[Drawing up guidelines for the attendance of physical health of patients with severe mental illness]

Impact of institutional quality improvement initiatives on metabolic monitoring in mental disorder in patients treated with antipsychotics: A meta-analysis of intervention studies

Background

Compliance with guidelines regarding monitoring of metabolic adverse effects induced by antipsychotics has been consistently low. We characterised and evaluated the quality of institutional quality improvement (QI) interventions designed to address disparities between guidelines and real-world practices. Furthermore, we assessed the impact of these interventions on the screening and management of metabolic risks for inpatients receiving treatment with antipsychotic medications.

Methods

We conducted a meta-analysis of institutional QI intervention studies aimed at improving antipsychotic-associated metabolic risk monitoring in hospitalised mental disease patients. Relevant studies were identified through searches conducted in the Embase and PubMed databases, as well as by reviewing previous reviews and meta-analyses. Quantitative analyses were performed, calculating odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) to assess the impact of QI programmes on guideline adherence in clinical practice.

Results

We identified 12 intervention studies (n = 10 128 and n = 2667 patients in the pre-and post-intervention groups, respectively) and included them in our meta-analysis. QI interventions demonstrated effectiveness in bridging the guideline-practice gap in monitoring antipsychotic-induced metabolic adverse effects, as supported by the ORs and 95% CIs for post-intervention monitoring of plasma glucose, lipids, and blood pressure (BP) vs the pre-intervention period being OR = 6.90 (95% CI = 1.51-31.48), OR = 5.39 (95% CI = 4.01-7.24), and OR = 4.81 (95% CI = 1.23-18.79), respectively. Only 33.3% (4/12) of studies reported screening rates for all four metabolic parameters (plasma glucose, lipids, weight/body mass index (BMI), and BP). The median rates for metabolic screening of plasma glucose, lipids, and BP increased from 51.0-80.0%, 28.7-66.7%, and 91.7-95.8%, respectively. Up to 66.7% (8/12) of intervention studies lacked follow-up measures to treat or manage identified risks in hospitalised psychiatric patients, such as patient referrals, prescription of medications, and switching of antipsychotics. The odds of monitoring weight/BMI and glucose were greatest when QI programmes involved the participation of multidisciplinary health care professionals and patients, yielding OR = 3.35 (95% CI = 2.45-4.59) and OR = 57.51 (95% CI = 24.11-137.21), respectively.

Conclusions

Institutional QI interventions were effective in enhancing monitoring practices in alignment with established guidelines for metabolic risk screening among hospitalised patients with mental disorders maintained on antipsychotic medications. Future institutional QI programmes should incorporate multidisciplinary strategies involving patient engagement and extend their focus beyond screening to incorporate follow-up risk management strategies once risks have been identified.

Registration

PROSPERO CRD42023452138.

Somatic health according to people with severe mental disease

OBJECTIVES

Patients with schizophrenia have a 15- to 20-year shorter life expectancy compared with the general population. The aim of this study was to explore these patients' perception of their physical health.

METHODS

A patient reported outcomes measure (PROM) has been developed by patients with severe mental disease. This survey had to better capture undetected, under-rated and non-prioritized physical domains by traditional routine clinical scales that are important for people who live with mental health disease. These patients have tested the applicability of this PROM with peers with severe mental disease in medical, social and community-based centers from Hauts-de-France.

RESULTS

Two and a half years have been required to develop this PROM, to test its applicability to patients with severe mental disease and to analyze the results. The study process has been slowed by the sanitary context induced by the COVID-19 pandemic. Thirty-two questionnaires have been collected by the participants. Despite this low number of data, participants have been satisfied by the results and their experience. The results show that people with severe mental disease consider physical health as a major concern, notably pain and somatic diseases. External factors (such as accessibility to health care and medication) and internal factors (such as self-esteem, cognitive and negative symptoms, sleep, alimentation, and substance use) have been identified as barriers for physical health.

CONCLUSIONS

These results support the development of PROMs highlighting personal experience of people with severe mental disease. The data obtained thanks to these measures will allow to build programs to help them to cope with barriers for physical health.

Pilot and Feasibility Studies of a Lifestyle Modification Program Based on the Health Belief Model to Prevent the Lifestyle-Related Diseases in Patients with Mental Illness

In this study we have examined the feasibility of a program based on the health belief model (HBM), for its effectiveness in improving lifestyle-related diseases in patients with schizophrenia (SZ) and bipolar disorder (BD), which are often complicated with physical conditions. In this model, we attempted to enable patients to identify a "threat" and to find "balance between benefits and disadvantages". Subjects were carefully selected from among psychiatric patients by excluding any bias. Thus, the enrolled patients were 30 adult men and women with lifestyle-related diseases, or those with a body mass index (BMI) of over 24. Of these 30 subjects, 15 were randomly assigned to the intervention group and 10 the control group, since 5 subjects in the control voluntarily left from the study. Comparison of the intervention and control groups revealed significant improvement (p < 0.05) in HDL cholesterol in the intervention group. However, there were no significant changes in other variables. These findings support the usefulness and efficacy of HMB-based nutritional interventions for preventing lifestyle-related disorders among psychiatric patients. Further evaluation is needed with a larger sample size and a longer intervention period. This HMB-based intervention could be useful for the general population as well.

Natural products targeting inflammation-related metabolic disorders: A comprehensive review

Currently, the incidence of metabolic disorders is increasing, setting a challenge to global health. With major advancement in the diagnostic tools and clinical procedures, much has been known in the etiology of metabolic disorders and their corresponding pathophysiologies. In addition, the use of in vitro and in vivo experimental models prior to clinical studies has promoted numerous biomedical breakthroughs, including in the discovery and development of drug candidates to treat metabolic disorders. Indeed, chemicals isolated from natural products have been extensively studied as prospective drug candidates to manage diabetes, obesity, heart-related diseases, and cancer, partly due to their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Continuous efforts have been made in parallel to improve their bioactivity and bioavailability using selected drug delivery approaches. Here, we provide insights on recent progress in the role of inflammatory-mediated responses on the initiation of metabolic disorders, with particular reference to diabetes mellitus, obesity, heart-related diseases, and cancer. In addition, we discussed the prospective role of natural products in the management of diabetes, obesity, heart-related diseases, and cancers and provide lists of potential biological targets for high throughput screening in drug discovery and development. Lastly, we discussed findings observed in the preclinical and clinical studies prior to identifying suitable approaches on the phytochemical drug delivery systems that are potential to be used in the treatment of metabolic disorders.

Assessing incarcerated women's physical and mental health status and needs in a Swiss prison: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Women make up 5% of the European prison population on average. Almost invisible in prison and health research, and suffering the stigma associated with female offending, incarcerated women are often forgotten, and their specific healthcare needs remain much ignored. Combining face-to-face survey interviews and medical chart data, we aim to assess the health status, healthcare needs, and access to preventive medicine of women incarcerated in Switzerland.

