Schizotypy and individual differences in peripersonal space plasticity.

The space surrounding our body, defined as peripersonal space (PPS), is dynamically shaped by our motor experiences. For instance, PPS extends after using a tool to reach far objects. Several studies have demonstrated how PPS size varies across people, depending on different individual characteristics, including schizotypy. Coherently, narrower PPS boundaries have been reported among high schizotypal individuals and schizophrenia patients. However, little is known about the relationship between PPS plasticity and personality traits like schizotypy. To this purpose, the present study has investigated the individual PPS plasticity, after two different motor trainings, along the schizotypal continuum. Specifically, PPS plasticity was tested after using a tool (Experiment 1) and after the mere observation of another person using the same tool (Experiment 2). Indeed, previous evidence has shown that tool-use observation influences visual distance judgments, extending the representation of PPS. To date, however, there is no study investigating whether observation of tools action could also affect multisensory PPS tasks. Experiment 1 has shown that PPS boundaries extended after using the tool; on the other hand, Experiment 2 has revealed the absence of PPS expansion. Moreover, greater PPS expansion emerged in the relatively-low schizotypal group than in the relatively-high one, regardless of the type of motor training performed. The absence of PPS modulation after the observation task is discussed in relation to recent findings showing that intentional action and/or the goal of the action represent potentially crucial elements to trigger PPS plasticity. Finally, these new results extend previous evidence underlining a potential general functional alteration of PPS with the increase of schizotypal level.

Shared multisensory experience affects Others' boundary: The enfacement illusion in schizophrenia.

Schizophrenia has been described as a psychiatric condition characterized by deficits in one's own and others' face recognition, as well as by a disturbed sense of body-ownership. To date, no study has integrated these two lines of research with the aim of investigating Enfacement Illusion (EI) proneness in schizophrenia. To accomplish this goal, the classic EI protocol was adapted to test the potential plasticity of both Self-Other and Other-Other boundaries. Results showed that EI induced the expected malleability of Self-Other boundary among both controls and patients. Interestingly, for the first time, the present study demonstrates that also the Other-Other boundary was influenced by EI. Furthermore, comparing the two groups, the malleability of the Other-Other boundary showed an opposite modulation. These results suggest that, instead of greater Self-Other boundary plasticity, a qualitative difference can be detected between schizophrenia patients and controls in the malleability of the Other-Other boundary. The present study points out a totally new aspect about body-illusions and schizophrenia disorder, demonstrating that EI is not only confined to self-sphere but it also affects the way we discriminate others, representing a potential crucial aspect in the social domain.

Safety and efficacy of lithium in children and adolescents: A systematic review in bipolar illness.

INTRODUCTION: Many clinicians are reluctant to use traditional mood-stabilizing agents, especially lithium, in children and adolescents. This review examined the evidence for lithium's safety and efficacy in this population. METHODS: A systematic review was conducted on the use of lithium in children and adolescents with bipolar disorder (BD). Relevant papers published through June 30th 2018 were identified searching the electronic databases MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO and the Cochrane Library. RESULTS: 30 articles met inclusion criteria, including 12 randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Findings from RCTs demonstrate efficacy for acute mania in up to 50% of patients, and evidence of long-term maintenance efficacy. Lithium was generally safe, at least in the short term, with most common side effects being gastrointestinal, polyuria, or headache. Only a minority of patients experienced hypothyroidism. No cases of acute kidney injury or chronic kidney disease were reported. CONCLUSIONS: Though the available literature is mostly short-term, there is evidence that lithium monotherapy is reasonably safe and effective in children and adolescents, specifically for acute mania and for prevention of mood episodes.

Course of illness in comorbid bipolar disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder patients.

Psychiatric comorbidity is extremely common. One of the most common and difficult to manage comorbid conditions is the co-occurrence of bipolar disorder (BD) and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). We updated our recent systematic review searching the electronic databases MEDLINE, Embase, and PsycINFO to investigate course of illness in BD-OCD patients. We identified a total of 13 relevant papers which found that the majority of comorbid OCD cases appeared to be related to mood episodes. OC symptoms in comorbid patients appeared more often during depressive episodes, and comorbid BD and OCD cycled together, with OC symptoms often remitting during manic/hypomanic episodes.

