Hyperprolactinemia is a frequent side effect observed in patients treated with anti-psychotic drugs. The frequency of clinical signs usually correlates with elevated serum prolactin levels.

To estimate the prevalence of hyperprolactinemia among patients treated with a single anti-psychotic and specify the risk factors for its occurrence.

Cross-sectional study performed in a period of 6 months in the psychiatric department of Mahdia's hospital, for all patients seen in the consultation and treated with a single anti-psychotic for 12 weeks, with a stable dose, and meeting the inclusion and exclusion criteria of the study. Prolactin blood tests have been performed and confirmed by a second one in case of abnormality objectified in the first lab test results. A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was intended for patients with prolactin levels greater than 150 ng/mL.

Ninety-two patients were gathered. Prevalence of hyperprolactinemia was 34.8% of which 7.6% had prolactin levels greater than 150 ng/mL. Two macroadenomas’ cases were detected. The analytical study found 7 factors significantly correlated with hyperprolactinemia, which are: female sex, substance use, the presence of side effects, prescription of atypical anti-psychotics, the anti-psychotic treatment prescribed: haloperidol/amisulpride, doses of anti-psychotic greater than 1000 mg equivalent to chlorpromazine and the combination of psychotropic drugs.

Prolactin blood test should be a systematical analysis for all patients treated with anti-psychotics, to prevent the short and long term side effects.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Despite the frequency and the severity of depressive episodes, the major depressive disorder (MDD) is today inadequately diagnosed and treated, and the risk factors for its recurrence are not well elaborated. The objectives of this study were to describe the sociodemographic, clinical evolutionary and therapeutic features of this disorder and to identify the factors involved in the risk of its recurrence.

This is a retrospective, descriptive and analytical study, involving 150 patients with MDD, isolated episode or recurrent major depressive disorder (RMDD) with a follow-up for at least two years. Data collection was performed using two pre-established questionnaires for the MDD isolated episode and for the RMDD respectively with 51 and 92 items. A study of the recurrence period was performed by Kaplan–Meier method. The Cox-test was used to determine the survival curves and to look for the risk factors significantly associated with MDD recurrence.

A total of 150 patients was gathered, predominantly female, married and from urban origin. The average age at the beginning of the disorder was 35 years. The recurrence period was 109 months and the factors associated with recurrence were the early age of onset of the disorder, family history of mood disorders, the severity of MDE index, residual symptoms and discontinuation of treatment.

The study of factors involved in MDD recurrence is of a particular importance since it allows not only to know the group of patients at risk but also to improve their therapeutic care.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

The quality of the therapeutic care during a first episode psychosis (FEP) determines the middle- and long-term prognosis.

The aim of our study is to describe the therapeutic attitudes in front of a FEP and discuss them according to current international recommendations.

This is a retrospective descriptive study. All patients with a FEP, hospitalized in the psychiatric department of the university hospital, Mahdia during the period from 15 May 2000 to 31 December 2013 have been included.

We recruited 111 patients. The average age was 27 years, a male predominance was noted. Initially, the majority of patients were treated in monotherapy (55.9%) and mostly with typical antipsychotic drugs (80.2%), by injection. Among those under association, 63.4% received corrective treatment and 26.8% a benzodiazepine. The prescription of a mood stabilizer and an antidepressant was noted in respectively 5.6 and 2.8% of cases. The majority of patients received typical antipsychotic drugs (53.1%) while 39.6% were under atypical antipsychotic. The follow-up period, after which a reduction of the antipsychotic dose was decided, ranged from 1 to 66 months with an average of 8.26.

The progression to a chronic psychosis, still has a severe connotation. The Early and adequate therapeutic care in accordance with the international recommendations, determines the prognosis and constitute a decisive moment in the evolutionary trajectory of the disease.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.