Clinical Global Impression-Severity Scale Research Articles

Vagus nerve stimulation in patients receiving maintenance therapy with electroconvulsive therapy: a series of 10 cases

OBJECTIVES Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a mainstay in both acute and long-term management of difficult-to-treat depression. However, frequent acute courses of ECT or prolonged maintenance ECT treatment may increase adverse-effect burden and/or reduce patient acceptability. Therefore, we investigated the effectiveness of adjunctive vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) therapy as an alternative strategy for long-term maintenance treatment in ECT-responsive patients. METHODS This retrospective chart review identified maintenance ECT patients with unipolar (n = 5) and bipolar depression (n = 5) from 2 large hospital systems who had a history of ECT response, but the patients had significant residual incapacitating symptoms or increasing concerns regarding the burden associated with ECT and opted to receive adjunctive VNS therapy. The patients were followed for 2 years after VNS implantation. Response and remission were defined as Clinical Global Impression-Severity scale scores of ≤2 and 1, respectively, obtained at 1- and 2-year postimplantation compared with just before VNS implantation. RESULTS One-year postimplantation, 6 of 10 had responded of which 5 met remission criteria. All 10 patients benefited from adjunctive VNS therapy with either fewer hospitalizations and/or ECT sessions. Seven of 10 stopped maintenance ECT by the end of year 1; an additional patient stopped maintenance ECT by year 2. No patients required an acute course of ECT during the 2-year follow-up. There was a statistically significant reduction (P < 0.0001) in mean (SD) Clinical Global Impression-Severity scale scores between baseline (5.4 [0.51]) and the 1-year postimplantation (2.1 [1.37]) time points, and between baseline and the 2-year postimplantation (2.3 [1.16]) time points, whereas no difference existed between the 1- and 2-year postimplantation time points. CONCLUSIONS Vagus nerve stimulation therapy may be a useful maintenance strategy in patients with difficult-to-treat depression receiving maintenance ECT.

Effect of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy on Pupils with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in Two Selected Primary Schools in Cape Coast Metropolis, Ghana

This study focused on investigating the effect of the Cognitive Behavioural Therapeutic treatment (CBT) on pupils with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) at Bekkyford and Felicomfort Primary Schools in Cape Coast, Ghana. The quasi-experimental design was used for the study. The sample for the study was 43 participants which include 8 parents, 6 teachers, 16 siblings of participants, 13 pupils made up of 9 males and 4 females. The pupils were purposively sampled for the study with the aid of the Scheduled for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Aged Children (K-SADS). Data were collected with the Scheduled for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Aged Children (K-SADS), questionnaire, and Clinical Global Impression Severity Scale (GCI-I). The results revealed that three out of the 9 males (representing 30 percent) reported minimal improvement in their symptoms regarding impulsivity and inattentiveness. There was a significant difference between the experimental group (M = 18.70, SD = 2.243) and the control group (M = 08.45, SD = 4.185), t(37)= 8.023; sig.=.003, P&lt;.05 with respect to the CBT. It was recommended that parents, teachers and siblings should be included in all psychosocial interventions for people with ADHD for lasting and effective management of the symptoms.

Unhappy While Depressed: Examining the Dimensionality, Reliability and Validity of the Subjective Happiness Scale in a Spanish Sample of Patients with Depressive Disorders.

Despite the considerable amount of research evidence on the significant role of subjective happiness on mental health, there is no psychometric study of the Subjective Happiness Scale (SHS) in psychiatric samples. This study was aimed at exploring the psychometric properties of the SHS in a Spanish sample of patients with depressive disorders. Participants were 174 patients with a depressive disorder (70% diagnosed as major depressive disorder) who completed the SHS, the Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology-Self Report (QIDS-SR16), and the EQ-5D Visual Analogue Scale (EQ-5D VAS). Depressive symptoms were also assessed by means of the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS17) and the Clinical Global Impression-Severity (CGI-S) Scale. Dimensionality, internal consistency reliability, construct validity, and responsiveness to change of the SHS were examined. Confirmatory factor analysis replicated the original one-factor structure of the scale. The SHS exhibited good-to-excellent results for internal consistency (α = 0.83) and for convergent [EQ-5D VAS (r = 0.71)] and divergent [QIDS-SR16 (r = −0.72), HDRS17 (r = −0.60) and CGI-S (r = −0.61)] construct validity. The ability of the SHS to differentiate between depression severity levels as well as its responsiveness to clinical change were both highly satisfactory (p < 0.001 in both cases). The SHS retained the soundness of psychometric properties showed in non-clinical samples in a sample of patients with depressive disorders, which supports its use as a reliable and valid outcome measure in the treatment of such disorders.

