Introdução: Pouco se conhece sobre Transtorno Específico de Aprendizagem (TEA), principalmente em países de baixa e média renda (PBMR) e muito menos em amostras representativas de escolas de cidades pequenas fora de grandes centros urbanos. Poucos estudos enfatizaram os novos critérios do DSM-5 para TEA. Investigamos a prevalência do Transtorno Específico de Aprendizagem de acordo com a nova classificação do DSM-5, suas comorbidades e correlatos em amostras escolares de alunos do 2º ao 6º ano que moram em cidades de tamanho médio de quatro regiões geográficas do Brasil (norte, nordeste, centro-oeste e sudeste). Métodos: O rendimento acadêmico foi medido pelo Teste de Desempenho Escolar. Os diagnósticos psiquiátricos foram avaliados pelo K-SADS-PL com informações obtidas do cuidador primário e o QI foi estimado por subtestes do WISC-III. Resultados: Um total de 1.618 crianças e adolescentes foram incluídas no estudo. As taxas de prevalência encontradas de Transtorno Específico de Aprendizagem foram: 7,6% para comprometimento global, 5,4% para comprometimento na escrita, 6,0% para comprometimento na área da aritmética, e 7,5% para comprometimento na leitura. Diferenças significativas foram detectadas nas taxas de prevalência entre as cidades (p < 0,001). O Transtorno de Déficit de Atenção e Hiperatividade (TDAH) foi o único transtorno mental comórbido com associação significativa com TEA com comprometimento global (8,2%; p=0,031). Transtornos de ansiedade, TDAH e o grupo Qualquer Transtorno Mental foram associados com TEA com comprometimento na aritmética (13,8% com p=0,008; 12,4% com p < 0,001; 25,6% com p < 0,001, respectivamente). Inúmeros correlatos sóciodemográficos (idade (p=0,018), cidade (p=0,004), status sócio-econômico (p=0,007), gênero (p=0,011), e QI (p < 0,001)) foram associados com Transtorno Específico de Aprendizagem com comprometimento global na amostra. Conclusões: A validação e normatização de instrumentos que avaliem o desempenho acadêmico é ainda um grande problema em inúmeros países, mas principalmente naqueles de baixa e média renda (PBMR). Como esperado, foi encontrado uma significativa heterogeneidade nas taxas de prevalência de TEA entre as diferentes regiões geográficas do Brasil, sendo esse um país com forte diversidade. TEA com comprometimento global e em aritmética foram significativamente associados com comorbidades psiquiátricas. Todos correlatos avaliados (idade, cidade, status sócioeconômico, gênero, e QI) foram significativamente associados com TEA com comprometimento global / Introduction: Little is known about Specific Learning Disorder (SLD) in Low and Middle Income Countries (LMICs), and even less from representative school samples in small size cities outside huge urban centers. Few studies addressed the new DSM-5 criteria for SLDs. We investigated the prevalence of DSM-5 SLDs, their comorbidities and correlates in school samples of students from the 2nd to 6th grades living in median cities from 4 different geographic regions in Brazil (north, northeast, central and southeast). Methods: A national test for academic performance (TDE) covering reading, writing and mathematical abilities was applied. Psychiatric diagnoses were assessed by the K-SADS-PL applied to the primary caregiver, and IQ was estimated by WISC-III subtests. Results: A total of 1,618 children and adolescents were included in the study. The following prevalence rates of SLDs were found: 7.6% for global impairment, 5.4% for writing, 6.0% for arithmetic and 7.5% for reading impairment. Significant differences were detected in prevalence rates among cities (p < 0.001). Attention-deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) was the only comorbidity significantly associated with SLD with global impairment (8.2%; p=0.031). Anxiety Disorders, ADHD and the group Any Mental Disorder (13.8% with p=0.008; 12.4% with p < 0.001; 25.6% with p < 0.001, respectively) were associated with SLD with arithmetic impairment. Several socio-demographic correlates (age (p=0.018), city (p=0.004), socioeconomic status (p=0.007), gender (p=0.011), and IQ (p < 0.001)) were significantly associated with SLD with global impairment in our sample. Conclusions: Careful validation and normatization of instruments to assess academic performance is a major problem in LMICs. As expected, we found a significant heterogeneity in prevalence rates of SLD according to geographic regions considering that Brazil is a country with a robust diversity. SLD with global and arithmetic impairment were significantly associated with psychiatric comorbidities. All correlates investigated (age, city, socioeconomic status, gender, and IQ) were significantly associated with SLD with global impairment

INTRODUÇÃO: o Transtorno de Estresse Pós-Traumático (TEPT) se caracteriza pelo desenvolvimento de sintomas específicos após a ocorrência de um evento traumático intenso, envolvendo a participação direta ou não do indivíduo. A prevalência do TEPT na população pode variar entre 1,4% e 11,2% na vida, sendo que mulheres apresentam uma vulnerabilidade maior para o transtorno, apesar dos homens geralmente serem expostos a um número maior de eventos traumáticos. Além de trazer inúmeros prejuízos na vida do sujeito, observam-se altas taxas de comorbidade entre TEPT e Abuso e Dependência de Álcool e Drogas (ADAD), o que por sua vez está associado a níveis mais graves de psicopatologia, maior comprometimento do funcionamento social global, uso mais freqüente de serviços de saúde e pior resposta ao tratamento. OBJETIVOS: 1) examinar a distribuição de eventos traumáticos e a prevalência de TEPT e ADAD de acordo com o gênero dos indivíduos, 2) identificar a prevalência de TEPT por tipo de evento traumático e o risco condicional de TEPT entre homens e mulheres, 3) examinar a existência de comorbidade entre TEPT e ADAD e 4) verificar as associações entre diferentes tipos de eventos traumáticos e ADAD quando são levados em conta no modelo número de traumas, categorias de eventos traumáticos e fatores sócio-demográficos (gênero, idade, anos de escolaridade, estado civil e renda), controlando para o TEPT. MÉTODOS: estudo de corte transversal com uma amostra representativa da região metropolitana de São Paulo (n=2.942). O trabalho é um subprojeto do São Paulo Megacity, parte de uma iniciativa internacional coordenada pela Organização Mundial de Saúde (World Mental Health Survey). As análises utilizaram dados dos módulos de Abuso de Substâncias e Transtorno de Estresse Pós Traumático do Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) desenhada para produzir diagnósticos do CID-10 e do DSM-IV. A análise estatística utilizou o programa Statistical Analysis System (SAS). Foram aplicados algoritmos às respostas dos módulos clínicos para identificação diagnóstica e as taxas de prevalência foram calculadas em porcentagens, assim como os erros-padrão. Ainda foram levantados os traumas que ocasionaram o TEPT, bem como os riscos condicionais para o desenvolvimento do transtorno. Foram realizadas análises de regressão logística simples para verificar a comorbidade entre TEPT e ADAD e regressões logísticas múltiplas para explorar as associações entre TEPT e ADAD. RESULTADOS: a prevalência de TEPT na vida foi de 3,2% (EP=0,2) e no último ano de 1,6% (EP=0,2). 