Life trajectories and burden of adversity: mapping the developmental profiles of suicide mortality

BACKGROUND

Little is known about differential suicide profiles across the life trajectory. This study introduces the life-course method in suicide research with the aim of refining the longitudinal and cumulative assessment of psychosocial factors by quantifying accumulation of burden over time in order to delineate distinctive pathways of completed suicide.

METHOD

The psychological autopsy method was used to obtain third-party information on consecutive suicides. Life-history calendar analysis served to arrive at an adversity score per 5-year segment that was then cluster-analysed and correlated to define victim profiles.

RESULTS

Two distinct life trajectories emerged: (1) individuals who experienced childhood traumas, developmental adversity and little protection were more likely to present concurrent psychiatric and Axis II disorders; and (2) individuals who experienced less adversity but seemed more reactive to later major difficulties.

CONCLUSIONS

The life calendar approach presented here in suicide research adds to the identification of life events, distal and recent, previously associated with suicide. It also quantifies the burden of adversity over the life course, defining two distinct profiles that could benefit from distinct targeted preventive intervention.

L’Étude de Suivi des Psychoses Émergentes de l’Université de Montréal (ÉSPÉUM) : contexte, buts et méthodologie

Dans cet article, les auteurs examinent les programmes et les services spécialisés dans le traitement et la réadaptation des personnes qui souffrent d’une psychose débutante. Les auteurs constatent que ces divers programmes se sont multipliés au cours de la dernière décennie et plusieurs ont démontré des bénéfices en comparaison des traitements habituels dispensés en psychiatrie générale. Ainsi, ces programmes sont constitués des éléments suivants : intervention familiale, traitement intensif dans la communauté, mesures de soutien à l’emploi, thérapie cognitivo-comportementale et entraînement aux habiletés sociales.

Leçons britanniques d’un transfert de ressources : le système de dotation par patient

Les « dots » ou système de dotation par patient peuvent être définies comme des sommes globales ou des subventions récurrentes, que les autorités de la santé se donnent entre elles ou versent aux autorités locales ou aux organismes sans but lucratif, pour les soins prodigués dans la communauté, plutôt que dans un hôpital, aux personnes souffrant de troubles mentaux graves et persistants. Cet article décrit comment les dots et d'autres processus ont été élaborés en Angleterre afin d'encourager la fermeture d'hôpitaux psychiatriques. Le contexte de ce financement des soins (avant les réformes engendrées par le National Health Service et le Community Care Act de 1990) montre certaines similitudes avec les dispositions en cours au Québec. Les auteurs résument une évaluation au long cours du programme de redéploiement dans deux hôpitaux psychiatriques de Londres qui ont fermé, afin d'examiner le type de services utilisés dans la communauté par d'anciens patients de ces hôpitaux et comparer les coûts de l'hôpital à ceux des soins communautaires. Après avoir quitté l'hôpital, les patients doivent recourir à d'autres services sociaux et de santé ; tout développement des soins communautaires pour ces patients doit à tout le moins refléter ceux fournis en milieu hospitalier. On examine dans quelle mesure la dotation par patient peut être appliquée au Québec pour réduire davantage les séjours de longue durée dans les hôpitaux. À certains égards, les systèmes britanniques et québécois se ressemblent, mais il existe aussi des différences organisationnelles et politiques. Il ne serait pas raisonnable de transférer en bloc le système anglais au Québec, mais d'importants aspects de son implantation et de ses procédures peuvent servir à guider le développement de mécanismes de financement au Québec en vue du transfert de ressources de l'hôpital vers des services dans la communauté.

L’après-suicide, une expérience unique de deuil?

Le groupe d'étude national sur le suicide au Canada suggère que les personnes qui vivent un deuil suite à un suicide forment un groupe à risque suicidaire. La littérature rapporte que ces endeuillés ont un taux de suicide neuf fois plus élevé que la population générale. Des auteurs suggèrent que ce type de deuil est plus intense et plus long que d'autres formes de deuil, constat que d'autres ont remis en doute. Qu'en est-il? Le deuil suite à un suicide est-il différent? S'agit-il d'une expérience unique de deuil? Un examen attentif de l'ensemble des études nous apprend que le deuil suite à un suicide présente des caractéristiques particulières, qui se manifestent davantage chez des personnes plus vulnérables.

Dinitrogen Dissociation on an Isolated Surface Tantalum Atom

Both industrial and biochemical ammonia syntheses are thought to rely on the cooperation of multiple metals in breaking the strong triple bond of dinitrogen. Such multimetallic cooperation for dinitrogen cleavage is also the general rule for dinitrogen reductive cleavage with molecular systems and surfaces. We have observed cleavage of dinitrogen at 250 degrees C and atmospheric pressure by dihydrogen on isolated silica surface-supported tantalum(III) and tantalum(V) hydride centers [(identical with Si-O)2Ta(III)-H] and [(identical with Si-O)2Ta(V)H3], leading to the Ta(V) amido imido product [(identical with SiO)2Ta(=NH)(NH2)]: We assigned the product structure based on extensive characterization by infrared and solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, isotopic labeling studies, and supporting data from x-ray absorption and theoretical simulations. Reaction intermediates revealed by in situ monitoring of the reaction with infrared spectroscopy support a mechanism highly distinct from those previously observed in enzymatic, organometallic, and heterogeneous N2 activating systems.

Effect of tryptophan hydroxylase-2 gene variants on suicide risk in major depression

BACKGROUND

Suicide and depressive disorders are strongly associated, yet not all depressed patients commit suicide. Genetic factors may partly explain this difference. We investigated whether variation at the tryptophan hydroxylase-2 (TPH2) gene and its 5' upstream region may predispose to suicide in major depressive disorder (MDD) and whether this predisposition is mediated by impulsive-aggressive behaviors (IABs).

METHODS

We genotyped 14 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 259 depressed subjects, 114 of which committed suicide while depressed. Phenotypic assessments were carried out by means of proxy-based interviews. Single-marker and haplotype association analyses were conducted. Differences in behavioral and personality traits according to genotypic variation were investigated, as well as genetic and clinical predictors of suicide.

RESULTS

We found two upstream and two intronic SNPs associated with suicide. No direct effect of these variants was observed on IABs. However, a slight association with reward dependence scores was found. Controlling for suicide risk factors, two SNPs (rs4448731 and rs4641527) significantly predicted suicide, along with cluster B personality disorders and family history of suicide.

CONCLUSIONS

The TPH2 gene and its 5' upstream region variants may be involved in the predisposition to suicide in MDD; however, our findings do not support the role of IABs as mediators.

Joint effect of depression and chronic conditions on disability: results from a population-based study

OBJECTIVES

To estimate and compare the prevalence of functional disability in individuals with both chronic medical conditions and comorbid major depression and individuals with either chronic medical conditions or major depression alone and to determine the joint effect of depression and chronic conditions on functional disability. Evidence exists that major depression interacts with physical illness to amplify the functional disability associated with many medical conditions.

METHODS

We used data from the Canadian Community and Health Survey Cycle 2.1 (n = 46,262), a nationally representative survey conducted in 2003 by Statistics Canada. Depression, chronic conditions, and functional disability were assessed by personal/telephone interview.

