Introdução: O aperfeiçoamento da assistência pré-natal e dos cuidados intensivos neonatais contribuiu para a redução da mortalidade dos recémnascidos (RN) com riscos para alterações do desenvolvimento neuromotor. Apesar destes avanços, a difícil previsão e prevenção de danos neurológicos está associada ao aumento de crianças com problemas graves como a Paralisia Cerebral (PC). Das avaliações disponíveis atualmente, a que possui melhor valor preditivo de danos neurológicos em bebês até os cinco meses de idade é a \"Avaliação Qualitativa dos Movimentos Generalizados (MGs)\" de Prechtl. No entanto, apresenta pouca aderência na prática clínica devido à sua subjetividade e necessidade de treinamento prévio para aplicação. Objetivos: Desenvolver e analisar a confiabilidade de uma escala de avaliação baseada nos MGs caracterizados a partir da avaliação qualitativa de Prechtl em recémnascidos e lactentes com riscos para alterações no desenvolvimento neuromotor. Método: Estudo observacional transversal com a participação de 30 RNs e lactentes com idade compreendida entre 31 semanas pós-menstrual e 17 semanas pós-termo avaliados no Hospital Universitário da USP. Os MGs normais e anormais foram avaliados segundo a análise qualitativa dos MGs de Prechtl seguindo as três fases: pré-termo (n=7), writhing movements (n=13) e fidgety movements (n=10). A escala foi construída baseando-se nestas fases e foram elaboradas duas versões, sendo analisadas as confiabilidades inter e intra-examinador por meio do ICC e do índice de Kappa. A consistência interna da versão final foi analisada através do alfa de Cronbach. Resultados: Foram analisadas duas versões da escala com três diferentes sistemas de pontuação: respostas do tipo \"SIM ou NÃO\"; do tipo \"SEMPRE, ALGUMAS VEZES e NUNCA\"; e \"SEMPRE, QUASE SEMPRE, ALGUMAS VEZES, QUASE NUNCA E NUNCA\". Os resultados mais significativos foram obtidos com as respostas binárias (SIM ou NÃO), sendo que nas fases pré-termo e writhing movements a pontuação máxima é de 32 pontos e na fase dos fidgety movements é de 12 pontos. A análise da confiabilidade da versão final da escala evidenciou concordância excelente tanto para a confiabilidade intra-avaliador (ICCs: 0.914 a 0.999; Kappa: 0.6 a 1 e 0.606 a 1, considerando a escala binária), como para confiabilidade inter-avaliadores (ICCs: 0.871 a 0.966 para avaliação 1; Kappa: 0.682 a 0.775 para avaliação 1, considerando novamente a escala binária). Apenas o índice Kappa neste caso apresentou concordância boa. Os valores de alfa de Cronbach se mostraram de bons a excelentes (0.866 a 0.980). Verificou-se também que os bebês com MGs anormais apresentaram pontuação abaixo de valores entre 20 e 25 na fase pré-termo e dos writhing movements, e abaixo de valores entre 8 e 12 na fase dos fidgety movements. Conclusão: Foi possível desenvolver uma escala capaz de quantificar os MGs, com pontuação capaz de diferenciar MGs normais de anormais, com excelente confiabilidade inter e intra-avaliador e alta consistência interna. A escala apresenta grande relevância clínica e, aliada ao treinamento no método qualitativo, torna-se um instrumento promissor para a detecção precoce de riscos para atraso do desenvolvimento neuromotor e seleção dos RNs e lactentes para acompanhamento e intervenção precoce / Introduction: The technological improvement of neonatal care and intensive care contributed to reduction of preterm newborn (PTNB) mortality. Despite these improvements, is still difficult to predict and prevent neural damage and neurobehavioral impairments, which are associated to higher proportion of children with severe neurological problems, such as Cerebral Palsy (CP). Between all the available methods of babies\' assessment and examination, the Prechtl´s Method of Qualitative Assessment of General Movements (GMs) shows the higher predictive value to neurological damage. Nevertheless, this assessment is not widely used because of its subjectivity and the necessity of training of the examiners. Objective: To develop a quantitative scale based on GMs in the newborn and infant, and to verify its reliability. Method: Crosssectional observational study involving 30 newborns and infants aged between 31 weeks postmenstrual age and 17 weeks post term age assessed at university hospital of University of São Paulo. The normal and abnormal GMs were evaluated based on the Prechtl´s Method of Qualitative Assessment of GMs following the three phases: preterm GMs (n=7), writhing movements (n=13) and fidgety movements (n=10). The scale was developed based