Considering the negative impact of the consumption of ultra-processed foods on health, the current study assessed the availability and nutritional profile of commercial ultra-processed foods for infants in Natal, Brazil.

A cross-sectional exploratory study.

Foods targeted at children under the age of 36 months sold in retail establishments located in high- and low-income areas of the one capital city of Brazil.

1645 food products consisting of ninety-five different types of food were available. The foods were assessed according to the NOVA classification: minimally processed, processed and ultra-processed. The nutritional content per 100 g was assessed according to processing classification.

Half of foods founded were breast milk substitutes and cereal foods (31·6 and 26·3 %, respectively). The foods were predominantly ultra-processed (79 %) and only 4·2 % were minimally processed, with similar proportions of ultra-processed foods being found in both high- and low-income areas. After excluding breast milk substitutes and follow-up formulas, all cereals, food supplements and some of the fruit or vegetable purees were ultra-processed, higher in energy density, fat, carbohydrate and protein and low in fibre (P < 0·05).

The findings reveal that ultra-processed foods for infants are widely available in Brazil, reaffirming the need to strengthen the regulation of foods for infants and young children by introducing complementary measures designed to promote the production and marketing of foods manufactured using lower levels of processing.

To investigate the association between body image disorders and the lifestyle and body composition of female adolescents.

Cross-sectional study.

The Body Shape Questionnaire (BSQ) and Silhouette Scale and Sociocultural Attitudes Towards Appearance Questionnaire-3 were used to evaluate the participants’ body image. Body composition was evaluated by a Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry equipment, and lifestyles were identified by latent class analysis (LCA) using the poLCA package for R.

Female adolescents aged 14–19 years old, in the city of Viçosa-MG, Brazil.

In total, 405 girls participated in the study. Almost half of the participants were dissatisfied with their current physical appearance (51·4 %), presented body perception distortions (52·9 %). 47·3 % of the adolescents were dissatisfied with their body according to the BSQ, and another 8 % severely so. Subjects with an ‘Inactive and Sedentary’ latent lifestyle were 1·71 times as likely to feel dissatisfied as those with active and sedentary or inactive and non-sedentary lifestyles (95 % CI 1·08, 2·90, P = 0·047). Body image disorders showed an association with decreased amounts of moderate and vigorous physical activity, high screen time, increased alcohol consumption and excess body fat.

Particular patterns of lifestyle and body composition seem to be associated in female adolescents with dissatisfaction with, distortion of and excessive concern about appearance. Specifically, physical inactivity, sedentary behaviour, alcohol consumption and high body fat percentage may be strongly linked to body image disorders.

Thyroid disease may contribute to mental illness, and thyroid dysfunction in psychiatric illness is common. However, the exact mechanism underlying the link between thyroid abnormalities and psychiatry illness is unclear, and the routine use of thyroid tests to assess psychiatric patients remains debatable. There are no specific guidelines about witch tests should be routinely done, however psychiatrists should be aware that thyroid test abnormalities do not always denote thyroid disease, because there are many factors that interfere with these tests at newly admitted psychiatric patients.

To review evidence about the clinical utility and cost-effectiveness of thyroid screening in psychiatric inpatients.

Searches were undertaken in PubMed and other relevant databases using keywords such as 'thyroid screening', 'psychiatric' and 'inpatients'.

Recent data suggests that clinical utility of thyroid testing in psychiatric patients is low, but in some subgroups of patients thyroid tests may be useful. In fact, there are few studies of cost-effectiveness of thyroid screening in psychiatric inpatients. Therefore clinicians have to pay attention to indications of request thyroid tests, to the moment of thyroid analyses and that transient nature of abnormal thyroid tests results may be a reflection of multitude of factors.

The diagnostic yield of thyroid testing in psychiatric patients is low, and recent studies do not fully support routine screening for thyroid dysfunction in psychiatry inpatients. However, the benefits of thyroid screening of newly admitted psychiatric patients should be evaluated in prospective studies.

Most mental disorders begin during adolescence and early adulthood (18–24-years-old), highlighting the importance of understanding the onset and progression of mental disorders among youths. Although progress has been made, namely by creating youth mental health transition services, gaps continue to exist. Locally, our recently constituted young adults unit aimed to minimize discontinuities in care.

To characterize a population of young adult psychiatric outpatients, regarding socio-demographic and clinic variables.

Socio-demographic and clinic characterization of young adult psychiatric outpatients observed during 1st January 2015–30th July 2016.

