Writing to Keep on Living: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis on Creative Writing Therapy for the Management of Depression and Suicidal Ideation.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The purpose of this review and meta-analysis was to explore the effectiveness of creative writing therapies for the management of depression and suicidal ideation. RECENT FINDINGS: Twenty one of the 31 reviewed studies showed that creative writing significantly improved depressive symptoms, while five studies suggested improvement in other symptoms. The results of meta-analyses showed that narrative writing significantly reduced depression compared to those in neutral writing or treatment as usual condition in both post intervention and follow-up. However, the number of studies exploring the effects of creative writing in suicidal ideation was too low to perform a meta-analysis. A structured and well-targeted intervention using creative writing could have beneficial results for the management of depressive symptoms. More studies are needed to explore the potential benefits of creative writing for reducing suicidal ideation.

Use of new technologies for the promotion of physical activity in patients with mental illness: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Physical exercise is an underutilized tool for the management of mental disorders. New technologies have made a breakthrough in health care, and one of its possible applications (apps) could be that of customizing exercise programs for special populations, such as patients with mental disorders. However, the app of the so-called e-health to mental health care is still limited. AIM: To know the efficacy of apps to promote physical activity in patients with mental disorders. METHODS: We conducted a systematic review of the PubMed and Embase databases with the aim of exploring the use of new technologies for the enhancement of physical exercise in patients with a psychiatric illness. Following the selection process, 10 articles were included in the review. RESULTS: The most commonly used devices in this type of intervention are wearable devices and web platforms. Good results in terms of effectiveness and acceptability were obtained in most of the studies. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that the use of new technologies in mental health represents a feasible strategy with great potential in clinical practice.

Treatment of post-psychotic depression in first-episode psychosis. A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Post-psychotic depression (PPD) after a FEP (first-episode psychosis) differs from other depressive symptoms in chronic schizophrenia in its aetiology, symptomatology, and prognostic implications. The objective was to search if any pharmacological or non-pharmacological interventions have proven to be effective on depressive symptoms after a FEP. METHODS: for this systematic review we systematically searched and screened PubMed for articles published from August 1975 to October 15, 2020, with the terms: treatment AND first-episode psychosis OR post-psychotic OR post-schizophrenic AND depression. RESULTS: we identified 139 articles of which 20 met the inclusion criteria. These interventions were then categorized into four subgroups (antipsychotics, antidepressants, psychological and miscellaneous). LIMITATIONS: this review has several limitations. The reviewed studies were heterogeneous as to assessments, interventions, and samples; furthermore, only one study had PPD in FEP as its primary outcome. CONCLUSIONS: to our knowledge, this is the first review of PPD in a FEP's treatment. PPD continues to be a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. The available evidence for the use of treatment whether pharmacological or non-pharmacological is limited. However, certain approaches such as online therapy and treatment with n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) show promising results. It could be of interest for future studies to focus not only on the treatment of PPD but also on the diagnostic heterogeneity of the sample and the adaptation of the content of the intervention to the individual.

Post-Psychotic Depression: An Updated Review of the Term and Clinical Implications.

BACKGROUND: Post-psychotic depression (PPD) is an important and frequent clinical phenomenon featuring controversial complexity in its nosological and aetiopathogenic cataloguing. OBJECTIVES: The main objective of this research was to review the published literature on PPD. The second objective was to indicate its clinical importance, either comorbid or as an entity of its own. To answer these questions, a historical review of the term is made and a search about the clinical, evolutionary, predisposal, and prognostic variables that characterize the PPD. METHODS: The international recommendations were followed according to the Preferred Items for Reporting of Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). The databases used were Web of Science and PubMed, with the deadline for the inclusion of articles in November 2019. The MeSH used were the following: "post" AND "psych *" AND "psich" AND "depr." RESULTS: The search resulted in 64 articles. Only 19 of these met the pre-specified inclusion criteria and were finally included in the review. One article found that reading this literature was added due to its relevance. Despite its high prevalence (around 30%), there is little research about the term PPD. Nevertheless, results show data to improve the description of the syndrome, revealing differential characteristics from other depressive symptoms in chronic psychosis due to its clinical implications. CONCLUSIONS: Coinciding with the latest classification manuals that do not include the term, there appears to be an abandonment of its use despite its high prevalence. Data suggest that PPD is a nosological entity different from a secondary effect to antipsychotics, the negative symptoms of psychosis, and other clinical disorders that combine psychotic and depressive symptoms such as bipolar disorder, schizoaffective disorder, or depression with psychotic symptoms. PPD also has differential characteristics concerning further depressive symptoms, especially important clinical implications such as higher suicide risk and poorer quality of life.

Obesity and overweight among children and adolescents with bipolar disorder from the general population: A review of the scientific literature and a meta-analysis.

