Individuals with borderline intellectual functioning and intellectual disabilities (intellectual impairment) may be at increased risk of psychosis. However, studies have been limited by small and selected samples. Moreover, the role of early life trauma, a key risk factor for psychosis, in the associations is unknown.

Using data from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) birth cohort, we investigated the associations between intellectual impairment, psychotic disorders, and psychotic experiences, and assessed the mediating role of trauma in childhood. Individuals with intellectual impairment were identified using a multisource measure utilizing indicators from ALSPAC combined with health and administrative records. Psychotic disorder diagnoses were extracted through linkage to primary care records. Psychotic experiences were assessed at ages 18 and 24 using the semi-structured Psychosis-Like Symptoms interview (PLIKSi). Trauma between ages 5 and 11 was assessed with questionnaires and interviews administered to children and parents at multiple ages. Multiple imputation was performed to mitigate bias due to missing data.

The maximum sample after multiple imputation was 9,407. We found associations between intellectual impairment and psychotic disorders (OR = 4.57; 95%CI: 1.56–13.39). Evidence was weaker in the case of psychotic experiences (OR = 1.63; 95%CI: 0.93–2.84). There was some evidence suggesting a mediating role of trauma in the associations between intellectual impairment and psychotic experiences (OR = 1.09; 95%CI: 1.03–1.15). Complete records analyses yielded comparable estimates.

Intellectual impairment is associated with psychotic disorders and experiences in adulthood. Research into the contribution of trauma could shape intervention strategies for psychotic disorders in this population.

Morbidity and mortality from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have been significant among elderly residents of residential aged-care services (RACS). To prevent incursions of COVID-19 in RACS in Australia, visitors were banned and aged-care workers were encouraged to work at a single site. We conducted a review of case notes and a social network analysis to understand how workplace and social networks enabled the spread of severe acute respiratory coronavirus virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) among RACS.

Retrospective outbreak review.

Staff involved in COVID-19 outbreaks in RACS in Victoria, Australia, May–October 2020.

The Victorian Department of Health COVID-19 case and contact data were reviewed to construct 2 social networks: (1) a work network connecting RACS through workers and (2) a household network connecting to RACS through households. Probable index cases were reviewed to estimate the number and size (number of resident cases and deaths) of outbreaks likely initiated by multisite work versus transmission via households.

Among 2,033 cases linked to an outbreak as staff, 91 (4.5%) were multisite staff cases. Forty-three outbreaks were attributed to multisite work and 35 were deemed potentially preventable had staff worked at a single site. In addition, 99 staff cases were linked to another RACS outbreak through their household contacts, and 21 outbreaks were attributed to staff–household transmission.

Limiting worker mobility through single-site policies could reduce the chances of SARS-CoV-2 spreading from one RACS to another. However, initiatives that reduce the chance of transmission via household networks would also be needed.

Prescription opioid dispensing patterns over time were assessed for individuals with bipolar disorder (BD) vs matched controls.

Health insurance claims data from the IBM MarketScan Commercial Database and Multi-State Medicaid Database were analyzed. Individuals aged 18 to 64 with ≥1 inpatient or ≥2 outpatient claims for BD during the year preceding the analysis year (2015-2019) were included, with age- and sex-matched controls. Baseline demographic and clinical characteristics were evaluated. Opioid dispensing during each analysis year was defined as either chronic (coverage for ≥70 days in any 90-day period, or ≥6 prescriptions dispensed during analysis year) or nonchronic (≥1 prescription dispensed, not meeting chronic definition).

BD patients had a higher prevalence of medical and psychiatric comorbidities, including pain diagnoses, vs controls. Among patients with BD in the Commercial database, chronic opioid dispensing decreased from 11% (controls: 3%) in 2015 to 6% (controls: 2%) in 2019, and in the Medicaid database, from 27% (controls: 12%) to 12% (controls: 5%). Among patients with BD in the Commercial database, nonchronic dispensing decreased from 26% (controls: 17%) in 2015 to 20% (controls: 12%) in 2019, and from 32% (controls: 26%) to 25% (controls: 14%) in the Medicaid database.