on these phases and Kappa and ICC statistics were applied in the reliability analysis (inter- and intra-observer agreement). Cronbach alpha was applied in the internal consistency analysis. Results: Two versions of the scale were analyzed with three different scoring systems: \"YES or NO\"; \"ALWAYS, SOMETIMES and NEVER; \"ALWAYS, OFTEN, SOMETIMES, ALMOST NEVER and NEVER\". The most significant results were obtained with \"YES or NO\" answers. The total score obtained in preterm and writhing movements phases was 32 points and in the fidgety movements phase was 12 points. Considering the assessment with the final version of the scale, high to very high inter- (ICCs 0.871-0.966; Kappa 0.682-0.775 for the first evaluation, considering \"YES or NO\" answers) and intra-observer reliability (ICCs: 0.914-0.999; Kappa: 0.6-1, considering \"YES or NO\" answers) was found. High to very high Cronbach alpha values was also found (0.866-0.980). The infants showed abnormal GMs score below values between 20 and 25 in preterm phase and writhing movements, and below values between 8 and 12 at fidgety movements age. Conclusion: It was possible to develop a scale able to quantify GMs, with scores that can differentiate normal from abnormal GMs, with excellent inter- and intra-observer reliability and internal consistency. The scale has great clinical relevance and, combined with training in qualitative method, it is a promising tool for early detection of risks for delayed neuromotor development and screening of newborns and infants for monitoring and early intervention

A experiência de sentir fome e ser saciado é uma das mais intensas na vida inicial de um bebê. Ao lado de seu papel nutricional, o encontro mãe-bebê proporcionado pela alimentação ao seio materno pode representar os primeiros sinais de qualidade de vínculo dessa relação primordial. O desencontro, por sua vez, atravessa e dificulta o conhecimento mútuo, complicando não apenas a dinâmica mãe-bebê, mas todo o relacionamento familiar. Eventuais transtornos em início de vida com os objetos que são constitutivos no desenvolvimento psíquico do indivíduo atrapalham esse percurso e contribuem para dificuldades emocionais ao longo da vida. Este estudo teve por objetivo oferecer uma escuta do nível simbólico da amamentação por meio de um modelo de intervenção psicanalítica pais-bebê, e dos conteúdos latentes na dinâmica de oito famílias, cujas duplas mãe-bebê apresentaram dificuldades na amamentação. Além disso, buscou verificar os efeitos desse tipo de atendimento como auxiliar para a circulação das angústias e elaboração dos conflitos subjacentes, a partir da continência e nomeação das fantasias implícitas. O atendimento consistiu em visitas domiciliares a essas famílias, com frequência semanal pelo período de quatro a seis semanas, por indicação do pediatra que os acompanhava. O estudo revelou que o modelo de intervenção apresentado contribuiu para a circulação desses afetos, permitindo uma maior fluidez emocional observável no casal parental e que se acredita repercutir no bebê. Em alguns casos mostrou facilitar a amamentação concretamente, ao lado das possibilidades afetivas que podem acompanhá-la além do aspecto nutricional. O uso que as famílias faziam do atendimento, assim como a possibilidade de amamentar, dependeu das condições adquiridas anteriormente por seus integrantes, ao longo de seu desenvolvimento psíquico. Com essas constatações espera-se, além de propor um modelo de intervenção, contribuir para a interface psicanálise pediatria, oferecendo aos pediatras uma melhor compreensão das angústias desencadeadas pela amamentação e uma parceria nos cuidados com essas famílias nesse momento primordial. / One of the most intense experiences in the infants initial life is to feel hungry and then to be satisfied. Besides the nutritional value of a mother-baby relationship, established by maternal breast-feeding, this same relationship can also indicate early signs of the quality of this primordial link. It can also show a possible difficulty in this relationship that hinders the mother and infant to get to know each other, disturbing the dynamics of this relation as well as the whole familys relationship. Disturbances in early life with the objects that constitute the psychic development of the individual may contribute to emotional difficulties throughout life. The aim of this study was to provide a symbolic listening of the relation established by breast-feeding and of the family dynamics, using for this purpose a parent-infant