Effect of lifestyle, medication and ethnicity on cardiometabolic risk in the year following the first episode of psychosis: prospective cohort study

Schizophrenia is associated with altered DNA methylation variance

Varying combinations of genetic and environmental risk factors are thought to underpin phenotypic heterogeneity between individuals in psychiatric conditions such as schizophrenia. While epigenome-wide association studies in schizophrenia have identified extensive alteration of mean DNA methylation levels, less is known about the location and impact of DNA methylation variance, which could contribute to phenotypic and treatment response heterogeneity. To explore this question, we conducted the largest meta-analysis of blood DNA methylation variance in schizophrenia to date, leveraging three cohorts comprising 1036 individuals with schizophrenia and 954 non-psychiatric controls. Surprisingly, only a small proportion (0.1%) of the 213 variably methylated positions (VMPs) associated with schizophrenia (Benjamini-Hochberg FDR < 0.05) were shared with differentially methylated positions (DMPs; sites with mean changes between cases and controls). These blood-derived VMPs were found to be overrepresented in genes previously associated with schizophrenia and amongst brain-enriched genes, with evidence of concordant changes at VMPs in the cerebellum, hippocampus, prefrontal cortex, or striatum. Epigenetic covariance was also observed with respect to clinically significant metrics including age of onset, cognitive deficits, and symptom severity. We also uncovered a significant VMP in individuals with first-episode psychosis (n = 644) from additional cohorts and a non-psychiatric comparison group (n = 633). Collectively, these findings suggest schizophrenia is associated with significant changes in DNA methylation variance, which may contribute to individual-to-individual heterogeneity.

Sex effects on DNA methylation affect discovery in epigenome-wide association study of schizophrenia

Sex differences in the epidemiology and clinical characteristics of schizophrenia are well-known; however, the molecular mechanisms underlying these differences remain unclear. Further, the potential advantages of sex-stratified meta-analyses of epigenome-wide association studies (EWAS) of schizophrenia have not been investigated. Here, we performed sex-stratified EWAS meta-analyses to investigate whether sex stratification improves discovery, and to identify differentially methylated regions (DMRs) in schizophrenia. Peripheral blood-derived DNA methylation data from 1519 cases of schizophrenia (male n = 989, female n = 530) and 1723 controls (male n = 997, female n = 726) from three publicly available datasets, and the TOP cohort were meta-analyzed to compare sex-specific, sex-stratified, and sex-adjusted EWAS. The predictive power of each model was assessed by polymethylation score (PMS). The number of schizophrenia-associated differentially methylated positions identified was higher for the sex-stratified model than for the sex-adjusted one. We identified 20 schizophrenia-associated DMRs in the sex-stratified analysis. PMS from sex-stratified analysis outperformed that from sex-adjusted analysis in predicting schizophrenia. Notably, PMSs from the sex-stratified and female-only analyses, but not those from sex-adjusted or the male-only analyses, significantly predicted schizophrenia in males. The findings suggest that sex-stratified EWAS meta-analyses improve the identification of schizophrenia-associated epigenetic changes and highlight an interaction between sex and schizophrenia status on DNA methylation. Sex-specific DNA methylation may have potential implications for precision psychiatry and the development of stratified treatments for schizophrenia.

Systematic review of tobacco smoking prevalence among young people in treatment for first-episode psychosis

To determine whether smoking prevalence in first-episode psychosis (FEP) is different than in people with established psychosis in long-term treatment. A systematic review of cross-sectional, case-control and cohort studies identified from searches of PubMed, Embase, CINAHL and PsycINFO up to 12 August 2023. 20 studies out of 2773 screened titles were included. There was no clear pattern of smoking by diagnosis as smoking rates in people with FEP ranged from 43% to 78%, while in those with established psychosis, it ranged from 19% to 76%. The wide range of smoking levels in both populations precluded conclusions as to whether smoking rates are different between people with FEP and established psychosis suggesting that factors other than the time course of the illness influence smoking levels.

Implementation of an Electronic Clinical Decision Support System for the Early Recognition and Management of Dysglycemia in an Inpatient Mental Health Setting Using CogStack: Protocol for a Pilot Hybrid Type 3 Effectiveness-Implementation Randomized Controlled Cluster Trial

BACKGROUND

Severe mental illnesses (SMIs), including schizophrenia, bipolar affective disorder, and major depressive disorder, are associated with an increased risk of physical health comorbidities and premature mortality from conditions including cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Digital technologies such as electronic clinical decision support systems (eCDSSs) could play a crucial role in improving the clinician-led management of conditions such as dysglycemia (deranged blood sugar levels) and associated conditions such as diabetes in people with a diagnosis of SMI in mental health settings.

OBJECTIVE

We have developed a real-time eCDSS using CogStack, an information retrieval and extraction platform, to automatically alert clinicians with National Health Service Trust-approved, guideline-based recommendations for dysglycemia monitoring and management in secondary mental health care. This novel system aims to improve the management of dysglycemia and associated conditions, such as diabetes, in SMI. This protocol describes a pilot study to explore the acceptability, feasibility, and evaluation of its implementation in a mental health inpatient setting.

