Brazilian Psychologists Research Articles

Effects of the Religious and Spiritual Competencies Training in Brazilian Psychologists: A Pilot Study

Effects of the Religious and Spiritual Competencies Training in Brazilian Psychologists: A Pilot Study

Implementation of Telemental Health in Brazil: Lessons Learned from a Pilot Study

ABSTRACT The rapid advancement of technology has changed how mental health treatment is provided and has quickly become an important approach for treating clients. Despite extensive literature demonstrating the benefits of telemental health, Brazil has been a country that has been slow to adopt this modality, with very little research or work having been done in that arena prior to COVID-19. In fact, Brazil was one of the few countries that had legislation controlling the use of telemental health for psychological treatment. With the global pandemic, Brazilian psychologists were forced to adopt this modality, with little if any training, and little if anything is known about their experiences in effectively utilizing this modality to meet the needs of their clients. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore more in-depth psychologists’ experience of providing telemental health services during the COVID-19 pandemic. Five main themes were identified, including 1) Developing Therapeutic Relationships, 2) Setting, 3) Provider Online Bias, 4) Provider’s Positive Experiences and 5) Skills Providers Need to Develop, Finally, clinical implications and future research is discussed.

Brazilian Psychologists’ Experience with Online Psychotherapy during the First Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Resumo: Com a emergência da pandemia de Covid-19, as(os) psicólogas(os) passaram a oferecer atendimento online para pacientes que até então eram atendidos de forma presencial. Na maior parte dos casos, essa mudança se deu de forma improvisada e sem capacitação prévia. Nesse contexto, este estudo, de caráter descritivo-exploratório, quanti-qualitativo e com delineamento transversal, buscou compreender a experiência das(os) psicólogas(os) na transição das intervenções da modalidade presencial para o atendimento remoto durante a pandemia de Covid-19 no Brasil, identificando dificuldades e lacunas percebidas nas orientações disponibilizadas pelo Conselho Federal de Psicologia. Participaram da pesquisa 385 psicólogas(os). Utilizou-se um questionário online para a coleta dos dados, distribuído por meio de uma plataforma digital entre maio e novembro de 2020. O estudo também foi divulgado em grupos da categoria profissional da psicologia em diversas redes sociais. Os dados quantitativos foram analisados por meio de análise estatística descritiva, e as respostas para as questões abertas por meio de análise temática reflexiva. Os achados foram organizados em três categorias temáticas: (a) lacunas percebidas nas orientações quanto à escolha da plataforma digital; (b) lacunas quanto ao preenchimento do cadastro no site E-Psi ; e (c) falta de treinamento adequado para realizar a transição para o formato online. Entre os principais resultados, destacaram-se a insegurança gerada pela falta de preparo prévio das(os) profissionais e a resistência de alguns clientes a aceitar a transposição dos atendimentos do modelo presencial para o online. Espera-se que o mapeamento das principais dificuldades enfrentadas pela categoria contribua para qualificar o debate sobre a efetividade das orientações disponibilizadas para as(os) psicólogas(os).

ENTREVISTA COM MARIA HELENA SOUZA PATTO

ABSTRACT This present text aims to share an interview with Maria Helena Souza Patto, a brazilian psychologist recognized as one of the main references in the theoretical-conceptual and methodological field of Educational and School Psychology towards the construction of critical perspective. A retired professor at the Institute of Psychology of the University of São Paulo, Maria Helena Souza Patto is the author of many books, articles and book chapters in Psychology and education. Her book ‘The production of school failure: histories of submission and rebellion’, a work that won the award in 1995, as the most relevant book for the area granted by APEOESP São Paulo/SP, which marks a break with traditional School and Educational Psychology, towards to the construction of new directions in the area. Although the interview took place 23 years ago, in 2001, its actuality is unveiled throughout the conversation, and many of the reflections there are essential to guide Psychology and Education professionals in the current context, especially to Psychologists whom work in the basic education network, an area that tends to grow in Brazil with the approval of Law 13935/2019. Initially, some biographical and bibliographic data of Professor Maria Helena are retrieved and then, the edited interview is presented, in collaboration with the author herself. With the publication of this historic interview, we hope to reiterate the relevance of Professor Maria Helena de Souza Patto to the Education and Psychology area, as well as highlight the aspects discussed during the interview.

