bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effectiveness and factors predicting success of therapeutic patient education in obese patients candidates for bariatric surgery
Authors: Piacentino D. , Prosperi E. , Guidi G. , Asprino R. , Pinto A. , Gnessi L. , Lenzi A.
Published: May 2016

Introduction

Obesity is an increasingly common chronic disease. Its biopsychosocial basis provides the rationale of multidisciplinary interventions, such as Therapeutic Patient Education (TPE, WHO 1998), which is effective for lifestyle change and awareness improvement, thus reducing the disease's prevalence and its health care-related financial burden. However, patients’ socio-demographic and psychopathological factors may influence TPE's effectiveness.

Objectives/Aims

We aimed to assess the effectiveness of an 8-week TPE program in obese patients candidates for bariatric surgery and identify factors predicting its success.

Methods

We enrolled 159 patients with a BMI > 35 Kg/m2 and obesity-related comorbidities (females = 71.3%; age range = 18-35 years) at the C.A.S.C.O. (EASO COMs) of our University Hospital. They filled out the Binge Eating Scale (BES), the Symptom Checklist-90-R (SCL-90-R), and the Short Form-36 Health Survey (SF-36). We used Tukey's multiple comparison test to assess Quality of Life (QoL) improvement after TPE and multivariate logistic regression to estimate the size of the association between TPE and the aforementioned factors.

Results

The SF-36 showed a significant improvement (P < 0.05) of physical and mental QoL post-TPE, especially in obese patients without binge eating disorder. The same applied to BES and SCL-90-R scores. The factors predicting TPE success were a short duration of obesity, a limited number of past diets, and low levels of anxiety/depression pre-TPE.

Conclusions

In obese patients candidates for bariatric surgery, TPE is useful to improve physical and mental QoL, eating behavior, and psychological status. Several factors are predictive of TPE success, allowing a personalization of the intervention to render it more effective.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.
A six-year longitudinal population-based cohort for the extended psychosis phenotype: An epidemiological study of the gene-environment interactions (TürkSch)
Authors: Alptekin K. , Binbay T. , Kırlı U. , Elbi H. , Kayahan B. , Onay H. , Özkınay F. , van Os J.
Published: May 2016

Introduction

Both genetic and environmental factors play a role in the extended psychosis phenotype which covers psychotic experiences, symptoms and disorders.

Objectives

The respective contributions of genetic and environmental factors over time remain largely unknown.

Aims

To describe the objectives and design of a multistage study.

Methods

The TürkSch (Izmir mental health survey for gene-environment interaction in psychoses) is a prospective-longitudinal study consisted of several data collection stages to screen extended psychosis phenotype in a general population sample, and to assess individual, familial, genetic and neighbourhood level variables.

Results

The study aimed to assess the prevalence of psychotic experiences and symptoms in Izmir-Turkey (stage I, cross-sectional; n: 4011), the socioeconomic deprivation and the social capital of neighbourhoods in a separate sample (stage II, cross-sectional; n: 5124) in 2008. A nested case-control study (stage III) recruited individuals with psychotic outcomes and healthy controls from stage I, and included blood sampling for gene-environment interaction and clinical reappraisal as well. After 6 years, follow-up study (stage IV) was set to assess the mental health outcomes with a focus on extended psychosis phenotype, environmental exposures of the eligiable sample (n: 2192) from the stage I, and to collect blood samples for further genetic analysis. On both stages, Composite International Diagnostic Interview was used by clinically trained interviewers, and was able to provide broad assessment of psychotic experiences, experience-related disabilities, help-seeking and health care utilization.

Conclusions

The TürkSch has a unique study design and yields data of high quality in the Turkish population, with a specific focus on psychosis.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.
Portuguese validation of the Version of the Regret Scale
Authors: Borges D. , Pereira A.T. , Borges J. , Cabral A.S. , Xavier S. , Macedo A.
Published: May 2016

Introduction

Regret is defined as an aversive negative emotion associated to specific cognitive contents, felt when we consider that our current situation could be better, if we had taken a different decision (Zeelenberg and Pieters 1997). Regret Scale/RS corresponds to the regret-trait dimension of Regret and Maximization Scale developed by Schwartz et al. (2002).

Objective

To investigate the psychometric properties of the RS Portuguese version.

Methods

A community sample composed of 108 university students and 79 employees (78.1% females; mean age = 33.16 ± 13.175; range: 17-62) answered the Portuguese preliminary versions of the RS and Bedtime Counterfactual Processing Questionnaire (BCPQ) and also the Profile of Mood States to evaluate Negative Affect/NA. To study the temporal stability, 31 participants (83.9% females; mean age = 26.54 ± 18.761) answered the RAFS again after 6 weeks.

Results

The EA Cronbach alpha was “very good” (a = 0.72). All the items contributed to the internal consistency. The test-retest correlation coefficient was high, positive and significant (0.72; P < 0.001). Following Kaiser and Cattel Scree Plot criteria, only one factor was extracted, meaning that the scale is unidimensional. Pearson correlations of EA and BCPQ2 and NA were significant and high (r@.50).

