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1.
Clin Toxicol (Phila) ; 59(3): 224-230, 2021 Mar.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32633579

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: There have been increasing reports documenting barbiturate-related deaths, despite routine prescribing for only relatively rare indications. The aims of the current study were to examine trends in barbiturate-related deaths in Australia from 2000 to 2019 and determine the case characteristics and circumstances of barbiturate-related deaths. METHODS: All barbiturate-related deaths identified in the Australian National Coronial Information System were examined. Information was collected on cause, manner, demographics, location, psychosocial factors, circumstances of deaths and toxicology. We examined these based on the age categories 18-44 years, 45-64 years and ≥65 years. RESULTS: We identified 511 cases. Mean age was 57.9 years (SD 20.2, range 18-100) and 56% were male. Intentional poisoning was the most common cause of death (87.5%) and was slightly higher in the oldest age group (92.1%) and lowest in the youngest age group (81.1%). Pentobarbitone was the most common barbiturate (75.7%) and pentobarbitone-related deaths increased from 0% in 2000 to 93.6% in 2017. There were notable differences between age categories, with the youngest age group recording more severe psychiatric histories. In contrast, the oldest age group were more likely to have severe physical health problems, such as cancer, chronic non-cancer pain, neurological conditions and significant cardiopulmonary morbidity. Euthanasia resources were commonly documented (33.9%), most frequently in the oldest age group (52.3%). CONCLUSION: Barbiturate-related deaths in Australia are increasing, particularly pentobarbitone-related deaths. Most deaths were intentional and involved adults across the lifespan. Younger people were more likely to have significant mental health problems, whilst the oldest age group were more likely to have severe physical health conditions.


Subject(s)
Barbiturates/toxicity , Drug Overdose/mortality , Hypnotics and Sedatives/toxicity , Adolescent , Adult , Age Factors , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Australia/epidemiology , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Pentobarbital/toxicity , Psychology , Retrospective Studies , Risk Factors , Young Adult
2.
Schizophr Res ; 199: 341-345, 2018 09.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-29571751

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To describe the characteristics of individuals with early sustained recovery following first episode psychosis. METHODS: Individuals with a first episode psychosis were followed-up for ten years. Comparisons were made between those with Early Sustained Recovery and those with Other Course types. RESULTS: Of 345 individuals, n=43 (12.5%) had Early Sustained Recovery. They were more likely than those with Other Course types to be female (OR=2.45; 95% CI: 1.25-4.81); employed (OR=2.39; 95% CI: 1.22-4.69); in a relationship (OR=2.68; 95% CI: 1.35-5.32); have a short DUP (OR=2.86; 95% CI: 1.37-5.88); and have a diagnosis other than schizophrenia, particularly mania (OR=6.39; 95% CI: 2.52-16.18) or brief psychosis (OR=3.64; 95% CI: 1.10-12.10). CONCLUSIONS: Sustained recovery from first episode psychosis occurs in a minority.


Subject(s)
Psychotic Disorders/therapy , Schizophrenia/therapy , Adolescent , Adult , Disease Progression , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Humans , Longitudinal Studies , Male , Middle Aged , Recovery of Function , Risk Factors , Sex Factors , Socioeconomic Factors , Time Factors , Treatment Outcome , Young Adult
3.
Psychol Med ; 47(11): 1981-1989, 2017 Aug.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-28395674

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: We examined longitudinally the course and predictors of treatment resistance in a large cohort of first-episode psychosis (FEP) patients from initiation of antipsychotic treatment. We hypothesized that antipsychotic treatment resistance is: (a) present at illness onset; and (b) differentially associated with clinical and demographic factors. METHOD: The study sample comprised 323 FEP patients who were studied at first contact and at 10-year follow-up. We collated clinical information on severity of symptoms, antipsychotic medication and treatment adherence during the follow-up period to determine the presence, course and predictors of treatment resistance. RESULTS: From the 23% of the patients, who were treatment resistant, 84% were treatment resistant from illness onset. Multivariable regression analysis revealed that diagnosis of schizophrenia, negative symptoms, younger age at onset, and longer duration of untreated psychosis predicted treatment resistance from illness onset. CONCLUSIONS: The striking majority of treatment-resistant patients do not respond to first-line antipsychotic treatment even at time of FEP. Clinicians must be alert to this subgroup of patients and consider clozapine treatment as early as possible during the first presentation of psychosis.


