Measuring discrimination experienced by people with a mental illness: replication of the short-form DISCUS in six world regions.

Background: The Discrimination and Stigma Scale (DISC) is a patient-reported outcome measure which assesses experiences of discrimination among persons with a mental illness globally.

Methods: This study evaluated whether the psychometric properties of a short-form version, DISC-Ultra Short (DISCUS) (11-item), could be replicated in a sample of people with a wide range of mental disorders from 21 sites in 15 countries/territories, across six global regions. The frequency of experienced discrimination was reported.

Stigma and discrimination against people with schizophrenia related to medical services.

Objective: To investigate whether people with schizophrenia experience discrimination when using health care services.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey in 27 countries in centres affiliated to the INDIGO Research Network, using face-to-face interviews with 777 participants with schizophrenia (62% male and 38% female). We analysed the data related to health issues, including health care, disrespect of mental health staff, and also personal privacy, safety and security, starting a family, pregnancy and childbirth.

Diltiazem in the treatment of calcinosis in juvenile dermatomyositis.

Subcutaneous calcifications occur in a variety of diseases, including juvenile dermatomyositis. These calcifications cause disabling symptoms that do not always respond to immunosuppressant therapy. The calcium antagonist diltiazem reduces subcutaneous calcifications in CREST syndrome and in isolated cases of children with dermatomyositis.

Hereditary arthro-ophthalmopathy (Stickler syndrome).

We report a 34-year-old woman with hereditary arthro-ophthalmopathy (HAO; Stickler syndrome). This disorder is a rare inherited generalized connective tissue disorder involving the eyes, facial structures and the skeleton, resulting from defective type II collagen formation. There is premature degenerative arthritis and osteopenia with increased incidence of fractures.