Randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled trial to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of electroconvulsive therapy in patients with clozapine-resistant schizophrenia.

There is no established treatment for patients with clozapine-resistant schizophrenia (CRS). Clozapine augmentation strategies with antipsychotics or others substances are effective in comparison with placebo while and Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) showed to be effective in comparison with treatment as usual (TAU) but not with placebo (sham-ECT). In the present double- blind randomized controlled trial, we compared 40 outpatients who received 20 sessions of ECT (n = 21) or sham-ECT (n = 19) (age = 37.

Occupational Goal Intervention Method for the Management of Executive Dysfunction in People With Treatment-Resistant Schizophrenia: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Importance: The occupational goal intervention (OGI) method has been proven effective in improving executive function (EF) in people with schizophrenia, but it has not yet been tested with those with treatment-resistant schizophrenia (TRS).

Objective: To test the efficacy of the OGI in people with TRS.

Design: Single-blind randomized controlled trial.

Adjunctive Therapy to Manage Neuropsychiatric Symptoms in Moderate and Severe Dementia: Randomized Clinical Trial Using an Outpatient Version of Tailored Activity Program.

Background: Neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) such as aggression, apathy, agitation, and wandering may occur in up to 90%of dementia cases. International guidelines have suggested that non-pharmacological interventions are as effective as pharmacological treatments, however without the side effects and risks of medications. An occupational therapy method, called Tailored Activity Program (TAP), was developed with the objective to treat NPS in the elderly with dementia and has been shown to be effective.

The Brief Negative Symptom Scale: Validation in a multicenter Brazilian study.

Background: Negative symptoms are a core feature of schizophrenia. The Brief Negative Symptom Scale (BNSS) is a scale developed to measure negative symptoms in schizophrenia.

Methods: The present study aimed to examine the construct validity of BNSS, by using convergent and divergent validities as well as factor analysis, in a Brazilian sample of 111 outpatients diagnosed with schizophrenia by DSM-5.

A pilot randomized controlled trial of the Occupational Goal Intervention method for the improvement of executive functioning in patients with treatment-resistant schizophrenia.

Schizophrenia is a chronic disabling mental disorder that involves impairments in several cognitive domains, especially in executive functions (EF), as well as impairments in functional performance. This is particularly true in patients with Treatment-Resistant Schizophrenia (TRS). The aim of this study was to test the efficacy of the Occupational Goal Intervention (OGI) method for the improvement of EF in patients with TRS.

Nonpharmacological Interventions to Reduce Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia: A Systematic Review.

Introduction: Behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) are defined as a group of symptoms of disturbed perceptive thought content, mood, or behavior that include agitation, depression, apathy, repetitive questioning, psychosis, aggression, sleep problems, and wandering. Care of patients with BPSD involves pharmacological and nonpharmacological interventions. We reviewed studies of nonpharmacological interventions published in the last 10 years.

Cognitive training for schizophrenia in developing countries: a pilot trial in Brazil.

Cognitive deficits in schizophrenia can massively impact functionality and quality of life, furthering the importance of cognitive training. Despite the development of the field in Europe and in the United States, no programmes have been developed and tested in developing countries. Different cultural backgrounds, budget restrictions, and other difficulties may render treatment packages created in high income countries difficult for adoption by developing nations.

Randomized controlled trial of occupational therapy in patients with treatment-resistant schizophrenia.

Objective: It is well established that the combination of psychopharmacological treatment and psychosocial interventions, such as psychotherapy, family orientation and occupational therapy (OT), represent the best strategy for treating patients with schizophrenia. However, in terms of treatment-resistant schizophrenia (TRS) almost only psychopharmacological treatments are available and psychosocial interventions such as OT had not proved to be effective. The aim of this study is to investigate if OT is effective when added to a psychopharmacological treatment in TRS.

Primary rhabdomyosarcoma of the diaphragm: case report and literature review.

The authors report a case of primary rhabdomyosarcoma of the diaphragm, an extremely rare presentation with only 14 cases reported in the literature. An 18-year-old male presented 2 spontaneous occurrences of pneumothorax. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance showed a tumoral mass on the right diaphragmatic surface, and after biopsy, the diagnosis was compatible with spindle cell rhabdomyosarcoma.

Recognition of facial expressions of emotions in school-age children: the intersection of perceptual and semantic categories.

Unlabelled: Recognition of the facial expressions of emotions is a critical communicative system early in development and continues to play an important role throughout adulthood. In the past, the results of developmental studies of emotional facial recognition have often conflicted. The present study was designed to examine the development of emotional facial recognition in a large sample of school-aged children (n = 120, ages 5-10y).