The aim of this article is to review the recent trials of α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7 nAChR) agonists and positive allosteric modulators (PAMs) on the treatment of cognitive decline in schizophrenia. α7 Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor abnormalities in schizophrenia and clinical implications of α7 nAChR agonists and PAMs are also discussed.. SSSFT staff can use the OVID link, or you can request a copy of this article by replying to this email. Please ensure you are clear which article you are requesting.
Accumulating evidence suggests an involvement of oxidative stress in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. This offers a hypothesis-derived therapeutic approach to hinder oxidative damage and its clinical sequelae. α-Lipoic acid (ALA) is a powerful natural antioxidant indicated to treat diabetic neuropathy. SSSFT staff can use the OVID link, or you can request a copy of this article by replying to this email. Please ensure you are clear which article you are requesting.
Letter. SSSFT staff can use the OVID link, or you can request a copy of this article by replying to this email. Please ensure you are clear which article you are requesting.
This research suggests that contrary to popular opinion delaying exposure to cannabis does not appear to reduce the chances of using more of the drug as an older teenager. However, it does suggest that there does not appear to be a strong relationship between developing psychosis as a trigger to stop using cannabis. Again, this won’t come as a surprise to those working with this age group in the mental health or drug field as they will have witnessed this with the young people they encounter as part of their work.
Several studies and meta-analyses have shown that mortality in people with schizophrenia is higher than that in the general population but have used relative measures, such as standardised mortality ratios. We did a systematic review and meta-analysis to estimate years of potential life lost and life expectancy in schizophrenia, which are more direct, absolute measures of increased mortality. Please contact the library to request a copy of this article - http://bit.ly/1Xyazai
Letter. SSSFT staff can use the OVID link, or you can request a copy of this article by replying to this email. Please ensure you are clear which article you are requesting.
Service data indicates that from a sample of 102 service users 80.4% had their families involved in their care.
In line with offering a combined healthy eating and physical activity programme the service is also piloting the Supporting Health and Promoting Exercise (SHAPE) physical health intervention programme, which uses the expertise of nutritionists, exercise physiologists and health trainers. It is a structured and intensive 12-week course with follow-up over 12 months, which includes a group educational programme and individually tailored exercises sessions.
Throughout the life stages of women with schizophrenia-spectrum disorders (SSD), lower estrogen levels are associated with more severe disease course. At perimenopause in the mid-forties, estrogen levels decline to remain persistently low after menopause. This period is hypothesized to increase relapse risk and reduce antipsychotic effectiveness in preventing relapse.
Commentary on: Chou AIW, Wang Y-C, Lin C-L, et al. Female schizophrenia patients and risk of breast cancer: a population-based cohort study. Schizophrenia Research 2017;188:165–171.
What is already known on this topic
Research into rates of breast cancer in women with schizophrenia shows conflicting results, with reports of increased, decreased and the same risk as the general population. This is despite women with schizophrenia possibly being at increased risk of breast cancer through use of antipsychotic medications, many of which increase prolactin, a hormone involved in cellular differentiation of the mammary glands. This study1 investigated rates of breast cancer in individuals with schizophrenia compared with the general population.. To read the full article, log in using your NHS OpenAthens details.
Commentary on: Chou AIW, Wang Y-C, Lin C-L, et al. Female schizophrenia patients and risk of breast cancer: a population-based cohort study. Schizophrenia Research 2017;188:165–171.
What is already known on this topic
Research into rates of breast cancer in women with schizophrenia shows conflicting results, with reports of increased, decreased and the same risk as the general population. This is despite women with schizophrenia possibly being at increased risk of breast cancer through use of antipsychotic medications, many of which increase prolactin, a hormone involved in cellular differentiation of the mammary glands. This study1 investigated rates of breast cancer in individuals with schizophrenia compared with the general population.. To read the full article, log in using your NHS OpenAthens details.
Two £25 vouchers are up for grabs in the library’s ‘Making the Most of Information’ survey.
To take part, just visit http://goo.gl/AdN4ok by Friday 19th February.
Keith Laws discusses new research examining the effectiveness of cognitive behavioural therapy on improving the quality of life of people with schizophrenia. To read the full article, log in using your NHS OpenAthens details.
