Risk of First Onset Stroke in SSRI-Exposed Adult Subjects: Survival Analysis and Examination of Age and Time Effects.

Objective: Exposure to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) has been shown to increase the risk of stroke. In this study, we investigated age and time effects on the risk of first onset stroke in SSRI-exposed (SSRIEXP) adult subjects.

Methods: We analyzed an 8-year cohort from the National Health Insurance Research Database, Taiwan.

Newly diagnosed panic disorder and the risk of erectile dysfunction: A population-based cohort study in Taiwan.

Previous studies indicated that panic disorder is correlated with erectile dysfunction (ED). The primary aim of this study was to explore the incidence rate of ED among panic disorder patients in an Asian country. The secondary aim was to compare the risk of ED in panic disorder patients that were treated with different kinds of antidepressants, and to explore the possible mechanism between these two disorders.

A Case Report of Probable Paliperidone ER-Induced Serotonin Syndrome in a 17-Year-Old Taiwanese Female With New Onset Psychosis.

A 17-year-old female with new-onset psychosis was treated with paliperidone. After increasing the paliperidone dose to 12 mg per day the patient developed a series of side effects; Tachycardia (140 bpm), severe drooling, restlessness, diaphoresis, whole-body tremor, inducible foot clonus, predominant lower limbs rigidity, bilateral pupil dilation, increased bowel sounds with watery diarrhea, and muscle hypertonicity. The symptoms subsided after stopping the paliperidone, and recurred after resuming paliperidone 9 mg per day.

A Case Report of Late Onset Mania Caused by Hyponatremia in a Patient With Empty Sella Syndrome.

Recurrent manic-like episodes can be induced by hyponatremia possibly due to empty sella syndrome. In the present case, the patient was proven to have syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone (SIADH) secretion with manic symptoms that resolved after the normalization of the plasma sodium level.To our knowledge, this is the first case of hyponatremia-induced manic symptoms in a patient with empty sella syndrome.

Duration of Untreated Psychosis and Brain Function during Verbal Fluency Testing in First-Episode Schizophrenia: A Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Study.

A longer duration of untreated psychosis (DUP) has been associated with poor clinical outcomes in patients with schizophrenia (SZ); however, it remains unclear whether this is due to neurotoxic effects of psychosis. The purpose of this study was to use near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) to investigate the influence of DUP on brain function using two verbal fluency tests (VFTs) in patients with first-episode SZ (FES). A total of 28 FES patients and 29 healthy controls (HC) underwent NIRS during VFTs.

A reduced risk of stroke with lithium exposure in bipolar disorder: a population-based retrospective cohort study.

Objectives: The risk of stroke is increased in patients with bipolar disorder. Lithium exhibits neuroprotective effects but the association between lithium use and the risk of stroke is unknown.

Methods: A population-based retrospective cohort study was conducted by utilizing the National Health Insurance Research Database in Taiwan.

Risk of depressive disorders in women undergoing hysterectomy: A population-based follow-up study.

Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the risk of depressive disorders in women who underwent hysterectomy in Taiwan.

Methods: A retrospective study was conducted in a matched cohort of cases using the National Health Insurance Research Database of Taiwan. Database records from 1689 women who underwent hysterectomy between 2001 and 2005 were included in this study.

Common factors associated with choking in psychiatric patients.

Background: Choking is common among psychiatric patients and represents one of the main causes of death in this patient population.

Purpose: We aimed to identify common factors associated with choking among psychiatric patients.

Methods: The demographic information and medical history of 250 psychiatric patients living in an acute psychiatric ward were retrieved from medical charts, interview records, and check lists.

Successful treatment of treatment-resistant schizophrenia in a 10-year-catatonic patient by augmentation of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors: a case report.

Although catatonia is a well defined syndrome, the treatment of chronic catatonia remains an unresolved issue. Here, we report a successful treatment of a 30-year-old patient with treatment-resistant catatonic schizophrenia in 10 years by augmentation of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).We present a 30-year-old man with treatment-resistant catatonic schizophrenia who failed to respond to the treatment of benzodiazepines and antipsychotics for 10 years.

Secondary mania due to AIDS and cryptococcal meningitis in a 78-year-old patient.

We report a 78-year-old man without past psychiatric history who experienced his first manic episode successfully treated with quetiapine and lorazepam, but was ultimately found to have AIDS and Cryptococcus neoformans meningitis. Our presented case highlights the importance of comprehensive differential diagnoses to rule out secondary causes of psychiatric symptoms presenting for the first time in elderly patients.

The epidemiology and progression time from transient to permanent psychiatric disorders of substance-induced psychosis in Taiwan.

Introduction: Substance-induced psychosis (SIP), including alcohol-induced psychotic disorder (AIPD) and substance-induced psychotic disorder (SIPD), is gradually increasing in importance in clinical practice. However, few studies have investigated the epidemiology and progression time from transient to permanent psychiatric disorders for AIPD and SIPD patients.

Methods: We utilized the National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD) to investigate the incidence and prevalence of AIPD and SIPD in Taiwan and determined the timing of AIPD or SIPD followed by the development of persistent psychotic conditions.

A randomized controlled trial of an adapted Illness Management and Recovery program for people with schizophrenia awaiting discharge from a psychiatric hospital.

