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1. Understanding whether a species still persists, or the timing of its extinction is challenging, however, such knowledge is fundamental for effective species management.
2. For the vast majority of species our understanding of their existence is based solely on sighting data that can range from museum specimens and clear photographs, through vocalisations, to markings and oral accounts.
3. Here we review the methods that have been developed to infer the extinction of species from a sighting record, providing an understanding of their assumptions and applications. We have also produced an RShiny package which can be used to implement some of the methods presented in the article.
4. While there are a number of potential areas that could be further developed, the methods reviewed provide a useful tool for inferring species extinction.
The expression of sexuality in the adult with mental disorders depends on the early incorporation of factors for promoting social inclusion. It is fundamental that sexual educators and advisors, in addition to working with the clients, also work with close family members. Intervention programs should establish objectives for developing a positive attitude towards sexuality in people with mental disorders and improving self-esteem (Katz G,Salud Publica Mex. 2008;50 Suppl 2:s239-54).
Challenge
Achieving support for people with mental health problems and/or substance use disorder admitted to the Social Rehabilitation Process of a psychiatric hospital so that they develop their sexuality satisfactorily. The right to privacy must be taken into account.
Objectives
Promoting a healthy and satisfactory development of sexuality in people with severe mental disorders. Raising awareness among healthcare teams, families and legal representatives regarding the need and suitability for support. Introducing the concept of sexuality as a dignifying perspective. Promoting sexual education that avoids disadvantages and situations of abuse in the target group. Coordinating the continuity of the project with non-health social services after discharge.
Hypothesis
Possibility of receiving support in the development of sexuality through training, information and improvement in the management of emotions/feelings in people who express the need or willingness to receive it, will contribute to overcoming limitations or difficulties.
Methods
Detecting people who during 2021 wish to work on the objectives through the care team. Searching for community resources aimed at attending sexuality issues in people with mental health problems. Proposing the hospital a collaboration with a non-profit entity that develops a specialized program for attention to sexuality in disability. Coordination between Treatment team and Entity. Quantitative and qualitative assessment of one year of experience according to the parameters of the entity.
Results
2022
People included
Percentage of people admittedto the Income Unit (65)
Detection concern sex-affectivity
5
7,69%
Verbalized concern
3
4,61%
Referral to the entity program
2
3,07%
Conclusions
All patients included have a diagnosis of psychosis. Experience was very positive for the participants. Community intervention projects that lead to an education in healthy and respectful relationships in the field of sexuality and affectivity are necessary. This would allow to prevent behaviours and situations at risk of abuse as well as social and emotional instability.
Hospital at home for psychiatric patients is a new emerging resource of delivering acute mental health care in the community. The main objective of this program is to provide intense care to patients with severe mental disorders at home as an alternative to acute admission.
Although home hospitalisation has begun to develop widely in recent years there is a notable lack of studies
The CAEM Psychiatric Home Hospitalization Unit (HAD-CAEM) has been operating since 2018 and takes place in Santa Coloma de Gramenet; and from March 2022 also in a part of Badalona. Both are sociodemographically depressed areas near Barcelona.
Objectives
The aim of this study is to describe the characteristics of patients attended at the Psychiatric Home Hospitalization Unit of our hospital and to study differences according to area and place of referral.
Methods
Socio-demographic and clinical data were collected retrospectively at admission and discharge of all patients treated at HAD-CAEM between March 2022 to february 2023.
Statistical analysis was performed by using SPSS program.
Results
85 patients were included in the study. 45.9% were women. The mean age was 45.5 years (SD 15.58 years). The main diagnoses of the sample were psychosis and schizophrenia (38.8%), Bipolar disorder (23.53%), Depressive disorder (21.18%), schizoaffective disorder (8.24%) and others (8,24%).
54 (63.53%) patients were from Santa Coloma area and 35 (41.18%) from Badalona area.
The total mean duration of admission was 40.22 days (SD 26.18 days), with a mean follow-up of 10.09 visits (SD 5.39 visits) and 2.41 teleassistence (SD 2.62).
