The criterion groups validity of emotional intelligence according to Mayer & Salovey (1997), ability model of emotional intelligence was investigated. Specifically, psychology (n+207) and engineering (n=195) students were compared on the Mayer, Salovey and Caruso Emotional Intelligence Test version 2 (MSCEIT). The primary factor structure of the MSCEIT was found to be valid with some revisions needed in terms of the reliability and content of the MSCEIT. The second-order factor structure of the MSCEIT was partially confirmed. In terms of the criterion groups validity of emotional intelligence, psychology students were found to exhibit higher levels of the ability to manage emotions in relationships, the ability to understand emotion as well as the ability to facilitate emotions. Engineering and Psychology students exhibited the same level of general emotional management and the ability to accurately identify emotion. Therefore the construct validity of emotional intelligence was partially confirmed. / Psychology / M.A. (Psychology)

This was a correlation study exploring the relationships between scores on various dimensions within and across different exercises in the leadership assessment and development centre (LADC) of an auditing firm in Johannesburg. The study specifically aimed at investigating the discriminant and convergent validity of the LADC. LADC ratings collected from a sample of 138 were analysed using a Pearson Product Moment Correlation (r) and principal component analysis (PCA) was conducted to discover the main dimensions or constructs. Twenty one dimensions were measured using six different exercises in the LADC. The large correlations found in the study showed lack of discriminant validity amongst the majority of different dimensions measured in same exercises whilst, the PCA showed some convergent validity among various dimensions measured across exercises for the LADC. Lastly, the findings of the principal component analysis (PCA) supported a two-factor structure, indicating that assessors are able to differentiate between interpersonal and performance-related dimensions. / Industrial and Organisational Psychology / M.A. (Industrial and Organisational Psychology)

Summaries in Afrikaans and English / In teenstelling met die takseersentrumteorie het navorsing getoon dat takseersentrum trektellings nie oor verskillende situasies stabiel is nie. Hierdie bevindinge mag 'n aanduiding wees van 'n lae konstrukgeldigheid van takseersentrums. Navorsers het tot die gevolgtrekking gekom dat navorsingsresultate nie die aanname ondersteun dat takseersentrums dimensietellings genereer wat trekke weerspieel nie. Dit het navorsers laat bespiegel of take (d.w.s. oefeninge), eerder as trekke (d.w.s. dimensies) as 'n basis gebruik behoort te word om takseersentrumbeoordelings te maak. Die doel van die studie was om te bepaal of takseersentrum trektellings beter voorspellers van werksprestasie van bestuurders is as taaktellings. Die studie sluit 97 blanke middelvlakbestuurders van 'n Suid Afrikaanse diensorganisasie in. Geen verskille is tussen die voorspellingsgeldighede van trekgebaseerde en taakgebaseerde tellings verkry nie (r = 0,087 vir beide tellings). Oorsake vir die gebrek aan verskille tussen die voorspellingsgeldighede is bespreek. / In contrast to assessment centre theory, research has shown that assessment centre trait ratings are not stable across different situations. This may be an indication of the relatively low construct validity of assessment centres. Researchers concluded that research results did not support the assumption that assessment centres generate dimensional ratings that represent traits and speculated whether tasks (i.e. exercises) should be used as a basis for making assessment centre ratings, rather than traits (i.e. dimensions). The aim of the study was to determine whether assessment centre task ratings are better predictors of managerial job performance than trait ratings. The study included 97 white middle-level managers of a South African service organisation. No difference was obtained between the predictive validities of traits ratings and task ratings (r = 0,087 for both ratings). Causes for the lack of differences between the predictive validities were discussed. / M. A. (Industrial Psychology)

