bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
P02-349 - Noncompliance with Psychotherapeutical Treatment
Authors: Stoica L.
Published: June 2010

Psychotherapy has been practiced since ancient times, as people were receiving advice and listen to others. But, just as the XVIII century were introduced socialpsychotherapeutical interventions for rehabilitation so-called “crazy”. The first psychotherapeutical school was Sigmund Freud's psychoanalysis whose theory says that mental illness rooted in childhood and unconscious mind. The cognitive therapy identifies the habitual way in which patient distort information. The cognitive therapist teaches patients to recognize their usual patterns of automatic thoughts and the emotions that go with them. The supportive psychotherapy descurage immatur defenses and maladaptive behaviors. Today it is aiming at integration in psychotherapy (integrative psychotherapy). To avoid noncompliance, the psychotherapy can't be applied to any patient without a previous evaluation. Of course, the accuracy of the patient selection depends, first of all, by the psychotherapeutical method which is to be followed. It's important,above all, the knowledge and experience of the psychotherapeut. About Romania we ca say that only 65% of patients are accepted for psychoanalysis, 88% of patients for cognitive therapy and 95% of patients for supportive therapy.
P02-358 - Clinical Findings on Computergame Addiction: The Role of Personality, Stress and Coping
Authors: Müller K.
Published: June 2010

Introduction

Behavioral addictions, like computergame addiction respectively internet addiction, have become a growing concern in research. Currently similarities between behavioral addictions and substance dependency are discussed in the scientific community controversially. Unfortunately a mismatch exists between high rates of treatment seeking people and low rates of scientific studies on computergame-addiction, especially concerning risk factors and their contribution to the etiology of computergame addiction.

Objectives

The aim of this contribution is to shed light on possible etiological factors of computergame addiction concerning personality and vulnerability to stress in clients of the “Ambulanz für Spielsucht”, a specialized outpatient clinic at the University of Mainz.

Methods

131 clients were testet with several psychometric measures including ACA-S (Scale for the Assessment of Computergame-Addiction), SCL-90R (Symptom Checklist 90R), NEO-FFI (NEO Five-Factory-Inventory) and Brief-COPE.

Results

69.4% (91 clients) fulfilled criteria for computergame addiction, 30.6% (40 persons) showed no psychopathology. The examination unveilled several caracteristics in addicted computergamers: They revealed higher levels concerning Global Severity Index (GSI), with increased subscales of depression and social insecurity. They showed significantly higher scores in the personality factor “Neuroticism” and decreased scores in the factors “Extraversion” and “Conscientiousness”. Addicted computergamers stand out from normal gamers in respect of nature of coping strategies, making predominantly use of avoiding ones.

Conclusions

The results contribute to a better understanding of underlying mechanisms leading to and sustaining addictive computergame behavior. The role of maladaptive coping strategies and social insecurity points out the necessity to add appropriate elements to psychotherapeutic intervention strategies.
P02-366 - A Preliminary Study of the Psychoeducational Effects on Cognitive Impairment in Euthymic Bipolar Outpatients
Authors: Šprah L. , Novak T. , Dernovšek M.Z.
Published: June 2010

Objectives

Several neurocognitive deficits present in the euthymic state of bipolar disorder suggest that some of them could be seen as vulnerability trait markers of the illness. Psychoeducation proved as effective therapeutic approach which decreases the risk of relapse and prolongs remission. In our study we aimed to examine the psychoeducational effects on cognitive functioning in the sample of euthymic bipolar outpatients.

Methods

A neuropsychological tests battery for assessing selective attention (Emotional and Colour-Word Stroop), cognitive control (Emotional Go/NoGo task) and social cognition (Face recognition task and Recognition of emotional expression task) was administered to 29 bipolar euthymic outpatients before and after attendance at six weeks psychoeducation program. The same procedure was applied on 10 bipolar euthymic outpatients without participating in psychoeducation.

Results

Despite statistically insignificant differences between groups in cognitive performance, some considerable within group differences in domains of selective attention and cognitive control of emotional stimuli emerged. In the Emotional Stroop there was faster processing speed of emotional stimuli after psychoeducation compared to baseline in the intervention group which was not found in the control group. Similarly, coping with emotional stimuli in different emotional contexts markedly improved in the intervention group compared to the control group. Changes in social cognition, in particular better recognition of negative affect were found in the bipolar group with psychoeducation but not in the control group.

Conclusions

Though preliminary, our results support psychoeducation as clinically feasible way of cognitive rehabilitation in terms of improved cognitive control of emotional stimuli in bipolar patients.
P01-407 - Prevalence of Previous Bone Fracture in a Schizophrenic Population
Authors: Agarwal N. , Agarwal S.
Published: June 2010

Objectives

Schizophrenic patients may be more susceptible to bone fractures because of the mental illness and/or the effects of psychotropic drugs. However, these patients also suffer from other medical conditions which may further increase their risk. The objective of this study was to make a general assessment of previous bone fractures in schizophrenics seen in an Internist's office.

Methods

We questioned 115 consecutive patients with the primary diagnosis of schizophrenia, seen in an Internist's office, for a wide variety of medical problems. Of these seventy nine (68.7%) were males and thirty six (31.3%) were females. Their ages ranged from 19 to 81. They were all on psychotropic drugs and under the care of a psychiatrist.

