Techniques for randomization and allocation for clinical trials.

Intervention studies require all participants to originate from the same population, with random allocation to intervention groups to ensure comparability. Randomization is crucial for minimizing confounding factors, allowing differences in outcomes to be attributed to the intervention. Simple randomization performs well for large samples (>100 per group), but smaller samples may require block or stratified randomization to balance group sizes and covariates.

Affective temperaments: Effects on treatment response for major depression.

There is growing interest in assessing affective temperaments in relation to major depressive disorder (MDD) and bipolar disorder (BD). Needed is evaluation of the impact of temperament ratings on responses to treatment of depression in these disorders. We measured treatment response as %-improvement in HDRS depression ratings and correlated this measure as well as response rate (≥50 % improvement) with TEMPS-A ratings of anxious, cyclothymic, dysthymic, hyperthymic, and irritable affective temperaments in 2264 mood-disorder patients (1165 BD, 1099 MDD; 62.

Efficacy and tolerability of 1.6% phenol-croton peeling versus topical 5% imiquimod in the treatment of actinic cheilitis: a randomized clinical trial.

Background: Trials evaluating the effectiveness of topical treatments for actinic cheilitis (AC) are scarce. Despite no comparative data, phenol-croton peeling has been reported as effective in treating this condition.

Methods: An open, randomized trial was conducted to compare the effectiveness and tolerability of 1.

Responses to clinical treatment of bipolar versus unipolar depressive episodes in women versus men.

Background: Whether responses to treatment of major depressive episodes differ between women and men or with bipolar (BD) and major depressive disorders (MDD) remains unresolved.

Aims: To test for diagnostic and sex differences in responses to treatment of depression.

Methods: We compared changes in the 21-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) ratings of depression ( = 3243) between women (64.

Late olfactory bulb involvement in COVID-19.

Transient or persistent hypo-anosmia is common in SARS‑CoV‑2 infection but olfactory pathway late-term morphometric changes are still under investigation. We evaluated late olfactory bulb (OB) imaging changes and their correlates with the olfactory function in otherwise neurologically asymptomatic COVID-19 patients. Eighty-three subjects (mean-age 43 ± 14 yr; 54 females; time-interval infection/MRI: 129±68 d) were affected by asymptomatic to mild COVID-19 in 2020 and 25 healthy controls (mean-age 40 ± 13 yr; 9 females) underwent 3T-MRI and olfactory function evaluation through anamnestic questionnaire and Sniffin' Sticks.

Service users perspectives on psychosis-risk terminology: An Italian study on labeling terms preferences and stigma.

Aims: The current range of labeling terms-at-risk mental state (ARMS), ultra-high risk for psychosis (UHR), and attenuated psychotic syndrome (APS)-used to refer to the psychosis-risk concept is varied, and their acceptability and potential stigma are not well understood. By involving Italian youth with lived experience of mental ill-health, we aimed to generate new labeling terms for psychosis-risk, and to evaluate literacy, attitudes, and preferences regarding these and the existing terms. Additionally, we investigated opinions of disclosure of the at-risk concept in clinical practice.

Prediction of medical admissions after psychiatric inpatient hospitalization in bipolar disorder: a retrospective cohort study.

Objective: Bipolar Disorder (BD) is a severe mental illness associated with high rates of general medical comorbidity, reduced life expectancy, and premature mortality. Although BD has been associated with high medical hospitalization, the factors that contribute to this risk remain largely unexplored. We used baseline medical and psychiatric records to develop a supervised machine learning model to predict general medical admissions after discharge from psychiatric hospitalization.

Association between exposure to antidepressants and stimulants and age at onset of mania or psychosis: A retrospective population-based cohort study.

This study investigated the impact of prior antidepressant and stimulant exposure on the age at onset (AAO) of first episode mania (FEM) or psychosis (FEP). Patients with FEP and FEM born after 1985 in Olmsted County, Minnesota, were identified using the Rochester Epidemiology Project. Duration and peak dose of antidepressant and stimulant exposure were quantified by review of the electronic health record.

Risk factors, prevention and treatment of weight gain associated with the use of antidepressants and antipsychotics: a state-of-the-art clinical review.

Introduction: People with severe mental illness have poor cardiometabolic health. Commonly used antidepressants and antipsychotics frequently lead to weight gain, which may further contribute to adverse cardiovascular outcomes.

Areas Covered: We searched MEDLINE up to April 2023 for umbrella reviews, (network-)meta-analyses, trials and cohort studies on risk factors, prevention and treatment strategies of weight gain associated with antidepressants/antipsychotics.

Antidepressant-associated diagnostic change from major depressive to bipolar disorder.

Background: Anticipating diagnostic change from major depressive (MDD) to bipolar disorder (BD) can support better prognosis and treatment, especially of depression but is challenging and reported research results are inconsistent. We therefore assessed clinical characteristics associated with diagnostic change from MDD to BD with antidepressant treatments.

Methods: We compared characteristics of 3212 initially MDD patients who became (hypo)manic during antidepressant treatment to those with stable MDD diagnoses as well as with cases of stable, spontaneous BD, using standard bivariate and multivariate statistics.

Efficacy and safety of 0.5% colchicine cream versus 5% 5-fluorouracil cream in the treatment of cutaneous field cancerization: a randomized clinical trial.

Background: 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) is a first-line drug to treat cutaneous field cancerization (CFC). There are few clinical trials with topical colchicine (COL).

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of 0.

Pharmacogenomic overlap between antidepressant treatment response in major depression & antidepressant associated treatment emergent mania in bipolar disorder.

There is increasing interest in individualizing treatment selection for more than 25 regulatory approved treatments for major depressive disorder (MDD). Despite an inconclusive efficacy evidence base, antidepressants (ADs) are prescribed for the depressive phase of bipolar disorder (BD) with oftentimes, an inadequate treatment response and or clinical concern for mood destabilization. This study explored the relationship between antidepressant response in MDD and antidepressant-associated treatment emergent mania (TEM) in BD.

Current Status and Treatment of Rapid Cycling Bipolar Disorder.

Background: Rapid cycling (RC) at least 4 recurrent episodes per year in bipolar disorder (BD) has been recognized since the 1970s. We now comment on our recent review of the topic and extensive RC analysis in a large clinical cohort, emphasizing therapeutics research.

Comments: Prevalence of RC-BD averages 36% for any year versus 22% in the preceding year.

Early sexual or physical abuse in female and male mood disorder patients.

Early abuse has been associated with psychiatric morbidity but comparisons of bipolar (BD) and major depressive (MDD) disorder subjects with versus without early sexual or physical abuse are rare. Patients (n = 684) diagnosed with a DSM-5-TR major mood disorder were evaluated and followed for several years at mood disorder centers to compare details of history and clinical status in participants with versus without early sexual or physical abuse. Early history of sexual (16.

Association between calcium channel blockers and the severity of actinic keratosis on face and scalp: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Actinic keratosis (AK) is a skin condition associated with age, sun exposure, and immunosuppression. Certain drugs, such as photosensitizing medications and calcium channel blockers (CCBs), have been linked to AK. This study explores the impact of individual, behavioral, and exposure factors on the severity of AKs on the face and scalp.