bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome in Spanish Patients with Schizophrenia and Overweight
Authors: Azanza J.R. , Bernardo M. , Rojo L. , Rejas-Gutiérrez J. , Mesa F. 
Published: March 2009

Aims:The metabolic syndrome MS (visceral obesity, dyslipidaemia, hyperglycaemia, and hypertension), has become one of the major public-health challenges worldwide. Patients with schizophrenia are more likely to suffer from MS that the general population. We have analyzed the prevalence of MS in Spanish patients with schizophrenia and overweight.Methods:The CRESSOB study is a 12-month, prospective, naturalistic study including 110 community mental health clinics selected at random. Each site enrolled four consecutive patients with diagnosis of schizophrenia, according to DSM-IV TR criteria, and overweight (BMI > 25 Kg/m2). to assess the prevalence of MS we have analyzed the baseline results of the CRESSOB study. the National Cholesterol Educational Program (NCEP-ATPIII), the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and the American Heart Association/National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (AHA/NHLBI) definitions were used to established the presence of MS.Results:A total of 391 patients were enrolled on the study (mean age 40.5 years, 63.8% men). 75.9% of the patients did not meet criteria for remission, using the selected PANSS items. Mean GAF score was 52.7 (SD 15.4). Using the different criteria, 59.0% of males and 58.3% of females fulfilled the NCEP-ATPIII criteria, 71.1% of males and 65.8% of females fulfilled the IDF criteria and 70.1% of males and 65.1% of females fulfilled the AHA/NHLBI criteria.Conclusions:The MS is highly prevalent in Spanish patients with schizophrenia and overweight. Given the metabolic syndrome is an important risk factor for cardiovascular disease, these patients should receive appropriate clinical monitoring for this syndrome.
Deinstitutionalization’s Impact on Chronic Psychiatric Patients’ Social Functioning: a Study using Hall and Baker’s Rehab Rating Scale
Authors: Giaglis G. , Michailidou B. , Aggelidis G. 
Published: March 2009

Aims:To assess the possible impact of deinstitutionalization on the social behaviour of chronic psychiatric patients.Methods:Hall and Baker's REHAB is a comprehensive behaviour rating scale designed to assess social functioning of people with a major psychiatric disorder. REHAB was completed for 58 chronic psychiatric patients (41 men - 17 women, mean age: 57.5±12.5 years) independently by a pair of raters one year before and another pair of raters one year after the patients’ relocation.Results:Among REHAB's five subscales that assess patients’ general behaviour, “community skills” and “social activity”, showed statistically significant improvement (p< 0.001 for both subscales), “self-care” and “overall impression” showed a mild but not significant change, while “speech disturbance” remained at almost identical levels. Gender was not associated but age correlated negatively with patients’ level of functioning (p=0.009). Regarding REHAB's section that assesses patients’ deviant behaviour, there was a significant decrease in the severity and/or frequency of patients’ self-talking (p=0.021) and a slight non-significant change in patients’ exhibiting physical violence, self-injurious or sexually offensive behaviour; nevertheless it is important to note that 40%-83% of the patients did not present with deviant behaviour to begin with. Gender did not influence results, but physical violence, self-injury and verbal aggression showed moderate negative correlation with age (r=-0.341 to -0.435).Conclusions:Even though deinstitutionalization does not improve every aspect or psychiatric patients’ social functioning, it reasonably enhances social and community skills and suppresses some of their deviant behaviours.
Prevalence of Alcohol use Disorders in Schizophrenia - A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Authors: Miettunen J. , Löhönen J. , Koponen H. , Isohanni M. , Koskinen J. 
Published: March 2009

