Vitamin D and clinical symptoms in First Episode Psychosis (FEP): A prospective cohort study.

Background: There is a paucity of longitudinal research investigating vitamin D in people with early psychosis.

Method: Vitamin D levels were measured in 168 patients (64% (n = 108) male, mean age 29.3 (9.

Trazodone and exacerbation of psychotic symptoms: an unfamiliar link.

Objective: In this case report we attempt to emphasize the unfamiliar link between trazodone and relapse of psychotic symptoms.

Method: Case report and literature review of relevant papers.

Results: We report a case of a 78-year-old woman with an established diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia who has experienced an exacerbation of positive psychotic symptoms following initiation of 50 mg dailydose of trazodone.

Increased interleukin 23 (IL23) levels in schizophrenia patients treated with depot antipsychotic medication.

Background: Schizophrenia is a mental disorder, where genetic and environmental factors contribute to disease onset and progression. The immune system appears to play a role in schizophrenia, where altered cytokines levels and autoantibodies have been described. Notably however, to our knowledge, IL23 levels have not before been measured in schizophrenia patients treated with depot medication.

Pro-inflammatory cytokine levels are raised in female schizophrenia patients treated with clozapine.

Background: We have previously shown that the neurotrophic factor, S100B, is raised in serum samples of female patients with schizophrenia, but not male patients, compared to controls, and this may be associated with raised BMI. Here we analysed the levels of additional proinflammatory cytokines in patients with schizophrenia to further investigate these gender differences.

Methods: The levels of six cytokines (IL1β, IL6, IL8, IL17, IL23, TNFα) were measured in serum samples obtained from patients with schizophrenia, treated with clozapine (n=91) and compared with healthy controls (n=50).

Prevalence of psychotic symptoms in childhood and adolescence: a systematic review and meta-analysis of population-based studies.

Background: Psychotic symptoms occur more frequently in the general population than psychotic disorder and index risk for psychopathology. Multiple studies have reported on the prevalence of these symptoms using self-report questionnaires or clinical interviews but there is a lack of consensus about the prevalence of psychotic symptoms among children and adolescents.

Method: We conducted a systematic review of all published literature on psychotic symptom prevalence in two age groups, children aged 9-12 years and adolescents aged 13-18 years, searching through electronic databases PubMed, Ovid Medline, PsycINFO and EMBASE up to June 2011, and extracted prevalence rates.

Dissecting the cellular contributions to early visual sensory processing deficits in schizophrenia using the VESPA evoked response.

Electrophysiological research has shown clear dysfunction of early visual processing mechanisms in patients with schizophrenia. In particular, the P1 component of the visual evoked potential (VEP) is substantially reduced in amplitude in patients. A novel visual evoked response known as the VESPA (Visual Evoked Spread Spectrum Analysis) was recently described.

Atypical antipsychotic monitoring: A survey of patient knowledge and experience.

Objectives: To examine the knowledge and experiences of side-effects and their monitoring in patients prescribed atypical antipsychotic medications.

Methods: A tick box survey was designed to ask questions of patients prescribed atypical antipsychotic medications about side-effects and monitoring for them. This survey was distributed anonymously to all suitable outpatient attendees over a three month period who had been prescribed atypical antipsychotic medication for at least one year.