UIPES - Unidade de Investigação em Psicologia e Saúde (até 2014)
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- Reliability of a questionnaire for diagnosing the severity of temporomandibular disorderPublication . Campos, Juliana Alvares Duarte Bonini; Goncalves, Daniela A. G.; Speciali, José G.Background: Temporomandibular disorder (TMD) is a collective term that encompasses many clinical problems involving the masticatory muscles, temporomandibular joints (TMJ) and associated structures and it has high prevalence among populations. Objectives: Because Brazilian studies have used the instrument proposed by Da Fonseca et al. (1994) to diagnose the severity of TMD, this study was conducted to investigate and estimate the internal consistency and reproducibility of this method. Methods: We used a probability sampling design to select 1230 participants over the age of 18 years who were living in the city of Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil. The interviews were conducted by a single interviewer over the phone. The internal consistency was analyzed by calculating the Kuder-Richardson coefficient (kr-20), and kappa statistics (κ) were used to estimate the reproducibility. Results: The internal consistency of the questionnaire was 0.5594, thus indicating that validation was lower than desired. Questions 1, 2, 3, 6 and 7 had greater contribution towards the total kr-20 coefficient, and the consistency of the instrument was higher when it was composed only of these questions (0.7044). “Good” and “Excellent” reproducibility was observed for these same questions. Conclusions: Based on these data, it is suggested that the questionnaire proposed by Da Fonseca et al. (1994) should be adapted to include only questions 1, 2, 3, 6 and 7 of the initial version. This would help improve the reliability of the instrument. The need for validation studies must also be emphasized to ensure that the new version of the instrument has adequate psychometric characteristics.
- Associations of immature defense mechanisms with personal importance of junk food, television and alcohol are independent of agePublication . Brody, Stuart; Costa, Rui MiguelInexistente
- Development of a measure of sense of community for individuals with serious mental illness residing in community settingsPublication . Townley, Greg; Kloos, BretThe psychological sense of community is one of the most commonly investigated constructs in community psychology. Sense of community may be particularly important for individuals with serious mental illness (SMI) because they often face societal barriers to participation in community living, including stigma and discrimination. To date, no published studies have investigated the psychometric qualities of sense of community measures among individuals with SMI. The current study tested a series of confirmatory factor analyses using the Brief Sense of Community Index (Long & Perkins, 2003) in a sample of 416 persons with SMI living in community settings to suggest a model of sense of community for individuals with SMI and other disabilities. The resulting scale, the Brief Sense of Community Index-Disability, demonstrated good model fit and construct validity. Implications are discussed for how this scale may be used in research investigating community integration and adaptive functioning in community settings.
- Alcohol and cigarette use and misuse among hurricane Katrina survivors: Psychosocial risk and protective factorsPublication . Flory, Kate; Hankin, Benjamin L.; Kloos, Bret; Cheely, Catherine; Turecki, GustavoThe present study examined survivors’ use and misuse of cigarettes and alcohol following Hurricane Katrina. We also examined several psychosocial factors that we expected would be associated with higher or lower rates of substance use following the Hurricane. Participants were 209 adult survivors of Hurricane Katrina interviewed in Columbia, SC or New Orleans, LA between October 31, 2005 and May 13, 2006. Results revealed that survivors were smoking cigarettes, consuming alcohol, and experiencing alcohol-related problems at a substantially higher rate than expected based on pre- Hurricane prevalence data. Results also suggested that certain psychosocial factors were associated with participants’ substance use and misuse following the Hurricane.
- Are coping strategies, social support, and hope associated with psychological distress among hurricane Katrina survivors?Publication . Glass, Kerrie; Flory, Kate; Hankin, Benjamin L.; Kloos, Bret; Turecki, GustavoThis study examined the relation of coping strategies, social support, and hope to psychological distress [symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and general distress] among Hurricane Katrina survivors. The research questions concerned whether different coping strategies (problem-focused or avoidant coping), perceptions of social support, and hope were associated with psychological distress within this sample, as well as whether level of hope moderated the relations between coping/social support and psychological distress. Results indicate that avoidant coping was positively related to PTSD symptoms and general psychological distress, hope was negatively associated with PTSD symptoms and general psychological distress, problem-focused coping was associated with many PTSD symptoms, and social support was associated with low general psychological distress. Hope moderated the relation between avoidant coping and general psychological distress. These results are important for extending research on various psychosocial factors as they relate to psychological distress among a sample of survivors of a major traumatic event.