psychoanalytical intervention model. This intervention was carried out in eight families, whose mother-infant relations showed difficulties in breast-feeding. It was also tried to verify the effects of this intervention, such as a possible help in handling the anxiety and in working through the underlying conflicts, by offering continence and naming the latent fantasies. The intervention consisted of weekly home visits to these families, during four to six weeks. These families were sent for this care by their pediatrician. The study revealed that this intervention model contributed to put the affects in movement, resulting also in a greater emotional fluidity observed in the parental couple, and which is also believed to affect the baby. In some cases, it turned out that this intervention also helped at breast-feeding itself, besides the emotional aspects that come together with the nutritional ones. The way the families could make some use of this intervention, as well as the possibility they had to achieve breast-feeding, depended on the conditions previously acquired by the family members during their own psychological development. Besides proposing an intervention model, these findings are expected to be a contribution in the interface psychoanalysis-pediatrics, providing pediatricians with a better understanding of anxieties triggered by breast-feeding, and also a partnership in the care of families in this primordial moment.

In this study, the author examined the effects of training four parents from low-socioeconomic environments to use Enhanced Milieu Teaching (EMT) with their young children with language impairment. The investigator used a modified Teach-Model-Coach-Review method to teach parents to use the following EMT strategies during 8-10 individualized, home-based sessions: matched turns, expansions, time delays and milieu teaching prompts. A single-case multiple-baseline design across-behaviors replicated across four parent/child dyads was used to evaluate the parents' use of the EMT strategies. Child language outcomes were also assessed using pre- and post-intervention language samples. All parents learned and demonstrated use of each language support strategy to set criterion levels. Results from this study indicated a functional relation between the brief parent-implemented language intervention training and parents’ use of language support strategies. Additionally, all four children demonstrated gains in expressive language. Additional research is needed to assess fidelity and dosage of parents’ use of strategies on specific child language outcomes and to determine how to facilitate maintenance of parents’ use of strategies over time.

An increasing number of infants are diagnosed with neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) as a result of prenatal opioid exposure. Early intervention services are recommended for this population of children and families to mitigate developmental delays associated with NAS. The effectiveness of early intervention is dependent on the ability of interventionists who deliver these services. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore early interventionists' perspectives of self-efficacy when working with infants diagnosed with NAS and their families. Bandura's self-efficacy theory and Rotter's concept of locus of control provided the conceptual framework for this study. The study's guiding research questions focused on early interventionists' self-efficacy beliefs and factors that may affect those beliefs in their work with infants diagnosed with NAS and their families. Data were collected via semistructured interviews with 8 interventionists. Themes emerged from both in vivo and a priori coding pertaining to interventionists' self-efficacy beliefs working with the NAS population. Most interventionists in this study reported feeling highly efficacious in their work with infants with NAS and their families despite a lack of applicable educational and professional preparation. Interventionists attributed their professional efficacy to their own self-study, experience, and motivation to learn. Interventionists agreed that training specific to their work with NAS may improve their ability and self-efficacy in their work with infants with NAS and their families. Targeted training to increase interventionists' self-efficacy in their work with infants diagnosed with NAS and their families may result in increased effectiveness of intervention services and lead to lifelong positive outcomes for these vulnerable children.

