bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
What are the Mental Health Impacts on Adults Coming from Childhood Bullying?
Authors: Hashorva A. , Pengili T. , Lici M. , Prifti I.
Published: June 2017

Though there is no universal definition of childhood bullying, the term is often used to describe when a child repeatedly and deliberately says or does things that causes distress to another child. Research shows that persistent bullying can cause depression and anxiety and contribute to suicidal behaviour.

This paper will bring into focus some studies done by the Department of Mental Health that show that the impact of bullying in childhood can cause depression, anxiety and especially OCD in adult. Also strongly contributes to bullying in suicidal behaviour.

The study involved 177 children aged 9–15 years old and were followed until they were 19–25 years old. The study ended in 2013. The subjects in this group were found to be 6 times more likely to have a serious physical illness, or develop a psychiatric disorder in adulthood than those who were not involved in bullying.

Another study in 2014 found that the negative effects at social, physical and mental health of childhood bullying are still evident up to 40 years later. Victims of bullying are 6 times more likely to have a physical nature of infectious diseases, to burn regularly or develop a mental disorder in adultery more than those not exposed to bullying, 11 times more likely to develop anxiety disorder but especially obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Some experts think that bullying results in a kind of “toxic stress” that affects children's physiological responses, possibly explaining why some victims of bullying go on to develop health problems.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.
Prevalence and Predictors of ADHD Symptoms in Adults Admitted for Substance use Disorder Treatment: A Prospective Cohort Study
Authors: Abel K. , Ravndal E. , Clausen T. , Bramness J.
Published: June 2017

Introduction

Substance use disorders (SUD) are common in adults with ADHD. A co-occurring ADHD diagnosis is associated with poorer treatment outcomes for both the ADHD and the SUD and higher rates of relapse to substance use.

Objectives

To explore the relationship between ADHD and SUD longitudinally to identify factors to help improve treatment outcomes.

Aims

Prevalence of ADHD symptoms was investigated in a national cohort of SUD patients one year after SUD treatment initiation. Factors at baseline related to ADHD symptoms were explored at follow up.

Methods

Five hundred and forty-eight individuals were interviewed in a multi-center study involving 21 treatment facilities at treatment initiation and one year later (n = 261). ADHD symptoms were measured by the Adult ADHD Self Report Scale (ASRS-v.1-1) at follow-up. Individuals who screened positively for ADHD (ADHD + ) were compared to those who screened negatively on baseline variables. Emotional distress was measured by Hopkin's Symptom Check List-25.

Results

At follow-up 35% screened positively for ADHD. In bivariate analysis the ADHD+ group was older, was less likely to have children, reported lower educational level, had more frequent use of stimulants, cannabis and benzodiazepines, and experienced higher degree of emotional stress. When controlling for other significant variables in a logistic regression analysis, the ADHD+ group was associated with more frequent use of cannabis (OR 2.14; CI 1.08–4.23) and of higher psychiatric symptom burden (OR 1.79; CI 1.22–2.61).

Conclusions

A high prevalence of ADHD symptoms and associated challenges underline the importance of systematic screening of individuals entering SUD treatment.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.
Relationship of Severity of ADHD Symptoms with the Presence of Psychological Trauma While Controlling the Effect of Impulsivity in a Sample of University Students
Authors: Dalbudak E. , Evren C. , Evren B. , Ozen S.
Published: June 2017

Objective

The aim of the present study was to evaluate relationship of severity of ADHD symptoms with the presence of psychological trauma while controlling the effect of impulsivity in a sample of university students.

Method

Participants included 321 volunteered university students. Participants were evaluated with the Short Form Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-11-SF), the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS) and the Traumatic Experiences Checklist (TEC).

Results

Age and gender did not differed between those with the history of psychological trauma (n = 271, 84.4%) and those without (n = 50, 15.6%). BIS-11-SF and subscale scores did not differ between groups, other than motor impulsivity, which was higher among those with the history of psychological trauma. ASRS score, inattentiveness and hyperactivity/impulsivity subscale scores were higher among those with the history of psychological trauma than those without. Severity of ADHD symptoms, particularly inattentiveness score, predicted the presence of psychological trauma, together with the severity of motor and attentional impulsivities in a logistic regression model.

Conclusion

These findings suggest that the severity of ADHD symptoms may be related with the presence of psychological trauma, while severity of motor and attentional impulsivities may have an effect on this relationship among young adults.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.
From (Psycho) Pathology to Diagnosis: Psychiatry Nosology Beyond Dichotomy
Authors: Erfurth A. , Sachs G.
Published: June 2017

As in all medical disciplines, diagnosis in clinical psychiatry should be reached in a step-wise approach: after assessing the chief complaint of the patient, a careful examination of the psychopathology follows e.g. by using the AMDP system [1] to preliminarily conclude the process with a syndromal classification [2]. This syndromal classification is of great importance as it guides the initiation of therapy in daily life practice. After gaining additional information (e.g. investigation in the course of the disease, brain imaging, thorough assessment of cognitive function, exclusion of organic causes) a final diagnosis is possible. Unfortunately, a premature jumping to diagnosis is not uncommon (with the potential consequence of incorrect therapies).