Results

Of the total number of 115 patients, fifty one (44%) gave a history of previous bone fractures. Thirty eight (33%) gave a history of single fractures and thirteen (11.3%) gave a history of multiple fractures. Twenty six (22.6%) involved fractures of the upper limbs and twenty three (20%) involved fractures of the lower limbs and eight (6.9%) involved fractures of both the upper and lower limbs. Thirteen (11.3%) had non-extremity fractures. Of these eight (61.5%) had only non-extremity fractures and five (38.5%) had non-extremity fractures in addition to extremity fractures.

Conclusion

We found a significantly high prevalence of previous bone fractures in this schizophrenic population. Further study is necessary to elucidate whether this elevated risk is due to the mental illness, the use of psychotropic drugs, both, or some other associated etiology.
P01-408 - Incidence of Hypothyroidism in Schizophrenics Seen in An Internist's Office
Authors: Agarwal N. , Agarwal S.
Published: June 2010

Introduction

Hypothyroidism is common in the general population. Since symptoms and signs of hypothyroidism often mimic or overlap those of schizophrenia, they might be an under diagnosis of hypothyroidism in this population. Further, these patients may not be regularly seen by an Internist and may not be subject to routine thyroid profile testing. Treating occult thyroid abnormality is critical in these patients.

Methods

We studied the thyroid panel in 64 consecutive patients with schizophrenia seen in an Internist's office. Of these forty six (71.9%) were males and eighteen (28.1%) were females. The age ranged from 19 to 82. They were all on psychotropic medications. None were on lithium or thyroid supplementation. None of the patients exhibited clinical signs or symptoms of hypothyroidism. All of these patients underwent a routine thyroid profile testing.

Results

Of these 64 patients, two (3.1%) patients were found to have elevated TSH. One had normal T3 and normal free T4, indicating subclinical hypothyroidism. The second patient had low T3 and low free T4 indicating overt hypothyroidism. Sixty two (96.9%) patients had an euthyroid profile.

Conclusion

In our study of 64 consecutive schizophrenic patients seen in an Internist's office, two were found to suffer from undiagnosed and untreated hypothyroidism. This limited study suggests that although not as common as suggested by the literature, undiagnosed and untreated hypothyroidism does exist in this population. All patients with schizophrenia should undergo a routine thyroid profile testing as part of a regular medical physical exam.
P02-213 - QTc Interval Changes During ECT-Ziprasidone-Quetiapine-Tricyclics Co-Administration: Safety Issues
Authors: Oulis P. , Florakis A. , Markatou M. , Tzanoulinos G. , Konstantakopoulos G. , Papadimitriou G. , Masdrakis V.
Published: June 2010

Objectives

Both tricyclic antidepressants and some atypical antipsychotics, such as ziprasidone and quetiapine, used as augmentation agents in severe major depression, are known to increase QTc interval to a moderate extent (10-20 msec). Moreover, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) also increases patients’ propensity to arrhythmias. Finally, females are more prone than males to both drug-induced QTc prolongation and torsades-de-pointes. Thus, the combination of all the above treatments raises serious safety concerns. We investigated the safety of the co-administration of ECT with a tricyclic-ziprasidone-quetiapine combination with respect to QTc interval in six female patients with severe major depression resistant to pharmacotherapy.

Methods

Each patient underwent a series of 10-11 sessions of bilateral ECT. QTc intervals were calculated at baseline and several times up to 10 min after seizures cessation in a total of 63 patients/ECT sessions.

Results

A small initial decrease of QTc after the administration of pre-ECT medications was followed by its steady statistically non-significant increase during the first 20 sec after seizure cessation. Thereafter, a steady larger and statistically significant decrease of QTc emerged during the ensuing 21-50 sec interval. Finally, this decrease was gradually reversed within the following 2 min approximately with return of QTc interval to stable baseline levels.

Conclusions

Overall, QTc interval changes remained within normal limits (fixed at 470 msec in women), without the occurrence of any cardiac adverse events, especially severe arrhythmias such as torsades-de-pointes. Our findings suggest that the co-administration of these treatments might be safe, at least with respect to QTc interval changes.
P03-100 - Experience of Using High and Low Doses of Cerebrolizin at Patients with Rezidiual Schizophrenia
Authors: Khodjaeva N. , Nurmukhamedov B. , Kaminskiy V. , Shamsiev A.
Published: June 2010

Introduction

Using high and low doses of cerebrolizin at patients with rezidiual schizophrenia

Objectives

The purpose of the present research was comparative clinical-pharmacological studying with estimation cognitive functions of high and low doses Cerebrolysinum at patients with residual schizophrenia.

Methods

In total 37 patients the majority from which were male (89%), at the age of 50-55 years have been included in research. Duration of disease mainly 5-10 years. All patients had physical inability of 2 groups on mental disease, accepted neuroleptics throughout all illness, and last year - in invariable doses.

Patients in any order were distributed on three therapeutic groups:

1.

high doses “Cerebrolysinum” (10 ml) - 17.

2.

low doses “Cerebrolysinum” (1 ml) - 10.

3.

not accepting “Cerebrolysinum” - 10.

Duration of research - 4 weeks.

Results

By the end of therapy at 10% of patients of 1st group the expressed improvement, at 73% - substantial improvement, and only in 17% cases - minor improvement. In 2nd group of the patients accepting low doses “Cerebrolysinum”, efficiency of therapy was essentially more low: at 27% of patients minor improvement, at 69% - minimum has been reached, and in 4% cases of positive dynamics by the therapy end wasn’t observed. In control group (3rd) at 90% of patients by the end of therapy the condition remains without changes, and 10% - had insignificant deterioration.

