Effects of switching antipsychotics in 80 outpatients: A descriptive analysis from a mental health community

IntroductionIn the general practice, psychiatrists widely prescribe antipsychotics for several conditions as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and behavioral disorders among others.Aim and objectivesThe aim of this study is to describe the clinical and sociodemographic features of typical patients receiving antipsychotics and their effects after switching to long-acting treatment.MethodsA descriptive analysis of 80 outpatients collected from a mental health clinic in Santander (Spain) was performed. All patients were taking antipsychotics at baseline, both oral and intramuscular, and were switched to a different long-acting antipsychotic drug.ResultsAt baseline, 24 patients were taking oral medication and 56 intramuscular. There were 37 females and 43 males. There were no gender differences in the final treatment, but Palmitate Paliperidone (71.3%) was the most prescribed drug, followed by intramuscular risperidone (16.3%) and long-acting aripiprazole (11.3%). We found gender differences regarding cannabis (P = 0.002), alcohol (P = 0.004) and tobacco (P = 0.043) consumption, being their use more common in males. In regard to diagnosis, schizophrenia was predominant in both gender groups, whereas delusional and behavioral disorders were more frequent in females. There were no significant differences in the reason of switching, but the inefficacy was more common in males and the side effects in females. At the switching, females were significantly older than males (P = 0.003). We found significant differences before and after switching regarding the number of admissions, emergency visits and length of stay.ConclusionsAntipsychotic benefits are individual and unpredictable. When switching, some other different factors should be taking in account, not only regarding medication.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Download Full-text

A pharmacologic option to reduce hospital admissions and relapses of patients with severe mental illness

European Psychiatry ◽

10.1016/j.eurpsy.2017.01.1404 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 41 (S1) ◽

pp. S753-S753

Author(s):

N. Gomez-Coronado ◽

P. Blanco ◽

I. Martinez

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Hospital Admissions ◽

Descriptive Analysis ◽

Psychotic Episode ◽

Anti Psychotic ◽

Before And After ◽

Previously Treated ◽

Competing Interest ◽

One Year ◽

Long Acting

IntroductionSome diseases relapses involve functional impairment that sometimes takes years to recover. We present our experience using long-acting aripiprazole as maintenance therapy in patients diagnosed with psychotic episode, acute mania (bipolar disorder) or personality disorder, who were previously treated with another anti-psychotic.AimsAnalyze what treatment were they taking before aripiprazole depot. Determine the number of hospital admissions and relapses before and after long-acting aripiprazole treatment.MethodsDescriptive analysis based on a sample of 37 patients, aged 18–65 years, treated during one year with anti-psychotics at two community mental health units.ResultsReduction of hospitalization average: 0.59/year with non-long-acting-aripiprazol anti-psychotic, 0.18/year with long-acting aripiprazol (66.6%).ConclusionLong-acting aripiprazole appears to reduce the number of hospitalizations and relapses compared to other anti-psychotics. However, the sample size is small and more studies are needed.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Download Full-text

Reasons to choose a long acting antipsychotic and tolerability

European Psychiatry ◽

10.1016/j.eurpsy.2017.01.1604 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 41 (S1) ◽

pp. s822-s822

Author(s):

I. Martínez Molina ◽

N. Gómez-Coronado Suárez de Venegas ◽

P. Blanco Ramón

Keyword(s):

Side Effects ◽

Sexual Dysfunction ◽

Negative Symptoms ◽

Descriptive Analysis ◽

Hypertensive Crisis ◽

Antipsychotic Treatment ◽

Competing Interest ◽

One Year ◽

Long Acting ◽

Positive And Negative Symptoms

IntroductionAripiprazole depot is an atypical antipshycotic used to treat positive and negative symptoms of psychosis or acute mania.AimDescribe the reason why psychiatrists switch the current antipsychotic treatment on to aripiprazol depot, its tolerability and the reasons to stop aripiprazol depot treatment.MethodsDescriptive analysis based on a sample of 37 patients, aged 18–65 years, treated during one year with antipsychotics at two community mental health units.ResultsSwitching on to aripiprazole depot principal reasons: promote adherence (25%), persistence of symptoms (25%) and high levels of prolactin or sexual dysfunction (16.66%):– side effects of aripiprazole depot: insomnia (11.11%), inquietude (8.33%), sexual dysfunction (2.77%) and hypertensive crisis during administration (2.77%);– 83.33% of the patients are still taking it after one year. The most common reasons to stop or change it were the presence of secondaries (11.11%) and clinical exacerbation (5.55%).ConclusionsAripiprazole depot is well tolerated (even better than other antipsychotics). Common side effects are not severe and appear in a small percent of patients.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Download Full-text