Conclusions

The Portuguese version of RS has good reliability and validity. It could be very useful both in clinical and research contexts, namely in an ongoing project on the relationship between regret, personality and psychological distress.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.
A multicentric study on cognitive functions in a large sample of patients with schizophrenia and their unaffected first-degree relatives
Authors: Chieffi M. , Mucci A. , Rossi A. , Rocca P. , Bertolino A. , Galderisi S. , Maj M.
Published: May 2016

Introduction

Neurocognition may represent an indicator of genetic risk and poor outcome in schizophrenia patients (SCZ) predicting real life functioning.

Objectives

As cognitive performance of unaffected first-degree relatives (UR) is intermediate between SCZ and healthy controls (HC), neurocognitive impairment may represent a marker of vulnerability to schizophrenia.

Aims

To investigate social and neurocognition in all subjects and their impact on functional capacity of patients as markers of vulnerability.

Methods

Sample: 922 SCZ, 379 UR and 780 HC. Assessment: MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery (neurocognition), Facial Emotion Identification Test and Awareness of Social Inference Test (social cognition) and Specific Level of Functioning Scale (social functioning). Analyses: Structural Equation Model (SEM) analyses to model the impact of all variables on functional outcome.

Results

SCZ scored worse in all domains than UR and HC. UR had significant impairments in all cognitive domains with respect to HC. Cognitive functioning had direct and indirect impacts on functional outcome mainly through social cognition and functional capacity. Social cognition had a direct impact on outcome, independent of neurocognition.

Conclusion

SCZ and UR display similar patterns of social and neurocognition deficits. Our results confirm a strong impact of neurocogniton on functional outcome. Social cognition has become an interesting object of study and its conceptualization as trait variable and the existence of a continuum between SCZ and UR are hypotheses for further research.

Acknowledgements

The study was carried out within the project “Multicenter study on factors influencing real-life social functioning of people with a diagnosis of schizophrenia” of the Italian Network for Research on Psychoses.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.
Validation of the remission criteria in a Chinese population with chronic schizophrenia
Authors: Chou Y.H.
Published: May 2016

Background

A consensus definition of symptomatic remission in schizophrenia was recently established based on a fixed threshold for symptom severity and a time component. The objective of this study was to determine the clinical relevance of this definition in a Chinese population and find the predictors of symptomatic remission, functional outcome and cognition.

Methods

Seventy-five schizophrenic patients were recruited within a period of 2 years. All patients need to prospectively be followed up in an outpatient clinic for at least 6 months. During this period, it was not allowed to adjust their medications. Three different definitions of symptomatic remission included the Remission in Schizophrenia Working Group (RSWG), clinical global impression (CGI) and brief psychiatric rating scale (BPRS) was evaluated. In addition, the function and cognition was assessed as the measured outcomes. The prediction model of outcomes measurement was used for statistic analysis.

Results

The cumulative percentage of achieving remission criteria among three different definitions of symptomatic remission was 52% in RSWG criteria, 63% in CGI and 65% in BPRS, respectively. In comparison of remitted and non-remitted groups, there were significant differences in sex, education, function and cognition in terms of RSWG definition but not in CGI and BPRS. Female gender and education were two factors for predicting symptomatic remission and function, whereas body mass index and education were two factors for prediction of better cognition.

Conclusions

Our study indicates that the definition of RSWG was more clinical relevant compared with CGI and BPRS in Chinese schizophrenia.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.
Reduction of negative social attributions towards people with mental illness through a combination of treatments
Authors: Vaquero C. , Cebollero M. , Escudero M.Á. , Saiz J.
Published: May 2016

Introduction

Stigma towards people with mental illness can have very negative consequences for the persons that experience it. So, it becomes strongly necessary to combat this problem.

Objectives/Aims

Evaluate the effectiveness of multiple interventions to reduce stigma against mental illness in a group of high school students.

Methods

Quasi-experimental study. Seventy-six students between 16 to 19 years old from 3 schools of southern Madrid State participated. No significant differences in age and gender between groups were found. The quasi-control group was obtained from 3 different classrooms (1 in each school). This group did not go through any treatment. The experimental group had 2 treatments. Treatment “A” consisted in 1 psychoeducation session. Treatment “B” was 1 visit (real or virtual) to the Thyssen-Bornemisza museum. Persons exercising as museum guides had been diagnosed with mental illness. They already were participants in the PCEA program of the CRPS Latina. The instrument to assess stigma was the AQ-27, validated in Spanish.

Results

We found significant reductions of stigma in all dimensions explored: Anger (A vs BC; P < 0.001), Threat (A vs BC; P < 0.001), Fear (A vs BC; P < 0.001), Coercion (A vs BC; P < 0.001) Segregation (A vs BC; P < 0.001) and Avoidance (A vs BC; P < 0.001).