In addition to these difficulties, recent neurobiological research has shown that nosologic assignments through conventional diagnostic classifications are far less specific than assumed, revealing a large overlap between diagnostic categories [3,4], e.g. between Schizophrenia and affective disorders. Consequences of this finding are discussed both for the construction of future classification systems and for therapy.

Disclosure of interest

The authors declare that they have no competing interest.
Major Depressive Disorder: Recurrence Risk Factors
Authors: Ben Soussia R. , Khouadja S. , Marrag I. , Younes S. , Nasr M.
Published: June 2017

Introduction

In spite of the frequency and the gravity of the depressive episodes, the major depressive disorder (MDD) is diagnosed and treated today insufficiently and the risk factors of its recurrence are little approached.

Aims of the study

Describe the socio–demographic, clinical and therapeutic characteristics of patients with MDD and identify the factors involved in the recurrence risk.

Methodology

This is a retrospective study carried out in the university hospital of Mahdia, Tunisia during two years. We have included patients with a follow up for at least two years and diagnosed with MDD, isolated episode or MDD, recurrent episode according to the DSM-IV-TR criteria. Data collection was performed using two pre-established questionnaires respectively with 51 and 92 items. We have estimated the time to recurrence with the Kaplan-Meier estimator.

Results

We have collected 150 patients. The time to recurrence was 109 months. Five factors were associated with recurrence: early age at onset of the disorder, family history of mood disorders, severity of the index major depressive episode, persistent residual symptoms and ceasing treatment.

Conclusion

Depression is a very common mental illness that is highly recurrent in individuals. There is great interest in the development of strategies that might reduce the recurrence of depression.
Psychosis and Autism Spectrum Disorders
Authors: Kyriakopoulos M.
Published: June 2017

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and schizophrenia were separated into different diagnostic categories in the late 1970's (DSM-III) having previously been considered as related diagnostic entities. Since then, several lines of evidence have indicated that these disorders show clinical and cognitive overlaps as well as some common neurobiological characteristics. Furthermore, there is a group of patients presenting with ASD and psychotic experiences who pose particular diagnostic and management challenges and may represent a subgroup of ASD more closely linked to psychosis. Evidence from a study of the first empirically derived classification of children with ASD in relation to psychosis based on three underlying symptom dimensions, anxiety, social deﬁcits and thought disorder, will be presented. Further phenomenological, genetic and neuroimaging research on the clinical boundaries and overlapping pathophysiology of ASD and psychosis may help better define their relationship and lead to more effective interventions. Understanding this relationship will also provide a framework of working with patients with mixed clinical presentations.

Disclosure of interest

The author declares that he has no competing interest.
Neurobiology of Autism Spectrum Disorders
Authors: Sheldrick-Michel T.M. , Morten B.T. , Niels B. , Mirolyuba I.
Published: June 2017

Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) is a group of neurodevelopmental disorders with heterogeneous etiology characterized by deficits in social cognition, communication, and behavioral flexibility. Disturbances on molecular and cellular level in early brain development incl. intercellular communication, an unbalanced ratio between certain neuronal populations and maturation/differentiation process, oxidative stress, happening in embryonal stages, might be promising candidates to explain the development of autistic symptoms.

In order to get a deeper understanding of these processes, valid “disease models” are pivotal. A new cutting edge technique, named brain organoids, has been highlighted as a promising candidate for obtaining a better “disease model”.

Brain organoids derived from patients induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) follow in vivo timeline development; they also have the ability to recreate the right complexity of the brains, developmental stages. On the cellular and gene expression level, organoids demonstrate a high similarity to the developing brain in vivo and can therefore recapitulate early stages of the neurogenesis. To date organoids are the most relevant cellular in vitro platform for the understanding of the mechanisms behind ADS pathology. Investigations of “mini brains” at different time points in their development will give a wider and more detailed picture of the disease dynamic and thus the development of therapeutic and prevention strategies. It is a tool that can be used for effective high throughput screening of chemical compounds as potential drugs (“in sphero” drug testing). Organoids are a good modeling system for elucidating the role of epigenetic and environmental factors for development of ASD.

Disclosure of interest

The authors declare that they have no competing interest.
New Technologies in Suicide Prevention
Authors: Pompili M.
Published: June 2017

Introduction

The use of new technologies is beginning to be embraced by volunteers and professionals, from crisis lines, suicide prevention centers, mental health centers, researchers and politicians.

Objectives

New technologies have entered the field of suicide prevention with high expectations for the future, despite a relatively slow start. Internet, smartphones, apps, social networks and self-help computer programs have a strong potential to achieve, sustain and help people at risk of suicide, their families, teachers, health professionals and for the survivors.

Aims

To provide comprehensive overview on the role of new technologies in suicide prevention.