Objective: Most research on the Illness Management and Recovery (IMR) program for people with severe mental illnesses has focused on individuals with stable symptoms living in the community, with less attention to persons being treated in an inpatient setting. We evaluated the feasibility and effects of an IMR program adapted for individuals with schizophrenia who were awaiting discharge into the community.

Method: A randomized controlled trial was conducted at 2 hospitals in Taiwan to compare the adapted IMR program with treatment as usual (TAU).

Antipsychotic formulation and one-year rehospitalization of schizophrenia patients: a population-based cohort study.

OBJECTIVE The authors compared the efficacy of long-acting injectable antipsychotics and oral antipsychotics on rehospitalization rate of community-dwelling patients with schizophrenia who had frequent admissions. METHODS The cohort study of 14,610 patients was conducted by analyzing the Taiwan National Health Research Institutes data. The patients were divided into groups that received oral antipsychotics (risperidone, a different second-generation antipsychotic, or a first-generation antipsychotic) or long-acting injectable antipsychotics (risperidone, haloperidol, or flupenthixol).

A pilot study of an illness management and recovery program in discharged patients with schizophrenia.

Background: Accumulated evidence supports the effectiveness of equipping chronically ill patients with illness management knowledge and skills. The Illness Management and Recovery (IMR) program developed by the United States government has been widely adopted for persons with mental illness. However, few studies support its effectiveness in patients with schizophrenia.

Birth seasonality in schizophrenia: effects of gender and income status.

Aims: The aim of this study was to examine the correlations of birth seasonality in schizophrenia, considering influences of gender and income status.

Methods: The sample consisted of 1 000 000 people in the general population randomly selected from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database. Data for the birth-year period 1950-1989 were extracted for analysis (n = 631 911; 306 194 male, 325 717 female).

Prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux disease in major depressive disorder: a population-based study.

Background: Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a common physical disease among psychiatric patients.

Objective: We conducted this study to investigate the prevalence and risk of GERD in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) in Taiwan.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study using the National Health Insurance Research Database in Taiwan.

Newly diagnosed major depressive disorder and the risk of erectile dysfunction: a population-based cohort study in Taiwan.

Introduction: The primary aim of this study was to explore the incidence rate of erectile dysfunction (ED) among major depressive disorder (MDD) patients in an Asian country. The second aim was to compare the risk of ED in MDD patients that were treated using antidepressants with a high risk-ED, antidepressants with a low risk-ED, or without treatment.

Methods: We identified 4339 male patients with newly diagnosed MDD using the National Health Database.

The association of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors use and stroke in geriatric population.

Objectives: Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) exposure has controversial results in increasing the stroke risk. With the risk of stroke increased with age, the safety of SSRI use among older adults attracts much concern.

Methods: We analyzed 28,145 subjects older than 65 years from a subset of a 9-year cohort database from the National Health Insurance Research Database, Taiwan.

Prevalence of allergic rhinitis in patients with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: a population-based study.

Allergic rhinitis (AR) is common in children. Characteristic symptoms of AR may result in daytime inattention, irritability, and hyperactivity, which are also components of ADHD. Conflicting data in previous studies exist regarding the relationship between ADHD and AR.

Panic disorder and risk of stroke: a population-based study.

Objective: An estimate of the risk of stroke among patients with panic disorder was sought.

Method: A retrospective cohort study was conducted using data from the National Health Insurance Research Database in Taiwan. A total of 1725 patients who were newly diagnosed with panic disorder between 2001 and 2007 and had no other psychiatric disorders or history of stroke were included.

Prevalence of hepatitis B and hepatitis C in patients with chronic schizophrenia living in institutions.

Background: Preventing and managing hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is an important public health issue worldwide, and Taiwan is one of the countries where viral hepatitis is most endemic. Previous studies have shown that patients with serious mental illnesses have a higher risk for hepatitis infection. We investigated the prevalence of HBV and HCV among institutionalized patients with chronic schizophrenia in Taiwan.

Remission in children and adolescents diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder via an effective and tolerable titration scheme for osmotic release oral system methylphenidate.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to identify the optimal dose of osmotic release oral system methylphenidate (OROS-MPH) using a dosage forced-titration scheme to achieve symptomatic remission in children with attention- deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). We also evaluated the efficacy and safety of, and patient and parent satisfaction with, the change in therapy from immediate-release methylphenidate (IR-MPH) to OROS-MPH over 10 weeks.

Method: We recruited 521 children and adolescents aged 6-18 years with an American Psychiatric Association, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th ed.

Juvenile Huntington's disease presenting as difficult-to-treat seizure and the first episode of psychosis.

Objective: The objective was to describe a case of juvenile Huntington's disease that first presented with seizures and psychosis.

Methods: A male patient with no history of epilepsy and psychiatric disorder had his first seizure at the age of 20 years, which was followed by 3 years of psychotic disorder.

Results: Laboratory investigations were normal, and mild diffuse cortical atrophy was detected using magnetic resonance imaging.

Low-dose venlafaxine-induced severe rhabdomyolysis: a case report.

Venlafaxine is a relatively new antidepressant with selective effects. Compared with traditional antidepressants, this agent has fewer adverse side effects. However, venlafaxine overdose has been reported with severe complications such as seizure, ventricular tachycardia, serotonin syndrome, neuroleptic malignant syndrome and rhabdomyolysis.