Neurocognitive abnormalities are prevalent in both first episode schizophrenia patients and in ultra high risk (UHR) patients.

To compare verbal fluency performance at baseline in UHR in patients that did and did not make the transition to psychosis.

Baseline verbal fluency performance in UHR-patients (n = 47) was compared to match first episode patients (n = 69) and normal controls (n = 42).

Verbal fluency (semantic category) scores in UHR-patients did not differ significantly from the score in first episode schizophrenia patients. Both the UHR group (p < 0.003) and the patient group (p < 0.0001) performed significantly worse than controls. Compared to the non-transition group, the transition group performed worse on verbal fluency, semantic category (p < 0.006) at baseline.

Verbal fluency (semantic category) is disturbed in UHR-patients that make the transition to psychosis and could contribute to an improved prediction of transition to psychosis in UHR-patients.

The aim of this research is to detect gender-related differences in patients and caregivers regarding knowledge about schizophrenia and attitudes towards drugs as well as gender as predictor for changes in these variables during psychoeducation.

Data sets of one randomised-controlled (study 1) and one naturalistic psychoeducation study (study 2) were reanalysed. Main outcome measures (knowledge about schizophrenia, drug attitude, confidence in medication) were assessed at baseline, post-intervention and 12 months after index discharge.

The reanalysed samples consisted in total of 1002 patients and 176 caregivers. In study 2, baseline knowledge was significantly better in male patients and female caregivers. All participants improved significantly their knowledge. The amount of knowledge gain did not differ between genders in either study or either group. Gender was not a major predictor of baseline knowledge or knowledge gain. Only in study 1 did gender significantly impact the knowledge gain from baseline to follow-up. Regarding improvement of drug attitude, females seemed to benefit significantly better from psychoeducation. In both studies, however, changes in drug attitudes respectively confidence in medication were best explained by lower corresponding baseline scores, not gender. Patients’ gender did not influence outcomes of their caregivers.

Our findings suggest that psychoeducational programs might be better adapted to males in order to improve their drug attitude. Concerning knowledge, gender-related changes do not seem to be necessary.

The aim of the present study was to explore and compare the caffeine intake, intoxication, withdrawal and dependence prevalence in Italian psychiatric patients and healthy subjects.

Three hundred and sixty-nine out- and inpatients, suffering from different psychiatric disorders, and 104 healthy subjects were included in the study. They were assessed by the SCID and by a structured interview for caffeine intoxication and withdrawal and for substance dependence applied to caffeine use.

Patients and healthy subjects did not differ in terms of current caffeine intake (mg/day, mean ± SD: 281 ± 325 vs. 288 ± 148, respectively), while the maximum lifetime intake of caffeine was significantly higher in the first group (mg/day, mean SD: 630 ± 549 vs. 504 ± 344, respectively; F = 4.897, p = .03) where it was significantly related to the CGI severity item scores (rho = .107; p = .04). In both patients and healthy subjects, a lower age was related to a higher current caffeine intake, while both current and maximum lifetime caffeine intake in the healthy subjects were significantly higher in men than in women. The patients suffering from eating disorders reported higher current caffeine intake than those with anxiety or mood disorders. The prevalence of dependence and intoxication was significantly higher in the patients than in the healthy subjects, without inter-group differences. Healthy subjects showed a trend towards a higher prevalence of withdrawal.

Our study highlights the need that a more accurate attention should be paid to the caffeine use which seems to be strongly, although generically, related to different psychiatric disorders.

The purpose of this study is to develop a self-administered version of the Health of the Nation Outcome Scales for Older Adults (HoNOS65+) in Spanish – the HoNOS65+A – and to study its reliability and validity.

There are two phases in the study: construction of the HoNOS65+A and the study of its psychometric properties. In the second phase, 179 users of 10 services for older people of Madrid were interviewed. They completed the HoNOS65+A, the Spanish version of the HoNOS65+, and other instruments that evaluate similar constructs. Reliability (internal consistency with the other-administered HoNOS65+, intraclass) and validity (concurrent, discriminant, and criterion validity) were analyzed.