Conclusions

The combination of treatments for intervention on stigma in samples of school students seems to be a very effective option to reduce stigma.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.
Relation between EEG source functional connectivity and the negative symptom severity in schizophrenia: a preliminary report from a multicentre study
Authors: Di Lorenzo G. , Mucci A. , Daverio A. , Ferrentino F. , Vignapiano A. , Marasco D. , Niolu C. , Altamura M. , Galderisi S.
Published: May 2016

Introduction

Neural dysconnectivity is hypothesized to be a key element in pathophysiology of schizophrenia. However, the relation of disordered connectivity with the different clinical characteristics of the syndrome is not fully elucidated.

Objectives

The current research investigated the relations between resting-state EEG Source Functional Connectivity (EEG-SFC) and the two main clusters of negative symptoms derived from the Brief Negative Symptom Scale, the Expressive Deficit (ED) and the Avolition (AV), in subjects with schizophrenia (SCZ) enrolled to the multicentre study of the Italian Network for Research on Psychoses.

Methods

Out of 97 chronic, stabilized SCZ included, we selected subjects according the lower and the upper quartile of the ED and AV value distribution: 25 were in upper and 24 in the lower quartile of ED (respectively, HIGH-ED and LOW-ED); 27 were in upper and 24 in the lower quartile of AV (respectively, HIGH-AV and LOW-AV). Fifty-five healthy controls (HC) were included, comparable to SCZ for gender, age and educational level. EEG-SFC analysis was based on the lagged phase synchronization (LPS) computed by eLORETA from 5 minutes resting-state EEG recordings in eyes closed condition. LPS indices were determined for each spectrum band and between all 28 regions of interest (ROI) pairs. Group differences were significant for corrected P-value < 0.05.

Results

SCZ had higher theta band LPS than HC. Respect to LOW-ED, HIGH-ED showed significant increased alpha LPS in fronto-cingulate, para-hippocampal and insular inter-hemispheric ROI pairs. No significant difference emerged between HIGH-AV and LOW-AV.

Conclusions

Subgrouping SCZ according to negative symptom severity reveals heterogeneous patterns of resting-state LPS connectivity.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.
Exploration of the link between clinical judgments and subjective perceptions of clinical change in patients treated for schizophrenia
Authors: Egger S. , Vetter S. , Prinz S. , Weniger G. , Müller M.
Published: May 2016

Introduction

Subjective perceptions of clinical change in patients with schizophrenia are often not congruent to the objective evidence of the same, especially since a lack of insight is part of the symptomatology. However, the exploration of the relationship between clinical judgments from mental health experts and the patients’ perception of symptom change is fairly understudied.

Aims and objectives

This study aimed to investigate the performance of the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) as a tool for clinical outcome monitoring in schizophrenia in concordance with the change of self-reported psychopathology assessed with the Frankfurt Complaint Questionnaire (FCQ) in patients with a schizophrenia.

Methods

A consecutive sample of patients admitted to a Swiss psychiatric hospital for schizophrenia was assessed with the FCQ at admission and discharge. The PANSS was rated by the responsible clinicians at admission and discharge. Complete data of admission and discharge were available from approximately 60 cases. Reliable change index (RCI) was calculated to determine a clinically meaningful change based on the PANSS scores. Logistic regression models were conducted to explore the link between RCI levels and the change of self-reported perceptions of psychopathology.

Results and xonclusions

Our study found no relationship between the change of PANSS and FCQ from admission to discharge in a sample of patients treated for schizophrenia. Therefore, our findings provide evidence for a large discrepancy between the observed clinical severity and the subjective perception of symptoms in individuals with schizophrenia.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.
Clinical and functional outcomes of patients with severe schizophrenia undergoing comprehensive treatment: A 6-year follow-up
Authors: Fernandez-Miranda J.J. , Diaz-Fernandez S.
Published: May 2016

Introduction

To increase treatment compliance and consequently to reach clinical and rehabilitation goals in people with schizophrenia is a main challenge in their treatment.

Objectives and aims

To know the retention in treatment (and reasons for discharge) of people with severe schizophrenia enrolled in a specific, intensive, comprehensive and community programme for them; and also to know treatment (clinical and functional) outcomes.

Methods

A 6-year prospective, observational study of patients with severe schizophrenia (ICD 10: F 20; CGI-S ≥ 5) undergoing specific severe mental illness programme (n = 200). Assessment included the Clinical Global Impression-Severity scale (CGI-S), the Camberwell Assessment of Needs (CAN) and the WHO Disability Assessment Schedule (WHO-DAS). Time in treatment and reasons of discharge were measured. Laboratory tests, weight and medications were reported. Hospital admissions were measured.

Results

CGI at baseline was 5.86 ± 0.7. After 6 years 48% of patients continued under treatment (CGI = 4.31 ± 0.8; P < 0.01); 31% were medical discharged (CGI = 3.62 ± 1.6; P < 0.001); DAS decreased in the four areas (P < 0.01) and also CAN (P < 0.01); 7% had moved to other places; 8% were voluntary discharges. Eight patients dead; three of them committed suicide. Forty-five percent of all of them were treated with atypical long-acting antipsychotics, with good tolerability. There were significantly less hospital admissions than during the previous 6 years (P < 0.001).

