Inflammatory markers in outpatients with schizophrenia diagnosis in regular use of clozapine: a cross-sectional study.

It is known that inflammation worsen the course of schizophrenia and induce high clozapine serum levels. However, no study evaluated this change in function of clozapine daily dose in schizophrenia. We assessed the correlation between inflammation and severity symptoms in patients with schizophrenia that take and do not take clozapine.

A controlled open clinical trial of the positive effect of a physical intervention on quality of life in schizophrenia.

Justification: Schizophrenia is a severe mental disorder associated with important physical (obesity and low motor functional capacity) and metabolic (diabetes and cardiovascular diseases) changes that contribute to a more sedentary lifestyle and a low quality of life.

Objective: The study aimed to measure the effect of two different protocols of physical exercise [aerobic intervention (AI) versus functional intervention ([FI)] on lifestyle in schizophrenia compared with healthy sedentary subjects.

Methodology: A controlled clinical trial involving patients diagnosed with schizophrenia from two different locations [Hospital de Clinicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA) and Centro de Atenção Psicosocial (CAPS) in the city of Camaquã] was carried out.

Aerobic and Postural Strength Exercise Benefits in People with Schizophrenia.

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of two different types of physical intervention on sedentary behavior and clinical changes in people with schizophrenia.

Method: This is a clinical trial including people with schizophrenia in regular outpatient care who realized a 3-month exercise protocol and were separated into two groups: aerobic physical intervention (API) and postural physical intervention (PPI). All participants performed an assessment of (a) functional capacity through a 6 min walk test (6MWT), (b) flexibility using Well's bench, (c) disease severity using the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS), (d) quality of life using the SF-36 Questionnaire and (e) physical activity using the Simple Physical Activity Questionnaire (SIMPAQ).

Clozapine prescription trends in Brazil in the last decade.

Objective: Clozapine is a second-generation antipsychotic indicated for treatment-resistant schizophrenia. Studies in several countries have shown a low rate of clozapine use despite the fact that approximately 30% of schizophrenia cases are treatment-resistant. In Brazil, few studies have addressed the frequency and variety of antipsychotic use in individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia (ICD F20).

Risk of neutropenia among clozapine users and non-users: results from 5,847 patients.

Objective: Clozapine is underprescribed due to neutropenia risk. Blood tests every 3 months in those on continuous treatment for > 1 year who have never had an absolute neutrophil count (ANC) < 2,000/µL has been proposed as a monitoring strategy; however, there are no South American data to support this recommendation. This study sought to investigate whether clozapine use and other variables could explain the occurrence of ANC < 1,000/µL in patients with severe mental disorders.

Differential Physical and Mental Benefits of Physiotherapy Program Among Patients With Schizophrenia and Healthy Controls Suggesting Different Physical Characteristics and Needs.

In contrast to several other severe illnesses marked by inflammation and autoimmunity that now have potent and efficient treatments and even cures, schizophrenia (SCZ) is a disease still associated with poor outcome, incapacity, and social burden. Even after decades of research on the brain and behavior, this illness is still associated with profound effects on both mental health and physical health, with recent studies showing that treatment is more efficient when associating drugs with psychological and physical treatments. Most of the studies measured the effects of physical intervention compared with usual care and demonstrated a positive effect as an add-on treatment.

Proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory biomarkers in schizophrenia and influence of simvastatin on the interleukin-6.

The present study sought to assess biomarkers of inflammation in stable patients with schizophrenia (SZ) on clozapine therapy. We recruited 60 outpatients with SZ and 60 healthy controls, matched for sex and age. Compared with controls, patients had significantly increased concentrations of interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α.

Postural changes in different stages of schizophrenia is associated with inflammation and pain: a cross-sectional observational study.

Objectives: To assess the relationship between posture and inflammatory response markers (C-reactive protein [CRP] and von Willebrand factor [vWF]) in schizophrenics.

Methods: Forty patients with stable schizophrenia were divided into early-stage (<10 years since first episode, n = 15) and late-stage (≥10 years since first episode, n = 25) groups. Both groups were compared to controls (n = 26).

Resveratrol Supplementation Did Not Improve Cognition in Patients with Schizophrenia: Results from a Randomized Clinical Trial.

Background: Schizophrenia (SZ) is associated with psychotic experiences and cognitive deficits. Therefore, cognitive function is one of the most critical determinants of quality of life in this pathology. Resveratrol has been related to neuroprotective action, but there are no studies evaluating resveratrol in SZ.

