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Children who have undergone an oncological process and have received treatment with chemotherapy or radiotherapy on the central nervous system may have significant neurocognitive sequelae. Some video games have shown neurocognitive benefits in people with impairments in different areas, such as attention or memory.
Objectives
This work aims to demonstrate the benefit of a video game-based training program to improve the neurocognitive profile in a child survivor of cancer.
Methods
The patient is a 9-year-old female who was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia at the age of 4 years. She received routine treatment of this disease by chemotherapy, including high-dose chemotherapy (with blood-brain barrier crossing) and intrathecal chemotherapy. She is currently 3 years after the end of treatment.
The Continuous Performance Test 3 (CPT-3) (sustained attention/vigilance) was administered before and after a multifaceted training program consisting of playing 3 video games for 12 weeks, as follows: a brain-training game (4 days per week, 7-12 minutes per day), a skill-training game (2 days per week, 10 minutes per day) and an exergaming game (2 days per week, 10 minutes per day).
Results
Prior to intervention, the patient had 3 atypical z-scores on the CPT-3 (z scores: mean = 0, S.D. = 1), with a pattern compatible with ADHD (omissions z = 1.2; hit reaction time z = 3.4; hit reaction time block change z = 1.2). After intervention, she had only an atypical z-score (hit reaction time z = 3.6), with a pattern compatible with slowing, without ADHD.
Conclusions
The neuropsychological evaluation of this patient showed an improvement in his attentional pattern on the CPT-3 after the video game-based training.
Childhood cancer survivors have neurocognitive sequelae that in most survivor follow-up programs are underdiagnosed and for which there is usually no treatment plan.
Video games have demonstrated various psychological and neurocognitive benefits in different subpopulations, such as patients with organic neurological deficits or children with ADHD. However, few studies have been carried out using video games-based interventions in the paediatric oncology population.
Objectives
The aim of this work is to present the WINNERS study protocol, the objectives of which are to diagnose the neurological and cognitive sequelae in child cancer survivors, and to demonstrate the benefit in these areas of a training program based on video games.
Methods
A randomized controlled and unblinded trial is presented. Fifty-six patients aged 8 to 17 years stratified into two age groups (8-12 and 13-17) who had received any of the following treatments 1 to 6 years before the enrolment will be selected: high-dose chemotherapy with blood-brain barrier crossing, intrathecal or intraventricular chemotherapy, CNS radiotherapy or hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.
A neuropsychological evaluation will be performed consisting of a battery of neuropsychological tests to assess parameters such as attention, memory, visuospatial ability or speed of response, as well as a neuroimaging evaluation by structural and functional magnetic resonance imaging. The evaluation will be repeated 3 months and 6 months after the enrolment. Patients will be randomized to a treatment group or to a recycled waiting group. Intervention will consist on a 12-week training at home using 3 video games: a brain training game, an exergaming game and a skill training game.
Results
According to the hypotheses of this study, it is expected that the proposed program of videogame-based interventions will improve neurocognitive and other wellbeing parameters in the intervention group.
Conclusions
This study aims to improve the quality of care for patients who have survived a cancer disease by detecting sequelae that have so far been poorly attended, and by proposing a gamification-based intervention program that is effective and attractive for this population.
Paediatric cancer survivors have a risk for neuropsychological impairment due to the disease and the treatment received. These affections have been neglected in the follow-up of these patients. It is important to identify the most valid outcomes in the evaluation of neurocognitive sequelae in childhood cancer survivors.
Objectives
This work aims to compare the results obtained between subjective perception of caregivers and objective cognitive performance based on validated attention tests.
Methods
In a randomized controlled and unblinded trial to demonstrate the benefit of video games on different neurocognitive areas in cancer survivors, we studied attention functioning before and after the intervention program. The attention deficit subscale from the Behavior Assessment System for Children 3rd edition (BASC-3), self- and parent-reported versions, and the Continuous Performance Test, 3rd edition (CPT 3) will be used as outcomes (z scores: mean = 0, S.D. = 1).
Results
We observed an improvement in attention after intervention using the CPT-3 (omissions z = 1.2; hit reaction time z = 3.4; hit reaction time block change z = 1.2 versus hit reaction time z = 3.6 without other atipycal z scores after intervention), changing the attentional pattern from “ADHD” to “slowed”. However, in the parent-reported version of the BASC-3, a worsening in the attention subscale is observed (z = 0.3 pre-intervention vs z = 1.0 post-intervention) while the self-reported version of the patient didn’t show any significant changes (z = 1.4 pre-intervention vs z = 1.1 post-intervention).