METHODS

This will be a pilot hybrid type 3 effectiveness-implementation randomized controlled cluster trial in inpatient mental health wards. A ward will be the unit of recruitment, where it will be randomly allocated to receive either access to the eCDSS plus usual care or usual care alone over a 4-month period. We will measure implementation outcomes, including the feasibility and acceptability of the eCDSS to clinicians, as primary outcomes, alongside secondary outcomes relating to the process of care measures such as dysglycemia screening rates. An evaluation of other implementation outcomes relating to the eCDSS will be conducted, identifying facilitators and barriers based on established implementation science frameworks.

RESULTS

Enrollment of wards began in April 2022, after which clinical staff were recruited to take part in surveys and interviews. The intervention period of the trial began in February 2023, and subsequent data collection was completed in August 2023. Data are currently being analyzed, and results are expected to be available in June 2024.

CONCLUSIONS

An eCDSS can have the potential to improve clinician-led management of dysglycemia in inpatient mental health settings. If found to be feasible and acceptable, then, in combination with the results of the implementation evaluation, the system can be refined and improved to support future successful implementation. A larger and more definitive effectiveness trial should then be conducted to assess its impact on clinical outcomes and to inform scalability and application to other conditions in wider mental health care settings.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04792268; https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04792268.

INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID)

DERR1-10.2196/49548.

Metabolic profile in first episode drug naïve patients with psychosis and its relation to cognitive functions and social cognition: a case control study

1st episode drug naïve patients with psychosis might be at higher risk for cardiometabolic disturbances which could affect the different cognitive, and executive functions and domains of social cognition. This study aimed to study the metabolic parameters in 1st episode drug naïve patients with psychosis, to evaluate the relation of these cardiometabolic domains to the cognitive, executive functions, and social cognition. Socio-demographic characteristics of 150 first episode drug naïve patients with psychosis and 120 matched healthy control groups were collected. The current study also assessed the cardiometabolic profile and cognitive functions in both groups. Social cognition was examined by Edinburgh Social Cognition Test. The study revealed a statistically significant difference in parameters of metabolic profile among the studied groups (p < 0.001*), the scores of cognitive and executive tests were statistically significantly different (p < 0.001*). In addition, the patient's group has lowered scores of domains of social cognition (p < 0.001*). Also, the mean affective theory of mind was negatively correlated with the conflict cost of the Flanker test (r = -.185* p value = .023). The total cholesterol level (r = - 0.241**, p value = .003) and level of triglycerides (r = - 0.241**, p value = 0.003) were negatively correlated with the interpersonal domain of social cognition, the total cholesterol level is positively correlated to the total score of social cognition (r = 0.202*, p value = 0.013). Patients with 1st episode drug naïve psychosis showed disturbed cardiometabolic parameters which have deleterious effects on cognitive functions and social cognition.

Dietary intake, physical activity and sedentary behaviour patterns in a sample with established psychosis and associations with mental health symptomatology

BACKGROUND

People with psychosis experience cardiometabolic comorbidities, including metabolic syndrome, coronary heart disease and diabetes. These physical comorbidities have been linked to diet, inactivity and the effects of the illness itself, including disorganisation, impairments in global function and amotivation associated with negative symptoms of schizophrenia or co-morbid depression.

METHODS

We aimed to describe the dietary intake, physical activity (PA) and sedentary behaviour patterns of a sample of patients with established psychosis participating in the Improving Physical Health and Reducing Substance Use in Severe Mental Illness (IMPaCT) randomised controlled trial, and to explore the relationship between these lifestyle factors and mental health symptomatology.

RESULTS

A majority of participants had poor dietary quality, low in fruit and vegetables and high in discretionary foods. Only 29.3% completed ⩾150 min of moderate and/or vigorous activity per week and 72.2% spent ⩾6 h per day sitting. Cross-sectional associations between negative symptoms, global function, and PA and sedentary behaviour were observed. Additionally, those with more negative symptoms receiving IMPaCT therapy had fewer positive changes in PA from baseline to 12-month follow-up than those with fewer negative symptoms at baseline.

CONCLUSION

These results highlight the need for the development of multidisciplinary lifestyle and exercise interventions to target eating habits, PA and sedentary behaviour, and the need for further research on how to adapt lifestyle interventions to baseline mental status. Negative symptoms in particular may reduce patient's responses to lifestyle interventions.

The influence of modifiable cardiovascular risk factors on cognition, functioning, and inflammatory markers in first-episode psychosis: Results from a 2-year follow-up study

To explore the influence of cardiovascular risk factors (CVRFs) on cognitive symptoms, functional impairment, and systemic inflammatory markers in first-episode psychosis (FEP) patients at baseline and 2-year follow-up. Method: In a sample of 70 FEP patients and 85 age- and sex-matched healthy controls, we assessed nine modifiable CVRFs. All participants were classified into two subgroups according to their CVRF profile: lower (0-1 CVRFs) or higher (≥2 CVRFs). The following outcomes were measured at baseline and 2-year follow-up: cognition; functional outcomes; and white blood cell (WBC) subtype. Adjusted general linear models were conducted to study the effect of diagnosis and CVRF profile on cognition, functioning, WBC, and longitudinal changes in these variables. At baseline, FEP patients with a higher CVRF profile showed a significantly slower performance on the TMT-A test for psychomotor speed and higher lymphocyte levels than patients with a lower CVRF profile. No longitudinal changes were observed in primary outcomes at 2-year follow-up. Among FEP patients with a higher CVRF profile, slower psychomotor speed performance did not correlate with increased lymphocyte levels. Our findings suggest that the cognitive effects of CVRFs manifest early in the course of psychosis, thus highlighting the importance of targeting both CVRFs and cognitive deficits in FEP.