This was a correlation study exploring the relationships between scores on various dimensions within and across different exercises in the leadership assessment and development centre (LADC) of an auditing firm in Johannesburg. The study specifically aimed at investigating the discriminant and convergent validity of the LADC. LADC ratings collected from a sample of 138 were analysed using a Pearson Product Moment Correlation (r) and principal component analysis (PCA) was conducted to discover the main dimensions or constructs. Twenty one dimensions were measured using six different exercises in the LADC. The large correlations found in the study showed lack of discriminant validity amongst the majority of different dimensions measured in same exercises whilst, the PCA showed some convergent validity among various dimensions measured across exercises for the LADC. Lastly, the findings of the principal component analysis (PCA) supported a two-factor structure, indicating that assessors are able to differentiate between interpersonal and performance-related dimensions. / Industrial and Organisational Psychology / M.A. (Industrial and Organisational Psychology)

Introdução: Ruminação é a perseveração mal-adaptativa de pensamentos auto-centrados. Evidências sinalizam que ela está associada com início e manutenção de episódios depressivos, e ocorre em múltiplos transtornos mentais. A ruminação está associada com marcadores de desenvolvimento psicopatológico, como volumetria cerebral, memória, genes do BDNF e serotonina. É necessário aprofundar o conhecimento da ruminação enquanto traço dimensional, e conhecer melhor sua associação com variáveis sóciodemográficas, biológicas e clínicas para entender quando passa a ser um sintoma. Entretanto, aferi-la é um desafio, considerando que só existem escalas psicométricas. A mais utilizada, Ruminative Response Scale (RRS), foi validada em amostras não-clínicas. Objetivos: Avaliar ruminação transdiagnosticamente e determinar a validade de constructo da RRS em amostra clínica, buscando determinar fatores sócio-demográficos, clínicos e neurobiológicos associados a maiores escores de ruminação. Métodos: Estudo transversal, amostra não-probabilística. Foram convidados a participar 944 pacientes em atendimento psiquiátrico ambulatorial no HCPA entre março/2015 e junho/2016, maiores de 18 anos, que soubessem ler e escrever, e portadores de transtornos bipolares, depressão, esquizofrenia, esquizoafetivo, ansiedade generalizada, pânico, fobia específica e obsessivocompulsivo. Foram excluídos 373 com doenças que alteram resposta inflamatória, dependência química, gravidez, lactação, doenças neurológicas, vasculares e degenerativas. Recusaram-se a participar 254. Foram incluídos 317 pacientes, e 200 completaram a coleta de dados, que foi realizada em 4 etapas: 1) perfil sócio-demográfico e escalas auto-aplicáveis: ruminação, preocupação e funcionalidade; 2) amostras de sangue e entrevista clínica para aplicação das escalas de sintomas: depressão, mania, ansiedade e gravidade; 3) confirmação diagnóstica; e 4) processamento, armazenamento e análises bioquímicas das amostras de sangue. No primeiro artigo, revisamos sistematicamente a literatura sobre ruminação nos transtornos bipolares. No segundo, determinamos as validades de construto e externa da RRS. No terceiro, usamos machine learning para encontrar padrões de ruminação e determinar quais variáveis associadas preveem ruminação. Resultados: Ruminação está presente em todas as fases do transtorno bipolar, e é um sintoma estável independente do estado de humor, apesar de ter relação estreia com ele. Verificou-se também que mulheres ruminam mais que homens. Os escores de ruminação foram menores nos portadores de esquizofrenia que nos com depressão maior, bipolaridade e ansiedade. RRS apresentou boa confiabilidade, com 2-fatores correlacionados, brooding e ponderação, que apresentaram similaridade nas correlações com medidas clínicas, confirmando a validade externa transdiagnóstica. Por fim, encontrou-se que as variáveis associadas aos pacientes que mais ruminam são preocupação, sintomas de ansiedade generalizada e depressão, gravidade, nível socioeconômico e diagnóstico atual de pânico, sinalizando que ruminação pode ser um marcador de maior sensibilidade à ansiedade. Discussão: Ruminação parece ser um sintoma transdiagnóstico marcador de sofrimento. Os resultados desta tese contribuem para ampliar a discussão sobre diagnóstico psiquiátrico, agregando evidências para aprimorar as definições de limites e sobreposições diagnósticas entre as doenças mentais em que a ruminação ocorre. Por fim, conhecer melhor os mecanismos bioquímicos e clínicos envolvidos na ruminação contribuem na compreensão sobre quando ela deixa de ser um traço normal e vira um sintoma que necessita de tratamento. / Introduction: Rumination has been described as maladaptive perseveration of self-centered thoughts. Evidence indicates that rumination is associated with onset and maintenance of depressive episodes, it’s present in several mental disorders. Rumination is associated with markers of development of psychopathology, such as cerebral volumetry, memory, BDNF and serotonin genes. Measuring rumination is a challenge, considering that are available only psychometric scales. The most used, the Ruminative Responses Scale (RRS), was validated on non-clinical samples. Objectives: To evaluate transdiagnostically the