bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The influence of health beliefs and social stigma on choice of internet support groups over formal mental health services
Authors: Townsend L. , Gearing R. 
Published: May 2011

IntroductionThe relationship between health beliefs regarding formal mental health services, practical variables (time, affordability, transportation), stigma, and use of internet support groups in lieu of formal treatment has received little empirical attention.ObjectivesThe study examines the relationship between health beliefs, practical variables, stigma, and engagement in internet support groups among adults.AimsThe study addresses whether beliefs regarding formal mental health services, having the time, finances, and transportation to use them, and the social consequences of being identified as having a mental health problem influence the use of internet support groups.MethodsData were analyzed from 2,532 respondents who endorsed perceiving the need for but not receiving formal mental health treatment in the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (2008). Binary logistic regression was used to examine the relationships between health beliefs, practical variables, stigma, and the use of internet support groups.ResultsThe strongest positive predictors of internet support group use were fear of being hospitalized/taking medications (AOR = 8.252, CI = 8.170–8.334), lack of transportation (AOR = 2.313, CI = 2.271–2.357), and insufficient insurance coverage (AOR = 2.640, CI = 2.610–2.670). The strongest negative predictors of internet support group use were lack of belief in the efficacy of formal treatment (AOR = .629, CI = .618–.641), fearing that others would find out (AOR = .660, CI = .645–.675), and not thinking formal treatment was needed at the time (AOR = .681, CI = .665–.696).ConclusionsUsing the internet for relief from mental health symptoms has proliferated, yet has received little empirical attention. Research is needed to examine the implications of using internet technology rather than formal mental health treatment.
Attitude of patients treated with antipsychotics at acute units
Authors: San-Molina L. , Rubio G. , Bernardo-Fernández I. , Miguélez-Fernández S. 
Published: May 2011

IntroductionAntipsychotic treatment and psychosocial interventions can reduce the risk of relapse and prevent functional impairment. The DAI questionnaire enables the effect of treatment perceived by patients to be evaluated.ObjectivesTo assess the attitude of patients to treatment on hospital discharge compared when the drug of admission is modified on discharge and when it is maintained.MethodsA multicenter, naturalistic, retrospective study to analyse the immediate clinical outcome after a medical intervention in 1346 patients with schizophrenia in acute units in Spain. Clinical progression of the first five days of hospital intervention and at hospital discharge was collected retrospectively. Afterwards, the DAI questionnaire was completed.Results1238 patients completed the DAI questionnaire. The average score was 15.6 (range 10–20). In the group of patients where the main antipsychotic drug during hospital stay was the same as that received at the time of hospital discharge, no statistically significant differences were found vs the group where the antipsychotic was modified (15.6 vs 15.4, p = 0.630).ConclusionAt acute units the effect of the drug perceived by patients assessed through the DAI questionnaire on hospital discharge is similar for all antipsychotic drugs whether the treatment is modified on hospital admission or not.
Altered motor pathway integrity in schizophrenia
Authors: Bracht T. , Schnell S. , Federspiel A. , Jann K. , Razavi N. , Horn H. , Wiest R. , Dierks T. , Strik W. , Müller T. , Walther S. 
Published: May 2011

IntroductionMotor symptoms are frequent in patients with schizophrenia. Although recent DTI studies point to white matter alterations of the motor system in schizophrenia little is known about specific changes.ObjectivesTo date there is a lack of approaches with hypothesis driven quantification of specific anatomical fibre tracts. Therefore, we aimed to compare structural connectivity between specific parts of the motor system such as the pre-supplementary motor area (SMA), the SMA-proper, the primary motor cortex and the basal ganglia in patients with schizophrenia and in healthy controls in a DTI-fibre-tracking study.AimsIt is the aim of this study to investigate whether fibre tract integrity of the motor system is altered in patients with schizophrenia.MethodsDTI-data were measured in 21 patients with schizophrenia and in 21 healthy controls. Applying a probabilistic fibre tracking approach the most probable anatomical pathways between key regions of the motor system of each participant have been identified. The resulting probabilistic maps were normalized to obtain values between 0 and 1, normalized into the standard MNI-space and smoothed using an isotropic 3-mm Gaussian kernel. Group comparisons have been calculated using two-sample-t-tests.ResultsFirst results point to altered fibre tract microstructure of loops including cortical motor areas and the basal ganglia. The data analysis is preliminary. Definite results will be presented at the conference.ConclusionsAltered motor behaviour might be reflected by altered white matter integrity of loops including cortical motor areas and the basal ganglia.
Explicit memory in Schizophrenia
Authors: Calero-Fernandez M.R. 
Published: May 2011