Conclusions

Retention of severe mentally ill patients with schizophrenia in a specific and intensive care programme was really high; and seemed to help getting in remarkable clinical and functional improvement. Long-acting medication also seemed to be useful on improving treatment adherence, mainly due to their good tolerability.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.
Paliperidone palmitate log-acting injection in patients with psychotic active clinic: start, change or increase of dose
Authors: Gonzalez Galdamez A.L. , Piqueras Acevedo M.D. , Raposo Hernández M.R. , Martínez Pérez I. , Manzur Rojas P. , Gil Sánchez A. , Belmar Simo A. , Busaileh Salas A. , González Jiménez F. , Sánchez Marín R. , Gómez Bravo S. , García Briñol C.J. , Rodriguez Hernandez A.
Published: May 2016

The aim is to describe the experience of treatment with Paliperidone Palmitate long acting injection (PP) in patients with psychotic active clinic, whether diagnoses with schizophrenia or in patients with the first episode psychosis, as well as to reflect the improvement in the control of the symptoms that the patients can improve increasing the dose.

Methods

We have done a descriptive study of 34 patients hospitalized in psychiatry between January and July 2015 for psychotic active clinic who started treatment with PP or the previous dose was increased.

Results

91.2% of patients admitted for acute exacerbation of their usual pathology and 8.8% for a first episode psychosis. In the CGI scale, all the patients admitted scored as severe or markedly ill; going mostly mildly ill at discharge. For 55.9% of patients, the treatment was changed to PP, 29.4% of the dose was increased PP and 14.7% antipsychotic treatment was started with PP. Among patients change treatment, the main reason was non-adherence (47.4%). 70.6% of our patients were discharged with PP as only antipsychotic and 29.4% which was discharged with another antipsychotic, the most frequent association was of PP with Quetiapine (80%).

Conclusions

PP is a highly effective medicament in the treatment of the schizophrenia that improves the adherence to the treatment, so in our experience and we consider it a medicament to be considered in the early stages of the disease. According to our experience and there are patients who can benefit from better control of symptoms adjusting the dose individually.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.
Coping strategies and quality of life in schizophrenia outpatients treated by Psychopharmacs - cross-sectional study
Authors: Holubova M. , Prasko J. , Hruby R. , Kamaradova D. , Ociskova M. , Latalova K. , Grambal A.
Published: May 2016

Introduction

The modern psychiatric view of schizophrenia spectrum disorders and their treatment has led to an increasing focus on coping strategies and quality of life of these patients.

Objectives

Understanding the relationship between quality of life and coping strategies can help in finding those coping strategies that enhance the quality of life. It is important to study the inner experience and striving of patients because of connection with well-being and treatment adherence.

Aims:

In the present study, the authors examined the relationship between demographic data, the severity of symptoms, coping strategies, and quality of life in psychotic outpatients.

Methods

Psychiatric outpatients who met ICD-10 criteria for a psychotic disorder (schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, or delusional disorder) were recruited in the study. Questionnaires measuring the coping strategies (SVF-78), the quality of life (Q-LES-Q), and symptoms severity (objective and subjective clinical global impression–objCGI; subjCGI) were assessed. Data were analysed using one-way ANOVA, Mann-Whitney U-test, Pearson and Spearman correlation coefficients, and multiple regression analysis.

Results

One hundred and nine psychotic outpatients were included in the study. The QoL was significantly related to the Positive and Negative coping strategies. The severity of disorder highly negatively correlated with the QoL score. Stepwise regression analysis showed that symptoms severity (subjCGI), Positive coping strategies (especially Positive Self-instruction), Difference between the objCGI and subjCGI and Negative coping strategies explain totally 53.8% of variance of the QoL (Tables 1–3).

Table 1

Description of the sample, demographic and clinical data.

 

Table 2

Description of using coping strategies and quality of life in schizophrenic outpatients.

 

Average use of coping 40-60 T-score, more than 60 overusing, less than 40 reduced use of coping strategy.

Table 3

Correlations between quality of life and coping strategies.

 

*P < 0.05; **P < 0.01; ***P < 0.001.

Conclusions

Our study suggests the importance of utilizing the Positive coping strategies in improving the quality of life in patients with psychotic disorders.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.
Self-stigma and quality of life in Psychopharmacs treated outpatients with schizophrenia and related disorders - A cross-sectional study
Authors: Holubova M. , Prasko J. , Latalova K. , Ociskova M. , Grambal A. , Kamaradova D. , Vrbova K. , Hruby R.
Published: May 2016

Introduction

Self-stigma is a maladaptive psychosocial phenomenon that can disturb self-image and quality of life in psychiatric outpatients and may lead to dysphoria, social isolation and reduced adherence to treatment.

Objectives

Self-stigma and QoL could be reflected as important factors for patients, who suffer from schizophrenia spectrum disorders, their caregivers and mental health specialists. Focus on reducing the self-stigma in supportive and educational therapy could be an important factor in promoting a higher QoL.