Conclusions
It is essential to use objective tests to measure neurocognitive sequelae in these patients. Subjective surveys can provide additional information, but not substitute the above.
The relationship between Borderline Personality Disorder and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder has been highlighted in different studies over the last few years, with an estimated prevalence of around 15-35% of ADHD in adult patients diagnosed with BPD and a 7.4 times higher risk of developing BPD in patients diagnosed with ADHD.
Objectives
To conduct a pragmatic review of the recent literature on the relationship between ADHD and BPD, so that it serves as a starting point for an in-depth study of the sociodemographic, clinical and cross-sectional dimensional factors of both disorders.
Methods
A bibliographic review of scientific articles published in recent years, in English and Spanish, extracted from the MEDLINE database, which delve into the relationship between BPD and ADHD, will be carried out. In addition, the common psychopathological dimensions, such as impulsivity or emotional dysregulation, as well as the weight of other dimensional factors related to both disorders, will be studied.
Results
The results of the selected articles will be grouped, for a better understanding, in the following sections:
- Clinical factors and shared comorbidities.
- Psychopathological dimensions: impulsivity and emotional dysregulation.
- Other common dimensional factors.
Conclusions
There are common symptoms and etiological or perpetuating factors, as well as comorbidities shared in both conditions, which in many cases make the correct diagnosis and, therefore, the appropriate therapeutic approach to these patients, quite difficult. Taking into account the differential characteristics of BPD and ADHD, it is possible to create different profiles that allow a precise approach to both disorders in those cases in which they coexist in the same patient.
Negative symptoms are present in more than two thirds of schizophrenic patients throughout the evolution of the disorder. These include symptoms related to reduced motivation or pleasure, such as avolition, anhedonia and asociality, and reduced expressivity, including alogia and blunted affect.
We present the case of a 24-year-old man who was admitted to our Psychosis Day Hospital after several psychotic episodes, presenting with prominent negative symptomatology that was imbued with mystical delusional beliefs.
Objectives
1) To describe the clinical particularities of this case, focusing on the improvement of negative symptoms during the course of treatment at our Day Hospital.
2) To review the available evidence regarding the pharmacological and psychotherapeutic management of negative symptoms of schizophrenia.
Methods
A review of the patient’s clinical history and complementary tests were carried out. Likewise, we reviewed the available literature in relation to the management of negative symptoms of schizophrenia in an ambulatory setting.
Results
The patient was admitted to our Day Hospital after four psychiatric hospitalizations due to mystical delusions, ideas of grandiosity and hyper-spirituality, along with prominent negative symptoms at the moment of inclusion at our centre, including social withdrawal, diminished affective response, lack of interest in the academic sphere and poor social drive. Although previous positive symptoms were present in a lesser degree, the patient interpreted the presence of the negative symptoms described above as a “punishment” or “test” from spiritual creatures.
Management of negative symptoms represents a major unmet need in schizophrenia. Modest effect size evidence for pharmacological approaches favours the use of antipsychotic in monotherapy and augmentation of antipsychotic treatment with other agents, such as antidepressants. Scarce evidence regarding psychotherapeutic approaches to these symptoms points to the use of cognitive behaviour therapy and social skills training.
Conclusions
- Clinical identification and characterization of negative symptoms is crucial when treating patients with schizophrenia, as these are associated with important disability and poorer functional outcomes.
- Differentiation of primary and secondary negative symptoms is a key aspect in the evaluation and management of schizophrenic patients.
- This case outlines the coexistence of positive and negative symptoms, and illustrates the challenges in the pharmacological and psychotherapeutic management of these symptoms at a Psychosis Day Hospital.
Malondialdehyde (MDA) is a product of polyunsaturated fatty acid peroxidation (Del Rio D, et al. A review of recent studies on MDA as toxic molecule and biological marker of oxidative stress. Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis. 2005;15:316-28). It is a biomarker of oxidative stress and is involved in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia (Goh et al. Asian J Psychiatr. 2022;67:102932). Schizofrenia is linked to disrupted oxidative balance and inflammation (Więdłocha et al. Brain Sci. 2023;13:490). Prior research has shown connections between biomarkers and circadian rhythms in schizophrenia (Morera & Abreu. Acta Physiol Scand. 2007;43:313-14) and diabetes type 2 (Kanabrocki EL, et al. Circadian variation in oxidative stress biomarkers in healthy and type II diabetic men. Chronobiol Int. 2002;19:423-39). To determinate if MDA levels have a role in schizophrenia and follow a circadian rhythm may be useful.