Methods

Given the relatively early and underdeveloped state of this area of inquiry, the author viewed his task as gathering and critically appraising the available research relevant to the topic, with the aim of formulating a hypothesis to be tested with further research.

Results

New cheaper services will soon be available to effectively reach and assist the most vulnerable people and prevent suicides. The potential to help vulnerable people who do not use conventional mental health services and people in regions with inadequate psychiatric facilities represents an attractive target with favourable perspectives for suicide prevention Smartphone, apps, websites, avatar coach, and virtual suicidal subjects are important for both delivering help as well as to educate mental health professionals as in the case of role playing.

Conclusions

Shadows and lights are emerging through the use of new technologies. If more people can be reached there are however concern for improper use of social network and pro-suicide websites.

Disclosure of interest

The author has not supplied his/her declaration of competing interest.
How Involuntary Admission Might Have Been Avoided: An Interview Study of Referring General Practitioners
Authors: Røtvold K. , Wynn R.
Published: June 2017

Introduction

The legal criteria for involuntary admission in Norway are that the patient has a serious psychiatric disorder (i.e. psychosis) and is in need of admission to secure needed treatment or that there is a risk of danger. While there have been some studies focusing on coercion in hospitals, less is known about the processes leading up to involuntary admission and the reasoning of referring doctors. In Norway, it is primarily general practitioners (GPs) that refer patients.

Aims

To study which factors that GPs who had recently referred patients to involuntary admission thought might have made their latest referral unnecessary.

Methods

Seventy-four GPs were interviewed by phone. They had all recently referred patients involuntarily to a major Norwegian university psychiatric hospital. One central question concerned how their latest involuntary referral might have been avoided.

Results

These are the main factors that the GPs thought could have been of importance in avoiding involuntary referral of their patients:

– that the patient took the prescribed medication (28%);

– that they personally had the opportunity to closely follow up the patient in the following days (22%);

– that other health care staff could follow up the patient closely in the patient's own home (i.e. home care nursing, etc.) (19%);

– that a family member of the patient could help the patient (8%).

Conclusions

The GPs suggested that an increased availability of resources and more assistance from other parts of the health service were some of the factors that could be of importance in reducing involuntary admissions.
Assessments of Need for Treatment and Danger in Decisions About Community Treatment Orders
Authors: Stuen H.K. , Landheim A. , Rugkåsa J. , Wynn R.
Published: June 2017

Background

A total of, 14 Norwegian assertive community treatment (ACT) teams have been established. During the teams’ first year of operation, approximately 35% of the enrolled patients were subjected to community treatment orders (CTOs) at intake. CTOs are a legal mechanism to secure treatment adherence, and may be used in Norway when severely mentally ill patients refuse necessary treatment (‘treatment criterion’) or when they are considered a danger to themselves or others (‘danger criterion’). Even if the use of CTOs seems to increase in Norway, few have examined in detail how and why these decisions are made. The purpose of the present study was to explore assessments of need for treatment and danger in decisions about CTOs.

Method

Semi-structured interviews with eight responsible clinicians and four focus-group interviews with 20 ACT providers were recorded and transcribed. We also read case files and observed selected treatment planning meetings. The data were analyzed with a modified grounded theory approach.

Results

The ACT teams provided high-intensive services over longer periods of time, which gave the teams important knowledge about the patients, reduced clinical uncertainty, and allowed for well-informed decisions about the need for coercive interventions. The treatment criterion was typically used to justify the need for CTOs. However, the danger criterion was in some cases used when patients had to be readmitted to hospital.

Conclusions

According to the clinicians that were interviewed, patients’ need for treatment was most often used to justify the CTOs in the Norwegian ACT teams.
QuIQ (Quick Instrument for Quality of Life): A New Instrument for a Rapid Assessment of Generic Quality of Life
Authors: Bianco A. , Scuticchio D. , Piva Merli M. , Bertelli M.O.
Published: June 2017

Introduction

Recently, new patient-oriented outcome measures have emerged in mental health research and practice. Among these, generic quality of life (GQoL) has gained a central place and has come to represent a valid endpoint in most settings, from basic care programs to clinical trials, especially for the field of intellectual disability (ID). However, most studies still refer to health-related QoL, and the tools for the assessment of GQoL present many issues related to the structure complexity and administration time.

Aim

The purposes is to evaluate psychometric properties of a new rapid tool for the GQoL assessment named QuIQ (quick instrument for quality of life), originally constructed for use for people with ID.

Methods

Two hundred and ten persons with ID were consecutively administered with the QuIQ. A part of them were also assessed with the BASIQ, the Italian adaptation of the quality of life instrument package. QuIQ has the same conceptual framework and refers to the same areas of the BASIQ, but include a low number of dimensions (only attribution of importance and perception of satisfaction) and a factor way of score attribution such as visual analogue scale and graphic geometrical mean calculation.