Describing the assistance, the basis for improvement

European Psychiatry ◽

10.1016/j.eurpsy.2017.01.641 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 41 (S1) ◽

pp. s505-s505

Author(s):

E.J. Pérez Sánchez ◽

J.M. Ginés Miranda ◽

V. Chavarría Romero ◽

J. Moreno ◽

A. Palma ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Primary Care ◽

Psychiatric Diagnosis ◽

Clinical Characteristics ◽

Descriptive Analysis ◽

Adjustment Disorder ◽

Competing Interest ◽

Care Assistance ◽

Surgical Conditions ◽

Made In

IntroductionConsultation-liaison (CL) psychiatry is a branch of psychiatry that study and treat mental health of patients with other medical or surgical conditions. The assistance between hospitals and health services is heterogeneous.Aims and objectivesFor this reason, the objective of our research is to define the clinical characteristics from our CL service and check out the quality relationship with the applicant service, for improving future assistance.MethodsWe made a descriptive analysis of clinical variables from the patients who received assistance during 2 months by the CL service from the hospital del Mar, Barcelona. We got the frequencies and we used the Chi2 test for the comparison between variables: Diagnosis, appearance in the report and treatment in the report.ResultsTotal of the sample: 42 patients, 61.9% women. Mean age: 55.1 years. Psychiatric diagnosis was present before the assistance on 57.1% of the patients. The most frequent diagnosis was Adjustment Disorder (47.6%) and more than one diagnosis was made in the 14.3%. Near the half of the patients required only primary care assistance after the discharge from the hospital. In the 68.3% of the reports appeared information about CL assistance and the indicated treatment didn’t appear in all the reports. Statistically significant differences weren’t found in the comparisons.ConclusionsAdjustment Disorder is supposed to be the most common psychiatric diagnosis in our CL psychiatry service, as we found in the reviewed literature. The results reveal that relationships between services can be improved. More studies must be done for completing information in this issue.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Download Full-text

Paliperidone palmitate: Experience in a community mental health unit

European Psychiatry ◽

10.1016/j.eurpsy.2017.01.1556 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 41 (S1) ◽

pp. s804-s805

Author(s):

L. Carrión Expósito ◽

G.M. Chauca Chauca ◽

E.L. Guadalupe

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Retrospective Study ◽

Maintenance Dose ◽

Lower Number ◽

Paliperidone Palmitate ◽

Health Unit ◽

Dose Number ◽

Competing Interest ◽

Long Acting ◽

Mental Health Unit

IntroductionThere are many jobs that offer advantages of treatment with long-acting injectable in psychosis.ObjectiveTo know the changes in the different variables after the start of paliperidone palmitate (PP).Material and methodWe performed a descriptive and retrospective study. Were evaluated patients who received maintenance therapy with PP during 48 months.ResultsThe sample was composed of 29 patients: 72.4% men and 27.6% women. Average age of 46.21 years. In Figures 1, 2 and 3 show data obtained in relation to compliance with treatment, relapse, maintenance dose, number of admissions and visits to emergency departments respectively.ConclusionsThe administration of PP is associated with a higher level of compliance with treatment. The patients presented a lower number of relapses, hospitalizations and visits to the emergency room. The maintenance dose more used is 150 mg.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Download Full-text

Group therapy based on mindfulness in a mental health center

European Psychiatry ◽

10.1016/j.eurpsy.2016.01.2413 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 33 (S1) ◽

pp. S642-S642

Author(s):