Objectives
The aim of our study is to compare diurnal and nocturnal MDA serum levels in patients in acute and stabilized phases of schizophrenia according to CIE-10 to find out if there are variations related with circadian rhythms
Methods
47 patients were included in our study in two clinical phases: acute episode and stabilization. Blood samples were collected at 12:00h and at 00:00h. MDA serum levels were measured twice: when patients were decompensated (admission) and at clinical stabilization (discharge). The relationship between quantitative variables at both times was analysed by T-Student test
Results
There is no significative difference between night and day MDA levels in the acute phase of the schizophrenia (2.22±1.352 vs. 1.93±1.530, p<0.09). There is statistical significance between 12:00 and 00:00 (1.90±1.136 vs. 1.34±0.868, p<0.001) at discharge: it was observed that levels decreased. This result can be interpreted as there is circadian rhythm in stabilized phases.
Conclusions
MDA levels in patients with schizophrenia do not follow a circadian rhythm in the acute episode. When they are clinically stabilized present a circadian change. These patients lose the circadian rhythm in acute episodes. MDA circadian rhythm may help diagnose the clinical phase and its severity. It is necessary to perform more studies to know its utility as an oxidative biomarker
Healthcare workers (HCWs) were at increased risk for mental health problems during the COVID-19 pandemic, with prior data suggesting women may be particularly vulnerable. Our global mental health study aimed to examine factors associated with gender differences in psychological distress and depressive symptoms among HCWs during COVID-19. Across 22 countries in South America, Europe, Asia and Africa, 32,410 HCWs participated in the COVID-19 HEalth caRe wOrkErS (HEROES) study between March 2020 and February 2021. They completed the General Health Questionnaire-12, the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 and questions about pandemic-relevant exposures. Consistently across countries, women reported elevated mental health problems compared to men. Women also reported increased COVID-19-relevant stressors, including insufficient personal protective equipment and less support from colleagues, while men reported increased contact with COVID-19 patients. At the country level, HCWs in countries with higher gender inequality reported less mental health problems. Higher COVID-19 mortality rates were associated with increased psychological distress merely among women. Our findings suggest that among HCWs, women may have been disproportionately exposed to COVID-19-relevant stressors at the individual and country level. This highlights the importance of considering gender in emergency response efforts to safeguard women’s well-being and ensure healthcare system preparedness during future public health crises.
S100B is a calcium-binding astrocyte-specific cytokine, that is considered a biomarker of neurodegeneration; which may be involved in the imbalance of the inflammatory response observed in several brain disorders, including major depression and schizophrenia. Two meta-analyses have reported higher serum levels of S100B in patients with schizophrenia respect to healthy controls.
Different studies have described circadian and seasonal variations of biological variables, such as melatonin or cortisol. It has been reported that there is not circadian rhythm of S100B blood levels in healthy subjects. However, it is not known whether there are circadian oscillations in S100B blood concentrations in patients with schizophrenia.
Objectives
The aim of this study is to describe S100B serum levels in patients with schizophrenia and to analyse whether they follow a circadian rhythm.
Methods
Our sample consists in 47 patients in acute phase and stabilized status. Blood samples were collected at 12:00 and 00:00 hours by venipuncture. Serum levels of Protein S100B were measured three times: at admission, discharge and three months after discharge. Protein S100B was measured by means of ELISA (Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) techniques.
Results
12:00
24:00
P
ADMISSION
132,95±199,27
85,85±121,44
0,004
DISCHARGE
73,65±71,744
75,80±123,628
0,070
CONTROL
43,49±34,60
40,14±23,08
0,47
P global
P Admission Vs. Discharge
P Admission Vs. Control
P Discharge Vs. Control
0,97
There is a significance difference between 12:00 and 24:00 at admission for the Protein S100B.However, these difference did not occur at discharge and at three months after discharge.It can be interpreted as there is a circadian rhythm of Protein S100B when the patient has got a psychotic outbreak and disappears at discharge and when is psychopathologically stable.
Conclusions
With respect to our results we can hypothesize that schizophrenic patients in acute relapse present circadian S100B rhythm that is not present when the patients are clinically stable.Furthermore, the decrease of serum protein S100B levels at discharge is indicative of a reduction of the cerebral inflammation, thus it can be a biomarker of cerebral inflammation and this reduction can be the effect of the treatment. Finally, its circadianity could be a guide of this process and clinical improvement.