The Auditory Perception Test for the Hearing Impaired, 3rd edition (APT/HI-3) was adapted into an auditory perception assessment tool for Spanish-speaking children called the Auditory Perception Test for the Hearing Impaired—Spanish (APT/HI-S). Test items from the APT/HI-S were then validated by three groups of Spanish-English bilinguals to determine if selected words were developmentally and linguistically appropriate for 3-year old children. Survey results revealed that 37 out of 62 words were considered developmentally and grammatically appropriate. The APT/HI-S was then administered to two 3-year old and two 5-year old children, two with typical hearing and two with hearing loss. Results revealed that language proficiency played an integral role in the measurement of auditory perception skills. The children demonstrated better performance when tested in their dominant language, reinforcing the need to have a language-specific assessment tool to obtain a more accurate picture of auditory and speech perception skills in children.

Development of vocalizations in early learners with autism is critical to the acquisition of verbal behavior and other important life skills. The purpose of the present studies was to (1) evaluate the efficiency and efficacy of Stimulus-Stimulus Pairing (SSP) and standard Echoic Training (ET) procedures for the development and onset of verbal behavior in early learners with ASD to improve early intervention efficiency and (2) elucidate predictive characteristics or variables for the effective use of SSP. The present studies were comprised of a multiple-baseline (across behaviors) experimental design buttressed within a reversal design, also known more broadly as within-subject controlled experimental designs. It was found that SSP can have a greater treatment efficacy than ET, but any efficacy advantage is transitory. Shifting an SSP treatment to direct reinforcement contingencies once vocalizations are produced are likely the most effective strategy. SSP produces discrepant effects across learners, thus highlighting the need to assess a learner’s characteristics and assumed reinforcer effectiveness. It was also found that higher-functioning learners will benefit more greatly from ET as opposed to SSP.

Denna studie fokuserar på språkliga svårigheter i förskolan samt vikten av tidig upptäckt och adekvata stödinsatser i barns tidiga år. Studiens syfte var att beskriva och analysera förskollärares och specialpedagogers uppfattningar om förutsättningar för upptäckt av språkliga svårigheter i förskolan, samt utformningen av förskolans arbetssätt för stimulans av barns språkutveckling, med särskilt fokus på språksvårigheter. Studien utgick från följande två forskningsfrågor: "Vilka är förskollärares och specialpedagogers uppfattningar om sina möjligheter att upptäcka språksvårigheter hos barn i förskolan?" och " Vilka är förskollärares och specialpedagogers uppfattningar om utformningen av arbetet för att stötta barn med språksvårigheter i förskolan?" För att besvara dessa frågor gjordes denna kvalitativa intervjustudie. Datainsamlingen bestod av totalt åtta intervjuer med urval från ovan nämnda professioner i förskolan. Informanternas erfarenheter och uppfattningar kring ämnet tematiserades och analyserades med begrepp från sociokulturell teori, samt early childhood literacy. Resultatet påvisade goda möjligheter att upptäcka språkliga svårigheter i förskolan, likväl som att tillämpa stödjande insatser. Det framkom dessutom att detta har positiva effekter på barns fortsatta språkutveckling och inlärning i ett större perspektiv, samt gynnar barnets sociala relationer. Interaktion och kommunikation med barnen, pedagogernas kompetens och förhållningssätt, tillgång till specialpedagogisk kompetens, samt samverkan med vårdnadshavare framstår som avgörande faktorer vid likväl upptäckt av språksvårigheter som tillämpning av stödinsatser. / This study is about language difficulties in preschool and the importance of detection and adequate language intervention at an early age. The purpose of the study was to describe and analyze preschool teachers' and special educators' opinions regarding the prerequisites for detecting language difficulties in preschool, as well as the methods used to support language development, focusing children with language difficulties in particular. The study was based on the following two research questions: "What are the perceptions of pre-school teachers and special educators of their opportunities to detect language difficulties in preschool?" and "What are the views of preschool teachers and special educators on methods used to support children with language difficulties in preschool?" In order to answer these questions, this qualitative interview study was done. The data collection consisted of eight interviews with a selection from the above mentioned professions. The empirical data were sorted by themes and analyzed with concepts from socio-cultural theory, as well as early childhood literacy. The result of the study showed that the prerequisites to discover linguistic difficulties in preschool, as well as the ability of language interventions, were good. Positive effects on children's language development and learning in a larger perspective, as well as social relations, also emerged in the study. Interaction and communication, the educators' competence and approach, access to special educational competence, and collaboration with the parents appear to be crucial for discovering language difficulties, as well as implementing interventions.

