From Research to Policy Implementation: Trastuzumab in Early-Stage Breast Cancer Treatment in Thailand.

Objectives: To evaluate the adjuvant therapy of trastuzumab cost and quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) in lifetime horizon and describe the use of an economic evaluation in supporting policy-making decisions in the treatment of early-stage breast cancer in Thailand.

Methods: A Markov model was used to evaluate the cost effectiveness of 1-year adjuvant trastuzumab for patients with early-stage breast cancer who were considered human epidermal growth factor receptor 2/neu-positive with a societal perspective and lifetime horizon. The research variables were probability of health state change, health utility, and cost of treatment.

Evaluation of sleep profile in schizophrenia patients treated with extended-release paliperidone: an open-label prospective study in Southeast Asia.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of 6 months of treatment with paliperidone extended-release (ER) tablets on the sleep profile of patients with schizophrenia.

Methods: A total of 984 patients meeting the (DSM-IV) criteria for schizophrenia who switched their antipsychotic to paliperidone ER were recruited from 61 sites in five countries in Southeast Asia. We recorded patient demographics and assessed sleep quality and daytime drowsiness using visual analog scales.

Effects of paliperidone extended release on hostility among Thai patients with schizophrenia.

Objective: This open-label prospective study investigated the effects of paliperidone extended release (ER) on hostility in Thai patients with schizophrenia.

Background: Patients diagnosed with schizophrenia may be hostile or exhibit aggressive behavior, which can occasion their admission to psychiatric hospital. Antipsychotic medications are often used to treat hostility and aggression in such patients.

Hospitalization and cost after switching from atypical to typical antipsychotics in schizophrenia patients in Thailand.

Background: Several clinical practice guidelines suggest using atypical over typical antipsychotics in patients diagnosed with schizophrenia. Nevertheless, cost-containment policy urged restricting usage of atypical antipsychotics and switching from atypical to typical antipsychotics.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate clinical and economic impacts of switching from atypical to typical antipsychotics in schizophrenia patients in Thailand.

Recommendations for the optimal care of patients with recent-onset psychosis in the Asia-Pacific region.

Providing optimal care to patients with recent-onset psychosis can improve outcomes and reduce relapse. However, there is a lack of consistency of the implementation of guidelines for such patients across the Asia-Pacific region. We determined a pragmatic set of recommendations for use on a day-to-day basis to help provide optimal care at this crucial stage of illness.

Effects of medication adherence on hospitalizations and healthcare costs in patients with schizophrenia in Thailand.

Background: This study was conducted to determine the impacts of medication adherence on hospitalization and direct healthcare cost in patients with schizophrenia in Thailand.

Methods: A retrospective study was undertaken. Patients with schizophrenia aged 18-65 years who visited a University hospital and received antipsychotics from April 2011 to October 2011 were included.

Psychosocial functioning in schizophrenia: are some symptoms or demographic characteristics predictors across the functioning domains?

This study aimed to examine symptoms/demographic characteristics as predictors for psychosocial functioning among individuals with schizophrenia. The Personal and Social Performance (PSP) scale was used to assess psychosocial functioning. Other measures of interest included were the Clinical Global Impression, Severity scale, and the Marder's five-factor model of the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale.

Risk factors for an anxiety disorder comorbidity among Thai patients with bipolar disorder: results from the Thai Bipolar Disorder Registry.

Background: The aim of the study was to determine in a clinical setting the risk factors for current anxiety disorder (AD) comorbidity among Thai patients with bipolar disorder (BD), being treated under the Thai Bipolar Disorder Registry Project (TBDR).

Methods: The TBDR was a multisite naturalistic study conducted at 24 psychiatric units (ie, at university, provincial mental, and government general hospitals) between February 2009 and January 2011. Participants were in- or out-patients over 18 years of age who were diagnosed with BD according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition.

Cost-Utility Analysis of Home-Based Care for Treatment of Thai Hemophilia A and B.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the cost-utility of the home-based care policy versus the no home-based care policy of factor VIII and factor IX concentrate in Thai patients with hemophilia A and B who had no inhibitor or less than 5 Bethesda units.

Methods: A Markov model was used to evaluate the cost utility of the two policies. The first policy was "no home-based care" in which patients were treated with blood components only when admitted at the hospital but without home treatment.

Use of antidepressants in the treatment of depression in Asia: guidelines, clinical evidence, and experience revisited.

Major depressive disorder is prevalent worldwide, and only about half of those affected will experience no further episodes or symptoms. Additionally, depressive symptoms can be challenging to identify, with many patients going undiagnosed despite a wide variety of available treatment options. Antidepressants are the cornerstone of depression treatment; however, a large number of factors must be considered in selecting the treatment best suited to the individual.

Quality of life among the navies and their spouses survivors, six months after the tsunami disaster in Phang-Nga Naval Base, Thailand.

Objective: Identify the consequences for the survivors of the tsunami disaster on health related quality of life among members of the Navy and their spouses, six months after the disaster.

Material And Method: Using a structured questionnaire modified from the MOS SF-36. Four hundred thirty four subjects participated in the present study.

Quality of life, needs and the mode of coping of the health personnel at Naradhiwasrajanagarindra Hospital in terrorism influence area in Thailand.