RESULTS

Prevalence of functional disability was higher in subjects with chronic conditions and comorbid major depression (46.3%) than in individuals with either chronic conditions (20.9%) or major depression (27.8%) alone. With no chronic conditions and no major depression as reference and after adjusting for relevant covariates, the odds ratio of functional disability was 2.49 (95% confidence interval (CI), 1.91-3.26) for major depression, 2.12 (95% CI, 1.93-2.32) for chronic conditions, and 6.34 (95% CI, 5.35-7.51) for chronic conditions and comorbid major depression.

CONCLUSIONS

The results suggest that there is a joint effect of depression and chronic conditions on functional disability. Research and social policies should focus on the treatment of depression in chronic conditions.

Risk factors for suicide completion in borderline personality disorder: a case-control study of cluster B comorbidity and impulsive aggression

BACKGROUND

Borderline personality disorder is a major risk factor for suicidal behavior, yet prediction of suicide completion remains unclear. It has been proposed that impulsivity and aggression interact to increase suicide risk. Death by suicide in borderline personality disorder, then, may be the result of impulsivity, a core feature of the disorder, interacting with violent-aggressive tendencies. Using a case-control design, this study investigated clinical and behavioral risk factors for suicide completion in borderline personality disorder.

METHOD

One hundred twenty subjects meeting DSM-IV criteria for borderline personality disorder, 50 controls and 70 who died by suicide between 2001 and 2005, were investigated by means of proxy-based interviews using structured diagnostic instruments and personality trait assessments.

RESULTS

Borderline personality disorder suicides had fewer psychiatric hospitalizations and suicide attempts than borderline personality disorder controls. Borderline personality disorder suicides were also more likely to meet criteria for current and lifetime substance dependence disorders. They had higher levels of current and lifetime Axis I comorbidity, novelty seeking, impulsivity, hostility, and comorbid personality disorders, while exhibiting lower levels of harm avoidance. Most importantly, borderline personality disorder suicides were more likely to have cluster B comorbidity. Impulsivity and aggression interacted to predict suicide, though not after controlling for cluster B comorbidity.

CONCLUSIONS

Borderline personality disorder individuals who die by suicide differ from those borderlines typically encountered in acute psychiatric settings. Our results suggest that the lethality of borderline personality disorder suicide attempts results from an interaction between impulsivity and the violent-aggressive features associated with cluster B comorbidity. Further, the anxious trait of harm avoidance appears to be protective against suicidal behavior resulting in death.

Le maintien en emploi de personnes souffrant d’une maladie mentale

L’insertion au travail de personnes souffrant d’une maladie mentale s’avère complexe et difficile. Pour celles qui travaillent, le maintien en emploi est de courte durée. Cet article vise à identifier des déterminants personnels du maintien en emploi de personnes souffrant d’une maladie mentale et inscrites dans un programme de réinsertion au travail. Des 105 personnes qui travaillent durant le suivi de 9 mois après leur inscription à un programme, près de 50 % maintiennent leur première activité de travail. Les résultats d’analyses de survie révèlent que selon l’indicateur de maintien en emploi observé (premier ou dernier emploi obtenu), les variables qui apparaissent comme significatives peuvent être reliées aux aspects sociodémographiques (aide financière reçue), travail (la durée d’absence du marché du travail, le type d’emploi obtenu), cognitif (fonctions exécutives) et clinique (symptômes paranoïdes). En conclusion, les auteurs suggèrent non seulement de considérer les variables inhérentes à la personne souffrant d’une maladie mentale pour prédire le maintien en emploi, mais aussi d’évaluer de façon plus systématique son milieu de travail.

Intrusion errors in explicit memory: their differential relationship with clinical and social outcome in chronic schizophrenia

INTRODUCTION

Memory deficits might account for clinical and adaptive differences between groups of patients with chronic schizophrenia. We investigated the qualitative factors of memory that influence clinical and social status.

METHODS

Psychosocial functioning, clinical symptoms, and memory function were assessed in 99 patients at four time points over a 16-month period using recall scores for semantically related words, unrelated words, paired associated learning, and word span. An initial cluster analysis using symptom assessment data from all four time points divided the sample into three groups: patients with low symptoms ratings that remained stable throughout the study period (low symptom-stable group - LSSG; N=51); patients with initially high symptoms ratings that subsequently improved (high symptom-improved group - HSIG; N=32); and patients with initially high symptoms ratings that deteriorated during the follow-up (high symptom-deteriorated group - HSDG; N=16).

RESULTS

Memory was better preserved in LSSG compared to HSIG and HSDG patients. Recall performance was generally better for semantically related words than for unrelated words but the difference between LSSG and the two other groups was more constant over time for semantically related words. Extra-list errors variable was positively correlated with three PANSS measures (r=.25-.47). Also, the extra-list errors scores were correlated with the Magical Ideation Scale (r=.34-.39). Memory scores (global explicit, unrelated, related) were significantly and positively correlated with independent living skills (r=.26-.55) and the extra-list errors were negatively correlated with both social support and independent living skills (r=-.29 and r=-.46, respectively). All groups showed a reduction in extraneous false recognition errors/intrusions (FRIs) over time with the HSIG showing the greater change. HSIG and HSDG patients committed slightly more FRIs in recall tasks (extraneous information) than LSSG patients.

CONCLUSION

Memory performance is better in patients presenting with less severe symptomatology. The extent to which FRIs reduce over time in patients with schizophrenia is a novel finding.

An examination of DSM-IV depressive symptoms and risk for suicide completion in major depressive disorder: a psychological autopsy study

BACKGROUND

It is unclear whether certain DSM-IV depressive symptoms are more prevalent among individuals who die in the context of a major depressive episode and those who do not, whether this is associated with proximal or distal suicide risk, and whether depressive symptoms cluster to indicate suicide risk.

METHOD

A psychological autopsy method with best informants was used to investigate DSM-IV depressive symptoms among 156 suicides who died in the context of a major depressive episode and 81 major depressive controls.

RESULTS

Suicides' depressive symptoms were more likely to include weight or appetite loss, insomnia, feelings of worthlessness or inappropriate guilt as well as recurrent thoughts of death or suicidal ideation. Fatigue and difficulties concentrating or indecisiveness were less prevalent among depressed suicides. These associations were independent of concomitant axis I and II psychopathology. The concomitant presence of (a) fatigue as well as impaired concentration or indecisiveness and (b) weight or appetite gain and hypersomnia was associated with decreased suicide risk. Inter-episode symptom concordance suggests that insomnia is an immediate indicator of suicide risk, while weight or appetite loss and feelings of worthlessness or guilt are not.

LIMITATIONS

This study employed proxy-based interviews.

CONCLUSIONS

We found that discrete DSM-IV depressive symptoms and clusters of depressive symptoms help differentiate depressed individuals who die by suicide and those who do not. Moreover, some DSM-IV depressive symptoms are associated with an immediate risk for suicide, while others may result from an etiology of depression common to suicide without directly increasing suicide risk.

Do Canada and the United States differ in prevalence of depression and utilization of services?

OBJECTIVE

This study compared the prevalence of depression and the determinants of mental health service use in Canada and the United States.

METHODS

The study used data from preliminary analyses of the 2003 Joint Canada/United States Survey of Health, which measured Canadian (N=3,505) and United States (N=5,183) resident ratings of health and health care services. Cross-national comparisons were made for the 12-month prevalence of DSM-IV major depression, 12-month service use for mental health reasons according to the type of professional seen, and determinants of service use.

