Social networks of people with serious mental illness who smoke: potential role in a smoking cessation intervention.

Background: Smoking is a major contributor to morbidity and mortality among individuals with serious mental illness (SMI) and social networks may play an important role in smoking behaviors.

Aims: Our objectives were to (1) describe the network characteristics of adults with SMI who smoke tobacco (2) explore whether network attributes were associated with nicotine dependence.

Methods: We performed a secondary analysis of baseline data from a tobacco smoking cessation intervention trial among 192 participants with SMI.

Patient Experience and Predictors of Improvement in a Group Behavioral and Educational Intervention for Individuals With Diabetes and Serious Mental Illness: Mixed Methods Case Study.

Background: In a previous study, participation in a 16-week reverse integrated care and group behavioral and educational intervention for individuals with diabetes and serious mental illness was associated with improved glycemic control (hemoglobin A) and BMI. To inform future implementation efforts, more information about the effective components of the intervention is needed.

Objective: The goal of this study is to identify the aspects of the intervention participants reported to be helpful and to evaluate the predictors of outcomes.

Improved Glycemic Control in Adults With Serious Mental Illness and Diabetes With a Behavioral and Educational Intervention.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate a 16-week, reverse-integrated care (bringing primary care interventions/services into the psychiatric setting) behavioral and educational group intervention for individuals with serious mental illness and diabetes.

Methods: The primary outcome was change in glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c). Secondary outcomes included body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, lipid levels, physical activity, diabetes knowledge, and self-care.

The Changing Legal Landscape of Cannabis Use and Its Role in Youth-onset Psychosis.

The rapidly changing landscape of cannabis in terms of availability, potency, and routes of administration, as well as the decrease in risk perception and changing norms, have contributed to an increase in the popularity of cannabis. Cannabis use is associated with a poorer recovery from a psychotic disorder, increasing the risk of relapse, rehospitalization, and lower social functioning. Data are mixed regarding cannabis use as a component cause of psychosis in people at risk for psychotic disorder.

Patterns of brain activation when mothers view their own child and dog: an fMRI study.

Neural substrates underlying the human-pet relationship are largely unknown. We examined fMRI brain activation patterns as mothers viewed images of their own child and dog and an unfamiliar child and dog. There was a common network of brain regions involved in emotion, reward, affiliation, visual processing and social cognition when mothers viewed images of both their child and dog.

A randomized, controlled, pilot study of acamprosate added to escitalopram in adults with major depressive disorder and alcohol use disorder.

We sought to examine the efficacy and safety of acamprosate augmentation of escitalopram in patients with concurrent major depressive disorder (MDD) and alcohol use disorders. Twenty-three adults (43% female; mean ± SD age, 46 ± 14 years) were enrolled and received 12 weeks of treatment with psychosocial support; escitalopram, 10 to 30 mg/d; and either acamprosate, 2000 mg/d (n = 12), or identical placebo (n = 11). Outcomes included change in clinician ratings of depressive symptoms, MDD response and remission rates, changes in frequency and intensity of alcohol use, retention rates, and adverse events.

Ziprasidone as an adjuvant for clozapine- or olanzapine-associated medical morbidity in chronic schizophrenia.

Objective: This study sought to examine the effect of ziprasidone on olanzapine or clozapine-associated medical morbidity such as insulin resistance, diabetes mellitus (DM) and impaired fasting glucose, obesity, and hyperlipidemia in patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder.

Method: This was a 6-week, open label trial of ziprasidone 160 mg/day added to a stable dose of olanzapine or clozapine in 21 schizophrenia or schizoaffective patients with DM, impaired fasting glucose, or insulin resistance.

Results: Ten olanzapine-treated subjects and 11 clozapine-treated subjects were enrolled in the study.

Glucose metabolism in patients with schizophrenia treated with atypical antipsychotic agents: a frequently sampled intravenous glucose tolerance test and minimal model analysis.

Background: While the incidence of new-onset diabetes mellitus may be increasing in patients with schizophrenia treated with certain atypical antipsychotic agents, it remains unclear whether atypical agents are directly affecting glucose metabolism or simply increasing known risk factors for diabetes.

Objective: To study the 2 drugs most clearly implicated (clozapine and olanzapine) and risperidone using a frequently sampled intravenous glucose tolerance test.

Design: A cross-sectional design in stable, treated patients with schizophrenia evaluated using a frequently sampled intravenous glucose tolerance test and the Bergman minimal model analysis.