scholarly journals Chronic Fatigue and Fibromyalgia Symptoms are Key Components of Deficit Schizophrenia and are Strongly Associated with Activated Immune-Inflammatory Pathways

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abbas Almulla ◽  
Hussein Al-Hakeim ◽  
Mokhlad Abed ◽  
André Carvalho ◽  
Michael Maes
Keyword(s):  
Convergent Validity ◽  
Rating Scale ◽  
Somatic Symptoms ◽  
Internal Consistency Reliability ◽  
Chronic Fatigue ◽  
Psychomotor Retardation ◽  
Deficit Schizophrenia ◽  
Thought Disorders ◽  
Symptom Domains

A subset of patients with schizophrenia experience physio-somatic symptoms reminiscent of chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia. In schizophrenia, these symptoms contribute to impaired quality of life, and are strongly related to neuro-cognitive deficits, and increased IgA responses to tryptophan catabolites. Negative and PHEM (psychosis, hostility, excitation, mannerism) symptoms, psychomotor retardation (PMR) and formal thought disorders, appear to be manifestations of a single trait reflecting overall severity of schizophrenia (OSOS). In this study, 120 patients with deficit schizophrenia (DEFSCZ) and 54 healthy subjects were assessed with the FibroFatigue (FF) rating scale, and the above-mentioned symptom domains as well as neuro-cognitive tests and biomarkers were measured. In DEFSCZ, there were robust associations between the FF score and all above-mentioned symptom domains, and impairments in semantic and episodic memory and executive functions. Furthermore, the FF score loaded highly on an OSOS latent vector (LV), which showed adequate convergent validity, internal consistency reliability and predictive relevance and fitted a reflective model. Soft Independent Modelling of Class Analogy (SIMCA) showed that the FF items discriminated DEFSCZ from controls with an overall accuracy of 100%. Interleukin IL-1β, IL-1 receptor antagonist (sIL-1RA), tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α and CCL-11 (eotaxin) explained 66.8% of the variance in the FF score and 59.4% of the variance in OSOS. In conclusion, these data show that physio-somatic symptoms are a core component of the phenomenology of DEFSCZ and are largely mediated by neurotoxic effects of activated immune pathways, including aberrations in CCL-11, IL-1β and TNF-α signalling.

Preliminary Study of a Scale Measuring Depression and Somatic Symptoms

2006 ◽  
Vol 99 (2) ◽  
pp. 379-389 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ching-I Hung ◽  
Yi-Jen Su ◽  
Li-Jen Weng ◽  
Chia-Yih Liu
Keyword(s):  
Convergent Validity ◽  
Rating Scale ◽  
Pearson Correlation ◽  
Somatic Symptoms ◽  
Internal Consistency Reliability ◽  
Depression Score ◽  
Clinical Practices ◽  
Major Depressive ◽  
Depression Subscale ◽  
Item Characteristics

This description concerns the development of a scale measuring depression and somatic symptoms and the selection of its items for a Taiwanese sample. 102 Taiwanese outpatients (28 men, 74 women) with major depressive disorder completed a 44-item preliminary scale. All had experienced a major depressive episode but had not been treated by antidepressants within the prior two weeks. The Hamilton Depression Rating Scale was administered to evaluate the validity of the Depression and Somatic Symptoms Scale (DSSS). Items, 12 for the Depression Subscale and 10 for the Somatic Subscale, were selected for the Depression and Somatic Symptoms Scale according to their frequency and their association with rated severity of depression and clinical practices. The mean Hamilton Depression score was 23.9 ( SD = 5.2) versus 38.4 ( SD = 11.3) for the total DSSS; means for the Depression subscale were 23.5 ± 6.0 and the Somatic subscale 14.9 ± 6.8. Cronbach alpha was .88 for the total DSSS, .78 for the Depression subscale, and .86 for the Somatic subscale. The Pearson correlation coefficient for the two scales was .59 ( p < .01). The new scale had adequate internal consistency reliability and convergent validity. Much study is required to assess its structure, item characteristics, and in judging its applicability and limitations, and sensitivity to cultural differences in clinical settings.