RESULTS

Sixty incarcerated adult women participated in a cross-sectional study to assess their life and incarceration histories, physical and mental health problems, medication, and use of medical services. Eligibility criteria were (a) an incarceration of at least four weeks and (b) the ability to provide written informed consent. Exclusion criteria were psychiatric instability and insufficient language competence. Women's average age was 34.3 years old (SD = 9.8); 45.0% of them were born in Switzerland, 33.3% in Europe and 15.0% on the African continent. Overall, 61.7% of women self-reported physical or mental health problems and 13.3% indicated they were once diagnosed with a sexually transmitted infection. Further, 78.3% of women were active cigarette smokers; more than one in three women reported alcohol use problems and almost one in two women had used at least one illicit drug in the year before incarceration. Depression and perceived stress scores were above clinical cut-off points for more than half of interviewed women. When asked how they rated their health, 68.3% of women felt it had worsened since incarceration. All but four women had accessed prison medical services; however, our study does not indicate whether women's use of healthcare was indeed adequate to their needs.

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrated incarcerated women's poor health and health-risk behaviours. Structural changes and gender-responsive health promotion interventions have the potential to improve the health of incarcerated women and help them return to the community in better health.

Association of cardiovascular metabolic risk factor measurements with psychiatric readmission among in-hospital patients with severe mental illness: a retrospective study

BACKGROUND

Patients with severe mental illness (SMI) and comorbid physical conditions were often associated with higher risks of mortality and hospital readmission. In this study, we aim to examine the association of cardiovascular metabolic risk factor measurements with risks of psychiatric readmissions among in-hospital patients with severe mental illness (SMI).

METHODS

We collected the longitudinal information of laboratory investigations, blood pressure and body mass index (BMI) among in-hospital patients who had been diagnosed with schizophrenia, major depression disorder or bipolar disorder and with comorbid diagnosis of hypertension, hyperlipidemia or diabetes from Jan 2014 to Jan 2019. The primary outcome was time to first psychiatric readmission. Cox proportional hazard model was utilized to calculate the hazard risks (HR) of cardiovascular metabolic risk factors with psychiatric readmission.

RESULTS

A total of 5,256 patients were included in the analysis. Compared to patients with normal blood parameters, patients with aberrant tests of high-density dyslipidemia (HDL) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) during in-hospitalization period were associated with higher risks to first psychiatric readmission [ HR (Hazard Ratio), 1.37 95% Confidence interval (CI), 1.03-1.83 for HDL and HR, 1.32 (95% CI, 1.04-1.67])for DBP]. Compared to patients with optimal monitoring, patients with suboptimal monitoring of blood lipids and blood pressure during in-hospitalization period or recommended window period of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk management were associated with higher risks to first psychiatric readmission.

CONCLUSIONS

Aberrant cardiovascular metabolic blood test and blood pressure and missing measurements among in-hospital patients with SMI were associated with increased risks of psychiatric readmissions. This calls for more active screening and monitoring of CVD risk factors for those in-hospital patients in need.

Schizophrenia and Hospital Admissions for Cardiovascular Events in a Large Population: The APNA Study

(1) Background: Patients with schizophrenia have higher mortality, with cardiovascular diseases being the first cause of mortality. This study aims to estimate the excess risk of hospital admission for cardiovascular events in schizophrenic patients, adjusting for comorbidity and risk factors. (2) Methods: The APNA study is a dynamic prospective cohort of all residents in Navarra, Spain. A total of 505,889 people over 18 years old were followed for five years. The endpoint was hospital admissions for a cardiovascular event. Direct Acyclic Graphs (DAG) and Cox regression were used. (3) Results: Schizophrenic patients had a Hazard Ratio (HR) of 1.414 (95% CI 1.031–1.938) of hospital admission for a cardiovascular event after adjusting for age, sex, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, dyslipidemia, smoking, low income, obesity, antecedents of cardiovascular disease, and smoking. In non-adherent to antipsychotic treatment schizophrenia patients, the HR was 2.232 (95% CI 1.267–3.933). (4) Conclusions: Patients with schizophrenia have a higher risk of hospital admission for cardiovascular events than persons with the same risk factors without schizophrenia. Primary care nursing interventions should monitor these patients and reduce cardiovascular risk factors.

Comparison of mental-physical comorbidity, risk of death and mortality among patients with mental disorders - A retrospective cohort study

AIM

To compare the risk of death, the prevalence of comorbid chronic physical illness and mortality among an Asian population of patients with mental disorders.

METHODS

This was a retrospective data analysing of medical records of patients with schizophrenia, depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, alcohol use disorder (AUD) or substance use disorder and the comorbid chronic physical illnesses. The hazard risk of death was calculated with Cox regression and compared between patients with and without comorbid chronic physical illness(es). Odds ratios of specific comorbid chronic physical illness were calculated with logistic regression and mean crude death rate was calculated for patients with different mental disorders.

RESULTS

A total of 56,447 patients with mental disorders were included in the analysis. Compared to patients without comorbid physical illness, patients with mental-physical comorbidity were associated with a higher risk of death [2.36 (2.22-2.52); hazard ratio (95% CI)] and less estimated survival days [2157 (2142-2172) vs 2508 (2504-2513)]. Compared to other mental disorders, those with AUD had the highest prevalence of two or more comorbid chronic physical illnesses and associated with the highest odds of comorbid hypertension, diabetes mellitus, stroke, nephritis, chronic kidney disease, and cancer. The highest one-year crude death rate was similarly observed in patients with AUD.

CONCLUSIONS

Mental-physical comorbidity was associated with a higher risk of death compared to patients with mental disorders only. The highest prevalence of mental-physical comorbidity and mortality were observed in patients with AUD. More attention and resources may be needed to tackle the burden of AUD.

Association between short-term ambient air pollution exposure and depression outpatient visits in cold seasons: a time-series analysis in northwestern China

Depression is known to be one of the most common mental disorders raising global concerns. However, evidence regarding the association between short-term air pollution exposure and risk of development of depression is limited. The aim of this was to assess the relationship between short-term ambient air pollution exposure and depression in outpatient visits in Xi'an, a northwestern Chinese metropolis. Data for air pollutants including particulate matter (PM₁₀), sulfur dioxide (SO₂), and nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) levels from October 1, 2010 to December 31, 2013 and number of daily depression outpatient visits (92,387 in total) were collected. A time-series quasi-Poisson regression model was adopted to determine the association between short-term air pollutant concentrations and frequency of outpatient visits for depression with different lag models. Consequently, 10 μg/m³ increase of SO₂ and NO₂ levels corresponded to significant elevation in number of outpatient-visits for depression on concurrent days (lag 0), and this relationship appeared stronger in cool seasons (October to March). However, the association of PM₁₀ was only significant in males aged 30-50 at lag 0. Evidence indicated that short-term exposure to ambient air pollutants especially in cool seasons might be associated with increased risk of outpatient visits for depression.

[Comparative analysis of the financing of follow-up and rehabilitation care institutions and public mental health institutions: Application for innovative and expensive drugs]

Pharmacotherapeutic care is now expanding in public mental health institutions. Annual grants are funding the public psychiatric field, hindering access to therapeutic innovation and expensive medications due to long length of stay. On the threshold of the French Healthcare & Social Services Ministry "Ma Santé 2022" plan ("My Health 2022"), there is a risk of altering the continuum of care because of the complexity of the financing of certain high added value therapies. Despite a desire to adapt the system to meet constantly changing health needs, no actions have been taken to this date in psychiatry, with no funds being allocated for valuable medication, in contrary to follow-up care and rehabilitation structures, to our knowledge. This reinforces the discrepancy with the evolution of research, and further widens the gap in inequalities between health sectors. Optimising the funding of expensive medicines in psychiatry would make it possible to reduce the stranglehold of current allocations. Following the example of recent reforms in the follow-up care and rehabilitation structures, extra funds for high value-added therapies would make it possible to reduce complex medical decisions: from prevention to reintegration, patient care continuity would be vastly guaranteed.

