Impact of COVID-19 Lock Down on Quality of Life among Primary Caregivers of Individuals with Schizophrenia in Rural Areas

BACKGROUND: The lockdown would become the primary strategy for facing covid-19 as it quickly mutates which might cause repeated pandemics;however, it negatively affects individuals' quality of life (QOL). The schizophrenia caregivers experience considerable stress. The research on the impact of the COVID-19 lockdown on QOL of schizophrenia caregivers is essential, especially for those who reside in rural areas. AIM: This study aimed to investigate the impact of lockdown-related COVID-19 on QOL among primary caregivers of schizophrenia patients living in a rural area. METHOD(S): This study recruited 204 primary caregivers (15-79 years). This study used the World Health Organization Quality of Life instrument (WHOQOL-BREF) to asses QOL's primary caregiver. Evaluate the possible change in caregivers' QOL before and during the COVID-19 lockdown using paired t-test for repeated measures. RESULT(S): The mean age of the caregivers was 46.61 years (SD = 12.79), ranging from 15 to 79 years, with a preponderance of male (54.5%), aged 38-47 years old (29.7%), married (81.2%), employed (57.4%), and had senior high school level of education (34.7%). Majority were parents (26.2%) of the ill relative, and took care of the patients more than 5 years (52.5%). There was a statistical difference (p < 0.05) in caregivers' QOL between before and during the COVID-19 lockdown, including in physical health, psychological, social relationships, and environment domain. CONCLUSION(S): Implementing a lockdown policy related to COVID-19 has negatively impacted the caregivers' QOL. The degradation of caregivers' QOL showed from before to during COVID-19 lockdown. Further study needs to explore the QOL of other mental illness caregivers regarding COVID-19 lockdown. This finding becomes a reference for a government to modify some policy-related lockdowns to minimize their negative impact.Copyright © 2023 Utomo Utomo, Eko Mulyadi, Endang Fauziyah.

Mental disorders during the pandemic of a new coronavirus infection: causes and predisposing factors.

Objective: to study the causes and predictors of mental disorders during the COVID-19 epidemic in those who turned to psychiatrist for the first time, as well as in patients with already diagnosed mental illness. Patients and methods. We examined 100 patients who turned to a psychiatrist due to a deterioration in their mental state during the pandemic, 50 patients were newly diagnosed (Group 1) and 50 with previously diagnosed mental disorders (Group 2). The study was carried out by a clinical method using a specially designed map, followed by statistical processing of the obtained data. Results and discussion. Mental disorders caused by the COVID-19 pandemic more often occurred at a young age, in patients with higher and secondary specialized education, and in single patients. In the 1st group, as a result of exposure to psychogenic factors (the influence of the media, quarantine, economic changes), anxiety (36.8%) and depressive (21.1%) disorders occurred more often, and after the coronavirus infection, depressive disorders were in the first place (54.2%). The 2nd group mostly included patients with endogenous disorders (bipolar affective disorder - 24%, recurrent depressive disorder - 20%, schizophrenia - 20%), which were exacerbated more often as a result of COVID-19, to a lesser extent - psychogenic (experiences associated with a change in material status and illness of relatives). Obsessive-compulsive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, somatoform disorders have been associated with epidemic factors. Conclusion. The results obtained indicate that there are differences between the mental disorders that first appeared during the pandemic and the exacerbations of the condition in mentally ill patients, which relate to the predictors, causes and clinical manifestations of these disorders.Copyright © 2022 Ima-Press Publishing House. All rights reserved.

