Journal of Abnormal Psychology (Oct 22, 2018). DOI:10.1037/abn0000384
Visual shape completion is a fundamental process that constructs contours and shapes on the basis of the geometric relations between spatially separated edge elements. People with schizophrenia are impaired at distinguishing visually completed shapes, but when does the impairment emerge and how does it evolve with illness duration? The question bears on the debate as to whether cognition declines after illness onset. . To read the full article, log in using your NHS OpenAthens details.
This study examines if YKL‐40 is increased in individuals with psychotic disorders and if elevated YKL‐40 levels at baseline is associated with subsequent development of type 2 diabetes.. To read the full article, log in using your MPFT NHS OpenAthens details.
Several studies have observed that dissociative experiences are frequently reported by individuals with severe mental illness (SMI), especially amongst patients that report a history of adverse/traumatic life experiences. This review examined the magnitude and consistency of the relationship between childhood adversity (sexual abuse, physical abuse, emotional abuse, neglect, bullying, natural disasters and mass violence) and dissociation across three SMI diagnostic groups: schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and personality disorders.. To read the full article, log in using your MPFT NHS OpenAthens details.
Open access. I explain the notion of contributory injustice, a kind of epistemic injustice, and argue that it occurs within psychiatric services, affecting (at least) those who hear voices. I argue that individual effort on the part of clinicians to avoid perpetrating this injustice is an insufficient response to the problem; mitigating the injustice will require open and meaningful dialogue between clinicians and service user organisations, as well as individuals. I suggest that clinicians must become familiar with and take seriously concepts and frameworks for understanding mental distress developed in service user communities, such as Hearing Voices Network, and by individual service users. This is especially necessary when these concepts and frameworks explicitly conflict with medical or technical understandings of users’ experiences. I defend this proposal against three objections.
Summary: This Cochrane review supports existing recommendations for risperidone and advances understanding of the use of valproate in patients with schizophrenia who are agitated or aggressive.
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J.C. conducted clinical trials of antipsychotics sponsored by Janssen Pharmaceuticals between 1978 and 1998 and met Dr Paul Janssen. . To read the full article, log in using your MPFT NHS OpenAthens details.
Open access. The antibiotic minocycline has neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory properties that could prevent or reverse progressive neuropathic changes implicated in recent-onset schizophrenia. In the BeneMin study, we aimed to replicate the benefit of minocycline on negative symptoms reported in previous pilot studies, and to understand the mechanisms involved.
Open access. Comment. In The Lancet Psychiatry, Bill Deakin and colleagues10 report findings from BeneMin, a randomised controlled trial of 207 participants that compared minocycline with placebo as an adjunctive treatment to usual antipsychotic treatment. The BeneMin study was unique because not only did it examine the effect of minocycline on clinical symptoms, but it also explored its potential function through brain imaging (grey-matter volume and blood-oxygen-level-dependent response in the dorsolateral-prefrontal cortex) and serum inflammatory markers (circulating interleukin 6 [IL-6] and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein [hs-CRP] concentrations).
Metabolic syndrome (MS) is highly prevalent in schizophrenia and often a consequence of unhealthy behaviour. Reward‐related brain areas might be associated with MS, since they play a major role in regulating health behaviour. This study examined the relationship between MS and brain volumes related to the reward system in schizophrenia.. To read the full article, log in using your MPFT NHS OpenAthens details.
Results: According to participants, engaging with lived experience videos was a pivotal experience of using the website. Participants engaged with peers through choosing and watching the videos and reflecting on their own experience in discussions that opened up with a mental health worker. Benefits of seeing others talking about their experience included “being inspired,” “knowing I’m not alone,” and “believing recovery is possible.”
Conclusions: The findings demonstrate that young adults diagnosed with schizophrenia are amenable to use a smartphone app to monitor their health, manage their medication, and stay alert of the early signs of illness exacerbation. This may empower them to stay on track with their illness, thus in control of it.
We tested the age‐varying associations of cannabis use (CU) frequency and disorder (CUD) with psychotic, depressive, and anxiety symptoms in adolescent and adult samples. Moderating effects of early onset (≤15 years) and sex were tested.. Please contact the library to request a copy of this article - http://bit.ly/1Xyazai
An influential psychological model of persecutory delusions proposed that they are caused by a bias towards holding others responsible for negative events (an externalising attributional bias), preventing the individual from becoming aware of underlying low self-esteem. An early version of the model predicted self-esteem would, therefore, be preserved in people with these delusions, but a later version suggested it would be unstable, and that there would be a discrepancy between explicit and implicit self-esteem, with the latter being lower. We did a comprehensive meta-analytical test of the key predictions of this model and assessed the quality of evidence.. Please contact the library to request a copy of this article - http://bit.ly/1Xyazai
Comment. In The Lancet Psychiatry, Philip Murphy and colleagues 1 report a meta-analysis in which they assessed key predictions of the 1994 2 version and 2001 update 3 of the paranoia as defence model of persecutory delusions. This model attempts to account for the formation of persecutory delusions but is controversial.. Please contact the library to request a copy of this article - http://bit.ly/1Xyazai
Vishal Bhavsar reviews an EU study of nearly 3,000 people across 6 EU countries, looking at the treated incidence of schizophrenia and psychotic disorders.
The ability to perceive the motion of biological objects, such as faces, is a critical component of daily function and correlates with the ability to successfully navigate social situations (social cognition). Deficits in motion perception in schizophrenia were first demonstrated about 20 years ago but remain understudied, especially in the early, potentially prodromal, stages of the illness. The authors examined the neural bases of visual sensory processing impairments, including motion, in patients with schizophrenia (N=63) and attenuated psychosis (clinical high risk) (N=32) compared with age-matched healthy control subjects (N=67).. Login at top right hand side of page using your MPFT NHS OpenAthens for full text.
The emphasis on reducing the duration of untreated psychosis (DUP) has highlighted complex barriers to accessing appropriate services. Internet and social media use by individuals with first-episode psychosis (FEP) was examined to explore how these platforms might be used to facilitate treatment initiation.. Login at top right hand side of page using your MPFT NHS OpenAthens for full text.
This study offers preliminary support for the feasibility and acceptability of digital interventions for psychosis in informal caregiver populations. However, the findings underpin a clear need for greater development in the range of caregiver-focused digital approaches on offer and robust evaluation of their outcomes.
Open access. Religious delusions (RDs) tend to occur relatively often in patients with affective or non‐affective psychosis. Few studies exist about RDs in later life. The current study explores (1) the distribution of RDs across diagnosis, (2) how RDs relate to other types of delusions, and (3) how RDs relate to several dimensions or characteristics of delusions..