The Impact of Pharmacological and Non-Pharmacological Interventions to Improve Physical Health Outcomes in People With Schizophrenia: A Meta-Review of Meta-Analyses of Randomized Controlled Trials

(Reprinted with permission from World Psychiatry 2019;18:53-66).

Association between ozone air pollution levels and hospitalizations for depression in Taipei: a time-stratified case-crossover study

Epidemiologic studies reported an association between exposure to ambient air pollutants and increased mortality rate attributed to suicide and suicide attempts. The investigation sought to determine whether there is an association between short-term ambient ozone (O₃) level exposure and daily hospital admissions for depression in Taipei from 2009 to 2013 using a time-stratified case-crossover design. In our single-pollutant model (with no adjustment for other pollutants), the % increase in daily hospital admissions for depression was 12% on warm days and 30% on cool days, per interquartile range (IQR) rise in O₃ levels, respectively. Ozone levels were significantly correlated with daily number of depression admissions both on warm and cool days. In our two-pollutant models, O₃ levels remained significant after adjusting for other air pollutants, including particulate matter (PM₁₀, PM_2.5), sulfur dioxide (SO₂), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), and carbon monoxide (CO) both on warm and cool days. Although O₃ levels tended to be higher on warm days, admissions for depression were higher on cool days, suggesting that the relationship between O₃ concentrations and depression may be affected by temperature. Further study is needed to better understand these findings.

[Retinal investigations in patients with major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder or schizophrenia: A review of the literature]

Major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia are currently among the most common psychiatric disorders, known to constitute a serious public health issue in terms of morbidity, mortality and functional handicap. Their pathophysiology is still unclear, but there is now increasing evidence supporting the existence of abnormalities of neurotransmission. As the retina is an extension of the central nervous system, it may be an interesting site of study which might provide a better understanding of the pathophysiology of psychiatric disorders. Several studies have demonstrated retinal abnormalities, with abnormal cone and rod responses on electroretinography (ERG), suggesting a process of functional neuronal loss, structurally supported by a decrease in the retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (RNFL) on optical coherence tomography (OCT), which suggests involvement of the molecular signal pathways of neurotransmission. These tests could be useful tools for diagnosing and monitoring psychiatric disorders. This article is an overview of the literature on retinal abnormalities observed in patients with major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder or schizophrenia, and discusses how they could be pathophysiologic markers.

Study of retinal structure and function in patients with major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder or schizophrenia: A review of the literature

Major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia are currently among the most common psychiatric disorders, known to constitute a serious public health issue in terms of morbidity, mortality and functional handicap. Their pathophysiology is still unclear, but there is now increasing evidence supporting the existence of abnormalities of neurotransmission. As the retina is an extension of the central nervous system, it may be an interesting site of study which might provide a better understanding of the pathophysiology of psychiatric disorders. Several studies have demonstrated retinal abnormalities, with abnormal cone and rod responses on electroretinography (ERG), suggesting a process of functional neuronal loss, structurally supported by a decrease in the retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (RNFL) on optical coherence tomography (OCT), which suggests involvement of the molecular signal pathways of neurotransmission. These tests could be useful tools for diagnosing and monitoring psychiatric disorders. This article is an overview of the literature on retinal abnormalities observed in patients with major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder or schizophrenia, and discusses how they could be pathophysiologic markers.

[Not Available]

Objectif:

La santé bucco-dentaire des patients en psychiatrie est problématique, puisque le recours au chirurgien-dentiste demeure inférieur de 25 % à la population générale. En partant de ce postulat, nous avons souhaité comprendre en quoi l’anxiété et la douleur du patient peuvent impacter la prise en charge bucco-dentaire et le bon déroulement des soins.

Méthode:

Cette étude a été menée sur 100 patients hospitalisés en psychiatrie. Grâce à différentes échelles, nous avons évalué leur niveau d’anxiété et de douleur, mais aussi leur coopération aux soins.

Résultats:

L’anxiété ne constitue pas un frein à la prise en charge, et diminue significativement après les soins. Le comportement durant les soins bucco-dentaires des patients hospitalisés en psychiatrie semble similaire à celui de la population générale.

Conclusion:

Notre étude permet de mieux appréhender les soins dentaires en psychiatrie et devrait contribuer à placer les soins dentaires au centre de la prise en charge somatique en psychiatrie.

Somatic assessment of one hundred inpatients in a psychiatric crisis unit: A retrospective observational study

OBJECTIVES

Compared to the general population, psychiatric patients are more exposed to physical illness but have reduced access to care.

METHODS

We conducted a descriptive study in Montpellier between November 2011, 2nd and December 2012, 21st. Every Wednesday and Friday, the last two inpatients admitted in the psychiatric post-emergency unit of the University Hospital of Montpellier were assessed by a general practitioner and included in the study. This unit takes care of suicidal patients suffering from mood and/or personality disorders. The general practitioner assessed lifetime somatic history, current somatic comorbidities and medical follow-up for non-psychiatric issues.

RESULTS

One hundred patients were included. The sample consisted of 81% women with a mean age of 43 years (18-79 years). The majority of patients had a lifetime history of somatic disease (96%) and was followed by a general practitioner (99%). Six patients had no met general practitioner for at least one year. Dyslipidemia was reported in 32 patients, among those only one patient was on lipid-lowering drug (96.88%). Among patients with impaired dental condition, 29 (55.77%) had not met a dentist for at least one year. Among those with impaired near visual acuity and/or impaired distance visual acuity, 19 (65.52%) had not met an ophthalmologist for at least one year.

CONCLUSION

Although detected, somatic comorbidities seem outsourced in psychiatric patients. Greater awareness among different health professionals about the medical care of such patients could improve healthcare management and life expectancy.

[Is the medication reconciliation achievable and relevant in Psychiatry?: Feedback on the implementation of medication reconciliation on hospital admission]

OBJECTIVE

The health care pathway of patients suffering from mental disorders is complex and includes a risk of interruption of treatment. We implemented medication reconciliation at patients' admission to mental health care service in February 2017. The aim of this study was to achieve a feedback experience answering our questions about the feasibility and relevance of this process.

METHOD

A prospective analysis of medication reconciliations over the first 7 months of implementation was carried out according to 3 activity indicators and 6 performance indicators.

RESULTS

A total of 39 patients were reconciled and 56.4 % of them were in enforced hospitalization unit. All patients were interviewed by the pharmacist. Collected information during this interview was concordant with at least one of the other sources in 70.4 % of the cases. Thirteen patients were not reconciled within 72h after their admission because of their psychiatric pathology. The average number of unintentional medication discrepancy (UMD) detected was 0.97 per reconciled patient. The rate of major gravity UMD was 23.7 %. The number of UMDs per patient was significantly higher in enforced hospitalization unit (P<0.05). UMDs were essentially related to somatic drugs (81.6 %). Nearly 95 % of the detected UMDs resulted in a modification of prescription.

