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Li JR, Yeh LL, Lin JY, Pan YJ. Medication Dosage Impact on Mortality in Old-Age Individuals with Schizophrenia: A National Cohort Study. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2024; 17:78. [PMID: 38256911 PMCID: PMC10820447 DOI: 10.3390/ph17010078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2023] [Revised: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
As the prevalence of old-age individuals with schizophrenia (OAS) increases in a society undergoing demographic aging, the exploration of medication choices becomes increasingly crucial. Due to the current scarcity of literature on OAS, this study seeks to examine how the utilization and cumulative dosages of psychotropic medications influence both overall and cause-specific mortality risks within this population. A national cohort of 6433 individuals diagnosed with OAS was followed up for 5 years. This study involved comparing the mortality rates associated with low, moderate, and high dosages of antipsychotics, antidepressants, mood stabilizers, and sedative/hypnotic drugs against the 'no exposure' category, based on individual dosages. Cox regression was employed for survival analyses to compare overall mortality and specific-cause mortality across various dosage groups. The exposure variable examined was the dosage of a specific psychotropic medication. Covariates were adjusted accordingly. The analysis revealed that patients on low/moderate antipsychotic doses had improved survival compared to non-exposed individuals. Moderate antipsychotic use corresponded to reduced cardiovascular disease mortality risk. Similarly, those exposed to antidepressants had enhanced survival in low and moderate doses. Sedative-hypnotic exposure was linked to decreased mortality risk in low doses. This study observed that low/moderate antipsychotic doses in older adults with schizophrenia were associated with decreased all-cause mortality, emphasizing the significance of precise medication selection and dosing. It underscores the need for vigilant polypharmacy management and tailored medication strategies in addressing the complexities of treating OAS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia-Ru Li
- Department of Psychiatry, Far Eastern Memorial Hospital, New Taipei City 22060, Taiwan
- Institute of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10025, Taiwan
| | - Ling-Ling Yeh
- Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Dharma Drum Institute of Liberal Arts, New Taipei City 20842, Taiwan;
| | - Ji-Yu Lin
- Department of Psychiatry, National Taiwan University Hospital Yunlin Branch, Yunlin 64041, Taiwan;
| | - Yi-Ju Pan
- Department of Psychiatry, Far Eastern Memorial Hospital, New Taipei City 22060, Taiwan
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Yuan Ze University, Taoyuan City 32003, Taiwan
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Choi NG, DiNitto DM, Marti CN. Public mental health service use among U.S. adults age 50+ compared to younger age groups. SOCIAL WORK IN HEALTH CARE 2022; 61:499-515. [PMID: 36484172 DOI: 10.1080/00981389.2022.2154886] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2022] [Revised: 10/29/2022] [Accepted: 11/30/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Despite increasing numbers of older-adult mental health service users, few studies have examined their use of public mental health services. Using the 2018 and 2019 Mental Health-Client Level data for clients age 18+ (N = 4,291,737 in 2018 and N = 4,513,946 in 2019), we examined whether those age 50+ who received outpatient-only, both outpatient and inpatient, or inpatient-only services had greater odds of certain types of mental disorders, especially schizophrenia, than younger adults. Of all users, 25.3% were age 50-64 and 6.7% were age 65 + . Multivariable logistic regression results, controlling for gender, race/ethnicity, census region, and alcohol/substance use disorder, showed that compared to the 30-49 age group, the 50-64 and 65+ age groups had higher odds of having depressive disorder in outpatient-only settings; however, they had consistently higher odds of a diagnosis of schizophrenia or other psychotic disorder in all three service settings. Along with advocating for increased funding for publicly-financed mental health services, social workers in public mental health service systems should ensure that they utilize effective intervention skills for older adults with serious mental illness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Namkee G Choi
- Steve Hicks School of Social Work, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA
| | - Diana M DiNitto
- Steve Hicks School of Social Work, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA
| | - C Nathan Marti
- Steve Hicks School of Social Work, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA
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Ahonen L, Loeber R, Brent DA. The Association Between Serious Mental Health Problems and Violence: Some Common Assumptions and Misconceptions. TRAUMA, VIOLENCE & ABUSE 2019; 20:613-625. [PMID: 29333994 DOI: 10.1177/1524838017726423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
