Eating disorders are difficult to treat: there is still no NICE-approved first-line treatment for anorexia nervosa. In part this could be due to a lack of a compelling theoretical model to account for the development and dogged persistence of the illness. Sociocultural factors implicating western preoccupation with thinness and attractiveness are likely to play a contributory role, but cannot be by themselves causal in societies where such ideals are dominant. Recent theoretical models in neuroscience predict that predisposing neurobiological factors in early brain development may render some young people more vulnerable than others to universal psychosocial pressures, especially during adolescence. This dissertation reviews the existing evidence for abnormal neurobiological functioning in eating disorders, acknowledging that it is difficult to distinguish between the acute effects of starvation on the brain and possibly pre-existing underlying factors. Nevertheless, such empirical studies do support the development of a novel hypothesis implicating abnormal functioning of a neural network centred on the insula cortex in anorexia nervosa. The insula hypothesis is tested in a series of functional imaging studies using Single Positron Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) indicating focal abnormalities in the temporal region that persist following weight restoration treatment and correlate with neuropsychological deficits. A subsequent study using higher resolution functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) lends further partial support to the insula hypothesis (in three out of four tasks) and also implicates additional brain structures in the basal ganglia. These findings, if replicated, could contribute to the development of novel therapeutic approaches to the treatment of anorexia nervosa, including realtime fMRI and mindfulness-based approaches, both of which have been shown to modulate insula activation. The studies presented here could hopefully also help to reduce the stigma and shame so often associated with eating disorders, for the benefit of sufferers and their families.

This study sought to examine risk and onset patterns in anorexia nervosa (AN), bulimia nervosa (BN), and binge eating disorder (BED). Women with AN (n=71), BN (n=66), BED (n=160) and non-psychiatric controls (n=323) were compared retrospectively on risk factors, symptom onset, and diagnostic migration. Eating disorder groups reported greater risk exposure than non-psychiatric controls. AN and BED differed on premorbid personality/behavioral problems, childhood obesity, and family overeating. Risk factors for BN were shared with AN and BED. Dieting was the most common onset symptom in AN, whereas binge eating was most common in BN and BED. Migration between AN and BED was rare, but more frequent between AN and BN and between BN and BED. AN and BED have distinct risk factors and onset patterns, while BN shares similar risk factors and onset patterns with both AN and BED. Results should inform future classification schemes and prevention programs.

Essstörungen sind prävalente psychische Störungen mit schwerwiegenden, oftmals langfristigen Auswirkungen auf die psychische und körperliche Gesundheit. Eine zunehmende Anzahl von klinischen Studien dokumentiert die Wirksamkeit verschiedener psychotherapeutischer Ansätze für spezifische Essstörungen. Im vorliegenden Themenheft 5 werden die Wirksamkeit von neuen Ansätzen zur Einzeltherapie und zur internet-basierten Rückfallprophylaxe, die Patientensicht auf die Therapie sowie die Relevanz von Faktoren des therapeutischen Prozesses bei verschiedenen Essstörungen beleuchtet. Weiterer Forschungsbedarf besteht insbesondere hinsichtlich des Prozesses und der Dissemination evidenzbasierter Psychotherapie für Essstörungen. / Eating disorders are prevalent psychiatric disorders with severe and longstanding 15 implications for mental and physical health. An increasing number of clinical studies documents the efficacy of certain psychotherapeutic approaches for specific eating disorders. This special issue addresses the efficacy of novel approaches in face-to-face individual therapy and Internet-based relapse prevention, patient views of treatment, and the relevance of therapeutic process factors for diverse eating disorders. Further research is particularly 20 warranted regarding the process and dissemination of evidence-based psychotherapy for eating disorders.

Diese Arbeit beschäftigt sich mit der Überprüfung der bestehenden Leitlinien für die Kriterien einer stationären versus ambulanten Therapie von Patienten mit Anorexie oder Bulimie. Es zeigte sich, dass manche wichtige Kriterien noch nicht in den Leitlinien verankert sind. Außerdem sind zentrale Begriffe wie "kritisches Untergewicht" oder "häufige Frequenz an Ess-/Brechattacken" nicht ausreichend definiert. / There are guidelines when to treat patients with anorexia or bulimia stationarily and when ambulant. This work takes a closer look on how far the guidelines are used. It is shown that important facts are not included in the guidelines and words with central meaning like "critical underweight" or "high frequency of binge-eating-attacks" are not defined properly.