CONCLUSION

These results show that medication reconciliation at patients' admission is feasible and relevant in psychiatry. To limit constraints related to psychiatric pathology, we propose to perform medication reconciliation of patients more than 72 hours after patient admission provided that their clinical condition allows it.

[The global cardiovascular risk of patients with schizophrenia hospitalized in psychiatry at the university hospital of Saint-Étienne]

CONTEXT

Patients suffering from schizophrenia present with a risk of cardiovascular death which is two to three times as high as the general population.

OBJECTIVES

Our study aims to evaluate the global cardiovascular risk according to SCORE and Framingham on patients suffering from schizophrenia who have been hospitalized in psychiatric institutions and also to assess whether being under the care of a physician affects that risk.

METHODS

A prospective descriptive epidemiologic study was conducted from April 2005 to March 2016. The study population consisted of adult patients suffering from schizophrenia who were hospitalized in the psychiatric unit of the CHU de Saint-Étienne. The data was collected during the clinical admission examination. The software CARDIORISK was used to compute the global cardiovascular risk according to SCORE and Framingham.

RESULTS

The average cardiovascular risk was about four times as high for males as it was for females according to the SCORE model and twice as high according to the Framingham model. According to the SCORE model, 16.5 % of the patients presented a high cardiovascular risk versus 6.6 % according to the Framingham model. There was no statistically significant difference between patients who were under the care of a physician and those who were not, both in terms of the prevalence of the risk factors and in terms of the global cardiovascular risk.

CONCLUSION

Using the global cardiovascular risk approach as a primary prevention measure could allow patients suffering from schizophrenia to be admitted earlier. Also, regularly reevaluating that risk could allow initiation of behavioral changes and/or important cardiovascular treatments.

Investigation of the underling mechanism of ketamine for antidepressant effects in treatment-refractory affective disorders via molecular profile analysis

Ketamine elicits a rapid antidepressant effect in treatment-refractory affective disorders. The aim of the present study was to elucidate the underlying mechanism of this effect and to identify potential targets of ketamine for antidepressant effects. GSE73798 and GSE73799 datasets were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus database. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified in hippocampus or striatum samples treated with ketamine, phencyclidyne or memantine compared with a saline or normal group at 1, 2, 4 and 8 h. The overlapping DEGs were the DEGs in both hippocampus and striatum samples. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes and BioCyc databases were used to perform functional annotation and pathway analyses. Protein-protein interactions (PPIs) were predicted using Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes/Proteins version 9.1 for the DEGs in the striatum samples treated with ketamine, phencyclidine or memantine compared with normal samples. Reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction was performed to determine mRNA levels. Perilipin 4 (Plin4), serum/glucocorticoid regulated kinase 1 (Sgk1), kruppel like factor 2 (Klf2) and DDB1 and CUL4 associated factor 12 like 1 (Dcaf12l1) were the overlapping DEGs in the striatum samples treated with the three drugs at different time points. The mRNA expression levels of Plin4, Sgk1 and Klf2 were significantly higher (P<0.05), and the mRNA expression level of Dcaf12l1 was significantly lower in the striatum samples of the ketamine-treated group compared with the control group in an in vivo experiment. Both Sgk1 and Klf2 were enriched in the ‘forkhead box O (FoxO) signaling pathway’, and Sgk1 was additionally enriched in the ‘mechanistic target of rapamycin kinase (mTOR) signaling pathway’. PPI networks of DEGs in the striatum samples treated with ketamine, phencyclidine and memantine compared with normal samples were constructed, and Klf2 was involved in more pairs and was therefore a gene hub in the three networks. The four genes, Plin4, Sgk1, Klf2 and Dcaf12l1, were differentially expressed in all of the groups that treated with the three drugs and their expression levels were verified in in vivo experiments. The FoxO and mTOR signaling pathways may be involved in the underlying mechanism of the antidepressant effects of ketamine, and Plin4, Sgk1, Klf2 and Dcaf12l1 may be potential biomarkers for depression in N-methyl-D-aspartic acid receptor antagonist treatment.

The impact of pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions to improve physical health outcomes in people with schizophrenia: a meta-review of meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials

We summarized and compared meta-analyses of pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions targeting physical health outcomes among people with schizophrenia spectrum disorders. Major databases were searched until June 1, 2018. Of 3,709 search engine hits, 27 meta-analyses were included, representing 128 meta-analyzed trials and 47,231 study participants. While meta-analyses were generally of adequate or high quality, meta-analyzed studies were less so. The most effective weight reduction interventions were individual lifestyle counseling (standardized mean difference, SMD=-0.98) and exercise interventions (SMD=-0.96), followed by psychoeducation (SMD=-0.77), aripiprazole augmentation (SMD=-0.73), topiramate (SMD=-0.72), d-fenfluramine (SMD=-0.54) and metformin (SMD=-0.53). Regarding waist circumference reduction, aripiprazole augmentation (SMD=-1.10) and topiramate (SMD=-0.69) demonstrated the best evidence, followed by dietary interventions (SMD=-0.39). Dietary interventions were the only to significantly improve (diastolic) blood pressure (SMD=-0.39). Switching from olanzapine to quetiapine or aripiprazole (SMD=-0.71) and metformin (SMD=-0.65) demonstrated best efficacy for reducing glucose levels, followed by glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (SMD=-0.39), dietary interventions (SMD=-0.37) and aripiprazole augmentation (SMD=-0.34), whereas insulin resistance improved the most with metformin (SMD=-0.75) and rosiglitazone (SMD=-0.44). Topiramate had the greatest efficacy for triglycerides (SMD=-0.68) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol (SMD=-0.80), whereas metformin had the greatest beneficial effects on total cholesterol (SMD=-0.51) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol (SMD=0.45). Lifestyle interventions yielded small effects for triglycerides, total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol (SMD=-0.35 to -0.37). Only exercise interventions increased exercise capacity (SMD=1.81). Despite frequent physical comorbidities and premature mortality mainly due to these increased physical health risks, the current evidence for pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions in people with schizophrenia to prevent and treat these conditions is still limited and more larger trials are urgently needed.

Oral health status of the disabled compared with that of the non-disabled in Korea: A propensity score matching analysis

Background

There are many types of disabilities, and each type has a variety related to socioeconomic factors. Such factors affect to many health problems of the disabled. However, surveys of the oral health status of the disabled in Korea are rare.

Objective

The purpose of this study was to estimate oral health disparity through comparing oral health status of the disabled to the non-disabled, adjusted for the net effect of the disability on oral health status.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted among the disabled in urban and suburban areas in Korea from June to September 2016. People with physical, mental, and multiple disabilities took part in this survey. The clinical examinations were carried out by trained dentists. Statistical analysis was performed to quantify the association between oral health and socioeconomic status after restricting the analysis using a propensity score matching method.