- A social ecological approach to investigating relationships between housing and adaptive functioning for persons with serious mental illnessPublication . Kloos, Bret; Shah, SeemaThis paper seeks to advance mental health— housing research regarding which factors of housing and neighborhood environments are critical for adaptive functioning, health, and recovery for persons with serious mental illness (SMI). Housing and neighborhood environments are particularly important for persons with SMI because of the prevalence of poor housing conditions among this population. Most mental health—housing research has been limited by a focus on problems in environments and functioning. The paper seeks to expand the mental health—housing research agenda to consider protective factors that promote community integration and adaptive functioning. We provide an account of how social ecology theory transformed a research program, from examining individual risk factors to investigating the functioning of persons in the contexts of their housing and neighborhood experiences. The resulting housing environment framework—physical aspects of housing and neighborhoods, social environment of neighborhoods, and interpersonal relationships tied to housing—allows for identification of opportunities for health promotion and facilitation of participation in community-based settings. This program of research draws upon several methods to understand the social experience of persons with SMI living in community settings—survey research, qualitative interviews, Geographic Information Systems, participatory research, and visual ethnography. In this paper, we present how social ecology theory was instrumental in the development of new housing environment measures, the selection of appropriate research methods, and framing research questions that are building a new empirical base of knowledge about promoting adaptive functioning, health, and recovery for persons with SMI living in community settings.
- Cirurgia de obesidade: Qualidade de vida e variáveis psicológicas antes e depois do tratamento cirúrgicoPublication . Silva, Isabel; Ribeiro, José Luís Pais; Cardoso, HelenaUrge perceber se a cirurgia de obesidade (gastrobandoplastia e o bypass gástrico) tem repercussões ao nível psicológico, no comportamento alimentar e na qualidade de vida dos doentes com obesidade grave ou mórbida que a ela são submetidos. Nosso objectivo foi comparar a qualidade de vida, ansiedade, depressão, apoio social, tipos de motivação e percepção de competência quanto ao tratamento para emagrecer, percepção do clima dos cuidados de saúde e comportamento alimentar em indivíduos antes e depois de terem sido submetidos a tratamento cirúrgico para a obesidade (nomeadamente a gastrobandoplastia ou bypass gástrico). A amostra de conveniência constituída por 24 mulheres foi avaliada, através de uma bateria de questionários, em dois momentos distintos: antes da cirurgia e após o tratamento cirúrgico. As participantes foram avaliadas no contexto de uma entrevista pessoal quando se dirigiam ao hospital para consultas, após o seu consentimento informado. De acordo com os resultados, após a cirurgia, verificam-se uma melhoria de qualidade de vida das doentes e uma diminuição da ansiedade e da depressão. As doentes apresentam ao longo do tratamento (antes e depois da cirurgia) uma boa percepção do apoio social, sentem-se motivadas intrinsecamente e razoavelmente competentes para implementar o tratamento, sentem que o clima dos cuidados de saúde é de apoio e não apresentam comportamentos alimentares não normativos, não havendo diferenças significativas ao nível destas variáveis psicológicas entre os dois momentos de avaliação. A cirurgia de obesidade tem importantes repercussões ao nível da qualidade de vida (geral e específica) e a nível psicológico, nomeadamente no que diz respeito à ansiedade e depressão, sendo importante aprofundar a análise das restantes variáveis psicológicas com um estudo de uma amostra mais ampla. ------ ABSTRACT ------ It is urgent to understand if obesity surgery (gastrobandoplasty and gastric bypass) has repercussion in psychological domain, eating behaviour and quality of life of patients submitted to it. The objective answered to compare quality of life, anxiety and depression, social support, type of motivation and perceived competence to engage in weight loss programs, relationship with the health care team and eating behaviour before and after obesity surgery (gastrobandoplasty or gastric bypass). A convenience group of 24 women answered to a set of psychological instruments before being submitted to obesity surgery and after the surgery (gastrobandoplasty or gastric bypass). Participants answered to the questionnaires, after their informed consent, in the context of a personal interview, when they went to the hospital for consultations. Results revealed that after obesity surgery occurs an improvement on quality of life, anxiety and depression. Through out treatment process (before and after the surgery), patients revealed to have a good perception of social support, to present intrinsic motivation to enrol in weight loss treatment, to perceived themselves as competent to do the treatment, to feel the health care as supportive and they did not reported non-normative eating patterns. Data analysis reveals that there are no significant differences between the two assessment moments concerning social support, motivation and perceived competence for weight loss treatment, relationship with the health care team and concerning eating behaviour. Obesity surgery (gastrobandoplasty and gastric bypass) have important repercussion in quality of life (generic and specific) and in psychological domain, namely in what concerns to anxiety and depression symptoms. It will be important to explore more deeply the other psychological variables targeted by the present research, studying a larger group of participants.