A comprehensive review on technological advances in alternate drug discovery process:Drug repurposing

The traditional de novo drug discovery is time consuming, costly and in some instances the drugs will fail to treat the disease which result in a huge loss to the organization. Drug repurposing is an alternative drug discovery process to overcome the limitations of the De novo drug discovery process. Ithelps for the identification of drugs to the rare diseases as well as in the pandemic situationwithin short span of time in a cost-effective way. The underlying principle of drug repurposing is that most of the drugs identified on a primary purpose have shown to treat other diseases also. One such example is Tocilizumab is primarily used for rheumatoid arthritis and it is repurposed to treat cancer and COVID-19. At present, nearly30% of the FDA approved drugs to treat various diseases are repurposed drugs. The drug repurposing is either drug-centric or disease centric and can be studied by using both experimental and in silico studies. The in silico repurpose drug discovery process is more efficient as it screens thousands of compounds from the diverse libraries within few days by various computational methods like Virtual screening, Docking, MD simulations,Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence, Genome Wide Association Studies (GWAS), etc. with certain limitations.These limitationscan be addressed by effective integration of advanced technologies to identify a novel multi-purpose drug.Copyright © 2023, Association of Biotechnology and Pharmacy. All rights reserved.

Association Between COVID-19 Pandemic and Serious Mental Illness: Systematic Review within Salutogenesis Model for Public Health Management

Background: The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the constant transformation of the SARS-COV-2 virus form, exposure to substantial psychosocial stress, environmental change, and isolation have led to the inference that the overall population's mental health could be affected, resulting in an increase in cases of psychosis. Objective(s): We initiated a systematic review to determine the impact of the SARS-COV-2 virus and its long-term effects-in both symptomatic and asymptomatic cases-on people with or without psychosis. We envisioned that this would give us an insight into effective clinical intervention methods for patients with psychosis during and after the pandemic. Method(s): We selected fifteen papers that met our inclusion criteria, i.e., those that considered participants with or without psychiatric illness and exposed to SARS-COV-2 infection, for this review and were retrieved via Google, Google Scholar, MEDLINE, PubMed, and PsychINFO Database. Key Gap: There is a dearth of research in understanding how COVID-19 affects people with or without a prior personal history of psychosis. Result(s): The systematic review summary provides insight into the state of knowledge. Insights from the systematic review have also been reviewed from the salutogenesis model's perspec-tive. There is moderate evidence of new-onset psychosis during the COVID-19 pandemic in which some antipsychotics treated the psychotic symptoms of patients while treating for COVID-19. Suggestions and recommendations are made for preventive and promotive public health strategies. Conclusion(s): The Salutogenesis model and Positive Psychology Interventions (PPI) provide another preventive and promotive public health management approach.Copyright © 2023 Bentham Science Publishers.

Epidemiological Survey of the Prevalence and Associated Factors of Mental Disorders in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region

Background Socioeconomic development,lifestyle changes and the COVID-19 pandemic all have an impact on people's mental and physical health,which may affect the prevalence of mental disorders. Currently,there is still no sufficient epidemiological information of mental disorders in Xinjiang. Objective To investigate the prevalence and influencing factors of common mental disorders among people aged 15 and above in northern Xinjiang,then compare the data with those of their counterparts in southern Xinjiang,and summarize the overall prevalence of common mental disorders in Xinjiang,providing a scientific basis for the formulation of corresponding mental health plans. Methods From November 2021 to July 2022,a multistage,stratified,random sampling method was used to select 3 853 residents from northern Xinjiang to attend a survey. General Demographic Questionnaire,and self-assessment scales(the 12-Item General Health Questionnaire,Mood Disorder Questionnaire,Symptom Checklist-90,etc.) and other assessment scales(Hamilton Depression Inventory,Bech-Rafaelsen Mania Rating Scale,Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale,etc.) were used as survey instruments. Mental disorders were diagnosed by the ICD-10 classification of mental and behavioral disorders by two psychiatrists with at least five years' working experience, or by a chief or associate chief psychiatrist when there is an inconsistency between the diagnoses made by the two psychiatrists. Results The point prevalence rate and age-adjusted rate of common mental disorders in northern Xinjiang were 9.71% (374/3 853) and 10.07%,respectively. The point prevalence rate and age-adjusted rate of common mental disorders in the whole Xinjiang were 9.69%(750/7 736)and 9.90%,respectively. The point prevalence rates of mood disorders,anxiety disorders,schizophrenia,organic mental disorders,and mental retardation in northern Xinjiang were 4.83%(374/7 736),3.63% (281/7 736),0.63%(49/7 736),0.23%(18/7 736),and 0.36%(28/7 736),respectively. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis for northern Xinjiang showed that:the risk of mood disorders in females was 1.854 times higher than that in males 〔95%CI(1.325,2.593)〕;The risk of mood disorders increased by 5.210 times in 25-34-year-olds 〔95%CI(1.348, 20.143)〕 and 3.863 times in 35-44-year-olds 〔95%CI(1.030,14.485)〕 compared with that in those aged ≥ 65 years;The risk of mood disorders increased by 0.199 times in those with high school or technical secondary school education 〔95%CI (0.078,0.509)〕 and 0.147 times in those with two- or three-year college and above education 〔95%CI(0.056,0.388)〕 compared with that in illiteracies. The risk of anxiety disorder in females was 1.627 times higher than that in males 〔95%CI (1.144, 2.315)〕;The risk of anxiety disorder increased by 0.257 times in 15-24-year-olds 〔95%CI(0.091,0.729)〕,0.243 times in 45-54-year-olds 〔95%CI(0.101,0.583)〕,and 0.210 times in 55-64-year-olds 〔95%CI(0.067,0.661)〕 compared to that of those aged ≥ 65 years old. The risk of schizophrenia among people living in villages or towns was 4.762 times higher than that of those living in cities 〔95%CI(1.705,13.300)〕;The risk of schizophrenia among people with high school or technical secondary school education was 0.079 times higher than that of illiteracies 〔95%CI(0.015,0.405)〕. Conclusion The prevalence of mood disorders and anxiety disorders is high among all types of mental disorders in Xinjiang. Females,rural people,or low educated people in northern Xinjiang are more prone to various types of mental disorders. © 2023 Chinese General Practice. All rights reserved.

