Academic literature on the topic 'Psychotic depression'

IntroductionPsychotic depression differs significantly from non-psychotic depression in many aspects. These differences comprise etiology, severity, treatment response and prognosis.Objectives/aimsThe aim of the study was to assess the diversity of the psychiatric morbidity preceding psychotic and non-psychotic depression.MethodsDanish, register-based, nationwide cohort study. Subjects were all Danish residents assigned with an ICD-10 diagnosis of severe depression with- (F32.3 and F33.3) or without (F32.2 and F33.2) psychotic symptoms between January 1st 1994 and December 31st 2007. Psychiatric diagnoses preceding the severe depression were assessed through the Danish Psychiatric Central Research Register. It was investigated whether patients with psychotic depression had a history of more diverse/severe psychiatric morbidity and a different use of psychopharmacological drugs prior to index, compared to their non-psychotic counterparts.ResultsThe study included 29,254 subjects with severe depression. Of these, 9,768 patients (33%) were of the psychotic subtype while 19,576 (67%) were non-psychotic.Patients with the psychotic depressive subtype had a psychiatric history involving more and longer admission, more diverse diagnoses and a different pattern of psychopharmacological treatment compared to their non-psychotic counterparts. The results indicate, that psychotic depression may be more related to the bipolar/schizophrenia/psychosis spectrum than to the depression/anxiety spectrum.ConclusionsThe results add to a growing body of literature proving fundamental differences between psychotic- and non-psychotic severe depression. This should be considered in the upcoming revisions of the current diagnostic classifications.

BackgroundGenes for depression may act by making individuals more sensitive to childhood trauma. Given that childhood adversity is a risk factor for adult psychosis and symptoms of depression and psychosis tend to cluster within individuals and families, the aim was to examine whether the association between childhood adversity and psychotic-like symptoms is moderated by genetic liability for depression. A secondary aim was to determine to what degree a depression-related increase in stress sensitivity or depressive symptoms themselves occasioned the moderating effect.MethodFemale twins (n=508) completed both prospective and retrospective questionnaires regarding childhood adversity [the Symptom Checklist-90 – Revised (SCL-90-R) and SCID-I (psychotic symptoms)] and psychotic trait liability [the Community Assessment of Psychic Experiences (CAPE)]. Stress sensitivity was indexed by appraisals of event-related stress and negative affect (NA) in the flow of daily life, assessed with momentary assessment technology for five consecutive days. Multilevel regression analyses were used to examine moderation of childhood adversity by genetic liability for depression in the prediction of follow-up psychotic experiences.ResultsThe effect of childhood adversity was significantly moderated by genetic vulnerability for depression in the model of both follow-up psychotic experiences (SCL-90-R) and follow-up psychotic trait liability (CAPE). The moderation by genetic liability was mediated by depressive experience but not by stress sensitivity.ConclusionsGenetic liability for depression may potentiate the pathway from childhood adversity to psychotic-like symptoms through dysfunctional emotional processing of anomalous experiences associated with childhood trauma.

AbstractBackgroundSelf-ratings of psychotic experiences might be biased by depressive symptoms.MethodData from a large naturalistic multicentre trial on depressed inpatients (n = 488) who were assessed on a biweekly basis until discharge were analyzed. Self-rated psychotic symptoms as assessed with the 90-Item Symptom Checklist (SCL-90) were correlated with the SCL-90 total score, the SCL-90 depression score, the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale 21 item (HAMD-21) total score, the Montgomery Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) total score and the clinician-rated paranoid-hallucinatory score of the Association for Methodology and Documentation in Psychiatry (AMDP) scale.ResultsAt discharge the SCL-90 psychosis score correlated highest with the SCL-90 depression score (0.78, P<0.001) and with the BDI total score (0.64, P<0.001). Moderate correlations were found for the MADRS (0.34, P<0.001), HAMD (0.37, P<0.001) and AMDP depression score (0.33, P<0.001). Only a weak correlation was found between the SCL-90 psychosis score and the AMDP paranoid-hallucinatory syndrome score (0.15, P<0.001). Linear regression showed that change in self-rated psychotic symptoms over the treatment course was best explained by a change in the SCL-90 depression score (P<0.001). The change in clinician-rated AMDP paranoid-hallucinatory score had lesser influence (P = 0.02).ConclusionsIn depressed patients self-rated psychotic symptoms correlate poorly with clinician-rated psychotic symptoms. Caution is warranted when interpreting results from epidemiological surveys using self-rated psychotic symptom questionnaires as indicators of psychotic symptoms. Depressive symptoms which are highly prevalent in the general population might influence such self-ratings.

The aim of the report was to study clinical differences between psychotic late-life depression and psychotic depression in younger patients, to determine if differences were age-related or specific for psychotic late-life depression. Three hundred seventy-six consecutive outpatients, presenting for treatment of unipolar or bipolar depression (with or without psychotic features), were assessed by means of the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV, the Montgomery and Asberg Depression Rating Scale, and the Global Assessment of Functioning Scale. Results showed that psychotic late-life (50 years or more) depression, versus psychotic depression in younger patients, was associated with significantly higher age at study entry/onset, longer duration, and lower comorbidity. Psychotic depression versus nonpsychotic late-life depression, in late-life and in younger patients, was associated with significantly greater severity, lower comorbidity, more patients with bipolar I disorder, and fewer patients with unipolar disorder. Findings were related to psychosis or to age, and not to specific features of psychotic late-life depression. These results support a unitary view of psychotic depression.

