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Wild Mexican sunflower [Tithonia tubaeformis (Jacq.) Cass.] is one of the most important annual weeds for sugarcane (Saccharum spp. hybrid) and, to a lesser extent, for soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] and bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) in the northwest of Argentina and some other countries. Currently, its management relies on chemical methods, and no information is available to develop alternative management methods. In the current study, we conducted laboratory germination assays in the presence of different conditions of light, temperature, and phytohormone (gibberellins and abscisic acid) concentrations, as well as fluridone, trinexapac-ethyl (TE), methyl viologen (MV), dry afterripening (DAR), cold stratification, and pericarp scarification. Likewise, a field experiment was carried out to assess the impact of various sugarcane crop residue amounts on seedling emergence. Darkness and constant temperatures (e.g., 20 C) reduced the germination of fresh seeds. The addition of TE, a gibberellic acid inhibitor, and abscisic acid reduced germination. In contrast, the addition of MV increased germination. Pericarp scarification and embryo excision stimulated germination, suggesting that the pericarp acts as a barrier to prevent germination. DAR did not promote germination. On the other hand, cold stratification enabled dormancy release, which in turn promoted germination when the stratified achenes germinated in light and at alternating temperatures of 20/30 C. Field experiments showed that increasing amounts of sugarcane crop residue were useful to reduce weed seedling emergence and biomass, probably by limiting the triggering effect of light and temperature alternation on seedling emergence. These findings provide information about the endogenous control of germination, which can be useful for developing a rational integrated management system for T. tubaeformis.
The Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) has been used as a universal instrument for clinical assessment of psychopathology in schizophrenia. Different studies have analyzed the factorial structure of this scale and have suggested a five-factor model: positive, negative, excited, depressive, and cognitive/disorganized factors. Two of the most used models are the Marder´s solution and the Wallwork´s one.
Objectives
The aim of this work was to study the correlations of the two cognitive factors (Marder and Wallwork) with a cognitive assessment performed with a standard cognitive battery, in a sample of patients with first psychotic episode of schizophrenia.
Methods
Seventy four patients with first psychotic episode of schizophrenia (26.9, SD:7.8 years old; 70.3% male) were included. The cognitive assessment was performed with the MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery (MCCB). The MCCB present seven cognitive domains: Speed of processing, Working memory, Attention/Vigilance, Verbal Learning, Visual Learning, Reasoning and Problem Solving, and Social cognition). Pearson correlations were performed between MCCB scores and Marder´s PANSS cognitive factor (P2, N5, G5, G10, G11, G13, G15) and Wallwork´s one (P2, N5, G11).
Results
Correlation between MCCB scores and cognitive factors of Marder and Wallwork can be seen in the table.
Marder´s cognitive factor
Wallwork´s cognitive factor
Speed of processing
r = -0.461; p<0.001
r = -0.455; p<0.001
Attention/Vigilance
r = -0.414; p<0.001
r = -0.415; p<0.001
Working memory
r = -0.449; p<0.001
r = -0.468; p<0.001
Verbal Learning
r = -0.511; p<0.001
r = -0.405; p<0.001
Visual Learning
r = -0.252; p=0.024
r = -0.254; p=0.029
Reasoning and Problem Solving
r = -0.244; p=0.036
r = -0.272; p=0.019
Social cognition
r = -0.268; p=0.024
r = -0.202; p=0.091
Conclusions
Both PANSS cognition factors show a moderate correlations with Speed of processing, Working memory, Attention/Vigilance and Verbal Learning assessed by MCCB. More discrete correlations were found with Visual Learning, Reasoning and Problem Solving, and with Social cognition (in fact, non-significant correlation with Wallwork´s cognitive factor was found).
Acknowledgements. This study has been funded by Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII) through the project PI19/00766 and co-funded by the European Union.
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.
Women experiencing severe perinatal mental health problems require specialized services and care. Perinatal mental disorders are common and can contribute to maternal mortality, affecting neonatal, infant, and child outcomes. Home treatment can prevent hospital admissions and promote strategies within the patient’s support network.
Objectives
Our aim is to describe a clinical case in perinatal psychiatry managed by a Psychiatric Home Treatment Unit.
Methods
We present a case of perinatal psychotic depression in a 26-year-old pregnant woman.