NEI 2022 Abstracts

The proceedings contain 96 papers. The topics discussed include: practical pharmacotherapy for opioid use disorder in the age of fentanyl;can COVID-19 cause acute psychosis in pediatric patients? a case report;a survey of bullying experiences in a child and adolescent psychiatric clinic population;acute emergence of suicidal thoughts following Lemborexant initiation: an adverse reaction case report;assessing the unmet clinical need and opportunity for digital therapeutic intervention in schizophrenia: perspective from people with schizophrenia;rapid antidepressant effects and MADRS item improvements with AXS-05 (DEXTROMETHORPHAN-BUPROPION), an oral NMDA receptor antagonist in major depressive disorder: results from two randomized double-blind, controlled trials;targeting lncRNA NEAT1 impedes Alzheimers disease progression via MicroRNA-193a mediated CREB/BDNF and NRF2/NQO1 pathways;and impact of AXS-05 (DEXTROMETHORPHAN-BUPROPION), an Oral NMDA receptor antagonist, on Anhedonic symptoms in major depressive disorder.

Assessment of compliance and relapse in patients with schizophrenia before and after the onset of COVID-19 pandemic.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the frequency and correlates of relapse among patients with schizophrenia during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: This retrospective study included 90 adults who met DSM-IV criteria for schizophrenia. The participants were evaluated using Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), Compliance Rating Scale (CRS) and World Health Organisation Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0 (WHODAS 2.0) before and after the onset of COVID-19 pandemic. RESULTS: The mean score of CRS was decreased after the onset of COVID-19 pandemic compared to before COVID 19 ( p < 0.001). The mean total score of PANSS scale and the mean positive subscale (P) score had increased after the onset of COVID-19 pandemic compared to before COVID 19 ( p < 0.001). Following up the news about COVID-19 regularly and decreased level of family support after the pandemic onset were associated with lower CRS scores and higher PANSS scores. In addition, the presence of infection or death with COVID-19 among family members and lower CRS scores were associated with higher scores on PANSS positive subscale. CONCLUSIONS: The relapse rate had increased among patients with schizophrenia during COVID-19 pandemic. Non-compliance with medications and lack of family support were the main correlates of relapse in schizophrenia.Key PointsPatients with schizophrenia are at high risk for relapse during Covid-19 pandemic.Non-compliance with medications, lack of family support, COVID-19-related illness or death of family members and following the news of the pandemic are correlates of relapse in patients with schizophrenia.Psychoeducation, availability of medications and mental health services and family support may help to prevent relapse in patients with schizophrenia during pandemics.Prospective studies are needed to confirm the findings of this study.

