Modulation of cardiac autonomic activity across consciousness states and levels of sleep depth in individuals with sleep complaints and bipolar disorder or unipolar depressive disorders.

Objective: Autonomic nervous system dysfunction and reduced heart rate variability (HRV) often co-exist with mood disorders, a phenomenon likely influenced by sleep disturbances. This study investigated heart rate (HR) and HRV across wake, rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, and non-REM (NREM) sleep in individuals with sleep complaints and bipolar or unipolar depressive disorder.

Methods: Polysomnographic data was retrospectively collated for 120 adult patients with sleep complaints and depressive symptoms [60 diagnosed with bipolar disorder, 60 diagnosed with a unipolar depressive disorder], and 60 healthy controls.

Fire and Darkness: On the Assessment and Management of Bipolar Disorder.

Bipolar disorder is characterized by recurrent mood episodes, affecting 1% to 2% of the population. Although its defining features are manic and hypomanic episodes, its course is dominated by depressive syndromes. Diagnosis can be challenging owing to symptom overlap with other disorders.

Adherence to Follow-Up in First-Episode Psychosis: Ethnicity Factors and Case Manager Perceptions.

Objective: To determine whether visible minority patients with first-episode psychosis are at higher risk for treatment nonadherence than white patients and elicit the perceptions of case managers regarding visible minority patients.

Methods: Data for 168 patients referred to a tertiary first-episode psychosis clinic from January 2008 to January 2012 were collected via chart review. For 110 patients, a questionnaire filled out by each patient's case manager collected quantitative and qualitative data regarding the case managers' perceptions of patients' insight, cooperation, and adherence to appointments and medication.

Mindfulness in severe and persistent mental illness: a systematic review.

Objective: This systematic review summarises the current state of research on mindfulness in SPMI, given the pressing need to provide alternative, scalable and cost-effective treatment modalities for patients with severe and persistent mental illness (SPMI).

Methods: Articles included mindfulness-based interventions for SPMI. Excluded articles included qualitative studies, acceptance and compassion therapies, case reports and reviews.

Tolerability and suitability of brief group mindfulness-oriented interventions in psychiatric inpatients: a pilot study.

Objective: Mindfulness-oriented therapies have a positive impact on patients' overall well-being and alleviate many psychiatric conditions. However, little is known about their use in people with severe mental illness. We aimed to identify which clinical and sociodemographic factors are associated with suitability/tolerability of a brief group mindfulness-oriented therapy.

Local chemotherapeutic agents for the treatment of ocular malignancies.

We critically analyze available peer-reviewed literature, including clinical trials and case reports, on local ocular cancer treatments. Recent innovations in many areas of ocular oncology have introduced promising new therapies, but, for the most part, the optimal treatment of ocular malignancies remains elusive.