Avaliar a Qualidade de Vida (QV) de pacientes com Transtornos Alimentares (TA), verificar diferenças entre os subtipos de TA e identificar dimensões de QV mais prejudicadas. Métodos: O instrumento de QV da Organização Mundial de Saúde (WHOQOL-100) foi respondido por 69 mulheres com TA (Anorexia Nervosa AN=34; Bulimia Nervosa BN=26 e Transtorno Alimentar Não Especificado TANE=9) e por 69 mulheres saudáveis. Utilizou-se a Entrevista Clínica Estruturada para Transtornos do Eixo I do DSM-IV (SCID) para a realização dos diagnósticos psiquiátricos. Resultados: Pacientes com TA apresentaram piores escores na QV geral e em todos os domínios (físico, psicológico, relações sociais, meio ambiente, nível de independência e espiritualidade), tendo sido o psicológico aquele com maior prejuízo. Não foram encontradas diferenças entre os subtipos de TA quanto aos prejuízos de QV. As comorbidades psiquiátricas encontradas com maiores prevalências foram os Transtornos do Humor, os Relacionados ao Uso de Álcool e Outras Substâncias e os de Ansiedade. Pacientes com AN e comorbidade com o Transtorno de Pânico apresentaram QV mais prejudicada que pacientes com AN sem Pânico. A maioria dos pacientes apresentava múltiplas comorbidades e histórico de diversas tentativas de suicídio. Conclusões: Pacientes com TA apresentam significativo prejuízo de QV em todos os domínios, em especial no psicológico, provavelmente em função das peculiaridades da psicopatologia alimentar, sem diferenças entre os subtipos de TA. Pacientes com AN e comorbidade com Pânico devem ser avaliados com mais critério / Purpose: To assess quality of life in patients with eating disorders, verify differences among eating disorder subtypes, and identify the domains of quality of life most affected by eating disorders. Methods: The World Health Organization quality-of-life assessment instrument (WHOQOL-100) was completed by 69 women with eating disorders (34 with anorexia nervosa, 26 with bulimia nervosa, and 9 with eating disorder not otherwise specified) and 69 healthy women. The Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders (SCID-I) was used for the diagnosis of psychiatric disorders. Results: Patients with eating disorders reported lower (worse) total quality- of-life scores and lower scores on all quality-of-life domains (physical, psychological, social relationships, environment, level of independence, and spirituality) compared with healthy patients, with the psychological domain being the most impaired. No significant differences in impairment of quality of life were found among eating disorders subtypes. The most prevalent psychiatric comorbidities were mood disorders, alcohol or substance abuse- related disorders, and anxiety disorders. Patients with anorexia nervosa and comorbid panic disorder had greater impairment in quality of life than patients with anorexia nervosa but no panic disorder. Most patients had multiple comorbidities and history of suicide attempts. Conclusions: Patients with eating disorders experience significantly greater impairment in quality of life on all domains, especially on the psychological domain, compared with healthy patients, probably because of peculiarities in eating disorders psychopathology. No difference in quality of life impairment was observed among eating disorders subtypes. Patients with anorexia nervosa and comorbid panic disorder should be carefully evaluated

Transtornos Alimentares (TA) são transtornos mentais considerados graves. Dentre eles, Anorexia Nervosa e Bulimia Nervosa compartilham sintomas e características psicopatológicas como hábitos desregulados de alimentação, métodos extremos para controle do peso, e preocupações exageradas com a forma e o peso corporal. Os TA compartilham ainda sintomas comuns em outros transtornos psiquiátricos, como Depressão e Ansiedade. Pesquisas sobre o tema devem levar em conta este amplo espectro de sintomas. A meditação é uma prática que tem recebido crescente atenção de pesquisadores de diversas áreas de saúde. Dentro da área de Psiquiatria, a meditação mindfulness tem sido estudada como terapia complementar para diversos transtornos, sendo os mais pesquisados os transtornos de ansiedade, a depressão e a dependência química. Alguns programas baseados em mindfulness já demonstraram resultados positivos em pacientes com Compulsão Alimentar e Bulimia Nervosa. Este é um projeto que teve a intenção de desenvolver e mensurar os efeitos de uma nova intervenção baseada em meditação mindfulness para pacientes internados na Enfermaria de Comportamentos Alimentares (ECAL) do Instituto de Psiquiatria do Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo. A hipótese primária foi que o treinamento em mindfulness diminuiria sintomas de ansiedade e depressão, em comparação com os pacientes que seguiram o tratamento usual da enfermaria. O projeto todo teve duração de três anos, sendo dividido em fase piloto, fase grupo controle e fase grupo intervenção. Cada fase aconteceu em diferentes períodos de tempo, para que um número adequado de indivíduos fosse alcançado para fins de pesquisa. Avaliações foram feitas sempre nos mesmos períodos para os três grupos: durante a primeira semana de internação e após 8 semanas, ou antes, se o paciente recebesse alta. Os resultados do grupo piloto foram positivos e ajudaram a delinear os exercícios que compuseram o programa aplicado na intervenção. A comparação dos resultados do grupo