Mortality rates in people with first diagnosis of schizophrenia-spectrum disorders: A 5-year population-based cohort study

OBJECTIVE

Schizophrenia-spectrum disorder (SSD) is associated with increased premature death, with emerging data suggesting early illness course as a high-risk period for excess mortality. This study aimed to examine mortality rate in patients with incident SSD and differential mortality risk between inpatient-diagnosed and outpatient-diagnosed subsamples within 5 years of first diagnosis.

METHOD

This population-based cohort study identified 8826 patients aged 18-39 years receiving first-recorded SSD diagnosis upon service entry, comprising 3877 inpatient-diagnosed and 4949 outpatient-diagnosed patients, between 2006 and 2012 in Hong Kong using a territory-wide medical record database of public health care services. All-cause, natural-cause, and unnatural-cause mortality risks within 5 years after first diagnosis were quantified by standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) relative to the general population. We also directly compared mortality rates between inpatient and outpatient subsamples over 5-year follow-up.

RESULTS

SSD patients exhibited markedly elevated all-cause (SMR: 12.28, 95% confidence interval [CI]: [10.83, 13.88]), natural-cause (SMR: 3.76, 95% CI: [2.77, 4.98]) and unnatural-cause (SMR: 20.64, 95% CI: [17.49, 24.20]) mortality during first 5 years of diagnosis. Increased mortality rate was most pronounced in the first year of treatment, especially for unnatural deaths (SMR 32.2, 95% CI: [24.08, 42.22]). Discharged inpatient-diagnosed patients displayed significantly higher all-cause and unnatural-cause mortality rates than outpatient-diagnosed counterparts within first 3 years of treatment, and differential mortality risks on all-cause (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR]: 7.05, 95% CI: [2.02, 24.64]) and unnatural-cause (aHR: 5.15, 95% CI: [1.38, 19.19]) deaths were the highest in the first month of follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

Substantial increase in early mortality risk among people with incident SSD, particularly in the first year of diagnosis and the time shortly after discharge, underscores an urgent need of targeted early intervention for effective suicide prevention and physical health improvement to minimize mortality gap.

Pain management in people with severe mental illness: an agenda for progress

Supplemental Digital Content is Available in the Text.

Cardiometabolic health risks, lifestyle behaviours and quality of life in people diagnosed with early psychosis - A cross-sectional study

WHAT IS KNOWN ON THE SUBJECT?: People diagnosed with schizophrenia have poor cardiometabolic health, with elevated 10-year cardiovascular disease risk (CVD-R) scores and low quality of life (QOL). There is a lack of understanding about CVD-R scores in people diagnosed with early psychosis and no studies have quantified CVD-R using the QRISK^® 3 calculator in this client group. Establishing potential relationships between modifiable lifestyle behaviours/treatment characteristics with CVD-R or QOL may identify targets for early intervention. WHAT THE PAPER ADDS TO EXISTING KNOWLEDGE?: This is the first study to quantify the individual 10-year CVD-R of people diagnosed with early psychosis utilising the QRISK^® 3 calculator. This is also the first study to investigate relationships between QOL and CVD-R and lifestyle factors in a cohort of Thai people diagnosed with early psychosis. We observed low levels of physical health-related QOL and high levels of CVR-R despite participants reporting relatively positive lifestyle behaviours. WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE?: The cardiometabolic health state of this client group warrants as much attention as for those with an enduring severe mental illness; early preventative interventions are warranted. It may be useful to routinely quantify the CVD-R of people diagnosed with early psychosis using the QRISK^® 3 calculator, even in the absence of immediate concerns about lifestyle behaviours. Mental health nurses should utilise evidence-based approaches such as increasing activity levels, dietary counselling and behaviour change interventions to mitigate poor physical health in this client group. ABSTRACT: Introduction People diagnosed with schizophrenia have poor cardiometabolic health, with elevated 10-year cardiovascular disease risk (CVD-R) scores and poor quality of life (QOL). There is lack of understanding of these issues in early psychosis. Aims To quantify CVD-R in people diagnosed with early psychosis and profile their obesity prevalence, lifestyle behaviours and QOL. Secondary aim was to explore associations between lifestyle behaviours/treatment characteristics and CVD-R/QOL. Method Baseline data from 81 RCT participants were used to profile cardiometabolic health risks (QRISK^® 3, BMI and waist circumference). Participants self-reported lifestyle behaviours and QOL. Relationships between modifiable treatment/lifestyle factors and QOL/CVD-R were explored. Results Participants' relative risk for CVD over 10 years was 1.93 times higher than healthy counterparts; 39% also had an obese BMI and physical QOL was poor. No significant associations were observed between CVD-R or QOL with treatment characteristics and lifestyle factors. Discussion Despite positive lifestyle behaviours, participants had elevated CVD-R scores and poor physical health-related QOL. Quantifying CVD-R with QRISK^® 3 may highlight the need for health promotion interventions. Implications for practice Mental health professionals should be aware that elevated CVD-R exists in the context of relatively healthy lifestyle behaviours and utilise evidence-based interventions to address these issues.

