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Worry Intervention in an Older Adult With a Persecutory Delusion: A Single Case Experimental Design.Clinical Psychology in Europe Sep 2023This report presents the single case of Jack, a 67-year-old referred to our Older Adult Community Mental Health Team (OA CMHT) for his distressing persecutory delusion...
BACKGROUND
This report presents the single case of Jack, a 67-year-old referred to our Older Adult Community Mental Health Team (OA CMHT) for his distressing persecutory delusion and high levels of worry. Jack also reported learning difficulties and autistic traits, although neither were formally diagnosed.
METHOD
Ten sessions of worry intervention taken from The Feeling Safe Programme worry module were used to reduce Jack's time spent worrying and increase his engagement in meaningful activity. Weekly face-to-face sessions were held, with Jack's brother acting as a co-therapist. Adaptations to the intervention were made based on Jack's learning preferences. An AB single case experimental design was adopted to compare Jack's scores on measures of worry, paranoia and delusional conviction, and wellbeing and daily functioning before and after intervention.
RESULTS
Results demonstrate the worry intervention improved Jack's scores on all measures to a clinically significant degree.
CONCLUSIONS
This is the first known report of applying the worry intervention to an older adult. The results show the intervention can be of considerable benefit in terms of reducing worry and paranoia, in the context of both older age and suspected neurodiversity.
PubMed: 38356897
DOI: 10.32872/cpe.11173 -
Journal of Psychiatric Research Mar 2024The COVID-19 pandemic was associated with increased levels of psychological distress in the general population, at the same time providing a perfect breeding ground for...
BACKGROUND
The COVID-19 pandemic was associated with increased levels of psychological distress in the general population, at the same time providing a perfect breeding ground for conspiracy beliefs. Psychiatric patients are considered as a population with an increased vulnerability for stressful events, and conspiracy beliefs show overlaps with paranoid ideations. The aim of the present study was to investigate if psychiatric patients experienced higher levels of pandemic distress than non-psychiatric patients, if they were more prone to conspiracy beliefs and if pandemic distress as well as other mental health variables were associated with believing in conspiracy theories.
METHODS
Indicators for mental health (pandemic distress, depressive symptoms, general anxiety symptoms, perceived stress) and indicators for believing in conspiracy theories were assessed within psychiatric (n = 73) and non-psychiatric patients (n = 29) during the midst of the pandemic.
RESULTS
Psychiatric patients reported higher levels of pandemic distress than non-psychiatric patients. Conspiracy measurements correlated positively with pandemic distress, but not with anxiety and depression. No differences were found between psychiatric patients with or without psychotic disorder and non-psychiatric patients in regard to conspiracy measurements.
CONCLUSION
Our findings suggest a higher susceptibility of psychiatric patients to pandemic distress, but not an increased level of believing in conspiracy theories. The common notion that people suffering from psychosis are more likely to believe in conspiracy theories was not supported. Furthermore, distress caused by a specific event and not anxiety per se seems to be related to the degree of conspiracy beliefs.
Topics: Humans; COVID-19; Pandemics; Psychotic Disorders; Anxiety; Anxiety Disorders
PubMed: 38350310
DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2024.02.006 -
Schizophrenia Research Feb 2024
Topics: Humans; Sweden; Psychotic Disorders; Shared Paranoid Disorder; Substance-Related Disorders; Comorbidity
PubMed: 38325153
DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2024.01.033 -
Schizophrenia Bulletin Mar 2024
Topics: Humans; Delusions; Paranoid Disorders; Schizophrenia, Paranoid
PubMed: 38309718
DOI: 10.1093/schbul/sbae012 -
JNCI Cancer Spectrum Jan 2024How cannabis products are being used by cancer patients and survivors in the United States is poorly understood. This study reviewed observational data to understand the...
BACKGROUND
How cannabis products are being used by cancer patients and survivors in the United States is poorly understood. This study reviewed observational data to understand the modes, patterns, reasons, discontinuation, and adverse experiences of cannabis use.
METHODS
PubMed and PsycINFO database searches were conducted between May 2022 and November 2022. Of the 1162 studies identified, 27 studies met the inclusion criteria. The intercoder agreement was strong (0.81).
RESULTS
The majority (74%) of the studies were cross-sectional in design. Study samples were approximately equal proportions of men and women and majority White participants. The prevalence of cannabis use based on national samples ranged between 4.8% and 22%. The most common modes of cannabis intake were topical application (80%), smoking (73%), vaping (12%), and ingestion of edible products (10%). Younger age, male gender, being a current or former smoker, and higher socioeconomic status were associated with greater likelihood of cannabis use. The main motive for cannabis use was management of symptoms due to cancer or cancer treatment such as pain, nausea, lack of sleep, and anxiety. A majority of the participants across studies reported that cannabis helped reduce these symptoms. Lack of symptom improvement, side effects such as fatigue and paranoia, cost, and social stigma were identified as some of the reasons for discontinuing cannabis use.
CONCLUSIONS
It appears that cannabis may help cancer patients and survivors manage symptoms. However, more longitudinal studies are needed to determine whether positive experiences of cannabis use outweigh adverse experiences over time in this vulnerable population.
Topics: Humans; Male; Female; United States; Cannabis; Nausea; Neoplasms; Analgesics; Survivors; Observational Studies as Topic
PubMed: 38291891
DOI: 10.1093/jncics/pkae004 -
Journal of Pharmaceutical and... Apr 2024MDPHP is a synthetic cathinone (SC) belonging to α-pyrrolidinophenone derivatives. It is a central nervous system stimulant and may induce hallucinations, paranoia,...
