Amelia Dias Teixeira & Paulo Belmonte-de-Abreu Author Details: 1st: Postgraduate Program in Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences ...
Amelia Dias Teixeira & Paulo Belmonte-de-Abreu
2nd: Postgraduate Program in Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Brazil1, Full Professor of the Department of Psychiatry and Forensic Medicine at the Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Brazil.
1. How it all began...
The interest in research dates back to college, where the author began working in this area in 2009. At the same time, she completed internships in mental health and became interested in working with patients with challenging disorders. It was then, from the first contact with the professor and master's advisor in the area of SZ at UFRGS, that the dialogues about researching this intriguing and complex topic began.
2. The choice for Social Anxiety...
Starting from the assumption that SA or Social Phobia (SP) is an increasingly common reality today, affecting millions of people around the world, including in Brazil; in addition to being configured as a specific psychological disorder, it can be involved in other psychological and/or psychiatric conditions.
3. Its impact...
SA is characterized by intense and persistent fear of
social situations, which tends to cause significant impacts on the lives
of those who suffer from it, limiting relationships, professional
opportunities and general well-being.
4. Why study Social Anxiety in Schizophrenia?
Although SA and SZ are mental disorders that can significantly affect the lives of those who suffer from it, these disorders have distinct characteristics and origins. However, through discussions in master's degree supervisions, supported by the experience of professionals and initial scientific evidence on the subject, it is noted that patients with SZ may present symptoms of SA. This raises the question of what the prevalence of these two conditions together would be and whether this would generate greater repercussions in these patients, such as severity of the disease and higher inflammatory rates.
5. What is the role of inflammation?
In recent years, the scientific community has been increasingly exploring the possible relationship between SZ and inflammation, paving the way for new perspectives in the treatment of this complex mental illness. Studies suggest that inflammatory processes may be involved in the development and progression of SZ. However, there are almost no studies on SA and inflammation, although there are studies on anxiety in general. But there was no evidence until now of what SA and inflammation would be like.
6. Which inflammatory markers were chosen?
Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte (NLR), monocyte-to-lymphocyte (MLR) and platelet-to lymphocyte (PLR) ratios have been investigated as circulating clinical markers of chronic inflammation in many diseases, including SA, and may be a link between SA and inflammation, although there are a limited number of studies. In addition, the systemic immunoinflammatory index (SII) has been considered a good index to reflect the immune response and systemic inflammation.
7. What benefits would these patients have from the research?
It is inferred that, by detecting symptoms of SA in SZ, an opportunity is opened for treatment of this condition, and it may be that with this, these patients acquire a better quality of life, as they would be able to overcome the fear that afflicts them in social situations. Furthermore, since inflammatory processes play a role in psychiatric disorders, understanding this link may lead to new and more effective treatment strategies.
8. What to think about the future?
We see the future of SZ as promising, in which scientific advances have provided hope for better management of the disease and an improved quality of life for these patients.
Many paths have been uncovered and many are yet to be discovered, expanding and/or modifying treatment, including new medications and therapeutic approaches, many arising from the study of biomarkers, new technologies, among others.
When considering these factors, there is a favorable outlook for the treatment of this disorder that for years has been extremely challenging. It does not seek to treat only the disease - the main complaint - but also the psychosocial factors involved that can interfere, positively or negatively, in the disorder.
Finally, it is important to mention the initial project that we carried out with semi structured consultations in the cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy (CBT) approach for SA. This technique is emphasized as one of those that can be developed and tested in these patients.
Links:
https://medicalresearchjournal.org/index.php/GJMR/article/view/102443
https://revistaclinicapsicologica.com/archivesarticle.php?id=610
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