The media, the general public, and politicians often emphasize that mental illness is a precursor and a cause of violence, particularly emphasizing an assumed relationship between mental illness, including psychopathy and psychosis, and the use of guns to commit violence. We report which individuals with serious mental health problems have an increased risk to commit violence (including gun violence). Second, we answer the question to what extent serious mental health problems explain most violence and especially gun-related violence. And what is the opinion of experts on these questions? Third, we review which effective screening instrument can help to identify individuals with mental health problems who are at risk to carry a gun and commit violence. For policy makers and legislators, this article points out that most psychiatric disorders are not related to violence, with some exceptions such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, and often only in conjunction with substance use. We show that the attributable risk of mental illness to explain violence in general is low. We also emphasize that conduct disorder in late childhood or adolescence is a better predictor of violence than is mental illness at a later age. Empirically based screening methods to identify individuals with mental health problems who are prone to violence appear to have limited utility. Implications are discussed for clinicians and practitioners working in the justice system, researchers, and policy makers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lia Ahonen
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
| | - Rolf Loeber
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - David A Brent
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
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Lacey C, Manuel J, Schluter PJ, Porter RJ, Pitama S, Jamieson HA. Sociodemographic, environmental characteristics and comorbidities of older adults with schizophrenia who access community health service support: A national cross-sectional study. Aust N Z J Psychiatry 2019; 53:570-580. [PMID: 30754993 DOI: 10.1177/0004867419828480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Schizophrenia is a serious and chronic mental illness known to have broad ranging impacts for individuals across the lifespan, yet research on the disease in older adults is sparse. This study provides a profile of the sociodemographic, environmental and diagnostic characteristics of older community residents with schizophrenia using a national database. METHODS A cross-sectional sample of individuals who underwent community needs assessment using the standardised Home Care International Residential Assessment Instrument between 1 September 2012 and 31 January 2016 was utilised. Sociodemographic, diagnostic, and social and environmental variables were measured for individuals with a diagnosis of schizophrenia and compared to those without a diagnosis of schizophrenia. Statistical investigations employed bivariable and multivariable logistic regression models. RESULTS A total sample of 71,859 was eligible and 517 (0.7%) had a diagnosis of schizophrenia. The majority of the sociodemographic variables were statistically associated with schizophrenia in the adjusted analysis, except for ethnicity ( p = 0.35). Nearly all the measured social and environmental variables were adversely associated with having a diagnosis of schizophrenia, such as living in squalid conditions (adjusted odds ratio = 2.16; 95% confidence interval = [1.42, 3.28]). Participants with schizophrenia were significantly more likely to be diagnosed with all assessed psychiatric comorbidities ( p < 0.001) and diabetes mellitus ( p = 0.002), whereas coronary heart disease ( p = 0.001) and other physical comorbidities ( p = 0.001) were found at significantly lower rates. CONCLUSION The profile of schizophrenia found here suggests some subtle differences in the demographic profile and distribution of medical comorbidities in the older population with schizophrenia. The results also suggest that this group continues to experience social disadvantage into old age. This requires the attention of policy-makers to ensure that services are tailored to the high social needs of these individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cameron Lacey
- 1 Māori/Indigenous Health Institute (MIHI), University of Otago, Christchurch, New Zealand.,2 Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Otago, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Jenni Manuel
- 1 Māori/Indigenous Health Institute (MIHI), University of Otago, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Philip J Schluter
- 3 School of Health Sciences, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand.,4 Primary Care Clinical Unit, School of Clinical Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Richard J Porter
- 2 Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Otago, Christchurch, New Zealand.,5 Specialist Mental Health Services, Canterbury District Health Board, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Suzanne Pitama
- 1 Māori/Indigenous Health Institute (MIHI), University of Otago, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Hamish A Jamieson
- 5 Specialist Mental Health Services, Canterbury District Health Board, Christchurch, New Zealand.,6 Department of Medicine, University of Otago, Christchurch, New Zealand