Conclusion

Using high doses of “Cerebrolysinum” gives high results in treatment of residual schizophrenia.
P03-101 N-Acetyl-cysteine in Augmentation to Atypical Antipsychotics Improves Cognitive Symptoms in Subjects with Schizophrenia
Authors: Di Rosa A.E. , Cambria R. , Pata M. , Crescenti M.C.
Published: June 2010

Recent studies have shown that N-acetyl-cysteine added to neuroleptics might ameliorate negative and positive symptoms in schizophrenia. This could be related to the ability to interact with the cysteine/glutammate antiporter and to restore the intraneuronal rate of reduced gluthatione. This could also lead to an improvement of cognitive-executive functions.

Objectives

The aim of our study is the evaluation of co-administration of N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC) in cognitive functions in a sample of patients affected by schizophrenia diagnosed according to DSM IV-TR criteria, and treated with stable atypical antipsychotic therapy.

Materials & methods

We administered NAC (1800 mg/die) to 12 male patients, tested each patient at baseline and re-tested after 90 days using a battery of neurocognitive tests (Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, Verbal Fluency Test, Stroop Test) and PANSS scale for severity symptomatology evaluation. The results obtained in each test at baseline were compared with those at the end of the study.

Results

A significant improvement for WCST error numbers (sig. 0.049), VFT fonemic (sig. 0.049), PANSS positive (sig. 0.028), negative (sig. 0.002) and total (sig. 0.024) was observed.

 MeanSDError SDtsig.2-codeWCST error nr17.516.536.742.59.049*VFT fonemic-1211.374.64-2.58.049*VFT semantic-5.511.094.52-1.21.279ΔT Stroop Test20.6734.7914.21.45.205PANSS pos3.52.811.143.05.028*PANSS neg4.51.870.765.89.002*PANSS psycho0.54.761.940.26.807PANSS total8.56.52.653.2.024*

Statistical correlations day 0-day 90 (sig. ≤ 0.05)

Conclusions

Our results show that co-administration of N-acetyl-cysteine added to atypical antipsychotic therapy improves the cognitive-executive functions. The effectiveness on reducing positive and negative symptoms was confirmed.
P03-108 - Simple Schizophrenia: Report of Two Cases
Authors: Ramalho e Silva F. , Ribeiro A.E.
Published: June 2010

Introduction

Simple schizophrenia (SS) is an uncommon disorder that may go unrecognized. SS occupies an ambiguous position in the current international classification systems, due to its theoretical poor reliability and doubtful validity. Only International Classification of Diseases recognizes SS as a distinct subtype of schizophrenia.

Aims

The authors aim to illustrate the practical relevance of this diagnosis, through the presentation of two clinical pictures consistent with SS.

Case 1: 21-year-old woman, attending our outpatient unit since 2007 because of behavioral changes: she used to interact with three stuffed dolls for hours, considering them as the members of a famous rock band. Gradually, these symptoms lost preponderance and became evident a marked decline in her academic functioning, social withdrawal with difficulty in interpersonal contact, affective flattening and significant lack of concern for about her previous interests.

Case 2: 21 year-old man, attending irregularly our outpatient unit since 2006 due to behavioral changes. The patient has showed a progressive clinical picture consisting of puerility, evasive, poor, and sometimes disorganized speech, abulia, apathy, and social withdrawal. Nowadays he has no social relationships and no productive tasks. Despite some ideas of reference, he never presented overt psychotic or affective symptoms.

Conclusions

SS may be a laboring diagnosis due to its insidious nature and preponderance of vague, negative symptoms. These cases illustrate that SS is a suitable diagnosis for some clinical presentations, and the need of improved recognition of this entity. Recent studies suggest SS reintroduction as a valid and reliable subtype of schizophrenia.
P03-113 - Treatment of Extrapyramidal Symptoms Due to Neuroleptic Drugs Use
Authors: Ron Wang N. , Pequeno M.D.L. , Spacacheri J. , Ropero Pelaez J. , Rogeri P. , Freitas A. , Taniguchi S.
Published: June 2010

Introduction

The extra pyramidal effects related to the use of neuroleptics are a limiting factor in schizophrenia treatment.

Objective

The aim of this study was to identify the neuroleptics prescribed for schizophrenic patients in a public health service, the extra pyramidal symptoms (EPS) incidence and its treatment.

Methods

Our restrospective study included 40 patients with mean age of 39.13 ± 2.19 in a treatment period of of 134.17 ± 16.83 days. The data were randomly collected from medical records of these patients.

Results

The patients under study received typical neuroleptics (31.03%),atypical agents (37.93%) or association of both (31.03%). EPS was observed in 65.52% patients of which, 44.83% even though receiving biperiden 2mg, still have EPS. 20.69% were not receiving anticolinergic drug treatment for EPS, but promethazine or anticonvulsants. From the 34.48% who did not showed EPS, 20.69% had biperiden prescription and 13.79 % had been treated with olanzapine, clozapine or risperidone associated or not to clonazepam 2mg. Weigth gain of 5.20 ± 1.14 kg was observed in our total sample.

