Clinical Assessment In Neuropsychiatry Research Articles

The course of borderline personality disorder from adolescence to early adulthood: A 5-year follow-up study

BackgroundStudies of the medium- to long-term clinical and functional course for treatment-seeking adolescents with borderline personality disorder (BPD) are lacking. This study aims to outline the psychopathological and functional status of participants, five years after being diagnosed with BPD during adolescence. MethodsParticipants were originally enrolled in a randomized clinical trial that compared mentalization-based group treatment with treatment as usual for adolescents with BPD. Semi-structured interview assessments at five-year follow-up included the Schedules for Clinical Assessment in Neuropsychiatry and the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5 Personality Disorders. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), alcohol, substance and tobacco use, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), complex PTSD, and general functioning were assessed using self-report instruments. Results97 of the original sample of 111 participants (87%) participated. They were aged 19–23 years. The most prevalent disorders were ADHD (59%), any personality disorder (47%) of which half continued to meet criteria for BPD (24%), anxiety disorders (37%), depressive disorders (32%), PTSD or complex PTSD (20%), schizophrenia (16%), and eating disorders (13%). Only 16% did not meet criteria for any mental disorder. Approximately half of the sample were in psychological and/or psychopharmacological treatment at the time of follow-up. Their general functioning remained impaired, with 36% not engaged in education, employment or training (NEET), which is nearly four times the rate of NEET in the same age group in the general population. ConclusionsAlthough stability of the categorical BPD diagnosis is modest, adolescents meeting diagnostic criteria for BPD show a broad range of poor outcomes at five-year follow-up. BPD appears to be a marker of general maladjustment during adolescence and a harbinger of severe problems during the transition to young adulthood. Early intervention programs for adolescents diagnosed with BPD should focus upon a broad range of functional and psychopathological outcomes, especially social and vocational support, rather than the narrow BPD diagnosis.

Differences in clinical presentation between newly diagnosed bipolar I and II disorders: A naturalistic study

AimThis naturalistic clinical study aims to investigate differences between newly diagnosed patients with bipolar type I (BDI) and bipolar type II (BDII) disorders in socio-demographic and clinical characteristics, affective symptoms, cognition, functioning and comorbidity with personality disorders. MethodsThe BD diagnosis and type were confirmed using the Schedules for Clinical Assessment in Neuropsychiatry. Affective symptoms were assessed with the Young Mania Rating Scale, the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, the Major Depressive Index, and the Altman Self-Rating Mania Scale. Functional impairment was assessed with the Functional Assessment Short Test. Cognitive impairment was evaluated by the Screen for Cognitive Impairment in Psychiatry and the Cognitive Complaints in Bipolar Disorder Rating Assessment. Finally, comorbid personality disorders were assessed with the Standardized Assessment of Personality-Abbreviated Scale and structured interview Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-disorders. Results383 newly diagnosed patients were included (BDI: n = 125; BDII: n = 258). Against expectations, we found no more depressive symptoms in BDII compared with BDI nor any differences in cognitive, childhood trauma or overall functional impairment. The only difference was lower occupational impairment in the BDII group. LimitationsThe self-reported measures of cognitive difficulties and childhood trauma involved potential bias (recall or other). Despite BD being newly diagnosed a diagnostic delay was observed. ConclusionPatients newly diagnosed with BDII and BDI had similar burdens of depressive symptoms and cognitive and overall functional impairment, however patients with BDI had lower occupational functioning. No statistically significant difference was found in prevalence of comorbid personality disorders between patients with BDI and BDII.

Perinatal sleep disruption and postpartum psychosis in bipolar disorder: Findings from the UK BDRN Pregnancy Study