4,6% das mulheres e 1,6% dos homens desenvolveram o transtorno na vida (OR 3; IC 95% 1,8-4,9); dentre a população com TEPT, o principal fator que desencadeou o transtorno foi morte inesperada de um ente os principais riscos condicionais para o desenvolvimento de TEPT para a população feminina foram agressão sexual e estupro e para a população masculina, sequestro relâmpago e estupro; foi identificada comorbidade entre TEPT e ADAD, porém houve diferença entre homens e mulheres de acordo com o padrão de consumo de substâncias (dependência e abuso) e categoria de substâncias psicoativas (álcool e drogas); o número de traumas é um fator diretamente associado ao ADAD, sendo que a categoria de eventos envolvendo violência intencional mostrou-se associada a todos os padrões de abuso e dependência de álcool e drogas. CONCLUSÕES: foi identificada comorbidade entre TEPT e ADAD, sendo o número de traumas e a categoria de eventos envolvendo violência intencional particularmente importantes na associação com o ADAD. / INTRODUCTION: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is characterized by the development of specific symptoms after an intense traumatic event that affects the person directly or indirectly. The lifetime prevalence of PTSD ranges from 1.4% to 11.2%. Women are more vulnerable than men, although men experience more lifetime traumatic events. Other than causing a number of problems in someone´s life, there are high comorbidity rates between PTSD and substance abuse and dependence (SAD), which in turns is associated with worse psychopathological conditions, lower levels of social functioning, more frequent utilization of health care services and worse treatment outcomes. OBJECTIVES: to examine the distribution of traumatic events and the prevalence of PTSD and alcohol/drug abuse and dependence; to examine the distributions of PTSD cases across different types of traumatic events and to investigate the conditional risk of PTSD in females and males; to examine the comorbidity between PTSD and SAD, and to verify the associations between number and different categories traumatic events and SAD when controlling for PTSD. METHODS: cross-sectional study with a probabilistic sample of household residents in the Sao Paulo Metropolitan Area (n=2.942). The study is a subproject of the São Paulo Megacity, a counterpart of an international initiative coordinated by the World Health Organization (World Mental Health Survey). The analysis were based in the substance abuse and PTSD sections of the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI), created to generate diagnoses of the CID-10 and the DSM-IV. The statistical analyses were calculated by the Statistical Analysis System (SAS) software. Prevalence of the diagnosis and their standard errors were calculated, as well as the traumatic events that led to PTSD cases and the conditional risk of PTSD. A series of simple logistic regressions were performed to examine the comorbidity between PTSD and SAD. Multiple regressions were conducted to examine the associations between number and categories of traumas and SUD after controlling for PTSD. RESULTS: lifetime PTSD prevalence was 3.2% (SE=0.2) and last year´s prevalence was 1.6% (SE=0,2). 4.6% of women versus 1.6% of men had lifetime PTSD prevalence (OR 3,0; CI 95% 1.8-4.9); among the PTSD group, the most frequent traumatic event associated with the disorder was sudden unexpected death of relative or/friend ;in females,sexual assault and rape were associated with the highest conditional risk of PTSD and and rape were associated with the highest conditional risk of PTSD in males; comorbidity between PTSD and SAD was found in the sample, however there were differences between males and females related to the pattern of consumption (dependence and abuse) and type of substance (alcohol and drug); in the multiple regression models, number of traumatic events and interpersonal violence were strongly associated with SAD. CONCLUSIONS: comorbidity between PTSD and SAD was found in the sample, and alcohol abuse and number of traumatic events and well as the category of events involving interpersonal violence were particularly important in the association with PTSD

OBJETIVOS: O presente estudo visou estimar a prevalência da comorbidade entre transtornos mentais graves e o abuso de substâncias psicoativas, e estudar os fatores associados a essa comorbidade, em pacientes com transtornos mentais graves residentes em São Paulo. MÉTODO: O estudo teve desenho de corte transversal. Vinte serviços de saúde mental (emergências, hospitais psiquiátricos e ambulatórios) foram pesquisados, a fim de identificar todos os pacientes com idade entre 18 e 65 anos, com diagnóstico clínico de transtorno mental grave, que fossem residentes em um dos 7 distritos administrativos escolhidos para o estudo e que tiveram ao menos um contato com o serviço de saúde no período entre 1/9/1997 e 30/11/1997. Os pacientes incluídos foram avaliados quanto a sintomas psiquiátricos, ajustamento social, uso de álcool e uso de substâncias psicoativas, utilizando-se instrumentos padronizados. RESULTADOS: Dos 620 pacientes identificados, 404 foram aleatoriamente selecionados para serem entrevistados. Foi possível entrevistar diretamente 192 (47,9%) indivíduos. A prevalência de comorbidade nos últimos 12 meses foi de 10,4% (I.C. 95%: 6.5 a 15.6), sendo 7,3% para abuso de álcool e 4,7% para abuso de drogas ilícitas, e mostrou-se maior entre homens, entre migrantes, entre indivíduos separados/divorciados, em indivíduos com 12 ou mais anos de escolaridade, e em indivíduos com o diagnóstico de transtornos do espectro da esquizofrenia. A presença de sintomas negativos de esquizofrenia foi significativamente menor entre os indivíduos que receberam o diagnóstico de abuso de substâncias psicoativas. CONCLUSÃO: Os resultados deste estudo sugerem que na população estudada a prevalência de transtornos decorrentes do uso de álcool e outras drogas é mais baixa do que as prevalências encontradas em outros estudos, realizados nos EUA e Europa. Essa discrepância de resultados pode ser devida a diversos fatores, incluindo o consumo de substâncias pela população geral na qual estão os sujeitos investigados, o ambiente social onde esses sujeito vivem e aspectos culturais relacionados ao consumo de substâncias. / OBJECTIVES: To investigate the prevalence of substance use disorders among patients with severe mental illnesses in São Paulo, Brazil, and to study factors associated with such comorbidity. METHOD: The study had a cross-sectional design. Twenty mental health services (emergency, inpatient and outpatient services) were scrutinized to identify all patients aged 18 to 65 years old, with a clinical diagnosis of severe mental illness, who were resident in one of 7 administrative districts chosen for the study, and had had at least one contact with such services between 1stSeptember and 30th November 1997. Assessments included psychiatric symptoms, social adjustment, and patterns of alcohol and drug use, using standardized instruments. RESULTS: Out of 620 patients identified, 404 were randomly selected to be interviewed. One hundred and ninety two patients (47.9%) were directly interviewed. The prevalence of comorbidity was 10,4% (95%CI: 6.5 to 15.6), being 7,3% for alcohol abuse and 4,7% for drug abuse, and was higher among male subjects migrants, single or separated individuals, those with 12 or more years of education, and among those with schizophrenia-like disorders. Presence of negative symptoms was associated with lower prevalence of comorbidity. CONCLUSIONS: Results of the present study suggest that the prevalence of dual diagnosis in São Paulo is lower than those found in previous studies, carried out in the USA and Europe. Such discrepancy may be due to several factors, including population patterns of substance use, the social environment where patients live, and cultural issues related to the use of alcohol.

