A prediction model for electroconvulsive therapy effectiveness in patients with major depressive disorder from the Dutch ECT Consortium (DEC).

Reliable predictors for electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) effectiveness would allow a more precise and personalized approach for the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD). Prediction models were created using a priori selected clinical variables based on previous meta-analyses. Multivariable linear regression analysis was used, applying backwards selection to determine predictor variables while allowing non-linear relations, to develop a prediction model for depression outcome post-ECT (and logistic regression for remission and response as secondary outcome measures).

The impact of treatment resistance on outcome and course of electroconvulsive therapy in major depressive disorder.

Introduction: Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a common psychiatric disorder. Despite several treatment options, a subgroup of patients will not respond to the commonly used antidepressant treatments and thus express treatment resistance (TRD). TRD can be quantified with the Dutch Measure for Treatment Resistance in Depression (DM-TRD).

Rivastigmine for ECT-induced cognitive adverse effects in late life depression (RECALL study): A multicenter, randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over trial in patients with depression aged 55 years or older: Rationale, objectives and methods.

Background: Cognitive side-effects are an important reason for the limited use of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). Cognitive side-effects are heterogeneous and occur frequently in older persons. To date, insight into these side-effects is hampered due to inconsistencies in study designs and small sample sizes.

Severe illicit gamma-hydroxybutyric acid withdrawal in a pregnant woman: what to do?

This case report presents the case of a 29 weeks pregnant woman in her late twenties who was seen at the emergency department of a hospital with a seizure of unknown cause. By anamnesis and hetero-anamnesis the use of illicit gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) was revealed. Examination showed dilated pupils, sweating, tremor, tachycardia and bradyphrenic thinking.

Systematic review and meta-analysis of psychological interventions in people with diabetes and elevated diabetes-distress.

Aims: The clinical relevance of diabetes-distress is increasingly recognized, but little is known about the efficacy of interventions specifically targeted to treat elevated diabetes-distress. Therefore, this systematic review sought to determine the efficacy of psychological interventions aimed at treating elevated diabetes-distress in people with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes.

Methods: We systematically searched literature from five databases.

Correction: Psychological Distress in the Hospital Setting: A Comparison between Native Dutch and Immigrant Patients.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.

Psychological Distress in the Hospital Setting: A Comparison between Native Dutch and Immigrant Patients.

Background: Prevalence of psychological distress (i.e. depressive and anxiety symptoms) in medically ill patients is high.

Emotional exhaustion and burnout among medical professors; a nationwide survey.

Background: Although job-related burnout and its core feature emotional exhaustion are common among medical professionals and compromise job satisfaction and professional performance, they have never been systematically studied in medical professors, who have central positions in academic medicine.

Methods: We performed an online nationwide survey inviting all 1206 medical professors in The Netherlands to participate. They were asked to fill out the Maslach Burnout Inventory, a 'professional engagement' inventory, and to provide demographic and job-specific data.

The assessment of publication pressure in medical science; validity and reliability of a Publication Pressure Questionnaire (PPQ).

Purpose: To determine content validity, structural validity, construct validity and reliability of an internet-based questionnaire designed for assessment of publication pressure experienced by medical scientists.

Methods: The Publication Pressure Questionnaire (PPQ) was designed to assess psychological pressure to publish scientific papers. Content validity was evaluated by collecting independent comments from external experts (n = 7) on the construct, comprehensiveness and relevance of the PPQ.

Publication pressure and burn out among Dutch medical professors: a nationwide survey.

Background: Publication of scientific research papers is important for professionals working in academic medical centres. Quantitative measures of scientific output determine status and prestige, and serve to rank universities as well as individuals. The pressure to generate maximum scientific output is high, and quantitative aspects may tend to dominate over qualitative ones.

[The happy scientist].

Introduction: The H-index is a frequently used scale to rank scientists on their scientific output. Whether subjective feeling of happiness is influenced by the level of the H-index on scientists has never been investigated.

Objective: To investigate the relation between the level of the H index as a measure of scientific success and feelings of unhappiness among Dutch professors.

[Gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) dependence and the GHB withdrawal syndrome: diagnosis and treatment].

Gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) is a neurotransmitter that occurs naturally in the brain and is increasingly being used as a 'party drug' because of its relaxing and euphoria-inducing effects. GHB has a limited medical use in the treatment of narcolepsy. GHB-intoxications occur often in non-medical use, and generally result in a coma of short duration.

[Effects of bariatric surgery not affected by psychiatric comorbidity: a systematic review of studies of morbidly obese patients].

Objective: To review the literature on the predictive value of psychiatric comorbidity for weight loss following bariatric surgery in patients with morbid obesity.

Design: Systematic review.

Method: PubMed databases were searched for literature comparing weight loss following bariatric surgery in morbidly obese patients with and without preoperative psychiatric symptoms.

[How can the results of primary-care treatment for depression be improved?].

Background: The results of treatment for depression are frequently disappointing. The main reasons for this are inadequate treatment and non-compliance.

Aim: This article attempts to deal with the question of how patient compliance and the results of treatment for depression can be improved.

['Awakening': a confusing improvement during treatment with atypical antipsychotic agents].

Two schizophrenic women, aged 30 and 40 years, respectively, in whom the symptoms changed after a switch in medication from clozapine to aripiprazole and from olanzapine followed by quetiapine to risperidone, respectively, were initially thought to be experiencing a possible recurrence. After thoughtful consideration, the phenomena, such as disappearance of drowsiness and of loss of energy, in combination with cognitive improvement, could be understood as the result of a dramatic improvement, known as 'awakening'. This had significant consequences for the follow-up since the patients had to deal with new possibilities and emotions.

[Disorders of concentration and memory in young adults and middle-aged persons].

Four patients, two women aged 29 and 52 and two men aged 46 and 25, respectively, consulted a neurologist for attention and memory disorders. Further investigation revealed that the symptoms were caused by metachromatic leucodystrophy, Graves' disease, Huntington's disease, and a psychological background, respectively. The first patient became dependent in 1.

Refill rate of antipsychotic drugs: an easy and inexpensive method to monitor patients' compliance by using computerised pharmacy data.

Purpose: In the literature, noncompliance to medication in patients with schizophrenia ranges from 20 to 89%. There is an urgent need for reliable and valid techniques that measure compliance in antipsychotic drug treatment. In this study, we use pharmacy-dispensing records to assess compliance by calculating the refill rate of antipsychotic medication.

Improving adherence to antidepressants: a systematic review of interventions.

Background: Effectiveness of antidepressant medication is reduced by patients' nonadherence. Several interventions to improve adherence in patients diagnosed with unipolar depression have been tested.

Objective: To systematically review the effectiveness of interventions that aimed to improve adherence to antidepressant medication in patients with unipolar depression.

[Delirium during withdrawal of venlafaxine].

A 35-year-old man with anxiety and depression who was treated with venlafaxine, 300 mg a day, developed severe withdrawal symptoms in the form of a delirium during gradual tapering of the dosage. The symptoms resolved when the dosage was kept constant and did not recur when the dosage was reduced more gradually. Withdrawal symptoms are common during discontinuation of antidepressants, particularly after prolonged use of agents with a short half-life.

[Adverse effects after switching to a different generic form of paroxetine: paroxetine mesylate instead of paroxetine HCl hemihydrate].

Two patients, a 29-year-old man and a 32-year-old woman who were being treated with paroxetine HCl hemihydrate for depression and panic disorder with agoraphobia, respectively, unexpectedly developed complaints after switching to paroxetine mesylate. The symptoms were generalised itching with relapse of the depressive disorder in the man, and nausea with diarrhoea in the woman. The symptoms disappeared after the original treatment with paroxetine HCl hemihydrate was resumed.

[Methods to improve patient compliance in the use of antidepressants].

Compliance during treatment with antidepressants is important, yet about half of the patients stop using antidepressive medication within 3 months. A structured treatment programme, in which the patient actively participates, with extensive education, surveillance of side effects and compliance, simple regimes, improving problem-solving behaviour and eventually engaging and educating family members and friends can improve compliance. This has been demonstrated in published studies.