BackgroundWomen with bipolar disorder (BD) are at high risk of postpartum psychosis (PP). The factors that increase risk of PP among women with BD are not fully understood. Here, we examine whether sleep disruption in the perinatal period (poor sleep quality in late pregnancy and sleep deprivation related to childbirth) is associated with PP in a longitudinal study of pregnant women with BD. MethodsParticipants were 76 pregnant women with lifetime DSM-5 bipolar I disorder or schizoaffective-BD, followed from week 12 of pregnancy to 12 weeks postpartum. Demographics and lifetime psychopathology were assessed at baseline via semi-structured interview (Schedules for Clinical Assessment in Neuropsychiatry). Psychopathology and sleep disruption within the current perinatal period were assessed in the third trimester and at 12 weeks postpartum. Data were supplemented by clinician questionnaires and case-note review. ResultsAfter controlling for prophylactic use of mood stabilising medication, the loss of at least one complete night of sleep across labour/delivery was associated with five times the odds of experiencing PP compared to no or less than one night of sleep loss across labour/delivery (OR 5.19, 95 % CI 1.45–18.54; p = 0.011). Sleep quality in late pregnancy was not associated with PP, and perinatal sleep disruption was not associated with postpartum depression. LimitationsLack of objective measures of sleep factors. ConclusionsIn the context of other aetiological factors, severe sleep loss associated with childbirth/the immediate postpartum may act as a final trigger of PP. These findings could have important clinical implications for risk prediction and prevention of PP.

Impact of psychiatric comorbidity on quality of life and activities of daily living among patients suffering from chronic kidney disease undergoing hemodialysis.

Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is a debilitating illness that impairs an individual's physical and social functioning and ultimately affects the quality of life (QOL). To determine the impact of psychiatric comorbidity on QOL and activities of daily living in individuals suffering from CKD undergoing hemodialysis. Fifty subjects suffering from CKD undergoing hemodialysis were consequently enrolled in the department of medicine. Institutional ethics committee permission was obtained before the start of the study. The interview was conducted only after the hemodialysis procedure. Consent was obtained and socio-demographic details were noted in the socio-demographic proforma. Schedule for Clinical Assessment in Neuropsychiatry (SCAN) was used to assess psychiatric comorbidity. QOL was assessed on Short Form-36 (SF-36). Katz Index of Independence of Activities of Daily Living scale (KADL) was used to assess the activities of living of such individuals. 46% (n = 23) of subjects suffering from CKD had psychiatric co-morbidity. The most common psychiatric disorder observed was moderate depressive disorder (14%, n = 7) followed by adjustment disorder (12%, n = 6). QOL on SF-36 in all eight domains was low compared to the general population. There was a high statistically significant negative impact of psychiatric comorbidity on QOL on eight domains of SF-36 and activities of daily living. (P = 0.001). Psychiatric co-morbidity is common in CKD patients on hemodialysis. Quality of life is lower compared to the general population. There is a negative impact of psychiatric co-morbidity on quality of life and activities of daily living.

The Major Depression Inventory for diagnosing according to DSM-5 and ICD-11: Psychometric properties and validity in a Swedish general population.

The Major Depression Inventory (MDI) was constructed to assess DSM-IV and ICD-10 depression symptoms, and does not fully cover the symptoms listed in DSM-5 and ICD-11. This study aimed to augment the MDI to the new diagnostic standards by adding a new item, and to assess and compare the measurement performance of the MDI items and diagnostic algorithms for major depression according to DSM-IV, ICD-10, DSM-5 and ICD-11. Surveys collected 2001-2003 and 2021, including self-assessed MDI were used. A new hopelessness item was constructed and analyzed alongside the hopelessness item in the Symptom Checklist. The performance of items was compared using Rasch and Mokken analyses. Criterion validity was examined using equivalent diagnoses from psychiatric interview (Schedules for Clinical Assessments in Neuropsychiatry [SCAN]) as standard. MDI information was provided by 8511 individuals in 2001-2003 (SCAN subsample n=878), and 8863 in 2021. All items, including hopelessness had good psychometric properties. Sensitivity ranged between 56% and 70%, and specificity between 95% and 96%, indicating similar criterion validity. Hopelessness and the MDI items had good psychometrics. MDI for DSM-5 and ICD-11 had similar validity as for DSM-IV and ICD-10. We recommend that MDI is updated to DSM-5 and ICD-11 by adding a hopelessness item.

Cannabis use and psychotic disorders in diverse settings in the Global South: findings from INTREPID II.