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Robison D, McInnis-Perry G, Weeks LE, Foley V. Dignity in Older Adults With Schizophrenia Residing in Assisted Living Facilities. J Psychosoc Nurs Ment Health Serv 2018; 56:20-28. [DOI: 10.3928/02793695-20170929-01] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2017] [Accepted: 08/14/2017] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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Oxidative stress, prefrontal cortex hypomyelination and cognitive symptoms in schizophrenia. Transl Psychiatry 2017; 7:e1171. [PMID: 28934193 PMCID: PMC5538118 DOI: 10.1038/tp.2017.138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 124] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2017] [Revised: 04/12/2017] [Accepted: 05/06/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Schizophrenia (SZ) is a neurodevelopmental disorder with a broad symptomatology, including cognitive symptoms that are thought to arise from the prefrontal cortex (PFC). The neurobiological aetiology of these symptoms remains elusive, yet both impaired redox control and PFC dysconnectivity have been recently implicated. PFC dysconnectivity has been linked to white matter, oligodendrocyte (OL) and myelin abnormalities in SZ patients. Myelin is produced by mature OLs, and OL precursor cells (OPCs) are exceptionally susceptible to oxidative stress. Here we propose a hypothesis for the aetiology of cognitive symptomatology in SZ: the redox-induced prefrontal OPC-dysfunctioning hypothesis. We pose that the combination of genetic and environmental factors causes oxidative stress marked by a build-up of reactive oxygen species that, during late adolescence, impair OPC signal transduction processes that are necessary for OPC proliferation and differentiation, and involve AMP-activated protein kinase, Akt-mTOR-P70S6K and peroxisome proliferator receptor alpha signalling. OPC dysfunctioning coincides with the relatively late onset of PFC myelination, causing hypomyelination and disruption of connectivity in this brain area. The resulting cognitive deficits arise in parallel with SZ onset. Hence, our hypothesis provides a novel neurobiological framework for the aetiology of SZ cognitive symptoms. Future research addressing our hypothesis could have important implications for the development of new (combined) antioxidant- and promyelination-based strategies to treat the cognitive symptoms in SZ.
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Nadalin S, Buretić-Tomljanović A. An association between PLA2G6 and PLA2G4C gene polymorphisms and schizophrenia risk and illness severity in a Croatian population. Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids 2017; 121:57-59. [PMID: 28651698 DOI: 10.1016/j.plefa.2017.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2016] [Revised: 03/30/2017] [Accepted: 06/12/2017] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
We investigated the allele and genotype frequency of the rs4375 and rs1549637 polymorphisms in phospholipase A2 (PLA2)G6 and PLA2G4C genes in 203 patients with schizophrenia and 191 controls in a Croatian population. We hypothesized that these polymorphic variations might influence the age of schizophrenia onset and Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale psychopathology (PANSS) data. We detected a significant overrepresentation of the PLA2G6-CT and PLA2G4C-AT genotype combination in patients compared with controls (14.7% vs. 7.3%, P < 0.05). The combined PLA2G6/PLA2G4C heterozygosity was associated with about a two-fold higher schizophrenia risk. We found no significant influence of the PLA2G6 and PLA2G4C polymorphisms on mean age at first hospital admission (P > 0.05) and that the investigated polymorphisms significantly influenced the clinical psychopathology only in male patients. The PLA2G4C polymorphism accounted for approximately 12% of negative symptom severity; whereas, the PLA2G6/PLA2G4C interaction contributed to a similar extent to total PANSS symptom variations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergej Nadalin
- Department of Biology and Medical Genetics, School of Medicine, University of Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia.
| | - Alena Buretić-Tomljanović
- Department of Biology and Medical Genetics, School of Medicine, University of Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia
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Abstract
We aimed to evaluate the association between sex and hospitalization characteristics in psychotic disorders. We identified all acute hospitalizations, between 2010 and 2013, for psychotic disorders in patients younger than 45 and older than 55 years (n = 5411) in the hospital's database. In addition, we identified patients who were prescribed with intramuscular risperidone (n = 280) or clozapine (n = 192) at discharge. The results showed that women younger than 45 years had lower proportions of hospitalizations (33.52% vs. 66.47%) and involuntary hospitalizations (33.85% vs. 45.55%) than did men in the same age group. Women older than 55 years had higher proportions of hospitalizations (57.22% vs. 42.77%) and similar proportion of involuntary hospitalizations. Women younger than 45 years were prescribed similar doses of intramuscular risperidone and lower doses of clozapine (345.8 vs. 380.2 mg) and women older than 55 years were prescribed higher doses of intramuscular risperidone (44.8 vs. 34.4 mg/2 weeks) and clozapine (164.32 vs. 154.5 mg) than were men in the same age group. Women in the reproductive years have better hospitalization characteristics than do men on these measures.