The neurodevelopmental hypothesis of psychosis suggests that disrupted white matter (WM) maturation underlies disease onset. In this longitudinal study, we investigated WM connectivity and compared WM changes between individuals at ultra-high-risk for psychosis (UHR) and healthy controls (HCs). To read the full article, log in using your SSSFT NHS OpenAthens details. SSOTP - You can request a copy of this article by replying to this email. Please ensure you are clear which article you are requesting.
Schizophrenia is thought to be a neurodevelopmental disorder with pathophysiological processes beginning in the brain prior to the emergence of clinical symptoms. Recent evidence from neuroimaging studies using techniques such as diffusion tensor imaging has identified white matter abnormalities that are suggestive of disrupted brain myelination and neuronal connectivity. Identifying whether such effects exist in individuals at high risk for developing psychosis may help with prevention and early intervention strategies. In addition, there is preliminary evidence for a role of lipid biology in the onset of psychosis, along with well-established evidence of its role in myelination of white matter tracts. As such, this article synthesises the literature on polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in myelination and schizophrenia, hypothesizing that white matter abnormalities may potentially mediate the relationship between PUFAs and schizophrenia.
This cross-sectional study uses a large sample of patients with schizophrenia and healthy controls to determine the association of white matter with information Please contact the library to request a copy of this article - http://bit.ly/1Xyazai
This study tested for differences of white matter integrity between treated and never-treated long-term schizophrenia patients, matched on illness duration, and for differential changes in relation to age in these two groups relative to healthy comparison subjects.. Login at top right hand side of page using your MPFT NHS OpenAthens for full text. SSOTP (legacy account)- Please contact the library to receive a copy of this article - http://bit.ly/1Xyazai
Despite the availability of different antipsychotics for the treatment of schizophrenia, in clinical practice it is somewhat of a struggle to identify an antipsychotic medication for individual patients that they are willing to adhere to. Brexpiprazole is a new molecular entity that is a dopamine receptor partial agonist that differs from aripiprazole in terms of greater potency at serotonin 5-HT1A receptors and less intrinsic activity at dopamine D2 receptors.1 Brexpiprazole received approval in the USA for the treatment of schizophrenia in July 2015......To read the full article, log in using your NHS OpenAthens details
Editorial. : Login at top right hand side of page using your SSSFT NHS Athens for full text. SSOTP - You can request a copy of this article by replying to this email. Please ensure you are clear which article you are requesting.
The proportion of people with mental health disorders who participate in clinical research studies is much smaller than for those with physical health disorders. It is sometimes assumed that this reflects an unwillingness to volunteer for mental health research studies. We examined this issue in a large sample of patients with psychosis. Open Access Article
New-onset psychosis is always disconcerting and alarming for patients, families, and clinicians. Although some acute psychotic disorders are brief and resolve in a short period of time, others progress to schizophrenia or bipolar disorder and have a long-term impact on people’s mental health and quality of life. Substance-induced psychotic disorders are brief psychotic syndromes triggered by substance use that persist for days or weeks after intoxication has resolved. Abundant evidence suggests that individuals presenting to mental health services with substance-induced psychotic disorders have a significant risk of later transition to schizophrenia or, more zgenerally, to a chronic psychotic disorder. A recent meta-analysis (1) of 25 studies providing substance-specific estimates of transition to schizophrenia spectrum disorders among more than 34,000 individuals with substance-induced psychotic disorder estimated a pooled transition rate of 25% across all substances, with differential rates depending on the substance.
What are the implications for practice?
We think our study highlights the complicated internal struggles that people with first episode psychosis have with medication.
Our study highlights how Nurses and Doctors need to try and better understand what it is like to take these drugs and work collaboratively with patients to support them to make informed choices about treatment. Login using your SSSFT NHS Athens for full text. SSOTP - request a copy of the article from the library http://www.sssft.nhs.uk/library
Early intervention services are the established and evidence-based treatment option for individuals with first-episode psychosis. They are time-limited, and care pathways following discharge from these services have had little investigation. We aimed to map care pathways at the end of early intervention treatment in England to determine common trajectories of care.
Laoise Renwick on a systematic review of barriers and facilitators to implementing family support and education in early psychosis intervention programmes.
