Attitudes of European physicians towards the use of long-acting injectable antipsychotics.

Background: Prescription rates for long-acting injectable (LAI) antipsychotic formulations remain relatively low in Europe despite improved adherence over alternative oral antipsychotic treatments. This apparent under-prescription of LAI antipsychotics may have multiple contributing factors, including negative mental health practitioner attitudes towards the use of LAIs.

Methods: The Antipsychotic Long acTing injection in schizOphrenia (ALTO) non-interventional study (NIS), conducted across several European countries, utilised a questionnaire that was specifically designed to address physicians' attitudes and beliefs towards the treatment of schizophrenia with LAI antipsychotics.

Functional impairment in patients with major depressive disorder: the 2-year PERFORM study.

Background: The Prospective Epidemiological Research on Functioning Outcomes Related to Major depressive disorder (PERFORM) study describes the course of depressive symptoms, perceived cognitive symptoms, and functional impairment over 2 years in outpatients with major depressive disorder (MDD) and investigates the patient-related factors associated with functional impairment.

Methods: This was a 2-year observational study in 1,159 outpatients with MDD aged 18-65 years who were either initiating antidepressant monotherapy or undergoing their first switch of antidepressant. Functional impairment was assessed by the Sheehan Disability Scale and the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment questionnaire.

Physical activity in patients with type 2 diabetes and hypertension--insights into motivations and barriers from the MOBILE study.

Background: Although physical activity (PA) is key in the management of type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and hypertension, it is difficult to implement in practice.

Methods: Cross-sectional, observational study. Participating physicians were asked to recruit two active and four inactive patients, screened with the Ricci-Gagnon (RG) self-questionnaire (active if score ≥16).

Self-reported sexual debut and behavior in young adults aged 18-24 years in seven European countries: implications for HPV vaccination programs.

Objective: To generate country-specific data on age of sexual debut in young adults in 7 European countries with regard to the optimal age for prophylactic human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination.

Methods: Survey of self-reported sexual debut and behavior in a sample of young adults aged 18-24 years in 7 European countries (Czech Republic, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Russia, France). Subjects (minimum of 500 males and 500 females per country) were recruited at public places using an in-street collecting approach in all countries except France, where the survey was conducted at home.

Fast and sustained efficacy of levetiracetam during titration and the first 3 months of treatment in refractory epilepsy.

Purpose: To investigate whether the efficacy of levetiracetam (LEV) is sustained in adult patients with refractory partial seizures over a 3-month period.

Methods: Treatment effect was assessed in a post hoc analysis by determining the proportion of seizure-free days during each week of a 3-month period after the initiation of treatment. Pooled data from three randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials (n = 883) were analyzed.