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[Schizophrenia spectrum disorders in elderly patients : Analysis of reasons for admission to a department of geriatric psychiatry]. Z Gerontol Geriatr 2016; 51:206-212. [PMID: 27436219 DOI: 10.1007/s00391-016-1107-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2015] [Revised: 05/09/2016] [Accepted: 06/16/2016] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to analyze the possible reasons for acute admission to a department for geriatric psychiatry. The reasons for hospitalization, the psychiatric and somatic comorbidities of the patients over 65 years old with schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder and delusional disorder were examined to identify patterns and risk profiles. MATERIAL AND METHODS A retrospective analysis was carried out using paper and electronic patient records of a department of acute care for geriatric psychiatry and psychotherapy. During the assessment period 206 successive patients over 65 years old were included in the study. The patient cohort included 64 patients with schizophrenia according to the international classification of diseases 10 (ICD-10, category F20), 78 patients with persistent delusional disorder (ICD-10, F22) and 64 patients with schizoaffective disorder (ICD-10, F25). RESULTS The reason for admission for one third of the patients in all three groups was aggressive behavior, whereas delusions and hallucinations were more frequent in the groups of F20 and F22 patients than in patients with schizoaffective disorders (F25). Somatic comorbidities were seen significantly more often in the group of F22 patients than in the other two groups. CONCLUSION Acute admission was essentially due to acute psychiatric symptoms. Additional somatic comorbidities and psychosocial influencing factors played only a minor role in this study. The patients examined in this study constituted a special group within the acute treatment of inpatient psychiatry because they showed distinctive psychopathological productive symptoms but were relatively healthy from a somatic point of view. Patients with the diagnosis of schizophrenia (F20) or schizoaffective disorder (F25) were significantly different from patients classified into the group of delusional disorders (F22).
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Curran B, Collier E. Growing older with post-traumatic stress disorder. J Psychiatr Ment Health Nurs 2016; 23:236-42. [PMID: 27170071 DOI: 10.1111/jpm.12280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/28/2015] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
UNLABELLED WHAT IS KNOWN ON THE SUBJECT?: The needs of older people with long-term mental illness are not very well addressed in policy and research. Older people are not a homogenous group and people ageing with long-term mental illness have potentially unique or specific needs. WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS TO EXISTING KNOWLEDGE?: A unique example of the idiosyncratic and contextual nature of individual strengths and the abilities in managing personal recovery when experiencing long-term mental illness. Emotional exhaustion experienced after long-term mental health compromises the ability to manage feelings, potentially a special feature of life time mental ill health. WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE?: Recognition that the hard work involved in successfully managing long-term personal recovery may be important in preventing suicide in later life. The need to understand a person's life story to make sense of their experience of mental illness and to recognize long-term mental illness to later life as part of a persons' established identity. The importance of appreciating the place of early memories for understanding older person's mental health in their present. ABSTRACT Introduction Ageing with mental illness is a neglected area of research and policy. People who grow older to later life with ongoing mental health problems may not have their needs well understood. This understanding is important if mental health services are to ensure direct or indirect age discrimination is avoided. Aim This paper aims to explore issues relating to later life and ageing with mental illness focused on the story of Bernard (who was 84 years of age at the time of writing) who lived with a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Method The paper is co-authored by Bernard and the researcher he originally told his story to as a participant in a biographical research study exploring mental ill health through the life course. In the original research study, Bernard completed a curriculum vitae (CV) of his life which informed two personalised interviews. An edited version of this is presented in this paper. Implications for practice are discussed in the context of life course, recovery, self-help and preventing suicide. The narrative illustrates how time, memory and meaning interweave and how ageing with mental illness become part of a person's ongoing identity.