Aims

Current research moved attention to the relationship between demographic data, the severity of symptoms, self-stigma and quality of life in schizophrenic outpatients compared to the QoL in healthy controls.

Methods

Patients who met ICD-10 criteria for schizophrenia spectrum disorder were recruited in the study. The Quality of Life Satisfaction and Enjoyment questionnaire (Q-LES-Q), Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness (ISMI) and severity of the disorder measured by objective and subjective Clinical Global Impression severity scales (CGI) were assessed.

Results

One hundred and nine psychotic patients and 91 healthy controls participated in the study. Compared to the control group, there was a lower QoL and a higher score of self-stigma in psychotic patients. We found the correlation between the self-stigma, duration of disorder and QoL. The level of self-stigma correlated positively with total symptom severity score and negatively with the QoL. Stepwise regression analysis revealed that the objective severity and self-stigma score were significantly associated with the quality of life (Figure 2 and 3, Fig. 1).

Conclusions

Our study suggests a negative impact of self-stigma level on the quality of life in patients suffering from schizophrenia spectrum disorders.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.
Short-term compliance in first-episode psychosis
Authors: Iriarte Yoller N. , Vicente García J. , Rico Villademoros F.
Published: May 2016

Introduction

Non-compliance is a significant problem in patients with first-episode psychosis (FEP), representing a challenge for mental health professionals due to the heterogeneous course and functional outcomes.

Objectives

The aim was to describe the short-term compliance in FEP and analyze the demographics, clinical features, and management issues potentially associated with non-compliance.

Methods

This observational and retrospective study included all consecutive FEP admitted to our psychiatry unit from January to June 2015, belonging to our catchment area. To be categorized as compliant, patients had to attend month-1 and month-3 follow-up visits. Characteristics of compliant and non-compliant were compared using a bivariate analysis.

Results

We included 18 patients whose characteristics are shown in the table. Overall, 8 (44.4%) were non-compliant. Patients who were non-compliant had a significantly shorter length of stay (10.3 [6.3] vs. 18.5 [8.9] days). Most patients (66.7%) had cannabis abuse, being slightly more frequent among non-compliant (75% vs. 60%, P = NS); in addition, the diagnosis of substance-induced psychotic disorder was also more common among non-compliant (50% vs 20%, P = NS). There were 2 patients who were readmitted, both in the non-compliant group (Table 1).

Conclusions

Short-term non-compliance is high among patients with FEP. Despite the limitations of our study, our results suggest that, beside other factors (e.g. substance abuse), non-compliance could be associated with management-related factors.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.
Identification of subtypes of Chinese schizophrenia patients before discharge: A cluster analysis
Authors: Liu S. , Li Z.
Published: May 2016

Introduction

People with schizophrenia is a highly heterogeneous group. Identifying subtypes of people with schizophrenia before discharge may help develop targeted discharge plans.

Objectives

To explore possible subtypes among people with schizophrenia before discharge by their self-management ability, self-efficacy and cognitive function status.

Aims

To identify possible subtypes among people with schizophrenia before discharge.

Methods

Totally, 150 Chinese people with schizophrenia before discharged from a tertiary psychiatric hospital in Beijing were assessed by Self-management Instrument for People with Schizophrenia and Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS). Cluster analysis using SPSS 20.0 package was performed to categorize subjects based on their scores.

Results

Four different types of subjects were revealed. Type I low cognition with no participation (n = 25), patients’ self-management ability, self-efficacy and cognitive function were very poor; type II medium cognition with blind confidence (n = 42), patients’ self-efficacy was good, while self-management ability was poor and cognitive function is medium; type III high cognition with high level skill (n = 46), patients’ cognitive function, self-management ability and self-efficacy were good; type IV low cognition with medium level skill (n = 37), patients’ cognition was very poor, while self-management ability and self-efficacy were medium. These four types of subjects had significant differences in long-term use of antipsychotics and primary caregivers’ education level (P < 0.05).

Conclusions

The finding of different subtypes of people with schizophrenia presenting in this sample may help health professionals give effective screening and targeted discharge measures which can further promote patients’ recovery and reduce readmission rates.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.
Antipsychotic Medication Adherence Scale (AMAS): Development and preliminary psychometric properties
Authors: Martins M.J. , Pereira A.T. , Carvalho C.B. , Castilho P. , Lopes A.C. , Oliveira A. , Roque C. , Mota D. , Tróia F. , Bajouco M. , Madeira N. , Matos O. , Santos P. , Leite R. , Morais S. , Santos T. , Santos T. , Nogueira V. , Santos V. , Macedo A.
Published: May 2016

Introduction

Although being highly consensual that antipsychotic adherence is an important outcome predictor in psychosis, existing reviews have found mean rates of adherence around 40–60%. Several aspects, such as patient-related, medication-related, environmental-related variables have been described as important predictors.

Aims

This study aim is to develop, administer and present preliminary psychometric properties of a new scale for antipsychotic medication adherence that includes different types of predictors (clinical, psychosocial, and practical among others).