controle com o grupo intervenção apresentou significativa diferença para os índices de ansiedade (p < 0,01), depressão (p < 0,03), capacidade de agir com atenção (p < 0,01) e atitudes alimentares relacionadas a dietas (p < 0,04). Como previsto e em linha com outras pesquisas utilizando mindfulness para indivíduos com TA menos grave, este protocolo de oito sessões demonstrou efeito positivo e significativo apesar dos desafios de trabalhar com esta população neste contexto. Estes resultados dão suporte a novas pesquisas que poderão testá-los e compreender melhor a duração dos efeitos terapêuticos deste treinamento. Também, devem ser considerados aprimoramentos necessários, como refinamento dos exercícios, capacitação de outros terapeutas no protocolo e treinamento em mindfulness para outros profissionais envolvidos / Eating disorders (ED) are considered severe mental disorders. Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa are disorders that share symptoms and psychopathological characteristics such as deregulated feeding habits, extreme methods for weight control and exaggerated concerns about shape and weight. Eating Disorders also share common symptoms with other psychiatric disorders such as depression and anxiety. Research on eating disorders should take into account this wide spectrum of symptoms. Meditation is a practice that has received increasing attention from researchers in various areas of healthcare. Within the area of Psychiatry, mindfulness meditation has been studied as a complementary therapy for many disorders, and the most researched are anxiety, depression and addiction. Some mindfulness-based programs have already shown promising results in patients with Binge Eating Disorder and Bulimia Nervosa. This research project aimed to measure the effects of a mindfulness meditation intervention delivered to patients admitted to the Eating Disorders Ward at the Institute of Psychiatry in the Clinical Hospital for the Medical School, University of São Paulo. The primary hypothesis was that mindfulness training would lower symptoms measuring anxiety and depression compared to inpatients that received treatment as usual. The entire project was conducted during three years, with a pilot group phase, a control group phase and an intervention group phase. Each phase happened in different periods of time so the study could recruit a suitable number of participants. Assessments were made for all groups during the first week of admission and at eight weeks (or earlier if the patient were to be discharged). Pilot results were positive and helped delineate exercises that would be part of the main study intervention protocol. The final analysis comparing control and intervention group showed significant differences for measures in anxiety (p < 0.01), depression (p < 0.03), acting with awareness (p < 0.01) and dieting attitudes (p < 0.04). As hypothesized and in line with previous research with less severe eating disorders samples, this novel eight week program showed a positive and significant effect despite the challenges of working with this population and in this setting. These findings will inform future research which will need to replicate the findings, understand more about the durability of the effects and consider the resource allocation (eg staff training) needed to offer this promising intervention in this setting

Orientador: Selma Maria Michelin Matheus / Resumo: As lesões nervosas periféricas (LNPs) levam a uma perda da conexão entre o axônio e o músculo, ocasionandointerrupção na transmissão do impulso nervoso e alterações nas junções neuromusculares (JNMs). O reparo das LNPs através da neurorrafia é um método amplamente utilizado, porém a recuperação tanto morfológica e funcional é incompleta, sendo um desafio para a clínica médica. Diante disso métodos alternativos como uso de selante de fibrina vêm sendo utilizados para minimizar danos e acelerar a recuperação nervosa e muscular, havendo poucas referências em relação às JNMs. O objetivo deste estudo foi verificar se o uso do selante de fibrina associado a um ponto de sutura atinge ou supera os resultados da sutura convencional após LNP com foco nos receptores de acetilcolina (nAChRs) e proteínas associadas às JNMs no músculo sóleo. Foram utilizados 40 ratos Wistar machos adultos (CEUA: 1173/2016), divididos em 4 grupos: Controle-Sham (CS), Controle-Desnervado (CD), Lesão Sutura (LS) e Lesão Sutura + Selante de Fibrina (LSS). No grupo CS foi realizada incisão, afastamento da musculatura e localização do nervo isquiático direito. No grupo CD foi realizada neurotmese (gap de 6 mm).Nos grupos CD, LS e LSS foi realizadafixação dos cotos na musculaturaapós a neurotmese. Após 7 dias foi realizada reconexão dos cotos com três pontos de sutura no grupo LS e no grupo LSS um ponto de sutura foi associada ao selante de fibrina(CEVAP). Após 60 dias os animais foram eutanasiados, os músculos s... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Peripherical nerve lesions (PNLs) lead to a loss of the connection between axons and muscle, resulting in the interruption of the transmission of nerve impulses and alterations in the neuromuscular junctions (NMJs). The repair of PNLs through neurorrhaphy is a widely utilized method, however the recuperation of both morphology and function is incomplete, challenging medical clinic. Thus, alternative methods such as the usage of fibrin sealants have been utilized to minimize damages and accelerate nerve and muscular recuperation, with few references in relation to NMJs. The objective of this study was to verify if the use of fibrin sealants associated to a stitch of suture reaches or surpasses the results of traditional suture after PNLs with focus in the acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) and proteins associated to the NMJs in the soleus muscle. Forty male adult Wistar rats were utilized (CEUA: 1173/2016), divided into4 groups: Sham-Control (SC), Denervated-Control (DC), Suture Lesion (SL) and Suture Lesion + Fibrin Sealant (SFS). In SC group,it was performed incision, muscle spacing and identification of the right sciatic nerve. In DC group,it was performed neurotmesis (gap of 6 mm). In DC, SL and SFS groups,it wascarried out fixation of stumps on the musculature after neurotmesis. After 7 days the reconnection of the stumps with suture was accomplished in SL group and in SFS group the suture was associated with the fibrin sealant (CEVAP). After 60 days the animals were euthan... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Doutor

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Boston University / PLEASE NOTE: Boston University Libraries did not receive an Authorization To Manage form for this thesis or dissertation. It is therefore not openly accessible, though it may be available by request. If you are the author or principal advisor of this work and would like to request open access for it, please contact us at open-help@bu.edu. Thank you. / INTRODUCTION: Evidence supporting outpatient treatments for anorexia nervosa (AN) is severely lacking, due to low retention rates and poor outcome in treatment studies. One explanation for patient drop-out is weak treatment alliances, which are also associated with poor outcome. This study investigates a novel treatment for AN, Alliance Focused Treatment (AFT), which attends to ruptures in the alliance as well as interpersonal difficulties and emotional avoidance commonly associated with AN. Group analyses are presented along with one detailed case. METHOD: Seven women with AN-spectrum illnesses were randomized to receive both AFT and Behavioral Change Treatment (BCT) using a replicated single case A-B-C-B design. Participants began with a Baseline Phase (A) and then received the experimental treatment (AFT) and the comparison treatment (BCT) in alternating fashion. This design allowed each participant to provide comparison (control) data for each treatment. "Time" (session number) was used as a covariate in analyses. Each treatment phase was four weeks long, with twice-weekly sessions. Participants recorded daily kilocalorie intake and post-session treatment alliance. Generalized Estimating Equations were used to examine differences in kilocalorie intake and treatment alliance between phases and within participants. Graphs of slopes of kilocalorie and alliance change for each participant, in each phase, facilitated observation of treatment effects. RESULTS: Six participants completed treatment. Significant overall increases in kilocalorie intake were observed only in BCT relative to a baseline period when controlling for time, however, both AFT and BCT showed interactions with time indicating kilocalorie intake increased in both conditions. No significant differences between active treatments in kilocalorie intake were observed. Participants rated global working alliance significantly higher in BCT, while they rated the task dimension of alliance significantly higher in AFT. Global patient-rated treatment alliance was significantly associated with kilocalorie intake, and the relationship between global alliance and kilocalorie intake became stronger over time. Participants rated ruptures in 39% of sessions and frequently reported discussion of the rupture as a component of its resolution. DISCUSSION: This study provides preliminary support for the feasibility and effect of AFT and BCT, and highlights the importance of the alliance in treating adults with AN. / 2031-01-02

Submitted by Fabíola Silva (fabiola.silva@famerp.br) on 2017-03-08T13:31:37Z No. of bitstreams: 1 carlasomaioteixeira_dissert.pdf: 2345505 bytes, checksum: 29424a2fdb7c846d66f0d40574e4b8b2 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-03-08T13:31:37Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 carlasomaioteixeira_dissert.pdf: 2345505 bytes, checksum: 29424a2fdb7c846d66f0d40574e4b8b2 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-12-06 / Introduction: Adolescence is characterized by great changes, such as biological, emotional and social. Changes can occur in the nutritional status and the weight increase is a main cause of body dissatisfaction. The fat gain becomes significant among girls and muscle mass gain, twice as higher among boys. Obese adolescents are more susceptible to body dissatisfaction, leading to a body denial since this does not fit according to the standards of beauty in fashion. Objectives: To identify the risks of eating disorders in adolescents and to correlate them with age, color, body mass index, cardiovascular risk and body image among the public and private schools. Casuistics and Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional study of quantitative approach was carried out in two schools of São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo state: a public and private one. The sample