BackgroundDepression in schizophrenia is a rather neglected field of study, perhaps because of its confused nosological status. Three course patterns of depression in schizophrenia, including post-psychotic depression (PPD), are proposed.AimsWe chart the ontogeny of depression and psychotic symptoms from the acute psychotic episode over a 12-month period and test the validity of the proposed course patterns.MethodOne hundred and five patients with ICD–10 schizophrenia were followed up on five occasions over 12 months following the acute episode, taking measures of depression, positive symptoms, negative symptoms, neuroleptic exposure and side-effects.ResultsDepression accompanied acute psychosis in 70% of cases and remitted in line with the psychosis; 36% developed PPD without a concomitant increase in psychotic symptoms.ConclusionsThe results provided support for the validity of two of the three course patterns of depression in schizophrenia, including PPD. Post-psychotic depression occurs de novo without concomitant change in positive or negative symptoms.

SYNOPSISWe have attempted to clarify clinical differentiating features of psychotic depression. Forty-six depressed subjects meeting DSM-III-R criteria for major depression with psychotic features were compared with (i) DSM-defined melancholic, (ii) Newcastle-defined endogenous, and (iii) a residual DSM-defined major depressive episode group. Additionally, a ‘bottom up’ latent class analysis (LCA) suggested a larger sample of 82 ‘psychotic depressive’ subjects, and multivariate analyses contrasted these subjects with both LCA-identified melancholic and all residual depressed subjects. Analyses suggested that, in addition to two features with absolute specificity (delusions and hallucinations), both the DSM-defined and LCA-defined ‘psychotic depressive’ subjects were significantly more likely to demonstrate marked psychomotor disturbance, to report two morbid cognitions (feeling sinful and guilty; feeling deserving of punishment), as well as be more likely to report constipation, terminal insomnia, appetite/weight loss and (variable across the defined ‘psychotic depressive’ groups) loss of interest and pleasure. The study identifies a wider set of potentially discriminating clinical variables than previous studies, as well as both indicating the existence and assisting identification of ‘true’ psychotic depression in the absence of formal psychotic features being acknowledged or elicited.

BackgroundWe examined relationships among positive, negative, and depressive symptoms in schizophrenia and major depression with psychosis.MethodPatients with schizophrenia (n = 17) and major depression and psychotic features (n = 25), with no prior psychopharmacologic treatment were assessed on scales measuring positive psychotic, negative, and depressive symptoms.ResultsAnalyses revealed that depressive symptoms positively correlated with anhedonia/asociality and avolition/apathy in both patient groups. Positive psychotic symptoms significantly correlated with depressive symptoms in the schizophrenic group.ConclusionsSeveral specific symptoms used in defining both depressive and negative syndrome constructs appear to be shared. The relationship between positive symptoms and depression in schizophrenia and not psychotic depression suggests the severity of depression may be involved in this relationship.

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.

One hundred and twenty five patients with mild or moderate dementia according to the CAMDEX criteria, who were in contact with either a memory clinic or psychiatric services were assessed. Dementia was diagnosed according to the NINCDS ADRDA criteria, the Hachinski scale, DSMIIIR criteria, HAS AGECAT and the McKeith criteria for Senile Dementia of Lewy Body Type. Depression was diagnosed according to the DSMIIIR and RDC criteria and psychotic symptoms were assessed using the Bums Symptom Checklist. Cognitive impairment was evaluated using the CAMCOG schedule. Informants were interviewed at monthly intervals for one year concerning the symptoms of depression and psychotic symptoms experienced by the dementia sufferers. A repeat CAMCOG was undertaken one year after the initial assessment. The one month prevalence rates of delusions, visual hallucinations and delusional misidentification were 48.4%, 35.5% and 29.0% respectively. Each had a distinct pattern of associations, an impression supported by a principal components analysis which generated four psychotic factors, the three categories already discussed and comfort phenomena. Only sixteen patients had any insight into their psychotic symptoms and 61% were distressed by them. The annual incidence rate of psychotic symptoms was 46.7% and 53% of patients experienced symptom resolution. The number of months during which psychotic symptoms were experienced was significantly associated with the magnitude of cognitive deterioration. The one month prevalence rate of RDC major depression was 27.4%. An additional 27.4% of patients fulfilled the criteria for RDC minor depression. Having Alzheimer's disease was significantly inversely associated with both RDC major depression and DSMIIIR major depression. There were six patients with RDC depression in the context of vascular dementia, all of whom experienced depression for at least three months compared to only 33.3% of the patients with Alzheimer's disease. The annual incidence rate of RDC major depression was 10.6%.

