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Savaré L, Ieva F, Corrao G, Lora A. Capturing the variety of clinical pathways in patients with schizophrenic disorders through state sequences analysis. BMC Med Res Methodol 2023; 23:174. [PMID: 37516839 PMCID: PMC10386768 DOI: 10.1186/s12874-023-01993-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2022] [Accepted: 07/20/2023] [Indexed: 07/31/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Care pathways are increasingly being used to enhance the quality of care and optimize the use of resources for health care. Nevertheless, recommendations regarding the sequence of care are mostly based on consensus-based decisions as there is a lack of evidence on effective treatment sequences. In a real-world setting, classical statistical tools were insufficient to consider a phenomenon with such high variability adequately and have to be integrated with novel data mining techniques suitable for identifying patterns in complex data structures. Data-driven techniques can potentially support empirically identifying effective care sequences by extracting them from data collected routinely. The purpose of this study is to perform a state sequence analysis (SSA) to identify different patterns of treatment and to asses whether sequence analysis may be a useful tool for profiling patients according to the treatment pattern. METHODS The clinical application that motivated the study of this method concerns the mental health field. In fact, the care pathways of patients affected by severe mental disorders often do not correspond to the standards required by the guidelines in this field. In particular, we analyzed patients with schizophrenic disorders (i.e., schizophrenia, schizotypal or delusional disorders) using administrative data from 2015 to 2018 from Lombardy Region. This methodology considers the patient's therapeutic path as a conceptual unit, composed of a succession of different states, and we show how SSA can be used to describe longitudinal patient status. RESULTS We define the states to be the weekly coverage of different treatments (psychiatric visits, psychosocial interventions, and anti-psychotic drugs), and we use the longest common subsequences (dis)similarity measure to compare and cluster the sequences. We obtained three different clusters with very different patterns of treatments. CONCLUSIONS This kind of information, such as common patterns of care that allowed us to risk profile patients, can provide health policymakers an opportunity to plan optimum and individualized patient care by allocating appropriate resources, analyzing trends in the health status of a population, and finding the risk factors that can be leveraged to prevent the decline of mental health status at the population level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Savaré
- MOX - Department of Mathematics, Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy.
- HDS, Health Data Science Center, Human Technopole, Milan, Italy.
- National Centre for Healthcare Research and Pharmacoepidemiology, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy.
| | - Francesca Ieva
- MOX - Department of Mathematics, Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy
- HDS, Health Data Science Center, Human Technopole, Milan, Italy
- National Centre for Healthcare Research and Pharmacoepidemiology, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | - Giovanni Corrao
- National Centre for Healthcare Research and Pharmacoepidemiology, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
- Unit of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Public Health, Department of Statistics and Quantitative Methods, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | - Antonio Lora
- National Centre for Healthcare Research and Pharmacoepidemiology, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
- Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, ASST Lecco, Lecco, Italy
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Shamabadi A, Akhondzadeh S. Inflammation-Schizophrenia: A Bidirectional Causal Association Mediated by Cytokines. Avicenna J Med Biotechnol 2023; 15:1-2. [PMID: 36789115 PMCID: PMC9895981 DOI: 10.18502/ajmb.v15i1.11418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 12/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The Article Abstract is not available.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmad Shamabadi
- School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Psychiatric Research Center, Roozbeh Psychiatric Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Shahin Akhondzadeh
- Psychiatric Research Center, Roozbeh Psychiatric Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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Olcina-Rodriguez JF, Díaz-Fernández J, Server-Costa MT, López-Briz E, Miranda-Almonte G, Escalera-Sanz T, Franco-Bonet A, Olcina-Dominguez L, Gómez-Pajares F. [Clinical characteristics of admission for mental illness in a Regional Psychiatric Hospitalization Unit. Descriptive study 2008-2018]. Vertex 2022; 33:6-13. [PMID: 36219192 DOI: 10.53680/vertex.v33i157.261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To describe the admissions of patients diagnosed with severe mental illness (SMI) and anxiety disorder in a regional hospital; to explore factors related to the patient’s referrer upon admission and prolonged stay. MATERIALS AND METHODS Cross-sectional study of episodes of admission to the regional Psychiatric Hospitalization Unit over a period of 11 years with ICD-10 diagnostic codesF20-29, F30-39, F60-69 and F40-48. The data was extracted through the Admissions Unit and the information from the electronic medical record. For the statistical treatment, descriptive or inferential tests were used with a confidence level of 95%. RESULTS 961 patients were included (2,324 total discharges), aged 40.8±14.0 years. The most frequent reasons for admission were: positive symptoms (agitation, delusions and hallucinations), followed by suicidal ideation and attempt. The main remitting agent of the patients was the family itself. Approximately 1/5 of the cases were referred by the health system itself, and ¼ of those admitted had self-excluded themselves from specialized supervision for more than a year. CONCLUSIONS The problems that caused the admission and its origin, as well as its lack of follow-up, can be considered as a clear opportunity for improvement in the follow-up of patients with severe mental illness. An orientation towards proactivity, acting before the decompensation, would contribute to improving the care and quality of life of patients with severe mental illness and their environment.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Eduardo López-Briz
- Servicio de Farmacia. Hospital Universitario y Politécnico La Fe. Valencia, España.
| | | | | | | | | | - Fernando Gómez-Pajares
- Servicio de Medicina Preventiva y Salud Pública. Hospital General de Requena. Requena, España..
