Group Of Schizophrenic Patients Research Articles

Exploring the link between functional connectivity of ventral tegmental area and physical fitness in schizophrenia and healthy controls

Decreased physical fitness and being overweight are highly prevalent in schizophrenia, represent a major risk factor for comorbid cardio-vascular diseases and decrease the life expectancy of the patients. Thus, it is important to understand the underlying mechanisms that link psychopathology and weight gain. We hypothesize that the dopaminergic reward system plays an important role in this. We analyzed the seed-based functional connectivity (FC) of the ventral tegmental area (VTA) in a group of schizophrenic patients (n=32) and age-, as well as gender-, matched healthy controls (n=27). We then correlated the resting-state results with physical fitness parameters, obtained in a fitness test, and psychopathology. The FC analysis revealed decreased functional connections between the VTA and the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), as well as the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, which negatively correlated with psychopathology, and increased FC between the VTA and the middle temporal gyrus in patients compared to healthy controls, which positively correlated with psychopathology. The decreased FC between the VTA and the ACC of the patient group further positively correlated with total body fat (p = .018, FDR-corr.) and negatively correlated with the overall physical fitness (p = .022). This study indicates a link between decreased physical fitness and higher body fat with functional dysconnectivity between the VTA and the ACC. These findings demonstrate that a dysregulated reward system might also be involved in comorbidities and could pave the way for future lifestyle therapy interventions.

BDNF and Cognitive Function in Chilean Schizophrenic Patients

Despite cognitive symptoms being very important in schizophrenia, not every schizophrenic patient has a significant cognitive deficit. The molecular mechanisms underlying the different degrees of cognitive functioning in schizophrenic patients are not sufficiently understood. We studied the relation between brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and cognitive functioning in two groups of schizophrenic patients with different cognitive statuses. According to the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) results, the schizophrenic patients were classified into two subgroups: normal cognition (26 or more) and cognitive deficit (25 or less). We measured their plasma BDNF levels using ELISAs. The statistical analyses were performed using Spearman’s Rho and Kruskal–Wallis tests. We found a statistically significant positive correlation between the plasma BDNF levels and MoCA score (p = 0.04) in the subgroup of schizophrenic patients with a cognitive deficit (n = 29). However, this correlation was not observed in the patients with normal cognition (n = 11) and was not observed in the total patient group (n = 40). These results support a significant role for BDNF in the cognitive functioning of schizophrenics with some degree of cognitive deficit, but suggest that BDNF may not be crucial in patients with a normal cognitive status. These findings provide information about the molecular basis underlying cognitive deficits in this illness.

Sleep disorders in patients with a first psychotic episode: a case-control study

Introduction Patients with chronic schizophrenia experience significant disturbances in the quality and quantity of their sleep and it had been mainly attributed to severity of symptoms and antipsychotic use. Recent studies suggested that antipsychotic-naïve early course patients with schizophrenia and their non-psychotic first-degree relatives also show altered sleep quality. Objectives In this study we aimed to compare sleep parameters in antipsychotic-naive first-episode schizophrenia patients to their healthy siblings and age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional, descriptive case-control study in the Psychiatry « G » department at Razi Hospital, for a period of six months. Our sample consisted of three groups: a group of schizophrenic patients, a group of their healthy siblings and a group of healthy controls. The three groups were matched by age and sex. The Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) was used to assess the severity of symptoms in patients with schizophrenia. The Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire (MEQr), Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) were used in the three groups to assess Circadian preference, daytime sleepiness and sleep quality. Results There was no significant difference between the groups regarding the chronotype. Patients had significantly higher daytime sleepiness compared to siblings (p=0.001) and controls (p<0.001). Patients also had poorer quality sleep (PSQI total score) than siblings (p<0.001) and controls (p<0.001), longer sleep latency than siblings (p=0.003) and controls (p<0.001); lower habitual sleep efficiency than siblings (p=0.003) and controls (p<0.001). Siblings had poorer sleep quality (p=0.001), longer sleep latency (p=0.006) and shorter sleep duration (p=0.033) compared to control subjects. Conclusions Our results joined those of the literature concerning the significant prevalence of sleep disorders in early psychosis. In addition, the alteration of sleep quality in unaffected siblings compared to healthy controls supports the hypotheses suggested in the literature that sleep disorders may be markers of genetic susceptibility to schizophrenia and serve as a potential endophenotype of the disease. Disclosure of Interest None Declared