Introdução: A Depressão Psicótica (DP) afeta cerca de 15-20% dos pacientes com diagnóstico de depressão. Esta condição está ligada a maior cronicidade, maior incidência de tentativas de suicídio e maior frequência de internação hospitalar em relação à Depressão Não-Psicótica. No entanto, evidências recentes sugerem que a incidência de características psicóticas pode não estar relacionada à intensidade dos sintomas depressivos. O curso distinto de doença, associado a pior resposta ao tratamento e a pior prognóstico suscitam a discussão de que a depressão psicótica pode ser uma entidade clínica distinta da depressão, representando um ponto em um continuum que tem em um de seus extremos os transtornos psicóticos e no outro, os transtornos de humor. Objetivos: Avaliar se a presença de sintomas psicóticos em pacientes internados por episódio depressivo se correlaciona com a intensidade de sintomas depressivos. Avaliar se há diferenças clínicas e funcionais que podem se relacionar com os sintomas psicóticos dos pacientes da amostra. Observar a melhora de sintomatologia psiquiátrica ao longo da internação, e se há diferença na variação de sintomas, ao longo da internação, entre os pacientes psicóticos e não-psicóticos. Métodos: 288 pacientes internados por episódio depressivo em uma unidade psiquiátrica de um hospital geral universitário foram avaliados na admissão e na alta hospitalar. Foi realizada entrevista semi-estruturada com o MINI para avaliação diagnóstica. Nos dois momentos de avaliação foram aplicadas a Escala de Hamilton para Avaliação de Depressão (HAM-D), a Escala Breve de Avaliação Psiquiátrica (BPRS), a avaliação da Impressão Clínica Global (CGI) e a Escala Global de Avaliação do Funcionamento (GAF). Outros parâmetros clínicos e epidemiológicos também foram avaliados: idade de início de sintomas, quantidade de internações prévias, tentativas de suicídio prévias, tempo de duração da internação atual e realização de Eletroconvulsoterapia (ECT) durante a internação. Resultados: 131 pacientes (45,4%) apresentaram sintomas psicóticos. Após ajuste para controle de variáveis que tinham potencial de viés de confusão – história prévia de mania ou hipomania, história prévia de uso de substâncias, sexo, idade, e anos de estudo – os dois grupos tiveram resultados similares nos resultados da HAM-D, tanto na admissão quanto na alta. Em relação às outras medidas, no entanto, os pacientes com depressão psicótica apresentaram piores níveis de funcionamento (GAF), piores resultados na avaliação clínica (CGI) e escores mais elevados na BPRS, na admissão e na alta hospitalar. Conclusão: Os pacientes com depressão psicótica apresentaram história mais grave de sintomas psiquiátricos e maior prejuízo funcional. No entanto, as diferenças entre os pacientes psicóticos e não-psicóticos não tiveram relação com os sintomas depressivos dos pacientes. Tais achados vão ao encontro de evidências recentes que sugerem que a depressão psicótica pode ser um transtorno distinto da depressão maior.
Introduction: Psychotic Depression (DP) is a medical condition that affects a significant portion of depressive patients, 15-20%. This disorder is linked to greater cronicity, higher incidence of suicide attempts and a higher frequency of hospitalization, when compared to depressive episodes without psychotic features. Nevertheless, recent evidences suggest that the presence of psychotic symptoms may not correlate to depressive symptoms severity. The discrete clinical course, along with worse response to usual treatment and worse prognosis draw a hypothesis that Psychotic Depression might be a distinct disorder in relation to major depression. It reflects the intersection of psychotic and affective dimensions, and may be placed in a point of a continuum between psychotic and affective disorders. Objectives: To evaluate if the presence of psychotic symptoms in hospitalized depressive patients correlates to depressive symptoms intensity. To evaluate the existence of clinical and functioning differences among psychotic and non-psychotic depressive inpatients that could be related to the psychotic features. To estimate clinical improvement during hospitalization, and if there are dissimilarities in the variation of symptoms between psychotic and non-psychotic depressive individuals. Methods: 288 depressive inpatients of a psychiatric ward of a university tertiary hospital were assessed at admission and at discharge. We conducted MINI semi-structured interview to determine patient diagnosis. At both assessments we applied the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D), the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS), Clinical Global Impression (CGI) and the Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF). Other clinical and epidemiological parameters were also assessed: age at onset, number of previous hospitalizations, previous suicide attempts, length of stay and Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in current hospitalization. Results: 131 patients (45,4%) had psychotic features. After adjusting for potential confounding variables – previous presence of mania or hypomania, history of substance use, gender, age and years of study –, both psychotic and non-psychotic depressive patients presented similar HAM-D scores at admission and at discharge. However, psychotic depressive inpatients showed worse functioning levels (GAF), worse clinical status (CGI) and higher BPRS scores, both at admission and at discharge. Conclusion: Psychotic depressive inpatients presented more severe history of psychiatric symptoms and greater functioning disability. The differences between both groups of patients did not correlate to depressive symptoms. These findings are in conformity with recent evidences that suggest that psychotic depression might be a distinct disorder in relation to major depression.

Bakgrund: Fysisk aktivitet har i studier kopplats till lindring av psykiska symtom som depression, oro, ångest samt en ökning av självupplevd livskvalitet. Vid insjuknande i psykossjukdom är det vanligt att drabbas av just ångest och depression. Dessa symtom i kombination med biverkningar från läkemedel ökar risken för en mindre hälsosam livsstil och fysisk inaktivitet, vilket kan leda till en ond cirkel och allt sämre fysisk och psykisk hälsa.Syfte: Syftet med föreliggande studie var att undersöka om det finns några skillnader mellan fysiskt hög- och lågaktiva personer med psykossjukdom avseende livskvalitet samt förekomst av depression och ångest. Syftet med studien var även att undersöka hur deltagarnas motionsvanor ser ut när det befinner sig på en sluten psykiatrisk vårdavdelning.Metod: Föreliggande studie är en kvantitativ tvärsnittsstudie. En enkät bestående av demografiska frågor, två skalor om fysisk aktivitet, en fråga om motionsform, en ångest- och depressionsskala samt en skala om livskvalitet, delades ut. I studien ingick 19 deltagare och svarsfrekvensen var 86 %. Data analyserades med det icke-parametriska testet Mann Whitney U-test. Signifikansnivån för samtliga statistiska test sattes till .05.Resultat: I analyser med skattningsskalan som mätte aktivitetsnivå överlag sågs signifikanta skillnader mellan låg- och högaktiva beträffande livskvalitet, ångest och depression (p=0.012, p=0.046, p=0.048). I analyser med skalan som mätte fysisk aktivitet de senaste två veckorna sågs inga signifikanta skillnader.Slutsatser: Personer med psykossjukdom som är högaktiva skattar sin livskvalitet högre än de som inte är det, och de skattar också lägre avseende förekomst av symtom på depression och ångest.
Background: Physical activity affects the hormonal system by alleviating psychological symptoms. There is support that physical activity also has effect on the self-perceived quality of life. Depression and anxiety are common among people with psychotic disorder, and combined with side effects from medication the risk of a less healthy lifestyle and inactivity increases.Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate whether there are any differences between those who are more and those who are less physically active when it comes to quality of life, depressive symptoms and anxiety symptoms among people with psychosis in a Swedish hospital. The aim was also to investigate what the patients’ exercise habits looked like while being admitted to the psychiatric inpatient care.Methods: This study is a quantitative cross-sectional survey performed in a psychiatric ward, specializing in psychosis. The study included 19 participants and the response rate was 86%. Data were analyzed using a non-parametric test, Mann Whitney U test. The significance levels for all statistical tests were set to .05.Results: On the scale measuring physical activity level in general there were significant differences between low-and high-level physically active participants regarding quality of life, anxiety and depression (p=0.012, p=0.046, p=0.048). On the scale, that measured the level of physical activity in the last two weeks, there were no significant differences.Conclusions: People with psychotic disorders that are high-level physically active, rate their quality of life higher and their symptom levels lower than those who score in the low-level regarding physical activity.