The Impacts of Clozapine Use on the Risk and Outcomes of COVID-19 Disease in Patients with Schizophrenia.

Introduction: Clozapine may affect the outcome of severe COVID-19 infection due to its anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressant effects. This study aimed to investigate whether the risk of COVID-19 changed in schizophrenic patients using clozapine and to compare patients using clozapine with other antipsychotics in terms of COVID-19 severity. Methods: A total of 732 patients who were registered and followed up with a diagnosis of schizophrenia were included in the study. These patients' sociodemographic data, smoking status, medications, comorbidities, COVID-19 PCR results, and COVID-19 outcomes (inpatient care admission, intensive care unit admission, death) were retrospectively analyzed. Results: Of the 732 patients included in our study, 177 were using clozapine. Ninety-six of 732 patients were diagnosed with COVID-19, and 34 of these were being treated with clozapine. We found that clozapine use was an independent risk factor for COVID-19 positivity (OR=1.81 95% CI=1.13-2.90), inpatient care admission (OR=3.01, 95% CI=1.12-8.06). Conclusion: In our study, clozapine use was associated with an increased risk of COVID-19 positivity and inpatient care admission; however, it was not associated with ICU admission or death. Due to the frequent follow-up of patients using clozapine and the effects of clozapine on immunity, the frequency and/or identification of COVID-19 may be increased in these patients. Clozapine toxicity, granulocytopenia or agranulocytosis during the COVID-19 infection may have increased these patients' hospitalisation frequency.

A case of Kretschmer's sensitive delusion related to COVID-19 pandemic

Presents a case report of a 45-year-old woman with a brief psychotic disorder, in which pathogeny was an effect of the pandemic, modulating a classic syndrome described more than one century ago by Ernst Kretschmer. During the mandatory screening before hospital admission, the patient tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. Basic tests were performed, including blood alcohol concentration, urinary drug screening, and brain computerized tomography - all normal. Regarding her premorbid personality, she had cluster C personality traits. The discharge diagnosis was a Brief psychotic disorder. Other differential diagnoses were considered such as schizophreniform disorder, psychotic depression, bipolar disorder, late-onset schizophrenia, but the rapid onset of the picture, the brief resolution, the absence of dominant affective symptomatology, and the absence of negative symptomatology led to assume that it was more likely a brief reactive psychosis. antipsychotic medication was suspended gradually and she didn't present any recurrence of symptoms. In this case report, the author reviews a classic nosological entity, commonly forgotten, revived by a very current and particular social situation (the COVID-19 pandemic), whose social conditionings can affect mental health. The author emphasizes the importance of a thorough anamnesis with a complete evaluation of the premorbid character, which allowed an early intervention and subsequent better prognosis. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)

The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Health of People with Mental Disorders

The aim of the review was to analyze published studies on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the health status (mental and physical) of people with mental disorders. Materials and methods: by keywords "COVID-19”, "depressive disorders”, "affective disorders”, "schizophrenia”, "anxiety disorders” search for papers in English and Russian in the databases MEDLINE/ PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, eLibrary for the period from 2017 to 2022 was carried out. Conclusion: the analysis of published works has demonstrated that factors such as social distancing, isolation, or changing the availability of medical services can have a signifi cant infl uence on the health of people with mental disorders. It has been established that people suffering from mental illness are at a higher risk of contracting COVID-19, they have less effective post-vaccination immunity and have a more severe course of the disease. The past coronavirus infection can lead to both an increase in pre-existing symptoms of a mental disorder, and the emergence of new ones. Possible physiological mechanisms of mental disorders after past COVID-19 include a wide range of pathogenetic processes: from prolonged systemic infl ammation of varying intensity to vascular microthrombosis and neurodegenerative changes. Cognitive impairment during COVID-19, associated with damage to brain structures by the virus, may exacerbate existing psychopathological symptoms. The special features of psychopathological symptoms that develop in response to a pandemic situation are closely related to the structure of the previous mental status of patients, and therefore the types of psychosocial assistance needed is different for people with various mental disorders. © 2023, Psychiatry (Moscow). All Rights Reserved.