Methods

The “AMAS” was developed by a multidisciplinary team and was based on recent research on factors influencing antipsychotic adherence. The scale evolved from multiple drafts and experts were contacted in order to improve the final version. Over 50 patients with a diagnosis of a psychotic-spectrum disorder taking antipsychotic medication will be assessed with the “AMAS” and the Medication Adherence Rating Scale. Additionally, each patient's psychiatrist will fill in a form with demographic and clinical variables (such as type of symptoms, previous adherence problems, current adherence, insight and other relevant variables).

Results

This is an ongoing study and the sample is still being collected (scheduled finish date: February/2016). Our statistical analysis’ plan includes: reliability analysis (Chronbach's alpha, alpha if item deleted, inter item correlations and covariances and item-total correlations); validity (convergent validity); factorial analysis.

Conclusions

It is hypothesized that the “AMAS” will be a practical, reliable and valid unidimentional instrument with clinical utility assessing adherence to antipsychotics. The “AMAS” can be also useful in assessing intervention targets (e.g. psychoterapeutical, psychoeducational) to enhance adherence.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.
Social cognition across stages and forms of schizophrenia
Authors: Papsuev O. , Minyaycheva M. , Movina L. , Gurovich I.
Published: May 2016

Introduction

Social cognition is considered as a main predictor of functional outcomes and a candidate for endophenotype of schizophrenia. We hypothesize that social cognition capacities follow the course of schizophrenia as a progredient disorder.

Objective

To investigate social cognition across different groups of patients with schizophrenia and schizophrenia spectrum disorders.

Aims

To evaluate social cognitive impairments in patients with first episode psychoses (FEP), chronic schizophrenia (CS) and schizophrenia-spectrum disorders (SSD).

Methods

In a cross-sectional study, 71 patients with FEP, CS and SSD were assessed with a battery of clinical and social cognitive tests. Three key social cognitive domains were assessed: emotion perception, Theory of Mind and attributional style.

Results

Patients with schizoaffective disorder and schizotypal disorder showed better scores in Hinting task (mean ranks: 47.0 and 39.9 respectively) than patients with less favourable forms of schizophrenia (mean ranks: 24.7 and 30.2 respectively) (P = 0.003). Patients with FEP showed better results in Hinting task (18.1 ± 2.4) versus CS patients (17.4 ± 2.0) (P < 0.05). No differences in emotion perception (Ekman-60 task) among FEP and CS patients were detected. Patients with schizoaffective disorder showed better scores in emotional processing comparing to all forms of schizophrenia patients (mean ranks 49.1 vs. 30.1, 34.5, 28.0, P < 0.05). No significant differences in attributional style were registered.

Conclusions

Emotion perception and Theory of Mind domains show different level of impairment across FEP and CS patients and across forms of schizophrenia. Further longitudinal studies to establish how social cognition domains mirror the course and severity of schizophrenia and SSD are needed.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.
Tolerability and safety of long-acting injectable aripiprazole
Authors: Porras Segovia A. , Calvo Rivera P. , Girela Serrano B. , Gutierrez Rojas L.
Published: May 2016

Introduction

Long-acting injectable aripiprazole is the most recently introduced depot treatment in schizophrenia.

Objectives

The objective of this study is to determine the tolerability and safety of this new treatment.

Aims

The aim is to provide useful information regarding the use of this new drug.

Methods

Our sample consists on 20 patients treated with a monthly dose of long-acting ariprazole. They were previously stabilized on oral aripiprazole before the first injection. The data on tolerability and safety were obtained by face-to-face interviews, using the Hogan Drug Attitude Inventory, the Patient Satisfaction with Medication Questionnaire and the UKU Side Effects Scale.

Results

Our sample consists of 20 patients, with a 50/50 gender distribution and a mean age of 39 years. The average score in the satisfaction scale Hogan was positive (an average of 7.25). In the Patient Satisfaction With Medication Questionnaire, 85% said they were satisfied with the new treatment, compared with 15% who showed some degree of dissatisfaction with the change. Overall, 90% of patients showed a preference for the current treatment compared to the previous. The patients showed good tolerance to medication, with a low score in the UKU scale (total score = 13.5). Side effects did not interfere with daily activity of the patient.

Conclusions

Long acting injectable aripiprazole proved to be a safe treatment, with a good degree of acceptance among patients. These advantages makes of this new drug a useful addition to our kit tool.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.
Neurophysiological correlates of negative symptom domains in patients with schizophrenia
Authors: Vignapiano A. , Montefusco V. , Plescia G.M. , Di Lorenzo G. , Niolu C. , Altamura M. , Marasco D. , Giordano G.M. , Mucci A. , Galderisi S.
Published: May 2016

Introduction

Negative symptoms have long been recognized as a central feature of schizophrenia, which limit recovery, having a strong negative impact on real-life functioning. External validators of the negative symptoms domains might help refining hypotheses on their pathophysiological basis.

Aims

The objective of this study was to evaluate, in the context of the multicenter study of the Italian Network for Research on Psychoses, the relationships between auditory event-related potentials (ERPs) components and negative symptom domains in patients with schizophrenia (SCZ).