Serum concentrations of aminoacylase 1 in schizophrenia as a potential biomarker: a case-sibling-control study

Purpose Aminoacylase 1 (ACY1) catalyzes the hydrolysis reaction during protein degradation. N-acetylamino acids are accumulated in the urine in Aminoacylase 1 deficiency (ACY1D). This study attempts to evaluate the potential of ACY1 as a biomarker for schizophrenia and predict genetic vulnerability in the high-risk population. Material and methods Seventy patients with schizophrenia, twenty-five of which have newly diagnosed, forty-nine unaffected siblings of patients, and fifty-six healthy controls were included in the study. The ELISA method was used to measure serum ACY1. The Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and The Clinical Global Impression – Severity scale (CGI-S) were used to analyze the severity of the symptoms. Data were analysed statistically by non-parametric tests. Results The finding of the study indicated that the serum levels of ACY1 in patients and siblings were lower compared to healthy controls (p < 0.001 and p = 0.023). There was no statistically significant difference between patients and siblings (p = 0.067). The duration of disease, PANSS total scores, and CGI-S scores did not have a significant association with the ACY1 levels in the patient group (p > 0.005). ACY1 levels among the drug-using patient group and the newly diagnosed patient group showed no notable difference (respectively, p = 0.120 and p = 0.843). Conclusion This study is the first to evaluate the serum ACY1 levels in patients with schizophrenia. The result of the study provides us insight regarding the first hints that ACY1 might be a potential biomarker. Being aware of the molecule will pave the way for further explorations in the field.

6.32 Assessing the Effect of Youth Involvement in Adverse Event Reporting during a Clinical Trial of Cannabidiol for Youth WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER with Complex Verbal Language

Clinical trials in youth with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have typically neglected the voices of the youth themselves. Besides raising ethical questions, this may also affect the quality of the data obtained. We examined differences in adverse event (AE) reporting between parents and parent-child dyads in an open trial of cannabidiol (CBD). We hypothesized that including youth with ASD in AE reporting would increase the number of total and related AEs independently of response. Twelve youth (ages 7-14 years) with ASD (verbally fluent, IQ ≥ 80) completed a 6-week, Phase 2 open trial of 98% CBD (Epidiolex [V], 100 mg/mL) at 3 or 6 mg/kg/day; target N = 30. An individualized target symptom domain was identified at baseline by clinician consensus from informant report, rating scales, and clinical observation. Responders were defined by Clinical Global Impression Scale–Improvement (CGI-I) ≤ 2 in their target symptom domain. AEs were assessed by phone with parents (weeks 1, 3, 5) and via the UKU (Udvalg for Kliniske Under-sogelser) Side Effects Rating Scale administered by clinicians to dyads (weeks 2, 4, 6). Clinician consensus determined the relatedness of AEs to treatment. Disease-related events (DREs) were considered adverse if the severity or frequency increased. In this interim analysis, we identified response to treatment and AEs, contrasted AE rates (parents vs dyads), and examined the relationship between treatment response and AE profile. All 12 initial participants completed the trial; 4 responded (33%). Clinical Global Impression Scale–Severity (CGI–S) improved significantly from pre- (M = 4.83; SD = 0.39) to posttreatment (M = 3.92; SD = 0.90) (t11 = 3.53; p < 0.004). The most frequent AEs were tiredness (n = 5) and increased emotionality (n = 3). Of 47 total AEs, all were mild and 39 were first reported by dyads. Of 14 related AEs, 9 were first reported by dyads. One DRE occurred: increased severity of restricted, repetitive behaviors. The number of AEs reported by dyads (M = 3.25; SD = 3.14) compared to parents alone (M = 0.67; SD = 0.89) was significantly higher (t11 = 2.18; p = 0.017). Responders and nonresponders did not differ significantly in the number of total or related AEs. This interim analysis suggests that including the input of children with ASD in AE reporting captures a fuller profile of total and related AEs without compromising the study integrity or results.

