Clinical characteristics associated with benzodiazepines’ use in mood, anxiety and psychotic spectrum disorders

The 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak could result in higher levels of psychological distress, especially among people suffering from pre-existing mental health conditions. Young individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are particularly at risk due to their vulnerability to unpredictable and complex changes. This study aimed to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on ASD individuals, whether any pre-pandemic sociodemographic or clinical characteristics would predict a negative outcome, and to narratively characterize their needs. Parents and guardians of ASD individuals filled out an online survey consisting of 40 questions investigating socio-demographic and clinical characteristics of their children, impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on their wellbeing and needs to deal with the emergency. Data were available on 527 survey participants. The COVID-19 emergency resulted in a challenging period for 93.9% of families, increased difficulties in managing daily activities, especially free time (78.1%) and structured activities (75.7%), and, respectively, 35.5% and 41.5% of children presenting with more intense and more frequent behavior problems. Behavior problems predating the COVID-19 outbreak predicted a higher risk of more intense (odds ratio (OR) = 2.16, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.42–3.29) and more frequent (OR = 1.67, 95% CI 1.13–2.48) disruptive behavior. Even though ASD children were receiving different types of support, also requiring specialist (19.1%) or emergency (1.5%) interventions in a relatively low proportion of cases, a number of needs emerged, including receiving more healthcare support (47.4%), especially in-home support (29.9%), as well as interventions to tackle a potentially disruptive quarantine (16.8%). The COVID-19 outbreak has undoubtedly resulted in increased difficulties among ASD individuals.

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Comparative clinical characteristics of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders with and without medulla oblongata lesions

Journal of Neurology ◽

10.1007/s00415-014-7298-7 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 261 (5) ◽

pp. 954-962 ◽

Cited By ~ 19

Author(s):

Yanqiang Wang ◽

Lei Zhang ◽

Bingjun Zhang ◽

Yongqiang Dai ◽

Zhuang Kang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Medulla Oblongata ◽

Neuromyelitis Optica ◽

Clinical Characteristics ◽

Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorders ◽

Spectrum Disorders

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Prevalence and clinical characteristics of autism spectrum disorders in school-age children in Taif- KSA

International Journal of Medical Science and Public Health ◽

10.5455/ijmsph.2013.160420133 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 2 (3) ◽

pp. 578 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Ali AlZahrani

Keyword(s):

Autism Spectrum Disorders ◽

Clinical Characteristics ◽

Autism Spectrum ◽

School Age Children ◽

School Age ◽

Spectrum Disorders

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Glutathione S-Transferase Polymorphisms and Clinical Characteristics in Autism Spectrum Disorders

Frontiers in Psychiatry ◽

10.3389/fpsyt.2021.672389 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

Author(s):

Vanja Mandic-Maravic ◽

Marija Mitkovic-Voncina ◽

Marija Pljesa-Ercegovac ◽

Ana Savic-Radojevic ◽

Miroslav Djordjevic ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Autism Spectrum Disorders ◽

Clinical Characteristics ◽

Developmental Disorders ◽

Adaptive Functioning ◽

Autism Spectrum ◽

Diagnostic Interview ◽

Environment Interaction ◽

Gst Polymorphisms ◽

Children With Asd ◽

Spectrum Disorders

Background: Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are a heterogeneous group of developmental disorders, with different levels of symptoms, functioning, and comorbidities. Recent findings suggested that oxidative stress and genetic variability in glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) might increase the risk of ASD development. We aimed to determine whether GST polymorphisms influence the severity of symptoms as well as the cognitive and adaptive abilities in children with ASD.Methods: The sample included 113 ASD cases. All participants were genotyped for GSTA1, GSTM1, GSTT1, and GSTP1 polymorphisms. The clinical characteristics were determined with Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R) in all of the participants. In non-verbal participants, we explored the adaptive functioning using the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scale II, while in verbal participants, we used the Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence (WASI).Results: It was shown that the GSTA1*CC genotype was a predictor of a lower non-verbal communication impairment as well as of a lower chance of having seizures during life. GSTM1-active genotype predicted a higher adaptive functioning. The predictive effect of GSTA1, GSTM1, and GSTT1 genotype was moderated by exposure during pregnancy (maternal smoking and medication). The GSTP1*IleIle genotype was significantly associated to a better cognitive functioning in children with ASD.Conclusion: Besides the complex gene-environment interaction for the specific risk of developing ASD, there is also a possible complexity of interactions between genetic and environmental factors influencing the level of symptoms and impairment in people with ASD. Detoxification and antioxidant enzymes, such as GSTA1, might contribute to the core of this complexity.

