Treatment patterns of schizophrenia based on the data from seven Central and Eastern European Countries.

Objective: The aim is to analyze how schizophrenia is pharmacologically treated in seven CEE countries: Croatia, Estonia, Hungary, Poland, Serbia, Slovakia and Slovenia.

Methods: Psychiatrists from selected centers in each of participating countries were asked to complete a pre-defined questionnaire on their current clinical practice. Information on protocols and resource utilization in schizophrenia treatment was included and derived from randomly selected patient medical records.

Schizophrenia causes significant burden to patients' and caregivers' lives.

Background: Schizophrenia is a serious public health problem and is ranked among the most disabling diseases in the world. The sub-study presented here was part of a larger project to characterize the burden of schizophrenia on healthcare systems and on individuals living with the disease in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE).

Aims: This sub-study aimed to assess and analyze the impact of schizophrenia on many aspects of the lives of patients and caregivers.

Electroconvulsive therapy in a Hungarian academic centre (1999-2010).

Background: Since the 1930s, the Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy at Semmelweis University (DPPSU) in Budapest has played a leading role in convulsive therapy in Hungary. The aim of this study was to describe the pattern of ECT use at the DPPSU over an 11-year period.

Subjects And Methods: Analysis of the medical notes of all patients treated with ECT in this academic centre between 1999 and 2009.

[Antipsychotic drug combinations in the treatment of schizophrenia. A review of the literature].

Main indication for antipsychotic medication is the treatment of schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders. Influential protocols in the treatment of schizophrenia recommend the use of antipsychotics in monotherapy. In case of therapy resistance, combination of antipsychotics is a feasible option.

[Adulthood -- childhood -- adulthood: long-term therapy in child and adolescent psychiatry].

The aggregation of psychiatric disorders within families is well-known. The relative role of biological, psychogenic and socialization-related factors varies with the individual case. Another well-known fact is that parents play a very important role in influencing whether their child gets the right treatment when it is necessary.

[Classification of endogenous psychoses. Predictive validity of initial diagnosis based on 5 and 21-33-years of follow-up in a long-term prospective study (Budapest 2000)].

As regards the clinical psychopathological diagnostics, Leonhard's classification of endogenous psychoses published in 1957 contained description of a detailed nosology with claims that the diagnostic categories included in this classification system involve differentiated predictions of course and outcome of the illness. The principal investigator (BP) chose Leonhard's classification system to test these nosological hypotheses via a prospective study of psychotic patients based on their clinical and life history in 1966-67. Validity of the categorial diagnoses given at baseline (female patients n=222; healthy control persons n=54; 1968-1976) was proven by combination of assessments of psychopathological symptoms and personality types at the 5-year follow-up.

Change of medical student attitudes toward psychiatry: the impact of the psychiatric clerkship.

Unlabelled: Psychiatry - as a profession - is getting less and less popular among medical students resulting in a dramatic decrease in number of those choosing this field as a future career.

Aims: This study set out to investigate how undergraduate psychiatric training influenced the attitudes toward psychiatry and the career choices of fifth-year Hungarian medical students.

Methods: Students' attitudes toward psychiatry were measured by the ATP-30 and their preference for a career in medicine was also inquired about.

Impact on psychiatric interns of watching live electroconvulsive treatment.

Objective: Watching a live electroconvulsive treatment (ECT) has both positive and negative effects on spectators. The authors aim to survey the attitude change towards ECT in interns after watching a live ECT session.

Methods: A 23-item questionnaire was administered to 66 interns before and after watching ECT.

Survey of referrals to electroconvulsive therapy in Hungary.

Background: The diagnostic distribution of patients treated with electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in Hungary is significantly different from that in Western Europe or the USA. In Hungary most of the treated patients are diagnosed with schizophrenia.

Aim: To analyze the practice of referring patients for ECT in Hungary.

Comparison of propofol and etomidate regarding impact on seizure threshold during electroconvulsive therapy in patients with schizophrenia.

Background: While propofol is known to shorten seizures during electroconvulsive therapy, in our previous study on patients with schizophrenia, there was no need for more frequent restimulations when using propofol compared with etomidate. We hypothesized that etomidate and propofol have similar effects on seizure activity in cases where seizure duration is shorter than 20 seconds. In this study, etomidate and propofol are compared regarding their impact on seizure threshold and seizure duration.

