Societal costs of personality disorders among treatment-seeking patients in Norway: the relative contribution of specific DSM-5 categories.

Personality disorders (PDs) are associated with high levels of societal costs, regardless of whether a single PD or a broad range of PDs have been studied. However, research on the relative contribution of specific PD-types on societal costs is limited. The aim of this study was to explore the possible contributions of the individual DSM-5 categories of PDs on the level of societal costs and its components (health service costs and productivity loss), while controlling for the impact of comorbid mental health and substance use disorders on these outcomes. Participants (n = 798) were retrieved from the quality register of the Norwegian Network for Personality Disorders-a collaboration of PD-treatment units within specialist mental health services. The patients were referred to treatment in the time-period 2017-2020. Costs were assessed using a structured interview covering the 6-month period prior to assessment. Diagnoses were determined by semi-structured diagnostic interviews (SCID-5-PD and M.I.N.I.). Statistics included multiple regression analyses. The main result was that no specific PD had a unique contribution to the high level of societal costs generally found among treatment-seeking patients with PDs. Borderline PD (BPD) was the only PD with significantly higher health service costs than the other PDs, while BPD, avoidant PD, and unspecified PD were independently associated with enhanced productivity loss. The differential cost-effects of specific PDs on the cost components were small. Several comorbid mental health and substance use disorders were significant contributors to costs, irrespective of PD status. The results underscore the importance of developing and implementing effective treatments for a broader range of PDs, to reduce the high levels of societal costs associated with all PDs.

Societal costs of personality disorders: A cross-sectional multicenter study of treatment-seeking patients in mental health services in Norway.

OBJECTIVE: There is a relatively small body of research on the cost-of-illness of personality disorders (PDs). Most studies only include borderline PD. The aim of this study was to investigate mean societal costs, including its components, (direct) health service costs and (indirect) productivity loss, among treatment-seeking patients with the broad range of all PDs according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5). METHODS: Cross-sectional data from 911 patients diagnosed with at least 1 PD were retrieved from the quality register of the Norwegian Network for Personality Disorders-a collaboration of PD treatment units within specialist mental health services. The patients were referred in the time period 2017-2020. Estimation of costs was based on a bottom-up approach, using information from a structured interview covering the 6-month period before assessment, whereas unit costs were retrieved from public reports, public records, or public agencies. The human capital approach was used to calculate productivity loss. Diagnoses were determined by semi-structured diagnostic interviews (Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5-PD [SCID-5-PD]). RESULTS: The mean societal costs were €20.260 during the 6-month period before specialized treatment. The largest cost component was productivity loss (65%), whereas health service costs constituted 35%. The main contributors to societal costs from the underlying health service cost components were inpatient treatment (20.5%) and individual outpatient treatment (10.5%). CONCLUSION: Societal costs were substantial among treatment-seeking patients with the broad range of DSM-5 PDs, comparable to the societal costs of schizophrenia, and significantly higher than the societal costs of both depression and anxiety disorders. The cost estimates converged with recent, register-based cost-of-illness studies of different PDs but exceeded previous findings from other bottom-up studies. Furthermore, the results underscore the importance of implementing effective and specialized treatment for patients with a broad range of PDs, not only to alleviate individual suffering but also to reduce the level of societal costs. The emphasis on productivity loss as a main contributor to the overall societal costs is substantiated, hence underlining the relevance of interventions focusing on improving occupational functioning.

Ondansetron prevents postoperative nausea and vomiting in women outpatients.

Three doses of intravenous (i.v.) ondansetron, 1 mg, 4 mg, and 8 mg, were compared to placebo for their antiemetic effect and safety. The drugs or placebo were administered in a double-blind manner, prophylactically to 589 women undergoing elective outpatient surgical procedures under nitrous oxide opioid-based general endotracheal anesthesia. In the postanesthesia care unit, the number of emetic episodes, periodic assessments of nausea severity using an 11-point scale (0 = no nausea; 10 = worst nausea), vital signs, and adverse events were collected by an independent observer for 2 h. Upon discharge, identical information, with the exception of vital signs, was collected from the patients' diary and via phone call. One pre- and two poststudy blood specimens for hematology and chemistries were evaluated. During the initial 2 h, patients receiving any dose of ondansetron had significantly better complete response rates (no emesis) than those receiving placebo. Over the 24-h study period, patients who received either 4 mg or 8 mg ondansetron continued to have significantly greater complete response rates. Adverse events were minor, and ondansetron-treated patients had profiles similar to those of the placebo. Heart rate, blood pressure, respiratory rate, and laboratory safety variables were not different among the groups. Ondansetron did not prolong awakening time. This study indicates that ondansetron is a safe and effective prophylactic antiemetic for women who have outpatient surgery under nitrous oxide opioid-based general anesthesia.

An analysis of the duration of fentanyl and its metabolites in urine and saliva.

