Brain Atrophy in First-Episode Psychosis of the Elderly Is Associated With Cognitive Decline.

To study brain atrophy and cognitive decline in elderly patients with first-episode psychosis (FEP). Elderly patients aged ≥ 60 years with FEP and onset of psychotic symptoms of ≤ 1 year remitted to the Helsinki University Hospital from December 2009 to December 2011 were included in the study. Diagnoses were made using criteria.

Introducing a family intervention to elderly with first episode psychosis.

Schizophrenia guidelines list family interventions as an efficient means in reducing relapses. Interventions aim to help families cope with their relative's problems more effectively, provide support and education, and reduce levels of distress and improve the family communication (see deHaan et al., 2002).

Brain atrophy is a frequent finding in elderly patients with first episode psychosis.

Background: To characterize the yearly incidence, diagnostic distribution, and neuro-radiologic findings in patients aged over 60 years, referred to psychiatric treatment with first episode psychosis (FEP).

Methods: A computerized search, including all patients referred to psychiatric treatment during 12 consecutive months with a de novo diagnosis of psychosis was performed in the Helsinki region catchment area with 1.2 million inhabitants.

Psychiatric symptoms in vertiginous patients.

Backgrounds: Psychiatric comorbidity is common in vertiginous patients. The risk of psychiatric disorder is increased in patients with previous mental problems, but earlier mentally healthy may develop symptoms as well. Especially in chronic phase of vertigo, psychological factors have a significant role in the morbidity.

Comparison between clinical diagnosis and CSF biomarkers of Alzheimer disease in elderly patients with late onset psychosis: Helsinki Old Age Psychosis Study (HOPS).

Objectives: To determine the proportion of elderly people with a first psychotic episode actually suffering from dementia, especially Alzheimer disease (AD), by using cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers.

Design: Prospective case-control study.

Setting And Participants: Sixty-six patients age 65 years and older with recent psychotic symptoms and 12 comparison subjects with chronic schizophrenia over 10 years that were referred to acute old age psychiatry, in-ward treatment.

Clozapine-induced agranulocytosis in Finland, 1982-2007: long-term monitoring of patients is still warranted.

Objective: Recent studies suggest that restrictions on the use of clozapine should be reassessed considering the risk-benefit ratio. We analyzed all cases of clozapine-induced agranulocytosis reported to the Finnish National Agency for Medicines between 1982 and 2007.

Method: In this retrospective longitudinal study, we defined agranulocytosis as a neutrophil count below 0.

Somatoform disorders in vertiginous children and adolescents.

Objective: To investigate the frequency and characteristics of psychiatric co morbidity in a group of vertiginous children.

Methods: A retrospective review of patient notes between years 2000 and 2006 in the ENT clinic of Helsinki University Hospital. Patients were identified from the clinic database, based on hospital discharge codes.

Shift from first generation antipsychotics to olanzapine may improve health-related quality of life of stable but residually symptomatic schizophrenic outpatients: a prospective, randomized study.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to elucidate, whether shift from first generation antipsychotics (FGA) to olanzapine can affect health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of residually symptomatic schizophrenic outpatients.

Methods: Patients were randomized to either olanzapine or to continuation on their FGA. The 15D-measured HRQoL at baseline and end-point (after 12 weeks) was compared.

Depressive symptoms underestimated in vertiginous patients.

Objective: To assess the prevalence of depression in a group of vertiginous patients gathered by the use of a questionnaire.

Study Design And Setting: Prospective study on 100 randomly selected vertiginous individuals, who were invited for further investigations to the Helsinki University ENT clinic. They also filled in a Beck Depression Index, Zung anxiety scale and DIP-Q, which are self-rating scales to investigate psychiatric symptoms.

Correlation of symptom clusters of schizophrenia with absolute powers of main frequency bands in quantitative EEG.

Background: Research of QEEG activity power spectra has shown intriguing results in patients with schizophrenia. Different symptom clusters have been correlated to QEEG frequency bands. The findings have been to some extent inconsistent.

Clinical neurological abnormalities in young adults with Asperger syndrome.

Children with Asperger syndrome (AS), a neurodevelopmental disorder falling in the autism spectrum disorders, have an increased rate of neurological abnormalities, especially in motor coordination. While AS is a lifelong condition, little is known about the persistence of neurological abnormalities in adulthood. Twenty young adults with AS were compared with 10 healthy controls using a structured clinical neurological rating scale.

Childhood inattention and hyperactivity symptoms self-reported by adults with Asperger syndrome.

Background: Increasing public awareness of the adult manifestations of developmental neuropsychiatric disorders, like Asperger syndrome and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), has provoked an increasing number of persons to seek assessment for the first time in adulthood. As these disorders have their origin in childhood, instruments for retrospective evaluation of childhood behavior are needed.