Results

QuIQ showed good internal coherence (Cronbach's α = 0.92), inter-rater reliability (Cohen's K > 0.93), and concurrent validity (> 0.8) with BASIQ.

Conclusion

These findings seem to display for the QuIQ good psychometric characteristics. They also suggest that it could be possible to apply rapid QoL assessment to all the range of people with ID. This could have very important implications for future massive use in different settings.
Behavioural Equivalents as Predictors of Psychiatric Disorder in People with Intellectual Disability
Authors: Rossi M. , scuticchio D. , bertelli M.O.
Published: June 2017

Introduction

The last decades’ considerable advances of the psychiatric assessment in People with Intellectual Disability (PwID) do not include the ability to identify Behavioural Equivalents (BE) of psychiatric symptoms and their relationship with different psychiatric syndromes. Recent reports have found BE to be differentially associated with one or more specific Psychiatric Disorders (PD).

Aims

The present study was aimed at evaluating the correlations between BE and DSM-5 syndromic groups of symptoms, in a wide multicentric sample of PwID.

Methods

An observational cross-sectional analysis was performed for a sample of 843 adults with ID, randomly or consecutively recruited among those living in residential facilities of the National Healthcare System, or in private institutes of care, or those attending psychiatric outpatient clinics. The total sample was administered with the SPAID-G (Psychiatric Instrument for Intellectual Disabled Adult - General version), which is a checklist for the detection of significant behavioural changes from the baseline. The items of the checklist represents BE of the symptoms of the main psychiatric disorders included in the DSM-5.

Results

Many significant correlations were found, some of the most relevant were for mood disorders. Psychomotor agitation, aggressivity, disorganised behaviour and distractibility were most pronounced in bipolar patients; for depressed patients, irritability and weight loss had higher correlations than in other diagnostic groups.

Conclusions

Although not diagnostically specific, some BE seem to be more strongly related with specific PD. This line of research could improve the definition of the specific expression and clustering of psychiatric symptoms in PwID.
Does a Bespoke Intellectual Disability (ID) Epilepsy Service Reduce Mortality? A 11 Year Study of Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP) in Cornwall UK
Authors: Shankar R.
Published: June 2017

Aim

Epilepsy is the second most common cause of premorbid mortality in the ID population. Rates of SUDEP are considered up to 9 times higher in the ID population. Cornwall UK (population 600.000 i.e. 1% of UK) runs a specialist ID epilepsy community service for adults with ID. It delivers reasonable adjustments and person centered care to this population. We measured how service outcomes on SUDEP compared to regional and national averages.

Methods

Data of all Cornwall epilepsy deaths 2004–2015 using the Cornwall Coroner's database and the Public Health Cornwall was reviewed systemically. We identified patients with and without ID.

Results

There were 113 epilepsy deaths of which 57 were SUDEPs of which 3 were identified to have a clinical diagnosis of ID. In another 2 cases it was not evident if they had an ID or not. None of the 5 was known to the ID Epilepsy service. Mean and 95% confidence intervals were calculated using a binomial calculation, making no prior assumptions about the population distribution.

Conclusion

Cornwall's specialist ID epilepsy service is a rarity in the UK. A recent study using the Leicestershire ID Register revealed 26 people with ID of the total deaths of 83 SUDEP. This contrasts greatly with Cornwall only 5.26% of SUDEP deaths had ID compared to 23.4% in Leicestershire and similarly when compared to neighboring Plymouth (population 300.000) which had 26% ID deaths in its SUDEPs between 2004–2012. It is possible that having an ID dedicated epilepsy service saves lives.
CYP450 Enzymes Genetic Polymorphism Influence on Treatment of Affective Disorders
Authors: Lengvenytė A. , Strumila R. , Dlugauskas E. , Utkus A.
Published: June 2017

Introduction

Individualized treatment decisions in psychiatry may be important, since substantial part of first choice drugs are ineffective or cause side effects. Polymorphic variants of genes that code CYP450 enzymes cause differences in their activity and therefore in efficacy and safety of drugs that are metabolized by them.

Aim of the study

Determine whether pharmacogenetic testing of CYP2D6, CYP2C19 and CYP2C9 polymorphism would have had influence on selected patients’ treatment courses.

Methods

Five patients that were diagnosed for treament-resistant mood disorders in Vilnius university hospital Santariskiu clinics centre of neurology, department of psychiatry were invited to give blood samples for genetic testing retrospectively. Patients’ CYP2C19, CYP2D6 and CYP2C9 enzymes genetic polymorphism results were compared with previous empirical pharmacological treatment courses of these patients.

Results

In four out of five cases significant polymorphism of CYP2C19 enzyme allele was detected. In all of these cases 1*/2* variant, that conditions intermediate metabolizer phenotype, was identified. Alterations in CYP2D6 and CYP2C19 regions were not found. In three cases the presence of varied genetic variant could have been clinically relevant. In two of these cases Sertraline and valproates, that are both metabolized by CYP2C19 enzyme, were taken by patients and side effects were observed. Unsuccessful treatment was repeated without effect, both in clinical and outpatient environment. Continuous rehospitalization took place until appropriate empirical treatments were established.