There is very little research on the psychosocial risk factors associated with psychotic major depression (PMD) and schizoaffective disorder, depressed type (SAD). Although there is much more research on the course and outcomes of these disorders, the studies have significant methodological limitations. Therefore, this thesis aimed to investigate the following while improving on the limitations of previous research: 1) the risk factors associated with PMD and SAD with a focus on psychosocial risk factors; and 2) the long-term course of illness and outcomes in cases with PMD and SAD. A case control study of incident psychosis cases was used to examine psychosocial risk factors in PMD and SAD cases compared with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder cases. A cohort study following up all cases identified in the case control study was conducted to investigate course of illness and outcomes. Findings on the risk factors suggest that less psychosocial risk factors are involved in the aetiology of PMD and SAD compared with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Exploratory analyses of life events indicate that humiliation life events could be an important factor in the development of PMD and requires further research. Findings on outcomes suggest that PMD cases are more likely to self-harm and attempt suicide but are less likely to use inpatient services and have a lower proportion of compulsory admissions. These findings have important clinical implications. Findings on risk factors and outcomes in SAD cases are similar but a lack of power due to low numbers limits the interpretation of the findings. Important differences in both the risk factors and outcomes analyses were identified when based on the baseline and lifetime diagnoses. This highlights the importance of accounting for diagnostic change when examining these diagnostic groups.

Background: It is commonly assumed that there are clear lines of demarcation between anxiety and depressive disorders on the one hand and psychosis on the other. Recent evidence, however, suggests that this principle may be in need of updating. Methods: Depressive and/or anxiety disorders, with no previous history of psychotic disorder, were examined for the presence of psychotic symptoms in a representative community sample of adolescents and young adults (Early Developmental Stages of Psychopathology study; n=3021). Associations and consequences of psychotic symptomatology in the course of these disorders were examined in terms of demographic distribution, illness severity, onset of service use, and risk factors. Results: Around 27% of those with disorders of anxiety and depression displayed one or more psychotic symptoms, vs 14% in those without these disorders (OR 2.23, 95% CI 1.89–2.66, P < .001). Presence as compared with nonpresence of psychotic symptomatology was associated with younger age (P < .0001), male sex (P < .0058), and poorer illness course (P < .0002). In addition, there was greater persistence of schizotypal (P < .0001) and negative symptoms (P < .0170), more observable illness behavior (P < .0001), greater likelihood of service use (P < .0069), as well as more evidence of familial liability for mental illness (P < .0100), exposure to trauma (P < .0150), recent and more distant life events (P < .0006–.0244), cannabis use (P < .0009), and any drug use (P < .0008). Conclusion: Copresence of psychotic symptomatology in disorders of anxiety and depression is common and a functionally and etiologically highly relevant feature, reinforcing the view that psychopathology is represented by a network or overlapping and reciprocally impacting dimensional liabilities.

Background: It is commonly assumed that there are clear lines of demarcation between anxiety and depressive disorders on the one hand and psychosis on the other. Recent evidence, however, suggests that this principle may be in need of updating. Methods: Depressive and/or anxiety disorders, with no previous history of psychotic disorder, were examined for the presence of psychotic symptoms in a representative community sample of adolescents and young adults (Early Developmental Stages of Psychopathology study; n=3021). Associations and consequences of psychotic symptomatology in the course of these disorders were examined in terms of demographic distribution, illness severity, onset of service use, and risk factors. Results: Around 27% of those with disorders of anxiety and depression displayed one or more psychotic symptoms, vs 14% in those without these disorders (OR 2.23, 95% CI 1.89–2.66, P < .001). Presence as compared with nonpresence of psychotic symptomatology was associated with younger age (P < .0001), male sex (P < .0058), and poorer illness course (P < .0002). In addition, there was greater persistence of schizotypal (P < .0001) and negative symptoms (P < .0170), more observable illness behavior (P < .0001), greater likelihood of service use (P < .0069), as well as more evidence of familial liability for mental illness (P < .0100), exposure to trauma (P < .0150), recent and more distant life events (P < .0006–.0244), cannabis use (P < .0009), and any drug use (P < .0008). Conclusion: Copresence of psychotic symptomatology in disorders of anxiety and depression is common and a functionally and etiologically highly relevant feature, reinforcing the view that psychopathology is represented by a network or overlapping and reciprocally impacting dimensional liabilities.

