Clinical characteristics of patients with puerperal schizophrenia / 四川精神卫生

BackgroundWomen may develop severe symptoms of stress disorder following childbirth， which may be exposed to a risk of developing mental health problems， and even lead to the recurrence of the illness in female patients with schizophrenia， while comparatively limited research has been undertaken concerning the clinical characteristics and treatment of puerperal schizophrenia in China. ObjectiveTo explore the clinical characteristics of puerperal schizophrenia， so as to provide references for the clinical treatment. MethodsA total of 24 patients with puerperal schizophrenia who were hospitalized in the female ward of adult psychiatry department of the Affiliated Brain Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University from 2012 to 2020 and met the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders， fourth edition （DSM-IV） diagnostic criteria for schizophrenia were included as puerperal group. Another 48 non-puerperal women with schizophrenia were concurrently enrolled as control group. Then the basic data， scores on Positive and Negative Symptom Scale （PANSS） and the discharge medication were recorded. ResultsThe percentages of newly onset and positive family history of psychosis in puerperal group were larger than those in control group， with statistical significance （χ2=9.321， 5.240， P<0.05 or 0.01）. Puerperal group scored higher on PANSS excitement factor （t=-2.220， P<0.05） and lower on negative factor （t=3.377， P<0.01） compared with control group. In terms of discharge medication， puerperal group reported a higher dosage of antipsychotic drugs （t=-2.095， P<0.05）， and a larger proportion of combined use of benzodiazepines or antidepressants （χ²=21.316， 5.114， P<0.05 or 0.01） compared with control group， with statistical significance. ConclusionPatients with puerperal schizophrenia display increased ratings of excitement symptoms and decreased ratings of negative symptoms， which necessitates the use of high doses of antipsychotic drugs， and combined use of benzodiazepines and antidepressants.

A Case Report of Sinus Bradycardia after the Addition of Lurasidone in a Patient with Bipolar Disorder

To date, tachycardia and orthostatic hypotension have been reported as one of the negative cardiovascular complications of antipsychotics. The aim of this study was to report a case of sinus bradycardia caused by the addition of lurasidone. The patient, a 46-year-old bipolar disorder female, was admitted to the Affiliated Brain Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University with 28 years of alternating euphoric and dysphoria. On the basis of lithium carbonate 1,200 mg/day and sodium valproate 1,500 mg/day, the patient was given lurasidone 80 mg/day. After 5 days of medication, her heart rate (HR) became 48 beats per minute (beats/min). As a result, lurasidone treatment was held. On 5th day after discontinuing lurasidone, the HR reached 80 beats/min. This case report notifies that although the cardiovascular effects of lurasidone are not significant, it is also important to monitor HR status after the first administration of lurasidone.

Analysis of the component factors and connected factors of anhedonia in patients with first-episode schizophrenia / 四川精神卫生

ObjectiveTo explore the component factors of anhedonia in first-episode schizophrenia patients and the relationship with clinical symptoms， cognitive and social functioning. MethodsA total of 31 patients with first-episode schizophrenia who met the diagnostic criteria of the International Classification of Diseases， tenth edition （ICD-10） and another 33 healthy controls were enrolled. Then， the anhedonia level， mental symptoms， cognitive and social functioning were assessed using Temporal Experience of Pleasure Scale （TEPS）， Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale （PANSS）， Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status （RBANS） and Personal and Social Performance Scale （PSP）. Thereafter， Pearson correlation was used to discuss the correlation of anhedonia level with clinical symptoms， cognitive and social functioning. ResultsThe consummatory anhedonia score in TEPS of first-episode schizophrenia patients was lower than that of healthy controls， with statistical difference ［（27.71±5.48） vs. （31.58±5.92）， t=2.705， P=0.009］. Correlation analysis showed that consummatory anhedonia had no correlation with PANSS， RBANS and PSP scores in first-episode schizophrenia patients（P>0.05）. ConclusionFirst-episode schizophrenia patients have consummatory anhedonia， and the consummatory anhedonia may be independent of clinical symptoms， cognitive and social functioning.