Conclusions

Pharmacogenetic testing could have had influence on treatment choices for three out of five selected patients leading to less side effects and rehospitalizations.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.
Biological Correlates of the Effects of Cognitive Remediation in the Psychoses
Authors: Penades R.
Published: June 2017

Cognitive Remediation Therapy (CRT) deals with the cognitive impairment, which is one of the most disabling symptoms of schizophrenia. Unfortunately, the understanding of its neurobiological correlates is far from complete. Neuroimaging studies have shown that CRT is able to induce neurobiological changes although the results have not always been enough replicated. The most commonly reported changes were those that involved the prefrontal and thalamic regions. Additionally, structural changes were described in both the grey and white matter, suggesting a neuroprotective effect of cognitive remediation. Neuroimaging studies of cognitive remediation in patients with schizophrenia suggest a positive effect on brain functioning in terms of the functional reorganisation of neural networks. From a different perspective, some changes in serum levels of Brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) have been described. However, our replication of this trial has not been able to find any significant differences. So, nowadays the status of BDNF as a biomarker of cognitive recovery is possibly premature. One possible explanation can be the role of genetics and their different polymorphisms. COMT and BDNF polymorphisms could be accounting for the different outcomes of CRT. Moreover, some studies suggested a role of genes affecting dopamine modulation on outcomes of cognitive remediation.

Disclosure of interest

The author declares that he has no competing interest.
Impact of Cognitive Remediation on the Use of Psychiatric Services and Patterns of Care of Patients With Psychoses
Authors: Vita A.
Published: June 2017

Cognitive remediation (CR) has proved to be effective in improving cognition, symptoms and psychosocial functioning in schizophrenia and other psychoses, but its impact on the use of psychiatric services and patterns of care of patients suffering from these diseases is still scarcely known. In fact, it would be particularly relevant to know if such intervention may have any modifying effect on use of services and costs of treatments. There is preliminary evidence that such an impact does exist, with possible reduction of number and duration of hospitalizations and of long-term residential stays and consequent reduced costs of inpatient treatment. On the other hand, community treatment costs could be increased as an effect of a shift of psychiatric and psychosocial interventions from inpatient to outpatient activities. A critical review of the existing literature on the issue will be provided, together with a discussion of the impact of this shift towards the attainment of increased functional and social recovery in the individual patient.

Disclosure of interest

The author declares that he has no competing interest.
Are we using mass media to raise awareness about psychiatric disorders?
Authors: Álvarez de mon M.Á. , Arrieta M. , Molero P. , Santos M.
Published: June 2017

Introduction

The global burden of mental disorders is large and continues to grow. Depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide. Every 40 seconds somebody dies from suicide. People with mental disorders are amongst the most marginalized in society. The stigma they experience puts them at an increased risk of poverty, discrimination and human right violations.

Objectives

To study the presence of psychiatric disorders in the media.

Methods

We selected and analyzed the top media Twitter accounts of general news outlets, based on their number of followers. Our research strategy focused on the search of several psychiatric terms of interest (ex: “insomnia”) on each Twitter account. The search includes tweets from the beginnings of Twitter in 2007 up to May 2016, and yielded a database of more than 10,000 news.

Results

The terms with the highest impact in mass media referred to suicide, depression, addictions and gender dysphoria. Disorders related to anxiety (Generalized anxiety, phobias, panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder), dysthymia and bipolar disorder were the psychiatric disorders with the lowest impact. We noticed that the presence of psychiatric disorders in the media is increasing. However, it does not accurately reflect the actual impact it has on society.

Conclusions

The media can be a useful tool for the implementation of strategies for the promotion and prevention of mental disorders. However, we are not fully taking advantage of the benefits that mass media has to offer in order to educate and raise awareness about said disorders.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.
The impact of the transition from primary school to secondary school on young adolescents
Authors: Fontaine C. , Connor C. , Channa S. , Palmer C. , Birchwood M.
Published: June 2017

Introduction

Previous research suggests that adult anxiety disorders begin in adolescence and the transition from primary school to secondary school is the first challenge many young adolescents face, which could test their resilience for the first time.

Objectives

To examine students’ anxiety scores before and after their transition, and what protective and risk factors are present during this challenge.

Aims

To determine how the transition can impact anxiety in children, and if protective factors can help decrease the disruption that the transition can cause.

Methods

One hundred and eighty-four pupils completed questionnaires in their last term of primary school and during the first term of secondary school. At time 1: the attachment, school membership, and bullying and victimization measures were compared with pupils’ anxiety scores, along with whether their friends or siblings will be attending the same secondary school as them. These analyses will also be conducted once the pupils start secondary school, at time 2.