Changing face-to-face psychological care to remote mode: facilitators and obstacles in the COVID-19 pandemic.

to verify associations between sociodemographic variables and factors that facilitate and hinder the transition from face-to-face psychological care to remote mode in the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. this is an analytical, quantitative, cross-sectional study. After approval by the Research Ethics Committee, data collection was performed by applying an online form consisting of 55 questions. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics techniques. the intentional sampling consisted of a total of 385 Brazilian psychologists, mostly women (67.01%), young professionals with up to five years of graduation (44.16%) most of activities in the private clinic. It was found that training time between five and 10 years was associated with a greater perception of difficulties and that previous experience with remote care facilitated adaptation in the transition from one modality to another. considering that call center can be a powerful tool in the health scenario, it is suggested the inclusion of remote care issues in the research agenda and syllabus in the curricula of health training courses.

Mudança do atendimento psicológico presencial para modalidade remota: facilitadores e dificultadores na pandemia de COVID-19

Objective: to verify associations between sociodemographic variables and factors that facilitate and hinder the transition from face-to-face psychological care to remote mode in the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Method: this is an analytical, quantitative, cross-sectional study. After approval by the Research Ethics Committee, data collection was performed by applying an online form consisting of 55 questions. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics techniques. Results: the intentional sampling consisted of a total of 385 Brazilian psychologists, mostly women (67.01%), young professionals with up to five years of graduation (44.16%) most of activities in the private clinic. It was found that training time between five and 10 years was associated with a greater perception of difficulties and that previous experience with remote care facilitated adaptation in the transition from one modality to another. Conclusion: considering that call center can be a powerful tool in the health scenario, it is suggested the inclusion of remote care issues in the research agenda and syllabus in the curricula of health training courses.

Adaptation and validation of the Psychologist and Counsellor Self-Efficacy Scale (PCES) among Brazilian psychologists and psychology students

This study aimed to: (i) Translate, adapt, and evaluate the linguistic and semantic properties of the Psychologist and Counsellor Self-Efficacy Scale (PCES) for use among psychology students and psychologists in Brazil; (ii) Assess the psychometric attributes of the adapted PCES, including its construct validity and other related psychometric properties. A total of 2,139 participants, comprising psychologists and psychology students (Mage = 25.36 years; SD = 9.46), partook in this study. The PCES exhibited commendable fit indices (CFI = .990; TLI = .989; SMR = .043), and multigroup confirmatory factor analysis revealed a consistent level of invariance between students and practicing psychologists, as well as between male and female participants. Network analysis offered significant insights into the distribution of factors, while the convergent validity of PCES was corroborated by its correlations with the subscales of the General Perceived Self-Efficacy Scale (GPSS). These findings unequivocally affirm the reliability and suitability of PCES as an assessment instrument for both psychologists and psychology students in the Brazilian context.

Familiarity of Brazilian psychologists with basic concepts in sleep science and chronobiology

ABSTRACT Desynchronization of circadian rhythms and sleep-wake patterns impacts biochemical, physiological, and behavioral functions, including mental processes. The complex relationship between circadian rhythms and mental health makes it challenging to determine causality between circadian desynchronization and mental disorders. Regarding the fact that psychologists act as the front line for initial mental health care, we aimed to assess the knowledge and use of sleep science and basic chronobiology by professional psychologists in Brazil. Data were collected via an online questionnaire completed by 1384 professional psychologists between October 2018 and May 2019. Our findings revealed that ±80% of psychologists reported that at least half of their patients presented some sleep-related complaints; however, only ±27% routinely inquired about sleep quality even in the absence of patient complaints. Additionally, only ±66% initiated treatments to understand these complaints, potentially influenced by the lack of prior academic exposure to biological rhythms as reported by ±76% of Brazilian psychologists interviewed. Importantly, ±15% did not believe in an association between mental health and biological rhythms, and even a significant ±67% were unfamiliar with the term chronobiology and ±63% were not able to describe any other biological rhythm except for the sleep-wake cycle. These results demonstrate that fundamental concepts in chronobiology and sleep science are unknown to a substantial proportion of Brazilian psychologists. In conclusion, we propose that this subject could be more effectively integrated into psychologists’ academic training, potentially promoting benefits through the incorporation of a chronobiological approach in mental health practice.

