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Os problemas de saúde mental estão entre os que mais contribuem para o aumento de incapacidades em todo o mundo, com maior repercussão em países de baixa renda. Os transtornos psiquiátricos ocasionam ainda um impacto no indivíduo e podem levar ao isolamento, à improdutividade nas atividades da vida adulta e a questões com implicações jurídicas e violência. Estas dificuldades, geralmente estão associadas a presença dos problemas adaptativos decorrentes tanto de alterações comportamentais quanto cognitivas. Neste contexto, se insere a tomada de decisão que depende de uso competente de processos cognitivos e emocionais que tornam as pessoas aptas a atender diferentes tipos de demandas sociais. No Transtorno Bipolar (TB) é comum dificuldades em tomada de decisão em função dos déficits cognitivos que esses pacientes apresentam. O presente trabalho visa verificar prejuízos na tomada de decisão e se estes afetariam a capacidade decisória para atos da vida civil em pacientes com TB. Foi utilizado um protocolo de avaliação neuropsicológica com foco na capacidade de tomada de decisão composta por: subtestes da Escala Wechsler de Inteligência Abreviada (WASI) - Vocabulário e Matrizes; Continuous Performance Test (CPT); Teste dos cinco dígitos (FDT); Figura complexa de Rey e Iwoa Gambling Task (IGT). A amostra foi composta por 72 participantes, sendo 22 pacientes em episódio, 21 pacientes eutímicos e 29 não pacientes (pessoas sem histórico de doença psiquiátrica prévia). Resultados: Pacientes eutímicos apresentam lentificação em relação aos não clínicos e expressam mais respostas impulsivas no CPT (p

Recent literature emphasizes how the specific stressors of the COVID-19 outbreak affect the general population and frontline professionals, including those conducting support or backup activities in health units, which can lead to vicarious traumatization. Vicarious traumatization has been used to describe negative emotional reactions in mental health professionals who assist or treat victims of traumatic events. Thus, the aim of this article is to report the actions used in the face of the psychological demands of professionals in a hospital, who were not on the frontline of COVID-19. We collected their sociodemographic information and checked the psychological impact using the depression, anxiety, and stress scale (DASS-21), which was followed by a psychoeducational program (topics related to COVID-19 control and prevention), and individual psychological care for the most severe cases. A total of 118 professionals participated in this study; they were between 20 and 67 years old. Mild to moderate anxiety was observed in 36.5% of the medical teams, 83.3% of the administrative staff, and 65.7% of general service workers, while stress symptoms were observed in 80.2%, 83.3%, and 59.9%, respectively. Depressive symptoms (35.3%) were more frequent in general service workers. The medical teams reported the benefits of primary psychological care, while the other professionals demanded more institutional support services related to the prevention and use of personal protective equipment. This study highlights relevant psychological demands that have repercussions on the daily lives of professionals. The psychoeducational program was considered positive regarding clarification actions. However, it was not perceived as effective in reducing fear, which may result from vicarious traumatization and requires other intervention modalities. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s41155-021-00204-w.

Sexual abuse (SA) is associated with significant psychological problems in childhood, making it increasingly important to develop evaluation protocols. This study examined clinical aspects and cognitive measures of 49 children (24 with SA history and 25 controls). It employed a SA assessment questionnaire, clinical evaluations of posttraumatic stress disorder, risk indicators and neuropsychological tests in order to elaborate a specific forensic psychological evaluation protocol for this population. Conflicting couples (80%), separated parents (68%) and parents’ alcohol/drug abuse (76%) were revealed as major risk factors. Fathers represented the primary perpetrator (24%). The main cognitive complaint was difficulty concentrating. Regarding the association between clinical and cognitive variables, it was observed that children who were anxious or referred to having fear, difficulties with operational memory and difficulty sleeping, had more trouble performing tasks that required attention and memory (operational, immediate and late). Children with SA history demonstrated inferior performance in visual attention/task switching and memory; with an emphasis in the loss of set in the Wisconsin test. The findings suggest the possibility of a primary attention deficit in children with SA history, possibly influencing the performance of other cognitive functions., Child sexual abuse; attention deficit; cognitive performance; clinical aspects; forensic psychology; Applied Psychology; Health Psychology; Clinical Psychology; Mental Health; Psychological Disorders; Child Development; Cognitive Psychology