Suicidal risk in Latino patients with schizophrenia

IntroductionSchizophrenia is a highly debilitating disorder afflicting more than 24 million individuals worldwide. In Mexico, the Ministry of Health estimates that it affects more than 1 million people. Suicide is one of the main causes of death among people diagnosed with schizophrenia, their risk is 12 times higher than in. the general populationObjectivesTo evaluate the clinical characteristics of schizophrenic patients at risk of suicide in the Latino population.MethodsWe included 130 patients recruited from genetics studies in Latino patients with schizophrenia from the outpatient and inpatient psychiatric ward of the University Hospital “Dr José E. González” in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico. Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II), the Convergent Functional Information for Suicidality (CFI-S) were applied to all participants. We compared the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of patients with suicidal risk (measured by history of suicidal attempt or current suicidal risk) and present depressive episode.ResultsOf the 130 participants, 66.9% were male, the median age was 38 years. We found 11(14.3%) patients with suicidal risk and 119 (91.5%) without suicidal risk. Sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of the study population at risk of suicide are described in graphic 1. Patients with a history of suicide attempt scored higher on the CFI-S scale with a median of 0.5 (q1=0.45; q3=0.54) vs. 0.31 (q1=0.22; q3=0.45) (p= 0.004)(Graphic 2). Based on the BDI-II we found 2.30% patients showed a mild depression, 20.0% moderate depression and 4.61% severe depression (graphic 3). Schizophrenic patients with a previous suicide attempt and depressive episode had higher score range in CFI-S, median .65 (q1=.65; q2=.59, p=0.000). Also, 63.60% were severely depressive (p=0.000) when they compared with patients with low risk of suicide. Schizophrenic patients with suicidal risk were characterized by: age >=60 years old, unemployment, no children, single, without religion, family history of suicide, previous suicide attempt, depressive episodes, substance abuse, auditory hallucinations and referential delusions.Image:Image 2:Image 3:ConclusionsIn our study with Latino population, we observed similar clinical characteristics predictive of suicide risk described in the international studies. Our study is relevant to applied preventive measures in groups of schizophrenic patients with risk factors and their relatives.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared

Intelligence as a protective factor and risk factor for violence in a group of forensic psychiatric inpatients

In the research literature intelligence is commonly described as a risk or protective factor for crime and violence, depending on its level. In mostly exploratory analysis presented in this study, authors primarily focused on determining how socioeconomic factors and comorbidity disorders influence relationship between intelligence level and violence of risk. In total, 101 patients participated in the study, all of them were male, Polish detainees at three psychiatric hospitals with forensic psychiatry wards: the S. Kryzan Hospital for the Nervously and Mentally Ill in Starogard Gdański, the State Hospital for Mental Diseases in Rybnik, and the Józef Babiński Psychiatric Hospital in Kraków. Statistical analysis of the collected data confirmed positive relationship between level of intelligence and historical risk factors summary of HCR20v3. It was observed that no source of income is an important moderator between low intelligence and historical risk factors. Additionally, in the group of patients with primary or middle education, intelligence level above average is a significant factor that minimalizes historical risk. Comorbidity disorder was identified as aspect that minimalizes protective influence of medium or high level of intelligence in the dynamic, clinical scale of HCR-20v3. Besides that, intelligence level above average was a protective factor in the group of schizophrenic patients without personality disorders. Knowledge of the way in which analyzed moderators influence relationship between intelligence level and risk of violence can improve the risk management process by enabling the identification of protective factors that are specific to subtypes of perpetrators of violence with mental disorders.

Evaluation of Abnormal Movements among Senior Schizophrenics: A Local Study with Reference to Tardive Dyskinesia

