What is "effective treatment" for a schizophrenic inpatient with persistent treatment-resistant psychosis and severe violent behavior?: a case of ECT.

Aggressive behavior among treatment-resistant schizophrenic patients is a major clinical challenge whose prevalence is underestimated.In our 420-bed psychiatric hospital, some 15% of patients exhibit active psychosis and high rates of verbal/physical aggression necessitating physical restraints. In addition to their condition, these individuals endanger staff and other patients, consume extensive resources, and induce a sense of clinical helplessness.

Impaired error monitoring contributes to face recognition deficit in schizophrenia patients.

Background: It has been proposed that social and cognitive deficits in schizophrenia may result from impaired error monitoring.

Objective: We tested the hypothesis that among schizophrenia patients, impaired error monitoring contributes to poor face recognition, an important social skill.

Methods: 79 schizophrenia patients and 57 healthy individuals were administered a computerized face recognition test which allowed collection of accuracy and latency performance parameters.

A double-blind, cross-over comparison of the effects of amantadine or placebo on visuomotor and cognitive function in medicated schizophrenia patients.

The present study aimed to test the hypothesis that dopamine agonists may enhance cognitive function. The effect of amantadine on neuropsychological function in medicated schizophrenia patients was investigated. The study comprised an add-on, double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over 6-week trial.

Insight into illness in schizophrenia.

Lack of insight of patients with schizophrenia into various aspects of their illness and treatment is an important clinical issue. Poor insight has been reported to be associated with neurocognitive deficits, particularly in the frontal and parietal functions. The aim of this study was to examine relationships between insight and cognitive and emotional function in patients with schizophrenia.

Blood DHEAS concentrations correlate with cognitive function in chronic schizophrenia patients: a pilot study.

There is evidence that neurosteroids such as DHEA and its sulfated form DHEAS can modulate cognitive function. We hypothesize that DHEA/S concentrations may be linked to cognitive impairment in schizophrenia. The aim of this pilot study was to test this hypothesis by examining the relationship between blood levels of DHEAS and cognitive function.

Schizophrenia patients with a history of severe violence differ from nonviolent schizophrenia patients in perception of emotions but not cognitive function.

Background: Impaired processing of emotions may relate to violent behavior in schizophrenia patients. We compared emotional function in schizophrenia patients with and without a history of severe violent behavior.

Method: Tests of identification and differentiation of facial emotions were performed to compare 35 patients with chronic schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder (DSM-IV criteria) and a history of severe violent behavior with 35 non-violent schizophrenia patients and 46 healthy controls.

Negative attitude towards medication is associated with working memory impairment in schizophrenia patients.

A lack of insight into illness and negative attitudes towards medication are common among individuals with schizophrenia and impact clinical outcomes. This study aimed to examine the relationships between attitudes towards medication and cognitive function in schizophrenia patients. Thirty-five male forensic inpatients who were suffering from chronic schizophrenia participated in the study.

Brief emotion training improves recognition of facial emotions in chronic schizophrenia. A pilot study.

Impaired emotional communication may be an important contributing factor to poor social function in schizophrenia. This pilot study examined the effect of emotion training exercises on the perception of facial emotional expression. Twenty male chronic schizophrenia patients underwent three training sessions using a computerized Emotion Training program, developed for teaching autistic children, which was adapted to the clinical setting.