Basic self-disorders may play a role in the development of depression in schizophrenia: a seven-year follow-up study.

Introduction: Depression is the most common co-morbid psychiatric disorder in patients with schizophrenia and has a negative effect on functional outcomes and quality of life. There are several possible pathways leading to depressive symptoms in schizophrenia. Self-disorders are disturbances in the deepest, pre-reflective level of the self and are suggested to be core features of schizophrenia.

A seven-year longitudinal study of the association between neurocognitive function and basic self-disorders in schizophrenia.

Introduction: Basic self-disorders (SDs) and neurocognitive impairments are fundamental trait-like aspects of schizophrenia spectrum disorders. There has been little research on the association between SDs and neurocognitive impairments in schizophrenia, and no longitudinal studies have investigated if they are related. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between SDs and neurocognitive function in a follow-up study of patients with schizophrenia.

Long-term Outcomes of People With DSM Psychotic Disorder NOS.

Introduction: The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)-IV diagnostic category "Psychotic disorder not otherwise specified" (PNOS) is seldom investigated, and we lack knowledge about long-term outcomes. We examined long-term symptom severity, global functioning, remission/recovery rates, and diagnostic stability after the first treatment for PNOS.

Methods: Participants with first-treatment PNOS ( = 32) were reassessed with structured interviews after 7 to 10 years.

Moderators of metacognitive strategy training for executive functioning in early schizophrenia and psychosis risk.

Goal Management Training (GMT) improved self-reported executive functioning in a recent randomized, controlled trial in early intervention for psychosis participants. Little is known about the mechanism for this benefit, so this study investigates objectively measured executive function, the difference between subjective and objective executive function, independent living and employment status as potential moderators of efficacy of GMT. Baseline scores from 81 participants (GMT n = 39 vs Treatment-as-usual; TAU n = 42) were analyzed in a linear mixed model analysis for repeated measures as predictors of improvement on the self-reported Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function-Adult version (BRIEF-A) immediately and 30 weeks after GMT.

A randomized controlled trial of Goal Management Training for executive functioning in schizophrenia spectrum disorders or psychosis risk syndromes.

Background: Executive functioning is essential to daily life and severely impaired in schizophrenia and psychosis risk syndromes. Goal Management Training (GMT) is a theoretically founded, empirically supported, metacognitive strategy training program designed to improve executive functioning.

Methods: A randomized controlled parallel group trial compared GMT with treatment as usual among 81 participants (GMT, n = 39 versus Wait List Controls, n = 42) recruited from an early intervention for psychosis setting.

Executive dysfunction in schizophrenia: Predictors of the discrepancy between subjective and objective measures.

This study aimed to investigate what characterizes individuals with schizophrenia who experience more or less subjective executive dysfunction in everyday life compared to objective executive performance on neuropsychological tests. Sixty-six participants with broad schizophrenia spectrum disorders completed a comprehensive assessment of executive function. Discrepancies between performance on neuropsychological tests (objective) and an extensive self-report questionnaire (subjective) of central executive functions (inhibition, shifting and working memory) were calculated.

Cognitive Performance in Early-Onset Schizophrenia and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: A 25-Year Follow-Up Study.

Early-Onset Schizophrenia (EOS) and Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) are early- onset neurodevelopmental disorders associated with cognitive deficits. The current study represents the first attempt to compare these groups on a comprehensive cognitive test battery in a longitudinal design over 25 years in order to enhance our knowledge of particular patterns resulting from the interaction between normal maturational processes and different illness processes of these disorders. In the baseline study, 19 adolescents with schizophrenia were compared to 20 adolescents with ADHD and 30 healthy controls (HC), all between 12 and 18 years of age.

Atherogenic Lipid Ratios Related to Myeloperoxidase and C-Reactive Protein Levels in Psychotic Disorders.

Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a major cause of premature death in patients with psychotic disorders, where dyslipidemia occurs frequently. In the pathogenesis of these serious mental disorders, a low-grade inflammation seems to be a possible contributor. Concurrently, systemic inflammation and its interplay with dyslipidemia is a central driver in the pathogenesis of CVD.

Cooperation in the mental health treatment of patients with outpatient commitment.

Background: Patients with outpatient commitment have a decision on coercive treatment from the specialist health services even if they are in their own home and receive municipal health services.

Objective: The aim of this study is to gain more knowledge about how the outpatient commitment system works in the municipal health service and specialist health services, and how they collaborate with patients and across service levels from the perspectives of healthcare professionals.

Methods: This is a qualitative study collecting data through focus group interviews with health personnel from the municipal health service and specialist health services.

Basic self-disturbances are associated with Sense of Coherence in patients with psychotic disorders.

Background: The Sense of Coherence (SOC) theory gives a possible explanation of how people can experience subjective good health despite severe illness. Basic self-disturbances (BSDs) are subtle non-psychotic disturbances that may destabilize the person's sense of self, identity, corporeality, and the overall 'grip' of the world.

Aim: Our objective was to investigate associations between BSDs and SOC in patients with psychotic disorders.

Outpatient commitment in mental health services from a municipal view.

Background: Outpatient commitment (OC) is a legal decision for compulsory mental health care when the patient stays in his or her own home. Municipal health-care workers have a key role for patients with OC decision, but little is known about how the legislation system with OC works from the municipality's point of view.

Method: The present study has a quantitative descriptive design using an electronic questionnaire sent to health-care workers in the municipalities that participated.

Basic self-disturbances independently predict recovery in psychotic disorders: A seven year follow-up study.