Two hundred and fifty-five outpatients were observed: 64.3% females and 35.7% males, average age 20.56-years-old (median 20). Most lived in urban areas (59.4%), with their parents (27.8%), were students (80.4%), attending secondary school (36.1%). A total of, 27.5% were referenced by an emergency department, and adjustment disorders (ICD-10 F43.2) were the most frequent diagnosis (21.6%). Regarding suicidal behaviours and self-harm, 9.8% did self-cutting. A vast majority did not have previous psychiatric hospitalizations–only 5.9% outpatients had at least one. In total, 39.8% were medicated with antidepressants (1/3 of which in association with other drugs), and about 38.8% received cognitive-behavioural interventions. About 2/3 of patients (66.3%) remained in care and only about 1/6 (15.7%) were discharged.

Our typical youth psychiatric outpatient was of female gender, student, living with its parents. Adjustment disorders were the most frequent diagnosis, and antidepressants were the main psychopharmacologic option, often combined with other psychotropic drugs. In the future, psychotherapy interventions should be more widely available, namely group psychotherapy.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Psychopathology rating scales have been widely used. Studies evaluating the congruence between self and observer-reported ratings show inconsistent results.

Determine whether there was consistency between psychopathology as assessed by patients and clinicians’ assessment in outpatients observed in the Young Adult Unit of our Psychiatry Department (Coimbra Hospital and University Centre-Portugal).

Socio-demographic characterization was undertaken with young adult outpatients observed during nineteen months (1st January 2015–31st July 2016). Brief Symptom Inventory–53 items (BSI-53) and Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) were applied at the first clinical evaluation. Spearman correlation coefficient between General Severity Index (GSI) of BSI-53 and BPRS total score was calculated.

During the mentioned interval 255 outpatients were observed: 64.3% females and 35.7% males; aged between 17 and 39 years old (average: 20.56; median: 20). Fifty percent were diagnosed with neurotic, stress-related and somatoform disorders (ICD-10 F40-48) and 14.1% with mood disorders (ICD-10 F30-39). BPRS and BSI-53 rating scales were administered to 55 patients: 72.5% females and 27.5% males; average age 21.2. A statistical significant correlation was found between BPRS total and GSI score.

Several factors can determine the accuracy of psychopathology self-assessment, including diagnosis and severity of illness. In fact, studies show strong correlation between self and observer assessment of depressive and anxious psychopathology, but no correlation in psychotic psychopathological dimensions. Therefore, the correlation found in this population can be explained by the fact that the majority of patients were diagnosed with neurotic, stress-related and somatoform and mood disorders.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

There is an increased risk to develop mental disorder during adolescence and early adulthood. Given this vulnerability, and in order to facilitate the transition from child and adolescent to adult mental health services, specific services for this age group have been developed in the last years, focusing on accessibility and early referral of young mental patients. Our Psychiatry Department (Coimbra Hospital and University Centre, Portugal) created a specific unit for young adults in order to provide better care, in accordance with the specificities of this subpopulation. The team consists of psychiatrists, psychiatry residents, nurses and a clinical psychologist. Referred patients are under 20 years old, presenting clinically relevant psychopathology or behavior disturbances.

We aimed to characterize help-seeking outpatients regarding socio-demographic variables and its relation to depressive and anxiety symptoms.

Socio-demographic characterization was undertaken with young adult psychiatric outpatients observed during eleven months (1st January to 30th November 2015). Multivariate analyses were performed to identify a relationship among socio-demographic and psychopathology variables (assessed with the Portuguese version of Brief Symptom Inventory–53 itens).

One hundred and sixty-two outpatients were observed: 97 females (59,9%) and 65 males (40,1%), ages between 17 and 31 years old (average: 19,9; median: 20). We found a positive correlation between depressive and anxiety symptoms and the education level. A negative correlation was found between depressive and anxiety symptoms and male gender and presence of mental illness in the family.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

In recent years, researchers and clinicians have shown an increasing interest in self-compassion. Indeed, several studies have suggested that self-compassion is a positive factor for mental and physical health. The Self-Compassion Scale (SCS; Neff, 2003) has been widely used to assess six dimensions of self-compassion (self-kindness, self-judgment, common humanity, isolation, mindfulness and over-identification) among diverse populations. Recently, it has also been used in perinatal samples but its psychometric properties in pregnant women is still unexplored.

This study aims was to investigate the reliability and the validity of the SCS using Confirmatory Factor Analysis in a sample of Portuguese pregnant women.

