Life-course perspective on the causal mechanism of social functioning in schizophrenia spectrum disorder.

Background: Due to prior emphasis on clinical recovery in Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorder (SSD), improving social functioning (SF) was oftentimes neglected, with ⩽15% of patients achieving social recovery. Priorly, we and others have shown that life-course factors, including childhood adversities, play a role in the occurrence and severity of postmorbid SF impairments, highlighting the need to understand these factors for effective interventions.

Aim: This study investigates the mechanisms influencing SF in SSD and examines the causal roles of childhood trauma, premorbid adjustment, perceived stigma, self-esteem, and quality of life.

Opening the contextual black box: a case for idiographic experience sampling of context for clinical applications.

The experience sampling method (ESM) is increasingly used as a clinical tool in mental health care. Currently, ESM studies pay relatively little attention to assessing contextual factors, such as a person's experience and perception of events, activities, and social interactions. This has been referred to as the 'contextual black box'.

Identifying factors strongest associated with clinical, societal and personal recovery in people with psychosis with a long duration of illness.

Introduction: Most studies on recovery of psychotic disorders focus on first-episode populations using premorbid and baseline data to predict recovery. However, many patients experience a long duration of illness and many factors are dynamic and change during life.

Aims: To investigate factors strongest associated with clinical, societal and personal recovery, and recovery change scores in people with a long duration of illness using current data measured at the same assessment.

Does stigma leave its mark? The interplay between negative effects of perceived stigma with positive effect of self-esteem on long-term social functioning in schizophrenia.

Background: Individuals with schizophrenia commonly experience poor social functioning (SF), influenced by stigmatization and linked to low self-esteem. The intricate role of self-esteem in this context remains insufficiently explored. This study delves into the short and long-term impact of perceived stigma on SF, investigating the mediating or moderating effects of self-esteem and momentary fluctuations in self-esteem.

Exploring the Interactions Between Psychotic Symptoms, Cognition, and Environmental Risk Factors: A Bayesian Analysis of Networks.

Background And Hypothesis: Psychotic disorders (PDs) have huge personal and societal impact, and efforts to improve outcomes in patients are continuously needed. Environmental risk factors (ERFs), especially modifiable risk factors, are important to study because they pose a target for intervention and prevention. No studies have investigated ERFs, cognition, and psychotic symptoms together in a network approach.

Societal recovery trajectories in people with a psychotic disorder in long term care: a latent class growth analysis.

Purpose: For many individuals with a psychotic disorder societal recovery is not accomplished. Research on societal recovery trajectories is mostly focussed on patients with a first episode psychosis. The present study aims to identify distinct societal trajectories in those with long duration of illness, through the identification of patient subgroups that are characterized by homogeneous trajectories.

Association of CYP2D6 and CYP2C19 metabolizer status with switching and discontinuing antidepressant drugs: an exploratory study.

Background: Tailoring antidepressant drugs (AD) to patients' genetic drug-metabolism profile is promising. However, literature regarding associations of ADs' treatment effect and/or side effects with drug metabolizing genes CYP2D6 and CYP2C19 has yielded inconsistent results. Therefore, our aim was to longitudinally investigate associations between CYP2D6 (poor, intermediate, and normal) and CYP2C19 (poor, intermediate, normal, and ultrarapid) metabolizer-status, and switching/discontinuing of ADs.

High persistence and low treatment rates of metabolic syndrome in patients with mood and anxiety disorders: A naturalistic follow-up study.

Background: Patients with affective and anxiety disorders are at risk of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and, consequently, cardiovascular disease and premature death. In this study, the course and treatment of MetS was investigated using longitudinal data from a naturalistic sample of affective- and anxiety-disordered outpatients (Monitoring Outcome of psychiatric PHARmacotherapy [MOPHAR]).

Methods: Demographics, clinical characteristics, medication use, and MetS components were obtained for n = 2098 patients at baseline and, in a FU-subsample of n = 507 patients, after a median follow-up (FU) of 11 months.

Fear generalization predicts post-traumatic stress symptoms: A two-year follow-up study in Dutch fire fighters.

Introduction: Excessive fear generalization has been associated with pathological anxiety, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, studies investigating the longitudinal relationship between generalization and the development of anxiety symptomatology are scarce. This study aims to test the predictive value of fear generalization for PTSD symptoms in a high-risk profession sample and to explore the relationship between generalization and neuroticism, which are both linked to PTSD.

Self-stigma, religiosity, and perceived social support in people with recent-onset psychosis in the Islamic Republic of Iran: Associations with symptom severity and psychosocial functioning.

Aims: Most evidence on psychosocial factors in recent-onset psychosis comes from high-income countries in Europe, Australia, Canada and the USA, while these factors are likely to differ under varying sociocultural and economic circumstances. In this study, we aimed to investigate associations of self-stigma, religiosity and perceived social support with symptom severity and psychosocial functioning in an Iranian cohort of people with recent-onset psychosis (i.e.

Cost-effectiveness of a mindful yoga intervention added to treatment as usual for young women with major depressive disorder versus treatment as usual only: Cost-effectiveness of yoga for young women with depression.

