Symptomatic remission and social/vocational functioning in outpatients with schizophrenia: Prevalence and associations in a cross-sectional study

2007 ◽  
Vol 22 (8) ◽  
pp. 490-498 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luis San ◽  
Antonio Ciudad ◽  
Enrique Álvarez ◽  
Julio Bobes ◽  
Inmaculada Gilaberte

AbstractPurposeProgress in therapeutic options for schizophrenia has revived long-term expectations of researchers, practitioners and patients. At present, definitions of therapeutic outcome include both maintained symptomatic remission and appropriate functioning in a conceptual framework that targets patient's recovery as the ultimate goal. We aimed to know the prevalence and clinical features of patients with schizophrenia achieving these outcomes.MethodsA multi-centre, cross-sectional study was performed in more than 100 mental health facilities within Spain. Recently published consensus-based operational criteria for symptomatic remission and the Global Assessment of Functioning scale were used to evaluate outcomes. Other clinical aspects like depressive symptoms, social cognition, premorbid adjustment and patients' attitudes to medication were also evaluated.ResultsData from 1010 patients were analysed. Of these, 452 (44.8%) were at clinical remission, but only 103 (10.2%) showed an adequate social and/or vocational functioning. Factors predicting both outcomes were better pre-morbid adjustment (odds ratio, OR = 1.56) and better social cognitive function (OR = 1.14). Other factors, like treatment adherence, current or past psychotherapy and patient's age were not associated to functionality but only to clinical remission. Current substance use and previous rehabilitation were associated to a lower likelihood of symptomatic remission.ConclusionAlthough symptomatic remission in patients with schizophrenia is a realistic and reachable goal, future efforts should be directed to a sustained appropriate functioning in these patients.

Author(s):  
Chi-Hsuan Fan ◽  
Shih-Chieh Hsu ◽  
Fei-Hsiu Hsiao ◽  
Chia-Ming Chang ◽  
Chia-Yih Liu ◽  
...  

Schizophrenia is a mental disease that often leads to chronicity. Social support could reduce the severity of psychotic symptoms; therefore, its influence on remission should be examined. This study investigated the remission rates in community-dwelling schizophrenia patients and examined the association between social support and remission status. A cross-sectional study was conducted in 129 schizophrenia patients in Taiwan. Remission rates were evaluated, and the level of social support, clinical characteristics, sociodemographic variables, and healthy lifestyle status were compared between the remission and nonremission groups. The association between social support and remission was analyzed after adjusting for confounding factors. The mean illness duration is 12.9 years. More than 95% of the participants lived with their families, 63% were unemployed, and 43% achieved remission. Higher social support was observed in the remission group, and a significant correlation was observed between family domain of social support and remission status. Family support was a protective factor of symptomatic remission in community-dwelling schizophrenia patients in Taiwan. The results reflect the effects of a family-centered culture on patients during illness. Consequently, reinforcing family relationships and the capacity of families to manage the symptoms of patients and providing support to families are recommended.


2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marina Pessoa de Farias Rodrigues ◽  
Fabia Lima Vilarino ◽  
Alessandra de Souza Barbeiro Munhoz ◽  
Laércio da Silva Paiva ◽  
Luiz Vinicius de Alcantara Sousa ◽  
...  

Arthritis ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Grith P. Eng ◽  
Klaus Bendtzen ◽  
Henning Bliddal ◽  
Michael Stoltenberg ◽  
Marcin Szkudlarek ◽  
...  

Objective. To investigate if antibodies towards biological TNF-α inhibitors (anti-TNFi Abs) are present in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in clinical remission and to relate any anti-TNFi Abs to circulating level of TNF-α inhibitor (TNFi). Methods. Patients with RA, treated with infliximab or adalimumab, and in clinical remission (DAS28(CRP) < 2.6) were included from 6 out-patient clinics. In blood samples, presence of anti-TNFi Abs was determined by radioimmunoassay, and concentration of bioactive TNFi was measured by a cell-based reporter gene assay. Results. Anti-TNFi Abs were present in 8/44 patients (18%) treated with infliximab and 1/49 patients (2%) treated with adalimumab (p=0.012). In the former group, anti-TNFi Abs corresponded with low levels of TNFi (p=0.048). Anti-TNFi Ab-positive patients had shorter disease duration at initiation of TNFi therapy (p=0.023) but were similar for the rest of the compared parameters. Conclusions. In RA patients in clinical remission, anti-TNFi Abs occur frequently in patients treated with infliximab, while they occur rarely in patients treated with adalimumab. Presence of anti-infliximab Abs is accompanied by low or undetectable levels of infliximab. These data suggest that continued infliximab treatment may be redundant in a proportion of RA patients treated with infliximab and in clinical remission.


2014 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 673-679
Author(s):  
Tânia Maria Lourenço ◽  
Maria Helena Lenardt ◽  
Denise Faucz Kletemberg ◽  
Márcia Daniele Seima ◽  
Nathalia Hammerschmidt Kolb Carneiro

The aim of this quantitative cross-sectional study was to assess the functional independence of long-living elderly at the time of hospitalization. The study was conducted in two teaching hospitals, in the period between January and June of 2011, with 116 long-living elderly. The Functional Independence Measure Scale was applied for data collection and data analyses were performed using descriptive statistics. The score of the total Functional Independence Measure varied from 48 to 126, with a mean of 105.9% (±17.9), which represents functional independence. The motor Functional Independence Measurement of 30 to 91 (77.3%; ±14.5) and the social/cognitive Functional Independence Measurement of 18 to 35 (28.6%; ±4.9). At the hospital admission, the long-living elderly appeared to be independent in all of the Functional Independence Measurement domains. Knowing the functional capacity is essential to plan care throughout the entire hospitalization process.