The mean duration of admission for Santa Coloma patients was 43.98 days (SD 28.59), and for Badalona patients 33.68 days (SD 20.13). Trend without significance is observed (t= 1.77, p=0.08)
We found differences in the mean duration of admission according to referral location. Acute psychiatric unit 33.25 days (SD 18.06), Mental health Center 51.93 days (SD 33.45), Emergencies 34.28 days (SD 19.69) (F=5.1, p=0.008).
Conclusions
Sociodemografic and clinical característics obtained in our study are consistent with those reported in previous studies. The duration of admission of patients referred from the mental health center is longer than those referred from the acute psychiatric or emergency unit. Home hospitalization teams have been increasing in recent years, being an alternative to traditional hospitalization.
Hyperthyroidism due to Graves-Basedow disease is a common cause of neuropsychiatric manifestations, such as anxiety, psychomotor restlessness, mood disturbances, insomnia and psychosis. Hashimoto’s encephalopathy rarely occurs in so-called autoimmune thyroiditis, which can present with hyperthyroidism and neuropsychiatric symptoms similar to Graves’ disease. We add that the mystical-religious beliefs, present in all human cultures, and decisive in the case at hand, make us propose an evolutionary origin of them.
Objectives
Clinical case description
Methods
A clinical case based on medical reports is described
Results
We present the case of a 72-year-old woman, a member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, well adapted to the Community. Known history of elevated antithyroid antibodies since 2019, brought to the emergency room involuntarily due to a mystical-religious delusional condition associated with behavioral disturbance. On examination, cachectic appearance, distal tremor, emotional exaltation and megalomanic speech were highlighted. Laboratory tests revealed primary hyperthyroidism with elevated antibodies. During admission, the differential diagnosis between Graves-Basedow disease and Hashimoto’s encephalopathy was considered. Thyroid scintigraphy oriented the diagnosis to Graves-Basedow disease, not requiring lumbar puncture or corticosteroid treatment. Treatment was based on high-dose antithyroid and antipsychotic drugs, with clinical and analytical remission at 3 weeks. The patient was referred to a Social Health Center for functional recovery. The family refers to a similar episode in 2014, of less intensity and self-limited, which is proposed to be a hashitoxicosis.
Conclusions
Differential diagnosis between Graves-Basedow and Hashimoto disease is essential as they differ in treatment and prognosis. The continuity that the delusion presents with the previous beliefs of the patient, differing mainly in the affective-behavioral implication, makes us consider a predisposition to psychosis in our patient. Religiosity can be adaptive in certain environments, since mystical beliefs have existed throughout the history of the human species and seem to be part of our nature.
Since the beginning of the modern psychiatry the acute units have established a “locked door” policy. Some studies show that this condition may increase patient’s discomfort and affect the perception of health quality of care (Boyer L, 2009, Eur Psychiatry Dec;24(8):540-9). Lately, several European countries such as Germany, Switzerland and Spain are starting to implement the “open-door” policy but its impact on patient’s satisfaction is still unknown (Hochstrasser, L, Frontiers in Psychiatry, 9(57). https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2018.00057) .
Objectives
To help characterize the advantages of the “open-door” policy implemented in an acute inpatient psychiatric unit in order to assess the patient’s view of it.
Methods
This is a descriptive observational study carried out at an inpatient psychiatric unit. Data were collected after the implementation of the open door policy on June 2019, assessing the patient satisfaction of 31 subjects who completed the SATISPSY-22 scale at the time of discharge. Results are described using the average and its standard deviation.
Results
Results show scores in all items above 50 points, being the care team and the quality of care the most valued ones with 82 and 79 points respectively. The overall score is above 65 points (Fig. 1).
Image:
Conclusions
In line with previous studies, our data suggests that the main impact of the “open-door” policy implementation is on patients’ perception of the care, being Quality of care and satisfaction with the Staff the items with highest scores. This could be explained by patients trusting more in the Care team, which would help enhance the therapeutic relationship improving therapeutic adherence, treatment adequacy and the outcome. Nevertheless, the Feeling related to hospitalisation was found to be the item with the lowest score. This could mean strategies should focus on improving patient’s insight regarding their clinical state and their need to be admitted. Our study supports the hypothesis that open-door policy in acute psychiatric units is seen positively by patients and that further research should be carried.