Results

Secure attachment was associated with lower anxiety and transition anxiety (F(2.56) = 7.255, P = .002; F(2.52) = 19.245, P = .000; F(2.181) = 10.181, P = .000; F(2.53) = 20.545, P = .000). School membership was associated with lower transition anxiety (F(2.181) = 4.151, P = .017; F(2.181) = 3.632, P = .028). Low victimisation was also associated with low anxiety and transition anxiety (F(2.181) = 14.024, P = .000; F(2.181) = 14.529, P = .000; F(2.181) = 9.381, P = .000).

Conclusions

These preliminary results suggest that attachment, school membership and victimisation all impact on pupils anxiety before they transition to secondary school. Therefore, schools could work together to increase school membership and decrease victimisation, particularly for pupils who they suspect will struggle with the transition.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.
Psychological characteristics of emotion control in physicians and teachers
Authors: Nikolaev E.
Published: June 2017

Introduction

Emotional control can play positive role in professional growth. Are there any negative effects of emotional control on the professional activity of physicians and teachers?

Objectives and aims

To reveal the specifics of emotional control in groups of physicians and teachers with different self-reported health levels.

Methods

The study involved 160 physicians and 179 school teachers. Gender ratio and mean age in both groups were similar. The instruments used: SF-36 health survey and Ban on the emotional expression questionnaire.

Results

In general, physicians, and teachers more often than control group controlled the expression of their emotions. Physicians in comparison with teachers were more likely to restrict both positive (joy) and negative emotions (sadness, anger). Teachers with a high level of health by SF-36 had a minimal ban on the expression of sadness (P < 0.01). The maximum level of the ban on the expression of anger (P < 0.001) and fear (P < 0.05) and an aggregated ban of emotional expression was revealed in teachers with average level of health by SF-36 (P < 0.001). Expression of joy in teachers was not directly related to the self-reported health level (P > 0.05). Physicians who showed the maximum ban on the emotion expressions reported only the low health level by SF-36 (P < 0.05). It was more related to the ban on joy, and less to the ban on anger.

Conclusions

The revealed models of emotional expression control can strengthen both professional and everyday stresses in physicians and teachers. Different prevention programs are needed for these groups of professionals.

Disclosure of interest

The author has not supplied his/her declaration of competing interest.
Acute psychotic disorders: Factors related to schizophrenia evolution
Authors: Ben Soussia R. , Bouallagui A. , Marrag I. , Khouadja S. , Younes S. , Nasr M.
Published: June 2017

Introduction

Acute psychotic disorders are described as a clinical syndrome characterized by Acuteness of the installation, the intensity and the polymorphism of delirium.

Aim

Describe the demographic characteristics of a population of patients with an acute psychotic disorder and identify factors correlated with evolution to schizophrenia.

Methods

This is a retrospective, descriptive and analytic study conducted on hospitalized patients in psychiatric department EPS Mahdia for acute psychotic disorder according to DSM-VI-TR criteria. A study of the recurrence time was performed by Kaplan–Meier and Cox test was used to identify factors correlated with evolution to schizophrenia.

Results

One hundred and eleven patients were collected. The average age of the study population was 27 years, a male predominance was noted (59.5%), 39.6% of patients had family history of psychiatric disorders, including schizophrenic disorders and bipolar disorder were the most common with rates of 63.6 and 18.4% of cases. For our patients, 38.7% progressed to schizophrenia. Four risk factors were significantly predictive of progression to schizophrenia: male gender (P = 0.026), subacute or progressive onset disorders (P = 0.003), partial remission of the disorder (P = 0.023) and the prolonged duration of untreated psychosis (P = 0.027).

Conclusion

The evolution of an acute psychotic disorder remains unpredictable. In fact, the severity is related to the risk of developing schizophrenia or mood disorder. Attention is paid in recent years to recognize and seek most precociously as possible factors associated with this evolution.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.
Elevated sera levels of galectin-3 in stable schizophrenia
Authors: Borovcanin M. , Jovanovic I. , Minic Janicijevic S. , Gajovic N. , Arsenijevic N. , L. M. Lukic
Published: June 2017

Introduction

Galectin-3 (Gal-3) is a unique member of the lectin family involved in cell proliferation, adhesion, apoptosis and immune responses. Deletion of the Gal-3 gene reduces experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis and variation of gene encoding for Gal-3 already showed to be related with cognitive function. Also, elevated Gal-3 sera levels were measured in patients with Alzheimer's disease.

Aims and objectives We measured the serum concentrations of Gal-3 in patients with schizophrenia in remission and try to determine possible correlation of Gal-3 sera levels with clinical parameters, especially cognitive aspects.

Methods

In this pilot study were included patients with schizophrenia in remission on three months stable depot antipsychotic medication (risperidone and paliperidone) (n = 27) and healthy controls (n = 18). Serum levels of Gal-3 were measured using sensitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits, specific for humans (R&D Systems, Minneapolis). Cognition was evaluated using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) cognitive factors.

Results

Higher mean values of Gal-3 were measured in patients with schizophrenia in remission compared with healthy volunteers (1389.69 vs. 994.23 pg/mL; P = 0.011), but correlation with PANSS cognitive factor was not established (P = 0.748).

