Naturalistic Cohort Research Articles

Can response to ADHD medication be predicted?

Predictors for the pharmacological effect of ADHD medication in children and adolescents are lacking. This study examined clinically relevant factors in a large (N = 638) prospective cohort reflecting real-world evidence. Children and adolescents aged 6-17 diagnosed with ADHD were evaluated at baseline and three months following ADHD medication initiation. The outcome was measured as a reduction in total SNAP-IV (Swanson Nolan and Pelham teacher and parent rating scale) score at three months compared to baseline. Outcome groups were defined as Responders (≥ 40% reduction), Intermediate Responders (≥ 20 to < 40% reduction), and Non-responders (< 20% reduction). Included independent variables were the Autism Spectrum Questionnaire (ASSQ), the Spence Children's Anxiety Scale (SCAS), the Pediatric Side Effect Checklist (P-SEC), anthropometrics measures, geographical region, relative age, Children´s Global Assessment Scale (CGAS), Intelligence quotient (IQ), pharmacological treatment initiation month, ADHD symptom severity, ADHD presentation, and psychotic-like experiences. Multinomial logistic regression suggested that ADHD symptom severity, region, relative age, and stating ADHD medication at three-month follow-up were associated with the response outcome group. However, when validating the data with Bootstrap Forest, none of the variables were significant. Thus, in our large naturalistic cohort, we could not identify any clinically relevant factors that reliably predict pharmacological treatment outcomes.Trial registration: NCT02136147.

Treatments and Treatment Predictors in Patients With Substance Use Disorders and Comorbid Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: First Results From the International Naturalistic Cohort Study of ADHD and SUD (INCAS).

Treatments and Treatment Predictors in Patients With Substance Use Disorders and Comorbid Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: First Results From the International Naturalistic Cohort Study of ADHD and SUD (INCAS).

A prospective cohort of treatment-seeking patients with problematic use of prescription narcotic drugs: study protocol and baseline characteristics

BackgroundThere is limited knowledge on long-term outcomes of tapering treatment for individuals with problematic use of prescription narcotics, including opioids and benzodiazepines. The overall aim of the study is to investigate clinical trajectories and treatment outcomes of patients seeking treatment in addiction care.MethodsThis paper presents the study protocol and baseline characteristics of a cohort of patients seeking treatment for problematic use of prescription narcotic drugs at specialized outpatient addiction services. Treatment for addiction at the clinic includes drug tapering and treatment for underlying psychiatric disorders. Data in this prospective cohort study is collected from biomarkers, self-report questionnaires, patient medical records, and national registers at baseline and follow-up visits at 6, 12, and 24 months.ResultsA clinical cohort of 405 participants were enrolled in the study between 2018 and 2023. The study population (57.5% women; 42.5% men) at baseline had a mean age of 49.2 years (SD = 14.0). Participants in the cohort had used prescription narcotics for 11 years on average before seeking treatment, with opioid analgesics (66.2%) being the most common at baseline, followed by benzodiazepines (50.9%). Most participants (75.9%) had received prescription narcotics from their health care provider, although illegal sources were common. Besides substance use disorders, many also had anxiety disorders (46.3%) and depression (40.4%) at baseline. Previous treatment for problematic alcohol or drug use were reported by 14.0% and 21.6%, respectively.DiscussionThis prospective, naturalistic cohort will provide novel information on long-term outcomes of tapering treatment and identify prognostic factors for treatment success, including abstinence. Future papers will investigate individual and treatment-related characteristics of the patient population. Baseline data suggest that many patients with problematic use of prescription narcotics receive prescriptions over many years from their regular health care providers, which contradicts most clinical guidelines.Trial registrationNCT03713983 22/10/2018.

Predictors of outcome following psychological therapy for depression and anxiety in an urban primary care service: a naturalistic Bayesian prediction modeling approach.