Severe mental illnesses characterized by periods of relapse that require intensive resource management. Caregivers of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder patients feel a considerable burden of care (Tanna et al. Ind Psychiatry J 2021, 30(2):299-304).
The main objective of Hospital at home for psychiatric patients is to provide intense care to patients with severe mental disorders at home as an alternative to acute admission (Alba et al. Rev Psiquiatr Salud Ment. 2019, 12 (4) 207-212).
Objectives
The aim of this study is to describe the characteristics of patients attended at the Psychiatric Home Hospitalization Unit of our hospital (HAD-CAEM) and to assess the of burden of care that caregivers feel while giveing care to this patients.
Methods
Data were collected retrospectively at admission and discharge of all patients treated at HAD-CAEM between August 2018 to March 2022. Incomes of patients who met DSM-5 criteria for schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder. Severity of disease and patient’s level of functionality was evaluated with the global assessment of functioning scale (GAF) and the Clinical Global Impression Scale (CGI). Burden Caregivers was evaluated with The Zarit Caregiver Burden Scale (ZCBS). Statistical analysis was performed by using SPSS program.
Results
109 patients were included in the study. 49.5% were women. The mean age was 48 years (SD 18.47 years). 44% met criteria for schizophrenia, 25.7% for depressive disorder, and 30.3% for bipolar disorder. Most of them lived with their own family (47.7%); had secondary education (51.4%) and were unemployed (33%). 81% had a history of at least one admission to an acute psychiatric unit.
The mean duration of admission in HAD-CAEM was 33.8 days (SD 15.72 days), with a mean follow-up of 8.75 visits (SD 3.58 visits).
The mean CGI severity item at admission was 4.36 and there was an improvement at the time of discharge according to the CGI improvement item (mean CGI-I=2.43).
The GAF scale on admission was 46.74 (SD 11.2) and on discharge 64.24 (SD 13.85), showing an improvement of 17.5 points at discharge (p<0.001).
The mean ZCBS of the sample was 48.21 (SD 15.11). Mean ZCBS in Schizophrenia group (n=22) was 46.13 (SD 16.53), in depressive group (n=18) was 43.61 (SD 12.89) and for bipolar group (n=17) was 55.76 (SD 13.19). A statistical test is performed with ANOVA, showing significant differences between groups (p=0.039). Post-hoc analyzes show significant differences between bipolar disorder group and the depressive disorder group (p=0.04). No significant differences are found between the other groups.
Conclusions
Caregivers of schizophrenia, depressive and bipolar disorder patients feel a considerable burden of care. ZCBS was administered to the caregivers on the last day of admission, when the patient presented clinical and functional improvement. More studies are needed to support these results.
Traditionally, psychiatric wards had established a “locked door” policy but secluded conditions may increase patient’s discomfort1 that could affect the perception of health quality of care2. Recently, the “open-door” policy is being adopted in several European countries but its impact on patient satisfaction remains unknown (Schreiber, LK. BMC Psychiatry. 2019 May 14;19(1):149). Since 2019 our psychiatric hospital has implemented the open-door policy.
Objectives
The aim of this study is to investigate the impact of the “open-door” policy on patient satisfaction during their stay in the acute inpatient unit of our psychiatric hospital.
Methods
This is an observational study. Prior to the implementation of the open door policy 31 patient satisfaction data was collected between October 2018 to April 2019 and it was also assessed with 31 subjects between July to October 2019, after the implementation of the open “door-policy”. The inclusion criteria were being >18 years old, reading Spanish correctly and with a length of stay >72 hours. The patients with dementia disorder and intellectual disability where excluded from the study. We used the Satispsy-22-E scale, a self-administered questionnaire (Frías, V., et al. 2018. Psychiatry Res. Oct;268:8-14). It assesses patient’s experience of hospitalization through 22 items distributed into 6 dimensions. The score range is from 0 to 100. Differences in Satispsy-22-E scores were analysed by applying ANOVA using the IBM-SPSS (v. 25).