Conclusions

These findings suggest that the role of Gal-3 should be explored further, in different stages of disorder and depending on applied therapy, but also considering specific cytokine milieu.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.
Systematic evaluation of dose-escalation strategies after initial non-response to standard-dose pharmacotherapy in schizophrenia
Authors: Dold M. , Fugger G. , Aigner M. , Lanzenberger R. , Kasper S.
Published: June 2017

Objectives

This meta-analysis investigates if dose increase of an antipsychotic drug (high-dose treatment, dose escalation) is advantageous for schizophrenic patients who failed to respond adequately to standard-dose treatment with the same antipsychotic.

Methods

Within a systematic literature survey, we identified all randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing a dose increase directly to standard-dose continuation treatment in schizophrenic subjects with initial non-response to prospective standard-dose pharmacotherapy with the same antipsychotic. The primary outcome was mean change in the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) total score. Secondary outcomes were dichotomous response and attrition rates. Study selection and data extraction were conducted independently by two authors. We calculated effect sizes (Hedges's g and risks ratios) using the Mante–Haenszel random-effects model. Meta-regression analyses were performed to explore the influence of the degree of the dose increase on effect sizes.

Results

Five trials (n = 348) examining quetiapine (n = 2, n = 191), ziprasidone (n = 1, n = 75), haloperidol (n = 1, n = 48), and fluphenazine (n = 1, n = 34) were included. We found no significant between-group differences for the mean PANSS/BPRS total score change, even not when itemized according to the individual antipsychotic agents. There were no between-group differences for response and dropout rates. The non-significant meta-regressions indicate no impact of the different amounts of dose increments on effect sizes.

Conclusions

We found no evidence for the efficacy of a dose escalation after initial non-response to standard-dose pharmacotherapy as general advisable treatment strategy. As the high-dose treatment was not accompanied by significant increased attrition rates, appropriate tolerability and acceptability of this pharmacological option can be assumed.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.
Visual and Motor Functions in Schizophrenia
Authors: Hopulele-Petri A. , Manea M.
Published: June 2017

Introduction

Over the past decade, perceptual organization has gained an increasingly important role in the psychopathology of schizophrenia. With the advancements in visual neurocognitive sciences, visual processing, especially mid- and high-level processing have been linked with psychotic symptoms, as well as prodromal and ultra-high risk patients. Motor dysfunction is being seen as well as an integral element of schizophrenia, separate from the other symptoms and with possible implications for disease risk and outcome. This could illustrate two systems at work, which by either individual dysfunction or integrative disorganization help explain some the neurocognitive mechanisms in schizophrenia.

Objective and aims

The current study's argument is that tests from these two domains could be used in a complementary manner to offer a neurocognitive characterization of schizophrenic patients.

Methods

A total of 24 patients and 19 controls were evaluated. In order to assess mid-level visual perception the Leuven Perceptual Organization Screening Test was used, along with a scale for assessing soft neurological signs and a task for gait and motor imagery. Clinical symptoms were measured with the Positive And Negative Symptoms Scale, using the five-factor model as proposed by Lindenmayer. Data analysis involved comparison of means between patient and control groups as well as a multivariate factor analysis calculating the impact of perceptual and motor functions on clinical symptoms.

Results

Consistent with previous findings, visual and motor functions would differentiate between patient and control groups. In accordance with the study's aim, visual and motor functions had different impact on symptom dimensions.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.
Five-year Course of Bipolar Disorder Following Treatment of First Manic Episode with Risperidone Versus Olanzapine: A Retrospective Review
Authors: Kulkarni K. , Devasthali G. , Purty A. , Kesavan M. , Reddy J. , Jain S.
Published: June 2017

Objective

Contemporary treatment guidelines recommend use of second-generation antipsychotics (SGAs) either as mono therapy or in combination with mood stabilizers as first-line treatment. While these drugs have been established to have superior efficacy compared to placebo, there is very less data comparing these antipsychotics with one another. We sought to study differences in the five-year outcome of first episode of mania (FEM) treated with olanzapine or risperidone, either alone or in combination with mood stabilizer.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective chart review of patients diagnosed with FEM (ICD-10) in the year 2008 (n = 88) at our centre. We selected the data of patients prescribed either olanzapine or risperidone for the purpose of this analysis. We extracted data about time to recovery and recurrence after FEM, total episodes, drug compliance and response, and number of follow-up visits from 2008 to 2013. The study was approved by the Institute Ethics Committee.

Results

A total of 88 patients received diagnosis of FEM in the year 2008, of which 50 (56.8%) received risperidone and 35 (39.8%) received olanzapine. The two groups were comparable in socio-demographic and clinical symptomatology of FEM (all P > 0.08). Complete recovery was significantly more in the olanzapine group than the risperidone group (χ2 = 4.84, P < 0.05).

