A prototype approach toward antipsychotic medication adherence in schizophrenia

Treatment selection using prototyping in latent-space with application to depression treatment

Machine-assisted treatment selection commonly follows one of two paradigms: a fully personalized paradigm which ignores any possible clustering of patients; or a sub-grouping paradigm which ignores personal differences within the identified groups. While both paradigms have shown promising results, each of them suffers from important limitations. In this article, we propose a novel deep learning-based treatment selection approach that is shown to strike a balance between the two paradigms using latent-space prototyping. Our approach is specifically tailored for domains in which effective prototypes and sub-groups of patients are assumed to exist, but groupings relevant to the training objective are not observable in the non-latent space. In an extensive evaluation, using both synthetic and Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) real-world clinical data describing 4754 MDD patients from clinical trials for depression treatment, we show that our approach favorably compares with state-of-the-art approaches. Specifically, the model produced an 8% absolute and 23% relative improvement over random treatment allocation. This is potentially clinically significant, given the large number of patients with MDD. Therefore, the model can bring about a much desired leap forward in the way depression is treated today.

From trust to skepticism: An in-depth analysis across age groups of adults with sickle cell disease on their perspectives regarding hydroxyurea

Despite its efficacy, the uptake of HU in adults with sickle cell disease (SCD) is poor likely due to a combination of system, provider, and patient-related factors. We investigated attitudes of adult patients towards HU by conducting qualitative interviews with 95 adult SCD patients (age 18 to 67 years old, 71 were female). While 53% of all participants reported that they were currently taking HU, patients ranging in age 18–30 years (Group 1) were more likely to report current HU use as compared to those (Group 2) ranging in age 31–67 years (65% vs. 41% P = 0.01). Most Group 1 participants who reported currently taking HU indicated that the decision to start HU was made by a parent, though some made the decision themselves as a young adult. Group 1 participants expressed trust in the efficacy of HU as well as trust that their physician adequately shared risks and benefits for the medication. The Group 2 participants, who were not currently on HU, were skeptical that all the risks and benefits of HU were known, were concerned that the efficacy of HU was not proven, and that they were not receiving complete information about its potential side effects. Of Group 2 participants who reported currently being on HU, 25% were concerned about the side effects and efficacy of HU and reported continuing HU because of a lack of effective alternatives. These data suggest that there are significant differences by age in adult SCD patients’ attitudes towards, utilization and understanding of the risks and benefits of HU.

Insight in Psychiatry and Neurology: State of the Art, and Hypotheses

In spite of the increasing number of studies on insight in psychiatry and also in neurology and psychology, its nature is still elusive. It encompasses at least three fundamental characteristics: the awareness of suffering from an illness, an understanding of the cause and source of this suffering, and an acknowledgment of the need for treatment. As such, insight is fundamental for patients' management, prognosis, and treatment. Not surprisingly, the majority of available data, which have been gathered on schizophrenia, show a relationship between low insight and poorer outcomes. For mood disorders, however, insight is associated with less positive results. For other psychiatric disorders, insight has rarely been investigated. In neurology, the impaired ability to recognize the presence of sensory, perceptual, motor, affective, or cognitive functioning-referred to as anosognosia-has been related to damage of specific brain regions. This article provides a comprehensive review of insight in different psychiatric and neurological disorders, with a special focus on brain areas and neurotransmitters that serve as the substrate for this complex phenomenon.

Attitudes toward psychotropic medications among patients with chronic psychiatric disorders and their family caregivers

AIM

To examine attitudes towards psychotropic medications among patients with chronic psychiatric disorders as well as their family caregivers by using factor analysis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study included 200 patients and their family caregivers with chronic psychiatric disorders who are attending the psychiatry outpatient services. A self-designed 18-item self-rated questionnaire was used to evaluate the attitude toward psychotropics and factor analysis was done to study the different models of attitudes.

RESULTS

In general both patients and caregivers had positive attitude toward the psychotropic medications and there was no significant difference between the patients and caregivers on the various items of the questionnaire assessing the attitude. Factor analysis of the questionnaire indicated that either two-factor or four-factor models explained the attitude of the patients and caregivers. In the two-factor model there was one positive and one negative attitude factor, whereas the four-factor model comprised of two positive and two negative attitude factors. The four-factor model of attitudes provided a more comprehensive solution to how attitudes might be formed among patients and their family caregivers. Factors one and four in the four-factor solution still reflected positive attitudes, but appeared to portray a risk-benefit approach, in which benefits such as the efficacy of psychotropic medications in treating mental illnesses and preventing relapse, and medications being better than other options were being contrasted with the risks of side effects and permanent damage or harm.

CONCLUSION

Attitudes of patients with chronic psychiatric disorders and their caregivers toward psychotropic medications appear to be shaped by factors such as perceived efficacy or benefit from medicines, the necessity for taking treatment and concerns such as side effects, harm or expense.

A randomized controlled trial with a Canadian electronic pill dispenser used to measure and improve medication adherence in patients with schizophrenia

Objective: Medication adherence is extremely important in preventing relapse and lowering symptoms in schizophrenic patients. However, estimates show that nearly half of these patients have poor adherence. The Brief Adherence Rating Scale (BARS) seems to be the most reliable tool assessing adherence in schizophrenia and shows that the antipsychotic adherence ratio (AAR) is about 49.5% in schizophrenia. The aim of the study was to test if an electronic pill dispenser named DoPill^® improved AAR of schizophrenic patients. Furthermore, we compared AAR obtained by the DoPill^® and the BARS, in order to verify whether the DoPill^® provides reliable assessment of medication adherence.