A dor crônica (DC) é um problema global de saúde. A incidência da DC no mundo oscila entre 7 e 40% da população e, como consequência da mesma, cerca de 50 a 60% dos que sofrem dela ficam parcial ou totalmente incapacitados, de maneira transitória ou permanente, comprometendo de modo significativo a qualidade de vida. Sabe-se que a divisão pré-límbica (PrL) do córtex pré-frontal medial (CPFM) é uma região importante na elaboração da dor e de seus aspectos cognitivos e emocionais. Há evidências que a DC de origem neuropática (DN) é capaz de provocar mudanças morfológicas, resultando em uma reorganização nas redes neurais do CPFM, e existe alta relação de comorbidade entre ansiedade e DC. Sendo assim, necessita-se de estudos que forneçam aprimoramento dos modelos animais em DC para que, assim, investiguem-se as bases neuroanatômicas, neurofisiológicas e psicofarmacológicas da DN e a participação de áreas corticais na gênese e manutenção da dor. Para isso, o presente trabalho foi dividido em três etapas: 1) Avaliação dos aspectos nociceptivos, motores e afetivo-cognitivos de ratos submetidos a um modelo adaptado de injúria por constrição crônica do nervo isquiático (CCI: uma ligadura) comparando com o modelo clássico de Bennett e Xie (CCI: quatro ligaduras): nossos resultados mostraram que o modelo adaptado de CCI produziu hipersensibilidade ao frio (teste de acetona) e alodinia mecânica (teste de von Frey) semelhante ao causado pelo modelo de CCI com quatro ligaduras. Ambos os grupos CCI apresentaram comportamento do tipo ansioso, depressivo e déficits cognitivos, utilizando-se o modelo de campo aberto (open field), teste de nado forçado e teste de reconhecimento de objeto, respectivamente. Contudo, o modelo adaptado pode ser uma melhor opção, visto que uma simples ligadura não provoca prejuízos motores, nem tampouco o comportamento de autotomia, diferentemente dos animais com CCI em que foram realizadas 4 ligaduras. 2) A - Estudo do efeito da Indometacina (2mg/kg), um antiinflamatório não-esteroidal, administrada por via periférica (IP) sobre a DN: a indometacina diminuiu a alodinia mecânica no primeiro, segundo e quarto dias, mas não no décimo quarto, vigésimo primeiro e vigésimo oitavo dias após a CCI adaptada (1 ligadura). Esses dados sugerem que a COX-1 e a COX-2 estão envolvidas na mediação da indução, mas não na manutenção da DN. B - Envolvimento do córtex PrL sobre a geração, potencialização e manutenção da DN, através da microinjeção local de cloreto de cobalto (CoCl2: 1mM/200nL), um bloqueador do influxo de cálcio (causando bloqueio de sinapses). O CoCl2 atenuou a alodinia mecânica no vigésimo primeiro e vigésimo oitavo, mas não no sétimo e décimo quarto dias após a CCI com 1 ligadura. Nossos dados também indicam que córtex PrL participa na elaboração da fase tardia da alodinia mecânica em nosso modelo adaptado de DN. C - Investigação do papel do sistema glutamatérgico, endocanabinoide e endovaniloide do córtex PrL sobre a alodinia mecânica 21 dias após a CCI adaptada. Os presentes resultados mostraram que a microinjeção do agonista N-metil D-Aspartato (NMDA), nas concentrações de 1 e 4 nmol, foi capaz de aumentar a alodinia mecânica durante o teste de von Frey, enquanto que um antagonista de receptores de aminoácidos excitatórios do tipo NMDA, o LY235959, diminuiu a alodinia mecânica quando microinjetado na maior dose (8nmol) no córtex PrL. O AM251, um antagonista de receptores endocanabinoides do tipo CB1, aumentou a alodinia mecânica em todas as doses (50, 100 e 200pmol) quando microinjetado no PrL. O tratamento do PrL com a menor concentração de anandamida (AEA: 5pmol) não alterou a alodinia mecânica; contudo, a administração de AEA no PrL nas doses intermediárias (de 50 e de 100pmol) reduziu a alodinia mecânica, e este efeito foi bloqueado pelo pré-tratamento do PrL com AM251 (200pmol). Digno de nota, o tratamento do PrL com a maior dose de AEA (200pmol) aumentou a alodinia mecânica, no entanto, este efeito foi atenuado pelo bloqueio prévio de receptores de potencial transitório vaniloide do tipo 1 (TRPV1), com microinjeções de 6 Iodo-nor-di-hidrocapsaicina (6-I-CPS) na dose de 3pmol no PrL. Esses dados sugerem que o córtex PrL está envolvido na potenciação e manutenção da DN crônica (DNC), através da ativação dos receptores NMDA e dos receptores TRPV1. O efeito da atenuação da alodinia mecânica foi causado pela ativação dos receptores endocanabinoides do tipo CB1 em roedores com DNC após 21 dias da CCI. 3) Investigação da comorbidade entre a DNC com ansiedade/pânico e o efeito dos agonistas e antagonistas de receptores NMDA e CB1 no PrL em roedores confrontados com serpente após 21 dias da CCI pelo método adaptado: o confronto entre roedores e serpentes constrictoras induziu nos ratos respostas relacionadas ao medo, tais como avaliação de risco, imobilidade defensiva e fuga em animais com DNC e Sham. Além disso, após terem sido confrontados com a serpente, os animais com DNC tiveram a alodinia mecânica aumentada. O pré-tratamento do PrL com NMDA (4nmol) aumentou o índice e porcentagem de avaliação de risco e a porcentagem de fuga, e a dose intermediária de NMDA (1nmol) aumentou o índice de fuga em animais neuropáticos confrontados com uma serpente constrictora. Além disso, a alodinia mecânica foi intensificada após o confronto em animais que receberam NMDA (4nmol) no PrL. Adicionalmente, os animais tratados com LY235959 diminuíram os comportamentos defensivos apresentados por animais com DNC quando confrontados com a salamanta. Além disso, esses animais pré-tratados com o antagonista de receptores NMDA tiveram seus limiares de von Frey aumentados após o confronto. O bloqueio de receptores endocanabionoides do tipo CB1, com o antagonista AM251, aumentou o comportamento de avaliação de riscos dos animais com DN crônica durante a exposição com a serpente e tiveram seus limiares de retirada de pata no teste de von Frey diminuídos após o confronto. Contudo, o pré-tratamento do PrL com AEA (100pmol) diminuiu os comportamentos defensivos de avaliação de risco, imobilidade defensiva e de fuga dos animais com DNC confrontados com a serpente, e esses animais também apresentaram aumento do limiar de retirada de pata no teste de von Frey após o confronto. Interessantemente, a dose de AEA (200pmol) não alterou comportamento defensivo, mas agravou DNC, através da