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Affiliation(s)
- B Curran
- School of Nursing, Midwifery, Social Work & Social Sciences, University of Salford, Salford, UK
| | - E Collier
- School of Nursing, Midwifery, Social Work & Social Sciences, University of Salford, Salford, UK
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Markwick L, Smith C, Mick D. Functional behavioral analysis and social scripting for the older patient with schizophrenia: a staff development program. Issues Ment Health Nurs 2014; 35:883-90. [PMID: 25353301 DOI: 10.3109/01612840.2014.897777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Executive functioning is the ability to plan, strategize, organize, and focus on details. Impaired executive functioning plays a significant role in behavior disturbances. Lack of inhibition, impaired abstract reasoning, thought perseverance, rigidity in routine, and lack of insight disrupt social skills and daily life. Autism and schizophrenia present some similar behaviors, including impaired executive functioning, often resulting in pharmacological management as many healthcare professionals receive limited training in executive functioning. Non-pharmacological tools used in autism for behavior management include functional behavioral analysis and social scripting, which help to identify causes of behavior and teach more appropriate behavioral responses. Described here is an educational program for healthcare workers in a long-term care skilled nursing facility, to help them understand the basis for behaviors in individuals with impaired executive function, to use these same tools for behavioral modification techniques, and to help patients learn more appropriate social skills. Program evaluation suggested the educational program was successful in increasing the staff's knowledge and comfort level in addressing the behavioral issues that arise with this population and staff also reported less use of medication as first-line treatment for behavioral issues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Markwick
- St John Fisher College, Wegmans School of Nursing, Rochester, USA
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Nadalin S, Giacometti J, Buretić-Tomljanović A. PPARα-L162V polymorphism is not associated with schizophrenia risk in a Croatian population. Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids 2014; 91:221-5. [PMID: 25087592 DOI: 10.1016/j.plefa.2014.07.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2014] [Revised: 06/18/2014] [Accepted: 07/04/2014] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Disturbances of lipid and glucose metabolism have been repeatedly reported in schizophrenia. A functional L162V polymorphism in peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARα) gene has been extensively investigated in etiology of abnormal lipid and glucose metabolism, yet not in schizophrenia. We determined whether the schizophrenia risk was associated with L162V polymorphism and we examined the impact of L162V variant on age of onset, and data of psychopathology scores. We also hypothesized that plasma glucose and lipid concentrations in patients may be influenced by L162V polymorphism. Genotype and allele frequencies between 203 patients and 191 controls did not differ significantly. Females heterozygous for the PPARα genotype (L162V) manifested significantly lower negative symptom scores, tended toward an earlier onset, and had significantly greater triglyceride levels. The PPARα-L162V polymorphism is not associated with schizophrenia risk in Croatian population, but it impacts clinical expression of the illness and plasma lipid concentrations in female patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Nadalin
- Department of Biology and Medical Genetics, School of Medicine, University of Rijeka, Braće Branchetta 20, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia
| | - J Giacometti
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Rijeka, Slavka Krautzeka bb, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia
| | - A Buretić-Tomljanović
- Department of Biology and Medical Genetics, School of Medicine, University of Rijeka, Braće Branchetta 20, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia.
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Giacco D, McCabe R, Kallert T, Hansson L, Fiorillo A, Priebe S. Friends and symptom dimensions in patients with psychosis: a pooled analysis. PLoS One 2012; 7:e50119. [PMID: 23185552 PMCID: PMC3503760 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0050119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2012] [Accepted: 10/16/2012] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Having friends is associated with more favourable clinical outcomes and a higher quality of life in mental disorders. Patients with schizophrenia have fewer friends than other mentally ill patients. No large scale studies have evaluated so far what symptom dimensions of schizophrenia are associated with the lack of friendships. METHODS Data from four multi-centre studies on outpatients with schizophrenia and related disorders (ICD F20-29) were included in a pooled analysis (N = 1396). We established whether patients had close friends and contact with friends by using the equivalent items on friendships of the Manchester Short Assessment of Quality of Life or of the Lancashire Quality of Life Profile. Symptoms were measured by the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale or by the identical items included in the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale. RESULTS Seven hundred and sixty-nine patients (55.1%) had seen a friend in the previous week and 917 (65.7%) had someone they regarded as a close friend. Low levels of negative symptoms and hostility were significantly associated with having a close friend and contact with a friend. Overall, almost twice as many patients with absent or mild negative symptoms had met a friend in the last week, compared with those with moderate negative symptoms. CONCLUSIONS Higher levels of negative symptoms and hostility are specifically associated with the lack of friendships in patients with psychotic disorders. These findings suggest the importance of developing effective treatments for negative symptoms and hostility in order to improve the probability of patients with schizophrenia to have friends.