The COVID-19 pandemic has become one of the main international concerns regarding its impact on mental health. The present study aims to investigate the prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms, and behavioral aspects amidst the COVID-19 pandemic in a Brazilian population. An online survey was administered from May 22 to June 5, 2020 using a questionnaire comprising of sociodemographic information, the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21), and the Coping Strategies Inventory. Participants comprised 3,000 people from Brazil’s 26 states and the Federal District, with an average age of 39.8 years, women (83%), married (50.6%), graduates (70.1%) and employees (46.7%). Some contracted the virus (6.4%) and had dead friends or relatives (22.7%). There was more consumption of drugs, tobacco, medication, and food (40.8%). Almost half of participants expressed symptoms of depression (46.4%), anxiety (39.7%), and stress (42.2%). These were higher in women, people without children, students, patients with chronic diseases, and people who had contact with others diagnosed with COVID-19. The existence of a group more vulnerable to situations with a high stress burden requires greater attention regarding mental health during and after the pandemic. That said, it should be emphasized that these findings are preliminary and portray a moment still being faced by many people amid the pandemic and quarantine measures. Therefore, we understand that the magnitude of the impacts on mental health will only be more specific with continuous studies after total relaxation of the quarantine.

Background Issues related to the field of mental health and justice require a multifactorial understanding of the possible causes of such issues. Objective To conduct an integrative literature review of controlled studies describing forensic neuropsychological assessment. Methods The articles were compiled and analyzed in two phases: 1) first, we retrieved all papers in PubMed by the keywords “Forensic Neuropsychology” and generated a growth curve for the subject and a cluster-based thematic distribution of publications. 2) We then conducted a curated analysis of all relevant papers indexed in Medline, PubMed and ISI, between 2000 and 2012. Results The evolution of the field during the last 15 years reveals an unstable growth pattern and three main thematic clusters. In terms of our curated analysis, a total of 390 articles were pre-selected, resulting in the selection of 44 fully-relevant studies, which comprise four main categories: cognitive damage in forensic psychiatric patients; imitation of cognitive damage; civil capacity, penal liability and violence risk; and validation of neuropsychological assessment tools. Discussion Two aspects appeared as the most relevant in this study: growth in the use of neuropsychological assessment as a diagnostic tool in the forensic context; and the necessity to enhance conformity in assessments.

