Context Of Psychiatric Disorders Research Articles

Understanding the Dynamics: A Comprehensive Review of Family Therapy's Impact on Expressed Emotions in Schizophrenia Patients.

This comprehensive review examines the impact of family therapy on expressed emotions (EE) within the context of psychiatric disorders. EE, characterized by high levels of criticism, hostility, or emotional over-involvement, have been consistently linked to poorer treatment outcomes and increased severity of psychiatric symptoms. The review explores various family therapy approaches and their effectiveness in reducing high EE levels in families of psychiatric patients. It synthesizes existing literature to highlight the mechanisms underlying the changes in EE, such as modifying communication patterns and enhancing family cohesion. Additionally, the review discusses the implications for clinical practice, emphasizing the importance of integrating family therapy into psychiatric treatment plans and providing psychoeducation to empower families to manage emotions effectively. Future research directions are also outlined, including investigating the long-term sustainability of changes brought about by family therapy and exploring cultural considerations in therapeutic approaches. Overall, the review underscores the pivotal role of family therapy in addressing EE and promoting recovery and resilience in psychiatric patients and their families.

Misperceptions and hallucinatory experiences in ultra-trailer, high-altitude runners.

The Mountain Activities Neuro-behavioural Research Programme is a research project born in the 2 nd Unit of Psychiatry, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine at the University of Pisa to investigate the effects of altitude on the mental and neuro-behavioural aspects of people performing activities in mountainous areas. In this study, after elaborating a standardised data collection form, based on traditional psychopathology notions, to classify the misperceptions reported by the athletes taking part, we investigated the various types of these misperceptions in 21 athletes (including only one female), with a mean age of 44.90 ± 8.51 (min 33 and max 58). The athletes reported different kinds of misperceptions. It was possible to highlight three different clusters of athletes, based on the similarities between the kinds of misperceptions reported in each cluster: (a) anomalies in the intrinsic characteristics of perceptions (i.e. depersonalisation and derealisation), (b) illusions and (c) hallucinations. This study supports the concept that anomalous perceptual experiences may occur independently of the context of psychiatric or neurological disorders. The chance of observing hallucinatory phenomena outside the context of psychiatric disorders and in extreme environmental conditions among ultra-trail runners may offer a unique opportunity to those intending to study psychopathological conditions in a 'para-physiological' context.

1479 – Schizophrenialike psychosis - a case of a hidden neurosyphilis

Background Recent studies have shown an increase in the prevalence of infectious syphilis. If not treated, 30% of patients may develop tertiary syphilis, where neurosyphilis is included. Neurosyphilis can present a variety of psychiatry symptoms, including mania, depression, psychosis and dementia. Methodology The authors present a case of a persistent psychosis (similar to late schizofrenia) with 3 years of evolution in a 42-years old man. In the first hospitalization, the patient was clinically studied, namely with Venereal Disease Research Laboratories (VDRL) that was negative. Other possible causes for psychosis were excluded. His clinical state never improved significantly despite the high doses of antipsychotics. The hypothesis of syphilis was deeply studied with Fluorescent Treponemal Antibody-Absorption (FTA-ABS) and Treponema Pallidum Hemaglutination Assay (TPHA) which revealed positive results. A lumbar puncture was performed and cerebrospinal fluid analysis resulted in the diagnosis of neurosyphilis. The Computerized Axial Tomography (CAT) had no abnormalities. The patient started the course of treatment for neurosyphilis with endovenous penicillin G. Results After the treatment of neurosyphilis, steady improvements were noted in psychotic and cognitive symptoms. After his discharge from the hospital he was medicated only with Lorazepam S.O.S. Conclusions This case emphasizes that neurosyphilis still has to be considered in the differential diagnosis within the context of psychiatric disorders even with no other signals suggesting this diagnosis. Psychiatric symptoms and cognitive dysfunction intensely respond to the correct treatment of neurosyphilis. Furthermore, this case shows that we should be alert for the VDRL false negatives