Results
Total scores in Satispsy-22 are provided in Figure 1. We found that patient satisfaction was increased in the dimensions of “personal experience” and “food” (p<0.05). No significant differences were found in staff, quality of care, information, activity dimensions and Total score (Table 2).
Dimension
F-Test
Statistic Value
Staff
1.402
p=0.241
Quality of Care
841
p=0.362
Personal Experience
4.071
p=0.048*
Information
656
p=0.420
Activity
434
p=0.512
Food
4.507
p=0.037*
TOTAL
3.645
p=0.61
Image:
Conclusions
Our results provide preliminary evidence indicating that the open-door policy could have a positive impact on patient satisfaction, especially in relation to the personal experience on an acute inpatient psychiatric unit.
Research shows the benefits of music therapy for various mental health conditions, including depression, trauma, and schizophrenia. Music acts as a medium for processing emotions, trauma, and grief.
Playing instruments can encourage emotional expression, socialization and exploration of various therapeutic themes (i.e. conflict, communication, grief, etc.).
Group music therapy, measured by questionnaires and described in qualitative interviews, improved quality of life and self-esteem for people with severe mental illness (SMI).Group singing and song writing provide creative options for social connections. Music therapy should be considered as a component of holistic care for people with SMI. Jungup Lee, Thyer BA. May 2013Journal of Human Behaviour in the Social Environment 23(5):597-609
Objectives
Music therapy sessions are held in our hospital for people admitted to short-term hospitalization units and to psychosocial rehabilitation units. The goal of the sessions is to create a connection space, promote people’s confidence in their own resources for their recovery, and evoke valuable experiences and memories. Sometimes musicians from the community have been present in the sessions, contributing to overcoming the stigma towards mental illness.
Methods
We describe self-assessment of people admitted to psychiatric units after attending music therapy sessions. People from brief hospitalization unit filled out a survey, after each session, voluntarily, about their emotional state at the beginning of the session and after it. People from rehabilitation units, voluntarily filled the SRS V.3.0. 2002-Miller. Duncan & Johnson escale.The SRS was designed for use by clinicians to assess the therapeutic alliance during therapy (Duncan BL et al. The Session Rating Scale: Preliminary Psychometric Properties of a “Working” Alliance Measure JBT 3(1) 3-12 12/14/04 3:53 PM Page 3).
Results
23 sessions took place for each unit. 39 patients from brief hospitalization, 22 women and 17 men, attended the sessions. 15 had a diagnosis of schizophrenia and related disorders, 13 were affective disorders, and 11 others diagnosis. All of them liked the participation either fully or partially. 76% men and 77% women felt better after, none of them reported to feel worse. 82% men and 86% women replied they would repeat the session.
Patients from rehabilitation units were 7 women and 10 men. 14 had a schizophrenia related disorder and 3 had bipolar disorder. All items on the scale were scored above 9 over 10, (I felt heard, understood, and respected/ We worked on and talked about what I wanted to work on and talk about/ The therapist’s approach is a good fit for me) with an overall score of 9,62 over 10 (Overall, today’s session was right for me).
Conclusions
Music therapy sessions achieve benefits on an emotional level in any of the diagnoses, improving alliance with care teams, who value sessions as normalizing spaces, helping to overcome stigma.
The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has produced an unprecedented clinical situation, causing a direct and indirect impact on the physical and mental health of the population. In Spain, between March 15 and June 21 of 2020, it was decreed a home confinement that caused the interruption of the daily life of millions of people. However, there are few studies that analyze the changes produced in psychiatric care in the Emergency Department (ED).
Objectives
To analyze the changes produced in psychiatric emergencies, subanalysing paediatric population, during the first year of the pandemic (COV1/Y-COV1) compared to the previous year (NOCOV/Y-NOCOV1). To analyze the clinical features of patients attended during the lockdown period of the pandemic (LOCK) and compare it to the period of the pandemic after the lockdown (NOLOCK).
Methods
Through the registry of computerized medical records, patients who attended the psychiatric hospital emergency department between 03/01/2019 and 02/28/2021 were identified. We also identified all attendances from 15/03 to 21/06 in 2019 and in 2020 to obtain variables from the lockdown period.