RESULTS

The rates of depression were similar in Canada (8.2%) and the United States (8.7%). However, U.S. respondents without medical insurance were twice as likely as Canadian respondents and U.S. respondents with medical insurance to meet the criteria for depression. Rates of mental health service use did not differ between Canada (10.1%) and the United States (10.6%). In the United States, medical insurance was not a determinant factor of service use. However, U.S. respondents with no medical insurance were more likely than the other two groups to report an unmet need. Also, among those with depression, U.S. respondents with no medical insurance were less likely to use any type of mental health service (36.5%) than U.S. respondents with medical insurance (55.7%) and Canadians (55.7%). Further, a positive correlation between a mental health need and service use was observed in Canada but not for those without medical insurance in the United States.

CONCLUSIONS

There was no difference in the prevalence of depression and mental health service use between Canada and the United States. Among those with depression, however, disparities in treatment seeking were found to be associated with medical insurance in the United States. Both Canada and the United States need to improve access to health services for those with mental disorders, and special attention is needed for those without medical insurance in the United States.

Health care resource use associated with integrated psychological treatment

BACKGROUND

Mental health policies, advocating outpatient as well as community mental health care for the severely mentally ill, are aiming towards health system cost containment and patient quality of life. Programs with cognitive behavioral therapy, such as the Integrated Psychological Therapy (IPT), added to standard medical therapy for patients with schizophrenia have been associated with improved outcomes. A Quebec version of the IPT program was integrated in outpatient clinics and improvements were observed in overall symptoms, subjective experiences, cognitive and social functioning, and quality of life. In light of these results we deemed it relevant to describe the health system cost and patient resource use associated with the program. The costs related to IPT have not been previously reported and this study will elucidate on effective health services and budget allocation needed to include IPT.

AIMS

To describe health care resource use and related costs associated with participating in an IPT program included as standard medical therapy in nine clinical settings.

METHODS

A cohort of patients with schizophrenia participating in the IPT program were followed up to one year preceding the start of the program and concurrently until the end to compare the resource use and costs incurred by patients with schizophrenia during their participation. A health and social service system and patient perspective was adopted, and the medical and non-medical costs associated with the IPT program were measured. Valuation (2001 CDN dollars) was based on information provided by provincial billing systems. Statistical differences were assessed using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test.

RESULTS

The IPT program induced a one time fixed cost (2347 dollars) for the training of mental health professionals and costs related to patient participation (1350 dollars). Our results show that there was an average decrease in health care system resource use per patient during the IPT program (26,133 dollars) as opposed to the preceding year (26,750 dollars). There was a significant decrease in the number of visits and in physician fees paid out to psychiatrists, the number of hospitalizations and related costs, and visits to the emergency department per patient during the IPT program as compared to the preceding year. No significant difference was observed in patient related costs which averaged 7295 dollars and 7537 dollars, before and during the IPT program, respectively.

DISCUSSION

Although the IPT program induces a one time fixed cost for training, the integration of IPT, as part of an individualized standard medical therapy, is associated with a change from inpatient towards outpatient resource use with no significant increase in health system related costs.

IMPLICATIONS FOR HEALTH CARE PROVISION AND USE

Given clinical and quality of life improvements, the findings suggest that offering IPT to more patients with severe mental illness may prove more cost beneficial by decreasing the health system related costs per user in the long term.

IMPLICATIONS FOR FURTHER RESEARCH

Additional research is needed to examine in parallel the long-term clinical and cost impact of the IPT program in different clinical settings (young adults to long term mentally ill). This will elucidate to which patient population IPT is most cost-effective.

Care of patients with the most severe and persistent mental illness in an area without a psychiatric hospital

OBJECTIVE

With standard community resources, managing some patients with long-term mental illness can prove difficult, given the high level of care required. How many beds do such patients require? The study examined the prevalence, diagnostic and behavioral characteristics, and residential arrangements of a cohort of these patients in a semirural area of Canada (population of 291,500). The area has always functioned without a psychiatric hospital.

METHODS

A cross-sectional inquiry was made of all relevant institutions and residential facilities (including the local jail and shelters). Key stakeholders were interviewed and provincial databases were accessed in an effort to identify all adults aged 18 to 65 originating from the catchment area who displayed both a psychotic illness and severe behavioral disturbance necessitating ongoing close supervision. The Riverview Psychiatric Inventory was used to describe and quantify behavioral problems.

RESULTS

Thirty-six patients met the study criteria, for a prevalence of 12.4 per 100,000 in the general population. Most resided in a publicly funded nursing home or a well-staffed rural group home. Four (prevalence of 1.4 per 100,000) had a forensic profile, needed secure settings, and were long-term residents on acute care wards. Only one patient had transferred to a psychiatric hospital outside the catchment area.

CONCLUSIONS

Care for this population can be provided outside conventional psychiatric institutions but requires highly supervised long-term residential services in the range of ten to 40 per 100,000 in the population, depending on area characteristics, with urban, socially deprived areas likely having higher needs.

Suicide cases in New Brunswick from April 2002 to May 2003: the importance of better recognizing substance and mood disorder comorbidity

OBJECTIVE

To investigate all suicide cases that occurred in New Brunswick in the 14 months spanning April 1, 2002, to May 31, 2003, to determine 6-month and lifetime prevalence rates of psychopathology in the deceased.

METHOD

We used 2 psychological autopsy methods: direct proxy-based interviews and medical chart reviews, together with telephone contacts with informants. Consensus DSM-IV diagnoses were formulated by clinical panels on the basis of the Structured Clinical Interviews I and II for DSM-IV complemented by medical charts.

RESULTS

Of the 109 suicide deaths identified by the coroner at the time of the study, we were able to investigate 102. At time of death, 65% of the suicide victims had a mood disorder, 59% had a substance-related disorder, and 42% had concurrent mood and substance-related disorders. The lifetime prevalence of substance-related disorders among these suicide victims was 66%. Finally, 52% of the suicide victims presented with a personality disorder; one-half of these were of the cluster B type.

CONCLUSIONS

Although treatment of depression has frequently been recognized as the focal point of clinically based suicide-prevention efforts, our results underscore substance-related disorders as a key dimension of completed suicide. Suicide-prevention programs should be designed to address this problem more directly.

Including integrated psychological treatment as part of standard medical therapy for patients with schizophrenia: clinical outcomes

To assess the clinical outcomes associated with the inclusion of Integrated Psychological Treatment (IPT) standard medical therapy in nine regular clinical settings, nine clinical teams integrated the complete IPT program (six hierarchically arranged subprograms) with their respective standard medical therapies for outpatients with schizophrenia. A total of 90 patients, young adults to long-term mentally ill patients, participated in the program. Patients were evaluated using standardized instruments at four time points: (1) prior to including the IPT program, (2) after the first three IPT subprograms, (3) at the end of IPT, and (4) 3 to 4 months post-IPT. The IPT program was associated with positive results. Patients improved in terms of overall symptoms, subjective experiences, cognitive and social functioning, and quality of life. IPT is one of the most up-to-date programs to address the rehabilitation needs of persons suffering from schizophrenia. Our experience in nine clinical settings suggests that IPT can successfully be included as part of standard medical therapy in the rehabilitation of patients with schizophrenia.

