Schizo affective disorder

Objective This study explored the utility of the Health Belief Models (HBM) in explaining medication adherence in subjects with severe affective disorders. Method Well established measuring instruments, with confirmed reliability and validity, were used to assess each component of two HBMs and adherence with mood stabilising medication in 104 subjects with bipolar (n=82), unipolar (n=18) or schizo-affective (n=4) disorders. Results Highly adherent and partially adherent subjects differed significantly in the stability of the level and the overall serum level of drug acheived...

BACKGROUND: The term 'schizo-obsessive disorder' was coined to describe schizophrenia (SCZ) patients who are also affected by obsessive-compulsive symptoms (OCS) or also meet the criteria for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Several studies have investigated the clinical and epidemiological features of OCS/OCD in SCZ, but the neuroimaging literature is sparse. The aim of this brief report is to describe some of the most important neuroimaging findings regarding schizo-obsessive disorder...

OBJECTIVE: To determine the frequency of suicidal thoughts and suicidal probability among poly-substance abusers in Saudi population, and to examine the relation between dual diagnosis and suicidal thoughts. STUDY DESIGN: Case control study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: Al-Baha Psychiatric Hospital, Saudi Arabia, from May 2011 to June 2012. METHODOLOGY: Participants were 239 subjects, aged 18 - 45 years. We reviewed 122 individuals who fulfilled the DSM-IV-TR criteria of substance abuse for two or more substances, and their data were compared with that collected from 117 control persons...

BACKGROUND: The catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) enzyme plays a crucial role in dopamine degradation, and the COMT Val158Met polymorphism (rs4680) is associated with significant differences in enzymatic activity and consequently dopamine concentrations in the prefrontal cortex. Multiple studies have analyzed the COMT Val158Met variant in relation to antipsychotic response. Here, we conducted a meta-analysis examining the relationship between COMT Val158Met and antipsychotic response...

BACKGROUND: Schizophrenia is one of the most severe mental illnesses. Studies have found that 25% to 80% of all schizophrenic patients are non-compliant in medication-taking. Non-compliance of medication-taking is associated with higher readmission rates that result from relapses. Compliance therapy has been developed to modify negative beliefs toward medication and aims to improve drug attitude toward medication-taking. However, the effect of compliance therapy on drug attitude among schizophrenic patients is unclear...

BACKGROUND: Offering a modest financial incentive to people with psychosis can promote adherence to depot antipsychotic medication, but the cost-effectiveness of this approach has not been examined. METHODS: Economic evaluation within a pragmatic cluster-randomised controlled trial. 141 patients under the care of 73 teams (clusters) were randomised to intervention or control; 138 patients with diagnoses of schizophrenia, schizo-affective disorder or bipolar disorder participated...

BACKGROUND: Given that the obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) occurs with a much higher frequency in schizophrenia than in the general population, and, both schizophrenia and OCD are presumed to be neurodevelopmental disorders, the hypothesis of a distinct subtype of schizophrenia, the "schizo-obsessive" one, was raised. AIM: Considering the neurological soft signs as neurobiological markers in schizophrenia, the aim of this study was to verify the hypothesis of the existence of this "schizo-obsessive" endophenotype of schizophrenia, by using the Neurological Evaluation Scale (NES) in patients with schizophrenia...

Functional outcome is an important index of recovery in patients with Schizophrenia (SZ). Several factors impact social functioning, including neurocognition. The Integrated Psychological Therapy (IPT) has been effective in improving social-functioning in SZ patients, but needs to be evaluated for its feasibility and impact in the Indian subcontinent. The study examined the effectiveness of the IPT on neurocognition and social functioning in patients with SZ. An open label design with baseline, post-intervention and 3-month follow-up assessments was adopted...

OBJECTIVE: Abdominal obesity was suggested to be a better predictor than Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) for cardiovascular mortality, however this is has not been extensively studied in schizophrenia. Hyperuricemia (HU) was also suggested to be both an independent risk factor for greater somatic comorbidity and a global metabolic stress marker in patients with schizophrenia. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of MetS, abdominal obesity and HU, to examine the association between metabolic parameters with HU in a cohort of French patients with schizophrenia or schizo-affective disorder (SZ), and to estimate the prevalence rates of treatment of cardio-vascular risk factors...

BACKGROUND: Homelessness, substance use, and mental disorders each have been associated with higher rates of emergency department (ED) use and hospitalization. We sought to understand the correlation between ED use, hospital admission, and substance dependence among homeless individuals with concurrent mental illness who participated in a 'Housing First' (HF) intervention trial. METHODS: The Vancouver At Home study consisted of two randomized controlled trials addressing homeless individuals with mental disorders who have "high" or "moderate" levels of need...