Results
We describe the case of a patient with no prior history of mental health issues. She was 25 weeks pregnant when she first sought psychiatric help in July 2023 and was diagnosed with depressive disorder with psychotic symptoms. She reported symptoms such as low mood, psychomotor inhibition, delusional guilt thoughts, and auditory hallucinations beginning three weeks before her initial visit. Due to her clinical presentation, the patient was admitted to the hospital, where pharmacological treatment was initiated with Olanzapine 5 mg, Sertraline 50 mg, and Lorazepam 1.5 mg. She remained in the hospital for four days, during which she showed gradual improvement but did not achieve full recovery.
Considering the improvement observed, home treatment was proposed and accepted by the patient and her relatives. During home treatment, she continued to exhibit persistent depressive and psychotic symptoms, including low mood, inhibition, and delusional thoughts of ruin and catastrophe. Therefore, her treatment was adjusted, with Olanzapine increased to 10 mg, Sertraline raised to 100 mg, and Lorazepam reduced to 0.75 mg. Over time, significant improvement in her clinical symptoms was noted. Throughout the follow-up period, she reported no significant side effects from the pharmacological treatment. After a month of follow-up in our department, she was discharged with outpatient care provided by a specialized community perinatal psychiatric unit.
Conclusions
We illustrate the possibility of home treatment for perinatal psychiatric disorders. The potential benefits of remaining close to one’s support network and developing coping strategies can be advantageous during the course of illness. Further studies should be conducted to explore these potential benefits.
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.
There is a growing interest in understanding the impact of duty hours and resting times on training outcomes and the well-being of resident physicians. Psychiatry resident’s duty hours in Spain comprise a regular working schedule of 37.5h per week and a minimum of 4 mandatory on-call shifts. The most recent duty hours regulations in Spain were transposed from the European Working Time Directive (EWTD). According to Spanish Law, doctors cannot work for more than 48h per week and need to have resting times per day (at least 12h), per week (at least 36h) as well as annual leave (at least a month). However, there is practically no data on this situation in psychiatry resident physicians.
Objectives
Our aim is firstly, to describe the number of shifts performed by psychiatry resident physicians in Spain. Secondly, to describe compliance with the daily and weekly rests compared to those set in national and European law. Finally, to analyse the difference by demographic variables (gender and year of residency), in both the number of on-call duty shifts and compliance with rests.
Methods
A descriptive cross-sectional study was designed through an online survey adapted from the existing literature. The target population were Spanish psychiatry resident physicians undergoing PGT who started their specialist training during the years 2018–2021. The survey was disseminated through the Spanish regional medical councils to all active psychiatry resident physicians by mail as well as through informal communication channels. The study was authorised by the Spanish Medical Organization’s General Assembly which is the highest ethical and deontological body of physicians in Spain.
Results
55 responses were obtained, of which 61.82% identified as females. The mean number of on-call shifts in the last 3 months was 14.05. This mean was highest in women 14,32 and in the cohort of 2020 15.46 (first year of residency). Among the resident physicians surveyed, 66.07% exceeded the 48h per week limit set by the EWTD and 7% of them did not rest after a 24-h on-call shift. Furthermore, 22% of respondents did not have a day-off after a Saturday on-call shift. The mean working hours when not resting after an on-call-shift were 7 hours. The comparison by gender and year of residency of the main variables can be seen in figures 1 and 2 respectively.
Image:
Image 2:
Conclusions
Psychiatry resident physicians in Spain greatly exceed the established 48 h/week EWTD limit. Likewise, non-compliance with labour regulations regarding mandatory rest after on-call duty and minimum weekly rest periods are observed. Differences can be seen by gender and year of residency. The situation described could potentially create a high-risk situation for the health and psychosocial well-being of resident physicians, hinder learning outcomes and could lead to suboptimal patient care.
We demonstrate the importance of radio selection in probing heavily obscured galaxy populations. We combine Evolutionary Map of the Universe (EMU) Early Science data in the Galaxy and Mass Assembly (GAMA) G23 field with the GAMA data, providing optical photometry and spectral line measurements, together with Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) infrared (IR) photometry, providing IR luminosities and colours. We investigate the degree of obscuration in star-forming galaxies, based on the Balmer decrement (BD), and explore how this trend varies, over a redshift range of $0<z<0.345$. We demonstrate that the radio-detected population has on average higher levels of obscuration than the parent optical sample, arising through missing the lowest BD and lowest mass galaxies, which are also the lower star formation rate (SFR) and metallicity systems. We discuss possible explanations for this result, including speculation around whether it might arise from steeper stellar initial mass functions in low mass, low SFR galaxies.