England's primary care service for psychological therapy (Improving Access to Psychological Therapies [IAPT]) treats anxiety and depression, with a target recovery rate of 50%. Identifying the characteristics of patients who achieve recovery may assist in optimizing future treatment. This naturalistic cohort study investigated pre-therapy characteristics as predictors of recovery and improvement after IAPT therapy. In a cohort of patients attending an IAPT service in South London, we recruited 263 participants and conducted a baseline interview to gather extensive pre-therapy characteristics. Bayesian prediction models and variable selection were used to identify baseline variables prognostic of good clinical outcomes. Recovery (primary outcome) was defined using (IAPT) service-defined score thresholds for both depression (Patient Health Questionnaire [PHQ-9]) and anxiety (Generalized Anxiety Disorder [GAD-7]). Depression and anxiety outcomes were also evaluated as standalone (PHQ-9/GAD-7) scores after therapy. Prediction model performance metrics were estimated using cross-validation. Predictor variables explained 26% (recovery), 37% (depression), and 31% (anxiety) of the variance in outcomes, respectively. Variables prognostic of recovery were lower pre-treatment depression severity and not meeting criteria for obsessive compulsive disorder. Post-therapy depression and anxiety severity scores were predicted by lower symptom severity and higher ratings of health-related quality of life (EuroQol questionnaire [EQ5D]) at baseline. Almost a third of the variance in clinical outcomes was explained by pre-treatment symptom severity scores. These constructs benefit from being rapidly accessible in healthcare services. If replicated in external samples, the early identification of patients who are less likely to recover may facilitate earlier triage to alternative interventions.

A longitudinal analysis of psychological, physiological, and rehabilitation outcomes in basketball players following acute sports injuries

This cross-sectional study examines psychological behavior, biological factors, and rehabilitation treatment concerning acute sports injuries involving basketball players. Psychological trauma is also prevalent whereby athletes develop anxiety, depression and or fear that slow down their healing process and inability. The present study is a naturalistic cohort design where 50 basketball players with an injury completing self-report measures such as DASS-21 (Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale) and biological markers, cortisol level at monthly intervals for 12 months. Qualitative data in the form of interviews conducted after treatment, or quantitative data from neuropsychological examinations, are employed to determine therapeutic impacts of CBT and/or specified individual rehabilitation plans in changing psychological effects, regain biological functions, and the speed of physical rehabilitation. Current data analyzed evidence lower level of stress, cortisol, beneficial shifts in cardiovascular, respiratory patterns, and aspects of rehabilitation outcomes in the player receiving both psychological and physical-motor interventions in comparison to the group receiving only physical-motor treatment. Based on the developed arguments it can be seen that the mental health and the biological issues also matter thus boosting the believably of better rehabilitation for athletes.

The MCOSUL cohort: Lethality, recurrence, and mortality in suicide attempts in the Lérida Region, Spain—Rationale, objectives, and preliminary findings

Background and objectivesSuicide is a major global health issue with profound impacts on individuals, families, and societies. Understanding the factors that influence the lethality of suicide attempts, the frequency of reattempts, ultimate causes of death, and associated immune biomarkers is crucial for developing effective prevention strategies. This article outlines the rationale, objectives, and protocol of a new cohort study, presenting preliminary descriptive results. MethodsWe designed a prospective, naturalistic cohort study involving patients from the Arnau de Vilanova and Santa Maria University Hospitals in Lleida, Spain. Participants are recruited following a suicide attempt and are monitored over time. Data on clinical assessments, suicidal methods, somatic lethality, immune biomarkers, reattempts, and causes of death are collected and analyzed. The cohort continues to recruit patients and update follow-up data. ResultsCurrently, the cohort includes 1918 patients. The majority of participants are females (62.8%) with an average age of 41.2 years. The average follow-up period is 77.6 months. Sedative poisoning is the most common method of suicide attempt (57.3%). High lethality attempts predominate (76.7%), and 43.4% of patients have reattempted suicide. During follow-up, 5.5% of patients died, with 2.1% of deaths attributed to suicide. ConclusionThe findings from this study are expected to enhance our understanding of the relationships between suicide lethality, reattempts, mortality, and immune biomarkers. This knowledge may help to personalize interventions aimed at reducing suicide rates and improving outcomes for individuals at high risk.