Subject(s)
Antipsychotic Agents/pharmacology , Drug Resistance , Psychotic Disorders , Schizophrenia , Adolescent , Adult , Drug Resistance/physiology , Female , Humans , Longitudinal Studies , Male , Middle Aged , Prevalence , Psychotic Disorders/drug therapy , Psychotic Disorders/epidemiology , Psychotic Disorders/physiopathology , Schizophrenia/drug therapy , Schizophrenia/epidemiology , Schizophrenia/physiopathology , United Kingdom/epidemiology , Young Adult
4.
Am J Transplant ; 17(7): 1719-1722, 2017 Jul.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-28421672

ABSTRACT

In an attempt to improve surgical quality in the field of transplantation, the American College of Surgeons (ACS) and American Society of Transplant Surgeons have initiated a national quality improvement program in transplantation. This transplant-specific quality improvement program, called TransQIP, has been built from the ground up by transplant surgeons and captures detailed information on donor and recipient factors as well as transplant-specific outcomes. It is built upon the existing ACS/National Surgical Quality Improvement Program infrastructure and is designed to capture 100% of liver and kidney transplants performed at participating sites. TransQIP has completed its alpha pilot and will embark upon its beta phase at approximately 30 centers in the spring of 2017. Going forward, we anticipate TransQIP will help satisfy Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services requirements for a quality improvement program, surgeon requirements for maintenance of certification, and qualify as a clinical practice improvement activity under the Merit-Based Incentive Payment System. Most importantly, we believe TransQIP will provide insight into surgical outcomes in transplantation that will allow the field to provide better care to our patients.


Subject(s)
Organ Transplantation , Quality Improvement , Quality Indicators, Health Care/organization & administration , Quality Indicators, Health Care/standards , Humans , Outcome Assessment, Health Care , Societies, Medical , United States
5.
Schizophr Res ; 176(2-3): 417-422, 2016 10.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-27236408

ABSTRACT

We aimed to investigate long-term outcomes in psychotic major depression patients compared to schizophrenia and bipolar/manic psychosis patients, in an incidence sample, while accounting for diagnostic change. Based on Aetiology and Ethnicity in Schizophrenia and Other Psychoses (ÆSOP and ÆSOP-10), a first episode psychosis cohort was followed-up 10years after first presentation. The Schedules for Clinical Assessment in Neuropsychiatry, WHO Life Chart and Global Assessment of Functioning were used to assess clinical, social and service use outcomes. Seventy-two PMD patients, 218 schizophrenia patients and 70 psychotic bipolar disorder/mania patients were identified at baseline. Differences in outcome between PMD and bipolar patients based on baseline and lifetime diagnosis were minimal. Differences in clinical, social and service use outcomes between PMD and schizophrenia were more substantial with PMD patients showing better outcomes on most variables. However, there was some weak evidence (albeit not quite statistically significant at p<0.05) based on lifetime diagnoses that PMD patients were more likely to attempt suicide (OR 2.31, CI 0.98-5.42, p0.055) and self-harm (OR 2.34, CI 0.97-5.68, p0.060). PMD patients have better social and service use outcomes compared to people with schizophrenia, but may be more likely to attempt suicide or self-harm. This unique profile is important for clinicians to consider in any risk assessment.