This review aims to critically evaluate the efficacy of long-chain ո-3 PUFA ingestion in modulating muscle protein synthesis (MPS), with application to maintaining skeletal muscle mass, strength and function into later life. Ageing is associated with a gradual decline in muscle mass, specifically atrophy of type II fibres, that is exacerbated by periods of (in)voluntary muscle disuse. At the metabolic level, in otherwise healthy older adults, muscle atrophy is underpinned by anabolic resistance which describes the impaired MPS response to non-pharmacological anabolic stimuli, namely, physical activity/exercise and amino acid provision. Accumulating evidence implicates a mechanistic role for n-3 PUFA in upregulating MPS under stimulated conditions (post-prandial state or following exercise) via incorporation of EPA and DHA into the skeletal muscle phospholipid membrane. In some instances, these changes in MPS with chronic ո-3 PUFA ingestion have translated into clinically relevant improvements in muscle mass, strength and function; an observation evidently more prevalent in healthy older women than men. This apparent sexual dimorphism in the adaptive response of skeletal muscle metabolism to EPA and DHA ingestion may be related to a greater propensity for females to incorporate ո-3 PUFA into human tissue and/or the larger dose of ingested ո-3 PUFA when expressed relative to body mass or lean body mass. Future experimental studies are warranted to characterise the optimal dosing and duration of ո-3 PUFA ingestion to prescribe tailored recommendations regarding n-3 PUFA nutrition for healthy musculoskeletal ageing into later life.
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.
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic continues to cause significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. Since a large portion of the world’s population is currently unvaccinated or incompletely vaccinated and has limited access to approved treatments against COVID-19, there is an urgent need to continue research on treatment options, especially those at low cost and which are immediately available to patients, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Prior in vitro and observational studies have shown that fluoxetine, possibly through its inhibitory effect on the acid sphingomyelinase/ceramide system, could be a promising antiviral and anti-inflammatory treatment against COVID-19.
Objectives
The aim of this sudy was to test the potential antiviral and anti-inflammatory activities of fluoxetine against SARS-CoV-2 in a K18-hACE2 mouse model of infection, and against several variants of concern in vitro, and test the hypothesis of the implication of ceramides and/or their derivatives hexosylceramides.
Methods
We evaluated the potential antiviral and anti-inflammatory activities of fluoxetine in a K18-hACE2 mouse model of SARS-CoV-2 infection, and against variants of concern in vitro, i.e., SARS-CoV-2 ancestral strain, Alpha B.1.1.7, Gamma P1, Delta B1.617 and Omicron BA.5.
Results
Fluoxetine, administrated after SARS-CoV-2 infection, significantly reduced lung tissue viral titres (Figure 1) and expression of several inflammatory markers (i.e., IL-6, TNFα, CCL2 and CXCL10) (Figure 2). It also inhibited the replication of all variants of concern in vitro. A modulation of the ceramide system in the lung tissues, as reflected by the increase in the ratio HexCer 16:0/Cer 16:0 in fluoxetine-treated mice, may contribute to explain these effects (Figure 3).
Image:
Image 2:
Image 3:
Conclusions
Our findings demonstrate the antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties of fluoxetine in a K18-hACE2 mouse model of SARS-CoV-2 infection, and its in vitro antiviral activity against variants of concern, establishing fluoxetine as a very promising candidate for the prevention and treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infection and disease pathogenesis.
Negative symptoms has been classically associated with cognition, psychosocial functioning and quality of life in patients with schizophrenia. But negative symptoms are not a unitary construct, encompassing two different factors: diminished expression, and motivation and pleasure. Few works have studied the relationship between these two different negative symptoms factors and cognition (neuro and social cognition), psychosocial functioning and quality of life, jointly, in patients with a first psychotic episode of schizophrenia.
Objectives
The objective of the present work was to study, in a sample of patients with a first psychotic episode of schizophrenia, the relationship between the negative symptoms (diminished expression and motivation and pleasure) and neurocognition, social cognition, functioning and quality of life.