rumination and to determine construct validity of the RRS in outpatients, in order to determine which associated factors lead the patients to ruminate. Methods: Cross-sectional study, non-probabilistic sample. A total of 944 patients in psychiatric outpatient treatment at HCPA between March / 2015 and June / 2016, major than 18 years old, knowing read and write, presenting bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, phobia specific and obsessive-compulsive disorder were invited to participate. We excluded 373 patients with diseases that alter inflammatory response, chemical dependence, pregnancy, lactation, neurological, vascular and degenerative diseases. Two hundred fifty four refused to participate, 317 were included, and 200 completed the data collection, which was performed in 4 stages: 1) socio-demographic profile and self-applicable scales: rumination, worry and functionality; 2) blood samples and clinical interview for the application of symptom scales: depression, mania, anxiety and severity; 3) diagnostic confirmation; and 4) processing, storage and biochemical analyzes of blood samples. In the first article, we systematically reviewed the literature on rumination in bipolar disorders. In the second, we evaluated construct and external validity of RRS. In the third, we used machine learning algorithms to find patterns of rumination and to determine which associated variables predict rumination. Results: Rumination is present in all phases of bipolar disorder, it is a stable symptom, independent of mood, despite it has close relationship with it. It has also been found that women ruminate more than men. Rumination scores were lower in patients with schizophrenia than in major depression, bipolarity and anxiety patients. RRS presented good reliability, with correlated 2-factors, brooding and pondering, which presented similar correlations with clinical measures, confirming the external transdiagnostic validity. Finally, it was found that the variables associated with the greater scores of rumination are worry, symptoms of generalized anxiety and depression, severity of symptoms, socioeconomic level and current diagnosis of panic, signaling that rumination may be a marker of greater sensitivity to anxiety. Discussion: Rumination seems to be a transdiagnostic symptom of suffering. The results of this thesis contribute to broadening the discussion about psychiatric diagnostic, adding evidence to improve the definitions of limits and diagnostic overlaps between mental illnesses in which rumination occurs. Finally, a better understanding of the biochemical and clinical mechanisms involved in rumination may contribute to understanding of when rumination ceases to be a normal trait and becomes a symptom that requires treatment.

Objetivo: O presente estudo teve como objetivo realizar a adaptação transcultural e verificar a confiabilidade, consistência interna, validade estrutural e a validade de construto do ProFiMap-neck em indivíduos com relato de dor cervical crônica. Método: Participaram deste estudo pacientes do sexo feminino com relato de dor cervical há mais de 3 meses durante o movimento ou repouso A amostra foi composta por 30 indivíduos (33,43±10,32 anos) para a etapa de teste da versão pré-final, 100 indivíduos (38,89±10,84 anos) para a confiabilidade e 180 indivíduos (37,49±11,86 anos) para a validadade de construto, para a análise da consistência interna e validade estrutural. O processo de tradução e retrotradução ocorreu em 5 etapas: 1) Tradução inicial para o português, 2) Síntese de traduções, 3) Retrotradução, 4) Comitê de especialistas, e 5) O teste da versão pré-final. Para validade de construto a pontuação do ProFitMap-neck foi correlacionada com a pontuação do Neck Disability Index (NDI), além disso, foram utilizados para fins de correlação a Escala de Ansiedade e Depressão Hospitalar (HADS-A e HADS-D), a Escala Tampa de Cinesiofobia e o Short Form - 36 (SF-36). Para a análise fatorial exploratória foi utilizada a Análise de Componentes Principais, o indice de Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin (KMO) e % de variância cumulativa. Para a análise da consistência interna foi utilizado o coeficiente de ? de Cronbach. Para a confiabilidade foi utilizando o Coeficiente de Correlação Intraclasse (CCI). O coeficiente de correlação de Pearson foi utilizado para verificação das correlações. A magnitude da correlação foi graduada da seguinte maneira: R<0,29: pobre; 0,3<R<0,69: moderada; R>0,7: forte. Resultados: Durante o processo de teste da versão pré-final não foram relatadas dúvidas pela amostra de pacientes ao responder o instrumento. Para a escala de Sintomas/Intensidade do ProFitMap-neck versão português brasileiro foram verificados dois domínios (Escala de Sintomas/Intensidade Geral e Escala de Sintomas/Intensidade Equilíbrio) com porcentagem de