scholarly journals Clinical Characteristics of Non-Suicidal Self-Injury and Suicide Attempts among Psychiatric Patients in Korea: A Retrospective Chart Review

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. 320-330
Author(s):  
Yubeen Bae ◽  
Yoanna Seong ◽  
Seok Hyeon Kim ◽  
Sojung Kim

Objective Limited data exist on non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) and suicide attempts among psychiatric patients in Korea. In this study, we investigated the clinical characteristics of patients who engaged in NSSI and/or suicide attempts.Methods We performed a retrospective medical chart review of patients with NSSI and/or suicide attempts at the psychiatric department of a university medical center in Seoul between 2017 and 2019. According to their history, patients were allocated to one of three groups: NSSI only, suicide attempts only and NSSI and suicide attempts group. Groups were compared based on sociodemographic characteristics and psychological assessments.Results Overall, 80 patients with NSSI and/or suicide attempts were evaluated. Patients with NSSI and suicide attempts were more likely to be female than the other two groups. Patients with NSSI and suicide attempts were more likely to suffer from Cluster B personality disorder than the other groups. And patients with NSSI and suicide attempts scored significantly higher on novelty-seeking in TCI and RC8, RC9 in MMPI-2.Conclusion Patients with NSSI and/or suicide attempts were more likely to be female, younger, and showed higher levels of psychological disturbances. These findings highlight the importance of early detection and intervention for patients with NSSI.

2021 ◽  
pp. 019459982110129
Author(s):  
Randall S. Ruffner ◽  
Jessica W. Scordino

Objectives During septoplasty, normal cartilage and bone are often sent for pathologic examination despite benign appearance. We explored pathology results following septoplasty from April 2016 to April 2018, examining clinical value and relevance, implications, and cost analysis. Study Design Retrospective chart review. Setting Single-institution academic medical center. Methods A retrospective chart review was compiled by using Current Procedural Terminology code 30520 for septoplasty for indication of nasal obstruction, deviated septum, and nasal deformity. Results A total of 236 consecutive cases were identified spanning a 2-year period. Septoplasty specimens were sent for pathology evaluation in 76 (31%). The decision to send a specimen for histopathology was largely physician dependent. No cases yielded unexpected or significant pathology that changed management. The average total charges for septoplasty were $10,200 at our institution, with 2.2% of procedural charges accounting for pathology preparation and review, averaging $225. Nationally, this results in an estimated charged cost of $58.5 million. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) reimbursement for septoplasty pathology charges was $46 in 2018, accounting for 1.3% of hospital-based reimbursements and 2.2% of ambulatory center reimbursements. With CMS as a national model for reimbursement, $11.8 million is spent yearly for septoplasty histopathology. Given that CMS reimbursement is significantly lower than private insurers, national total reimbursement is likely considerably higher. Conclusion Routine pathology review of routine septoplasty specimens is unnecessary, unremarkable, and wasteful. Correlation of the patient’s presentation and intraoperative findings should justify the need for pathology evaluation. This value-based approach can offer significant direct and indirect cost savings. Level of evidence 4.


2018 ◽  
Vol Volume 14 ◽  
pp. 2057-2065 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yojiro Umezaki ◽  
Anna Miura ◽  
Yukiko Shinohara ◽  
Lou Mikuzuki ◽  
Shiori Sugawara ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Vivienne de Vogel ◽  
Nienke Verstegen

Purpose Incidents of self-injury by forensic psychiatric patients often have a deleterious impact on all those involved. Moreover, self-injurious behaviour is an important predictor for violence towards others during treatment. The aim of this study is to analyse methods and severity of incidents of self-injury of patients admitted to forensic psychiatry, as well as the diagnoses of self-injuring patients. Design/methodology/approach All incidents of self-injury during treatment in a forensic psychiatric centre recorded between 2008 and 2019 were analysed and the severity was coded with the modified observed aggression scale+ (MOAS+). Findings In this period, 299 incidents of self-injury were recorded, displayed by 106 patients. Most of these incidents (87.6%) were classified as non-suicidal. Methods most often used were skin cutting with glass, broken plates, a razor or knife and swallowing dangerous objects or liquids. Ten patients died by suicide, almost all by suffocation with a rope or belt. The majority of the incidents was coded as severe or extreme with the MOAS+. Female patients were overrepresented and they caused on average three times more incidents than male patients. Practical implications More attention is warranted for self-injurious behaviour during forensic treatment considering the distressing consequences for both patients themselves, supervisors and witnesses. Adequate screening for risk of self-injurious behaviour could help to prevent this behaviour. Further research is needed in different forensic settings into predictors of self-injurious behaviour, more specifically, if there are distinct predictors for aggression to others versus to the self. Originality/value Incidents of self-injury occur with some regularity in forensic mental health care and are usually classified as severe. The impact of suicide (attempts) and incidents of self-injurious behaviour on all those involved can be enormous. More research is needed into the impact on all those involved, motivations, precipitants and functions of self-injurious behaviour and effective treatment of it.


Author(s):  
A Persad ◽  
K Meguro

Background: Normal pressure hydrocephalus is a frequent cause of cognitive and functional impairment. Many symptoms are shared between Parkinson’s disease and normal pressure hydrocephalus. Only few studies examine extrapyramidal signs in NPH, and only one case report exists describing tremor improvement with shunting. Methods: We performed a retrospective chart review of our NPH database. We selected patients who had both NPH and question of Parkinsonism due to tremor. Results: Six patients with both NPH diagnosis and tremor were identified. Three patients were treated for Parkinson’s disease and followed by neurology. After shunting, all three improved and attempt was made to wean medications, which led to functional decline. The other three patients improved with shunting and after titration of the shunt had resolution of tremor. Conclusions: We provide evidence that NPH can result in tremor, treatable by shunting. We also emphasize that those patients do exist who have both diseases. This likely exists along a continuum. Careful consideration of NPH should be undertaken in those patients with suspected Parkinson’s disease and imaging findings reminiscent of NPH.