comprised 546 female and male adolescents; 230 from public schools and 316 from private school. Female adolescents answered the Eating Attitude Test instrument (EAT-26), and to evaluate the body image of adolescents, Thompson and Gray silhouette scale was used. Anthropometric data weight, height and waist circumference were measured. Software Statistical Package for the Social Sciences was used, and the averages were compared by the Student t test, the proportions by Fisher test and associations, the Chi-Square test. Multiple correspondence analysis was used to observe the relationship between the variables collected from adolescents from public and private schools. The significance level used was 5% (p <0.05). Results: Out of the 230 adolescents from public schools most of them was older than 13 years; the adolescents with the nutritional status of overweight and obesity showed cardiovascular risk, dissatisfaction with body image to overweight and risk of dietary behavior for eating disorder. For nutritional status of Eutrophia, adolescents showed no cardiovascular risk, no risk for eating disorders and body image dissatisfaction to overweight. Students with body mass index of underweight showed no cardiovascular risk and no dissatisfaction to their body image to thinness. Out of the 316 adolescents from private school, the age was between 10 and 13 years; the nutritional status of Euthrophia and overweight did not show cardiovascular risk; they are dissatisfied with their body image to overweight and no dietary behavior for eating disorder. There are also students classified as obese body mass index that reported being dissatisfied with their body image to overweight with cardiovascular risk and risk behaviors for eating disorders. Low weight adolescents, no significant association for cardiovascular risk and risk behaviors for eating disorders, but are dissatisfied with their body image to thinness. All these associations were significant in both schools (p <0.001). Conclusion: The study identified adolescents with inappropriate dietary behavior, enhancing the need for / Introdução: A adolescência é caracterizada por grandes transformações biológicas, emocionais e sociais, podendo ocorrer mudanças no estado nutricional, sendo o aumento de peso uma das principais causas da insatisfação corporal, com ganho de gordura significante entre as meninas e ganho de massa muscular duas vezes maior entre os meninos. Adolescentes obesos são mais susceptíveis à insatisfação corporal, que gera uma negação do próprio corpo, por não se enquadrar aos padrões de beleza da moda. Objetivos: Identificar os riscos de transtornos alimentares de adolescentes, correlacionar com idade, cor, índice de massa corpórea, risco cardiovascular e imagem corporal entre as escolas pública e privada. Casuística e Métodos: Estudo descritivo, transversal e de abordagem quantitativa realizado em duas escolas de São José do Rio Preto, do Estado de São Paulo; uma pública e a outra privada. Uma amostra representativa de 546 adolescentes de ambos os sexos, sendo 230 da escola pública e 316 da privada. O instrumento Eating Attitude Test (EAT-26), respondido somente pelas adolescentes. Para avaliação da imagem corporal, foi aplicada a escala de silhueta de Thompson e Gray em ambos os sexos. Foram aferidos os dados antropométricos peso, altura e circunferência de cintura. Utilizou-se o software Statistical Package for the Social Sciences, sendo que as médias foram comparadas pelo teste t de Student, as proporções pelo teste Fisher e as associações o teste qui-quadrado. Realizou a análise de correspondência múltipla para observar a relação entre as variáveis coletadas dos adolescentes das escolas públicas e privadas. O nível de significância adotado foi de 5% (p<0,05). Resultados: Dos 230 adolescentes da escola pública a maioria apresentou mais de 13 anos; alunos com estado nutricional de sobrepeso e obesidade, com risco cardiovascular, insatisfação com a imagem corporal para excesso de peso e comportamento alimentar de risco para transtorno alimentar. Para o estado nutricional de eutrofia, os adolescentes não apresentaram risco cardiovascular, ausência de risco para transtorno alimentar, mas insatisfação com a imagem corporal por excesso de peso. Alunos com índice de massa corpórea abaixo do peso não apresentaram risco cardiovascular e insatisfação com a sua imagem corporal relacionada à magreza. Dos 316 adolescentes da escola privada, a idade era entre 10 e 13 anos; para o estado nutricional de eutrofia e sobrepeso não apresentou risco cardiovascular, insatisfação com a imagem corporal para excesso de peso e ausência de comportamento alimentar de risco para transtorno alimentar. Há também os alunos classificados com índice de massa corpórea obesidade que relataram estar insatisfeitos com sua imagem corporal para excesso de peso, com risco cardiovascular e comportamento de risco para transtornos alimentares. Adolescentes de baixo peso, associação significativa para ausência de riscos cardiovasculares e comportamento de risco para transtornos alimentares, mas estão insatisfeitos com a imagem corporal relacionada à magreza. Todas essas associações foram significativas em ambas às escolas (p<0,001). Conclusão: O estudo possibilitou identificar adolescentes com comportamento alimentar inadequado, suscitando a necessidade de estratégias educativas para prevenção de transtornos alimentares e imagem corporal.

