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This study introduces a pilot project--the creation of a Student and Family Office to reduce school violence--and suggests the benefits of the combined use of different strategies to decrease peer aggression and victimisation. The programme was implemented over a two-and-a-half-year period and included 132 Portuguese adolescents attending the third cycle of basic education. A considerable number of problematic situations, previously reported by students, changed after SFO intervention.. The results suggest that the local (universal and multimodal) intervention programme contributed to a decrease in harassment, coercion and aggressiveness, victimisation and reactive overt aggression rates, and also promoted the social and personal skills essential for successful interpersonal dynamics and peer conflict interventions. The implications for practice are discussed.

Child Sexual Abuse (CSA) is not a recent phenomenon. However, it increased visibility in Portugal in 2002, when a news piece raised suspicions about numerous public figures. Since then, there has been an upward trend in complaints and has stabilized in recent years. Nevertheless, even though the research emerging, it presents gaps in the characteristics and modus operandi of the child sex offenders in the Portuguese context. This article presents an exploratory study, where 66 case reports of inmates in Portugal (Lisbon District) were convicted for CSA crimes recorded in the last ten years. We used the Multiple Correspondence Analysis and Cluster Analysis as statistical procedures, focusing on the dynamics of the offense, context, number of victims, relationship, and characteristics of the offense. With this analysis, we identified four distinct profiles, which occurs with both techniques. In addition, we found differences regarding the use of aggressivity and/or treating during or after the offense, nature of abuse and introduced the crime admission as an active variable, with contributions to the model definition. According to these results and international literature, we defined our groups in four types: Regressed, Indiscriminate, Inadequate, and Violent. We discuss our results based on the international models and demonstrate affinities with them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sex offenders who cross over in victims' age, gender and relationship usually have a greater number of victims, which is associated with sexual recidivism. This investigation aimed to examine the prevalence of crossover index offending in Portugal, and to explore the predictive ability of sociodemographic and criminological variables on this outcome. A retrospective sample of 247 male individuals incarcerated for sex offenses in a Portuguese prison was drawn from official records. From those offenders with multiple victims (n = 94), 48% had victims of different age categories, 10% had both gendered victims, and 12% had intrafamilial and extrafamilial victims. Comparative statistics and logistic regressions were able to identify variables that distinguished noncrossover and crossover offenders and that predicted crossover, respectively. While likely underestimates of the prevalence of victim crossover, these findings are compared to previous international studies and provide a better understanding of the phenomenon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main objective of the current study was to analyze the mediating role of perceived stress on the relationship between childhood trauma and sleep disturbances among the adult population. The sample of this cross-sectional study was composed of 987 Portuguese adults with sleep disturbances, who completed a self-administered questionnaire about childhood trauma, sleep disturbances, and perceived stress. The results of analyses found that in the model that included the variables childhood trauma and perceived stress, both variables were predictors of sleep disturbances; however, perceived stress was the strongest predictor. Regarding the model with the subtypes of maltreatment, only Emotional Abuse predicted sleep problems. Results of the Path Analysis model showed that perceived stress partly mediates the effect of childhood trauma on adult sleep disturbances. This study has clinical implications, supporting the importance of taking into account childhood trauma and perceived stress during the assessment and intervention of sleep disturbances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: During the last half of the 20th century, the use of UVB therapy and photochemotherapy (PUVA), were one of the mainstays of treatment for psoriasis. However, accompanying to the advent of the most recent era of psoriasis, with targeted biologic therapy has been a decline in the frequency of phototherapy. This does not diminish its known clinical effects. Objective: To perform a retrospective analysis of demographic, clinical and therapeutic variables of psoriatic patients treated with phototherapy in the last 10 years, when biological therapies become available. Also, review some of the published phototherapy and biological therapy data in psoriasis. Methods: Psoriatic patients were treated between 1st January 2000 and 31st December 2010 in a Lisbon Phototherapeutic unit. Psoriatic arthritis patients were excluded. Regimes used included PUVA (systemic or topical), Re PUVA, UVAB (broad band) or combined options. Results: During this period, 211 patients were treated with phototherapy; 40% (85/211) UVAB, 31% (64/211) topical PUVA, 23% (49/211) systemic PUVA and 6% (13/211) Re PUVA. Mean follow-up period was 18 months (Min 1; Max 120). The average age was 45 years old (mean 44.80; Min 10; Max 80; SD 16.31), 54% (114/211) of patients were female and 46% (97/211) were male. Of all 211 psoriasis patients, 54% (144/211) had plaque psoriasis diagnosis, 31% (66/211) palmoplantar psoriasis and 15% (41/211) guttate psoriasis. Regardless the phototherapy modality used, substantial BSA improvements were achieved in all psoriasis groups. Discussion: Current advancements in therapeutics enjoyed today include the advent of the biologics and other immunomodulating systemic agents. However, attending to the responses achieved, and considering other variables like well-known side effects and cost, photo(chemo)therapy will remain an essential method of treatment for psoriasis vulgaris in the 21st century. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The acceptance of sexuality and its manifestations has changed in recent decades to being considered a normal feature of the identity of each individual. However, the person with intellectual disability have not benefited from this change in attitude. Their sexuality remains shrouded in myths and prejudices. The study population consisted of 454 students from the University of Beira Interior, from the Medicine, Psychology and Architecture majors. The data was collected using a questionnaire specifically drafted for this research. Most surveyed students consider sexuality an important part of life for every human being. From the responses to the questionnaire, psychology students were those with a more positive attitude towards sexuality and affectivity of the individual with intellectual disability, but the variability of the distribution of student responses from the three majors did not differ significantly. A positive attitude is characteristic of those who have acquired sufficient knowledge, females and of those who have frequent contact with individuals with intellectual disability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Some adolescents experience more than one type of abuse [1] that can occur under different incidents during childhood and/or juvenile development [2]. Polyvictimization can be defined as the experience of four or more types of violence, including childhood neglect, psychological, physical or sexual abuse, witnessing violence [3]. In Portugal, studies on polyvictimization are very scarce [4]. The objectives of the current study are to analyse the prevalence of polyvictimization in a sample of Portuguese youth, to compare differences in polyvictimization between age and gender groups, and to verify the probability of occurrence of different types of victimisation among boys and girls. The sample was composed of 849 participants, with 459 girls and 390 boys, and ages between 12 and 17 years old (M = 13.70, SD = 1.43). The study was conducted in Portuguese schools. The data collection was conducted according to ethical principles, with the authorisation of the schools, the parents, and the youth. Participants answered face to face to a sociodemographic questionnaire and to the Juvenile Victimisation Questionnaire (JVQ) that assesses to conventional crimes, child maltreatment, peer and sibling victimisation, sexual victimisation, and witnessing and indirect victimisation [4]. Over the last year, 67% (n = 388) of the participants had experienced at least one type of victimisation. The results reported differences in polyvictimization concerning age groups and not between gender groups. The difference between the group 12–14 years and the group 15–17 years was significant [χ2(3, n = 849) = 8.793, p =.032], and dependent on polyvictimization. Concerning gender groups, the difference in victimisation levels between boys and girls was not significant. However, the probability of occurrence of the various forms of victimisation was different between genders. Boys showed higher probability of occurrence of assault without weapon (OR = 0.430; p <.01; boys = 20.8%, girls = 14.2%), attempted assault (OR = 0.540; p <.01; boys = 18.5%; girls = 10.9%), nonsexual genital assault (OR = 0.241; p <.001; boys = 15.9%; girls = 4.4%), and burglary of family household (OR = 0.407; p <.05; boys = 6.2%, girls = 2.6%). However, girls revealed higher probability of occurrence of psychological/emotional abuse (OR = 1.672; p <.01; boys = 17.9%; girls = 26.8%). This research studies the polyvictimization in a Portuguese sample of youth. The results highlight the high prevalence of victimisation among young Portuguese youth. They also point out the differences between boys and girls concerning the types of victimisation and between the oldest and the youngest concerning polyvictimization. Our results are in line with some recent researches [5,6], and they can help to develop future psychosocial prevention programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sweet chestnut (Castanea sativa Miller) is a tree species whose edible fruit was a staple food for many centuries until the emergence of potato and cereal crops. Once of great importance for the survival of rural populations, at present there is a renewed interest in this fruit as a nutritious food, partly due being gluten-free. Portugal is one of the major sweet chestnut producing countries and is an important natural habitat for native European chestnut species. In a nutriproteomics approach, the main objective was to describe and evaluate the sweet chestnut germplasm present in Portugal. Globulins of 22 Portuguese sweet chestnut varieties were used as markers of genetic diversity. This characterization showed significant diversity (h = 0.334) among the varieties tested, but also a homonymy problem in varietal identification. Two-dimensional electrophoresis and mass spectrometry were then used to further investigate the chestnut proteome. Most of the proteins were assigned as having functions in nutritional storage activity. The photorespiration protein Rubisco, normally present in photosynthesizing plant parts was also present in the fruit which suggests that the catabolism of this protein is unusual in C. sativa species. Furthermore, the Portuguese varieties have been shown to be good sources of essential amino acids, and particularly the 'Bária' variety showed a balanced profile that meets the recommended dietary requirements of older children, adolescents, and adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Portuguese version of JVQ showed a good model fit and good psychometric properties. • Over last year, 67% of youth experienced at least one type of victimization. • The prevalence of poly-victimization differed between gender and age groups. • Girls had a higher probability of psychological or emotional abuse. • Boys had a higher probability of assault and burglary of the family household. There is