diminuição do limiar de alodinia mecânica, apresentando um clássico efeito em \"U invertido\", pois menor e a maior dose de AEA (50 e 200pmol) induziram valores de comportamentos defensivo elevados, semelhante ao controle (veículo). Concluindo, os presentes dados obtidos no nosso trabalho, sugerem que o modelo adaptado de CCI, através da realização de uma ligadura do nervo isquiático, é um modelo animal eficaz para se estudarem as comorbidades entre DC e alterações cognitivas e emocionais. A diminuição da atividade das enzimas COX-1 e COX-2 atenuou a alodinia mecânica apenas durante a gênese da DN. Além disso, evidenciou-se que o córtex PrL é recrutado para elaborar a DN durante sua manutenção e potencialização. A ativação dos receptores glutamatérgicos do tipo NMDA e vaniloides do tipo TRPV1 potencializam a DNC e o sistema endocanabinoide via receptor CB1 a diminui. Finalmente, roedores com DNC tiveram seus limiares de alodinia mecânica diminuídos após o confronto com a serpente. Os comportamentos defensivos foram intensificados em animais com DNC, mostrando, assim, o estabelecimento da comorbidade entre DC e ansiedade/pânico e a participação do neocórtex na elaboração da DNC, em um modelo de neuropatia periférica induzida pela constrição crônica no nervo isquiático em ratos Wistar. A comorbidade entre ansiedade/pânico e DNC sensibiliza os animais, agravando o quadro de dor crônica. / Chronic pain (CP) is a global health problem. The incidence of CP in the world ranges from 7 to 40% of the population and, as a consequence, about 50% to 60% of those suffering from it are partially or totally incapacitated, in a transitory or permanent manner significantly compromising the quality of life. The prelimbic (PrL) division of the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) is an important region for the elaboration of cognitive and emotional aspects of pain. In addition, chronic neuropathic pain (CNP) can induce morphological changes, resulting in a reorganisation in the mPFC neurons. Moreover, there is an intrinsic relation between CP and anxiety disorder. Our study aims to investigate the effects of a modification of an animal model of CP and evaluate the neuroanatomical and pharmacological bases of neuropathic pain (NP). The role played by PrL cortex in the modulation of CNP was also investigated. Thus, the present work was divided into three steps: 1) Ethological analysis of nociceptive, motor and affective-cognitive aspects of rats submitted to an adapted model of chronic constriction of the ischiadicus nervus (CCI: a simple ligature) compared with the classic CCI model performed by Bennett and Xie (CCI: four ligatures): our results showed that the adapted-CCI model produced cold hypersensitivity and mechanical allodynia similar to those described in laboratory animals submitted to the model with four ligatures of the ischiadicus nervus. Both CCI groups displayed anxiety- and depression-like responses, and cognitive deficits, in the the open field test, forced swim test and object recognition test, respectively. However, the adapted model of CCI used in the present work may be a better choice, since a simple ligature of the ischiadicus nervus cause neither motor deficits, nor autotomy behaviour, unlike the animals with CCI induced by four ligatures of spinal nerves. 2) A- Effect of Indomethacin (2mg/kg) a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug peripherally administered (IP) on NP: The peripheral treatment with indomethacin reduced mechanical allodynia on the first, second, and fourth days, but not on the fourteenth, twenty-first, and twenty-eighth days after adapted CCI. These findings suggest that COX-1 and COX-2 are involved in the mediation of NP induction, but not in the maintainance of NP. B- Involvement of the PrL cortex on the generation, potentiation and maintenance of DN, through the microinjection of cobalt chloride (CoCl2: 1mM/200nL), a calcium influx blocker (synapse blocker): CoCl2 attenuated mechanical allodynia at twenty-first and twenty-eighth, but not at seventh and fourteenth days after CCI. Our data also indicate that PrL cortex participates in the elaboration of the chronic phase of mechanical allodynia in our adapted NP model. C- The role of the glutamatergic, endocannabinoid and endovanniloid systems of the PrL cortex on mechanical allodynia 21 days after CCI: The present data showed that microinjection of the N-methyl D-Aspartate agonist (NMDA), in a dose of 1 and 4nmol, was able to increase the mechanical allodynia threshold during mechanical stimulation by von Frey test filaments, whereas the NMDA receptors antagonist LY235959 decreased mechanical allodynia when microinjected at the highest dose (8nmol) in the PrL. The PrL cortex pretreatment with the CB1-cannabinoid receptor antagonist AM251 increased mechanical allodynia at all doses (50, 100 and 200 pmol). Microinjections of anandamide (AEA) at the smaller dose (5pmol) in PrL did not cause influence in the mechanical allodynia. However, the PrL treatment with AEA at the intermediate doses (50 and 100pmol) reduced mechanical allodynia and that effect were blocked by the pretreatment of the PrL cortex with AM251 (200pmol). Interestingly, the higher dose of AEA (200pmol) increased mechanical allodynia. Furthermore, this effect was attenuated by the PrL pretreatment with the transient potential receptor antagonist type 1 (TRPV1) ion channel selective antagonist 6 Iodonordihidrocapsaicin (6-I-CPS) in a dose of 3 pmol. These findings suggest that the PrL cortex is involved in the potentiation and maintenance of CNP through the activation of NMDA receptors and TRPV1 receptors in PrL cortex. The effect of attenuation of mechanical allodynia was caused by the activation of CB1 endocannabinoid receptors in rodents with CNP after 21 days of CCI. 3) Investigation of the comorbidity between CNP with anxiety/panic and the effect of NMDA glutamatergic and CB1 endocannabinoid receptors on PrL cortex after 21 days of CCI in rodents. The confrontation between a constrictor snake and the rodent elicited innate fear-related responses in prey, such as risk assessment, defensive immobility, and escape behaviour that were enhanced in CNP rodents and Sham. Also, after a confrontation with a potential predator, the CNP animals increased their mechanical allodynia thresholds. In adition, the