Methods
The study was carried out with 82 outpatients with a first psychotic episode of schizophrenia from two Spanish hospitals (“12 de Octubre” University Hospital, Madrid and “Virgen de la Luz” Hospital, Cuenca). The patients were assessed with the Clinical Assessment Interview for Negative Symptoms (CAINS) for evaluating diminished expression (EXP) and motivation and pleasure (MAP) symptoms, the MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery (MCCB) for evaluating neurocognition and social cognition, the Social and Occupational Functioning Assessment Scale (SOFAS), and the Quality of Life Scale (QLS).
Results
A negative correlation was found between neurocognition and the two negative symptoms subscales: CAINS-EXP (r=-0.458, p<0.001) and CAINS-MAP (r=-0.374, p<0.001); but with social cognition only CAINS-EXP was correlated (r=-0.236, p=0.033). Also, it was found a high negative correlation between SOFAS scores and CAINS-MAP (r=-0.717, p<0.001); and a medium negative correlation with CAINS-EXP (r=-0.394, p<0.001). Finally, QLS score was high correlated with both CAINS subscales: CAINS-EXP (r=-0.681, p<0.001) and CAINS-MAP (r=-0.770, p<0.001).
Conclusions
This study found a relationship between negative symptoms and neurocognition, social cognition, functioning and quality of life in a sample of patients with a first psychotic episode of schizophrenia. But the two different negative symptom factors, diminished expression, and motivation and pleasure, are associated differently with psychosocial functioning, but especially with social cognition where the relationship was only found with diminished expression symptoms.
To reduce Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)-related mortality and morbidity, widely available oral COVID-19 treatments are urgently needed. Certain antidepressants, such as fluvoxamine or fluoxetine, may be beneficial against COVID-19.
Objectives
The main objective was two-fold: (i) to test the hypothesis that the prevalence of antidepressant use in patients hospitalized with COVID-19 would be lower than in patients with similar characteristics hospitalized without COVID-19, and (ii) to examine, among patients hospitalized with COVID-19, whether antidepressant use is associated with reduced 28-day mortality. Our secondary aim was to examine whether this potential association could only concern specific antidepressant classes or molecules, is dose-dependent, and/or only observed beyond a certain dose threshold.
Methods
We included 388,945 adult inpatients who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 at 36 AP–HP (Assistance Publique–Hôpitaux de Paris) hospitals from 2 May 2020 to 2 November 2021. We compared the prevalence of antidepressant use at admission in a 1:1 ratio matched analytic sample with and without COVID-19 (N = 82,586), and assessed its association with 28-day all-cause mortality in a 1:1 ratio matched analytic sample of COVID-19 inpatients with and without antidepressant use at admission (N = 1482) (Figure 1).
Results
Antidepressant use was significantly less prevalent in inpatients with COVID-19 than in a matched control group of inpatients without COVID-19 (1.9% versus 4.8%; Odds Ratio (OR) = 0.38; 95%CI = 0.35–0.41, p < 0.001) (Figure 2). Antidepressant use was significantly associated with reduced 28-day mortality among COVID-19 inpatients (12.8% versus 21.2%; OR = 0.55; 95%CI = 0.41–0.72, p < 0.001), particularly at daily doses of at least 40 mg fluoxetine equivalents (Figure 3). Antidepressants with high FIASMA (Functional Inhibitors of Acid Sphingomyelinase) activity seem to drive both associations.
Image:
Image 2:
Image 3:
Conclusions
Antidepressant use is associated with a reduced likelihood of hospitalization in patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 and with a reduced risk of death in patients hospitalized with COVID-19. These associations were stronger for molecules with high FIASMA activity. These findings posit that prospective interventional studies of antidepressants with the highest FIASMA activity may be appropriate to help identify variant-agnostic, affordable, and scalable interventions for outpatient and inpatient therapy of COVID-19.
Numerous studies establish clear connections between traumatic childhood experiences and the risk of developing psychosis. According to the study carried out by Filippo Varese, childhood traumas, understanding by; physical, psychological or sexual abuse, abandonment, death of the parent and “bullying”, increase up to three times the risk of suffering from psychosis.
Objectives
- Determine the prevalence of traumatic events in the sample studied.
- Determine which traumatic event has a greater relationship with the risk of presenting a psychotic episode.