Ethnic inequities in multimorbidity among people with psychosis: a retrospective cohort study

AIMS

Research shows persistent ethnic inequities in mental health experiences and outcomes, with a higher incidence of illnesses among minoritised ethnic groups. People with psychosis have an increased risk of multiple long-term conditions (MLTC; multimorbidity). However, there is limited research regarding ethnic inequities in multimorbidity in people with psychosis. This study investigates ethnic inequities in physical health multimorbidity in a cohort of people with psychosis.

METHODS

In this retrospective cohort study, using the Clinical Records Interactive Search (CRIS) system, we identified service-users of the South London and Maudsley NHS Trust with a schizophrenia spectrum disorder, and then additional diagnoses of diabetes, hypertension, low blood pressure, overweight or obesity and rheumatoid arthritis. Logistic and multinomial logistic regressions were used to investigate ethnic inequities in odds of multimorbidity (psychosis plus one physical health condition), and multimorbidity severity (having one or two physical health conditions, or three or more conditions), compared with no additional health conditions (no multimorbidity), respectively. The regression models adjusted for age and duration of care and investigated the influence of gender and area-level deprivation.

RESULTS

On a sample of 20 800 service-users with psychosis, aged 13-65, ethnic differences were observed in the odds for multimorbidity. Controlling for sociodemographic factors and duration of care, compared to White British people, higher odds of multimorbidity were found for people of Black African [adjusted Odds Ratio = 1.41, 95% Confidence Intervals (1.23-1.56)], Black Caribbean [aOR = 1.79, 95% CI (1.58-2.03)] and Black British [aOR = 1.64, 95% CI (1.49-1.81)] ethnicity. Reduced odds were observed among people of Chinese [aOR = 0.61, 95% CI (0.43-0.88)] and Other ethnic [aOR = 0.67, 95% CI (0.59-0.76)] backgrounds. Increased odds of severe multimorbidity (three or more physical health conditions) were also observed for people of any Black background.

CONCLUSIONS

Ethnic inequities are observed for multimorbidity among people with psychosis. Further research is needed to understand the aetiology and impact of these inequities. These findings support the provision of integrated health care interventions and public health preventive policies and actions.

Risk factors for metabolic syndrome in individuals with recent-onset psychosis at disease onset and after 1-year follow-up

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a cluster of parameters encompassing the most dangerous heart attack risk factors, associated with increased morbidity and mortality. It is highly prevalent in recent-onset psychosis (ROP) patients. In this pilot study, we evaluated MetS parameters (fasting glucose, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (HDL-c), fasting triglycerides, waist circumference, and systolic and diastolic blood pressure), clinical symptoms, pharmacological treatment, lifestyle, and inflammatory markers in 69 patients with ROP and 61 healthy controls (HCs). At baseline, waist circumference (p = 0.005) and fasting triglycerides (p = 0.007) were higher in patients with ROP than in HCs. At the 1-year follow-up, patients showed clinical improvement, with a reduction in the positive and negative syndrome scale (PANSS) score (p < 0.001), dietary intake (p = 0.001), and antipsychotic medication dose (p < 0.001); however, fasting glucose (p = 0.011), HDL-c (p = 0.013) and waist circumference worsened (p < 0.001). We identified sex, age, BMI, dietary intake, physical activity, daily tobacco use, daily cannabis use, and antipsychotic doses as risk factors contributing to baseline MetS parameters. After 1-year follow-up, those factors plus the PANSS and Calgary Depression Scale for Schizophrenia (CDSS) scores were associated with MetS parameters. Further studies are needed to understand the contributions of the studied risk factors in patients with ROP at onset and during disease progression.

Doenças cardiovasculares e uso de antipsicóticos na esquizofrenia: uma revisão

RESUMO Objetivo Realizar uma revisão de escopo a respeito dos efeitos adversos cardiovasculares e metabólicos associados ao uso de antipsicóticos em pessoas com o diagnóstico de esquizofrenia. Métodos Foi realizada uma revisão de escopo utilizando-se da base de dados PubMed, com descritores MeSH relacionados às doenças cardiovasculares e antipsicóticos. Foram encontrados 976 artigos, os quais foram filtrados por títulos, seguidos dos resumos e, na sequência, lidos na íntegra. Ao final, foram selecionados 71 artigos para a análise. Resultados O uso de antipsicóticos típicos e atípicos para tratamento da esquizofrenia associa-se a alterações glicêmicas e lipídicas, síndrome metabólica, hipertensão, ganho de peso e morbidade cardiovascular. Os estudos evidenciaram a existência de subdiagnóstico e subtratamento de doenças crônicas nessa população. A mortalidade por doença cardiovascular demonstrou aumento considerável nos pacientes em tratamento com agentes antipsicóticos, em comparação com a população geral. Conclusão Alguns fatores dos antipsicóticos, ainda não completamente determinados na psicofarmacologia, vêm se mostrando relacionados a maior risco de distúrbios metabólicos, comportamentais e intrínsecos às pessoas diagnosticadas com esquizofrenia, os quais podem agravar o curso clínico de tais doenças. Reconhece-se a necessidade de aprimorar o acompanhamento e o diagnóstico de doenças cardiovasculares e metabólicas entre pessoas com diagnóstico de esquizofrenia em tratamento com antipsicóticos típicos e atípicos.