microinjection of NMDA (4nmol) PrL, increased innate fear-related responses, such as risk assessment, and the treatment of PrL with NMDA at 1nmol incresed escape behaviour in rodents with CNP. The treatment of the PrL with NMDA in a dose of 4nmol increased the mechanical allodynia threshold during mechanical stimulation by von Frey test filaments, after confrontantion, whereas PrL pretreatment with LY235959 decreased innate fear-related responses, such risk assessment, defensive immobility, and escape behavior and decreased mechanical allodynia when microinjected (4 and 8nmol). The PrL Pretreatment with the CB1-cannabinoid receptor antagonist AM251 (all doses) increased unconditioned fear-related responses, such as risk assessment. Moreover, AM251 (100 and 200pmol) microinjections in the PrL increased mechanical allodynia after prey versus predator confrontation. The microinjections of AEA (100pmol) in the PrL decreased risk assessment, defensive immobility, and escape behaviour and reduced mechanical allodynia. Interestingly, the pretreatment of the PrL with the higher dose of AEA (200pmol) did not change the fear-induced behaviour elicited by predators, but increased the CNP. There was a classical inverted U-shape curve from the lower to the higher dose of AEA. These data suggest that the anxiety/panic and pain comorbidity increases CNP symptoms. The present findings also indicate that the CCI-adapted model, by ischiadicus nervus ligation with a single ligature is an effective animal model for studying comorbidities between CP and cognitive/emotional disturbances. In conclusion, we observed that nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are efficient to attenuate the mechanical allodynia only during NP genesis. The PrL cortex is recruited during the maintenance and potentiation of NP. The PrL glutamatergic system via NMDA activation and endovaniloid mechanisms related to TRPV1 ion channel activation potentiate CNP, and the endocannabinoid mechanisms via CB1 receptors recruitment decrease the CNP. Finally, rodents with CNP had their mechanical allodynia thresholds decreased after the confrontation with wild snakes. In addition, their defensive behaviours were itemised, thus showing the anxiety/panic and CNP potential comorbidity and the participation of the neocortex in the elaboration of CP in a model of peripheral neuropathy induced by injury of the ischiadicus nervus through its chronic constriction in Wistar rats.

Abstract The aim of this doctoral thesis is to provide an overall description of Finnish adult asthma patients in the year 2000, including their symptoms, treatment and the resulting costs. The implementation of treatment was evaluated from the perspective adopted in the National Asthma Programme 1994–2004. The research was based on questionnaire data acquired from a sample extracted from the Finnish Social Insurance Institution's asthma register, with which existing register data were combined, so that the eventual series comprised patients suffering from asthma and possibly other chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases. The majority of the asthma patients were women of working age. Smoking was most common among young adults (43% of the men and 35% of the women), while the number who had stopped smoking increased towards the older age groups among the men but remained constant among the women. The older age groups also had more serious asthma, more frequent cases of other chronic pulmonary and somatic illnesses, more problems in coping with everyday life and greater treatment needs than the younger patients. Early retirement for health reasons was common. More than half of the women and one in five of the men aged 65 years or over were living alone. The patients who suffered from asthma alone normally managed relatively well. Their symptoms could be kept under control with anti-inflammatory medication at a moderate overall cost, but concurrent obstructive pulmonary disease almost tripled the direct cost of asthma treatment and increased hospital costs practically five-fold. Smoking led to further expense in the case of those with asthma and obstructive pulmonary disease combined. The transfer of responsibility for asthma treatment from specialized care to the basic health care system would appear in general to be justified. Smoking and its associated chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases present a particular challenge for the management of asthma. / Tiivistelmä Tässä väitöskirjatyössä tutkittiin suomalaisen aikuisen astmapotilaan kokonaiskuva ja selvitettiin hänen oireiluaan, hoitoaan ja tästä aiheutuvia kustannuksia vuonna 2000. Astman hoidon toteutumista arvioitiin Valtakunnallinen astmaohjelma 1994–2004:n näkökulmasta. Tutkimuksessa käytettiin Kelan astmarekisteristä valtakunnallisesti poimitun potilasotoksen kyselyaineistoa rekisteritietoja siihen yhdistäen. Lopullisen tutkimusaineiston muodostivat astmaa ja sen lisäksi mahdollisesti muita pitkäaikaisia ahtauttavia keuhkosairauksia sairastavat potilaat. Enemmistö astmapotilaista oli naisia ja työikäisiä. Tupakointi oli yleisintä nuorilla aikuisilla miehillä (43 %) ja naisilla (35 %). Tupakoinnin lopettaneiden osuus suureni miehillä vanhempiin ikäryhmiin mentäessä, kun taas naisilla osuus pysyi samansuuruisena. Vanhemmissa ikäryhmissä astma oli vaikeampaa ja muu keuhko- ja somaattinen pitkäaikaissairastavuus, toimintakyvyn ongelmaisuus ja hoidon tarve nuorempia runsaampaa. Ennenaikainen eläköityminen oli yleistä. Kuusikymmentäviisi vuotta täyttäneistä ja sitä vanhemmista naisista useampi kuin joka toinen ja miehistä joka viides asui yksin. Pelkkää astmaa sairastava voi yleisesti arvioiden hyvin. Hänen oireilunsa oli hallittavissa anti-inflammatorisella lääkityksellä kohtalaisen vähäisin kokonaishoidon kustannuksin. Samanaikainen keuhkoahtaumatauti lähes kolminkertaisti astman hoidosta aiheutuneet suorat kustannukset ja lähes viisinkertaisti sairaalahoidosta aiheutuneet kustannukset. Astmaa ja keuhkoahtaumatautia sairastavilla tupakointi lisäsi edelleen kustannuksia. Astmapotilaan kokonaisuuden näkökulmasta hoidon päävastuun siirto erikoissairaanhoidosta perusterveydenhuoltoon vaikuttaa tarkoituksenmukaiselta. Tupakointi ja siihen liittyvät muut pitkäaikaiset ahtauttavat keuhkosairaudet muodostavat erityisen haasteen astman hoitojärjestelmälle.