Subject(s)
Bipolar Disorder/epidemiology , Depressive Disorder, Major/complications , Depressive Disorder, Major/epidemiology , Psychotic Disorders/complications , Psychotic Disorders/epidemiology , Schizophrenia/epidemiology , Adult , Bipolar Disorder/therapy , Depressive Disorder, Major/therapy , Employment , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Humans , Incidence , Male , Prisons , Psychotic Disorders/therapy , Regression Analysis , Schizophrenia/therapy , Self-Injurious Behavior/epidemiology , Social Isolation , Treatment Outcome , Young Adult
6.
Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol ; 51(2): 233-45, 2016 Feb.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-26520449

ABSTRACT

AIMS: Few studies have investigated risk factors for psychotic major depression (PMD). We aimed to investigate the biological and psychosocial risk factors associated with PMD compared with other psychotic disorders. METHODS: Based on the aetiology and ethnicity in schizophrenia and other psychoses (ÆSOP) study, we used a case-control study to identify and recruit, at baseline and 10-year follow-up, all first episode cases of psychosis, presenting for the first time to specialist mental health services in defined catchment areas in the UK. Population-based controls were recruited from the same areas. Data were collected on: sociodemographics; social isolation; childhood adversity; life events; minor physical anomalies; and neurological soft signs. RESULTS: Living alone (aOR = 2.26, CI = 1.21-4.23), basic level qualification (aOR = 2.89, CI = 1.08-7.74), being unemployed (aOR = 2.12, CI = 1.13-3.96), having contact with friends less than monthly (aOR = 4.24, CI = 1.62-11.14), having no close confidants (aOR = 4.71, CI = 2.08-10.68), having experienced childhood adversity (aOR = 2.57, CI = 1.02-6.44), family history of mental illness (aOR = 10.68, CI = 5.06-22.52), family history of psychosis (aOR = 12.85, CI = 5.24-31.51), and having more neurological soft signs (aOR = 1.15, CI = 1.07-1.24) were all associated with a follow-up diagnosis of PMD and schizophrenia. Few variables associated with PMD were also associated with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder. Minor physical anomalies were associated with a follow-up diagnosis of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, but not PMD. CONCLUSIONS: Risk factors associated with PMD appear to overlap with those for schizophrenia, but less so for bipolar disorder. Future work on the differential aetiology of PMD, from other psychoses is needed to find the 'specifier' between PMD and other psychoses. Future research on aetiology in PMD, and perhaps other psychoses, should account for diagnostic change.


Subject(s)
Depressive Disorder, Major/epidemiology , Psychotic Disorders/epidemiology , Adult , Bipolar Disorder/epidemiology , Case-Control Studies , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Risk Factors , Schizophrenia/epidemiology , United Kingdom/epidemiology , Young Adult
7.
Psychol Med ; 45(13): 2757-69, 2015 Oct.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-25936425

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: A lack of an aetiologically based nosology classification has contributed to instability in psychiatric diagnoses over time. This study aimed to examine the diagnostic stability of psychosis diagnoses using data from an incidence sample of psychosis cases, followed up after 10 years and to examine those baseline variables which were associated with diagnostic change. METHOD: Data were examined from the ÆSOP and ÆSOP-10 studies, an incidence and follow-up study, respectively, of a population-based cohort of first-episode psychosis cases from two sites. Diagnosis was assigned using ICD-10 and DSM-IV-TR. Diagnostic change was examined using prospective and retrospective consistency. Baseline variables associated with change were examined using logistic regression and likelihood ratio tests. RESULTS: Slightly more (59.6%) cases had the same baseline and lifetime ICD-10 diagnosis compared with DSM-IV-TR (55.3%), but prospective and retrospective consistency was similar. Schizophrenia, psychotic bipolar disorder and drug-induced psychosis were more prospectively consistent than other diagnoses. A substantial number of cases with other diagnoses at baseline (ICD-10, n = 61; DSM-IV-TR, n = 76) were classified as having schizophrenia at 10 years. Many variables were associated with change to schizophrenia but few with overall change in diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: Diagnoses other than schizophrenia should to be regarded as potentially provisional.