Evaluation of Clonidine Augmentation Therapy for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Treatment; a Randomized Clinical Trial

Background: Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a common neuropsychiatric disorder worldwide. Inadequate response of OCD patients to a usual agent makes this disorder a great challenge, and recent studies have recommended augmentation therapy as a new choice. Objectives: As traces of noradrenergic dysfunction have been noted in OCD pathophysiology, the current study aimed to assess the efficacy of clonidine augmentation therapy for treating OCD. Methods: This was a randomized clinical trial conducted on 57 OCD patients divided into the two groups of 1-mg clonidine augmentation therapy (n = 28) and placebo group (n = 29). The medication was administered for 12 weeks. Patients’ primary treatment, including SSRIs or clomipramine, continued by receiving the same dose used before participation in this study. The Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive scale (Y-BOCS) and Clinical Global Impression-Severity scale (CGI-S) were used to assess the patients at the start of the study and then at four-week intervals. Drug-related adverse effects and global improvement were assessed and compared between the two groups. Results: The initial CGI scores were 3.89 ± 1.57 and 4.10 ± 1.61 at the baseline and 2.29 ± 1.18 and 3.07 ± 1.51 at the end of the study in the intervention and control groups, respectively. Both groups revealed a significant improvement (P-value = 0.001) with no significant difference between them (P-value = 0.22). The primary Y-BOCS score in the clonidine-treated group was 27.61 ± 8.08 versus 28.69 ± 7.44 in the control group at the baseline, which declined to 20.25 ± 6.08 versus 25.45 ± 7.35 at the end of the study, respectively. Both groups revealed a significant improvement (P-value = 0.001), but there was no statistically significant difference between them (P-value = 0.06). Drug-related complications were not statistically different between the two groups (P-value &gt; 0.05); however, the clonidine-treated patients presented more adverse effects than control subjects. Conclusions: Although the use of clonidine posed no remarkable drug-related adverse effects, it was not superior to placebo considering symptom relief.

5-HT1A Partial Agonist Tandospirone for Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms in Oldest-old Patients with Dementia at a Special Elderly Nursing Home.

ObjectiveTo investigate the efficacy of tandospirone, an azapirone anxiolytic similar to buspirone that is used in Japan, for behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD), especially in oldest-old patients.MethodsThis was an open-label observational study involving residents with BPSD in a special elderly nursing home between August 2013 and August 2018. The severity of dementia was assessed using the Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) scale; as the main outcomes, the severity of BPSD was assessed using the Clinical Global Impressions-Severity scale (CGI-S) and Neuropsychiatric Inventory-12 (NPI-12) at baseline and 4 weeks after the maintenance dose of tandospirone was reached. The administration of tandospirone started at 30 mg, divided into three doses per day. Two weeks later, if the efficacy was sufficient based on the clinical nursing record, that dose was continued; if the efficacy was insufficient, the daily dose was increased from 40 mg/day to a maximum dose of 60 mg/day.ResultsThirty-three participants (25 females [76%], mean age 87.1 ± 5.4 years) completed the study. Twenty-three participants (70%) were oldest-old (18 females [78%], mean age 89.9 ± 3.4 years). The mean CDR score was 2.9 ± 0.3 in all participants. Tandospirone treatment showed few or no obvious adverse effects and significantly improved CGI-S scores, as well as total scores and many subscale scores on the NPI-12, in both the sample at large and the oldest-old participants.ConclusionThis study demonstrated the efficacy and safety of tandospirone for BPSD in oldest-old participants.

