Sustained specialized and family treatment in first-episode schizophrenia or related disorders: a 5-year randomized controlled trial.

Background: The long-term outcome of first-episode schizophrenia needs improvement. Here, we evaluate the effectiveness of 5 years sustained specialist treatment (ST), ST including Parent groups (ST + P) or treatment as usual (TAU) on psychotic relapse and social functioning.

Methods: A three condition randomized, parallel assigned, single-blind efficacy trial, in which 198 first-episode psychosis (FEP) patients aged 15-28 years were included.

Groin Pain Characteristics and Recurrence Rates: Three-year Results of a Randomized Controlled Trial Comparing Self-gripping Progrip Mesh and Sutured Polypropylene Mesh for Open Inguinal Hernia Repair.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate long-term groin pain and inguinal hernia recurrence rates of 2 types of mesh and to describe the evolution of postoperative groin sensory disturbances.

Summary Of Background Data: Some patients with an inguinal hernia develop chronic pain following open mesh insertion. Previous trials comparing a semi-resorbable, self-gripping Progrip mesh with a standard sutured polypropylene mesh found conflicting results regarding recurrence rates and residual groin pain.

Sustained medically unexplained physical symptoms in euthymic patients with recurrent depression: predictive value for recurrence and associations with omega 3- and 6 fatty acids and 5-HTTLPR?

Background: Identification of potentially modifiable risk factors for recurrence in recurrent depression could provide opportunities to improve preventive interventions. In this study we aimed to examine the predictive value of medically unexplained physical symptoms (MUPS) on time to recurrence in recurrent depression. Additionally, to elucidate pathophysiological mechanisms that could explain the relations between MUPS and depression, we investigate the association between a sustained high level of MUPS, and (I) omega (ω)-3 and -6 fatty acid (FA)-status and (II) functional polymorphisms in the promoter region of the serotonin transporter gene (5-HTTLPR).

The 5-year course of obsessive-compulsive symptoms and obsessive-compulsive disorder in first-episode schizophrenia and related disorders.

Objective: To determine the course of obsessive-compulsive symptoms (OCS) and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) in first-episode schizophrenia and related disorders and their relationship with clinical characteristics.

Methods: Consecutively, admitted patients with a first-episode of schizophrenia, schizophreniform disorder, or schizoaffective disorder were screened for OCS, and these were measured with the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale. Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale and Montgomery Åsberg Depression Rating Scale were used to assess severity of other symptoms.

Factor structure of the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS) in a large sample of patients with schizophrenia or related disorders and comorbid obsessive-compulsive symptoms.

In the past decade there has been an increasing interest in the levels of obsessive-compulsive symptoms (OCS) found in patients with schizophrenia or related disorders. The widely acknowledged gold standard measure of the severity of OCS is the content-free version of the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS) (Goodman et al., 1989a,b).

Long-term effects of preventive cognitive therapy in recurrent depression: a 5.5-year follow-up study.

Objective: Major depressive disorder (MDD) was projected to rank second on a list of 15 major diseases in terms of burden in 2030. A crucial part of the treatment of depression is the prevention of relapse/recurrence in high-risk groups, ie, recurrently depressed patients. The long-term preventive effects of group cognitive therapy (CT) in preventing relapse/recurrence in recurrent depression are not known.

Sexual dysfunction and hormonal changes in first episode psychosis patients on olanzapine or risperidone.

Atypical antipsychotics interfere with central and peripheral neurotransmitter systems and with hormonal production. In this study we compared the effect of olanzapine and risperidone on hormonal state and sexual function (by using the Questionnaire for Sexual Dysfunction, QSD) in 40 patients with a first episode psychosis. Results were compared to those of 34 healthy controls.

Reliability and validity of the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale in schizophrenia patients.

Although a sizeable minority of people with schizophrenia manifest obsessive and compulsive symptoms, to our knowledge there are no studies of the psychometric performance of measures such as the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS). The present study examined psychometric properties of the Y-BOCS in patients with recent-onset schizophrenia and comorbid obsessive-compulsive symptoms (OCS). To 37 patients with recent-onset schizophrenia and related disorders and comorbid OCS taken from 135 consecutively admitted patients we administered the Y-BOCS at admission and 6 weeks later.

Prediction of recurrence in recurrent depression and the influence of consecutive episodes on vulnerability for depression: a 2-year prospective study.

Objective: Depression is a recurring disease. Identifying risk factors for recurrence is essential. The purpose of this study was to identify factors predictive of recurrence and to examine whether previous depressive episodes influence vulnerability for subsequent depression in a sample of remitted recurrently depressed patients.