ObjectiveStudy of explicit memory of schizophrenic patients. Compared with control subjects.Methodsn = 21:-Schizophrenia Group (GE): 14 patients diagnosed with schizophrenia (DSM-IV criteria)-Control Group (CG): 7 subjects with no psychiatric diagnosis.Data analysis:-Analysis of variance for comparison between groups-Contrast-Test Means for intragroup analysis performanceResultsVariables: gender, age, duration, and medication, as well as attitude, mood, attention, comprehension, difficulty and interest shown in the tests.Significant differences were observed between schizophrenic and control in cued recall (proportion of hits: GE = 33% +41% Chronic severe, GC = 60%: p = 0.009) and recognition (hit rate: GE = 32% +32% Acute Chronic, GC = 41.11%, p = 0.009) that could be explained by a deficit in encoding and retrieval presemantic. Free Recall No significant (P = 0.0113) There were no significant differences between acute and chronic in Free Recall (P = 0.0864), cued recall (P = 0.255) and recognition (p = 0.998).ConclusionIn the sample studied was observed:Explicit Memory Impairement from early stages of schizophrenia.-Impairment of memory processes that require conscious control-Difficulty in voluntary recall, conscious and strategic characteristic of explicit memory, although providing it with keys.
Daytime sleepiness, executive functions and working memory in schizophrenia patients treated with sertindole and olanzapine
Authors: Denisiuk M. , Wichniak A. , Jędrasik-Styła M. , Zdunek I. , Waliniowska E. , Wierzbicka A. , Jernajczyk W. , Jarema M. 
Published: May 2011

ObjectivesSedation is a frequent side effect of antipsychotic drugs with a high impact on patients’ functioning. We investigated whether patients who were switched from sedative antipsychotics to sertindole, an antipsychotic drug without sedative effect, showed better results in measures of sleepiness, executive functions and working memory than patients with a good tolerance to sedative effect of olanzapine.Methods18 patients with schizophrenia treated with sertindole (9 females, mean age 27.9 ± 4,1, mean dose 15.6 ± 3.0 mg/d) and 18 sex and age matched patients treated with olanzapine (15.3 ± 6.5 mg/d) underwent EEG recording, Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST), psychomotor vigilance task, filled out Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) and Athens insomnia scale (AIS). PANSS, UKU, BARS scales and DAI-30 were used to rate mental state, medication side effects and subjective attitude to treatment.ResultsAt time of the assessment PANSS scores were similar in sertindole (43.6 ± 7.1) and olanzapine (42.3 ± 12.2) groups. Increased slow wave activity (SWA) was found in EEG in 3 patients treated with sertindole and in 10 with olanzapine (p < 0.05). Treatment with sertindole was also related to lower ratings on BARS scale (p < 0.05) and item “prolongation of sleep” in the UKU scale (p < 0.05). However, no superiority of sertindole was found in other used measures.ConclusionsAlthough sertindole does not induce SWA in EEG and prolong sleep, patients who were switched to sertindole did not have improved executive functions, vigilance and working memory as compared to patients treated with olanzapine.
High prevalence of human herpesvirus 8 in a Tunisian sample of Schizophrenic patients
Authors: El Kissi Y. , Hannach N. , Gaabout S. , Samoud S. , Ayachi M. , Boukadida J. , Ali B. Ben Hadj 
Published: May 2011