Submitted by RAINIER ANTONIO QUEIROZ CHAGAS JUNIOR (DINTER) null (rainierqueiroz@hotmail.com) on 2017-02-13T13:41:32Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Tese Rainier Final 2017.pdf: 540510 bytes, checksum: e059773a2d31721deaeccfff339b16b8 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Juliano Benedito Ferreira (julianoferreira@reitoria.unesp.br) on 2017-02-13T18:49:53Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 chagasjunior_raq_dr_araca.pdf: 540510 bytes, checksum: e059773a2d31721deaeccfff339b16b8 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-02-13T18:49:53Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 chagasjunior_raq_dr_araca.pdf: 540510 bytes, checksum: e059773a2d31721deaeccfff339b16b8 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-12-17 / Chagas Júnior, RAQ. Avaliação da efetividade do Laser Terapêutico e TENS na diminuição da dor em pacientes com lombalgia. [Tese]. Araçatuba: Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp), Faculdade de Odontologia; 2016. Introdução: A lombalgia é frequentemente acompanhada por exacerbação da dor e diminuição da capacidade funcional. Muitas terapias não farmacológicas como laser e TENS são indicadas para o seu tratamento, mas seus efeitos não estão completamente esclarecidos. Objetivo: analisar o efeito de diferentes modalidades terapêuticas (laser e TENS) no alívio da dor crônica lombar não-específica observando-se o número de sessões clínicas. Método: A amostra foi composta por 30 pacientes randomicamente selecionados e divididos em 2 grupos tratados por duas modalidades terapêuticas: G1 – laser (n=15), G2 – TENS (n=15). Todos os pacientes foram avaliados antes e após tratamento, pelo Questionário McGill de dor (MPQ), e Capacidade Funcional pelo Questionário de Roland Morris. E avaliados diariamente pela Escala Visual Analógica (EAV). Por esta metodologia foi possível concluir que as intervenções propostas diminuem de forma estatisticamente significante a intensidade da dor a curto prazo em pacientes com dor lombar, alteram a percepção dos descritores de dor apenas no Grupo Laser pré e pós-tratamento; Assim como alteram os relatos de incapacidade física. / Chagas Júnior, RAQ. Evaluation of the effectiveness of Therapeutic Laser and TENS in the reduction of pain in patients with low back pain. [Thesis]. Araçatuba: São Paulo State University (Unesp), School of Dentistry; 2016. Introduction: Low back pain is often accompanied by exacerbation of pain and decreased functional capacity. Many non-pharmacological therapies such as laser and TENS are indicated for its treatment, but their effects are not fully understood, nor is the minimum number of sessions for therapeutic effect. Objective: To analyze the effect of different therapeutic modalities (laser and TENS) non-relief of chronic non-specific chronic pain by varying the number of clinical sessions. Methods: The sample consisted of 30 patients randomly selected and divided into 2 groups treated by two therapeutic modalities: G1 - laser (n = 15), G2 - TENS (n = 15). All patients were assessed before and after treatment, by the McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ), and Functional Capacity by the Roland Morris Questionnaire. And evaluated daily by Visual Analog Scale (EAV). By this methodology it was possible to conclude that the proposed interventions statistically reduce the short-term pain intensity in patients with low back pain, alter the perception of the pain descriptors only in the Laser Group before and after treatment; Just as they alter the reports of physical incapacity