Prevalence Of Minor Psychiatric Disorders Research Articles

Psychosocial stress and minor psychiatric disorders among Agentes Socioeducadores

to ascertain the association between psychosocial stress and the occurrence of Minor Psychiatric Disorders in agentes socioeducadores. a cross-sectional study with 381 agentes socioeducadores from the Centros de Atendimento Socioeducativo in the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul, in 2011. Brazilian versions of the social demand-control-support at work scale were used, and of the Self Reporting Questionnaire-20. the prevalence of minor psychiatric disorders was 50.1%. The chances of being classified with such a disorder were higher in the high strain work quadrant (OR=2.05; CI95%=1.03-4.09) and active work quadrant (OR=1.99; CI95%=1.09-3.63) when compared to that of low strain, after adjustment for potentially confusing factors. there is a positive association between psychosocial stress (high strain and active work) and minor psychiatric disorders among agentes socioeducadores. In order to prevent mental illness among these workers, the planning of health promotion actions is necessary.

O trabalho e a saúde dos oficiais de Justiça Federal de Porto Alegre

Este artigo apresenta resultados de pesquisa que investigou os efeitos do trabalho sobre a saúde de oficiais de Justiça Federal de Porto Alegre. A demanda partiu do Sindicato dos Trabalhadores da Justiça Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (Sintrajufe-RS), devido ao aumento das queixas relacionadas à saúde desses servidores. Foi utilizado um questionário estruturado, o Self Report Questionnaire (SRQ-20), para pesquisar a prevalência de distúrbios psiquiátricos menores e a metodologia da Psicodinâmica do Trabalho, com modelo metodológico de pesquisa ação. Os resultados obtidos apontam que o principal problema está relacionado à falta de reconhecimento do trabalho realizado por esses profissionais. Também foram relatadas pelo grupo questões de desrespeito em relação ao exercício de sua atividade e o trabalho solitário. Sugere-se um espaço de discussão/reunião que envolva os trabalhadores, a coordenação e a representação do juiz, com participação de profissionais da Psicologia, caracterizando uma ação permanente.

Prevalência de transtornos psiquiátricos menores em trabalhadores da atenção primária à saúde das regiões Sul e Nordeste do Brasil

Mental health problems are among the most prevalent conditions in health workers. We evaluated the prevalence of minor psychiatric disorders and associated factors among primary healthcare workers. The study design was cross-sectional and services-based, in 240 primary healthcare units in 41 municipalities (counties) with more than 100 thousand inhabitants in seven States in the South and Northeast regions of Brazil. A total of 4,749 primary healthcare workers were interviewed, and prevalence of minor psychiatric disorders was 16%, with no statistical differences according to region or primary care model. The rate was higher in community health workers and other workers with secondary education (18%) and lower in health professionals with university training (10%); while physicians (15%) and nurses and nurse technicians (14.6%) were in an intermediate situation (p < 0.001). Occupational characteristics showed the strongest association with the occurrence of minor psychiatric disorders according to the adjusted analysis, suggesting that their reduction requires improvements in work conditions in primary healthcare and in the management of the Unified National Health System.

Transtornos psiquiátricos menores em cuidadores familiares de usuários de Centros de Atenção Psicossocial do Sul do Brasil

A cross-sectional study was conducted with 936 family caregivers of users of Psychosocial Care Centers (CAPS) with the aim of describing the prevalence of minor psychiatric disorders and the association with socio-demographic variables, self-reported overload, and stressful events. Minor psychiatric disorder was identified with the Self-Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ-20), using as case definition a cutoff of eight or more positive answers for women and six or more for men. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were conducted by Poisson regression. Prevalence of minor psychiatric disorders was 49% (95%CI: 46%-52%). In the adjusted analysis, higher prevalence was observed in families with less schooling, health problems, more stressful life events, retirees, and single caregivers who reported overload. The results indicate a high prevalence of minor psychiatric disorders, besides identifying some associations. Such information provides important support for planning mental health services and primary care.

