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BJPsych Open Aug 2023The ability to communicate is integral to all human relationships. Previous research has specifically highlighted communication within families as both a risk and... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
The ability to communicate is integral to all human relationships. Previous research has specifically highlighted communication within families as both a risk and protective factor for anxiety disorders and/or depression. Yet, there is limited understanding about whether communication is amenable to intervention in the context of adolescent psychopathology, and whether doing so improves outcomes.
AIMS
The aim of this systematic review was to determine in which contexts and for whom does addressing communication in families appear to work, not work and why?
METHOD
We pre-registered our systematic review with PROSPERO (identifier CRD42022298719), followed Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidance and assessed study quality with the Risk of Bias 2 tool.
RESULTS
Seven randomised controlled trials were identified from a systematic search of the literature. There was significant heterogeneity in the features of communication that were measured across these studies. There were mixed findings regarding whether family-focused interventions led to improvements in communication. Although there was limited evidence that family-focused interventions led to improvements in communication relative to interventions without a family-focused component, we discuss these findings in the context of the significant limitations in the studies reviewed.
CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that further research is required to assess the efficacy of family-focused interventions for improving communication in the context of anxiety and depression in those aged 14-24 years.
PubMed: 37641851
DOI: 10.1192/bjo.2023.545 -
Neuroscience Bulletin Mar 2020The cognitive disease consensus was prepared by panels of health and public representatives based on actual clinical practice in Geriatric Departments in Chinese...
The cognitive disease consensus was prepared by panels of health and public representatives based on actual clinical practice in Geriatric Departments in Chinese hospitals and a systematic literature review. This consensus reflects the medical knowledge accumulated by those experts and provides information about professional medical care and advice. A multidisciplinary panel of specialists (neurologists, psychiatrists, and nursing specialists) reports an expert consensus on the medical knowledge accumulated from those experts and provides information about professional medical care and advice. The recommendations focus on the care and management of older adults with mild cognitive impairment, the objectives and methods of maintaining cognition and training, the assessments and measures of daily care for patients at different stages of dementia, the assessments and coping strategies for the behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia, principles and suggestions for an appropriate living environment, arrangements for recreational activities, the care and management of patients with end-stage dementia, and suggestions for addressing stress in caregivers.
Topics: China; Cognitive Dysfunction; Consensus; Disease Management; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Humans
PubMed: 31792911
DOI: 10.1007/s12264-019-00444-y -
The British Journal of Psychiatry : the... Nov 2010Early intervention services for psychosis aim to detect emergent symptoms, reduce the duration of untreated psychosis, and improve access to effective treatments. (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
Early intervention services for psychosis aim to detect emergent symptoms, reduce the duration of untreated psychosis, and improve access to effective treatments.
AIMS
To evaluate the effectiveness of early intervention services, cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) and family intervention in early psychosis.
METHOD
Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials of early intervention services, CBT and family intervention for people with early psychosis.
RESULTS
Early intervention services reduced hospital admission, relapse rates and symptom severity, and improved access to and engagement with treatment. Used alone, family intervention reduced relapse and hospital admission rates, whereas CBT reduced the severity of symptoms with little impact on relapse or hospital admission.
CONCLUSIONS
For people with early psychosis, early intervention services appear to have clinically important benefits over standard care. Including CBT and family intervention within the service may contribute to improved outcomes in this critical period. The longer-term benefits of this approach and its component treatments for people with early and established psychosis need further research.
Topics: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; Early Diagnosis; Family Therapy; Hospitalization; Humans; Mental Health Services; Patient Acceptance of Health Care; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; Psychotic Disorders; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Secondary Prevention; Severity of Illness Index; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 21037211
DOI: 10.1192/bjp.bp.109.074526 -
The Cochrane Database of Systematic... Nov 2022Antipsychotic drugs are the mainstay treatment for schizophrenia, yet they are associated with diverse and potentially dose-related side effects which can reduce quality... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Antipsychotic drugs are the mainstay treatment for schizophrenia, yet they are associated with diverse and potentially dose-related side effects which can reduce quality of life. For this reason, the lowest possible doses of antipsychotics are generally recommended, but higher doses are often used in clinical practice. It is still unclear if and how antipsychotic doses could be reduced safely in order to minimise the adverse-effect burden without increasing the risk of relapse.
OBJECTIVES
To assess the efficacy and safety of reducing antipsychotic dose compared to continuing the current dose for people with schizophrenia.
SEARCH METHODS
We conducted a systematic search on 10 February 2021 at the Cochrane Schizophrenia Group's Study-Based Register of Trials, which is based on CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO, PubMed, ClinicalTrials.gov, ISRCTN, and WHO ICTRP. We also inspected the reference lists of included studies and previous reviews.