Conclusions

We suggest the use of EPS evaluation scale (Sympson - Angus or Barnes). 65.52 % of the patients under study had EPS and 20.69% of them had no prescription of central acting anticholinergic drug. 44.83% even though receiving biperiden 2mg, still have EPS.
P03-114 - Service User Experience of the Use of Acupuncture for the Treatment of Schizophrenic Symptoms
Authors: Ronan P. , Brinton M.
Published: June 2010

Objectives

The purpose of this paper is to highlight the position of mental health patients in terms of treatment choice, advanced directives and evidence to support complementary and alternative medicines (CAM).

Methods

Here, a patient with a long-standing diagnosis of schizophrenia outlines her experience of treatment with antipsychotic medication and contrasts this with the success she has had with the use of acupuncture for her symptoms. The evidence behind CAM for mental health problems, including schizophrenia is explored, as is the reliance on antipsychotic medication for people who are acutely mentally ill, over and above any prior requests individuals may make for CAM to be included in their treatment programme.

Results

Following several unsatisfactory treatment episodes with antipsychotic and antidepressant medication, Madlin introduced acupuncture as an adjunct treatment. This enabled her to live independently in the community for over 8 years. Although she continues to be susceptible to psychosis, her experience of acupuncture is that it makes a significant improvement to her quality of life. Madlin feels that access to acupuncture for inpatients might further improve recovery rates and relationships with mental health workers.

Conclusions

Mental Health patients are increasingly asking for access to CAM and the evidence is improving. This might be a good time to for psychiatrists to consider CAM treatment possibilities where patients request them or where there is evidence to support their use.
P03-119 - Pharmacogenetic Studies of Olanzapine, Perazine and Ziprasidone in Paranoid Schizophrenia
Authors: Samochowiec J. , Tybura P. , Frydecka D. , Beszłej A.
Published: June 2010

Literature data revealed that efficacy and side effects of antipsychotic treatment are influenced by multiple genes interactions. Polymorphic variation is likely to contribute substantially in this matter. Pharmacogenetic studies will help to determine which drug and dosage are best for each individual patient.

The aim of our study was to find:

1.

Genetic markers influencing susceptibility of paranoid schizophrenia. The polymorphisms of DRD2 (-141C del/ins, Taq1A, egzon8), DAT, 5HT2a, 5HTT_LPR, COMT, MAO A and GRIK3 genes were studied.

2.

Relationships between different gene variants and the treatment efficacy measured by the PANSS.

The group of 201 patients with paranoid schizophrenia consisted of 95 men (mean age 34) and 105 women (mean age 35). There were no significant differences between the groups according to the studied gender. Males patients had a significantly earlier age of onset but the duration of illness was similar in both gender groups. The patients were treated randomly with perazine, olanzapine or ziprasidone. The control group consist of 230 healthy volunteers ethnically, gender and age matched.

Results

1.

No differences were found in the allelic distribution in the investigated genes polymorphisms between the whole schizophrenics and the control group.

2.

Associations between DAT: A9 allele, DRD2: del 141C allele, DRD2: Taq1A A1 allele, COMT: Met/Met genotype, MAOA: 4VNTR allel (males only) and GRIK3: SER allel with non responding patients were found.
P03-124 - Frontal Brain Function and Visual Exploration of Natural Scenes in Schizophrenia
Authors: Beedie S. , St. Clair D. , Rujescu D. , Benson P.
Published: June 2010

Scanpaths are the patterns of ocular fixations and saccades produced during visual exploration of a scene. Schizophrenia is associated with a restricted style of visual scanning, characterised by fewer fixations and saccades and shorter scanpath lengths compared with well viewers. Such patterns are reflective of chronic dysfunction in real-world visual processing in schizophrenia. Scanpath measures are also emerging as strong discriminatory tools in schizophrenia trait marker research. However, little is understood about the neurocognitive mechanisms underlying atypical viewing patterns. We conducted an exploratory study of the relationships between patterns of visual exploration and neuropsychological test performance in individuals with schizophrenia to further understand the neural substrates of scanpath abnormalities in this group. Fifty-one individuals meeting DSM-IV criteria for schizophrenia completed a range of neuropsychological tests and viewed a battery of static natural scenes while eye movements were recorded using non-invasive infra-red oculography. Restricted scanpath behaviours were unrelated to measures of sustained attention, visual memory, cognitive interference or general cognitive decline. Restricted scanpath patterns were most strongly associated with short term verbal memory, manipulation of information in working memory and verbal fluency performance. Such functions are unlikely to directly impinge on visual exploration in schizophrenia but may be commensurate with dysfunction of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, a region known to play a number of key roles in oculomotor control. The results support a role of frontal brain dysfunction in the formation and execution of viewing behaviours in schizophrenia.
P03-130 - Development and Use of QuIRC in Germany
Authors: Schuster M. , Schuetzwohl M. , Kallert T.
Published: June 2010

Objective

To develop a toolkit (QuIRC) for assessing the living conditions, care and human rights of people with long term mental illness in psychiatric and social care facilities.

Methods

The QuIRC was developed by research partners across ten countries: UK; Germany; Spain; Czech Republic; Bulgaria; Italy; Netherlands; Poland; Greece and Portugal. Its content was informed by triangulation of the evidence on critical components of care collated from: a review of care standards in each country; an international literature review; and Delphi exercises. Its final format was agreed by an international panel of rehabilitation and recovery experts. QuIRC scores were compared against service users’ quality of life, autonomy, experiences of care and markers of recovery to assess whether the QuIRc could provide a proxy-assessment of the unit’s promotion of service users’ autonomy and Recovery.