UVOD: Moždani udar spada u grupu masovnih nezaraznih bolesti, koje se smatraju najčešćim oboljenjima savremenog čoveka. On predstavlja jedan od najčešćih uzroka mortaliteta i invaliditeta u savremenom svetu. Među brojnim pratećim komplikacijama moždanog udara, navode se psihički poremećaji: depresija, anksioznost i psihotični poremećaji. Utvrđivanje povezanosti moždanog udara sa psihičkim poremećajima, kao i mehanizma njihovog nastanka predstavlja značajan doprinos boljem razumevanju ovog veoma čestog oboljenja, a njihov rani tretman omogućio bi brži i potpuniji oporavak nakon moždanog udara. CILJ: Utvrditi karakteristike psihičkog funkcionisanja osoba nakon ishemičnog moždanog udara, utvrditi uticaj lokalizacije lezije na nastanak određenih psihičkih poremećaja nakon moždanog udara, utvrditi uticaj vaskularnog statusa na nastanak psihičkih poremećaja, te utvrditi korelaciju između psihičkih komplikacija moždanog udara i brzine i stepena oporavka opšte životne aktivnosti. MATERIJAL I METODE: Istraživanje je izvedeno kao prospektivna studija, obuhvatilo je 101 pacijenta oba pola obolelih od moždanog udara, koji su hospitalno lečeni na Klinici za neurologiju u Novom Sadu. Svim pacijentima je uzeta anamneza o toku bolesti, faktorima rizika za moždani udar, kao i laboratorijska dijagnostika. Svim pacijentima načinjena je kompjuterizovana tomografija (CT) mozga (ili magnetna rezonanca - MRI mozga), ultrazvučni pregled karotidnih arterija, vertebrobazilarnih i krvnih sudova Willisovog poligona. Stepen neurološkog deficita i praćenje funkcionalnog oporavka u akutnoj fazi i nakon 3 meseca vršeno je primenom Skale Moždanog Udara Nacionalnog Instituta za Zdravlje (NIHSS), Rankinove skale i Bartelovog indeksa. Svim pacijentima je načinjena eksploracija psihičkog statusa u akutnoj fazi bolesti primenom Bekove Skale Depresije 2 (BDI-2), Skale procene anksioznosti kao stanja i odlike (STAI), Skale pozitivnih i negativnih sindroma (PANSS) i Kornelovog regrutnog indeksa (CSI). Kontrolno testiranje gore navedenim testovima obavljeno je nakon 3 meseca. Od statističkih metoda korišćena je deskriptivna statistika: tabelarni prikazi učestalosti i procentualna izraženost kod neparametrijski (nominalno ili ordinarno) organizovanih varijabli. Za ukršten prikaz dve varijable korišćene su tabele kontingencije. Takođe su korišćene mere centralne tendencije (aritmetička sredina) i mere disperzije (standardna devijacija) kod parametrijski korektno uređenih varijabli. Pored toga, korišćen je Hi-kvadrat test za utvrđivanje razlika između grupa za varijable nominalnog nivoa merenja, Kramerovo V za utvrđivanje povezanosti između nominalnog nivoa merenja, Pirsonov koeficijent korelacije r, za utvrđivanje povezanosti između varijabli intervalnog nivoa merenja, te analiza varijanse (ANOVA) za utvrđivanje značajnosti razlika između aritmetičkih sredina više grupa. REZULTATI: U ispitivanje je uključen 101 pacijent, 65.3% muškog pola, 34.7% ženskog pola. Prosečna starost bila je 60.69 godina (medijana=62.00, standardna devijacija =10.828, statistička greška=1.077). 38.6% je imalo lokalizaciju u desnoj hemisferi velikog mozga, 34.7% u levoj hemisferi, 4% u cerebelumu, 11.9% u moždanom stablu, dok je 10.9% imalo višestruku lokalizaciju infarkta. 39.6% je imalo teritorijalni infarkt, a 59.4% lakunarni infarkt. Distribucija faktora rizika za moždani udar bila je uobičajena za podneblje na kojem je vršeno istraživanje. 26.7% je imalo uredan nalaz na karotidnim krvnim sudovima, 26.7% je imalo difuznu ateromatozu, 27.7% je imalo stenozu ACI <70% , dok je 18.8% pacijenata imalo stenozu ACI>70%. U odnosu na nalaz u VB slivu, 52.5% je imalo uredan nalaz, a 47.5% patološki nalaz (stenozu i difuznu ateromatozu). 54.5% pacijenata je imalo uredan nalaz na arterijama Willisovog poligona, a 45.5% je imalo patološki nalaz (stenozu i difuznu ateromatozu). 5.9% je imalo depresivni poremećaj, 29.7% anksiozni poremećaj, 9.9% neurotski poremećaj i 2% psihotični poremećaj. U odnosu na pol, depresivni poremećaj javlja kod 3% muškaraca i 11.4% žena, anksiozni kod 25.8% muškaraca i 37.1% žena, neurotski kod 7.6% muškaraca i 14.3% žena i psihotični kod 3% muškaraca, dok kod žena nije zabeležen. U odnosu na životno doba, kod mlađih od 45 godina depresija nije bila prisutna, anksioznih je bilo 30%, 10% psihotičnih, dok neurotičnih nije bilo. U grupi 46-65 godina depresivnih je bilo 6.9%, anksioznih 22.4%, neurotičnih 12.1%, a psihotičnih 1.7%. U grupi starijih od 65 godina, depresivnih je bilo 6.1%, anksioznih 42.4%, neurotičnih 9.1%, dok psihotičnih nije bilo. Distribucija odgfovora dobijenih na BDI-2 skali ukazivala je na veću učestalost depresivnog poremećaja kod lezija u levoj hemisferi velikog mozga. Distribucija odgovora dobijenih primenom STAI ukazivala je na veću učestalost anksioznog poremećaja kod lezija desne hemisfere. Distribucija odgovora dobijenih primenom CSI ukazivala je na veću učestalost neurotskog poremećaja kod višestrukih lezija. Distribucija odgovora dobijenih primenom PANSS ukazivala je na veću učestalost psihotičnog poremećaja kod lezija desne hemisfere. Upoređivanje lezije na karotidama i psihičkih poremećaja pokazalo je na progresivni porast učestalosti psihičkih poremećaja sa težinom lezije na karotidnim krvnim sudovima, kao i na potpuno odsustvo psihičkih poremećaja kod osoba koje su imale uredan nalaz na karotidama. Praćenje uticaja psihičkih poremećaja (sumarno i pojedinačno) na funkcionalni oporavak pacijenata nakon moždanog udara, nije pokazalo statistički značajan uticaj. Zabeleženo je statistički značajno udruženo pojavljivanje depresivnog i anksioznog, depresivnog i neurotskog i anksioznog i neurotskog poremećaja, bez značajne interakcije navedenih poremećaja sa psihotičnim poremećajem. ZAKLJUČAK: Kod pacijenata sa ishemičnim moždanim udarom najveća je učestalost anksioznog poremećaja, zatim depresivnog poremećaja, a najređe se javlja psihotični poremećaj. Depresivni i anksiozni poremećaj značajno su češći kod žena, dok se psihotični poremećaji isključivo javljaju kod muškaraca. Depresivni poremećaj značajno se češće javlja u srednjem i starijem životnom dobu, anksiozni poremećaj se češće javlja u mlađem i srednjem životnom dobu, dok se psihotične manifestacije javljaju najčešće u srednjem životom dobu. Depresivni i anksiozni poremećaj jednako se često javljaju kod pacijenata sa teritorijalnim i lakunarnim infarktom, dok se psihotične manifestacije isključivo javljaju kod pacijenata sa teritorijalnim infarktom. Ne postoji značajna korelacija između prisustva faktora rizika za moždani udar i pojave psihičkih poremećaja, iako je upadljivo odsustvo psihičkih poremećaja kod pacijenata bez faktora rizika za moždani udar. Nakon 3 meseca od moždanog udara nije primećena značajnija regresija simptoma psihičkih poremećaja. Anksiozni poremećaj i psihotične manifestacije se statistički značajno češće javljaju kod infarkta u desnoj hemisferi, dok za depresivni poremećaj nije potvrđeno statistički značajno češće pojavljivanje kod infarkta u levoj hemisferi. Psihički poremećaji kod pacijenata sa moždanim udarom češće se javljaju kod pacijenata sa lezijama u karotidnom slivu, što se povećava sa težinom lezije i veličinom stenoze. Ne postoji statistički značajna korelacija između lezija krvnih sudova u vertebrobazilarnom slivu i Willisovom poligonu sa pojavom psihičkih poremećaja. Nije dokazan značajan uticaj psihičkih poremećaja na oporavak bolesnika nakon moždanog udara. Dokazan je visok stepen udruženog javljanja depresivnog i anksioznog poremećaja.
