Detecting transitions in bipolar disorder (BD) is essential for implementing early interventions. Our aim was to identify the earliest indicator(s) of the onset of a hypomanic episode in BD. We hypothesized that objective changes in sleep would be the earliest indicator of a new hypomanic or manic episode.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: The Big Five Inventory (BFI) is a popular measure that evaluates personality on the Big-Five model. Apart from its utilization across cultures, the literature did not reveal any meta-analysis for the reliability of the different versions of the BFI and its translations. The current study carried out a reliability generalization meta-analysis (REGEMA) to establish the reliability of the BFI across cultures and languages.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Bipolar disorder (BD) imposes significant social, psychological, and economic burdens on individuals and their caregivers. While developing treatments for BD patients is crucial, supportive interventions for caregivers in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are equally important, given the limited resources and healthcare infrastructure. Understanding caregiver experiences in these settings is essential for creating effective interventions.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: To determine the relationships between psilocybin dose, psychedelic experiences, and therapeutic outcome in treatment-resistant depression.
Methods: For treatment-resistant depression, 233 participants received a single dose of 25, 10, or 1 mg of COMP360 psilocybin (a proprietary, pharmaceutical-grade synthesized psilocybin formulation, developed by the sponsor, Compass Pathfinder Ltd.) with psychological support.
Background: In 2016, Uganda introduced services for hypertension and diabetes in selected HIV clinics. We evaluated the costs associated with scaling up these services in HIV clinics in Mbarara and Ibanda districts, Uganda.
Methods: We estimated the annual costs of providing hypertension and diabetes services using an activity-based costing approach from the health system perspective in ten randomly selected HIV clinics in Mbarara and Ibanda districts.
Background: Negative perceptions of psilocybin and challenges of participant enrollment may represent barriers to conducting a randomized controlled trial examining psilocybin for chronic neuropathic pain.
Aim: Prior to trial initiation, we aimed to examine patient attitudes toward the trial via a prospective preference assessment.
Methods: Twenty-six patients with chronic neuropathic pain participated in a prospective preference assessment comprising quantitative (survey) and qualitative (interview) components.
Background: Existing research on the psychosocial wellbeing of sheltered women is primarily from Western contexts, with limited studies from collectivistic cultures like Pakistan. This study aims to compare the psychosocial health and illness of sheltered women in Pakistan with those of women living with their families.
Methods: A total of 184 sheltered women and 207 women from the general population from four Pakistani cities participated in this study.
Introduction: The use of antidepressants in bipolar disorder (BD) remains contentious, in part due to the risk of antidepressant-induced mania (AIM). However, there is no information on the architecture of mood regulation in patients who have experienced AIM. We compared the architecture of mood regulation in euthymic patients with and without a history of AIM.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: International hypertension treatment guidelines recommend initiating pharmacological treatment with combination therapy and using fixed dose single pill combinations (SPCs) to improve adherence. However, few countries have adopted combination therapy as a form of first-line treatment and SPC uptake in low- and middle-income countries is low due in part to cost and availability. Evidence on costs and cost-effectiveness is needed as health authorities consider incorporating new recommendations into national clinical practice guidelines.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Psychopharmacol
September 2024
Background: Variable benefits have been reported from the adjunctive use of simvastatin and the 5HT3 receptor antagonist, ondansetron, in patients with schizophrenia. We investigated their independent efficacy and possible synergy to improve negative symptoms of schizophrenia within a single trial.
Methods: A 6-month, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial with a 4-arm, 2 × 2 factorial design, in three centres in Pakistan.
Background: Gerascophobia, or excessive fear of aging, is thought to be caused by a mixture of cognitive, experiential, and physiological factors acting on a person at particular time points. Measurement tools for evaluating geraschophobia remain insufficiently developed, despite this commonplace fear's distress.
Objective: The objective of the current study was to develop and validate the Gerascophobia or Excessive Fear of Aging Scale (GEFAS) and analyze its psychometric properties.
Schizophr Bull Open
January 2024
Background And Hypothesis: Oxidative stress pathways may play a role in schizophrenia through direct neuropathic actions, microglial activation, inflammation, and by interfering with NMDA neurotransmission. -acetylcysteine (NAC) has been shown to improve negative symptoms of schizophrenia, however, results from trials of other compounds targeting NMDA neurotransmission have been mixed. This may reflect poor target engagement but also that risk mechanisms act in parallel.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: Posterior left atrial wall isolation (PWI) plus traditional pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) has been proposed as a promising intervention to decrease atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence. We aim to investigate the efficacy and safety of adding PWI to the traditional PVI in patients with AF.
Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted using synthesizing randomized controlled trials (RCTs) retrieved by systematically searching PubMed, Web of Science, SCOPUS, EMBASE, and Cochrane through June 14, 2023.
Background: Psychotic disorders have long been considered neurodevelopmental disorders where excessive synaptic pruning and cortical volume loss are central to disease pathology. We conducted a systematic review of the literature to identify neuroimaging studies specifically examining synaptic density across the psychosis spectrum.
Methods: PRISMA guidelines on reporting were followed.
Background: Postpartum blues (PPB) is a frequent syndrome of sad mood, crying spells, anxiety, restlessness, reduced appetite, and irritability, typically peaking day 5 postpartum. When severe, it greatly increases risk for later postpartum depression. This trial compared a dietary supplement to placebo on PPB severity.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Clinical trials have demonstrated rapid antidepressant effects with intravenous (IV) ketamine for major depressive disorder, with relatively less research specifically for bipolar depression. Herein, we describe the real-world effectiveness of repeated ketamine infusions for treatment-resistant bipolar depression.
Methods: This study was conducted in a community clinic in Mississauga, Ontario (Canadian Rapid Treatment Centre of Excellence; Braxia Health).
There is limited information on the association between participants' clinical status or trajectories and missing data in electronic monitoring studies of bipolar disorder (BD). We collected self-ratings scales and sensor data in 145 adults with BD. Using a new metric, Missing Data Ratio (MDR), we assessed missing self-rating data and sensor data monitoring activity and sleep.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: Estimate the incremental costs and benefits of scaling up hypertension care in adults in 24 select countries, using three different systolic blood pressure (SBP) treatment cut-off points-≥140, ≥150 and ≥160 mm Hg.
Intervention: Strengthening the hypertension care cascade compared with status quo levels, with pharmacological treatment administered at different cut-points depending on the scenario.
Target Population: Adults aged 30+ in 24 low-income and middle-income countries spanning all world regions.
PLOS Glob Public Health
February 2024
Despite the high burden of hyperlipidemia and the effectiveness of treatment, evidence suggests that the accessibility of hyperlipidemia medicines can be low in many low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The aim of this study was to identify common barriers to the accessibility of medicines for hyperlipidemia in LMICs. A multimethod analysis and multiple data sources were used to assess the accessibility and barriers of medicines for hyperlipidemia in selected LMICs.
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