Clinical management of perinatal anxiety disorders: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: In the last few decades, there has been a growing interest in anxiety disorders (AnxD) in the perinatal period. Although AnxD are diagnosed in 4-39% of pregnant women and in up to 16% of women after delivery, evidence on their clinical management is limited. METHODS: A systematic review was conducted on pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment of AnxD in the perinatal period. Relevant papers published from January 1st 2015 were identified searching the electronic databases MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO and the Cochrane Library. RESULTS: 18 articles met inclusion criteria. Selected studies supported the use of cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), panic disorder (PD) and specific phobia both in pregnancy and postpartum. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) led to significant OCD and PD improvement both in pregnancy and postpartum with no side effects for the babies. In the largest clinical sample to date, 65% of postpartum patients who entered the open-label trial of fluvoxamine (up to 300mg/day) experienced a 30% or greater decrease in the total score of the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS). During pregnancy, SSRIs and tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) led to remission of panic symptoms and healthy outcomes for the babies. LIMITATIONS: Study design, mostly case reports, and enrolment of subjects mainly from outpatient specialty units might have limited community-wide generalisability. CONCLUSIONS: Keeping in mind the scantiness and heterogeneity of the available literature, the best interpretation of the available evidence appears to be that CBT should be the first treatment offered to pregnant and breastfeeding women with AnxD. However SSRIs can represent a first line treatment strategy, and not exclusively in cases where AnxD is refractory to CBT.

The prevalence and predictors of comorbid bipolar disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Although some authors have recently investigated the co-occurrence of anxiety and bipolar disorders, the topic remains insufficiently studied. Defining the prevalence and predictors of BD-OCD comorbidity has important nosological, clinical and therapeutic implications. METHODS: A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted on the prevalence and predictors of comorbid BD-OCD. Relevant papers published through March 30th, 2015 were identified searching the electronic databases MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO and the Cochrane Library. RESULTS: 46 articles met inclusion criteria. The pooled prevalence of OCD in BD was 17.0% (95% CI 12.7-22.4%), which was comparable to the results reported by the pooled prevalence of BD in OCD (18.35%, 95% CI 13.2-24.8%). With regard to OCD-BD predictors, a higher mean age predicted a lower prevalence of OCD in BD patients. Sub group meta-analyses reported higher OCD prevalence rates in BD children and adolescents (24.2%, compared to 13.5% in adults), in BD-I patients (24.6%, compared to 13.6% in mixed BD patients), and among population-based studies (22.2%, compared to 13.2% in hospital-based studies). LIMITATIONS: Most studies use retrospective assessment scales with low sensitivity in discriminating true ego-dystonic obsessions from depressive ruminations that may bias results towards an overestimation of obsessive symptom prevalence. CONCLUSIONS: This first systematic review and meta-analysis of the prevalence and predictors of comorbid BD-OCD confirms that BD-OCD comorbidity is a common condition in psychiatry with children and adolescents and BD-I patients as the most affected subgroups.

Comparative evaluation of the clinical and microbiological efficacy of co-amoxiclav vs cefixime or ciprofloxacin in bacterial exacerbation of chronic bronchitis.

In an open randomized study 218 outpatients (159 males and 59 females) ranging between 18 and 85 years of age (mean 61.9) suffering from bacterial exacerbation of chronic bronchitis have been randomly treated: 79 with co-amoxiclav (amoxicillin 875 mg+clavulanic acid 125 mg) twice daily, 69 with cefixime (400 mg) once daily, and 70 with ciprofloxacin (500 mg) twice daily for an average period of 10 days. Before treatment start, 234 bacterial strains (105 Gram-positive and 129 Gram-negative) were isolated as the cause of exacerbation; the leading pathogens were Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus spp. Eradication rates at the end of treatment were 82.2% for the co-amoxiclav group, 77.6% for the cefixime group, and 81.2% for ciprofloxacin group. Clinical success (cure+improvement) was obtained in 90.8% of the cases treated with co-amoxiclav, in 80.9% for the cefixime group and in 85.7% of patients treated with ciprofloxacin. Seven adverse events (8.9%) of which 4 cases of diarrhea and 3 of itching, were recorded in the co-amoxiclav group. Eleven adverse events (14.7%) were recorded in the cefixime group including gastrointestinal disturbances in 6 patients and mild to moderate increase of liver function in 2. Nine adverse events (12.9%) occurred in the ciprofloxacin group, including insomnia in 3 patients, gastrointestinal disturbances in 2, and serious increase of liver function tests in one patient. It can be concluded that there were no statistically significant differences among the three treatment groups. However, co-amoxiclav demonstrated a higher efficacy rate than cefixime and ciprofloxacin and was better tolerated. Therefore, it can be used as a first-choice drug in the treatment of exacerbation of chronic bronchitis.