Identifying clinical risk factors correlate with suicide attempts in patients with first episode major depressive disorder

BackgroundMajor depressive disorder (MDD) is the most common mental disorder associated with suicide attempts. When a patient first visits the clinic, clinicians are often expected to make concrete diagnose about acute suicidal risk. However, the timeliness of suicide attempts correlates with patients with MDD has not been tested. MethodsWe divided 1718 first-episode and untreated MDD outpatients into those who did not have suicide attempts (non-attempts), recent suicide attempters (≤14 days before assessment) and long - dated suicide attempters (> 30 days before assessment). Positive Symptom Scale of Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), the 17-item Hamilton Depression Scale, 14 - item Hamilton Anxiety Scale, and clinical global impression of severity scale (CGI-S) was assessed. Body mass index, some glycolipid metabolism and thyroid hormone parameters were measured. A gradient-boosted decision trees statistical model was used to generate equally weighted classification for distinguishing recent and long - dated suicide attempters from non-attempts. ResultsThe classifier identified higher excitement, hostility, anxiety, depression symptoms and higher free thyroxine (FT4) as risk factors for recent suicide attempters with an estimated accuracy of 87% (sensitivity, 59.1%; specificity, 61.2 %). For long - dated suicide attempters’ risk factors, single status, higher anxiety and hostility symptoms, higher LDLC and lower BMI, the estimated accuracy was 88% (sensitivity, 52.8%; specificity, 49.6%). ConclusionsRisk factors for suicide attempt among patients with MDD can be identified by integrating demographic, clinical, and biological variables as early as possible during the first time see a doctor.

Risk factors for early-phase clozapine discontinuation: A nested case-control study.

Safe and efficient methods for introducing clozapine to patients with treatment-resistant schizophrenia (TRS) are needed. We investigated risk factors for clozapine discontinuation in the early phase of its introduction. We conducted a nested case-control study at 14 psychiatric hospitals in Chiba, Japan. Data from pre-registered TRS patients were collected at 7 time points within 12 weeks before and after the start of clozapine introduction. We examined the demographic data, prior and concomitant psychotropic drugs, strategies for switching from prior antipsychotics, and blood test and Global Assessment of Function results. The Clinical Global Impression-Severity Scale was retrospectively scored at 12 weeks before and after clozapine introduction. Of 228 patients, clozapine treatment was continued in 213 (93.4 %) and discontinued in 15 (6.6 %) patients within 12 weeks. Clinical symptoms were improved to mild symptoms with a response rate of 14.9 %. Prior antipsychotics and concomitant psychotropic drugs except for mood stabilizers were significantly decreased. Histories of smoking (OR = 3.32, 95 %CI: 1.11-9.93) and antipsychotic treatment at chlorpromazine-equivalent doses <1200 mg within the past 5 years (OR = 3.93, 95 %CI: 1.24-12.50), but not antipsychotic switching strategy, were associated with clozapine discontinuation. Eosinophilia was the most frequent reason for discontinuation (n = 3, 20 %) and was associated with concomitant valproate at 4 weeks after the introduction. Clozapine is an effective option for TRS patients (especially those treated with higher doses of prior antipsychotics) in Japan. Clinicians should be cautious about concomitant valproate in the early phase of clozapine introduction due to a high risk of eosinophilia.

Brief Cognitive Behavioral Group Therapy and Verbal-Exposure-Augmented Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Social Anxiety Disorder in University Students: A Randomized Controlled Feasibility Trial.

Considering the need for developing and examining evidenced-based programs using a brief group format for management of social anxiety disorder (SAD) at the community level, we studied the efficacy of two brief versions of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) programs, brief cognitive-behavioral group therapy (bCBGT), and verbal exposure augmented cognitive behavioral therapy (VE-CBT), on social anxiety among university students. A single-center, randomized, parallel-group design was adopted. We delivered six weekly two-hour group sessions, bCBGT and VE-CBT, to 41 university students diagnosed with SAD. An independent rater assessed participants using the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS) and Clinical Global Impression scale-Severity (CGI-S) at baseline, postintervention, and two-month follow-up. A patient-rated measure, Social Phobia Inventory (SPIN), was assessed at the same time-points. There was a significant improvement in severity of social anxiety from baseline to posttreatment and baseline to two-month follow-up in both groups. However, the treatment effects in bCBGT were statistically superior to VE-CBT at postintervention (SPIN, P = 0.038; LSAS, P = 0.028; CGI-S, P = 0.036) and follow-up (SPIN, P = 0.006; LSAS, P = 0.01; CGI-S, P = 0.04). Brief CBT treatments, both bCBGT and VE-CBT, are efficacious for SAD among university students. They have the potential to address barriers associated with SAD management. However, we recommend a longer follow-up and replications in diverse settings.Clinical trial registration number: CTRI/2019/11/021954.