Characterization of impulsivity in suicide completers: clinical, behavioral and psychosocial dimensions

BACKGROUND

Impulsivity is a personality trait thought to be linked to suicide. Yet, not all suicides are highly impulsive. We aimed to better understand clinical, behavioral and psychosocial correlates of the association between suicide and impulsive behavior.

METHODS

One hundred sixty four suicide cases with impulsivity scores based on the Barratt Impulsivity Scale (BIS) were investigated. To examine the most extreme phenotypes, one hundred suicide cases, representing subjects with BIS scores above the 70th percentile and below the 30th percentile, were compared on clinical, behavioral and psychosocial suicide risk factors assessed by way of structured psychological autopsy methods with best informants.

RESULTS

The impulsive suicide cases were significantly younger, exhibited higher measures of aggressive behavior, and were more likely to have a cluster B diagnosis as well as lifetime and 6-month prevalence of alcohol and drug abuse/dependence. They also differed significantly from their non-impulsive counterparts on all subscales of the TCI except for Harm Avoidance and Reward Dependence. Impulsive suicide completers were more likely to have had a history of childhood abuse and to have experienced a triggering life event up to a week preceding their death. A multivariate analysis indicated that 6-month prevalence of substance abuse/dependence and high aggressive behavior remained significant even after controlling for other significant variables.

LIMITATIONS

This study was carried out using proxy-based interviews.

CONCLUSIONS

Most of the known clinical and behavioral risk factors commonly associated with suicide are particularly valid for impulsive suicide completers. Further, triggering and adverse life events seem to play a role primarily in impulsive suicide.

Agreement between staff and service users concerning the clientele's mental health needs: a Quebec study

OBJECTIVES

This article examines the differences found between clientele with severe mental health problems and their key health workers in terms of assessing service users' needs in 6 Quebec service areas.

METHOD

We questioned 165 pairs of users and staff, using the Camberwell Assessment of Needs questionnaire. The profile of serious and overall problems encountered by clientele from each of the sites was compared.

RESULTS

The sites with the greatest degree of user-staff agreement in identifying problems were also the ones where users considered that local services best met their needs.

CONCLUSIONS

The study demonstrated that, in needs assessment, major differences exist between the perceptions of users and their key workers in the various sites. These differences can be explained in part by users' individual characteristics, by types of needs, by local particularities, and by service use.

Le point de vue des responsables des ressources de type familial sur les transformations des services de santé mentale au Québec

Cet article décrit les principaux résultats d’une étude qui a examiné le point de vue des responsables 1 de résidences d’accueil sur les récentes transformations des services en santé mentale, et sur l’impact de ces dernières sur leur travail auprès des personnes souffrant de troubles mentaux graves. Les résidences d’accueil (plus communément nommées « familles d’accueil ») représentent, au Québec, l’un des plus anciens modèles d’hébergement pouvant accueillir dans la communauté les personnes avec troubles mentaux graves. De fait, l’apparition des premières résidences d’accueil remonte au milieu des années 1950. Ainsi, bon nombre des individus qui ont dû quitter les unités de soins psychiatriques lorsque s’est amorcé au Québec le processus de désinstitutionnalisation, ont été placés dans des résidences d’accueil. Rappelons que les résidences d’accueil sont des habitations privées situées dans la communauté appartenant à des particuliers et dans lesquelles sont hébergées au plus, neuf personnes. Ces résidences d’accueil doivent offrir un environnement normal aux résidants, leurs responsables doivent veiller à la sécurité de ces derniers, en plus de leur procurer certains services matériels et d’encourager leur intégration sociale. Aujourd’hui les résidences d’accueil sont régies par la Loi 120 (Gouvernement du Québec, 1995) et sont désignées par l’appellation « ressources de type familial » (RTF).

STin2 variant and family history of suicide as significant predictors of suicide completion in major depression

BACKGROUND

Suicide is the most serious outcome of major depression, yet not all depressed patients will commit suicide. Genes, along with other factors, might account for this difference. Serotonergic alterations have been observed in suicide and depression and impulsive-aggressive behaviors. Therefore, we aimed to identify predictors of suicide, considering genetic variation at the serotonin transporter (5-HTT) gene.

METHODS

We investigated the 5-HTT gene-linked polymorphic region (5-HTTLPR) and intron 2 (STin2) variants of this gene and their relationship to behavioral and clinical risk factors for suicide in a sample of depressed suicides (n =106) and depressed control subjects (n =152), diagnosed by means of proxy-based interviews.

RESULTS

We found a significant association of suicide completion with having at least one copy of the STin2 10 allele [chi(2)(1) = 10.833, p = .002]. No differences were found for the 5-HTTLPR variable number of tandem repeats. After controlling for behavioral and clinical risk factors for suicide, the STin2 variant remained a significant predictor of suicide in major depression when jointly considered with a family history of suicide (odds ratio 5.560, 95% confidence interval 1.057-29.247).

CONCLUSIONS

The STin2 locus might account, at least in part, for the observed familial aggregation of suicidal behavior. These results should be further explored in families where clustering of suicidal behavior is observed.

Cognitive discernible factors between schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder

BACKGROUND

Schizophrenia (SZ) and schizoaffective disorders (SA) are associated with cognitive deficits. Generally, a schizoaffective diagnosis is associated with better prognosis on the level of social integration. It is also well established that cognition is an important factor for good social outcome in schizophrenia. We hypothesized that, although patients suffering from SA share symptoms with SZ, they can be differentiated on the basis of neurocognitive function and that SA perform better in several domains.

METHOD

Performances of two groups SA (N = 13) and SZ (N = 44) were compared on several visual-motor tasks using CANTAB [Motor Screening (MOT), Reaction Time (RTI), Paired Associates Learning Task (PAL), and Stockings of Cambridge items (SOC)]. The two groups were matched for symptom severity. ANOVA with repeated measures was employed to determine whether any difference in cognitive scores during a 2-year period was significantly related to the diagnostic status.

RESULTS

A significant and durable difference was observed between SZ and SA on motor screening and explicit memory tests where SA performed better.

CONCLUSION

Neurocognitive tests may be relevant for distinguishing schizoaffective from schizophrenia, chiefly via tests tapping into visuo-spatial and visuo-motor coordination abilities (e.g., paired associated learning and motor screening).

[Professional integration of individuals with a mental illness: an analysis of individual characteristics]

A prospective study of individuals with a mental illness aimed to identify significant determinants of their integration in the work force. Regression and mean comparison analysis allowed exploring an individual's most typical characteristics that could explain his or her socio-professional integration, while considering several professional integration indicators. First, results suggest that linked to work (e.g. commitment to work) and socio-demographic variables (e.g. financial support received) can predict performing a work activity and obtaining competitive employment. Second, 2 additional variables can predict autonomy in employment, which are a feeling of efficiency in looking for work and a capacity to overcome obstacles to work integration. Third, cognitive and clinical variables are associated with a delay to start work. Fourth, the number of hours worked per week is explained by the feeling of efficiency in overcoming health problems and others motivational and psychosocial variables. Finally, it is important to clearly identify the professional integration indicators in order to determine the significant predictors.