SELECTION CRITERIA
We included randomised controlled trials (RCTs) comparing any dose reduction against continuation in people with schizophrenia or related disorders who were stabilised on their current antipsychotic treatment. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: At least two review authors independently screened relevant records for inclusion, extracted data from eligible studies, and assessed the risk of bias using RoB 2. We contacted study authors for missing data and additional information. Our primary outcomes were clinically important change in quality of life, rehospitalisations and dropouts due to adverse effects; key secondary outcomes were clinically important change in functioning, relapse, dropouts for any reason, and at least one adverse effect. We also examined scales measuring symptoms, quality of life, and functioning as well as a comprehensive list of specific adverse effects. We pooled outcomes at the endpoint preferably closest to one year. We evaluated the certainty of the evidence using the GRADE approach.
MAIN RESULTS
We included 25 RCTs, of which 22 studies provided data with 2635 participants (average age 38.4 years old). The median study sample size was 60 participants (ranging from 18 to 466 participants) and length was 37 weeks (ranging from 12 weeks to 2 years). There were variations in the dose reduction strategies in terms of speed of reduction (i.e. gradual in about half of the studies (within 2 to 16 weeks) and abrupt in the other half), and in terms of degree of reduction (i.e. median planned reduction of 66% of the dose up to complete withdrawal in three studies). We assessed risk of bias across outcomes predominantly as some concerns or high risk. No study reported data on the number of participants with a clinically important change in quality of life or functioning, and only eight studies reported continuous data on scales measuring quality of life or functioning. There was no difference between dose reduction and continuation on scales measuring quality of life (standardised mean difference (SMD) -0.01, 95% confidence interval (CI) -0.17 to 0.15, 6 RCTs, n = 719, I = 0%, moderate certainty evidence) and scales measuring functioning (SMD 0.03, 95% CI -0.10 to 0.17, 6 RCTs, n = 966, I = 0%, high certainty evidence). Dose reduction in comparison to continuation may increase the risk of rehospitalisation based on data from eight studies with estimable effect sizes; however, the 95% CI does not exclude the possibility of no difference (risk ratio (RR) 1.53, 95% CI 0.84 to 2.81, 8 RCTs, n = 1413, I = 59% (moderate heterogeneity), very low certainty evidence). Similarly, dose reduction increased the risk of relapse based on data from 20 studies (RR 2.16, 95% CI 1.52 to 3.06, 20 RCTs, n = 2481, I = 70% (substantial heterogeneity), low certainty evidence). More participants in the dose reduction group in comparison to the continuation group left the study early due to adverse effects (RR 2.20, 95% CI 1.39 to 3.49, 6 RCTs with estimable effect sizes, n = 1079, I = 0%, moderate certainty evidence) and for any reason (RR 1.38, 95% CI 1.05 to 1.81, 12 RCTs, n = 1551, I = 48% (moderate heterogeneity), moderate certainty evidence). Lastly, there was no difference between the dose reduction and continuation groups in the number of participants with at least one adverse effect based on data from four studies with estimable effect sizes (RR 1.03, 95% CI 0.94 to 1.12, 5 RCTs, n = 998 (4 RCTs, n = 980 with estimable effect sizes), I = 0%, moderate certainty evidence). AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: This review synthesised the latest evidence on the reduction of antipsychotic doses for stable individuals with schizophrenia. There was no difference between dose reduction and continuation groups in quality of life, functioning, and number of participants with at least one adverse effect. However, there was a higher risk for relapse and dropouts, and potentially for rehospitalisations, with dose reduction. Of note, the majority of the trials focused on relapse prevention rather potential beneficial outcomes on quality of life, functioning, and adverse effects, and in some studies there was rapid and substantial reduction of doses. Further well-designed RCTs are therefore needed to provide more definitive answers.
Topics: Humans; Adult; Antipsychotic Agents; Drug Tapering; Schizophrenia; Quality of Life; Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions; Recurrence
PubMed: 36420692
DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD014384.pub2 -
Journal of Neurology Jun 2022Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) Therapy® is an adjunctive neurostimulation treatment for people with drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) who are unwilling to undergo resective... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) Therapy® is an adjunctive neurostimulation treatment for people with drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) who are unwilling to undergo resective surgery, have had unsuccessful surgery or are unsuitable for surgery. A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted to determine the treatment effects of VNS Therapy as an adjunct to anti-seizure medications (ASMs) for the management of adults with DRE. A literature search was performed in August 2020 of the Medline®, Medline® Epub Ahead of Print, Embase, and the Cochrane library databases. Outcomes examined included reduction in seizure frequency, seizure freedom, ASM load, discontinuations, and serious adverse events (SAEs). Comparators included best medical practice, ASMs, low-stimulation or sham VNS Therapy. Four RCTs and six comparative observational studies were identified for inclusion. Against comparators, individuals treated with VNS had a significantly better odds of experiencing a ≥ 50% reduction in seizure frequency (OR: 2.27 [95% CI 1.47, 3.51]; p = 0.0002), a ≥ 75% reduction in seizure frequency (OR: 3.56 [95% CI 1.59, 7.98]; p = 0.002) and a reduced risk for increased ASM load (risk ratio: 0.36 [95% CI 0.21, 0.62]; p = 0.0002). There was no difference in the odds of discontinuation or the rate of SAEs between VNS versus comparators. This meta-analysis demonstrated the benefits of VNS Therapy in people with DRE, which included improvement in seizure frequency without an increase in the rate of SAEs or discontinuations, thereby supporting the consideration of VNS Therapy for people who are not responding to ASMs and those unsuitable or unwilling to undergo surgery.