variância cumulativa de 57,33% e índice KMO=0,66. Para a escala de Sintomas/Frequência do ProFitMap-neck foi verificado apenas 1 domínio com porcentagem de variância cumulativa de 56,20% e KMO=0,84. Para a escala de Limitação Funcional do ProFitMap-neck foram verificados 2 domínios (Postura e AVDs e Movimento e Percepção de Saúde) com porcentagem de variância cumulativa de 56,28% e KMO=0,57. Todos os itens apresentaram carga fatorial superior a 0,2. A análise de consistência interna demonstrou valores de alpha de cronbach adequados (alpha>0.70) para todos os domínios do ProFitMap-neck. Na reprodutibilidade foram verificados valores de CCI excelentes para todos os domínios e escalas (ICC>0,75). Nossos achados demonstraram correlações moderadas/fortes e negativas entre a pontuação total do NDI e as pontuações dos domínios e escalas Sintomas/Intensidade, Sintomas/Frequencia e Limitação Funcional do ProFitMapneck (R=-0,65, R=-0,56 e R=-0,71, respectivamente). Foram verificadas correlações no geral moderadas/fortes e positivas entre os escores das ferramentas SF-36 e ProFitMap-neck. Para as correlações entre Ansiedade, Despressão e Cinesiofobia e as Escalas do ProFitMap-neck versão português brasileiro foram verificadas correlações em sua maioria moderadas e fortes (-0,32<R<-0,82). Conclusão: O ProFitMap-neck versão português-Brasil apresentou índices psicométricos adequados e, dessa forma, está disponível para ser empregado na prática clínica e pesquisa em pacientes com dor cervical crônica. / Objective: This study aimed to perform the cultural adaptation and verify the reliability, internal consistency, structural validity and construct validity of the Profile Fitness Mapping neck questionnaire (ProFiMap-neck) in individuals reporting chronic neck pain. Method: This study recruited female patients with neck pain for more than three months during motion or at rest The sample consisted of 30 individuals (33.43 ± 10.32 years) to test the pre-final version, 100 individuals (38.89 ± 10.84 years) for reliability and 180 individuals (37.49 ± 11.86 years) for construct validity, analysis of internal consistency and structural validity. The process of translation and back translation occurred in 5 steps: 1) Initial translation into Portuguese, 2) Summary of translations, 3) Back-translation, 4) Committee of Experts, and 5) The test of the pre-final version. Construct validity was verified correlating scores on ProFitMap-neck and Neck Disability Index (NDI), Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale (HADS-A and HADS-D), Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia and the Short Form - 36 (SF-36). Exploratory factor analysis was perfomed considering Principal Component Analysis, the Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin index (KMO) and percentange of cumulative variance. For the analysis of internal consistenc, we used ? Cronbach and for reliability Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) was used. The Pearson correlation coefficient was used to investigate correlations and the strength was graded as follows: R <0.29: poor; 0.3 <R <0.69: moderate; R> 0.7: Strong. Results: During the test of the pre-final version, volunteers did no report doubts. Structural validity retained two domains for Symptoms/Intensity ProFitMap-neck Brazilian Portuguese version (General Symptoms Intensity and Symptoms Intensity/ Balance) with cumulative percentage of variance of 57.33% and KMO=0.66. For the Scale Symptoms/Frequency of ProFitMap-neck we identified one domain, with cumulative percentage of variance of 56.20% and KMO = 0.84. For Functional Limitation of the ProFitMap-neck, we identified two domains (Posture and Movement and Diary Life Activities and Health Perception) with cumulative percentage of variance of 56.28% and KMO = 0.57. All items had factors loadings greater than 0.2. The internal consistency analysis revealed adequate alpha Cronbach values (alpha>0.70) for all ProFitMap-neck domains. We obtained excellent ICC values for all domains and scales (ICC> 0.75). Our findings showed moderate/strong and negative correlations between the total score of the NDI and the scores of the domains and scales Symptoms/Intensity, Symptoms/Frequency and Functional Limitation of ProFitMap-neck brazilian portuguese version (R = -0.65, R = -0.56 and R = -0.71, respectively). Correlations between the scores of the SF-36 and ProFitMapneck tools were in the majority moderate/strong and positive. For correlations between anxiety, depression and kinesiophobia and the scales of the ProFitMap-neck brazilian portuguese version were observaded moderate and strong values (-0.32 <R <-0.82). Conclusion: ProFitMap-neck portuguese-Brazil version showed adequate psychometric indexes and, therefore, it\'s available to be apllied in clinical practice and research in patients with chronic neck pain.