High reliability indexes (intraclass correlation coefficients) were found for all the scales (HoNOS65+ and HoNOS65+A), except for items 4 and 6. Moreover, the HoNOS65+A has satisfactory concurrent (except 4, 6, and 9) and discriminant validity (except for items 4 and 10). Considering all these data and some theoretical points the items 4 and 6 have eliminated from the scale. Upon eliminating items 4 and 6, the analysis of the reliability (Cronbach's Alpha) and criterion validity (discriminant function among autonomous and assisted people) presents positive values.

The results indicate that the HoNOS65+A is a useful measure that does not assess a homogeneous area but instead different aspects of health and psychosocial functioning.

To explore factors associated with work impairment at 2 years following an acute episode.

European Mania in Bipolar disorder Longitudinal Evaluation of Medication (EMBLEM) is a prospective, observational study on the outcomes of patients with a manic/mixed episode. Work impairment was measured using a Longitudinal Interval Follow-up Evaluation (slice of LIFE) item and patients were categorised with either low or high work impairment at each observation. Baseline factors associated with work impairment at 2 years were assessed using multivariate modelling.

At baseline (n = 2289), 69% of patients had high work impairment. At 2 years (n = 1393), high impairment reduced to 41%. Modelling identified rapid cycling as the strongest disease-related factor associated with high work impairment at 2 years, although high work impairment at baseline had the strongest association overall. Lower levels of education, recent admissions, CGI-BP overall severity in the 12 months prior to baseline and CGI-BP mania at baseline all predicted higher work impairment. Living together in a relationship and independent housing were both significantly associated with having low work impairment at 2 years.

Work impairment in bipolar disorder is maintained over long periods, and is strongly associated with relationship status, living conditions and various disease-related factors.

To determine the prevalence of depression in migrants aged 50 years or older in comparison to residents without a history of migration in 11 European countries.

The Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE), a cross-national, multidisciplinary, household-based panel survey using nationally representative probability samples (n = 28,517) of 11 European countries of the non-institutionalized population aged 50 years and older. Depression was measured using the EURO-D scale, and odds ratios (OR) were estimated for migration status. Effects of sociodemographic variables, somatic comorbidities, functional impairment, cognitive function, geographic region, and time lived in current country of residence were assessed in multivariate logistic regression analysis.

Adjusting for confounds, the OR for depression in migrants was 1.42 (95% CI, 1.28–1.59). The influence of migration status on the prevalence of depression was significantly greater in Northern (OR, 1.85; 95% CI, 1.39–2.46) and Western Europe (OR, 1.38; 95% CI, 1.22–1.57), compared to Southern Europe (OR, 1.16; 95% CI, 0.79–1.70) (p < 0.05 for the interaction).

We found a higher prevalence of depression in first-generation migrants aged 50 years or older, together with relevant geographical variation. This difference was not due to other known predictors of depression in older age.

To examine the link between symptoms of hyperactivity-inattention and conduct disorder in childhood, and the initiation of tobacco and cannabis use, controlling for other behavioral symptoms, temperament and environmental risk factors.

The sample (N = 1107 participants, aged 4 to 18 years at baseline) was recruited from the population-based longitudinal Gazel Youth study with a follow-up assessment 8 years later. Psychopathology, temperament, environmental variables, and initiation of tobacco and cannabis use were self-reported. Event time analyses were performed to assess the effects of childhood disruptive symptoms on age at first use of tobacco and cannabis.

Proportional hazard models revealed that participants with high levels of childhood symptoms of both hyperactivity-inattention and conduct disorder were at highest risk of early tobacco initiation (in males: hazard ratio [HR] = 2.05; confidence interval [CI]: 1.24–3.38; in females: HR = 2.01; CI: 1.31–3.09), and, in males, of early cannabis initiation (HR = 1.95; CI: 1.04–3.64). Temperament, through activity in both males and females and negative emotionality in females, was also associated to early substance use initiation.