CANTAB explicit memory is less impaired in addicted schizophrenia patients

It has been suggested that in order to sustain the lifestyle of substance abuse, addicted schizophrenia patients would have less negative symptoms, better social skills, and less cognitive impairments. Mounting evidence supports the first two assumptions, but data lack regarding cognition in dual diagnosis schizophrenia. Seventy-six schizophrenia outpatients (DSM-IV) were divided into two groups: with (n = 44) and without (n = 32) a substance use disorder. Motor speed and visuo-spatial explicit memory were investigated using CANTAB. As expected, dual diagnosis patients showed a better cognitive performance. Our results suggest either that substance abuse relieves the cognitive deficits of schizophrenia or that the patients with less cognitive deficits are more prone to substance abuse.

Cognitive predictors of psychosocial functioning outcome in schizophrenia: a follow-up study of subjects participating in a rehabilitation program

The aims of this prospective study were to explore in subjects with psychosis participating in a rehabilitation program whether cognitive performances at baseline predicted (i) psychosocial functioning over a 15-16 month follow-up; (ii) improvement in psychosocial functioning over the rehabilitation program. Visuo-spatial tests from the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB) were administered to assess cognitive performance in 55 subjects with schizophrenia spectrum disorders who completed a rehabilitation program. The Multnomah Community Ability Scale (MCAS) was used to measure dimensions of community functioning. One subscale of the Client's Assessment of Strengths, Interests, and Goals (CASIG) provided a measure of subjective quality of life (QoL). Improvement was defined as a 15% or more increase in psychosocial scores between baseline and follow-up. Worse baseline sustained attention predicted better self-rated quality of life, and better baseline visual memory predicted better community functioning over the rehabilitation follow-up period, in particular, higher autonomy in activities of daily living, and less physical and psychiatric symptoms that could interfere with rehabilitation. Baseline cognitive performances predicted community functioning improvement during the follow-up period: visual memory predicted improvement in daily living autonomy and in social competence; sustained attention predicted improvement in behavioral problems (such as medication compliance, collaboration with treatment providers or impulse control) and social competence; planning performances predicted improvement in social competence. These cognitive functions could be specifically targeted in a rehabilitation program aimed at enhancing functioning in those particular dimensions.

Is the statistical association between sex and the use of services for mental health reasons confounded or modified by social anchorage?

OBJECTIVE

Confounding and interaction have differing implications for the interpretation of findings and the design of research, mental health services, and policy. This study aimed to verify whether the association between sex and the use of services for mental health reasons is confounded or modified by social anchorage.

METHODS

We undertook a case-control study nested in Cycle 1.2 of the Canadian Community Health Survey. Cases were defined as users of general medical services for mental health reasons in the previous 12 months, and control subjects were defined as never-users of any services for mental health reasons. The pattern of social anchorage was described by the roles of parent, spouse, worker, and their combination.

RESULTS

Overall, women are 2.9 times more likely than men to use general services for mental health reasons. However, this inequality between women and men decreases substantially or subsides in individuals who are less anchored to Canadian society. For instance, in single parents and in unemployed parents, the odds of using general services for mental health reasons are similar in women and in men. The pattern of social anchorage tends to modify, but not to confound, the association between sex and the use of services.

CONCLUSIONS

Ignoring the interaction between sex and the pattern of social anchorage distorts the interpretation of the inequality between women and men in the use of general medical services for mental health reasons and may affect the design of comprehensive mental health services and policy.

Service use for mental health reasons: cross-provincial differences in rates, determinants, and equity of access

OBJECTIVES

In 2002, Canada undertook its first national survey on mental health and well-being, including detailed questioning on service use. Mental disorders may affect more than 1 person in 5, according to past regional and less comprehensive mental health surveys in Canada, and most do not seek help. Individual determinants play a role in health resource use for mental health (MH) reasons. This study aimed to provide prevalence rates of health care service use for MH reasons by province and according to service type and to examine determinants of MH service use in Canada and across provinces.

METHODS

We assessed the prevalence rate (95% confidence interval [CI]) of past-year health service use for MH reasons, and we assessed potential determinants cross-sectionally, using data collected from the Statistics Canada Canadian Community Health Survey: Mental Health and Well-Being (CCHS 1.2). We estimated models of resource use with logistic regression (using odds ratios and 95%CIs).

RESULTS

The prevalence of health service use for MH reasons in Canada was 9.5% (95%CI, 9.1% to 10.0%). The highest rates, on average, were observed in Nova Scotia (11.3%; 95%CI, 9.6% to 13.0%) and British Columbia (11.3%; 95%CI, 10.1% to 12.6%). The lowest rates were observed in Newfoundland and Labrador (6.7%; 95%CI, 5.3% to 8.0%) and Prince Edward Island (7.5%; 95%CI, 5.8% to 9.3%). In Canada, the general medical system was the most used for MH reasons (5.4%; 95%CI, 5.1% to 5.8%) and the voluntary network sector was the least used (1.9%; 95%CI, 1.7% to 2.1%). No difference was observed in the rate of service use between specialty MH (3.5%; 95%CI, 3.2% to 3.8%) and other professional providers (4.0%; 95%CI, 3.7% to 4.3%). In multivariate analyses, after adjusting for age and sex, the presence of a mental disorder was a consistent predictor of health service use for MH across the provinces.

CONCLUSIONS

There is up to a twofold difference in the type of service used for MH reasons across provinces. The primary care general medical system is the most widely used service for MH. Need remains the strongest predictor of use, especially when a mental disorder is present. Barriers to access, such as income, were not identified in all provinces. Different sociodemographic variables played a role in service seeking within each province. This suggests different attitudes toward common mental disorders and toward care seeking among the provinces.

Implantation multisite du programme Integrated Psychological Treatment (IPT) pour les personnes souffrant de schizophrénie. Élaboration d’une version renouvelée

Le programme Integrated Psychological Treatment (IPT) de Brenner et al. (1992), d’approche cognitivo-comportementale, a été implanté dans neuf milieux cliniques offrant des services aux personnes souffrant de schizophrénie. Une étude a permis de suivre l’implantation du programme IPT dans chacun des milieux, plus particulièrement d’évaluer le niveau de satisfaction des participants et des intervenants et d’identifier les points forts et les améliorations souhaitées. Les résultats permettent de constater que l’implantation a été un succès pour l’ensemble des neuf milieux. Les intervenants et les participants ont apprécié non seulement la structure hiérarchique qui tient compte davantage des besoins en réadaptation des personnes souffrant de schizophrénie, mais aussi son cadre d’application privilégié qui permet le suivi régulier d’un même groupe de patients pendant une année. Les modifications et ajouts proposés ont permis de développer une version québécoise du programme favorisant davantage l’atteinte des objectifs, particulièrement ceux liés au maintien et à la généralisation des apprentissages dans le contexte de vie réelle des participants.