Topics: Adult; Drug Resistant Epilepsy; Humans; Medication Therapy Management; Seizures; Treatment Outcome; Vagus Nerve Stimulation
PubMed: 35034187
DOI: 10.1007/s00415-022-10967-6 -
Electronic Physician Jun 2017Infertility all around the world and in every culture is recognized as a stressful and critical experience that threatens individual, familial, marital, and social... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Infertility all around the world and in every culture is recognized as a stressful and critical experience that threatens individual, familial, marital, and social stability. Thus, in accordance with the importance of a woman's mental health and the possible impact of mental health on treatment outcome, finding a way to deal with perceived stress in women can help improve pregnancy outcomes.
METHODS
This study is a systematic review on reducing perceived infertility stress in infertile women. The current study was undertaken using multiple databases such as SID, Irandoc, Magi ran, Google Scholar, PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus, Cochrane library, and CINAHL selected from articles pertinent to the study. The selection of papers was undertaken from 1990 through May 2016. The methodological quality was assessed.
RESULTS
The initial search yielded a list of 725 papers, and then reviewers studied titles and abstracts. Thereafter, 68 papers were incorporated, and researchers reviewed summaries of all of the searched articles. Finally, the researchers utilized the data gained from 29 full articles so as to compile this review paper. Reviewing the studies conducted on reducing infertility perceived stress, the researchers classified related findings into two main categories: supportive and counseling intervention.
CONCLUSION
Considering the fact that there is an international agreement that fertility centers need to offer counseling programs for psychological problems of the infertile, it is especially important to recognize counseling-supportive interventions for decreasing infertile women's perceived stress and to program plans for decreasing women's perceived stress. By investigating counseling-supportive stress, we hope that this study has stepped forward toward health care agent's familiarity with decreasing infertile women's perceived stress and, therefore, improving treatment consequences.
PubMed: 28848650
DOI: 10.19082/4694 -
PloS One 2017The influence of factors related to the background of investigators conducting trials comparing psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy has remained largely unstudied.... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
The influence of factors related to the background of investigators conducting trials comparing psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy has remained largely unstudied. Specializations emphasizing biological determinants of mental disorders, like psychiatry, might favor pharmacotherapy, while others stressing psychosocial factors, like psychology, could promote psychotherapy. Yet financial conflict of interest (COI) could be a confounding factor as authors with a medical specialization might receive more sponsoring from the pharmaceutical industry.
METHOD
We conducted a meta-analysis with subgroup and meta-regression analysis examining whether the specialization and affiliation of trial authors were associated to outcomes in the direct comparison of psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy for the acute treatment of depression. Meta-regression analysis also included trial risk of bias and author conflict of interest in relationship to the pharmaceutical industry.
RESULTS
We included 45 trials. In half, the first author was psychologist. The last author was psychiatrist/MD in half of the trials, and a psychologist or statistician/other technical in the rest. Most lead authors had medical affiliations. Subgroup analysis indicated that studies with last authors statisticians favored pharmacotherapy. Univariate analysis showed a negative relationship between the presence of statisticians and outcomes favoring psychotherapy. Multivariate analysis showed that trials including authors with financial COI reported findings more favorable to pharmacotherapy.
DISCUSSION
We report the first detailed overview of the background of authors conducting head to head trials for depression. Trials co-authored by statisticians appear to subtly favor pharmacotherapy. Receiving funding from the industry is more closely related to finding better outcomes for the industry's elective treatment than are factors related to authors' background.
LIMITATIONS
For a minority of authors we could not retrieve background information. The number of trials was insufficient to evidence subtler effects.
Topics: Clinical Trials as Topic; Depression; Humans; Psychotherapy
PubMed: 28158281
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0171654 -
BJPsych Open Feb 2022Despite the widespread use of psychotropic medications in people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), there is limited evidence to suggest that psychotropic medications... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Despite the widespread use of psychotropic medications in people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), there is limited evidence to suggest that psychotropic medications including mood stabilisers are effective in individuals with ASD.