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Affiliation(s)
- Domenico Giacco
- Unit for Social and Community Psychiatry, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom.
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Cheng ST, Yip LCY, Jim OTT, Hui ANN. Self-perception of aging and acute medical events in chronically institutionalized middle-aged and older persons with schizophrenia. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry 2012; 27:907-13. [PMID: 21953859 DOI: 10.1002/gps.2798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2010] [Accepted: 08/08/2011] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To examine the relationship between self-perceptions of aging and acute medical events in chronically institutionalized middle-aged and older persons with schizophrenia. METHODS Participants were 83 persons with schizophrenia (30% women; mean age = 58.48, SD = 8.14) residing in a long-stay care home, who were without organic mental disorders, mental retardation, serious audiovisual impairment, and serious cognitive and physical impairment. They received assessments in body mass index, functional health, and global mental status, and responded to measures of self-perception of aging at baseline. Acute events that required medical attention were recorded for the next 3 months. RESULTS 8% of the participants had acute medical events. Bivariate analysis suggested that number of comorbid medical conditions, mobility, Mini-Mental State Examination, and negative self-perception of aging were predictive of acute medical events. However, multivariate analysis (logistic regression) showed that only mobility (OR = 0.78, p = 0.04) and negative self-perception of aging (OR = 3.38, p = 0.02) had independent effects on acute medical events, with the latter being the stronger predictor. Positive aging self-perception, body mass index, and smoking were unrelated to medical events. CONCLUSIONS Physical vulnerabilities may not be sufficient to explain the development of acute medical events in late-life schizophrenia. How individuals perceive their aging process, which is expected to regulate health behavior and help-seeking, may be an even more important factor. Further research should investigate whether such self-perceptions, which are probably rooted in stereotypes about aging socialized early in life, are modifiable in this population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheung-Tak Cheng
- Department of Psychological Studies, Hong Kong Institute of Education, Hong Kong.
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El-Mallakh P, Howard PB, Evans BN. Medical Illnesses in People with Schizophrenia. Nurs Clin North Am 2010; 45:591-611, vi. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cnur.2010.06.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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Huang C, Zhang YL. Clinical differences between late-onset and early-onset chronically hospitalized elderly schizophrenic patients in Taiwan. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry 2009; 24:1166-72. [PMID: 19259980 DOI: 10.1002/gps.2241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To examine the clinical differences between late-onset schizophrenia (LOS) and early-onset schizophrenia (EOS) in Taiwanese elderly chronic hospitalized schizophrenic patients. METHODS By using a cross-sectional study method, we investigated all the hospitalized elderly schizophrenic patients in a general hospital's psychiatric ward during July-September 2007. All the subjects matched DSM-IV-TR diagnostic criteria and were aged 60 years or above. A total of 52 subjects were enrolled (LOS = 23, EOS = 29). Demographic data, illness history, and antipsychotic treatment record were documented; the positive and negative syndrome scale (PANSS), Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression scale (CES-D), mini-mental status examination (MMSE), activities of daily living rating scale for psychiatric patients (ADLRS), community self-sufficiency test (CST), clinical global impression (CGI), and general assessment of functioning scale (GAF) were administered. RESULTS In our samples, a lower educational level was found to be more common in late-onset patients. In LOS, there was no significant increase in the severity of PANSS psychopathology except for greater thought disorder symptoms. Both LOS and EOS patients had similar cognitive and functioning impairment with poor global outcomes. There was a trend of low antipsychotic drug use in LOS. CONCLUSIONS In Taiwan, elderly chronic inpatients LOS had greater thought disorders compared to findings in Western studies. Further large-scale longitudinal studies are needed to understand the factors related to these findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao Huang
- Department of Psychiatry, Wei-Gong Memorial Hospital, Toufen, Taiwan.
