Long-Term Changes in Cognition Among Patients With Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders and Different Durations of Illness: A Meta-Analysis.

In this meta-analysis, we evaluated changes in cognition for patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSD) with different durations of illness (DOIs). Records were identified through searches in PubMed, PsycINFO, CINAHL, and Cochrane until December 2021. We used terms related to SSDs, chronicity, course, and recovery.

Stakeholders' Understanding of European Medicine Agency's COVID-19 Vaccine Information Materials in EU and Regional Contexts.

The COVID-19 pandemic posed challenges to communicating accurate information about vaccines because of the spread of misinformation. The European Medicines Agency (EMA) tried to reassure the public by communicating early on about the development and approval of COVID-19 vaccines. The EMA surveyed patients/consumers, healthcare professional organizations, and individual stakeholders, both at the EU level and in an Italian regional context.

Optimizing subjective wellbeing with amisulpride in first episode schizophrenia or related disorders.

Background: Subjective response (SR) to antipsychotic medication is relevant for quality of life, adherence and recovery. Here, we evaluate (1) the extent of variation in SR in patients using a single antipsychotic; (2) the association between subjective and symptomatic response; and (3) predictors of SR.

Methods: Open-label, single treatment condition with amisulpride in 339 patients with a first episode of a schizophrenia spectrum disorder, at most minimally treated before inclusion.

Association of cognitive performance with clinical staging in schizophrenia spectrum disorders: a prospective 6-year follow-up study.

Background: Clinical staging has been developed to capture the large heterogeneity in schizophrenia spectrum disorders. Including cognitive performance in the staging model may improve its clinical validity. Moreover, cognitive functioning could predict transition across stages.

[The importance of inter-rater reliability in psychopharmacological trials].

Background: There are concerns about the declining efficacy of antidepressants and antipsychotics in clinical trials. A potential cause may be found in poor training practices to achieve sufficient inter-rater reliability (IRR). However, it is unknown whether IRR and training procedures are currently reported.

The bumpy road to achieve reliability of clinical profile characteristics in psychosis and related disorders.

Objectives: Profile characteristics are factors that are relevant for diagnosis, prognosis or treatment. The present study aims to develop a set of clinically relevant profile characteristics. Moreover, our goal is to determine the inter-rater reliability (IRR) of the selected profile characteristics.

An old but still burning problem: Inter-rater reliability in clinical trials with antidepressant medication.

Background: Antidepressant trials are criticized due to potential methodological flaws. Root causes of failing methodology can be found in insufficient inter-rater reliability (IRR) and training practices, leading to higher placebo response and reduced study-power. However, it is unknown to what extent reliability estimates or training procedures are currently included in antidepressant reports.

Evaluation of the Ability of Emergency Room Doctors at a French University Hospital Center to Identify Adverse Drug Events.

Objectives: Numerous adverse drug events (ADEs) are not identified by doctors in medical emergencies, and they are a barrier to optimal treatment of patients. Identification of the factors that influence awareness of ADEs by doctors could allow events that compromise patient safety to be avoided. The aims of this study were to quantify the recognition of ADEs by emergency room (ER) doctors and to identify the factors associated with the lack of identification of drug-related risks.

Psychometric properties of the DSM-5 Clinician-Rated Dimensions of Psychosis Symptom Severity.

Objective: The Clinician-Rated Dimensions of Psychosis Symptom Severity (CRDPSS) was presented in the DSM-5 as a new scale to assess the dimensional aspects of psychosis in daily clinical practice. However, agreement in CRDPSS-ratings among raters in clinical practice remains unknown. We examined the inter-rater reliability (IRR) and convergent validity of the CRDPSS.

Measuring process indicators and adverse events to assess the quality of care for inpatients with psychosis.

Background: Research into the quality of care in psychiatry is scarce. Data collection is falling behind that for other fields of medicine and therefore the opportunity to improve care is missed.

Aims: In this medical record study we aim to determine: (i) whether or not patients' physical health indicators are assessed and pharmacological and behavioural treatment interventions applied; (ii) the incidence and nature of adverse events in psychotic inpatients.

Correction: The use and helpfulness of self-management strategies for depression: The experiences of patients.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.

Smoking, symptoms, and quality of life in patients with psychosis, siblings, and healthy controls: a prospective, longitudinal cohort study.

Background: The self-medication hypothesis postulates that the high prevalence of smoking in patients with psychosis can be explained by the ameliorating effect of smoking on symptoms. However, there are few large prospective studies testing this hypothesis. We aimed to examine the multi-cross-sectional and prospective associations of changes in smoking behaviour with symptoms and quality of life.

The use and helpfulness of self-management strategies for depression: The experiences of patients.

Objective: To explore which of 50 self-management strategies are actually used and which are perceived as most helpful by patients in their day-to-day management of depression, in order to empower patients and promote active engagement in their own care.

