[Common physical health problems in psychiatry]. / Problèmes courants de santé physique en psychiatrie.

COMMON PHYSICAL HEALTH PROBLEMS IN PSYCHIATRY. Somatic psychiatric care is particularly important as life expectancy declines of 13 to 16 years among individuals with severe mental disorders, primaly due to cardiovascular and cancer-related diseases. They face a triple burden: their mental disorders, reduced life expectancy and limited healthcare access. Common comorbidities related to psychotropic medications, lifestyle and the mental condition itself, affect various organs with complex clinical expressions. The multidimensional vulnerability is attributable to the side-effects of psychotropic drugs, mental disorders, and healthcare system fragmentation, hindering access to care. The proposed solutions aim for a better integration of mental health into general healthcare, with increased awareness among caregivers for a holistic approach to health.

PROBLÈMES COURANTS DE SANTÉ PHYSIQUE EN PSYCHIATRIE. Les soins somatiques en psychiatrie revêtent une importance particulière en raison de la réduction de treize à seize ans de l'espérance de vie chez les personnes atteintes de troubles mentaux sévères, principalement à cause de pathologies cardiovasculaires et cancéreuses. Elles sont exposées à une triple peine : leurs troubles psychiques, la réduction de leur espérance de vie et un accès limité aux soins. Les comorbidités courantes, liées aux psychotropes, au mode de vie et à la pathologie mentale elle-même, touchent divers organes, avec des expressions cliniques complexes. La vulnéra bilité multidimensionnelle de ces patients est attribuable aux effets indésirables des psychotropes, aux troubles psychiques et au cloisonnement du système de santé nuisant à l'accès aux soins. Les solutions proposées visent une meilleure intégration du volet santé mentale dans les soins généraux, avec une sensibilisation accrue des soignants à une approche holistique de la santé.

Compliance with inpatient drug use process steps: a cross-sectional observational study.

OBJECTIVES: The aim was to compare nursing staff compliance over the years, per health care unit, and per drug use process step. METHODS: Compliance assessment was performed by nursing consultants with direct observation of the registered nurses and nursing assistants during the performance of 7 steps of the drug use process. A total of 36 compliance criteria were developed. The compliance to drug use process criteria was measured in 2007 (Prephase), 2008 (post 1), and 2011 (post 2). Totally, 10 health care units were evaluated, with a minimum of 10 doses evaluated per health care unit, including a minimum of 5 parental doses and a total of 100 nurses observed. RESULTS: A total of 142 nurses were observed in the prephase, 140 nurses in the post 1 phase, and 98 in the post 2 phase (90% regular staff and 10% float staff). The overall compliance rates went from 77% in 2007 up to 87% in 2008 and down to 78% in 2011. CONCLUSIONS: This cross-sectional observational study revealed a significant difference in the drug use process compliance in terms of drug preparation and drug administration for inpatients at the bedside, between 2007 and 2011.

Plasma and urine hydroxyurea levels might be useful in the management of adult sickle cell disease.

Hydroxyurea (HU) is useful for treating sickle cell anemia because of its ability to reduce some of the severe clinical events such as painful crises and acute chest syndrome. It may also reduce the need for blood transfusions and frequent hospitalizations and reduce mortality. Nevertheless, no consistent recommendations regarding its therapeutic schedule are defined. Our aim was to improve and validate a high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) technique to measure HU and to study HU levels in serum and urine of sickle cell anemia patients and relate this to treatment efficacy and compliance. Thirty-seven patients received 1,128 +/- 333 mg of HU per day (8.0 to 28.0 mg/kg/day). Plasma and/or urine were sampled and HU was measured using an HPLC method coupled with UV detection. We validated a specific, sensitive assay with good reproducibility and linearity, and showed a positive relationship between plasma HU concentrations and time elapsed between oral HU intake and sampling. We observed plasma HU concentrations were positively correlated with change in mean corpuscular volume (MCV) before and during the treatment. No correlation was obtained between HU concentration and Hb F level.

A case of mixed intoxication with isopropyl alcohol and propanol-1 after ingestion of a topical antiseptic solution.

We report a mixed intoxication with isopropyl alcohol and propanol-1 in a hospitalized patient who ingested, on two separate days, two 100 ml bottles of a topical antiseptic solution containing isopropyl alcohol and propanol-1. Eight hours after the second ingestion, plasma concentrations of isopropanol, propanol-1 and acetone were 37 mg/dL, <10 mg/dL, and 227 mg/dl, respectively. Despite a lack of severe toxicity, 4-methylpyrazole (fomepizole) was initiated. This case points out the need to limit access to alcohol-containing antiseptic solutions on wards where alcoholic and psychotic patients are hospitalized.