BackgroundThe prevalence of Human Herpesvirus 8 (HHV8) has never been investigated in schizophrenic patients.ObjectiveThis study aimed to assess the prevalence of HHV8 serum antibodies in schizophrenic patients and in healthy controls.MethodsDuring a 24 months period, we consecutively enrolled 108 patients meeting DSM-IV criteria of schizophrenia, in psychiatry department of Sousse Farhat Hached hospital (Tunisia). We also enrolled 108 controls among consenting blood donors. They were age and sex matched and free from any psychotic disorder as screened by MINI-Plus.Psychopathology and severity were measured using PANSS, BPRS, SANS, SAPS and CGI. Sera samples were obtained from patients and controls and then analyzed for the presence of anti-HHV8 antibodies (anti-HHV8) using a sensitive indirect immunofluorescence assay to latent and lytic HHV8 antigens.ResultsA significantly higher prevalence of anti-HHV8 in schizophrenic patients than in healthy controls was found (28.7% vs. 14.8%, p = 0.01). Marital status, educational level, professional activity, poverty, promiscuity, number of children, sexual behavior or presence of risk factors of blood transmission were not associated with HHV8 prevalence (p > 0.05). However, among schizophrenic patients, HHV8 prevalence was statically associated with positive symptoms (SAPS score) (p = 0.01) and the severity of illness (CGI score) (p = 0.02).ConclusionTo our knowledge, this would be the first report of high HHV8 prevalence in schizophrenic patients, which support the role of this virus in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia. To go on further with this hypothesis, more investigations of HHV8 in schizophrenia are needed.
Cognitive Deficits in Patients Diagnosed with Schizophrenia or Other Psychotic Disorders
Authors: Ferreira O. 
Published: May 2011

IntroductionCognitive deficits in patients with psychotic disorders have been described both in literature and clinical practice.Objectives/aimsAnalysis of the cognitive deficits in patients with psychotic disorders.MethodsObservation of 8 subjects performance on the Wechsler Memory Scale (WMS) and Raven's Standard Progressive Matrices (SPM), by the consultation of their psychological assessment clinical files. Subjects are aged between 20 and 29 years old and diagnosed with schizophrenia or other psychotic disorder.ResultsThe analysis of the performance on the psychological tests indicated significant differences in the areas of remote memory, attention, calculation, immediate verbal memory, visual memory and non verbal reasoning. No significant differences in the areas of spatial and temporal orientation were observed.ConclusionsThis study confirms the presence of neuropsychological deficits in several areas of memory and non verbal reasoning ability of young patients with psychotic disorders. Neuropsychological rehabilitation is a key area of intervention in such disorders, considering the young age of these patients and the impact that these alterations can have on their social, educational and professional prospects.
Variables Associated with Attitude Towards Medication and Compliance of Treatment in Outpatients with Stable Schizophrenia
Authors: Valmisa E. , Galan J. 
Published: May 2011

IntroductionAttitude towards medication has been associated with compliance, but different variables have been associated with them.PurposeAssess relationship between attitude towards medication and compliance, and to evaluate variables related to treatment associated with them.MethodsNon-interventional, multicentre, cross-sectional study. Outpatients with stable schizophrenia (according to clinical criteria) who had the last acute episode at least 2 months before were included.Results941 patients recruited were included in the study, 931 patients were included in the statistical analysis.Mean score on DAI was 4.2 and in its subscales: 1.6 on general attitude 2.8 on subjective effect 2.8. Mean score on compliance (a component of David's scale of insight), with range from 0 to 4, was: 3.0.There were statistically significant (p < 0.0001) correlations between this subscale of David's insight scale and total DAI score (r = 0.495), with general attitude (r = 0.480) and with subjective effect (r = 0.419).Variables related to medication with association statistically (p < 0.005) with DAI (total score and both subscales) were: length of treatment with current antipsychotic, number of total adverse events (AEs), moderate AEs, severe AEs, and total severity of adverse events (sum of severity of each one). All of them, except number of severe AEs, had statistically significant relationship (p < 0.05) with compliance.ConclusionVariables related to attitude towards medication (DAI total and both subscale) were very similar to those related to compliance (construct of David's insight scale). Adverse events and length of antipsychotic treatment had a clear clinical relevance. Study sponsored by AstraZeneca Spain, S.A.
The Role of Threat Appraisals and Safety-Seeking Behaviours in Determining Need for Care in Psychosis
Authors: Gaynor K. , Ward T. , Garety P. , Peters E. 
Published: May 2011