MDPHP is a synthetic cathinone (SC) belonging to α-pyrrolidinophenone derivatives. It is a central nervous system stimulant and may induce hallucinations, paranoia, tachycardia, hypertension, chest pain, and rhabdomyolysis. In literature, a few cases of intoxication have been reported. In the present study, 17 cases of MDPHP intake were described including the analytical findings and clinical manifestations. MDPHP was quantified by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry in blood (range 1.26-73.30 ng/mL) and urine (range 19.31-8769.64 ng/mL) samples. In three cases the presence of α-PHP was observed. In one case, MDPHP was the only detected substance. Concomitant use of MDPHP with other substances, particularly psychostimulants, was common and it was difficult to describe the peculiar clinical characteristics of this SC. Most of the symptoms overlapped those expected, some of them were unusual and all of them particularly severe thus inducing the research of NPS in laboratory tests. We demonstrated the presence of psychiatric, neurological, and respiratory symptoms, as well as the possible presence of rhabdomyolysis and cardiotoxicity associated with the use of MDPHP. ED admissions were also more frequent in patients with addiction problems. In some cases, MDPHP intake required intensive supportive care. A multidisciplinary approach, including specialist consultation, is recommended for patients showing challenging features. Moreover, we demonstrated that the adoption of advanced analytical techniques, i.e., liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, is necessary to detect these molecules. Further studies are needed to understand MDPHP intake patterns and associated symptoms. It is essential to raise awareness in addiction treatment centers and among potential users, especially young people, and chemsex addicted.
Topics: Humans; Adolescent; Central Nervous System Stimulants; Synthetic Cathinone; Mass Spectrometry; Chromatography, Liquid; Rhabdomyolysis
PubMed: 38277706
DOI: 10.1016/j.jpba.2024.115974 -
Cureus Dec 2023Rapidly progressive dementia (RPD) is caused by a heterogeneous group of neurological disorders, and the prototype is Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD). However, treatable...
Rapidly progressive dementia (RPD) is caused by a heterogeneous group of neurological disorders, and the prototype is Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD). However, treatable causes including autoimmune encephalitis are often underrecognized and undertreated. A 72-year-old female patient was admitted with a 10-month history of rapidly progressive cognitive decline, visual hallucinations, paranoid behavior, diarrhea, and an 18-kg unintentional weight loss. On the physical exam, she was only oriented to the person and demonstrated an exaggerated startle response with diffuse rigidity. The initial clinical suspicion included CJD versus autoimmune encephalitis. Comprehensive laboratory testing, thyroid peroxidase, thyroglobulin antibodies, and autoimmune encephalitis panel were negative. The EEG showed mild to moderate diffuse slowing without any epileptiform abnormalities. An MRI brain revealed mild hippocampal atrophy. CSF testing revealed mild lymphocytic pleocytosis; RT-QuIC analysis and 14-3-3 protein were negative. There was no clinical improvement after treatment with IV steroids and IVIG. Repeated autoimmune encephalitis panel testing performed on a research basis was positive for dipeptidyl-peptidase-like protein 6 (DPPX) antibodies in serum and CSF. Unfortunately, our patient passed away before additional treatment could be attempted. Anti-DPPX encephalitis is a rare autoimmune disorder and an unrecognized cause of RPD. Early diagnosis and rapid escalation of treatment are imperative to avoid devastating neurological consequences.
PubMed: 38274926
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.51123 -
Frontiers in Psychiatry 2023Wherever psychopathology operates with the concept of (disorders of) the self and personality, it can address the role of the intuitive access we have toward ourselves,... (Review)
Review
Wherever psychopathology operates with the concept of (disorders of) the self and personality, it can address the role of the intuitive access we have toward ourselves, others, and the world. This study discusses the concept of . It examines its role in explaining paranoia as a change in self-and-world relatedness. In the first , symptomatic features of paranoid personality disorder are sketched, with a focus on the explanatory role of attentional and interpretative biases, which correlate with significant changes in intuitive processing. In the second , the prototypical phenomenality of feelings of unfamiliarity and mistrust are discussed against the backdrop of changes of oikeiôsis in paranoid personality disorder. In the , the main therapeutic challenge in treating paranoid personality disorder-building a trustful relationship-is explored. It is concluded that the notion of oikeiôsis resonates particularly with introspection-based therapeutic approaches.
PubMed: 38268566
DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1307629 -
Frontiers in Psychiatry 2023New subgroups of psychiatric disorders are often claimed. In contrast, classification systems have repeatedly had to abandon established subgroups such as paranoid vs....
New subgroups of psychiatric disorders are often claimed. In contrast, classification systems have repeatedly had to abandon established subgroups such as paranoid vs. disorganised and catatonic schizophrenia due to lack of empirical evidence. Four criteria are proposed that should be met to claim valid subgroups: 1. distinct distribution of the defining characteristic between groups; 2. significant differences in variables other than those defining the subgroups cross-sectionally and longitudinally; 3. long-term stability; 4. significant differences between groups in aetiology, pathophysiology, and evidence-based therapy. In contrast to examples from somatic medicine, such as type 1 and type 2 diabetes, few psychiatric disorders meet these requirements.
PubMed: 38260787
DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1292917