Objective:Alcohol use disorders (AUDs) represent significant comorbidity in schizophrenia. Previous reviews have reported a wide range (12-55%) of dual diagnosis prevalence: however, there is no agreement on overall prevalence. Our aim is to present recent studies of AUD, estimate overall prevalence, and study characteristics affecting the prevalence of AUD.Method:We conducted a search using three electronic literature databases and a manual search on articles published in 1996-2007. Metaregression was used to study how prevalence is affected by different study characteristics.Results:Altogether 58 studies met our criteria. the median of current AUD prevalence was 10.1% (IQR=4.6-24.5, 19 studies) and median of lifetime AUD prevalence 22.2% (IQR= 12.1-32.0, 45 studies). in studies using DSM-III-R the median prevalence was higher than in studies using DSM-IV, ICD-9 or ICD-10 (32.3/18.1/10.3/5.9%).Conclusions:Our systematic literature search found a wide range of prevalence estimates of AUD in schizophrenia patients. Approximately every fifth schizophrenia patient had AUD diagnosis. When contrasted to studies published between 1990-95 our results show a descending trend in AUD prevalence: however, AUDs are still common in schizophrenia patients. the decrease may be explained by changes in diagnostic systems, although it is also possible that other addictive substances, such as cannabis, have replaced alcohol in some countries. other sample characteristics did not affect to the prevalence estimates.
Quality of Life of Patients Suffering from Schizophrenia Treated with Clozapine and Risperidone
Authors: Milosavljevic M. , Lecic-Tosevski D. , Perunicic I. 
Published: March 2009

Background:Quality of life (QoL) is considered an important outcome in the treatment of schizophrenia and is linked with clinical and social recovery. Until recently treatments of schizophrenia have focused mainly on reducing positive symptoms, often leaving patients with numerous residual difficulties. It's been expected that atypical antipsychotics improve QoL equally as they improve clinical outcome of the patients with schizophrenia.Objectives:To compare clinical improvement and QoL of patients treated with risperidone and clozapine two months after the beginning of treatment.Methods:The sample included 40 patients (17 males and 23 females, mean age 33.1) with diagnosis of schizophrenia according to ICD-X. the patients were treated with either risperidone (n=20) or clozapine (n=20). the PANSS and CGI scales for clinical status were applied at the beginning of the treatment and two months later. the QoL was assessed by the WHOQOL-BREF.Results:Analysis of data has shown a significant difference for all four domains (physical, psychological, social relationships and environment) at WHOQOL-BREF scale for both medications after two months, but no difference between the two antipsychotics. the patients treated with clozapine had significantly higher scores on PANSS at the beginning of treatment. PANSS and CGI applied after two months have not shown differences between the medications.Conclusion:Both clozapine and risperidone had equal and statistically significant effect in reducing the symptoms of schizophrenia measured by PANSS and CGI in two months period, as well as in improving the quality of life. However no difference was found between the two medications.
Metabolic Syndrome in German Patients with Schizophrenia - Baseline-data from Treatment-naive Patients and Patients Previously Treated with Antipsychotics
Authors: Kraemer S. , Minarzyk A. , Beal C. , Hundemer H.P. , Forst T. , Kopf D. 
Published: March 2009

Introduction:Several studies have already reported increased prevalence of metabolic and cardiovascular risk factors in patients on antipsychotics. This observational aimed to assess the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) in differently treated patients with schizophrenia.Methods:Patients with schizophrenia (age >=18 years) from 162 psychiatric practices throughout Germany were enrolled if they were either treatment-naive and initiated on antipsychotic therapy, or had received previous antipsychotic treatment and were switched to a new medication. Baseline physical and laboratory parameters were evaluated to assess the prevalence of MetS (American Heart Association's definition). Clopper-Pearson 95%CIs were calculated. Patients were assigned to evaluation cohorts by previous treatment: olanzapine (Olz, N=62), risperidone (Risp, N=67), quetiapine (Quet, N=49), other atypical monotherapy (Atyp, N=103), typical therapy (Typ, N=90), atypical combination (Comb, N=109), treatment-naive (TN, N=162).Results:The sample included 642 patients, mean age 45.2 ±13.3 years, 325 (50.6%) women. Characteristics for the TN-cohort were: mean BMI 25.3 ±4.5, mean blood triglycerides 157.3 ±122.4 mg/DL, rates of concomitant diseases (28.4%), and prevalence of MetS (24.7%, CI18.3;32.1). in comparison, previously treated patients had a mean BMI: 27.0 ±4.9 (Quet) to 29.3 ±5.4 (Comb), mean triglycerides: 182.4 ±116.9mg/DL (Risp) to 232.3 ±164.3mg/DL (Comb), concomitant diseases: 29.9% (Risp) to 41.7% (Comb), MetS: 42.4% (Risp, CI30.3-55.2) to 57.0% (Comb, CI47.1-66.5).Conclusion:TN-patients (see above) had a significantly lower prevalence of MetS than the overall sample (42.8 CI 38.9;46.7). Comb-patients showed the highest prevalence of MetS. Typ-patients had a similar prevalence of MetS (43.3, CI32.9;54.2) than patients treated with atypical antipsychotics.
Antipsychotic Adherence Intervention for Veterans over 40 with Schizophrenia: Results of a Pilot Study
Authors: Mittal D. , Owen R. , Lacro J. , Landes R. , Edlund M. , Valenstein M. , Jeste D. 
Published: March 2009