a growing body of literature about poly-victimization among children and adolescents. The Juvenile Victimization Questionnaire (JVQ) is the most used measure to assess poly-victimization; however, it was not validated in Portugal, and it is unknown how it compares to other countries. Analyze the psychometric properties of the Portuguese version of the JVQ, access the poly-victimization prevalence, and compare differences among age and gender. Participants and Setting. The sample was composed of 849 Portuguese adolescents between 12 and 17 years old (M = 13.70, SD = 1.43). Participants completed a socio-demographic questionnaire and the JVQ. The JVQ showed a good model fit (χ2 (5 6 1) = 8493.76, p <.001, CFI = 0.98, TLI = 0.98, RMSEA = 0.02 CI90% [0.016; 0.024]) and good psychometric properties. There are significant differences in poly-victimization between younger and older age groups. The prevalence of certain types of victimization differed between gender and age. Girls had a higher probability of psychological or emotional abuse and boys had a higher probability of assault and burglary of the family household. The age group 12–14 years old had a higher probability of assault without weapon whereas the age group of 15–17 years displayed a higher probability of being a victim of child maltreatment, dating violence, sexual victimization, and witness to assault. The findings emphasize that JVQ is a good instrument to identify poly-victimization and several types of victimization, which can foster the development of adequate psychosocial intervention programs to reduce victimization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main purpose of this exploratory study was to examine the predictive ability of impulsivity and moral reasoning on offending specialization/versatility. The latter was measured using the diversity index which calculates the amount of variation within an individual's criminal history. The sample consisted of 88 individuals convicted of sexual offenses incarcerated in a Portuguese prison. Group comparisons and multiple linear regression analyses on untransformed and corrected versions of the diversity index were conducted. Overall, the different versions of the diversity index presented disparate results. Individuals were found to be generally alike, but those convicted of rape tended to be more versatile than those who molested extrafamilial children. Moral reasoning was the strongest predictor of offending specialization/versatility, while impulsivity was mostly not statistically significant. A better understanding of these predictors' roles on offending specialization/versatility, as it relates to recidivism, is important to tailor successful interventions.

Sex offenders who cross over in victims' age, gender and relationship usually have a greater number of victims, which is associated with sexual recidivism. This investigation aimed to examine the prevalence of crossover index offending in Portugal, and to explore the predictive ability of sociodemographic and criminological variables on this outcome. A retrospective sample of 247 male individuals incarcerated for sex offenses in a Portuguese prison was drawn from official records. From those offenders with multiple victims ( n = 94), 48% had victims of different age categories, 10% had both gendered victims, and 12% had intrafamilial and extrafamilial victims. Comparative statistics and logistic regressions were able to identify variables that distinguished noncrossover and crossover offenders and that predicted crossover, respectively. While likely underestimates of the prevalence of victim crossover, these findings are compared to previous international studies and provide a better understanding of the phenomenon.

We aimed to analyze the factor structure and the psychometric properties of the Portuguese version of the Cyber Pornography Use Inventory-9 (CPUI-9) and to verify the invariance between men and women. A total sample of 257 university students (153 women and 104 men) participated through a web survey. The results of confirmatory factor analysis showed that the three-factor structure of the original version of the CPUI-9 has a good model fit and good convergent and discriminant validities. The findings of the multigroup confirmatory factor analysis demonstrated non-invariance on factor structure across both genders, suggesting that the CPUI-9 should be applied with caution to men and women.

Introduction: Hydroxyisohexyl 3-cyclohexene carboxaldehyde (HICC)-Lyral® is a widely used synthetic fragrance found in personal care and household products. It is an aldehyde, lipophilic enough to penetrate the skin and is a frequent cause of contact sensitization., Objective: Describe the frequency of contact allergy to HICC in a Contact Dermatitis Unit, after its inclusion in baseline patch test series., Methods: A retrospective study including all patients submitted to patch test, from January 2007 to December 2009., Results: Over a 3-year period, 629 consecutive patients were patch tested. The frequency of positive reactions to HICC was 2.7% (17/629). Of the positive patients, 35% (6/17) gave a history of atopy, 58.8% (10/17) had eczema on the face and neck, 23.5% (4/17) on the hands, 23.5% (4/17) in the axillae, 17.6% (3/17) on the trunk and 6% (3/17) had generalized eczema. All patients were patch positive for more than one allergen: all (17/17) positive to fragrance Mix 2 (FM2); 47% of the patients (8/17) positive to fragrance Mix 1 (FM1); and 23.5% of the patients (4/17) positive to Balsam of Peru. In 94% (16/17) of cases, the reaction was judged to be of current relevance., Discussion: The frequency of positive reactions to HICC of 2.7% found in our population is according to what is described in several European reports, where HICC is still widely used as a fragrance ingredient. In contrast, in North America, the prevalence is lower. All the patients were positive also to FM2. The association found between reactions to FM1 and HICC is also commonly reported and could represent a concomitant sensitization following increased exposure to fragrance allergens. These data confirm the importance of HICC introduction in the baseline patch test series.