- To determine whether traumatic events may be more strongly associated or not with gender differences, age at onset and family story.
Methods
A descriptive study is carried out in which the traumatic events are evaluated (through the CAVE questionnaire) of 98 patients who have been treated for a psychotic episode in the last two years in the Early Intervention Unit for Psychosis (ITPCan).
The stressful life history questionnaire (CAVE) consists of 52 questions divided into blocks: school stage, work, partner, family, health and other stressful events. All of them focused on those stressful events prior to the onset of psychotic symptoms. Stressful events have been considered to be those events in which the patients studied have scored 10 (maximum score) on the anxiety scale.
Inclusion criteria:
- Older than 18 years-old
- Having presented a first psychotic episode.
Exclusion criteria:
- Intellectual disabilities
Results
For now, the data studied in this sample are similar to those described in most of the studies reviewed: more than half of the patients present at least one traumatic event before the onset of psychotic symptoms and a third of these have had any traumatic experience before the age of 18.
The percentage of the presence of at least one traumatic event within the categories of the CAVE questionnaire would be:
14.2% in the school stage
26.7% in the workplace
26% in relationships
24.3% in family relationships
12.1% in events related to the patient’s own health problems
Conclusions
We continue to increase the sample to have a more significant result.
Tobacco is a highly prevalent substance of abuse in patients with psychosis. Previous studies have reported an association between tobacco use and schizophrenia. The aim of this study was to analyze the relationship between tobacco use and first-episode psychosis (FEP), age at onset of psychosis, and specific diagnosis of psychosis.
Methods
The sample consisted of 1105 FEP patients and 1355 controls from the European Network of National Schizophrenia Networks Studying Gene–Environment Interactions (EU-GEI) study. We assessed substance use with the Tobacco and Alcohol Questionnaire and performed a series of regression analyses using case-control status, age of onset of psychosis, and diagnosis as outcomes and tobacco use and frequency of tobacco use as predictors. Analyses were adjusted for sociodemographic characteristics, alcohol, and cannabis use.
Results
After controlling for cannabis use, FEP patients were 2.6 times more likely to use tobacco [p ⩽ 0.001; adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 2.6; 95% confidence interval (CI) [2.1–3.2]] and 1.7 times more likely to smoke 20 or more cigarettes a day (p = 0.003; AOR 1.7; 95% CI [1.2–2.4]) than controls. Tobacco use was associated with an earlier age at psychosis onset (β = −2.3; p ⩽ 0.001; 95% CI [−3.7 to −0.9]) and was 1.3 times more frequent in FEP patients with a diagnosis of schizophrenia than in other diagnoses of psychosis (AOR 1.3; 95% CI [1.0–1.8]); however, these results were no longer significant after controlling for cannabis use.
Conclusions
Tobacco and heavy-tobacco use are associated with increased odds of FEP. These findings further support the relevance of tobacco prevention in young populations.
Childhood adversities (CAs) predict heightened risks of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and major depressive episode (MDE) among people exposed to adult traumatic events. Identifying which CAs put individuals at greatest risk for these adverse posttraumatic neuropsychiatric sequelae (APNS) is important for targeting prevention interventions.
Methods
Data came from n = 999 patients ages 18–75 presenting to 29 U.S. emergency departments after a motor vehicle collision (MVC) and followed for 3 months, the amount of time traditionally used to define chronic PTSD, in the Advancing Understanding of Recovery After Trauma (AURORA) study. Six CA types were self-reported at baseline: physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, physical neglect, emotional neglect and bullying. Both dichotomous measures of ever experiencing each CA type and numeric measures of exposure frequency were included in the analysis. Risk ratios (RRs) of these CA measures as well as complex interactions among these measures were examined as predictors of APNS 3 months post-MVC. APNS was defined as meeting self-reported criteria for either PTSD based on the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 and/or MDE based on the PROMIS Depression Short-Form 8b. We controlled for pre-MVC lifetime histories of PTSD and MDE. We also examined mediating effects through peritraumatic symptoms assessed in the emergency department and PTSD and MDE assessed in 2-week and 8-week follow-up surveys. Analyses were carried out with robust Poisson regression models.