Subject(s)
Bipolar Disorder/diagnosis , Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders , International Classification of Diseases/standards , Psychotic Disorders/diagnosis , Schizophrenia/diagnosis , Adult , Cohort Studies , Diagnosis, Differential , Female , Humans , Logistic Models , Male , Young Adult
8.
Psychol Med ; 44(13): 2713-26, 2014 Oct.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-25066181

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Studies of the long-term course and outcome of psychoses tend to focus on cohorts of prevalent cases. Such studies bias samples towards those with poor outcomes, which may distort our understanding of prognosis. Long-term follow-up studies of epidemiologically robust first-episode samples are rare. METHOD: AESOP-10 is a 10-year follow-up study of 557 individuals with a first episode of psychosis initially identified in two areas in the UK (South East London and Nottingham). Detailed information was collated on course and outcome in three domains (clinical, social and service use) from case records, informants and follow-up interviews. RESULTS: At follow-up, of 532 incident cases identified, at baseline 37 (7%) had died, 29 (6%) had emigrated and eight (2%) were excluded. Of the remaining 458, 412 (90%) were traced and some information on follow-up was collated for 387 (85%). Most cases (265, 77%) experienced at least one period of sustained remission; at follow-up, 141 (46%) had been symptom free for at least 2 years. A majority (208, 72%) of cases had been employed for less than 25% of the follow-up period. The median number of hospital admissions, including at first presentation, was 2 [interquartile range (IQR) 1-4]; a majority (299, 88%) were admitted a least once and a minority (21, 6%) had 10 or more admissions. Overall, outcomes were worse for those with a non-affective diagnosis, for men and for those from South East London. CONCLUSIONS: Sustained periods of symptom remission are usual following first presentation to mental health services for psychosis, including for those with a non-affective disorder; almost half recover.


Subject(s)
Disease Progression , Hospitalization/statistics & numerical data , Psychotic Disorders/epidemiology , Adult , England/epidemiology , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Humans , Incidence , London/epidemiology , Male , Middle Aged , Psychotic Disorders/mortality , Sex Factors
9.
Psychol Med ; 44(6): 1279-91, 2014 Apr.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-23866084

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Hippocampal pathology has been proposed to underlie clinical, functional and cognitive impairments in schizophrenia. The hippocampus is a highly plastic brain region; examining change in volume, or change bilaterally, over time, can advance understanding of the substrate of recovery in psychosis. METHOD: Magnetic resonance imaging and outcome data were collected at baseline and 6-year follow-up in 42 first-episode psychosis subjects and 32 matched controls, to investigate whether poorer outcomes are associated with loss of global matter and hippocampal volumes. Bilateral hippocampal increase (BHI) over time, as a marker of hippocampal plasticity was hypothesized to be associated with better outcomes. Regression analyses were performed on: (i) clinical and functional outcomes with grey matter volume change and BHI as predictor variables; and (ii) cognitive outcome with BHI as predictor. RESULTS: BHI was present in 29% of psychosis participants. There was no significant grey matter loss over time in either patient or control groups. Less severe illness course and lesser symptom severity were associated with BHI, but not with grey matter change. Employment and global function were associated with BHI and with less grey matter loss. Superior delayed verbal recall was also associated with BHI. CONCLUSIONS: BHI occurs in a minority of patients following their first psychotic episode and is associated with good outcome across clinical, functional and cognitive domains.


Subject(s)
Hippocampus/pathology , Neuronal Plasticity/physiology , Psychotic Disorders/pathology , Adolescent , Adult , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Functional Laterality/physiology , Hippocampus/physiopathology , Humans , Magnetic Resonance Imaging , Male , Middle Aged , Prognosis , Psychotic Disorders/diagnosis , Psychotic Disorders/physiopathology , Young Adult
10.
Psychol Med ; 42(5): 1037-47, 2012 May.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-22059690