AIMS
To carry out a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) that assessed the effectiveness of mood stabilisers in people with ASD.
METHOD
We searched the following databases: Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO, ERIC, DARE, and ClinicalTrials.gov. In addition, we hand-searched 12 relevant journals. We used the Cochrane Risk of Bias and Jadad scores to assess the quality of included RCTs. We carried out a meta-analysis using a random-effects model.
RESULTS
We included eight RCTs (four on valproate, two on levetiracetam, and one each on lamotrigine and topiramate) that included a total of 310 people with ASD, primarily children. Outcomes were based on core and associated ASD symptoms including irritability and aggression but not bipolar disorder. Only two small studies (25%) from the same group showed definite superiority over placebo and one over psychoeducation alone. Meta-analysis of pooled data on the Aberrant Behaviour Checklist-irritability, Clinical Global Impression Scale-improvement, and Overt Aggression Scale (OAS)/OAS-modified did not show any significant inter-group difference. The rates of adverse effects did not show any significant inter-group difference.
CONCLUSIONS
Given the methodological flaws in the included studies and the contradictory findings, it is difficult to draw any definitive conclusion about the effectiveness of mood stabilisers to treat either ASD core symptoms or associated behaviours. Robust large-scale RCTs are needed in the future to address this issue.PROSPERO registration: CRD42021255467 on 18 May 2021.
PubMed: 35197135
DOI: 10.1192/bjo.2022.18 -
Ochsner Journal 2018Hyponatremia is generally defined as a serum sodium level <135 mmol/L and is considered severe if serum sodium is <125 mmol/L. Hyponatremia is a potentially... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Hyponatremia is generally defined as a serum sodium level <135 mmol/L and is considered severe if serum sodium is <125 mmol/L. Hyponatremia is a potentially life-threatening medical comorbidity for patients with schizophrenia. The incidence of hyponatremia in patients with schizophrenia who are taking second-generation antipsychotics (SGAs) has not been well established.
METHODS
We conducted a systematic review of case reports of hyponatremia associated with the use of SGAs in patients with schizophrenia. We searched MEDLINE (from 1946 through September 2016) using the medical subject headings antipsychotic agents, hyponatremia, and water intoxication to identify reported diagnoses of hyponatremia following treatment with SGAs in patients with schizophrenia.
RESULTS
We abstracted 12 potentially relevant case reports from 157 records. Nine case reports met the selection criteria. Three cases involved the use of aripiprazole (Abilify), 3 involved the use of risperidone (Risperdal), and the other 3 cases involved ziprasidone, olanzapine, and clozapine. Approximately equal numbers of males and females were represented, and 2 of the 9 patients were aged ≥60 years. The average patient age was 47 years, and the average time to the hyponatremia event was 17 days. The average serum sodium was 138 mmol/L at baseline, 112 mmol/L at treatment nadir, and 138 mmol/L after treatment discontinuation.
CONCLUSION
Hyponatremia can result from the use of SGAs in patients with schizophrenia and can be avoided with proper management of treatment. Physicians, psychiatrists, and other healthcare workers should be aware of the potential for severe hyponatremia with the use of commonly prescribed SGAs. SGA-induced hyponatremia is generally reversible after discontinuing treatment.
PubMed: 30275787
DOI: 10.31486/toj.17.0059 -
BJPsych Open Oct 2022An increasing number of children, adolescents and adults with intellectual disabilities and/or autism are being admitted to general psychiatric wards and cared for by... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
An increasing number of children, adolescents and adults with intellectual disabilities and/or autism are being admitted to general psychiatric wards and cared for by general psychiatrists.
AIMS
The aim of this systematic review was to consider the likely effectiveness of in-patient treatment for this population, and compare and contrast differing models of in-patient care.
METHOD
A systematic search was completed to identify papers where authors had reported data about the effectiveness of in-patient admissions with reference to one of three domains: treatment effect (e.g. length of stay, clinical outcome, readmission), patient safety (e.g. restrictive practices) and patient experience (e.g. patient or family satisfaction). Where possible, outcomes associated with admission were considered further within the context of differing models of in-patient care (e.g. specialist in-patient services versus general mental health in-patient services).
RESULTS
A total of 106 studies were included and there was evidence that improvements in mental health, social functioning, behaviour and forensic risk were associated with in-patient admission. There were two main models of in-patient psychiatric care described within the literature: admission to a specialist intellectual disability or general mental health in-patient service. Patients admitted to specialist intellectual disability in-patient services had greater complexity, but there were additional benefits, including fewer out-of-area discharges and lower seclusion rates.
CONCLUSIONS
There was evidence that admission to in-patient services was associated with improvements in mental health for this population. There was some evidence indicating better outcomes for those admitted to specialist services.
PubMed: 36268640
DOI: 10.1192/bjo.2022.571