Results

The disabled had more DMFT, DT, and MT, fewer FT, and fewer teeth than the non-disabled based on entire groups (P<0.01). No difference in the ratio of periodontitis was observed. The subjects with mental disabilities (MD) scored 3.09 (95% CI, 1.07–8.97), and those with multiple disabilities scored 4.37 (95% CI, 1.16–16.37) for edentulous status. The MD had an odds ratio of 1.34 (95% CI, 1.03–1.74), and those with multiple disabilities had an odds ratio of 1.75 (95% CI, 1.11–2.76) for the DMFT index.

Conclusions

These results represent poor oral health status of the disabled compared to the non-disabled. Consequentially, we can verify that not only the existence of disability but also the type of disability has a decisive effect on oral health condition. This comparison is necessary to widen our approach to evaluate the actual status condition of the disabled.

[Education care in patients with psychiatric disorders in France: Psychoeducation or therapeutic patient education?]

CONTEXT

Psychoeducation and therapeutic patient education can be effectively included in treatments for patients with psychiatric disorders. These two effective educational therapies have the common purpose of improving disorder-related morbidity, compliance with treatment and patients' quality of life. While they have different methods of application, both teach patients to play an active role in their own care. However, it is still critical to combine them for care of patients with psychiatric and addiction disorders in a manner that allows for specificity. To do this, the differences between psychoeducation and therapeutic patient education must be considered, and their potential for the management of patients with psychiatric and addiction disorders must be determined.

METHODS

In our article, we review the literature concerning therapeutic education programs for patients and discuss the literature based on the experiences of psychiatrists trained in these therapies.

RESULTS

Despite rather nonrestrictive guidelines, and after reviewing numerous studies, we found that psychoeducation seems to be rarely used in psychiatry. The use of therapeutic patient education programs for psychiatric patients has doubled in four years but still accounts for less than 4% of validated programs in France. Only 154 programs were developed in 1175 public psychiatric facilities in 2016. Therapeutic patient education has a legal framework and recommendations, which make it suitable for inclusion in care and in the training of care providers. The rigor in the development of therapeutic patient education programs and the requirement for training and financial support reinforce the need for their establishment in healthcare institutions. As such, they could help to modify professional practices and the culture of care in mental health fields.

CONCLUSION

There is a place for therapeutic patient education in psychiatry as it provides a real benefit for patients. It could modify care practices and costs, and is suitable for patients with psychiatric or addiction disorders by helping them play an active role in their care, thereby improving treatment outcomes and quality of life.

Total saponins from the leaves of Panax notoginseng inhibit depression on mouse chronic unpredictable mild stress model by regulating circRNA expression

OBJECTIVES

Total saponins from the leaves of Panax notoginseng saponins (SLPN) could inhibit development of depression, but the underlying mechanisms remains unclear. This study aimed to address the roles of circular RNAs in depression inhibition by SLPN.

METHODS

The mouse chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) model was established, which were confirmed by mouse weight, forced swimming test (FST) and tail suspension test (TST). Effects of SLPN on depression were evaluated in CUMS through these same assays. Circular RNA profiles in mouse ventral medial prefrontal cortex (VMPC) and hippocampus of CUMS mice were determined by high-through sequencing, followed by confirmation via qRT-PCR. Overexpression of mmu_circ_0001223 was done by transfection of PC12 cell through lentiviral system. Protein abundances of cAMP response element binding protein 1(CREB1) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) were evaluated by western blotting.

RESULTS

Mouse body weight, immobility time in FST and immobility time in TST of CUMS mice were significantly recovered by SLPN treatment. A large number of circular RNAs were differentially expressed in the ventral medial prefrontal cortex (VMPC) and hippocampus tissues of CUMS mice. Among them, mmu_circ_0001223 expression was greatly decreased in CUMS mice, but significantly elevated by SLPN treatment. The protein levels of CREB1 and BDNF were also remarkably promoted in CUMS mice by treatment of SLPN. Overexpression of mmu_circ_0001223 enhanced CREB1 and BDNF protein levels in PC12 cells.

CONCLUSION

SLPN regulate the expression of large number circular RNAs in CUMS mice, which might be important mediators of SLPN's anti-depression effects.

Ambient concentrations of particulate matter and hospitalization for depression in 26 Chinese cities: A case-crossover study

OBJECTIVE

Air pollution with high ambient concentrations of particulate matter (PM) has been frequently reported in China. However, no Chinese study has looked into the short-term effect of PM on hospitalization for depression. We used a time-stratified case-crossover design to identify possible links between ambient PM levels and hospital admissions for depression in 26 Chinese cities.

METHODS

Electronic hospitalization summary reports (January 1, 2014-December 31, 2015) were used to identify hospital admissions related to depression. Conditional logistic regression was applied to determine the association between PM levels and hospitalizations for depression, with stratification by sex, age, and comorbidities.

RESULTS

Both PM_2.5 and PM₁₀ levels were positively associated with the number of hospital admissions for depression. The strongest effect was observed on the day of exposure (lag day 0) for PM₁₀, with an interquartile range increase in PM₁₀ associated with a 3.55% (95% confidence interval: 1.69-5.45) increase in admissions for depression. For PM_2.5, the risks of hospitalization peaked on lag day 0 (2.92; 1.37-4.50) and lag day 5 (3.65; 2.09-5.24). The elderly (>65) were more sensitive to PM_2.5 exposure (9.23; 5.09-13.53) and PM₁₀ exposure (6.35; 3.31-9.49) on lag day 0, and patients with cardiovascular disease were likely to be hospitalized for depression following exposure to high levels of PM₁₀ (4.47; 2.13-6.85).

CONCLUSIONS

Short-term elevations in PM may increase the risk of hospitalization for depression, particularly in the elderly and in patients with cardiovascular disease.

[Advocacy for the establishment of a comprehensive strategy to reduce the "burden" of schizophrenic disorders]

