Impact of Antipsychotic Use on Readmission Rates in Children and Adolescents With Autism Spectrum Disorder and Irritability.

Background Risperidone and aripiprazole have been established as standard pharmacological treatments for irritability and associated aggressive behaviors in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and are the only drugs approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration for those purposes. However, the rates of readmission with the use of these drugs in the pediatric population have not been studied, leaving a gap in the knowledge of antipsychotic effects. Readmission rates are a valuable metric of treatment efficacy that also reflect the financial burden, morbidity, and medical complications associated with multiple hospitalizations. Methodology A retrospective study was conducted in 65 Hospital Corporation of America Healthcare hospitals within the United States from 2016 to 2019. Patients aged 6-17 years with a diagnosis of ASD with irritability were included. The primary outcome was 30-, 60-, and 90-day readmission rates. Chi-square tests of independence and post-hoc analyses were used to assess the relatedness between readmission rate and antipsychotic use, as well as the type of antipsychotic medication if used. A binary regression analysis was used to analyze the relationship between demographic characteristics and readmission rate in this population. Patients on antidepressants, anxiolytics, or medications primarily used as mood stabilizers were excluded from the study to reduce confounding effects of such medications. Results A total of 2,375 patients aged 6-17 years were admitted for irritability and a diagnosis of ASD. In total 323 (13.8%) patients were readmitted from this group within 30 days of discharge. After controlling for age, sex, and gender, the use of antipsychotic medication was found to decrease 30- and 90-day readmission rates with an odds ratio of 1.2 to 1.4 times compared to no antipsychotic use (p < 0.04). In patients with autism not on antipsychotics, regression analysis revealed that older age (p = 0.0471) and White race (p = 0.0471) were associated with 30-day readmission (a = 0.05). For these patients, race was also significantly associated with 60-day (p = 0.0494) and 90-day (p = 0.0416) readmission rates. In patients with autism on either risperidone or aripiprazole, age (p = 0.0393) and race (p = 0.0316) were significantly associated with 30-day readmission rate. Conclusions Antipsychotic use reduced readmission rates within 30 days and 90 days in patients with irritability and ASD. Additionally, oral aripiprazole and oral risperidone were found to be equally effective in reducing the 30-day readmission rate, and neither was superior in comparison to the other in 30-, 60-, or 90-day readmission rates. The reduced 30- and 90-day readmission rates seen in our study with the use of antipsychotic medications emphasize the importance of antipsychotic use for individuals with ASD and irritability, even if the antipsychotic is not risperidone or aripiprazole. Groups who can particularly benefit from antipsychotic use include individuals who are refractory to first- and second-line therapies, such as behavioral interventions, or for those who present with persistent and serious risk of harm to themselves or others. Additionally, the use of antipsychotic medications in this scenario may reduce hospitalizations within 30 days of discharge, allowing reduction of the financial and emotional strain associated with these readmissions.

A Case Report and Review: Charles Bonnet Syndrome Plus With Dementia.

Introduction: Charles Bonnet Syndrome (CBS) refers to visual hallucinations in visually impaired patients without psychiatric illness who are typically aware that their hallucinations are not real. Rare cases in the literature describe patients with atypical CBS, or CBS plus, who experience hallucinations in the context of sensory deficits but do not meet all of the criteria of a CBS diagnosis. These cases may include hallucinations in more than one sensory modality, including auditory hallucinations, which are thought to arise by a similar pathophysiology to that of the visual hallucinations in CBS. Unfortunately, the clinical criteria for atypical CBS are ambiguous, potentially explaining the rarity of the diagnosis. In addition, certain features of atypical CBS may make the condition particularly prone to misdiagnosis. Case Presentation: We report a case of atypical CBS in a 67-year-old white male patient presenting with visual and auditory hallucinations that were improved by reassurance. Alongside this case presentation, we provide a review of atypical CBS cases in the literature to compare the diverse features of the syndrome. For this review, we included cases of atypical CBS or CBS plus within the past 20 years for which we could obtain the full text. Conclusion: Clearer guidelines for the diagnosis of atypical CBS and greater attention to the disorder could substantially improve the management of patients presenting with hallucinations. A broader differential diagnosis including atypical CBS for elderly patients with new-onset hallucinations could help clinicians and patients avoid unnecessary medical workup and treatment.

A Retrospective Analysis on Risk Factors for 30-day Readmission Rates in Patients Living With HIV and Severe Major Depression Disorder.

Background Major depression disorder (MDD) is the most common psychiatric comorbidity in patients living with HIV (PLWHIV). The prevalence rate of MDD is higher in PLWHIV in comparison to the general population. In our study, we focus specifically on the 30-day readmission rate of PLWHIV and severe major depression. Methods The Health Care Agency (HCA) databank was used to conduct a retrospective study on PLWHIV and severe MDD. Keywords such as HIV, severe MDD, CD4, viral load were used to identify the data. 30-day readmission rate is studied in PLWHIV and severe MDD (N=143). Variables such as age, sex, gender, adherence to antiretroviral medications, cluster of differentiation 4 (CD4), and viral load were studied in this population. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition (DSM-5) criteria were used to diagnose severe MDD in PLWHIV. An antiretroviral therapy (ART) medication list was used to analyze adherence in this population group. Geographical locations were identified using urbanization codes. Results Logistic regression analysis for the 30-day readmission rate in PLWHIV was found to be higher in the older age group (p<0.01). Caucasian population (p<0.01) and rural areas (p<0.01), ART non-adherence (p<0.05), and severe major depression were also found to be significant in this population (p<0.01). Conclusion As more patients live longer with HIV/AIDS, it gives rise to illnesses such as anxiety, depression, and cognitive impairment. Thus, it is important to identify severe depression in PLWHIV since it can have an impact on rates of hospitalization, morbidity/mortality, and the financial burden, specifically within 30-days of discharge.

HIV-Associated Neurocognitive Disorder (HAND): Relative Risk Factors.

This chapter will address the issue of risk for HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder (HAND), focusing on HIV-associated dementia (HAD), among persons living with HIV in relationship to the risk for other dementias. Advances in effective antiretroviral therapy (ART) have led to an increase in the prevalence of older persons surviving with HIV - in addition to older persons who become infected by HIV later in life. Hence, HIV is no longer a disease of younger persons, and additional attention has been brought to bear against the plight of older persons living with HIV - not only as it pertains to treatment but also to prevention. The additional risk caused by aging among older persons living with HIV is complex to asses, and HIV infection is a research area that requires a robust approach to multiple other factors causing neurocognitive impairment with older age. The long-term and potentially neurotoxic exposure to ART and the deleterious consequences of chronic infection with HIV and its associated neuro-inflammation have been described for health. This aids in the understanding of dementia risk factors in this patient population, but the comorbidities (HIV- and non-HIV-associated) occurring among older persons living with HIV must also be addressed to properly assess the overall impact on dementia risk in this group. This need also warrants our examination of the risk factors for other dementias (and comorbid dementias) in persons living with HIV versus the general population through the assessment and quantification of modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors identified as major contributors toward dementia.

End-of-Life Care and Bereavement Issues in Human Immunodeficiency Virus-AIDS.

This review article addresses end-of-life care issues characterizing human immunodeficiency virus progression by delineating associated stages of medical and nursing care. The initial progression from primary medical and nursing care aimed at functional cure to palliative care is discussed. This transition is considered in accord with the major symptoms experienced, including fatigue, pain, insomnia; decreased libido, hypogonadism, memory, and concentration; depression; and distorted body image. From the stage of palliative care, progression is delineated onward through the stages of hospice care, death and dying, and the subsequent bereavement process.