<p>Hronična bolest bubrega (HBB) je zdravstveni problem koji se javlja &scaron;irom sveta i povezana je sa visokim kardiovaskularnim komorbiditetom i smrtno&scaron;ću. Veliki porast broja bolesnika koji imaju terminalnu bubrežnu slabo&scaron;ću (TBS) nastaje kao posledica eksponencijalnog porasta broja bolesnika čija je slabost bubrega posledica hipertenzije i dijabetesa, kao i porasta broja starih sa TBS. Zbog toga vi&scaron;e od 50% bolesnika sa HBB umire zbog kardiovaskularnih bolesti i pre započinjanja lečenja metodama za zamenu funkcije bubrega. Utvrditi kliničke karakteristike bolesnika sa i bez kontrastom indukovane nefropatije (pre svega varijable bubrežne funkcije definasane pomoću AKIN i RIFLE kriterijuma) podvrgnutih kardiohirur&scaron;kim operacijama, potom utvrditi postojanje razlike u mortalitetu i postoperativnom morbiditetu između bolesnika sa i bez kontrastom indukovane nefropatije, a koji se podvrgavaju kardiohirur&scaron;koj operaciji i takođe utvrditi prediktore mortaliteta i morbiditeta kod bolesnika sa prethodnom kontrastom indukovanom nefropatijom koji se podvrgavaju kardiohirur&scaron;koj operaciji. Studija je koncipirana kao retroprospektivna opservaciona studija u ukupnom trajanju od pet godina retrospektivnog perioda i pola godine prospektivnog perioda kojim su obuhvaćene dve grupe bolesnika: I grupa - pacijenti sa kontrastom indukovanom nefropatijom (CIN) i II grupa - pacijenti bez CIN; koji su podvrgnuti kardiohirur&scaron;kim operacijama (koronarna, valvularna, kombinovana hirurgija i ostale) na Institutu za kardiovaskularne bolesti Vojvodine u Sremskoj Kamenici. Od ukupnog broja operisanih pacijenata u ovom perioda (oko 5000 bolesnika) u ovu studiju je uključeno 1269 bolesnika. U na&scaron;oj studiji ukupno je analizirano 1269 bolesnika koji su svrstani u dve grupe. Prvu grupu je činilo 59 (4,6%) pacijenata koji su koronarografisani (dijagnostička, terapijska) i razvili CIN te su upućeni u istoj hospitalizaciji po indikaciji konzilijuma na koronarnu, valvularnu i kombinovanu hirurgiju. Drugu grupu je činilo 1210 (95,4%) bolesnika kod kojih nakon koronarografije nije razvijena kontrastom indukovana nefropatija, a takođe su tokom iste hospitalizacije operisani. Kriterijumi za uključivanje pacijenata u studiju su svi punoletni bolesnici koji su upućeni na kardiohirur&scaron;ke operacije (koronarna, valvularna, kombinovana i ostale). CIN je definisan kao porast vrednosti kreatinina unutar pet dana nakon koronarografije za 25% u odnosu na vrednost kreatina pre koronarografije. Praćene su preoperativne, operativne i postoperativne karakteristike bolesnika sa CIN i bolesnika bez CIN. U disertaciji su kori&scaron;ćene mere deskriptivne statistike: aritmetička sredina, standardna devijacija, medijana, kvartili, frekvence i procenti. Za poređenje srednjih vrednosti varijabli dve populacije primenjen je test za nezavisne uzorke i Man-Vitnijev test. Povezanost kategorijskih varijabli ispitana je pomoću Hi-kvadrat testa za tabele kontigencije ili pomoću Fi&scaron;erovog testa. Određivanje uticaja promenljivih na ishod lečenja izvr&scaron;en je primenom univarijantne i multivarijantne binarne logističke regresije, koja je poslužila i za pravljenje nove varijable (modela) za procenu ishoda lečenja. Prediktivni kvalitet varijabli na ishod ocenjen je pomoću ROC krivih. Za određivanje dužine preživljavanja primenjena je Kaplan-Meier analiza preživljavanja. Uticaj varijabli na preživljavanje izvr&scaron;en je na osnovu Coxove regresione analize. Za statistički značajnu testa uzeta je vrednost p&lt;0,05. Statistička obrada podataka izvedena je primenom statističkog paketa SPSS 17. Dokazana je statistička značajnost u ispitivanim grupama u pogledu akutizacije bubrežne insuficijencije (p=0,007). Broj bolesnika sa akutizacijom bubrežne insuficijencije u grupi CIN je bio 3 (5,1%), a u grupi bez CIN je 6 (0,5%). Dokazana je statistička značajnost u ispitivanim grupama na osnovu perikardnog izliva (p=0,046). Statističku značajnost treba uslovno prihvatiti jer je broj bolesnika sa perikardnim izlivom u grupi sa CIN bio samo 1 (1,7%). Dokazana je statistička značajnost u ispitivanim grupama na osnovu mortaliteta (p&lt;0,0005). Broj umrlih u grupi pacijenata sa CIN je 8 (13,6%), a u grupi pacijenata bez CIN je 23 (1,9%). Dokazana je statistička značajnost u ispitivanim grupama na osnovu AKIN kriterijuma (p&lt;0,0005). Broj bolesnika bez AKIN kriterijuma u grupi sa CIN bio je 29 (49,2%), a u grupi pacijenata bez CIN je 1210 (100,0%). U Stadijumu 1 AKIN kriterijuma broj bolesnika u grupi sa CIN bio je 26 (44,1%), a u grupi bolesnika bez CIN je 0 (0,0%). U Stadijumu 2 AKIN kriterijuma broj bolesnika u grupi sa CIN bio je 1 (1,7%), a u grupi bolesnika bez CIN bio je 0 (0,0%). U Stadijumu 3 AKIN kriterijuma broj bolesnika u grupi sa CIN bio je 3 (5,1%), a u grupi bolesnika bez CIN bio je 0 (0,0%). Dokazana je statistička značajnost u ispitivanim grupama na osnovu RIFLE kriterijuma (p&lt;0,0005). Broj bolesnika bez RIFLE kriterijuma u grupi sa CIN bio je 0 (0,0%), a u grupi pacijenata bez CIN bio je 1169 (96,6%). U riziku (Risc) RIFLE kriterijuma broj bolesnika u grupi sa CIN bio je 51 (86,4%), a u grupi bolesnika bez CIN bio je 41 (3,4%). U o&scaron;tećenju (Injury) RIFLE kriterijuma broj bolesnika u grupi sa CIN bio je 5 (8,5%), a u grupi bolesnika bez CIN bio je 0 (0,0%). U stabost (Failure) RIFLE kriterijuma broj bolesnika u grupi sa CIN bio je 3 (5,1%), a u grupi bolesnika bez CIN bio je 0 (0,0%). Dokazana je statistička značajnost u ispitivanim grupama na osnovu broja komplikacija (p&lt;0,0005). Broj bolesnika bez komplijacija u grupi sa CIN bio je 39 (66,1%), a u grupi pacijenata bez CIN bio je 1027 (84,9%). Broj bolesnika sa 1 komplijacijom u grupi sa CIN bio je 12 (20,3%), a u grupi pacijenata bez CIN bio je 146 (12,1%). Broj bolesnika sa 2 komplijacije u grupi sa CIN bio je 6 (10,2%), a u grupi pacijenata bez CIN bio je 20 (1,7%). Broj bolesnika sa 3 komplijacije u grupi sa CIN bio je 1 (1,7%), a u grupi pacijenata bez CIN bio je 11 (0,9%). Broj bolesnika sa 4 komplijacije u grupi sa CIN bio je 1 (1,7%), a u grupi pacijenata bez kontrastom indukovane nefropatije bio je 6 (0,5%). Dokazana je statistička značajnost u ispitivanim grupama na osnovu MACE komplikacija (p&lt;0,0005). Broj bolesnika sa MACE komplikacijama u grupi sa CIN bio je 20 (33,9%), a u grupi pacijenata bez CIN bio je 183 (15,1%). Akutna bubrežna slabost je relativno česta komplikacija kardiohirur&scaron;kih operacija. Posebno su ugroženi bolesnici sa visokim preoperativnim rizikom, u na&scaron;oj studiji pacijenti sa prethodnim CIN-om, kod kojih je akutizacija bubrežne slabosti znatno učestalija. Kardiohirur&scaron;ki bolesnici kod kojih nastane akutna bubrežna slabost imaju, kao i u na&scaron;oj studiji, vi&scaron;e postoperativnih komplikacija, produžen boravak u jednici intenzivne nege, kao i rizik za nastanak hronične bubrežne bolesti.