Economic evaluations provide a tool to estimate costs and health consequences of competing medical technologies, ultimately to aid decision makers when deciding which medical technologies should be funded from available resources. Such decisions inevitably need to be taken under uncertainty and it is not clear how to approach them in health care decision-making. Recent work in economic evaluation has proposed an analytic framework where two related, but conceptually different decisions need to be considered: (1) should a medical technology be adopted given existing evidence; and (2) whether more evidence should be acquired to support the adoption decision in the future. The proposed analytic framework requires a decision-analytic model appropriately representing the clinical decision problem under consideration, a probabilistic analysis of this model in order to determine cost-effectiveness and characterise current decision uncertainty, and estimating the value of additional information from research to reduce decision uncertainty. The main aim of this thesis is to apply the analytic framework on three case studies concerning treatment strategies for cardiovascular disease in order to establish whether the treatment strategies should be adopted given current available information and if more information should be acquired to support the adoption decisions in the future. The implications for policy and methodology of utilising the analytic framework employed in the case studies are also discussed in this thesis. The results of the case studies show that a screening programme for abdominal aortic aneurysm in 65-year-old men is likely to be cost-effective in a Swedish setting and there appears to be little value in performing further research regarding this decision problem; an early interventional strategy in non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome is cost-effective for patients at intermediate to high risk of further cardiac events in a UK setting; endarterectomy in patients with an asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis is cost-effective for men around 73 years of age or younger in a Swedish setting and conducting further research regarding this decision problem is potentially worthwhile. Comparing the results of the present analyses with current clinical practice shows a need for changing clinical practice in Sweden regarding screening for abdominal aortic aneurysm and endarterectomy in patients with asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis. Furthermore, employing the analytic framework applied in the case studies can improve treatment guidelines and recommendations for further research. In particular, treatment guidelines ought to consider in which particular subgroups of patients an intervention is cost-effective. The case studies indicate that it is feasible to apply the analytic framework for economic evaluation of health care. Methodological development can improve the accuracy with which cost-effectiveness and value of information is estimated, but may also lead to comprehensive and complex evaluations. The nature of the decision problem should determine the level of comprehensiveness required for a particular evaluation.