Results
Most participants (90.9%) reported at least rarely having experienced some CA. Ever experiencing each CA other than emotional neglect was univariably associated with 3-month APNS (RRs = 1.31–1.60). Each CA frequency was also univariably associated with 3-month APNS (RRs = 1.65–2.45). In multivariable models, joint associations of CAs with 3-month APNS were additive, with frequency of emotional abuse (RR = 2.03; 95% CI = 1.43–2.87) and bullying (RR = 1.44; 95% CI = 0.99–2.10) being the strongest predictors. Control variable analyses found that these associations were largely explained by pre-MVC histories of PTSD and MDE.
Conclusions
Although individuals who experience frequent emotional abuse and bullying in childhood have a heightened risk of experiencing APNS after an adult MVC, these associations are largely mediated by prior histories of PTSD and MDE.
Postpartum depression is a common psychiatric complication after pregnancy, so it is necessary to know the depressive symptoms to be able to carry out early prevention and treatment interventions. It is a health problem with a prevalence that ranges between 10–15% according to the world literature. Behavioral and psychosocial factors favoring postpartum depression are recognized.
Objectives
-To emphasize multidisciplinary treatment in the combined attention to the mother-baby. -To demostrate decreased risk for baby if early use of antidepressants. -To evaluate of the impact of desvenlafaxine during breastfeeding.
Methods
Descriptive-study. Clinical Case. Evolution of postpartum depression. Follow-up of a patient based on coordination with the midwife attending a successful breastfeeding while treatment with desvenlafaxine. Use of Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale.
Results
-Use of Desvenlafaxine 50-100mg being compatible with breastfeeding, in adittion to depressive illness improvement *Obstetrics and psychiatry guidelines and safety considerations for lactation and antidepressants).
Conclusions
-Postpartum-depression could be the first episode of depression in a healthy woman. Sometimes there are unnoticed symptoms during pregnancy. -Health-care for puerperal women should be focused on both, biomedical and psychosocial issues, with a coordinated multidisciplinar team. -Due to important early treatment during the puerperium, it is recommended a close medical control of the mother´s psychological state after the birth. -If depression appears, a psychiatric follow-up is kept even after the episode remission. Besides, the role of the midwife is essential during lactation. -Some antidepressants like desvenlafaxine have demonstrated benefits over the risk of the baby´s complications without treatment.
Racial and ethnic groups in the USA differ in the prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Recent research however has not observed consistent racial/ethnic differences in posttraumatic stress in the early aftermath of trauma, suggesting that such differences in chronic PTSD rates may be related to differences in recovery over time.
Methods
As part of the multisite, longitudinal AURORA study, we investigated racial/ethnic differences in PTSD and related outcomes within 3 months after trauma. Participants (n = 930) were recruited from emergency departments across the USA and provided periodic (2 weeks, 8 weeks, and 3 months after trauma) self-report assessments of PTSD, depression, dissociation, anxiety, and resilience. Linear models were completed to investigate racial/ethnic differences in posttraumatic dysfunction with subsequent follow-up models assessing potential effects of prior life stressors.
Results
Racial/ethnic groups did not differ in symptoms over time; however, Black participants showed reduced posttraumatic depression and anxiety symptoms overall compared to Hispanic participants and White participants. Racial/ethnic differences were not attenuated after accounting for differences in sociodemographic factors. However, racial/ethnic differences in depression and anxiety were no longer significant after accounting for greater prior trauma exposure and childhood emotional abuse in White participants.
Conclusions
The present findings suggest prior differences in previous trauma exposure partially mediate the observed racial/ethnic differences in posttraumatic depression and anxiety symptoms following a recent trauma. Our findings further demonstrate that racial/ethnic groups show similar rates of symptom recovery over time. Future work utilizing longer time-scale data is needed to elucidate potential racial/ethnic differences in long-term symptom trajectories.
Vitamin B12 deficiency may cause neurological and psychiatric symptoms, especially among elderly patients. Two clinical cases are presented of patients admitted to an Acute Inpatient Psychiatry Unit due to psychotic symptoms, being reported a B12 deficiency.
Objectives
Review clinical information about vitamin B12 deficiency as a factor involved in the development of psychiatric disorders, specifically psychotic symptoms, pointing out the peculiarities regarding clinical presentation, diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment management.
Methods
Search in the medical database PUBMED, MEDSCAPE and UPTODATE.