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: To date, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has made little impact on the diagnosis and monitoring of psychoses in individual patients. In this study, we used a support vector machine (SVM) whole-brain classification approach to predict future illness course at the individual level from MRI data obtained at the first psychotic episode. METHOD: One hundred patients at their first psychotic episode and 91 healthy controls had an MRI scan. Patients were re-evaluated 6.2 years (s.d.=2.3) later, and were classified as having a continuous, episodic or intermediate illness course. Twenty-eight subjects with a continuous course were compared with 28 patients with an episodic course and with 28 healthy controls. We trained each SVM classifier independently for the following contrasts: continuous versus episodic, continuous versus healthy controls, and episodic versus healthy controls. RESULTS: At baseline, patients with a continuous course were already distinguishable, with significance above chance level, from both patients with an episodic course (p=0.004, sensitivity=71, specificity=68) and healthy individuals (p=0.01, sensitivity=71, specificity=61). Patients with an episodic course could not be distinguished from healthy individuals. When patients with an intermediate outcome were classified according to the discriminating pattern episodic versus continuous, 74% of those who did not develop other episodes were classified as episodic, and 65% of those who did develop further episodes were classified as continuous (p=0.035). CONCLUSIONS: We provide preliminary evidence of MRI application in the individualized prediction of future illness course, using a simple and automated SVM pipeline. When replicated and validated in larger groups, this could enable targeted clinical decisions based on imaging data.


Subject(s)
Individuality , Magnetic Resonance Imaging/methods , Psychotic Disorders/diagnosis , Psychotic Disorders/physiopathology , Support Vector Machine , Adult , Brain/physiopathology , Brain Mapping/methods , Cohort Studies , Disease Progression , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Humans , Image Processing, Computer-Assisted/methods , Male , Observer Variation , Predictive Value of Tests , Reproducibility of Results
11.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-22654822

ABSTRACT

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) remain the best studied class of cell surface receptors and the most tractable family of proteins for novel small molecule drug discovery. Despite this, a considerable number of GPCRs remain poorly characterized and in a significant number of cases, endogenous ligand(s) that activate them remain undefined or are of questionable physiological relevance. GPR35 was initially discovered over a decade ago but has remained an "orphan" receptor. Recent publications have highlighted novel ligands, both endogenously produced and synthetic, which demonstrate significant potency at this receptor. Furthermore, evidence is accumulating which highlights potential roles for GPR35 in disease and therefore, efforts to characterize GPR35 more fully and develop it as a novel therapeutic target in conditions that range from diabetes and hypertension to asthma are increasing. Recently identified ligands have shown marked species selective properties, indicating major challenges for future drug development. As we begin to understand these issues, the continuing efforts to identify novel agonist and antagonist ligands for GPR35 will help to decipher its true physiological relevance; translating multiple assay systems in vitro, to animal disease systems in vivo and finally to man.

12.
Psychol Med ; 41(8): 1677-89, 2011 Aug.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-21144111

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Some neuroimaging studies have supported the hypothesis of progressive brain changes after a first episode of psychosis. We aimed to determine whether (i) first-episode psychosis patients would exhibit more pronounced brain volumetric changes than controls over time and (ii) illness course/treatment would relate to those changes. METHOD: Longitudinal regional grey matter volume and ventricle:brain ratio differences between 39 patients with first-episode psychosis (including schizophrenia and schizophreniform disorder) and 52 non-psychotic controls enrolled in a population-based case-control study. RESULTS: While there was no longitudinal difference in ventricle:brain ratios between first-episode psychosis subjects and controls, patients exhibited grey matter volume changes, indicating a reversible course in the superior temporal cortex and hippocampus compared with controls. A remitting course was related to reversal of baseline temporal grey matter deficits. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings do not support the hypothesis of brain changes indicating a progressive course in the initial phase of psychosis. Rather, some brain volume abnormalities may be reversible, possibly associated with a better illness course.


Subject(s)
Brain/pathology , Psychotic Disorders/pathology , Adult , Case-Control Studies , Disease Progression , Female , Humans , Longitudinal Studies , Magnetic Resonance Imaging , Male , Schizophrenia/pathology , Socioeconomic Factors
13.
Psychological medicine ; 40(7): 1137-1147, Jul. 2010. tab, ilus
Article in English | MedCarib | ID: med-17621