Introduction: Tardive dyskinesia (TD) includes involuntary choreiform or athetoid movements of the jaw, lower face, tongue, and extremities, developing in association with the use of an antipsychotic medication, and may develop in about 20 to 40 percent of patients who require long-lasting hospitalization. In the present study, the prevalence of this condition has been measured among an elderly group of schizophrenic patients. Methods: One hundred and one elderly schizophrenic patients, who were hospitalized in the chronic section of a community psychiatric hospital, were selected for the present cross-sectional study. Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale (AIMS) was employed to screen for patients with schizophrenia who also had TD. Scale for Assessment of Positive Symptoms, Scale for Assessment of Negative Symptoms, Schedule for Assessment of Insight, and Clinical Global Impressions – Severity of illness, as well, had been used as ancillary scales for evaluation of severity of general psychopathology of schizophrenia, and comparing the TD patients with the group of patients without TD, for probing the intervening parameters. Results: While abnormal movements were clear in 38.61% (n=39) of elderly schizophrenic patients, only seven of them (6.93 %) could be diagnosed as TD, based on the above-mentioned criteria. All of them were using conventional antipsychotic medications, accompanied with anticholinergic medications. Among TD patients, three cases had only abnormal facial and oral movements, one patient had atypical facial and oral movements as well as anomalous extremity movements, one patient had irregular facial and oral movements in addition to unusual trunk movements, and lastly, two patients had nonstandard extremity movements. In addition, around 71% of patients with TD were aware of their unusual movements. Between-group analysis did not show any significant difference between patients with TD and patients without TD in age, duration of illness, positive symptoms, negative symptoms, insight, and general psychopathology. Conclusion: According to the findings of the present study, the prevalence of Tardive Dyskinesia among elderly schizophrenic patients, who were using typical antipsychotic medications, is very lower than what has been indicated thus far.

Neurophysiological differentiation of personality disorders

The neurophysiological objectification of intranosological differentiation of main clusters (schizoid/paranoid and hysterical/emotionally unstable) within the typology of personality disorders (PD), as well as the differentiation of schizoid/paranoid PD and schizophrenia. Two groups of patients with PD participated in the study: PD1 - with schizoid/paranoid pattern (n=16), and PD2 - with hysterical/emotionally unstable pattern (n=18). The data were compared with the control group of healthy volunteers (n=86) and the group of schizophrenic patients (Sz, n=67). The analysis of four neurophysiological endophenotypes (measures of prepulse inhibition (PPI) of acoustic startle response and of P50 suppression, P300 amplitude, percentage of antisaccade errors) was carried out. The decrease of PPI and P50 suppression (measures of sensorimotor and sensory gating) relative to the control group was found both for Sz (p<0.01) and PD1 (p<0.05) groups. The highest P300 amplitude was observed in the control group, while the lowest values were observed in the Sz group (p<0.001); the values of PD1 and PD2 groups were intermediate. In all clinical groups percent of antisaccade errors was significantly higher compared to the control group (Sz - p<0.001; PD1 - p<0.05; PD2 - p<0.01). However, the level of the fronto-central cortical activation during antisaccade performance (estimated by contingent negative variation amplitude) was significantly reduced only in the Sz group (p<0.01), which is consistent with the concept of «hypofrontality» in schizophrenia. The changes associated with increased emotional reactivity were found in PD2 group only (P300 amplitude frontal maximum, asymmetry of error percent in antisaccade task). The study showed that two personality patterns in PD patients are related to the individual specificity of functional brain networks.

The Prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome of Patients on Treatment with Haloperidol and Risperidone or Olanzapine

Background: The background of the work stems from the observation due to the prevalence of antipsychotic drugs in causing metabolic disorder. The metabolic disorder is one of the major concern of antipsychotic drugs for schizophrenic patients. The present study is mainly aimed to establish the role of haloperidol and risperidone or olanzapine in causing metabolic syndrome of schizophrenic patients.&#x0D; Methods: Sixty-four schizophrenic patients were divided into two groups. First and second group received haloperidol and risperidone or olanzapine respectively for three months. Body mass index, random blood sugar and lipid profile were investigated before and after the treatment.&#x0D; Results: Both groups of schizophrenic patients have shown a significant increase in the BMI, random blood sugar and lipid profile indicating a propensity to cause metabolic disorder.&#x0D; Conclusion: From the present study it is concluded that there is a high prevalence of metabolic disorder those who received antipsychotic drugs like haloperidol and risperidone or olanzapine.