Fish oil supplementation alters emotion-generated corticolimbic functional connectivity in depressed adolescents at high-risk for bipolar I disorder: A 12-week placebo-controlled fMRI trial.

To evaluate the effects of fish oil (FO), a source of the omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), on emotion-generated corticolimbic functional connectivity in depressed youth at high risk for developing bipolar I disorder. Thirty-nine antidepressant-free youth with a current depressive disorder diagnosis and a biological parent with bipolar I disorder were randomized to 12-week double-blind treatment with FO or placebo. At baseline and endpoint, fMRI (4 Tesla) scans were obtained while performing a continuous performance task with emotional and neutral distractors (CPT-END). Seed-to-voxel functional connectivity analyses were performed using bilateral orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) and amygdala (AMY) seeds. Measures of depression, mania, global symptom severity, and erythrocyte fatty acids were obtained. Erythrocyte EPA+DHA composition increased significantly in the FO group (+47%, p≤0.0001) but not in the placebo group (-10%, p=0.11). Significant group by time interactions were found for functional connectivity between the left OFC and the left superior temporal gyrus (STG) and between the right AMY and right inferior temporal gyrus (ITG). OFC-STG connectivity increased in the FO group (p=0.0001) and decreased in the placebo group (p=0.0019), and AMY-ITG connectivity decreased in the FO group (p=0.0014) and increased in the placebo group (p<0.0001). In the FO group, but not placebo group, the decrease in AMY-ITG functional connectivity correlated with decreases in Childhood Depression Rating Scale-Revised and Clinical Global Impression-Severity Scale scores. In depressed high-risk youth FO supplementation alters emotion-generated corticolimbic functional connectivity which correlates with changes in symptom severity ratings.

A Retrospective Study of Patients Undergoing Acute Electroconvulsive Therapy for Predominately Manic or Mixed Episodes With and Without Lithium in Singapore.

The effect of lithium therapy during Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) on cognition and treatment effectiveness is unclear. In this study, we compare the cognitive and symptomatic outcomes of patients undergoing ECT with and without lithium in a large tertiary psychiatric institution. Patients with predominantly manic or mixed episodes on lithium were propensity score matched with controls. Cognition was assessed using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), while severity of symptoms was assessed using the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) and Clinical Global Impression-Severity Scale. Quality of life was assessed using the Quality of Life Enjoyment and Satisfaction Questionnaire Short Form (Q-LES-Q-SF) and EuroQol Five Dimension (EQ-5D). Linear mixed-effects modeling and conditional logistic regression were conducted as appropriate. 87 patients were included in the study. There was no significant difference in cognitive and symptomatic outcomes for patients receiving ECT with or without lithium after 6 sessions of ECT. Concurrent lithium administration during the initial acute ECT course was not associated with differential cognitive or symptomatic outcomes. Lithium administration should not be a contraindication for appropriate acute ECT treatment in patients. Larger controlled studies to confirm these findings are warranted.

Sertraline Pediatric Registry for the Evaluation of Safety: Design and Clinical Characteristics of Pediatric Patients Prescribed Sertraline.

Objectives: To describe the study design and clinical characteristics of patients in the Sertraline Pediatric RegIstry for The Evaluation of Safety (SPRITES). Methods: SPRITES is an open-label postmarketing study of development and safety outcomes in patients aged 6 to 16 years treated with sertraline (with or without psychotherapy) compared with psychotherapy alone for up to 3 years in the United States. Baseline data included demographics and psychiatric history. Primary outcomes included measures of cognitive and emotional development (Trails B, Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function [BRIEF]), physical development (height and weight), and pubertal status (Tanner Stage). Data were also collected on present/lifetime risk of suicide-related events using the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale. Results: SPRITES enrolled 941 patients between the ages of 6 and 16 years. Patients' baseline mean age was 11.9 years (2.9), 57.2% were female, and 84.8% were white. Most patients (78.4%) had an anxiety disorder, and 15.6% were diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder. The mean age at onset of first mental illness was 7.9 years. A higher percentage of sertraline-treated patients compared with patients who received no pharmacological treatment received prior psychotherapy (59.0% vs. 34.4%, p < 0.001), psychotropic medications for a psychiatric disorder (14.1% vs. 3.3%, p < 0.001), and other non-sertraline selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (8.6% vs. 1.2%, p < 0.001). Most patients were moderately ill on the Clinical Global Impressions-Severity scale, and a higher (p < 0.001) percentage of sertraline-treated patients had a moderate-to-severe mental illness score compared with the no pharmacological treatment group (73.0% vs. 57.8%, respectively). Although patients at high and imminent risk of a suicidal event were excluded at study entry, the sertraline-treated patients reported higher levels of lifetime suicidal behavior compared with patients treated with no pharmacological treatment (5.8% vs. 2.5%, p = 0.039). Conclusions: Baseline data from this nonrandomized observational study suggest that patients prescribed sertraline are reflective of a more mentally ill study population compared with patients receiving psychotherapy. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01302080.