INTRODUCTION: Stroke belongs to noninfectious diseases, which are considered the most common diseases of modern man. It is one of the most common causes of mortality and disability in the modern world. The many associated complications of stroke include mental disorders: depression, anxiety and psychotic disorders. Determining the relationship between stroke and mental disorders, as well as enlightening their underlying mechanism, represents a significant contribution to a better understanding of this very frequent disease, and an early treatment of these associated disorders should allow a faster and more complete recovery from stroke. OBJECTIVE: To determine characteristics of mental functioning after ischemic stroke, to determine the impact of lesion localization on development of certain mental disorders after stroke, to determine the impact of vascular status on development of mental disorders, and to determine the correlation between the associated mental disorders and the speed and degree of recovery of general life activities. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The research was conducted as a prospective study that included 101 ischemic stroke patients of both sexes, hospitalized at the Clinic of Neurology in Novi Sad. Data about the course of disease and stroke risk factors was collected and laboratory diagnostics was performed in all patients. All patients underwent brain computed tomography (CT) (or magnetic resonance imaging - MRI), and ultrasound examination of carotid and vertebrobasilar arteries and the circle of Willis. The degree of neurological deficit and functional recovery in the acute phase and at 3-month follow-up were assessed using the National Institute of Health Stroke Severity (NIHSS) scale, the Rankin scale, and the Barthel Index. All patients underwent psychological exploration of the mental status in the acute phase of stroke by using the Beck Depression Inventory 2 (BDI - 2), the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), and the Cornell Services Index (CSI). Follow-up testing with the same tests was performed after 3 months. Statistical analysis included methods of descriptive statistics: tabular presentation of the frequency and percentages in case of nonparametric (nominal or ordinal) variables. Contingency tables were used to present relationships between two variables. In addition, measures of central tendency (arithmetic mean) and measures of dispersion (standard deviation) were used for parametric variables. The chisquared test was used to determine differences between groups for nominal measurement variables, Cramer’s V was used to examine association between nominal levels of measurement. Association between interval measurement variables was measured by the Pearson correlation coefficient (r), and significance of differences between arithmetic means of more groups was determined by the analysis of variance (ANOVA). RESULTS: The study included 101 patients, 65.3% male and 34.7% female. The average age of patients was 60.69 years (median=62.00, standard deviation=10.828, statistical error=1.077). Stroke localizations were as follows: the right cerebral hemisphere in 38.6%, the left hemisphere in 34.7%, the cerebellum in 4%, the brainstem in 11.9%, and 10.9% of patients had multiple localizations. In 39.6% of patients, stroke was territorial, and in 59.4% lacunar. The distribution of risk factors for stroke was typical for the study area. Normal carotid arteries were found in 26.7%, 26.7% had diffuse atheromatosis, 27.7% had <70% ACI stenosis, and 18.8% had >70% ACI stenosis. As regards VB circulation, 52.5% had normal findings and 47.5% had pathological findings (stenosis and diffuse atheromatosis). As regards the circle of Willis, 54.5% had normal findings and 45.5% had pathological findings (stenosis and diffuse atheromatosis). Regarding mental functioning, 5.9% had depressive disorder, 29.7% had anxiety disorder, 9.9% had neurotic disorder, and 2% had psychotic disorder. In relation to sex, mental disorders were present as follows: depressive disorder in 3% of men and 11.4% of women, anxiety disorder in 25.8% of men and 37.1% of women, neurotic disorder in 7.6% of men and 14.3% of women, and psychotic disorder in 3% of men and none of women. With respect to age, among patients under 45 years of, age none had depressive disorder, 30% had anxiety disorder, 10% had psychotic disorder, and none had neurotic disorder. In the group of patients aged 46-65 years, 6.9% had depressive disorder, 22.4% had anxiety disorder, 12.1% had neurotic disorder, and 1.7% had neurotic disorder. In the group above 65 years of age, 6.1% had depressive disorder, 42.4% had anxiety disorder, 9.1% had neurotic disorder, and none had psychotic disorder. The distribution of responses obtained on the BDI-2 showed a higher prevalence of depressive disorder in patients with lesions in the left cerebral hemisphere. The distribution of responses obtained on the STAI showed a higher prevalence of anxiety disorder in patients who had lesion of the right hemisphere. The distribution of responses obtained on the CSI showed a higher prevalence of neurotic disorder in those who had multiple lesions. The distribution of responses obtained by the PANSS indicated a higher prevalence of psychotic disorder in those with lesion of the right hemisphere. Comparison of carotid artery lesions and mental disorders showed a progressive increase in the prevalence of mental disorders with increasing severity of the lesions, as well as a complete absence of mental disorders in people who had normal findings on carotids. The follow-up results showed that mental disorders (generally and individually) did not have a statistically significant effect on functional recovery of stroke patients. There were statistically significant comorbidities of depressive disorder and anxiety disorder, depressive disorder and neurotic disorder, and anxiety disorder and neurotic disorder, and no significant interactions of any of these disorders with psychotic disorder. CONCLUSION: In patients with ischemic stroke, anxiety disorder has the highest prevalence, followed by depressive disorder, whereas psychosis is the rarest. Depressive and anxiety disorders are significantly more common in women, while psychotic disorder occurs exclusively in men. Depressive disorder is significantly more common in the middle and old ages, anxiety disorder is more frequent in the younger and middle ages, while psychotic manifestations occur most often in the middle age of life. Depressive and anxiety disorders are similarly prevalent in patients with territorial and lacunar strokes, while psychotic manifestations occur exclusively in patients with territorial stroke. There is no significant correlation between the presence of stroke risk factors and mental disorders, although there is an evident absence of mental disorders in patients without stroke risk factors. Three months after stroke, no significant regression of the symptoms of mental disorders was observed. Anxiety disorder and psychotic manifestations are significantly more common in right hemispheric stroke, while as regards depressive disorder, there is no statistically significant association with left-hemispheric stroke. Mental disorders in stroke patients are more common in those with carotid lesions and increase in severity with increasing severity of lesion and degree of stenosis. There are no statistically significant correlations between lesions in the vertebrobasilar circulation or the circle of Willis and development of mental disorders. No significant impact of mental disorders on recovery from stroke was found. A high prevalence of comorbid depressive and anxiety disorders was proven/confirmed.