Cannabis use has been linked to psychotic disorders but this association has been primarily observed in the Global North. This study investigates patterns of cannabis use and associations with psychoses in three Global South (regions within Latin America, Asia, Africa and Oceania) settings. Case-control study within the International Programme of Research on Psychotic Disorders (INTREPID) II conducted between May 2018 and September 2020. In each setting, we recruited over 200 individuals with an untreated psychosis and individually-matched controls (Kancheepuram India; Ibadan, Nigeria; northern Trinidad). Controls, with no past or current psychotic disorder, were individually-matched to cases by 5-year age group, sex and neighbourhood. Presence of psychotic disorder assessed using the Schedules for Clinical Assessment in Neuropsychiatry and cannabis exposure measured by the World Health Organisation Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST). Cases reported higher lifetime and frequent cannabis use than controls in each setting. In Trinidad, cannabis use was associated with increased odds of psychotic disorder: lifetime cannabis use (adj. OR 1.58, 95% CI 0.99-2.53); frequent cannabis use (adj. OR 1.99, 95% CI 1.10-3.60); cannabis dependency (as measured by high ASSIST score) (adj. OR 4.70, 95% CI 1.77-12.47), early age of first use (adj. OR 1.83, 95% CI 1.03-3.27). Cannabis use in the other two settings was too rare to examine associations. In line with previous studies, we found associations between cannabis use and the occurrence and age of onset of psychoses in Trinidad. These findings have implications for strategies for prevention of psychosis.

Editorial introductions.

Editorial introductions.

A Two-Phase Survey of Psychiatric Morbidity among Females with Infertility in a Tertiary Hospital in North-Western Nigeria

ABSTRACT Background: The inability of couples to conceive or infertility has been identified as a major source of psychiatric morbidity. In several studies in sub-Saharan Africa, the psychological burden, often higher among females, is mostly assessed through screening measures and hardly by diagnostic instruments. This study evaluated the prevalence and clinical pattern of psychiatric morbidity among adult female patients attending Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH) infertility clinic using the two-phase survey method. Methods: In the first phase, 281 respondents were assessed using sociodemographic, clinical, and the 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12). The second phase was by using the World Health Organization Schedule for Clinical Assessment in Neuropsychiatry (SCAN) to interview all probable cases on the GHI-12 with a score of 3 or more, and 10% of non-cases. Psychiatric diagnosis was made in accordance with the diagnostic criteria of the 10th edition of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10). Results: The point prevalence of psychiatric morbidity in this study was 29.2% with a weighted prevalence rate of 64.8% projected onto the infertile population seeking medical help within the 3-month study period. Depression (21%) was the most occurring diagnosis. Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Somatisation were diagnosed in 6% and 2% respectively. There was a significant relationship between psychiatric morbidity and age, educational status, religion, and the duration of marriage (p<0.05). Conclusion: About one-third of infertile women in this study had psychiatric morbidity with depression being the most prevalent diagnosis. Psychiatric morbidity was significantly associated with increasing age, high educational attainment, religion and longer duration of marriage. The study demonstrated the need to include Consultation-Liaison Mental Health Practitioners in the management of women with infertility in order to meet their unmet mental health needs.

Prevalence and characteristics of unipolar mania in a low-income country setting: population-based data from the Butajira cohort, rural Ethiopia

PurposePrevious research suggests unipolar mania, i.e., bipolar disorder without depression, to be more common in low-income countries. However, longitudinal population-based studies on unipolar mania from low-income countries are lacking. This study therefore examined unipolar mania, in Butajira, Ethiopia, and associations with possible determinants.MethodsKey informants and 68,378 screenings with the Composite International Diagnostic Interviews (CIDI 2.1) identified suspected cases of bipolar disorder. Diagnosis was confirmed using the Schedules for Clinical Assessment in Neuropsychiatry (SCAN 2.1) (n = 2,285). 315 participants with bipolar disorder were recruited and followed up for an average of 2.5 years. Unipolar mania was defined when illness episodes consisted of at least two manic relapses. 240 cases had sufficient data to ascertain course of disorder.Results41.7% (100 of 240 cases) of participants had unipolar mania. Unipolar mania was associated with less suicidal ideation (0% vs. 26.4%, p < 0.001), less suicidal thoughts (occasionally/often: 1%/3% vs. 19.6%/21%, p < 0.001), and less history of suicide attempt (2% vs. 11.6%, p = 0.01). The participants with unipolar mania tended to have better social functioning (OR = 2.05, p = 0.07) and less alcohol use (20.8% vs. 31.4%, p = 0.07). The study was partly based on retrospective data liable to recall bias. Some cases defined as unipolar mania in our study may later develop depression.ConclusionPrevious cross-sectional studies finding high proportions of unipolar mania in low-income countries appear supported. Unipolar mania trended towards better social functioning and was associated with lower suicidality. Future unipolar mania specifications could inform treatment and prognostic estimates of bipolar disorder.