Predictors and outcomes of experienced and anticipated discrimination in patients treated for depression: A 2-year longitudinal study

BackgroundStigma is both common and associated with greater depressive morbidity in depressives. Surprisingly few longitudinal studies have explored the predictors and consequences of stigma and discrimination. MethodA total of 230 patients with depression who were commencing treatment were enrolled. Experienced and anticipated discrimination were assessed using the Discrimination and Stigma Scale at the 1-year follow-up. The Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Clinical Global Impression Scale-Severity, Social and Occupational Functioning Assessment Scale (SOFAS), EuroQol-5 Dimension (EQ-5D) questionnaire, and Sheehan Disability Scale were administered at baseline, 1 year, and 2 years, to assess various depression outcomes. Baseline personality was evaluated using the Big Five Inventory-10. ResultsA previous depressive history and low agreeableness predicted experienced discrimination; a higher level of education, non-married status, and higher functional disability predicted anticipated discrimination. Higher-level experienced discrimination during the first year of treatment was significantly associated with poorer improvements in all six measured outcomes after 1 year of treatment, and again after 2 years of treatment (with the exception of the EQ-5D score). Higher anticipated discrimination was significantly associated with less improvement in the SOFAS scores after both 1 and 2 years of treatments. LimitationsThe study was a single-center work; this maximized consistency but may limit generalizability. ConclusionsDiscrimination exerts negative effects on depression outcomes that can be predicted at the initiation of treatment. Interventional studies are required to prevent and manage stigmatization of persons with depression

Ten Years (2011-2021) of the Italian Lombardy ADHD Register for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Children and Adolescents with ADHD.

Background: The purpose of this article is to update the diagnostic assessment, therapeutic approach, and 12–18 month follow-up of patients added to the Italian Lombardy Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Register. Methods: Medical records of patients added to the Registry from 2011 to 2021 were analysed. Results: 4091 of 5934 patients met the criteria for a diagnosis of ADHD, and 20.3% of them presented a familiarity with the disorder. A total of 2879 children (70.4%) had at least one comorbidity disorder, in prevalence a learning disorder (39%). Nearly all (95.9%) received at least one psychological prescription, 17.9% of them almost one pharmacological treatment, and 15.6% a combination of both. Values of ≥5 of the Clinical Global Impression—Severity scale (CGI-S) are more commonly presented by patients with a pharmacological prescription than with a psychological treatment (p < 0.0001). A significant improvement was reported in half of the patients followed after 1 year, with Clinical Global Impression—Improvement scale (CGI-I) ≤ 3. In all, 233 of 4091 are 18-year-old patients. Conclusions: A ten-year systematic monitoring of models of care was a fruitful shared and collaborative initiative in order to promote significant improvement in clinical practice, providing effective and continuous quality of care. The unique experience reported here should spread.