There has been renewed interest into affective symptoms and psychological approaches to schizophrenia and other psychosis, yet no in-depth investigation as to the course, consequences or indeed psychological causes of depression in a phase specific manner in the important first episode. Our understanding of risk and aetiological processes in psychotic illness will only advance once we accurately identify the “end phenotype” of psychotic illness. This series of studies investigates the course of depression in first episode psychosis, its significance in terms of suicidal thinking, and relation to both diagnosis and other symptom domains. Depression in the acute and post psychotic phases is explored, through the importance of the awareness and appraisal of positive symptoms, and diagnosis itself. Significant findings include a pervasive nature of depression throughout the course of first episode psychosis, the predictive nature of prodromal depression and the high prevalence of suicidal acts. Appeasement and engagement with voices, subordination to persecutors and the (ineffective) use of safety behaviours drive a position of entrapment, demoralization and a lack of control. In addition negative illness appraisals are stable and may vary between cultural groups. Implications are explored, in terms of clinical practice, aetiological pathways, potential treatments and intervention strategies

A epilepsia é um transtorno do funcionamento cerebral caracterizado por crises epilépticas recorrentes que acomete cerca de 1 a 2% da população mundial. A epilepsia do lobo temporal (ELT) é o subtipo mais prevalente. A refratariedade aos medicamentos é comum e cerca de 40 % destes pacientes apresentam transtornos psiquiátricos. Neste trabalho utilizamos o método de TacMan real time PCR para quantificar o mRNA de subtipos dos receptores de noradrenalina, dopamina, serotonina e substância P em hipocampos cirurgicamente removidos de pacientes com ELT para conhecer o papel destes na ELT com ou sem comorbidade psiquiátrica (depressão ou psicose). Nossa amostra foi de 48 pacientes com ELT sem (Epilepsia - 24) ou com comorbidade psicótica (Psicose - 10) ou depressiva (Depressão - 14) e 8 Controles (necrópsias). O receptor adrenérgico-α2A (AD2A) apresentou diferença entre os grupos (p = 0,0059) com significância para a variável Antiepiléptico (p = 0,0374) e pós-teste significante de maior expressão do mRNA de AD2A no grupo Epilepsia comparado com Controle e com Psicose. A ativação dos receptores α2A no hipocampo pelos antiepilépticos pode explicar nossos achados do grupo Epilepsia comparado ao Controle, corroborando a literatura acerca do AD2A na epilepsia e em relação aos antiepilépticos. O AD2C mostrou diferença entre os grupos (p = 0,0016), sem significância nas variáveis de controle e significante maior expressão do mRNA de AD2C no grupo Epilepsia comparado ao Controle e Psicose. O AD2C é encontrado em áreas que processam informações sensoriais e controlam atividades motoras e emocionais relacionadas, o que pode explicar nossos resultados. Parece ser importante na patologia relacionada à ELT e merece ser estudado. A não diferença entre Epilepsia e Depressão para AD2A e AD2C, parecem confirmar uma relação bi-direcional ou um mecanismo patogênico comum entre epilepsia e depressão, enquanto a menor expressão de AD2A e AD2C nos psicóticos parece indicar diferenças nos mecanismos adrenérgicos ligados a psicose e epilepsia. D2 mostrou diferença entre os grupos (p = 0,0125) com resultado significativo para a variável Subtipo de Diagnóstico Psiquiátrico (p = 0,0239), provavelmente devido a cronicidade da doença e a quantidade de episódios depressivos apresentados pelos sujeitos. Quanto maior a freqüência das crises (p = 0,0381) maior a expressão do D2 no grupo Epilepsia e no Depressão comparados ao Controle. Estes achados sugerem a participação deste receptor na depressão comórbida na ELT; corroboram que o monitoramento dopaminérgico límbico pode ser útil para desenvolver novos antidepressivos e propõem pesquisas futuras sobre D2 em epilépticos. A participação de 5-HT2A na ELT é indicada, pois, sua maior expressão no grupo Epilepsia em relação ao Controle foi significativa (p = 0,0273). Quanto maior a freqüência das crises epilépticas maior a expressão do 5-HT2A (p = 0, 0433). Não encontramos resultados significativos referentes aos receptores D4, 5-HT1A, 5-HT2C e NK1. Nossos resultados mostraram a possibilidade da aplicação do TacMan real time PCR no estudo de receptores de neurotransmissores, sugeriu a importância dos receptores estudados na ELT e comorbidades psiquiátricas, e que outras estruturas límbicas, como a amígdala, sejam focos de investigação.
Epilepsy is a mental functional disorder characterized by recurrent seizures that affect about 1 to 2% of world population. Temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) is the most prevalent subtype. The refractory to medication is common and about 40% of these patients have psychiatric disorders. This study used the TacMan real time PCR method to quantify noradrenergic, dopaminergic, serotoninergic and substance P receptors subtypes mRNA expression in hippocampus surgically removed from patients with TLE to know their role in TLE with or without psychiatric commorbity (depression or psychosis). Our sample consisted of 48 TLE patients without (Epilepsy - 24) or with psychotic (Psychosis - 10) or depressive (Depression - 14) commorbity and 8 Controls (necropsies). The α2A adrenergic receptor (AD2A) showed difference between groups (p = 0.0059) with significance for Antiepileptic Medication variable (p = 0.0374) and post-hoc test significantly greater AD2A mRNA expression of Epilepsy group compared with Control and Psychosis. The activation of hippocampus α2A receptors by antiepileptic drugs can explain our findings of the Epilepsy group compared with Control, corroborating the literature about the AD2A in epilepsy and for antiepileptic drugs. The AD2C showed differences between groups (p = 0.0016) without significance in the variables of control and significantly greater AD2C mRNA expression of the Epilepsy group compared to Control and Psychosis. The AD2C is found in areas that process sensory information and control motor and emotional related activities, which may explain our results. It seems to be important in the pathology related to TLE and deserves to be studied. No differences between Epilepsy and Depression to AD2A and AD2C seem to confirm a bi-directional relation or a common pathogenic mechanism between epilepsy and depression, while the lowest AD2A and AD2C expression within psychotics seem suggests differences in adrenergic mechanisms linked to psychosis and epilepsy. D2 showed differences between groups (p = 0.0125) with significant results for the variable Subtype of Psychiatric Diagnosis (p = 0.0239), probably due to chronic disease and the number of depressive episodes presented by subjects. The higher the frequency of seizures (p = 0.0381) the higher was the D2 expression within Epilepsy group compared with Control and Depression compared to Control. These findings suggest the involvement of this receptor in TLE commorbid depression; corroborate that limbic dopaminergic monitoring may be useful in developing new antidepressants and propose future research on D2 in epileptics. The participation of 5-HT2A in TLE is indicated, therefore its significant higher expression in the Epilepsy group in relation to Control (p = 0.0273). The higher the frequency of seizures the higher was the 5-HT2A expression (p = 0.0433). We found no significant results for the D4, 5-HT1A, 5-HT2C and NK1 receptors. Our results showed the possibility of TacMan real time PCR method application in TLE neurotransmission receptors study, suggested the importance of the studied receptors in TLE and psychiatric commorbities and that other limbic structures, as the amygdala, should be investigation targets.