Methods

We examined ERPs recorded during an auditory odd-ball task in 115 chronic stabilized SCZ (78% on second-generation antipsychotics) and 62 matched healthy controls (HC). Negative symptoms were assessed using the Brief Negative Symptom Scale.

Results

Our main findings included significant N100 and P3b amplitude reductions in SCZ compared to HC. P3b amplitude did not correlate with any negative symptom domain, while N100 amplitude correlated with both anhedonia and avolition domains.

Conclusions

Avolition and anhedonia, often clustering in the same factor, are related to abnormalities of early components of the ERPs correlated with perceptual and automatic attention processes. None of the negative symptom domains is associated with abnormalities of the later stages indexed by P3 amplitude.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.
Correlates of sleep difficulties in young adults: A gender comparison
Authors: Amaral A.P. , Soares M.J. , Pereira A.T. , Bos S. , Marques M. , Valente J. , Macedo A.
Published: May 2016

Introduction

Sleep disturbance is one of the most common health complaints among late adolescents and young adults. Women report more sleep-related complaints than men (Krishnan and Collop, 2006) and more anxiety or depressive symptoms (Voderholzer et al., 2003). Higher levels of repetitive negative thinking appear to be causally involved in the initiation/maintenance of emotional problems (Ehring and Watkins, 2008).

Aims

To analyze the sleep difficulties differences by gender and its associations with stress, cognitive emotion regulation, perseverative thinking and negative affect.

Methods

Five hundred and forty-nine students (80.1% females) from two Universities filled in the PSS-10 (Cohen et al., 1983; Amaral et al., 2014), CERQ (Garnefski et al., 2001; Castro et al., 2013), PTQ (Ehring et al., 2011; Chaves et al., 2013) and POMS-58 (McNair et al., 1971; Azevedo et al., 1991; Amaral et al., 2013). Three questions were used to access difficulties of initiating sleep (DIS), maintaining sleep (DMS) and early morning wakening (EMA).

Results

Females reported more sleep difficulties (excluding DIS), stress, perseverative thinking than males. Males reported higher levels in self-blame and blaming-others dimensions. In female sample we found significant correlations between all sleep difficulties and stress, perseverative thinking, emotional regulation (rumination, self-blame, catastrophizing) and negative affect. In male sample only the difficulties of initiating sleep are correlated with stress, perseverative thinking, self-blame and negative affect.

Conclusions

There are no gender differences in frequency and most of correlates of DIS. DMS and EMA were higher in females and were related to perseverative thinking and emotional regulation mechanisms in this sample.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.
Prevalence of restless legs syndrome in professional cyclists
Authors: Kwiatkowski M. , Cwalina U. , Kosielski P. , Simonienko K. , Wierzbinski P. , Wygnał N. , Waszkiewicz N.
Published: May 2016

Introduction

Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a sleep disorder affecting a significant part of general population. Clinically RLS is characterized by abnormal sensations of irresistible urge to move legs, becoming worse at night, and frequently causing insomnia. Consequences of RLS include daytime dysfunction, depressed mood, anxiety and decreased quality of life.

Objectives

Determine prevalence of RLS in professional cyclists.

Aims

The aim of this study was to examine the prevalence of RLS in professional cyclists. According to our knowledge this is the first research of RLS in professional cyclists.

Methods

A total of 43 professional cyclists were asked to complete 4-item questionnaire based on IRLSSG Diagnostic Criteria for RLS. Data from questionnaire was compared to antropometric measurements, epidemiologic data, age of starting trainings and total years of professional performance.

Results

The results indicated that prevalence of RLS in professional cyclists is 14% and is higher than expected in this age group. We found statistically significant relationship between RLS and age (P < 0,001) and years of experience as a professional cyclist (P < 0,001). Results revealed no significant differences between genders (Table 1).

Table 1 

Conclusions

RLS seems to be a common problem in professional cyclists. It can affect sport performance. Future efforts to estimate the influence of RLS on professional sport performance should be considered.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.
Self-compassion and insomnia at pregnancy
Authors: Marques M. , Pereira A.T. , Freitas V. , Bento E. , Azevedo J. , Xavier S. , Soares M.J. , Martins M.J. , Macedo A.
Published: May 2016

Introduction

Mindfulness based programs during pregnancy (some including self-compassion components) increase self-compassion, mindfulness and maternal self-efficacy, and reduce anxiety, stress and psychological distress in pregnant women. According to our knowledge, there are no studies about the association between self-compassion and sleep outcomes in pregnancy.

Objective

To explore differences in self-compassion, between three sleep groups, in a sample of Portuguese pregnant women.

Methods

Four hundred and nineteen pregnant women (mean age: 32.51 ± 4.759; weeks of gestation: 17.32 ± 4.803) completed the Self-Compassion Scale (SCS, Bento et al., 2015), presenting six dimensions (self-kindness, self-judgment, common humanity, isolation, mindfulness and over-identification) and the Insomnia Assessment Scale (Marques et al., 2015). Three sleep groups were formed: good sleepers (no insomnia symptoms; no associated daily impairment); insomnia symptoms groups (one/more insomnia symptoms; no associated daily impairment); insomniacs (one/more insomnia symptoms; daily associated impairment).