Results
During period of this study, 2694 psychiatric visits made in the ED (1744 patients - 54.3% women, and 69.5% were between 25 and 64 years-), 1537 in NOCOV and 1157 in COV1. Significant differences were found between COV1 and NOCOV in sociodemographic variables, such as employment status and number of offspring. At a clinical level, in COV1, we observed an increase in attendance due to heteroaggressive behaviors, mania, insomnia and problems due to substance use. An increase in the prescription and/or modification of treatment was observed (59.3% vs 54.3%). During COV1, in terms of discharge follow-up in the month following the ED visit, telematic assistance increased (11.4% vs. 5.3%). During the period of study, 282 ED attendances were performed, 153 in Y-NOCOV and 129 in Y-COV1. At a clinical level, during Y-COV1, a decrease in attendances related to substance use was found significant. The sub-analysis carried out for LOCK and NOLOCK yields similar data to those obtained in the COV1 vs. NOCOV1 comparison. During lockdown, the face-to-face follow-up in the month following the ED was significantly lower (39,5% vs 57,1%) regarding telematic follow-up (24,4% vs 5,8%) In this period, an increase of adolescents without previous mental health follow-up was observed (44% LOCK vs. 22% NOLOCK).
Conclusions
Our work supports the hypothesis that the COVID-19 pandemic caused a change in psychiatric care in the ED. It also shows how lockdown changed the attendance in psychiatric emergencies, and also in the later community care attendance. Changes are detected in emergency care for adolescents during the pandemic compared to the previous year. Strikingly, our study does not reflect a quantitative increase in the demand. It would be of interest to continue collecting data after the time of the present project.
Darier-White disease (DD) is a rare genodermatosis of dominant autosomic inheritance characterized by the keratinization of epidermis, nails and mucous membrane. It leads to the formation of papules and brown hyperkeratotic plaques, mainly in seborrheic areas. The disease is associated with a mutation on the ATP2A2 gene, mapped in the 12q23-24 chromosome. There is known a relationship between DD and neuropsychiatric diseases, such as bipolar disorder, depression and schizophrenia.
Objectives
To discuss the relationship between DD and neuropshychiatric disorders.
Methods
We report the case of a patient with diagnosed schizophrenia, alcohol and cannabis dependence who presented skin lesions.
Results
The physical exploration of our patient revealed cutaneous lesions and we pointed the diagnostic towards DD. Afterwards, a cross-consultation was done with the dermatology experts. During the physical exploration, the patient shows confluent hyperkeratotic papules, dominant on the sides and center of back and hands, together with nail injuries (see images). The diagnostic was confirmed through anatomic pathology. The patient was treated with 10 mg/day of Acitretin together with emollients twice a day, which improved the patient clinical status and signs. The patient remained stable at a psychiatric standpoint. After 3 years of treatment, the patient keeps the same medication but with a reduced dose of 5 mg/day, with a 70% decrease of the initial hyperkeratotic lesions.
Conclusions
Previous studies concludes that mutations in the ATP2A2 gene, in addition to causing DD, confer susceptibility to neuropsychiatric features.These case report highlight the need for clinicians to asses and recognize neuropsychiatric symptoms in DD.
Intensive care unit (ICU)–acquired infections with antibiotic-resistant bacteria have been associated with substantial health and economic costs. Moreover, southern Europe has historically reported high levels of antimicrobial resistance.
Objectives:
We estimated the attributable economic burden of ICU-acquired infections due to resistant bacteria based upon hospital excess length of stay (LOS) in a selected sample of southern European countries.
Methods:
We studied a cohort of adult patients admitted to the ICU who developed an ICU-acquired infection related to an invasive procedure in a sample of Spanish, Italian, and Portuguese hospitals between 2008 and 2016, using data from The European Surveillance System (TESSy) released by the European Centers for Disease Control (ECDC). We analyzed the association between infections with selected antibiotic-resistant bacteria of public health importance and excess LOS using regression, matching, and time-to-event methods. We controlled for several confounding factors as well as time-dependent biases. We also computed the associated economic burden of excess resource utilization for each selected country.