Shared decision-making in the treatment of bipolar disorder: findings from a nationwide naturalistic cohort study in everyday clinical practice.

Shared decision-making (SDM) is of increasing importance in mental health care, however, large studies on the effects of SDM in bipolar disorder (BD) are scarce. To gain insight into the relationships between SDM, guideline concordance of treatments in everyday practice, satisfaction with care, and medication adherence in BD. In a nationwide observational study on the treatment of BD, patients were asked questions about their involvement in treatment. These questions were clustered according to the three-talk model (TTM) for SDM, which involves team talk, option talk, and decision talk. A composite concordance score for multimodal treatments was made, and satisfaction with care (score 1 to 10) and medication adherence (DAI-10) were measured. 839 patients with BD from various outpatient treatment centers were included. Patients were highly involved in decision-making. In multiple regression, team talk was significantly positively associated with guideline concordance (b = 5.10, p = .045), and decision talk was positively associated with satisfaction with care (b = 0.82, p < .001) and medication adherence (b = 1.18, p = .003). Positive associations were found between SDM, guideline concordance, satisfaction with care, and medication adherence, suggesting that investing in these steps of the decision-making process together with patients and their significant others, will help to improve quality of care.

Prior Concussion History and Clinical Recovery Following Sport-Related Concussion in College Athletes.

The aim of this study was to assess whether a history of prior concussions, and especially multiple prior concussions, is associated with clinical recovery following a subsequent sport-related concussion among collegiate student athletes. A naturalistic observational cohort study. Eleven National Collegiate Athletics Association Division III colleges. Collegiate athletes sustaining concussions from September 2014 through March 2020. Participants were divided into 3 groups, athletes with: (1) no prior concussion history, (2) one prior concussion, and (3) 2 or more prior concussions. Survival analyses were used to compare time to return to school and sports among athletes with a history of 0, 1, or ≥2 prior concussions. Among the 1132 college athletes, there were no statistically significant group differences between those with 0, 1, or ≥2 prior concussions in total time to return to school or sports. There was a statistically significant difference in the proportion of athletes with ≥2 prior concussions that had not fully returned to school, without accommodations, at 28 days (6.0%) compared to athletes with no prior concussions (2.2%; odds ratio = 2.80, 95% confidence interval 1.29-6.04). In summary, concussion history was not associated with time to return to sports following a subsequent sport-related concussion in these college athletes. On average, athletes with prior concussions did not take longer to return to school, although a slightly greater proportion of college athletes with ≥2 prior concussions had not fully returned to school, without accommodations, by 28 days following injury.

Monitoring the psychopathological profile of inflammatory bowel disease patients treated with biological agents: a pilot study.

Biological agents were found to alter the psychopathological profile of a small subgroup of patients treated for a variety of conditions, including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and psychiatric disorders. The association between the administration of biological agents and psychopathology needs to be further investigated. In this naturalistic prospective cohort study, patients with IBD were assigned to two treatment groups, i.e., a biological agent (which also included tofacitinib) or conventional therapy. Clinician-administered scales were used to assess psychosomatic symptoms (Hamilton Depression Rating Scale [Ham-D], Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale [Ham-A], Young Mania Rating Scale [YMRS], and Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale [BPRS]) and disease activity (Mayo Score and Harvey-Bradshaw Index [HBI]) at baseline, after one, three, and six months of treatment. Each group was assessed for the course of their scores during the observation period at each assessment point. Patients on biological drugs who completed three months of treatment (N.=32) and six months of treatment (N.=20) scored significantly lower on the Mayo compared to baseline. Patients on conventional treatment obtained significant drops from baseline on the HBI after one and three months of treatment (N.=30) and also at the six-month endpoint (N.=11). Both groups showed no improvement or worsening on the psychiatric rating scales. In this study, we found no evidence of psychiatric symptom worsening, as some literature would suggest. Our data suggest that the use of biological agents in IBD is safe.

Vocational functioning in young people accessing services for first-episode psychosis and ultra-high risk of psychosis: A longitudinal naturalistic cohort study.