Participants were 417 pregnant women with a mean age of 33 years old (SD = 4.74) in their second trimester of pregnancy (M = 17.26, SD = 4.78, weeks of gestation). Participants completed the Portuguese version of the SCS while waiting for the routine prenatal consultation in Maternity Hospital, Portugal.

A was tested and results showed that the six-factor model had a good fit to the data (TLI = 0.93, CFI = 0.94, RMSEA = 0.06). The total SCS presented a good internal reliability (α = 0.91) and their subscales showed Cronbach's alphas ranging between adequate (α = 0.77) and good (α = 0.87).

Overall, these findings suggest that the Portuguese version of the SCS is a valid and reliable measure to assess self-compassion among pregnant women. Thus, SCS could be useful in diverse settings in the perinatal period.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

We have recently found that Perfectionism and Perseverative Negative are both correlates of psychological distress/PD and that PNT mediates the relationship between perfectionism and PD (Macedo et al., 2015).

To investigate if perfectionism and PNT are prospectively associated to PD and if PNT is a longitudinal mediator between perfectionism and PD, controlling for perceived stress and gender.

A total of 227 university students (80.1% girls) filled in the Portuguese validated versions of Perseverative Thinking Questionnaire (PTQ), Multidimensional Perfectionism Cognitions Inventory (MPCI), Profile of Mood States and Perceived Stress Scale, with an additional item to evaluate perceived social support/PSS at T0 and after approximately one year (T1) (Mean months = 12.77 ± 1.137). Only variables significantly correlated with the outcomes (Tension/Anxiety at T1 and Depression at T1) were entered in the conditional process analysis. The moderating role of perceived support on the link between Concern over Mistakes (MPCI) and psychological distress and between PTQ total score and psychological distress (anxiety and depression separately) was examined via conditional process analyses.

The estimated models were significant (F = 4.257, P = .002; F = 6.476, P < .001) explaining 15.9% of tension-anxiety and 25.5% of depression variance. A significant conditional indirect effect of PTQ total score on psychological distress at average and higher levels of perceived support was found, in both models (anxiety and depression). On the contrary, the two models showed a non-significant conditional direct effect of Concern over Mistakes on psychological distress only at any level of perceived support.

PNT prospectively mediates the relationship between negative perfectionism and PD.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

showed a greater interference of facial stimuli at high load than low load, confirming the effectiveness of perceptual load manipulation. More importantly, patients tarried significantly longer at high load. This is consistent with deficits in control of attention, showing that bipolar patients are more prone to distraction by task-irrelevant stimulus only when the task is more demanding. Moreover, for bipolar patients neutral and angry faces resulted in a higher interference with the task (longer response time), compared to controls, suggesting an attentional bias for neutral and threating social cues. Nevertheless, a more detailed investigation regarding the attentional impairments in social context in BD is needed.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

It is known that several factors can influence the quality of life such as age, gender, socioeconomic status, the presence of mental illness or substance abuse.

Assess quality of life of outpatients observed in Young Adult Unit of our Psychiatry Department (Coimbra Hospital and University Centre – Portugal) and its relation with substance use.

Socio-demographic characterization of youth psychiatric outpatients observed during between 1st January 2015 and 31st July 2016. Portuguese versions of The Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST) and The World Health Organization Quality of Life scale (WHOQOL-BREF) were administered. A Spearman correlation coefficient between ASSIST and WHOQOL-BREF scores was calculated.

A total of 255 outpatients were observed: 64.3% females and 35.7% males; ages between 17 and 39 years old. ASSIST and WHOQOL-BREF were administered in 57 patients. Average ASSIST total score was 16.81 (median: 13.50), with tobacco and alcohol scoring higher. Average WHOQOL-BREF total was 13.74 (median: 13.67), with physical and psychological domains scoring less. We found a significant negative correlation between WHOQOL-BREF physical domain and ASSIST tobacco scores; and between WHOQOL-BREF social domain and ASSIST sedatives score.

Quality of life is influenced by several factors. Studies showed that consumers of psychoactive substances have lower WHOQOL-BREF scores than nonusers. In our sample, we did not find a significant correlation between global quality of life and different substances. This may be due to existence of low consumption of substances in the sample as well as the existence of other factors that might have influenced quality of life.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Portuguese young adults (15–34 years old) were more frequent engaged in substance abuse (1.2%) than the general population, according to the Portuguese substance use annual report (2014). Alcohol was the most frequent substance use on youth adults. Cannabis was the most frequent illicit substance used (23.9% of users were considered dependent), with higher prevalence than previously reported. LSD (0.4%) use was also higher among young adults than in previous studies. Cocaine (0.4%), heroine/opiates (0.4%), ecstasy (0.3%), and hallucinogenic mushrooms (1.1%) had their consumption lowered among young adults.