Results

The finalised tool was used to interview managers from 21 units throughout Germany. One hundred and eighty-eight service users were also interviewed. QuIRC domain ratings were compared by facility type and with service user assessments. The QuIRC’s ability to deliver assessments relevant to Germany’s established systems of change at local, regional and national level will be discussed.
P03-132 - Redefining Outcome Measures in Schizophrenia: Integrating Social & Clinical Parameters
Authors: Shrivastava A. , Shah N. , Bureau Y.
Published: June 2010

Schizophrenia is a complex neurobehavioral disorder for which there are many promising new treatments. There is, however, a discrepancy in outcome measure reports when obtained from patients, relatives, caregivers, or professionals making it difficult to determine the level of recovery in patients. The reason for the lack of agreement may be due to the limitations of the measurement tools themselves, which are not comprehensive and may measure different aspects of outcome. Alternatively, it could be that the conceptual understanding of outcome and in turn recovery requires development. Unfortunately for one of the above reasons or both, patients assessed as “recovered” remain excluded from mainstream society. We are of the opinion that this is the case because present outcome measures do not capture real-life situations. We propose that the concept of recovery should be carefully defined and that the gold standard of outcome should incorporate social and clinical parameters. We define recovery and discuss remission in full within the body of the paper. In short we propose that within the definition of recovery, personal growth, supportive relationships, and social inclusion should be incorporated. With the new definition the following will be addressed when assessing outcome:

1)

Symptom manifestation,

2)

Response to treatment,

3)

Impact on self & others.

We also hope that with a new definition the following three dimensions will be addressable:

1)

Clinical remission,

2)

Presence of side effects,

3)

social outcome.

Finally, the reassessment of recovery should be sensitive to culture, be comprehensive, and reliable.
P03-138 - Training Working Memory in Schizophrenia
Authors: Penner I.-K. , Hubacher M. , Vogt A. , Calabrese P. , Weiland M. , Opwis K. , Stoppe G.
Published: June 2010

Background

Cognitive deficits in schizophrenia consist of deficits in attention, concentration, fluency, and executive function. Especially the working memory deficits influence everyday function and rehabilitation.

Objective

The ame of the study was to investigate a potential of a neurocognitive intervention in schizophrenia (CS) and multiple sclerosis (MS) by application of a computerised working memory training.

Methods

So far, 30 ms patients and 14 cs patients were investigated. Patients are allocated to a treatment group or to a control design. At baseline, all participants underwent a comprehensive neuropsychological examination including memory, working memory, attention, concentration, information processing speed, mental flexibility and intelligence. The treatment group performed a computer program (Brainstim®) four times a week over a period of four weeks. After 16 training sessions all participants were evaluated again neuropsychologically.

Results

In both patient groups a significant increase in cognitive performance within the training procedure could be shown. This increase was expressed by an initial exponential function with a steep increase and an asymptotic slope. Pre-post-test-comparisons revealed significant improvement for shortterm and working memory on the neuropsychological outcomes. The program was well accepted by the patients.

Conclusion

This preliminary results show, that working memory might be trained in schizophrenia and thus it might interfere positively the cognitive und rehabilitative outcome.
P03-139 - The First Experience of Acoustic Startle Response Prepulse Modification Measurement in Russian Patients with Schizophrenia and Healthy Controls
Authors: Storozheva Z. , Bogdanov K. , Novototsky-Vlasov V. , Samylkin D. , Kirenskaya A.
Published: June 2010

Objectives

Estimation of acoustic startle response (ASR) and its prepulse modification in Russian population of patients with schizophrenia and healthy controls.

Methods

All subjects were males 25-50 years old. ASR was measured bilaterally by orbicularis oculi electromyographic response to 50 ms 110 dB white band noise. Prepulse at lead intervals of 60, 120 and 2500 ms were delivered according to protocol, recommended by Consortium on the genetics of schizophrenia.

Results

ASR magnitude to pulse alone trials in initial block and habituation didn’t differ significantly between patients and controls. Patients compared to controls displayed reduced magnitude prepulse inhibition that was significant at 60 ms lead interval and reduction was more pronounced at the left eye. Startle latency prepulse facilitation at 60 ms lead interval was observed in patients but not in controls whereas prepulse inhibition of startle latency at 120 ms lead interval was seen in controls but not in patients. ASR amplitude prepulse facilitation (PPF) at 2500 ms lead interval was impaired in patients and this deficit was observed only in drug-naïve subjects. Effects of head trauma and experience of psychoactive drugs intake on ASR prepulse modification were revealed only in controls. High initial amplitude and short ASR latency in patients correlated with excitation level (PANSS scale P4). At the same time, PPF reduction correlated with scales P2, P4, P5, P7 and sum of positive PANSS scales.

Conclusions

Results of present study testify the possibility of ASR prepulse modification use for schizophrenia endophenotyping in Russia.
P03-140 - Neurotransmitters Blood Level, ASR Prepulse Modification and Antisaccades Deficits in Schizophrenia: Implication for Identification of Schizophrenia Endophenotypes
Authors: Storozheva Z. , Kirenskaya A. , Bogdanov K. , Novototsky-Vlasov V. , Samylkin D.
Published: June 2010

Objectives

Study of psychophysiological candidate schizophrenia endophenotypes in relation with neurotransmitters blood level and mental disorders.