Comparing the discrepancy between mutual information of electroencephalogram electrodes in schizophrenia: a classification problem

Introduction: Evaluation of the electroencephalogram of schizophrenic patients has been the subject of many recent studies. However, accurate diagnosis of schizophrenia using the electroencephalogram is still a challenging issue. Aim: This paper was aimed to investigate the information discrepancy between one brain channel and other electrodes in two groups of schizophrenic patients and healthy individuals. Furthermore, the capability of the extracted features in the problem of classification of the two groups was investigated. Method: In the present analytic observational study, 19 channels of the electroencephalogram of 14 patients with schizophrenia (7 males with an average age of 27.9 ± 3.3 years and 7 females with a mean age of 28.3 ± 4.1 years), who were hospitalized at the Institute of Psychiatry and Neurologists in Warsaw, Poland, were used. In addition, data from 14 healthy individuals (7 males and 7 females with an average age of 26.8 ± 2.9 and 28.7 ± 3.4 years, respectively) were analyzed as a control group. Cross information potential and Cauchy-Schwartz mutual information between each electroencephalogram electrode and all the other electrodes were calculated. Using two strategies, the performance of the support vector machine was evaluated: (1) the mutual information of an electroencephalogram channel with other channels, and (2) the combination of the mutual information of all brain channels. Results: The results showed that using mutual information between electroencephalogram channels, the diagnosis accuracy increases up to 100%. For both indices, the mutual information between O2 and the other channels provided the highest classification performance. Conclusion: These results nominated the proposed system as a superior one compared to the state-of-the-art electroencephalogram schizophrenia diagnosis tools.

Main characteristics of dermatoglypics associated with schizophrenia and its clinical subtypes.

Dermatoglypic patterns are extensively investigated to apply in disease-related risk assessment due to an obvious association between morphological and genetic characteristics. In the current study, we aimed to determine whether the fingerprint and palmar patterns vary between case population with schizophrenia and general population. A cross sectional study was conducted in people diagnosed with schizophrenia (cases) and a control population between 2016 and 2019. In this study, 252 people were participated. Ink and paper method was used to evaluate the difference of fingerprints palm prints between patients with schizophrenia and participants in control group.93 participants were analyzed in schizophrenic group and 142 participants were investigated in the control group. The percentage of arches on the right ring finger was significantly different between the schizophrenic patient group and control group (p = 0.011). The whorl pattern type (U-W-U-W-W-W-W-U-W-U) was dominantly observed in both of the schizophrenic patient group and control group. A-B ridge count in schizophrenic patient group and control group produced a markedly significant difference (p<0.05). Interestingly, a strong significant difference was produced in comparing of A-B ridge count in catatonic schizophrenia group with residual schizophrenia group (p<0.005). In comparison, index of pattern intensity in control group was slightly higher than that in schizophrenic patient group. Taking together, these results showed that the dermatoglypic characteristics might be a valuable tool to describe the nature of schizophrenia and its clinical subtypes and further studies are needed in clinical application.

Brain stimulation effects on serum BDNF, VEGF, and TNFα in treatment‐resistant psychiatric disorders

Resistance to pharmacological treatment poses a notable challenge for psychiatry. Such cases are usually treated with brain stimulation techniques, including repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) and electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). Empirical evidence links treatment resistance to insufficient brain plasticity and chronic inflammation. Therefore, this study encompasses analysis of neurotrophic and inflammatory factors in psychiatric patients undergoing rTMS and ECT in order to refine the selection of patients and predict clinical outcomes. This study enrolled 25 drug-resistant depressive patients undergoing rTMS and 31 drug-resistant schizophrenia patients undergoing ECT. Clinical efficacy of brain stimulation therapies was gauged using MADRS and HAM-D scales in the depression group and PANSS scale in the schizophrenia group. Blood-derived BDNF, VEGF, and TNFα were analysed during the treatment course. For reference, 19 healthy control subjects were also enrolled. After statistical analysis, no significant differences were detected in BDNF, VEGF, and TNFα concentrations among healthy, depressive, and schizophrenic subject groups before the treatment. However, depressive patient treatment with rTMS has increased BDNF concentration, while schizophrenic patient treatment with ECT has lowered the concentration of TNFα. Our findings suggest that a lower initial TNFα concentration could be a marker for treatment success in depressed patients undergoing rTMS, whereas in schizophrenic patient group treated with ECT, a higher concentration of VEGF correlates to milder symptoms post-treatment, especially in the negative scale.