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: African-Caribbean and black African people living in the UK are reported to have a higher incidence of diagnosed psychosis compared with white British people. It has been argued that this may be a consequence of misdiagnosis. If this is true they might be less likely to show the patterns of structural brain abnormalities reported in white British patients. The aim of this study therefore was to investigate whether there are differences in the prevalence of structural brain abnormalities in white and black first-episode psychosis patients. METHOD: We obtained dual-echo (proton density/T2-weighted) images from a sample of 75 first-episode psychosis patients and 68 healthy controls. We used high resolution magnetic resonance imaging and voxel-based methods of image analysis. Two separate analyses were conducted: (1) 34 white British patients were compared with 33 white British controls; (2) 41 African-Caribbean and black African patients were compared with 35 African-Caribbean and black African controls. RESULTS: White British patients and African-Caribbean/black African patients had ventricular enlargement and increased lenticular nucleus volume compared with their respective ethnic controls. The African-Caribbean/black African patients also showed reduced global grey matter and increased lingual gyrus grey-matter volume. The white British patients had no regional or global grey-matter loss compared with their normal ethnic counterparts but showed increased grey matter in the left superior temporal lobe and right parahippocampal gyrus. CONCLUSIONS: We found no evidence in support of our hypothesis. Indeed, the finding of reduced global grey-matter volume in the African-Caribbean/black African patients but not in the white British patients was contrary to our prediction.


Subject(s)
Adult , Middle Aged , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Humans , Male , Female , Psychotic Disorders , Magnetic Resonance Imaging , Diagnosis , Neuroanatomy , Caribbean Region
14.
Transplant Proc ; 42(1): 314-6, 2010.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-20172339

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Diabetes mellitus is a spectrum of diseases characterized by the absence of glycemic control and the development of secondary complications. Type 1 diabetes (insulin-dependent) accounts for a minority of cases, but it usually presents in younger age groups. This disease significantly affects quality of life. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the cases of pancreas transplantation performed at University of Texas, Houston, from February 2008 to August 2009. All patients received immunosuppression induction with thymoglobulin (1.5 mg/kg). We used 3 drugs for maintenance: tacrolimus, mycophenolic acid, and prednisone. All patients received cytomegalovirus prophylaxis. RESULTS: We transplanted 54 organs in 29 patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus. The mean patient age was 42 years. Patients had diabetes mellitus type 1 for an average of 28.82 years and were on dialysis for an average of 2 years. Nineteen patients were male (65%). Complications ensued in 68% of cases (20 patients), 9 of which required surgical exploration (31%). We lost 3 pancreatic allografts. DISCUSSION: Pancreas transplant recipients constitute a unique population with a high risk of complications in the acute setting. During the first 3 months after simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation the relative mortality risk is increased but after a year it has clear advantage over diabetic patients on dialysis waiting for a transplant. To date, 26 patients have functional pancreatic allografts and 29 are dialysis-free. Pancreas transplantation is a challenging procedure. Surgeons must be prepared to aggressively manage the possible complications.


Subject(s)
Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1/surgery , Mycophenolic Acid/therapeutic use , Pancreas Transplantation/statistics & numerical data , Tacrolimus/therapeutic use , Adult , Antibodies, Monoclonal/therapeutic use , Antilymphocyte Serum , Antiviral Agents/therapeutic use , Cytomegalovirus Infections/prevention & control , Diabetic Nephropathies/surgery , Female , Hospitals, University/statistics & numerical data , Humans , Immunosuppressive Agents/therapeutic use , Kidney Transplantation/statistics & numerical data , Male , Middle Aged , Pancreas Transplantation/immunology , Prednisone/therapeutic use , Retrospective Studies , Texas
15.
Psychol Med ; 40(7): 1137-47, 2010 Jul.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-19891807