Schizophrenia phenomenology revisited: positive and negative symptoms are strongly related reflective manifestations of an underlying single trait indicating overall severity of schizophrenia

CNS Spectrums ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abbas F. Almulla ◽  
Hussein K. Al-Hakeim ◽  
Michael Maes
Keyword(s):  
Convergent Validity ◽  
Negative Symptoms ◽  
Discriminant Validity ◽  
Psychomotor Retardation ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Stable Phase ◽  
Deficit Schizophrenia ◽  
Latent Vector ◽  
Thought Disorders ◽  
Positive And Negative Symptoms

Abstract Background. To examine whether negative symptoms, psychosis, hostility, excitation, and mannerism (PHEM symptoms), formal thought disorders (FTD) and psychomotor retardation (PMR) are interrelated phenomena in major neurocognitive psychosis (MNP) or deficit schizophrenia and whether those domains belong to an underlying latent vector reflecting general psychopathology. Methods. In this study, we recruited 120 patients with MNP or deficit schizophrenia and 54 healthy subjects and measured the above-mentioned symptom domains. Results. In MNP, there were significant associations between negative and PHEM symptoms, FTD and PMR. A single latent trait, which is essentially unidimensional, underlies these key domains of schizophrenia and MNP and additionally shows excellent internal consistency reliability, convergent validity, and predictive relevance. Confirmatory Tedrad Analysis indicates that this latent vector fits a reflective model. The lack of discriminant validity shows that positive (and PHEM or psychotic) and negative symptoms greatly overlap and probably measure the same latent construct. Soft independent modeling of class analogy (SIMCA) shows that MNP (diagnosis based on negative symptoms) is better modeled using PHEM symptoms, FTD, and PMR than negative symptoms. Conclusions. In stable phase MNP, which is a restricted sample of the schizophrenia population, negative and PHEM symptoms, FTD and PMR belong to one underlying latent vector reflecting overall severity of schizophrenia (OSOS). The bi-dimensional concept of “positive” and “negative” symptoms cannot be validated and, therefore, future research in stable phase schizophrenia should consider that the latent phenomenon OSOS as well as its reflective manifestations are the key factors of schizophrenia phenomenology.

scholarly journals Schizophrenia Phenomenology Revisited: Positive and Negative Symptoms are Strongly Related Reflective Manifestations of an Underlying Single Trait Indicating Overall Severity of Schizophrenia

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abbas Almulla ◽  
Hussein Al-Hakeim ◽  
Michael Maes
Keyword(s):  
Convergent Validity ◽  
Negative Symptoms ◽  
Discriminant Validity ◽  
Psychomotor Retardation ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Stable Phase ◽  
Latent Vector ◽  
Thought Disorders ◽  
Symptom Domains ◽  
Positive And Negative Symptoms

Schizophrenia comprises various symptom domains, including positive and negative symptoms. Machine learning showed that a) negative symptoms are significantly interrelated with PHEM (psychosis, hostility, excitation, and mannerism) symptoms, formal thought disorders (FTD) and psychomotor retardation (PMR); and b) stable phase schizophrenia comprises two distinct classes, namely Major Neuro-Cognitive Psychosis (MNP, largely overlapping with deficit schizophrenia) and Simple NP (SNP). In this study, we recruited 120 MNP patients and 54 healthy subjects and measured the above-mentioned symptom domains. In MNP, there were significant associations between negative and PHEM symptoms, FTD and PMR. A single latent trait, which is essentially unidimensional, underlies these key domains of schizophrenia and MNP and additionally shows excellent internal consistency reliability, convergent validity, and predictive relevance. Confirmatory Tedrad Analysis indicates that this latent vector fits a reflective model. The lack of discriminant validity shows that PHEM and negative symptoms greatly overlap and probably measure the same construct. Soft Independent Modeling of Class Analogy (SIMCA) shows that MNP (diagnosis based on negative symptoms) is better modeled using PHEM symptoms, FTD, and PMR than negative symptoms. In conclusion, in stable phase MNP, a restricted sample of the schizophrenia population, negative and PHEM symptoms, FTD and PMR belong to one underlying latent vector reflecting overall severity of schizophrenia (OSOS). The bi-dimensional concept of &ldquo;positive&rdquo; and &ldquo;negative&rdquo; symptoms cannot be validated and, therefore, future research in stable phase schizophrenia should consider that the latent phenomenon OSOS as well as its 8 reflective manifestations are the key factors of schizophrenia phenomenology.

scholarly journals Consumptive Disease and Chronic Fatigue Improved by Nokyonggunbi-tang and Other Korean Medical Treatments: A Case Report