Introducció: Són molts els estudis que, en els darrers quinze anys, han demostrat l'efectivitat delsprogrames d'intervenció precoç en la esquizofrènia i el seu impacte sobre el pronòstic de lamalaltia. De fet, la intervenció preventiva a la fase prodròmica i posterior al primer episodi haesdevingut una de les línies principals de recerca i d'aplicació clínica per l'abordatge de laesquizofrènia.Objectiu: Avaluar l'impacte d'una intervenció psicoterapèutica durant la fase inicial de laesquizofrènia sobre la millora clínica i les recaigudes d'un grup que va rebre una intervencióprecoç (PIPE) en comparació amb un grup control (GC) que va rebre controls psiquiàtrics rutinaris.Mètode: Es va realitzar un assaig clínic controlat a simple cec per tal de comparar un grup que vaser tractat amb un programa de controls rutinaris (CG) amb un grup que va participar en elprograma PIPE. Es van aleatoritzar 34 pacients que estaven a la fase inicial de l'esquizofrènia aambdós grups: GC (n=13) i GC+PIPE (n=21). El programa PIPE va estar conformat per teràpiaindividual i familiar cognitivo-motivacional, tenint una duració de 18 mesos (entre 34-36sessions). Les avaluacions clíniques es van portar a terme a la valoració basal, als 3,6,9,12 i 18mesos per avaluadors externs, a més del seguiment als 6 mesos d'haver finalitzat la intervenció. Esva avaluar als pacients mitjançant l'escala PANSS (versió espanyola de l'Escala dels síndromespositiu i negatiu; Cuesta i Peralta, 1994) , l'escala BPRS (Brief Psychiatry Rating Scale; Overall iGorham, 1962), l'escala CGI (Clinical Global Impressions; National Institute of Mental Health,1976) i l'EEAG (Escala d' Avaluació de l'Activitat Global; American PsychiatricAssociation,1995). A més, es van recollir els índexs de recaigudes globals i específiques en númerode hospitalitzacions, estades a l'hospital de dia, visites a urgències, visites no programades,agudització simptomàtica i els increments de medicació.Resultats principals: S'observen diferencies estadísticament significatives entre els dos grupsesmentats ja als tres mesos d'intervenció respecte a l'avaluació basal (p=0,000) que es mantenenestables fins al seguiment als 6 mesos (p=0,000) a l'avaluació amb l'escala BPRS. Respecte al'avaluació del síndrome positiu, negatiu i de psicopatologia general puntuat amb la PANSSs'observen també diferències notables als sis mesos que es mantenen fins al final de la intervencióals 18 mesos (PANSS-P, p=0,02;PANSS-N, p=0,004;PANSS-PG, p=0,000). D'acord amb aquestsresultats es presenten diferències estadísticament significatives a les puntuacions de les escales CGIi EEAG amb resultats notables ja als sis mesos (CGI, p=0,000; EEAG, p=0,001) i que es mantenenfins al seguiment (CGI, p=0,000; EEAG, p=0,000). Respecte a les recaigudes s'observendiferències estadísticament significatives entre els grups als 18 i als 6 mesos de seguiment ennúmero d'hospitalitzacions (p=0,000), en estades a l'hospital de dia (p=0,000), visites al serveid'urgències (p=0,048) i en augments de medicació (p=0,002). Resultats semblants s'observen a lesmesures de recaigudes globals en la comparació entre grups tant al final de la intervenció comdurant el seguiment als 6 mesos (p=0,018; p=0,048 respectivament).Conclusió principal: El programa d'intervenció precoç PIPE té un impacte alt sobre la milloraclínica i les recaigudes als 18 mesos d'intervenció que es manté durant el període de seguiment als6 mesos.<(p> / Introducción: Son muchos los estudios que en los últimos quince años han demostrado laefectividad de los programas des intervención precoz en la esquizofrenia y su impacto sobre elpronóstico de la enfermedad. De hecho, la intervención preventiva en la fase prodrómica yposterior al primer episodio se ha convertido en una de las líneas principales de investigación y deaplicación clínica para el abordaje de la esquizofrenia.Objetivo: Evaluar el impacto de una intervención psicoterapéutica durante la fase inicial de laesquizofrenia sobre la mejoría clínica y las recaídas de un grupo que recibió una intervenciónprecoz (PIPE) en comparación con un grupo control (GC) que recibió controles psiquiátricosrutinarios.Método: Se realizó un ensayo clínico controlado a simple ciego para comparar un programa decontroles rutinarios (CG) con el programa PIPE. Se aleatorizaron 34 pacientes que estaban en lafase inicial de la esquizofrenia a ambos grupos: GC (n=13) y GC+PIPE (n=21). El programa PIPEestuvo conformado por