Spontaneous pneumomediastinum secondary to COVID-19 in Iran: a case series study: SPM secondary to COVID-19

BACKGROUND: Pneumomediastinum is defined as open-air in the mediastinum. Spontaneous pneumomediastinum (SPM) occurs when air leaks into the surrounding vascular sheath through small alveolar ruptures. CASE REPORT: We want to introduce 4 different cases with different outcomes. The first case was a 60-year-old man with a history of psychological disorders, the second case was a 41-year-old man with a history of hypertension (HTN) and asthma, the third case was a 50-year-old heavy smoker with no history of an underlying disease, and the fourth case was a 60-year-old man with a history of schizophrenia. They suddenly developed an exacerbation of cough, dyspnea, chest pain, and a severe decrease in oxygen saturation during hospitalization. Antibiotic therapy, corticosteroids, and high-dose oxygen therapy were administered to the patients. One of these patients died. CONCLUSION: All patients can potentially be at risk for this complication and have a good prognosis if diagnosed early and treated properly overall.

Mental disorders during the pandemic of a new coronavirus infection: causes and predisposing factors

Objective: to study the causes and predictors of mental disorders during the COVID-19 epidemic in those who turned to psychiatrist for the first time, as well as in patients with already diagnosed mental illness. Patients and methods. We examined 100 patients who turned to a psychiatrist due to a deterioration in their mental state during the pandemic, 50 patients were newly diagnosed (Group 1) and 50 with previously diagnosed mental disorders (Group 2). The study was carried out by a clinical method using a specially designed map, followed by statistical processing of the obtained data. Results and discussion. Mental disorders caused by the COVID-19 pandemic more often occurred at a young age, in patients with higher and secondary specialized education, and in single patients. In the 1st group, as a result of exposure to psychogenic factors (the influence of the media, quarantine, economic changes), anxiety (36.8%) and depressive (21.1%) disorders occurred more often, and after the coronavirus infection, depressive disorders were in the first place (54.2%). The 2nd group mostly included patients with endogenous disorders (bipolar affective disorder - 24%, recurrent depressive disorder - 20%, schizophrenia - 20%), which were exacerbated more often as a result of COVID-19, to a lesser extent - psychogenic (experiences associated with a change in material status and illness of relatives). Obsessive-compulsive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, somatoform disorders have been associated with epidemic factors. Conclusion. The results obtained indicate that there are differences between the mental disorders that first appeared during the pandemic and the exacerbations of the condition in mentally ill patients, which relate to the predictors, causes and clinical manifestations of these disorders.Copyright © 2022 Ima-Press Publishing House. All rights reserved.

Comprehensive Program of Neurotherapy for a Visual Artist with Post-Covid-19 Syndrome Following Sars-Cov-2 Infection and Severe Course of Covid-19 Treated in Long-Term Pharmacologically Induced Coma