This pilot study tested the feasibility, acceptability, and effect-sizes of a multimodal, individual intervention designed to optimize antipsychotic medication use in patients ≥40 years of age with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder.Methods:We randomized 40 patients into two groups: usual care (UC) or a nine-session, manualized, antipsychotic adherence intervention (AAI). the AAI attempted to improve adherence by combining three psychosocial techniques:a.education,b.skills training, andc.alliance building.Sessions employed a semi-structured format to facilitate open communication. the primary outcome was antipsychotic adherence at study end. We obtained qualitative data regarding patient preferences for the duration and modality for receiving the adherence intervention.Results:Compared to the UC group, a greater proportion of the AAI group was adherent post-intervention based on medication possession ratio, a commonly used measure of medication adherence (85% vs. 66.6%; OR=2.64), a difference that was statistically not significant. the entire AAI group reported that they intended to take medications, and 75% were satisfied with the intervention.Conclusions:The AAI was feasible and acceptable. Preliminary data on its effectiveness warrant a larger study. Qualitative data shows that patients prefer brief adherence interventions and accept telephone strategies.
Study of Pathological Personality as a Modulating Factor of Schizotypy
Authors: Moreno L. , Valero J. , Gaviria A.M. , Hernández A. , Gutiérrez-Zotes J.A. , Labad A. 
Published: March 2009

Aims:From a dimensional point of view, the schizotypal features would be continuously distributed in normal population and individuals with schizophrenia spectrum disorders. in the latter, differences have been found in personality traits between the diagnostic categories of the dimension, and also different schizotypy scores between them. in this study our main objective was to specify the domains and traits of pathological personality that can be considered risk factors for schizotypy.Method:SPQ and DAPP-BQ were administered to a sample of 91 subjects that were divided in four groups: psychotic patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders, siblings of patients from this spectrum, patients with personality disorders, and healthy controls.Results:Patients with personality disorders presented the highest scores of schizotypy measured with SPQ, followed by psychotic patients, siblings, and finally the healthy controls. both groups of patients obtained higher pathological personality scores compared to siblings and controls. in the psychotic patients and their siblings emotional dysregulation, dissocial behavior and inhibition domains correlated with the SPQ factors, while in the personality disorder patients SPQ correlated only with inhibition. the trait social avoidance appears to be a predictive variable of psychometric schizotypy.Conclusions:Pathological personality underlying the schizotypy of psychotic patients of schizophrenia spectrum and their siblings is different from that of the personality disorder group. Social avoidance is a risk factor for schizotypy measured with SPQ.
Pharmacotherapy of Schizophrenia from Chlorpromazine Till Risperdal Consta
Authors: Najim H. 
Published: March 2009