terapia individual y familiar cognitivo-motivacional, teniendo una duraciónde 18 meses (entre 34-36 sesiones). Las evaluaciones clínicas se llevaron a cabo en la valoraciónbasal, a los 3,6,9,12 y 18 meses por evaluadores externos, además del seguimiento a los 6 meses.Se evaluó a los pacientes mediante la escala PANSS (versión española de la Escala de lossíndromes positivo y negativo; Cuesta y Peralta, 1994), la escala BPRS (Brief Psychiatry RatingScale; Overall y Gorham, 1962), la escala CGI (Clinical Global Impressions ; National Institute ofMental Health, 1976) y la EEAG (Escala de Evaluación de la Actividad Global; AmericanPsychiatric Association,1995). Además, se recogieron los índices de recaídas globales y específicasen número de hospitalizaciones, estancias en hospital de día, visitas a urgencias, visitas noprogramadas, agudización sintomática e incrementos de medicación.Resultados principales: Se observan diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre los gruposmencionados ya a los tres meses de intervención respecto a la evaluación basal (p=0,000) que semantienen estables hasta el seguimiento a los 6 meses (p=0,000) en la evaluación con la escalaBPRS. Respecto a la evaluación del síndrome positivo, negativo y de psicopatología generalpuntuado con la PANSS se observan también diferencias notables a los seis meses que semantienen hasta el final de la intervención a los 18 meses (PANSS-P, p=0,02;PANSS-N,p=0,004;PANSS-PG, p=0,000). En acorde con estos resultados se presentan diferenciasestadísticamente significativas en las puntuaciones de las escalas CGI y EEAG con resultadosnotables ya a los seis meses (CGI, p=0,000; EEAG, p=0,001) y que se mantienen hasta elseguimiento a los 6 meses (CGI, p=0,000; EEAG, p=0,000). Respecto a las recaídas se observandiferencias estadísticamente significativas entre los grupos a los 18 meses y los 6 meses deseguimiento en número de hospitalizaciones (p=0,000), en estancias en hospital de día (p=0,000),en visitas al servicio de urgencias (p=0,048) y en aumentos de medicación (p=0,002). Resultadossimilares se observan en las recaídas globales en la comparación entre grupos tanto al final de laintervención como en el seguimiento a los 6 meses (p=0,018; p=0,048 respectivamente).Conclusión principal: El programa de intervención precoz PIPE tiene un impacto alto sobre lamejoría clínica y las recaídas a los 18 meses de intervención que se mantiene durante el periodo deseguimiento a los 6 meses. / Introduction: Many studies have shown the effectiveness of early intervention programs forschizophrenia and its impact on illness outcome. In fact, the preventive intervention in theprodromical period and after the first episode of psychosis has become the main way for theresearch and clinical procedures for schizophrenia treatments.Objective: The aim of the current study is to assess the improvement and relapse rates of patientswith a diagnosis of schizophrenia (initial phase), which were taking part in a specific Cognitive-Motivational Therapy program (PIPE) in comparison with patients who received the usualpsychiatric treatment (Routine Care, RC).Method: A randomized, controlled, single-blind clinical trial was carried out. A total of 34 patientsand families who were in the initial phase of schizophrenia were allocated either to theexperimental intervention program plus routine care (PIPE, n=21) or to routine care alone (RC,n=13). PIPE consisted of an individual and a family Cognitive-Motivational Therapy, with 18months of length (between 34-36 therapy sessions). Clinical assessments were carried out byexternal raters at baseline, at 3,6,9,12 and 18 months, and the follow-up after 6 months. Patientswere assessed by the PANSS (spanish version of Positive and Negative Syndrome ofSchizophrenia, Cuesta & Peralta, 1994), the BPRS scale (Brief Psychiatry Rating Scale; Overall &Gorham, 1962), the CGI scale (Clinical Global Impressions; National Institute of Mental Health,1976) and the EEAG (Escala de Evaluación de la Actividad Global; American PsychiatricAssociation,1995). On the other hand, global and specific relapses rates were collected attending tothe number of admissions in acute care, admissions in day hospital, emergencies, non programmedvisits and deterioration of symptoms that require intervention by professionals (increase in / changeof medication or non-scheduled visits).Main results: Significantly clinical effects were observed in patients