This article attempts to identify and put into perspective the different approaches that could globally prevent the suffering induced by schizophrenia, from the detection of early psychosis to the impact on individual and family functioning and emotional health. Schizophrenia causes, at the community level, a number of difficult consequences and associated costs, which likely could be reduced if specific strategies, already known and documented internationally, were applied. Two areas not explored in this article: the role of medication and the issue of suicide prevention. In the scope of screening and early treatment, genetic risk, as well as the predictive ability of the clinical criteria for individuals at "ultra-high risk" of developing schizophrenia justify an increased vigilance for the detection of symptoms in order for treatment to begin earlier and to be more effective. These risk factors should not be neglected as the benefits of early management impact the course of illness and functional outcome. At this stage of the emergence of the disorder, it is difficult to systematize a therapeutic protocol. Two options are open to the clinician: "wait and watch" given the lack of a conclusive diagnosis and a more pro-active intervention, focused on the therapeutic alliance and enhancing insight and awareness. The second approach seems more productive but requires transparency with the patient and family regarding the uncertainty of the clinical situation, and an attitude that favors sharing information, along the lines of early psych education. Once a pathological stage is reached, early and accurate clinical care is fundamental. They depend heavily on access to care, proximity and availability to clinics or out-reach teams, capable of a thorough diagnostic work-up. Yet conversely, the availability for early and accurate clinical care faces obstacles which are closely related to the pejorative view of psychiatry held by the general public, health care professionals, and public officials. This poor image of psychiatry is partly due to cases of clinical decompensation, dangerous in some instances, underscoring why it is be important to understand and anticipate the contributory factors to these outcomes in the first place so as to avoid them. In this sense, defending a complacent and conciliatory approach can be counter-productive. Following developments of recent decades in other chronic diseases (diabetes, cancer, AIDS, severe heart disease…), the implementation of systematic clinical programs, treatment protocols, psycho-education to reinforce adherence to therapeutic measures, their simplification, the support and appreciation of the role of caregivers, destigmatizing due to proximity of contact, and therefore an increase in the use of care. Similarly, the systematic search for side-effects of medication and pro-actively managing to minimize their occurrence strengthen compliance, a recognized factor of relapse prevention. Preventable comorbidities, addictions, and common physical illnesses are not systematically screened (neoplastic diseases, diabetes, hypertension, dental health, gynecology…) in this population and thus also represent significant potential for a better life expectancy. The tools of psychosocial rehabilitation, unfortunately, are too infrequently used in France. Their goal is to improve the functional outcome of patients, a determinant of social integration and to lessen the burden shouldered by family and other carers, and ultimately to reduce exacerbations of the illness due to situations of interpersonal stress. Work has also proven its worth as a protective factor, as well as strengthening a sense of self-efficiency, of self-esteem, of empowerment, of quality of life, helping attain recovery. It is clear that not all social and health care systems are primarily geared towards these objectives, although they have at their disposal, by the means described above, strong preventive measures for relapses. Beyond the issue of the implementation of clinical programs, the existing culture would benefit from being infused with a prioritization of resource deployment, with debates of these issues regarding parity for mental health services, advocated by users, and forging a place, for example, for the intervention of "peer supports", sociologists, social workers, interested beyond the disease, in community environment, employment opportunities, and housing. Overall, this work argues for updating our conceptions of clinical care, supporting the systematic implementation of modern models of care, and expanding the scope of our concerns regarding patients' lives.

[Management of eating disorders in schizophrenia]

Little known in this contexte, the association between eating disorders (EDs) and schizophrenia is however common. EDs are involved in impaired quality of life and the development of many metabolic disorders in these vulnerable patients. Antipsychotic medications may lead to EDs and should be more extensively explored. We should sensitize patients, their families and caregivers, to improve screening and management of EDs in schizophrenia.

[Psychiatrists' decision making and monitoring of antipsychotic prescription for elderly schizophrenia patients]

OBJECTIVE

Advancing age entails specific treatment modalities for patients with schizophrenia. The choice of appropriate antipsychotic therapy (AP) and the monitoring of treatment is a major challenge. However, little is known about the real-world prescribing practices of psychiatrists for elderly schizophrenia patients. The aim of this study was to assess prescribing practices and treatment monitoring in elderly schizophrenia patients and whether socio-professional psychiatrists' characteristics are related to their practices.

METHODS

We contacted by mail 190 psychiatrists to take part in an observational survey of their AP prescribing practices for elderly (aged over 65) schizophrenia patients.

RESULTS

The response rate was 44.2%, and of the psychiatrists who replied 75% were treating elderly schizophrenia patients. A second-generation AP (SGAP) was prescribed as first-line of treatment by 87.7% of the psychiatrists. The most frequently used SGAPs were risperidone and olanzapine (respectively preferred by 54.4% and 19.3% of the psychiatrists taking part). At the beginning of treatment, 91.1% of the psychiatrists prescribed a lower dose than for middle-aged patients. Of the psychiatrists taking part, 64.9% prescribed monotherapy; and among these psychiatrists, 65% cited insufficient control of the disease as the reason for their choice, while 48.7% of those who elected not to prescribe combined AP did so in order to limit the side-effects. Of the psychiatrists taking part, 54.4% prescribed long-acting injectable AP (LAAP); better therapeutic compliance and alliance was the main argument in the choice of LAAP given by the psychiatrists taking part who prescribed the drug, whereas the absence of indications and problems of tolerance were arguments against for those who did not. "Personal experience" emerged as the governing factor in the choice of AP. The AP side-effect profile was the main criterion of choice of the AP agent for 3.5% of the psychiatrists taking part, and the most frequently chosen secondary criterion (29.8%). Monitoring of treatment was partly performed according to professional recommendations: pre-treatment and post-prescription assessments of waist circumference and ophthalmological monitoring were very infrequent (8.8 to 18.5%) as were pre-treatment and early post-prescription assessments of prolactinaemia (14.8 to 20.4%); long-term cardiac monitoring was infrequent (43.9%). The psychiatrists taking part whose first-line drug was SGAP were more familiar with professional recommendations than those who prescribed first generation antipsychotic (FGA) drugs (72% as against 14.3%, P=0.006). Of the psychiatrists taking part in the study, 64.9% reported they commonly use professional recommendations. Psychiatrists who declared they commonly use professional recommendations measured pulse rate and blood pressure significantly more often over the long-term than those who did not (74.3% as against 41.2%, P=0.0315). They also measured waist circumference over the long-term significantly more often than psychiatrists who did not commonly use professional recommendations (22.9% as against 0%, P=0.0420). Psychiatrists treating more than ten of these patients yearly measured significantly more often over the long-term pulse rate and blood pressure than those treating fewer patients (80% as against 50%, P=0.0399). Over the long-term monitoring, psychiatrists with a larger number of elderly schizophrenia patients in their care also performed more often fasting blood glucose test, lipid profile and referral for cardiac consultation with ECG (respectively, 95.5% as against 70.8%, P=0.0489; 90.9% as against 58.3%, P=0.0182; 81.8% as against 29.2%, P<0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

The results of this survey need to be confirmed in a larger population sample. The antipsychotic prescribing practices were broadly in agreement with current recommendations except for the tolerance profile which was not the first element taken into account in the choice of the AP agent. Some clinical and paraclinical medical examinations were carried out infrequently, in particular cardiac monitoring over the long-term, which is essential in this elderly patient population. One important element to emerge from our results was that common use of professional recommendations is associated with better monitoring.

Air Pollution and Emergency Department Visits for Depression: A Multicity Case-Crossover Study

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to investigate the associations between ambient air pollution and emergency department (ED) visits for depression.

METHODS

Health data were retrieved from the National Ambulatory Care Reporting System. ED visits for depression were retrieved from the National Ambulatory Care Reporting System using the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10), Tenth revision codes; ICD-10: F32 (mild depressive episode) and ICD-10: F33 (recurrent depressive disorder). A case-crossover design was employed for this study. Conditional logistic regression models were used to estimate odds ratios.

RESULTS

For females, exposure to ozone was associated with increased risk of an ED visit for depression between 1 and 7 days after exposure, for males, between 1 and 5, and 8 days after exposure, with odds ratios ranging between 1.02 and 1.03.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggest that, as hypothesized, there is a positive association between exposure to air pollution and ED visits for depression.

