Metalated intact and deprotonated histidyl glycine and glycyl histidine dipeptides were investigated in the gas phase by using infrared multiple photon dissociation (IRMPD) spectroscopy with light from a free-electron laser (FEL). The dipeptides M(GlyHis), M(HisGly), [M(GlyHis-H)], and [M(HisGly-H)], where M = Zn and Cd, were probed to elucidate how the His position along the peptide chain and ligand charge state might influence the structures observed in the gas phase. Simulated annealing calculations were performed to determine energetically low-lying conformers and isomers of these structures.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: There are ongoing concerns regarding the impact of Canada's cannabis legalization and commercialization on vulnerable persons such as those with serious forms of mental illness, including persons with schizophrenia-spectrum disorders and users of forensic mental health services. The primary objective of this study was to investigate the potential harms and mental health-related impacts associated with cannabis legalization on a sample of forensic patients in Ontario (N = 187).
Methods: Using a pseudo-prospective design, we investigated the frequency of cannabis use over a four-year period encompassing two years preceding and two years following the legislative change.
J Am Acad Psychiatry Law
March 2024
The experience of burnout in forensic psychiatrists has not been well studied, with most studies focusing on the experiences of forensic nurses, the impact of vicarious trauma and compassion fatigue in forensic mental health professionals, and the risk of posttraumatic stress disorder related to workplace exposures. This study reports on a national survey (34% response rate) conducted with forensic psychiatrists across Canada to understand the rate of, and contributors to, burnout and professional fulfillment. Just over half of the physician respondents reported experiencing burnout, which is in line with other recent surveys in Canada that have indicated elevated levels of burnout since the onset of the pandemic.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: Individuals with chronic psychotic disorders are overrepresented in correctional facilities, but little is known about factors that increase the risk of correctional involvement. The objective of this study was to compare individuals with chronic psychotic disorders who were released from correctional facilities in Ontario to individuals with chronic psychotic disorders but no correctional involvement on sociodemographic, clinical, and prior mental health-related health service utilization characteristics.
Method: All individuals with chronic psychotic disorders who were released from a provincial correctional facility in Ontario in 2010 were matched (1:2) by age and sex to Ontario residents with chronic psychotic disorders and no correctional involvement.
Attitudes to vaccination arise from a complex interplay of personal and environmental factors. This has been true for the COVID-19 vaccination attitudes too and understanding personal factors would help design immunisation strategies that help in infectious disease control. The five-factor model of personality has been established as a valid construct in exploring individual attitudes and traits.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAdults living with intellectual and developmental disabilities are often prescribed psychotropic medication on an "as needed" basis (PRN) in response to behavioural challenges. In the present study we conducted a retrospective analysis of medication administration records in the 6-months preceding and following discharge of 11 adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities to community settings from forensic inpatient units within a mental health hospital. We found a significant reduction in the frequency of PRN usage after discharge.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Women comprise around 15% of admissions to provincial correctional institutions in Canada. Women in custody are known to have a high prevalence of mental health concerns, but little is known about how those referred to mental health services compare with referred men at a similar stage of imprisonment.
Aims: Our aim was to describe and compare clinical, social and demographic characteristics of a complete cohort of custodially remanded men and women who were referred to mental health services while under custodial remand in two correctional institutions.
Background: Individuals with severe mental illness are over-represented in correctional institutions. The scarcity of mental health services in prison settings has increased the demand for tools to screen effectively for mental health need. While the need for sensitivity is widely recognised, there has been less attention to specificity of screening tools.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Mental disorder is common among prisoners; however, little is known about how illness severity changes during incarceration, and especially to what extent there are different trajectories of change.
Aims: Our aims were to investigate trajectories of illness severity among male and female inmates with serious mental disorders, and to investigate whether clinical or demographic variables are associated with different trajectories.
Methods: We carried out a retrospective cohort study of newly remanded inmates who had three or more serial measures of illness severity as measured by psychiatrists using the Clinical Global Impression-Corrections (CGI-C), and used group-based trajectory modelling to identify trajectories.