Examining the effects of national initiatives to improve the physical health of people with psychosis in England: secondary analysis of data from the National Clinical Audit of Psychosis

AIMS AND METHODS

To examine whether national initiatives have led to improvements in the physical health of people with psychosis. Secondary analysis of a national audit of services for people with psychosis. Proportions of patients in 'good health' according to seven measures, and one composite measure derived from national standards, were compared between multiple rounds of data collection.

RESULTS

The proportion of patients in overall 'good health' under the care of 'Early Intervention in Psychosis' teams increased from 2014-2019, particularly for measures of smoking, alcohol and substance use. There was no overall change in the proportion of patients in overall 'good health' under the care of 'Community Mental Health Teams' from 2011-2017. However, there were improvements in alcohol use, blood glucose and lipid levels.

CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS

There have been modest improvements in the health of people with psychosis over the last nine years. Continuing efforts are required to translate these improvements into reductions in premature mortality.

An implementation framework and a feasibility evaluation of a clinical decision support system for diabetes management in secondary mental healthcare using CogStack

BACKGROUND

Improvements to the primary prevention of physical health illnesses like diabetes in the general population have not been mirrored to the same extent in people with serious mental illness (SMI). This work evaluates the technical feasibility of implementing an electronic clinical decision support system (eCDSS) for supporting the management of dysglycaemia and diabetes in patients with serious mental illness in a secondary mental healthcare setting.

METHODS

A stepwise approach was taken as an overarching and guiding framework for this work. Participatory methods were employed to design and deploy a monitoring and alerting eCDSS. The eCDSS was evaluated for its technical feasibility. The initial part of the feasibility evaluation was conducted in an outpatient community mental health team. Thereafter, the evaluation of the eCDSS progressed to a more in-depth in silico validation.

RESULTS

A digital health intervention that enables monitoring and alerting of at-risk patients based on an approved diabetes management guideline was developed. The eCDSS generated alerts according to expected standards and in line with clinical guideline recommendations.

CONCLUSIONS

It is feasible to design and deploy a functional monitoring and alerting eCDSS in secondary mental healthcare. Further work is required in order to fully evaluate the integration of the eCDSS into routine clinical workflows. By describing and sharing the steps that were and will be taken from concept to clinical testing, useful insights could be provided to teams that are interested in building similar digital health interventions.

Mapping multimorbidity in individuals with schizophrenia and bipolar disorders: evidence from the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust Biomedical Research Centre (SLAM BRC) case register

OBJECTIVES

The first aim of this study was to design and develop a valid and replicable strategy to extract physical health conditions from clinical notes which are common in mental health services. Then, we examined the prevalence of these conditions in individuals with severe mental illness (SMI) and compared their individual and combined prevalence in individuals with bipolar (BD) and schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSD).

DESIGN

Observational study.

SETTING

Secondary mental healthcare services from South London PARTICIPANTS: Our maximal sample comprised 17 500 individuals aged 15 years or older who had received a primary or secondary SMI diagnosis (International Classification of Diseases, 10th edition, F20-31) between 2007 and 2018.

MEASURES

We designed and implemented a data extraction strategy for 21 common physical comorbidities using a natural language processing pipeline, MedCAT. Associations were investigated with sex, age at SMI diagnosis, ethnicity and social deprivation for the whole cohort and the BD and SSD subgroups. Linear regression models were used to examine associations with disability measured by the Health of Nations Outcome Scale.

RESULTS

Physical health data were extracted, achieving precision rates (F1) above 0.90 for all conditions. The 10 most prevalent conditions were diabetes, hypertension, asthma, arthritis, epilepsy, cerebrovascular accident, eczema, migraine, ischaemic heart disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The most prevalent combination in this population included diabetes, hypertension and asthma, regardless of their SMI diagnoses.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data extraction strategy was found to be adequate to extract physical health data from clinical notes, which is essential for future multimorbidity research using text records. We found that around 40% of our cohort had multimorbidity from which 20% had complex multimorbidity (two or more physical conditions besides SMI). Sex, age, ethnicity and social deprivation were found to be key to understand their heterogeneity and their differential contribution to disability levels in this population. These outputs have direct implications for researchers and clinicians.

Males and females with first episode psychosis present distinct profiles of social cognition and metacognition

Deficits in social cognition and metacognition impact the course of psychosis. Sex differences in social cognition and metacognition could explain heterogeneity in psychosis. 174 (58 females) patients with first-episode psychosis completed a clinical, neuropsychological, social cognitive, and metacognitive assessment. Subsequent latent profile analysis split by sex yielded two clusters common to both sexes (a Homogeneous group, 53% and 79.3%, and an Indecisive group, 18.3% and 8.6% of males and females, respectively), a specific male profile characterized by presenting jumping to conclusions (28.7%) and a specific female profile characterized by cognitive biases (12.1%). Males and females in the homogeneous profile seem to have a more benign course of illness. Males with jumping to conclusions had more clinical symptoms and more neuropsychological deficits. Females with cognitive biases were younger and had lower self-esteem. These results suggest that males and females may benefit from specific targeted treatment and highlights the need to consider sex when planning interventions.

