Suicidal thoughts and behaviours in body dysmorphic disorder: Prevalence and correlates in a sample of mental health service users in the UK.

BACKGROUND: Previous research indicates an association of body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) with suicidal thoughts and behaviours, but has largely relied on small cohorts drawn from specialist clinics. METHODS: Anonymised health-records from the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust between 2007 and 2019 were systematically searched using the Clinical Record Interactive Search data system. RESULTS: 298 patients diagnosed with BDD between age 12 and 65 years were identified. 206 (69 %) had experienced lifetime suicidal ideation. 149 (50 %) had recorded lifetime acts of self-harm or suicide attempts, most commonly involving cutting and self-poisoning. Rates of self-harm/suicide attempts were similar in those diagnosed before or after 18 years. Comorbid depression was associated with suicidal ideation (OR: 4.26 95% CI 2.07-9.72). Additionally, comorbid depression, OCD and anxiety were all associated with self-harm/suicide attempts (OR: 1.94 95% CI 1.15-3.31, OR: 1.99 95% CI 1.09-3.73, and OR: 1.93 95% CI 1.09-3.45, respectively). The presence of two or more psychiatric comorbidities was associated with a significantly elevated likelihood of suicidal ideation (OR: 7.06 95% CI 2.80-21.7) and self-harm/suicide attempts (OR: 4.62 95% CI 2.32-9.62). LIMITATIONS: It is likely that BDD was under-diagnosed in the cohort, and those identified may not be representative. Additionally, the frequency and detail with which suicidal thoughts and behaviours were assessed varied and may also represent underestimates. CONCLUSIONS: Suicidal ideation and self-harm/suicide attempts are common among individuals with BDD accessing mental health services. Psychiatric comorbidity and suicidal ideation should be assessed in all BDD patients.

Voices the nurse regulator is on the right path, says new chair mark addison.

I was pleased to be asked to chair the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), and two weeks into the role I am still glad I accepted it.

Voices - The NMC will cut costs to keep registration fees down, says Mark Addison.

When the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) voted to increase the registration fee by £24 to £100 a year from February 2013, it was not a decision we made lightly.

Phenotypic and molecular assessment of seven patients with 6p25 deletion syndrome: relevance to ocular dysgenesis and hearing impairment.

BACKGROUND: Thirty-nine patients have been described with deletions involving chromosome 6p25. However, relatively few of these deletions have had molecular characterization. Common phenotypes of 6p25 deletion syndrome patients include hydrocephalus, hearing loss, and ocular, craniofacial, skeletal, cardiac, and renal malformations. Molecular characterization of deletions can identify genes that are responsible for these phenotypes. METHODS: We report the clinical phenotype of seven patients with terminal deletions of chromosome 6p25 and compare them to previously reported patients. Molecular characterization of the deletions was performed using polymorphic marker analysis to determine the extents of the deletions in these seven 6p25 deletion syndrome patients. RESULTS: Our results, and previous data, show that ocular dysgenesis and hearing impairment are the two most highly penetrant phenotypes of the 6p25 deletion syndrome. While deletion of the forkhead box C1 gene (FOXC1) probably underlies the ocular dysgenesis, no gene in this region is known to be involved in hearing impairment. CONCLUSIONS: Ocular dysgenesis and hearing impairment are the two most common phenotypes of 6p25 deletion syndrome. We conclude that a locus for dominant hearing loss is present at 6p25 and that this locus is restricted to a region distal to D6S1617. Molecular characterization of more 6p25 deletion patients will aid in refinement of this locus and the identification of a gene involved in dominant hearing loss.