Open access. Early Intervention in Psychosis (EIP) services have been implemented with the dual aims of preventing harmful outcomes associated with early-onset psychosis and improving prognosis. However, concerns have been raised regarding the ethical implications of involving young people in EIP services. One way to ensure high ethical standards and promote good practice in EIP delivery is through governance of clinical practice. This study aimed to investigate the normative dimensions of good practice in EIP through examination of clinical guideline documents published in England over the past 15 years.
Suzi Gage on a GWAS of lifetime cannabis use, which reveals new risk loci, genetic overlap with psychiatric traits, and a causal influence of schizophrenia.
This article discusses motor behaviors and seeks to explain how research into basal ganglia, cerebellar, and cortico-motor circuit function/dysfunction, grounded in brain circuit-motor behavior relationships, can elucidate our understanding of pathophysiology, provide vital links to other key systems of interest, significantly improve identification and classification, and drive development of targeted individualized treatments. Please contact the library to request a copy of this article - http://bit.ly/1Xyazai
Psychological Medicine; Cambridge Vol. 48, Iss. 16, (Dec 2018): 2776-2785. DOI:10.1017/S0033291718000442
Background
Neurocognitive deficits are often seen as core features of schizophrenia, and as primary determinants of poor functioning. Yet, our clinical observations suggest that individuals who score within the impaired range on standardized tests can reliably perform better in complex real-world situations, especially when performance is embedded within a positive socio-affective context.. To read the full article, log in using your NHS OpenAthens details.
Schizophrenia affects the mental well-being of service users but also their physical and social well-being. This article explores the causes of schizophrenia and how the illness can contribute to self-neglect. The interaction of mental and physical health in people with schizophrenia is explored and how mental health nurses might work with colleagues to help service users to cope. A case study is used to illustrate how healthcare professionals from different backgrounds worked with a service user and his family to help manage his self-care and improve his well-being. To read the full article, log in using your MPFT NHS OpenAthens details.
Evidence from preclinical and clinical studies supports a role for vitamin D deficiency in many mental disorders. In this review, we discuss the role of vitamin D in the aetiology and treatment of schizophrenia and depression and their physical health comorbidities. Although observational studies support a potential association between vitamin D and schizophrenia and depression, sufficient high-quality evidence from clinical trials does not yet exist to establish a place for vitamin D supplementation in optimising clinical response or promoting physical health. Completed randomised controlled trials are needed to provide insights into the efficacy and safety of vitamin D in the management of mental disorders.. To read the full article, log in using your MPFT NHS OpenAthens details.
Psychological Medicine; Cambridge Vol. 49, Iss. 1, (Jan 2019): 75-83. DOI:10.1017/S003329171800051X
Working memory (WM) deficits in schizophrenia (SCZ) have been linked to impairments in the encoding phase that are associated with aberrant neuronal functioning. Similar abnormalities have been observed in unaffected first-degree relatives (REL) and are thus discussed as candidate endophenotypes. The process of WM consolidation – i.e. the formation of durable WM representations – is assumed to be impaired in SCZ, but no study has investigated WM consolidation and neuronal correlates of visual WM encoding in REL before.. To read the full article, log in using your NHS OpenAthens details.
Journal of Abnormal Psychology125.4 (May 2016): 543-549.
Visual integration dysfunction characterizes schizophrenia, but prior studies have not yet established whether the problem arises by the first psychotic episode or worsens with illness duration. To investigate the issue, we compared chronic schizophrenia patients (SZs), first episode psychosis patients (FEs), and well-matched healthy controls on a brief but sensitive psychophysical task in which subjects attempted to locate an integrated shape embedded in noise. To read the full article, log in using your NHS OpenAthens details
Approximately one-third of patients with a psychotic disorder experience visual hallucinations (VH). While new, more targeted treatment options are warranted, the pathophysiology of VH remains largely unknown. Previous studies hypothesized that VH result from impaired functioning of the vision-related networks and impaired interaction between those networks, including a possible functional disconnection between the primary visual cortex (V1) and higher-order visual processing regions. Testing these hypotheses requires sufficient data on brain activation during actual VH, but such data are extremely scarce. To read the full article, choose Open Athens “Institutional Login” and search for “Midlands Partnership”.