Results

There were significant differences in the total SCS, self-judgment, isolation and over-identification scores, between sleep groups [respectively, F (2,396) = 7,926, P ≤ 0,001; F (2,409) = 19,155, P ≤ 0,001; F (2,410) = 13,016, P ≤ 0,001; F (2,412) = 11,258, P ≤ 0,001]. Self-judgement, isolation and over-identification scores of good sleepers and insomnia symptoms group were higher than of insomniacs. Total SCS score of good sleepers was higher than of insomniacs and the same score of symptoms of insomnia group was also higher than of insomniacs.

Conclusions

Results seem to show the importance of developing self-compassion to improve sleep in pregnancy or reduce the impact of insomnia symptoms (common at pregnancy).

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.
Children and sleep disturbance: A case for psychiatric intervention?
Authors: Seibert P.
Published: May 2016

From birth through adolescence changes occur in children's sleep architecture, schedule, and duration including several key interactions in the concomitance of sleep/wake domains and child development. Research investigating the suspected affiliation between inefficient sleep and mental dysfunction in children has been largely enigmatic. We constructed a 111-item questionnaire relative to sleep disturbance in all ages and a 12-item questionnaire specific to pediatrics to use in conjunction with nocturnal polysomnography (PSG), and medical chart reviews of children under the age of 17 referred to our institution for evaluation of SDs. We analyzed these data to create a characterization specific to children/youth (n = 57; age 1–16 mean 9.28; 36 male, 21, female). Examples of findings reveal a characterization distinctive from the general demographic of adults who are referred for sleep studies. For example, 55.6% presented with disabilities ranging from neurological to neuromuscular; 73.3% reported learning disabilities; 66.7% possessed a range of behavioral control challenges; half used prescribed medications for psychiatric issues (despite a paucity of psychiatric evaluation). Another example, is that post-PSG, 69.6% of this sample were diagnosed with abnormal sleep architecture which was statistically related to medication use. These data revealed a pattern of children being more likely to be referred for a professional sleep study in the presence of significant medical symptomatology. Although we found some similarities when comparing this children/youth group to adults, we also found striking differences that were opposite when comparing the age groups.

Disclosure of interest

The author has not supplied his/her declaration of competing interest.
Psychiatric follow up after a suicide attempt
Authors: de la Vega Sánchez D. , Reina Domínguez M. , Fernández León S.
Published: May 2016

Introduction

Suicide is a global public health problem. More than 800,000 people die due to suicide every year according to the WHOM. In Spain, about 9 people die due to suicide every day, and the rates increase every year. The presence of previous suicide attempts is one of the strongest risk factors for suicide consumption. Nevertheless, patients sometimes do not receive a correct assistance after a suicide attempt.

Objective

To study the follow-up of patients, without previous psychiatrichistory, who commit a first suicide attempt in the area of Huelva (Spain).

Method

Retrospective review of the electronic clinical histories of patients attended in the Emergency service of Juan Ramón Jiménez Hospital after a first suicide attempt during the first six months of 2015.

Results

From January to June of 2015 we collected a total of 159 patients who committed a firs suicide attempt in our area. A total of 69.18% were women and 30.82 were men. In both sex the mean age was 39 years. Out of the 159 attended after a first suicide attempt, only 54% were referred to the Psychiatry service to be followed up. Out of those referred, only 62% actually attended and only half of them really staying treatment.

Conclusions

An adequate psychiatric follow up after a suicide attempt is needed to reduce the risk of more suicide attempts or consumption. A minority (30.8%) of the patients attended in our area after a first suicide attempt received an adequate attention.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.
Suicidal ideation during pregnancy in British Pakistani women
Authors: Sharif A. , Husain M. , Gire N. , Tomenson B. , Chaudhry N. , Husain M.
Published: May 2016

Introduction

Suicide is a major public health problem and one of the common causes of maternal mortality. Rates of suicide and self-harm are higher in British South Asian women compared to the majority white population. Suicidal Ideation (SI) is a significant risk factor associated with self-harm and suicide.

Objective

To explore the prevalence and risk factors of SI in British Pakistani women.

Aim

To identify risk factors associated with SI, in order to inform future preventive strategies.

Method

This is a secondary analysis of a larger study which looked at depression during pregnancy and infant outcomes. Participants who consented (women aged 18 or over, in their third pregnancy trimester) were initially assessed for maternal depression using the Edinburgh Post-Natal Depression Scale (EPDS), with one of the questions on the EPDS being on SI. Participants who met the study criteria, were further assessed regarding socio-demographic factors, perceived social support, social adversity and isolation.

Results

The rate of SI in this group of women was 8.1%, with baseline interview results suggesting that women with SI being significantly more likely to be aged 20 or less, have experience of severe life events and being less likely to have social support.

Conclusion

This area of research is key to understanding SI in British Pakistani women, to better develop culturally sensitive interventions for use within this group.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.