To characterize a population of young adult psychiatric outpatients, regarding substance use and associated risk.

Socio-demographic characterization of our young adult unit outpatient users between 1st January 2015–31st July 2016. Substance use was assessed with the Portuguese version of Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST).

A total of 255 outpatients were observed during the timeframe; 58 outpatients were assessed with ASSIST: 44 females (75.9%) and 14 males (24.1%), aged between 16–33 years old (average: 20.95; median: 19.50). For tobacco, 3.5% had high risk, 37.9% moderate risk and 58.6% low risk; 22.4% had moderate risk of alcohol, 13.8% moderate risk of cannabis, and 20.7% moderate risk of tranquilizers. For others substances (cocaine, stimulants, inhalants, hallucinogens, and opiates) the risk was low.

In our sample, alcohol and cannabis use had the highest risk, as reported in the National Annual Report; however, we observed a moderate risk for tranquilizers use. In future care planning, youth mental health should address tobacco and alcohol abstinence, and preventive measures regarding anxiolytics should be undertaken, such as banning sale without medical prescription.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

University students represent a specific population with concerns, burdens and worries that differ from other age and occupation groups. Students’ experiences are often exciting and empowering, yet facing multiple stressors that may trigger various forms of psychopathology. Our psychiatry department created a specific liaison service for university students in order to provide an easy and quick access to this medical speciality, included at the Multidisciplinary University Medical Services.

To characterize a sample of college student users of our Psychiatry Liaison Unit regarding socio-demographic and clinic variables.

Socio-demographic and clinic characterization was undertaken in all students observed during sixteen months (1st April 2015–30th July 2016).

Fifty-three outpatients were observed: 35 females (66%) and 18 males (34%), aged between 18 and 39 years old (average: 23.94; median: 23). The majority was Portuguese and lived originally in urban areas. A total of75.3% were displaced and 60% lived with colleagues while 84.9% attended an undergraduate degree, and 38% studied at faculty of Science and Technology. Clinically, 79.2% were referenced by the University Medical Services, and adjustment disorders (ICD-10 F43.2) were the most frequent diagnosis. Relatively to suicidal behaviors and self-harm, 5.7% did self-cutting, 49.1% took an antidepressant combined with another psychotropic drugs, and 81.1% maintained cognitive-behavioral interventions.

The typical university students’ psychiatry outpatient was of female gender, in an undergraduate degree, displaced and living without their family. The most frequent diagnosis was adjustment disorder, and about a quarter were successfully discharged. Multidisciplinary University Medical Services located near to students can easily refer patients to Psychiatry Liaison Units, allowing diagnosis and intervention at early stages of mental disease.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Although being highly consensual that antipsychotic adherence is an important outcome predictor in psychosis, existing reviews have found mean rates of adherence around 40–60%. Several aspects, such as patient-related, medication-related, environmental-related variables have been described as important predictors.

This study aim is to develop, administer and present preliminary psychometric properties of a new scale for antipsychotic medication adherence that includes different types of predictors (clinical, psychosocial, and practical among others).

The “AMAS” was developed by a multidisciplinary team and was based on recent research on factors influencing antipsychotic adherence. The scale evolved from multiple drafts and experts were contacted in order to improve the final version. Over 50 patients with a diagnosis of a psychotic-spectrum disorder taking antipsychotic medication will be assessed with the “AMAS” and the Medication Adherence Rating Scale. Additionally, each patient's psychiatrist will fill in a form with demographic and clinical variables (such as type of symptoms, previous adherence problems, current adherence, insight and other relevant variables).

This is an ongoing study and the sample is still being collected (scheduled finish date: February/2016). Our statistical analysis’ plan includes: reliability analysis (Chronbach's alpha, alpha if item deleted, inter item correlations and covariances and item-total correlations); validity (convergent validity); factorial analysis.

It is hypothesized that the “AMAS” will be a practical, reliable and valid unidimentional instrument with clinical utility assessing adherence to antipsychotics. The “AMAS” can be also useful in assessing intervention targets (e.g. psychoterapeutical, psychoeducational) to enhance adherence.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.