Between 2015 and 2019, there was a significant decrease in chronic and nonchronic prescription opioid dispensing among BD patients and controls across both the Commercial and Medicaid databases. Despite this finding, it is important to note that both chronic and nonchronic opioid dispensing was consistently higher for BD patients vs controls over time, across both databases.

Alkermes, Inc.

Psychotic experiences are reported by 5–10% of young people, although only a minority persist and develop into psychotic disorders. It is unclear what characteristics differentiate those with transient psychotic experiences from those with persistent psychotic experiences that are more likely to be of clinical relevance.

To investigate how longitudinal profiles of psychotic experiences, created from assessments at three different time points, are influenced by early life and co-occurring factors.

Using data from 8045 individuals from a birth cohort study, longitudinal profiles of psychotic experiences based on semi-structured interviews conducted at 12, 18 and 24 years were defined. Environmental, cognitive, psychopathological and genetic determinants of these profiles were investigated, along with concurrent changes in psychopathology and cognition.

Following multiple imputations, the distribution of longitudinal profiles of psychotic experiences was none (65.7%), transient (24.1%), low-frequency persistent (8.4%) and high-frequency persistent (1.7%). Individuals with high-frequency persistent psychotic experiences were more likely to report traumatic experiences, other psychopathology, a more externalised locus of control, reduced emotional stability and conscientious personality traits in childhood, compared with those with transient psychotic experiences. These characteristics also differed between those who had any psychotic experiences and those who did not.

These findings indicate that the same risk factors are associated with incidence as with persistence of psychotic experiences. Thus, it might be that the severity of exposure, rather than the presence of specific disease-modifying factors, is most likely to determine whether psychotic experiences are transient or persist, and potentially develop into a clinical disorder over time.

To describe outcomes of acute coronavirus disease 2019 in paediatric and young adult patients with underlying cardiac disease and evaluate the association between cardiac risk factors and hospitalisation.

We conducted a retrospective single-institution review of patients with known cardiac disease and positive severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 RT-PCR from 1 March, 2020 to 30 November, 2020. Extracardiac comorbidities and cardiac risk factors were compared between those admitted for coronavirus disease 2019 illness and the rest of the cohort using univariate analysis.

Forty-two patients with a mean age of 7.7 ± 6.7 years were identified. Six were 18 years of age or more with the oldest being 22 years of age. Seventy-six percent were Hispanic. The most common cardiac diagnoses were repaired cyanotic (n = 7, 16.6%) and palliated single ventricle (n = 7, 16.6%) congenital heart disease. Fourteen patients (33.3%) had underlying syndromes or chromosomal anomalies, nine (21%) had chronic pulmonary disease and eight (19%) were immunosuppressed. Nineteen patients (47.6%) reported no symptoms. Sixteen (38.1%) reported only mild symptoms. Six patients (14.3%) were admitted to the hospital for acute coronavirus disease 2019 illness. Noncardiac comorbidities were associated with an increased risk of hospitalisation (p = 0.02), particularly chronic pulmonary disease (p = 0.01) and baseline supplemental oxygen requirement (p = 0.007). None of the single ventricle patients who tested positive required admission.

Hospitalisations for coronavirus disease 2019 were rare among children and young adults with underlying cardiac disease. Extracardiac comorbidities like pulmonary disease were associated with increased risk of hospitalisation while cardiac risk factors were not.

Stenting of ostial pulmonary artery stenosis presents several unique challenges. These include difficulty in defining anatomy and need for precise stent placement in order to avoid missing the ostial stenosis or jailing either the contralateral branch pulmonary artery or the ipsilateral upper lobe branch.

A retrospective review of outcomes was conducted in 1.5 or 2-ventricle patients who underwent stent placement for ostial branch pulmonary artery stenosis. Specific catheterisation lab techniques were reviewed.