</p> / <p>Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a healthcare problem that occurs worldwide and is associated with high cardiovascular comorbidity and mortality. A large increase in the number of patients with terminal renal failure (TRF) occurs as a result of an exponential increase in the number of patients whose renal failure is due to hypertension and diabetes, as well as an increase in the number of elderly with TRF. As a result, more than 50% of patients with CKD die from cardiovascular disease even before starting treatment with kidney replacement therapy. To determine the clinical characteristics of patients with and without contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) (renal function parameters defined by AKIN and RIFLE criteria) undergoing cardiac surgery, to determine the difference in mortality and postoperative morbidity between patients with and without CIN who are submitted to cardiac surgery and also to determine predictors of mortality and morbidity in patients with CIN undergoing cardiac surgery. The study was conceived as a retroprospective observational study with a total duration of five years of retrospective period and half a year of prospective period which included two groups of patients: Group I - patients with contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) and Group II - patients without CIN; who underwent cardiac surgery (coronary, valvular, combined surgery and other) at the Institute for Cardiovascular Diseases of Vojvodina in Sremska Kamenica. Out of the total number of operated patients in this period (about 5000 patients), 1269 patients were included in this study. In our study, a total of 1269 patients were analyzed, which were classified into two groups. The first group consisted of 59 (4.6%) patients who underwent coronary angiography (diagnostic, therapeutic) and developed CIN and were submitted to surgery in the same hospitalization as indicated by heart team. The second group consisted of 1210 (95.4%) patients who did not develop CIN after coronary angiography but were also operated on during the same hospitalization. Criteria for inclusion of patients in the study are: all adult patients who are referred for cardiac surgery (coronary, valvular, combined and other). CIN was defined as a at least 25% increase in creatinine value within five days after coronary angiography compared to creatine value before coronary angiography. Preoperative, operative and postoperative characteristics of patients with CIN and patients without CIN were analyzed. Statistical analyses included measures of descriptive statistics: arithmetic mean, standard deviation, median, quartiles, frequencies and percentages. To compare the mean values of the variables of the two populations, t-test for independent samples and the Mann-Whitney test were applied. The correlation of categorical variables was examined using the Chi-square test for contingency tables or using the Fisher test. The influence of variables on the treatment outcome was determined by applying univariate and multivariate binary logistic regression, which also served to create a new variable (model) for assessing the treatment outcome. The predictive quality of outcome variables was assessed using ROC curves. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was used to determine survival length. The influence of variables on survival was performed based on Cox regression analysis. For a statistically significant test, the value of p &lt;0.05 was taken. Statistical data processing was performed using the statistical package SPSS 17. Statistical significance was observed in the examined groups regarding the acutization of renal failure (p = 0.007). The number of patients with acute renal failure in the CIN group was 3 (5.1%), and in the group without CIN it was 6 (0.5%). Statistical significance was observed between the examined groups based on pericardial effusion (p = 0.046). Statistical significance should be conditionally accepted because the number of patients with pericardial effusion in the group with CIN was only 1 (1.7%). Statistical significance was demonstrated in the examined groups based on mortality (p &lt;0.0005). The number of deaths in the group of patients with CIN was 8 (13.6%), and in the group of patients without CIN it was 23 (1.9%). Statistical significance was demonstrated in the examined groups based on the AKIN criteria (p &lt;0.0005). The number of patients without AKIN criteria in the group with CIN was 29 (49.2%), and in the group of patients without CIN it was 1210 (100.0%). In Stage 1 of the AKIN criterion, the number of patients in the group with CIN was 26 (44.1%), and in the group of patients without CIN it was 0 (0.0%). In Stage 2 of the AKIN criterion, the number of patients in the group with CIN was 1 (1.7%), and in the group of patients without CIN it was 0 (0.0%). In Stage 3 of the AKIN criterion, the number of patients in the group with CIN was 3 (5.1%), and in the group of patients without CIN it was 0 (0.0%). Statistical significance was demonstrated between the examined groups based on the RIFLE criteria (p &lt;0.0005). The number of patients without RIFLE criteria in the group with CIN was 0 (0.0%), and in the group of patients without CIN it was 1169 (96.6%). In the Risk of the RIFLE criterion, the number of patients in the group with CIN was 51 (86.4%), and in the group of patients without CIN it was 41 (3.4%). In the Injury of the RIFLE criterion, the number of patients in the group with CIN was 5 (8.5%), and in the group of patients without CIN it was 0 (0.0%). In the Failure of the RIFLE criterion, the number of patients in the group with CIN was 3 (5.1%), and in the group of patients without CIN it was 0 (0.0%). Statistical significance was demonstrated in the examined groups based on the number of complications (p &lt;0.0005). The number of patients without complications in the group with CIN was 39 (66.1%), and in the group of patients without CIN it was 1027 (84.9%). The number of patients with 1 complication in the group with CIN was 12 (20.3%), and in the group of patients without CIN it was 146 (12.1%). The number of patients with 2 complications in the group with CIN was 6 (10.2%), and in the group of patients without CIN it was 20 (1.7%). The number of patients with 3 complications in the group with CIN was 1 (1.7%), and in the group of patients without CIN it was 11 (0.9%). The number of patients with 4 complications in the group with CIN was 1 (1.7%), and in the group of patients without contrast-induced nephropathy it was 6 (0.5%). Statistical significance was demonstrated between the examined groups based on MACE complications (p &lt;0.0005). The number of patients with MACE complications in the group with CIN was 20 (33.9%), and in the group of patients without CIN it was 183 (15.1%). Acute renal failure is a relatively common complication of cardiac surgery. Vulnerable patients are particularly at risk, in our study patients with previous CIN, in whom the acutazation of renal failure is significantly more frequent. Cardiac surgery patients who develop acute renal failure have, as demonstrated in our study, more postoperative complications, prolonged stay in the intensive care unit, as well as the risk of developing chronic kidney disease.</p>