Prognosis of the functional outcome of schizophrenia using a multigene panel

To compare the groups of schizophrenic patients with different levels of functional outcome and different frequency of risk variants in polymorphic loci of five candidate genes to create a multigene panel and to test its predictive ability for long-term outcome of the disease. According to the proposed typology, the patients included in the studies were divided into three groups, which differed in the level of social functioning. Group 1 was characterized by the highest level, in group 2 this indicator was significantly lower, and in group 3 the lowest. The multigenic panel included genes for serotonin receptor type 2a (5-HTR2A T102C), serotonin transporter (5-HTTLPR), C-reactive protein (CRP -717A>G), angiotensin II receptor type 1 (AGTR1 A1166C), and brain neurotrophic factor (BDNF Val66Met). A multi-gene risk score was calculated for each patient by summing the total number all his/her risk alleles. For each polymorphism, a score of 2 was assigned to homozygous high-risk genotypes, a score of 1 to heterozygous genotypes and a score of 0 to homozygous low-risk genotype. Accordingly, the multi-gene risk score for a patient could vary from 0 to 10 risk alleles. A significant effect of the group on the multi-gene risk score was shown (p<0.0001). Between-group differences were significant as well (p<0.01). In group 1, there were no carriers of ≥6 risk alleles, and the number of carriers of less than 5 alleles exceeded 50%. In group 2, the number of carriers of ≥6 risk alleles was 19.4%, and in group 3 - 31.7%. Moreover, in these groups there were no carriers of 0-2 risk alleles, while in group 1 their number was 20.7%. The multi-gene risk score predicts the level of functional outcome in patients with schizophrenia. In the case of a smaller number of risk alleles (0-4) in an individual, a favorable functional outcome can be predicted with a high probability in the long-term period of the disease.

Medical Comorbidity in Elderly Schizophrenic Patients: A Preliminary Study in Iran

Background: While comorbidity between mental disorders and physical illnesses is the rule rather than an exception, appraising the impact of comorbidity is challenging due to lack of consensus about how to define and measure the concept of comorbidity. Objective: The aim of the present evaluation was to appraise the prevalence and features of medical comorbidities among a group of native elderly schizophrenic patients. Methods: Geriatric unit of Razi psychiatric hospital was selected as the field of investigation and 168 elderly schizophrenic patients (≥65 years old), including 101 males and 67 females, who have been hospitalized there as chronic cases, were chosen as an accessible sample, and were surveyed with respect to existing comorbid medical disorders. Psychiatric diagnosis was based on ‘Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders’, 5th edition (DSM-5), and the medical diagnosis was based on ‘International Classification of Diseases’, 10th edition. Results: As shown by the results, 89% (n=151) of elderly schizophrenic patients had some kind of registered physical co-morbidity, which was more significant than the frequency of medical comorbidities among native senior citizens. Amongst the listed co-morbidities, falls, hypertension and osteoarthritis were the most prevalent comorbidities with a frequency of around 48.8%, 44.6% and 39.2%, respectively. Hypertension, renal disease and malnutrition were significantly more prevalent among male patients (p&lt;0.0000, p&lt;0.0045 and p&lt; 0.0018, respectively) and hyponatremia, aspiration/ asphyxiation and seizure were meaningfully more prevalent among female patients (p&lt;0.0075, p&lt;0.0000 and p&lt;0.0009, respectively). As stated by the findings and in comparison with the native seniors, while diabetes, renal diseases and malnutrition were significantly more frequent, coronary artery disease, gastrointestinal disorder and osteoarthritis were significantly less frequent in the existing sample of elderly schizophrenic patients. Conclusion: In comparison with the native senior people, the rate of medical comorbidities, particularly diabetes, renal diseases and malnutrition, was significantly higher in elderly schizophrenic patients, a significant difference, was observed regarding physical comorbidities between male and female patients, which demands further methodical and gender-based studies for defining more appropriate care.

Clinical Profile of Mortality among Chronic Schizophrenic Patients: A Local Pilot Survey in Iran

