Examining the effects of diagnostic awareness, positive symptoms, and negative symptoms on stigmatizing attitudes and social exclusion towards schizophrenia.

Background: Social exclusion towards schizophrenia can occur as a response to symptom presentations and/or diagnostic knowledge. The present study examined stigma towards schizophrenia as a function of diagnostic awareness, positive symptoms, and negative symptoms.

Methods: 559 participants were presented with one of eight vignettes depicting an individual in a social situation based on a 2 (label: present, absent) x 2 (positive symptoms: present, absent) x 2 (negative symptoms: present, absent) design.

The impact of team-based primary care on medication-related outcomes in older adults: A comparative analysis of two Canadian provinces.

Objective: To evaluate if access to team-based primary care is related to medication management outcomes for older adults.

Methods: We completed two retrospective cohort studies using administrative health data for older adults (66+) in Ontario (n = 428,852) and Québec (n = 310,198) who were rostered with a family physician (FP) between the 2001/02 and 2017/18 fiscal years. We generated matched comparison groups of older adults rostered to an FP practicing in a team-based model, and older adults rostered to an FP in a non-team model.

Assessing research competency development in Canadian psychiatry residency programs: A systematic review and future directions.

Objective: We aimed to conduct a systematic review to identify curricular and educational interventions to build research competency among Canadian psychiatry residents and fellows transitioning to the competency-by-design framework.

Methods: The PRISMA guidelines were followed, searching five databases from their inception to February 2023 for relevant evaluation-type studies exploring research competency among psychiatry residents and fellows. We appraised thestudy's quality using the Joanna Briggs Institute's risk of bias tool for observational designs.

A cross-sectional survey on the effects of ambient temperature and humidity on health outcomes in individuals with chronic respiratory disease.

Rationale: Extremes of temperature and humidity are associated with adverse respiratory symptoms, reduced lung function, and increased exacerbations among individuals living with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Objectives: To describe the reported effects of temperature and humidity extremes on the health outcomes, health status and physical activity (PA) in individuals living with COPD.

Methods: A cross-sectional self-reported survey collected the effects on health status (COPD Assessment Test [CAT]), PA, and health outcomes in 1) moderate/ideal (14 to 21°C, 30 to 50% relative humidity [RH]), 2) hot and humid (≥ 25°C, > 50% RH) and 3) cold and dry (≤ 5°C, < 30% RH) weather conditions.

Examining the influence of self-referential thinking on aberrant salience and jumping to conclusions bias in individuals with schizophrenia-spectrum disorders.

Background And Objectives: Cognitive processes such as aberrant salience and the jumping to conclusions (JTC) bias are implicated in the development of delusions. Self-referential thinking is implicated in this process; however, it is unknown how it may interact with aberrant salience and JTC bias in individuals with schizophrenia-spectrum disorders (SSDs). This study examined associations of self-referential thinking with aberrant salience, JTC bias, and delusion severity, and whether self-referential stimuli led to an increase in aberrant salience and JTC bias in SSDs (n = 20) relative to psychiatrically healthy controls (n = 20).

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation for apathy in patients with neurodegenerative conditions, cognitive impairment, stroke, and traumatic brain injury: a systematic review.

Background: We aimed to determine the effects and tolerability of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on apathy in patients with neurodegenerative conditions, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), stroke, and traumatic brain injury (TBI) via systematic review.

Methods: We conducted a systematic search in major electronic health databases, including PubMed, Scopus, and PsycINFO, covering the period from inception to June 2023. Comparative clinical trials and cohort studies, and studies with before-after designs were considered for inclusion.

Exploring the potential utility of AI large language models for medical ethics: an expert panel evaluation of GPT-4.

Integrating large language models (LLMs) like GPT-4 into medical ethics is a novel concept, and understanding the effectiveness of these models in aiding ethicists with decision-making can have significant implications for the healthcare sector. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the performance of GPT-4 in responding to complex medical ethical vignettes and to gauge its utility and limitations for aiding medical ethicists. Using a mixed-methods, cross-sectional survey approach, a panel of six ethicists assessed LLM-generated responses to eight ethical vignettes.

Factors influencing practice choices of early-career family physicians in Canada: a qualitative interview study.

Background: Comprehensiveness of primary care has been declining, and much of the blame has been placed on early-career family physicians and their practice choices. To better understand early-career family physicians' practice choices in Canada, we sought to identify the factors that most influence their decisions about how to practice.

Methods: We conducted a qualitative study using framework analysis.

Next-generation cognitive assessment: Combining functional brain imaging, system perturbations and novel equipment interfaces.

Conventional cognitive assessment is widely used in clinical and research settings, in educational institutions, and in the corporate world for personnel selection. Such approaches involve having a client, a patient, or a research participant complete a series of standardized cognitive tasks in order to challenge specific and global cognitive abilities, and then quantify performance for the desired end purpose. The latter may include a diagnostic confirmation of a disease, description of a state or ability, or matching cognitive characteristics to a particular occupational role requirement.