Brazilian Psychologists’ Attitudes Towards the Application of Corporal Punishment to Children for “Educational” Purposes

Brazilian Psychologists’ Attitudes Towards the Application of Corporal Punishment to Children for “Educational” Purposes

Potencialidades e Barreiras da Psicoterapia On-line na Pandemia de COVID-19: Scoping Review

Abstract The pandemic of COVID-19 demanded unprecedented efforts from psychologists to adapt to technology-mediated care. This study aimed to analyze the scientific production concerning the perception of Brazilian psychologists on online psychotherapy during the pandemic through a scoping review. We consulted four databases, while the reviewed corpus comprehended 29 studies. Psychologists identified both benefits and barriers in the transition to online psychotherapy practice, but the perception that the sparing use of this resource is valid and beneficial predominated. There is a strong perception that information and communication technologies will definitely integrate the repertoire of resources used by psychotherapists, as another relevant alternative, posing the need for further studies.

COVID-19 pandemic: Prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms among Brazilian psychologists.

Symptoms related to mental health disorders became the background of the COVID-19 pandemic, and psychologists had to adapt to the demands, while they themselves were exposed to the pandemic and its stressors. To identify demographic and professional characteristics of Brazilian psychologists in different phases of pandemic and their reported care practices, concerns, and symptoms. This was an observational study conducted online in four independent phases with no pairing among the samples (May/June 2020, n = 263; November/December 2020, n = 131; May/June 2021, n = 378; November/December 2021, n = 222). Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale was used. The validity and reliability of the data obtained with the DASS-21 were attested to by confirmatory factor analysis. Basic lexographic and similarity analysis were conducted to obtain textual information. Prevalence of variables was estimated and compared between phases using the z-test (α = 5%). Similarity analysis was performed to identify the psychologists' concerns. Most of participants were women and were self-employed or employed. There was rapid adjustment to remote work and more than 70% reported changes in their mental health since the onset of pandemic. One in four participants had a previous mental health disorder, and there was a high prevalence of symptoms such as anxiety, fear, and angst. The prevalence of professionals who reported not caring about their own mental health was significant. In 2020, one cluster (health) of concern was identified, while in 2021 there were three clusters (health, family, and COVID-19). The prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms was high and did not change during the pandemic. Psychologists adapted to the demands of the population in the face of the pandemic. However, there was a high prevalence of mental health symptoms and a disregard for self-care among these professionals.

Psychologists\u2019 Perspectives on the Psychological Suffering of Refugee Patients in Brazil

Worldwide there are 79.5 million displaced people, many of which face war, violence, tragic flights and struggles in host countries. Research shows augmented prevalence rates of mental disorders among refugees internationally, but little is known about refugee mental health in Latin American countries. Furthermore, only a few studies have taken into consideration the knowledge of clinical psychologists who treat refugee patients. The present study examines the experiences of 32 psychologists in Brazil regarding their refugee patients’ psychological suffering and mental disorders. Semi-structured interviews were conducted in various locations in Brazil and analysed following a consensual qualitative research approach. Four clusters of refugee patients’ suffering were synthesised: post-migration stressors, traumatic experiences, flight as life rupture, and the current situation in the country of origin. The most frequently described conditions in patients were anxiety and depression. However, the results also show that the use of manuals for the classification of mental disorders is contested among psychologists in Brazil. Most psychologists stressed patients’ socio-political suffering and saw patients’ symptoms as normal reactions to their experiences. There is a need to acknowledge the socio-political suffering of refugees in Brazil and foster their mental health by tackling current post-migration stressors such as discrimination.