INTRODUÇÃO: A reinserção do indivíduo na sociedade, após ele ter cometido um ato anti-social, iniciou-se com o Iluminismo. Atualmente várias pesquisas têm sido realizadas para se verificar a eficácia de trabalhos de reinserção social para criminosos. Entretanto na realidade brasileira não existem trabalhos sistematizados para a população prisional. Como decorrência disto, pensou-se em sistematizar uma intervenção terapêutica para prevenção de reincidência penitenciária e verificar sua eficácia. MÉTODOS: A terapia cognitivo-comportamental para prevenção à reincidência penitenciária é composta por 10 sessões estruturadas. O grupo de sujeitos foi formado por sentenciados, que cumpriam pena no regime semi-aberto, presos, no mínimo, pela segunda vez (reincidentes penitenciários); o tempo máximo de pena que teriam que cumprir deveria ser inferior a quinze anos e já deveriam ter cumprido tempo suficiente para requisitar progressão de regime. Os 43 sujeitos que iniciaram a pesquisa foram divididos em dois grupos grupo de trabalho e grupo controle. Foram feitas entrevistas e aplicações de escalas antes e depois da intervenção. RESULTADOS: Como resultado do trabalho não se percebeu diferença estatisticamente significativa entre os sujeitos que estavam no grupo de trabalho e no grupo controle em relação a reincidência penitenciária. Em relação às escalas aplicadas, os sentenciados que terminaram o programa apresentaram um escore maior no Questionário de Pensamentos Automáticos, comparado com aqueles que desistiram. Os que concluíram a pesquisa e estava no grupo de trabalho percebemos que o Programa de Prevenção a Reincidência Penitenciária reduz o medo de avaliação negativa. Os que estavam no grupo controle apresentaram um decréscimo na Escala de Estresse e Fuga Social. Após 12 meses de intervenção, entre os sentenciados que iniciaram a pesquisa, os reincidentes mostraram uma tendência a ter um escore menor no Questionário de auto-estima antes da intervenção. Os reincidentes que estavam no grupo de trabalho apresentaram uma tendência a já terem cumprido mais tempo de suas penas e os do grupo controle, uma tendência a ter um escore menor na Escala de Medo de Avaliação Negativa antes do início do programa e um escore menor na escala de Estresse e Fuga Social depois da intervenção. Entre os sentenciados que terminaram o programa e reincidiram, pôdese perceber que a intervenção causou uma redução nos resultados no escore da Escala de Estresse e Fuga Social e uma tendência em diminuir o escore no Questionário de Pensamentos Automáticos. Dentre os não reincidentes existe uma diminuição no escore da Escala de Medo de Avaliação Negativa depois do programa; os que estavam no grupo de trabalho, apresentaram uma tendência de redução do medo de avaliação negativa e os que estavam no grupo controle apresentaram uma diminuição no escore da escala de estresse e fuga social. CONCLUSÕES: A partir deste estudo pôde-se notar que a terapia cognitiva para prevenção à reincidência penitenciária, apesar de apresentar alguns resultados positivos diminuição do medo de avaliação negativa e uma discreta redução na taxa acumulada de reincidência penitenciária daqueles que concluíram o programa - necessita ser revisto e reformulado. INTRODUCTION: The idea of rehabilitating individuals after they have committed an antisocial act came about during the Enlightenment. Nowadays, a lot of researches have been done to realize the efficacy of offenders social rehabilitation. However, in Brazil don´t exist studies systematized for prison population. As a result of this a therapeutic intervention for prevention of prison recidivism was systematized. METHODS: The technique used in this program is cognitive-behavioral therapy, composed of 10 structured meetings. The group of subjects in the study comprehended 43 inmates (20 of them from the control group and 23 from the experimental group) who served their terms in medium security prisons, and who were serving, at least, their second term. A directed interview and some questionnaires or scales were applied both before and after the program. Results: Regarding re-offense, when we compare accumulated monthly rate, we cannot see statistic difference neither of all the subjects that started the program or those that finished the program. Based on analysis of the data collected it can be asserted that: the Penitentiary Re-offense Prevention Program reduces the fear of negative evaluation; participants in the control group had a decreased score in the Stress and Social Escape Scale; inmates who finished the program had a greater score in the Automatic Thoughts Questionnaire, a greater fear of a negative evaluation at the beginning of the program and a greater score in the Stress and Social Escape Scale. Subjects that re-offended at least one year after the end of the program showed a tendency to have a lower score in the Self-esteem Scale before the intervention. Those who were in the control group and re-offended showed tendency to have lower fear of a negative evaluation before the beginning of the program and had the lowest score rate in the Stress and Social Escape Scale, following the program. For inmates who finished the program and re-offense, the intervention caused a decrease on the results of the score in the Stress and Social Escape Scale, and a trend towards a decrease in the Questionnaire on Automatic Thoughts. Among the non-re-offenders there is a noticeable trend in reducing negative evaluation after the program. The non-re-offenders who were members of the experimental group showed a tendency to have a lower score in fear of a negative evaluation scale. CONCLUSION: From this study it was noted that cognitive therapy for preventing of prison recidivism, although they had some positive results, such as reducing the fear of negative evaluation needs to be revised and recast.