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Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders with non-opticospinal manifestations as initial symptoms: A long-term observational study

10.21203/rs.3.rs-50723/v3 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Rui Li ◽

Danli Lu ◽

Hao Li ◽

Yuge Wang ◽

Yaqing Shu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Clinical Characteristics ◽

Onset Age ◽

Long Term Outcomes ◽

Lower Serum ◽

Initial Symptoms ◽

Antibody Titers ◽

Spectrum Disorders ◽

Aqp4 Antibody

Abstract Background: Early stage neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD) with non-opticospinal manifestations as initial symptoms are easily misdiagnosed; however, data on the full symptom profile are limited. Moreover, the clinical characteristics and long-term outcomes of these patients remain unknown. We sought to analyze the clinical characteristics, imaging features, and long-term outcomes of NMOSD with non-opticospinal manifestations as initial symptoms.Methods: We retrospectively included relevant patients from our center. Clinical, demographic, magnetic resonance imaging, treatment, and outcome data were compared according to the non-opticospinal vs. opticospinal initial symptoms. Results: We identified 43 (9.13%) patients with non-opticospinal initial symptoms among 471 patients with NMOSD. Of these, 88.37% developed optic neuritis/myelitis during an average follow-up period of 6.33 years. All the non-opticospinal symptoms were brain/brainstem symptoms. Most of the symptoms and associated brain lesions were reversible. These patients had a younger onset age (P < 0.001), lower serum aquaporin-4 (AQP4) antibody titers (P = 0.030), and a lower Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score at onset (P < 0.001) and follow-up (P = 0.041) than NMOSD patients with opticospinal initial symptoms. In addition, EDSS scores reached 3.0 (indicating moderate disability) later than in patients with opticospinal initial symptoms (P = 0.028).Conclusions: Patients with NMOSD with non-opticospinal initial symptoms have a younger onset age, lower serum AQP4 antibody titers, and better clinical outcomes.

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Obsessive Compulsive Spectrum Disorders in Children and Adolescents

10.1093/oxfordhb/9780195376210.013.0100 ◽

2012 ◽

Author(s):

Eric A. Storch ◽

Omar Rahman ◽

Mirela A. Aldea ◽

Jeannette M. Reid ◽

Danielle Bodzin ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Children And Adolescents ◽

Clinical Characteristics ◽

Body Dysmorphic Disorder ◽

Repetitive Behaviors ◽

Future Research ◽

Obsessive Compulsive ◽

Compulsive Disorder ◽

Augmentation Strategies ◽

Spectrum Disorders

This chapter reviews the literature on obsessive compulsive spectrum disorders (i.e., obsessive compulsive disorder, body dysmorphic disorder, trichotillomania, Tourette syndrome, and varied body-focused repetitive behaviors) in children and adolescents. For each disorder, data on phenomenology, associated clinical characteristics, etiology, and treatment are reviewed. The chapter concludes with a discussion of future research and clinical directions, such as novel augmentation strategies, diagnostic classification of obsessive compulsive spectrum disorders, and methods of maximizing treatment outcome.

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Serum FAM19A5 in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders: Can it be a new biomarker representing clinical status?

Multiple Sclerosis Journal ◽

10.1177/1352458519885489 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 26 (13) ◽

pp. 1700-1707 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Hye Lim Lee ◽

Hung Youl Seok ◽

Han-Wook Ryu ◽

Eun Bee Cho ◽

Bong Chul Kim ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Neuromyelitis Optica ◽

Clinical Characteristics ◽

Demyelinating Disease ◽

Clinical Status ◽

Healthy Controls ◽

Median Serum ◽

Healthy Control ◽

Clinical Biomarker ◽

Spectrum Disorders ◽

Aquaporin 4 Antibody

Background: Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) targets astrocytes and elevates the levels of astrocyte-injury markers during attacks. FAM19A5, involved in reactive gliosis, is secreted by reactive astrocytes following central nervous system (CNS) damage. Objective: To investigate the significance of serum FAM19A5 in patients with NMOSD. Methods: We collected clinical data and sera of 199 patients from 11 hospitals over 21 months. FAM19A5 levels were compared among three groups: NMOSD with positive anti-aquaporin-4 antibody (NMOSD-AQP4), other CNS demyelinating disease, and healthy controls. Results: The median serum FAM19A5 level was higher in the NMOSD-AQP4 (4.90 ng/mL (3.95, 5.79)) than in the other CNS demyelinating (2.35 ng/mL (1.83, 4.07), p < 0.001) or healthy control (1.02 ng/mL (0.92, 1.14), p < 0.001) groups. There were significant differences in the median serum FAM19A5 levels between the attack and remission periods (5.89 ng/mL (5.18, 6.98); 4.40 ng/mL (2.72, 5.13), p < 0.001) in the NMOSD-AQP4 group. Sampling during an attack ( p < 0.001) and number of past attacks ( p = 0.010) were independently associated with increased serum FAM19A5. Conclusion: Serum FAM19A5 was higher in patients with NMOSD-AQP4 and correlated with clinical characteristics. Thus, serum FAM19A5 may be a novel clinical biomarker for NMOSD-AQP4.

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