Agreement between self-rated and clinically assessed symptoms in subjects with psychosis.

The aim of this study was to explore the capacity of acutely ill patients with psychosis (N = 40) to self-report their symptoms by comparing self-assessment and objective measures. Positive, negative, and depressive symptoms were rated using the Scale for the Assessment of Positive Symptoms, the Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms, and the Calgary Depression Scale. Insight level was measured using the Scale to Assess Unawareness of Mental Disorder.

Is the intensity of Schneiderian symptoms related to handedness and speech disorder in subjects with psychosis?

Objective: To explore the links between Schneiderian first-rank symptoms (FRS), handedness and speech disorder in subjects with psychosis.

Methods: A Schneiderian score was calculated by summing seven items of the Scale for the Assessment of Positive Symptoms (SAPS) exploring first-rank symptoms in 33 hospitalized patients presenting with psychotic symptoms. Speech disorder was rated using the Scale for the Assessment of Thought, Language and Communication Disorders (TLC).

[Relationships between insight and medication adherence in subjects with psychosis].

Background: Poor medication adherence in subjects with psychosis has a high prevalence and a negative impact on clinical outcome. Several studies have reported that a poor level of insight was a strong predictor of poor medi-cation adherence. However, few studies have investigated whether insight was associated with medication adherence, independently from other clinical and treatment characteristics.

Substance use and the course of early psychosis: a 2-year follow-up of first-admitted subjects.

Objective: To examine the impact of alcohol and substance use on the early course of psychosis.

Methods: First-admitted subjects with psychosis (n = 58) were assessed at 6-month intervals over a 2-year follow-up. Information on substance and alcohol misuse and clinical and social outcome was collected using multiple sources of information.

Social and clinical consequences of cognitive deficits in early psychosis: a two-year follow-up study of first-admitted patients.

Objective: To explore whether baseline memory and executive deficits predicted poor social and clinical outcome over the 2 years following a first admission for psychosis, regardless of categorical diagnosis.

Method: Cognitive functioning was assessed in first-admitted subjects with psychosis (n=35) with a neuropsychological battery of tests measuring executive, language and memory functions. Social and clinical outcome were assessed at 6-monthly intervals over a two-year follow-up using multiple sources of information.

[Effect of comorbid substance use on neuropsychological performance in subjects with psychotic or mood disorders].

Objective - Patients presenting with psychotic or mood disorders present with neuropsychological deficits such as executive and memory disturbance. Deficits of these functions have also been reported in patients presenting with alcohol use or substance use disorders. A large percentage of patients with non-affective psychotic or mood disorders present with a comorbid substance use disorder.

Association between temperamental characteristics and medication adherence in subjects presenting with psychotic or mood disorders.

The links between temperamental characteristics and medication adherence were explored in subjects with psychotic (n=45) or mood disorders (n=58). Temperamental characteristics were measured using the Sensation-Seeking Scale (SSS), the Barratt Impulsivity Scale and the Physical Anhedonia Scale. Higher general SSS scores, and disinhibition and boredom susceptibility SSS subscores were associated with a greater risk to present with poor medication adherence.

Is the association between duration of untreated psychosis and outcome confounded? A two year follow-up study of first-admitted patients.

Objective: To assess whether a long duration of untreated psychosis (DUP) before first admission predicts poor clinical and social outcome, and whether this association, if any, is confounded by premorbid and clinical characteristics.

Method: A population-based sample of first-admitted subjects with psychosis (n = 65) was assessed at six monthly intervals over a two year follow-up using multiple sources of information.

Results: Most subjects (87%) with a life-chart 'continuous' course of psychotic symptoms had a history of a 'long' delay between onset of psychotic symptoms and first admission (> or = 3 months, median split), compared with 55% of subjects with a course of 'neither episodic nor continuous', 42% of subjects with an 'episodic' course, and 33% of subjects with 'no psychotic symptoms' during the follow-up period (RR = 9; 95%CI 1.

Medication adherence in psychosis: predictors and impact on outcome. A 2-year follow-up of first-admitted subjects.

Objective: To assess the baseline characteristics predicting poor medication adherence following a first admission for psychosis, and the impact of poor medication adherence on outcome.

Method: First-admitted subjects with psychosis (n = 65) were assessed at 6-month intervals over a 2-year follow-up. Medication adherence was assessed using multiple sources of information.

[Clinical and prognostic characteristics associated with addictive comorbidity in hospitalized psychiatric patients].

Unlabelled: The aims of this study were to estimate: 1) the prevalence of substance use disorder, 2) the social and clinical characteristics associated to such a comorbid disorder in patients hospitalised in psychiatry.

Method: Patients consecutively hospitalised for a non-addictive disorder were included in the present survey. A standardised method was used to collect information on clinical and social characteristics.

Neuropsychological function in subjects with psychotic and affective disorders. Relationship to diagnostic category and duration of illness.

Objective: To explore the links between neuropsychological performance, diagnostic category and duration of illness in subjects with psychotic and affective disorders.

Methods: Memory and executive abilities were tested in consecutively admitted patients with schizophrenia (N = 20), other non-schizophrenic psychotic disorders (N = 29), bipolar disorder (N = 33) and major depression (N = 19).

Results: Subjects with schizophrenia had poorer global memory performances than subjects with major depression, and poorer delayed verbal memory abilities than those from the other three diagnostic groups.

Which temperamental characteristics are associated with substance use in subjects with psychotic and mood disorders?

The aim of this study was to assess the associations between substance use disorders and temperamental characteristics in subjects with non-affective psychotic disorders or mood disorders. Consecutively hospitalized patients were interviewed with a structured diagnostic interview to define DSM-IV diagnoses, including those of substance use. Temperamental characteristics were measured using the Sensation-Seeking Scale (SSS), the Barratt Impulsivity Scale (BIS) and the Physical Anhedonia Scale.

Self-reported psychosis-like symptoms and the continuum of psychosis.

Background: It has been suggested that psychotic symptoms may be distributed along a continuum that extends from normality through depressive states to schizophrenia with increasing level of severity. This study examined the hypothesis that the severity of positive psychotic symptoms increases from normality, through depression/anxiety states to clinical psychosis.

Methods: Consecutive general practice attenders completed a self-report questionnaire of 24 items of delusional ideation and hallucinatory experiences and the GHQ-12.

[Prognosis of short-term outcome in the first admission for psychosis].

The aim of the study was to assess the factors predicting the clinical and therapeutic outcome at discharge of first hospitalization in a population-based sample of patients presenting with psychotic symptoms. Factors predicting duration of the first hospital stay were examined using Cox proportional hazard regression. A family history of psychiatric hospitalization was the only variable independently predicting at trend level a longer hospitalization (HR = 0.

[Evaluation of the incidence of hospitalization of patients with psychotic disorders].

The aim of this study was to assess the administrative incidence of psychotic disorders, i.e. the incidence of first hospitalization for such disorders.

Prediction of duration of psychosis before first admission.

Summary Objective: To assess the factors predicting the delay between onset of psychotic symptoms and first admission in a population-based sample.

Method: The duration of psychosis before admission was ascertained in a standardised way for 59 consecutively first-admitted patients presenting with psychotic symptoms.

Results: The median of the duration of psychosis before admission was 3 months (interquartile range 0.