Självskattningsformulär utgör ett viktigt kliniskt redskap för både utredning och intervention av röstproblem men i nuläget är tillgången till olika formulär i Sverige begränsad då antalet validerade svenska översättningar är få. Syfte med studien var att översätta och preliminärt validera The Voice Symptom Scale (VoiSS) som består av 30 frågor tilldelade komponenterna Nedsättning, Emotionellt och Fysiskt. Den svenska versionen av VoiSS framtogs genom ”Forward-backward Translation” med en efterföljande pilotstudie. Sammanlagt deltog 203 vuxna individer som rekryterades via webb- och pappersenkät. Av dessa uppgav 86 deltagare att de upplevde röstbesvär. Resultaten visade på tydliga gruppskillnader där gruppen Med upplevda röstproblem genererade högre genomsnittliga svarspoäng än gruppen Utan upplevda röstproblem. Inga överlappningar kunde konstateras. En principalkomponentanalys (PCA) var i stort sett förenlig med en trekomponentstruktur som tillsammans med gruppseparationen visade på hög konstruktvaliditet. Vidare noterades samstämmighet mellan den svenska versionen och VoiSS-originalet. Sensitivitets- och specificitetsvärden bekräftade en hög diagnostisk validitet. Slutsatsen drogs att formuläret med god validitet förmår att diagnosticera upplevelse av röstproblem. Den preliminära valideringen visade således att den svenska versionen av VoiSS kan användas som ett instrument vid utredning av röstproblem men att ytterligare forskning behövs för att säkerställa formulärets användbarhet i klinisk verksamhet. / Self-assessment questionnaires are important clinical instruments for both investigation and intervention of voice problems but at date access to various questionnaires in Sweden is limited due to few validated translations. The objective of this study was to translate and preliminary validate the Voice Symptom Scale (VoiSS) consisting of 30 questions assigned Impairment, Emotional and Physical. The Swedish version of VoiSS was developed through ”Forward-backward Translation” followed by a pilot study. The questionnaire was completed by a total of 203 adults who were recruited by web and paper survey. Out of these, 86 participants experienced voice problems. Obvious group differences were observed in that the group With experienced voice problems generated higher mean scores than the group Without experienced voice problems. No overlaps were observed. A principal component analysis (PCA) was largely consistent with a three component structure that, combined with the group separation, affirmed high construct validity. Moreover, concurrence between the Swedish version and the VoiSS-original was found. Calculated values of sensitivity and specificity confirmed a high diagnostic validity. The conclusion was made that the self-assessment questionnaire with good validity was able to diagnose experience of voice problems. In conclusion, preliminary validation showed that the Swedish version of VoiSS can be used as a diagnostic tool in assessing voice problems. However, more research needs to be done to ensure the questionnaires adaptation to clinical context.