2017 ◽  
Vol 45 (8) ◽  
Author(s):  
Uday P. Patil ◽  
Sean M. Bailey ◽  
Elena V. Wachtel ◽  
Evan Orosz ◽  
Rebecca Zarchin ◽  
...  

AbstractObjectives:Antacid medications are frequently administered to preterm infants. These medications can change gastric pH levels and can affect regular gastrointestinal function and gut micro-bacterial flora. We hypothesized that preterm infants exposed to antacid medications are at a greater risk of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) and sepsis, and set out to determine any association, as well as to assess the clinical efficacy of these medications.Materials and methods:Retrospective chart review of preterm infants ≤30 weeks’ gestational age or birth weight ≤1250 g over a 2-year period at New York University Langone Medical Center. Subjects were divided into two groups: those who had been treated with antacid medications and those who had not. We then examined for any difference in NEC (≥Bell stage 2) or culture proven sepsis.Results:The study comprised 65 eligible neonates, 28 in antacid treatment group and 37 in control. The incidence of NEC (21.4% vs. 2.7%, P=0.04) was significantly higher in the antacid group, but these infants tended to be born more prematurely than control subjects. There was a trend toward more culture proven sepsis cases in the antacid group. We found no difference in signs generally associated with neonatal reflux (apnea, bradycardia, and desaturation events) in subjects treated with antacid medications after treatment began.Conclusions:Treatment of preterm infants with antacid medications is potentially associated with a higher risk of NEC, and possibly sepsis, while appearing to provide little benefit.


Blood ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 120 (21) ◽  
pp. 1017-1017
Author(s):  
Marwah W. Farooqui ◽  
Santosh Saraf ◽  
Victor R. Gordeuk ◽  
Kimberly Czech ◽  
Eunice John ◽  
...  

Abstract Abstract 1017 In sickle cell disease, patients are predisposed to renal dysfunction and eventual renal failure as they reach adulthood. Many advances have been made within the field of sickle cell anemia, yet to this day sickle cell nephropathy remains an important cause of mortality in adult patients. Previous studies have determined that proteinuria and hematuria are two useful markers of sickle cell nephropathy. Currently, the best marker for detecting early renal dysfunction is proteinuria on urine dipstick due to its ease of use and efficiency. Our goal in this study is to determine the age at which the first signs of renal dysfunction appear. Pediatric patients with sickle cell disease were selected for a retrospective chart review to determine age of onset for renal abnormalities. The sickle cell pediatric roster was used from the Children's Hospital University of Illinois to study a total of 175 patients within the age range of 0–31 years. Urinalysis was captured at patient's baseline when available and possible risk factors for glomerular dysfunction were studied. Factors such as urine protein and blood on dipstick were recorded and proteinuria was further quantified by using the urine protein to creatinine ratio. Blood on dipstick was further analyzed by red blood cells on microscopic urinalysis. Patients with positive urine for blood on dipstick with <5 RBCs on microscopic UA were marked as patients with hemoglobinuria. Other factors such as sickle cell hemoglobin type, LDH, reticulocyte count, HbF, and hydroxyurea treatment were also recorded to look for correlation with predictors of early renal dysfunction. The Fisher's exact test was used to compute the (two-tailed) probability. Urinalysis results were available for 141 of the 175 pediatric patients from the sickle cell roster. From the 141 patients that were studied 65% of the patients had urinalysis done at baseline, the other 35% had UA when acutely ill. The mean overall age was 9.9 years and a total of 25 of the 141 (17.7%) patients were observed to have proteinuria on dipstick. In the proteinuria group, 64% of the UA were obtained at baseline and the other 36% were during a sick visit. The majority (66%) of these ‘sick’ patients were febrile under the age of 7. Obtaining a UA during an acute illness could skew our results since pediatric patients who are acutely ill may have transient proteinuria but none at baseline. In our pediatric sickle cell population, about 14% had hemoglobinuria. Analysis of only baseline UA showed that no patients under the age of 5 at baseline had proteinuria and there is a strong correlation between age and proteinuria (R2 = 0.81, p<0.02). Similarly there is a correlation between age and hemoglobinuria (R2 = 0.57). Hemoglobinuria is occasionally observed in 11.4% of children <5 years of age, and at 12.9% in the teenage group. A significant increase in incidence of hemoglobinuria is noted in the young adults (40%). Of the 16 patients with hemoglobinuria only 8 had concurrent proteinuria. A larger sample size is needed to determine whether proteinuria and hemoglobinuria are independent versus correlated markers of early renal dysfunction. Preliminary analyses of baseline UA found no correlations between proteinuria and Hb level, LDH, reticulocytes, serum creatinine, or creatinine clearance. From this retrospective chart review in this pediatric sickle cell disease population, it can be deduced that proteinuria becomes a concern in sickle patients in the adolescent years while hemoglobinuria appears in late teen to young adult years. It can be concluded that the first clinical signs of renal dysfunction which lead to nephropathy in sickle patients are more frequently seen in adolescent to late teen years and this is likely the marks the beginning of the deterioration of kidney function. Further studies are needed for multivariate analysis of other markers (GFR, Cr, Cr Clearance) of nephropathy and to improve early detection of renal dysfunction by conducting longitudinal studies. Our goal is to improve our current practice by routine screening in sickle patients to preserve renal function and improve the morbidity and mortality related to sickle cell nephropathy in the aging patient. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.


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