Children who simultaneously have high levels of symptoms of hyperactivity-inattention and conduct disorder are at increased risk for early substance initiation. These associations may guide childhood health professionals to consider the liability for early substance initiation in high-risk groups.

The catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) enzyme inactivates catecholamines, and the COMT Val(108/158)Met polymorphism (rs4680) influences the enzyme activity. Recent clinical studies found a significant effect of rs4680 on antidepressant response to fluoxetine and paroxetine, but several other studies were negative. No study considered drug plasma levels as possible nuisance covariate.

We studied the effect of rs4680 on response to fluvoxamine antidepressant monotherapy.

Forty-one consecutively admitted inpatients affected by a major depressive episode in course of major depressive disorder were administered fluvoxamine for 6 weeks. Changes in severity of depression were assessed with weekly Hamilton Depression ratings and analyzed with repeated measures ANOVA in the context of General Linear Model, with rs4680 and fluvoxamine plasma levels as factors.

rs4680 significantly interacted with time in affecting antidepressant response to fluvoxamine, with outcome being inversely proportional to the enzyme activity: better effects in Met-carriers, worse effects in Val/Val homozygotes. The effect became significant at the fourth week of treatment, and influence final response rates. Fluvoxamine plasma levels had marginal effects on outcome.

This is the first study that reports a positive effect of rs4680 on response to fluvoxamine, and the third independent report of its influence on response to selective 5-HT reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Our findings support the hypothesis that factors affecting catecholaminergic neurotransmission might contribute to shape the individual response to antidepressants irrespective of their primary molecular target.

In this study, we aimed to compare the clinical features and response patterns to the long-term prophylaxis of bipolar patients with or without psychotic features.

The life charts of patients with bipolar I disorder were evaluated. Two hundred and eighty-one patients who suffer with bipolar disorder for at least 4 years and who had at least three mood episodes were included to the study. The patients whose all episodes are psychotic (psychotic group) and the patients who never experienced psychotic episode (non-psychotic group) were assigned as comparison groups. The clinical features and the response to long-term prophylaxis were compared across the groups.

The psychotic group consists of 43 patients; non-psychotic group consists of 54 patients. The history of bipolar disorder among the first-degree relatives was remarkably more prevalent in non-psychotic group (p = 0.032). The predominance of manic/hypomanic episodes was significantly higher in psychotic group than non-psychotic group; and the rate of depressive episodes were higher in non-psychotic group than psychotic group (p = 0.013). Episodes were more severe (p < 0.001) and hospitalization rates were higher (p = 0.023) in psychotic group. The response to lithium monotherapy was better in non-psychotic group (p < 0.001).

The well identified psychotic subtype of bipolar patients may give important predictions about long term course and prophylaxis of bipolar disorder.

While brain imaging studies of juvenile patients has expanded in recent years to investigate the cerebral neurophysiologic correlates of psychiatric disorders, this research field remains scarce. The aim of the present review was to cluster the main mental disorders according to the differential brain location of the imaging findings recently reported in children and adolescents reports. A second objective was to describe the worldwide distribution and the main directions of the recent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron tomography (PET) studies in these patients.

A survey of 423 MRI and PET articles published between 2005 and 2008 was performed. A principal component analysis (PCA), then an activation likelihood estimate (ALE) meta-analysis, were applied on brain regional information retrieved from articles in order to cluster the various disorders with respect to the cerebral structures where alterations were reported. Furthermore, descriptive analysis characterized the literature production.

Two hundred and seventy-four articles involving children and adolescent patients were analyzed. Both the PCA and ALE methods clustered, three groups of diagnosed psychiatric disorders, according to the brain structural and functional locations: one group of affective disorders characterized by abnormalities of the frontal-limbic regions; a group of mental disorders with “cognition deficits” mainly related to cortex abnormalities; and one psychomotor condition associated with abnormalities in the basal ganglia. The descriptive analysis indicates a focus on attention deficit hyperactivity disorders and autism spectrum disorders, a general steady rise in the number of annual reports, and lead of US research.

