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International Journal of Emergency... May 2024Delayed discharge from hospital to home or other care institutions is a significant problem and has been investigated in the international scientific literature for many...
BACKGROUND
Delayed discharge from hospital to home or other care institutions is a significant problem and has been investigated in the international scientific literature for many years. Behind this condition is a health care system based on a hospital-centered concept characterized by a lack of territorial health and social welfare services. This phenomenon causes two different problems: an excessive length of hospital stay, resulting in slow turnover of bed utilization; and overcrowding in emergency rooms (ERs). The phenomenon of frequent users assumes particular importance in this context. These patients repeatedly visit the emergency department (ED) in the same year because care needs are not met by primary care services. The authors in this study tried to describe the Frequent users (FUs) population and the variables associated with this condition.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
A retrospective "single-arm" descriptive study was conducted by analysing all accesses made to the ED of Policlinico Tor Vergata (PTV) from January 1, 2022, to December 31, 2022. FUs were defined as patients who had 4 or more accesses to PTV ER during the year.
RESULTS
A total of 37,800 accesses occurred during the study period. A total of 31,691 users accessed the PS, with a mean age of 55.8 ± 22.2 years. There were 359 FU patients (approximately 1%) who had a total of 1984 accesses, corresponding to 5.2% of the total accesses. The triage codes for the FU patients were red, 2%; orange, 21%; blue, 45%; green, 26%; white, 5%; and not performed, 1%. Considering the 1984 FU accesses, the most frequently attributed "main problems" in the ED were "other symptoms or disorders" (54%), "psychomotor agitation" (12%), "trauma or burn" (8%), "abdominal pain" (6%), "chest pain" (4%), "dyspnea" (4%) and "urological symptoms or disorders" (4%). Multivariate analysis revealed that the main determinants of FUs were psychomotor agitation (HR = 7,23; CL95%:6,194-8,443), urological disorders (HR = 2,16; CL95%:1,68-2,76) and poor socioeconomic status (HR = 2,40; CL95%:2,213-2,663).
CONCLUSIONS
The FUs phenomenon expresses an area of health and social distress where poverty and lack of territorial services oblige people to refer to the ED. Primary care interventions integrated with social support are crucial for managing access to the ED.
PubMed: 38778250
DOI: 10.1186/s12245-024-00641-1 -
Cureus Mar 2024This case report explores a rare presentation of restless legs syndrome (RLS) in a 59-year-old female with a history of Graves' disease (GD), highlighting the diagnostic...
This case report explores a rare presentation of restless legs syndrome (RLS) in a 59-year-old female with a history of Graves' disease (GD), highlighting the diagnostic challenges and the importance of considering thyroid dysfunctions in RLS. The patient, previously diagnosed and treated for GD, presented with acute nocturnal discomfort in her lower limbs, along with symptoms of fatigue, weight loss, and palpitations. Physical examinations and thyroid function tests indicated a recurrence of GD. Her RLS symptoms notably resolved following the treatment of GD with methimazole, pointing towards secondary RLS induced by GD. This case emphasizes the necessity of a comprehensive diagnostic approach in RLS, particularly in differentiating it from mimicking conditions including leg cramps, arthritis, peripheral neuropathy, and drug-induced akathisia, and identifying underlying etiologies like thyroid dysfunctions. The resolution of RLS symptoms after GD treatment underlines the potential link between thyroid dysfunctions, iron metabolism, and the dopaminergic system in RLS pathophysiology.
PubMed: 38694425
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.57354 -
Neuropsychopharmacology Reports Apr 2024This study aimed to verify the real-world efficacy and safety of quetiapine fumarate extended-release tablets (Bipresso® 50 mg and 150 mg; marketing authorization...
AIM
This study aimed to verify the real-world efficacy and safety of quetiapine fumarate extended-release tablets (Bipresso® 50 mg and 150 mg; marketing authorization holder is KYOWA Pharmaceutical Industry Co., Ltd., Osaka, Japan) in patients with bipolar depression.
METHODS
We performed a post-marketing surveillance with an observation period of 12 weeks.
