Emerging cycloid psychosis episodes during COVID-19 pandemic: a case series.

AIMS: Cycloid psychosis (CP) is a clinical entity characterized by sudden onset of psychotic polymorphic symptomatology and fluctuant course. It has a reported rate of psychosocial precipitating factors ranging 30-65%. The aim of the study was to describe all cases of CP, admitted in our Psychiatry ward, during the first two months of the COVID-19 pandemic. METHOD: In this retrospective and observational study, we reported a sample of eight patients who were treated as inpatients in the psychiatric ward of our hospital during the first two months of COVID-19 pandemic (mid-March to mid-May 2020) and compared it with previous years. All our patients fulfilled all four Perris & Brockington criteria for CP. We reported the sociodemographic, clinical and biological parameters. RESULTS: In our sample, all of the patients had maladaptive personality traits; the major external stressing factor was COVID-19; all our patients had short prodromal symptomatology, short Duration of Untreated Psychosis (DUP) and high score at the Positive Scale at Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS-P) at hospital admission with the majority showing psychotic symptoms related to the actual COVID-19 pandemic. The predominant treatment during admission was olanzapine and a short time to full remission of psychotic symptoms was observed in all patients. CONCLUSION: We found an increase in the admission of patients with CP during the first two months of the actual pandemic. Stress caused by the COVID-19 situation has possibly incremented the frequency of stress-related disorders and it has also influenced its clinical presentation.

Estatus nosológico de la acumulación compulsiva: ¿subtipo de trastorno obsesivo-compulsivo o entidad clínica independiente? / Nosological status of compulsive hoarding: obsessive-compulsive disorder subtype or independent clinical entity

En el presente estudio teórico se revisan los principales hallazgos e investigaciones respecto al estatus nosológico de la acumulación compulsiva. En concreto, se exponen las evidencias empíricas disponibles para poder determinar su independencia o no del trastorno obsesivo compulsivo (TOC), patología mental donde tradicionalmente ha sido incluida como un subtipo o dimensión más de la misma. En relación a esta cuestión, los resultados recogidos en la literatura científica sostienen que las personas con acumulación compulsiva, a diferencias de "otros" sujetos con TOC, presentan características distintivas en diversos criterios externos, a saber: variables sociodemográficas, personalidad premórbida, grado de insight, factores genéticos y neuroanatómicos, correlatos neuropsicológicos, curso y nivel de disfuncionalidad y, por último, respuesta al tratamiento. Dichas conclusiones son discutidas valorando la propuesta de creación de una nueva entidad clínica denominada "trastorno por acumulación"

This theoretical study reviews the main research and findings on the nosological status of compulsive hoarding. Specifically, it describes available empirical evidence in order to determine their independence or inclusion within the obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), a mental disorder in which it has traditionally been included as one more subtype or dimension. Regarding this issue, the results found in the scientific literature show that persons with compulsive hoarding have distinct characteristics indifferent external criteria like sociodemographic variables, premorbid personality, degree of insight, neuroanatomical and genetic factors, neuropsychological profile, clinical course, levels of dysfunctionality and finally, treatment outcome. These conclusions are discussed and the proposal for the creation of a new clinical entity called "hoarding disorder" is evaluated

Nosological status of compulsive hoarding: obsessive-compulsive disorder subtype or independent clinical entity.

This theoretical study reviews the main research and findings on the nosological status of compulsive hoarding. Specifically, it describes available empirical evidence in order to determine their independence or inclusion within the obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), a mental disorder in which it has traditionally been included as one more subtype or dimension. Regarding this issue, the results found in the scientific literature show that persons with compulsive hoarding have distinct characteristics in different external criteria like sociodemographic variables, premorbid personality, degree of insight, neuroanatomical and genetic factors, neuropsychological profile, clinical course, levels of dysfunctionality and finally, treatment outcome. These conclusions are discussed and the proposal for the creation of a new clinical entity called "hoarding disorder" is evaluated.