Results
Vitamin B12 deficiency is associated with hematological, neuropsychiatric, and digestive disorders, is estimated that around 5-40% of the elderly population may present it. Neuropsychiatric syndromes may be the first, and sometimes sole, manifestation, related to a different etiological mechanism. Vitamine B12 deficiency implies enzymatic defects that cause an accumulation of methylmalonic acid and homocysteine, which is proportionally related to the severity of the neuropsychiatric symptoms. The range of clinical features includes psychotic and affective episodes, behavioral disorders, cognitive impairment, along with other neurological manifestations such as polyneuropathy and encephalopathy. The diagnosis delay is crucially important, as early detection could lead to reverse the neuropsychiatric symptoms and some of the neuroradiological alterations. Parenteral and oral vitamin B12 supplementation should be initiated, monitoring levels in plasma, together with psychiatric drugs until the symptoms are controlled.
Conclusions
Vitamin B12 deficiency is a factor that may be involved in the etiopathogenesis of psychiatric disorders. Thus, screening must be considered among the vulnerable population when presenting neuropsychiatric disorders as early diagnosis and treatment are key to clinical prognosis.
Expose the potential beneffits of ayahuasca from neuropharmacology and clinical existing evidence.
Methods
A literature review was carried out in the databases pubmed, clinical key and texts of scientific dissemination.
Results
There´s scientific literature about the potential therapeutic use of ayahuasca in dependencies, anxiety symtoms and depression, near death experiences and terminal illnesses. Possible benefit is postulated in impulsivity and personality disorders. It induces an introspective state, triggered by thoughts, emotions and autobiographical memories, which promotes reflection on personal issues, allowing new perspectives on certain life issues. It is common for users to describe it as analogous to a psychotherapeutic intervention. 5HTA2 agonists stimulate the expression of genes that encode transcription factors such as c-fos, egr 1, egr 2 and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which influence neuronal plasticity and are associated with cognitive aspects such as memory and attention. MAOIs and 5HT2A agonism have anxiolytic and antidepressant effects. Sigma -1 agonism promotes neuroplasticity. Decrease and remission in the consumption of alcohol and cocaine has been reported in patients with abuse and dependence. There has been significant decrease in depressive symptomatology, in observational studies, cases and controls and double blind compared with placebo. Improvement in different domains measured with mindfulness scales, similar to those observed in meditators, suggests an association between mindfulness techniques and experiences with ayahuasca.
Conclusions
There is existing evidence about potential therapeutical uses of ayahuasca. More studies are needed with biger samples, to establish it´s clinical use.
Even though cognitive impairment is considered a hallmark of schizophrenia, it has not been included as a criterion into major diagnostic systems.
Objectives
To test whether a set of clinical-defined cognitive impairment criteria can have utility in the assessment of psychosis patients in clinical practice.
Methods
We assessed 98 patients with a psychotic disorder, diagnosed using DSM 5 criteria. We developed a set of cognitive impairment associated with psychosis (CIAPs) criteria following the format of current DSM criteria and based on previous literature. The CIAPs criteria include: A) criterion for evidence of cognitive impairment after the beginning of illness; B) cognitive impairment clinically evidenced, affecting functioning in everyday activities in at least two out of six cognitive domains; C) and D) exclusion criterion for either delirium or other neurocognitive disorders, respectively, as causal agents of the cognitive impairment. The psychosis patients dichotomized by the CIAPs criteria were tested regarding the neuropsychological performance in attention, speed of processing, verbal memory, visual memory, working memory, executive function and social cognition tasks. Also a Global Cognitive Index was calculated.
Results
Forty-three patients with psychosis fulfilled the CIAPs criteria (43.9%). MANOVA profile analyses revealed a pattern of statistically significant deficits in all the cognitive dimensions except for social cognition in CIAPs+ patients regarding CIAPS-, with prominent deficits in processing speed and memory functions.
Conclusions
The CIAPs criteria could be an auxiliary method for clinicians to assess cognitive impairment. It may also permit clinical estimation of the influence of cognitive deficits on the ecological functioning of patients.
Conflict of interest
This work was supported by the Government of Navarra (grants 17/31, 18/41, 87/2014) and the Carlos III Health Institute (FEDER Funds) from the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitivity (14/01621 and 16/02148). Both had no further role in the study des