Psychological Intervention in Psychotic Crisis: a person-centered approach

Abstract This article describes, theoretically analyzes, and exemplifies, through a fictitious vignette, a psychological intervention of a clinical nature, developed by psychologists in a tertiary mental health care hospital, as an alternative to conventional physical restraint in situations of acute psychotic crises. The theoretical framework adopted is Person-Centered Approach, developed by the North American psychologist Carl Rogers. The psychological intervention reveals the importance of an interpersonal relationship in the care of patients who are going through a psychotic crisis. The psychologist’s therapeutic posture includes the three attitudes advocated by Carl Rogers as necessary and sufficient to facilitate the process of resuming personal autonomy (congruence or authenticity, unconditional positive regard, and empathic understanding), in addition to confidence in the patient’s own actualizing tendency. The therapeutic strategy presented is a possible resource to be used to stabilize the person in crisis. These attitudes were initially proposed by Rogers and his team to develop and maintain a psychotherapeutic intervention process, but they also proved to be effective in the experience of Brazilian psychologists in relation to patients with severe mental disorders in acute crises.

Brazilian psychotherapists and the dimension of religiosity/spirituality

AbstractEvidence indicates the absence of the topic of religiosity/spirituality (R/S) in the training of Brazilian psychologists, suggesting the invisibility of such elements in professionals in the field. However, the psychologist is also a human being who has religious/spiritual conditions that can influence the way of feeling and understanding these phenomena. This qualitative study aimed to discover how psychotherapists experience R/S in their lives, as well as their difficulties and feelings when dealing with the subject in their clinical psychology practice. Twenty‐four psychotherapists were interviewed from two medium‐sized cities in the countryside of states of São Paulo and Minas Gerais, Brazil. The psychologists' R/S follows the configuration of secularisation that has been growing throughout the world, but it does not prevent them from experiencing this dimension in their lives. For the majority, religious/spiritual beliefs and experiences permeate the psychotherapeutic relationship, and there are divergences with their patients. However, they showed interest in working on such themes, although not always with ease. We emphasise the importance of the professionals recognising themselves as human beings who are also influenced by a range of characteristics including religious/spiritual ones, and their needs, difficulties and potential regarding R/S in clinical practice and training.

Estágio curricular supervisionado em Psicologia Clínica à luz das DCNs

Este artigo tem como objetivo realizar discussão sobre o processo de implementação do estágio curricular supervisionado em Psicologia clínica, desde o período da regulamentação da profissão, até a formalização das Diretrizes Curriculares Nacionais para os cursos de graduação em Psicologia, baseando-se na literatura científica. O estímulo para confecção deste estudo parte-se do reconhecimento da relevância do aperfeiçoamento de estudantes estagiários para a formação profissional do psicólogo brasileiro. Utilizou-se como metodologia uma revisão integrativa da literatura, realizada a partir da busca por publicações científicas indexadas nas bases de dados: SciELO, PePSIC e ERIC. Os seguintes descritores foram utilizados: psicologia clínica, educação, estágio clínico, estudante e universidades. Ao final das buscas, foram selecionados 25 estudos que abrangeram a realidade brasileira, entre os anos de 1989 a 2020, que atenderam aos critérios de elegibilidade para compor o artigo. Busca-se compreender, ao longo do artigo, as necessidades, os métodos de ensino e de aprendizagem durante o estágio supervisionado, que devem estar alinhados a teoria aprendida no decorrer do curso com as ações práticas do fazer do Psicólogo, de modo que possibilite um raciocínio clínico e uma postura ética. Conclui-se que o estudo propõe ainda que é fundamental que as instituições de ensino superior avaliem e renovem a Clínica-escola, de modo que os estudantes sejam capacitados e comprometidos em oferecer suporte à sociedade, visto que estas instituições são incumbidas em proporcionar a formação de Psicólogos de elevada qualificação e, nessa concepção, deve-se formar cidadãos aptos de atuar diante das demandas típicas do século XXI.

Evisiting Dilthey: theoretical and methodological dialogues with phenomenology and psychology

Wilhelm Dilthey was a fundamental author so that the human sciences had their autonomy of method and object in relation to the natural sciences, however, their work is still little known by psychologists in Brazil, so, this article aims to disclose and discuss the work of the author, having as a cut the reverberations of his propositions for phenomenology and psychology.. The theoretical analysis, which is not intended to be an exhaustive review of the author's work, will be centered on themes: historical world, experience and a comprehensive method of research. To conclude, an imaginative exercise of what psychology would be doing today if Dilthey's position had become hegemonic in the field.