In a randomized controlled trial in the Netherlands, we studied the (cost)effectiveness of adding a mindful yoga intervention (MYI+TAU) to treatment as usual (TAU) for young women with major depressive disorder (MDD). In this paper, we present the results of the economic analyses. Societal costs and health outcomes were prospectively assessed during 15 months for all randomized participants (n = 171).

Effects of right prefrontal theta-burst transcranial magnetic stimulation or transcranial direct current stimulation on apathy in patients with schizophrenia: A multicenter RCT.

Apathy is a core negative symptom associated with an unfavorable functional outcome. Noninvasive brain stimulation has shown promise in the treatment of schizophrenia but has not been tested specifically for apathy. We conducted a randomized controlled trial of intermittent theta-burst (iTBS) transcranial magnetic stimulation and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) targeted at the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) in patients diagnosed with a psychotic disorder suffering from apathy.

Moving from supported to independent living: what are the barriers and facilitators for individuals with psychosis?

Purpose: Living independently, as opposed to in sheltered housing or with caregivers, is an important aim in the recovery of individuals with psychosis, but the transition to independence can be challenging. This study aims to investigate how individuals with psychosis move between living arrangements and to identify the barriers and facilitators of moving towards independence.

Methods: The living arrangements of 1119 individuals with non-affective psychosis from the Genetic Risk and Outcome of Psychosis study were assessed at baseline, at three- and six-year follow-ups and further categorized as either supported (sheltered housing or with parents) or independent (single or with partner/family).

Financial dissatisfaction in people with psychotic disorders - A short report on its prevalence and correlates in a large naturalistic psychosis cohort.

Psychotic disorders have a strong negative impact on multiple aspects of daily life, including people's financial situation. This exploratory study examines the level of financial dissatisfaction and its correlates in a large cohort of people with psychotic disorders. Data from the first assessments of people with psychotic disorders (n = 5271) who were included in the Pharmacotherapy Monitoring and Outcome Survey (PHAMOUS; 2006-2020), which is conducted in the northern Netherlands, were used.

Association of clinical symptoms and cardiometabolic dysregulations in patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders.

Background: Patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSD) have a shortened life expectancy related to cardiovascular diseases. We investigated the association of cognitive, positive, and negative symptoms with cardiometabolic dysregulations in SSD patients.

Methods: Overall, 1,119 patients from the Genetic Risk and Outcome in Psychosis (GROUP) study were included.

Comparative analysis of algorithm-guided treatment and predefined duration treatment programmes for depression: exploring cost-effectiveness using routine care data.

Background: More knowledge on the cost-effectiveness of various depression treatment programmes can promote efficient treatment allocation and improve the quality of depression care.

Objective: This study aims to compare the real-world cost-effectiveness of an algorithm-guided programme focused on remission to a predefined duration, patient preference-centred treatment programme focused on response using routine care data.

Methods: A naturalistic study (n=6295 in the raw dataset) was used to compare the costs and outcomes of two programmes in terms of quality-adjusted life years (QALY) and depression-free days (DFD).

The association between clinical, sociodemographic, familial, and environmental factors and treatment resistance in schizophrenia: A machine-learning-based approach.

Background: Prediction of treatment resistance in schizophrenia (TRS) would be helpful to reduce the duration of ineffective treatment and avoid delays in clozapine initiation. We applied machine learning to identify clinical, sociodemographic, familial, and environmental variables that are associated with TRS and could potentially predict TRS in the future.

Study Design: Baseline and follow-up data on trait(-like) variables from the Genetic Risk and Outcome of Psychosis (GROUP) study were used.

The dynamics of social activation and suspiciousness in individuals at ultra-high risk for psychosis.

Introduction: Social functioning is often impaired during the ultra-high risk (UHR) phase for psychosis, but group-level studies regarding the role of social functioning in transition to psychosis are inconsistent. Exploring the inter-individual differences which underlie the association between social functioning and psychotic symptoms in this phase could yield new insights.

Objective: To examine the idiographic and dynamic association between social activation and suspiciousness in individuals at UHR for psychosis using time-series analysis.

Cultural competence of mental health practitioners in the Netherlands.

Background: The importance of providing mental health from a transcultural perspective in establishing a therapeutic alliance is recognized. However, it is currently unknown how many mental health practitioners in the Netherlands feel capable of providing mental healthcare from a transcultural perspective, or if they are familiar with the Cultural Formulation Interview (CFI). The CFI is a tool used in mental health care to gather culturally relevant patient information, enhancing cultural sensitivity in treatment.

Feedback based on experience sampling data: Examples of current approaches and considerations for future research.

Methodologies such as the Experience Sampling Method (ESM) or Ecological Momentary Assessment allow the gathering of fine-graded, dynamic, personal data within a patient's daily life. Currently, it is studied whether feedback based on experience sampling data (ESM-based feedback) can be used as a clinical tool to inform shared decision-making in clinical practice. Although the potential of feedback is recognized, little is known on how to generate, use, and implement it.

Life years lost for users of specialized mental healthcare.

Background: Mental disorders are burdensome and are associated with increased mortality. Mortality has been researched for various mental disorders, especially in countries with national registries, including the Nordic countries. Yet, knowledge gaps exist around national differences, while also relatively less studies compare mortality of those seeking help for mental disorders in specialized mental healthcare (SMH) by diagnosis.