Day-night changes in several molecules are studied as biomarkers of circadian rhytms (Morera-Fumero, A. L. et al. Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry 2017; 75 207-212). Circadian rhythmicity of the pituitary-thyroid axis has been proven in healthy individuals, with a Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) peak in serum around midnight and peaks during day hours (Bellastella, G. et al. Life 2021; 11(5), 426). A recent meta-analysis has reported differences in serum TSH levels between first-episode psychosis and multiple-episode schizophrenia (Misiak, B. et al. Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry 2021; 111, 110402). However, studies assessing quantitative circadian variations on TSH serum in schizophrenic patients are scant.
Objectives
Comparing serum TSH levels at two different times of the day (12:00 and 24:00 hours) and the differences between the acute (hospital admission) and recovered phase (hospital discharge) of the disease.
Methods
Fourteen male patients (age 26,8±9,3 years) with the diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia psychosis according to the DSM-IV partake in the study. Patients were admitted to the University Hospital of the Canary Islands psychiatric room because of acute relapse. Blood samples were taken in the first 24 h of admission and at 24 h. before discharge. All patients gave written consent to participate in the research study. Serum TSH was determined by ELISA methods. Paired sample t-tests were performed between TSH serum levels at admission and discharge at 12:00 and 24:00 hours. Statistical analyses were performed using IBM® SPSS® Statistics 25 software for MAC (IBM Corporation 1989, 2017).
Results
There were statistical differences between the 12:00 h and the 24:00 h of the TSH serum levels at admission (12:00: 145,856±156,961vs. 00:00: 192,006± 122,757, p = 0.04); TSH discharge, (12:00: 134,483±72,882vs 00:00: 244,214±148,697, p = 0.002). There were no statistical differences between the 12:00 TSH levels at admission and discharge (145,856±156,961 vs. 134,483± 72,882, p = 0.66). The 24:00 h comparison of TSH levels neither elicited significant results (admission: 192,006±122,757 vs. discharge: 244,214± 148,697, p = 0.15).
Conclusions
Schizophrenic patients undergo TSH serum changes in a circadian pattern during the acute and stable phases of the disease; nevertheless, they experience smaller deviations during the acute phase. Higher levels of TSH were observed around midnight, as it happens in healthy individuals, with higher peaks during the stable phase compared to the acute one.
Almost nine months after the start of the war between Russia and Ukraine, millions of people have been affected physically, economically and mainly mentally. Those who have stayed in their homeland, and the ones that have chosen to emigrate to a safer place.
Objectives
The objective of this article is to assess the importance of social stressors in the onset of a brief psychotic episode, even in the absence of substance abuse or previous illnesses.
Methods
The case of a 45-year-old woman is described, known by the Pediatric Emergency Service, for being the tutor of a patient who suffered from anxiety attacks, having emigrated without her parents from Ukraine together with her 5 brothers. The psychotic episode begins when our patient gets notified that she must abandon the custody of the girl, because she will have to go to Turkey with her legal guardians. The family explains the behavioral changes that the patient made and how the clinical picture worsened.
Results
She was admitted at the Hospital’s Psychiatry Service and antipsychotics treatment started. After 5 days, the episode had completely been solved.
Conclusions
In conclusion, we highlight the importance of social problems in the development of a psychiatric pathology and the necessary elements to prevent it: family support network, fast and efficient care services and availability of hospital and pharmaceutical resources.
Steroids are a necessary treatment for hypoxic respiratory failure; however there are many side effects that should be taken into account. A 44- year-old-woman with asthma and no past psychiatric history was admitted due to COVID-19 pneumonia and Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection, presenting hypoxic respiratory failure. After two days of intravenous methylprednisolone administration, the patient presented acute psychosis and agitation.
It has been previously described that steroid use can cause effects such as mania, anxiety, agitation, delirium and psychosis amongst other. However they are a necessary treatment in respiratory illnesses and are sometimes unavoidable.
Objectives
The aim was to examine the appropriate medical response to steroid induced psychosis in patients with acute hypoxic failure.
Methods
A bibliographical review was done in PubMed database searching recent cases of steroid induced psychosis using the words (“Steroid”, “Psychosis” and “COVID-19”).