School performance and risk of suicide in early adulthood: Follow-up of two national cohorts of Swedish schoolchildren

BackgroundPoor school performance and low IQ are associated with an increased risk of suicide in males; it is uncertain whether cognitive performance is a risk factor for suicide in females and whether severe mental illness influences these associations. MethodRecord linkage study of Swedish education, population and census data with mortality and inpatient registers. Data were available for 95,497 males and 91,311 females born in 1972 and 1977 and followed up until 31 December 2005. Results230 males and 90 females died from suicide over the follow-up period. There were strong inverse associations between school performance at age 16 and subsequent suicide risk in males (fully adjusted hazard ratio (HR) per SD increase in school performance score: 0.6 (95% CI 0.6 to 0.7; p<0.001)) but not females: adjusted HR. 1.1 (CI 0.9 to 1.4 p=0.50). In males there were almost four fold differences in suicide risk between children in the top and bottom fifths of the range of school grade scores. Similar associations were seen with upper secondary school performance (age 18/19years). There was no strong evidence that deterioration in school performance between ages 16 and 18 was associated with increased suicide risk. Amongst men who developed severe psychiatric illness school performance was not associated with suicide risk. LimitationsWe had limited information on the prevalence of minor psychiatric disorder in cohort members and no data on IQ for the cohort as a whole. ConclusionsGood performance in secondary (age 16) and upper secondary (age 18) school is associated with a reduced risk of suicide in men but not women. This protective effect is not seen amongst those who develop severe psychiatric illness. These differences indicate that the aetiology of suicide differs in males and females and in those with and without severe mental illness.

Adverse psychosocial working conditions and minor psychiatric disorders among bank workers

BackgroundIn most countries, the financial service sector has undergone great organizational changes in the past decades, with potential negative impact on bank workers' mental health. The aim of this paper is to estimate the prevalence of minor psychiatric disorders (MPD) among Brazilian bank workers and to investigate whether they are associated with an adverse psychosocial working environment.MethodsA cross-sectional study of a random sample of 2,500 workers in a Brazilian state bank in 2008. The presence of MPD was determined by the General Health Questionnaire.(GHQ). Psychosocial work conditions were assessed by means of the Effort-Reward Imbalance (ERI) and Job Content Questionnaire (JCQ). The presence and magnitude of the independent associations between MPD and adverse psychosocial working conditions were determined by Prevalence Ratios, obtained by Poisson regression.ResultsFrom 2,337 eligible workers, 88% participated. The prevalence of MPD was greater among women (45% vs. 41%; p > 0.05). In the multivariate analysis, the prevalence of MPD was twice as high among bank workers exposed to high psychological demand and low control at work and under high effort and low reward working conditions. The lack of social support at work and the presence of over-commitment were also associated with higher prevalence of MPD. A negative interaction effect was found between over-commitment and effort-reward imbalance.ConclusionThe prevalence of MPD is high among bank workers. The results reinforce the association between MPD and adverse psychosocial working conditions, assessed by the JCQ and ERI models. The direction of the interaction observed between over-commitment and ERI was contrary to what was expected.

Minor Psychiatric Disorders and Syncope: The Role of Psychopathology in the Expression of Vasovagal Reflex

Background: A high prevalence of minor psychiatric disorders (MPDs) has been reported in patients with vasovagal syncope (VVS). However, the relationship between the psychiatric substrate and syncope remains unclear. Methods: In order to test the hypothesis that MPDs may predispose to VVS, we assessed the prevalence of syncope, the response to head-up tilt test (HUTT) and the efficacy of psychiatric drug treatment in reducing syncopal episodes, in patients with recently diagnosed MPDs. The response to HUTT was compared with that in an equal number of matched (a) patients with VVS and (b) healthy controls. Results: A high rate of patients with MPDs (58%) had a positive HUTT. Additionally, 45% had a history of syncope; among them, the rate of positive HUTT was identical to that in the VVS group (83%). Following psychiatric drug treatment, the number of patients with syncope decreased in the MPD group (6/67 from 30/67, p < 0.01). Psychiatric symptoms and quality of life were also improved. The number of syncopal spells decreased equally in the MPD and VVS groups (0.6 ± 0.5 from 2.5 ± 1.4, p < 0.01, and 0.7 ± 0.5 from 2.7 ± 1.3, p < 0.01, respectively). Conclusion: A high proportion of patients with MPDs experience syncope, associated with a high rate of positive HUTT, comparable to that observed in VVS. Psychiatric treatment results in the improvement of syncopal and psychiatric symptoms. These findings suggest involvement of co-occurring MPDs in the pathogenesis of VVS. Therefore, the diagnosis and treatment of MPDs, when present, may be crucial for the effective therapy of vasovagal syndrome.