Results:
In total, 13,441 patients with at least 1 ICU-acquired infection were included in the analysis: 4,106 patients (30.5%) were infected with antimicrobial-resistant bacteria, whereas 9,335 patients (69.5%) were infected with susceptible bacteria. The unadjusted association between resistance status and excess LOS was 7 days (95% CI, 6.13–7.87; P < .001). Fully adjusted models yielded significantly lower estimates: 2.76 days (95% CI, 1.98–3.54; P < .001) in the regression model, 2.60 days (95% CI, 1.66–3.55; P < .001) in the genetic matching model, and a hazard ratio of 1.15 (95% CI, 1.11–1.19; P < .001) in the adjusted Cox regression model. These estimates, alongside the prevalence of resistance, translated into direct hospitalization attributable costs per ICU-acquired infection of 5,224€ (95% CI, 3,691–6,757) for Spain, 4,461€ (95% CI, 1,948–6,974) for Portugal, and 4,320€ (95% CI, 1,662–6,977) for Italy.
Conclusions:
ICU-acquired infections associated with antibiotic-resistant bacteria are substantially associated with a 15% increase in excess LOS and resource utilization in 3 southern European countries. However, failure to appropriately control for significant confounders inflates estimates by ∼2.5-fold.
The Cognitive Disorders Unit carries out sessions of Psychoeducational Groups (PG) for caregivers of patients diagnosed with cognitive impairment (CI). The aim is to educate about the disease, improve the caregiver’s self-care and learn how to take better care of the sick.
Objectives
Analyze the profile of the caregivers that participate in PG and assess changes in their psychological state.
Methods
Subjects: 110 caregivers of patients diagnosed with mild-moderate CI who have participated in PG. Methodology: sociodemographic data of the caregiver and patient are collected. The following scales are passed: General-Health-Questionnaire (GHQ-12), Global-Deterioration-Scale, Barthel-Index. 5 sessions of 90 minutes are carried out every fortnight. An opinion questionnaire and the GHQ-12 are administered at the end of the sessions.
Results
86% of caregivers are women: 37% spouses and 55% daughters; mean age 57; 92% of patients live with the caregiver. 62% of caregivers present some kind of psychological disorder that is significantly reduced (p=0,0003) after some sessions. After PG: 65% of caregivers are able to further enjoy their daily activities 46% improve concentration capacity 42% improve sleeping and mood. Opinion Questionnaire Results: 98% of caregivers are satisfied with the activities, the topics addressed and their applicability.
Conclusions
The participants in PG were mostly daughters of patients, with average age 57, and living in the same household. Participation in PG improves the information and skills of caregivers, and reduces psychological disorders by improving their mood, their ability to concentrate, their quality of sleep and enjoyment of daily activities.
Several studies have suggested the relationship between the month of birth and the occurrence of a mental disorder in adulthood. Also an association has been founded between the month of birth and the presence of specific genetic polymorphisms associated with mental disorders, as is the case with bipolar disorder.
Objective
The aim of this study is to explore the relationship between births in different season and bipolar disorder.
Methodology
For this purpose, a retrospective review of all psychiatric admissions in our hospital between 2002 and 2013 was performed, as well as the date of births and the final diagnostic codes according to ICD 10 for each hospital discharge. Only the first admission was included for each subject to avoid the confounding variable in frequency, caused by readmissions. An ANOVA analysis was used to calculate the differences between the months and the frequency of the diagnosis.
Conclusions
Significant differences that suggest a possible relationship between month of birth and Bipolar Disorder were found.
An important limitation is the large number of cases dismissed for improper coding and the possibility of changing the diagnosis of an individual throughout their lifetime.
Conducting prospective cohort studies to confirm this hypothesis are considered necessary.
Behavioural, psychological and cognitive disturbance have been associated with hypothyroidism, even it has been suggested that this symptoms may remain despite adequate replacement therapy with thyroxine.
Objective
To describe prevalence, sociodemographics and clinical features of patients with hypothyroidism in an acute psychiatric unit.
Aims
To know about the relation between hypothyroidism and psychiatric symptoms.
