The association between aberrant salience and psychotic experiences in general population twins, and genetic vulnerability as a modifier.

Background: Previous studies assessing the hypothesis that the construct of 'aberrant salience' is associated with psychosis and psychotic symptoms showed conflicting results. For this reason, the association between measures to index aberrant salience and subclinical psychotic symptoms in a general population sample was analysed. In addition, genetic vulnerability was added to the analysis as a modifier to test the hypothesis that modification by genetic vulnerability may explain variability in the results.

Characterizing the dynamics, reactivity and controllability of moods in depression with a Kalman filter.

Background: Mood disorders involve a complex interplay between multifaceted internal emotional states, and complex external inputs. Dynamical systems theory suggests that this interplay between aspects of moods and environmental stimuli may hence determine key psychopathological features of mood disorders, including the stability of mood states, the response to external inputs, how controllable mood states are, and what interventions are most likely to be effective. However, a comprehensive computational approach to all these aspects has not yet been undertaken.

Homelessness and housing problems in admitted psychiatric patients in Flanders, Belgium.

Homelessness in psychiatric patients in Flanders, Belgium, has never been investigated. Advocacy groups from patients with lived experience of psychiatric disorders have sounded the alarm on the scarcity of suitable housing options, the strain on psychiatric institutions, and the challenges faced by social service workers. To investigate the extent of the problem a survey on the topic was initiated.

Evaluating Monitoring Guidelines of Clozapine-Induced Adverse Effects: a Systematic Review.

Background And Objectives: Despite the evidence that no other antipsychotic is effective as clozapine for the treatment of resistant schizophrenia, it is associated with various metabolic, neuroendocrine, cardiovascular, and gastrointestinal adverse effects. Guidelines aiming to address the monitoring of clozapine's (serious) adverse effects can be helpful to prevent and treat these effects. However, many of these guidelines seem to lack one or more important monitoring recommendations.

Gene-environment interaction study on the polygenic risk score for neuroticism, childhood adversity, and parental bonding.

The present study examines whether neuroticism is predicted by genetic vulnerability, summarized as polygenic risk score for neuroticism (PRS), in interaction with bullying, parental bonding, and childhood adversity. Data were derived from a general population adolescent and young adult twin cohort. The final sample consisted of 202 monozygotic and 436 dizygotic twins and 319 twin pairs.

Associations between childhood adversity, psychiatric symptoms, and self-esteem outcomes in adolescents and young adults: An experience sampling study.

Objectives: Self-esteem and self-esteem stability are important factors during adolescence and young adulthood that can be negatively impacted by childhood adversity and psychiatric symptoms. We examined whether childhood adversity and psychiatric symptoms are associated with decreased global self-esteem as well as increased self-esteem instability as measured with experience sampling method. In addition, we examined if childhood adversity moderates the association between psychiatric symptoms and self-esteem outcomes.

Gender differences in the associations between childhood adversity and psychopathology in the general population.

Purpose: To explore gender differences of the associations between childhood adversity (CA) subtypes and psychiatric symptoms in the general population.

Methods: Data of 791 participants were retrieved from a general population twin cohort. The Symptom Checklist-90 Revised (SCL-90) and the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire were used to assess overall psychopathology with nine symptom domains scores and total CA with exposure to five CA subtypes, respectively.

Psychiatrists and other medical professionals in Belgium show a substantial lack of knowledge about poverty.

The bidirectional relationship between poverty and poor physical and mental health is well-known. All physicians should have sufficient knowledge on poverty as a social determinant and its impact on (mental) health. The knowledge of poverty in physicians is seldom investigated.

Media coverage of Belgium's first criminal case concerning euthanasia for psychiatric patients: A content analysis of Flemish newspapers and magazines.

Background: Belgium is one of the few countries worldwide where euthanasia on the grounds of unbearable suffering caused by a psychiatric disorder is legally possible. In April 2010 euthanasia was carried out on a 38-year-old Belgian woman with borderline personality disorder and/or autism. After a complaint by the family, three physicians were referred to the Court of Assizes on the charge of "murder by poisoning".

Coping and sleep quality in youth: An Experience Sampling study.

Introduction: Sleep quality is closely linked with mental health. Two factors that influence sleep are coping style and locus of control, yet these have not been investigated in daily life. In this study, we examined associations between coping styles and sleep quality in daily life and the potential mediating effect of daily locus of control in a sample of youth, a group particularly vulnerable to developing psychopathology.