2021 ◽  
Vol 42 (5) ◽  
pp. 738-745
Author(s):  
Mu-jin Park ◽  
So-ri Jin ◽  
Eun-jae Oh ◽  
Woo-sub Song ◽  
Hyun-seok Lee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rating Scale ◽  
Numerical Rating Scale ◽  
Neck Disability Index ◽  
Chronic Fatigue ◽  
Medical Treatments ◽  
Five Dimensions ◽  
Numerical Rating ◽  
Fatigue Severity ◽  
Neck Disability

Objective: This study investigated the efficacy of using Nokyonggunbi-tang and other Korean medical treatments for a patient with consumptive disease and chronic fatigue.Methods: A 59-year-old female patient with fatigue, headache, dizziness, and neck pain due to consumptive disease and chronic fatigue was treated with herbal medicine (Nokyonggunbi-tang), together with acupuncture, pharmacopuncture, cupping, and chuna manual therapy, for 22 days. The treatment effects on the pain were evaluated using the scores for the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), European Quality of Life Five Dimensions (EQ-5d) Scale, Neck Disability Index (NDI), and Numerical Rating Scale (NRS).Results: Following treatment, the patient showed a decrease in the FSS, NDI, and NRS scores and an improvement in the EQ-5d score.Conclusions: Nokyonggunbi-tang and Korean medical treatment significantly improved fatigue symptoms in a patient with no substrate disease.

scholarly journals Relationship between Perceived Teamwork Effectiveness and Team Performance in Banking Sector of Serbia

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (20) ◽  
pp. 8753
Author(s):  
Nemanja Berber ◽  
Agneš Slavić ◽  
Marko Aleksić
Keyword(s):  
Organizational Behavior ◽  
Organizational Performance ◽  
Convergent Validity ◽  
Discriminant Validity ◽  
Banking Sector ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Internal Consistency Reliability ◽  
Business Success ◽  
Team Members

Teamwork is one of the most important factors for business success in the modern economy. In almost every area of business, teams receive more and more attention, since it has been found that teamwork leads to greater individual, group, and even organizational performance. The aim of this research is to investigate the effectiveness of teamwork and its relationship with team performances. Specifically, the authors tried to investigate which factors of teamwork effectiveness have a positive relationship with teamwork performance and the sustainability of teams in the future. The subject of the research is the effectiveness of teamwork as a construct that is widely presented in the scientific field of organizational behavior and human resource management, but is still underexplored in empirical research, especially in the banking sector. An investigation with a self-audit questionnaire on teamwork effectiveness was conducted on a sample of 401 employees in the banking sector in Serbia, in 16 out of the 26 existing banks in the country. The authors used SmartPLS software in order to test the questionnaire (indicator loadings, internal consistency reliability, convergent validity, and discriminant validity) and proposed research question (PLS-SEM). The results showed that factors such as innovative behavior of the team members, the quality of teamwork, and teamwork synergy have positive relations to teamwork performance. This paper contributes to the better understanding of the factors of teamwork effectiveness that contribute to team performances, with respect to the banking industry in Serbia. The limitation of the paper is the size of the sample, with respect to the total population.

Deficit schizophrenia and its features are associated with PON1 Q192R genotypes and lowered paraoxonase 1 (PON1) enzymatic activity: effects on bacterial translocation

CNS Spectrums ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andressa K. Matsumoto ◽  
Michael Maes ◽  
Thitiporn Supasitthumrong ◽  
Annabel Maes ◽  
Ana P. Michelin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Negative Symptoms ◽  
Immunoglobulin A ◽  
Quorum Quenching ◽  
Psychomotor Retardation ◽  
Paraoxonase 1 ◽  
Pon1 Activity ◽  
Phenyl Acetate ◽  
Gram Negative ◽  
Deficit Schizophrenia ◽  
Thought Disorders

Abstract Background. Primary deficit schizophrenia (DS) is characterized by enduring negative symptoms and represents a qualitatively different disease entity with respect to non-deficit schizophrenia (NDS). No studies investigated the association between the enzyme paraoxonase 1 (PON1) and DS and its phenomenology. Methods. In this case-control study, Thai women and men, aged 18 to 65 years, were divided in DS (n = 40) and NDS (n = 40) and were compared to controls (n = 40). PON1 activities against 4-(chloromethyl)phenyl acetate (CMPA) and phenylacetate were determined. Moreover, subjects were genotyped for their PON1 Q192R polymorphism and immunoglobulin A (IgA) levels responses directed to Gram-negative bacteria were measured. Results. DS is significantly associated with the QQ genotype and the Q allele as compared with NDS and controls. PON1 activities are significantly and inversely associated with negative symptoms, formal thought disorders, psychomotor retardation, excitation and DS. The presence of the Q allele is associated with increased IgA responses to Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Morganella morganii, and Pseudomonas putida as compared with RR carriers. Conclusions. The PON1 Q allele and lower PON1 activities especially against CMPA are associated with DS, indicating lowered quorum quenching abilities as well as lowered defenses against lipoperoxidation and immune activation. It is suggested that lowered PON1 activity in DS constitutes an impairment in the innate immune system which together with lowered natural IgM may cause lower immune regulation thereby predisposing toward greater neurotoxic effects of immune-inflammatory, oxidative and nitrosative pathways and Gram-negative microbiota.

