[Use of summaries of product characteristics (SmPC) among family doctors and pharmacists in the context of the aut-idem regulation: Results of an exploratory cross-sectional survey].

Introduction: Summaries of product characteristics (SmPC) of same-substance medications may feature content-related differences. This may cause difficulties regarding informed consent in the case of prescriptions of drugs in the context of the aut-idem regulation. A survey among family doctors (FD) and pharmacists (PH) was conducted in order to evaluate the usage behaviour of SmPCs, sources used to obtain information about drugs and the awareness of the existence of differences between SmPCs of same-substance medications.

Aberrant Gray Matter Volume and Cortical Surface in Paranoid-Type Delusional Disorder.

Introduction: Delusions are core symptoms of schizophrenia-spectrum and related disorders. Despite their clinical relevance, the neural correlates underlying such phenomena are unclear. Recent research suggests that specific delusional content may be associated with distinct neural substrates.

Abnormal cerebellar volume in somatic vs. non-somatic delusional disorders.

Background: There is abundant evidence for cerebellar involvement in schizophrenia, where the cerebellum has been suggested to contribute to cognitive, affective and motor dysfunction. More recently, specific cerebellar regions have also been associated with psychotic symptoms, particularly with auditory verbal hallucinations. In contrast, little is known about cerebellar contributions to delusions, and even less is known about whether cerebellar involvement differs by delusional content.

[Different number of contraindications between summaries of product characteristics (SmPC) of drugs with the same active ingredients - an analysis of data from SmPCs of neuropsychiatric drugs].

Objective: In the case of prescriptions of pharmaceuticals in the context of the aut-idem-regulation the physician frequently does not know, which same-substance medication is dispensed in the pharmacy; the contemplable same-substance medications may differ in numerous features which raises questions regarding the obligation to give information and medical liability for medical malpractice. Currently, systematic evaluations regarding differences between summaries of product characteristics (SmPCs) of same-substance medications are missing. To determine size and type of those differences SmPCs of most (neuro)psychiatric drugs that are approved in Germany were evaluated regarding the number of listed contraindications (CI).

Retinal single-layer analysis with optical coherence tomography (OCT) in schizophrenia spectrum disorder.

Background: Volume reductions in brain structures of patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorder (SSD) have repeatedly been found in voxel-based morphometry MRI studies. Hence, an underlying neurodegenerative etiological component of SSD is currently being discussed. In recent years, the imaging method of optical coherence tomography (OCT) has shown its potential in evaluating structural changes in the retina in patients with confirmed neurodegenerative disorders, providing a window into the brain.

Psychiatrists' and dentists' knowledge and attitudes regarding adverse drug reactions of psychotropic drugs.

Psychotropic drugs may induce impairments in the mouth, jaw and face area. Currently, appropriate pharmacoepidemiologic data are missing. Therefore, a questionnaire-based telephone survey of two non-representative samples of psychiatrists and dentists was conducted.

Longer Duration of Untreated Psychosis is Associated with Poorer Outcomes for Patients with Delusional Infestation.

We examined the association between the duration of untreated psychosis and outcome for patients with delusional infestation. This multi-centre international study included 211 consecutive patients. Illness severity was evaluated at first presentation and outcome was measured with the Clinical Global Impression scale (CGI) at baseline and follow-up.

Regional gray matter volume and structural network strength in somatic vs. non-somatic delusional disorders.

Background: Monothematic delusional disorders are characterized by a single tenacious belief. They provide a great opportunity to study underlying brain structures in the absence of confounding symptoms that accompany delusions in schizophrenia. Delusional beliefs include persecution, jealousy or somatic delusions including infestation.

Retinal changes in patients with major depressive disorder - A controlled optical coherence tomography study.

Background: Recent studies on the pathophysiology of major depression (MD) indicate that degenerative and inflammatory processes may play a role. This finding is supported by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based meta-analysis that show volume reductions in circumscribed areas of the brain in patients with MD. Using optical coherence tomography (OCT), retinal changes have been demonstrated in neurodegenerative disorders.

[Psychiatric Emergencies in the Preclinical Emergency Medicine Service in Ulm, Germany in 2000 and 2010, and Practical Consequences].