Results
According to literature, it has been shown that partial or complete reduction of steroid use and/or use of psychotropic has been successfully used to treat steroid induced psychosis. Following the research it was decided to reduce intravenous methylprednisolone dose from 20mg/ 8h to 20mg/12h and start oral haloperidol 5mg/8h the first 24h and reducing the dose progressively as the patient recovered. After the first 24 hours the patient presented adequate response to steroids as well as partial response to antipsychotic treatment; presenting no further agitation, absence of hallucinations and partial persistence of the persecutory delusion. A couple of days later there was complete remission of the psychotic symptoms and the patient was on the way to recovery from COVID-19 and RSV.
Conclusions
There is evidence that suggests that medications such as steroids used to treat COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses can lead to psychotic episodes. It is very important to pay attention to possible side effects when treating with steroids and evaluate the patient history as well as suggest having a follow up visit after the hospital discharge.
6-monthly paliperidone palmitate features an initiation regimen through 1-monthly paliperidone palmitate or 3-monthly paliperidone palmitate. Some patients do not have sufficient adherence to treatment and it is necessary at the clinical level to start directly with 6-monthly paliperidone palmitate. There is little clinical experience with these alternative initiations and through this work those that have been carried out for 12 months at the Hospital Universitario Infanta Elena are exposed.
Objectives
The main objective of the study is to describe the alternative initiations performed with 6-monthly paliperidone palmitate in routine clinical practice, having opted for a regimen different from the standard for clinical reasons.
Methods
A retrospective selection of patients will be made through non-probabilistic consecutive sampling, including all patients who have been administered 6-monthly paliperidone palmitate with a start different from the standard during the last 4 months. To do this, the electronic medical record will be used, first selecting the patients who have started 6-monthly paliperidone palmitate through the anonymized digital records and, later, including in the study only those who have followed an alternative initiation pattern. The variables studied will be the following: age, sex, diagnosis, dose of paliperidone palmitate, initiation regimen, consumption of toxic substances, absenteeism from 6-monthly paliperidone palmitate, and visits to the emergency room and admissions.
Results
The study included a total of 20 patients (n: 20). 80% of the patients were male and 20% were female. The mean age was 39.7 years. 75% of the patients had an associated substance use disorder. The following alternate starting schedules were performed with biannual paliperidone palmitate: monthly paliperidone palmitate on days 1 and 8, and 6-monthly paliperidone palmitate on day 38 (n: 11); monthly paliperidone palmitate 150 mg together with semi-annual paliperidone palmitate both on day 1 (n: 5); biannual paliperidone palmitate on day 1 supplemented with oral paliperidone for 45 days (n:4). A total of 0 visits to the emergency department and 0 admissions were observed after the 6-monthly paliperidone palmitate regimen.
Conclusions
Alternative initiations with 6-monthly paliperidone palmitate may be a useful and safe clinical alternative in patients with very low adherence who, due to clinical needs, require starting 6-monthly paliperidone palmitate earlier in order to guarantee adherence.
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune inflammatory disease that affects 1 in 1000 people. Given the association of MS to many affective disorders and specifically with Bipolar Disorder (BD), it is possible that a manic episode and an acute episode of MS may appear together. In these cases, it is difficult to decide whether it is necessary to start a corticosteroid regimen as treatment for the acute episode of MS, since it may worsen manic symptoms.
Objectives
The aim is to carry out a review of the existing information in relation to the comorbidity prevalence of MS and TB as well as the joint treatment of both illnesses, and to expose the details of a clinical case, regarding the treatment that was used in the acute psychiatry unit.
Methods
First, a search was done in PubMed database reviewing recent cases of steroid induced psychosis using the words (Multiple Sclerosis) AND (Bipolar Disorder). Subsequently, we describe the case of a 41-year-old patient who was admitted to the acute care unit from the emergency department presenting manic symptoms (megalomania, sensation of increased capacities and ideas of mystical content) associated to episodes of muscle weakness and gait disturbances. A screening Magnetic Resonance was performed in which lesions with inflammatory-demyelinating characteristics were detected, and was therefore catalogued as MS debut.
Results
After carrying out a bibliographical review, we can conclude that studies recommend the inclusion of MS within the differential diagnosis of a first manic episode (1), performing neurological examinations, complete anamnesis and imaging tests, given that there is a high prevalence ratio of the comorbidity (2.95%) (2). It has been described that the use of lithium has a calming and neuroprotective agent that may be useful (3).
Conclusions
We consider it of interest to describe the therapeutic approach to the case. After the introduction of Aripiprazole and Lithium, a short regimen of methylprednisolone in high doses was administered to treat the MS episode. When the treatment started, the patient presented a progressive improvement of the manic episode and motor symptoms. We observed that corticosteroid therapy did not worsen the manic symptoms or the patient’s evolution in this case. We intend to contribute by providing information on the joint management of these pathologies and we consider that it is necessary to continue studying this matter to be able to manage these cases in the most appropriate way.
