Electroconvulsive Therapy for Neuropsychiatric Symptoms due to Major Neurocognitive Disorder: A Prospective, Observational Study.

OBJECTIVES: Neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPSs) in those with major neurocognitive disorder (MNCD) include the responsive behaviors of agitation and aggression. Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) has shown some effectiveness based on retrospective studies and one open label prospective study. We hypothesized that ECT will reduce NPSs between baseline and after treatment in those with medication-refractory behaviors. METHOD/DESIGN: This Canadian prospective multicenter study included MNCD patients admitted to geriatric psychiatry units for the management of refractory NPSs. All treatment-refractory participants suffered from advanced MNCD. We conducted the Neuropsychiatric Inventory-Clinician version and the Pittsburgh Agitation Scale at baseline, and during and after the ECT course. A bitemporal or bifrontal ECT series based on dose titration to 1.5 to 2.5 times seizure threshold was administered. RESULTS: Data were collected for 33 patients with a mean age of 73 and categorized with severe MNCD using the Functional Assessment Staging of Alzheimer's Disease scale (stages 6 and 7). The data showed a drop in mean Neuropsychiatric Inventory-Clinician version from 58.36 to 24.58 (P < 0.0001). Mean Neuropsychiatric Inventory agitation subscale dropped from 7.12 to 3.09 (P = 0.007). Mean Neuropsychiatric Inventory aggression subscale dropped from 6.94 to 0.97 (P < 0.0001). There was a concomitant significant decline in Pittsburgh Agitation Scale scores. No participants dropped out because of intolerance of ECT. One participant died from pneumonia, which did not appear related to ECT. CONCLUSIONS: In this naturalistic study, ECT was found to be a safe and effective treatment for certain NPSs in people with MNCD. This can translate into improving quality of life.

The Rationale and Design of Behavioral Interventions for Management of Agitation in Dementia in a Multi-Site Clinical Trial.

BACKGROUND: Agitation and aggression are common in patients with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias and pose a significant burden on patients, caregivers, and the healthcare systems. Guidelines recommend personalized behavioral interventions as the first-line treatment; however, these interventions are often underutilized. The Standardizing Care for Neuropsychiatric Symptoms and Quality of Life in Dementia (StaN) study (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier # NCT0367220) is a multisite randomized controlled trial comparing an Integrated Care Pathway, that includes a sequential pharmacological algorithm and structured behavioral interventions, with treatment-as-usual to treat agitation in dementia in long-term care and inpatient settings. OBJECTIVE: To describe the rationale and design of structured behavioral interventions in the StaN study. METHODS: Structured behavioral interventions are designed and implemented based on the following considerations: 1) personalization, 2) evidence base, 3) dose and duration, 4) measurement-based care, and 5) environmental factors and feasibility. RESULTS: The process to design behavioral interventions for each individual starts with a comprehensive assessment, followed by personalized, evidence-based interventions delivered in a standardized manner with ongoing monitoring of global clinical status. Measurement-based care is used to tailor the interventions and integrate them with pharmacotherapy. CONCLUSION: Individualized behavioral interventions in patients with dementia may be challenging to design and implement. Here we describe a process to design and implement individualized and structured behavioral interventions in the context of a multisite trial in long-term care and inpatient settings. This process can inform the design of behavioral interventions in future trials and in clinical settings for the treatment of agitation in dementia.

Role of tissue plasminogen activator and plasminogen activator inhibitor as potential biomarkers in psychosis.

The identification of biological markers for psychosis has an impact on its diagnosis, prognosis, and likelihood of treatment response. Tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) is involved in important functions such as synaptic plasticity, long-term potentiation and neurogenesis. Plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-1) is the most important inhibitor of tPA. Preliminary studies have shown that schizophrenia patients have lower tPA and higher PAI-1 levels than the general population. The association of tPA and PAI-1 abnormalities with psychotic spectrum disorders, however, remains elusive. Our primary objective was to assess the plasma levels of tPA and PAI-1 in patients experiencing acute psychotic episodes as compared to those in healthy controls. In this prospective case-control study, we collected peripheral blood samples from psychiatric inpatients and healthy age, gender and race-matched subjects and determined plasma levels of tPA and PAI-1 by enzyme-linked immune-absorbent assays. Plasma levels of PAI-1 in patients with schizoaffective disorder were significantly lower as compared to those in control subjects (P = 0.03). tPA was lower in cases as compared to controls although it did not reach statistical significance. Asian patients and controls had lower PAI-1 levels. Further, Asian patients with schizoaffective disorder had significantly lower PAI-1 level compared to Asian patients with schizophrenia. Our results indicate that patients with schizoaffective disorder have lower PAI-1 levels than those with schizophrenia, affective psychosis, and healthy controls. Further studies are warranted to explore the potential of PAI-1 as a biomarker for diagnosing schizoaffective disorder.

Inpatient oncology rehabilitation in Toronto: a descriptive 18-month retrospective record review.

PURPOSE: The purpose was twofold: (1) to develop a comprehensive profile of patients discharged from an inpatient oncology rehabilitation unit and (2) to explore the relationships between patient characteristics and functional status. METHODS: A retrospective review of electronic data from all patients discharged from oncology rehabilitation between November 1, 2008, and March 31, 2010, was conducted. Data elements included age, sex, primary language, living arrangements, cancer diagnosis, comorbidities, and admission and discharge Functional Independence Measure (FIM(™)) scores. Descriptive statistics were compiled for all data elements. General linear regression was conducted to determine the descriptors independently associated with FIM(™) discharge and FIM(™) change scores. RESULTS: There were 153 eligible records. The patients' age ranged from 38 to 97 years (M = 72.6, SD = 12.9); 59.5% were women, and 39.3% lived alone prior to hospitalization. The most common diagnoses were colorectal cancer (n = 45, 28.8%), metastatic disease (n = 24, 15.7%), and cancer of the urinary organs (n = 14, 9.2%). Service goals were met for 77.1%. Patients improved an average of 17.1 (SD = 8.8) points on the FIM(™). Being older and having a diagnosis of brain or uterine cancer were associated with lower FIM™ change scores. CONCLUSIONS: In this sample, the majority of patients were older women, and many lived alone. While the group as a whole made significant functional gains, those who were younger improved more. Having a diagnosis of uterine or brain cancer was associated with lower functional change scores. This study was limited by a small sample size and the retrospective design; however, the results provide a foundation for future prospective research.