RESULTS
In the safety analysis group (n = 345), adverse drug reactions (ADRs) occurred in 111 patients (32.17%). The most common ADRs (>1%) were somnolence in 55 patients (15.94%), akathisia in 11 (3.19%), dizziness in 10 (2.90%), weight increase in 6 (1.74%), thirst in 5 (1.45%), and hypersomnia, constipation, and nausea in 4 patients each (1.16%). The only severe ADR was one patient of suicidal ideation, and "longer time since the onset of the first episode" (p = 0.011) and "presence of complications" (p < 0.001) were identified as significant risk factors for the occurrence of ADRs. In the efficacy analysis group (n = 265), the average changes from baseline in the total Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) score were -7.3 ± 8.8, -12.2 ± 10.7, -16.8 ± 12.7, and -13.2 ± 12.7 points after 4, 8, and 12 weeks, and at the last evaluation, respectively. The mean MADRS total score decrease had no significant association with maximum daily dose, diagnosis, and presence or absence of prior or concomitant treatment for bipolar disorder with mood stabilizers/antipsychotics/antidepressants.
CONCLUSION
The efficacy of quetiapine fumarate extended-release tablets was confirmed in clinical practice, and no new safety concerns or risks were identified.
PubMed: 38686532
DOI: 10.1002/npr2.12441 -
Biomedical Reports Jun 2024Lurasidone is an atypical anti-psychotic approved by the US Food and Drug Administration. It is mainly used to treat schizophrenia in adults through its antagonistic...
Efficacy and safety of lurasidone for schizophrenia: A systematic review and meta‑analysis of eight short‑term, randomized, double‑blind, placebo‑controlled clinical trials.
Lurasidone is an atypical anti-psychotic approved by the US Food and Drug Administration. It is mainly used to treat schizophrenia in adults through its antagonistic action on dopamine and 5-hydroxytryptamine receptors. The present study systematically assessed the efficacy and safety of lurasidone in the treatment of schizophrenia. Clinical, double-blind, parallel, randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of lurasidone in the treatment of schizophrenia were retrieved from PubMed\Medline, EBSCO, Embase, Cochrane Library, OVID, Web of Science and related clinical trial registration websites up to May 2023. A total of two investigators independently screened the included references and evaluated their quality. RevMan 5.3 software was used for meta-analysis of each measure outcome. The present systematic review was registered in PROSPERO (ID=CRD42018108178). A total of eight RCTs were included in the present study, including a total of 2,456 patients with schizophrenia. All eight references were randomized, double-blind and parallel control trials. All eight references were evaluated as high quality. The meta-analysis results demonstrated that there were no significant change in total Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) score, Clinical Global Impression of Severity (CGI-S) score and Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) between the 40 mg lurasidone group and the placebo group (P>0.05). However, as the dosage increased, the 80, 120 and 160 mg lurasidone groups had significant changes in total PANSS score, CGI-S score and MADRS Compared with placebo (P<0.05), although changes in MADRS in the 120 mg lurasidone group were not statistically significant (P>0.05). In terms of safety, the changes in the incidence of agitation in the 40 mg lurasidone group (P<0.05), vomiting in the 80 mg group (P<0.05) and akathisia in the 160 mg group (P<0.05) were statistically significant and there were also statistically significant changes in the incidence of akathisia, nausea, somnolence and extrapyramidal disorder among the 40, 80 and 120 mg lurasidone groups (P<0.05); No statistically significant changes in the in the incidence of other adverse reactions (P>0.05). In conclusion, existing evidence suggests that the initial dose of lurasidone for schizophrenia can be adjusted to 80 mg. As the condition aggravates, the dose can be incrementally increased to 160 mg. A dose of 160 mg lurasidone is recommended as the most efficacious and safe dose for acute schizophrenia and the risk of occurrence of akathisia, nausea, somnolence and extrapyramidal disorder is still high when lurasidone is administered at a dose of 80-120 mg. The dose should be promptly adjusted or the drug should be withdrawn if the aforementioned adverse reactions worsen. Multi-center, high-quality and long-term clinical RCTs influenced by the included references are still necessary to support the aforementioned conclusions.