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Corrao G, Barbato A, D’Avanzo B, Di Fiandra T, Ferrara L, Gaddini A, Monzio Compagnoni M, Saponaro A, Scondotto S, Tozzi VD, Carle F, Lora A. Does the mental health system provide effective coverage to people with schizophrenic disorder? A self-controlled case series study in Italy. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 2022; 57:519-529. [PMID: 34132836 PMCID: PMC8934324 DOI: 10.1007/s00127-021-02114-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2021] [Accepted: 06/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE To measure indicators of timeliness and continuity of treatments on patients with schizophrenic disorder in 'real-life' practice, and to validate them through their relationship with relapse occurrences. METHODS The target population was from four Italian regions overall covering 22 million beneficiaries of the NHS (37% of the entire Italian population). The cohort included 12,054 patients newly taken into care for schizophrenic disorder between January 2015 and June 2016. The self-controlled case series (SCCS) design was used to estimate the incidence rate ratio of relapse occurrences according to mental healthcare coverage. RESULTS Poor timeliness (82% and 33% of cohort members had not yet started treatment with psychosocial interventions and antipsychotic drug therapy within the first year after they were taken into care) and continuity (27% and 23% of patients were persistent with psychosocial interventions, and antipsychotic drug therapy within the first 2 years after starting the specific treatment) were observed. According to SCCS design, 4794 relapses occurred during 9430 PY (with incidence rate of 50.8 every 100 PY). Compared with periods not covered by mental healthcare, those covered by psychosocial intervention alone, antipsychotic drugs alone and by psychosocial intervention and antipsychotic drugs together were, respectively, associated with relapse rate reductions of 28% (95% CI 4-46%), 24% (17-30%) and 44% (32-53%). CONCLUSION Healthcare administrative data may contribute to monitor and to assess the effectiveness of a mental health system. Persistent use of both psychosocial intervention and antipsychotic drugs reduces risk of severe relapse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Corrao
- grid.7563.70000 0001 2174 1754National Centre for Healthcare Research and Pharmacoepidemiology, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy ,grid.7563.70000 0001 2174 1754Unit of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Public Health, Department of Statistics and Quantitative Methods, University of Milano-Bicocca, Street Bicocca degli Arcimboldi, 8, Building U7, 20126 Milan, Italy
| | - Angelo Barbato
- Unit for Quality of Care and Rights Promotion in Mental Health, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Milano, Italy
| | - Barbara D’Avanzo
- Unit for Quality of Care and Rights Promotion in Mental Health, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Milano, Italy
| | - Teresa Di Fiandra
- grid.415788.70000 0004 1756 9674General Directorate for Health Prevention, Ministry of Health, Rome, Italy
| | - Lucia Ferrara
- grid.7945.f0000 0001 2165 6939Centre of Research on Health and Social Care Management, SDA Bocconi School of Management, Bocconi University, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Matteo Monzio Compagnoni
- National Centre for Healthcare Research and Pharmacoepidemiology, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy. .,Unit of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Public Health, Department of Statistics and Quantitative Methods, University of Milano-Bicocca, Street Bicocca degli Arcimboldi, 8, Building U7, 20126, Milan, Italy.
