Suicide attempt, impulsivity, and exposure to trauma in college students

Objectives: Past suicide attempt (SA) is one of the most important risk factors for suicide death. An ideation-to-action framework posits that impulsivity, potentially traumatic events, and mental disorders also play a role in increasing suicide risk. This study aimed to assess the association between trait impulsivity, lifetime exposure to trauma, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) with SA in a sample of Brazilian college students. Methods: A total of 2,137 participants filled self-reported questionnaires consisting of a sociodemographic and clinical questionnaire, Trauma History Questionnaire, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist - Civilian version, and Barratt Impulsiveness Scale. Results: Our findings suggest that trait impulsivity may be interpreted as exerting a distal effect on SA, even in the presence of other variables - such as trauma history, psychological neglect, and PTSD - which also increase the odds of SA. High and medium levels of impulsivity, history of trauma, and PTSD increased the likelihood of SA. Conclusions: Intervention strategies to prevent SA may target trait impulsivity and exposure to traumatic experiences.

Repeated subcutaneous esketamine for treatment-resistant depression: Impact of the degree of treatment resistance and anxiety comorbidity.

BACKGROUND: A large number of studies indicate that subanesthetic doses of ketamine induce a fast antidepressant effect. Limited studies have investigated the subcutaneous (SC) route, and it remains unclear for whom this treatment is most suitable. AIMS: The aim of this study was to examine the effect on depressive symptoms of repeated subanesthetic doses of SC esketamine in unipolar and bipolar treatment-resistant depression (TRD) and clinical predictors of response. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of 70 patients who received six SC esketamine doses weekly as an adjunctive treatment was carried out. Doses started at 0.5 mg/kg and it could be titrated up to 1 mg/kg, according to response. The primary outcome was reduction in depressive symptoms. Statistical analysis to investigate clinical predictors of effectiveness included logistic regression analysis using a dependent variable of a 50% reduction in rating scale scores at the end of treatment. Comparisons between groups were made through analysis of variance and treatment effects. RESULTS: At baseline, our sample presented with severe treatment resistance in 65.7%, as assessed by the Maudsley Staging Method (MSM), and 47.1% had anxiety disorder comorbidity. The response rate was 50%. A better outcome was predicted by mild and moderate MSM scores (OR = 3.162, p = 0.041) and anxiety disorder comorbidity (OR = 3.149, p = 0.028). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that higher levels of treatment resistance may be associated with a poor response to SC esketamine. Unlike traditional pharmacotherapies, it might benefit those with poor prognosis such as patients with depression and comorbid anxiety. Therefore, future research could investigate whether esketamine should receive a more prominent place in the treatment algorithm for TRD.

O papel dos antipsicóticos atípicos no tratamento do transtorno bipolar: revisäo da literatura / The role of atypical antipsychotic agents in the treatment of bipolar disorder: a literature review

Estudos recentes têm demonstrado que a eficácia do lítio é significativamente inferior à descrita pelos primeiros trabalhos, embora ainda seja a medicaçäo de referência no tratamento do transtorno afetivo bipolar. Apesar de um perfil de segurança desfavorável, os antipsicóticos clássicos sempre apresentaram um papel importante no tratamento desse transtorno psiquiátrico, especialmente como coadjuvante em sua fase maníaca aguda. Os autores, utilizando informaçäo obtida no Medline, fizeram uma revisäo acerca do papel dos antipsicóticos atípicos no tratamento dos pacientes bipolares. Baseado nos dados da literatura, a olanzapina mostrou-se bastante eficaz no manejo da mania aguda, quando uma média de 63,5 por cento dos pacientes apresentaram melhora significativa em estudos duplo-cego controlados, apresentando ganho de peso como único efeito colateral relevante. A clozapina e, mais ainda, a risperidona apresentaram dados menos consistentes, grande parte em funçäo de deficiências metodológicas dos poucos estudos conduzidos até o presente estudo. Os dados preliminares relativos à eficácia desse grupo farmacológico nos quadros refratários e nos sintomas depressivos säo promissores, mas ainda näo definitivos. Em relaçäo a seus efeitos potenciais como estabilizadores do humor, näo existem evidências conclusivas oriundas de estudos controlados, mas há interesse considerável para realizaçäo de investigaçöes em pacientes bipolares tratados com antipsicóticos atípicos por períodos de tempo mais prolongados. Pesquisas futuras poderäo tornar mais claras essas possíveis características terapêuticas