Many patients with psychotic disorders have persistent paranoid ideation and avoid social situations because of suspiciousness and anxiety. We investigated the effects of virtual-reality-based cognitive behavioural therapy (VR-CBT) on paranoid thoughts and social participation.. Please contact the library to request a copy of this article - http://bit.ly/1Xyazai
VR may be an effective environment for psychosis patients with agoraphobia. Although patients are aware that VR environments are not real, they very closely match real-world experiences and allow for greater engagement with treatment (Lambe et al., 2020). Psychosis patients are more likely to enter situations within VR that they would otherwise find incredibly distressing in the real world and this allows a safe space for experimentation (Lambe et al., 2020).
Open access. Persecutory delusions may be unfounded threat beliefs maintained by safety-seeking behaviours that prevent disconfirmatory evidence being successfully processed. Use of virtual reality could facilitate new learning.
Aims- To test the hypothesis that enabling patients to test the threat predictions of persecutory delusions in virtual reality social environments with the dropping of safety-seeking behaviours (virtual reality cognitive therapy) would lead to greater delusion reduction than exposure alone (virtual reality exposure).
The study by Daniel Freeman and colleagues published yesterday in the British Journal of Psychiatry looks at using virtual reality to reduce persecutory delusions. I am a medical student in Oxford where the majority of the authors of this research work (*conflict of interest alert*).
Freeman and colleagues suggest one reason why people continue to believe their delusions is that they engage in safety behaviours (things that make them feel safe) which prevent them from discovering and processing evidence that disproves their beliefs.
Virtual reality may offer a way to challenge unfounded beliefs by exposing people to evidence that disproves their delusions and encourages them to stop their safety behaviours.
Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal Vol. 41, Iss. 1, (Mar 2018): 39-45.
Objective: To examine whether video-based mobile health (mHealth) interventions are feasible, acceptable, understandable, and engaging to people with schizophrenia.. To read the full article, log in using your NHS OpenAthens details.
This study is a good starting point for the researchers to continue their investigations. But it's far too early to be able to tell whether this intervention will ever be introduced into clinical practice in the future.
Some evidence suggests that off-label use of mirtazapine (15 mg) is effective in treatment of acute antipsychotic-associated akathisia (AAA). We analyzed whether a lower dose of mirtazapine (7.5 mg) maintained its antiakathisia properties while exhibiting better tolerability in patients with schizophrenia and mood disorders who developed acute AAA. . MPFT staff can use the OVID link, or you can request a copy of this article by replying to this email. Please ensure you are clear which article you are requesting.
Open access. Comment. Robert Howard and colleagues should be commended for doing the first randomised controlled trial of an antipsychotic agent in patients diagnosed with very late-onset schizophrenia-like psychosis. Individuals with this diagnosis are notoriously difficult to engage in treatment.....
Neuropsychology (Mar 25, 2019). DOI:10.1037/neu0000540
Objective: The present study aimed to comprehensively study the specific neurocognitive constructs underlying verbal memory deficits and their neuroanatomical correlates in first episode psychosis (FEP) patients. Method: A total of 218 FEP patients and 145 healthy participants were examined with the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (a widely used verbal memory measure that provides a range of performance indexes to evaluate memory) and voxel-based morphometry (a neuroimaging analysis technique that allows investigation of focal differences in brain anatomy).. To read the full article, log in using your NHS OpenAthens details.
Neuropsychology Vol. 32, Iss. 1, (Jan 2018): 65-76.
Objective: Decreased processing speed in schizophrenia patients has been identified as a major impairment factor in various neuropsychological domains. Working memory span has been found to be involved in several deep or effortful cognitive processes. We investigated the impact that these 2 cognitive functions may have on phonological and semantic fluency in schizophrenia patients and healthy participants.. To read the full article, log in using your NHS OpenAthens details.
Suicide risk is elevated among individuals at clinical high risk for psychosis (CHR-P). The current study examined variability in suicidal ideation during treatment for individuals at CHR-P.
Implications for practice and research
Mental health professionals must value the therapeutic relationship as central to providing recovery focused nursing care to people experiencing acute psychosis on acute mental health wards.
Therapeutic alliances can be maintained by skilled mental health professionals even when containment measures are required.