Young people with first-episode psychosis (FEP) or at ultra-high risk (UHR) of psychosis often have lower vocational engagement than their peers. This study examines the effect of treatment in early intervention for psychosis services in Australia on engagement in education and employment. This is a naturalistic sample of young people aged 12-25 with FEP (n = 1574) and UHR (n = 1515), accessing treatment in the headspace Early Psychosis (hEP) programme. Engagement in education and employment was assessed at baseline and every 90 days in treatment. Mixed effects logistic regression were used to analyse changes over time. On entering the hEP programme, approximately 49% of the young people with FEP and 28% of the young people at UHR status identified as Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET). The odds of being NEET were reduced by 27% (95% confidence interval = [14, 39]) for every 6 months treatment for the FEP group, but no change in NEET status was observed in the UHR group. In both groups, absence from daily activities was significantly reduced during time in treatment. While there are methodological challenges analysing real-world non-control group cohort data, the findings indicate positive effects of the hEP programme on vocational and daily activity engagement for young people with FEP and at UHR status. A large proportion of the young people still identified as NEET after receiving treatment services, suggesting further refinement to ensure targeted and consistent vocational support throughout care.

Impulsivity as a predictor of clinical and psychological outcomes in a naturalistic prospective cohort of subjects at ultra-high risk (UHR) for psychosis from Tunisia

BackgroundImpulsivity is associated with serious detrimental consequences on physical, mental, behavioral and social aspects of health among patients with psychosis. The present prospective 12-month follow-up study aimed to determine the prevalence of highly impulsive individuals among Ultra High Risk (UHR) patients, how impulsivity evolves over the follow-up period, and whether impulsivity impacts clinical, psychological and functional outcomes in this population. MethodUHR patients were invited to complete a battery of measurements at three-time points: at baseline, and at 6 and 12 months of follow-up. Impulsivity was assessed using both behavioral (the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, WCST) and self-report (the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale, BIS-11) measures. ResultsFindings showed that at 6 months of follow-up, higher 6-month BIS-11 attentional and motor impulsivity were significantly associated with lower quality of life and greater general psychological distress. In addition, higher baseline BIS-11 motor impulsivity significantly predicted more severe positive psychotic symptoms at 12 months of follow-up. However, WCST scores did not show any significant associations with study variables at the different times of follow-up. ConclusionInterventions targeting impulsivity in UHR individuals could help decrease psychological distress and positive psychotic symptoms’ severity, as well as improve quality of life in UHR individuals.

Employment, education or training status (NEET) at baseline predicts high-threshold symptomatic remission in first episode psychosis: A cohort study.

Clinical studies following a first episode of psychosis (FEP) have increasingly exposed the complexity of identifying predictive outcome variables. We aimed to explore the utility of NEET status (not in education, employment or training) at FEP onset in predicting high threshold clinical remission (absence of positive symptoms and off antipsychotic medication for 6 months) at 3 years following treatment with an early intervention for psychosis service. We studied an established retrospective naturalistic cohort of 354 patients with FEP (the S1P cohort). Baseline NEET status was identified in 172 patients (49%) and was significantly associated with mean duration of untreated psychosis (p = .035). Only 64 (21%) achieved defined remission criteria by 3 years. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed baseline NEET status as the only variable significantly associated with remission status (p < .001). NEET may represent an important predictive variable of symptomatic outcomes which requires prospective evaluation.

Treatment expectations and clinical outcomes following repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation for treatment-resistant depression