Methods: The DoPill^® is a smart pill dispenser that beeps and flashes at the appropriate time of the day. Each of its 28 compartments is covered by a plastic lamina that, when taken off, sends a signal to the pharmacist. Patients were randomized to the DoPill^® or treatment as usual groups for 6 weeks. The BARS was used as a reference measure.

Results: Forty-six percent of patients were deemed to be non-adherent with antipsychotic medication. The mean AAR was 67% after 6 weeks. DoPill^® recorded better AAR than some of those found in the literature and were lower than the BARS estimate we found.

Conclusion: These results suggest that DoPill^® is a valid tool that provides more reliable and objective data for the clinician about their patient’s adherence, than existing assessment tools like the BARS. Furthermore, the device may help patients successfully manage their medication regimen.

Adherence styles of schizophrenia patients identified by a latent class analysis of the Medication Adherence Rating Scale (MARS): a six-month follow-up study

The purpose of this study was to examine patients' response profiles to the Medication Adherence Rating Scale (MARS) and to evaluate the potential of response styles as predictors of the future course of psychotic disorders in terms of rehospitalisation and maintenance of medication. A total of 371 psychiatric in-patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder who were taking part in a naturalistic long-term study completed a German version of the MARS. A Latent Class Analysis (LCA) was performed. Five latent classes of response styles could be identified: "moderately adherent", "critical discontinuers", "good compliers", "careless and forgetful", and "compliant sceptics". Class membership was found to be related to the severity of symptoms, level of functioning, insight into illness, insight into necessity of treatment, treatment satisfaction and medication side effects. At a six-month follow-up appointment, significant differences between the classes persisted. Participants showing a "good compliers" response pattern had a significantly better prognosis in terms of rehospitalisation rate and maintenance of the original medication than "critical discontinuers". Evaluation of the MARS by studying response profiles provides informative results that reach beyond the results obtained by an evaluation by scores. Patients can be classified into adherence groups that are of predictive value for long-term patient outcome.

Optimizing outcomes in schizophrenia: long-acting depots and long-term treatment

Antipsychotics are the mainstay of treatment for patients with schizophrenia. However, these medications only work if they are taken and perhaps work best if they are taken for longer periods of time than seen in typical research trials. Here we explore the idea of "time as drug" by reviewing the data showing the potential benefits of long-term antipsychotic use. We also discuss the utility of depot antipsychotic formulations for improving the chances of attaining long-term therapeutic results.

How do socio-demographic and clinical factors interact with adherence attitude profiles in schizophrenia? A cluster-analytical approach

Knowledge regarding socio-demographic and clinical risk factors of medication nonadherence does not always help in addressing adherence in individual patients. Classifying patients according to subjective adherence influencing factors may aid practitioners in choosing adequate strategies for improving medication adherence. A total of 171 outpatients with schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder were classified according to factors influencing their medication adherence assessed using the Rating of Medication Influences Scale. Additionally, psychotic symptoms, depression, and insight, also known to influence pharmacological treatment motivation, were assessed. A cluster analysis yielded 3 groups that were distinguished both by the relative ranking of adherence influences and by specific associations with risk factors of nonadherence. For the "Interpersonal, Future-oriented Group" (n=59, 35% of the sample), interpersonal factors (positive therapeutic relationship, positive attitudes of significant others towards medication), immediate positive consequences of the medication intake (daily benefits, no perceived pressure to take medication), and avoiding future negative consequences of non-compliance, such as relapse and re-hospitalization, were essential for adherence. The "Autonomous, Future-oriented Group" (n=69, 40% of the sample) appraised interpersonal factors as being less important as compared to the other groups. This group exhibited significantly fewer depressive symptoms than the first group and had significantly more stable partnerships as compared to the other groups. The "Autonomous, Present-oriented Group" (n=43, 25% of the sample) was mainly motivated by immediate positive consequences and displayed higher levels of cognitive disorganization and negative symptoms than the second group, as well as the lowest level of insight of all groups. Treatment strategies addressing adherence enhancement in schizophrenia may profit by considering both the patient's subjective adherence attitude profile as well as the specific pattern of risk factors for nonadherence including depression, lack of insight, negative syndrome, cognitive disorganization and socio-demographic factors, which are differentially associated with each adherence attitude profile.

Insight in schizophrenia and its association with executive functions

BACKGROUND

Lack of insight or awareness of illness is most frequently observed in patients with schizophrenia, and it influences treatment compliance. It has been hypothesized that the frontal dysfunction may explain poor insight in schizophrenia.

AIM

The purposes of the study were to assess the degree of insight in schizophrenia and to examine the association, if any, between the degree of insight and executive functions in patients with schizophrenia.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this pre-post study, 30 patients of both sexes diagnosed to have schizophrenia were assessed with the Scale to Assess Unawareness of Mental Disorder and Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST). They were assessed once at the time of admission and then at the time of their discharge.

RESULTS

The study revealed that 70% of the subjects possessed poor awareness of mental disorder. There was significant improvement of insight over time. The degree of insight was significantly associated with the performance on WCST 2(nd) assessment. WCST scores were able to explain 42% of the variance in insight.

CONCLUSION

Majority of schizophrenic patients possess poor insight. This poor insight is significantly associated with poor executive function. Hence poor insight may have a cognitive etiology.