Vitamin D deficiency in schizophrenia implications for COVID-19 infection

Vitamin D deficiency is associated with an increased risk of acute respiratory infection. There is an excess of respiratory infections and deaths in schizophrenia, a condition where vitamin D deficiency is especially prevalent. This potentially offers a modifiable risk factor to reduce the risk for and the severity of respiratory infection in people with schizophrenia, although there is as yet no evidence regarding the risk of COVID-19. In this narrative review, we describe the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in schizophrenia, report the research examining the relationship between vitamin D levels and COVID-19 and discuss the associations between vitamin D deficiency and respiratory infection, including its immunomodulatory mechanism of action.

Inequalities in glycemic management in people living with type 2 diabetes mellitus and severe mental illnesses: cohort study from the UK over 10 years

INTRODUCTION

Using data from a a primary care pay-for-performance scheme targeting quality indicators, the objective of this study was to assess if people living with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and severe mental illnesses (SMI) experienced poorer glycemic management compared with people living with T2DM alone, and if observed differences varied by race/ethnicity, deprivation, gender, or exclusion from the scheme.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

Primary care data from a cohort of 56 770 people with T2DM, including 2272 people with T2DM and SMI, from London (UK), diagnosed between January 17, 2008 and January 16, 2018, were used. Adjusted mean glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and HbA1c differences were assessed using multilevel regression models.

RESULTS

Compared with people with T2DM only, people with T2DM/SMI were more likely to be of an ethnic minority background, excluded from the pay-for-performance scheme and residing in more deprived areas. Across the sample, mean HbA1c was lower in those with T2DM and SMI (mean HbA1c: 58 mmol/mol; 95% CI 57 to 59), compared with people with T2DM only (mean HbA1c: 59 mmol/mol; 95% CI 59 to 60). However, HbA1c levels were greater in Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani, and Chinese people compared with the White British reference in the T2DM/SMI group. People with T2DM/SMI who had been excluded from the pay-for-performance scheme, had HbA1c levels which were +7 mmol/mol (95% CI 2 to 11) greater than those with T2DM/SMI not excluded. Irrespective of SMI status, increasing deprivation and male gender were associated with increased HbA1c levels.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite a pay-for-performance scheme to improve quality standards, inequalities in glycemic management in people with T2DM and SMI persist in those excluded from the scheme and by gender, ethnicity, and area-level deprivation.

Fingertip advanced glycation end products and psychotic symptoms among adolescents

Case control studies have suggested that advanced glycation end products play a key role in the pathophysiology of chronic schizophrenia. However, the longitudinal association between advanced glycation end products and psychotic symptoms among drug-naïve adolescents remains unclear. This study examined whether advanced glycation end products could predict the trajectory of psychotic symptoms in drug-naive adolescents using data from prospective population-based biomarker subsample study of the Tokyo Teen Cohort. A total of 277 community-dwelling adolescents aged 13 years without antipsychotic medication were analyzed. Fingertip advanced glycation end products were measured in adolescents using noninvasive technology that can be used quickly. The trajectory of psychotic symptoms in a 12-month follow-up was assessed by experienced psychiatrists using a semi-structured interview. Of the 277 participants, 13 (4.7%) experienced persistent psychotic symptoms (psychotic symptoms at baseline and follow-up), 65 (23.5%) experienced transient psychotic symptoms (psychotic symptoms at baseline or follow-up), and 199 (71.8%) did not have psychotic symptoms. Multinomial logistic regression analysis adjusted for age and sex revealed that baseline fingertip advanced glycation end products might predict the risk of persistent psychotic symptoms (odds ratio = 1.68; 95% confidence interval, 1.05-2.69; P = 0.03). Altogether, fingertip advanced glycation end products potentially predicted the trajectory of psychotic symptoms among drug-naive adolescents, which indicated its involvement in the pathophysiology of early psychosis. Further studies are required to identify strategies to reduce adolescent advanced glycation end products, which may contribute to preventing the onset of psychosis.

Minding metabolism: targeted interventions to improve cardio-metabolic monitoring across early and chronic psychosis

Background

Antipsychotics (APs) increase weight, metabolic syndrome, diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Guidelines recommend cardio-metabolic monitoring at initial assessment, at 3 months and then annually in people prescribed APs.

Aim

To determine the rates of cardio-metabolic monitoring in AP treated early and chronic psychosis and to assess the impact of targeted improvement strategies.

Methods

Medical records were reviewed in two cohorts of first-episode psychosis (FEP) patients before and after the implementation of a physical health parameter checklist and electronic laboratory order set. In a separate group of patients with chronic psychotic disorders, adherence to annual monitoring was assessed before and 3 months after an awareness-raising educational intervention.