A. Uría de los Ojos ◽

J. Ballesteros López ◽

P. Rico García ◽

A.B. González Palacios ◽

C. Domínguez García

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Group Therapy ◽

Health Center ◽

Mental Health Center ◽

Present Moment ◽

Meditation Practice ◽

Final Session ◽

Before And After ◽

Competing Interest

IntroductionMindfulness is defined as the ability of paying attention to the present moment with intentionality, moment to moment without making judgments of value.ObjectivesTo describe the effectiveness of group therapy performed in our mental health center according to the results in the SOFI scale of patients. This scale is designed to assess different qualities, which evolve through training in meditation practice based on mindfulness.MethodsGroup therapy consisted of 12 weekly sessions of an hour and a half. A total of 11 patients, 7 of which having completed therapy. The questionnaires were answered in the first and final session of therapy.ResultsThe questionnaire items were divided before and after treatment, into four categories with the following results: positive (friendly, happy, acceptance, compassion) to himself: 1.86 (0.54)/2.75 (0.78) and to others 3.57 (0.86)/3.89 (0.54); negative (hate, angry, cruel, bad) to himself: 2.92 (0.54)/2 (0.23); and to others: 2.28 (0.41)/1.96 (0.36)ConclusionsIn keeping with similar studies, the scale shows effectiveness of therapy in all sets of items, highlighting the variation of the aspects related to himself.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Download Full-text

A Descriptive Analysis of HIV Prevalence, HIV Service Uptake, and HIV-Related Risk Behaviour among Patients Attending a Mental Health Clinic in Rural Malawi

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0072171 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 8 (8) ◽

pp. e72171 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Kinke Lommerse ◽

Robert C. Stewart ◽

Queen Chilimba ◽

Thomas van den Akker ◽

Crick Lund

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Descriptive Analysis ◽

Risk Behaviour ◽

Hiv Prevalence ◽

Health Clinic ◽

Mental Health Clinic ◽

Related Risk

Download Full-text

Ekbom syndrome in a visually impaired patient with alcohol abuse and OCD: A case report

European Psychiatry ◽

10.1016/j.eurpsy.2017.01.1624 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 41 (S1) ◽

pp. s829-s829

Author(s):

A. Portilla Fernandez ◽

L. Montes Reula ◽

H. Saiz García ◽

R. Ortigosa Aguilar ◽

A.S. Rosero Enriquez ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Case Report ◽

Alcohol Abuse ◽

Visually Impaired ◽

Compulsive Behavior ◽

Impaired Patient ◽

The Family ◽

Ekbom Syndrome ◽

Competing Interest ◽

Long Acting

This is a case report of a 63-year-old patient with no previous attentions in mental health. He is referred by his general practitioner because he presents wounds all over his body. He reports that there is a plague of bugs at his place that bite him everywhere. Therefore, he scratches continuously, trying to remove the stingers, and injuring himself all over. The family ensures there are no bugs at all, but the patient threatens to set fire to the house in order to extinguish the plague or even kill himself. An OCD with cleaning compulsive behavior was also present since many years, as well as an alcohol abuse. The patient required hospitalization in the psychiatry service. Organic cause for the disorder was discarded. Long-acting injectable aripiprazol was introduced and the patient stopped drinking. Progressively, the delusional symptoms began to subside. Now he maintains no awareness of illness but he says the bugs are disappearing and, at least, they do not bite him anymore.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Download Full-text

Differences in attitudes towards mental illness and psychiatry among medical students, before and after the academic course of psychiatry

European Psychiatry ◽

10.1016/j.eurpsy.2016.01.532 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 33 (S1) ◽

pp. s218-s219

Author(s):