This study was undertaken to determine if metabolites of fentanyl might be useful in the detection and monitoring of substance abuse. The presence of fentanyl and two of its metabolites in the urine and saliva of seven female patients receiving small doses (110 +/- 56 micrograms) of fentanyl was studied up to 96 h from the time of administration. Fentanyl and its two metabolites (norfentanyl and despropionylfentanyl) were extracted from samples and analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Unchanged fentanyl was detectable in urine in all patients immediately postoperatively and in 3 of 7 patients at 24 h. By 72 h, fentanyl was undetectable. Norfentanyl was present in larger quantities than fentanyl immediately postoperatively and was detected in all patients at 48 h and in 4 of 7 patients at 96 h. Despropionylfentanyl was not detected in any of the urine specimens tested. Neither fentanyl nor its metabolites could be detected consistently at any time in saliva. Saliva testing does not appear to be a viable alternative to urine testing based on this study. Urinary norfentanyl might be considered as the substance of choice when testing for fentanyl abuse.

An evaluation of two activated clotting time monitors during cardiac surgery.

The activated clotting time (ACT) is a commonly used method for assessing the degree of anticoagulation during cardiac surgery. Two automated ACT monitors were evaluated in 29 adult patients undergoing cardiac surgery. The HemoTec ACT monitor (HTC; HemoTec, Inc., Englewood, CO) was evaluated using 0.8 ml of whole blood in dual-chamber, high range kaolin cartridges. The Hemochron ACT monitor (HCH; International Technidyne, Inc, Edison, NJ) was evaluated using 2.0 ml of whole blood in glass tubes with diatomaceous earth activator. Following sternotomy, a coagulation profile consisting of HTC, HCH, and a partial thromboplastin time (PTT) was obtained (T0). Beef lung heparin was administered in 3 consecutive doses: 40 units/kg (T1), 80 units/kg (T2), and 180 units/kg (T3). Coagulation profiles were drawn 5 minutes after each dose. Following cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), coagulation profiles were drawn 15 minutes (T4), 2 hours (T5), and 24 hours (T6) after the protamine dose. HTC and HCH ACT values differed significantly at T1, T2, and T4 (p less than 0.001). In the pre-CPB period, the HCH ACT correlation with PTT divided by its control value (PTT/CTL) (r = 0.73) was significantly better (p = 0.02) than the correlation of HTC ACT with PTT/CTL (r = 0.41). In the post-CPB period, both HCH ACT (r = 0.45) and HTC ACT (r = 0.30) correlated weakly with PTT/CTL. In the bias analysis, the limits of agreement (of all HCH and HTC ACT values) showed that HTC ACT is between 61% and 133% of the HCH ACT value in 95% of determinations.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Simulated peribulbar injection of anesthetic.

To evaluate whether intracranial spreading of a local anesthetic might occur after a peribulbar injection, we did simulated peribulbar anesthetic injections with radiopaque dye into two cadaver heads. Using a standard and modified peribulbar injection with a 25-gauge needle, the four orbits were injected with 8 mL of dye. Computed tomography revealed that the dye spread intraconally and intracranially. In one case the dye was seen tracking along the optic nerve sheath. Since intracranial spreading of a local anesthetic may be associated with adverse sequelae (i.e., brainstem anesthesia), we urge caution and vigilance after both peribulbar and retrobulbar anesthetic injections to prevent cardiopulmonary compromise.

Peribulbar anesthesia. Effect of bicarbonate on mixtures of lidocaine, bupivacaine, and hyaluronidase with or without epinephrine.

The pH-adjustment of local anesthetic solutions with sodium bicarbonate may shorten onset time and improve spread of neural blockade. The authors undertook a prospective, double-masked, randomized study to see if a pH-adjusted mixture of lidocaine, bupivacaine, and hyaluronidase had faster and more complete onset of neural blockade, when used for peribulbar anesthesia. Eighty patients were randomly assigned to four groups and received a peribulbar block with one of four mixtures: group 1 (L) = 2% lidocaine, group 2 (LPH) = 2% lidocaine with 0.06 meq/ml sodium bicarbonate, group 3 (LE) = 2% lidocaine with 1:100,000 epinephrine (commercially prepared), or group 4 (LEPH) = 2% lidocaine with 1:100,000 epinephrine with 0.06 meq/ml sodium bicarbonate. To 5 ml of each of the preceding groups, 5 ml of 0.75% bupivacaine and 150 units of hyaluronidase was added. After each block, extraocular muscle movement was followed in each quadrant until akinesia developed. In the event of incomplete akinesia, blocks were supplemented at 20 minutes. The LPH group had the fastest onset to complete akinesia (7.0 +/- 2.0 minutes, mean +/- SEM) when compared with the onset time of all other groups (group 1 = 11.5 +/- 1.9 minutes, group 4 = 13.1 +/- 1.4 minutes, and group 3 = 16.0 +/- 1.8 minutes, significance greater than 95% by analysis of variance). Furthermore, when compared with group 3 by analysis of variance, group 4 had a faster onset time. The authors conclude that pH-adjustment of solutions with bicarbonate of either lidocaine/bupivacaine/hyaluronidase or commercially prepared lidocaine with epinephrine/bupivacaine/hyaluronidase decreases the onset time of peribulbar anesthesia.

pH-adjusted bupivacaine and hyaluronidase for peribulbar block.