BackgroundPatient expectations, including both positive (placebo) and negative (nocebo) effects, influence treatment outcomes, yet their impact on acute repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) for treatment-resistant depression (TRD) is unclear. MethodsIn this single-center retrospective chart review, 208 TRD patients completed the Stanford Expectation of Treatment Scale (SETS) before starting open-label rTMS treatment. Patients were offered two excitatory rTMS protocols (deep TMS or intermittent theta-burst stimulation), which stimulated the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. A minimum of 20 once daily treatments were provided, delivered over 4–6 weeks. Primary outcomes were 1) remission, measured by a post-treatment score of <8 on the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD-17), and 2) premature discontinuation. The change in HAMD-17 scores over time was used as a secondary outcome. Physicians were blinded to SETS scores. Logistic and linear regression, adjusting for covariates, assessed SETS and HAMD-17 relationships. ResultsOf 208 patients, 177 had baseline and covariate data available. The mean positivity bias score (positive expectancy minus negative expectancy subscale averages) was 0.48 ± 2.21, indicating the cohort was neutral regarding the expectations of their treatment on average. Higher positive expectancy scores were significantly associated with greater odds of remission (OR = 1.90, p = 0.003) and greater reduction in HAMD-17 scores (β = 1.30, p = 0.005) at the end of acute treatment, after adjusting for covariates. Negative expectancy was not associated with decreased odds of remission (p = 0.2) or treatment discontinuation (p = 0.8). ConclusionsHigher pre-treatment positive expectations were associated with greater remission rates with open-label rTMS in a naturalistic cohort of patients with TRD.

Association of CYP2D6 and CYP2C19 metabolizer status with switching and discontinuing antidepressant drugs: an exploratory study

BackgroundTailoring antidepressant drugs (AD) to patients’ genetic drug-metabolism profile is promising. However, literature regarding associations of ADs’ treatment effect and/or side effects with drug metabolizing genes CYP2D6 and CYP2C19 has yielded inconsistent results. Therefore, our aim was to longitudinally investigate associations between CYP2D6 (poor, intermediate, and normal) and CYP2C19 (poor, intermediate, normal, and ultrarapid) metabolizer-status, and switching/discontinuing of ADs. Next, we investigated whether the number of perceived side effects differed between metabolizer statuses.MethodsData came from the multi-site naturalistic longitudinal cohort Netherlands Study of Depression and Anxiety (NESDA). We selected depression- and/or anxiety patients, who used AD at some point in the course of the 9 years follow-up period (n = 928). Medication use was followed to assess patterns of AD switching/discontinuation over time. CYP2D6 and CYP2C19 alleles were derived using genome-wide data of the NESDA samples and haplotype data from the PharmGKB database. Logistic regression analyses were conducted to investigate the association of metabolizer status with switching/discontinuing ADs. Mann–Whitney U-tests were conducted to compare the number of patient-perceived side effects between metabolizer statuses.ResultsNo significant associations were observed of CYP metabolizer status with switching/discontinuing ADs, nor with the number of perceived side effects.ConclusionsWe found no evidence for associations between CYP metabolizer statuses and switching/discontinuing AD, nor with side effects of ADs, suggesting that metabolizer status only plays a limited role in switching/discontinuing ADs. Additional studies with larger numbers of PM and UM patients are needed to further determine the potential added value of pharmacogenetics to guide pharmacotherapy.

An investigation of neuropsychiatric symptoms, contextual factors, and antidepressant treatment as risk factors for dementia development in people with mild cognitive impairment.

While some people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) progress to dementia, many others show no progression. The aim of this study was to identify factors associated with risk of dementia development in this population. A large naturalistic retrospective cohort study was assembled from mental healthcare records in a south London catchment. Patients were selected at first recorded diagnosis of MCI and subsequent dementia diagnosis was ascertained from case notes or death certificate, excluding those with dementia diagnoses and deaths within 6months of MCI diagnosis. A range of demographic and clinical characteristics were ascertained around MCI diagnosis and Cox proportional hazards models were used to investigate independent predictors of dementia, focussing on neuropsychiatric symptoms, contextual factors, and antidepressant treatment. Of 2250 patients with MCI, 236 (10.5%) developed dementia at least 6months after MCI diagnosis. Aside from older age, lower cognitive function, and activities of daily living impairment, impaired social relationships and recorded loneliness were associated with a higher risk of developing dementia. Patients of Black (compared to White) ethnicity were at a lower risk. For depression and antidepressant receipt, only tricyclic use compared to no antidepressant use was associated with an increased dementia risk. No evidence was found for co-morbid affective disorders or different antidepressant classes as risk factors for dementia development following MCI diagnosis, but loneliness and social impairment were independent predictors and would be worth evaluating as targets for interventions to delay progression.