Schizophrenia is a severe and enduring mental illness which affects around 1% of any adult population. It affects both sexes equally. Schizophrenia is a lifelong condition with repeated relapses.The discovery of the phenothiazines transformed treatment of schizophrenia from institutional bases to community bases.Oral conventional antipsychotics provided more freedom for patients but created more problems with regards to side effects and compliance. These problems necessitated the development of the depot antipsychotics which guaranteed that patients take the drugs. Studies have demonstrated the superiority of injectable anti-psychotics.The introduction of the atypical antipsychotics were another step forward in the battle against schizophrenia as they are less likely to produce extra-pyramidal side effects and this improves the outcome of the illness and compliance, again some patients refused to take the medication because of lack of insight and posed another challenge.The introduction of long acting injectable risperidone (RLAI) was another step forward as it shown to improve compliance and clinical outcome, some patients prefer it to oral medication, many find regular contact with community psychiatric nurses beneficial. It also reduces the possibility of overdose.RLAI over the past few years have improved clinical outcome of schizophrenia by improving cognitive performance and patient quality of life. Having said that RLAI has less favourable outcome in patients suffering from treatment resistant schizophrenia and for those patients clozapine remains the gold standard drug.
Diagnostic Stability of Psychotic Disorders: A Retrospective Study
Authors: Silveira C. , Norton A. , Martins A. , Domingues I. , Moreira R. , Timóteo S. , Silva A. 
Published: March 2009

Background:An essential condition to validate a diagnosis is its stability over time. Since there are no biological markers for psychiatric disorders, the diagnosis relies on clinical expertise, with several consequences in treatment planning, disease burden and disability, affecting outcome and public health.Objectives:The aims of this study were:1.the assessment of long term stability of the diagnosis of psychotic disorders,2.its implications in patient treatment, and3.the evaluation of eventual predictors of diagnosis stability.Methods:This was a retrospective study carried out in the Department of Psychiatry of a large University Hospital (Hospital S. João, Porto, Portugal). Patients enrolled were admitted in the inpatient unit from 2000 to 2003 (n=190, 12.41% of 1531 patients admitted), experienced a first psychotic episode, and fulfilled criteria for one of the following diagnosis: schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder, drug induced psychosis, acute and transient psychotic disorders, schizophreniform disorder and psychosis NOS (ICD-10 classification). the diagnoses were extracted from clinical records, and reassessed five years after the initial diagnosis. the analysis focuses on diagnostic agreement over time; clinical and demographic variables were also collected and putative associations with diagnostic shift considered.Results:The study is now under statistic evaluation.
“Full Moon Fits”: Focal Temporal Epilepsy Presenting as First Episode Psychosis
Authors: Norton A. , Massano J. , Timóteo S. , Domingues I. , Pires I. , Silveira C. 
Published: March 2009

Introduction:Epilepsy rarely presents as psychosis; this is reportedly more common in temporal lobe epilepsy, particularly mesial temporal lobe sclerosis (MTLS). in first psychotic episodes, epilepsy is often a neglected diagnosis. Also, distinguishing ictal behavioral manifestations from postictal psychosis may be troublesome, hindering adequate management.Case report:26-year-old female without known psychiatric or neurological disorder, brought to the emergency department due to rapidly progressive behavioral disturbance, with Capgras and persecutory delusions, marked aggressiveness and disorientation. Hallucinations were absent. According to her mother, she experienced several “fits” during the previous 2 days, and she also invariably sustains these every month, around “the full moon days”. Blood and urine tests and a brain CT scan were normal. She was treated with risperidone and lorazepam, with symptom remission in two days. Further exploration revealed a two year history of undiagnosed partial complex and generalized seizures; MRI disclosed right MTLS. Interictal EEG and video-EEG were normal (with a negative psychogenic induction trial). the symptoms are successfully controlled with oxcarbazepine.Discussion:Although the EEG was not carried out acutely, this seems to be a case of postictal psychosis; this diagnosis is also supported by the clinical progression. the differential diagnoses include toxic psychosis and non-convulsive status epilepticus; a brief review of epilepsy-related psychosis will be conducted. A low suspicion threshold must be kept in these situations, and a meticulous multidisciplinary approach seems advisable.
Association Analysis of Heat Shock Protein 70 Gene Polymorphisms in Schizophrenia
Authors: Pae C.-U. 
Published: March 2009