Nature and prevalence of mental illness in the workplace

This discussion paper explores the state of knowledge about the prevalence of mental illness and its effect on the working population. Major trends in the literature are also commented on, and significant gaps in knowledge are identified. Annually, 12% of Canadians from 15 to 64 years suffer from a mental disorder or substance dependence. Few studies have examined the prevalence of mental disorders among Canadian workers. Results from Ontario estimate that monthly, about 8% of the working population has a diagnosable mental disorder. Preliminary findings also indicate differences in the prevalence of mental disorders among workers with regard to occupation, age, sex, physical disorders, work environment and work-related stress. Studies indicate that mental and emotional health problems are associated with staggering social and economic costs, which create a heavy burden on the workplace. About one-third of society's depression-related productivity losses can be attributed to work disruptions. The impact of mental illness on the workplace has been examined in terms of its effect on presenteeism, absenteeism and disability days. The presence of any of these has been used to indicate decreased productivity, the largest burden arising from presenteeism. In total, Canada annually loses about $4.5 billion from this decreased productivity. Mental illness is also associated with short-term and long-term disability, which in turn is often related to insurance coverage. Mental illness related disability claims have doubled and mental illness accounts for 30% of disability claims, at a cost of $15 to $33 billion annually. The needs of the working population and employers must be addressed. We must be aware of patterns of mental disorder among occupational groups and industry sectors. In addition, we must understand how the disability benefit structure impacts the prevalence as well as patterns of disability related to mental illness. Effective policies and programs must be based on solid evidence.

[The fate of patients with very severe and chronic mental disorders when there is no psychiatric hospital: a case study]

The Eastern Townships (Estrie) is an area of Québec which has never had a psychiatric hospital and is thus an extreme example of deinstitutionalization. How can people with the most severe mental illnesses be cared for? Does this system have harmful consequences? The authors present a case study with both qualitative and quantitative data to elucidate their questions. They found 36 patients with very severe mental illness (prevalence 12,4/100 000). This region does not send its most severely ill patients outside and generally succeeds in providing them with care and services in a network of small and medium size residential facilities. On the other hand, the authors have also been able to identify a certain drift of patients towards the correctional system ; cases with double or triple diagnosis do not easily have access to care ; through lack of an alternative, patients with potentially chronic violence often are stuck in a hospital in short stay beds (prevalence 1,6/100 000). It thus appears possible to eliminate the use of a psychiatric hospital for patients with very severe mental disorders as long as they are provided with supervised and long term care facilities (need : 10-20 places/100 000).

The crucial role of sustained attention in community functioning in outpatients with schizophrenia

The aim was to explore the pattern of associations between visual cognitive performance and community functioning in a sample of outpatients with schizophrenia participating in a rehabilitation program. Visuo-spatial tests from the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB) were administered to assess cognitive performances in 88 subjects. The Multnomah Community Ability Scale (MCAS) was used to measure dimensions of community functioning. Our results showed that the sustained attention score was significantly associated with the global community functioning score and with two specific dimensions: "adjustment to living" and "behavioral problems". No association was found between other cognitive indices and MCAS scores. Since the sustained attention task mainly involves the executive component of working memory, these findings suggest that attentional control processes are limiting factors for community functioning in schizophrenia outpatients. Measures of such processes could serve as key indices of disability in clinical practice. Attention and working memory training may be helpful to improve community functioning in subjects with schizophrenia.

Suicídio e ausência de psicopatologia em eixo I

BACKGROUND: A razão por que aproximadamente 10% das pessoas que cometem suicídio parecem ser psiquiatricamente normais ainda não está clara. Para melhor compreender este assunto, estudamos suicidas sem diagnóstico do eixo I e os comparamos com controles normais e com suicidas com psicopatologia do eixo I no que diz respeito a outras psicopatologias. MÉTODOS: 168 casos de suicídio foram examinados por meio de autópsia psicológica com o melhor informante disponível. Dezesseis casos não preencheram os critérios para um diagnóstico do eixo I; cada um desses casos foi pareado em idade e gênero com 52 casos de suicídio com transtorno do eixo I e com 110 controles normais. RESULTADOS: Dos 16 casos de suicídio, 14 pacientes sem diagnóstico do eixo I apresentaram anormalidades detectáveis à autópsia que eram mais semelhantes às encontradas nos pacientes suicidas com diagnóstico de eixo I do que no grupo vivo. Os dois grupos suicidas mostraram semelhanças no número total de tentativas prévias de suicídio, no número total de indivíduos com transtornos do eixo II e nos escores obtidos na medida dos comportamentos impulsivo-agressivos. CONCLUSÕES: Estes achados sugerem que a maioria dos indivíduos que cometeu suicídio e aparentou ser psiquiatricamente normal na autópsia psicológica possivelmente possuía algum processo psiquiátrico subjacente que o método da autópsia, da maneira como é comumente realizado, falhou em detectar.

Self-assessed cognitive dysfunction and objective performance in outpatients with schizophrenia participating in a rehabilitation program

OBJECTIVE

To explore the pattern of associations between self-assessed and objective neuropsychological performance in a sample of outpatients with schizophrenia participating in a rehabilitation program.

METHOD

The Subjective Scale to Investigate Cognition in Schizophrenia (SSTICS) [Compr. Psychiatry 44 (2003) 331] was used to assess cognitive complaints in 73 subjects with schizophrenia. Visuo-spatial tests of the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB) [Cogn. Neuropsychiatry 3 (1998) 45] were administered as objective measures.

RESULTS

Cognitive complaints in several cognitive domains were mainly correlated with a true difficulty in memory. Higher SSTICS attention scores, i.e. increased complaints, were associated with poorer CANTAB explicit visual memory and planning performances. Higher SSTICS executive functioning scores were associated with poorer CANTAB explicit visual memory scores.

CONCLUSION

These findings suggest that outpatients with schizophrenia express some cognitive difficulties. However, the cognitive nature of these subjective complaints does not strictly correspond with objective performances. These results also suggest that theoretical constructs of cognitive functions do not always have ecological validity. Thus, subjective cognitive complaints should be taken into account in assessment of patient well-being, but cannot be used as a substitute to objective cognitive measures. The simultaneous use of subjective and objective measures of cognitive dysfunction may provide a more complete picture of individual rehabilitation targets in patients with schizophrenia.

Investigation of completed suicide and genes involved in cholesterol metabolism

BACKGROUND

Several lines of evidence support the association between low or lowered levels of serum total cholesterol and suicide. Genetic epidemiological studies suggest that genes predispose to suicide. Given that genes control many aspects of cholesterol biosynthesis and metabolism, one approach through which to explore the putative association between low cholesterol and suicide is through genetic studies.

METHODS

We examined the potential role of five genes encoding proteins involved in cholesterol biosynthesis and transport in a total sample of 305 male Caucasian subjects, consisting of 145 suicide completers and 160 controls. We investigated variation in the HMG CoA reductase (HMGCR), 7-dehydrocholesterol reductase (DHCR7), lipoprotein lipase (LPL), low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR), and apolipoprotein E (APOE) genes.

RESULTS

We were unable to detect significant differences in allele or genotype frequencies between the suicide cases and controls for any of the genes studied. No relationship was found between genotype and impulsivity or aggression as measured using the BIS and BDHI, respectively.

LIMITATIONS

The limitations of this study are consistent with the typical limitations inherent in most genetic association studies involving complex behavioral traits.

CONCLUSION

Although these genes are unlikely to play a major role in susceptibility to suicide, further studies in a larger sample are necessary to reveal the smaller genetic effects, if present.

Suicide and no axis I psychopathology

BACKGROUND

It is unclear why approximately 10% of suicide completers seem to be psychiatrically normal. To better understand this issue, we studied suicide completers without an axis I diagnosis and compared them, on measures of psychopathology other than axis I, to normal controls and suicide cases with axis I psychopathology.