Olfactory dysfunction but not COVID‐19 severity predicts severity of cognitive sequelae following SARS‐CoV‐2 infection in Amerindian older adults

AbstractBackgroundCOVID‐19 has affected more than 380 million people. Infections may result in long term sequelae, including neuropsychiatric symptoms. In older adults COVID‐19 sequelae resemble early Alzheimer’s disease, and may share risk factors and blood biomarkers with it. The Alzheimer’s Association Consortium on Chronic Neuropsychiatric Sequelae of SARS‐CoV‐2 infection (CNS SC2) established harmonized definitions, ascertainment and assessment methodologies to evaluate and longitudinally follow up cohorts of older adults with exposure to COVID‐19. We present one year data in a prospective cohort from Argentina.MethodParticipants (n = 766) are older adults (≥60 years) recruited from the provincial health registry containing all SARS‐CoV‐2 testing data. We randomly invite older adults stratified by PCR COVID‐19 testing status regardless of symptom severity, between 3 and 6 months after recovery. Assessment includes interview with the Schedules for Clinical Assessment in Neuropsychiatry (SCAN) and Clinical Dementia Rating scale (CDR); neurocognitive assessment; emotional reactivity scale; and neurological assessment including semiquantitative olfactory function test, motor function, coordination and gait.ResultWe assessed 88.4% infected participants and 11.6 % controls. Education is 10.36 ± 5.6 years and age is 66.9 ± 6.14 years. Level of care during COVID‐19 is described in Figure 1. Normalized cognitive Z‐scores categorize the cohort in 3 groups with decreased performance compared to normal cognition: memory only impairment (Single‐domain,11.7%); impairment in attention+executive function without memory impairment (Two‐domain, 8.3%); and multiple domain impairment (Multiple domain,11.6%). Logistic regression showed that severity of anosmia, but not clinical status, significantly predicts cognitive impairment. No controls had olfactory dysfunction. Cognitive impairment is defined as Z‐scores below (‐ 2) (Table 1). Clinical assessment with SCAN revealed functional memory impairment in two thirds of infected patients (CDR ≥ 1), which was severe in half of them. Phone‐based follow up at 1 year revealed high adherence (4 participants declined). Five were deceased at follow up. Rates of re‐infection (between 10 and 23%) were not affected by the vaccination schedule (Table 2).ConclusionThe longitudinal cohort had very high adherence. Persistent cognitive and functional impairment after SARS‐CoV‐2 infection is predicted by persistent anosmia but not by the severity of the initial COVID‐19 disease.

Oxytocin receptor gene methylation as a molecular marker for severity of depressive symptoms in affective disorder patients

BackgroundOxytocin (OXT) is a neuropeptide and hormone involved in emotional functioning and also seems to play a role in moderating the stress response. Both preclinical and clinical studies point to an increased methylation status of the Oxytocin receptor (OXTR) promoter region with concomitant deficits in social, cognitive and emotional functioning. We hypothesize that methylation levels (%) of the oxytocin receptor promoter region correlate with the severity of depression symptoms and/or with the severity of childhood trauma within this present sample of affective disorder patients.MethodologyEight hundred forty six (846) affective disorder patients of Central European origin were recruited at the Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy of the Medical University Vienna, the Karl Landsteiner University for Health and Science and Zentren für seelische Gesundheit, BBRZ-Med Leopoldau. Psychiatric assessment included a semi-structured diagnostic interview (Schedules for Clinical Assessment in Neuropsychiatry), the Hamilton Depression Scale and the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire. Concomitantly DNA samples of peripheral blood cells were collected for Multiplexed and Sensitive DNA Methylation Testing.ResultsOur data suggests a positive but not significant association between OXTR promoter Exons 1–3 methylation levels and severity of depression symptoms as well as severity of emotional neglect in affective disorder patients and no association with childhood trauma.ConclusionsOur findings contribute to elucidate the role of OXTR in affective disorders, but further longitudinal studies in particular are necessary to broaden the current state of knowledge.

Antidepressant Treatment and Manic Switch in Bipolar I Disorder: A Clinical and Molecular Genetic Study.