The onset of akinesia of the extraocular muscles was assessed after peribulbar block with a plain or pH-adjusted solution of 0.75% bupivacaine and hyaluronidase. Thirty-five patients were randomly assigned to receive either 0.75% bupivacaine with hyaluronidase 15 units/ml (pH 5.45 +/- 0.12) or the same pH-adjusted solution (0.15 mEq sodium bicarbonate per 30 ml of 0.75% bupivacaine to give a final pH of 6.82 +/- 0.09) in a double-blind, prospective manner. Onset of akinesia was determined to the nearest minute. Supplemental injections were given after 20 min in the event of incomplete akinesia. The group receiving pH-adjusted bupivacaine had a statistically faster onset time for complete akinesia than did the control group (5.3 +/- 1.2 min vs. 14.3 +/- 2.3 min, respectively; P less than 0.001). Five of 17 patients in the control group required a supplemental injection, whereas only one of 17 patients in the treatment group had a supplemental block at 20 min (P less than 0.05). Thus, pH adjustment of a solution of bupivacaine and hyaluronidase with sodium bicarbonate hastens the onset time and improves the initial success rate of peribulbar block.

Muscle pain occurs after outpatient laparoscopy despite the substitution of vecuronium for succinylcholine.

The occurrence, location, and severity of muscle pain were determined when vecuronium was used in lieu of succinylcholine during outpatient laparoscopy. Postoperative muscle pain, in 11 body parts, was assessed by a linear analogue scale questionnaire that was completed by each patient on the evening of surgery and for the next three mornings. All patients had general endotracheal anesthesia with nitrous oxide, thiopental, and fentanyl. Succinylcholine 1.5 mg/kg (3-4 min after 3 mg of d-tubocurarine) was given to 14 patients for tracheal intubation and then by infusion for additional muscle relaxation. Another 14 patients received vecuronium 50 micrograms/kg iv as the only muscle relaxant used; all of these patients had residual neuromuscular blockade antagonized with glycopyrrolate 7 micrograms/kg and edrophonium 0.5 mg/kg iv. Both groups were similar in age, weight, length of procedure, time to discharge, and amount of thiopental and fentanyl used (P greater than 0.05). No difference was noted in either group with respect to the severity of pain by body part over time. Mean total body pain scores were generated for each group at all four intervals as an alternate type of analysis. No statistical significance was demonstrated by a Student's t test in any group at any interval sampled. The authors failed to demonstrate that the substitution of vecuronium for succinylcholine lowers the incidence of myalgia when used in outpatient diagnostic laparoscopy. They refrain from concluding that vecuronium contributes to postanesthetic myalgia, but feel justified in stating that the avoidance of succinylcholine did not lower the severity or occurrence of muscle pains after laparoscopy when vecuronium was used in its place.

Influence of beta-blockers on vecuronium/sufentanil or pancuronium/sufentanil combinations for rapid induction and intubation of cardiac surgical patients.

Use of pancuronium or vecuronium with the priming principle was evaluated in regards to hemodynamic changes and adequacy of relaxation for a rapid induction-endotracheal intubation sequence with sufentanil in 24 ASA Class III-IV patients undergoing cardiac surgery. Twelve patients taking beta-blockers (groups B-P and B-V) were compared with 12 patients not receiving beta-blockers (groups NB-P and NB-V). Patients randomly received vecuronium or pancuronium (15 microg/kg), followed in 4 minutes by sufentanil 5 microg/kg and another 85 microg/kg of the appropriate relaxant through a central vein. Intubation was possible in all patients at 90 seconds with good-to-excellent conditions. Heart rate (HR) remained statistically elevated after induction (90 +/- 10 beats/min) and intubation (105 +/- 10 beats/min) only in group NB-P (baseline 74 +/- 12 beats/min). The NB-P group also had an elevated blood pressure after the priming dose. No significant hemodynamic changes were found in the other groups in mean arterial pressure, pulmonary artery diastolic pressure, systemic vascular resistance (SVRI), or cardiac index (CI). When used with vecuronium, sufentanil in a dose of 5 microg/kg provided adequate anesthesia to avoid the hypertensive, tachycardic response that frequently occurs following a rapid intravenous (IV) induction, without unduly depressing cardiac output or arterial pressure. Two patients had evidence of respiratory difficulty after the priming dose, associated with transient tachycardia and hypertension which resolved after induction. Using the priming principle, either pancuronium or vecuronium rapidly provided relaxation in patients with cardiac disease. Chronic beta-blocker therapy was able to attenuate the tachycardia from pancuronium and was not associated with bradycardia when used with vecuronium. In patients with cardiac disease not on beta-blockers, pancuronium was associated with tachycardia. Therefore, vecuronium appears to be more suitable for these patients.