Results

In FEP, fasting glucose (39% vs 67%, p=0.05), HbA1c (0% vs 24%, p=0.005) and prolactin (18% vs 67%, p=0.001) monitoring improved. There were no significant differences in weight (67% vs 67%, p=1.0), BMI (3% vs 10%, p=0.54), waist circumference (3% vs 0%, p=1.0), fasting lipids (61% vs 76% p=0.22) or ECG monitoring (67% vs 67%, p=1.0). Blood pressure (BP) (88% vs 57%, p=0.04) and heart rate (91% vs 65%, p=0.03) monitoring dis-improved. Diet (0%) and exercise (<15%) assessment was poor. In chronic psychotic disorders, BP monitoring improved (20% vs 41.4%, p=0.05), whereas weight (17.0% vs 34.1%, p=0.12), BMI (9.7% vs 12.1%, p=1.0), fasting glucose (17% vs 24.3%, p=0.58) and fasting lipids remained unchanged (17% vs 24.3%, p=0.58).

Conclusions

Targeted improvement strategies resulted in a significant improvement in a limited number of parameters in early and chronic psychotic disorders. Overall, monitoring remained suboptimal.

DNA methylation meta-analysis reveals cellular alterations in psychosis and markers of treatment-resistant schizophrenia

We performed a systematic analysis of blood DNA methylation profiles from 4483 participants from seven independent cohorts identifying differentially methylated positions (DMPs) associated with psychosis, schizophrenia, and treatment-resistant schizophrenia. Psychosis cases were characterized by significant differences in measures of blood cell proportions and elevated smoking exposure derived from the DNA methylation data, with the largest differences seen in treatment-resistant schizophrenia patients. We implemented a stringent pipeline to meta-analyze epigenome-wide association study (EWAS) results across datasets, identifying 95 DMPs associated with psychosis and 1048 DMPs associated with schizophrenia, with evidence of colocalization to regions nominated by genetic association studies of disease. Many schizophrenia-associated DNA methylation differences were only present in patients with treatment-resistant schizophrenia, potentially reflecting exposure to the atypical antipsychotic clozapine. Our results highlight how DNA methylation data can be leveraged to identify physiological (e.g., differential cell counts) and environmental (e.g., smoking) factors associated with psychosis and molecular biomarkers of treatment-resistant schizophrenia.

Cardiometabolic Risk in First Episode Psychosis Patients

Previous research in patients with schizophrenia in European and USA population groups has demonstrated a high prevalence of metabolic syndrome and disease progression (~35%-40%) and increased risk for cardiovascular disease and long-term mortality. Limited research has determined the prevalence of existing cardiometabolic risk factors at onset of a first episode psychosis. This cross-sectional study presents a clinical overview of the cardiometabolic risk profile in young people with first episode psychosis in the UK. Forty-six participants (72% male) clinically diagnosed with first episode psychosis (n = 25), schizophrenia (n = 13), bipolar disorder (n = 4), unspecified non-organic psychosis (n = 2) or acute psychotic episode (n = 2) with < 6 months Duration of Untreated Psychosis (DUP; mean 33.4 ± 37.2 days) were assessed for anthropometric, health risk behaviors and clinical measurements including resting heart rate, blood pressure, blood lipids, glycated hemoglobin, and prolactin. Overall, participants (aged 18-37 years) had a high prevalence of cardiometabolic risk factors due to: elevated values for BMI (73%) and abdominal adiposity (50%), blood pressure (47% prehypertensive; 23% hypertensive), resting heart rate (43%); hypercholesterolemia (32%); suboptimal HDL-C levels (36%); and hypertriglyceridemia (40%). Participants also self-reported poor health risk habits including smoking (55%), alcohol use (39%), substance use (18%), poor diet (52%), and sedentary behavior (29%). Young people with psychosis are at increased risk for cardiometabolic disorders due to elevated clinical markers and health risk behaviors. Physical health interventions (including health behavior advice) are needed early in the treatment process to address this increased risk for cardiometabolic disorders in individuals recently diagnosed with psychosis.

Vitamin D supplementation compared to placebo in people with First Episode psychosis - Neuroprotection Design (DFEND): a protocol for a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group trial

Background

People experiencing their first episode of psychosis are often deficient in vitamin D. Observational studies have reported an association between low vitamin D concentrations and poorer subsequent health outcomes in psychosis. A vitamin D deficiency in neonates and children has been linked to a later increased risk of schizophrenia and psychotic-like experiences. This trial aims to examine the effect of high-dose vitamin D supplementation on outcomes in early psychosis. We hypothesise that vitamin D supplementation will be associated with better mental health outcomes.

Methods/design

The DFEND study is a multicentre double-blind placebo-controlled parallel-group trial of vitamin D supplementation in people with early psychosis. Patients with an ICD-10 diagnosis of functional psychosis will be randomised in a 1:1 ratio to receive either 120,000 IU/month of vitamin D (cholecalciferol) or a matched placebo for 6 months. The primary outcome is the total Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) score at the 6-month follow-up for all patients. Secondary outcomes include assessment of mood (Calgary Depression Scale), general function (Global Assessment of Functioning), cardiovascular risk (body mass index, waist circumference, C-reactive protein, cholesterol and HbA1c) and vitamin D levels at the 6-month follow-up. Additionally, 3- and 6-month total PANSS scores will be analysed for those with inadequate vitamin D levels at the baseline.