Homicide in the context of psychosis: analysis of prior service utilisation and age at onset of illness and violence.

Background: Public stigma and fear are heightened in cases of extreme violence perpetrated by persons with serious mental illness (SMI). Prevention efforts require understanding of illness patterns and treatment needs prior to these events unfolding.

Aims: To examine mental health service utilisation by persons who committed homicide and entered into forensic care, to investigate the adequacy of mental healthcare preceding these offences.

Productivity Decline or Administrative Avalanche? Examining Factors That Shape Changing Workloads in Primary Care.

Background: In Canada, family physicians (FPs) per capita have increased but so have access challenges. We explored changes in population characteristics, service delivery and FP practice that may help understand these trends.

Methods: We used linked administrative data in British Columbia to describe changes in patient ages and comorbidities, hospitalizations and receipt of services that may require FP coordination, review and/or follow-up: prescriptions dispensed, laboratory tests, diagnostic imaging (radiology and ultrasound), specialist visits and emergency department visits.

Perceived barriers and solutions identified by healthcare professionals in utilizing web-based reminiscence therapy to support dementia care during the pandemic.

This paper presents findings from a qualitative study conducted in Ontario, Canada, exploring healthcare professionals' perceptions of barriers and solutions for implementing Web-Based Reminiscence Therapy (WBRT) in an institutionalized settings for dementia care during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study identified five major barriers, including the lack of on-boarding/educational training, need for technology availability and technical support, limited attention span of persons with dementia (PWD), availability of multi-sensory features, and time constraints due to staff workload. Seven major themes emerged related to proposed solutions/suggestions: (1) involving younger generations, (2) focusing on technology training, (3) integrating with other digital platforms, (4) adding narratives/descriptions to recollect memories, (5) ensuring accessibility, (6) adding QR codes for retrieving information, and (7) combining digital/traditional reminiscence methods.

Pan-Canadian study of psychiatric care (PCPC): protocol for a mixed-methods study.

Introduction: The Canadian population has poor and inequitable access to psychiatric care despite a steady per-capita supply of psychiatrists in most provinces. There is some quantitative evidence that practice style and characteristics vary substantially among psychiatrists. However, how this compares across jurisdictions and implications for workforce planning require further study.

GWAS of biological aging to find longevity genes in schizophrenia.

Schizophrenia (SCZ) is a severe psychotic disorder associated with premature mortality and aging. Moreover, the symptoms and progression of psychiatric disorders in general are associated with decreased lifespan, biological aging, and poorer medical outcomes. In this study, we investigated the relationship between several epigenetic clocks and scanned the entire genome for association in a cohort of SCZ individuals (n = 107).

Reduction of adverse events in a psychiatric inpatient eating disorder unit during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Topic: Globally, the COVID-19 pandemic had impacted the health care delivery including inpatient psychiatric facilities. Within psychiatric settings, life of inpatients was profoundly altered.

Purpose: This paper aimed to understand if pandemic-related changes within an inpatient Eating Disorder Unit in a specialized psychiatric hospital in Ontario, Canada impacted incidence of aggression and use of coercive methods among adolescents.

A Proposed Curricular Framework for an Interprofessional Approach to Deprescribing.

Unlabelled: Deprescribing involves reducing or stopping medications that are causing more harm than good or are no longer needed. It is an important approach to managing polypharmacy, yet healthcare professionals identify many barriers. We present a proposed pre-licensure competency framework that describes essential knowledge, teaching strategies, and assessment protocols to promote interprofessional deprescribing skills.

Interventional Psychiatry and Neurotechnologies: Education and Ethics Training.

The last two decades have seen dramatic growth in the application of procedurally based interventions for treating refractory psychiatric conditions, leading to interest in developing the foundations for the subspecialty of "Interventional Psychiatry." However, there is cause for concern that the rate of expansion of clinical advances in this field may be outpacing the ability of postgraduate curricula to provide sufficient exposure to and teaching and supervision of these treatments. The paucity of adequately trained practitioners in Interventional Psychiatry further exacerbates inequities in the ability of eligible patients to access and benefit from these approaches.

Examining Cognitive Biases Uniquely Associated with Schizotypy.

Introduction: Individuals with schizotypy can experience a number of cognitive biases that may increase their risk in developing schizophrenia-spectrum psychopathology. However, cognitive biases are also present in mood and anxiety disorders, and it is currently unclear which biases are specific to schizotypy and which may be a result of comorbid depression and/or anxiety.

Methods: 462 participants completed measures of depression, anxiety, cognitive biases, cognitive schemas, and schizotypy.

Efficacy of Remotely Delivered Evidence-Based Psychosocial Treatments for Schizophrenia-Spectrum Disorders: A Series of Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses.

Background: Schizophrenia is among the most persistent and debilitating mental health conditions worldwide. The American Psychological Association (APA) has identified 10 psychosocial treatments with evidence for treating schizophrenia and these treatments are typically provided in person. However, in-person services can be challenging to access for people living in remote geographic locations.