Affective switch is an important clinical issue when treating bipolar disorder. Though commonly seen in clinical practice, the benefits of prescribing antidepressants for bipolar depression are still controversial. To date, there have been few genetic studies and no genome-wide association study (GWAS), focusing on manic switch following bipolar depression. This study aims to investigate the effects of individual genomics and antidepressant medication on the risk of manic switch in bipolar I disorder (BPI). A total of 1004 patients with BPI who had at least one depressive episode with complete data on antidepressant treatment and outcome were included. Clinical assessment of mania and depression was performed by trained psychiatric nurses and psychiatrists using the Chinese version of the Schedules for Clinical Assessment in Neuropsychiatry (SCAN), and the diagnosis of BPI was made according to DSM-IV criteria. Manic switch was defined as a manic episode occurring within eight weeks of remission from an acute depressive episode. The age at first depressive episode of the study patients was 30.7 years (SD 12.5) and 56% of all patients were female. GWAS was carried out in a discovery group of 746 patients, followed by replication in an independent group of 255 patients. The top SNP rs10262219 on chromosome 7 showed the strongest allelic association with manic switch (p = 2.21 × 10−7) in GWAS, which was however not significantly replicated. Antidepressant treatment significantly (odds ratio 1.7; 95% CI 1.3–2.2; p < 0.001) increased the risk of manic switch. In logistic regression analysis, the CC genotype of rs10262219 (odds ratio 3.0; 95% CI 1.7–5.2) and antidepressant treatment (odds ratio 2.3; 95% CI 1.4–3.7) significantly increased the risk of manic switch with a joint effect (odds ratio 5.9; 95% CI 3.7–9.4). In conclusion, antidepressant medication and rs10262219 variants jointly increased the risk of manic switch after bipolar depression.

Religious delusions in Dutch older adults in treatment for psychosis: a follow-up study.

The course over time of religious delusions (RDs) in late-life schizophrenia and psychotic depression may be relevant to know how long certain aspects of RDs may affect treatment. The present study examines (1) the 1-year follow-up of RDs and other prevalent delusions, (2) the association between RDs and the clinical course of psychotic depression and schizophrenia compared to those without RDs, and (3) associations of RDs and other prevalent delusions with "indicators of complexity" (e.g., suicidality, refusing medication). Prospective study (half year and 1-year follow-up combined). Outpatients and inpatients in Geriatric Psychiatry Institution of Yulius, South-Holland, the Netherlands. One hundred and thirty seven older adult patients, mean age 76.3 (s.d. 8.1). Natural follow-up study. Diagnostic interview measures included Schedules for Clinical Assessment in Neuropsychiatry (SCAN 2.1), positive psychosis items of the Community Assessment of Psychic Experiences-42 (CAPE), and the 20-item measures from the Centre for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). Although RDs in older adults decline in the clinical course of psychotic depression, the course is unfavorable compared to psychotic depression without RDs with regard to depressive symptom severity as measured by CES-D. No significant differences were noted in relation to clinical course of positive psychotic symptoms for both psychotic depression and schizophrenia. In schizophrenia, RDs persist more frequently compared to the most prevalent delusions. No significant difference was observed between patients with RDs compared to patients without RDs regarding indicators of clinical complexity. RDs predicting a less favorable course over time in psychotic depression. In schizophrenia, RDs appears to be relatively pervasive.

Longitudinal assessment of disability amongst patients of bipolar and unipolar depressive disorders presenting to a tertiary care center in North India.

To assess and compare the changes in disability scores associated with Bipolar Depression (BD) and Unipolar Depression (UD) over 1 year. A longitudinal study was taken up in adults diagnosed with unipolar or bipolar depressive disorder with current depressive episode. Diagnosis was made according to Schedule for Clinical Assessment in Neuropsychiatry. Severity scoring was done using Hamilton's Depression (HAM-D) rating scale and Hamilton's Anxiety (HAM-A) rating scale. Disability was assessed using Indian Disability Evaluation and Assessment Scale (IDEAS) and London handicap Scale (LHS) at baseline, 6 and 12 months. Sixty participants were recruited (42 UD and 18 BD). No significant differences were seen in socio-demographic parameters, except higher education levels and males being overrepresented in UD. Significant differences at baseline were seen in HAM-D (p = .001) and HAM-A (p = .003) scores. The extent of disability was seen to correlate with severity of illness only in case of BD at baseline. No significant differences were seen in the IDEAS scores at baseline. IDEAS score improved at each follow-up assessment (p < .001). LHS showed significant improvement over time in UD (p < .001), but not BD (p = .076). Percentage individuals meeting cut-off for benchmark disability (>40%) were comparable at baseline but were significantly more in the BD at 12-months (p = .049). Disability in psychiatry occurs equally amongst unipolar and bipolar depressive disorders and tends to improve over time, although the level of improvement may differ. It may not always correspond to severity of illness. These factors should be considered while certifying disability.