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: African-Caribbean and black African people living in the UK are reported to have a higher incidence of diagnosed psychosis compared with white British people. It has been argued that this may be a consequence of misdiagnosis. If this is true they might be less likely to show the patterns of structural brain abnormalities reported in white British patients. The aim of this study therefore was to investigate whether there are differences in the prevalence of structural brain abnormalities in white and black first-episode psychosis patients. METHOD: We obtained dual-echo (proton density/T2-weighted) images from a sample of 75 first-episode psychosis patients and 68 healthy controls. We used high resolution magnetic resonance imaging and voxel-based methods of image analysis. Two separate analyses were conducted: (1) 34 white British patients were compared with 33 white British controls; (2) 41 African-Caribbean and black African patients were compared with 35 African-Caribbean and black African controls. RESULTS: White British patients and African-Caribbean/black African patients had ventricular enlargement and increased lenticular nucleus volume compared with their respective ethnic controls. The African-Caribbean/black African patients also showed reduced global grey matter and increased lingual gyrus grey-matter volume. The white British patients had no regional or global grey-matter loss compared with their normal ethnic counterparts but showed increased grey matter in the left superior temporal lobe and right parahippocampal gyrus. CONCLUSIONS: We found no evidence in support of our hypothesis. Indeed, the finding of reduced global grey-matter volume in the African-Caribbean/black African patients but not in the white British patients was contrary to our prediction.


Subject(s)
Black People/psychology , Brain/anatomy & histology , Brain/physiopathology , Psychotic Disorders/physiopathology , White People/psychology , Adult , Black People/statistics & numerical data , Caribbean Region/ethnology , Cerebral Ventricles/anatomy & histology , Corpus Striatum/anatomy & histology , Corpus Striatum/physiopathology , Female , Humans , Incidence , International Classification of Diseases , Magnetic Resonance Imaging , Male , Prevalence , Psychotic Disorders/ethnology , Psychotic Disorders/psychology , Substance-Related Disorders/ethnology , United Kingdom/epidemiology , White People/statistics & numerical data
16.
Health Place ; 16(2): 219-25, 2010 Mar.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-19875323

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Family involvement in help-seeking is associated with a shorter duration of untreated psychoses [DUP], but it is unknown whether neighbourhood-level factors are also important. METHODS: DUP was estimated for all cases of first-episode psychoses identified over 2 years in 33 Southeast London neighbourhoods (n = 329). DUP was positively skewed and transformed to the natural logarithm scale. We fitted various hierarchical models, adopting different assumptions with regard to spatial variability of DUP, to assess whether there was evidence of neighbourhood heterogeneity in DUP, having accounted for a priori individual-level confounders. RESULTS: Neighbourhood-level variation in DUP was negligible compared to overall variability. A non-hierarchical model with age, sex and ethnicity covariates, but without area-level random effects, provided the best fit to the data. DISCUSSION: Neighbourhood factors do not appear to be associated with DUP, suggesting its predictors lie at individual and family levels. Our results inform mental healthcare planning, suggesting that in one urbanised area of Southeast London, where you live does not affect duration of untreated psychosis.


Subject(s)
Mental Health Services/statistics & numerical data , Psychotic Disorders/therapy , Residence Characteristics , Female , Humans , London , Male , Psychotic Disorders/psychology , Socioeconomic Factors
17.
Psychol Med ; 39(10): 1617-26, 2009 Oct.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-19356258

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Despite the increasing development of early intervention services for psychosis, little is known about their cost-effectiveness. We assessed the cost-effectiveness of Outreach and Support in South London (OASIS), a service for people with an at-risk mental state (ARMS) for psychosis. METHOD: The costs of OASIS compared to care as usual (CAU) were entered in a decision model and examined for 12- and 24-month periods, using the duration of untreated psychosis (DUP) and rate of transition to psychosis as key parameters. The costs were calculated on the basis of services used following referral and the impact on employment. Sensitivity analysis was used to test the robustness of all the assumptions made in the model. RESULTS: Over the initial 12 months from presentation, the costs of the OASIS intervention were pound1872 higher than CAU. However, after 24 months they were pound961 less than CAU. CONCLUSIONS: This model suggests that services that permit early detection of people at high risk of psychosis may be cost saving.