Further research focused on detailed accounts of therapeutic interactions could provide the basis for the development of practice guidance, measurement of outcomes and enhanced education of mental health professionals. To read the full article, log in using your NHS OpenAthens details
Commentary on:
Sebergsen K, Norberg A, Talseth AG. Confirming mental health care in acute psychiatric wards, as narrated by persons experiencing psychotic illness: an interview study. BMC Nurs 2016;15:3.
Implications for practice and research
Mental health professionals must value the therapeutic relationship as central to providing recovery focused nursing care to people experiencing acute psychosis on acute mental health wards.
Therapeutic alliances can be maintained by skilled mental health professionals even when containment measures are required.
Further research focused on detailed accounts of therapeutic interactions could provide the basis for the development of practice guidance, measurement of outcomes and enhanced education of mental health professionals. To read the full article, log in using your NHS OpenAthens details
To develop and psychometrically test the Distress Thermometer for Caregivers (DT‐C) and document the distress level in primary caregivers of children and adolescents diagnosed with schizophrenia.. To read the full article, log in using your MPFT NHS OpenAthens details.
The objective of the study was to compare the predictive utility of three commonly used functioning measures for people with serious mental illness in the prediction of independent living status. To read the full article, log in using your SSSFT NHS OpenAthens details.
Research has shown that interactions in group therapies for people with schizophrenia are associated with a reduction in negative symptoms. However, it is unclear which specific interactions in groups are linked with these improvements. The aims of this exploratory study were to i) develop and test the reliability of using video-annotation software to measure interactions in group therapies in schizophrenia and ii) explore the relationship between interactions in group therapies for schizophrenia with clinically relevant changes in negative symptoms.
A key challenge in the management of psychosis is that it is not possible to predict clinical outcomes in an individual patient. Nikolaos Koutsouleris and colleagues1 have sought to address this issue by applying machine learning algorithms to clinical and demographic data from a large clinical trial of antipsychotic treatment in patients with first episode psychosis.2 The authors have previously used similar methods to predict outcomes on the basis of neuroimaging data.3 Please contact the library to request a copy of this article - http://bit.ly/1Xyazai
From web-based applications to mobile devices, digital technologies hold tremendous potential to facilitate the delivery of healthcare for mental disorders, including schizophrenia. These eHealth (ie, electronic health) tools are increasingly being used to assist consumers during the course of their illnesses, from the provision of the continuity of care to improving well-being.1 This makes sense due to the growing trends of digital tool usage in psychiatric samples. . Please contact the library to request a copy of this article - http://bit.ly/1Xyazai
Editorial. In this issue, Tang et al. (1) employ a combination of traditional and novel diffusion techniques to investigate microstructural changes in individuals identified as being at clinical high risk for schizophrenia. Studies in individuals at clinical high risk are powerful in that they have the potential to shed light on the mechanisms underlying the onset of early psychosis. Such studies may ultimately enable us to identify factors that predict conversion to a diagnosed psychotic disorder, and thus may offer the opportunity for early intervention for those most at risk. However, while existing work in this area has led to a greater understanding of the period leading up to onset, the often indirect or inferential nature of many neuroimaging measures limits our ability to understand the cellular basis of neural changes during this important period.. Login at top right hand side of page using your MPFT NHS OpenAthens for full text.
Open access. There is increasing evidence for shared genetic susceptibility between schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Although genetic variants only convey subtle increases in risk individually, their combination into a polygenic risk score constitutes a strong disease predictor.
Drugs have been extensively prescribed for the treatment of psychotic symptoms in schizophrenia and related disorders, as well as for the management of psychotic features in delirium, dementia and affective disorders. The aim of this narrative review is to focus on the recent literature on drug treatment in women with psychosis at the transition to menopause and subsequently. . SSSFT staff can use the OVID link, or you can request a copy of this article by replying to this email. Please ensure you are clear which article you are requesting.
Cognitive remediation is currently recommended to treat cognitive and functional impairments in patients with schizophrenia. Recently, treatment of negative symptoms has been proposed as a new target for cognitive remediation. Evidence of reductions in negative symptoms has been described in different meta-analyses. However, treating primary negative symptoms is still an open question. Despite some emerging evidence, more research focused on individuals with primary negative symptoms is indispensable. In addition, more attention to the role of moderators and mediators and the use of more specific assessments is necessary. Nevertheless, cognitive remediation could be considered as one promising option to treat primary negative symptoms.To read the full article, choose Open Athens “Institutional Login” and search for “Midlands Partnership”.