CONTEXTO: A relação entre transtorno mental e histórico de abuso sexual é frequentemente observada na prática clínica e relatada na literatura. OBJETIVO: Descrever os dados demográficos e os aspectos emocionais e comportamentais em crianças e adolescentes vítimas de abuso sexual. MÉTODO: 205 crianças e adolescentes com idade entre 6 e 14 anos, sendo 130 meninas (9,6 ± 3,4 anos) e 75 meninos (7,2 ± 2,9 anos) vítimas de abuso sexual passaram por avaliação psicológica e psiquiátrica individual no período de 2005 a 2009. As variáveis estudadas foram: gênero, faixa etária, grau de relação da vítima com o perpetrador, aspectos psicológicos, dados psiquiátricos, aspectos comportamentais e afetivo-emocionais (culpa, vergonha, medo, insegurança, percepção da figura masculina e feminina e de si em relação ao ambiente). RESULTADOS: As meninas são as maiores vítimas (63,4%). A faixa etária de maior risco para as meninas é entre 7 e 10 anos de idade (48,5%), enquanto para os meninos é de 3 a 6 anos (54,6%). Os pais são os maiores perpetradores do abuso sexual (38%), seguidos do padrasto (29%). Meninos e meninas expressaram elevada frequência para depressão e transtorno de estresse pós-traumático (TEPT). As meninas expressam comportamento mais erotizado, enquanto os meninos ficam mais isolados. CONCLUSÃO: Este estudo permitiu identificar uma parcela relevante de aspectos psicológicos, psiquiátricos e comportamentais, os quais podem afetar de forma impactante o desenvolvimento emocional de crianças e adolescentes. BACKGROUND: There is a well known relationship between sexual abuse in children and mental health disorders, which is seen both in clinical practice as in the scientific literature. OBJECTIVE: To describe demographic profile as well as behavioral and emotional features of a cohort of children and adolescents sexually abused. MÉTODO: 205 children and adolescent, ranging from 6 to 14 years old, 130 girls (age 9.6 ± 3.4 yo) and 75 boys (age 7.2 ± 2.9 yo) were evaluated due to being victims of sexual abuse between the years 2005 and 2009. Gender, age, relationship with the perpetrator, psychological and psychiatric symptoms, behavioral and affective-emotional features (blame, shame, fearfulness, male and female figures image and self perception) were all properly evaluated. RESULTS: Girls were the main victims (63.4%). The riskier age ranging from 7 to 10 yo (48.5%) among then, and from 3 to 6 yo (54.6%) for the boys. Fathers are the major perpetrators (38%) followed by step-fathers (29%). Boys and girls show high risk for depression and Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. Girls tend to be more sexualized whilst boys tend to isolate themselves. DISCUSSION: This research allowed to identify an important set of psychological, psychiatric and behavioral characteristics that affect the normal emotional development of children and adolescents.

CONTEXTO: A prática de abuso sexual contra crianças é um fenômeno universal. Ela ocorre em todos os tempos e lugares e atinge todas as classes socioeconômicas. Enquanto a maioria dos estudos investiga as vítimas, os poucos estudos sobre agressores se concentram principalmente em dados demográficos. OBJETIVO: Apresentar revisão da literatura quanto à classificação de molestadores sexuais de crianças, de acordo com o perfil psicológico e comportamental. MÉTODOS: Revisão da literatura e discussão do material utilizado. RESULTADOS: Apresentação das principais classificações dos criminosos sexuais contra crianças, identificando as tipologias mais utilizadas com suas possíveis contribuições à psiquiatria e à psicologia forense. CONCLUSÃO: A utilização do perfil psicológico em crimes sexuais é de fundamental relevância no contexto médico-legal, mas ainda carece de bases científicas mais sólidas.BACKGROUND: Sexual violence against children is a universal problem, occurring since ever, everywhere and regardless the socio-economic status. Whist most studies have been dedicated to the victim of such crime, there is little information regarding their perpetrators, which is largely limited to the description of demographic data. OBJECTIVE: Review the literature regarding children sexual aggressors according to psychological and behavioral profile. METHODS: Literature review and discussion. RESULTS: Presentation of the major classifications of offenders, pointing out the most widely used ones and the implications to forensic psychiatry and psychology. CONCLUSION: The psychological and behavioral profile use is very important for medico-legal practice, but still needs better scientific validation.