Methods: Retrospective study using an online self-report survey to assess the use and perceived helpfulness of 50 previously identified self-management strategies in 193 participants who recently recovered from a major depressive episode.

Results: Forty-five of the 50 strategies were used by at least half of all participants and about one third of all participants perceived almost 50% of all strategies as (very) helpful.

Association Between Smoking Behavior and Cognitive Functioning in Patients With Psychosis, Siblings, and Healthy Control Subjects: Results From a Prospective 6-Year Follow-Up Study.

Objective: The high prevalence of smoking and cognitive deficits in schizophrenia patients is well known, but findings regarding the association between the two are contradictory, and longitudinal studies are lacking. The authors sought to examine the multi-cross-sectional association between smoking behavior and performance in specific cognitive domains and the longitudinal association between change in smoking behavior and change in cognitive functioning in a large prospective study.

Method: The authors conducted a cohort study of patients with nonaffective psychosis (N=1,094), their siblings (N=1,047), and healthy control subjects (N=579).

Predictors of Adverse Events and Medical Errors Among Adult Inpatients of Psychiatric Units of Acute Care General Hospitals.

Objective: The aim of this study was to identify factors associated with the occurrence of adverse events (AEs) or medical errors (MEs) during inpatient psychiatric hospitalizations.

Methods: A full-probability random sample of 4,371 charts from 14 inpatient psychiatric units at acute care general hospitals in Pennsylvania were reviewed in a two-stage process that comprised screening and flagging by nurses followed by review by psychiatrists. AE and ME rates were calculated overall and then stratified by patient and hospital factors.

Satisfaction of psychotic patients with care and its value to predict outcomes.

Background: A key indicator of quality of treatment from the patient's perspective is expressed by satisfaction with care. Our aim was to (i) explore satisfaction and its relation to clinical outcome measures; and (ii) explore the predictive value of satisfaction for the course of outcomes over three years.

Methods: Data of 654 patients with a non-affective psychosis included in a naturalistic longitudinal cohort study were analyzed.

Preliminary validation of a clinical staging model in schizophrenia and related disorders.

Clinical staging for schizophrenia and related disorders might provide an ideal means to overcome some limitations of the current diagnostic system and to facilitate early intervention. This study aims to retrospectively explore 1) the validity of a staging model 2) the stability of staging over time, and 3) the clinical factors associated with transition to more chronic stages. Data were derived from the Genetic Risk and Outcome of Psychosis study, a large cohort study of patients with a schizophrenia spectrum disorder.

Dopamine D2-receptor affinity of antipsychotics in relation to subjective well-being in patients with a psychotic disorder.

Dopamine D2-receptor blockade by antipsychotic medication reduces psychotic symptoms, but may reduce subjective well-being. The current study aims to further explore the relation between dopamine D2-receptor affinity and subjective well-being within a large sample of patients with psychotic disorders. Patients participated in a longitudinal naturalistic cohort study: the Genetic Risk and Outcome of Psychosis (GROUP) study.

Antipsychotic medication and long-term mortality risk in patients with schizophrenia; a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Patients with schizophrenia have a higher mortality risk than patients suffering from any other psychiatric disorder. Previous research is inconclusive regarding the association of antipsychotic treatment with long-term mortality risk. To this aim, we systematically reviewed the literature and performed a meta-analysis on the relationship between long-term mortality and exposure to antipsychotic medication in patients with schizophrenia.

Efficacy and safety of high-dose baclofen for the treatment of alcohol dependence: A multicentre, randomised, double-blind controlled trial.

Previous randomised placebo-controlled trials with low-to-medium doses of baclofen (30-60mg) showed inconsistent results, but case studies suggested a dose-response effect and positive outcomes in patients on high doses of baclofen (up to 270mg). Its prescription was temporary permitted for the treatment of alcohol dependence (AD) in France, and baclofen is now widely prescribed. Recently, a small RCT found a strong effect of a mean dose of 180mg baclofen.

Qualitative and quantitative aspects of information processing in first psychosis: latent class analyses in patients, at-risk subjects, and controls.

We aimed to determine profiles of information processing deficits in the pathway to first psychosis. Sixty-one subjects at ultrahigh risk (UHR) for psychosis were assessed, of whom 18 converted to a first episode of psychosis (FEP) within the follow-up period. Additionally, 47 FEP and 30 control subjects were included.

Can quantitative EEG measures predict clinical outcome in subjects at Clinical High Risk for psychosis? A prospective multicenter study.

Background: Prediction studies in subjects at Clinical High Risk (CHR) for psychosis are hampered by a high proportion of uncertain outcomes. We therefore investigated whether quantitative EEG (QEEG) parameters can contribute to an improved identification of CHR subjects with a later conversion to psychosis.

Methods: This investigation was a project within the European Prediction of Psychosis Study (EPOS), a prospective multicenter, naturalistic field study with an 18-month follow-up period.