M. Pascucci ◽

M. La Montagna ◽

E. Stella ◽

A. De Angelis ◽

P. Parente ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Mental Illness ◽

Medical Students ◽

Perceived Discrimination ◽

Psychiatric Patients ◽

First Year Students ◽

Before And After ◽

Social Restriction ◽

Empathy Quotient ◽

Competing Interest

BackgroundStigma towards mental illness and psychiatry have a major impact on psychiatric patients’ quality of life; in particular, prejudicial beliefs make it more difficult for future doctors to send patients to mental health services, leading to a delay of necessary care.AimsOur aim is to evaluate the stigma towards mental illness and psychiatry, in a sample of Italian medical students. We studied the differences between the first-year students who have not attended the academic course in psychiatry, compared to the senior students who have attended the psychiatric lectures.MethodsWe tested 113 medical students, using the following questionnaires:– Attitudes Towards Psychiatry (ATP 30);– Community Attitudes Towards Mental Ill (CAMI);– Perceived Discrimination Devaluation Scale (PDD), to assess the discrimination towards mental illness perceived in society;– Baron-Cohen's Empathy Quotient (EQ), to measure empathy.ResultsAmong the 113 students, 46 have already attended the academic course of psychiatry and CAMI scores were less stigmatizing as total score (P = 0.014) and in authoritarianism subscale (P = 0.049), social restriction (P = 0.022) and ideology of mental health in the community (P = 0.017). However, there were no statistically significant differences in empathy, perceived discrimination in the society and stigmatization of psychiatry.ConclusionsThe 67 students who have not attended the academic course of psychiatry are more stigmatizing, considering psychiatric patients as inferior people that require coercive attitudes, socially dangerous and that should be treated faraway from the community. Studying psychiatry is therefore useful to reduce, in the future doctors, these prejudices toward mentally ill patients.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Download Full-text

Gender Differences in Mental and Physical Health: Implications for Aging With a Traumatic Brain Injury

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igab046.2661 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 718-718

Author(s):

Emma Swinford

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Gender Differences ◽

Traumatic Brain Injury ◽

Brain Injury ◽

Health Conditions ◽

Post Injury ◽

Before And After ◽

Policies And Programs ◽

Needs Assessment Survey

Abstract Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is a major cause of disability and death in the U.S., and survivors often experience temporary or life-long health effects as a result of their injury. While risks and outcomes of fall-related TBI in older adults have been well-documented, the intersection of TBI-related health challenges and the experience of aging with a TBI is less well understood. This project explores gender differences in health outcomes among TBI survivors. A Needs Assessment survey was conducted in early 2020 with adult TBI survivors in Missouri (n=150). The mean age of respondents was 46 and 58% identified as male. Bivariate analyses reveal gender differences in health conditions among TBI survivors before and after injury. Significantly more males than females reported substance use disorder for alcohol (20.7% and 7.9%, p < .05) prior to injury, whereas twice as many females reported developing chronic pain after injury than males (68.3% and 31.0%, p < .001). Further, while about 21% of both male and female respondents reported experiencing other mental health conditions, such as anxiety, prior to injury, over 35% of males and almost 58% of females experienced mental health concerns after injury. Additionally, balance/mobility issues, sleep disorders, sensory issues, and cognitive challenges were frequently identified post-injury conditions. Co-morbidities impact our experiences, capabilities, and quality of life as we age. Policies and programs to support TBI survivors and their families may better address the co-occurring health conditions among TBI survivors by considering gender differences in the experience of aging with a TBI.

Download Full-text

Stress, Emotional Intelligence and the Intention to Use Cannabis in Spanish Adolescents: Influence of COVID-19 Confinement

Frontiers in Psychology ◽

10.3389/fpsyg.2020.582578 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 ◽

Author(s):

Cristina Liébana-Presa ◽

María Cristina Martínez-Fernández ◽

José Alberto Benítez-Andrades ◽

Elena Fernández-Martínez ◽

Pilar Marqués-Sánchez ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Gender Differences ◽

Emotional Intelligence ◽

Cannabis Use ◽

Correlational Study ◽

Intention To Use ◽

Health Consequences ◽

Online Platform ◽

Global Impact ◽

Before And After

The disease brought about by the SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19 coronavirus has had an unprecedented global impact. Confinement to control the outbreak may have mental health consequences for the most vulnerable in the population, including adolescents. This study aims to describe and analyze the relationships between the stress variables, Emotional Intelligence and the intention to use cannabis in healthy adolescents, before and after the end of the COVID-19 pandemic containment stage. A comparative correlational study was carried out with validated self-completed questionnaires through an online platform. The sample is made up of adolescents (n = 300) aged 13–17 from two different schools in Ponferrada (León, Spain). The analysis of correlation and differences between the groups indicate that confinement has had effects on the mental health of the adolescents, specifically on the emotional manifestations of stress. Furthermore, significant gender differences were found for stress values and Emotional Intelligence. However, no differences have been found for cannabis use intention.

Download Full-text