SENSORY RATINGS AND SENSITIVITY TO PERCEPTUAL VARIABLES: NOVEL APPROACH TO EVALUATING SEMANTIC MEMORY IN MILD COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT.

The lexical-semantic impairments at different levels of semantic processing are often observed in Mild cognitive impairment (MCI). To better understand the nature of the lexical-semantic impairment in MCI, this study included two experiments: a sensory rating task and a lexical decision task. Twenty individuals diagnosed with MCI were recruited as well as eighty healthy subjects to serve as a control group.

Changes of neurocognitive status in patients with the first-episode psychosis after 18 months of treatment-A prospective cohort study.

Neurocognitive symptoms exert the most influence on treatment outcomes over the course of schizophrenia, starting from the first-episode of psychosis (FEP) onwards. Our aim was to analyze the neurocognitive status of FEP compared to healthy controls (HC), and its change after 18 months of treatment. We performed a study in a sample of 159 patients with FEP and 100 HC.

General Functioning in Patients With First-Episode Psychosis After the First 18 Months of Treatment.

Background: One of the main goals in the treatment of first-episode psychosis (FEP) is achieving functional remission. This study aims to analyze whether initial neurocognitive status and the use of specific pharmacological and psychosocial treatment options in FEP can predict general functioning after 18 months of treatment.

Methods: We conducted a longitudinal naturalistic study with a sample of 129 patients with FEP treated at 2 Croatian psychiatric clinics from 2016until 2018.

Integration of complementary biomarkers in patients with first episode psychosis: research protocol of a prospective follow up study.

In this project, we recruited a sample of 150 patients with first episode of psychosis with schizophrenia features (FEP) and 100 healthy controls. We assessed the differences between these two groups, as well as the changes between the acute phase of illness and subsequent remission among patients over 18-month longitudinal follow-up. The assessments were divided into four work packages (WP): WP1- psychopathological status, neurocognitive functioning and emotional recognition; WP2- stress response measured by saliva cortisol during a stress paradigm; cerebral blood perfusion in the resting state (with single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and during activation paradigm (with Transcranial Ultrasonography Doppler (TCD); WP3-post mortem analysis in histologically prepared human cortical tissue of post mortem samples of subjects with schizophrenia in the region that synaptic alteration was suggested by WP1 and WP2; WP4- pharmacogenetic analysis (single gene polymorphisms and genome wide association study (GWAS).

Neurocognitive Profiles of Patients with the First Episode of Psychosis and Schizophrenia Do not Differ Qualitatively: a Nested Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: The aim of study was to analyze neurocognitive profiles in patients with first-episode psychosis (FEP) and patients with schizophrenia (SCH), and their correlations with other clinical features.

Subjects And Methods: We performed a multicentric cross sectional study including 100 FEP and 100 SCH recruited from three Croatian hospitals during 2015-2017. Assessment included a set of neurocognitive tests, psychiatric scales and self-reporting questionnaires.

Differences in Facial Emotional Recognition Between Patients With the First-Episode Psychosis, Multi-episode Schizophrenia, and Healthy Controls.

Objectives: The aim of our study was to assess the differences in facial emotional recognition (FER) between patients with first-episode psychosis (FEP), patients with multi-episode schizophrenia (SCH), and healthy controls (HC) and to find possible correlations of FER with psychopathology in the two patient groups.

Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study enrolling 160 patients from two psychiatric hospitals in Croatia (80 FEP and 80 SCH) and 80 HC during the period from October 2015 until October 2017. Patients were assessed once during their hospital treatment, using the Penn Emotion Recognition Task for assessment of FER, rating scales for psychopathology and depression and self-reporting questionnaires for impulsiveness, aggression, and quality of life.

Integrated Specialized Early-Course Psychosis Treatment Services - University Psychiatric Hospital Vrapce Model.

First episode of psychosis presents a critical period in terms of numerous associated risks, but also possibilities for effective therapeutic interventions. There is a continued focus on early interventions in prodromal states and early course of frank psychosis, aimed at ensuring faster remission, reducing relapses, achieving better long-term functioning, and preventing adverse outcomes linked to untreated psychosis and chronic psychotic disorders. A number of different specialized treatment models and services exist trying to close knowledge gaps and provide clinical interventions to first-episode psychosis (FEP) patients, but there is still no generally accepted standard of care informing our every-day practice.

Approach to Emergencies in Schizophrenia in University Hospital "Vrapče".

Background: An emergency in psychiatric setting is any disorder in thought process, feelings and/or behavior of the patient that requires urgent therapeutic intervention. In general, we can observe an increase in numbers of psychiatric emergencies throughout the world and in Croatia as well. Agitation and aggression are one of the most common causes of emergency in psychiatry.

Prevalence of anxiety and depression in caregivers of Alzeheimer's dementia patients.

Alzheimer's dementia (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disorder, which affects 30 million people worldwide. With aging of the population, it is becoming an increasing problem in Croatia. Alzheimer's dementia represents not only problem for the patient but affects the patients' caregivers as well.