There is substantial evidence of the high prevalence of obesity (OB) and overweight (OW) and their association with increased medical and psychiatric burden among adults with bipolar disorder (BD). However, little is known regarding its prevalence among young people with BD, other than the risk from psychotropic medication, which has been the focus of research in this population. We present a systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature on prevalence and correlates of OB and OW children and adolescents with BD using a different perspective than impact of medication. Four studies met inclusion criteria. The prevalence of OB in children and adolescents with BD was 15% (95% CI 11-20%). We observed a higher prevalence of OB in comparison to the general population. Different studies found significant associations between OB, OW, and BD in young populations including non-Caucasian race, physical abuse, suicide attempts, self-injurious behaviours, psychotropic medication, and psychiatric hospitalizations.

Psychotic symptoms associate inversely with social support, social autonomy and psychosocial functioning: A community-based study.

BACKGROUND: Population-based studies exploring psychotic symptoms (PS) show that their prevalence in the community is higher than previously thought. Psychosocial functioning and social support are poorer among people presenting clinical and subclinical PS. AIMS: We aimed to estimate the prevalence rate of PS in Andalusia and to explore the association between PS and psychosocial functioning, social support and social autonomy in a Southern European population. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study. We undertook multi-stage sampling using different standard stratification techniques. Out of 5496 households approached, we interviewed 4507 (83.7%) randomly selected participants living in the autonomous region of Andalusia (Southern Spain). The Spanish version of the MINI International Neuropsychiatric Interview was used to elicit PS. We also gathered information on socio-demographic factors, suicidality risk, psychosocial functioning, social support and social autonomy. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of PS was 6.7% (95% CI: 5.99-6.45). PS were associated with lower age (OR 0.975; 95% CI (0.967-0.983); p < .0001), female gender (OR = 1.346; 95% CI (1.05-1.07) p = .018), not living in a rural area (OR = 0.677; 95% CI (0.50-0.90) p = 0.009), lower social support (OR = 0.898; 95% CI (0.85-0.94) p < .0001), lower scores on social autonomy (OR = 0.889; 95% CI (0.79-1.00) p = .050), having an increased suicidality risk score (OR = 1.038; 95% CI (1.005-1.07); p = .023) and having lower scores on psychosocial functioning (OR = 0.956; 95% CI (0.95-0.96); p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Social outcomes seem to be strongly inversely associated with PS in spite of presumed higher levels of social support among Southern European cultures.

Psychosis and Dandy-Walker syndrome: a case report and review of the literature.

Dandy-Walker syndrome (DWS) is a group of brain malformations which sometimes present with psychotic symptoms. We present the case of a patient diagnosed with Dandy-Walker variant who presented with schizophrenia-like psychosis. A man in his 30s was admitted to an acute psychiatric unit presenting with persecutory delusions, auditory hallucinations and violent behaviour. The MRI performed showed the typical alterations of Dandy-Walker variant: vermian hypoplasia and cystic dilatation of the fourth ventricle. He also suffered from mild intellectual disability. After being treated with olanzapine 10 mg/d for a month, his psychotic symptoms greatly improved and he was discharged. In conclusion, DWS may cause psychosis through a dysfunction in the circuit connecting prefrontal, thalamic and cerebellar areas. The association between these two conditions may contribute to the understanding of the aetiopathogenesis of schizophrenia.

Dolor: "cajón de sastre" / Pain: a "hotchpotch"

Los pacientes con patología dual son especialmente complejos y realizar un buen diagnóstico diferencial es fundamental. En este caso, un cuadro de "dolor crónico" enmascara la sintomatología psiquiátrica y adictiva desde el inicio

Patients with dual diagnosis are particularly complex and do a good differential diagnosis is critical. In this case, a diagnosis of "chronic pain" masks addictive and psychiatric symptoms from the beginning

Successful treatment of psychosis induced by interferon alpha and ribavirin with paliperidone: first case reported.

Several clinical studies have shown a large number of mental symptoms by immunomodulatory treatment with interferon (IFN). The most frequently described symptoms are depression, suicidal behaviour, manic symptoms, anxiety, psychosis and delirium, associated with other non-specific symptoms such as fatigue, irritability, psychomotor retardation, decreased libido, insomnia, difficulty in concentration and attention. Having a history of mental disorder contraindicates the use of IFN-alpha. These adverse effects that affect the mental state appear usually at the beginning of the treatment (most after 3 weeks of treatment). The incidence of psychotic episodes is low and the episodes usually remit when treatment is interrupted; only some cases require antipsychotic treatment. We present the case of a patient affected with hepatitis C who began to present self-referential delirious symptoms after receiving the treatment with IFN and who was successfully treated with paliperidone. This patient could be classified within the group of high-risk psychiatric patients given the family history of schizophrenia and his personal history of illegal drug consumption. The pharmacological actions of paliperidone are similar to other high potency atypical antipsychotics. The receptor-binding profile of paliperidone most closely resembles that of risperidone and ziprasidone. Paliperidone differs from risperidone and most other antipsychotics by its relatively low extent of enzymatic hepatic metabolism. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case described that was successfully treated with paliperidone.

Wilson disease and psychiatric symptoms: A brief case report.