Minor psychiatric disorders among Brazilian ragpickers: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundRagpickers are informal workers who collect recyclable materials to earn a small wage. Their life and working conditions are extremely difficult. We examined minor psychiatric disorders (MPD) among a cohort of ragpickers in Pelotas, a city in southern Brazil.MethodsRagpickers were matched by sex, age, and years of schooling with a sample of non-ragpickers from the same poor neighborhoods. The cross-sectional study gathered data by interview on 990 individuals in 2004. MPD were assessed using a standard self-reporting questionnaire, the SRQ-20.ResultsThe prevalence of MPD among ragpickers was 44.7%, higher than reported by neighborhood controls (33.6%; p < 0.001). MPD were more common among females, those of lower economic level, smokers and alcoholics. Among occupational characteristics, MPD prevalence was associated with frequent static postures, low job satisfaction and recent work accidents.ConclusionRagpickers more frequently report MPD than other poor workers living in the same neighborhoods, with many of the same life conditions. Improving the work lives of these precarious workers should address not only the physical hazards of their jobs but their mental and emotional health as well.

Perfil da violência de gênero perpetrada por companheiro

To investigate the prevalence and profile of gender violence (physical, psychological, and sexual) perpetrated against women by current or former intimate partners. This is a cross-sectional study carried out at a primary healthcare unit in the city of Porto Alegre, Southern Brazil. Our sample comprised 251 women aged 18-49 years who attended the healthcare unit between October and November 2003. Data were collected by means of a questionnaire and double-entered into a electronic spreadsheet. We carried out univariate and bivariate analyses and the chi-square test. The prevalence of the three types of violence were: psychological (55%, 95% CI: 49-61), physical (38%; 95% CI: 32-44), and sexual (8%; 95% CI: 5-11). Variables significantly associated with the three types of violence included woman's age (psychological: p=0.004), woman's schooling (psychological and physical; p=0.012 and 0.023, respectively), partner's schooling (p=0.004, 0.000), social class (p=0.006, 0.000), years with partner (p=0.006, 0.005), partner's occupation (p=0.015, 0.001), number of pregnancies (p=0.018, 0.037), and prevalence of minor psychiatric disorders (p=0.000, 0.000). The present study found high prevalences of gender violence perpetrated by intimate partners among the users of a primary healthcare unit. Such units play an important role in preventing violence against women.

Trabalho e distúrbios psíquicos em professores da rede municipal de Vitória da Conquista, Bahia, Brasil

A cross-sectional study with all the teachers in the municipal school system in Vitória da Conquista, Bahia State, Brazil, investigated the association between work content (psychological demand and control over work) and the occurrence of minor psychiatric disorders (MPD) among teachers. The Karasek demand-control model was used to evaluate control over work. The Self-Report Questionnaire-20 was used to evaluate minor psychiatric disorders. MPD prevalence was 55.9% among the 808 teachers studied. Crude prevalence of MPD showed a positive and significant association with psychological demand and a negative and significant association with control over work. MPD prevalence was higher in teachers with highly demanding work, characterized by heavy demand and low control (PR = 1.74; 95%CI: 1.44-2.10), and in those with active work, with heavy demand and low control (PR = 1.35; 95%CI: 1.13-1.61), as compared to teachers with low-demand work (light demand and high control), after adjusting for confounders in a multiple logistic regression model. As a conclusion, teachers' mental health is strongly associated with their work content.