Methods

23 patients with schizophrenia and 24 healthy subjects performed horizontal antisaccades. Acoustic startle response (ASR) prepulse modification was studied according to protocol, recommended by Consortium on the genetics of schizophrenia. Neurotransmitters blood plasma level was estimated using HPLC.

Results

Significant increase of errors and saccade latencies was revealed in patients compared to controls. ASR prepulse inhibition (PPI) at 60 ms lead interval and ASR prepulse facilitation (PPF) at 2500 ms lead interval were impaired in patients. Analysis didn’t reveal any correlations between ASR and antisaccades measures in patients while in healthy controls high initial ASR amplitude correlated with incorrect antisaccades number and PPF level correlated with antisaccades latencies. Significantly higher individual variability of plasma serotonin, glutamate and taurine content was found in patients compared to controls. Positive correlations of PPI with glutamate and taurine content were observed in patients but not in controls. At the same time, correlation between PPI and serotonine turnover ratio was positive in control group and negative in patients. Antisaccade latencies in controls displayed negative correlation with DOPAC and taurine level while in patients they positively correlated with dopamine and negatively with serotonine turnover ratio. It was also found that antisaccades parameters and ASR measures displayed correlations with different PANSS scales.

Conclusion

These data support the hypothesis that PPI and antisaccades are associated with different neural networks and have different genetic aetiology.
P03-141 - The Sleep and Quality of Life in Schizophrenia
Authors: Tel H. , Doğan S.
Published: June 2010

Objectives

Schizophrenia is a chronic and potentially devastating disease. Patients with schizophrenia have severe and persistent sleep disturbance. Sleep deprivation may foster poor functioning and high levels of thought disorder, hostility, and excitement. Sleep deprivation in patients with schizophrenia have a negative impact on HRQoL. This study was done, as definitive study, to determine the sleep quality and quality of life in schizophrenia.

Methods

72 schizophrenic inpatients treated in a mental health care centre with the diagnosis of schizophrenia between March 1st and May 31st, 2009 were included to the study. The data was gathered through personal data forms, PSQI and WHOQOL-Brief Turkish Version.

Results

It was found that there was a meaningful relationship between the age, sleep quality and quality of life of the patients (p< 0.05), it was also defined that sleep quality decreased as the age increased and quality of life decreased since the quality of sleep was decreased. The life quality points, except physical field, of the patients who live alone, hospitalized more than three times a year, do not use their medicine regularly were defined low.

Conclusions

There is a close relationship between the sleep quality and quality of life of the schizophrenia. As the sleep quality diminished, their quality of life decreases. The quality of life of the schizophrenia may be increased by regulating their sleep pattern and supporting their adoption to the illness.
P03-145 - Addiction Syndrome in Schizophrenia: One Independent Dimension
Authors: Vargas M.L. , Lopez S.
Published: June 2010

Objectives

Addictive disorders are frequent in schizophrenia and dual diagnose is the norm rather than the exception. Dopamine transmission is implicated both in addictive disorders as in psychotic diseases. The objective is to know if addiction is one independent dimension in schizophrenia or if it can be included in to the positive, negative or affective syndromes.

Methods

We conduct one cross-sectional study on 60 schizophrenia out-patients (43 male; average age: 38.9 years, SD 9.4). The diagnosis were: paranoid schizophrenia 26.7%, schizoaffective disorder 25.0%, residual schizophrenia 21.7%, other schizophrenia subtypes 26.6%. It was applied the PANSS and one addiction composite score (ACS) that reflects the life use of drugs and addiction: tobacco, coffee, alcohol, cannabis, cocaine, amphetamines, hallucinogens, opiates and gambling. For every substance and gambling were scored: first use, frequency, length of use, last time use and harmful consequences. All the scores were transformed in to Z values. Factor analysis using principal components (Varimax rotation) was performed introducing in the model: PANSS positive and negative items, depression item an the ACS.

Results

Five factors were defined, that explains for 78.4 of the variance: negative (N1, N2, N3, N4, N6), disorganized (P2, P4, N5, N7), positive and depressive (P1, P3, G6), hostility (P5, P6, P7) and addictive (ACS).

Conclusions

Addiction is one independent dimension in schizophrenia, differentiated from positive, negative, disorganized and hostility syndromes. We propose the systematic study of addiction as one intrinsic dimension of schizophrenia due to its independence of other dimensions, its high prevalence and its clinical relevance.
P03-148 - Psychosocial Functioning in Remitted and Non-Remitted Schizophrenic Patients
Authors: Volpe U. , Avolio D. , Capuano M. , Bucci P. , Piegari G. , Campana T. , Mucci A. , Galderisi S.
Published: June 2010

Objectives

Symptomatic remission is increasingly perceived as a realistic objective of pharmacological treatment in patients with schizophrenia (2). However the relationships between symptomatic remission, as defined by standardized criteria, and functional outcome remain controversial. In the present study, we designed a one-year follow-up of clinically stable patients with schizophrenia and examined the relationships of clinical remission with several indices of psychosocial functioning.

Methods

Thirty-six patients with schizophrenia were included. All the evaluations were carried out both at baseline (T0) and after a one-year follow-up (T12). The categorization in psychosocial remission/non-remission was done by means of the Psychosocial Remission in Schizophrenia (PSRS) scale.