Symptoms of psychosis such as hallucinations and delusions can be intrusive and unwanted and often remain treatment-resistant. Due to recent progress in basic and clinical sciences, novel approaches such as sleep-based interventions are increasingly becoming offered to address the physical and mental health issues of people with severe mental illness. While the primary outcome is to improve sleep, studies have demonstrated that interventions that target symptoms of insomnia can also produce improvements in the severity of psychotic symptoms, quality of life, and functional outcomes...

Bupropion, a tricyclic aminoketone, is used primarily in the treatment of depression, the management of patients with bipolar and schizo-affective disorder, and the treatment of Parkinson's disease. Bupropion is marketed as a racemate, but the racemic mixture is known to have several disadvantages while the two isomers of bupropion and its metabolite differ significantly in their pharmacological activities. Therefore, the stereoselective determination of the drug enantiomers in pharamaceutical dosages, plasma or urine is of potential clinical and analytical importance...

BACKGROUND: Depression is highly prevalent within individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia, and is associated with an increased risk of suicide. There are no current evidence based treatments for low mood within this group. The specific targeting of co-morbid conditions within complex mental health problems lends itself to the development of short-term structured interventions which are relatively easy to disseminate within health services. A brief cognitive intervention based on a competitive memory theory of depression, is being evaluated in terms of its effectiveness in reducing depression within this group...

AIM: To assess presence and severity of associative stigma in family members of psychotic patients and factors for higher associative stigma. METHODS: Standardized semi-structured interview of 150 family members of psychotic patients receiving full time treatment. This study on associative stigma in family members of psychotic patients was part of a larger research program on the burden of the family, using "Interview for the Burden of the Family" and the chapters stigma, treatment and attribution from the "Family interview Schedule"...

OBJECTIVE: The goals of this study were to (i) estimate the rate of non-response to first-line treatment in first-episode schizophrenia, (ii) evaluate other outcomes associated with symptom non-response and (iii) identify demographic, baseline clinical and early treatment response predictors of non-response. METHODS: This was a single-site, longitudinal cohort study assessing the effects of treatment with flupenthixol decanoate according to a standardised protocol over 12 months in patients with schizophrenia, schizophreniform and schizo-affective disorders...

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this review was to consider the impact of being introduced to a sport and sport participation on (a) weight loss and psychiatric symptoms, (b) any other health benefits in people with schizophrenia, supported by quantitative and qualitative findings. SUBJECT AND METHODS: A systematic review in accordance with the PRISMA statement was conducted. Searches were undertaken in January 2014. Articles were eligible that (1) considered the effect (quantitative studies) and experience (qualitative and case studies) of either; being introduced to a 'sport' or undertaking a sport activity, (2) included >85% of patients diagnosed with schizophrenia or schizo-affective spectrum disorders according to recognised criteria...

Some patients with severe mental disorders are refractory to psychotherapeutic or psychopharmacological interventions. We describe a patient with severe symptoms from the age of 16 to 44. Her illness is best described as a schizo-affective disorder. Several series of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) followed by maintenance once a week for more than six years has kept her out of hospital beds for three years. The patient demonstrates the feasibility of long term ECT and the absence of disturbing cognitive reductions...

BACKGROUND: Few studies have investigated the efficacy of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) treatment for negative symptoms of schizophrenia, reporting inconsistent results. We aimed to investigate whether 10 Hz stimulation of the bilateral dorsolateral prefrontal cortex during 3 weeks enhances treatment effects. METHOD: A multicenter double-blind randomized controlled trial was performed in 32 patients with schizophrenia or schizo-affective disorder, and moderate to severe negative symptoms [Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) negative subscale ⩾15]...

OBJECTIVE: Clozapine is associated with subjectively unpleasant or clinically serious side-effects, which may affect treatment adherence. The aims of the study were to explore the association of clozapine+ norclozapine serum concentration and other factors with subjective side-effects in schizophrenia patients. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 237 patients with a diagnosis of schizophrenia, schizo-affective or other non-organic psychoses completed the Liverpool University Neuroleptic Side Effect Rating Scale (LUNSERS), a self-report scale measuring side-effects of antipsychotics and a clinical questionnaire...

BACKGROUND: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is an important regulator of synaptogenesis and synaptic plasticity underlying learning. However, a relationship between circulating BDNF levels and brain activity during learning has not been demonstrated in humans. Reduced brain BDNF levels are found in schizophrenia and functional neuroimaging studies of probabilistic association learning in schizophrenia have demonstrated reduced activity in a neural network that includes the prefrontal and parietal cortices and the caudate nucleus...