Characteristics of psychiatric comorbidities in emergency medicine setting and impact on length of hospitalization: A retrospective study

This study aims to evaluate clinical correlates of psychiatric comorbidity and length of hospitalization in patients admitted in a general hospital emergency medicine setting. Overall, 160 patients hospitalized for different acute medical pathologies were selected consecutively over 12 months. All subjects were evaluated with proper forms to collect data on medical and psychiatric diagnoses. Levels of C-reactive protein were also measured in all patients. Statistical analyses were conducted with univariate, logistic, and multiple linear regressions. Patients with psychiatric comorbidity had significantly longer hospitalization than did patients with no psychiatric diagnoses (days 10.9±9.5 vs. 6.9±4.5, p<0.005). Agitation and delirium were more frequent in the psychiatry comorbidity study group (p<0.05), as was cognitive impairment (p=0.001). These variables predicted longer hospitalisation (respectively: t=-3.27, p=0.002; t=-2.64, p=0.009; t=-2.85, p=0.006). Psychiatric comorbidity acts as an adjunct factor in determining clinical severity and predicting a more difficult recovery in patients hospitalized in an emergency medicine setting.

Clinical features and predictors of non-response in severe catatonic patients treated with electroconvulsive therapy

OBJECTIVE

To explore the demographic and clinical features of severe catatonic patients, comparing responders and non-responders to ECT in order to detect possible predictors of non-response.

METHODS

This naturalistic study included 59 catatonic inpatients with a diagnosis of mood disorder according to DSM-IV-TR criteria. All patients were treated with bilateral ECT and evaluated before and after ECT course. The response to ECT was defined as a Clinical Global Impression (Improvement subscale) rating 1 'very much improved' or 2 'much improved'. Clinical variables were compared between responders and non-responders; logistic regression was used to predict the probability of non-response, with regard to the symptoms presented by the patients.

RESULTS

The response rate was 83.1%. Non-responders (n = 10) to ECT showed neurological comorbidities, treatments with dopamine agonists and anticholinergic drugs, waxy flexibility, and echophenomena more frequently than respondents (n = 49). Echophenomena resulted a significant predictor of non-response in the multivariate analysis.

CONCLUSION

In line with previous reports, ECT resulted effective in the vast majority of severe catatonic patients. The association between ECT resistant catatonia and neurological comorbidity, use of dopamine-agonist and anticholinergic medications is consistent with the hypothesis that ECT is more effective in 'top-down' than in 'bottom-up' variant of catatonia.Key pointsCatatonic symptoms are frequently associated with severe and psychotic mood disorders.Electroconvulsive therapy is effective in treating most forms of severe catatonia.Neurological comorbidity and the presence of 'echopraxia/echolalia' could represent predictors of non-response to ECT.

Predictors of Suicidal Ideation and Preparatory Behaviors in Individuals With Bipolar Disorder: The Contribution of Chronobiological Dysrhythmicity and Its Association With Hopelessness

OBJECTIVE

To examine the role of chronobiological dysrhythmicity in suicidal ideation and behaviors and its relation with hopelessness.

METHODS

One hundred twenty-seven patients (77 females, mean age of 47.4 ± 12.5 years) with a major depressive episode and bipolar disorder (BD) type I or II (according to Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5 assessment) were recruited in 2019 and assessed for depressive and manic symptoms (Beck Depression Inventory-II, Young Mania Rating Scale) and with the Biological Rhythms Interview of Assessment in Neuropsychiatry, Beck Hopelessness Scale, and Scale for Suicide Ideation. Univariate regression and mediation analyses were performed.

RESULTS

Forty-one patients (32.3%) showed clinically significant suicidal ideation and were more frequently affected by BD type I (P = .029) with mixed features (P = .022). Compared to nonsuicidal individuals, they had significantly more depressive symptoms (P = .019), higher emotional component of hopelessness (P = .037), and higher dysrhythmicity of sleep (P = .009), activities (P = .048), and social life (P = .019). Passive and active suicidal ideation and suicidal plans were best predicted by dysrhythmicity of sleep and social life. Dysrhythmicity of sleep and social life mediated the direct effect of depressive symptoms on passive and active suicidal ideation and also of active ideation on suicidal plans. The emotional component of hopelessness was related to dysrhythmicity of social life and mediated its effect on suicidal plans (P = .010).