This cross-sectional review of child and adolescent mental disorders based on neuroimaging findings suggests overlaps of brain locations that allow to cluster the diagnosed disorders into three sets with respectively marked affective, cognitive, and psychomotor phenomenology. Furthermore, the brain imaging research effort was unequally distributed across disorders, and did not reflect their prevalence.

The aim of this study was to test the validity of the Finnish version of the Internet Addiction Test and the correlates of harmful use of the Internet.

One thousand eight hundred and twenty-five students (45.5% men and 54.5% women, mean age 24.7 years, S.D. = 5.7) filled in a web-based questionnaire including IAT, reasons for use of the Internet, distress, social support, and substance use.

Men had a statistically significantly higher mean score on the IAT than women. Subjects with self-reported use of cannabis had higher mean score on the IAT compared to non-users (39.5 [11.3] vs 35.8 [10.8]). The total IAT score was associated with “adult entertainment” (OR = 1.07, 95%CI: 1.06–1.08, P < 0.001), “playing games” (OR = 1.05, 95%CI: 1.04–1.06, P < 0.001), “chatting” (OR = 1.07, 95%CI: 1.06–1.08, P < 0.001) and “discussion” (OR = 1.08, 95%CI: 1.07–1.09, P < 0.001) as reasons for Internet use. The IAT score had a significant negative correlation with social support (r = −0.24, P < 0.001) and a significant positive correlation with the CAGE score (r = 0.18, P < 0.001). Using factor analysis, we found a single factor solution with a Cronbach's α of 0.92.

The IAT seems to provide a valid measurement of harmful use of the Internet, as the score was significantly associated with variables tapping psychopathology.

To assess the feasibility, patient and clinician acceptability and test-retest reliability of the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) used by non-psychiatrists in an acute psychiatric ward.

Of 268 consecutive patients included in a cross-sectional study, 176 (66%) completed MINI, and were compared to patients not interviewed. Patients and clinicians were questioned about the interview, using Visual Analogue Scales (VAS). For 38 patients, test-retest reliability was assessed with Cohen's kappa and observed agreement.

MINI was not feasible for all patients. Among factors associated with not being interviewed were early discharge, psychosis, substance use and involuntary admissions. Although evaluations by patients and clinicians completing the postinterview questionnaire varied, MINI was generally perceived as being useful and feasible. Psychotic symptoms were associated with a less positive experience with MINI for both patients and clinicians. In the test-retest analyses, kappa values indicated excellent agreement for six diagnoses, fair to good for six and poor for seven, whereas observed agreement was 75% or above for all disorders.

Among patients admitted to an acute psychiatric ward willing and able to complete the interview, MINI was well accepted by patients and clinicians, and has moderately good test-retest reliability.

The objective of this study was to explore factors associated with hara-kiri as a method of suicide and suicidal behavior in contemporary Japan.

A retrospective study was conducted on medical records of 421 patients (174 male; 247 female) who were considered suicidal and treated at the Kitasato University Hospital Emergency Medical Center in Japan between January 2006 and March 2008. We compared hara-kiri and all other methods regarding sociodemographics and clinical features of all suicidal patients.

Instances of hara-kiri suicide attempt had the highest proportion of males (63%) among all suicide and suicidal behavior. One-way analysis of variance revealed significant differences between hara-kiri and other suicide attempt methods in the age of the suicidal patients. Result of multiple logistic regression analysis indicated that those who attempted hara-kiri suicide were likely to be male, be diagnosed with schizophrenia, survive, and be married.

Our findings indicate that hara-kiri as a method of suicide and suicidal behavior remain prevalent in Japan, and the study findings also suggest that both clinical and cultural factors might play a role in hara-kiri as a method of suicide and suicidal behavior.