Falls Among Psychiatric Inpatients: A Systematic Review of Literature.

Background: Falls among psychiatric inpatients are common and have significant health consequences. The purpose of this study is to systematically review the published research on risk factors and consequences.

Methods: PubMed and Embase were searched for relevant studies.

Prevalence and characteristics of registered falls in a Belgian University Psychiatric Hospital.

Objectives: Falls in elderly patients treated in general hospitals have already been the focus of several studies. Research within psychiatric settings, however, remains limited, despite the fact that this population has a number of characteristics that could increase the fall risk. The aim of this retrospective study was to estimate the prevalence of falling in patients with a psychiatric hospital setting.

Depression and post-traumatic stress disorder after perinatal loss in fathers: A systematic review.

Background: Research indicates that perinatal loss can cause profound psychological consequences in parents. However, a comprehensive summary of existing quantitative literature describing the association between perinatal loss and the development of depression/depressive symptoms or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)/post-traumatic stress (PTS) symptoms in fathers has not been published.

Methods: A systematic literature search (from inception to December 2021), using the PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science databases to articles assessing depressive or PTS symptoms, was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines.

Digital pills for the remote monitoring of medication intake: a stakeholder analysis and assessment of marketing approval and patent granting policies.

This article explores whether 'digital pills' that track medication intake should be used to enhance adherence. We concentrate on psychiatric conditions since these pose unique challenges. We analyze two public policies that potentially encourage the development of systems for remote monitoring of intake, namely the granting of patents and marketing authorization, and identify key stakeholders and their main interests so as to discuss whether these policies provide disproportionate benefits to some.

Severe Mental Illness and Cardiovascular Disease: JACC State-of-the-Art Review.

People with severe mental illness, consisting of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depression, have a high burden of modifiable cardiovascular risk behaviors and conditions and have a cardiovascular mortality rate twice that of the general population. People with acute and chronic cardiovascular disease are at a higher risk of developing mental health symptoms and disease. There is emerging evidence for shared etiological factors between severe mental illness and cardiovascular disease that includes biological, genetic, and behavioral mechanisms.

Improving control over euthanasia of persons with psychiatric illness: Lessons from the first Belgian criminal court case concerning euthanasia.

Background: Belgium is one of very few countries that legally allow euthanasia for suffering caused by psychiatric illness. In the first criminal trial in Belgium of physicians involved in euthanasia, three physicians recently faced the accusation of "murder by poisoning," for allegedly having failed to comply with several requirements of the Belgian Euthanasia Law in granting the euthanasia request a woman suffering from psychiatric illness. Although all three physicians were acquitted, the case generated much debate among policy makers, medical professionals, and the general public.

General psychopathology and its social correlates in the daily lives of youth.

Background: Adolescence is a period of both great social change, and of vulnerability to psychiatric distress. However, little is known about the associations between early psychopathology and social interactions at the fundamental level of daily life. To better understand the social correlates of subclinical psychopathology in adolescence, we assessed associations between general psychopathology and the quantity and quality of daily-life social interactions.

Be(com)ing social: Daily-life social interactions and parental bonding.

Parents are known to provide a lasting basis for their children's social development. Understanding parent-driven socialization is particularly relevant in adolescence, as an increasing social independence is developed. However, the relationship between key parenting styles of care and control and the microlevel expression of daily-life social interactions has been insufficiently studied.

Barriers to Somatic Health Care for Persons With Severe Mental Illness in Belgium: A Qualitative Study of Patients' and Healthcare Professionals' Perspectives.

Background: A huge and still growing mortality gap between people with severe mental illness (SMI) and the general population exists. Physical illnesses, mainly cardiovascular diseases, substantially contribute to the high mortality rates in patients with SMI. Disparities in somatic health care access, utilisation, and provision contribute to these poor physical health outcomes.

COVID-19-Related Mortality Risk in People With Severe Mental Illness: A Systematic and Critical Review.

Increasing clinical evidence suggests that people with severe mental illness (SMI), including schizophrenia spectrum disorders, bipolar disorder (BD), and major depressive disorder (MDD), are at higher risk of dying from COVID-19. Several systematic reviews examining the association between psychiatric disorders and COVID-19-related mortality have recently been published. Although these reviews have been conducted thoroughly, certain methodological limitations may hinder the accuracy of their research findings.