Psychometric Assessment of the Paternal Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale-Short Form: A Confirmatory Factor Analysis of Malawian Fathers

2021 ◽  
pp. 089033442110650
Author(s):  
Roselyn Chipojola ◽  
Cindy-Lee Dennis ◽  
Shu-Yu Kuo
Keyword(s):  
Factor Analysis ◽  
Confirmatory Factor Analysis ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Convergent Validity ◽  
Short Form ◽  
Internal Consistency Reliability ◽  
Retest Reliability ◽  
Confirmatory Factor ◽  
Test Retest Reliability

Background: Only 61% of Malawian women exclusively breastfeed to the recommended 6 months. Paternal support is predictive of exclusive breastfeeding, and significantly related to paternal breastfeeding self-efficacy, defined as fathers’ confidence in their ability to assist mothers with breastfeeding. Research Aims: To (1) examine the psychometric properties of the Paternal Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale-Short Form (BSES-SF) in Malawian fathers, including internal consistency reliability, test-retest reliability, construct validity using Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA), and convergent validity; and (2) assess the relationship between the BSES-SF and paternal demographic and health factors. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at a maternity hospital in Lilongwe, Malawi, and 180 fathers whose partners had delivered a singleton infant were included. Participants completed the Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale and Quality of Life with confirmatory factor analysis performed to assess the construct validity. The internal consistency reliability and test-retest reliability were evaluated using Cronbach’s alpha coefficient and intra-class correlations. Convergent validity was also assessed. Results: A unidimensional factorial structure of the Malawian Paternal BSES-SF was identified using confirmatory factor analysis. The scale had an excellent Cronbach’s alpha of .90 and a test-retest reliability of .93. Participants’ breastfeeding self-efficacy was significantly correlated with the Quality of Life domains of psychological health ( r = .23; p < .01), social relationships ( r = .28; p < .001), and environmental health ( r = .30; p < .001). Participants who were older, married, and with ≥ two children had significantly higher breastfeeding self-efficacy and were more confident in their ability to support their partner’s breastfeeding. Conclusion: The Paternal Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale-Short Form was a valid and reliable measure to assess fathers’ confidence in their ability to assist mothers with breastfeeding in Malawi.

scholarly journals Symptom Profile and Severity in a Sample of Nigerians with Psychotic versus Nonpsychotic Major Depression

2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Increase Ibukun Adeosun ◽  
Oyetayo Jeje
Keyword(s):  
Suicidal Ideation ◽  
Major Depression ◽  
Rating Scale ◽  
Somatic Symptoms ◽  
Psychomotor Retardation ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Psychotic Symptoms ◽  
Symptom Profile ◽  
Psychotic Major Depression ◽  
Sub Saharan

The therapeutic strategies in managing patients with psychotic major depression (PMD) differ from those with non-psychotic major depression (NMD), because of differences in clinical profile and outcome. However, there is underrecognition of psychotic symptoms in depressed patients. Previous studies in Western population suggest that certain symptom patterns, apart from psychosis which may be concealed, can facilitate the discrimination of PMD from NMD. These studies may have limited applicability to sub-Saharan Africa due to cross-cultural differences in the phenomenology of depression. This study compared the rates and severity of depressive symptoms in outpatients with PMD (n=129) and NMD (n=117) using the Structured Clinical Interview for Depression (SCID) and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D). Patients with PMD had statistically significantly higher rates of suicidal ideation, suicidal attempt, psychomotor agitation, insomnia, and reduced appetite. Patients with NMD were more likely to manifest psychomotor retardation and somatic symptoms. PMD was associated with greater symptom severity. On logistic regression analysis, suicidal ideation, psychomotor disturbances, insomnia, and somatic symptoms were predictive of diagnostic status. The presence of these symptoms clusters may increase the suspicion of occult psychosis in patients with depression, thereby informing appropriate intervention strategies.