METHODS

168 suicide cases were examined by way of a psychological autopsy with the best possible informant. Sixteen cases did not meet criteria for an axis I diagnosis; each of these cases was then age and gender matched to 52 suicide completers with an axis I disorder and 110 normal controls.

RESULTS

Fourteen of sixteen suicide cases without an axis I diagnosis had detectable abnormalities that were more similar to the axis I diagnosed suicide group than to a living group. Both suicide groups were similar in the total number of past suicide attempts, the total number of individuals with an axis II disorder, and similar scores on measures of impulsive-aggressive behaviors.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggest that most of the individuals who committed suicide and appeared psychiatrically normal after a psychological autopsy may probably have an underlying psychiatric process that the psychological autopsy method, as commonly carried out, failed to detect.

Alpha 2A adrenergic receptor gene and suicide

Suicide is a complex trait resulting from the interaction of several predisposing factors, among which genes seem to play an important role. Alterations in the noradrenergic system have been observed in postmortem brain studies of suicide victims when compared to controls. The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that genetic variants of the alpha(2A) adrenergic receptor gene are implicated in suicide and/or have a modulatory effect on personality traits that are believed to mediate suicidal behavior. We studied a sample of suicides (N=110) and control subjects (N=130) for genetic variation at four loci, including three in the promoter region (g-1800t, c-1291 g and the g-261a) of the alpha(2A) adrenergic receptor gene, and a potentially functional locus, N251K, which leads to an amino acid change (asparagine to lysine). No significant differences were observed at the promoter loci in terms of allelic or genotypic distribution between suicides and controls. However, analysis of the functional polymorphism N251K revealed that the 251 K allele was only present among suicides, though only three suicide cases had this allele, two of which were homozygous. These results are preliminary. If confirmed, they suggest that variation at the alpha(2A) adrenergic receptor gene may play a role in a small proportion of suicide cases.

Transverse dephasing optimized solid-state NMR spectroscopy

It is shown how coherence lifetimes in solid-state NMR experiments can be controlled. New decoupling schemes are introduced which actively optimize dephasing times, providing increases of up to a factor of 2 with respect to the best existing schemes. The new schemes are implemented in transverse-dephasing-optimized (TDOP) NMR experiments for the disorded solid cellulose, and for a microcrystalline protein, where sensitivity improvements of up to a factor of 5 are obtained.

Corticosteroids as adjunctive treatment in Austrian's syndrome (pneumococcal endocarditis, meningitis, and pneumonia): report of two cases and review of the literature

This report describes two cases of Osler's triad of pneumonia, meningitis, and endocarditis, as a result of Streptococcus pneumoniae infection, also called Austrian's syndrome. In the first patient, a 51 year old non-alcoholic man, the aortic valve was affected and needed to be replaced in an emergency operation. The mitral valve was affected in a 70 year old woman without underlying disease, who only benefited from medical treatment. Both patients received corticosteroids, either dexamethasone followed by low doses of hydrocortisone and fludrocortisone, or only hydrocortisone and fludrocortisone, at the onset of the illness, and their outcome was favourable. These case reports focus on the presentation, prognosis, and therapeutic options for this severe syndrome.

Patterns of co-morbidity in male suicide completers

BACKGROUND

Psychiatric co-morbidity is thought to be an important problem in suicide, but it has been little investigated. This study aims to investigate patterns of co-morbidity in a group of male suicide completers.

METHOD

One hundred and fifteen male suicide completers from the Greater Montreal Area and 82 matched community controls were assessed using proxy-based diagnostic interviews. Patterns of co-morbidity were investigated using latent class analysis.

RESULTS

Three subgroups of male suicide completers were identified (L2 = 171.62, df = 2012, P < 0.05). they differed significantly in the amount of co-morbidity (Kruskal-Wallis chi2 = 71.227, df = 2. P < 0.000) and exhibited different diagnostic profiles. Co-morbidity was particularly found in subjects with disorders characterized by impulsive and impulsive-aggressive traits, whereas subjects without those traits had levels of co-morbidity which were not significantly different from those of controls (chi2 = 8.17, df = 4, P = 0.086).

CONCLUSIONS

Suicide completers can be divided into at least three subgroups according to co-morbidity: a low co-morbidity group, a substance-dependent group and a group exhibiting childhood onset of psychopathology.

Hyperreninemic hypoaldosteronism: a possible etiological factor of septic shock-induced acute renal failure

OBJECTIVE

Hyperreninemic hypoaldosteronism has been described in critically ill patients. The present study investigated the plasma aldosterone concentration (PAC) in septic shock patients and its relationship with clinical course.

DESIGN AND SETTING

Prospective descriptive study in a medical intensive care unit (ICU) of a university hospital.

PATIENTS

Forty-six consecutive patients with septic shock as defined by the ACCP/SCCM criteria.

INTERVENTION

A corticotropin stimulation test, followed by treatment with low doses of hydrocortisone and fludrocortisone.

MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS

Plasma renin activity, PAC, and cortisol levels were measured before and after the test. PAC measurements were repeated for 1 week. Relevant clinical and laboratory variables were recorded for ICU stay. Patients were divided into two groups according to PAC/renin activity ratio: above 2 (n=24 patients) and below 2 n=22). Patients with PAC/renin activity less than 2 had higher total volume of infused fluid, serum creatinine level, and fractional excretion of sodium values; aldosterone and serum creatinine were negatively correlated. Hypoaldosteronism was reversible within 1 week. Duration of ICU stay (p=0.0026) and the need for renal replacement therapy (p=0.0021) were greater in the group with PAC/renin less than 2.

CONCLUSIONS

Transient hyperreninemic hypoaldosteronism is common in patients with septic shock. These abnormal aldosterone levels are associated with greater sodium and fluid depletion and are followed by enhanced incidence of acute renal failure requiring renal replacement therapy and prolonged length of stay in ICU.

Wolfram syndrome and suicide: Evidence for a role of WFS1 in suicidal and impulsive behavior

There is evidence suggesting that subjects affected with the Wolfram syndrome (WFS) and normal carriers present an increased risk of psychiatric disorders, particularly depression and suicidal behavior. We investigated a possible role of the gene involved in WFS (WFS1) in the neurobiology of suicide and the potential modulatory effect on traits associated to suicidal behavior. Genetic variation at WFS1 (H611R, R456H, and I333V) was investigated in 111 suicide victims and 129 normal controls. Possible effects on psychopathology and behavioral traits were investigated in a subsample of suicide cases (N = 31) for whom phenotyping was carried out by means of structured psychiatric interviews and questionnaires adapted for psychological autopsies. We found a significantly higher frequency of the 611R/611R genotype in suicide completers as compared to controls (chi(2) = 19.21, df=2, P = 0.001). Suicide completers with this genotype had higher scores on measures of impulsivity (t = -3.15, df = 15.3, P = 0.006); novelty seeking (NS) (t = -3.35, df = 13.8, P = 0.005); and conversely, lower scores of persistence (t = 2.4, df = 16.6, P = 0.028). Scores of impulsivity and NS remained higher in subjects with the associated genotype after adjusting for age, gender, and psychopathology. These results suggest a role for WFS1 in the pathophysiology of impulsive suicide, and are consistent with previous clinical reports suggesting an increased risk of suicidal behavior in WFS homozygotes and heterozygotes. However, these findings are preliminary and should be confirmed in independent samples.