Results

Both at T0 and at T12, R showed, with respect to NR, a better social functioning and a better quality of life. Correlation analysis revealed that the better the psychosocial functioning, the lower the scores on all psychopathological dimensions, except “anxiety/depression” and “hostility” at T0 as well as “anxiety/depression” at T12. At T0, 65% of R resulted also in psychosocial remission; at T12, this percentage reached 90%.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that symptomatic remission in schizophrenia is associated to functional outcome in the majority of cases, especially when both symptomatic and chronological criteria are met.
P03-15 - Evaluation of Sedative Effects of Antipsychotic Drugs Based on EEG, Psychomotor Vigilance Task and Ratings Scales
Authors: Wichniak A. , Wierzbicka A. , Waliniowska E. , Musinska I. , Czasak K. , Jakubczyk T. , Jernajczyk W. , Jarema M.
Published: June 2010

Objectives

Persistent sedation is a side effect of antipsychotic drugs, with a substantial impact on quality of live and treatment adherence. Additionally sedation can contribute to weight gain and metabolic disturbances. It impairs also patient's driving skills. In present study we evaluated sedative effects of antipsychotic drugs using three methods that are accessible, and easy to use in psychiatric practice.

Methods

59 patients with schizophrenia (mean age 25.1 ± 3.6, 27 M, 22 F) were included to the study before the discharge from an open psychiatric ward. All patients underwent monotherapy with sedative (olanzapine; n=33, mean dose 15.4 ± 5.9), moderate -sedative (risperidone; n=12, mean dose 4.4 ± 1.8) and non-sedative (aripiprazole, sertindole; n=14, mean dose 18.7 ± 6.2, 15.5 ± 3.3) antipsychotics. The patients underwent EEG recordings, 28-minutes long psychomotor vigilance task (Mackworth Clock Test) and filled out Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) and scales for assessment of sleep quality.

Results

Increased slow-wave EEG activity was found in 21 (63.6%) of patients treated with olanzapine, 8 (66.7%) of patients treated with risperidone and 3 (21.4%) of patients treated with non-sedative antipsychotics (p< 0.05). Abnormal results of psychomotor task were found respectively in 10 (30.3%), 5 (41.7%) and 4 (28.6%) of patients (not significant). Mean ESS score was: 6.9 ± 3.3, 8.0 ± 3.0, 5.4 ± 3.7, respectively (not significant).

Conclusions

Signs of sedation were frequent in EEG recordings of patients treated with sedative antipsychotics, however at performance level in psychomotor task the differences between the investigated drugs were less pronounced.
P03-150 - The Demobinc Project: Results of the QuIRC Reliability Testing, Factor Analysis and Service User Assessment
Authors: White S. , Turton P. , Wright C.
Published: June 2010

Objective

To test the psychometric properties of the Quality Indicator for Rehabilitative Care (QuIRC), refine the toolkit and compare results with service user experiences.

Methods

Following the initial development of the toolkit, it was translated into the languages of the partner countries and piloted. It was then refined to maximize a) its inter-rater reliability, b) its usability and c) its ability to deliver assessments relevant to each country's established systems of change at local, regional and national level. Managers of participating units were re-interviewed using the refined tool. QuIRC scores were compared against service users’ quality of life, autonomy, experiences of care and markers of recovery to assess whether the QuIRc could provide a proxy-assessment of the unit's promotion of service users’ autonomy and Recovery.

Results

The tool was piloted in 20 units in each country (a total of 200 units). Inter-rater reliability was assessed using intra-class correlations and Cohen's Kappa coefficients. Factors with low reliability or extreme response biases were dropped. Remaining items were subjected to an exploratory factor analysis to test domain allocation and improve internal consistency. QuIRC domain ratings were compared by country and facility type and with service user assessments. The QuIRC was found to have high reliability, to be easy to use and there was high correlation between domain ratings and service users’ ratings.
P03-151 - A Study of the Genetic Association Between the MYO9B Locus and Schizophrenia in a Chinese Population
Authors: Wu N. , Zhang X. , Jin S. , Liu S. , Ju G. , Wang Z. , Liu L. , Ye L. , Wei J.
Published: June 2010

Objectives

An increasing number of studies have described the relationship between celiac disease and schizophrenia. Based on the reported correlations and the overlapping linkage regions on 19p13, the myosin IXB gene (MYO9B) can be considered a highly relevant positional and functional candidate gene for schizophrenia. The present work was undertaken to investigate the association of the MYO9B gene with schizophrenia in a Chinese population.

Methods

A total of 329 patients with schizophrenia and 350 healthy control subjects in a Chinese population were recruited. A PCR-based RFLP protocol was applied to genotype 7 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), including rs7249490, rs7256689, rs2279007, rs8113494, rs2305767, rs1545620 and rs2305764, in the MYO9B gene to investigate their association with schizophrenia.

Results

The X2 goodness-of-fit test showed that the genotypic distributions of all 7 SNPs were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium in both the patient group and the control group. Disease association was shown for rs8113494 (X2=12.77, P=0.0003, OR=1.89, 95% CI 1.33-2.68) and rs1545620 (X2=15.44, P=8.379e-5, OR=1.65, 95% CI 1.29-2.12), while rs2279007 was associated with schizophrenia in the female subjects (X2=4.637, P=0.031, OR=0.69, 95% CI 0.49-0.97) but not in the male subjects (X2=1.082, P=0.299, OR=0.85, 95% CI 0.63-1.15).