Background: Case study: Conclusion(s): The purpose of the study was twofold: (1) to present post-COVID-19 syndrome, which involves a variety of ongoing neurological, neuropsychiatric, neurocognitive, emotional and behavioral disorders resulting from SARS-CoV-2 infection followed by a severe course of COVID-19 treated in long term pharmacologically induced coma in a visual artist, which impacted on her artwork;(2) to present QEEG/ERP results and neuropsychological testing results in the evaluation of the effectiveness of a comprehensive neurotherapy program, with individualized EEG-Neurofeedback, and art-therapy in the reduction of post-COVID-19 syndrome in this artist. Ms. G., 42, a visual artist, portraitist, with good health, became ill in May 2022. Allegedly flu symptoms appeared first. After a few days, shortness of breath joined in. The PCR test for SARS-CoV-2 was positive. The patient was hospitalized, referred to the ICU, put on a respirator and treated over 11days of a pharmacologically induced coma. Two months after leaving hospital the patient developed post-COVID-19 syndrome. She was diagnosed by an interdisciplinary team: a neurologist, neuropsychiatrist and neuropsychologist. A PET scan of her brain revealed extensive changes involving a loss of metabolism in various brain areas. The presence of complex post-COVID, neurological, neuropsychiatric, neurocognitive, emotional and behavioral disorders was found and a neuropsychiatrist suggested a diagnosis of post-COVID schizophrenia. She was refered to the Reintegration and Training Center of the Polish Neuropsychological Society.We tested the working hypothesis as to the presence of schizophrenia and there was no reduction in the difference of ERPs waves under GO/NOGO task conditions, like in the reference group with schizophrenia (see also Pachalska, Kaczmarek and Kropotov 2021). The absence of a functional neuromarker for schizophrenia allowed us to exclude this diagnosis and to propose a new disease entity, that being post-COVID-19 syndrome. She received a comprehensive two-component program of neurotherapy: (1) program A consisting in goal-oriented neuropsychological rehabilitation, including art therapy (see also: Pachalska 2008;2022b), and (2) program B, based on the most commonly used form of EEG-Neurofeedback: frequency/ power EEG-Neurofeedback, using 2 bipolar surface electrodes, with the protocols written for her specific needs (see also Thompson & Thompson 2012;Kropotov 2016). The comprehensive neurotherapy program lasted 10 weeks, EEG Neurofeedback and art therapy classes were conducted 3 times a week for 45 minutes each. We found that after the completion of the comprehensive neurotherapy program there was a statistically significant reduction in high beta activity compared to the normative HBI database, which is associated with a reduction of anxiety. Also, we observed the improvement of neurocognitive functioning in neuropsychological testing (a significant reduction of anxiety and a noticeable improvement in neurocognitive functions). It should be stressed that the artist was happy that she had regained the ability to create, and even sells her artwork, although her style of painting had changed. Almost all the neurological, psychiatric, neurocognitive, emotional and behavioral disturbances, were reduced in their severity. The artist showed marked improvement and was able to return to painting. The artwork she produced after her illness is in high demand with art collectors. It can be also helpful in the reintegration of the Self System, and the improvement in her quality of life. Human Brain Index (HBI) methodology might be very useful in diagnosing and developing therapies for patients with post-COVID-19 syndrome.Copyright © 2023, MEDSPORTPRESS Publishing House. All rights reserved.

Healthcare Access for a Diverse Population with Schizophrenia Following the Onset of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

COVID-19 has had a disproportionate impact on the most disadvantaged members of society, including minorities and those with disabling chronic illnesses such as schizophrenia. We examined the pandemic's impacts among New York State's Medicaid beneficiaries with schizophrenia in the immediate post-pandemic surge period, with a focus on equity of access to critical healthcare. We compared changes in utilization of key behavioral health outpatient services and inpatient services for life-threatening conditions between the pre-pandemic and surge periods for White and non-White beneficiaries. We found racial and ethnic differences across all outcomes, with most differences stable over time. The exception was pneumonia admissions-while no differences existed in the pre-pandemic period, Black and Latinx beneficiaries were less likely than Whites to be hospitalized in the surge period despite minorities' heavier COVID-19 disease burden. The emergence of racial and ethnic differences in access to scarce life-preserving healthcare may hold lessons for future crises.

Mental disorders during the pandemic of a new coronavirus infection: causes and predisposing factors.