Physical Functional Capacity and C-Reactive Protein in Schizophrenia.

Introduction: Schizophrenia is a severe, debilitating mental disorder that affects both the physical health and the functional capacity of patients, causing great impairment throughout the life course. Although physical and cognitive impairments may represent different expressions of a single systemic inflammatory process, little is known about the relationship between motor function and schizophrenia.

Objective: To evaluate physical functional capacity in patients with schizophrenia and ascertain whether it correlates with markers of inflammation, disease severity, and pharmacotherapy.

Trends in elderly psychiatric admissions to the Brazilian public health care system.

Objective:: To evaluate trends in psychiatric bed occupancy by elderly inpatients in the Brazilian public health care system between 2000 and 2010 and to determine the leading psychiatric diagnosis for hospital admissions.

Methods:: Data from all 895,476 elderly psychiatric admissions recorded in the Brazilian Public Health Care Database (DATASUS) between January 2000 and February 2010 were analyzed. Polynomial regression models with estimated curve models were used to determine the trends.

Effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation over supplementary motor area in patients with schizophrenia with obsessive-compulsive-symptoms: A pilot study.

In patients with schizophrenia, obsessive-compulsive symptoms (OCS) are associated with lower rates of quality of life and polypharmacy. No previous controlled studies have tested the efficacy of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on the treatment of OCS in this population. The present study examined the therapeutic effects of rTMS applied to the supplementary motor area (1Hz, 20min, 20 sessions) on OCS and general symptoms in patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder, and whether this intervention can produce changes in plasma levels of brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF).

Heat stroke during long-term clozapine treatment: should we be concerned about hot weather?

Objective: To describe the case of a patient with schizophrenia on clozapine treatment who had an episode of heat stroke.

Case Description: During a heat wave in January and February 2014, a patient with schizophrenia who was on treatment with clozapine was initially referred for differential diagnose between systemic infection and neuroleptic malignant syndrome, but was finally diagnosed with heat stroke and treated with control of body temperature and hydration.

Comments: This report aims to alert clinicians take this condition into consideration among other differential diagnoses, especially nowadays with the rise in global temperatures, and to highlight the need for accurate diagnosis of clinical events during pharmacological intervention, in order to improve treatment decisions and outcomes.

Resveratrol Supplementation in Schizophrenia Patients: A Randomized Clinical Trial Evaluating Serum Glucose and Cardiovascular Risk Factors.

Background: Patients with schizophrenia (SZ) are generally overweight or obese and have several metabolic disorders. Additionally, such patients have a lower life expectancy and the main cause of their increased mortality is cardiovascular disease (CVD). The objective of this study was to determine the efficacy of resveratrol supplementation on serum glucose and CVD risk factors in individuals with SZ.

Differences in parental bonding between schizophrenia and bipolar disorder: Evidence of prodromal symptoms?

Background: The Parental Bonding Instrument (PBI) examines parent-child bonds and attachment during the first 16 years. Our study aims to compare PBI scores between patients with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder (BD).

Methods: We analyzed PBI scores in 59 patients with schizophrenia, 36 with BD and 52 healthy controls using ANCOVA, with age, gender and years of education as covariates.

Co-expression network of neural-differentiation genes shows specific pattern in schizophrenia.

Background: Schizophrenia is a neurodevelopmental disorder with genetic and environmental factors contributing to its pathogenesis, although the mechanism is unknown due to the difficulties in accessing diseased tissue during human neurodevelopment. The aim of this study was to find neuronal differentiation genes disrupted in schizophrenia and to evaluate those genes in post-mortem brain tissues from schizophrenia cases and controls.

Methods: We analyzed differentially expressed genes (DEG), copy number variation (CNV) and differential methylation in human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC) derived from fibroblasts from one control and one schizophrenia patient and further differentiated into neuron (NPC).

Persistence and remission of ADHD during adulthood: a 7-year clinical follow-up study.

Background: Course and predictors of persistence of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in adults are still largely unknown. Neurobiological and clinical differences between child and adult ADHD raise the need for follow-up studies of patients diagnosed during adulthood. This study investigates predictors of ADHD persistence and the possibility of full remission 7 years after baseline assessment.

Innate immune response is differentially dysregulated between bipolar disease and schizophrenia.

Schizophrenia (SZ) and bipolar disorder (BD) are severe psychiatric conditions with a neurodevelopmental component. Genetic findings indicate the existence of an overlap in genetic susceptibility across the disorders. Also, image studies provide evidence for a shared neurobiological basis, contributing to a dimensional diagnostic approach.