Wilson disease (WD) is an uncommon recessive genetic disorder affecting copper metabolism. Cardiac, neurological, hepatic and renal manifestations are well defined, nevertheless approximately 30% of patients debut with neuropsychiatric symptoms. These psychiatric alterations resulting from the accumulation of this heavy metal in the basal ganglia are some how less specific. We present a short review of psychiatric symptoms of WD and describe a case of a 37-year-old woman diagnosed with WD who presented neuropsychiatric symptoms and had a consequent delay in diagnosis and causal treatment. Patients who develop WD starting with a predominance of neuropsychiatric symptoms tend to manifest hepatic symptoms later, therefore have a longer delay of diagnosis and a poorer outcome than patients with hepatic symptoms. An early diagnosis of WD can avoid irreversible neurological damage.

Mielinólisis central pontina inducida por antipsicóticos en un sujeto con hiperplasia suprarrenal congénita / Antypsychotic-induced central pontine myelinolysis in a congenital adrenal hyperplasia subjec

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Síndrome de Charles Bonnet o alucinosis orgánica: a propósito de un caso / Charles Bonnet syndrome or organical hallucination: a case report

El síndrome de Charles Bonnet, o alucinosis orgánica, fue descrito por primera vez por Charles Bonnet en 1760. Se trata de una entidad clínica en la que aparecen alucinaciones visuales en pacientes con déficit visual bilateral sin una patología orgánica de base. El diagnóstico se realiza por exclusión de otras patologías que produzcan este tipo de sintomatología. El tratamiento es sencillo, y principalmente está orientado a tratar la causa de pérdida de visión. Presentamos un caso clínico en el que se muestra a una mujer de 74 años que fue atendida en el servicio de urgencias en varias ocasiones por presentar un cuadro alucinatorio que progresivamente llevó a una serie de alteraciones de conducta derivadas de la aparición de ideación delirante secundaria a dichas alucinaciones que, finalmente, requirieron un ingreso en Psiquiatría para su contención. Parece importante conocer dicho cuadro, su diagnóstico y su tratamiento, ya que puede pasar desapercibido en urgencias o ser catalogado como un cuadro psiquiátrico, confusional o de tipo demencial (AU)

Charles Bonnet syndrome or organic hallucinosis was first described by Charles Bonnet in 1760. It is a clinical entity in which there are visual hallucinations in patients with bilateral visual deficit without an organic etiology. The diagnosis is made by excluding other diseases that produce these symptoms. Treatment is simple; it is aimed primarily at treating the cause of vision loss. We report a case of a 74 years old woman who was treated in the emergency service several times presenting a hallucinatory syndrome that gradually led to a series of behavioral changes resulting from the emergence of delusional secondary symptoms that eventually required a hospitalization in Psychiatry for containment. It seems important to know the syndrome, diagnosis and treatment as it can go unnoticed in the emergency services or be listed as a psychiatric, confusion or dementia case (AU)

Leucoencefalopatía posthipóxica diferida tras intoxicación por monóxido de carbono: caso clínico / Post-hypoxic leukoencephalopathy after carbon monoxide poisoning: case report

La leucoencefalopatía posthipóxica diferida o retardada fue descrita por primera vez en el año 1976 por Ginsberg. Es un síndrome desmielinizante caracterizado por el comienzo agudo de síntomas neuropsiquiátricos días o semanas después de una aparente recuperación de un coma tras un período prolongado de hipooxigenación cerebral. Se diagnostica, después de excluir otras causas posibles del mismo, con una historia clínica exhaustiva y por pruebas de imagen cerebrales donde se aprecian áreas de afectación difusa en sustancia blanca cerebral. Presentamos el caso de un adulto varón de 52 años quien tras sufrir accidentalmente una intoxicación por monóxido de carbono presenta una cuadro neuropsiquiátrico de rigidez generalizada, apatía, mutismo y afectación pseudobulbar transcurridas varias semanas que requirió de ingreso hospitalario con carácter urgente dado su elevado riesgo vital. Creemos que este caso puede ayudar en el diagnóstico diferencial con otros cuadros extrapiramidales que cursen acompañados de síntomas psiquiátricos y colaborar en el mejor conocimiento del síndrome entre los profesionales sanitarios (AU)

Retarded or delayed post-hypoxic leukoencephalopathy was first described in 1976 by Ginsberg. It is a demyelinating syndrome characterized by the acute onset of neuropsychiatric symptoms days or weeks after apparent recovery from a coma after a prolonged period of cerebral hypo-oxygenation. It is diagnosed after excluding other possible causes of it, with a thorough clinical history and evidence of brain image where areas of diffuse involvement may be seen in cerebral white matter. The case is presented of a 52 year-old adult male who, after suffering an accidental carbon monoxide poisoning, presented with a neuropsychiatric disorder consisting of a generalized rigidity, apathy, mutism and pseudobulbar syndrome for several weeks that required urgent hospital admission due to their high lifetime risk. It is hoped that this case can help in the differential diagnosis with other extrapyramidal syndromes that are accompanied by psychiatric symptoms, and contributes to a better understanding of these disorders among health professionals (AU)