Background: Many scholars believe that mental disorders may increase the risk of mortality among psychiatric patients in comparison with ordinary people. Unfortunately, since there is no systematic psychiatric case register system in Iran, a precise study of the rate of mortality of psychiatric patients in Iran is not easy. Objective: The objective of the current study included estimation of the rate of mortality and clinical profile of the died patients in a group of non-western aged schizophrenic patients. Methods: Senior section of Razi psychiatric hospital was selected as the specific field of investigation, and all elderly schizophrenic patients (≥65 years old), who had been hospitalized there, were nominated as the accessible sample and estimated with respect to the objectives of the present assessment. For survey, all deaths in the said district, which had occurred throughout the last sixty months (April of 2014-August 2019), had been listed by the supervisor of the mortality committee of the hospital. The clinical diagnosis was based on ‘Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders’, 5th edition, criteria. Results: Among 840 chronic elderly schizophrenic patients, 69 deaths were registered by the mortality committee of the hospital. As evident by the results, the annual rate of mortality among elderly schizophrenic patients in the present assessment was around 0.015 (0.15 per 1,000 individuals per year) and 0.017 (0.17 per 1,000 individuals per year) among male and female aged patients, respectively, which was significantly lower than the native crude death rate. While the average age of the expired female patients was significantly longer than male cases, the life expectancy of both male and female patients was significantly shorter than the life expectancy of native people. Besides, while among the present sample of old schizophrenics cardiac disease was the main leading cause of death, other causes, like violence, suicide, road traffic accidents, falls, fires, drug use, tuberculosis, drowning, epilepsy, and Parkinson’s disease were not liable at all. Conclusion: While the rate of mortality among aged schizophrenics was significantly lower than the native crude death rate, the age of the expired female patients was significantly longer than the male cases and the life expectancy of both male and female patients was significantly shorter than the life expectancy of native people. Cardiac disorder was the leading cause of death among the present sample of aged schizophrenics.

Influence of Individual Heart Rate on Nonlinear Brain-Heart Interactions Estimated by Convergent Cross Mapping in Schizophrenic Patients and Healthy Controls.

Quantification of directed (nonlinear) brain-heart interactions has turned to be an emerging topic of research and is important for the better understanding of central autonomic processing during specific diseases such as schizophrenia. Convergent Cross Mapping (CCM) was able to provide directed, frequency-selective and topographic views on existent interaction pattern of those patients. Investigations of the influence of individual heart rate (HR) on CCM estimations may further contribute to this topic. Relationship of mean HR and CCM was analyzed in a group of schizophrenic patients (N=17) and healthy controls (N=21). Influence of individual HR values was most pronounced for patients, for interactions from brain to heart and for the subgroup of patients with highest mean HR values.

The Clinical Profile of Death Among Aged Iranian Schizophrenic Patients: A Local Pilot Evaluation

Comorbidity between mental disorders and physical illnesses is the rule rather than the exception. Approaches to study the impact of comorbidity become challenging also due to lack of consensus about how to define and measure the concept of comorbidity. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the clinical profile of medical comorbidity among a group of local chronic elderly schizophrenic patients to see their prevalence and physiognomies.

Incidence and Clinical Outline of Medical Comorbidities Among Old Schizophrenic Patients: An Initial Local Review

Comorbidity between mental disorders and physical illnesses is the rule rather than the exception. Approaches to study the impact of comorbidity become challenging also due to lack of consensus about how to define and measure the concept of comorbidity. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the clinical profile of medical comorbidity among a group of local chronic elderly schizophrenic patients to see their prevalence and physiognomies.

Local Estimation of Rate and Clinical Outline of Mortality in Old Schizophrenics

Introduction: Researchers have consistently reported that people with mental disorders have elevated mortality compared with the general population. In Iran there are not systematic psychiatric case registers that could allow us to study precisely the mortality of psychiatric patients. The aim of the current study was to determine the mortality rate and clinical profile of death in a group of non-western chronic elderly schizophrenic patients. Methods: chronic geriatric subdivision of Razi Psychiatric hospital with a capacity around 220 beds (110 for each of male and female elderly patients) had been selected as the specific arena of investigation. For the present retrospective survey, all recorded deceases during the last sixty months (April of 2014-August 2019) in the said senior wards had been included in the current study. Clinical diagnosis, too, was essentially based on ‘Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders’, 5th edition (DSM-5). Results: Among eight-hundreds and frothy chronic elderly schizophrenic patients, sixty-nine deceases had been registered by the mortality committee of the hospital. As said by results, the annual rate of mortality among elderly schizophrenic patients in the present assessment was around 0.015 (0.15 per 1,000 individuals per year) and 0.017 (0.17 per 1,000 individuals per year) among male and female aged patients, respectively, which were significantly lower than current native crude death rate (p&lt;0.000). While the age of the expired female patients was significantly more than the died male schizophrenics (p &lt; 0.001), the life expectancy of both male and female expired patients was significantly shorter than the public’s life expectancy (p&lt; 0.000). Besides, in the present evaluation, while cardiac illness was the main leading cause of death among old schizophrenics, reasons like suicide, falls, drug use or tuberculosis, were not applicable at all. Conclusion: While the rate of mortality among elderly schizophrenics was significantly lower than public’s crude death rate, age of the deceased female patients was significantly longer than the male expired patients and life expectancy of both male and female died patients was significantly lower than native public’s life expectancy. Cardiac disorder, as well, was the main leading cause of death among aged schizophrenic patients.