The criterion groups validity of emotional intelligence according to Mayer & Salovey (1997), ability model of emotional intelligence was investigated. Specifically, psychology (n+207) and engineering (n=195) students were compared on the Mayer, Salovey and Caruso Emotional Intelligence Test version 2 (MSCEIT). The primary factor structure of the MSCEIT was found to be valid with some revisions needed in terms of the reliability and content of the MSCEIT. The second-order factor structure of the MSCEIT was partially confirmed. In terms of the criterion groups validity of emotional intelligence, psychology students were found to exhibit higher levels of the ability to manage emotions in relationships, the ability to understand emotion as well as the ability to facilitate emotions. Engineering and Psychology students exhibited the same level of general emotional management and the ability to accurately identify emotion. Therefore the construct validity of emotional intelligence was partially confirmed. / Psychology / M.A. (Psychology)

Summaries in Afrikaans and English / In teenstelling met die takseersentrumteorie het navorsing getoon dat takseersentrum trektellings nie oor verskillende situasies stabiel is nie. Hierdie bevindinge mag 'n aanduiding wees van 'n lae konstrukgeldigheid van takseersentrums. Navorsers het tot die gevolgtrekking gekom dat navorsingsresultate nie die aanname ondersteun dat takseersentrums dimensietellings genereer wat trekke weerspieel nie. Dit het navorsers laat bespiegel of take (d.w.s. oefeninge), eerder as trekke (d.w.s. dimensies) as 'n basis gebruik behoort te word om takseersentrumbeoordelings te maak. Die doel van die studie was om te bepaal of takseersentrum trektellings beter voorspellers van werksprestasie van bestuurders is as taaktellings. Die studie sluit 97 blanke middelvlakbestuurders van 'n Suid Afrikaanse diensorganisasie in. Geen verskille is tussen die voorspellingsgeldighede van trekgebaseerde en taakgebaseerde tellings verkry nie (r = 0,087 vir beide tellings). Oorsake vir die gebrek aan verskille tussen die voorspellingsgeldighede is bespreek. / In contrast to assessment centre theory, research has shown that assessment centre trait ratings are not stable across different situations. This may be an indication of the relatively low construct validity of assessment centres. Researchers concluded that research results did not support the assumption that assessment centres generate dimensional ratings that represent traits and speculated whether tasks (i.e. exercises) should be used as a basis for making assessment centre ratings, rather than traits (i.e. dimensions). The aim of the study was to determine whether assessment centre task ratings are better predictors of managerial job performance than trait ratings. The study included 97 white middle-level managers of a South African service organisation. No difference was obtained between the predictive validities of traits ratings and task ratings (r = 0,087 for both ratings). Causes for the lack of differences between the predictive validities were discussed. / M. A. (Industrial Psychology)

Introdução: Ruminação é a perseveração mal-adaptativa de pensamentos auto-centrados. Evidências sinalizam que ela está associada com início e manutenção de episódios depressivos, e ocorre em múltiplos transtornos mentais. A ruminação está associada com marcadores de desenvolvimento psicopatológico, como volumetria cerebral, memória, genes do BDNF e serotonina. É necessário aprofundar o conhecimento da ruminação enquanto traço dimensional, e conhecer melhor sua associação com variáveis sóciodemográficas, biológicas e clínicas para entender quando passa a ser um sintoma. Entretanto, aferi-la é um desafio, considerando que só existem escalas psicométricas. A mais utilizada, Ruminative Response Scale (RRS), foi validada em amostras não-clínicas. Objetivos: Avaliar ruminação transdiagnosticamente e determinar a validade de constructo da RRS em amostra clínica, buscando determinar fatores sócio-demográficos, clínicos e neurobiológicos associados a maiores escores de ruminação. Métodos: Estudo transversal, amostra não-probabilística. Foram convidados a participar 944 pacientes em atendimento psiquiátrico ambulatorial no HCPA entre março/2015 e junho/2016, maiores de 18 anos, que soubessem ler e escrever, e portadores de transtornos bipolares, depressão, esquizofrenia, esquizoafetivo, ansiedade generalizada, pânico, fobia específica e obsessivocompulsivo. Foram excluídos 373 com doenças que alteram resposta inflamatória, dependência química, gravidez, lactação, doenças neurológicas, vasculares e degenerativas. Recusaram-se a participar 254. Foram incluídos 317 pacientes, e 200 completaram a coleta de dados, que foi realizada em 4 etapas: 1) perfil sócio-demográfico e escalas auto-aplicáveis: ruminação, preocupação e funcionalidade; 2) amostras de sangue e entrevista clínica para aplicação das escalas de sintomas: depressão, mania, ansiedade e gravidade; 3) confirmação diagnóstica; e 4) processamento, armazenamento e análises bioquímicas