The aim of the present investigation was to study the prevalence of psychiatric disorders in a sample of delinquent adolescents of both genders and to compare the prevalence between genders. A total of 116 adolescents (99 males and 17 females) aged 12 to 19 on parole in the State of Rio de Janeiro were interviewed using the screening interview based on the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Age Children -Present and Lifetime (KSADS-PL). Data were collected between May 2002 and January 2003. Of 373 male and 58 female adolescents present in May 2002 in the largest institution that gives assistance to adolescents on parole in the city of Rio de Janeiro, 119 subjects were assessed (three of them refused to participate). Their average age was 16.5 years with no difference between genders. The screening interview was positive for psychopathology for most of the sample, with the frequencies of the suggested more prevalent psychiatric disorders being 54% for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, 77% for conduct disorder, 41% for oppositional defiant disorder, 57% for anxiety disorder 57, 60% for depressive disorder 60, 63% for illicit drug abuse, and 58% for regular alcohol use. Internalizing disorders (depressive disorders, anxiety disorders and phobias) were more prevalent in the female subsample. There was no significant difference in the prevalence of illicit drug abuse between genders. There were more male than female adolescents on parole and failure to comply with the sentence was significantly more frequent in females. The high prevalence of psychopathology suggested by this study indicates the need for psychiatric treatment as part of the prevention of juvenile delinquency or as part of the sentence. However, treatment had never been available for 93% of the sample in this study.

Cresce no Brasil a prevalência de jovens infratores, principalmente do gênero feminino. A literatura aponta para prevalências aumentadas de transtornos mentais entre esses jovens em vários países, mas no Brasil faltam estudos. O objetivo é avaliar a prevalência de transtornos mentais em adolescentes sob medida socioeducativa, considerando como hipótese sua diferença entre gêneros com base no tipo de delito cometido. O instrumento usado foi o K-SADS-PL. Como resultados, alta prevalência de transtornos psiquiátricos entre adolescentes infratores, sendo os mais prevalentes: transtorno de déficit de atenção com hiperatividade (33%), transtorno da conduta (77%), transtorno desafiador opositivo (50%), transtornos de ansiedade (70%), transtorno depressivo (50%), abuso de drogas ilícitas (70%) e abuso de álcool (52%). O abuso de álcool aumentou em 2,4 vezes a chance de um adolescente cometer delito violento. Esses dados sugerem às autoridades em saúde pública que tanto a detecção quanto o tratamento precoce de transtornos psiquiátricos na infância podem ajudar na prevenção de atos infratores. Sugerem também que o tratamento em saúde mental dos jovens sob custódia da lei deve ser parte fundamental da recuperação e da ressocialização deles.

Our results indicate that the programs must include treatment of adults and education of parents and parents to be. Withdrawal of treatment occurs in the first month, and seems to be related to factors extrinsic to the adolescent. Substance misuse. Adolescent. Treatment.

Introduction:The internet has proven to be a valuable resource for self-care, allowing access to information and promoting interaction between professionals, caregivers, users of health care services and people interested in health information. However, recurring searches are often related to excessive health anxiety and a phenomenon known as cyberchondria can have impacts on physical and mental health. Within this background, a Cyberchondria Severity Scale has been developed to differentiate healthy and unhealthy behavior in internet searches for health information, based on the following criteria: compulsion, distress, excesses, and trust and distrust of health professionals. Objective: To conduct cross-cultural adaptation of the Cyberchondria Severity Scale for Brazilian Portuguese, because of the lack of an appropriate instrument for Brazil. Methods: This study was authorized by the original author of the scale. The process was divided into the following four steps: 1) initial translation, 2) back-translation, 3) development of a synthesized version, and 4) experimental application. Results: Translation into Brazilian Portuguese required some idiomatic expressions to be adapted. In some cases, words were not literally translated from English into Portuguese. Only items 7, 8, 12, 23 and 27 were altered, as a means of both conforming to proper grammar conventions and achieving easy comprehension. The items were rewritten without loss of the original content. Conclusion: This paper presents a translated version of the Cyberchondria Severity Scale that has been semantically adapted for the Brazilian population, providing a basis for future studies in this area, which should in turn contribute to improved understanding of the cyberchondria phenomenon in this population.

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