Conclusions

The present work shows that the polymorphisms of the MYO9B gene are likely to confer susceptibility to schizophrenia. Because the MYO9B gene has been found to be highly expressed in the tight junction gate, it could be considered as a meeting point for the interaction between environmental and genetic factors in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia.
P03-152 - Atypical Antipsychotics: Causing Craziness in Glucose Regulation?
Authors: Xiu P.Y. , Patil A.D. , Agius M. , Zaman R.
Published: June 2010

Introduction

Hyperglycemia and type 2 diabetes mellitus are more common in schizophrenia than in the general population. Presence of type 2 diabetes would limit the use of many atypical antipsychotics and also as a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease, therefore it is important that the role atypical antipsychotics play in this glucose dysregulation is ascertained.

Objectives

To analyse current experimental literature on anti-psychotic dysregulation of glucose metabolism; reviewing clinical evidence already available.

Methods

PubMed - searched with MeSH term “anti-psychotics”, with additional terms; “schizophrenia”, “diabetes”, “glucose”, “treatment”

Results

The central effects of atypical anti-psychotics that may induce a metabolic dysregulation are mediated by neurotransmitter receptor antagonism, particularly the histamine-1 and serotonin-2C receptors. In the periphery, many of the mechanisms postulated are dependent on weight gain and serum fatty acid level. Resistance to anorexigenic endocrine factors and elevated levels of the orexigenic agents adiponectin and ghrelin, may also be induced by certain anti-psychotics. Anti-psychotics could play a role in accelerating an existing insulin resistance as current literature suggests an existing CSF glucose metabolism dysregulation in anti-psychotic drug naïve patients. Deficits have also been implicated in schizophrenia pathogenesis, raising the possibility of co-morbidity.

Conclusion

The clinical implications of this phenomenon are significant and until anti-psychotics are developed, that minimises this metabolic disturbance, precautions should be taken. Dietary counselling, and administration of anti-diabetic drugs such as Metformin may aid the reduction in insulin resistance while switching to more appriopriate anti-psychotics has been shown to be beneficial.
P03-154 - Serum Levels of S100B Proteins as a Marker of Positive Psychopathology in Schizophrenic Inpatients
Authors: Morera-Fumero A.L. , Diaz-Mesa E. , Abreu-Gonzalez P. , Henry M. , Jimenez-Sosa A. , Garcia-Valdecasas-Campelo J. , Intxausti A. , Fernandez-Lopez L. , Yelmo S. , Gracia-Marco R.
Published: June 2010

Introduction

Schizophrenia is a chronic disease. Several etiopathogenic aetiologies have been posed, among them the existence of cerebral inflammation. S100B is a calcium-binding protein, mainly produced and secreted by astrocytes, that mediates the interaction among glial cells and between glial cells and neurons. Serum S100B levels have been proposed as a peripheral marker of brain inflammation.

Objectives

The aim of this research is to study if the serum level of the protein S100B has relationship with positive psychopathology.

Methods

31 paranoid schizophrenic inpatients (22 male and 9 female, 36.7±10.3 years) meeting DSM-IV criteria participated in the study. Blood was sampled by venipuncture at 12:00 and 24:00 hours. Blood extractions were carried out during the first 48 hours after hospital admission. Psychopathology was assessed by the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). Serum S100B levels were measured by sandwich ELISA techniques.

Results

Correlations between serum levels of S100B protein and PANSS positive scores are shown in the following table. The first figure corresponds to the Pearson's correlation coefficient, while the figure in brackets corresponds to its statistical significance.

S100BTotal Positive ScoreDelusionsConceptual disorganizationHallucinationsHyperactivityGrandiositySuspiciousness/ persecutionHostility12:000.354 (0.051)0.210 (0.249)0.291 (0.106)0.412 (0.019)-0.128 (0.486)0.274 (0.135)0.010 (0.957)0.026 (0.887)24:000.462 (0.009)0.266 (0.141)0.446 (0.011)0.345 (0.053)-0.148 (0.419)0.486 (0.006)0.064 (0.728)0.013 (0.942)

[panss]

Conclusions

Serum levels of S100B protein may be used as a biological marker of positive psychopathology in paranoid schizophrenia.Acknowledgement
P03-16 - Causes and First Symptoms of Schizophrenia Relapse
Authors: Adomaitienė V. , Jaras A. , Lauciūtė E. , Liugailaitė S. , Dambrauskienė K.
Published: June 2010

One of the main challenges of contemporary psychiatry in treating patients with schizophrenia is the early diagnostics and timely prevention of relapse of this disorder.

Objective

The goal of the study was to find the potential causes of psychotic episode recurrence and its first symptoms in rehospitalized patients with schizophrenia.

Methods

Patients with schizophrenia, who were urgently hospitalized to KUM Psychiatry clinic and had less than three psychotic episodes, took part in the study (N=97). Medical documentation and a structured questionnaire, designed by the authors, were used to evaluate anamnesis data.

Results

The main causes of relapse were: willful discontinuation of psychopharmacotherapy (50% of the cases), spontaneous relapses without any clear exogenous cause (20%), and onetime alcohol intoxication (8%). The patients and their family members indicated the following first symptoms of relapse: anxiety, fear (73%), sleep disorders (62%), aggression (52%), delusions and/ or hallucinations (37%). The symptoms tended to occur in combinations rather than individually.

Conclusions

Causes and symptoms of schizophrenia relapse differ from patient to patient. It is possible to prevent the relapse knowing the common causes and first symptoms, because most of the patients are able to detect the first symptoms themselves.