Subject(s)
Psychotic Disorders/economics , Cost-Benefit Analysis , Female , Humans , London , Male , Psychotic Disorders/drug therapy , Psychotic Disorders/prevention & control , Psychotic Disorders/therapy , Risk Factors , Time Factors , Young Adult
18.
Transplant Proc ; 37(4): 1912-4, 2005 May.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-15919502

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Neurotoxicity is a well-recognized side effect of calcineurin inhibitors. Rapamycin is considered to be significantly less neurotoxic than calcineurin inhibitors (CNIs). The aim of this study was to retrospectively analyze a group of post-liver transplant patients who had been converted to rapamycin because of CNI-related neurotoxicity. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) was performed in 56 consecutive patients between April 1, 2003, and August 15, 2004. Immunosuppression was administered with tacrolimus, mycophenolic acid, and corticosteroids. RESULTS: Seven patients were converted to rapamycin due to new-onset neurotoxicity or exacerbation of previous neurological symptoms secondary to CNI. None of the patients had toxic levels tacrolimus (>15 ng/mL) at the time of symptoms, which persisted despite reduction of CNI dose. The indications for conversion were: (1) peripheral neuropathy; (2) seizure; (3) metabolic encephalopathy; and (4) central pontine myelinolysis. All patients showed improvement or resolution of their neurological symptoms after conversion to rapamycin. Two patients died, the first due to a hypoxic event and the second due to central pontine myelinolysis with limited improvement and a family decision to withdraw care. There were no complications directly attributed to rapamycin. Specifically, there were no thrombotic events, wound complications, or biliary leaks. Three patients had a rejection episode that was successfully treated with pulse corticosteroids and low-dose tacrolimus (levels < 5 ng/mL). CONCLUSIONS: Rapamycin can be safely used in OLT recipients with severe neurological symptoms ascribed to or exacerbated by CNIs. Rapamycin monotherapy may be inadequate to control rejection early after transplantation. Rapamycin can be combined with low doses of CNI to prevent rejection.


Subject(s)
Immunosuppressive Agents/therapeutic use , Liver Transplantation/immunology , Mycophenolic Acid/therapeutic use , Nervous System Diseases/chemically induced , Sirolimus/therapeutic use , Tacrolimus/therapeutic use , Adrenal Cortex Hormones/therapeutic use , Adult , Calcineurin Inhibitors , Female , Humans , Immunosuppressive Agents/adverse effects , Liver Transplantation/mortality , Male , Middle Aged , Mycophenolic Acid/adverse effects , Nervous System Diseases/prevention & control , Survival Analysis , Tacrolimus/adverse effects , Treatment Outcome
19.
J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry ; 75(1): 80-6, 2004 Jan.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-14707313

ABSTRACT

Around 25% of patients with visual hallucinations secondary to eye disease report hallucinations of text. The hallucinated text conveys little if any meaning, typically consisting of individual letters, words, or nonsense letter strings (orthographic hallucinations). A patient is described with textual visual hallucinations of a very different linguistic content following bilateral occipito-temporal infarcts. The hallucinations consisted of grammatically correct, meaningful written sentences or phrases, often in the second person and with a threatening and command-like nature (syntacto-semantic visual hallucinations). A detailed phenomenological interview and visual psychophysical testing were undertaken. The patient showed a classical ventral occipito-temporal syndrome with achromatopsia, prosopagnosia, and associative visual agnosia. Of particular significance was the presence of pure alexia. Illusions of colour induced by monochromatic gratings and a novel motion-direction illusion were also observed, both consistent with the residual capacities of the patient's spared visual cortex. The content of orthographic visual hallucinations matches the known specialisations of an area in the left posterior fusiform gyrus--the visual word form area (VWFA)--suggesting the two are related. The VWFA is unlikely to be responsible for the syntacto-semantic hallucinations described here as the patient had a pure alexic syndrome, a known consequence of VWFA lesions. Syntacto-semantic visual hallucinations may represent a separate category of textual hallucinations related to the cortical network implicated in the auditory hallucinations of schizophrenia.


Subject(s)
Alexia, Pure/physiopathology , Hallucinations/etiology , Hallucinations/physiopathology , Linguistics , Occipital Lobe/pathology , Temporal Lobe/pathology , Aged , Cerebral Infarction/complications , Female , Humans , Magnetic Resonance Imaging , Occipital Lobe/blood supply , Temporal Lobe/blood supply
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