PubMed: 38682090
DOI: 10.3892/br.2024.1779 -
Journal of Affective Disorders Aug 2024Hostility, irritability, and agitation are common in patients with bipolar I disorder. Post hoc analyses evaluated the effect of cariprazine on these symptoms in... (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial
BACKGROUND
Hostility, irritability, and agitation are common in patients with bipolar I disorder. Post hoc analyses evaluated the effect of cariprazine on these symptoms in patients with bipolar I mania.
METHODS
Data were pooled from three randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 3 cariprazine trials in adults with bipolar I manic/mixed episodes (NCT00488618, NCT01058096, NCT01058668); pooled cariprazine doses (3-12 mg/d) were analyzed. Patients were categorized into hostility/irritability and agitation subgroups by baseline scores: Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS) irritability and disruptive-aggressive behavior items score ≥ 2; Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) hostility item ≥ 2; PANSS-Excited Component (PANSS-EC) total score ≥ 14 and score ≥ 4 on ≥ 1 individual item. Changes from baseline to week 3 in hostility/irritability- and agitation-related outcomes were evaluated. Adjustments were made for the presence of other manic symptoms, sedation, and akathisia.
RESULTS
Most patients met subgroup inclusion criteria (YMRS hostility = 930; PANSS hostility = 841, PANSS-EC agitation = 486). In the YMRS subgroup, least squares mean differences in change from baseline were statistically significant for cariprazine versus placebo on YMRS hostility/irritability-related items (irritability [-0.93], disruptive-aggressive behavior [-0.79], combined [-1.75]; P ≤ 0.001 each), YMRS total score (-5.92, P ≤ 0.0001), and all individual YMRS items (-0.25 to -0.93, P ≤ 0.0001); differences remained significant after adjustment for other manic symptoms, sedation, and akathisia. Differences in PANSS hostility and PANSS-EC subgroups were significant for cariprazine versus placebo (P ≤ 0.001).
LIMITATIONS
Post hoc analysis.
CONCLUSION
Cariprazine demonstrated specific antihostility/irritability and anti-agitation effects in patients with manic/mixed episodes of bipolar I disorder and baseline hostility, irritability, or agitation.
Topics: Humans; Bipolar Disorder; Hostility; Psychomotor Agitation; Male; Irritable Mood; Female; Adult; Piperazines; Double-Blind Method; Middle Aged; Mania; Antipsychotic Agents; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; Treatment Outcome; Aggression
PubMed: 38657773
DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2024.04.084 -
Schizophrenia Research May 2024Motor and cognitive alterations in schizophrenia-spectrum disorders (SSD) share common neural underpinnings, highlighting the necessity for a thorough exploration of the... (Review)
Review
Motor and cognitive alterations in schizophrenia-spectrum disorders (SSD) share common neural underpinnings, highlighting the necessity for a thorough exploration of the connections between these areas. This relationship is crucial, as it holds potential significance in unraveling the underlying mechanisms of SSD pathophysiology, ultimately leading to advancements in clinical staging and treatment strategies. The purpose of this review was to characterize the relationship between different hyper and hypokinetic domains of motor alterations and cognition in SSD. We systematically searched the literature (PROSPERO protocol CRD42019145964) and selected 66 original scientific contributions for review, published between 1987 and 2022. A narrative synthesis of the results was conducted. Hyper and hypokinetic motor alterations showed weak to moderate negative correlations with cognitive function across different SSD stages, including before antipsychotic treatment. The literature to date shows a diverse set of methodologies and composite cognitive scores hampering a strong conclusion about which specific cognitive domains were more linked to each group of motor alterations. However, executive functions seemed the domain more consistently associated with parkinsonism with the results regarding dyskinesia being less clear. Akathisia and catatonia were scarcely discussed in the reviewed literature. The present review reinforces the intimate relationship between specific motor alterations and cognition. Identified gaps in the literature challenge the formulation of definitive conclusions. Nevertheless, a discussion of putative underlying mechanisms is included, prompting guidance for future research endeavors.