Olfactory dysfunction and chronic cognitive impairment following SARS‐CoV‐2 infection in a sample of older adults from the Andes mountains of Argentina

BackgroundCOVID‐19 has affected more than 150 million people. The causal coronavirus, SARS‐CoV‐2 has infected twice as many individuals who have remained asymptomatic. COVID‐19 includes central nervous system (CNS) manifestations and may result in chronic neuropsychiatric sequelae. Risk factors for COVID‐19 sequelae overlap with those for Alzheimer’s disease (AD), particularly older age and ApoE4 status. The Alzheimer’s Association Consortium on Chronic Neuropsychiatric Sequelae of SARS‐CoV‐2 infection (CNS SC2) established harmonized definitions, ascertainment and assessment methodologies to evaluate and longitudinally follow up cohorts of older adults with variable exposure to COVID‐19. We present preliminary data from CNS SC2 in a prospective cohort of 234 older adult Amerindians from Argentina.MethodParticipants are ≥ 60 years recruited from the health registry of the Province of Jujuy containing all SARS‐CoV‐2 testing data (regardless of clinical status and of the result of the testing). We randomly invite older adults stratified by testing status regardless of symptom severity, a minimum of 3 months after clinical recovery (maximum 6 months); refusal to participate is <45%. Assessment includes interview with the Schedules for Clinical Assessment in Neuropsychiatry (SCAN) and Clinical Dementia Rating scale; neurocognitive assessment; emotional reactivity scale; and neurological assessment including semiquantitative olfactory function test, motor function, coordination and gait. We present here the results of olfactory testing and cognitive assessments.ResultWe assessed 233 infected participants and 64 controls. Average duration of formal learning is 9.35 ± 2.6 years and mean age is 66.7 ± 5.13 years. Normative data for the local population were available for Word list, Corsi Blocks, Oral Trails and Five Digit Tests and were used to normalize Z‐scores and categorize the sample in 3 groups: normal cognition (NC,44.6%); memory only impairment (MOI,21%); and multiple domain impairment (MDI,34.4%). Individuals with MDI presented severe alterations in short‐term memory; semantic memory; naming; executive function and attention compared to NC or MO groups (Table 1). Severity of cognitive impairment was significantly correlated with severity of olfactory dysfunction (χ2 = 13.82; p= 0.003) but not severity of acute COVID‐19.ConclusionOlder adults frequently suffer persistent cognitive impairment after recovery from SARS‐CoV‐2 infection; cognitive impairment is correlated with persistent anosmia.

Exposure to workplace violence and threats and risk of depression: a prospective study.

Objectives:Several studies have examined the health consequences of workplace threats and violence, however, due to methodological issues the epidemiological evidence is limited. The purpose of this study was to examine the prospective association between self-labelled exposure to work-related threats and violence and the risk of depression, measured by a standardized psychiatric interview and new prescriptions of anti-depressive medication.Methods:Employees were recruited from the Danish PRISME cohort established in 2007 where 4489 Danish public employees answered a postal questionnaire with follow-ups in 2009 and 2011. In all three waves, depression was diagnosed by clinical interviews with the Schedules for Clinical Assessment in Neuropsychiatry (SCAN). In addition, we ascertained prescription of anti-depressive medication from a national register. Using logistic regression and Cox proportional hazard models, we estimated the association between exposure to threats and violence at baseline and SCAN depression and prescription of anti-depressive medication during two years of follow-up.Results:Self-labelled exposure to work-related threats and violence was associated with a risk of SCAN diagnosed depression two years later, odds ratios (OR) 2.20 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.13–4.28] and OR 2.11 (95% CI 1.05–4.24), respectively, with indication of a dose–response. Self-labelled exposure to work-related threats and violence was associated with prescription of anti-depressive medication in a two-year period, hazard ratios (HR) 2.55 (95% CI 1.47–4.40) and HR 1.47 (95% CI 0.70–3.06), respectively.Conclusion:Exposure to work-related threats or violence is associated with an increased risk of depression two years later, measured with a psychiatric interview and register data on prescribed antidepressants.