Long-acting injectable antipsychotics (LAIA) have provided a significant improvement in the treatment of schizophrenia. Although there is already significant clinical experience with paliperidone palmitate, it is important to evaluate the clinical response of patients to this new 6-monthly presentation, so descriptive studies based on real clinical evidence can be very useful for this purpose.
Objectives
The main objective of the study is to describe the use of 6-monthly paliperidone palmitate in routine clinical practice, providing variables that objectify the evolution such as the number of admissions and visits to the emergency room.
Methods
Retrospective descriptive study with a sample selected by non-probabilistic consecutive sampling, retrospective type, in a time interval of 12 months (n=40). The patients selected were all those who received 6-monthly paliperidone palmitate treatment, with a diagnosis of schizophrenia, in 12 months of use at Hospital Universitario Infanta Elena. A descriptive analysis was performed. Mean and standard deviation were calculated for quantitative variables and N and percentage for categorical variables.
Results
A total of 40 administrations of 6-monthly paliperidone palmitate were performed in the study. None of the patients presented adverse reactions related to the administration of the drug, not reporting local pain or inflammation of the puncture area, except for the characteristic discomfort of an intramuscular puncture. Regarding the efficacy of 6-monthly paliperidone palmitate, none of the patients presented a psychotic decompensation after its administration, maintaining psychopathological stability after the change. The switch to 6-monthly paliperidone palmitate was made from both 1-monthly paliperidone palmitate and 3-monthly paliperidone palmitate, both showing the same efficacy. Regarding tolerability, all the patients who were administered 6-monthly paliperidone palmitate were previously treated with the monthly and quarterly presentation of the same molecule, having presented good tolerability to it, maintaining said tolerability after treatment. change to 6-monthly paliperidone palmitate, with no adverse reaction being recorded after the change. The adherence presented by the patients was very good, performing 100% of the administrations of 6-monthly paliperidone palmitate
Conclusions
6-monthly paliperidone palmitate may be an effective and well-tolerated treatment for the treatment of schizophrenia. In the present study, the use of said LAIA in a group of 40 patients is objectified, showing excellent efficacy and tolerability. All study patients were already stable with the 1-monthly and 3-monthly paliperidone palmitate formulations, maintaining said psychopathological stability when switching to the 6-monthly paliperidone palmitate formulation, with excellent adherence and adverse effect profile .
The use of hallucinogens has accompanied the human being throughout history. In the 1970s, studies focused on the therapeutic potential of hallucinogens were blocked due to their misuse in the young population. At present, psilocybin is re-emerging as the center of attention due to its possible therapeutic potential in different psychiatric pathologies such as depression, anxiety or substance use.
Objectives
The main objective of this work has been to review recent studies on the therapeutic potential of psilocybin in drug-resistant depressive disorder.
Methods
For the search for articles, the search strategy “psilocybin AND depression” was established in PUBMED. Regarding the inclusion criteria, it was established that they were recent articles, in Spanish or English and that the full text was freely accessible. On the other hand, those articles whose studies did not focus on humans and resistant depressive disorder were excluded. A total of 19 articles were obtained to review.
Results
Focusing on Drug-Resistant Depressive Disorder, multiple studies have agreed that the administration of one or two microdoses (10-25mg) of psilocybin accompanied by psychotherapy improves the clinical picture for at least 6 months. These results make us feel optimistic in the search for new treatments in the field of mental health.
Conclusions
Psilocybin microdoses associated with psychotherapy improves depressive symptoms in a patient resistant to common antidepressants.
The psilocybin response in terms of improvement of the depressive symptoms persists after 6 months of evolution.
One or, in some two cases, two microdoses of psilocybin (10-25mg) are enough to obtain statistically significant results in the improvement of the depressive symptoms.
Long-acting injectable antipsychotics (LAIA) are used in diagnoses other than schizophrenia. Over the last two decades, LAIAs have been developed with less administration frequency, going from 2-weekly presentations to 6-monthly presentations. The 6-monthly paliperidone palmitate has recently been released, allowing a reduction in the frequency of administration compared to the 1-monthly presentation and the 3-monthly presentation. Descriptive studies based on real clinical evidence can be very useful to assess clinical outcomes.
Objectives
The main objective of the study is to describe the use of 6-monthly paliperidone palmitate in patients with schzophrenia, providing variables that objectify the evolution such as the number of psychotic decompensations.