Suicide in stroke survivors: epidemiology and prevention

Stroke is a dramatic event and is associated with potentially severe consequences, including disability, mortality, and social costs. Stroke may occur at any age; however, most strokes occur in individuals aged 65 years and older. Previous research has found that stroke increases suicide risk, especially among women and younger patients. The aim of the current review is to investigate the relationship between suicide and stroke in order to determine which stroke patients are at elevated risk for suicide. Moreover, we review the literature in order to provide pharmacological treatment strategies for stroke patients at high risk of suicide. We performed a careful search to identify articles and book chapters focused on this issue, selecting only English-language articles published from 1990 to 2014 that addressed the issue of suicide after stroke and its pharmacological management. We found 12 clinical trials that explored the relationship between stroke and suicidal ideation and/or suicidal plans and 11 investigating suicide as the cause of death after stroke. We identified stroke as a significant risk factor for both suicide and suicidal ideation, especially among younger adult depressed patients in all articles, providing further support for the association between post-stroke and suicidality. Suicide risk is particularly high in the first 5 years following stroke. Depression, previous mood disorder, prior history of stroke, and cognitive impairment were found to be the most important risk factors for suicide. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) represent the treatment of choice for stroke survivors with suicide risk, and studies in rats have suggested that carbolithium is a promising treatment in these patients. Early identification and treatment of post-stroke depression may significantly reduce suicide risk in stroke patients.

Managing cardiovascular disease risk in patients treated with antipsychotics: a multidisciplinary approach

Background

The use of antipsychotic medication in the United States and throughout the world has greatly increased over the last fifteen years. These drugs have significant side effect burdens, many of them relating to cardiovascular health.

Objective

To review the available evidence on the major cardiovascular issues that arise in patients taking antipsychotic medication.

Method

A PubMed literature review was performed to identify recent meta-analyses, review articles, and large studies. Further articles were identified through cited papers and based on expert consultation when necessary.

Results

Clinical guidance on the following adverse effects and antipsychotics was reviewed: electrocardiogram (ECG) changes, (specifically, prolonged QT and risk of torsades de pointes), weight gain, dyslipidemia, metabolic syndrome, and myocarditis. Specific attention was paid to monitoring guidelines and treatment options in the event of adverse events, including dose change, medication switch, or adjuvant therapy.

[French Society for Biological Psychiatry and Neuropsychopharmacology task force: Formal Consensus for the prescription of depot antipsychotics]

BACKGROUND

Compliance is often partial with oral antipsychotics and underestimated for patients with serious mental illness. Despite their demonstrated advantages in terms of relapse prevention, depot formulations are still poorly used in routine. As part of a process to improve the quality of care, French Association for Biological Psychiatry and Neuropsychopharmacology (AFPBN) Task Force elaborated a Formal Consensus for the prescription of depot antipsychotics in clinical practice.

METHODS

The Task Force recommends as first-line choice, the use of long-acting injectable (LAI) second-generation antipsychotics in patients with schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder and delusional disorder. They can be considered as a second-line option as a monotherapy to prevent manic recurrence or in combination with mood stabilizer to prevent depressive recurrence in the maintenance treatment of bipolar disorder. LAI second-generation antipsychotics can also be used after a first episode of schizophrenia. Depot neuroleptics are not recommended during the early course of schizophrenia and are not appropriate in bipolar disorder. They are considered as a second-line option for maintenance treatment in schizophrenia.

RESULTS

LAI formulations should be systematically proposed to any patients for whom maintenance antipsychotic treatment is indicated. LAI antipsychotics can be used preferentially for non-compliant patients with frequent relapses or aggressive behaviors.

CONCLUSION

A specific information concerning the advantages and inconveniences of the LAI formulations, in the framework of shared-decision making must be delivered to each patient. Recommendations for switching from one oral/LAI form to another LAI and for using LAI antipsychotics in specific populations (pregnant women, elderly patients, subjects in a precarious situation, and subjects having to be treated in a prison establishment) are also proposed.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy in acute ischemic stroke: a review

Stroke, also known as cerebrovascular disease, is a common and serious neurological disease, which is also the fourth leading cause of death in the United States so far. Hyperbaric medicine, as an emerging interdisciplinary subject, has been applied in the treatment of cerebral vascular diseases since the 1960s. Now it is widely used to treat a variety of clinical disorders, especially hypoxia-induced disorders. However, owing to the complex mechanisms of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) treatment, the therapeutic time window and the undefined dose as well as some common clinical side effects (such as middle ear barotrauma), the widespread promotion and application of HBO was hindered, slowing down the hyperbaric medicine development. In August 2013, the US Food and Drug Administration declared artery occlusion as one of the 13 specific indications for HBO therapy. This provides opportunities, to some extent, for the further development of hyperbaric medicine. Currently, the mechanisms of HBO therapy for ischemic stroke are still not very clear. This review focuses on the potential mechanisms of HBO therapy in acute ischemic stroke as well as the time window.

Prevalence and associated factors of comorbid skin diseases in patients with schizophrenia: a clinical survey and national health database study

OBJECTIVES

To examine the epidemiology of and possible risk factors for skin diseases in patients with schizophrenia.

METHODS

All of 337 patients with schizophrenia were recruited from the therapeutic community of a psychiatric hospital and underwent a detailed skin examination. The National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD) was used to compare the prevalence of skin diseases between patients with schizophrenia and those without.

RESULTS

In the clinical survey, fungal infection (61.4%) and dermatitis (46.9%) were the most common skin diseases. Clozapine users had a lower risk of fungal infection than those on typical antipsychotics [odds ratio (OR)=0.49, 95% confidence interval (CI)=0.30-0.81]. Obese patients were more likely to have fungal infections than those without (OR=1.93, 95% CI=1.20-3.09), and those with diabetes had an increased risk of bacterial infection than those without (OR=2.0, 95% CI=1.06-3.75). NHIRD revealed that the overall prevalence of skin diseases, including infections, dermatitis, hyperkeratosis, pilosebaceous disease, androgenic alopecia, xerosis and stasis, were higher in patients with schizophrenia than in those without (75.1% vs. 72.6%, P=.01).

CONCLUSIONS

The prevalence of skin diseases is high in patients with schizophrenia, for whom proper skin care is necessary to improve their life quality.

What is the evidence for the use of second-generation antipsychotic long-acting injectables as maintenance treatment in bipolar disorder?

BACKGROUND

In recent years, the use of second-generation antipsychotics long-acting injectable in the maintenance treatment of bipolar disorder has sparked interest in improving adherence and reducing the risk of relapse.

AIMS

This report aims to review the available evidence concerning the use of second-generation antipsychotics depot in bipolar disorder and specify the typology of patients that could be eligible for this formulation.

METHODS

A systematic review of the literature was conducted using Pubmed and EMBASE.

RESULTS

Data available for the clinician assessing the interests of second-generation antipsychotics depot in long-term treatment of bipolar disorder are limited to risperidone. It seems particularly relevant for bipolar patients with poor adherence or early in the course of illness and can be used as monotherapy with manic polarity. It should always be considered for use in combination with at least one other mood stabilizer in patients with depressive polarity. As for other medications, the benefit/risk ratio for a long-acting should be evaluated individually.

CONCLUSIONS

If using a depot formulation could be considered for all patients in order to approach a perfect compliance, patients with certain clinical profiles could be an argument for prioritizing the use of long-acting injectable as maintenance treatment. Additional studies are needed with other second-generation antipsychotics depot in bipolar patients to generalize their use in the maintenance treatment of bipolar disorder but the future golden standard of studies with long-acting formulations remains to be defined.