This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effectiveness (compared with usual care) of a collaborative care model to treat community mental health center (CMHC) patients with psychosis and poorly controlled diabetes. Login at top right hand side of page using your SSSFT NHS OpenAthens for full text. SSOTP- Please contact the library to receive a copy of this article - http://bit.ly/1Xyazai
Studies from Nordic and northern European countries have reported an increased risk of schizophrenia in those who are born or raised in urban settings.2 Clearly, urbanicity (usually defined as population density per square kilometer) is a proxy indicator for exposures that have not yet been identified and that are more or less prevalent in urban vs rural settings. Schizophrenia research cannot afford to ignore important clues like this, but the precise nature of the factors responsible for this association remains elusive.. Please contact the library to request a copy of this article - http://bit.ly/1Xyazai
Canadian Journal of Psychiatry61.8 (Aug 2016): 446-456.
Mitochondrial dysfunction is commonly observed in bipolar disorder (BD) and schizophrenia (SCZ) and may be a central feature of psychosis. These illnesses are complex and heterogeneous, which is reflected by the complexity of the processes regulating mitochondrial function. Mitochondria are typically associated with energy production; however, dysfunction of mitochondria affects not only energy production but also vital cellular processes, including the formation of reactive oxygen species, cell cycle and survival, intracellular Ca^sup 2+^ homeostasis, and neurotransmission. In this review, we characterize the upstream components controlling mitochondrial function, including 1) mutations in nuclear and mitochondrial DNA, 2) mitochondrial dynamics, and 3) intracellular Ca^sup 2+^ homeostasis. Characterizing and understanding the upstream factors that regulate mitochondrial function is essential to understand progression of these illnesses and develop biomarkers and therapeutics. To read the full article, log in using your NHS OpenAthens details.
Schizophrenia occurs in ∼25% of individuals with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22q11.2DS), the strongest known molecular genetic risk factor for schizophrenia. This review highlights recent literature in 22q11.2DS as it pertains to psychosis and schizophrenia. SSSFT staff can use the OVID link, or you can request a copy of this article by replying to this email. Please ensure you are clear which article you are requesting.
To examine if individuals with schizophrenia (SCZ) or bipolar disorder (BD) had equal likelihood of not being diagnosed with cardiovascular disease (CVD) prior to cardiovascular death, compared to individuals without SCZ or BD.. To read the full article, log in using your NHS Athens details. To access full-text: click “Log in/Register” (top right hand side). Click ‘Institutional Login’ then select 'OpenAthens Federation', then ‘NHS England’. Enter your Athens details to view the article.
Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal (Jul 16, 2018). DOI:10.1037/prj0000309
Objective: Cognitive remediation (CR) is a promising method of improving cognitive functioning in people with schizophrenia. Nevertheless, the lived experience of participation, and whether this differs from computer game (CG) playing control conditions, remains poorly understood. This study aimed to qualitatively compare the experience of participating in these 2 interventions.. To read the full article, log in using your NHS OpenAthens details.
Family psychoeducational interventions including Behavioural Family Therapy have an impressive evidence base in the treatment of schizophrenia. While there are challenges in their implementation including the engagement of families, in the few qualitative studies of Behavioural Family Therapy, families report largely positive experiences. Understanding more about families’ experiences of Behavioural Family Therapy could guide changes to practice to improve implementation. This qualitative study involved interviews with twenty clients diagnosed with schizophrenia and twenty relatives who participated in Behavioural Family Therapy in Australia. Login using your SSSFT NHS OpenAthens for full text. SSOTP - You can request a copy of this article by replying to this email. Please ensure you are clear which article you are requesting.
The Normalisation Process Theory (NPT) has been used to understand the implementation of physical health care interventions. The current study aims to apply the NPT model to a secondary mental health context, and test the model using exploratory factor analysis. This study will consider the implementation of a brief cognitive behaviour therapy for psychosis (CBTp) intervention.