CONCLUSIONS

Chronobiological alterations directly contributed to passive and active suicidal ideation and to suicidal preparation, with a key role of dysrhythmicity of sleep, activities, and social life. Chronobiological alterations also impacted the emotional component of hopelessness, hence indirectly contributing to suicidal ideations and plans. These findings call for the systematic screening of these dysrhythmicity dimensions when considering suicidal risk in individuals with BD.

Association between affective temperaments and mood features in bipolar disorder II: The role of insomnia and chronobiological rhythms desynchronization

BACKGROUND

Bipolar disorders are complex disorders involving the interaction of multiple factors. Affective temperaments, insomnia, and chronobiological rhythms desynchronization may all contribute to bipolar disorder. Since there is a paucity of research examining this topic we aimed to study how they are interrelated and collectively associated with clinical features of bipolar disorder.

METHOD

One-hundred patients with Bipolar Disorder type II depressive episode with and without mixed features were recruited and compared. Subjects were evaluated with SCID -5, the Biological Rhythms Interview of Assessment in Neuropsychiatry (BRIAN), the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), and the Temperament Evaluation of Memphis, Pisa, Paris, and San Diego Auto-questionnaire (TEMPS-A) while evaluating depressive (Beck Depression Inventory-BDI-II) and manic (Young Mania Rating Scale-YMRS) symptoms. Logistic regression and mediation analyses were conducted.

RESULTS

Subjects with mixed features showed a higher scores in both insomnia and chronobiological rhythms scores. When considering affective temperaments not only depressive, cyclothymic and irritable temperaments predicted mood symptoms but also insomnia (depressive symptoms O.R. 4.17, p = 0.043) and chronobiological sleep de-synchronization (manic symptoms O.R. 8.69, p = 0.001). Insomnia symptoms and chronobiological alterations mediated the association between affective temperaments and mood symptoms.

LIMITATIONS

the cross-sectional design limited any causal interpretation.

CONCLUSION

Subjects with mixed features showed a greater severity of insomnia and chronobiological rhythm de-synchronization compared to subjects without. Insomnia and chronobiological alterations may contribute to mood disorders together with affective temperaments in a complex interplay also mediating their effect on mood. Preventive strategies for bipolars should also act on the dysregulation of sleep and circadian rhythms.

Is There a Major Role for Undetected Autism Spectrum Disorder with Childhood Trauma in a Patient with a Diagnosis of Bipolar Disorder, Self-Injuring, and Multiple Comorbidities?

This case report highlights the relevance of the consequences of trauma in a female patient with an undetected autism spectrum disorder (ASD) affected by bipolar disorder (BD) with multiple comorbidities. A 35-year-old woman with BD type II, binge eating disorder and panic disorder was admitted in the Inpatient Unit of the Psychiatric Clinic of the University of Pisa because of a recrudescence of depressive symptomatology, associated with increase of anxiety, noticeable ruminations, significant alteration in neurovegetative pattern, and serious suicide ideation. During the hospitalization, a diagnosis of ASD emerged besides a history of childhood trauma and affective dysregulation, marked impulsivity, feeling of emptiness, and self-harm behavior. The patient was assessed by the Autism-Spectrum Quotient (AQ), Ritvo Autism and Asperger Diagnostic Scale (RAADS-R), the Adult Autism Subthreshold Spectrum (AdAS Spectrum), Trauma and Loss Spectrum (TALS-SR), and Ruminative Response Scale (RRS). Total scores of 38/50 in the AQ, 146/240 in the RAADS-R, 99/160 in the AdAS Spectrum emerged, compatible with ASD, 47/116 in the TALS-SR, and 64/88 in the RRS. We discuss the implications of the trauma she underwent during her childhood, in the sense that caused a complex posttraumatic disorder, a lifelong disease favored and boosted by the rumination tendency of high functioning ASD.