Objectives:This study investigated the association between an enlarged set of SNPs at Heat shock proteins (HSPs) 70 gene and schizophrenia.Methods:Two hundred and ninety four patients with schizophrenia and 287 controls were enrolled in the study. Genotypings of 5 SNPs of HSP70 were performed using pyrosequencing method.Results:Significant association was detected at rs2075799 (allele A, Chi suare =8.03, d.f.=1 p=0.0046), but not at rs2227956 (p=0.28), rs1043618 (p=0.88), rs562047 (p=0.47) or rs539689 (p=0.32). in fact, the rs2075799*G/A genotype was more represented in patients with schizophrenia than in controls (Chi-sq=8.23, d.f.=1, p=0.0041). Haplotype based associations were also detected (global p value 0.000003); the T-A-C-C-G haplotype was more prevalent among the patients (odds ratio, OR 5.95). Sliding windows analysis revealed a major contribution from rs2227956 and rs2075799 (global-p value 0.0075), with T-A haplotype significantly associated with schizophrenia. There was no evidence of an association between the clinical variables and schizophrenia across the genotypes.Conclusion:Our results raise the possibility that HSP70 gene (i.e., haplotypes of rs2075799) might be implicated in the development of schizophrenia, although limited by rare haplotypic association with the disease. Hence further studies from different ethnics should be performed to confirm these results.
What’s Happened to Paraphrenia? The Modernity of Emil Kraepelin’s Thinking
Authors: Pelizza L. , Bonazzi F. 
Published: March 2009

Paraphrenia is a psychotic disorder described by Kraepelin in 1913. He formulated this concept to define a group of patients who exhibited symptoms characteristic of dementia praecox (marked delusions with or without hallucinations), but with minimal disturbances of emotion and volition, and much less personality deterioration. after the publication of Mayer"s prognostic research in 1921 (which studied the outcomes of 78 paraphrenic patients reported by Kraepelin), the view to differentiate paraphrenia from schizophrenia was considered to be unfounded in Germany. Paraphrenia is now diagnosed relatively infrequently and is not listed in the current Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) or International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10). However, it appears that some psychiatrists recognize the illness but label it "atypical psychosis", "schizoaffective disorder," or "delusional disorder" for lack of a better diagnostic category.Virtually no systematic research on paraphrenia has been conducted in the past 60 years. We describe a 30-year-old man affected by sistematic paraphrenia, according to the neo-Kraepelinian description of paraphrenia proposed by Ravindran et al. in 1999 (description compatible with the formats of DSM-IV and ICD-10). Using a questionnaire adapted from this description, our case of paraphrenia were distinguished from those of schizophrenia and delusional disorder. in conclusion, It is possible to define and recognize paraphrenia, because it is a viable diagnostic entity. as in the days of Kraepelin, the problems concerning paraphrenia cannot be neglected when considering the classification of psychotic disorders.
Metabolic Risk Factors in a Schizophrenic Community Sample (vallès Oriental, Catalonia, Spain)
Authors: Planas P. , Català R. , Madrid C. , Eduard S. , Lira S. 
Published: March 2009

Introduction:Life expectancy for individuals with schizophrenia is 20% lower than in general population. Medical illnesses, psychiatric comorbidities, less access to care, poverty and limited perception of illness are some of the most important factors associated with increased risk of morbidity. Cardiovascular death (CVD) is a major contributor to increased mortality in schizophrenia 2,3. Prevalence of obesity in patients with schizophrenia (40%-60%) is twice the rate of the general population (20%-30%). Obesity, high abdominal perimeter, serum lipid levels, and smoking are significant, Independent Risk Factors for CVD.Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of metabolic disturbances, which is associated with an increased risk of CVD.Objective:To estimate the prevalence of CVRF in schizophrenic outpatients treated at Granollers' CSM.Methods:Cross-sectional descriptive study about 100 schizophrenic outpatients treated at CSM Granollers. Data on sociodemographics, physical examinations, blood test parameters, CVRF history and treatments are recorded. Each CVRF is established according to international criteria and/or pharmacological treatment.Secondary objectives:•Prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome;•Antipsychotic drugs treatment.Variables - Sociodemographic data and Schizophrenia diagnosis:•Physical examination;•Lab parameters;•Other CV risk factors (smoking, alcohol intake…).Results and conlusions:Estimated prevalences for most of the CVRF in schizophrenic outpatients are, in general, higher than those expected of the same age group in the general population. Data presented can support therapeutic decision-making and suggests a need of new prevention and monitoring strategies. New guidelines for monitoring and intervention will be needed for monitoring and intervention.