CONTEXTO: A alta prevalência de indivíduos dependentes de álcool estimula a realização de estudos que ampliem o entendimento de seus efeitos sobre o organismo. OBJETIVO: O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a preservação e prejuí­zo de funções neuropsicológicas em um caso de dependência alcoólica. Trata-se de estudo de caso de um alcoolista em tratamento medicamentoso no Hospital das Clínicas da Universidade de São Paulo, que declarava encontrar-se abstêmio desde o início do tratamento há cerca de um ano. MÉTODOS: Os instrumentos utilizados neste estudo foram entrevistas e testes neuropsicológicos (WAIS-III, Figura de Rey e WRAML-II). RESULTADOS: Os resultados das funções visuomotoras, praxia construtiva, memórias visual e verbal e capacidade de aprendizagem apresentaram graves prejuízos. O paciente teve um desempenho ligeiramente melhor, embora ainda rebaixado, em linguagem, aritmética e memória para sentenças curtas. A atenção imediata teve resultado dentro da normalidade, dado consistente com achados anteriores. O resultado no Subteste Semelhanças reforça evidências da capacidade de generalização em indivíduos dependentes de álcool. CONCLUSÃO: Conclui-se que os dados obtidos são consistentes com a literatura atual que apontam graves prejuízos na memória e funções visuomotoras paralelamente a manutenção da atenção e capacidade de generalização.BACKGROUND: The high prevalence of alcohol dependence asks for a better comprehension of its effects on the organism. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate prejudice and preservation of neuropsychological functions of alcohol dependence. It is presented a case report of a patient under drug treatment in Hospital das Clínicas da Universidade de São Paulo. The patient declared abstinence since the beginning of the treatment, about one year ago. METHODS: Interviews and neuropsycological tests (WAIS-III, Figure of Rey and WRAML-II). RESULTS: The results indicated serious damages in visuomotor functions, constructive praxia, visual and verbal memory and capacity of learning. The patient had a slightly better performance in language, arithmetic and memory for short sentences, even though still below averaged. The immediate attention had resulted normal, consistent with previous findings. The result in the Sub-test Similarities reinforces the generalization capacity of alcohol dependents. CONCLUSION: The data had been compatible with literature that points severe prejudice in memory and visuo-motor functions even with preserved attention and generalization habilities.

Objective: To study the efficacy of cognitive rehabilitation combined with acetylcholinesterase inhibitor (AChE-I) treatment in patients with mild Alzheimer's disease and their relatives. Method: Thirteen patients with mild Alzheimer's disease treated with rivastigmine 6-12 mg/day for more than two months started cognitive rehabilitation training. Before and after the cognitive rehabilitation training patients were assessed through cognitive tests, activities of daily living scale, neuropsychological battery and scales to evaluate caregivers' depressive and anxiety symptoms. Six patients were randomized to a combined treatment group (AChE-I plus cognitive rehabilitation and caregiver support) and seven patients to a control group (AChE-I only) and followed up for five months. Results: Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores (p=0.047) and backward digit span scores (p=0.018) were significantly different between the groups on follow-up. The combined treatment group showed a better positive treatment effect on cognitive and neuropsychological tests applied to patients and reduction of psychiatric symptoms was observed in their caregivers (nonsignificant). Conclusion: Cognitive rehabilitation associated with AChE-I treatment can potentially be useful to stabilize or improve cognitive and functional performance of patients with mild Alzheimer's disease and can reduce caregivers' psychiatric symptoms.

Ten structured meetings of cognitive-behavioral therapy for relapse prevention were applied with prison inmates. The project had the participation of 28 subjects, divided into a work group and control group (15 and 13 subjects respectively), who were evaluated before and after the intervention. There was no significant difference in reoffending. Despite this, the program reduced the fear of negative evaluation (especially among non-reoffenders) and the Social Stress and Escape Scale score. After one year, reoffenders had lower scores in the Social Stress and Escape Scale and a tendency to have higher scores in the Dysfunctional Attitude Scale. Dez sessões de terapia cognitivo-comportamental visando prevenir à reincidência penitenciária foram desenvolvidas para a população prisional. O projeto teve a participação de 28 sujeitos, divididos em grupo de trabalho e grupo controle (15 e 13 sujeitos, respectivamente), que foram avaliados antes e depois da intervenção. Não houve diferença significativa na reincidência. Apesar disto, a terapia cognitivo-comportamental reduziu o medo de avaliação negativa (principalmente entre os não reincidentes) e o escore na Escala de Estresse e Fuga Social. Após um ano, os reincidentes apresentaram resultados mais baixos na Escala de Estresse e Fuga Social e uma tendência a apresentar escores mais elevados na Escala de Atitudes Disfuncionais.