The characteristics and clinical outcomes of a pluripotent high-risk group with the potential to develop a diverse range of psychiatric disorders

BackgroundRecent studies have indicated that clinical high risk for psychosis (CHR-P) is highly specific for psychotic disorders other than pluripotential to various serious mental illnesses. However, not all CHR-P develop psychotic disorder only, and psychosis can occur in non-psychotic disorders as well. Our prospective cohort study aims to investigate the characteristics and clinical outcomes of a pluripotent high-risk group with the potential to develop a diverse range of psychiatric disorders. MethodsThe SPRIM study is a prospective naturalistic cohort program that focuses on the early detection of those at risk of developing serious mental illness, including psychosis (CHR-P), bipolar (CHR-B), and depressive disorder (CHR-D), as well as undifferentiated risk participants (UCHR). Our study has a longitudinal design with a baseline assessment and eight follow-up evaluations at 6, 12, 18, 24, 30, 36, 42, and 48 months to determine whether participants have transitioned to psychosis or mood disorders. ResultsThe SPRIM sample consisted of 90 CHR participants. The total cumulative incidence rate of transition was 53.3% (95% CI 32.5–77.2). CHR-P, CHR-B, CHR-D, and UCHR had cumulative incidence rates of 13.7% (95% CI 3.4–46.4), 52.4% (95% CI 28.1–81.1), 66.7% (95% CI 24.6–98.6) and 54.3% (95% CI 20.5–93.1), respectively. The cumulative incidence of psychosis, bipolar, and depressive disorder among all participants was 3.3% (95% CI 0.8–11.5), 45.7% (95% CI 24.4–73.6), and 11.2% (95% CI 3.1–36.2), respectively. ConclusionsOur study suggests that the concept of pluripotent high-risk for a diverse range of psychiatric disorders is an integrative approach to examining transdiagnostic interactions between illnesses with a high transition rate and minimizing stigma.

Rapid tranquilization in a psychiatric emergency room: A naturalistic cohort study in 12 h

The purpose of this study was to conduct a naturalistic assessment of the efficacy of four distinct fast tranquilization techniques (intramuscular haloperidol, midazolam, haloperidol plus promethazine, or haloperidol plus midazolam) over a period of 12 h. The sample included 1603 people who were psychiatric emergency room patients at Hospital Geral de Palmas in Brazil between January 2018 and June 2022. The primary outcome was the number and proportion of patients who achieved the ideal response of the rapid tranquilization concept: tranquil without sedation in all assessments (measure by BARS scale), without restraint, without additional medication and without side effects. The secondary outcomes were mild agitation, tranquil or asleep over 12 h, the need for additional medication, use of physical restraints, and side effects. Among all patients, the proportion of rapid tranquilization over 12 h was 14.1% besides (32.9% for haloperidol, 29.2% for midazolam, 4.1% for haloperidol plus promethazine, and 5.4% for haloperidol plus midazolam) there is response some time in 97%. Logistic regression assessed the rapid tranquilization concept with to haloperidol as parameter: midazolam Exp(B) = 0.718 (95% CI 0.362–1.421), p = 0.341, had no difference; haloperidol plus promethazine Exp(B) = 0.011 (95% CI 0.004–0.026), p < 0.001] and haloperidol plus midazolam Exp(B) = 0.019 (95% CI 0.07–0.050) p < 0.001] had higher chance to fail. Secondary outcomes are described in manuscript. Data suggest that the use of monotherapy should be encouraged, and the use of associations does not produce better results to reach rapid tranquilization over 12 h.

