infectious diseases.

Abstract Introduction The Iowa-Netherlands Comparison Orientation Measure (INCOM) was developed to measure individual differences in social comparison orientation and has been widely used in research and various different settings. Objectives The aim of this study was to adapt the online version of the INCOM and to evaluate its psychometric parameters when applied to a Brazilian population of university students. Methods The procedures were divided into two steps: step 1 – cross-cultural adaptation and analysis of content validity, and step 2 – assessment of psychometric characteristics. Step 1 comprised the processes of translation, evaluation by an expert committee, evaluation by the target population, and back-translation. For step 2, 1,065 university students were recruited and then factor analysis, analysis of reliability, and analysis of validity based on external measures were performed. Results The adaptation process yielded satisfactory results, including good indicators of content validity. Exploratory factor analysis revealed a two-dimensional structure and adequate factor loadings, except for item 11, which was excluded from the final version. Additionally, the final version of the scale had adequate fit indices (χ2 = 148.45, degrees of freedom [df] = 26; p < 0.001; root mean square error of approximation [RMSEA] = 0.06; comparative fit index [CFI] = 0.99; and Tucker-Lewis index [TLI] = 0.98). Evidence of reliability (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.83) was observed and there were positive correlations with negative affect (r = 0.36) and negative correlations with positive affect and self-esteem (r = -0.15; r = -0.41, respectively). Conclusion The Brazilian version of the INCOM presents satisfactory psychometric parameters and can thus be used to measure social comparison orientation.

Abstract Objective To investigate the role of optimism, hope, and gratitude as psychosocial factors for healthy development, especially with regard to anxiety in college students in the context of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Methods This is a quantitative, descriptive cross-sectional study. A sociodemographic questionnaire, the Brazilian Gratitude Scale (Escala Brasileira de Gratidão [B-GRAT]), and the Brazilian versions of an anxiety subscale, the Revised Life Orientation Test (LOT-R), Hope Index Scale, and BIG-FIVE were administered. Data were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney U test, the Kruskal-Wallis test, Spearman correlations, and hierarchical linear regression. Results A total of 297 students were assessed. The relationship between gratitude and anxiety became positive in the hierarchical linear analysis, contradicting the initial negative association between these variables according to the Spearman coefficients. This contradiction may be a result of the suppression effect. When gratitude was added to the model, these three variables together accounted for 38% of the variance in anxiety. This indicates that optimism, hope, and gratitude together are significant predictors, although optimism alone accounts for the greater part of the variance in decreased anxiety. Conclusion The data confirm that family and religiosity are protective factors against mental illness, specifically non-adaptive anxiety. Furthermore, developing optimism as a protective factor makes it possible to experience less anxiety while hope has the potential to provide the individual with multiple pathways to healthy development. This study highlights that gratitude plays a dual role in these relationships as it has the potential to be associated with anxious feelings with likely negative outcomes while at the same time it can drive positive psychosocial factors of optimism and hope, decreasing anxiety.

Abstract Objective Existing scales that seek to measure alterations in self-experience were developed based on studies conducted in developed countries. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Ego Dissolution Inventory (EDI) after translating and adapting it for the Brazilian context. Methods The measure was translated by two translators fluent in both English and Portuguese, followed by back-translation into English to ensure there was no loss of meaning. The scale was used in an online survey exploring substance use. A total of 528 participants answered the full scale. We calculated the Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin (KMO) measure to evaluate sampling adequacy, then ran exploratory factor analysis (EFAs) to investigate the factor structure of the EDI. Results The scale showed acceptable psychometric properties, with excellent internal consistency and sampling adequacy for factor analysis. Kaiser-Guttman’s criteria and Hull’s method indicated a three-factor solution, while parallel analysis suggested a two-factor solution. All items showed salient loadings, with two items exhibiting cross-loading. Positive but weak correlations were found between EDI factors 1 and 2 and nature relatedness. Conclusions The validated scale showed solid psychometric properties, with potential differences in factor structure in relation to the English version. Considering validation is an ongoing process, it is recommended that studies be conducted comparing ego dissolution scores across distinct substances and different regions of the country.