Methods
Retrospective descriptive study with a sample selected by non-probabilistic consecutive sampling, retrospective type, in a time interval of 10 month (n=80). The patients selected were all those who received 6-monthly paliperidone palmitate treatment from after 10 months of use at Hospital Universitario Infanta Elena. A descriptive analysis was performed. Mean and standard deviation were calculated for quantitative variables and N and percentage for categorical variables.
Results
A total of 80 administrations of 6-monthly paliperidone palmitate were performed in the study. None of the patients presented adverse reactions related to the administration of the drug, not reporting local pain or inflammation of the puncture area, except for the characteristic discomfort of an intramuscular puncture. Regarding the efficacy of 6-monthly paliperidone palmitate, none of the patients presented a psychotic decompensation after its administration, maintaining psychopathological stability after the change. The switch to 6-monthly paliperidone palmitate was made from both 1-monthly paliperidone palmitate and 3-monthly paliperidone palmitate, both showing the same efficacy. Regarding tolerability, all the patients who were administered 6-monthly paliperidone palmitate were previously treated with the monthly and quarterly presentation of the same molecule, having presented good tolerability to it, maintaining said tolerability after treatment. change to 6-monthly paliperidone palmitate, with no adverse reaction being recorded after the change. The adherence presented by the patients was very good, performing 100% of the administrations.
Conclusions
6-monthly paliperidone palmitate may be an effective and well-tolerated treatment for the treatment of schizophrenia and other diagnoses such as bipolar disorder or borderline personality disorder. According to objective data, 6-monthly paliperidone palmitate could be an effective and well-tolerated treatment as an alternative to monthly and quarterly presentations of the same molecule. Longitudinal studies must be carried out to confirm this hypothesis.
We present the case of a 49-year-old woman who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis at the age of 19 and suffers from an affective disorder that has been evolving for years. This condition, for which she has been followed by psychiatry and psychology for more than ten years, consists of alternating periods of hypomania lasting weeks and phases in which frank depressive symptomatology predominates, with no phases of euthymia in between and with a predominance of severe deterioration of her functionality at both poles.
Objectives
(1) We will review the term cyclothymia and explore the concept of “cyclothymic temperament” advocated by some authors, in order to be able to understand the dimension of the present case and reformulate its approach.
(2) The relationship between multiple sclerosis and bipolar spectrum disorders will be covered, reviewing the current knowledge in this regard and relating it to the patient’s symptomatology.
Methods
A review of the patient’s clinical history will be carried out, taking into account her life history, the complementary tests performed as well as the multiple therapeutic approaches tried over the last few years.
Likewise, a bibliographic review of the available scientific literature will be carried out in relation to the diagnosis of cyclothymia or bipolar disorder type II, the controversial term “cyclothymic temperament”, and the relationship that these diagnoses have with the diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis.
Results
(1) Our patient could fit into what many authors define as a cyclothymic temperament, fulfilling, in certain episodes, the criteria that the manuals propose for bipolar disorder type II.
(2) 2.1 The prevalence of bipolar affective disorder in MS is approximately twice as high as in the general population (rates of 0.3-2.4%). 2.2 Patients with MS have higher scores in cyclothymic and hyperthymic temperament than the control group. 2.3 Certain drugs generally used in BD also seem to have a beneficial effect on MS.
Image:
Image 2:
Conclusions
The reformulation of the concept of cyclothymia would allow us to recognize in our patient a basic temperament of long evolution that would be the substrate on which different factors have subsequently influenced, such as antidepressant drugs or multiple sclerosis. In addition, it is necessary to know the association between BD and MS, in order to be able to offer an adequate treatment, contemplating some pharmacological options such as Lithium or some Atypical Antipsychotics, given the beneficial effect both for the affective disorder and for the neurological process.
Elimination disorders (ED) include enuresis, defined as wetting from 5 years, and encopresis, defined as soiling from 4 years onwards after organic causes are excluded. They are highly prevalent in childhood and often associated with clinically relevant comorbid psychological disorders. However, no systematic review or meta-analysis examines their co-occurrence with internalizing and externalizing problems in children.
Objectives
The aim of this study is to determine if, and to what extent, children with ED show higher internalizing and externalizing problems than their healthy peers.
