The response to September 11: a disaster case study.

Background: The response to 9/11 continues into its 14th year. The World Trade Center Health Program (WTCHP), a long-term monitoring and treatment program now funded by the Zadroga Act of 2010, includes >60,000 World Trade Center (WTC) disaster responders and community members ("survivors"). The aim of this review is to identify several elements that have had a critical impact on the evolution of the WTC response and, directly or indirectly, the health of the WTC-exposed population.

Lack of effect of stimulant combination with second-generation antipsychotics on weight gain, metabolic changes, prolactin levels, and sedation in youth with clinically relevant aggression or oppositionality.

Background: Second-generation antipsychotics (SGAs) are associated with weight gain, metabolic abnormalities, sedation/sleep disturbance, and prolactin abnormalities, especially in youths. Although stimulants have opposing dopamine receptor and adverse effects, it is unclear whether stimulant co-treatment counteracts the therapeutic or side effects of antipsychotics.

Methods: This was a naturalistic cohort study including 153 antipsychotic trials in youths aged 4-19 (mean, 11.

A placebo-controlled trial of bupropion combined with nicotine patch for smoking cessation in schizophrenia.

Background: Individuals with schizophrenia smoke at higher rates (58%-88%) than the general population (approximately 22%), and have difficulty quitting. We determined whether the combination of sustained-release (SR) bupropion (BUP) with the transdermal nicotine patch (TNP) was well-tolerated and superior to placebo (PLO)+TNP for smoking cessation in schizophrenia.

Methods: A 10-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of BUP (300 mg/day) in combination with TNP (21 mg/24h) for 58 outpatient smokers with schizophrenia was conducted.

Neuropsychological deficits in nonsmokers with schizophrenia: effects of a nicotinic antagonist.

Background: Biochemical, physiological and genetic evidence suggests dysregulation of central nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) systems in schizophrenia, which may contribute to neuropsychological dysfunction and the high rates of smoking in this disorder. To evaluate the effects of nAChR blockade on neuropsychological performance in schizophrenia without the confounding effects of cigarette smoking, we compared neuropsychological performance in schizophrenia and healthy control nonsmokers after pre-treatment with the centrally-acting nAChR antagonist mecamylamine (MEC).

Methods: Using a within-subjects, counterbalanced design, schizophrenia (n = 14) and control (n = 15) nonsmokers were pre-treated for 3 days with MEC (0.

Effects of cigarette smoking on spatial working memory and attentional deficits in schizophrenia: involvement of nicotinic receptor mechanisms.

Background: Cigarette smoking rates in schizophrenia are higher than in the general population.

Objectives: To determine whether cigarette smoking modifies cognitive deficits in schizophrenia and to establish the role of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) in mediating cigarette smoking-related cognitive enhancement.

Design: Neuropsychological assessments were performed at smoking baseline, after overnight abstinence, and after smoking reinstatement across 3 separate test weeks during which subjects were pretreated in a counterbalanced manner with the nonselective nAChR antagonist mecamylamine hydrochloride (0, 5, or 10 mg/d).

Non-nicotine pharmacotherapies for nicotine dependence.

The smoking rate for patients with schizophrenia reaches as high as 90% in clinical samples, 70% for patients with bipolar disorder, and 40% to 50% for patients with major depression and anxiety disorders. Because it is a significant health hazard, smoking should be aggressively discouraged, and, in this group of patients, a combination of behavioral therapy and pharmacotherapy currently offers the best option. Nicotine provides a number of benefits, including anxiety relief, increased alertness, and improved cognitive functioning.

Smoking cue reactivity in schizophrenia: effects of a nicotinic receptor antagonist.

Background: Rates of cigarette smoking in schizophrenia are higher than in the general population. To investigate differences in sensitivity to smoking cues between schizophrenia and control subjects, we compared smoking cue reactivity (CR) in schizophrenia versus control smokers with and without pretreatment with the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) antagonist mecamylamine (MEC).

Methods: Smoking CR in schizophrenia (n = 22) and nonpsychiatric control (n = 20) smokers was determined using exposure to smoking pictures.

Neuropsychological deficits are associated with smoking cessation treatment failure in patients with schizophrenia.

Schizophrenics have deficits in neuropsychological performance, some of which are modified by cigarette smoking. These patients also have high rates of smoking and resistance to smoking cessation interventions. We examined whether the presence of neuropsychological deficits prior to smoking cessation treatment was associated with smoking cessation treatment failure in schizophrenic as compared to non-psychiatric control smokers.