treated within PIPE program(pre-treatment vs. post-treatment at p=0,000) on the BPRS, already after three months. That resultsremain stable to the follow-up after 6 months (p=0,000). In reference to the evaluation for thepositive, negative syndrome and general psychopathology scored with the PANSS were alsoobserved remarkable differences from the 6th month of the intervention to the 18th month(PANSS-P, p=0,02;PANSS-N, p=0,004;PANSS-PG, p=0,000). According to those results,significant statistical differences were observed in CGI and EEAG scores. Those differences wereobserved already after six months (CGI, p=0,000; EEAG, p=0,001) with respect to the baselineassessment and remained stable to the follow-up after 6 months (CGI, p=0,000; EEAG, p=0,000).Statistical significant differences were found between groups with respect to relapses after 18 and 6months follow-up in admissions in the acute care unit (p=0,000), admissions at day hospital(p=0,000), emergencies (p=0,048) and pharmacological treatment increase (p=0,002). Analogueresults were observed in global relapses between groups at the end of the intervention and thefollow-up after 6 months (p=0,018; p=0,048 respectively).Main conclusion: The results show a positive impact of the PIPE intervention program on theimprovement of symptoms and the relapses in patients who are in the initial phase ofschizophrenia.

I denna studie undersöks följderna av en revisionsrapport kring det kommunala uppföljningsansvaret i Stockholms stad. I rapporten, som är från 2009, ger stadens revisorer rekommendationer för hur arbetet med att följa upp ungdomar 16-19 år kan effektiviseras. Revisorerna anser bland annat att kommunstyrelsen bör utarbeta ett förslag till kommunfullmäktige om hur innebörden av det kommunala uppföljningsansvaret kan förtydligas. Revisorerna påpekar vidare att det finns behov av att utveckla samverkansformer mellan olika aktörer för att ungdomarna ska kunna erbjudas mer än enbart utbildning. Detta är vad ungdomarna i dagsläget erbjuds, genom Gymnasieslussen, men ingen söker aktivt upp de individer som tackar nej till utbildning eller inte nås. Studiens resultat visar att kommunstyrelsen inte följt revisorernas rekommendation om att ge fullmäktige underlag för ett förtydligande. Vidare framkommer att det kommunala uppföljningsansvaret från och med 1 januari 2011 överförts till den nystartade Arbetsmarknadsnämnden. Vilka följder detta får för arbetet med ungdomarna, om det innebär några förändringar eller förbättringar enligt revisionens rekommendationer, ger studien inte svar på då ansvariga politiker valt att inte medverka. Genom intervjuer med två borgarrådssekreterare framkommer att det saknas målformuleringar och visioner för arbetet med det kommunala uppföljningsansvaret. Det finns heller inga resurser avsatta för arbetet i stadens budget 2011-2013. / This study examines the impact of an audit on the responsibility of municipal monitoring in the city of Stockholm. The report, which dates from 2009, gives the city auditor’s recommendations for how the process of following up youths between the ages of 16-19 can be streamlined. The auditor’s consider among other things that the city should prepare a proposal for the city council about the meaning of the municipal monitoring responsibility and how it can be better clarified. The auditor’s also observed that there is a need to develop forms of collaboration between the participants so that the youths could be offered more than just education. This is what the youths are currently being offered by Gymnasieslussen, however no one is actively searching out those individuals who either turn down the education or were not possible to contact. The results of this study demonstrate that the city has not complied with the auditor’s recommendation to give the council the foundation for a clarification. Furthermore, it appears that the responsibility of municipal monitoring was transferred from January 1, 2011 to the newly created Labour Council. The study does not answer questions as to what effects this has on the working with youths and it is unclear if changes and improvements could occur in accordance with the audit recommendations. Interviews which were conducted with two vice-Mayors found that a lack of goal formulation and vision exists regarding the responsibility of municipal monitoring. In addition there are no resources allocated for such work in the city’s budget from 2011-2013.