Post-Stroke Psychiatric and Cognitive Symptoms in West Asia, South Asia and Africa: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Recent research has shown that the prevalence of stroke incidents and the number of survivors in developing countries surpass those from developed countries. This study aimed to enumerate the prevalence of post-stroke psychiatric and cognitive symptoms among stroke survivors from West and South Asia and Africa through a systematic review and meta-analysis. Data from each country was systematically acquired from five major databases (PsycINFO, Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed/Medline, and Google Scholar (for any missing articles and grey literature)). Meta-analytic techniques were then used to estimate the prevalence of various post-stoke psychiatric and cognitive symptoms. A total of 36 articles were accrued from 11 countries, of which 25 were evaluated as part of the meta-analysis. The pooled prevalence of post-stroke depression as per the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, Patient Health Questionnaire, Schedules for Clinical Assessment in Neuropsychiatry (SCAN), Geriatric Depression Scale, and the Montgomery–Asberg Depression Rating Scale ranged from 28.00 to 50.24%. Pooled prevalence of post-stroke anxiety based on the HADS and SCAN was 44.19% and 10.96%, respectively. The pooled prevalence of post-stroke cognitive impairment as per the Mini-Mental Status Examination was 16.76%. This present review has suggested that both psychiatric and cognitive symptoms are common among stroke survivors. Concerted efforts are needed to institute robust studies using culturally sensitive measures to contemplate mechanisms that address the unmet needs of this vulnerable population.

Insomnia and quality of life of prisoners at a Nigerian maximum-security prison.

This study aims to determine the prevalence of insomnia as well as its association with the quality of life of the inmates in a Nigerian prison. Prisoners are a disadvantaged group of people whose needs are often unmet. Many authors have focussed on investigating the prevalence and pattern of psychiatric morbidity, as well as substance use among prisoners. However, sleep disorders, which can predispose or precipitate psychiatric disorders, have been largely neglected in research. The relationship between insomnia and quality of life (QoL) among the general population has been documented but similar investigations have yet to be conducted among the prisoner population. This was a cross-sectional study with 300 male prisoners at the Ibara prison, Abeokuta, Nigeria who were not diagnosed with depressive, generalized anxiety or post-traumatic stress disorders. Each respondent was interviewed with a sociodemographic proforma, Insomnia module of the Schedule for Clinical Assessment in Neuropsychiatry and the brief World Health Organisation Quality of Life questionnaire. About half of the respondents (45.7%) met diagnostic criteria for insomnia. A diagnosis of insomnia and some sleep-related variables were significantly associated with QoL. All the possible correlates of insomnia could not be investigated. Further research should be conducted to identify more correlates and investigate the impact of insomnia on prisoners' lives. Improvement of prison climate (relationships in prison, safety and order, contact with the outside world, facilities, meaningful activities and autonomy) may mitigate insomnia among prisoners. Prison psychiatry in Nigerian correctional centres should be made a priority. The findings have brought to light the need to address the current social welfare system in place for Nigerian correctional centres. The study provided information on the prevalence of insomnia and poor QoL among prisoners in a Nigerian correctional facility.

Genome-wide association study of suicidal behaviour severity in mood disorders

Objective Suicide is a major public health problem and it has a prominent genetic component. We performed a genome-wide association study (GWAS) of suicidal behaviour severity. Methods Suicide behaviour severity was assessed within the Schedules for Clinical Assessment in Neuropsychiatry in our mood disorder sample (n = 3506) for the GWAS. We also performed polygenic risk score analyses to explore genetic sharing between suicidal behaviour severity and a number of phenotypes, including bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, alcoholism, post-traumatic stress disorder, impulsivity, insomnia, educational attainment, loneliness, maltreatment, and amygdala volume. Results We did not detect genome-wide significant findings at the single-marker or gene level. We report a number of suggestive single-marker and gene-based findings. Our polygenic risk score analyses did not yield significant findings with these phenotypes. Conclusions Larger sample sizes are required to detect moderate effects.

Journal Digest: Amygdala and ‘Broken Heart’ Syndrome; Digital Intervention and Paranoia Symptoms; Snoring in Children and Brain Development; Impaired Self-Control and Binge Eating Behavior; HS Football and Midlife Mental Health Problems

Journal Digest: Amygdala and ‘Broken Heart’ Syndrome; Digital Intervention and Paranoia Symptoms; Snoring in Children and Brain Development; Impaired Self-Control and Binge Eating Behavior; HS Football and Midlife Mental Health Problems