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Abstract
Clinicians treating older patients with schizophrenia are often challenged by patients presenting with both depressive and psychotic features. The presence of co-morbid depression impacts negatively on quality of life, functioning, overall psychopathology and the severity of co-morbid medical conditions. Depressive symptoms in patients with schizophrenia include major depressive episodes (MDEs) that do not meet criteria for schizoaffective disorder, MDEs that occur in the context of schizoaffective disorder and subthreshold depressive symptoms that do not meet criteria for MDE. Pharmacological treatment of patients with schizophrenia and depression involves augmenting antipsychotic medications with antidepressants. Recent surveys suggest that clinicians prescribe antidepressants to 30% of inpatients and 43% of outpatients with schizophrenia and depression at all ages. Recent trials addressing the efficacy of this practice have evaluated selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as fluoxetine, sertraline, fluvoxamine and citalopram. These trials have included only a small number of subjects and few older subjects participated; furthermore, the efficacy results have been mixed. Although no published controlled psychotherapeutic studies have specifically targeted major depression or depressive symptoms in older patients with schizophrenia, psychosocial interventions likely play a role in any comprehensive management plan in this population of patients.Our recommendations for treating the older patient with schizophrenia and major depression involve a stepwise approach. First, a careful diagnostic assessment to rule out medical or medication causes is important as well as checking whether patients are adherent to treatments. Clinicians should also consider switching patients to an atypical antipsychotic if they are not taking one already. In addition, dose optimization needs to be targeted towards depressive as well as positive and negative psychotic symptoms. If major depression persists, adding an SSRI is a reasonable next step; one needs to start with a low dose and then cautiously titrate upward to reduce depressive symptoms. If remission is not achieved after an adequate treatment duration (8-12 weeks) or with an adequate dose (similar to that used for major depression without schizophrenia), switching to another agent or adding augmenting therapy is recommended.We recommend treating an acute first episode of depression for at least 6-9 months and consideration of longer treatment for patients with residual symptoms, very severe or highly co-morbid major depression, ongoing episodes or recurrent episodes. Psychosocial interventions aimed at improving adherence, quality of life and function are also recommended. For patients with schizophrenia and subsyndromal depression, a similar approach is recommended.Psychosis accompanying major depression in patients without schizophrenia is common in elderly patients and is considered a primary mood disorder; for these reasons, it is an important syndrome to consider in the differential diagnosis of older patients with mood and thought disturbance. Treatment for this condition has involved electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) as well as combinations of antidepressant and antipsychotic medications. Recent evidence suggests that combination treatment may not be any more effective than antidepressant treatment alone and ECT may be more efficacious overall.
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Affiliation(s)
- John W Kasckow
- VA Pittsburgh Health Care System, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15206,
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Moreno B, Arroyo B, Torres-González F, de Dios Luna J, Cervilla J. Social predictors of out-patient mental health contact in schizophrenia patients. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 2007; 42:452-6. [PMID: 17473903 DOI: 10.1007/s00127-007-0187-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/19/2007] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Since community-based health care was introduced, the use of mental health services by patients with serious mental disorders has been an issue of much interest. However, our knowledge of intervening factors is both scarce and partial. OBJECTIVE To study socio-demographic variables which may predict time-lapse (in days) between each out-patient contact among a cohort of schizophrenia patients. METHOD Data comes from the South Granada Schizophrenia Case Register. We used Cox's regression analysis to study the influence of the socio-demographic variables in the time lapsed between out-patient contacts. RESULTS After adjusting for all other socio-demographic variables included, we found that to live in a rural area and being younger independently predicted a longer time-lapse between out-patient contacts while being retired predicted a shorter interval between such contacts. Other variables such as sex, educational level and marital status did not determine such length between out-patients contacts. CONCLUSION Socio-demographic variables, and not only psychopathological ones, determine mental health out-patient service use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Berta Moreno
- Depto. de Medicina Legal, Toxicología y Psiquiatría, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Granada, Granada, Spain.
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Current awareness in geriatric psychiatry. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry 2005; 20:1206-13. [PMID: 16397968 DOI: 10.1002/gps.1232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
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