Discussion

The DFEND study is the first trial to examine whether vitamin D supplementation in early psychosis is associated with better mental health outcomes. The findings of this study may help to resolve the clinical equipoise regarding the benefits and cost-effectiveness of routine vitamin D supplementation in people with psychosis.

Trial registration

ISRCTN, ISRCTN12424842. Registered on 25 February 2015.

A health promotion intervention to improve lifestyle choices and health outcomes in people with psychosis: a research programme including the IMPaCT RCT

Background

People with psychotic disorders have reduced life expectancy largely because of physical health problems, especially cardiovascular disease, that are complicated by the use of tobacco and cannabis.

Objectives

We set out to (1) chart lifestyle and substance use choices and the emergence of cardiometabolic risk from the earliest presentation with psychosis, (2) develop a pragmatic health promotion intervention integrated within the clinical teams to improve the lifestyle choices and health outcomes of people with psychosis and (3) evaluate the clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of that health promotion intervention.

Design

We performed a longitudinal cohort study of people presenting with their first episode of psychosis in three mental health trusts and followed up participants for 1 year [work package 1, physical health and substance use measures in first episode of psychosis (PUMP)]. We used an iterative Delphi methodology to develop and refine a modular health promotion intervention, improving physical health and reducing substance use in psychosis (IMPaCT) therapy, which was to be delivered by the patient’s usual care co-ordinator and used motivational interviewing techniques and cognitive–behavioural therapy to improve health choices of people with psychosis (work package 2). We then conducted a multicentre, two-arm, parallel-cluster, randomised controlled trial to determine the clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of using the intervention with people with established psychosis (work package 3: IMPaCT randomised controlled trial) in five UK mental health trusts. The work took place between 2008 and 2014.

Participants

All people aged between 16 and 65 years within 6 months of their first presentation with a non-organic psychosis and who were proficient in English were eligible for inclusion in the PUMP study. Participants in the work package 2 training development were staff selected from a range of settings, working with psychosis. Participants in the phase 3 Delphi consensus and manual development comprised three expert groups of (1) therapists/researchers recruited from the local and national community, (2) clinicians and (3) service users, each of whom took part in two iterative review and feedback sessions. For work package 3, IMPaCT randomised controlled trial, care co-ordinators in participating community mental health teams who were permanently employed and had a minimum of four eligible patients (i.e. aged between 18 and 65 years with a diagnosis of a psychotic disorder) on their caseload were eligible to participate. In studies 1 and 3, patient participants were ineligible if they were pregnant or had a major illness that would have had an impact on their metabolic status or if they had a significant learning disability. All participants were included in the study only after giving written confirmed consent.

Main outcome measures

Cardiometabolic risk markers, including rates of obesity and central obesity, and levels of glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) and lipids, were the main outcomes in work package 1 (PUMP), with descriptive data presented on substance use. Our primary outcome measure for the IMPaCT randomised controlled trial was the physical or mental health component Short Form questionnaire-36 items quality-of-life scores at 12 months.

Results

Obesity rates rose from 18% at first presentation with psychosis to 24% by 1 year, but cardiometabolic risk was not associated with baseline lifestyle and substance use choices. Patterns of increase in the levels of HbA1c over the year following first presentation showed variation by ethnic group. We recruited 104 care co-ordinators, of whom 52 (with 213 patients) were randomised to deliver IMPaCT therapy and 52 (with 193 patients) were randomised to deliver treatment as usual, in keeping with our power calculations. Of these 406 participants with established psychosis, 318 (78%) and 301 (74%) participants, respectively, attended the 12- and 15-month follow-ups. We found no significant effect of IMPaCT therapy compared with treatment as usual on the physical or mental health component Short Form questionnaire-36 items scores at either time point in an intention-to-treat analysis [physical health score (‘d’) –0.17 at 12 months and –0.09 at 15 months; mental health score (‘d’) 0.03 at 12 months and –0.05 at 15 months] or on costs. Nor did we find an effect on other cardiovascular risk indicators, including diabetes, except in the case of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, which showed a trend for greater benefit with IMPaCT therapy than with treatment as usual (treatment effect 0.085, 95% confidence interval 0.007 to 0.16; p = 0.034).

Limitations

Follow-up in work package 1 was challenging, with 127 out of 293 participants attending; however, there was no difference in cardiometabolic measures or demographic factors at baseline between those who attended for follow-up and those who did not. In work package 3, the IMPaCT randomised controlled trial, care co-ordinators struggled to provide additional time to their patients that was devoted to the health promotion intervention on top of their usual clinical care contact with them.

Conclusions

Cardiometabolic risk is prominent even soon after first presentation with psychosis and increases over time. Lifestyle choices and substance use habits at first presentation do not predict those who will be most cardiometabolically compromised 1 year later. Training and supervising care co-ordinators to deliver a health promotion intervention to their own patients on top of routine care is not effective in the NHS for improving quality of life or reducing cardiometabolic risk.

Future work

Further work is needed to develop and evaluate effective, cost-effective and affordable ways of preventing the emergence of and reversing existing cardiometabolic risk indicators in people with psychosis.

Trial registration

Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN58667926.

Funding

This project was funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Programme Grants for Applied Research programme and will be published in full in Programme Grants for Applied Research; Vol. 8, No. 1. See the NIHR Journals Library website for further project information.