Associations between symptom severity and well-being among Thai patients with schizophrenia: a cross-sectional analytical study

BackgroundSeverity of symptoms in patients with schizophrenia is a determinant of patient’s well-being, but evidence in low- and middle-income countries is limited. We aimed to measure the symptom severity using objective measurements, the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) and Clinical Global Impression-Severity scale (CGI-S), and their associations with well-being in patients with schizophrenia.MethodsPatients with schizophrenia aged ≥18 years, without active psychosis including no history of hospitalization within the last 6 months, were included. Symptom severity was measured by the clinicians using BPRS and CGI-S. The patients’ well-being was assessed by self-report using the Subjective Well-being under Neuroleptic treatment scale (SWN) as continuous and binary outcomes (categorized into adequate or poor well-being). Correlations between symptom severity (BPRS and CGI-S scores) and well-being (SWN score) were analyzed using Pearson’s correlation. Association between well-being status and BPRS was analyzed using multivariate logistic regression.ResultsOf 150 patients, BPRS and CGI-S were inversely correlated with SWN score (r = − 0.47; p < 0.001 and − 0.21; p < 0.01, respectively). BPRS Affect domain had the highest correlation with SWN (r = − 0.51, p < 0.001). In multivariate logistic regression, BPRS score and being unemployed were associated with poor well-being status (adjusted OR 1.08; 95%CI 1.02–1.14; p = 0.006, and 4.01; 95%CI 1.38–11.7; p = 0.011, respectively).ConclusionInverse relationships between symptom severity and well-being score were found. Higher BPRS Affect domain was significantly associated with lower patients’ well-being. The use of BPRS tool into routine clinical practice could serve as an adjunct to physician’s clinical evaluation of patients’ symptoms and may help improve patient’s well-being. Further research on negative symptoms associated with well-being is required.

Psychometric Properties of the Chinese Version of the Clinically Useful Depression Outcome Scale for Patients with Major Depressive Disorder.

ObjectiveThis study aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the Clinically Useful Depression Outcome Scale (CUDOS).MethodsOne hundred ninety patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) according to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) criteria were recruited to the study. The English version of the CUDOS was translated into Chinese using a forward and backward translation method, which was according to the guidelines of adaptation and validation of instruments in cross-cultural health care research. The Chinese version of the CUDOS, the 17-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD) and the improved Clinical Global Impression-Severity Scale (iCGI-S) were used to evaluate depressive symptoms in one hundred ninety patients with MDD. One week after the first evaluation, sixteen patients were selected randomly for a second assessment. Reliability and validity tests and receiver operating characteristic curves were performed.ResultsThe internal consistency of the CUDOS was 0.95, and the split-half reliability coefficient of the CUDOS was 0.92. The correlation coefficient of the retest in sixteen patients was 0.77 (P < 0.01). There was a significant difference in the total score of the Chinese version of the CUDOS between the different levels of depression severity groups (P < 0.01). The ability of the CUDOS to identify patients in remission was high (area under ROC curve= 0.97). A cut-off score of 14/15 yielded 90.20% sensitivity and 93.60% specificity when iCGI-S=1.ConclusionThe Chinese version of the CUDOS is valuable as a brief and reliable instrument to assess depressive symptoms and clinical outcome. The findings suggest that the optimal cut-off score to identify patients in remission was 14/15.

A Comparative Study between Lithium and Extended-release Carbamazepine in Acute Mania: A Double-blind Clinical Trial

Background: Recently, numerous large clinical trials have been performed to evaluate the effectiveness and tolerability of extended-release formulations of carbamazepine in bipolar disorder. Objective: In the current study, we compared lithium with a prolonged-release form of carbamazepine (Tegretol CR) to evaluate its efficiency and safety in a group of patients with a diagnosis of acute mania. Methods: Fifty patients with the diagnosis of acute mania were selected for a three-week, doubleblind study, and were randomly administered lithium carbonate or tegretol CR. The main outcome measured in the present evaluation was the Manic State Rating Scale (MSRS), which was scored at baseline and weekly intervals up to the third week. Moreover, insight and overall illness severity and improvement were assessed using the Schedule for Assessment of Insight (SAI), the Clinical Global Impressions-Global Improvement scale (CGI-I), and the Clinical Global Impressions Severity Scale (CGI-S), respectively. The statistical significance was defined with a p-value ≤0.05, and the treatment efficacy was analyzed by independent samples t-test and repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA). Results: Despite the fact that the mean total score of MSRS improved significantly with respect to both lithium carbonate and tegretol CR at the end of the third week, the between-group analysis showed a significant advantage of lithium, regarding both frequency and intensity of symptoms, at the end of the study. The mean total score of SAI, as well, showed significant improvement caused by both of them. Nevertheless, while the CGI-I demonstrated significant improvement in participants taking lithium and tegretol CR, the CGI-S showed significant progress only with lithium. Besides, Cohen’s effect size analysis showed a large improvement of MSRS by lithium and medium improvement by tegretol CR. Post-hoc power analysis showed an intermediate power of 0.42 on behalf of the current evaluation. Conclusion: While both lithium carbonate and tegretol CR were found to be valuable for the improvement of manic symptoms, management with lithium appears to be more helpful.

