Sensation-seeking, social anhedonia, and impulsivity in substance use disorder patients with and without schizophrenia and in non-abusing schizophrenia patients.

Substance use disorders (SUDs) are common in patients with schizophrenia and this comorbidity is associated with a poorer prognosis, relative to non-abusing patients. One hypothesis that has been advanced in the literature is that dual diagnosis (DD) patients may have a different personality profile than non-abusing schizophrenia patients. The present case-control study aimed to characterize levels of personality traits (sensation-seeking, social anhedonia, and impulsivity) in substance abuse/dependence patients with (DD group; n=31) and without schizophrenia (SUD group; n=39), relative to non-abusing schizophrenia patients (SCZ group; n=23), and healthy controls (n=25).

Predictors of community functioning in schizophrenia and substance use disorder patients.

Community functioning is a broad term that encompasses various 'real world' measures of disability among schizophrenia patients. It includes outcomes such as independent living, social competence and behavioural problems-all of which are priorities for treatment among schizophrenia patients, mental health care providers, and family members. An important goal for rehabilitation programs is to identify predictors of community functioning which, in turn, could be used as targets for intervention.

Contribution of orodental status to the intensity of orofacial tardive dyskinesia: an interdisciplinary and video-based assessment.

Background: Tardive dyskinesia (TD) is a neurological motor complication eventually arising in one-third of patients chronically exposed to antipsychotic drugs. Some orodental peripheral factors have been reported to influence TD.

Objective: To measure orodental factors such as temporomandibular joint function, static occlusal contacts, and denture condition, and attempt correlations with orofacial TD intensity.

Could the use of energy drinks induce manic or depressive relapse among abstinent substance use disorder patients with comorbid bipolar spectrum disorder?

Objective:   The potential harmful effects of excessive caffeine consumption remain largely unknown among psychiatric populations. Energy drinks have particularly high levels of caffeine content and have previously been shown to induce psychotic relapse. Clinical observations of three bipolar disorder patients with comorbid substance use disorder revealed an excessive consumption of energy drinks prior to manic or depressive relapse.