Resumo em Inglês:

Abstract Background Thought suppression has been associated with a number of psychiatric disorders. However, the association with conversion disorder (CD) has not been investigated yet. Objective To investigate the role of thought suppression in CD. Methods Eighty consecutive outpatients with a diagnosis of CD and sixty age, sex and neighborhood-similar controls were evaluated using Beck Depression Inventory-I (BDI-I), White Bear Suppression Inventory (WBSI), Symptom Interpretation Questionnaire (SIQ) and Sleep Hygiene Index (SHI). Cases and controls were compared in regard to thought suppression scores considering their status of high depression scores via a logistic regression model. The reciprocal associations of thought suppression with other clinical dimensions in CD were assessed. Finally, structural equation modelling was applied to untangle the possible connections. Results CD patients had significantly higher scores of thought suppression than the control group. However, the difference was below the significance level when CD patients without comorbid high depression scores were taken into account. Thought suppression was associated with the clinical severity of CD. According to the structural equation model, older age and somatic attributions to the common bodily sensations were the significant correlates of thought suppression among CD patients. Discussion Thought suppression may be considered as a non-specific marker of clinical severity in CD.

Resumo em Inglês:

Abstract Background Being able to make an estimation of the time to clinical outcome, and making predictions early during treatment about the possibility of later response/non-response to treatment, is an important asset that can help to guide treatment strategies and counsel patients and caregivers about treatment expectations. Objectives The study aimed to determine the time course to treatment outcome and the psychopathological cut-off score at week 4 that predicts outcome at week 16. Methods This was a naturalistic follow-up study of 160 incident cases of schizophrenia over 16 weeks. Four intervals of follow-up clinical assessments were done. Standard criteria for response and remission were applied. Results The mean (median) times, in weeks, to response and remission using Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) data were 8.1(8.0); 8.4(8.0); and 10.9 (12.0), respectively. The Areas Under the Curves were high, for response (0.909; 95% C.I., 0.85-0.97) and remission (0.86; 95% C.I., 0.81 -0.94) at week 16. A cut-off score of 20.7% reduction in the total BPRS score at week 4, predicted response status (79.5% sensitivity, 84.2% specificity) and remission status (77.6% sensitivity, 73.3% specificity) at week 16. In addition, a cut-off of 10.21% reduction in the total Scale for Assessment of Negative Symptoms (SANS) score at week 4, predicted response (70.8% sensitivity, 95.5% specificity) at week 16. Discussion The results are in line with the general clinical impression that, by 2 months, most acutely ill inpatients are fit for discharge; and introduced for further investigation 10.21% reduction in SANS Score as a marker of treatment resistance in schizophrenia.

Resumo em Inglês:

Abstract Background Substance use and smoking exert devastating impact on sleep, especially hindering the ease of falling asleep, compromising the sleep maintenance, and distorting the sleep cycles. PERIOD genes are believed to play a role in individual differences in sleep timing by influencing circadian. Objective The aim of this study was to ascertain whether Per3 VNTR variant affects suspectibility of individuals to substance use disorder (SUD) and smoking status in a Turkish population. Methods A total of 549 subjects, including 212 SUD patients, 160 smoker, and 177 healthy controls, matched by ethnicity, age, and gender, were recruited in a case-control study. Genotyping of Per3 variant was performed using PCR method. Results When the SUD, smoker groups and controls were compared in terms of 5R/5R, 5R/4R, 4R/4R genotypes, no significant difference was observed. Besides, allele frequencies of Per3 VNTR were similar among the groups. Discussion Our data indicate that Per3 VNTR variant is not associated with the risk of SUD and smoking status in our population.

Resumo em Inglês:

Abstract Background Lewy body dementia (LBD) impairs performance in daily activities and affects motor, language and visuospatial tasks. Objective We aimed to correlate neuropsychiatric and motor assessments with language and visual organization tests in LBD. Methods Twenty-two patients with dementia with Lewy bodies and ten patients with Parkinson’s disease dementia participated on a cross-sectional study that assessed cognition, functionality, caregiver burden, verbal fluency, the primer-level dictation section of the Boston Diagnostic Aphasia Examination (PLD-BDAE), the Hooper Visual Organization Test, the Neuropsychiatric Inventory and the Movement Disorder Society – Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale. Results Language and visuospatial test results followed motor impairment and general cognitive performance. Whereas visual organization did not predict performance in the PLD-BDAE, visuospatial abilities and verbal fluency were concurrently associated, suggesting that linguistic impairment in LBD may be attributed to neuropsychological components of cognition and language. Only visual organization was associated with behaviour, suggesting that neuropsychiatric symptoms associate with differential impairment of visual organization in comparison with language in LBD. Schooling did not affect visual organization or language test performance, while the length of dementia was negatively associated with visual organization and verbal fluency. Discussion Though visual organization tests follow behaviour and motor performance in LBD, there is differential impairment regarding language skills.

Resumo em Inglês:

Abstract Background Many studies have used the Wechsler Intelligence Scale (WISC) to examine the characteristics of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, most studies have been based on profile analysis, not on content analysis. Objective The objective of the present study was to apply the WISC-IV to clinical assessment of ASD and clarify how the characteristics of the disorder were reflected in specific items. Methods The study participants were 20 patients aged 5-16 years diagnosed with ASD according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5). We recruited 20 patients with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and 20 patients with other disorders (neurotic disorders) as controls. We then compared the scores of the ninth item of the WISC-IV ("Comprehension") among the three groups. Results The differences observed between the ASD vs. the other disorders group were not significant by the standard scoring method. Thus, a two-level scoring method of 0 and ≥1 point was adopted. As a result, significantly more participants in the ASD group scored 0 points compared with the ADHD and other disorders groups. Discussion The results of the present study revealed that a characteristic of ASD appeared in the ninth item of "Comprehension" on the WISC-IV.

Resumo em Inglês:

Abstract Background Serotonin syndrome is rarely, potentially life threatening condition, associated with use of serotonin acting medications and psychoactive drugs. In the majority of cases the symptoms occur soon after the initiation of a new drug or a change in the dose. Objective To present a case report and to describe the possible mechanism of development of serotonin syndrome during the interactions between milk thistle seeds and methadone on hepatic cytochrome enzyme system P450. Methods A case report of a young man on regular therapy with methadone, who develop a serotonin syndrome after ingestion a high dose of milk thistle seeds. Results Commercial preparations of milk thistle include the extract silibinin, which exhibits no beneficial or harmful drug interactions at normal doses, but at higher concentrations it can lead to dose-dependent effects on methadone metabolism, through inhibition of CYP3A4 and P-glycoprotein. As a result, it may lead to enhanced serotonin re-uptake inhibition and increased serotonin activity. Discussion Milk thistle is widely used and recommended for detoxification, but it may have serious and life threatening interactions with psychotropic drugs and psychoactive substances when used in high doses.