IntroductionVan Os et al. (2009) have proposed a Proneness-Persistence-lmpairment model to explain the psychosis continuum, and cognitive models of psychosis have suggested that appraisals of anomalous experiences may be key in determining ‘need for care’.ObjectivesThe present study investigated the interaction between appraisals and safety behaviours in the maintenance of impairing psychotic symptoms.AimsIt was predicted that individuals with psychotic symptoms without a need for care would display fewer threat appraisals and safety behaviours than their clinical counterparts, and that these variables would predict distress.MethodsThe study recruited people with persistent psychotic experiences but who had no-need-for-care (Persistence group; n = 39) and individuals diagnosed with a psychotic disorder who were receiving current treatment (Impairment group; n = 28). The participants were assessed on semi-structured interviews of appraisals and safety behaviours in relation to their psychotic experiences and on anxiety and depression questionnaires.ResultsBoth groups had similar levels of psychotic symptoms in the last month, including first rank symptoms. However there was a large significant difference between Impairment and Persistence groups in threat appraisals and safety behaviours, with the Persistence group reporting higher levels of both. A mediation analysis found that threat appraisals mediated the relationship between safety behaviours and anomaly-related distress, suggesting that threat appraisals may maintain anomaly-related distress, a defining feature of Impairment status.ConclusionsThese data provide support for the cognitive model of psychosis, with threat appraisals potentially playing a major role in the transition from non-clinical anomalous experiences to clinical psychotic status.
Improving insight in patients diagnosed with schizophrenia and understanding insight from a patient perspective - a mixed methods study
Authors: Joergensen R. , Hansson L. , Zoffmann V. , Munk-Joergensen P. 
Published: May 2011

The method Guided Self-Determination (GSD), originally developed and proven effective in difficult diabetes care, has been adjusted to patients with schizophrenia. Currently a randomised controlled study investigates if the method GSD has effect on the outcomes insight, self-esteem, recovery, psychopathology and social functioning when applied in psychiatric care in 3 Assertive Outreach Teams and 3 Psychosis Teams.As an extension from the RCT we just started a qualitative study using Classic Grounded Theory. The overall approach is a Mixed Methods Approach with a Sequential Explanatory Strategy.The RCT hypothesize that the method GSD improves both clinical and cognitive insight in patients, measured by Birchwood Insight Scale and Beck Cognitive Insight Scale that both are self-rating scales. Lack of insight into illness is often associated with patients diagnosed with schizophrenia. Also poorer treatment compliance, clinical outcome, social functioning and response to vocational rehabilitation are linked to lack of insight.In the literature lack of insight is a complex and multi dimensional phenomenon with disagreement on etiology but always described and investigated from health professionals’ perspective. Both insight self-rating scales are also developed by and represent health professionals’ perspective on insight. Apparently it appears that the patients’ perspective and understanding of insight is missing in the literature.The qualitative study will both aim on identifying patients’ perspective on insight, emerging in a grounded theory and the grounded theory elaborating on the results on clinical and cognitive insight from the RCT.The poster will illustrate the two designs in a Mixed Methods Approach.
Use of sarcosine to augment treatment of schizophrenia- review of evidence
Authors: Latif Z. , Nerval D. 
Published: May 2011