Background: Early-intervention services (EISs) offer prompt and effective care to individuals with first-episode psychosis (FEP) and detect people at high risk (HR) of developing it. Aims: We aimed to educate general practitioners about psychosis and guide their referrals to specialist care; investigate determinants of the transition of HR to FEP; and predict numbers of new cases to guide policy and service planning.
Comment. The experience of persistent, distressing auditory verbal hallucinations (known as hearing voices) can be highly debilitating, and provision of better support for those affected is a priority for mental health services. A prominent and innovative approach is AVATAR therapy, in which staff help voice-hearers to design an audio-visual representation of the heard voice to facilitate a therapeutic dialogue, with the AVATAR voice being controlled by the therapist. After an initially promising pilot trial,1 Tom Craig and colleagues2 report encouraging evidence of AVATAR therapy's effectiveness in The Lancet Psychiatry......Please contact the library to request a copy of this article - http://bit.ly/1Xyazai
Auditory verbal hallucinations (AVHs) are core features of psychotic illness and remain significant in predicting poor outcome and risk. There has been a wide range of approaches to understanding these experiences.To read the full article, log in using your NHS OpenAthens details
It is clear from the results that participants were uncertain about how to support their family members with reducing or stopping antipsychotics and the harms and benefits of doing so. Thus, it might be beneficial for clinicians to provide family members with sufficient information about the above, so they can make an informed decision about the best options for support. Continued monitoring might ensure that the family member does not need to increase their dosage, change antipsychotics, or take antipsychotics again.
Dopaminergic dysfunction, namely, dopamine transporter (DAT) availability variations in patients with drug-naive schizophrenia after long-term treatment, is still not well understood. The aims of the study were to explore (i) whether the DAT availability in patients with drug-naive schizophrenia differed after antipsychotic treatment and (ii) whether treatment with different generations of antipsychotics influenced the DAT availability after follow-up for 6 months. SSSFT staff can use the OVID link, or you can request a copy of this article by replying to this email. Please ensure you are clear which article you are requesting.
Within the embryonic early psychosis field in the early 1990s, the conceptualisation and definition of an at-risk or ultra-high-risk (UHR) mental state for psychosis was a breakthrough which transformed the clinical and research landscape in psychiatry. Twenty-five years later, we have a new evidence base that has illuminated the neurobiology of the onset phase of psychotic disorder, delivered Cochrane level 1 evidence showing that the onset of full-threshold sustained psychotic disorder can be at least delayed, and is paving the way to a new generation of transdiagnostic research. Here, we document the contribution of the UHR approach to understanding the underlying mechanisms of psychosis onset as well as the long-term outcomes.. To read the full article, log in using your NHS OpenAthens details.
Case report. Two Manic Episodes Related to a Levetiracetam-Based Treatment in a 34-Year-Old Female Patient. MPFT staff can use the OVID link, or you can request a copy of this article by replying to this email. Please ensure you are clear which article you are requesting.
Childhood-onset schizophrenia (COS) is a rare and severe form of schizophrenia with an estimated prevalence of 1/10,000. Schizophrenia and Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have shared phenotypic features and shared genetic etiology. There is growing research surrounding the co-occurrence of psychomotor syndromes like catatonia with neurodevelopmental disorders like ASD or psychiatric disorders like schizophrenia. In 2013, Shorter and Wachtel described a phenomenon of the ‘Iron Triangle’ where COS, ASD, and catatonia often co-occur. The Iron Triangle theory is based on observation of historical case literature, which showed that all three diagnoses in the Iron Triangle were routinely assigned to children and adolescents. To read the full article, choose Open Athens “Institutional Login” and search for “Midlands Partnership”.
Research and clinical translation in schizophrenia is limited by inconsistent definitions of treatment resistance and response. To address this issue, the authors evaluated current approaches and then developed consensus criteria and guidelines. Login at top right hand side of page using your SSSFT NHS Athens for full text. SSOTP - You can request a copy of this article by replying to this email. Please ensure you are clear which article you are requesting.
Schizophrenia is a complex, heterogeneous disorder, with highly variable treatment outcomes, and relatively little is known about what is important to patients. The aim of the study was to understand treatment outcomes informal carers perceive to be important to people with schizophrenia.