 Psychiatric emergencies (PE) in preclinical emergency medical services are about 5 - 10 % of all emergencies and represent often a source of difficulties in handling for the non-psychiatric professional helpers that deal with them. Studies informing about quantitative and qualitative changes of PEs in preclinical emergency medicine in Germany are scarce.  Therefore, we conducted a retrospective cross-sectional study of PE in a preclinical emergency medical service based on the protocols of the emergency ambulance of the Section for Emergency Medicine at the University Hospital Ulm comparing the years 2000 and 2010.

[Arterial Hyper- and Hypotension associated with psychiatric medications: a risk assessment based on the summaries of product characteristics (SmPCs)].

 Psychiatric medications are well-known triggers of clinically relevant blood pressure changes. Therefore, we aimed at creating ranking lists for their risk of causing arterial hyper- or hypotension.  We analyzed 784 Summaries of Product characteristics (SmPCs, available online from "Rote Liste" or "Gelbe Liste" websites) from 105 psychiatric medications registered in adult psychiatry in Germany and extracted the standardized reported risks of increasing or decreasing arterial blood pressure.

Cortical features of distinct developmental trajectories in patients with delusional infestation.

Background: Although there is strong neuroimaging evidence that cortical alterations are a core feature of schizophrenia spectrum disorders, it still remains unclear to what extent such abnormalities occur in monothematic delusional disorders. In individuals with delusional infestation (DI), the delusional belief to be infested with pathogens, previous structural MRI studies have shown prefrontal, temporal, parietal, insular, thalamic and striatal gray matter volume changes. Differential contributions of cortical features of evolutionary and genetic origin (such as cortical thickness, area and folding) which may distinctly contribute to DI pathophysiology are unclear at present.

Drug safety and adverse drug reaction reporting behavior related to outpatient opioid replacement therapy: Results from a survey among physicians.

To study drug safety and the reporting behavior of adverse drug reactions (ADR) related to agents used for opioid replacement therapy (ORT) we conducted a cross-sectional questionnaire-based telephone survey among physicians who provide outpatient ORT in Germany (n=176; response rate=55.7%). Most respondents (n=97/55.

Mild Hypothermia in a Child with Low-Dose Risperidone.

Risperidone is a widely used, second-generation antipsychotic approved for treating schizophrenia as well as for treating aggression in children and adolescents with mental retardation. The substance has a well-established risk profile including alterations of body temperature. Apart from hyperthermia with and without full-blown malignant neuroleptic syndrome, low body temperatures (hypothermia) have also been reported anecdotally, usually appearing in the context of comedication.

[Gender aspects in female and male physicians : Occupational and psychosocial stress].

Background: International studies have shown that physicians have an elevated risk of developing depression or burnout syndrome. Gender aspects with regard to occupation are discussed in German politics and society. Currently, there is little data comparing female and male physicians with regard to stress at work, depression, and burnout.

Association between haemorrhages and treatment with selective and non-selective serotonergic antidepressants: Possible implications of quantitative signal detection.

Inhibition of serotonin uptake in platelets seems to be the crucial mechanism underlying SSRI-associated haemorrhages. This effect is also present in antidepressants featuring non-selective serotonin reuptake inhibition (non-SSRI). Impact of selectivity of serotonin reuptake and/or affinity to the serotonin reuptake transporter on the bleeding risk have not yet been studied sufficiently.

[Psychiatric Emergencies in the Emergency Room of the Ulm University Hospital in 2000 and 2010].

Despite of the importance of psychiatric emergencies (PE) requiring treatment at an emergency room (ER) little is known about their frequency and current trends in terms of quantity and quality. A retrospective analysis of all PE treated at the ER of the University Hospital Ulm (Germany) in 2000 and 2010. 6 % (2000) or 5 % (2010) of the ER cases were PE.

From Imaging the Brain to Imaging the Retina: Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) in Schizophrenia.

Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) is a noninvasive imaging method, which provides an in vivo image of the retina. It allows for quantitative measurements of retinal and macular thickness, including single-layer analysis. Because the retinal nerve fibre layer comprises the first axons of the visual pathway and is unmyelinated, it can be considered a unique anatomical model, which may provide insight into the pathophysiological processes of diseases with a neurodegenerative character.

Frequency of delusional infestation by proxy and double delusional infestation in veterinary practice: observational study.

Background: Nothing is known about the prevalence of delusional infestation in veterinary practice and the consequences for psychiatrists.

Aims: We attempted to examine the frequency of delusional infestation among pet owners presenting their animals to veterinary clinics.

Method: We conducted a survey among 32 663 veterinary clinicians who were members of the Veterinary Information Network.