IntroductionA growing number‘of patients with schizophrenia are using complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) interventions. In this paper, we review the published scientific evidence on the benefits and risks of a natural supplement Sarcosine in patients with schizophrenia. Sarcosine, also known as N-methylglycine, is thought to modulate N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) function through the glycine modulator. It has been investigated as a putative adjunct therapy for a wide variety of disorders ranging from schizophrenia to prostate cancer.Methods and MaterialsWe performed a comprehensive review of schizophrenia literature, focusing on complementary and alternative approached for augmentation treatment. We identified studies published from 01/1985 through 12/ 2010, by searching the PsycINFO, MEDLINE and CURRENT CONTENTS using the medical subject headings sarcosine, schizophrenia, complementary and alternative therapies and N-methylglycine. We found 6 randomized trials for use NMDA-glycine site agonists or glycine transporter-1 inhibitors. Inclusion criteria included randomized assignment, comparison with placebo and use of standardized outcome measures (PANS). The results are summarized in Table 1.ConclusionsOverall the limited current evidence suggests that intake of 2 g/day sarcosine as adjunctive therapy to certain antipsychotic medication in schizophrenia may have additional benefits on both positive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia. Sarcosine had been tolerated well with no notable side effects in excess of the placebo therapy.Unfortunately most of these studies are small and the routine use of Sarcosine in schizophrenia cannot be recommended without further evidence. In the meantime, patients need to be informed about the possible risks associated with the use of these interventions.
Developing a methodology for measuring readiness in mental illness recovery
Authors: Marques A.J. , Nogueira T. , Queiros C. 
Published: May 2011

IntroductionPsychosocial Rehabilitation is actually understood as essential to promote the effective improvement of quality of life of mental ill people. Recovery is view as a process where individual plays an active role, choosing their own way. In this process, readiness is the interest, desire and motivation of the individual in his rehabilitation, being ready to change.AimsDevelop a methodology to assess readiness of people with mental illness, and known the opinion of health professionals about this methodology.MethodsUsing the results of different studies, a methodology to assess readiness was developed and described. This description was after submitted to a focus group with six professionals and to a Delphi panel of 25 professionals, all evaluating the methodology to be used with people with schizophrenia.ResultsThe methodology developed includes several steps to apply with mentally ill people. The focus group discusses the methodology and the results agree with the conclusions of other studies and with theoretical constructs about this topic. The Delphi panel yields an agreement rate exceeding 90% and suggests the application of the methodology to people with schizophrenia.ConclusionsThe methodology developed to assess readiness of mentally ill people to change and define their own recovery process seems to be useful and provide a more deep understanding of individual differences linked to the process of recovery. Also seems to provide a translation into quantitative indicators and to identify the overall level of readiness, being a practical tool to support the definition of rehabilitation projects.
Improvement in patient symptoms and functioning during long-term treatment with olanzapine long-acting injection (OLAI)
Authors: Peuskens J. , Porsdal V. , Pecenak J. , Handest P. , D’yachkova Y. , Brousil R. , Casillas M. , Deberdt W. 
Published: May 2011

Introduction, objectives and aimsTo evaluate the outcome of patients with schizophrenia during maintenance treatment with OLAI.MethodsData from three studies with OLAI were pooled and patients classified according to a cluster analysis [Lipkovich, Psychiatry Res, 2009] into five categories according severity of psychiatric symptoms (sx) and functional impairment (imp):A(minimal sx/mild imp),B(minimal sx/moderate imp),C(moderate sx/mild to moderate imp),D(moderate sx/severe imp),E(moderate to severe sx/severe imp).Improvement was defined as a change from B or C to A, or from D or E to A, B or C. Changes between the categories in the 6 months were analyzed. Stepwise logistic regression modeling was done to determine factors associated with improvement.Results1182 patients were classified. Patients who remained in the studies at 6 months had lower baseline CGI-S (3.04 vs 3.28, p < 0.001), lower PANSS (61.38 vs 64.05, p = 0.012) and higher QLS (1.76 vs 1.39, p = 0.001). (Table 1) As patients in category A couldn’t improve and in category D&E couldn’t worsen, 261(39%) patients from categories B, C, D and E improved and only 55(10%) from categories A, B and C got worse during 6 months. Baseline factors associated with improvement were: baseline category (p < 0.001), CGI-S score (p = 0.022), and PANSS positive (p = 0.003)ConclusionsMajority of patients with schizophrenia who stay on 6 months treatment with OLAI improve or maintain their symptoms and functioning level. The strongest factor associated with a higher chance of improvement was poor baseline category.