scholarly journals A Generalized Cognitive Decline (GCoDe) Partly Mediates the Effects of Neuro-Immune and Neuro-Oxidative Toxicity on the Symptomatome and Lowered Quality of Life in (Deficit) Schizophrenia

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Maes ◽  
Buranee Kanchanatawan
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Cognitive Decline ◽  
Spatial Working Memory ◽  
Latent Trait ◽  
Set Shifting ◽  
Emotional Recognition ◽  
Association Learning ◽  
Deficit Schizophrenia ◽  
Thought Disorders

Recently we showed that schizophrenia and, especially, deficit schizophrenia is accompanied by neurocognitive impairments as measured with different cognitive batteries. The aim of this study was to examine whether a single trait underpins aberrations in 9 key Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB) probes, verbal fluency (VFT), world list memory (WLM), true recall, and the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE). We recruited 80 patients with schizophrenia and 40 healthy controls. All patients were assessed using CANTAB tests, namely paired-association learning (PAL), rapid visual information (RVP), spatial working memory (SWM), one touch stocking (OTS), intra/extradimensional set shifting (IED), and emotional recognition test (ERT). We found that a single latent trait, which is essentially unidimensional, underlies the CANTAB tests, VFT, WLM, True Recall and MMSE. The latent trait shows excellent psychometric properties and fits a reflective model and, therefore, reflects a generalized cognitive decline (GCoDe), which is the cause of aberrations in semantic and episodic memory, recall, executive functions, strategy use, rule acquisition, visual sustained attention, attention set-shifting and emotional recognition. 40.5% of the variance in GCode was explained by CCL11, IgA to tryptophan catabolites, and increased oxidative toxicity. GCoDe explains 44.8% of the variance in a single latent trait extracted from psychosis, hostility, excitation, mannerism, negative symptoms, formal thought disorders, and psychomotor retardation and 40.9% in quality of life scores. GCoDe is significantly greater in deficit than in nondeficit schizophrenia. In conclusion, GCoDe mediates the effects of neuro-immune and neuro-oxidative toxicity on the phenome of (deficit) schizophrenia.

scholarly journals In Schizophrenia, PON1 Q192R Genotypes and/or Lowered Paraoxonase 1 (PON1) Enzymatic Activity are Significantly Associated with the Deficit Syndrome, Negative Symptoms, Formal Thought Disorders, Psychomotor Retardation, Excitation and Increased IgA Levels to Gram-Negative Microbiota

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andressa Keiko Matsumoto ◽  
Michael Maes ◽  
Annabel Maes ◽  
Ana Paula Michelin ◽  
Laura de Oliveira Semeão ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Negative Symptoms ◽  
Quorum Quenching ◽  
Psychomotor Retardation ◽  
Paraoxonase 1 ◽  
Pon1 Activity ◽  
Phenyl Acetate ◽  
Gram Negative ◽  
Deficit Syndrome ◽  
Deficit Schizophrenia ◽  
Thought Disorders

Background: Primary deficit schizophrenia (DS) is characterized by enduring negative symptoms and represents a qualitatively different disease entity with respect to non-deficit schizophrenia (NDS). No studies investigated the association between the enzyme paraoxonase 1 (PON1) and DS and its phenomenology. Methods: In this case-control study, Thai women and men, aged 18-65 years, were divided in DS (n=40) and NDS (n=40) and were compared to controls (n=40). PON1 activities against 4-(chloromethyl)phenyl acetate (CMPA) and phenylacetate were determined. Moreover, subjects were genotyped for their PON1 Q192R polymorphism and IgA levels responses directed to Gram-negative bacteria were measured. Results: DS is significantly associated with the QQ genotype and the Q allele as compared with NDS and controls. PON1 activities are significantly and inversely associated with negative symptoms, formal thought disorders, psychomotor retardation, excitation and DS. The presence of the Q allele is associated with increased IgA responses to Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Morganella morganii, and Pseudomonas putida as compared with RR carriers. Conclusions: The PON1 Q allele and lower PON1 activities especially against CMPA are associated with DS, indicating lowered quorum quenching abilities as well as lowered defenses against lipoperoxidation and immune activation. It is suggested that lowered PON1 activity in DS constitutes an impairment in the innate immune system which together with lowered natural IgM may cause lower immune regulation thereby predisposing towards greater neurotoxic effects of immune-inflammatory, oxidative and nitrosative pathways and Gram-negative microbiota.

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