To determine the effects of the glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist liraglutide added to clozapine or olanzapine treatment of schizophrenia spectrum disorders. Please contact the library to request a copy of this article - http://bit.ly/1Xyazai
The second-generation antipsychotics (SGAs) are associated with metabolic disturbances. Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is a rare, but potentially fatal sign of acute glucose metabolism dysregulation, which may be associated with the use of SGAs. This study aims to review published reports of patients with schizophrenia and antipsychotic drug–associated DKA, focusing on the effective management of both conditions. SSSFT staff can use the OVID link, or you can request a copy of this article by replying to this email. Please ensure you are clear which article you are requesting.
Depression in schizophrenia predicts poor outcomes, including suicide, yet the effectiveness of antidepressants for its treatment remains uncertain. SSSFT staff - You can request a copy of this article by replying to this email. Please ensure you are clear which article you are requesting.
Cognitive impairments and negative symptoms in schizophrenia are associated with poorer outcomes and are typically resistant to pharmacological interventions. However, these features can vary dramatically in their level of expression, and they can improve as a function of external context (by providing performance-contingent incentives and a more stimulating environment) and internal context (by challenging defeatist performance beliefs and by reducing stress and improving physical health). This Open Forum briefly reviews some of this evidence for the situational variability of cognitive impairments and negative symptoms in schizophrenia and highlights psychosocial treatments that capitalize on this variability.. Login at top right hand side of page using your MPFT NHS OpenAthens for full text. SSOTP (legacy account)- Please contact the library to receive a copy of this article - http://bit.ly/1Xyazai
Letter. . MPFT staff can use the OVID link, or you can request a copy of this article by replying to this email. Please ensure you are clear which article you are requesting.
Negative symptoms are core symptoms of schizophrenia which are common throughout the course of the illness. We outline their functional impact, before reviewing the latest research and guidelines on their assessment and treatment. Finally, we discuss conceptual issues related to measurement of negative symptoms and approaches to address these. To read the full article, choose Open Athens “Institutional Login” and search for “Midlands Partnership”.
To investigate the associations between traumatic events and subsequent psychotic experience onset after adjusting for post-traumatic stress disorder and other mental disorders.SSSFT staff - You can request a copy of this article by replying to this email. Please ensure you are clear which article you are requesting.
The authors investigated transitions to schizophrenia spectrum or bipolar disorder following different types of substance-induced psychosis and the impact of gender, age, number of emergency admissions related to substance-induced psychosis, and type of substance-induced psychosis on such transitions. To read the full article, choose Open Athens “Institutional Login” and search for “Midlands Partnership”.
Heterogeneity in suicidal ideation over time in patients with first-episode psychosis is expected, but prototypical trajectories of this have not yet been established. We aimed to identify trajectories of suicidal ideation over a 3-year period and to examine how these trajectories relate to subsequent suicidality. Please contact the library to receive a copy of this article - http://bit.ly/1Xyazai
Open access. Disturbances in trait emotions are a predominant feature in schizophrenia. However, less is known about (a) differences in trait emotion across phases of the illness such as the clinical high-risk (CHR) phase and (b) whether abnormalities in trait emotion that are associated with negative symptoms are driven by primary (i.e. idiopathic) or secondary (e.g. depression, anxiety) factors.
A better therapeutic relationship predicts better outcomes. However, there is no trial-based evidence on how to improve therapeutic relationships in psychosis.
Aims- To test the effectiveness of communication training for psychiatrists on improving shared understanding and the therapeutic relationship (trial registration: ISRCTN94846422). You can request a copy of this article by replying to this email. Please ensure you are clear which article you are requesting.
Improving access to psychotherapies in psychosis requires workforce expansion in resource-challenged systems. The GOALS feasibility randomized controlled trial assessed training and implementation of an evidence-based intervention by frontline workers, targeting recovery goals. Training uptake and therapy fidelity were good. Case managers with crisis management responsibilities were less likely than clinical assistants to deliver therapy. Participants receiving “sufficient therapy” achieved goals, but therapy was usually provided by clinical assistants. This is consistent with implementation science principles, that training must be combined with supportive organizational structures, such as by focusing on roles that already include therapy delivery or developing stronger organizational supports for case managers.. Login at top right hand side of page using your SSSFT NHS OpenAthens for full text. SSOTP- Please contact the library to receive a copy of this article - http://bit.ly/1Xyazai