&lt;p&gt;The Effectiveness of a Mindfulness-Based Psychoeducation Programme for Emotional Regulation in Individuals with Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders: A Pilot Randomised Controlled Trial&lt;/p&gt;

BackgroundEmotion dysregulation has emerged as a transdiagnostic factor that potentially exacerbates the risk of early-onset, maintenance, and relapse of psychosis. Mindfulness is described as the awareness that emerges from paying attention to the present moment without judgment. It gently pulls the mind out of the negative emotions induced by the disparity between expectation and reality by focusing on the present moment, instead of worrying about the future or regretting the past. However, only a few research has ever focused on the efficacy of using a mindfulness-based intervention to improve emotion regulation in schizophrenia spectrum disorders.PurposeThe purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of a Mindfulness-Based Psychoeducation Programme (MBPP) on the emotion regulation of individuals with schizophrenia, in particular, to access emotion regulation strategies. The objective of this study was to find out whether MBPP is feasible for improving emotion regulation strategies, in terms of rumination, cognitive reappraisal, and expressive suppression, with a sustainable effect at a three-month follow-up.Patients and MethodsA single-blinded pilot randomised controlled trial with repeated-measures designs was adopted. Forty-six participants diagnosed with schizophrenia and its subtypes were randomised in either the 8-week mindfulness-based psychoeducation programme or treatment-as-usual (control) group.ResultsThe results of the Generalised Estimating Equations test indicated that the MBPP group showed a significant improvement in reappraisal at a three-month follow-up (β = −6.59, Wald’s χ2=4.55, p=0.033), and a significant reduction in rumination across time. However, the Generalised Estimating Equations indicated no significant difference in rumination and expressive suppression in the MBPP group. Two participants reported having unwanted experiences, including feelings of terror and distress during the mindfulness practice.ConclusionThe MBPP appeared to be effective for improving emotion regulation, which will contribute to future large-scale RCT to confirm the treatment effects in more diverse groups of schizophrenic patients.

Clinical Figure and Rate of Mortality Among Chronic Schizophrenics: A Local Assessment

Introduction: Researchers have consistently reported that people with mental disorders have elevated mortality compared with the general population. In Iran there are not systematic psychiatric case registers that could allow us to study precisely the mortality of psychiatric patients. The aim of the current study was to determine the mortality rate and clinical profile of death in a group of non-western chronic elderly schizophrenic patients. Methods: chronic geriatric subdivision of Razi Psychiatric hospital with a capacity around 220 beds (110 for each of male and female elderly patients) had been selected as the specific arena of investigation. For the present retrospective survey, all recorded deceases during the last sixty months (April of 2014-August 2019) in the said senior wards had been included in the current study. Clinical diagnosis, too, was essentially based on ‘Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders’, 5th edition (DSM-5). Results: Among eight-hundreds and frothy chronic elderly schizophrenic patients, sixty-nine deceases had been registered by the mortality committee of the hospital. As said by results, the annual rate of mortality among elderly schizophrenic patients in the present assessment was around 0.015 (0.15 per 1,000 individuals per year) and 0.017 (0.17 per 1,000 individuals per year) among male and female aged patients, respectively, which were significantly lower than current native crude death rate (p&lt;0.000). While the age of the expired female patients was significantly more than the died male schizophrenics (p &lt; 0.001), the life expectancy of both male and female expired patients was significantly shorter than the public’s life expectancy (p&lt; 0.000). Besides, in the present evaluation, while cardiac illness was the main leading cause of death among old schizophrenics, reasons like suicide, falls, drug use or tuberculosis, were not applicable at all. Conclusion: While the rate of mortality among elderly schizophrenics was significantly lower than public’s crude death rate, age of the deceased female patients was significantly longer than the male expired patients and life expectancy of both male and female died patients was significantly lower than native public’s life expectancy. Cardiac disorder, as well, was the main leading cause of death among aged schizophrenic patients.