Antioxidant defense system and family environment in adolescents with family history of psychosis.

Background: Our objective was to determine antioxidant defence activity in healthy controls (HC) and healthy unaffected second-degree relatives of patients with early onset psychosis (HC-FHP), and to assess its relationship with familiar environment measured using the Family Environment Scale (FES).

Methods: We included 82 HC and 14 HC-FHP aged between 9 and 17 years. Total antioxidant status, lipid peroxidation, antioxidant enzyme activities and glutathione levels were determined in blood samples.

Can positive family factors be protective against the development of psychosis?

Genetic and environmental factors are both involved in the aetiology of psychotic disorders. The aim of this study was to assess if positive and negative environmental factors, together with psychotic family antecedents, are associated with the recent development of psychosis. We also investigated the interactions between family history of psychosis and positive and negative family environment.

[PANDAS with a chorea-like clinical presentation and associated autoimmune pathology: a case report].

Introduction: The disorder known as 'PANDAS syndrome' (paediatric autoimmune neuro-psychiatric disorders associated with Streptococci) consists in an abrupt onset of obsessive-compulsive symptoms and/or movement disorders, a pre-puberal onset, and an episodic course. Antibiotic therapy has been postulated as a first choice therapeutic option. A summarised review of main literature on this topic is presented.