CONTEXTO: A prática de abuso sexual contra crianças é um fenômeno universal. Ela ocorre em todos os tempos e lugares e atinge todas as classes socioeconômicas. Enquanto a maioria dos estudos investiga as vítimas, os poucos estudos sobre agressores se concentram principalmente em dados demográficos. OBJETIVO: Apresentar revisão da literatura quanto à classificação de molestadores sexuais de crianças, de acordo com o perfil psicológico e comportamental. MÉTODOS: Revisão da literatura e discussão do material utilizado. RESULTADOS: Apresentação das principais classificações dos criminosos sexuais contra crianças, identificando as tipologias mais utilizadas com suas possíveis contribuições à psiquiatria e à psicologia forense. CONCLUSÃO: A utilização do perfil psicológico em crimes sexuais é de fundamental relevância no contexto médico-legal, mas ainda carece de bases científicas mais sólidas. BACKGROUND: Sexual violence against children is a universal problem, occurring since ever, everywhere and regardless the socio-economic status. Whist most studies have been dedicated to the victim of such crime, there is little information regarding their perpetrators, which is largely limited to the description of demographic data. OBJECTIVE: Review the literature regarding children sexual aggressors according to psychological and behavioral profile. METHODS: Literature review and discussion. RESULTS: Presentation of the major classifications of offenders, pointing out the most widely used ones and the implications to forensic psychiatry and psychology. CONCLUSION: The psychological and behavioral profile use is very important for medico-legal practice, but still needs better scientific validation.

CONTEXTO: A alta prevalência de indivíduos dependentes de álcool estimula a realização de estudos que ampliem o entendimento de seus efeitos sobre o organismo. OBJETIVO: O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a preservação e prejuízo de funções neuropsicológicas em um caso de dependência alcoólica. Trata-se de estudo de caso de um alcoolista em tratamento medicamentoso no Hospital das Clínicas da Universidade de São Paulo, que declarava encontrar-se abstêmio desde o início do tratamento há cerca de um ano. MÉTODOS: Os instrumentos utilizados neste estudo foram entrevistas e testes neuropsicológicos (WAIS-III, Figura de Rey e WRAML-II). RESULTADOS: Os resultados das funções visuomotoras, praxia construtiva, memórias visual e verbal e capacidade de aprendizagem apresentaram graves prejuízos. O paciente teve um desempenho ligeiramente melhor, embora ainda rebaixado, em linguagem, aritmética e memória para sentenças curtas. A atenção imediata teve resultado dentro da normalidade, dado consistente com achados anteriores. O resultado no Subteste Semelhanças reforça evidências da capacidade de generalização em indivíduos dependentes de álcool. CONCLUSÃO: Conclui-se que os dados obtidos são consistentes com a literatura atual que apontam graves prejuízos na memória e funções visuomotoras paralelamente a manutenção da atenção e capacidade de generalização. BACKGROUND: The high prevalence of alcohol dependence asks for a better comprehension of its effects on the organism. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate prejudice and preservation of neuropsychological functions of alcohol dependence. It is presented a case report of a patient under drug treatment in Hospital das Clínicas da Universidade de São Paulo. The patient declared abstinence since the beginning of the treatment, about one year ago. METHODS: Interviews and neuropsycological tests (WAIS-III, Figure of Rey and WRAML-II). RESULTS: The results indicated serious damages in visuomotor functions, constructive praxia, visual and verbal memory and capacity of learning. The patient had a slightly better performance in language, arithmetic and memory for short sentences, even though still below averaged. The immediate attention had resulted normal, consistent with previous findings. The result in the Sub-test Similarities reinforces the generalization capacity of alcohol dependents. CONCLUSION: The data had been compatible with literature that points severe prejudice in memory and visuo-motor functions even with preserved attention and generalization habilities.

This study aims to show preliminary results of the 'combined treatment' (acetylcholinesterase inhibitor + cognitive training) on a group of mild Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients, followed-up for 7 months.Six mild AD patients, diagnosed according to ICD-10 and NINCDS-ADRDA criteria, were included on a open trial with Rivastigmine, 6-12 mg/day, for 2 months, followed by a weekly cognitive rehabilitation group, for 5 months. Caregivers were submitted to a weekly group of counseling and support for 5 months.Stabilization or mild improvement of patients' cognitive and activities of daily living deficits were found, besides reduction of patients and caregivers' depressive and anxiety levels.The 'combined treatment' can help on the stabilization or result on a mild improvement of AD patients' cognitive and functional deficits. Support and counseling interventions can reduce the levels of caregivers' psychiatric symptoms.