Conclusion

Our study indicates that risperidone and olanzapine, either alone or in combination with mood stabilizers have a similar impact on the five-year course of BD following a first manic episode. However, olanzapine is associated with more complete recovery from FEM than risperidone.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.
Lurasidone Adjunctive to Lithium or Valproate for Prevention of Recurrence in Patients with Bipolar I Disorder
Authors: Calabrese J. , Pikalov A. , Cucchiaro J. , Mao Y. , Loebel A.
Published: June 2017

Introduction

Information is not available on the maintenance efficacy of lurasidone in bipolar disorder.

Objectives/aims

To evaluate the recurrence prevention efficacy of lurasidone plus lithium (Li) or valproate (VPA) for the maintenance treatment of bipolar disorder.

Methods

Patients with bipolar I disorder received up to 20 weeks of open-label lurasidone (20–80 mg/d) plus Li or VPA. Patients who achieved consistent clinical stability were randomized to 28 weeks of double-blind treatment with lurasidone (20–80 mg/d) or placebo, plus Li or VPA.

Results

A total of 496 patients met stabilization criteria and were randomized to adjunctive lurasidone vs. placebo. Fewer patients in the lurasidone group had recurrence of any mood episode compared with the placebo group, with a hazard ratio of 0.71 (P = 0.078). In pre-planned secondary analyses, recurrence rates were significantly lower for the lurasidone group treated with a modal open-label dose of 80 mg/d (hazard ratio [HR], 0.35; P = 0.020); when patients presented with an index episode of depression (HR = 0.57; P = 0.039); and when outcome was time-to-all-cause discontinuation (HR = 0.72; P = 0.034), or time-to-recurrence based on symptom severity criteria (HR = 0.53; P = 0.025).

Conclusions

In patients stabilized on lurasidone plus Li or VPA, continued treatment was associated with non-significant reduction in risk of recurrence of any mood disorder (primary). Consistent with dose-response effects observed during acute treatment of bipolar depression, risk of recurrence on lurasidone was significantly reduced after open-label treatment with the 80 mg/d dose, and in the 20–80 mg/d dose in patients presenting with an index episode of depression.

Clinicaltrials.gov: NCT01358357.

Sponsored by Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Inc.

Disclosure of interest

Drs. Pikalov, Cucchiaro, Mao, and Loebel are employees of Sunovion Pharmaceuticals IncDr. Calabrese has received research support from Abbott, AstraZeneca, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Cephalon, Cleveland Foundation, Eli Lilly, GlaxoSmithKline, Janssen, Lundbeck, NARSAD, Repligen, Stanley Medical Research Institute, Takeda, and Wyeth. Dr. Calabrese consulted to or served on advisory boards of Abbott, AstraZeneca, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Cephalon, Dainippon Sumitomo, Elan, EPI-Q, Inc., Forest, France Foundation, GlaxoSmithKline, Hoffman LaRoche, Janssen, Johnson and Johnson, Lundbeck, Merck, Neurosearch, OrthoMcNeil, Otsuka, Pfizer, Repligen, Servier, Solvay, Sunovion, Supernus, Synosia, Takeda, Teva, and Wyeth. Dr. Calabrese has provided CME lectures supported by AstraZeneca, Bristol-Myers Squibb, France Foundation, GlaxoSmithKline, Janssen, Johnson and Johnson, Merck, Sanofi-Aventis, Schering-Plough, Pfizer, Solvay, Sunovion, and Wyeth.
Sensory Processing Disorders and Psychopathology
Authors: Mesquita Reis J. , Queiróga L. , Velasco Rodrigues R. , Pinto Ferreira B. , Padez Vieira F. , Farinha M. , Caldeira da Silva P.
Published: June 2017

Introduction

Sensory processing is the individual's ability to receive, process and integrate sensory information from the environment and body movement in the central nervous system, in order to produce adaptive responses. Sensory processing disorders (SPD) are associated to difficulties in regulating emotions and behaviours as well as motor abilities in response to sensory stimulation that lead to impairment in development and functioning. It is estimated that SPD affect 5–16% of school-aged children. Although these diseases constitute a primary diagnostic category in the Diagnostic Classification of Mental Health and Development Disorders of Infancy and Early Childhood: DC0-3, they have not yet been validated by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-DSM. In the latest edition of DSM, SPD were only included as one of the diagnostic criteria of autism-spectrum disorders. However, several studies have suggested that SPD may present themselves solely or coexist with other clinical conditions.

Objective

The aim of this study was to review systematically the relationship between SPD and psychopathology.

Methodology

Articles indexed in the Pubmed database were analyzed.

Results/conclusion

Although sensory processing problems are well known to occur in association with autism, their relationship with other mental disorders is not a well studied area. Some studies have related them with ADHD, behavioural disorders and learning disorders. Some studies also comproved that SPD are a valid diagnosis and that there are individuals with SPD who do not meet the criteria for other known disorder. One study found an abnormal white matter microstructure in children with SPD. Despite these findings SPD need to be further studied.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.