The rural labor process and health in the Southern Brazilian mountains: a descriptive study

This cross-sectional study among rural workers in the mountainous region of the southernmost Brazilian State of Rio Grande do Sul was designed to identify the characteristics of work performed on family farms. The research focused on the socio-demographic profiles of rural workers, identifying the characteristics of rural labor and describing the prevalence of some disease entities in such populations. Some 1479 rural workers from 495 farms were interviewed. In this sample, 87% of the individuals were members of the farm-owning family, mean age was 41 years, 56% were males, and mean schooling was 5 years. Farms had a mean area of 37 hectares, 50% had at least one type of farm machinery, and fruits constituted the main crop. About 75% of workers handled several types of pesticides, while 12% reported at least one lifetime episode of pesticide poisoning. Prevalence of minor psychiatric disorders was 36%, and annual frequency of occupational injuries was 10%. There was a wide variety of activities and occupational risks. The high prevalence of health problems identified in the study calls attention to the need for measures to promote and protect rural workers' health.

A cross-sectional study about mental health of farm-workers from Serra Gaucha (Brazil)

In view of the shortage of population-based rural studies, this research project evaluated the associations between the characteristics of rural work and the occurrence of minor psychiatric disorders (MPD). A cross sectional study was carried out on the 1,282 farm workers of 446 farms. Information about the farms (land extension, agricultural activities, technology and pesticide use) was collected. Demographic and socioeconomic data, characteristics of the work process and mental health indicators were obtained from the workers. MPD were found in 37.5% of the farm workers. The risk was higher on farms with a land extension of from 26 to 50 hectares, and lower where there was an increased level of job technology and schooling. The prevalence of MPD was higher among bean producers and lower among apple producers. Despite the impossibility of defining the direction of the causal link, pesticide poisoning was strongly associated with MPD. The results call attention to the dimension of the problem and to the importance of adopting new policies for the protection of farm workers' mental health.

Psychiatric disorder and the use of benzodiazepines: an example of the inverse care law from Brazil.

A cross-sectional survey was conducted in Pelotas, southern Brazil, to assess the relationship between the use of benzodiazepines (BZD), minor psychiatric disorders (MPD) and social factors. A representative sample (n = 1277) was interviewed using the Self-Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ-20) for MPD. Subjects were asked about the use of BZD in the preceding 2 weeks and were also asked for socioeconomic details. A total of 152 (11.9%; 95% CI 10.1-13.7) subjects had taken psychotropic drugs, with BZD being the most commonly reported (8%). The prevalence of MPD was 22.7% (95% CI 20.4-25.0): males 17.9% and females 26.5%. An inverse relationship was seen between level of income, schooling and prevalence of MPD (P < 0.001), but a positive relationship was found between income and BZD consumption (P < 0.05). These data suggest that the inverse care law operates in prescribing psychotropic medications for MPD.

Prevalence of minor psychiatric disorders in an adult African rural community in South Africa.

This paper reports on a two-stage community-based epidemiological study of selected minor psychiatric disorders conducted on an adult African population in South Africa. Using a modified random cluster sampling method, 354 adults were identified as the first-stage sample, with the SRQ-20 being used as a first-stage screen. Clinical interviews based on DSM-IV checklists for generalized anxiety disorder, major depression and dysthymia were administered as the second-stage criterion to 81 subjects from the sample. The weighted prevalence for generalised anxiety and depressive disorders was 23.9% (95% CI 15.1%-32.7%), comprising: generalized anxiety 3.7%, major depression 4.8%, dysthymia 7.3%, and major depression and dysthymia 8.2%. Statistically significant associations were found between caseness and age, marital status, employment, income and educational level. The results are discussed in relation to comparative local and international data as well as in the context of the current restructuring of the mental-health care system in South Africa from tertiary curative care to integrated primary mental-health care.