Культурно-историческая психология как теория субъективности в работах Ф. Гонсалеса Рея

Theory of subjectivity developed by Brazilian psychologist F. González Rey is considered as a result of rethinking some of Vygotsky’s ideas in the context of modern critical psychology based on the works of M. Foucault, L. Althusser, feminist and postcolonial theories etc. In critical psychology subjectivity is conceptualized as produced by the forces of social regulation, so it appears oversocialized and reduced to discursive constructions. It is argued that the theory of subjectivity in the framework of cultural-historical psychology developed by F. González Rey makes it possible to overcome social reductionism of critical approaches without falling into the pre-critical concept of subject. On the base of Vygotsky’s ideas about the unity of affect and intellect, sense and perezhivanie as psychic units, González Rey developed a new ontology of psychological science that allows to overcome the dominant representation of ‘psyche as a container’ of cognitive processes, emotions, personal traits etc. and to rethink the relationship between individual and social. In the light of theory of subjectivity, the importance of qualitative methodology for cultural-historical psychology is discussed.

Perfil financeiro dos psicólogos brasileiros: análise estatística relacionada ao ano de 2015

La psicología brasileña ha revelado una tendencia creciente en su crecimiento. En 2013, una investigación llevada a cabo por el Consejo Federal mostró que Brasil tiene más de 250 000 profesionales con licencia, revelando 1.24 psicólogos por cada 1 000 habitantes. Sin embargo, faltan datos en la literatura sobre la información sobre el perfil financiero del psicólogo brasileño, que es el objetivo de este estudio. Dicho esto, esta investigación es un estudio exploratorio no probabilístico, tipo encuesta, realizado en 2015, en el que participaron 437 psicólogos de todo Brasil. El estudio concluyó que los psicólogos económicamente activos son en su mayoría mujeres jóvenes, que tienen un ingreso mensual de R$ 2 000 en promedio y trabajan principalmente en la clínica. Esta investigación proporciona nuevos datos sobre el perfil profesional del psicólogo brasileño.

Pain curricular guidelines for Psychologists in Brazil

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: It is widely recognized that pain is undertreated, largely determined by the minimal academic training on the subject. This article aims to propose and present curricular guidelines in pain for undergraduate and graduate psychologists in Brazil. CONTENTS: From an extensive literature review about education and pain, and based on national and international guidelines, curricular guidelines that contemplate the psychologist's education have been developed. The skills and competencies addressed in the training of the psychologist should contemplate their multifactorial nature, the importance of multidimensional evaluation, theoretical and technical models for interventions and management of the painful condition and aspects related to research and ethical aspects. CONCLUSION: The contents proposed in the pain curriculum for psychologists can and should be integrated considering the regional characteristics and demands of the educational institutions and the availability of qualified professionals to teach and can be applied both to undergraduate and graduate courses. It is believed that having curricular guidelines to teach this subject not only broadens the psychologist's understanding of the health-disease process, but also increases their professional possibilities to perform their roles in multi, inter and transdisciplinary healthcare levels.

Validity Evidence for the Flow State Scale-2 with University Athletes

Abstract Flow is an optimal psychological state, a very positive experience associated with high levels of performance in various areas of human activity such as sports. This study sought evidence for the construct validity of the Brazilian version of FSS-2 and, in this way, contribute with theoretical and empirical resources for the research and professional practice of Brazilian psychologists in the field of sports and physical exercise. This instrument provides a global measure and specifically measures nine dimensions of the flow experience. The participants were 366 athletes, men and women, 16-41 years of age, who played futsal, handball, volleyball and rugby and disputed the University Games Gaúchos 2015. The scores of the subjects were subjected to Confirmatory Factor Analysis. Indices of content, factorial, convergent and discriminant validities and internal consistency were found, discussed according to theoretical and empirical data from this line of research. We conclude that the general adjustments of the model were close to those obtained in the original studies.