Topics: Humans; Schizophrenia; Cognitive Dysfunction; Executive Function
PubMed: 38640851
DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2024.04.014 -
Age and Ageing Apr 2024Delirium is most often reported as present or absent. Patients with symptoms falling short of the diagnostic criteria for delirium fall into 'no delirium' or 'control'...
OBJECTIVES
Delirium is most often reported as present or absent. Patients with symptoms falling short of the diagnostic criteria for delirium fall into 'no delirium' or 'control' groups. This binary classification neglects individual symptoms and may be hindering identification of the pathophysiology underlying delirium. This systematic review investigates which individual symptoms of delirium are reported by studies of postoperative delirium in adults.
METHODS
Medline, EMBASE and Web of Science databases were searched on 03 June 2021 and 06 April 2023. Two reviewers independently examined titles and abstracts. Each paper was screened in duplicate and conflicting decisions settled by consensus discussion. Data were extracted, qualitatively synthesised and narratively reported. All included studies were quality assessed.
RESULTS
These searches yielded 4,367 results. After title and abstract screening, 694 full-text studies were reviewed, and 62 deemed eligible for inclusion. This review details 11,377 patients including 2,049 patients with delirium. In total, 78 differently described delirium symptoms were reported. The most reported symptoms were inattention (N = 29), disorientation (N = 27), psychomotor agitation/retardation (N = 22), hallucination (N = 22) and memory impairment (N = 18). Notably, psychomotor agitation and hallucinations are not listed in the current Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders-5-Text Revision delirium definition.
CONCLUSIONS
The 78 symptoms reported in this systematic review cover domains of attention, awareness, disorientation and other cognitive changes. There is a lack of standardisation of terms, and many recorded symptoms are synonyms of each other. This systematic review provides a library of individual delirium symptoms, which may be used to inform future reporting.
Topics: Humans; Delirium; Psychomotor Agitation
PubMed: 38640126
DOI: 10.1093/ageing/afae077 -
Clinical Psychopharmacology and... May 2024: Intramuscular medications are widely used to treat psychomotor agitation (PMA) in uncooperative patients. We evaluated knowledge and attitude towards guidelines and...
OBJECTIVE
: Intramuscular medications are widely used to treat psychomotor agitation (PMA) in uncooperative patients. We evaluated knowledge and attitude towards guidelines and the prescribing patterns in a sample of Italian psychiatrists.
METHODS
: A structured 28-item questionnaire was submitted to psychiatrists of Italian Departments of Mental Health. We considered 8 clinical scenarios of PMA. For comparing two qualitative variables Chi-square tests were performed.
RESULTS
: One hundred thirty-four psychiatrists completed the survey. The use of a monotherapy is significatively higher ( < 0.05) over a dual therapy in all clinical scenarios except PMA due to Mood Disorder and Psychotic Disorders, whereas the use of a polytherapy is significatively higher ( < 0.05) in PMA due to Mood Disorders and Psychotic Disorders. The use of second-generation antipsychotic (SGAs) as monotherapy over first-generation antipsychotics (FGAs) is significantly higher ( < 0.05) in PMA due to Central Nervous System (CNS) stimulants. The use of SGAs over FGAs in polytherapy is significantly higher ( < 0.05) in PMA due to CNS stimulants. Knowledge of guidelines results 67.1% and significatively higher ( < 0.05) among those who prefer SGAs as monotherapy rather than FGAs in PMA due to Intellectual Disability, CNS depressants and Delirium. Knowledge of guidelines results significatively higher ( < 0.05) among those who prefer SGAs rather than FGAs in polytherapy in PMA due to Mood disorders.
CONCLUSION
: This survey reports variation in prescribing patterns for medication used to treat PMA. While SGAs are often prescribed as first choice following the more recent guidelines, FGAs and multi-drug solutions seem to be still a popular solution.
PubMed: 38627085
DOI: 10.9758/cpn.23.1141