AbstractWe present the case of a 29-year-old single Bulgarian woman, Alice, who lived and worked alone in Germany at the time she presented with signs of acute psychosis, more specifically work-related paranoid ideation. She was diagnosed with Brief Psychotic Disorder and treated successfully with Perphenazine. A return to her home town in Bulgaria with concurrent discontinuation of antipsychotic treatment brought about a change in delusional content. She was now excessively preoccupied with religious themes, ancient rituals, and local traditions, and responded well to treatment with Olanzapine. Alice reluctantly returned to Germany but every time she started a new job she experienced depressive and paranoid exacerbations in spite of strict medication adherence. In the last 3 years, she has lived in Bulgaria and has been medication and episode free. We discuss the complex interaction between the experiences of expatriation, premorbid personality, and cultural values (of the patient and her family) in the etiology, course and outcome of brief psychotic disorder. We raise the possibility that contemporary Bulgarian cultural values (as described in a recent comparative international study) were important in Alice’s recovery and, as such, may have wider significance as protective factors for those at risk of mental disorder.

The work is devoted to a systematic study of nonpsychotic depressive disorders in adolescents in Russia and China. The approaches to determining the psychological, clinical, medical, social, ethnocultural and socio-psychological patterns of the formation of risk factors for depressive disorders among the younger generation have been developed

Shirodhara is an ayurveda therapy treating subjects for stress (depression/anxiety/hypertension) insomnia, headache and several kinds of psychosis. When there is a fluid impact on a solid surface, a transient impact will be developed at the interface in short time duration as vibration on forehead. The fluid impact of the liquid falling from the beaker at controlled flow rate is measured using an integrated circuit piezoelectric (ICP) force sensor for various tapping condition. The time-dependent response of the sensor is acquired using data acquisition system which is connected to the computer. The force is determined by measuring the voltage output from the piezoelectric force sensor. The impact experiment is done for single droplet, intermittent flow of drops and continuous flow of liquid falling from a fixed height of 7.5 cm. From the results, we observe the impact force for each fluid have a subtle variation depending on the falling condition and impact velocity of the fluid falling from a height.