Methods
Data base collection of all patients admitted between 2010 and 2014 in the acute unit of our psychiatric hospital in Barcelona, was analyzed using SPSS program.
Results
In all 3.1% of the 4536 total patients had hypothyroidism. Among them, 46% were duplicate cases. Mean age was 53 ± 14.27 years. A total of 82.7% were woman. Patients having a TSH lower than 0.30 were 12%, TSH normal were 60.2%, TSH higher than 5 were 27.8%. Most frequent Levothyroxine dosage was: 75 μg (22.1%), 100 μg (19%), 25 μg (12.5%) and 125 μg (12.5%). Diagnosis more frequently associated with hypothyroidism was: Bipolar (26.5%), Schizophrenia (20%), Depression (15.1%), Unspecified psychosis (10%), Personality disorder (10%), Schizoaffective disorder (7.2%), Paranoia 4.3%.
Conclusion
Most of patients were stable of thyroid condition when had been admitted to our hospital. Hypothyroidism could be a relapse factor, even when treatment is adequate. Affective disorders are more frequently related with hypothyroidism (lithium has to be consider a confounding factor).
Disclosure of interest
The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.
Depression is a disabling disorder with a high socio-economic impact. It might require hospitalization for symptom control and/or harm prevention. Other depressive disorders might as well require hospitalization in benefit of the patient. Hospitalization may be involuntary. Hospitalization willfulness in depressive patients has not been systematically studied in recent years.
Objective
The aim of this study is to explore the necessity of involuntary hospitalization in patients presenting depressive symptoms at the emergency service that were later diagnosed with a depressive disorder.
Materials and methods
From all patients visited in the psychiatric emergency service from 2012 to April 2015 those that were hospitalized in the acute mental health unit and diagnosed with a depressive disorder were studied. All those monopolar depression diagnoses were considered, excluding those within the bipolar spectrum. Diagnosis followed CIE-9 criteria. A descriptive cross-sectional study of the samples was then conducted. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software (SPSS Inc., Chicago, Ill.).
Results
From all 385 depressive disorders, 169 were involuntary admissions (43.9%), 196 were voluntary (50.9%) and 20 were scheduled (5.2%), difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). Mean age, was 59.52 years for involuntary admissions, 61.7 for voluntary and 63.6 years for scheduled, with a statistically significant difference (P < 0.05). Gender differences were not significant.
Conclusions
Most depressive disorders were hospitalized voluntarily. However, a relevant percentage of patients required involuntary hospitalization. Younger patients presented a higher ratio of involuntary hospitalization. Reasons for involuntary hospitalization needs should be further studied.
Disclosure of interest
The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest. Liliana Galindo is a Rio Hortega fellowship (ISC-III; CM14/00111).
Despite multiple clinical and preclinical studies investigating schizophrenia, the neurobiological basis of this disease is still unknown. The dysregulation of the serotonergic system, in particular the 5-HT2A receptor and the endocannabinoid system have been postulated as possible causes of schizophrenia.
Objectives
The aim of this study is to evaluate the expression of CB1-5-HT2A receptor heteromers in primary cultures of pro-neurons from the olfactory epithelium in schizophrenia patients and control subjects.
Methods
We recruited a group of 10 healthy volunteers and 10 patients diagnosed with schizophrenia, who were treated with atypical antipsychotics, were clinically stable and had an illness duration range from 1 up to 15 years. The patients were diagnosed with schizophrenia from the medical record and confirmed by the structured clinical interview for DSM disorders. The expression of CB1-5-HT2A receptor heteromers in primary cultures of pro-neurons from the olfactory epithelium was quantified using proximity ligation assays and confocal microscopy.
Results
Olfactory epithelium pro-neurons were viable and expressed the neuronal marker, III-β tubulin. We also established the presence and the functionality of CB1-5-HT2A receptor heteromers in these cells using the proximity ligation and cAMP activity assays, respectively. Heteromer expression was significantly increased in schizophrenia patients with respect to controls.
Conclusions
This highly innovative methodology will allow the noninvasive, low-cost study of new biomarkers for schizophrenia in a model closely related to the central nervous system.