Perceived advantages and disadvantages of substance use in a dual diagnosis population with severe mental disorders and severe substance use disorder. Considering the self-medication hypothesis

Aim Based on a large cohort of dual diagnosis patients, the aim of this study was to quantify the patient-perceived problems and advantages of their substance use and relate the quantity of problems to the substance type and psychiatric diagnosis. Material Data comes from a naturalistic cohort admitted to an in-patient facility in Denmark specialized in integrated dual diagnosis treatment. We included 1076 patients at their first admission to the facility from 2010 to 2017. Participants completed 607 DrugCheck and 130 DUDIT-E questionnaires. Method we analyzed the questionnaires and included admission diagnosis by use of t-test and ANOVA to depict the patterns in substance use in relation to psychiatric diagnosis. Results The three most common substance related problems according to the DrugCheck questionnaire were: feeling depressed, financial problems, and losing interest in daily activities. From DUDIT-E, the highest-ranking negative substance related effects were financial ruin, deterioration of health, and problems at work. Effects on social life relationships were also evident with more than 40% of participants. The top three positive substance related effects reported were relaxation, improved sleep, and control over negative emotions. The number of problems listed varied significantly with the type of preferred substance. Patients using pain medication, sedatives, central stimulants, and alcohol reported most problems. Diagnosis did not differentiate the problems experienced. Results partially support the broad self-medication hypothesis for patients with severe mental illness, but also points out that patients are well aware of negative effects.

How changes in depression severity and borderline personality disorder intensity are linked – a cohort study of depressed patients with and without borderline personality disorder

BackgroundBorderline personality disorder (BPD) is often complicated by comorbid major depressive episodes (MDEs), which can occur as part of major depressive disorder (MDD) or bipolar disorder (BD). Such comorbidity is related to worse outcomes in both disorders. Subsyndromal features of BPD are also common in depression. However, studies of simultaneous changes in BPD and depression severities are scarce, and their interactions are poorly understood.AimsStudying the associations between changes in BPD and depression symptoms over the course of an MDE.MethodsIn a 6-month naturalistic cohort study of MDE/BPD, MDE/MDD, and MDE/BD patients (N = 95), we measured change in BPD features between baseline and six months with the Borderline Personality Disorder Severity Index (BPDSI), an interviewer-rated instrument quantifying recent temporal frequency of BPD symptoms. We examined changes in BPD severity and their correlation with depression severity and other clinical measures and compared these across patient groups.ResultsThere were significant reductions in BPD severity, both in number of positive BPD criteria (-0.35, sd 1.38, p = 0.01672) and in BPDSI scores (-4.23, SD 6.74, p < 0.001), reflecting mainly a reduction in temporal frequency of symptoms. These were similar in all diagnostic groups. In multivariate regression models, changes in depression severity independently associated with changes in symptoms in the BDSI. This relationship was strongest in MDE/BPD patients but was not found in MDD patients without BPD.ConclusionsIn the six-month follow-up, BPD features in MDE patients alleviated mainly by decreasing temporal symptom frequency and intensity. In BPD patients with comorbid MDE, changes in both conditions are strongly correlated.

The interdependence of substance use, satisfaction with life, and psychological distress: a dynamic structural equation model analysis.

Longitudinal studies with annual follow-up including psychological and social variables in substance use disorder recovery are scarce. We investigated whether levels of substance use, satisfaction with life, and psychological distress fluctuate across five years in relation to having drug-free friends. A prospective naturalistic cohort study of change trajectories in a cohort of people diagnosed with substance use disorder and using multiple substances with quarterly and annual follow-up over five years. Two-hundred-and-eight patients were recruited from substance use disorder treatment in Rogaland, Norway. Out of these, 164 participants fulfilled the inclusion criteria. We used Bayesian two-level dynamic structural equation modelling. The variable 'drug-free friends' was assessed by a self-reporting questionnaire, while psychological distress was assessed using the Symptoms Checklist 90 Revised. Satisfaction with life was assessed using the Satisfaction With Life Scale while drug use was assessed using the Drug Use Disorders Identification Test. The main findings are that higher-than-average psychological distress at a three-month lag credibly predicts higher-than-normal substance use at the concurrent time point t. Substance use and satisfaction with life seem to have synchronous trajectories over time, i.e. as the first decreases the latter increases and vice versa. During the five years after treatment, the participants mainly experienced a decrease in substance use and increase in satisfaction with life. Since the participants experienced positive and negative fluctuations for several years after treatment, it seems crucial to establish a dialogue with treatment professionals in order to create functional solutions for maintaining motivation and aiding recovery.