Both diabetes and behavioral health disorders (mental and substance use disorders) are significant health issues in the United States. While previous studies have shown worse health outcomes in people with diabetes and co-occurring behavioral health disorders (BHDs) than those with diabetes alone, it is unclear whether the quality of diabetes care was poorer in the presence of co-occurring BHDs. Although previous research has observed a trend of positive outcomes in people with comprehensive diabetes care, there is a lack of evidence about whether that mode of care delivery can improve outcomes in people with co-occurring BHDs. Therefore, further studies are necessary. Using a combined dataset from Medicare and Medicaid claims for Massachusetts residents, this study compared the quality of diabetes care (e.g., having at least 1 hemoglobin A1c test) and diabetes outcomes (e.g., eye complications) among Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries with diabetes and co-occurring BHDs to those with diabetes alone in Massachusetts in 2005. The results showed a mixed picture on the relationships between BHDs and diabetes outcomes. While substance use disorders had adverse impact on adherence to quality measures (e.g., 20% less likely to attain full adherence, p0.05). Findings from this dissertation research suggest that disparities exist in the quality of diabetes care and health outcomes between people with substance use disorders and those without. The mode of care delivery needs to be further examined so that interventions can be designed to improve the outcomes of people with diabetes.

Background: Data on the impact of gender on mortality after radical cystectomy is conflicting. We investigated a large single center sample with long-term follow-up in order to determine the relationship between gender and outcome. Patients and Methods: A total of 1,184 consecutive patients who underwent radical cystectomy for high risk superficial or muscle-invasive urothelial or undifferentiated bladder cancer between 1993 and 2015 were stratified by gender. Demographic data was compared using Mann-Whitney U test, chi-square test, or Fisher exact test. Cox proportional hazard models were used for the analysis of competing risks and logit models were used for the prediction of the receipt of adjuvant cisplatin-based chemotherapy. Results: Female patients were older, healthier, less frequently current smokers and had more extravesical tumors. In the multivariate analyses, female gender was an independent predictor of (lower) non-bladder cancer (competing) mortality (hazards ratio [HR] 0.68, 95% CI 0.49–0.95, p = 0.0248) but no predictor of bladder cancer-specific mortality (HR in the full model 1.20, 95% CI 0.94–1.54, p = 0.15). Gender was no predictor of the receipt of adjuvant cisplatin-based chemotherapy. Conclusions: Female gender was associated with an increased risk of extravesical disease but was no independent predictor of bladder cancer-specific mortality. Anatomical differences might be a plausible explanation for these observations.

Background: Controversy surrounds the questions whether co-occurring depression has negative effects on cognitivebehavioral therapy (CBT) outcomes in patients with panic disorder (PD) and agoraphobia (AG) and whether treatment for PD and AG (PD/AG) also reduces depressive symptomatology. Methods: Post-hoc analyses of randomized clinical trial data of 369 outpatients with primary PD/AG (DSM-IV-TR criteria) treated with a 12-session manualized CBT (n = 301) and a waitlist control group (n = 68). Patients with comorbid depression (DSM-IV-TR major depression, dysthymia, or both: 43.2% CBT, 42.7% controls) were compared to patients without depression regarding anxiety and depression outcomes (Clinical Global Impression Scale [CGI], Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale [HAM-A], number of panic attacks, Mobility Inventory [MI], Panic and Agoraphobia Scale, Beck Depression Inventory) at post-treatment and follow-up (categorical). Further, the role of severity of depressive symptoms on anxiety/depression outcome measures was examined (dimensional). Results: Comorbid depression did not have a significant overall effect on anxiety outcomes at post-treatment and follow-up, except for slightly diminished post-treatment effect sizes for clinician-rated CGI (p = 0.03) and HAM-A (p = 0.008) when adjusting for baseline anxiety severity. In the dimensional model, higher baseline depression scores were associated with lower effect sizes at post-treatment (except for MI), but not at follow-up (except for HAM-A). Depressive symptoms improved irrespective of the presence of depression. Conclusions: Exposure-based CBT for primary PD/AG effectively reduces anxiety and depressive symptoms, irrespective of comorbid depression or depressive symptomatology. / Dieser Beitrag ist mit Zustimmung des Rechteinhabers aufgrund einer (DFG-geförderten) Allianz- bzw. Nationallizenz frei zugänglich.

Objective: The paper discusses conceptual, methodological and clinical issues of comorbidity from the perspective of more recent epidemiological studies. Further the potential causal and pathogenic role of temporally primary disorders for the onset of secondary disorders is evaluated. Results: The available data suggest so far that comorbidity (a) is not an artefact of assessment strategies, sampling or design features, (b) is specific in different disorders, (c) is particularly frequent in anxiety and affective disorders, (d) affects systematically the course of the comorbid conditions and (0 might be related to symptom progression models. Conclusions: Furthermore, evidence is presented that specific forms of primary anxiety disorders affect the risk for secondary depressive disorders, increase the likelihood of non-remission as well as the number of subsequent depressive episodes. / Scopo: Lo studio affronta problemi concettuali, metodologici e clinici della comorbidità, alia luce dei piu recenti studi epidemiologici. Inoltre viene valutata la causa potenziale e il ruolo patogenetico dei disturbi temporaneamente primari per la comparsa dei disturbi secondari. Risultati: I risultati disponibili fino ad oggi suggeriscono che la comorbidità (a) non è un artefatto delle strategic di valutazione, del campionamento o del disegno, (b) è specifica nei differenti disturbi, (c) e particolarmente frequente nei disturbi affettivi e d'ansia, (d) influisce sistematicamente sull'andamento delle condizioni di comorbidita è (f) potrebbe essere correlata con modelli di evoluzione dei sintomi. Conclusioni: È inoltre evidente che forme specifiche di disturbi di ansia primaria comportano il rischio di sviluppare disturbi depressivi. secondari, aumentano la probability di non remissione cosi come il numero di successivi episodi depressivi.