Differential predictors of response to preventive cognitive therapy in recurrent depression: a 2-year prospective study.

Background: Major depressive disorder is a recurrent disease. Brief cognitive therapy (CT), added to either regular care or medication, is helpful in preventing relapse/recurrence. Little is known which type of persons benefit from preventive CT, the so called 'aptitude treatment interaction' effect.

Preventing relapse/recurrence in recurrent depression with cognitive therapy: a randomized controlled trial.

This article reports on the outcome of a randomized controlled trial of cognitive group therapy (CT) to prevent relapse/recurrence in a group of high-risk patients diagnosed with recurrent depression. Recurrently depressed patients (N = 187) currently in remission following various types of treatment were randomized to treatment as usual, including continuation of pharmacotherapy, or to treatment as usual augmented with brief CT. Relapse/recurrence to major depression was assessed over 2 years.

Psychotic symptoms among male adolescent detainees in The Netherlands.

This study investigated the prevalence of psychotic symptoms among incarcerated boys as well as the relationship between these symptoms and violent offending and criminal recidivism. The presence of psychotic symptoms was assessed in a representative sample of 204 incarcerated boys aged 12-18 using the Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children (DISC-2.3).

Psychiatric disorders in a representative sample of incarcerated boys in the Netherlands.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of psychiatric disorders among incarcerated male adolescents and to investigate the influence of psychopathology on allocation to either plain detention or detention with compulsory treatment.

Method: A cross-sectional study of a representative sample (N = 204) of incarcerated boys aged 12 to 18, using the Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children (DISC). Data were collected from December 1998 to December 1999.

Substance use, substance use disorders, and comorbidity patterns in a representative sample of incarcerated male Dutch adolescents.

The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of substance use and substance use disorders (SUDs) among incarcerated boys, and comorbidity patterns and the relationship between SUDs and violent offending and criminal recidivism. The presence of SUDs and other psychiatric disorders was assessed in a representative sample of 204 incarcerated boys aged 12 to 18 years using the Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children (DISC). Ninety-two percent had used alcohol, 86% had used cannabis, and 33% had used other substances.

Attitudes of patients toward the first psychotic episode and the start of treatment.

Consecutively admitted patients with recent-onset schizophrenia disorders (n = 56) were interviewed about their awareness of mental disorder at first occurrence of psychotic symptoms, their views about the necessity of psychiatric treatment, their perception of the role of others in initiating psychiatric treatment, and suggestions they might have about getting treatment started at an earlier point in time. About 57 percent of the patients had at least some awareness of having a mental disorder at onset of psychotic symptoms, and 61 percent of the sample believed psychiatric help was unnecessary prior to the start of psychiatric treatment. A majority of the patients (91%) perceived others to be essential in initiating treatment.

Fluvoxamine reduces responsiveness of HPA axis in adult female BPD patients with a history of sustained childhood abuse.

The aim of the study is to test whether fluvoxamine affects the function of the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis in female borderline (borderline personality disorder, BPD) patients with and without a history of sustained childhood abuse. Special attention is given to the presence of comorbid major depressive disorder (MDD) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The HPA axis of 30 female BPD patients with (n = 17) and without (n = 13) a history of sustained childhood abuse was challenged with a combined dexamethasone and corticotropin releasing hormone test (DEX/CRH test) before and after 6 (n = 14) and 12 (n = 16) weeks of fluvoxamine treatment (150 mg/day).

Hyperresponsiveness of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis to combined dexamethasone/corticotropin-releasing hormone challenge in female borderline personality disorder subjects with a history of sustained childhood abuse.

Background: High coincidence of childhood abuse, major depressive disorder (MDD), and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has been reported in patients with borderline personality disorder (BPD). Animals exposed to early trauma show increased stress-induced hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activity due to an enhanced corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) drive and glucocorticoid feedback resistance. In humans, PTSD and MDD are associated with decreased and increased resistance to glucocorticoid feedback, respectively, which might reflect persistent changes in neuroendocrine sequelae following childhood abuse.

SSRI treatment of borderline personality disorder: a randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial for female patients with borderline personality disorder.

Objective: Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are recommended for treatment of affect lability, impulsivity, and aggression in patients with borderline personality disorder. This recommendation is based on positive findings in at least 10 open studies and one small double-blind study of SSRIs for patients with borderline personality disorder and one study of impulsive aggressive patients with different personality disorders. A randomized, placebo-controlled SSRI study with borderline personality disorder patients, however, provided inconclusive results because of a large response to placebo.