Suicide and serotonin: study of variation at seven serotonin receptor genes in suicide completers

Suicide is an important public health problem, accounting for a significant proportion of total mortality among young people, particularly males. There is growing and consistent evidence suggesting that genetic factors play an important role in the predisposition to suicide. Based on several lines of evidence supporting a reduced serotonergic neurotransmission in subjects who committed suicide, we investigated variation at genes that code for serotonin receptor 1B (5-HTR1B), 1Dalpha (5-HTR1Dalpha), 1E (5-HTR1E), 1F (5-HTR1F), 2C (5-HTR2C), 5A (5-HTR5A), and 6 (5-HTR6) in a total sample of 106 suicide completers and 120 normal controls. No differences were observed in allelic or genotypic distributions between groups for any of the loci investigated. Moreover, further analysis according to suicide method or psychopathology also failed to reveal differences between groups. Our results do not support a substantial role of these serotonergic receptors in suicide completion.

[French validation of the Verona Service Satisfaction Scale-VSSS-54F]

INTRODUCTION

The Verona Service Satisfaction Scale-French version (13) was translated and adapted from the Italian version of Verona Service Satisfaction Scale (27). The VSSS makes it possible to evaluate the satisfaction of people with serious mental illness with respect to the services. The original VSSS-54 contained 7 dimensions: 1) Overall satisfaction, 2) Professionals' skills and behaviour, 3) Information, 4) Access to services, 5) Services efficacy, 6) Relatives' involvement and 7) Types of interventions. According to factorial analyses carried out by Ruggeri et al., the dimensions Information and Access to services were aggregated. However, no factorial analysis was carried out in order to verify the six dimension-structure of the VSSS. From an international perspective, the study entitled "The European Psychiatric Services: Inputs linked to Outcome Domains and Needs (EPSILON)" achieved the standardisation of different questionnaires in several languages (2). A new version of the VSSS entitled "Verona Service Satisfaction Scale-European version" (VSSS-EU) was developed and is now available in the following languages: Italian, Danish, German, English and Spanish. In order to compare in different countries the satisfaction of people with serious mental illness with respect to services, we undertook from 1998 to ascertain the psychometrical properties of the French version of the VSSS. (13). Confirmatory Factorial Analysis (CFA) was carried out on the six dimension-structure of the VSSS-54F: 1) Overall satisfaction, 2) Professionals' skills and behaviour, 3) Information and Access to services, 4) Services efficacy, 5) Relatives involvement and 6) Types of interventions. For each dimension, consistency analysis (Cronbach's alpha) was computed in order to bring forth additional psychometrical properties of the VSSS-54F.

METHOD

PARTICIPANTS

150 clients involved in an intensive case management program and supported by 30 mental health workers, filled out the VSSS-54F questionnaire. These clients were comprised of 110 women and 40 men, their ages ranging from 22 to 90 years (M = 51.7, SD = 14.7). Among them, 65 (43.3%) had a diagnosis of schizophrenia or another form of psychosis, 56 (37.3%) had an affective disorder, 17 (11.3%) had anxious disorders and 7 (7.7%) other.

DATA ANALYSES

Using the EQS Software (3), Confirmatory Factor Analyses (CFA) were carried out in this study. Thus, 'the evaluation of the models' fit with the empirical data was carried out by taking into account various statistical indices. In addition to the Chi square/df ratio, the indices of adjustment such as the "NonNormed Fit Index" (NNFI), the Comparative Fit Index (CFI), robust CFI (calculated starting from the Satorra-Bentler Chi Square) as well as the RMSEA (Root Mean Standard Error of Approximation) were used to measure the fit of the models. Moreover, the estimation method "Maximum Likelihood-Robust" was carried out in order to evaluate the models.

RESULTS

The original model with 6 dimensions (M1) does not present satisfactory fit indices. Indeed, the Chi Square/df ratio is above 2, the NNFI, CFI and CFI robust indices are lower than. 90 and the RMSEA is higher than. 08. Most items from Types of intervention dimension presented saturation lower than.30, and consequently indicate that these items are not correlated significantly with their dimension. We notice also some correlations between error terms of the three items of Overall Satisfaction scale and other items of the VSSS questionnaire. Considering these last results and the direction taken in VSSS-EU by breaking down by profession items of Professionals' skills and behaviour scale, we obtained a new model (M2). The five dimensions of this model are as follow: 1) Psychiatrists/Psychologists' skills and behaviour (7 items), 2) Nursing staff/social workers' skills and behaviour (7 items), 3) Information and access to services (3 items), 4) Services efficacy (5 items), 5) Relatives' involvement (3 items). When we test this model, the fit indices are satisfactory: the Chi Square/df is 1.36, the NNFI, CFI and robust CFI indices are near or higher than 0.90, respectively 0.88, 0.89 and 0.94. Finally, the RMSEA index is 0.08. In addition, the correlations between five dimensions are significant and vary from 0.58 to 0.87 (p < 0.05). The internal consistency coefficients for each new scale are all satisfactory, and vary from .83 to .91, except for the Information and access to services scales. But this latter finding shall be evaluated knowing that acceptable alpha can be close to .60 when scales count less than four items (16).

CONCLUSION

This study confirms with some adjustments the factorial structure of the VSSS. The results indicate five dimensions (25 items): Psychiatrists/Psychologists' skills and behaviour, Nursing staff/social workers' skills and behaviour, Information and access to services, Services efficacy, Relatives' involvement. Even if the Type of interventions dimension was not retained in the model, we suggest preserving it for eventual clinical evaluation based on each item. We also suggest, for future studies, the adaptation of the VSSS-54F to the European version, VSSS-EU. Indeed, the results of our study sustain the European version because the VSSS-EU is more focused since it separates the skills and behaviour of psychiatrists, psychologists, nurses and social workers (e.g. items 3a and 3b or items 22a and 22b). The next step in the validation process would be to measure Inter-rater and test-retest reliability as well as concurrent, convergent and discriminant validity of the VSSS-EU. Furthermore, a multicultural comparison of the VSSS-EU would be required if the instrument is used for interesting comparisons of survey.

The construct validity of the client questionnaire of the Wisconsin Quality of Life Index--a cross-validation study

The Wisconsin Quality of Life Index (W-QLI, Becker, Diamond and Sainfort, 1993) consists of eight scales: satisfaction with life domains, occupational activities, symptoms, physical health, social relations/support, finances, psychological wellbeing, and activities of daily living. The W-QLI has been modified to fit the characteristics of the Canadian population, the universal Canadian health system, and community and social services in Canada and the modified form was named CaW-QLI (Diaz, Mercier, Hachey, Caron, and Boyer, 1999). This study will verify the empirical basis of these theoretical dimensions by applying a cross-validation procedure on two samples, most of whose subjects have a serious mental illness. Confirmatory factor analyses and exploratory factor analyses using the principal component extraction technique with varimax rotation were applied. With the exception of the occupational activities domain, the remaining scales were correctly identified by the factor analyses on each sample. The occupational activities scale should be developed by additional items for representing this scale, which is too brief, and two other items should be revised in order to improve the quality of the instrument.