Methods
A multistep literature search was performed from database inception until May 1st, 2022. PRISMA/MOOSE-compliant systematic review (PROSPERO: CRD42022303555) were used to identify studies reporting on internalizing and/or externalizing symptoms in children with an ED and a healthy control (HC) group. First, a systematic review was provided. Second, where data allowed for it, a quantitative meta-analysis using random effects model was conducted to analyze the differences between the ED and the HC groups for internalizing and externalizing symptoms. Effect size was standardized mean difference. Meta-regression analyses were conducted to examine the effect of sex, age, and study quality. Funnel plots were used to detect a publication bias. Where found, the trim and fill method was used to correct it.
Results
36 articles were included, 32 of them reporting on enuresis (n=3244; mean age=9.4; SD=3.4; 43.84% female) and 7 of them on encopresis (n=214; mean age=8.6; SD=2.3; 36.24% female) [Image 1]. The ED group presented significantly lower self-concept (ES:0.42; 95%CI: [0.08;9.76]; p=0.017) and higher symptom scores for thought problems (ES:-0.26; 95%CI: [-0.43;-0.09]; p=0.003), externalizing symptoms (ES:-0.20; 95%CI: [-0.37;-0.03]; p=0.020), attention problems (ES:-0.37; 95%CI: [-0.51;-0.22]; p=0.0001), aggressive behaviour (ES:-0.33; 95%CI: [-0.62;-0.04]; p=0.025) and social problems (ES: 0.39; 95%CI: [-0.58;-0.21]; p=0.0001) [Image 2]. Significant publication biases were found across several of the studied domains [Image 3]. No significant effect of sex, age or quality of the study score was found.
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Image 2:
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Conclusions
Children with an elimination disorder may have significant internalizing and externalizing problems, as well as impaired self-concept. It is recommendable to screen for them in children with ED and provide interventions as appropriate.
It has been reported an inflammatory state in schizophrenia, with altered levels of some cytokines (Zhou et al. Cytokine 2021; 141:155441). Recent publications have shown the importance of IL- 33, a member of the IL-1 cytokine family which acts as an alarmin (Han et al. Neurosci Bull 2011; 27, 351-357). The role of this cytokine as a biomarker has been investigated in schizophrenia (Koricanac et al. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13, 925757). However, results are controversial. Some studies have not found significant associations between IL-33 and chronic schizophrenia (Campos-Carli et al. Compr Psychiatry 2017; 74 96-101), while other papers have reported increased levels (Kozlowska et. al. J Psychiatr Res. 2021; 138 380-387). In all these studies, levels of IL-33 were measured in a single daily measure, so that it has not been studied if IL-33 has changes during hospitalization.
Objectives
To study the serum level of IL-33 at 12:00 and 00:00 hours in schizophrenia patients at admission and before hospital discharge.
Methods
Fifteen inpatients with diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia according to ICD-10 criteria were studied. Patients were hospitalized at the University Hospital of the Canary Islands psychiatric ward because of an acute relapse. A total of four blood samples were taken from each patient: at 12:00 and 00:00 hours the day after admission and at 12:00 and 00:00 hours the day before discharge. Serum IL-33 levels were measured by ELISA techniques. Daytime and nighttime IL-33 serum levels at admission and discharge were compared using a non-parametric Wilcoxon signed-rank test.
Results
In table 1 the results of the comparison of IL-33 at admission and discharge are presented. There is a significant reduction of IL-33 levels at 00:00 h. at discharge in comparison with the IL-33 levels at 00:00 h. at admission (p=0.028). No other statistically significant differences were observed.
SerumIL-33
AdmissionMean±sd
DischargeMean±sd
Z
Pvalue
12:00 h.
191.0±348.7
247.0±378.2
-0.166
0.868
00:00 h.
218.8±370.3
153.6±275.7
-2.203
0.028
Conclusions
The decrease of serum IL-33 at 00:00 at discharge compared to the 00:00 IL-33 serum level at admission points to the utility of this biomarker as a surrogate of brain inflammation.
Sustainable energy economics in Latin America has become relevant due to the region’s dependence on the oil market and the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. A systematic review of the ten major economies in the region based on gross domestic product is conducted. We primarily analyze production performance of hydro, wind, and solar energies, in terms of total gigawatt hours produced, current participation levels in energy matrices, and total installed capacity. Current and future trends and legal frameworks for each technology and country are discussed. Our analyses indicate that Latin America and the Caribbean can potentially increase the usage of renewable energy sources given a plethora of natural resources, favorable geographical and climatic conditions, and existing large-scale hydro installations to counteract the inconsistency of wind and solar projects. Therefore, governments in the region must overhaul sustainable policies to increase awareness and reduce energy dependence on foreign powers.