Sampling And Methods: In this preliminary study, 20 adults with Asperger syndrome filled in the Wender-Utah Rating Scale for ADHD to describe retrospectively their childhood behavior.

Higher plasma ACTH levels in adults with Asperger syndrome.

Objective: The aim of this preliminary study was to characterize the levels of plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and cortisol in adult patients with Asperger syndrome (AS).

Methods: Twenty medication-free individuals with high-functioning AS were recruited from a clinic specialized in autism spectrum disorders. Ten age-matched healthy persons (hospital staff or students) with no neuropsychiatric disorders served as controls.

Quantitative electroencephalographic measures in homicidal men with antisocial personality disorder.

Many symptoms of antisocial personality disorder have been proposed to be related to decreased daytime vigilance. To explore this hypothesis, quantitative analyses were conducted of the electroencephalographic (EEG) activity of drug-free and detoxified homicidal male offenders with antisocial personality disorder as the primary diagnosis. Subjects comprised 16 men recruited from a forensic psychiatric examination in a special ward of a university psychiatric hospital.

Actigraphic assessment of sleep in young adults with Asperger syndrome.

A high prevalence of subjective insomnia in adults with Asperger syndrome has been reported. In the present study the sleep quality of these patients was studied using wrist actigraphy. Nineteen adults with Asperger syndrome and frequent feelings of insomnia were compared with 10 controls devoid of neuropsychiatric disorders and subjective sleep problems during six consecutive nights.

Is it worth while changing clinically stable schizophrenic out-patients with mild to moderate residual symptoms and/or side effects from conventional to atypical antipsychotics? A prospective, randomised study with olanzapine.

Fifty clinically stable, schizophrenic outpatients, suffering from residual schizophrenic symptoms and/or neurological side effects, were randomised to either continue their conventional neuroleptic(s) or change it to olanzapine. After 12 weeks patients on olanzapine exhibited significant improvement in neurological side effects and psychotic symptomatology as compared to patients on conventional antipsychotics.

Neurological soft signs in homicidal men with antisocial personality disorder.

Neurological soft signs (NSS) are characterized by abnormalities in motor, sensory, and integrative functions. NSS have been regarded as a result of neurodevelopmental dysfunction, and as evidence of a central nervous system defect, resulting in considerable sociopsychological dysfunction. During the last decade there has been growing evidence of brain dysfunction in severe aggressive behavior.

Lower limb motor restlessness in Asperger's disorder, measured using actometry.

The movement disturbances and brain imaging findings in Asperger's disorder (AD) suggest a dopaminergic deficit in movement regulation. Movement disorders of different etiologies have been quantified and specified with actometry. We compared 10 AD patients with 10 healthy controls, measuring their rest-activities by actometry.

Sleep in young adults with Asperger syndrome.

Asperger syndrome (AS) is a neurodevelopmental disorder belonging to autism spectrum disorders. Both children and adults with AS have subjective impairment in the initiation and continuity of sleep, and studies using objective assessment are sparse. Twenty young AS adults with frequent complaints of low sleep quality were compared to 10 age-, gender- and education-matched controls without sleep complaints using polysomnography and spectral power analysis of slow-wave sleep.

ADHD and sleep in homicidal men with antisocial personality disorder.

A history of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is commonly found in subjects with antisocial personality disorder (ASP). Besides ASP, childhood ADHD also predicts drug abuse disorders and criminal activity in adulthood. Childhood ADHD and ASP appear to be the only psychiatric disorders reported to be associated with an increase in deep sleep.

Clozapine-induced QEEG changes correlate with clinical response in schizophrenic patients: a prospective, longitudinal study.

Background: The changes of theta activity (3.5-7 Hz) in the quantitative electroencephalography (QEEG) and serum clozapine levels and their correlation with clinical response, measured by the Positive and Negative Syndrome Rating Scale (PANSS) for schizophrenia, were examined prospectively in 16 patients suffering from schizophrenia during 18 weeks of clozapine (CLO) treatment.

Methods: Evaluations were performed on five occasions: before the initiation of CLO treatment at baseline and after 1, 3, 10, and 18 weeks of treatment.

Asperger syndrome, alexithymia and perception of sleep.

Two research traditions, the one on Asperger syndrome (AS) and the other on alexithymia, have produced similar findings independently of each other indicating a possible association between these two phenomena. Both conditions are also associated with impaired initiation and continuity of sleep. Twenty AS adults were compared with 10 healthy controls using the Toronto Alexithymia Scale and the Basic Nordic Sleep Questionnaire.