| | - Alessio Saponaro
- General Directorate of Health and Social Policies, Emilia-Romagna Region, Bologna, Italy
| | - Salvatore Scondotto
- grid.7563.70000 0001 2174 1754National Centre for Healthcare Research and Pharmacoepidemiology, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy ,Department of Health Services and Epidemiological Observatory, Regional Health Authority, Sicily Region, Palermo, Italy
| | - Valeria D. Tozzi
- grid.7945.f0000 0001 2165 6939Centre of Research on Health and Social Care Management, SDA Bocconi School of Management, Bocconi University, Milan, Italy
| | - Flavia Carle
- grid.7563.70000 0001 2174 1754National Centre for Healthcare Research and Pharmacoepidemiology, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy ,grid.7010.60000 0001 1017 3210Center of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Polytechnic University of Marche, Ancona, Italy
| | - Antonio Lora
- grid.7563.70000 0001 2174 1754National Centre for Healthcare Research and Pharmacoepidemiology, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy ,Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, ASST Lecco, Lecco, Italy
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Sultana J, Hurtado I, Bejarano-Quisoboni D, Giorgianni F, Huybrechts KF, Lu Z, Patorno E, Sanfélix-Gimeno G, Tari DU, Trifirò G. Antipsychotic utilization patterns among patients with schizophrenic disorder: a cross-national analysis in four countries. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 2019; 75:1005-15. [PMID: 30824947 DOI: 10.1007/s00228-019-02654-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2018] [Accepted: 02/20/2019] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE The aim of the present study was to describe antipsychotic utilization patterns among patients with schizophrenic disorder in Italy, Spain, the UK, and the USA. METHODS A retrospective cohort study was conducted. Patients aged 15 and over with schizophrenic disorder were identified in the Caserta claims database (Italy), the Valencia electronic medical record (EMR) database (Spain), in The Health Improvement Network EMR database (UK), and in databases of publicly and privately insured populations in the United States (US). RESULTS The frequency of first-generation or second-generation antipsychotic use and of long-acting or other formulations was described. Persistence to antipsychotics was estimated. Overall, 1,403,240 patients with schizophrenic disorder having a total of 765,573 new antipsychotic treatment episodes were identified. The median follow-up time ranged from 0.8 (IQR 0.2-1.9) years in the US commercially-insured population to 1.2 (IQR 0.1-1.7) years in the Spanish population. Second-generation antipsychotics were more frequently used than first-generation antipsychotics in all countries (on average, from 64.4% in the UK to 87% in US): the use of this class increased over time in Italy, Spain, and US (Medicaid). The use of long-acting formulations was heterogeneous across countries, but generally much lower than other formulations. Persistence to antipsychotic treatment at 1 year was low in all countries, ranging from 40 in Spain to 30% in Italy. CONCLUSIONS Antipsychotic utilization was heterogeneous among persons with schizophrenic disorder. Nevertheless, low persistence was an issue in all the countries, as less than half of the patients continued their treatment beyond 1 year.
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Richter A, Petrovic A, Diekhof EK, Trost S, Wolter S, Gruber O. Hyperresponsivity and impaired prefrontal control of the mesolimbic reward system in schizophrenia. J Psychiatr Res 2015; 71:8-15. [PMID: 26522867 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2015.09.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2015] [Revised: 09/09/2015] [Accepted: 09/11/2015] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Schizophrenia is characterized by substantial dysfunctions of reward processing, leading to detrimental consequences for decision-making. The neurotransmitter dopamine is responsible for the transmission of reward signals and also known to be involved in the mechanism of psychosis. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), sixteen medicated patients with schizophrenia and sixteen healthy controls performed the 'desire-reason dilemma' (DRD) paradigm. This paradigm allowed us to directly investigate reward-related brain activations depending on the interaction of bottom-up and top-down mechanisms, when a previously conditioned reward stimulus had to be rejected to achieve a superordinate long-term goal. Both patients and controls showed significant activations in the mesolimbic reward system. In patients with schizophrenia, however, we found a significant hyperactivation of the left ventral striatum (vStr) when they were allowed to accept the conditioned reward stimuli, and a reduced top-down regulation of activation in the ventral striatum (vStr) and ventral tegmental area (VTA) while having to reject the immediate reward to pursue the superordinate task-goal. Moreover, while healthy subjects exhibited a negative functional coupling of the vStr with both the anteroventral prefrontal cortex (avPFC) and the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (VMPFC) in the dilemma situation, this functional coupling was significantly impaired in the patient group. These findings provide evidence for an increased ventral striatal activation to reward stimuli and an impaired top-down control of reward signals by prefrontal brain regions in schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anja Richter
- Center for Translational Research in Systems Neuroscience and Psychiatry, University Medical Center Göttingen, 37075, Germany.
| | - Aleksandra Petrovic
- Center for Translational Research in Systems Neuroscience and Psychiatry, University Medical Center Göttingen, 37075, Germany
| | - Esther K Diekhof
- Center for Translational Research in Systems Neuroscience and Psychiatry, University Medical Center Göttingen, 37075, Germany; Biocenter Grindel and Zoological Museum, University of Hamburg, 20146, Germany
| | - Sarah Trost
- Center for Translational Research in Systems Neuroscience and Psychiatry, University Medical Center Göttingen, 37075, Germany
| | - Sarah Wolter
- Center for Translational Research in Systems Neuroscience and Psychiatry, University Medical Center Göttingen, 37075, Germany
| | - Oliver Gruber
- Center for Translational Research in Systems Neuroscience and Psychiatry, University Medical Center Göttingen, 37075, Germany
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