Forty-seven branch pulmonary arteries underwent stent placement for ostial stenosis in 43 patients. The median age and weight were 3.7 (0.3–18.1) years and 14.2 (5.6–70.0) kg, respectively. Three (2–8) angiographic projections were needed to profile the ostial stenosis. Open-cell stents were used in 23 and stents were modified in 5 cases. Following stent implantation, the minimum diameter improved from 3.6 (0.8–10.5) to 8.1 (4.2–16.5) mm (p < 0.001). The gradient improved from 21 (0–66) to 4 (0–27) mmHg (p < 0.001). Stent malposition occurred in eight (17%) of the stents placed. Five migrated distally causing suboptimal ostial coverage necessitating placement of a second stent in four. Three migrated proximally and partially jailed the contralateral pulmonary artery. Intentional jailing of the upper lobe branch occurred in four additional cases. At a follow-up of 2.4 (0.3–4.9) years, 15 stents underwent further dilation and 1 had a second stent placed within the exiting stent.

Ostial branch pulmonary artery stenosis may require additional angiography to accurately define the ostial stenosis. Treatment with stents is effective but carries high rates of stent malposition.

Despite established clinical associations among major depression (MD), alcohol dependence (AD), and alcohol consumption (AC), the nature of the causal relationship between them is not completely understood. We leveraged genome-wide data from the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium (PGC) and UK Biobank to test for the presence of shared genetic mechanisms and causal relationships among MD, AD, and AC.

Linkage disequilibrium score regression and Mendelian randomization (MR) were performed using genome-wide data from the PGC (MD: 135 458 cases and 344 901 controls; AD: 10 206 cases and 28 480 controls) and UK Biobank (AC-frequency: 438 308 individuals; AC-quantity: 307 098 individuals).

Positive genetic correlation was observed between MD and AD (rgMD−AD = + 0.47, P = 6.6 × 10−10). AC-quantity showed positive genetic correlation with both AD (rgAD−AC quantity = + 0.75, P = 1.8 × 10−14) and MD (rgMD−AC quantity = + 0.14, P = 2.9 × 10−7), while there was negative correlation of AC-frequency with MD (rgMD−AC frequency = −0.17, P = 1.5 × 10−10) and a non-significant result with AD. MR analyses confirmed the presence of pleiotropy among these four traits. However, the MD-AD results reflect a mediated-pleiotropy mechanism (i.e. causal relationship) with an effect of MD on AD (beta = 0.28, P = 1.29 × 10−6). There was no evidence for reverse causation.

This study supports a causal role for genetic liability of MD on AD based on genetic datasets including thousands of individuals. Understanding mechanisms underlying MD-AD comorbidity addresses important public health concerns and has the potential to facilitate prevention and intervention efforts.

Crisis resolution teams (CRTs) offer brief, intensive home treatment for people experiencing mental health crisis. CRT implementation is highly variable; positive trial outcomes have not been reproduced in scaled-up CRT care.

To evaluate a 1-year programme to improve CRTs’ model fidelity in a non-masked, cluster-randomised trial (part of the Crisis team Optimisation and RElapse prevention (CORE) research programme, trial registration number: ISRCTN47185233).

Fifteen CRTs in England received an intervention, informed by the US Implementing Evidence-Based Practice project, involving support from a CRT facilitator, online implementation resources and regular team fidelity reviews. Ten control CRTs received no additional support. The primary outcome was patient satisfaction, measured by the Client Satisfaction Questionnaire (CSQ-8), completed by 15 patients per team at CRT discharge (n = 375). Secondary outcomes: CRT model fidelity, continuity of care, staff well-being, in-patient admissions and bed use and CRT readmissions were also evaluated.

All CRTs were retained in the trial. Median follow-up CSQ-8 score was 28 in each group: the adjusted average in the intervention group was higher than in the control group by 0.97 (95% CI −1.02 to 2.97) but this was not significant (P = 0.34). There were fewer in-patient admissions, lower in-patient bed use and better staff psychological health in intervention teams. Model fidelity rose in most intervention teams and was significantly higher than in control teams at follow-up. There were no significant effects for other outcomes.

The CRT service improvement programme did not achieve its primary aim of improving patient satisfaction. It showed some promise in improving CRT model fidelity and reducing acute in-patient admissions.