Objective: to study the causes and predictors of mental disorders during the COVID-19 epidemic in those who turned to psychiatrist for the first time, as well as in patients with already diagnosed mental illness. Patients and methods. We examined 100 patients who turned to a psychiatrist due to a deterioration in their mental state during the pandemic, 50 patients were newly diagnosed (Group 1) and 50 with previously diagnosed mental disorders (Group 2). The study was carried out by a clinical method using a specially designed map, followed by statistical processing of the obtained data. Results and discussion. Mental disorders caused by the COVID-19 pandemic more often occurred at a young age, in patients with higher and secondary specialized education, and in single patients. In the 1st group, as a result of exposure to psychogenic factors (the influence of the media, quarantine, economic changes), anxiety (36.8%) and depressive (21.1%) disorders occurred more often, and after the coronavirus infection, depressive disorders were in the first place (54.2%). The 2nd group mostly included patients with endogenous disorders (bipolar affective disorder - 24%, recurrent depressive disorder - 20%, schizophrenia - 20%), which were exacerbated more often as a result of COVID-19, to a lesser extent - psychogenic (experiences associated with a change in material status and illness of relatives). Obsessive-compulsive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, somatoform disorders have been associated with epidemic factors. Conclusion. The results obtained indicate that there are differences between the mental disorders that first appeared during the pandemic and the exacerbations of the condition in mentally ill patients, which relate to the predictors, causes and clinical manifestations of these disorders.Copyright © 2022 Ima-Press Publishing House. All rights reserved.

Clinical aspects of comorbidity of coronovirus infection and paranoid schizophrenia

On the example of 65 patients with paranoid schizophrenia, the effect of coronavirus infection on this group of patients was studied. It has been established that coronavirus infection can manifest itself in patients with paranoid schizophrenia in the form of transient psychoses, which are represented by schizophrenic symptoms, as well as clinical manifestations of confusion syndromes. An assumption was made about the possibility of coronavirus infection to influence different links of pathogenesis, during the formation of psychotic disorders in this group of patients. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)

The effects of contactless Dohsa-hou on outpatients with schizophrenia during the Coronavirus Pandemic

Dohsa-hou therapists assist clients through physical contact, however, this is not advisable during the coronavirus pandemic;instead, contactless Dohsa-hou is safer and more secure. In this study, we examined the possibilities of applying contactless Dohsa-hou for outpatients with schizophrenia as a self-care method and its effects on them. We administered the program 7 times for 8 outpatients with schizophrenia in a psychiatric rehabilitation center. Thereafter, they underwent a voluntary implementation period for two to three weeks at home. The results suggest ed that the contactless Dohsa-hou improved self-existence of mind and body (d = 0.83) notably, and slightly improved sense of independence (d = 0.49), balance of mind and body (d = 0.21), irritability and anger (d = 0.23), well-being (d = 0.39), and third-party evaluation (d = 0.29). Therefore, the study showed that contactless Doh sa-hou can stabilize the physical and mental state, even when conducted under the self-restraint period during the pandemic. This study may provide helpful information in implementing contactless Dohsa-hou for outpatients with schizophrenia amid the coronavirus pandemic. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)

A Feasibility Study of LORETA Z-Score Neurofeedback Training in Adults with Schizophrenia-Spectrum Disorder Experiencing Treatment-Resistant Auditory Verbal Hallucinations

Introduction: The incomplete effectiveness of interventions demands new ways to help people diagnosed with schizophrenia who experience auditory verbal hallucinations (SZ-AVH). We aimed to perform a feasibility study of low-resolution electromagnetic tomography analysis (LORETA) neurofeedback with people exhibiting treatment-resistant SZ-AVH. Method(s): We examined changes in resting-state quantitative electroencephalogram (qEEG) in four people with SZ-AVH (three male, one female) after LORETA Z-score neurofeedback training. Result(s): The study design had to be amended due to a national COVID-19 lockdown. Neurofeedback was well tolerated and no participants dropped out. Recruitment was the main feasibility issue. Barriers included a lack of knowledge of neurofeedback by patients and mental health teams, as well as the travel and time commitment involved. For the only patient who completed all 20 sessions, elevated frontal, central, and temporal theta absolute power measured at baseline normalized after treatment, but decreased temporal delta and an increase in coherence for all frequency bands were also found. Conclusion(s): Two key lessons were drawn for the feasibility of trials of EEG neurofeedback in this population. First, significant effort is needed to educate mental health professionals and patients about neurofeedback. Second, the equipment employed for neurofeedback training needs to be physically based at a site where patients routinely attend.Copyright © 2022. Amico et al.