Noncovalent interactions between alkali metals and amino acids are critical for many biological processes, especially for proper function of protein ion channels; however, many precise binding affinities between alkali metals and amino acids still need to be measured. This study addresses this need by using threshold collision-induced dissociation with a guided ion beam tandem mass spectrometer to measure binding affinities between potassium cations and the aliphatic amino acids: Gly, Ala, hAla, Val, Leu, and Ile. These measurements are supplemented by theoretical calculations and include commentary on effects of enthalpy, entropy, and structural preference.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Rising demand for correctional mental health services (CMHS) in recent decades has been a global phenomenon. Despite increasing research, there are major gaps in understanding the best models for CMHS and how to measure their effectiveness, particularly studies that consider the overall care pathways and effectiveness of service responses. The STAIR (Screening, Triage, Assessment, Intervention, and Re-integration) model is an evidence-based framework that defines and measures CMHS as a clinical pathway with a series of measurable, and linked functions.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAvailable evidence suggests that persons with serious forms of mental illness are 4-10 times more likely to commit homicide as compared to non-affected members of the general population. The relationship between homicide and psychotic illness has now been subject to longitudinal investigation in six different populations across eight studies covering time periods over the last six decades. With the exception of one study, these investigations demonstrate that homicide associated with psychotic illness appears relatively stable through time and, in most populations, is not related to factors that contribute to the rise and fall of total population homicide (TPH) rates.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: Little is known about the health care costs of individuals with chronic psychotic disorders who experience incarceration. This study sought to address this knowledge gap.
Methods: The authors analyzed linked 2007-2010 correctional and administrative health care data on sex- and age-matched individuals with chronic psychotic disorders with and without known incarceration in prison for up to 2 years in the Ontario correctional system.
Focal cortical dysplasia (FCD) is one of the most common malformations causing refractory epilepsy. Dysregulation of glutamatergic systems plays a critical role in the hyperexcitability of dysplastic neurons in FCD lesions. The pharmacoresistant nature of epilepsy associated with FCD may be due to a lack of well-tolerated and precise antiepileptic drugs that can target glutamate receptors.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF22q11.2-deletion syndrome is a genetic disorder caused by a small deletion of chromosome 22. This deletion often results in developmental delays, learning disabilities, medical conditions, and comorbid psychiatric conditions.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Vaccine hesitancy is a global threat undermining control of preventable infections. Emerging evidence suggests that hesitancy to COVID-19 vaccination varies globally. Qatar has a unique population with around 90% of the population being economic migrants, and the degree and determinants of hesitancy are not known.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMeasurement-based care (MBC) is the systematic evaluation of a patient's symptoms or factors before or during an encounter. It is used to inform treatment and behavioral health interventions. This article argues that MBC is the natural consequence flowing from evidence-based practice.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAlcohol consumption is known to have a disinhibiting effect and is associated with a higher likelihood of aggressive behavior, especially among men. People with certain personality traits maybe more likely to behave aggressively when intoxicated, and there may also be variation by gender. We aimed to investigate whether the reason why men and women with certain personality traits are more likely to engage in violence may be because of their alcohol use.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: A small proportion of people who have serious mental illness and rapid and frequent incarcerations account for a disproportionate amount of overall service use and cost. It is important to describe such individuals, so that services can respond more effectively.
Methods: We investigated a cohort of 4,704 incarcerated men and women who were discharged from a correctional mental health service and followed for a median of 535 days.
Can J Psychiatry
April 2021
Objectives: Individuals with schizophrenia are overrepresented in correctional facilities relative to their population-based prevalence. The purpose of this study was to determine the rate and predictors of reincarceration of individuals with schizophrenia after release from correctional facilities.
Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study that included all people released from Ontario's provincial correctional facilities from January 1 to December 31, 2010.
Objectives: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic presents major challenges to places of detention, including secure forensic hospitals. International guidance presents a range of approaches to assist in decreasing the risk of COVID-19 outbreaks as well as responses to manage outbreaks of infection should they occur.
Methods: We conducted a literature search on pandemic or outbreak management in forensic mental health settings, including gray literature sources, from 2000 to April 2020.