Understanding the relative risks of maintenance treatment versus discontinuation of antipsychotics following remission in first episode psychosis (FEP) is an important area of practice.

A systematic review and meta-analysis. Prospective experimental studies including a parallel control group were identified to compare maintenance antipsychotic treatment with total discontinuation or medication discontinuation strategies following remission in FEP.

Seven studies were included. Relapse rates were higher in the discontinuation group (53%; 95% CIs: 39%, 68%; N = 290) compared with maintenance treatment group (19%; 95% CIs: 0.05%, 37%; N = 230). In subgroup analyses, risk difference of relapse was lower in studies with a longer follow-up period, a targeted discontinuation strategy, a higher relapse threshold, a larger sample size, and samples with patients excluded for drug or alcohol dependency. Insufficient studies included psychosocial functioning outcomes for a meta-analysis.

There is a higher risk of relapse for those who undergo total or targeted discontinuation strategies compared with maintenance antipsychotics in FEP samples. The effect size is moderate and the risk difference is lower in trials of targeted discontinuation strategies.

A.T. has received honoraria and support from Janssen-Cilag and Otsuka Pharmaceuticals for meetings and has been has been an investigator on unrestricted investigator-initiated trials funded by AstraZeneca and Janssen-Cilag. He has also previously held a Pfizer Neurosciences Research Grant. S.M. has received sponsorship from Otsuka and Lundbeck to attend an academic congress and owns shares in GlaxoSmithKline and AstraZeneca. J.H. has attended meetings supported by Sunovion Pharmaceuticals.

One indication for intervention in coarctation of the aorta is a peak-to-peak gradient >20 mmHg. Gradients may be masked in patients under general anaesthesia and may be higher during exercise. Isoproterenol was given during cardiac catheterisation to simulate a more active physiologic state.

We aimed to describe the haemodynamic effects of isoproterenol in patients with coarctation and the impact of intervention on the elicited gradients.

A retrospective study was performed on two-ventricle patients who underwent cardiac catheterisation for coarctation with isoproterenol testing.

25 patients received isoproterenol before and after intervention. With isoproterenol, the mean diastolic (p=0.0015) and mean arterial (p=0.0065) blood pressures proximal to the coarctation decreased significantly. The mean systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial blood pressures distal to the coarctation decreased significantly (p<0.0001). In patients with a baseline gradient ⩽20 mmHg (n=17) at catheterisation, the median gradient increased from 10 (0–20) to 30 (15–50) mmHg (p<0.0001) with isoproterenol. Of these, 15 patients developed a gradient >20 mmHg. Post intervention, the median gradient decreased to 2 (0–29) mmHg, versus baseline, p=0.005, and with isoproterenol it decreased to 8 (0–27) mmHg, versus pre-intervention isoproterenol, p<0.0001. There were significant improvements in the gradients by Doppler (<0.0001) and by blood pressure cuff (p=0.0313). The gradients on isoproterenol best correlated with gradients by blood pressure cuff in the awake state (R2=0.76, p<0.0001).

Isoproterenol can be a useful tool to assess the significance of a coarctation and the effectiveness of an intervention. Percutaneous interventions can effectively reduce the gradients elicited by isoproterenol.

Although evidence exists for abnormal brain function across various anxiety disorders, direct comparison of neural function across diagnoses is needed to elicit abnormalities common across disorders and those distinct to a particular diagnosis.

To delineate common and distinct abnormalities within generalised anxiety (GAD), panic and social anxiety disorder (SAD) during affective processing.

Fifty-nine adults (15 with GAD, 15 with panic disorder, 14 with SAD, and 15 healthy controls) underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging while completing a facial emotion matching task with fearful, angry and happy faces.

Greater differential right amygdala activation to matching fearful v. happy facial expressions related to greater negative affectivity (i.e. trait anxiety) and was heightened across all anxiety disorder groups compared with controls. Collapsing across emotional face types, participants with panic disorder uniquely displayed greater posterior insula activation.

These preliminary results highlight a common neural basis for clinical anxiety in these diagnoses and also suggest the presence of disorder-specific dysfunction.