- Cognitive deficits in middle-aged and older adults with bipolar disorder and cognitive complaints: Comparison with mild cognitive impairmentPublication . Silva, Dina Lúcia Gomes da; Santana, Isabel; Couto, Frederico Simões do; Maroco, João; Guerreiro, Manuela; Mendonça, Alexandre deObjective Cognitive impairment has been reported in elderly bipolar disorder (BD) patients, however, few studies have evaluated middle-aged and older BD patients using standardized cognitive assessments and none (to our knowledge) analysed middle-aged and older BD patients with recent cognitive complaints. The main objective of this study is to characterize the cognitive deficits of middle-aged and older patients with BD and compare them with the common agerelated cognitive deficits observed in Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI). Methods For this retrospective study, a systematic search for all cases of BD patients submitted to a neuropsychological assessment from 1999–2007, at participant institutions, was performed, and cases were matched (1:2) by gender and age to a sample of MCI subjects. Results A total sample of 135 patients, 45 patients with the diagnosis of BD, clinically stable, mean age of 63.8 8.8 years, and 90 patients with the diagnosis of MCI, mean age of 64.2 8.4 years, was studied. Patients with MCI were more impaired in verbal memory, whereas BD patients showed more deficits in attention, motor initiative, calculation and verbal abstraction. Interestingly, discriminant analysis classified about half of the BD group as belonging to the MCI group. This BD subgroup showed deficits in episodic memory similar to MCI patients. Conclusions Patients with BD and patients with MCI have distinct profiles of cognitive impairment. A subgroup of BD patients with recent cognitive complaints may actually suffer from concomitant incipient MCI, and this finding may have diagnostic and therapeutical implications.
- Testosterone responsiveness to winning and losing experiences in female soccer playersPublication . Oliveira, Tânia Sofia Ferreira de; Gouveia, Maria João Pinheiro Morais; Oliveira, Rui FilipeIn many animal species including humans circulating androgen levels inmales respond to social challenges. This response has been interpreted as an adaptive mechanism that helps the individuals to adjust theirbehavior to changes in social context. According to this hypothesis socially modulated androgen levels (e.g. increased levels in dominants and decreased levels in subordinates) would influence the subsequent expression of social behavior in a status-dependent fashion. This rationale is partially based on male physiology and therefore has been rarely investigated in females.Here,weinvestigated if a hormonal response to a social challenge that produces changes in status is also present in human females. We have collected saliva from and administered questionnaires to female soccer players of both teams playing the final match of the Portuguese Female soccer league. Samples were collected on a neutral day and on the day of the game both before and after the match. The change in testosterone levels (i.e. post-game pre-game values = DT) was positive in the winners and negative in the losers and there was a significant difference in the testosterone change (i.e.DT) over the game between winners and losers. Cortisol levels did not vary with contest outcome. An anticipatory rise in circulating levels of both hormones (testosterone and cortisol) was detected before the match. Paralleling the hormonal responses, changes in mood and anxiety state were also found between both teams, with more positive states being observed in winners and more negative states being observed in losers at the end of the match. These results suggest that testosterone also responds to social challenges in human females and that contestinduced mood changes may influence this response.
- Assessing lay beliefs about generic medicines: Development of the generic medicines scalePublication . Figueiras, Maria João; Alves, Nuno Miguel Ramalho Correia Simões; Marcelino, Dália Silva; Cortes, Maria Armanda; Weinman, John; Horne, RobThe aims of this study were to develop a scale to assess lay beliefs about generic medicines, and to investigate whether these beliefs differ according to demographic factors in an opportunistic general public sample. In the pilot study, the participants were 92 men and 136 women, and in the main study there were 314 men and 505 women. At both stages, the participants completed a questionnaire measuring beliefs about generic medicines, preference for medicines and demographic information. The scale has good face validity, showing a satisfactory level of internal consistency. An exploratory principal component analysis revealed a two-factor structure concerning beliefs about generic medicines, comprising two core themes (efficacy and similarity to brand medicines), in two different samples. Older participants showed a stronger belief in similarity with brand names than the younger group. Higher educated participants showed a stronger belief in the efficacy of generics. The opportunity to assess beliefs about generic medicines may have implications for adherence, for the implementation of health policies and for decision making about medicines.