Considering variables for the assignment of patients with schizophrenia to a case management programme

The elements and intensity of case management (CM) practices should be established according to patients' needs. Therefore, greater understanding of patients' needs in such community-based programmes is essential. This paper addresses this issue by characterizing two groups of patients receiving CM or a standard treatment programme (STP) and identifying the characteristics of patients receiving CM services. We recruited 241 patients with schizophrenia from 10 Adult Mental Health Centres in Barcelona (Catalonia, Spain). We analyzed the profile of new patients included in a clinical, non-intensive CM program against that of patients in a STP. CM patients, compared with STP patients, have a lower educational level and quality of life; greater use of health care services, and higher levels of psychiatric symptoms, disability and unmet needs. Community psychiatric visits, social services, education, physical health and needs were significantly associated with CM services. This study may help in identifying patients' needs and strengthening the CM programme.

[Metabolic testing rates after initiation of antipsychotic treatment in persons initially treated by conventional mood-stabilizers]

OBJECTIVES

To assess the rate of metabolic testing after initiation of second-generation antipsychotics (SGA) prescription in persons initially treated by conventional mood-stabilizers (lithium or anticonvulsants, as a proxy of bipolar disorder diagnosis) and to compare the rates of metabolic testing in these persons with those in persons with initiation of first-generation antipsychotics (FGA) prescription or with no antipsychotic prescription.

METHOD

Data were anonymously extracted from the 2004 to 2006 French national health database of the Régime Social des Travailleurs Indépendants (RSI). Patients aged 18 years and over were included in the cohort if they fulfilled the following criteria over a three-month inclusion period: refunding of lithium or anticonvulsant over the 3 months without discontinuation (as a proxy of bipolar disorder diagnosis), no concomitant refunding over the 3months of antipsychotic, and no concomitant refunding over the 3 months of an anti-diabetic drug (as a marker of diabetes) or a lipid-lowering drug (as a marker of hyperlipidemia). Metabolic testing was assessed using information collected in the RSI database on the reimbursement of glucose-specific serum tests (glycaemia) and lipid-specific serum tests (total cholesterol). Serum glucose and lipid testings were assessed at baseline and at 12-week follow-up for the first episode of antipsychotic dispensing. Multivariate analyses were performed to compare the rate of metabolic testing in users of SGA to those of users of FGA and to those of non-users of antipsychotics.

RESULTS

Three thousand one hundred and seventy patients were included. Of the 490 (15.4%) persons with a first episode of antipsychotic dispensing after the index date, 138 (4.3%) were dispensed only FGA over the first episode and 352 (11.1%) SGA (including 37 patients with both SGA and FGA dispensing). Metabolic testing at baseline and at 12-week follow-up was performed for 14% of persons with initiation of FGA and 12% with initiation of SGA. Almost no patient had both baseline and follow-up testing. Testing rates were lower for lipid testing than for glucose testing. Compared to persons with no antipsychotic, persons with SGA were significantly more likely to have metabolic testing at baseline and at follow-up, independently from other characteristics (adjusted OR=0.24, 95% CI 0.16 to 0.36). No difference was found between persons with SGA and those with FGA (adjusted OR=1.12, 95%CI 0.62 to 2.0). Regarding the other characteristics associated with likelihood of metabolic testing (irrespective of the treatment group), women were more likely than men to have metabolic testing at baseline but not at follow-up. Elderly persons and persons with low occupational status were more likely to have metabolic testing at follow-up.

CONCLUSION

From a public health point of view, such findings indicate that the metabolic risks associated with SGA use in real-life conditions are widely underestimated. Regarding the temporal trends of antipsychotic prescription, with the dramatic rise of SGA use observed in most countries, it is a public health priority to improve metabolic monitoring in SGA users, irrespective of the underlying diagnosis. Since it is more complex to modify pre-existing inadequate practices than to initiate correct ones in new prescribers, great attention should be paid to the need for delivering strong messages regarding the metabolic risks associated with SGA prescription during the initial training of physicians.

Do stroke patients have an increased risk of developing suicidal ideation or dying by suicide? An overview of the current literature

Stroke is a leading cause of death that affects 15 million people worldwide each year. Increasing evidence suggests that stroke confers substantial risk for suicide and following a stroke, patients frequently develop poststroke depression, which is a well-established risk factor for suicide. In this overview of the current literature, we examined the association between suffering a stroke and subsequent risk for suicide and suicidal ideation. We performed a careful MedLine, Excerpta Medica, PsycLit, PsycInfo, and Index Medicus search to identify all articles and book chapters in English. We initially selected 31 articles published between 1990 and 2011; however, only 16 studies were included in this review. All articles identified stroke as a significant risk factor for suicide, especially among depressed patients, providing further support for poststroke depression and suicidality. The results also indicated that there were differences between patients who developed acute-onset suicidal plans and those who reported delayed-onset plans, which occurred more frequently. Many of the stroke patients who died by suicide suffered from depression prior to their death, suggesting that being diagnosed with a mood disorder contributes to an increased risk of suicide in this population. Suffering from a stroke increases the risk of dying by suicide and developing suicidal ideation, particularly in young adults and women. The factors found to confer the most risk for suicidality were depression, previous mood disorder, prior history of stroke, and cognitive impairment.

Guideline concordant monitoring of metabolic risk in people treated with antipsychotic medication: systematic review and meta-analysis of screening practices

BACKGROUND

Despite increased cardiometabolic risk in individuals with mental illness taking antipsychotic medication, metabolic screening practices are often incomplete or inconsistent.

METHOD

We undertook a systematic search and a PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses) meta-analysis of studies examining routine metabolic screening practices in those taking antipsychotics both for patients in psychiatric care before and following implementation of monitoring guidelines.

RESULTS

We identified 48 studies (n=290 534) conducted between 2000 and 2011 in five countries; 25 studies examined predominantly schizophrenia-spectrum disorder populations; 39 studies (n=218 940) examined routine monitoring prior to explicit guidelines; and nine studies (n=71 594) reported post-guideline monitoring. Across 39 studies, routine baseline screening was generally low and above 50% only for blood pressure [69.8%, 95% confidence interval (CI) 50.9-85.8] and triglycerides (59.9%, 95% CI 36.6-81.1). Cholesterol was measured in 41.5% (95% CI 18.0-67.3), glucose in 44.3% (95% CI 36.3-52.4) and weight in 47.9% (95% CI 32.4-63.7). Lipids and glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c) were monitored in less than 25%. Rates were similar for schizophrenia patients, in US and UK studies, for in-patients and out-patients. Monitoring was non-significantly higher in case-record versus database studies and in fasting samples. Following local/national guideline implementation, monitoring improved for weight (75.9%, CI 37.3-98.7), blood pressure (75.2%, 95% CI 45.6-95.5), glucose (56.1%, 95% CI 43.4-68.3) and lipids (28.9%, 95% CI 20.3-38.4). Direct head-to-head pre-post-guideline comparison showed a modest but significant (15.4%) increase in glucose testing (p=0.0045).

CONCLUSIONS

In routine clinical practice, metabolic monitoring is concerningly low in people prescribed antipsychotic medication. Although guidelines can increase monitoring, most patients still do not receive adequate testing.