Efficacy and safety of lurasidone in acutely psychotic patients with schizophrenia: A 6-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.

AimThe aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of lurasidone in acute schizophrenia in Japan and other countries.MethodsSubjects (aged 18–74 years) diagnosed with schizophrenia were randomized to lurasidone 40 mg/day or placebo. The primary efficacy endpoint was change from baseline on the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) total score at Week 6. Secondary efficacy assessments included the Clinical Global Impression‐Severity Scale (CGI‐S). Safety endpoints included adverse events, and laboratory and electrocardiogram parameters.ResultsA total of 483 subjects were randomized to lurasidone or placebo; 107 subjects were from Japan. Mean changes from baseline at Week 6 endpoint in PANSS total scores were −19.3 in the lurasidone group and −12.7 in the placebo group (treatment difference: P < 0.001, effect size = 0.41). Changes from baseline for Week 6 CGI‐S scores were −1.0 for lurasidone and −0.7 for placebo (treatment difference: P < 0.001, effect size = 0.41). All‐cause discontinuation during the 6‐week, double‐blind period was 19.4% for lurasidone and 25.4% for placebo, and discontinuation rates due to adverse event were 5.7% for lurasidone and 6.4% for placebo. The following common treatment‐emergent adverse events occurred in more than 2% on lurasidone and at a rate at least twice that of the placebo group: akathisia (4.0%), dizziness (2.8%), somnolence (2.8%), abdominal discomfort (2.0%) and asthenia (2.0%). No significant changes in bodyweight or metabolic parameters were observed.ConclusionLurasidone 40 mg once daily dosing demonstrated efficacy in a patient population with acute schizophrenia, including subjects from Japan, and was generally safe and well‐tolerated.

Altered Posterior Midline Activity in Patients with Jerky and Tremulous Functional Movement Disorders.

Objective: To explore changes in resting-state networks in patients with jerky and tremulous functional movement disorders (JT-FMD). Methods: Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging data from seventeen patients with JT-FMD and seventeen age-, sex-, and education-matched healthy controls (HC) were investigated. Independent component analysis was used to examine the central executive network (CEN), salience network, and default mode network (DMN). Frequency distribution of network signal fluctuations and intra- and internetwork functional connectivity were investigated. Symptom severity was measured using the Clinical Global Impression-Severity scale. Beck Depression Inventory and Beck Anxiety Inventory scores were collected to measure depression and anxiety in FMD, respectively. Results: Compared with HC, patients with JT-FMD had significantly decreased power of lower range (0.01-0.10 Hz) frequency fluctuations in a precuneus and posterior cingulate cortex component of the DMN and in the dorsal attention network (DAN) component of the CEN (false discovery rate-corrected p < 0.05). No significant group differences were found for intra- and internetwork functional connectivity. In patients with JT-FMD, symptom severity was not significantly correlated with network measures. Depression scores were weakly correlated with intranetwork functional connectivity in the medial prefrontal cortex, while anxiety was not found to be related to network connectivity. Conclusions: Given the changes in the posterodorsal components of the DMN and DAN, we postulate that the JT-FMD-related functional alterations found in these regions could provide support for the concept that particularly attentional dysregulation is a fundamental disturbance in these patients. Impact statement In this study, we explored static brain network functional connectivity in patients with jerky and tremulous functional movement disorders (JT-FMD) and healthy controls. We studied network functioning by analyzing functional connectivity measures, and also time course frequency spectra, which is novel compared with previous studies. We discovered aberrations in the frequency distribution of a posterior component of the default mode network (precuneus/posterior cingulate) and the dorsal attention network in patients with JT-FMD relative to controls. Conclusively, our findings could provide support for impaired attentional control as a fundamental disturbance in JT-FMD and contribute to the growing conceptualization of this disorder.