The present study was to identify the quality of life (QOL), the needs of help and the mode of coping among the health personnel of Naradhiwasrajana garindra Hospital in a terrorism situation, the first research in Thailand. The chaos of separatist insurgency in the southern part of Thailand has been re-emerged since 2004. The present study was seeking for ways the health personnel coped with the situation while their quality of life and needs that were affected how they had handled the events were explored.

Comparisons of methamphetamine psychotic and schizophrenic symptoms: a differential item functioning analysis.

The concept of negative symptoms in methamphetamine (MA) psychosis (e.g., poverty of speech, flatten affect, and loss of drive) is still uncertain.

Risperidone long-acting injection (RLAI): the 12-week efficacy and tolerability in Thai patients with chronic schizophrenia.

Background: Although oral atypical antipsychotics have improved the outcomes in schizophrenia, the patient medication adherence plays role as the important factor to clinical potential of the drugs. Therefore, the long-acting formulations of antipsychotics have been developed to improve the treatment compliance in patient with schizophrenia and risperidone long-acting injection (RLAI) is the first long-acting injectable drug since then.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of long-acting risperidone injection in Thai patients with chronic schizophrenia for 12 weeks treatment.

Efficacy of valproate versus lithium in mania or mixed mania: a randomized, open 12-week trial.

The objective of this study was to compare the efficacy and safety of valproate and lithium in bipolar I patients experiencing a manic or a mixed episode. This international, randomized, open-label, parallel-group, equivalence study included 268 patients with bipolar I disorder. The starting dose of valproate was 20 mg/kg/day and that of lithium was 800 mg/day.

The treatment of major depressive disorders (MDD) in Thailand using escitalopram compared to fluoxetine and venlafaxine: a pharmacoeconomic evaluation.

A decision analytical model was used to compare expected health outcomes and costs of treating patients with major depression using new selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) escitalopram versus the other SSRI fluoxetine and the serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) venlafaxine. The primary health outcome measure was an overall treatment success, defined as a remission (Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) < or = 12), achieved over the 6 months of treatment. Estimated costs consisted of those directly related to treatment (drug acquisition costs, costs of psychiatric visits, hospital outpatient visits, hospitalization, and electroconvulsive therapy) and indirect costs associated with productivity lost due to depression.

Health-related quality of life in Thai bipolar disorder.

Background: Bipolar disorder (BPD) affects both patients 'functioning and well-being. Quality of life (QoL) has gained increasing attention as an important functional outcome in BPD. The present study was conducted to assess QoL of Thai BPD patients.

Factors influencing health-related quality of life in chronic liver disease.

Aim: To investigate the factors contributing to health-related quality of life (HRQL) in chronic liver disease (CLD).

Methods: Patients with CLD and age- and sex-matched normal subjects performed the validated Thai versions of the short-form 36 (SF-36) by health survey and chronic liver disease questionnaire (CLDQ). Stepwise multiple regression analysis was used to assess the impact of disease severity, demography, causes of CLD, socioeconomic factors, and self-rating health perception on HRQL.

Legal harm reduction among intravenous drug users.

Objective: HIV/AIDS infection in injecting drug users occurs with explosive rapidity and, having occurred, they can form a core group for further sexual and vertical transmission. As HIV transmission among injecting drug users can be extremely rapid, various approaches to intervention and obstructing the spread of HIV infection have been explored. Overall, these have been relatively ineffective so what has emerged, both in the developed and developing world, is harm reduction.

Asian outpatients with schizophrenia: a double-blind randomized comparison of quality of life and clinical outcomes for patients treated with olanzapine or haloperidol.

To examine the quality of life (QoL) and clinical outcomes for Asian schizophrenic outpatients treated with olanzapine or haloperidol. Patients were randomized to 24-weeks' treatment with either olanzapine (n = 144) or haloperidol (n = 132) in a double-blind, prospective, multi-country study. The QLS and WHO-BREF were assessed for QoL; the PANSS, BPRS and CGI scales for clinical status; the BAS, AIMS and SAS scales for physical dysfunction.

A 4-week, double-blind comparison of olanzapine with haloperidol in the treatment of amphetamine psychosis.

Objective: To compare the efficacy and tolerability of olanzapines and haloperidol in treating patients with amphetamine psychosis.

Material And Method: Fifty-eight patients experiencing episode of amphetamine psychosis were randomly assigned to olanzapine (N=29) or haloperidol (N=29) in 1:1 (olanzapine: haloperidol) ratio. All patients started with 5-10 mg/day of the study drug; after each 7-day period, the study drug could be adjusted in 5-mg increments or decrements within the allowed dose range of 5-20 mg/day during the 4-week double-blind period.

Cost analysis of the treatment of schizophrenia in Thailand: a simulation model comparing olanzapine, risperidone, quetiapine, ziprasidone and haloperidol.

Objectives: To compare the annual costs of treating schizophrenia with four atypical antipsychotics-olanzapine, risperidone, quetiapine and ziprasidone and one typical antipsychotic: haloperidol in Thailand

Material And Method: The present study used a cost analysis model. The model simulated treatment of schizophrenics for 12 months with the data from international literature review. A comprehensive search of pharmacoeconomic literature was carried out in order to identify studies to be included in the present review.