Psychometric instruments for the assessment of depressive symptoms in patients with delusional disorder: A systematic review.

Patients with delusional disorder (DD) are at an increased risk for the development of depressive symptoms. We aimed to examine the literature dealing with assessment tools to assess depressive symptoms in DD. A systematic review was performed by searching PubMed, Scopus and clinicaltrials.gov databases from inception until June 2021 (PRISMA guidelines). From 1863 initial retrieved records, 11 studies were included (N = 715 DD patients). Depressive comorbidity ranged from 20.9% to 53.5%. Seven studies used semistructured/structured interviews: OPCRIT 4.0 (n = 1), Manual for Assessment and Documentation of Psychopathology in Psychiatry (AMDP System) (n = 2), the MINI interview (n = 1), DSM-IV (n = 1), ICD-10 (n = 1); and the Diagnostic Interview Schedule (DIS-R) (n = 1). Seven studies used at least one observer-rated scale: Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS)-depressive component (n = 2), Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD, n = 3), Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS, n = 1), Clinical Global Impression Scale (CGI, n = 1) and the Bipolar Affective Disorder Dimension Scale (BADDS, n = 1). Assessment scales administered in depressive disorders and schizophrenia are applied to DD. This is the first systematic review exploring the use of assessment tools for depressive symptoms in DD. The use of the MADRS to assess depressive symptoms can be recommended in combination with other clinical scales, for instance, the CGI.

Impact of ADHD symptoms on family functioning, family burden and parents’ quality of life in a hospital area in Spain

Background and objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate whether ADHD symptom severity and ADHD subtype are associated with family functioning, family burden and quality of life, in a sample of parents of children diagnosed with ADHD.MethodsSeventy-four parents of children diagnosed with ADHD were recruited at an Outpatient Child & Adolescent Mental Health Clinic in Madrid (Spain) and afterwards completed four electronical self-administered scales to determine their perceived family functioning, family burden and quality of life, as well as the severity and subtype of ADHD symptoms in their children.ResultsSeverity of children’s ADHD symptoms negatively affected parents’ quality of life, family functioning and family burden. Higher scores in inattention and combined subtypes were correlated with lower results in those domains. In adjusted correlations, the SWAN hyperactivity/impulsivity subscale significantly correlated with the four scales.ConclusionsThese results suggest that severity of the ADHD symptoms has a negative impact on parent’s quality of life and family functioning in inattention and combined subtypes. Family therapy and other interventions targeted towards improving family relationships and caregivers’ wellbeing should be considered when managing ADHD in the clinical practice. Electronic measurement tools are a promising method of evaluation in mental health research. (AU)

Theoretical models of suicidal behaviour: A systematic review and narrative synthesis

Background and objectives: Suicide mortality has not decreased in recent decades, partly due to the lack of valid predictors. A small number of systematic reviews have been published on the different integrated theoretical models of suicide, although no attempts have been made to bring together the different perspectives into a single integrated model.MethodsWe performed a systematic search of the PubMed and EMBASE databases up to January 2020 to identify studies on integrated theoretical models of suicidal behaviour.ResultsEleven articles met the selection criteria and were included in the review. Some of the key risk factors indicated by most of the models are traumatic events, childhood abuse, feelings of defeat and entrapment, emotional dysregulation, and social exclusion.ConclusionsSuicidal behaviour remains a complex phenomenon involving multiple factors. The synergistic effect between all the factors involved should be considered. (AU)