Background: Recovery is the ultimate goal of psychosis treatment. Basic self-disturbances (BSDs) are non-psychotic phenomena associated with clinical outcome, present in prodromal, psychotic and residual phases of psychotic disorders.

Aim: To investigate the relationship between BSDs and recovery seven years after first treatment in patients with psychotic disorders.

Stability in basic self-disturbances and diagnosis in a first treated psychosis: A seven year follow-up study.

Background: Basic self-disturbances (BSDs) are considered core features of schizophrenia spectrum disorders, and are present in the prodromal, early psychotic and chronic phases. Considerable levels of BSDs are also present at first treatment in some patients with psychotic disorders outside the schizophrenia spectrum. There is limited knowledge about the stability of self-disturbances over time.

The Association between Anomalous Self-experiences, Self-esteem and Depressive Symptoms in First Episode Schizophrenia.

Anomalous self-experiences (ASEs) aggregate in schizophrenia spectrum disorders, but the relationship between ASEs, and depression has been studied to a limited extent. Lower self-esteem has been shown to be associated with depression in early psychosis. Our hypothesis is that ASEs in early phases of schizophrenia are linked to lower levels of self-esteem, which in turn is associated with depression.

Prevalence and management of patients with outpatient commitment in the mental health services.

Background People with mental health problems are mostly treated within the community. The law allows for the use of compulsory mental health care both in hospital and in the community. Various forms of outpatient commitment (OC) have been adopted in much European legislation.

High levels of anomalous self-experience are associated with longer duration of untreated psychosis.

Aim: To investigate the relationship between anomalous self-experiences and duration of untreated psychosis in a sample of patients with first-episode schizophrenia spectrum disorders.

Methods: Anomalous self-experiences were assessed by means of the Examination of Anomalous Self-Experience manual in 55 patients referred to their first adequate treatment for schizophrenia. Diagnoses, symptom severity, functioning and childhood trauma were assessed using the Structured Clinical Interview for the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale, Premorbid Adjustment Scale, Social Functioning Scale and Childhood Trauma Questionnaire.

Anomalous self-experience and childhood trauma in first-episode schizophrenia.

Background: Anomalous self-experiences (ASEs) are viewed as core features of schizophrenia. Childhood trauma (CT) has been postulated as a risk factor for developing schizophrenia.

Aim: The aim of this study is to investigate the relationships between CT, depression and ASEs in schizophrenia.

Environmental factors during adolescence associated with later development of psychotic disorders - a nested case-control study.

Etiologies of psychotic disorders (schizophrenia and bipolar disorder) are conceptualized as interplay between genetic and environmental factors. The adolescent period is characterized by changes in social roles and expectations that may interact with biological changes or psychosocial stressors. Few studies focus on the adolescents' own reports of perceived risk factors.

Anomalous self-experiences contribute independently to social dysfunction in the early phases of schizophrenia and psychotic bipolar disorder.

Background: Psychotic disorders are associated with significant social dysfunction. Anomalous self-experiences (ASE) present in psychotic disorders could contribute to social dysfunction.

Aim: To investigate if ASE contribute to social dysfunction in the early phases of psychotic disorders after controlling for factors related to social functioning including diagnoses.

Self-reported symptoms and health service use in adolescence in persons who later develop psychotic disorders: a prospective case-control study.

Aim: To investigate self-reported psychiatric and somatic symptoms and health service use at age 16 in persons who later developed a psychotic disorder compared with a control group from the same geographical areas.

Method: Responses concerning psychiatric or somatic health and health service use from Norwegian youth studies in a cohort of 15- and 16-year-olds in three Norwegian counties (N = 11 101, 90% response rate) were gathered. The questionnaire responses from persons later identified with a lifetime diagnosis of DSM-IV (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition) psychotic disorders (n = 30) (confirmed psychosis, CP) were compared with responses from the rest of the group (population control, PC) (n = 11 067).

Selective aggregation of self-disorders in first-treatment DSM-IV schizophrenia spectrum disorders.

Converging evidence indicates that self-disorders (SDs) selectively aggregate in schizophrenia spectrum conditions. The aim of this study was to test the discriminatory power of SDs with respect to schizophrenia and nonschizophrenia spectrum psychosis at first treatment contact. SDs were assessed in 91 patients referred for first treatment through the Examination of Anomalous Self-experience (EASE) instrument.

The association between self-disorders and neurocognitive dysfunction in schizophrenia.

Background: Neurocognitive deficits and self-disorders (i.e. altered basic self-awareness or - sense of self) have both been suggested as fundamental trait features of schizophrenia.

Self-esteem is associated with premorbid adjustment and positive psychotic symptoms in early psychosis.

Background: Low levels of self-esteem have been implicated as both a cause and a consequence of severe mental disorders. The main aims of the study were to examine whether premorbid adjustment has an impact on the subject's self-esteem, and whether lowered self-esteem contributes to the development of delusions and hallucinations.

Method: A total of 113 patients from the Thematically Organized Psychosis research study (TOP) were included at first treatment.

Examination of anomalous self-experience in first-episode psychosis: interrater reliability.

Background: The growing research focus on early detection of schizophrenia has fostered an increasing interest in the nonpsychotic experiential anomalies that may antedate schizophrenia spectrum disorders and assist early differential diagnosis. The Examination of Anomalous Self-Experience (EASE) is a phenomenologically inspired checklist, specifically designed to support the comprehensive assessment of these characteristic subjective experiences.

Aim: To assess the interrater reliability of the EASE.