das amostras de sangue. No primeiro artigo, revisamos sistematicamente a literatura sobre ruminação nos transtornos bipolares. No segundo, determinamos as validades de construto e externa da RRS. No terceiro, usamos machine learning para encontrar padrões de ruminação e determinar quais variáveis associadas preveem ruminação. Resultados: Ruminação está presente em todas as fases do transtorno bipolar, e é um sintoma estável independente do estado de humor, apesar de ter relação estreia com ele. Verificou-se também que mulheres ruminam mais que homens. Os escores de ruminação foram menores nos portadores de esquizofrenia que nos com depressão maior, bipolaridade e ansiedade. RRS apresentou boa confiabilidade, com 2-fatores correlacionados, brooding e ponderação, que apresentaram similaridade nas correlações com medidas clínicas, confirmando a validade externa transdiagnóstica. Por fim, encontrou-se que as variáveis associadas aos pacientes que mais ruminam são preocupação, sintomas de ansiedade generalizada e depressão, gravidade, nível socioeconômico e diagnóstico atual de pânico, sinalizando que ruminação pode ser um marcador de maior sensibilidade à ansiedade. Discussão: Ruminação parece ser um sintoma transdiagnóstico marcador de sofrimento. Os resultados desta tese contribuem para ampliar a discussão sobre diagnóstico psiquiátrico, agregando evidências para aprimorar as definições de limites e sobreposições diagnósticas entre as doenças mentais em que a ruminação ocorre. Por fim, conhecer melhor os mecanismos bioquímicos e clínicos envolvidos na ruminação contribuem na compreensão sobre quando ela deixa de ser um traço normal e vira um sintoma que necessita de tratamento. / Introduction: Rumination has been described as maladaptive perseveration of self-centered thoughts. Evidence indicates that rumination is associated with onset and maintenance of depressive episodes, it’s present in several mental disorders. Rumination is associated with markers of development of psychopathology, such as cerebral volumetry, memory, BDNF and serotonin genes. Measuring rumination is a challenge, considering that are available only psychometric scales. The most used, the Ruminative Responses Scale (RRS), was validated on non-clinical samples. Objectives: To evaluate transdiagnostically the rumination and to determine construct validity of the RRS in outpatients, in order to determine which associated factors lead the patients to ruminate. Methods: Cross-sectional study, non-probabilistic sample. A total of 944 patients in psychiatric outpatient treatment at HCPA between March / 2015 and June / 2016, major than 18 years old, knowing read and write, presenting bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, phobia specific and obsessive-compulsive disorder were invited to participate. We excluded 373 patients with diseases that alter inflammatory response, chemical dependence, pregnancy, lactation, neurological, vascular and degenerative diseases. Two hundred fifty four refused to participate, 317 were included, and 200 completed the data collection, which was performed in 4 stages: 1) socio-demographic profile and self-applicable scales: rumination, worry and functionality; 2) blood samples and clinical interview for the application of symptom scales: depression, mania, anxiety and severity; 3) diagnostic confirmation; and 4) processing, storage and biochemical analyzes of blood samples. In the first article, we systematically reviewed the literature on rumination in bipolar disorders. In the second, we evaluated construct and external validity of RRS. In the third, we used machine learning algorithms to find patterns of rumination and to determine which associated variables predict rumination. Results: Rumination is present in all phases of bipolar disorder, it is a stable symptom, independent of mood, despite it has close relationship with it. It has also been found that women ruminate more than men. Rumination scores were lower in patients with schizophrenia than in major depression, bipolarity and anxiety patients. RRS presented good reliability, with correlated 2-factors, brooding and pondering, which presented similar correlations with clinical measures, confirming the external transdiagnostic validity. Finally, it was found that the variables associated with the greater scores of rumination are worry, symptoms of generalized anxiety and depression, severity of symptoms, socioeconomic level and current diagnosis of panic, signaling that rumination may be a marker of greater sensitivity to anxiety. Discussion: Rumination seems to be a transdiagnostic symptom of suffering. The results of this thesis contribute to broadening the discussion about psychiatric diagnostic, adding evidence to improve the definitions of limits and diagnostic overlaps between mental illnesses in which rumination occurs. Finally, a better understanding of the biochemical and clinical mechanisms involved in rumination may contribute to understanding of when rumination ceases to be a normal trait and becomes a symptom that requires treatment.