2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 158-161
Author(s):  
Sabitra Poudel

Background: Children are not just mini human creatures, they are different entities and have unique need for care, nourishment, play, interaction and harmonious environment. Both parents are equally responsible for providing such environment for optimum growth and development of children. Involvement of fathers in care not only promotes their physical development but also fosters social, cognitive, language and motor development. Objectives: To assess the awareness and involvement of fathers in care of their under five children. Methodology: A community based cross sectional study was conducted at Anandanagar tole Gokarneshwar Municipality-8 Jorpati among 128 fathers with children under five years of age. Information was collected through face to face interview using structured questionnaire consisting of statement regarding awareness and involvement in care of their under five years children. Data analysis was done by using statistical package for social science version 16. Results: Majority (60.1%) of the fathers had average level of awareness about child care. Regarding involvement, 44.5 % of the fathers had poor involvement followed by average involvement i.e. 41.4% in physical care. Around two third (68.9%) of the fathers showed average involvement in psychological and intellectual developmental activities of their children. Conclusion: This study shows that though most of the fathers had average awareness regarding childcare, their involvement in the same was less especially in physical care activities.


BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. e057459
Author(s):  
Nipaporn Wannaprom ◽  
Julia Treleaven ◽  
Gwen Jull ◽  
Sureeporn Uthaikhup

ObjectiveTo investigate the frequency and clinical aspects of patients with neck pain who responded and did not respond to scapular repositioning and to determine the clinical features associated with a positive response.DesignCross-sectional study.SettingResearch unit, Department of Physical Therapy, Chiang Mai University.ParticipantsVolunteers with non-specific neck pain aged 18–59 years were recruited between May 2020 and February 2021 from hospitals, clinics, university and community.Outcome measuresClinical data documented were neck pain (intensity, duration and disability), the presence of headache, type of scapular dysfunction, cervical musculoskeletal impairment (range of motion (ROM), flexion rotation test (FRT) and location of any symptomatic cervical joint dysfunction), upper limb functional limitation and self-reported disability. Manual scapular repositioning was performed on the side of neck pain. Participants were categorised as responsive or non-responsive based on a change in pain and/or cervical rotation range.ResultsA total of 219 people with neck pain responded to advertisements, of which 144 were eligible. Of the eligible participants, 107 (74.3%) demonstrated a clinically relevant improvement in either neck pain or rotation range or both following the scapular repositioning and 37 (25.7%) had no relevant improvement. The responsive group had a high incidence of scapular downward rotation, greater neck pain intensity, headache and cervical musculoskeletal impairment (reduced ROM, positive FRT and symptomatic C1-3 dysfunction) compared with the non-responsive group (p<0.05). A logistic regression model revealed that features strongly associated with a positive response were the presence of headache (Exp(B)=6.0, 95% CI 2.3 to 15.8), scapular downward rotation (Exp(B)=5.3, 95% CI 2.3 to 12.6) and a positive FRT (Exp(B)=4.0, 95% CI 1.5 to 10.6).ConclusionAlmost 75% of neck pain patients with altered scapular alignment responded to scapular repositioning. The predominance of upper cervical dysfunction with a downwardly rotated scapular in this group suggests a role of poor axioscapular muscle function which might benefit from rehabilitation.


2021 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
pp. 161
Author(s):  
Chimwemwe Kwanjo Banda ◽  
Belinda T. Gombachika ◽  
Moffat J. Nyirenda ◽  
Adamson Sinjani Muula

Background: Self-management is key to the control of glycaemia and prevention of complications in people with diabetes. Many people with diabetes in Malawi have poorly controlled glucose and they experience diabetes-related complications. This study aimed to assess diabetes self-management behaviours and to identify factors associated with it among people with diabetes at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital, Blantyre, Malawi. Methods: This cross-sectional study recruited 510 adults attending a diabetes clinic at a teaching referral hospital in southern Malawi. The social cognitive theory was applied to identify factors associated with following all recommended self-management behaviours. Data on participants’ demographics, clinical history, diabetes knowledge, self-efficacy, outcome expectations, social support, environmental barriers and diabetes self-management were collected. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify factors associated with following all self-management behaviours. Results: The mean age of participants was 53.6 (SD 13.3) years. The majority (82%) were females. Self-reported medication adherence within the last seven days was 88.6%; 77% reported being physically active for at least 30 minutes on more than three days in the previous seven days; 69% reported checking their feet every day and inspecting inside their shoes; 58% reported following a healthy diet regularly. Only 33% reported following all the self-management behaviours regularly.  Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that self-efficacy was the only social cognitive factor associated with following all the self-management practices (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Participants in our study were not consistently achieving all self-management practices with dietary practices being the least adhered to behaviour by many. To improve self-management practices of people with diabetes, current health education programs should not only aim at improving diabetes related knowledge but also self-efficacy. Adopting interventions that promote self-efficacy in diabetes patients such as exposure to role models, peer education, providing positive feedback, and counselling is recommended.


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