Disclosure of interest
The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.Acknowledgments
This work was supported by grants from DIUE-Generalitat-de Catalunya (2014SGR 680), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (PI14/00210) and (PI10/01708) FIS-FEDER-Funds. LG is supported by the Instituto-de Salud Carlos III through a “Río Hortega” (CM14/00111).
Involuntary admissions continue to be a controversial topic in psychiatry. However, it is well known that psychosocial rehabilitation treatment is more successful when the patient is involved in it improving awareness and adherence to treatment.
Objectives
This study examined admissions patterns, including voluntary, involuntary, and partly voluntary admissions to a subacute psychiatric hospital.
Methods
This is a transversal study. All patients admitted for a medium-term psychiatric treatment since 01/06/2014 to 30/11/2015 were included. Patients's basic sociodemographic and clinical data were collected and compiled in a database. Descriptive statistics were performed using SPSS Software.
Results
A total of 88 patients (52% men; mean age: 48.6 years) composed the sample. In 58% of cases, schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder were the diagnoses motivating the admission. Among 88 patients, 44 (50%) had voluntary admissions, 16 (18.2%) had involuntary admissions, 27 (30.7%) had partly voluntary admissions and just one patient (1.1%) had partly involuntary admissions. Seventy-one (80.1%) patients had voluntary admissions at discharge, and only one of them escape from hospital and did not finish the treatment.
Conclusions
In the short term involuntary hospitalization has benefits, however also can have adverse long-term consequences for the patient-therapist allegiance, breaking the psychotherapeutic relationship and making the patient abandon treatment. It's important to reassess the condition of admission and work with the patient the need to engage in treatment.
Disclosure of interest
The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.
The integrated care in dual diagnosis units involves selecting pharmacological treatment strategies for both substance use disorder and the non-addictive psychiatric disorder. It is recommended to choose drugs with a favorable balance between efficacy/tolerability, an adequate side effects profile and the minimal drug interactions.
Objectives and aims
To evaluate the tolerability and side effects after first administration-first dose of an extended-release injectable suspension of aripiprazole in a group of patients admitted to an acute dual diagnosis unit.
Methods
The study included a series of patients admitted in our unit from May to August 2015 that received the first dose of the aripiprazole preparation (400 mg). Evaluations included different scales for side effects (SAS, ESRS, UKU) and the clinical global impression scale (CGI).
Results
A total of 9 patients were included and evaluated (all men, mean age: 39-years-old). Diagnoses were: bipolar disorder (5/9), schizophrenia (2/9), schizoaffective disorder (1/9) and delusional disorder (1/9) with concomitant substance use disorder (6 cannabis, 2 alcohol, 1 cocaine). All of them without outpatient control and treatment at admission. The results of the clinical scales conclude that none of them had significant side effects, including extrapyramidal, with an improvement in the ICG scale.
Conclusion
Tolerability of extended-release injectable suspension of aripiprazole was good in all cases. In the future, new cases should be included to extend the sample and to evaluate other aspects such as the craving for substances.
Disclosure of interest
The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.
Several studies have suggested variations in the prevalence of schizophrenia spectrum disorders diagnosis across time. This could be due to a change in diagnostic practice motivated either for changes in DSM criteria as for local culture factors. The aim of this study is to explore the evolution of the schizophrenia spectrum disorders. We hypothesize that we would observe a transference from the schizophrenia diagnosis to psychosis not otherwise specified.
Methods
A retrospective review of all psychiatric discharges in acute unit in the INAD of Parc de Salut Mar of Barcelona, between 2002 and 2014 was performed, relating each discharge to its axis I psychiatric diagnostic. An ANOVA analysis was used to calculate the differences between the months and the frequency of the diagnosis.
Conclusion
We have not been able to observe any transference between diagnoses across years. We observe a decrease of the proportion of schizophrenic spectrum disorders in its prevalence at discharge from 2012 to 2014. The proportion of not otherwise specified psychosis remains quite constant as a third of the schizophrenia diagnoses.
Disclosure of interest
The authors report no conflict of interest in this study. LG is funded by the Instituto.de.Salud.Carlos.III (CM14/00111).