Risk of minor psychiatric disorders in a metropolitan area of southeast Brazil

Its aim was to identify and analyse the prevalence and the risks associated with minor psychiatric disorders in bus drivers and conductors in the city of S. Paulo, Brazil, in 1990. The prevalence of minor psychiatric disorders was analysed in a random sample of 925. A logistic regression approach was used in the analysis which was implemented by means of a forward stepwise model technique. A prevalence of 20.3% was observed in the group as a whole, and a significant difference was found between conductors (28%) and drivers (13%) (p < 0.0001). The logistic regression analysis showed that the two major risk factors were heavy traffic (OR = 1.99; confidence interval 95% = 1.39-2.84) and the conductor's activity (OR = 1.84; CI95% = 1.09-3.10). Other risk factors were sleep privation (less than six hours), absenteeism, seats without mechanisms of adjustment, internal migration and work schedule changes. The excess of risk for the occupational category of the conductor suggests the importance of the specific work condition as relevant for psychic suffering, leading to the consideration of the conductor-passenger relationship as possibly an important factor. Further studies for a better understanding of the work specific differences between drivers and conductor are necessary and may provide a basis for changes at the work organization level.

Minor psychiatric disorder in NHS trust staff: occupational and gender differences.

It is widely suggested that many National Health Service (NHS) workers experience high levels of minor psychiatric disorder. However, inadequacies of sampling and measurement in studies to date have not allowed this suggestion to be properly evaluated. The present study was designed to overcome these methodological weaknesses by using a sample of over 11,000 employees from 19 NHS trusts and a well-established measure of minor psychiatric disorder for which there are comparative data. The findings show that 26.8% of the health service workers reported significant levels of minor psychiatric disorder, compared with 17.8% of people in the general population. Psychiatric morbidity was highest among managers, doctors, nurses and professions allied to medicine, with each of these groups recording higher rates than their professional counterparts outside the health service. It was lower among those in support occupations, such as administrative and ancillary staff. A feature of the findings was that female doctors and managers showed a much higher prevalence of minor psychiatric disorder than their male colleagues. Studies are required to establish the organisational, occupational and individual determinants of minor psychiatric disorder among NHS employees.

Stressful life events and minor psychiatric disorders: an estimate of the population attributable fraction in a Brazilian community-based study.

A population-based survey was conducted in Pelotas, southern Brazil, to assess the specific and the combined contribution of life events and socioeconomic factors on the overall prevalence of minor psychiatric disorders (MPD). The study covered a representative sample of the population aged fifteen years or older living in the urban area of the city. Using multi-stage sampling, a total of thirty census tracts and 600 households were selected. A standardized questionnaire assessed the presence of MPD (using the Self-Reporting Questionnaire-SRQ-20), the occurrence of life events (death of a relative, a relative with a chronic disease, loss of employment, divorce, migration, accident, and robbery/assault), and socioeconomic factors. The prevalence of MPD was 22.7 percent (17.9% males and 26.5% females) and increased with age. Significant linear relationships with education and income were observed: the less education and income, the higher the prevalence of MPD. All life events, except migration and accident, were positively associated with MPD. People who experienced divorce in the last year had a prevalence of MPD three times higher than those who had not. The likelihood of MPD increased linearly with the number of life events. The highest proportion of Population Attributable Fraction for any life events was 24 percent. These data suggest that life events can explain a substantial proportion of MPD and with socioeconomic factors may be related to the onset of MPD.

Social class and minor psychiatric disorder in British Civil Servants: a validated screening survey using the General Health Questionnaire

Major psychiatric disorder is more common in people of lower rather than higher socioeconomic status. This is less clear for the commoner, so-called minor psychiatric disorders, but these are more affected by tendency to report symptoms. To examine this the distribution of minor psychiatric disorder by employment grade measured by the 30-item General Health Questionnaire is reported from the first cross-sectional phase of the Whitehall II Study of 10,314 London-based civil servants, men and women between 35 and 55 years. Validation of the GHQ in a random subsample stratified by grade and sex (N = 201) suggested that people in lower employment grades tend to under-report minor psychiatric disorder on the GHQ relative to those in higher employment grades. The prevalence of minor psychiatric disorder corrected by the coefficients from the validity study was greater in the lower employment grades than the higher employment grades particularly for men. This was echoed in grade differences in well-being measured by the Affect Balance Scale, and in symptoms and recurrent health problems. Overall, for women there were few clear-cut differences in minor psychiatric disorder by employment grade. The lack of social class gradient in women suggests that further exploration should examine women's role at work and their personal lives for the aetiology of minor psychiatric disorder.