A Relação Médico-Paciente (RMP) vai além do encontro situacional entre esses dois intérpretes, algo maior do que fazer perguntas e exames físicos, receitar medicamentos e prescrever condutas. Estudos sugerem que a RMP mescla habilidades técnicas e pessoais. Frente ao dissabor de atuações médicas homogeneizantes que ignoram a pessoalidade intrínseca de cada vivente, a empatia surge de forma prática na RMP para promover grandes avanços diametralmente opostos a estas práticas. Empatia, no contexto médico, remete à sensibilização do médico pelas mudanças sentidas e refletidas, momento a momento, pelo paciente. Talvez a empatia encontre seu significado mais compreensível na célebre frase de Ambroise Paré: "curar ocasionalmente, aliviar frequentemente e consolar sempre". Considerando que a empatia pode enriquecer a prática médica, pode-se cogitar a possibilidade de ensinar a ser empá tico ou discutir a importância da empatia sob a ótica de docentes do curso de Medicina. Para isto, este artigo aborda, de maneira qualitativa, a empatia e sua importância na RMP para a formação de novos médicos numa universidade pública e discute sua transmissibilidade.

No artigo, interrogamos o conceito de medicalização, explorando as possibilidades abertas pelos escritos de Michel Foucault. A partir desse referencial, buscamos analisar a Medicina enquanto uma estratégia de saber e poder que responde a múltiplos e variados interesses em disputa no campo social. Realizamos breve levantamento sobre algumas concepções centrais concernentes à tradição crítica do fenômeno da medicalização e procuramos, sob a influência dos estudos arqueogenealógicos foucaultianos, repensar algumas dessas afirmações. Dialogamos, complementarmente, com autores que vêm realizando, no Brasil e no exterior, um esforço de reflexão crítica sobre a medicalização, discutindo, entre outros, o uso genérico do conceito, seu caráter produtivo, a inexistência de um sentido a priori e a atualização do fenômeno nos dias atuais através da proposição do conceito de biomedicalização. Concluímos destacando a existência de uma multiplicidade de leituras e formulações sobre o conceito de medicalização, reconhecendo no interior dessas vertentes de conhecimento fortalezas e fragilidades que devem ser amplamente discutidas e analisadas, buscando maior precisão teórica, necessária para se evitar equívocos e potencializar o uso do conceito.

Here we present the last of a series of four interviews with English sociologist Nikolas Rose. We explore central aspects of the recently published work entitled “Our Psychiatric Future: politics of Mental Health policies”, which has as background issues and problems that we consider absolutely relevant for facing the complex and difficult challenges posed to the implementation of Brazilian Public Health system and to the reform of Mental Health in our country. In this interview, we seek to discuss with the author: psychiatry as a (bio)politics; the ‘epidemics’ of mental disorders’; the role and consequences of psychiatric diagnostic practice in defining what is defined as mental disorder or illness; the use and abuse of psychiatric drugs in the contemporary; strengths and weaknesses of discursive psychiatric practices in ‘developed’ countries; limits and possibilities of users’ participation in Mental Health.

Priapism is a urological emergency that results in a penile or clitoral engorgement, having several triggers by the use of medications, including psychiatric drugs, such as antipsychotics and antidepressants. The most common priapism presentation is the ischemic type that can result in the fibrosis of corporus cavernosus, with a significant risk of persistent erectile dysfunction. It is believed that, in the case of antipsychotic use, priapism is mediated by an imbalance in alpha-1-adrenergic blocking, with large variation affinity for alpha-1-adrenergic receptors among antipsychotics. This case report contributes to the study of this rare but severe side effect. Priapism can limit both treatment adherence and the reproductive future of our patients. We describe a case report of a patient with a delusional hypochondriac syndrome who had multiple priapism episodes using clozapine 50 mg/daily. In conclusion, we make brief comments on priapism management, a hard clinical dilemma.

Relevant emotional and behavioural reactions are associated with diagnosis and treatment of hepatitis C that can impair adherence to medical management. Hepatitis C accounts for significant number of both – liver transplants and deaths. Treatment has as major component the interferon alpha, and many of patients can experience side effects that often lead to non-adherence to drug treatment and dose modification.ObjectiveTo discuss psychological meanings attributed to IFN alpha treatment's side effects and its symbolic relation with adherence or not to treatment, on viewpoint of interviewed outpatients at a Hepatitis Service.MethodData collection was conducted using the Clinical-Qualitative Method, utilizing semi-directed interviews with open-ended questions in depth, fully transcribed. Qualitative Content Analysis employed for processing data, emerging meaning cores, with categorization into discussion topics. Sample closed by information saturation.ResultsNine interviews. The analysis revealed:– coping attitude - handling the disease to have willpower; a moral feeling regarding the need to overcome the disease and treatment side effects to demonstrate “strength”, as well as to deny psychologically the occurrence of side effects;– disruptive attitude: reports of anxiety regarding to patients presenting neuropsychiatric symptoms by medication;– realistic attitude: speeches show perception of natural evolution and treatment real function.ConclusionGuilt feelings emerged regarding to difficulties of being loyal to treatment, a strongly valorative speech on being ill what must lead to “overcome the evils of life”. Health teams must understand these meanings to talk openly about human feelings on illness and treatment, promoting an adequate adherence.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.