The predictive validity of the Leonhardean classification of endogenous psychoses: a 21-33-year follow-up of a prospective study ("BUDAPEST 2000").

To our knowledge, no previous long-term studies of the Leonhardean classification in the whole spectrum of endogenous psychoses have been conducted. This prospective study (n = 276; female patients n = 222; normal control persons n = 54) started in 1967-1976. The same population was followed-up by participation of a "blinded control" psychiatrist in 1997-2002 [patients available at follow-up = 125 (56.

[Strategies for optimizing stimulus dosage during electroconvulsive therapy].

Unlabelled: Core element of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is the induction of a generalized seizure. Stimulus intensity must be above patient's seizure threshold for seizure induction. As individual seizure thresholds vary in a wide range, determining optimal initial stimulus intensity is a challenge to the clinician.

[Changes of hallucination and delusion: the results of the 21-33 year follow-up of "Budapest 2000"].

Unlabelled: In view of the fact that there are only a few longitudinal follow-up examinations in patients with major mental illness, data on the changes of hallucination and delusion over the lifetime of the patient are extremely limited.

Aim: The purpose of this study was to investigate the long-term course of delusions and hallucinations in patients with psychotic disorders.

Method: 221 patients were evaluated in this study.

Validity of reliability: comparison of interrater reliabilities of psychopathological symptoms.

We have tested the stability of interrater reliability of psychiatric symptoms over a quarter of century using 2 rating scales. Interrater reliabilities of items of 2 psychiatric rating scales employed by 2 consecutive follow-ups were compared. Interrater reliabilites proved to be by and large stable.

The augmentation of clozapine treatment with electroconvulsive therapy.

Objectives: The assessment, in terms of safety and efficacy, of augmenting clozapine monotherapy, as well as combined psychopharmacotherapy involving clozapine, with electroconvulsive therapy (ECT).

Method: Reviewed were the charts of patients who received clozapine-ECT treatment in the Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy of Semmelweis University between November 1999 and December 2003.

Results: During the studied period there were altogether 43 patients treated with the combination of clozapine and electroconvulsive therapy.

Hungarian medical students' knowledge about and attitudes toward electroconvulsive therapy.

A survey using self-administered questionnaires was conducted among fifth-year medical students beginning their psychiatry clerkships to assess their attitude toward and their basic knowledge of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). The questionnaire, consisting of 28 questions, was completed by 127 students. Ten rated their own knowledge on ECT as mediocre, the rest of them as minimal.

[Neuropsychiatric symptoms caused by mefloquine (report of several cases)].

Introduction: The number of Hungarian citizens travelling to countries infected with malaria is increasing year by year. Mefloquine is the most effective medicine in the prophylaxis and treatment of malaria. However, neuropsychiatric side-effects can more often be seen with the use of mefloquine compared to other anti-malaria drugs.

The impact of neuroleptic medication on seizure threshold and duration in electroconvulsive therapy.

Introduction: In most patients diagnosed with psychotic depression or schizophrenia and treated with electroconvulsive therapy, parallelly administered antipsychotic medication cannot be stopped. Antipsychotic drugs can influence both seizure threshold and seizure activity in different ways.

Patients And Method: The present study processes the data of 77 patients treated parallelly with electroconvulsive therapy and antipsychotic drugs.

Etomidate versus propofol for electroconvulsive therapy in patients with schizophrenia.

Among drugs used for the anesthesia of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), propofol reduces seizure duration to a greater degree than etomidate. The perceived difference between the 2 anesthetics is smaller in patients with schizophrenia than in patients who suffer depression. In this study, propofol and etomidate were compared during the ECT of patients with schizophrenia, on the basis of their impact on seizure activity and on seizure-induced hemodynamic reactions.

Attitudes towards electroconvulsive therapy among Hungarian psychiatrists.

Participants of a postgraduate biologic psychiatric course were surveyed about their attitudes toward electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) with a self-administered questionnaire. Among the respondents, 65 persons were specialists in psychiatry, 32% of whom would not consider using ECT even if they were in a psychotic depressive state. According to the bias factor, which has been calculated based on the answers to the 11 questions regarding attitudes, those psychiatrists who worked in inpatient care showed a less negative attitude.